THE ENEOLITHIC KURGAN IN THE SOUTH OF THE VORONEZH REGION

Статья вводит в научный оборот материалы погребений эпохи энеолита, происходящие из кургана, расположенного на Среднем Дону (Воронежская область). Обнаруженный в кургане инвентарь (керамика с примесью раковины, подвески из зубов оленя, наконечники стрел и орудия из кремня, металлические пронизки) в совокупности с абсолютными датировками указывает на энеолитическую принадлежность публикуемого комплекса (втор. пол. V тыс. до н. э.). Спорово-пыльцевой анализ погребенной почвы под курганом свидетельствует о кратковременном похолодании и повышенной увлажненности в период сооружения кургана. The paper introduces into scientific discourse materials from Eneolithic burials in a kurgan located on the Middle Don (Voronezh region). Funerary offerings discovered in the kurgan (ceramics with crushed shells admixture, pendants made from deer teeth, arrowheads and flint tools, metal tubular beads) along with the absolute dates obtained demonstrate that this assemblage dates to the Eneolithic (second half of V mill. BC). The pollen analysis of the buried soil under the kurgan reveals short-term cooling and a high moisture level at the time when the kurgan was erected.

Effect of biochar applications on soil phosphorus availability under different soil moisture levels

Soil moisture level is crucial to soil phosphorus (P) availability. However, there is no quantitative research on the relation between soil P availability and moisture level. In addition, biochar application could also alter soil P availability at different moisture levels. In this study, a 16-day soil incubation experiment was conducted at a laboratory-scale to analyze the effects of soil moisture and P fertilization regimes (P-laden biochar fertilizer and conventional mineral P fertilizer) on soil P availability and fractionation. The results showed that soil P availability was positively correlated with soil moisture level (Pearson coefficients ranged from 0.46 to 0.91). High moisture level would lead to less amount of P in readily available fractions under P-laden biochar application. However, even with less P in readily available fractions, P-laden biochar could maintain soil P availability (117.7 mg P m-2) at a similar level as the conventional P fertilizer (116.1 mg P m-2).

Effect of Mineral N on C and N Dynamics of Rice and Wheat Residues under Different Moisture Levels

Crop residue mineralization affects soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics during crop residue management in crop production. C and N mineralization dynamics of rice and wheat residues incorporated with and without mineral N under two moisture conditions were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Mineral N was applied @ 0.015 g/Kg (»30 Kg/ha), whereas soil moisture was maintained at high (» – 15 KPa, near field capacity) and at low (» – 500 KPa)moisture levels during course of study.Periodic determinations on CO2 – C and N mineralized were performed over a period of 120 days. The highest peaks for CO2 – C occurred during first week of the study which then reduced gradually until it attained an equilibrium. High moisture level enhanced CO2 – C flux by 14% than low moisture level. Combined application of crop residues and mineral N released 17% more CO2 – C than crop residue treatments without mineral N.In residue applied treatments, immobilization was 40% higher at high moisture level than that at low moisture level. Application of rice and wheat residues in combination with mineral N caused both immobilizations followed by mineralization phases at both moisture levels. At high moisture level, maximum immobilization occurred during initial 15 days, while at low moisture level it continued till about 30 days. After day15, mineralization started which continued to increase during remaining period of study at high moisture and at low moisture mineralization initiated from day 60 onward. Mineralization in rice residue was faster than that in wheat residues. Immobilization of N continued progressively in residue alone treated soils at both moisture levels during study period. In residue treated soils, increase in soil moisture increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil water stable aggregates (WSA) significantly by 14% and 55% over control respectively.Combined application of crop residues and mineral N increased SOC by 43% and WSA by 59%. This study indicated that incorporation of crop residues along with addition of mineral N in the presence of optimum moisture promoted its faster decomposition with a quicker mineral N release, more organic matter build up and soil structure improvement than crop residues incorporated without mineral N.

Seed Science and Technology. Volume 48 Issue 1 (2020)

This issue of Seed Science and Technology contains a number of interesting papers worth giving additional attention. There are five papers that deal with analysis and breaking of seed dormancy, an important issue, not only for commercial practice and breeding, but also for regeneration of habitats and safeguarding bio- diversity. One paper in this issue describes how mucilage production by seeds can aid in overcoming drought stress during germination of seeds from a desert plant. Combatting seed borne diseases remains an important issue. One paper describes how treatment with a combination of two fungicides proved to be effective against seed transmitted seedling blight in Norway spruce. Another paper demonstrates a method to combat a seed- transmitted bacterial infection with watermelon in the seedling stage. Seed vigour tests are needed to give a better estimation of differences between seed lots regarding field emergence. A faster vigour test for tobacco seeds is proposed in a paper in this issue. Even traditional ISTA germination tests may be improved, as demonstrated in a paper for spinach seeds, where especially large seeds can be sensitive to a high moisture level in the tests. Instruments initially used in high-technology industries or in medical care sometimes find their way to seed science applications. An example described in this issue is the use of 3D X-ray computed tomography, which enables rapid non-destructive analyses of the morphology of individual seeds, which can be correlated with germination behaviour. Another paper is on the use of multispectral imaging for seed purity analysis with alfalfa seed lots.

The landfill biocell as an ecofilter for recycling of bio-energy and nutrients from residual wastes

Anaerobic fermentation in landfill reactorcells is a biological waste treatment technique where both energy and nutrients can be recovered. The landfill reactorcell ("biocell") serves as an ecological filter, where energy is extracted as biogas while nutrients are recovered through the leachates and can be used as fertilizer in e.g. energy forests, and thus brought back to an ecological cycling. At the same time anaerobic conditions result in an effective immobilization of heavy metals and other pollutants e.g. as insoluble metal sulphides, which are immobilized in the fermentation rest. The long-lived fraction, remaining after the fermentation process has declined, containing a high content of lignin, serves as a water-holding matrix, which helps to enforce a sustainable high moisture level, and thus sustainable anaerobic conditions with heavy metals retained on a longterm bases. Also non-degradable products, like plastics, help to shield off oxygen and maintain reliable anaerobic conditions. Landfilling of organic matter is a measure to counteract the increasing concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere, resulting from different human activities. Landfilling at anaerobic conditions means that a small fraction of the organic matter is long-term accumulated in the landfill. Accordingly landfills have similar carbon accumulating effects as natural peatlands and lake or sea sediments. With low investment costs it is possible to convert traditional landfills to well controlled biological treatment facilities. Thus the technique can be performed both in large and small scale, avoiding energy demanding road transportation.

ASSESSMENT OF THE PRODUCTION VARIABLES ON THE PELLETIZATION PROPERTIES OF MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE II (MCCII)

Objective: To study microcrystalline cellulose II (MCCII) as new pelletization aid using the extrusion/spheronization technology.Methods: The effect of the spheronization rate and spheronization time was assessed by a response surface design. The shape descriptors and physical properties of pellets were taken as response variables. Approximately, 30 g of MCCII were hydrated, passed through a # 20 mesh sieve and spheronizated at frequencies of 6, 9 and 12 Hz and residence times of 15, 240 and 480 s in 9 experimental runs. In a separate experimental set, moisture levels of 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125% were employed at the optimal operating conditions of 6 Hz and 480 s. A microscopy analysis was used to evaluate the shape descriptors. Pellets properties such as compressibility, friability, porosity, strength, flow rate and mass were also evaluated.Results: Pellets having a small size and a high value of shape descriptors related to morphology were obtained employing a spheronization rate and spheronization time of 6Hz and 480s and 100% wetting level. The spheronization time increased pellet densification but decreased the total porosity. Pellet mass was also favoured by using high spheronization rates. A high moisture level (>100%) rendered pellets having a large size, mass, low porosity and good yield. Conversely, pellet size decreased as sample load increased, whereas porosity and compressibility increased as sample load augmented.Conclusion: MCCII offers the potential for use as an alternative pelletization agent rendering pellets having a good flowability, high mechanical strength and low friability at the optimal operational conditions.

Unilateral NMR: a Noninvasive Tool for Monitoring In Situ the Effectiveness of Intervention to Reduce the Capillary Raise of Water in an Ancient Deteriorated Wall Painting

Portable unilateral NMR was used to quantitatively map in a fully noninvasive way the moisture distribution in an ancient deteriorated wall painting before and after an intervention to reduce the capillary raise of water through the wall. Maps obtained at a depth of 0.5 cm clearly showed the path of the capillary raise and indicated that, after the intervention, the moisture level was reduced. Maps obtained by measuring the first layers of the wall painting were affected by the critical environmental conditions of the second hypogeous level of St. Clement Basilica, Rome, and by the presence of salts efflorescence and encrustations on the surface of the wall painting. The morphology and the elemental composition of salts investigated by SEM-EDS indicated that efflorescences and encrustations were mostly constituted of gypsum and calcite. The presence of these salts is explained with the presence of high concentration of carbon dioxide and sulphur-rich particles due to pollution which, along with the high-moisture level and the extremely feeble air circulation, cause recarbonation and sulphation processes on the plaster surface.

Long in the tooth: Oral bacterial communities and chronic periodontitis

The oral cavity provides a fertile environment for the growth of microorganisms. It has a high and relatively constant temperature, high moisture level and is rich in nutrients. The range of hard and soft tissue surfaces provides a variety of distinctly different microhabitats. The unique, non-shedding hard surfaces of teeth in particular allow for accretion of the thick, complex, structured polymicrobial biofilms known as dental plaque. The majority of oral bacteria exist as components of these biofilms that confer benefit to the host by helping to prevent colonisation by exogenous, often pathogenic, microbes. Colonisation of the oral cavity by bacteria occurs soon after birth and a diverse commensal microbiota becomes established. Over 700 bacterial taxa inhabit the oral cavity making it one of the most bacterially biodiverse regions of the human body. This biodiversity exists despite the large number and variety of antimicrobial agents produced by the host in saliva, gingival crevice fluid and on epithelial surfaces, and the acquired immune response to particular bacterial species. There is a major division between the ecologies of supragingival and subgingival plaque found on the tooth surface above and below the gingival margin respectively.

The effects of kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) extract and storage period on seed borne fungi and citrus (Citrus sp.) seed viability

The recalcitrant seeds need a high moisture level during in storage to prevent loss its viability. The storage at a high moisture level is a favorable condition for fungi growth and on the other hand, a low seeds moisture level will loss the seeds viability. The citrus seeds as one of recalcitrant seeds need a special condition in storage. The storage of citrus seeds by using kencur (Kaempferia galangal L.) extract can protect the seeds against fungi during storage and preserve its viability. The purpose of this research was to determine the best concentration of K. galanga extract which protects the citrus seeds against fungi as long as period storage, the kind of fungi and its percentage of infection, and the citrus seeds viability. This research was carried out in September until November in 2004 at Plant Pest and Disease Laboratory and Greenhouse of Agricultural Faculty of Sebelas Maret University. The citrus seed used was Keprok variety from Ponorogo. The research design was a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD), with the treatments: (1) included the seeds without being stored and without being given by K. galanga extract, (2) the seeds were stored for 2 weeks with 100%, 75%, and 50% K. galanga extract, (3) the seeds were stored for 4 weeks with 100%, 75%, and 50% K. galanga extract, (4) the seeds were stored for 6 weeks with 100%, 75%, and 50% K. galanga extract, and (5) the seeds were stored for 8 weeks with 100%, 75%, and 50% K. galanga extract. Data were analyzed by using F test with 5% and 1% significance levels. If there were real differences, it was continued to be tested by using a Duncan multiple range test with 5% significance level. The results of this research showed that K. galanga extract by 50% was the best concentration that protected the citrus seeds against fungi for 2 weeks of storage. The storage of citrus seeds with K. galanga extract more than 2 weeks decreased seeds viability. The dominant kinds of fungi that attack citrus seeds in the storage were Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp., obtained by using a blotter test.

Combustion of Wood Processing Residues in a Circulating Fluidized Bed

The combustion of wood processing residues was tested in the 0.8 MWth CANMET Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustor (CFBC) pilot plant. The specific residues tested were three different types of coniferous tree bark (i.e. from different locations to represent a range of possible fuels and fuel properties). Combustion conditions may be summarized as follows: fuel moisture levels 42–60%, fluidizing velocity 2.1–2.4 m/s; bed temperature 785–910 °C; maximum freeboard temperature 980–1070 °C and excess air levels 20–75%. The CFBC unit was able to burn the high moisture level fuels with no detrimental effect. In all trials the residues burned very well, with combustion efficiency greater than 99% based on overhead carbon loss. Emissions measurements were made of the following pollutant species CO, NOx, N2O, SO2, and dioxins and furans. The emissions levels were: 100–130 ppm NOx; <1 ppm N2O; 5–20 ppm SO2 and 400–1800 ppm CO. These emission levels are well below pollution guidelines for all major pollutants except CO. This however can be traced to the non-homogeneous nature of the coarse feed in the pilot plant. The problem can reasonably be addressed in a full-scale unit by a more stable feed system. A preliminary economic analysis of a new 25 MW FBC power plant firing these fuels was performed. Conservative inputs give a cost of 6 cents/kWh for the electricity produced and a economic wood haulage radius of 70 km.