Greatest Rates (greatest + rate)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Evaluation of factors influencing membrane performance

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 4 2005
Weihua Peng
Abstract Three commercial water treatment membranes, TFC-S (Koch membranes, San Diego, CA), ESPA1, and NTR7450 (Hydranautics, San Diego, CA), were tested under various physical and chemical conditions to investigate their fouling behaviors. It was found that TFC-S always displayed the greatest rate of flux decline, ESPA1 displayed a mild trend in flux decline, and NTR7450 presented a nearly stable flux. Multivariable regression models showed that the flux decline rates for TFC-S and ESPA1 were controlled by the initial permeate flux, whereas their initial (that is, instantaneous) foulings were controlled by the interaction between permeate drag and electrostatic repulsions. Feed bacteria concentration also contributed to the initial fouling of ESPA1 as a result of cell deposition on the membrane surface. NTR7450 showed an initial decline in flux followed by a steady flux, and its initial fouling was significantly affected by feed water total organic carbon (TOC) arising from the initial accumulation of colloidal organic particles on the surface. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2005 [source]


Seasonal effect on infection and development of lesions caused by Cryphonectria parasitica in Castanea sativa

FOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
L. Guérin
Summary Seasonal variation in the development of chestnut blight, caused by Cryphonectria parasitica, was investigated by inoculating in situ chestnut trees and in vitro excised chestnut segments, at either monthly or 3-monthly intervals throughout 30 months. Inoculations were made with conidia and mycelium of a virulent isolate and with mycelium of a hypovirulent isolate. Conidial inoculations of living sprouts or excised segments between May and July resulted in the greatest incidence of infection whereas inoculations in autumn and winter, in vitro as well as in situ, did not reveal any visible disease. However, from these symptomless inoculated stems, C. parasitica was isolated 3 months after inoculation. Inoculations with the mycelium of the virulent isolate always resulted in lesions, except in January 1999, and the greatest rate of lesion development occurred for inoculations made in the spring and summer. There was a significant seasonal effect on lesion development. Lesions caused by the hypovirulent isolate, smaller than those caused by the virulent isolate, followed a similar seasonal pattern. The same seasonal variations were observed for inoculations in vitro of excised segments. Relative water content (RWC) of chestnut bark significantly varied with bark sampling date. The rate of lesion development in sprouts significantly correlated with average minimum (ATn) and maximum (ATx) temperatures and the sum of rainfall during inoculation period, with the rate of lesion development measured in excised segments 10 days after inoculation (R10d) and with RWC measured on the day of inoculation. In multiple regression models, variables ATx and R10d best explained variation in lesion development. Résumé La variation saisonnière du développement de la maladie du chancre causée par Cryphonectria parasitica a étéétudiée en réalisant, une fois par mois ou par trimestre pendant deux ans et demi, des inoculations de châtaigniers in situ et des inoculations in vitro de branches coupées. Les inoculations ont été réalisées avec des conidies et du mycélium d'un isolat virulent et avec du mycélium d'un isolat hypovirulent. En Mai et Juin, les inoculations conidiennes ont provoqué le taux d'infection le plus élevé, in situ et in vitro. A l'inverse, en automne et en hiver, ces inoculations n'ont pas causé de symptômes. Cependant C. parasitica a été réisolé 3 mois plus tard, sur ces tiges ne présentant aucune lésion. Les inoculations avec du mycélium ont toujours résulté en des lésions, excepté en Janvier 1999, et le développement des lésions (R1m) a été le plus rapide au printemps et en été. La date d'inoculation a eu un effet significatif sur l'extension des lésions. Le même effet saisonnier était observé sur le développement des lésions causées par l'isolat hypovirulent, plus petites que celles causées par l'isolat virulent. Les mêmes variations saisonnières de l'extension des lésions étaient observées in vitro sur tiges excisées. Un effet saisonnier significatif a été mis en évidence sur la teneur en eau relative des écorces de châtaignier (RWC). Le développement des lésions dans les tissus vivants était significativement corrélé avec les températures moyennes minimale (ATn) et maximale (ATx) et la somme des précipitations (SR) calculées sur chaque période d'incubation, avec le développement des lésions in vitro (R10d) et avec RWC. La variation saisonnière du développement des lésions était le mieux expliquée, par un modèle de régression multiple, par ATx et R10d pour l'isolat virulent, et par ATx pour l'isolat hypovirulent. Zusammenfassung Der jahreszeitlich bedingte Einfluß auf die Entstehung von Kastanienrindenkrebs, verursacht von Cryphonectria parasitica, wurde durch Inokulation von Kastanienbäumen in situ und durch Beimpfung von geschnittenen Triebsegmenten in vitro in monatlichen oder drei-monatlichen Intervallen über dreißig Monate untersucht. Zur Inokulation wurden Myzel und Konidien eines virulenten Isolates und Myzel eines hypovirulenten Isolates verwendet. Mit Konidien wurde zwischen Mai und Juni die größte Infektionshäufigkeit auf lebenden Sprossen oder Triebsegmenten erreicht, während Inokulationen im Herbst und Winter keine sichtbaren Symptome hervorriefen. Jedoch konnte C. parastica drei Monate nach Inokulation von lebenden Sprossen isoliert werden, auch wenn keine Läsion sichtbar war. Außer im Januar 1999 führte Inokulation mit Myzel des virulenten Isolates immer zu Läsionen. Am häufigsten traten Läsionen bei Inokulationen im Frühling und im Sommer auf. Der Einfluß des Inokulationszeitpunktes auf die Ausbildung von Läsionen war signifikant. Inokulationen mit dem hypovirulenten Isolat zeigten eine ähnliche jahreszeitliche Schwankung wie jene mit dem virulenten Isolat, führten aber zu kleineren Läsionen. Die gleichen jahreszeitlichen Variationen wurden bei in vitro Inokulation von Kastanientrieben beobachtet. Der relative Wassergehalt (RWC) der Borke variierte signifikant mit dem Beprobungszeitpunkt der Borke. Die Bildung von Läsionen an lebenden Sprossen korrelierte signifikant mit den durchschnittlichen Temperaturminima (ATn) und -maxima (ATx), mit der Gesamtregenmenge (SR) während der Inokulationsperiode, mit der Bildung von Läsionen an Triebsegmenten (R10d) und mit dem am Inokulationstag gemessenen RWC. In einem multiplen Regressionsanalysenmodell zeigte sich, dass die jahreszeitliche Schwankung der Ausbildung von Kastanienrindenkrebs beim virulenten Isolat am besten durch die Variablen ATx und R10d, beim hypovirulenen Isolat durch ATx erklärt wurde. [source]


Pristine New Zealand forest soil is a strong methane sink

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
Sally J. Price
Abstract Methanotrophic bacteria oxidize methane (CH4) in forest soils that cover ,30% of Earth's land surface. The first measurements for a pristine Southern Hemisphere forest are reported here. Soil CH4 oxidation rate averaged 10.5±0.6 kg CH4 ha,1 yr,1, with the greatest rates in dry warm soil (up to 17 kg CH4 ha,1 yr,1). Methanotrophic activity was concentrated beneath the organic horizon at 50,100 mm depth. Water content was the principal regulator of (r2=0.88) from the most common value of field capacity to less than half of this when the soil was driest. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that soil temperature was not very influential. However, inverse co-variability confounded the separation of soil water and temperature effects in situ. Fick's law explained the role of water content in regulating gas diffusion and substrate supply to the methanotrophs and the importance of pore size distribution and tortuosity. This analysis also showed that the chambers used in the study did not affect the oxidation rate measurements. The soil was always a net sink for atmospheric CH4 and no net CH4 (or nitrous oxide, N2O) emissions were measured over the 17-month long study. For New Zealand, national-scale extrapolation of our data suggested the potential to offset 13% of CH4 emissions from ca. 90 M ruminant animals. Our average was about 6.5 times higher than rates reported for most Northern Hemisphere forest soils. This very high was attributed to the lack of anthropogenic disturbance for at least 3000,5000 years and the low rate of atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Our truly baseline data could represent a valid preagricultural, preindustrial estimate of the soil sink for temperate latitudes. [source]


Sources of stream sulphate in headwater catchments in Otter Creek Wilderness, West Virginia, USA

HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 4 2001
Ross D. Fitzhugh
Abstract Upland forested catchments in the Appalachian Plateau region receive among the greatest rates of atmospheric sulphur (S) deposition in the eastern USA, although coal mines and S-bearing minerals in bedrock may also contribute to stream acidity in this region. Watershed mass balance and stable S isotopic values (,34S) of sulphate (SO42,) were used to assess the contributions to stream SO42, from atmospheric and lithogenic sources at Yellow Creek (YC), a headwater catchment on the Appalachian Plateau in West Virginia. Oxygen isotopic values (,18O) of water were used to study catchment hydrology. Stream output of SO42, was c. 60% of atmospheric S deposition during a relatively dry year, whereas atmospheric S input was nearly balanced by stream output during a year with above normal amounts of precipitation. The temporal patterns and values of ,34S were similar between bulk precipitation and stream water at two upper elevation sites. At the lowest elevation site, stream ,34S values were similar to bulk precipitation values during the dormant season but were slightly lower than precipitation during the low-flow summer, probably as the result of a greater proportion of stream water being derived from deep hydrological flowpaths that have contacted S-bearing minerals with low ,34S values in coal seams. Stream ,34S values at YC were significantly higher than at Coal Run, a catchment containing abandoned coal prospects and having a greater amount of S-bearing minerals than YC. Results suggested that lithogenic S is a relatively minor source and that atmospheric deposition is the principal source of stream SO42,, and thus stream acidity, at YC. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Breeding habitat selection in cliff swallows: the effect of conspecific reproductive success on colony choice

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2000
Charles R. Brown
Summary 1.,One way that animals may select breeding sites is by assessing the reproductive success of conspecifics in one season and settling the next year in those habitat patches where success collectively had been greatest. This sort of habitat assessment may promote the formation of colonies at high quality sites. 2.,We examined whether cliff swallows, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, in south-western Nebraska used conspecific breeding performance to choose colony sites. 3.,Reproductive success at colony sites varied spatially within seasons and between seasons, and was autocorrelated at a site from one year to the next, but not over longer time intervals. Cliff swallows thus met the conditions for potential use of information on conspecific breeding performance. 4.,Among sites re-used in consecutive years, those with highest collective success in one season showed the greatest rates in colony growth the next season, including the greatest influx of immigrants. 5.,The probability of colony-site re-use in successive years increased with collective reproductive success and average breeder body mass (a measure of individual condition) the previous season. 6.,Cliff swallows probably use conspecific breeding performance in selecting colonies. This mechanism is one component of habitat selection that also includes attraction to conspecifics and assessment of an individual's own success. [source]


IN-HOME FAMILY THERAPY: INDICATORS OF SUCCESS

JOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY, Issue 4 2005
Jeremy B. Yorgason
In this study, we explore how specific individual, family, and family-within-community characteristics, as well as aspects of in-home family therapy, relate to responses to treatment. The Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale scores and Global Assessment of Functioning scores were used as outcome measures. Results revealed significant differences between pre- and post-scores for clients receiving in-home family therapy services, providing an initial indicator of treatment success. In addition, primary family caregiver social support, role performance in school/work, and self-harmful behavior were indicative of successful outcomes. Clients with higher problem levels had the greatest rates of change, and clients receiving more hours of services fared better in therapy. [source]