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Subsequent Decomposition (subsequent + decomposition)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Decomposition of litter from submersed macrophytes: the indirect effects of high [CO2]

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2002
JOHN E. TITUS
1.,We grew the submersed freshwater macrophyte Vallisneria americana under controlled conditions at low and high [CO2] to produce litter with high and low tissue nitrogen concentration ([N]), respectively. We then followed mass and nitrogen dynamics in situ in this litter to test the indirect effect of [CO2] on its subsequent decomposition and colonisation by macroinvertebrates. 2.,Litter from plants grown in high CO2 initially lost mass and N at a significantly lower rate but, by day 30, both litter types had lost about 90% of mass and N. Litter [N] did not appear to govern decay rate. 3.,There was no effect of CO2 on the pattern of macroinvertebrate colonisation. 4.,The potential exists for high [CO2] to increase rates of C and N cycling and, thereby, to increase internal N loading in macrophyte-dominated shallow water ecosystems. [source]

Scaffold-Mediated 2D Cellular Orientations for Construction of Three Dimensionally Engineered Tissues Composed of Oriented Cells and Extracellular Matrices

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009
Hiroaki Yoshida
Abstract Various hydrogels, such as poly(, -glutamic acid) (, -PGA), gelatin (GT), alginic acid (Alg), and agarose (Aga), with 3D interconnected and oriented fibrous pores (OP gels) are prepared for 3D polymeric cellular scaffolds by using silica fiber cloth (SC) as template. After the preparation of these hydrogels with the SC templates, the latter are subsequently removed by washing with hydrofluoric acid solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) clearly shows OP structures in the hydrogels. These various types of OP gels are successfully prepared in this way, independently of the crosslinking mechanism, such as chemical (, -PGA or GT), coordinate-bonded (Alg), or hydrogen-bonded (Aga) crosslinks. SEM, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and histological evaluations clearly demonstrate that mouse L929 fibroblast cells adhere to and extend along these OP structures on/in , -PGA hydrogels during 3D cell culture. The L929 cells that adhere on/in the oriented hydrogel are viable and proliferative. Furthermore, 3D engineered tissues, composed of the oriented cells and extracellular matrices (ECM) produced by the cells, are constructed in vitro by subsequent decomposition of the hydrogel with cysteine after 14 days of cell culture. This novel technology to fabricate 3D-engineered tissues, consisting of oriented cells and ECM, will be useful for tissue engineering. [source]

UV-B effect on Quercus robur leaf litter decomposition persists over four years

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001
K. K. Newsham
Summary The effects of elevated UV-B (280,315 nm) radiation on the long-term decomposition of Quercus robur leaf litter were assessed at an outdoor facility in the UK by exposing saplings to elevated UV-B radiation (corresponding to a 30% increase above the ambient level of erythemally weighted UV-B, equivalent to that resulting from a c. 18% reduction in ozone column) under arrays of cellulose diacetate-filtered fluorescent UV-B lamps that also produced UV-A radiation (315,400 nm). Saplings were also exposed to elevated UV-A radiation alone under arrays of polyester-filtered fluorescent lamps and to ambient solar radiation under arrays of nonenergized lamps. After 8 months of irradiation, abscised leaves were placed into litter bags and allowed to decompose in the litter layer of a mixed deciduous woodland for 4.08 years. The dry weight loss of leaf litter from saplings irradiated with elevated UV-B and UV-A radiation during growth was 17% greater than that of leaf litter irradiated with elevated UV-A radiation alone. Annual fractional weight loss of litter (k), and the estimated time taken for 95% of material to decay (3/k) were respectively increased and decreased by 27% for leaf litter exposed during growth to elevated UV-B and UV-A radiation, relative to that exposed to UV-A alone. The present data corroborate those from a previous study indicating that UV-B radiation applied during growth accelerates the subsequent decomposition of Q. robur leaf litter in soil, but indicate that this effect persists for over four years after abscission. [source]

Production of Hydrogen from Dimethyl Ether over Supported Rhodium Catalysts

CHEMCATCHEM, Issue 2 2009
Gyula Halasi
Abstract Infrared (IR) spectroscopy revealed that dimethyl ether (DME) undergoes partial dissociation on pure and rhodium-containing CeO2 at 300,K to yield methoxy and methyl species. This process is promoted by the presence of rhodium. By means of thermal desorption measurements (TPD), the adsorption of DME on Rh/CeO2 at 300,K and subsequent decomposition of DME (Tp,370,K), releasing H2, CO, CO2, and CH4, with Tp between 420 and 673,K, were ascertained. Rh/CeO2 is an effective catalyst for the decomposition of DME to give H2 (29,35,%), CO (27,30,%) and CH4 (32,38,%) as major products with complete conversion at 673,723,K. Adding water to DME changed the product distribution and increased the selectivity of H2 formation from 30,35,% to 58,% at 723,K. In,situ IR spectroscopy showed absorption bands of CO at 2034 and 1893,cm,1 during the reaction at 673,773,K. Deactivation of the catalyst did not occur at 773,K during the time measured (approximately 10 h). Rh deposited on carbon Norit also exhibited a high activity towards the decomposition of DME, but the selectivity towards hydrogen was lower. [source]