scholarly journals Enhancement of Phosphate Absorption by Garden Plants by Genetic Engineering: A New Tool for Phytoremediation

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keisuke Matsui ◽  
Junichi Togami ◽  
John G. Mason ◽  
Stephen F. Chandler ◽  
Yoshikazu Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Plants ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Inorganic Phosphate ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Water ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Essential Factor ◽  
Starvation Response ◽  
Pi Starvation ◽  
Garden Plants

Although phosphorus is an essential factor for proper plant growth in natural environments, an excess of phosphate in water sources causes serious pollution. In this paper we describe transgenic plants which hyperaccumulate inorganic phosphate (Pi) and which may be used to reduce environmental water pollution by phytoremediation. AtPHR1, a transcription factor for a key regulator of the Pi starvation response inArabidopsis thaliana, was overexpressed in the ornamental garden plantsTorenia, Petunia, and Verbena.The transgenic plants showed hyperaccumulation of Pi in leaves and accelerated Pi absorption rates from hydroponic solutions. Large-scale hydroponic experiments indicated that the enhanced ability to absorb Pi in transgenic torenia (AtPHR1) was comparable to water hyacinth a plant that though is used for phytoremediation causes overgrowth problems.

scholarly journals ShadingNet: Image Intrinsics by Fine-Grained Shading Decomposition

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anil S. Baslamisli ◽  
Partha Das ◽  
Hoang-An Le ◽  
Sezer Karaoglu ◽  
Theo Gevers
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Image Decomposition ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Decomposition Algorithms ◽  
Ambient Light ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Large Scale Dataset ◽  
Direct Illumination

AbstractIn general, intrinsic image decomposition algorithms interpret shading as one unified component including all photometric effects. As shading transitions are generally smoother than reflectance (albedo) changes, these methods may fail in distinguishing strong photometric effects from reflectance variations. Therefore, in this paper, we propose to decompose the shading component into direct (illumination) and indirect shading (ambient light and shadows) subcomponents. The aim is to distinguish strong photometric effects from reflectance variations. An end-to-end deep convolutional neural network (ShadingNet) is proposed that operates in a fine-to-coarse manner with a specialized fusion and refinement unit exploiting the fine-grained shading model. It is designed to learn specific reflectance cues separated from specific photometric effects to analyze the disentanglement capability. A large-scale dataset of scene-level synthetic images of outdoor natural environments is provided with fine-grained intrinsic image ground-truths. Large scale experiments show that our approach using fine-grained shading decompositions outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms utilizing unified shading on NED, MPI Sintel, GTA V, IIW, MIT Intrinsic Images, 3DRMS and SRD datasets.

Development and Testing of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Pagano ◽  
Flavia Tauro ◽  
Salvatore Grimaldi ◽  
Maurizio Porfiri
Keyword(s):  
Particle Image Velocimetry ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Particle Image ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Natural Stream ◽  
Image Velocimetry ◽  
Scale Particle

Large scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV) is a nonintrusive environmental monitoring methodology that allows for continuous characterization of surface flows in natural catchments. Despite its promise, the implementation of LSPIV in natural environments is limited to areas accessible to human operators. In this work, we propose a novel experimental configuration that allows for unsupervised LSPIV over large water bodies. Specifically, we design, develop, and characterize a lightweight, low cost, and stable quadricopter hosting a digital acquisition system. An active gimbal maintains the camera lens orthogonal to the water surface, thus preventing severe image distortions. Field experiments are performed to characterize the vehicle and assess the feasibility of the approach. We demonstrate that the quadricopter can hover above an area of 1×1m2 for 4–5 minutes with a payload of 500g. Further, LSPIV measurements on a natural stream confirm that the methodology can be reliably used for surface flow studies.

scholarly journals An Assessment of Different Integration Strategies of Hydrothermal Carbonisation and Anaerobic Digestion of Water Hyacinth

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 5983
Author(s):  
Aaron E. Brown ◽  
Jessica M. M. Adams ◽  
Oliver R. Grasham ◽  
Miller Alonso Camargo-Valero ◽  
Andrew B. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Aquatic Macrophyte ◽  
Integration Strategy ◽  
Bioenergy Generation ◽  
Global Presence ◽  
Freshwater Bodies ◽  
Hydrothermal Carbonisation ◽  
Integration Strategies

Water hyacinth (WH) is an invasive aquatic macrophyte that dominates freshwater bodies across the world. However, due to its rapid growth rate and wide-spread global presence, WH could offer great potential as a biomass feedstock, including for bioenergy generation. This study compares different integration strategies of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) and anaerobic digestion (AD) using WH, across a range of temperatures. These include (i) hydrochar combustion and process water digestion, (ii) hydrochar digestion, (iii) slurry digestion. HTC reactions were conducted at 150 °C, 200 °C, and 250 °C. Separation of hydrochars for combustion and process waters for digestion offers the most energetically-feasible valorisation route. However, hydrochars produced from WH display slagging and fouling tendencies; limiting their use in large-scale combustion. AD of WH slurry produced at 150 °C appears to be energetically-feasible and has the potential to also be a viable integration strategy between HTC and AD, using WH.

scholarly journals In which natural environments are people happiest? Large-scale experience sampling in the Netherlands

2021 ◽  
Vol 205 ◽  
pp. 103972
Author(s):  
Sjerp de Vries ◽  
Wim Nieuwenhuizen ◽  
Hans Farjon ◽  
Arjen van Hinsberg ◽  
Joep Dirkx
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Experience Sampling ◽  
Natural Environments

Balancing Environmental Remediation, Environmental Justice, and Health Disparities: the Case of Lake Apopka, Florida

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Anne Saville ◽  
Alison Adams
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Environmental Remediation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The United States ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Lake Apopka ◽  
Non Profit Organizations

Agricultural production in the United States provides numerous economic contributions from the national scale to the local, providing farmworker and laborer jobs for hundreds of thousands of people [1]. Unfortunately, conventional agricultural operations are often associated with pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, which can cause environmental degradation and health problems. Large-scale conventional agriculture is often using pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer intensive, and these chemicals may contaminate natural environments, harming wildlife, and degrading water quality. When contamination incidents occur, government agencies and non-profit organizations respond in various ways, including environmental remediation. These efforts can be successful in restoring water quality and improving biodiversity. But, what happens when clean-up efforts are able to improve the physical environment but do not address human health? We use the case of Lake Apopka, Florida, to analyze a case of agricultural contamination that resulted in damage to the environment and the health of the farmworkers who were exposed to these harmful chemicals. Our analysis explores how government agencies and non-profit organizations were successful in their conservation efforts, but failed to help the farmworkers and other people who were sick as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals. We conclude with recommendations for policy makers and environmentalists to better address and include marginalized or vulnerable communities in environmental remediation projects.

Large Scale Composting as a Means of Managing Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Montoya ◽  
Tina M. Waliczek ◽  
Michael L. Abbott
Keyword(s):  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Eichhornia Crassipes ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Poultry Litter ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Seed Mortality ◽  
Petri Dishes ◽  
Student Workers

AbstractThe intent of this study was to determine if composting is an effective means of managing water hyacinth while producing a quality horticultural compost product. Preliminary tests for the study included germination and seed mortality tests. Germination tests found that water hyacinth seeds germinated on filter paper media soaked in distilled water while placed in petri dishes held at a constant temperature of 27 C for 14 d. Seed mortality test results found that seeds of water hyacinth were rendered inviable at temperatures equal to or above 57 C. The study successfully developed a large-scale composting system that used water hyacinth as a primary feedstock. Eleven compost piles were derived from 10,000 kg of water hyacinth, 9,000 kg of food waste, 11,300 kg of poultry litter, and 17,200 kg of wood chips. Results indicated that the composting process reached and sustained sufficiently high enough temperatures to inactivate and fully decompose seeds and other propagules of water hyacinth. Therefore, water hyacinth can be composted without the potential danger of it spreading. Compost quality tests found that the compost produced was within acceptable to ideal ranges of accepted industry quality standards, though there was a learning curve by student workers in the preparation of the piles using the large equipment.

Large-scale utilization of water hyacinth for nutrient removal in Lake Dianchi in China: The effects on the water quality, macrozoobenthos and zooplankton

Chemosphere ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 1255-1261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Wang ◽  
Zhiyong Zhang ◽  
Junqian Zhang ◽  
Yingying Zhang ◽  
Haiqing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Lake Dianchi

scholarly journals Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (11) ◽  
pp. 5188-5193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine Engemann ◽  
Carsten Bøcker Pedersen ◽  
Lars Arge ◽  
Constantinos Tsirogiannis ◽  
Preben Bo Mortensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Parental History

Urban residence is associated with a higher risk of some psychiatric disorders, but the underlying drivers remain unknown. There is increasing evidence that the level of exposure to natural environments impacts mental health, but few large-scale epidemiological studies have assessed the general existence and importance of such associations. Here, we investigate the prospective association between green space and mental health in the Danish population. Green space presence was assessed at the individual level using high-resolution satellite data to calculate the normalized difference vegetation index within a 210 × 210 m square around each person’s place of residence (∼1 million people) from birth to the age of 10. We show that high levels of green space presence during childhood are associated with lower risk of a wide spectrum of psychiatric disorders later in life. Risk for subsequent mental illness for those who lived with the lowest level of green space during childhood was up to 55% higher across various disorders compared with those who lived with the highest level of green space. The association remained even after adjusting for urbanization, socioeconomic factors, parental history of mental illness, and parental age. Stronger association of cumulative green space presence during childhood compared with single-year green space presence suggests that presence throughout childhood is important. Our results show that green space during childhood is associated with better mental health, supporting efforts to better integrate natural environments into urban planning and childhood life.

scholarly journals Inorganic Phosphate as an Important Regulator of Phosphatases

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Fernanda Dick ◽  
André Luiz Araújo Dos-Santos ◽  
José Roberto Meyer-Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Protein Phosphatase ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Inorganic Phosphate ◽  
Phosphate Esters ◽  
Regulation System ◽  
Pi Starvation ◽  
Important Regulator ◽  
Phosphatase System ◽  
The Difference

Cellular metabolism depends on the appropriate concentration of intracellular inorganic phosphate (Pi). Pi starvation-responsive genes appear to be involved in multiple metabolic pathways, implying a complex Pi regulation system in microorganisms and plants. A group of enzymes is required for absorption and maintenance of adequate phosphate levels, which is released from phosphate esters and anhydrides. The phosphatase system is particularly suited for the study of regulatory mechanisms because phosphatase activity is easily measured using specific methods and the difference between the repressed and derepressed levels of phosphatase activity is easily detected. This paper analyzes the protein phosphatase system induced during phosphate starvation in different organisms.

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