bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chemical Effects on the Germination and Early Growth of Terrestrial Plants
Authors: Gorsuch JW , Kringle RO , Robillard KA 
Published: March 2009

A rapid, simple, and cost-effective testing procedure is described for determining the potential of a chemical to affect germination and early growth of terrestrial plants. Radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. Champion 708), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. 525 Ithaca M.T.O.), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. var. Manhattan) are routinely used in this test because of their economic and ecological importance, quick and high rate of germination, and relatively uniform root and hypocotyl/coleoptile growth. Plants are exposed to the chemical for seven days, after which germination, root length, and plant height values are determined. Average values for treated plants are compared with the corresponding values for the control (untreated) plants. An observed ratio (treated versus control means) of &lt;90% is considered to be a significant indication of adverse chemical effect.
Test results for 26 commercial chemicals are compared with information in the literature. For these commercial chemicals, reduction in root length was the most sensitive plant response, followed by reduction in the plant height. By comparison, germination was not noticeably affected. Ryegrass and radish were found to be equally tolerant species, and lettuce was the most sensitive plant species. Where data for other plant-effect methods are available, comparisons show that this method is generally of equal or greater sensitivity in identifying the potential for chemical effects.
Chlorophyll Fluorescence of a Higher Plant as an Assay for Toxicity Assessment of Soil and Water
Authors: Judy BM , Lower WR , Miles CD , Thomas MW , Krause GF 
Published: March 2009

The chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) assay is recognized as an important tool for monitoring the electron transport system of photosynthesis. The increase or decrease of fluorescence, compared to control, can indicate a lesion in the chain of events in photosynthesis or damage to the chloroplasts. Inhibition of photosynthesis in leaf segments of Tradescantia by herbicides (glyphosate, picloram & 2,4-D, triclopyr and hexazinone), heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd), a surfactant (sodium lauryl sulfate), and sodium fluoride (NaF) has been demonstrated using this method. The strongest changes of fluorescence induction curves were caused by hexazinone. Photosynthetic inhibition was observed as an increase in initial fluorescence (Fo) and a decrease in variable fluorescence (Fv) and electron pool size (EP). A CF assay predicted herbicidal injury in Tradescantia leaves at least 24 h before leaf necrosis appeared.
Three heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd) are known as strong respiration and photosynthetic inhibitors in plant cells. In this study cadmium chloride, at the highest concentration (1000 ppm) tested, caused the strongest changes in Fv and EP size, which are characteristics of Photosystem II (PS II) photochemistry. Phytotoxicity of NaF caused an increase in Fv and EP compared to the control.
Applications of Acoustic Emission Techniques for Diagnosis of Large Rotating Machinery and Mass Production Products
Authors: Sato I , Yoneyama T , Sato K , Tanaka T , Yanagibashi M , Takikawa K 
Published: March 2009

In order to maintain efficient plant operability, better reliability and preventive maintenance are required. When a machine experiences some problem during use, operators must find the cause of trouble, then take measures to prevent serious damage. Acoustic emission (AE) is a useful means of machine condition diagnosis. The AE technique can detect incipient failure and locate the source.
This paper describes applications of AE techniques for large rotating machinery diagnosis, development of diagnosis systems using algorithms obtained from AE characteristics analyses, and applications for the diagnosis of rotary compressors in air conditioners.
Considerations in Selecting Indicator Parameters for the Statistical Evaluation of Ground-Water Quality
Authors: Pastor EF , Frick DR 
Published: March 2009

An essential component of a detection ground-water monitoring plan is the establishment of a program for the statistical evaluation of ground-water chemistry data. The objective of such a data evaluation program is to assess whether there is statistically significant evidence of ground-water contamination, based on the indicator parameters for the site being monitored. The occurrence of false conclusions of evidence of contamination (Type I errors) or failures to detect contamination when it actually is present (Type II errors) is minimized by the use of appropriate indicator parameters.
To optimize the effectiveness of a statistical evaluation program, a limited number of indicator parameters should be selected on a site-specific basis, consistent with the following factors: (1) Concentrations of the parameter in contaminant source and background ground-water samples; (2) Hydrogeologic conditions of the site being monitored, particularly as they may affect spatial and temporal variability of parameter concentrations in ground water; (3) Chemical fate and mobility characteristics of the constituents used asindicator parameters; (4) Precision and limitations of the laboratory analytical procedure specified for the parameter; and (5) Characteristics of the existing dataset (if any) for the parameter. This paper explain the importance of the above factors and provides examples from a number of case studies to illustrate their use.
Development and Evaluation of Experimental Nonwoven Breathable Barrier Fabrics
Authors: Wadsworth LC , Salamie LM 
Published: March 2009

In this study more effective methods of applying a fluorochemical finish to relatively inexpensive melt blown/spunbond (MB/SB) nonwoven laminates developed in the Textiles and Nonwovens Development Center (TANDEC) at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) were investigated with respect to improved performance and lower cost. The two possible end-uses for the MB/SB laminates are operating room drapes and gowns and apparel for agricultural workers, such as, pesticide applicators. In addition to comparing finishing techniques, the thermal bonding sequence of a MB/SB laminate before and after finishing also was studied to determine the effects on repellency, barrier properties, laminate bonding strength, air permeability and hand.
Polypropylene melt blown webs produced on the 20-inch (0.51 m) Exxon melt blown pilot line at UTK were laminated with an experimental point bonded spunbond polypropylene fabric. Polypropylene melt blown and spunbond laminate samples were thermally bonded with a smooth roll calender both before and after fluorochemical (FC) finishing by the more conventional padding technique and by two low wet pickup methods, foam finishing and kiss roll applications. Repellency (oil, alcohol and water repellency), barrier properties (water impact resistance and air permeability), and bonding strengths were examined.
Surprisingly, the MB/SB laminates, which were thermally bonded prior to finishing, picked up substantially less finish due to decreased porosity, but had much improved oil and alcohol repellency. The foam finished laminates had the highest oil and alcohol repellency values followed by those prepared by kiss roll and finally the padding techniques. Although all of the finished MB/SB laminates had excellent water spray ratings and water impact penetration resistance (due to the barrier properties of the melt blown component), the key to oil and alcohol repellency appears to be the concentration of FC finish deposited on the outer surface of the laminate.
As would be expected, the thermally bonded laminates had lower air permeability, as compared to the unbonded laminates. The melt blown and the spunbond components separately had appreciably higher air permeability. However, the air permeability values of the MB/SB laminates, which were thermally bonded before FC finishing were generally greater than a slightly lower weight commercial spunbond/melt blown/spunbond (SMS) fabric, which had been thermally point bonded. Laminate bonding strengths were much lower than the commercial point bonded SMS fabric, but were believed to be suitable for some protective clothing applications.
Instrumented Mannequin Evaluation of Thermal Protective Clothing
Authors: Dale JD , Crown EM , Ackerman MY , Leung E , Rigakis KB 
Published: March 2009

An instrumented mannequin has been constructed for testing the thermal protective qualities of garments when subjected to short duration flash fires. To measure the rate of heat transfer to the mannequin surface 110 skin simulant sensors are used. The flash fires are produced with propane diffusion flames. A computer controlled data acquisition system is used to run the experiment, record and store the data, calculate the extent and nature of skin damage and display the results. The sampling rate of the system is 800 Hz. The heat fluxes used in the study were varied from 67 kW/m2 to 84 kW/m2 (1.6 cal/cm2· s to 2 cal/cm2· s), while burn durations were limited to 3 and 4 seconds.
Six different fibre/fire retardant/fabric weight combinations were tested. The results show that increasing the fabric weight for a particular fibre reduces the extent of skin burning. However some materials are more effective than others so that a general correlation of this form does not hold. Increasing the heat flux level and duration increased the predicted amount of skin burning with all the garments tested. There was a good correlation with TPP results at the low heat fluxes and durations, but not at the high values for each.
Environmental Risk Assessment of New Chemicals Under the Toxic Substances Control Act TSCA Section Five
Authors: Nabholz JV , Miller P , Zeeman M 
Published: March 2009

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) allows for the regulation of new industrial chemicals if a chemical may present an unreasonable risk toward the environment, or if a chemical has significant exposure toward the environment. Risk assessment under TSCA Section 5 consists of the integration of the hazard assessment for a chemical with the chemical's exposure assessment.
The environmental-hazard assessment consists of identifying all of the effects of a chemical toward organisms in the environment, and toward the populations, communities, and ecosystems to which those organisms belong. Toxicity data for a chemical consists of effective concentrations (EC), which indicate the type of effect and the seriousness of that effect on a given organism at a known concentration of chemical. Effective concentrations can be based on test data or predicted using structure activity relationships (SAR). A collection of all of the ECs for a chemical is called a hazard profile or a toxicity profile.
Environmental factors which reduce the inherent toxicity of a chemical (that is, mitigation factors), as well as, enhancement factors that increase toxicity are taken into account when the hazard profile is developed.
The environmental-exposure assessment consists of predicting the environmental concentrations of a chemical from releases due to its production, processing, uses, and disposal. There are two types of exposure assessment most frequently used under TSCA: the Percen-tile Stream Flow Method and the Probability Dilution Model (PDM) Method.
Environmental-risk assessment is done by using the quotient method. This method simply compares an EC or a concern concentration (CC) to the actual or predicted environmental concentrations (PEC). If the PEC is greater than the EC or CC, then you have a potential risk.
Case studies for several types of chemicals will be presented: neutral organic chemicals; organic chemicals with excess toxicity; anionic surfactants; nonionic surfactants; cationic surfactants; amphoteric surfactants; anionic polymers; nonionic polymers; poly cationic polymers; amphoteric polymers; acid dyes; neutral dyes; cationic dyes; amphoteric dyes; polyanionic monomers; and compounds which hydrolyze (for example, acid chlorides and alkyloxysilanes); and metals.
The Use and Application of QSARs in the Office of Toxic Substances for Ecological Hazard Assessment of New Chemicals
Authors: Clements RG , Nabholz JV , Johnson DW , Zeeman M 
Published: March 2009

The Office of Toxic Substances (OTS), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), is responsible for administering the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA). Under Section 5 of TSCA, all new chemicals must be submitted to the USEPA for review and evaluation before entering commerce. The Environmental Effects Branch (EEB) of the Health and Environmental Review Division (HERD) is responsible for the ecological-hazard assessment of new chemicals. Submitters of new chemicals are not required to provide any ecotoxicological data. To date, less than 10% of Sec. 5 submissions contain environmental toxicity data. In the early years, the EEB used analogs, chemical class similarities and literature searches to evaluate the potential ecological hazards of new chemicals. The use of Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSARs) was added to the hazard assessment process in 1981. These QSARs were applied to three broad categories of organic chemicals: (1) neutral organics that are nonreactive and nonionizable, (2) neutral organics that are reactive or ionizable organics (for example, anilines), which show excess toxicity in addition to narcosis, and (3) surface-active compounds such as surfactants and polycationic polymers. Currently, over 50 QSARs are available to estimate the toxicity of new chemicals to fish, aquatic invertebrates and algae. These QSARs can be applied to about 40 classes and subclasses of organic chemicals.
This paper describes the development and application of QSARs by the OTS in the hazard assessment of new chemicals under TSCA.
The Quotient Method of Ecological Risk Assessment and Modeling under TSCA: A Review
Authors: Rodier DJ , Mauriello DA 
Published: March 2009

For regulatory purposes, ecological risk assessments should have clear and meaningful objectives. In U.S. EPA's Office of Toxic Substances (OTS), the focus of ecological risk assessments is on natural resources, which are valued by society for one or more reasons. Biotic resources can be affected by toxic substances through adverse effects on mortality, growth and development, and reproduction and by bioaccumulating through the food chain. Effects on growth and development, mortality, and reproduction are presumed to occur at the population level of organization.
In OTS, the Quotient Method of ecological-risk assessment is used. The method compares toxicological-effect concentrations with predicted or measured exposure concentrations of a toxic substance. If the ratio of the two equals or exceeds 1, a risk is inferred; below 1 there is less likelihood of a risk. The advantages of the method are that it is simple to use, is compatible with the hazard and exposure assessments conducted in OTS, and has been used extensively to regulate toxic substances. The limitations are that it cannot address taxonomic or life-stage sensitivity to a toxic substance, cannot objectively address risks at intermediate quotients (near 1), and does not articulate the consequences of certain risks such as indirect toxic effects.
Computer-simulation models can be useful tools in describing the consequences of direct and indirect toxic effects. A conceptual framework model for ecological risk assessment is presented. The use of population models such as the Risk Analysis & Management Alternatives System (RAMAS) and ecosystem modeling approaches such as the Ecosystem Uncertainty Analysis is discussed. These models are still under consideration and their mention does not constitute endorsement or recommendation.
The results of a risk assessment must be communicated clearly. The Tripartite Decision Methodology, which graphically presents the results of one or more analyses is discussed.
Developmental Stability: A Sensitive Indicator of Populations Under Stress
Authors: Graham JH , Freeman DC , Emlen JM 
Published: March 2009

Developmental stability can be a sensitive indicator of the physiological state of individuals in natural populations. As such, it has potential as an indicator of stress, and is inexpensive and easily measured. Moreover, it can be estimated from museum specimens or from tree cores that span the time period of the disturbance. Thus, one can identify stressed populations and monitor their recovery.
The most widely used measure of developmental stability is fluctuating asymmetry, the variance in random deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry. Fluctuating asymmetry is an outstanding measure of developmental stability because bilateral symmetry is an aspect of the individual that does not change during development (that is, a developmental invariant). We are therefore proposing three additional developmental invariants as new measures of developmental stability: phyllotaxy in plants, the equiangular spiral in snails, and the fractal dimension in both plants and animals.
The arrangement of leaves on the stem of a plant is called phyllotaxis. In many plants, leaves or leaflets are arranged opposite one another on the stem or petiole. In plants with such an arrangement, we propose that deviation from an opposite arrangement be used as a measure of developmental stability.
Many snails possess a self similar developmental invariance, the equiangular spiral. As the snail grows, the whorl of the shell increases at a constant rate. We propose that deviations from a perfect equiangular spiral be used as a measure of developmental stability.
A fractal is an object that is invariant with regard to scaling. It appears the same at both high and low magnification. Fractals are common in living organisms, and represent a form of symmetry. The branching patterns of trees, blood vessels, and nerves are all fractals, as are skull sutures in vertebrates. Growth rings of trees and fish otoliths are fractals in time. In plants and other organisms, the fractal dimension of branching describes architectural complexity. For plants, the fractal dimension is the slope of the log of branch diameter or branch length regressed on the log of branch order. Assuming that the fractal dimension is indeed a developmental invariant, then the standard error of the regression can be used as the individual asymmetry measure. These measures allow one to assess the effects of stress on both natural and artificial populations, and to establish the history of stress within the impacted area.
We present data from our own research on the effects of stress on the developmental stability of fish and plants.
An Aquatic/Terrestrial Foodweb Model for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Authors: Ram RN , Gillett JW 
Published: March 2009

Prediction of PCB-residue distributions in biota near hazardous-waste sites and other polluted ecosystems is presently limited and may ignore food-web relationships, relies on theoretical considerations not readily extended to real systems, or fails to represent temporal/spatial variation in residues or both. A model has been developed to predict PCB exposure of different parts of an aquatic/terrestrial food web of the Erie/Ontario Lake Plain biogeographic region and its output compared to data from the GM-Akwesasne Superfund site on the St. Lawrence River.A one-compartment pharmacokinetic model of individual species, taxa, or guilds was linked to a mass-based food web to estimate the residues over time for each element therein. Ranges of pharmacokinetic parameters (or suitable surrogates) and feeding rates from the literature or calculated from published empirical and theoretical relationships for over 300 species of vertebrates and invertebrates of the biogeographic region were used to characterize the uncertainty of estimates.As a primary simplification, plants and invertebrates were assigned to 14 food item categories linked to abiotic PCB concentrations or to 10 guilds feeding upon these items. Vertebrates (269 species) were clustered into 110 guilds using a subroutine based on dietary overlap, habitat, feeding rate and seasonal presence. Separate summer and winter food webs were thus established for four sets of linked guilds with uncertainty defined by ranges of parameters of species included therein. Monte Carlo simulation of monthly distributions of residues in a food item were used as input to consumers. Model outputs were means and standard deviations of lognormal distributions of simulated PCB residues within guilds over a 2-year period.The model was validated against site-specific data by using lognormally distributed abiotic PCB residues as initial values. The 95% confidence intervals of the outputs covered 89% and 100%, respectively, of measured values in 40 and 36 of 45 spp. at the site. Exceptions were largely migratory or long-lived species or samples represented by a single item.Simulations for human beings (for example, Mohawk Indians) subsisting off this food web inferred that they are expected to develop excessive residues. Simulations of mink (largely extirpated from this biogeographic region) indicate that if 50 to 100% of their food supply comes from the system, &gt;20% would carry lethal residues and the majority would have residues associated with reproductive failure.
A Method for Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests with the Early Life Stages of Freshwater Mussels
Authors: Johnson IC , Keller AE , Zam SG 
Published: March 2009

Testing techniques to assess the acute effects of pesticides to sensitive life stages of freshwater mussels have been developed for the Ecological Effects Branch (EEB), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The objective of this research was to define techniques for testing freshwater mussels, and not to promote or endorse the mussel species used. The techniques developed include testing of the following early life stages: mature glochidia, recently transformed juveniles, and older juveniles.
Anodonta imbecilis was amenable to acute testing methods development for the following reasons: it is reproductively active throughout most of the year; it is easily collected in the field and maintained in the laboratory; it adapts well to artificial conditions; and the transformed juveniles do not require feeding or special conditions for short-term laboratory maintenance and testing. The acute sensitivity of these young mussels was evaluated using three pesticides. The A. imbecillis acute toxicity data obtained through these 48-h exposures show that the life stages tested are less sensitive to Cyhalothrin,® Carbaryl,® and Atrazine® than the commonly used freshwater cladoceran Daphnia magna.
A Case Study: Linking an Automated Tension Testing Machine to a Laboratory Information Management System
Authors: Heberling DT 
Published: March 2009

A number of issues and problems were encountered in the course of installing an automated tension testing machine and linking it to a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
Difficulty was encountered in having software written to correctly calculate certain mechanical properties of steels, for which no rigorous mathematical definitions have been standardized. Additionally, it was difficult for equipment supplier and end-user to agree on how to analyze stress-strain curves having features not addressed by existing ASTM standards.
Interlaboratory comparison studies conducted with other labs in the steel industry to verify the results of the automated test machine revealed that labs are collecting data over significantly different strain ranges for their automated determinations of n values. As a result, n values do not compare well from lab to lab.
Also discussed are other details of the automation project, benefits that have been realized, and some of the laboratory's plans for the future.
It is concluded that ASTM standards require significant revision to support automated testing—not only to address the many issues that are being brought to light by automation, but also to specify automated procedures for the determination of mechanical properties.