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Soil affected by salt (NaCl) is a major problem worldwide and in areas with potential agriculture; lands in many countries are not enough to support crop production. The development of salt tolerant cultivars would be enhanced by better understanding of the genetic control of tolerance to salt stress. A new cereal, tritipyrum, a range of amphiploids between Triticum spp. and Thinopyrum spp. offers such a new chance. Those with the 6x construction (2n=6x=42, AABBEbEb) derived from Triticum durum (2n=4x=28, AABB) and Thinopyrum bessarabicum (2n=2x=14, EbEb) are of the potential to become a new high salt tolerant cereal crop. Tritipyrum is prone to problems similar to those exhibited by early triticales, e.g. chromosome instability and low fertility, which in that crop were eventually overcome by breeding. Other problems could be overcome through substitution of Eb genome chromosomes by D genome ones, and the feasibility of this has been assessed in the progenies of (6x tritipyrum) x (6x wheat) hybrids with the aid of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The cytological, morphological and agronomic studies of existing tritipyrum lines, including the effect of vernalization, were carried out, too. A novel multiple- pistil/seed characteristic of one original tritipyrum line has also been investigated and its genetic basis established. The results have shown that, first creation of substituted lines is feasible, and thus it could be a route for the elimination of undesirable traits. Second, improvement should be possible via selection for chromosomally stable lines, with increased fertility and yield. Third, it may also be possible to exploit the perennial habit and multi-tillering traits in a dual-purpose forage/grain crop. Fourth, the multiple-pistil/seed trait may be controlled by two recessive genes. Fifth, there is a high probability of having established the seven possible monosomic additions of Th. bessarabicum to T.durum for the first time.

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The increasing production and use of fossil fuels increase the probability of soil source contamination by oil and petroleum products, and pose a hazard to life. There are over 43,000 chemical contaminated sites in Canada and USA, with 2,200 of them classified as high risk. In the US, over $10 billion are spent annually on the cleanup of contaminated sites. The primary objective of this study was to develop and test an innovative in situ soil washing system that could extract contaminants from the soil, quickly and effectively, without causing any threat to water sources. We proposed the use of an organic solvent in our system that is not only lighter than water but is also immiscible with water. It was in-troduced into the soil profile from below using a system of horizontal, underground per-forated pipes, and collected from the soil surface. Since the solvent was being introduced from the bottom, it “wete” the soil completely and thus removed the contaminant effec-tively. To understand and evaluate the performance of the system for remediation, a pre-liminary experiment was performed using two stainless steel columns (1m long x 0.2m di-ameter) packed with two diesel fuel contaminated soils (fresh and old contamination). The proposed technique is innovative, unique and very fast for the remediation of diesel fuel contaminated soils. It is the first study of its kind employing a subirrigation system for de-livering organic solvents (lighter than water and immiscible in water) for in situ soil wash-ing. Some preliminary applications of the system to diesel fuel contaminated sand soils have proved very promising for both fresh and old contaminated sites. The method could be equally suited for other contaminants also.

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Nerve cord configuration and brain neurosecretory cell (NSC) characteristics were studied in adult firefly, Luciola gorhami, applying two methods, in situ and section staining. Nerve cord was of primitive type and consisted of brain, subesophageal ganglion, three thoracic and seven abdominal ganglia which were connected to each other serially through a pair of longitudinal connectives. Thoracic ganglia were separated and had the same size. All abdominal ganglia had the same size except the last one which was twice larger than the others. Abdominal ganglia were not fused with thoracic ganglia. Using in situ staining, 26 neurosecretory cells (NSCs) stained as median neurosecretory cells (MNSCs) and lateral neurosecretory cells (LNSCs). MNSCs consisted of 20 cells in three groups in pars intercerebralis. MNSCs had a U shaped arrangement in such a way that 4 round and large cells were located in front and two parallel groups (8 pryiform to round cells in each group) located in back. LNSCs were comprised of 6 large cells in two groups (one group on each lateral lobe of protocerebrum). MNSCs pathways were not clear but LNSCs pathways were clear and ipsilateral. Using section staining, large number of NSCs in pars intercerebralis stained gray and purple in color. Gray cells were large, more in number and appeared in many sections. Purple cells were large and grouped in the middle of gray cells. Both types of cells were on the surface area of brain and had large nucleus. Their axons were bundled together and extended backwards to the rear of brain.

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Abstract Since for some reasons such as studying the behaviour of old construction materials and proper replacement of the deteriorated sections, adequate knowledge about the true in situ strength of the construction materials has become a necessity, many attempts have been made to invent and develop new in situ methods in recent years. Most of these methods measure the in situ strengths of materials indirectly by measuring properties other than the strength and relating them to strength by some defined relationships. This paper introduces an innovative partially destructive method, called “Twist-off”, for the assessment of in situ concrete, mortar, and masonry strengths of materials used in buildings and structures. In addition to the laboratory results, the results of the successful application of this method on site are also presented in this paper. Based on the results obtained, the use of this new in situ method with its advantages of simplicity (no need for experts), low expense, cheap and simple apparatus, little damage to the surface area, and high accuracy is strongly recommended for the determination of in situ strengths of construction materials (concrete, mortar, and masonry) used in different buildings and structures.