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Seal formation in soils exposed to rain is determined by aggregate disintegration and clay dispersion. Aggregate disintegration is related strongly to rate of aggregate wetting, whereas dispersion is dictated by soil solution electrolyte concentration and composition at the soil surface. It has been hypothesized that the relative importance of these two mechanisms in determining soil susceptibility to sealing depends on clay content. We used a laboratory rainfall simulator to study dependence of infiltration rate (IR), runoff, and interrill erosion on (i) a fast wetting rate (WR) (64 mm h -1 ) serving as the control, (ii) a fast WR combined with surface application of 5 Mg ha -1 phosphogypsum (PG), designed to prevent clay dispersion, and (iii) a slow WR (2 mm h -1 ) designed to prevent aggregate slaking. Experiments were conducted with samples of five Israeli soils of varying clay content (8-65%) taken from fields that had been irrigated with effluents for more than 15 years. Final IR values for sandy clay (38.6% clay) were 3.5, 11.75, and 6.0 mm h -1 for fast WR (i.e., control), fast WR+PG, and slow WR, respectively. Similar trends were noted in the other soils. Consequently, runoff and soil erosion losses were significantly lower in fast WR+PG and in slow WR compared with fast WR. In soils with clay content more than 40%, final IRs were higher and runoff and soil loss were lower in slow WRs compared with fast WR+PG. The opposite held true for soils with less than 40% clay. These results suggest that management practices selected for decreasing soil susceptibility to seal formation in effluent-irrigated soils should consider clay content. In soils with less than 40% clay, prevention of physicochemical clay dispersion by PG application is preferable to prevention of aggregate slaking by use of slow WR. In clay soils (>40% clay), prevention of aggregate slaking during the wetting process of the soil could be more beneficial than prevention of the physicochemical clay dispersion.

Seal formation at soil surfaces is significantly affected by raindrop kinetic energy (KE). Soil sealing enhances runoff and soil erosion. It has been hypothesized that in soils exposed to rain (i) runoff and interrill erosion levels in soils previously irrigated with effluents differ from those in soils previously irrigated with fresh water (FW), and (ii) that the difference in runoff and interrill erosion between the previously irrigated effluent and FW samples depends on rain KE. The effects offour droplet KE levels (3.6, 8.0, 12.4, and 15.9 kJ m -3 ) of distilled water (DW) on runoff and wash erosion of four smectitic soils that had been irrigated for many years with fresh water or effluents was studied with a drip-type rain simulator. The soils used were a loamy loess (Calcic Haploxeralf) from Be'er Sheva Valley, a dark brown sandy clay vertisol (Chromic Haploxerert) from the Pleshet Plains (vertisol HH), and two dark brown heavy clay vertisols (Chromic Haploxerert) from Zevulun Valley (vertisol Y) and Western Galilee (vertisol E), Israel. For all soils, total runoff and wash erosion values increased with the increase in rain KE. Total runoff levels were lower for the FW-irrigated samples than for the effluent-irrigated soils, except for the highest KE where no differences in runoff between the two types of soils was noted. Conversely, for each soil and each rain KE, wash erosion was higher in the effluent-irrigated samples than in the FW-irrigated ones. Total runoff was affected mainly by changes in rain KE at the lower to medium range of the KE studied. Thus, the effects of irrigation water quality (i.e., effluents vs. FW) on total runoff was pronounced mainly at the low-to-moderate rain KE range; at high rain KE, the effects of irrigation water quality on runoff were negligible. Wash erosion was affected mainly by changes in rain KE at the medium-to-high KE range studied. That wash erosion increased markedly at the high rain KE values, despite the negligible change in runoff level, suggested that for KE > 12.4 kJ m -3 , seal formation was completed, and the contribution of runoff in facilitating transport for the entrained material was secondary to the role of soil detachment in determining wash erosion. The dependence of wash erosion (through soil detachment) on rain KE was greater than its dependence on the quality of the irrigation water that the soil was exposed to in the past (FW vs. effluent).

Seal formation at soil surfaces is significantly affected by raindrop kinetic energy (KE). We hypothesized that the deterioration in seal permeability of soils irrigated with effluents, relative to that of soils irrigated with fresh water (FW), is affected by raindrop KE. The effects of four droplet KE levels (3.6, 8.0, 12.4, and 15.9 kJ m 3 ) on the infiltration parameters of four Israeli smectitic soils that had been irrigated with FW or effluents, were studied with a drip-type rain simulator. At the lowest KE (3.6 kJ m 3), final infiltration rate (IR) values for the FW-irrigated samples were in the range of 9 to 14 mm h -1 and were significantly higher than the corresponding values for the effluent-irrigated samples, suggesting that seals were not fully developed at this low KE and that the irrigation water type played a major role in determining soil permeability. At high KE (15.9 kJ m 3 ), the differences between the final IRs of FW-irrigated and effluent-irrigated samples of a given soil were small (

It is established that the sum total of carotenoids and their components in the full biological ripeness stage of sweet pepper fruits depends both on the variety and on growing conditions. With small-volume hydroponics as compared to a plastic film greenhouse, 34.7–96.5% more carotenoids are accumulated depending on the variety.

It was found that vanadyl porphyrin complexes synthesized from petroleum metal porphyrin concentrates stimulated epoxidation during the olefin oxygenation process. The yields of obtained oxiranes turned out to be 38–75%, depending on the olefin structure. An epoxidation mechanism that suggests the formation of a protonated dioxygen adduct as an intermediate during oxygenation of olefins in the presence of vanadyl porphyrin complexes was proposed. An analogy is drawn between the epoxide formation reaction upon the catalytic oxygenation of olefins and the Prilezhaev reaction.

We developed and examined the applicability of two multimodal paramagnetic contrast agents for the longitudinal in vivo investigations of the brain projections. The classical dextran based neuroanatomical tracer was conjugated with mono- and bimetal Gd3+ complexes and an optical reporter. Relaxometric studies of both tracer molecules were performed in vitro followed by in cellulo MR and microscopy investigations. Finally, tracers were injected into the motor cortex of the rat brain; uptake and transporting properties were compared by MRI. The advantage of the multimodal approach was taken and histological studies were performed on the same animals. The histology results confirm the MRI studies demonstrating that the applied tracers labelled anterogradely the regions known for their connections with the motor cortex of the rat brain. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The electrochemical properties of membranes based on dibenzo-crown ethers bearing hydroxyl and chloromethyl groups in polyether rings were studied. These substances were tested as membrane ionophores for ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) reversible to potassium ion. The developed ISEs were used for determining potassium in blood plasma samples. The generalized results of determining potassium in the blood of different patients with cardiovascular diseases revealed quantitative regularities that allowed the diseases to be diagnosed early.

The ethiology, pathogenesis, diagnostics, clinical features and the capabilities of modern instrumental methods in the diagnosis of 134 patients with posttraumatic rectal fistulaes. The main causes of the rectal fistulae formation was the mechanism of the forecoming trauma, late hospital admission and postoperative complications. The use of modern diagnostic facilities allows to know the anatomic features of the fistulae, the presence of the septic cavities of the pararectal tissue, the involvement of sphincter muscles to the inflammatory process and their functional state. All the listed above facilitate the efficacy of the surgical treatment.

The immediate and long-term results of the posttraumatic rectal fistulae treatment in 134 patients were analyzed. The differentiated choice of surgical tactics, the use of modern laser methods and the original complex of diagnostic and treatment measures allowed to decrease the frequency of such posttraumatic complications from 19.0 to 7.9%. Good medical and social adaptadion and rehabilitation rates were achieved in 98.5% of patients.

The crystal structure of lead titanate PbTiO3 have been studied by energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction under pressures of 0–4 GPa in the temperature range of 300–950 K. At a temperature of T = 747 K, a structural phase transition from a ferroelectric tetragonal phase to a paraelectric cubic phase is observed. The application of pressure leads to a significant decrease in the phase transition temperature; under pressures of P ∼ 2 GPa, the type of the phase transition changes from the first to second order. In the low pressure range, the baric coefficient value is dTc/dP = −20(3) K/GPa; under pressures above 2 GPa, it increases up to −113(5) K/GPa.

A Gd(3+) based paramagnetic dextran conjugate has been developed, which enables the tracking of neuroanatomical connectivity in the brain by both MR and optical imaging. Cell studies and subsequent in vivo experiments in rodents demonstrate efficient internalisation and transport properties of the new tracer molecule.

International audience; A novel class of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-tris(methylenecarboxylic) acid (DO3A)-based lanthanide complexes with relaxometric response to Ca(2+) was synthesized, and their physicochemical properties were investigated. Four macrocyclic ligands containing an alkyl-aminobis(methylenephosphonate) side chain for Ca(2+)-chelation have been studied (alkyl is propyl, butyl, pentyl, and hexyl for L(1), L(2), L(3), and L(4), respectively). Upon addition of Ca(2+), the r(1) relaxivity of their Gd(3+) complexes decreased up to 61% of the initial value for the best compounds GdL(3) and GdL(4). The relaxivity of the complexes was concentration dependent (it decreases with increasing concentration). Diffusion NMR studies on the Y(3+) analogues evidenced the formation of agglomerates at higher concentrations; the aggregation becomes even more important in the presence of Ca(2+). (31)P NMR experiments on EuL(1) and EuL(4) indicated the coordination of a phosphonate to the Ln(3+) for the ligand with a propyl chain, while phosphonate coordination was not observed for the analogue bearing a hexyl linker. Potentiometric titrations yielded protonation constants of the Gd(3+) complexes. log K(H1) values for all complexes lie between 6.12 and 7.11 whereas log K(H2) values are between 4.61 and 5.87. Luminescence emission spectra recorded on the Eu(3+) complexes confirmed the coordination of a phosphonate group to the Ln(3+) center in EuL(1). Luminescence lifetime measurements showed that Ca-induced agglomeration reduces the hydration number which is the main cause for the change in r(1). Variable temperature (17)O NMR experiments evidenced high water exchange rates on GdL(1), GdL(2), and GdL(3) comparable to that of the aqua ion.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the ability to visualize a number of biological processes at the molecular and cellular level. The quest for MRI methods that enable the monitoring of these processes with improved specificity and spatiotemporal resolution has induced a considerable amount of research into the chemistry of contrast agents. A novel class of agents has been developed that is able to report a change in its magnetic properties as a function of a specific parameter in the surrounding microenvironment. The vast majority consist of paramagnetic Gd3+ complexes that enhance the contrast in the MR image upon a change in the local concentration of a biologically relevant ion, such as H+, Ca2+, Zn2+, or Cu2+. This review summarizes their coordination chemistry and further aspects of these responsive paramagnetic complexes and discusses the most recent examples that are described in the literature.

Soil erosion and subsequent pollution by water from agricultural lands is still in need for better understanding and evaluating the impacts of various processes involved. We have summarized, in a systematic manner, the contribution of soil inherent properties and extrinsic conditions on soil erosion from numerous soils collected from the top cultivated layer. The soil inherent properties studied included: (1) predominant clay mineralogy (kaolinitic, illitic and smectitic); (2) soil texture (4-6 typical textural classes from sandy to heavy clay); and (3) organic matter content. The extrinsic conditions studied included: (1) 4-5 levels of rain kinetic energy (KE, 0-22 kJ/m3); (2) 3-4 wetting rates (WR) of dry soil by rainfall and irrigation water; (3) water quality (rain, fresh, effluent or saline irrigation water); (4) 4-8 antecedent moisture contents (from dry to full saturation) combined with different aging durations between two wettings; (5) tillage intensity (conventional and minimum tillage); and (6) soil sodicity, and use of soil amendments (polymer, gypsum).

The compositions of silicic obsidian and perlite glasses do not extend the differentiation trend of the basalt-andesite-rhyolite late orogenic series, but clearly split into distinct sodic and potassic branches, originat-ing through liquid immiscibility in the melts. The contrasting compositions of these glasses are matched by the compositions of spherulites and matrix in silicic lavas, pointing to an origin by liquid immiscibility for these as well.

A comparative analysis of efficacy and safety of the neuroleptanalgesia (NLA) and balanced general anesthesia during operations on the biliary tract and liver. Analysis of the results of comprehensive studies of hemodynamic, humoral homeostasis, liver function and clinical anesthesia showed that the optimized on the basis of ketamine modified NLA provides effective neurovegetative protection during operations on the organs of the hepatobiliary system, accompanied by obscure variations in the studied parameters. Traditional methods of the modified NLA is characterized by insufficient anesthesia, accompanied by pronounced physical inactivity circulation and a large number of "critical incidents".

Dichloro ketones obtained from acyl chlorides and allyl or β-methylallyl chloride undergo spontaneous cyclization to give 2-alkyl- and 2,4-dialkylfurans when they are heated; the intermediates in the case of 2,3-dichloropropene split out a molecule of hydrogen chloride to give 3,4-dichloro-2-butenones.

A molecule bearing a macrocyclic DOTA-type chelator and an acyclic chelator based on the 5-aminoisophthalamide diethylenediaminetetraacid (5A-PADDTA) was synthesized by linking these two moieties via an amide bond. The ligand has the possibility to complex two identical or different lanthanide ions, depending on the desire for its potential application. Luminescence studies involving titrations of the Eu(3+) or Gd(3+) complex with Tb(3+) confirm the formation of heterometallic complexes, as well as the presence of different species in the solution. Comparative (1)H NMR spectra of the ligand, its Eu(3+) complex, and that containing both Eu(3+) and Tb(3+) proves the existence of respective monometallic or bimetallic species. NMR diffusion measurements on 5A-PADDTA as a model compound indicate the formation of aggregates upon the addition of Y(3+) (chosen as a diamagnetic analogue of lanthanide ions). Hydration values were calculated from the respective luminescence lifetime values. They show the dominance of a q = 1 species for both ions in monometallic complexes, or q = 1 and q = 2 species of ions in aggregated complexes, for DOTA and 5A-PADDTA chelators, respectively.

Contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that exhibit sensitivity toward specific ions or molecules represent a challenging but attractive direction of research. Here a Gd3+ complex linked to an aminobis(methylenephosphonate) group for chelating Ca2+ was synthesized and investigated. The longitudinal relaxivity (r1) of this complex decreases during the relaxometric titration with Ca2+ from 5.76 to 3.57 mM-1 s-1 upon saturation. The r 1 is modulated by changes in the hydration number, which was confirmed by determination of the luminescence emission lifetimes of the analogous Eu3+ complex. The initial in vivo characterization of this responsive contrast agent was performed by means of electrophysiology and MRI experiments. The investigated complex is fully biocompatible, having no observable effect on neuronal function after administration into the brain ventricles or parenchyma. Distribution studies demonstrated that the diffusivity of this agent is significantly lower compared with that of gadolinium- diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). © 2010 American Chemical Society., This work was supported by the Max-Planck Society, the Hertie Foundation, the Louis-Jeantet Foundation, DFG (Grant AN 716/2-1), HFSPO (long-term fellowship to S.C.), and the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (Ph.D. scholarship to J.H.).

Electrochemical properties of membranes based on macrocyclic compounds containing two sulfur atoms in a polyether ring were studied. The use of these compounds as ionophores of membranes of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) reversible with respect to mercury(II) was examined. The ISEs developed were used for the determination of mercury in samples of fish and soil.

Two DO3A-based ligands appended with the propylphosphonate side arm and their Ln3+ complexes were investigated. Proton relaxometric in vitro studies at 20 MHz and 60 MHz and 37 degree of Celsius of the Gd3+ complex containing free acid exhibited relative changes of up to 56 % in r1 relaxivity when the pH of the medium was changed from 4 to 7. This change is explained by the decrease in the number of coordinated water molecules from two to one. Temperature-dependent relaxivity and NMRD profiles of Gd3+ complexes showed a fast water exchange and a slightly increased rotational correlation time, which is characteristic of phosphonate-containing compounds. Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of the Gd3+ and Eu3+ complexes were performed by means of potentiometry and luminescence spectroscopy. The results indicate that the thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness of these complexes are sufficient for their in vivo application.

Heating 1,2,11,12-tetrachloro-2,11-bis(R-4,9-dodecanediones) and 1,4-bis(3-R-3,4-dichlorobutanoyl)cyclohexanes gave, respectively, 1,4-difuryl derivatives of butane and cyclohexane, while treatment of them with primary amines or phosphorus pentasulfide in DMF was used to synthesize dipyrryl and dithienyl compounds. 1-R-3-R1-3,4-Dichlorobutanones react with ethylenediamine in aqueous alkali solutions to give 1,2-dipyrryl or monopyrryl derivatives of ethane.

Gd3+ chelates linked to a modified EGTA moiety were prepared in order to respond to extracellular Ca2+ fluctuations in the brain Gd3+ chelates linked to a modified EGTA moiety were prepared in order to respond to extracellular Ca2+ fluctuations in the brain. Upon interaction with Ca2+, they exhibit high and reversible relaxivity changes in buffered solution or in a model of the brain extracellular medium. These efficient Ca2+ magnetic resonance imaging sensors might open new perspectives in functional molecular imaging.

Eight DO3A-based lanthanide(III) complexes bearing ester protected and unprotected phosphonate groups at variable distances from the macrocyclic moiety have been synthesized and analyzed. The ligands were made by straightforward four-step synthetic procedures and purified with preparative RP-HPLC, after which they were used to prepare gadolinium(III) and europium(III) complexes. Relaxometric experiments were performed on the Gd(III) complexes at 300 MHz, varying the pH of the solutions or the concentration of human serum albumin (HSA). It was found that when the pH of the medium was changed from neutral to pH 4 the longitudinal relaxivity of GdDO3A-ethylphosphonate and GdDO3A-propylphosphonate complexes increased by 50% and 60%, respectively. Diethyl esters of these complexes did not change longitudinal relaxivity in the same pH range but their transverse relaxivity increased upon binding to HSA. 31P NMR experiments on Eu(III) complexes showed a change in the chemical shift of both acid complexes in the same region where the highest relaxivity changes were observed and proved the stability of the complexes in the investigated pH range, while no shift was observed for the diester complexes. Luminescence studies on europium(III) complexes additionally supported observations obtained by NMR methods. The change in the form of the luminescence emission spectra, and the reduction in the q value upon addition of HSA proved the ternary adduct formation between the charge neutral diester complexes and HSA. Similarly, the change in the emission spectra showing a phosphonate bound structure at pH 7 to a species where the phosphonate oxygen is not coordinated at pH 4 in parallel with the increase of q value is supporting the hypothesis that the deprotonation of phosphonates is the main reason for the distinct relaxivity change from slightly acidic to the neutral solution media.

Stereochemistry of [2+2]- and [1+1]-macrocylization of cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid with 1,2-dibromoethane, 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol, and 1,5-dichloro-3-oxapentane was studied. The reaction of cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid with 1,2-dibromoethane according to the [2+2]-cyclization scheme gave a mixture of stereoisomeric macroheterocycles with cis,syn,cis- and cis,anti,cis-junction of the polyether and cyclohexene rings. In the reaction of cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid with 1,5-dichloro-3-oxapentane, a mixture of crown compounds with cis,anti,cis- and cis-junction of the polyether and cyclohexene rings was obtained. The structure of the products was established on the basis of their chemical transformations and spectral data.

Stability of soil surface aggregates and irrigation water quality significantly affect runoff and soil erosion. Slow wetting of aggregates prevents slaking. We hypothesized that wetting rate will affect a soil's susceptibility to seal formation and soil erosion, and that this susceptibility will differ between effluent- and fresh water (FW)-irrigated soils. Effects of prewetting rate (2, 4, 8, and 64 mm h(-1)) on runoff and interrill erosion from five Israeli soils exposed to 60 mm of simulated rain were studied in the laboratory. Soils were taken from fields irrigated with FW or effluents for15 yr. In general, for effluent- and FW-irrigated samples, runoff and soil loss were greatest for the soil with 22.5% clay; at lower or higher clay contents, less runoff and soil losses were noted. Runoff and soil loss decreased with decreasing prewetting rate (PWR) mainly in soils with clay contentor =38%. Total runoff and soil loss were higher in effluent-irrigated soils than in FW-irrigated ones in the loamy sand (8% clay) only. Greater soil losses occurred from effluent-irrigated soils exposed to fast PWR (64 m h(-1)) compared with FW-irrigated soils. In general, PWR had similar effects on total runoff and soil loss for effluent- and FW-irrigated soils. Use of wetting ratesor =8 mm h(-1) to prevent aggregate slaking decreased runoff and soil loss from loam and clayey soils exposed to simulated rainfall of high kinetic energy (15.9 kJ m(-3)). Long term irrigation with effluents in soils containing20% clay did not seem to adversely affect soil susceptibility to runoff and soil loss in soils exposed to simulated rainfall, beyond that observed in FW-irrigated soils.

A new compound was isolated pure by column chromatography of the acetone extract of Petasites albus roots. Its structure was established as 5-isopropenyl-3-methyl-7-carboxybenzofuran (1) based on physicochemical and spectral (IR, PMR, 13 C NMR, 13 C DEPT 135) data.

Recycling of organic wastes via their incorporation in cultivated lands is known to alter soil structural stability. Aggregate stability tests are commonly used to express quantitatively the susceptibility of soil structural stability to deformation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of biosolids addition, namely composted manure (MC) and activated sludge (AS), and spiking of the soils with orthophosphate (OP), phytic acid (PA) or humic acid (HA), on soil aggregate stability of semi-arid loamy sand, loam and clay soils before and after subjecting the soils to six rain storms (each 30 mm rain with a break of 3–4 days). Aggregate stability was determined from water-retention curves at high matric potential. The effects of the applied amendments on pre- and post-rain aggregate stability were inconsistent and soil-dependent. For the pre-rain state, all of the tested amendments improved aggregate stability relative to the control. For the post-rain condition, aggregate stability was lower in the MC, OP and PA treatments and higher in the AS and HA treatments than in the control. The coarse-textured loam and loamy sand soils were more affected by the soil amendments than the clay soil. For the pre-rain state, addition of organic matter significantly improved macro-porosity and hence the stability of apparent macro-aggregate (>250 μm). Our results indicate a possible advantage for separation of aggregates into macro- and micro-aggregates for more precise evaluation and understanding of the effects organic amendments might have on aggregate stability.

Immediate and long-term outcomes of repeated and multistage operations were analyzed in 190 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. The aspects of work rehabilitation were studied in these patients. The efficiency of repeated and stage surgical interventions in patients both with disseminated and complicated types of tuberculosis and with pleural empyemas and in those with uncomplicated postoperative disease is 87.5 and 92.2%, respectively. The long-term results indicated that the complete clinical effect preserved in 79.2% of patients. Work rehabilitation was achieved in 64.8% of the examinees in the long-term postoperative period. The use of repeated and stage surgical interventions in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis may rehabilitate a rather large proportion of those operated on, assuming a great socioeconomic significance.

A new series of Gd(3+) complexes based on DO3A (GdL(1)-GdL(4)) was synthesized and investigated. They possess side chains with different structures which determine their varying binding properties and response towards endogenous metal ions, measured by changes in the longitudinal relaxivity (r(1)). GdL(4) exhibits the highest selectivity toward Ca(2+) in comparison to the other complexes, with up to a 63% increase of the r(1). GdL(2) and GdL(3) also respond to different Ca(2+) concentration ranges, however with a lower selectivity since the r(1) changes are also observed in the presence of other cations such as Mg(2+), Zn(2+) or Cu(2+). Assessment of the hydration number (q) via luminescence lifetime measurements confirmed that the change in q is responsible for the r(1) response for all the complexes.

Soil surface application of dissolved linear polyacrylamide (PAM) of high molecular weight (MW) can mitigate seal formation, runoff, and erosion, especially when added with a source of electrolytes (e.g. gypsum). Practical difficulties associated with PAM solution application prohibited commercial use of PAM in dryland farming. An alternative practice of spreading dry granular PAM with high MW on the soil surface has been ineffective in reducing runoff while effectively reducing erosion. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which granular PAM (20 kg/ha), with moderate (2 × 105 Da) or high (1.2 × 107 Da) MW, mixed with phosphogypsum (PG) (4 Mg/ha) affects infiltration rate, runoff, and erosion. Five smectitic soils, treated with PAM and PG, were exposed to simulated rainfall of deionised water in the laboratory. Both dry PAMs, mixed with PG, increased final infiltration rate (3–5 times) and reduced erosion (2–4 times) relative to the control (no amendments). Whereas the polymers’ effects on the infiltration rate and runoff relative to each other were inconsistent, PAM with moderate MW was consistently more effective in reducing soil loss than PAM with high MW. For example, in the sandy clay soil, soil losses were reduced from 840 g/m2, in the control, to 570 and 370 g/m2 for the high and moderate MW PAM treatment, respectively. This greater capacity to control soil erosion was ascribed to the lower viscosity of the soil surface solution following dissolution of dry PAM granules in the case of moderate MW PAM, leading to more uniform, effective treatment of soil aggregates at the soil surface by the polymer.

Method of measuring dielectric parameters of human hair was developed. It was shown that values of relative dielectric permeability of hair may serve as objective criteria in the course of determination of their similarity.

Declaration of Financial Interests or Relationships To insure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all CME programs it is the policy of the meeting's joint sponsors that any speaker or poster presenter who makes a presentation at a program designated for AMA Physician's Recognition Award (PRA) Category 1 or 2 credit must disclose any real or apparent financial interest or other relationship (i.e., grants, research support, consultant, honoraria) that the presenter may have with the manufacturers, distributors or providers of any commercial products or services that may be discussed in the presentation.ISMRM and SMI do not imply that such financial interests or relationships are inherently improper or that such interests or relationships would prevent the presenter from making an objective presentation. However, it is imperative that such financial interests or relationships be identified by the presenter so that participants at the CME activity may have these facts fully disclosed prior to the presentation, and may form their own judgments about the presentation. Towards this end, the information provided by each presenter can be found at the bottom of each abstract.Every speaker, abstract presenter, organizer or anyone else who has control over any content in this meeting has been required to submit a Declaration of Financial Interests or Relationships, even if there is no conflict or relationship to declare.

Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 604/2000 series. Exchangeable sodium deteriorates the hydraulic conductivity of soils. The susceptibility of soils to sodicity depends on the soils’ inherent properties, and is known to increase with an increase in clay content and the presence of 2:1 clay minerals, and decrease with an increase in sesquioxides content. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of an extrinsic time-dependent property, such as soil prewetting rate (PWR), on the hydraulic conductivity (HC) of smectitic soils varying in their exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) between 1 and 10 and in clay content. Five soils were studied: a loamy sand, a loam, a sandy clay, and 2 clay soils. Air-dried soil samples with ESP of 2, 6, and 10 were packed in plexiglass columns and were prewetted from below at 3 rates (1.7, 4.25, and 50 mm/h) with deionised water. The columns were then leached at constant hydraulic head with deionised water, and flow rates were measured. The reference hydraulic conductivity (HC0) of the loamy sand was not affected by both PWR and sodicity. In the loam, HC0 was not affected by rate of wetting. However, increasing the ESP from 2.1 to 9.5 decreased HC0 from 15.8 to 5.0 mm/h for the fast wetting. Similar decreases were noted in the other 2 wetting rates. The hydraulic conductivity of the sandy clay and the 2 clay soils were effected by PWR. In the sandy clay with ESP 5.5, increasing PWR from 1.7 to 50 mm/h resulted in a decrease in HC0 from 78.7 to 3.2 mm/h The decrease in HC0 in these soils with the increase in wetting rate was ascribed to aggregate slaking. The effect of PWR on HC0 was more notable, especially at the low ESP, as clay content increased. The hydraulic conductivity of the sodic soils leached with distilled water decreased more steeply and to lower values with increasing PWR. Fast prewetting, which increased breakdown of soil aggregates, increased the susceptibility of the soils to sodicity

Surface sealing is determined by aggregate disintegration and clay dispersion, which in turn depend on aggregate wetting rate, and soil sodicity and texture. We hypothesised that soil susceptibility to seal formation increases when the aggregate wetting rate (WR) is increased, and that the effect of WR depends on soil texture and soil sodicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of WR on seal formation, by observing infiltration rate (IR) and runoff, in cultivated soils varying in clay content and exchangeable sodium percent (ESP). Effects of 3 wetting rates (2, 8, and 64 mm/h) on IR and runoff from 6 Israeli soils exposed to 60 mm of simulated rain of deionised water were studied in the laboratory. The soils ranged in clay from 8.8 to 68.3% and ESP levels from 0.9 to 20.4. Effects of WR on soil infiltration rate and runoff depended on soil texture and soil ESP. In soils with low clay content (8.8%), the effect of WR on seal formation was negligible, whereas effect of ESP was significant. Conversely, in clay soils (>52.1%), WR had a predominant effect on IR and runoff, while the effect of ESP was notable yet secondary to that of WR. The soils with intermediate clay content (22.5–40.2% clay) were the soils most susceptible to seal formation, with WR and ESP having moderate effects on seal formation. Effects of WR on aggregate disintegration and seal formation increased with increasing clay content and aggregate stability. Conversely, the role of ESP in determining sealing decreased with an increase in clay content and in WR.