Pine Bark

Cultivation of vegetable in organically amended soil is an eco-friendly means of fortifying crops with minerals of nutritional importance. This study investigated the effect of organic and inorganic amendments on the growth, yield, and uptake of zinc (Zn) by black jack. The 30 potted experiment consisted of no amendment (control) and amendment as: Cow Dung (CD), Composted Sawdust (CSD),

The results are reported of an energy analysis of a biomass/coal co-firing based power generation system, carried out to investigate the impacts of biomass co-firing on system performance. The power generation system is a typical pulverized coal-fired steam cycle unit, in which four biomass fuels (rice husk, pine sawdust, chicken litter, and refuse derived fuel) and two coals (bituminous coal and lignite) are considered. Key system performance parameters are evaluated for various fuel combinations and co-firing ratios, using a system model and numerical simulation. The results indicate that plant energy efficiency decreases with increase of biomass proportion in the fuel mixture, and that the extent of the decrease depends on specific properties of the coal and biomass types.

Responsesof seven species of pine-infesting beetles to traps baited with either turpentine, ethanol, turpentine and ethanol released from separate dispensers,or a 1:1solution of turpentine and ethanol released from one dispenser were assessedin three fieldexperiments. The weevil species, Pachylobius picivorus (Germar), and the cerambycid pine sawyer, Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier), were attracted to turpentine and were unaffected by the addition of ethanol. The ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff, responded to ethanol alone but was not attracted to turpentine, nor did the presence of turpentine significantly affect its response to ethanol. The remaining four species displayed responses to turpentine that were enhanced by the addition of ethanol, but in different ways according to the method of deployment. Hylobius pales (Herbst) weevils and M. titillator (F.) sawyers displayed greatest attraction to turpentine and ethanol whether they were released from side-by-side dispensers or as a solution from one dispenser. The black turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus terebrans (Olivier), displayed the highest response to turpentine and ethanol in solution. The ambrosia beetle, X. pubescens Zimmermann, responded in low numbers to turpentine or ethanol deployed singly, but displayed an enhanced response (20-fold increase) to turpentine and ethanol deployed side-by-sideand an even greater response (60-fold increase) to a solution of turpentine and ethanol. Reasons for increased responses by some species to a solution of turpentine and ethanol over the two released separately are not clear; they may lie in different dosagesor evaporation rates of volatilesin the field. Laboratory analyses of trapped headspace volatiles from dispensers containing only turpentine and those containing a solution of turpentine and ethanol revealed no differences in the amounts of four principal monoterpene hydrocarbons (a-pinene, camphene, }3-pinene,and limonene) released over time. The synergistic effect of turpentine and ethanol for some speciesand not others may point to ecological differences between species with regard to the condition of preferred host material.

This research studied the adsorption of five heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in three adsorbents, two Colombian agricultural soils (Typic Melanudand and fine clay 1% isohyperthermic-Ustic Epiaquert) and Humic Acids (HA) extracted from leonardite samples of Spain. In both, HA and soils, the chemical properties determined were: pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon (% OC), exchangeable bases and total content of metals. The chemical composition of HA was determined using spectrometric techniques as ICP_MS, FTIR, UV-Vis, and CPMAS 13 C NMR and Py-GC/MS-THMA. The results from the adsorption of metals in the three adsorbents were adjusted to Freundlich model, and these show a different behavior of the absorbers relative to the metals studied, in the same way the maximum adsorption capacity (K) and the retention strength (n) of metals is significantly different (p <0.05). According to K and n of each adsorbent, the adsorption selectivity sequences of the metals has the following order of preference for K:

The aim of this paper was to establish the cause of sinking of an old wooden vessel by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analyses because wood combustion is a source of PAHs. In particular, the molecular PAH patterns generated by each source are like fingerprints and it is possible to determine the processes that generate PAHs by studying their distribution in wood samples. The relative abundance of high molecular weight PAHs, together with the PAH compound ratios and with total index (proposed by us) has demonstrated that samples owe their PAHs in wood archaeological material to a predominant single mode of origin, i.e. combustion processes, therefore we can say that the sinking of the vessel was caused by a fire.

This paper describes a work aimed at improving the conditions of an extraction method, coupling GC-MS determination, for the analysis without cleanup phase, of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from sediment samples. The automatic Soxhlet extraction in warm mode (using Extraction System B-811 Standard, Büchi) has demonstrated advantages for automation, reduced extraction time, and lower solvent use than for conventional Soxhlet extraction. Under these conditions, the recoveries are very good as they resulted greater than 85 % and, in most of the cases, near 100 %. The repeatability is also satisfactory (relative standard deviation less than 15 %). The detection limits are also acceptable and ranged from 0.001 to0.01 μg/kg dry weight. Fifty-four sediment samples were collected. The total concentration of the 17 compounds investigated, in samples of sediments collected from three Sicilian coastal areas, expressed as the sum of concentrations, varies from 99 to 11,557 μg/kg of dry matrix; concentrations of total PAHs in the sediments of Cala are two to three times higher than the other stations.

Tetraphleps galchanoides Ghauri (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) nymphs were collected from hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) infested Tsuga sp. in Baoxing, Sichuan, China. First and second stage nymphs collected from foliage shipped from China; were reared to adults and tested for feeding rates and host preferences. They were reared at 5, 8, 12, and 15 ± 1 °C from November to December, January to March, April, and May to June, respectively, in the quarantine laboratory at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. At 8 °C, development time was 15, 20, and 40 days for the N-III, IV, and V nymphal stages, respectively. Adult males lived 83 days with a range of 21À147 days. A single adult female lived for 21 days. At 5 °C, second stage T. galchanoides nymphs consumed 0.8 HWA nymphs per day, and 2.0 HWA nymphs per day at the N-V stage. At 8 °C, consumption of HWA nymphs ranged from 1.3 to 3.4 nymphs per day for the N-III to N-V stages, respectively. Adult T. galchanoides consumed more HWA eggs than HWA adults, pine bark adelgid (PBA) Pineus strobi (Hartig) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) adults, and eggs in no-choice tests. In choice tests with HWA eggs and PBA eggs, more HWA eggs were eaten. Adult and nymph body measurements are presented for determination of nymphal instars.

Accelerated aging was examined over a broad temperature range (40-290 °C) to determine the stability and different aging mechanisms for pyrolysis oil produced using fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) of solid particulate biomass material. Oil properties, including water content, high-molecular-mass (HMM) lignin content, viscosity, molecular weight, and chemical composition, were measured both before and after the accelerated aging study. Notably, at all aging times and temperatures explored, all samples remained as a single phase. Chemical composition of the pyrolysis oils was monitored using infrared and mass spectroscopies. Oils aged at temperatures above 60 °C showed marked increases in HMM lignin content and molecular weight with increasing aging time. Calorimetry results indicated that, at and above 200 °C, there were alternate aging mechanisms that occur, including sugar decomposition. A rapid increase in the water content and shift in the HMM fraction molecular weight corroborated the decomposition of sugars, which led to the formation of water and reactive monomers. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results showed that similar aging reactions occurred for oils aged between 40 and 80 °C and between 150 and 290 °C. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) results suggested the reactions among furfural, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one, hydroxybenzenes with available ortho/para sites, and the active sites on HMM lignin contributed to property changes as a result of heat treatment.

Accelerated aging was examined over a broad temperature range (40-290 °C) to determine the stability and different aging mechanisms for pyrolysis oil produced using fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) of solid particulate biomass material. Oil properties, including water content, high-molecular-mass (HMM) lignin content, viscosity, molecular weight, and chemical composition, were measured both before and after the accelerated aging study. Notably, at all aging times and temperatures explored, all samples remained as a single phase. Chemical composition of the pyrolysis oils was monitored using infrared and mass spectroscopies. Oils aged at temperatures above 60 °C showed marked increases in HMM lignin content and molecular weight with increasing aging time. Calorimetry results indicated that, at and above 200 °C, there were alternate aging mechanisms that occur, including sugar decomposition. A rapid increase in the water content and shift in the HMM fraction molecular weight corroborated the decomposition of sugars, which led to the formation of water and reactive monomers. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results showed that similar aging reactions occurred for oils aged between 40 and 80 °C and between 150 and 290 °C. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) results suggested the reactions among furfural, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one, hydroxybenzenes with available ortho/para sites, and the active sites on HMM lignin contributed to property changes as a result of heat treatment.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified diazinon as a dangerous chemical for human health and the environment. This research aimed to remove diazinon from aqueous solutions using the enhanced adsorption process with ultrasonic waves. Methods: The adsorbent was prepared from rice husk after acid washing, and was placed in a furnace under nitrogen gas at a temperature of 700 °C for 2 hours. The effects of pH, initial diazinon concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time, and the combined effect of ultrasonic waves were investigated. The concentration of diazinon was measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 247.5 nm. Results: In this study, the pH pzc of the adsorbent was determined to be 9. The highest removal efficiency (RE) was obtained at a pH of 8, adsorbent dosage of 2 g/L, and diazinon concentration of 20 mg/L. With the increase of the contact time, the RE increased, and maximum RE was obtained up to 78% at 60 minutes. The RE of diazinon using a combination of adsorption with ultrasonic waves increased up to 90%. In this study, with four recovery stages of the spent adsorbent, approximately 4% of the RE decreased. The equilibrium data were studied using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms. Moreover, kinetic studies were evaluated by pseudo-first-order (PFO) and pseudo-second-order (PSO) models. The results indicated that the Langmuir isotherm and PSO model had the most agreement with the experimental data. Conclusion: Application of this adsorbent with ultrasonic waves can be effective in removing diazinon from agricultural and pharmaceutical effluents containing diazinon.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of standardized French maritime pine bark extract Pycnogenol ® in patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). 98 subjects with symptomatic CVI and edema were randomly assigned to one group treated with 150 mg Pycnogenol a day only, another group with stockings only and a third group with both Pycnogenol and elastic stockings. The average ambulatory venous pressure (AVP) at inclusion was 58 ± 7 mm Hg (range 48-60 mm Hg) with a refilling time (RT) < 12 s (average 7 ± 2 s). The duration of the disease was on average 6.0 ± 3.1 years. There were no differences in AVP or RT among the 3 groups at inclusion and microcirculatory and clinical evaluations were comparable. After 8 weeks treatment there was a significant decrease of rate of ankle swelling, resting flux, transcutaneous pO 2 and clinical symptom scores in all groups with significantly better results for the combination treatment. Pycnogenol alone was more effective than compression alone for all parameters (p < 0.05). No side-effects were observed; compliance and tolerability were very good. This study corroborates a significant clinical role for Pycnogenol in the management, treatment and control of CVI also in combination with compression.

This study had the objective of determining the subculture number and the shoot basal diameter that produces the best rooting rate ex vitro of chestnut, Castanea sativa Mill., microshoots obtained via in vitro culturing. The plant material corresponded to microcuttings obtained from embryo cultures with between 7 and 12 subcultures in the proliferative stage, for which Driver and Kuniyuki Walnut (DKW) medium was used with the macronutrients reduced to a half and supplemented with 1 mg L -1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.1 mg L -1 indole-3-butiric acid (IBA). The quick induction rooting method was used, submerging the base of the microcuttings in a solution of 0.5 mg mL -1 of IBA for 15 min. For the rooting stage, pine bark:perlite (4:1, v/v) substrate was used, carrying out the evaluation of results at 20 days after culturing. The evaluated variables were survival rate (%), rooting rate (%), root number, root length (mm), callus presence and visual aspect of the rooting system. The results showed a decrease of rooting capacity as the subculture number increases. The factor microcutting diameter did not present significant differences with respect to the evaluated variables.

Pinus merkusii is one of the most important timber species in Indonesia, the main product of which is its oleoresin. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of collection period (three periods, with 6-day observation each) on oleoresin yield in relation to two factors: growth sites of Pinus merkusii, which in the case of this study were East Banyumas,
West Banyumas, and West Pekalongan Forest Management Units, and use of stimulants (sulfuric acid and ethephon mixtures, ETRAT, SR4, and no treatment). The average total oleoresin yield from a single tree or wound during the 18-day observation period was 110−185 g/tree for untreated trees and 159−442 g/tree for stimulant-treated trees. By analysis of variance, the interaction between each collection period (6-day observation period) and tree growing sites showed that the maximum average oleoresin yield for one hole was 109.32 g/tree measured in East Banyumas in the first collection period. Furthermore, the East Banyumas site consistently showed significantly the highest yield in each period. The interaction between the factors of stimulant and collection period (6-
day observation) resulted in the highest average oleoresin yield (121.86 g/tree) measured for trees treated with sulfuric acid (20%) and Ethephon (2%) mixtures in aqueous solution (v/v) treatment in the first collecting period. In West Pekalongan, the resin yield from trees treated with different treatments tended to be positively related to tree diameter. In addition, a positive correlation was found between resin yield and tree height or crown closure, while a negative correlation was found between resin yield and site elevation in trees treated with certain stimulants.

The rate of soil water extraction by roots depends on the momentary atmospheric conditions and soil water availability, which in turn depends on the resistance to water flow from the soil bulk to the soil-root interface, and water flow across the root tissues and into the root xylem. Mo.isture depletion in the rhizosphere induces water flow from the surrounding soil volume to replenish the depleted water. The hypothesis in the current lecture is that the dynamic rather than the static features of the soil water in the effective root zone should be considered when one examines water availability to the plant roots and irrigation scheduling. Irrigation scheduling is designed by using different soil parameters {porosity, density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, etc.). When water availability is included in the design, the retention curve of the given soil is used as well. Since this curve is intrinsically based on soil water statics and provides information on the water amount at different suctions, it represents the potential rather than the actual water availability to the plant. Water flux from the soil bulk to the plant root depends on the momentary value of the hydraulic conductivity within the soil volume that encircles the roots and on the hydraulic head gradient between this soil volume and tbe outer surface of the root. The momentary balance between the actual water flux from the soil volume surrounding the root and the potential water extraction rate (which depends mainly on the momentary atmospheric conditions) determines whether soil moisture is fully available to the plant. By "fully available" we mean that the water extracted from the vicinity of the root can be fully replenished in a matter of moments. When the root rhizosphere cannot be immediately replenished, water uptake by the root will be limited by the transport ability of soil water toward the roots, i.e. by the conductivity of the rhizospheric soil. Results of field and greenhouse experimental studies, which verify the hypothesis, will be introduced. Irrigation scheduling based on the dynamic water availability concept increases water use efficiency, which is vital for areas where water is scarce, and reduces the deterioration of groundwater quality by agrochemicals transported by excessive irrigation water percolation.

Nowadays trace organic pollutants represent a major concern in water treatment systems. Activated carbon has been used for most applications aiming at the reduction of these kind of compounds in aqueous effluents, but regeneration needs and high operation costs led to a renewed interest in the search for alternative sorbents. Pine bark is an excedentary raw material from sawmills in Portugal, and therefore a profitable natural resource that has already been successfully tested in the adsorption of organochlorines from contaminated water. This study aims at characterizing the pine bark surface structurally and chemically, to understand the nature of sorption occurring when a trace organic contaminant is present in aqueous effluents. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) was the trace contaminant used in the experiments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury porosimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were the techniques used, in addi...

xxii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 5.3.2 Concentration of PAHs in plant leaves between species 5.4 Conclusion CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION 6.1 Comparison of total concentration of PAHs with utilisation from Tangkak toll station 4.9 Concentration of PAHs in Baphia sp. from Ayer Hitam toll station for 12 weeks. 4.10 Concentration of PAHs in Bougainvillea sp. from Ayer Hitam toll station for 12 weeks. 4.11 Concentration of PAHs in Codiaeum sp. from Ayer Hitam toll station for 12 weeks. 4.12 Concentration of PAHs in Ficus microcarpa from Ayer Hitam toll station for 12 weeks. 4.13 Concentration of PAHs in Ixora coccinea from Ayer Hitam toll station for 12 weeks. 4.14 Concentration of PAHs in Bougainvillea sp. from Skudai toll station for 12 weeks. 4.15 Concentration of PAHs in Ficus microcarpa from Skudai toll station for 12 weeks. 4.16 Concentration of PAHs in Heliconia sp. from Skudai toll station for 12 weeks. 4.17 Concentration of PAHs in Ixora coccinea from Skudai toll station for 12 weeks. 4.18 Concentration of PAHs in Ixora taiwanensis from Skudai toll station for 12 weeks.

Etude écologique d'un humus forestier par l'observation d'un petit volume. Cet article fait partie d'une série (déjà parus: PONGE 1984(déjà parus: PONGE , 1985a)), dont le premier article a présenté les buts et la méthodologie. Rappelons qu'il s'agit, par l'observation exhaustive d'un petit volume de litière et de sol, dont la micro stratification en couches successives et la fixation ont été réalisées sur le terrain, de définir de la façon la plus complète possible l'ensemble des interactions existant entre les organismes vivants du sol (microflore + faune), le matériel végétal (litière + système racinaire) et les éléments minéraux (sables + limons + argiles). La station étudiée en premier lieu est un peuplement de pin sylvestre pur (Pinus sylvestris L.) de 35 ans environ, sur sol lessivé acide à hydromorphie temporaire (pseudo-gley). L'humus est de type dysmoder (au sens de MANIL 1959), c'est-à-dire un moder dégradé en transition vers le mor, avec une couche H épaisse de 1 cm. En ce qui concerne la végétation on notera la présence au sein de la strate herbacée d'un tapis continu et dense d'une mousse, Pseudoscleropodium purum (L.), souvent associée aux peuplements de résineux , ainsi que de nombreuses frondes de fougère aigle [Pteridium aquilinum (L.)]. Les caractéristiques climatiques, botaniques, faunistiques et micro biologiques de cette station figurent de façon détaillée dans deux articles de synthèse (ARPIN et al. 1986 a, b). Les prélèvements ont eu lieu à la fin d'août 1981 et le matériel a été fixé et conservé dans l'alcool éthylique pur (95°) directement sur le terrain. La couche étudiée ici, appelée F 1 mais équivalant à la sous-couche F r au sens de BABEL (1971), est constituée par des aiguilles de pin fragmentées et compactées, profondément attaquées par la microflore et la faune du sol, ainsi que par des déjections animales, encore en quantité réduite à ce niveau. La partie décomposée des pieds feuillés de mousse ainsi que la litière de fougère sont également présentes en proportion notable, ainsi qu'un réseau racinaire fin mycorhizé provenant du pin sylvestre. Le tableau 1 indique les volumes respectifs des divers éléments rencontrés. Par rapport à la couche précédente (PONGE 1985a), on remarquera que la diversité du matériel rencontré ne change pratiquement plus. L'abondance de la litière de fougère aigle, la présence de quelques (rares) fragments de limbe de bouleau très décomposés permettent de dater approximativement la chute de litière à l'origine de cette couche. Il s'agirait d'une période s'étalant de l'été 1980 à décembre 1980 ou janvier 1981. Cette période inclut une très forte chute de litière de pin en septembre et octobre 1980 (ARPIN et al. 1986a). La présence d'euphylles et d'inflorescences mâles de pin encore peu décomposées est sans doute due à une pénétration de matériel récent à travers les couches L 1 et L 2 (très peu denses), en raison de la petite taille et de la légèreté de ces éléments, au cours de l'été 1981 relativement pluvieux. La proportion des vides a un peu baissé par rapport à la couche L 2 (73% au lieu de 77%) mais reste encore très importante: le tassement est encore faible. On remarquera à la lecture du tableau 1 que, pour la première fois, les aiguilles de pin constituent l'élément dominant dans la couche considérée, dépassant ainsi en volume le matériel muscinal, qui dominait jusqu'a présent. Il ne faut cependant pas traduire ce phénomène en termes de vitesse de décomposition (qui serait plus lente pour les aiguilles) car la période correspondant à cette couche comprend la forte chute d'aiguilles de pin de septembre-octobre 1980. Deux phénomènes constituent, en outre, une rupture qualitative par rapport à ce qui avait été observé dans les couches précédentes: les déjections animales de la macrofaune constituent le troisième élément important, en volume, dans la couche F 1 , avec 11% du volume total d'éléments figurés, au lieu de 2% dans la couche L 2 . Le développement racinaire est également beaucoup plus important, représentant 6% (au lieu de 0,6% en L 2 ). Le volume de la faune vivante, même compte tenu de l'imprécision de son estimation (concernant la méthode de mesure, voir PONGE 1984), apparait en croissance sensible par rapport aux deux couches précédentes.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder among school-age children . Children with ADHD display as early onset of symptoms a developmentally inappropriate overactivity, inattention, academic under-achievement and impulsive behaviour . According to a variety of epidemiological data the incidence of ADHD in children and adolescents ranges from 3 to 5 percent. Boys are 2.5 to 9.0 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD compared to girls . According to International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), ADHD is called Hyperkinetic Dis-

Bark beetles are known to be associated with diverse guilds of arthropods and microorgan-isms of which phoretic mites and ophiostomatoid fungi are among the best-known associ-ates. Some ophiostomatoid fungi associated with bark beetles display high levels of virulence to their ...

Background: The results of studies of the influence of long-term fertilization on the parameters of growth parameters of apple trees of the Aidared variety on seed and vegetative M.4 rootstocks during repeated cultivation on dark gray podzolic soil were considered.

Methods: The research was conducted during 1990-2016 in the apple tree plantation of the Uman National University of Horticulture in an experiment with long-term use of different fertilization systems.

Result: It was found that the length of shoot growth of the experimental variety depended on the age periods of growth, rootstock and fertilization options. During the period of growth and fruiting, shoot growth was weak (19.4-22.2 cm) in all variants on both rootstocks due to the impact of soil toxin and difficult weather conditions on the re-grown trees. During the fruiting and growth periods, shoot growth was the largest, while during the fruiting period it decreased again, which was due to an increase in fruit yield and lack of moisture for normal growth of experimental trees. A significant increase in tree crown volume (by 38 %) during the fruiting period was observed on the seed stock compared to the vegetative M.4.

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim) is Rosaceae family perennial herb. Traditional uses of F. ulmaria include inflammatory problems like rheumatism, arthrosis, and arthritis), gastrointestinal disorders, liver malfunction, and gout. The pharmaceutical industry has been very interested in this plant because of its health benefits. The presence of phenolic secondary metabolites is thought to be the primary cause of meadowsweet's biological activity and therapeutic efficacy. This study was intended to compare and evaluate the biological activities (antibacterial, antioxidant, antitumor and toxicity) and phenolic profiles (total phenol-flavonoid content and individual phenolic constituents) of F. ulmaria aerial parts obtained from two different sources (naturally-and in vitro-grown). Antibacterial activity was evaluated using 17 different bacteria (10 human and 7 fish pathogens) with disc diffusion method. Methanolic extracts of in vitro-grown parts showed higher antibacterial effect than naturally-grown parts with all tested bacterial pathogens (human and fish). On the other hand, other extracts (aqueous, ethanol, hexane, and ethyl acetate) demonstrated higher antibacterial potential with field-grown parts. The highest sensitivity was observed with Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus and Enterobacter cloacae to aqueous extract of field-grown plants. The potent antibacterial activity of F. ulmaria extracts rendered the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced potato disc tumor assay inapplicable. Toxicity assay (brine shrimp) showed that aqueous extract of both sources had the lowest toxicity. Methanolic extract of both parts had a strong antioxidant potential (DPPH radical scavenging activty) having IC50 values as 205.65 µg/mL and 206.74 µg/mL, respectively, and similar level of overall total phenol-flavonoid contents. Individual phenolic analysis with HPLC-DAD showed that the most prevalent phenol was rutin in both sources. While the quantities of chlorogenic acid in both aerial parts were similar, the parts that were grown naturally had higher levels of salicylic acid and rutin. These findings demonstrated the effective antibacterial and antioxidant properties, high phenolic content, and low toxicity of both F. ulmaria sources, indicating that they can be utilized in nutraceutical industry due to their high health promoting potential.

Pine bark represents an interesting byproduct from the forest that can be used as a source of antioxidants. To study the phenolic fraction of this matrix, Pinus radiata bark was extracted with a 75% ethanol solution at both bench-and pilot-scales followed by an analysis of the extraction yield variation, chemical composition (total phenolics content, tannins content, and phenol composition determined by RP-HPLC-DAD-MS and GPC) and antioxidant properties (free radical scavenging capacity, DPPH; reduction capacity, FRAP; chelating activity, ICA). Extractions at bench-and pilot-scales were performed at 120 • C for 120 min at a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:20. Extract yields were not affected by the scale-up process (bench: 4.67 ± 0.14%; pilot: 4.37 ± 0.19%). No significant differences were observed in either the total phenolics content of the extracts (bench: 0.55 ± 0.01 g gallic acid /g extract ; pilot: 0.54 ± 0.01 g gallic acid /g extract ) or the tannin content (bench: 340.0 ± 7.4 mg catechin /g extract ; pilot: 334.0 ± 4.4 mg catechin /g extract ). The main low molecular weight compounds identified in the extracts were phenolic acids, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B-2, taxifolin and quercetin; to the best of our knowledge, we have tentatively identified syringic acid and homovanillic acid in pine bark for the first time. An increase in the average molecular weight (Mw) of the extract also changed with the extraction scale (bench: Mw = 1689; pilot: Mw = 2299). The antioxidant properties of the extracts showed a decrease in DPPH (-6.12%) and FRAP (-6.88%) and an increase in ICA (21.63%) in the pilot-scale as compared to the bench-scale extract. Based on these results, it may be technically possible to produce a polyphenolic extract from P. radiata bark at an industrial scale without extensively altering its antioxidant properties.

J Babol Univ Med Sci; 22; 2020; PP: 45-52 Received: Feb 3 2019, Revised: Jun 3 2019, Accepted: Sep 21 2019. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The overuse of antibiotics in hospitals and the entry of these pollutants into water resources is one of the major challenges to the health of the community and the environment. Removal of antibiotics from hospital wastewater and other aquatic environments is possible through the adsorption process. This study was performed to evaluate antibiotic removal using plantain wood due to being cheapn and natural. METHODS: In this in vitro study, the effect of pH (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12), contact time (5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 minutes), initial metronidazole concentration (10, 50 and 100 mg/L) and biosorbent dose (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.2 and 1.4 g) on metronidazole removal rate in synthetic solution were evaluated, and the isothermal kinetic and thermodynamic results of the adsorption process were investigated in this study. Concentration...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of standardized French maritime pine bark extract Pycnogenol ® in patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). 98 subjects with symptomatic CVI and edema were randomly assigned to one group treated with 150 mg Pycnogenol a day only, another group with stockings only and a third group with both Pycnogenol and elastic stockings. The average ambulatory venous pressure (AVP) at inclusion was 58 ± 7 mm Hg (range 48-60 mm Hg) with a refilling time (RT) < 12 s (average 7 ± 2 s). The duration of the disease was on average 6.0 ± 3.1 years. There were no differences in AVP or RT among the 3 groups at inclusion and microcirculatory and clinical evaluations were comparable. After 8 weeks treatment there was a significant decrease of rate of ankle swelling, resting flux, transcutaneous pO 2 and clinical symptom scores in all groups with significantly better results for the combination treatment. Pycnogenol alone was more effective than compression alone for all parameters (p < 0.05). No side-effects were observed; compliance and tolerability were very good. This study corroborates a significant clinical role for Pycnogenol in the management, treatment and control of CVI also in combination with compression.

Pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal] is a native American fruit tree that has potential as a new fruit crop or for use in landscapes, but little information is available to nurseries on the production of containerized plants. In greenhouse experiments, growth of pawpaw seedlings in Rootrainers was examined in three fertilization regimes, two root-zone temperatures, and four substrates [ProMix, 6 pine bark: 1 sand (v/v), 1 sand: 1 sphagnum peat, and 4 pine bark: 1 sand: 1 sphagnum peat medium]. A similar germination rate of 80% was obtained in all substrates. Weekly fertigation treatments were imposed when seedlings had 2 to 3 leaves, at 0, 50, and 100 mg·L-1 N as Peters 20N-8.6P-16.6K water-soluble fertilizer plus soluble trace elements. After 140 days at the highest fertilizer rate, plant height, leaf number, and dry weight (roots, shoots, and total plant) were greater in ProMix and 1 sand:1 sphagnum peat than in 6 pine bark: 1 sand (v/v) or 4 pine bark: 1 sand: 1 sphagnum peat. Als...

Las características físicas y químicas de los sustratos son importantes para obtener planta en vivero con características morfológicas adecuadas. Se caracterizaron tres sustratos de uso actual en viveros forestales: S1: turba de musgo, vermiculita y perlita; S2: corteza compostada, turba de musgo y aserrín y S3: aserrín de pino, turba de musgo y corteza compostada, todas en proporción 3:1:1 vol., a los cuales se les agregaron 8 g L-1 de fertilizante Osmocote® de 8 meses – 9 meses de liberación. Se utilizaron para la producción de Pinus greggii var. australis Donahue & López. Las características porosidad, pH, conductividad eléctrica y relación carbono/nitrógeno se evaluaron antes y después de la producción de planta, mientras que la granulometría, curvas de retención y liberación de agua solamente antes de la producción. Los intervalos iniciales y finales de porosidad total, aireación y retención de agua fueron de 77% - 83%; 19% - 27% y 54% - 63%, respectivamente. En todos los sustr...

Organic amendments are commonly used to improve bareroot nursery soil conditions for increased seedling growth. Few studies, however, have compared the effects of organic amendments on soil conditions, and even fewer have compared subsequent effects on seedling growth. Declining availability and increased cost of conventional soil amendments, such as sawdust, have prompted a search for alternate sources of organic matter (OM) (Munson 1983; May and Gilmore 1985). For example, the USDA Forest Service J Herbert Stone Nursery in Central Point, OR explored the use of yard wastes as a soil amendment due to the rising cost of sawdust and the necessary supplemental N fertilization (Riley and Steinfeld 2005). The USDA Forest Service JW Toumey Nursery, located in northern Michigan, has been using hardwood sawdust of various species as an organic amendment for more than 25 years. This sawdust was readily available from many local sawmills at little or no cost. However, with the closing of several small local mills and the demand from wood pellet companies for wood residues, sawdust prices have increased significantly (Holland 2008). In 2008, 20 tonnes (22 tons), or approximately 50 to 61 m 3 (65 to 80 yd 3) of hardwood sawdust delivered to Toumey Nursery cost nearly US$ 1350, as compared to US$ 300 in 2005 (Makuck 2008). The nursery uses around 765 m 3 (1000 yd 3) of sawdust each year. This recent increase in the cost of hardwood sawdust will increase growing costs by an estimated US$ 16,900 annually (Moilenen 2008). Pine sawdust is much more abundant locally and lower in cost. Many bareroot nurseries have used pine sawdust with success; Toumey Nursery, however, has not used it in the past due to its generally higher carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) and lower pH (Williams and Hanks 1976; Follett and others 1981; Rose and others 1995). Peat has also not been used as a soil amendment at Toumey Nursery, although the nursery is uniquely located where peat can be acquired locally at a minimal cost. In the 1940s, large amounts of peat were mined from bogs to the east of the nursery, and have remained untouched in piles since then. Nursery personnel, however, were worried about the impact of acidic peat on soil pH. This study examined the effects of using hardwood sawdust, pine sawdust, and peat as organic amendments on: 1) soil physical and chemical properties; and 2) the growth response of three bareroot species commonly grown at Toumey Nursery-jack pine (Pinus banksiana), red pine (P. resinosa), and white pine (P. strobus).

Haemonchus contortus is considered as main gastrointestinal parasite causing anaemia and hypoproteinemia in ruminants. The study was conducted to study the changes in biochemical parameters and its relationship with faecal egg counts in goats predominantly infected with Haemonchus contortus. A total number of 100 goats of either sex were divided into five groups (Group I, II, III, IV and V) on the basis of egg per gram (EPG). Results revealed a highly significant (P&lt;0.01) inverse correlation of EPG with glucose, total serum protein, albumin and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. Whereas, highly significant (P&lt;0.01) positive correlation of EPG with globulin and cholesterol were observed. Mean values of glucose, total protein, albumin and A/G were decreased in groups with high worms load whereas; globulin and cholesterol levels were increased. The mean values of all these parameters were showed highly significant (P&lt;0.01) difference between all groups. Highly significant (P&lt;0.0...

Ophiostoma ips associated with the bark beetle (Dendroctonus adjunctus) in hartweg pine In the "pino de las alturas" (Pinus hartwegii Lindl) it has been reported the presence of the bark beetle Dendroctonus adjunctus associated with the genus Ophiostoma spp., which causes the blue-stain of the wood. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the Ophiostoma species associated with the bark beetle D. adjunctus in P. hartwegii. Galleries and insects were collected in the Zoquiapan Experimental Forest Station (ZEFS), of the Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, in Zoquiapan, Puebla. It was isolated from galleries and insects the morphologically identified fungi Graphilbum sp. and Ophiostoma ips, the latter from galleries only. In addition, molecular characterization was developed by the polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR). Molecular analysis confirmed the morphological identification. It was conclude that this fungus corresponds to Ophiostoma ips which is found on both stages, the teleomorph and its anamorph (Graphilbum sp.). This is the first report of O. ips in Mexico associated with P. hartwegii. Graphilbum, fungi, insect, PCR. En el "pino de las alturas" (Pinus hartwegii Lindl) se ha reportado la presencia del descortezador Dendroctonus adjunctus asociado al género Ophiostoma spp., causante del manchado azul de la madera. El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar y caracterizar la especie de Ophiostoma asociada al descortezador D. adjunctus en P. hartwegii. Se colectaron galerías e insectos en la Estación Forestal Experimental Zoquiapan (EFEZ) de la Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, en Zoquiapan, Puebla. Se aisló e identificó morfológicamente a Graphilbum sp. en galerías e insectos y Ophiostoma ips solamente en galerías. Además, se caracterizaron molecularmente mediante la técnica de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR). El análisis molecular corroboró la identificación morfológica. Se concluye que el hongo corresponde a Ophiostoma ips (teleomorfo) y Graphilbum sp. su anamorfo. Este es el primer reporte en México de O. ips asociado a P. hartwegii. Graphilbum, hongo, insecto, PCR.

Environmental pollution of heavy metals from automobiles has attained much attention in the recent past, a study of heavy metals in roadside soils is critical in assessing the potential environmental impacts of automobile emission on soil. The present research was conducted to study heavy metals contamination in roadside soils of Mafraq-Zarqa highway in Jordan. The soil samples were collected and analyzed for the levels of Mn, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn using flam atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that all heavy metals except Mn are lower than other studies. The results indicate the decreasing order of the average total metals content for the studied metals: Mn> Zn > Cu > Ni> Pb> Cd, higher levels of heavy metals east of the roadside were due to the westerly prevailing wind at the sampling site. The contamination decreased with distance from off the edge of the roadside and dropped to background level at about 60m west, also the contamination of the top soil was higher than the lower soil, finally the levels of heavy metals increased with increasing traffic densities and furthermore, they reached elevated levels in urban areas.

Investigations on the aggregation pheromone of the mediterranean engraver beetle Ips (Orthotomicus) erosus Attempts were made to identify the aggregation pheromone produced by male I. erosus while initiating attack on Pinus inaster by gas chromatographic analyses of headspace gas obtained from the hindguts of male bee&. The chemical analysis and field tests in South African pine plantations indicate 2-methyl-6-merhylene-2,7-octadien-4-01 (ipsdienol) and 2-methyl-3-buten-2-01 to represent the major components of an aggregating principle that could be utilized in the surveillance of this world wide expanding insect pest.

This study had the objective of determining the subculture number and the shoot basal diameter that produces the best rooting rate ex vitro of chestnut, Castanea sativa Mill., microshoots obtained via in vitro culturing. The plant material corresponded to microcuttings obtained from embryo cultures with between 7 and 12 subcultures in the proliferative stage, for which Driver and Kuniyuki Walnut (DKW) medium was used with the macronutrients reduced to a half and supplemented with 1 mg L-1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.1 mg L-1 indole-3-butiric acid (IBA). The quick induction rooting method was used, submerging the base of the microcuttings in a solution of 0.5 mg mL-1 of IBA for 15 min. For the rooting stage, pine bark:perlite (4:1, v/v) substrate was used, carrying out the evaluation of results at 20 days after culturing. The evaluated variables were survival rate (%), rooting rate (%), root number, root length (mm), callus presence and visual aspect of the rooting system. The results showed a decrease of rooting capacity as the subculture number increases. The factor microcutting diameter did not present significant differences with respect to the evaluated variables.

RESUMO Introdução: A casca de pinheiro é um resíduo agroindustrial proveniente da indústria madeireira e representa uma fonte de compostos fenólicos. Estes compostos têm várias propriedades benéficas sendo elas antioxidantes, antimicrobianas, anti-inflamatórias, cardiovasculares, entre outras. Objetivos: O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a composição química da casca de Pinus pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica e o perfil fenólico dos seus extratos aquosos, etanólicos e hidroetanólicos. Métodos: Analisou-se o teor de humidade, cinzas, proteínas, gordura total e hidratos de carbono. A casca foi extraída com água, etanol ou uma mistura de ambos num aparelho de Soxhlet e determinou-se o rendimento das extrações, o teor de compostos fenólicos totais (CFT), atividade antioxidante e o perfil fenólico por RP HPLC UV nos extratos com o CFT mais elevado. Resultados: Os resultados obtidos para a composição química foram: 63,43 de hidratos de carbono, 2,81 de gordura total, 1,60 de proteínas e 1,75 de cinzas, calculados em % m/m de casca seca. O rendimento das extrações foi superior para os solventes etanol e mistura hidroetanólica (17,08 e 17,55% m/m de casca seca, respetivamente). O CFT e a atividade antioxidante foram superiores no extrato hidroetanólico (73,48 mg EAG/g e 108,74 mg EAA/g de casca seca, respetivamente). Na análise do perfil fenólico do extrato hidroetanólico identificou-se o ácido gálico, taxifolin, ácido ferrúlico e quercetina a 280 nm e a catequina no extrato etanólico a 320 nm. Conclusões: A casca de P. pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica é maioritariamente constituída por hidratos de carbono e é rica em extrativos hidroetanólicos e etanólicos, tendo estes elevada atividade antioxidante. O extrato etanólico apresenta concentração de catequina mais elevada comparativamente ao extrato hidroetanólico.

The aim of the present work was to prepare the specimens with the help of hand-lay-up technique to measure the thermal properties of TWDPC. The density & voids of TWDPC were measured to determine its physical property & significantly affected some of its mechanical properties. Taguchi experimental method was applied to optimize its thermal properties. The optimal factor combinations were determined with the help of ANOM & the analysis of variance (ANOVA) identified the level of importance on the parameters on each of the thermal properties. ANOM results showed that the contribution parameters for minimum value of thermal conductivity, linear thermal expansion & maximum value of specific heat capacity were B>C >A, A>C>B & C>A>B. From ANOVA results it was found that the volume fraction & the particle size of TWD has major influence for minimizing the thermal conductivity & linear thermal expansion, whereas the polymer resin was one of the best parameters to maximize the specific heat of TWDPC. Finally, it was concluded that TWDPC was one of the eco-friendly composites which can be used for various thermal applications

Pinus merkusii is one of the most important timber species in Indonesia, the main product of which is its oleoresin. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of collection period (three periods, with 6-day observation each) on oleoresin yield in relation to two factors: growth sites of Pinus merkusii, which in the case of this study were East Banyumas, West Banyumas, and West Pekalongan Forest Management Units, and use of stimulants (sulfuric acid and ethephon mixtures, ETRAT, SR4, and no treatment). The average total oleoresin yield from a single tree or wound during the 18-day observation period was 110−185 g/tree for untreated trees and 159−442 g/tree for stimulant-treated trees. By
analysis of variance, the interaction between each collection period (6-day observation period) and tree growing sites showed that the maximum average oleoresin yield for one hole was 109.32 g/tree measured in East Banyumas in the first collection period. Furthermore, the East Banyumas site consistently showed significantly the highest yield in each period. The interaction between the factors of stimulant and collection period (6-
day observation) resulted in the highest average oleoresin yield (121.86 g/tree) measured for trees treated with sulfuric acid (20%) and Ethephon (2%) mixtures in aqueous solution (v/v) treatment in the first collecting period. In West Pekalongan, the resin yield from trees treated with different treatments tended to be positively related to tree diameter. In addition, a positive correlation was found between resin yield and tree height or crown closure, while a negative correlation was found between resin yield and site elevation in trees treated with certain stimulants.

Environmental pollution due to antibiotics is a serious problem. In this work, the adsorption and desorption of the antibiotic cefuroxime (CFX) were studied in four by-products/residues from the forestry and food industries. For this, batch-type experiments were carried out, adding increasing concentrations of CFX (from 0 to 50 µmol L−1) to 0.5 g of adsorbent. The materials with a pH higher than 9 (mussel shell and wood ash) were those that presented the highest adsorption percentages, from 71.2% (23.1 µmol kg−1) to 98.6% (928.0 µmol kg−1). For the rest of the adsorbents, the adsorption was also around 100% when the lowest concentrations of CFX were added, but the percentage dropped sharply when the highest dose of the antibiotic was incorporated. Adsorption data fitted well to the Langmuir and Freundlich models, with R2 greater than 0.9. Regarding desorption, the materials that presented the lowest values when the highest concentration of CFX was added were wood ash (0%) and mussel...

Most of growing media used in horticulture (particularly peat substrates) shows hysteresis phenomena during desiccation and rehydration cycles, which greatly affects their hydraulic properties. The origins of these properties have often been related to one or several of the specific mechanisms such as the non-geometrical uniformity of the pores (also called ‘ink bottle&#39; effect), presence of trapped air, shrinkage-swelling phenomena, and changes in water repellency. However, recent results showed that changes in wettability during desiccation and rehydration could be considered as one of the main factors leading to hysteretic behaviour in these materials with high organic matter contents (Naasz et al., 2008). The general objective was to estimate the evolutions of changes in water repellency on the water retention properties and associated hysteresis phenomena in relation to the intensity and the number of drying/wetting cycles. For this, simultaneous shrinkage/swelling and water...

Objective. The safe and efficacious use of Pycnogenol ® (French maritime pine bark extract) in other inflammatory diseases prompted this study of its antiinflammatory effects in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of the study was to evaluate whether Pycnogenol ® reduces the symptoms of OA in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomly allocated trial with patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis stages I and II. Methods. 100 patients were treated for 3 months either by 150 mg Pycnogenol ® per day at meals or by placebo. Patients had to report any change of use of previously prescribed antiinflammatory medication during the study period. Patients filled the Western Ontario and Mc Masters University (WOMAC) questionnaire for osteoarthritis every 2 weeks and evaluated weekly pain symptoms using a visual analogue scale for pain intensity. Results. Following treatment with Pycnogenol ® patients reported an improvement of WOMAC index (p < < < < < 0.05), and a significant alleviation of pain by visual analogue scale (p < < < < < 0.04), the placebo had no effect. The use of analgesics diminished in the verum group but increased under the placebo. Treatment with Pycnogenol ® was well tolerated. Conclusion. Results show that Pycnogenol ® in patients with mild to moderate OA improves symptoms and is able to spare NSAIDs.

Control measures aiming at reducing bark beetle populations and preserving their natural enemies require a sound knowledge on their overwintering and emergence behaviour. These behavioural traits were investigated in univoltine and bivoltine populations of the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus [L.], Coleoptera: Scolytinae) and its

Studies were conducted in 1989 and 1990 to evaluate combinations of herbicides for control of prostrate spurge (Euphorbia humistrata Engelm. ex. Gray) in container-grown landscape plants. In 1989, the combination of Ronstar 2G [oxadiazon (2.24 kg/ha) (2.0 lb/A)] with Surflan 40 AS [oryzalin (2.24 kg/ha) (2.0 lb/A] or Barricade 65 WG [prodiamine (2.24 kg/ha) (2.0 lb/A)] resulted in 95% or better control of prostrate spurge. Combinations of Ronstar 2G [oxadiazon (2.24 kg/ha) (2.0 lb/A)] and Pennant 5G [metalochlor (4.48 kg/ha) (4.0 lb/A] or Rout 3G [oxyfluorfen (2.24 kg/ha) (2.0 lb/A) plus oryzalin (1.12 kg/ha) (1.0 lb/A)] controlled more than 80% of the weeds after 12 weeks in 1989. Some herbicide treatments containing oryzalin and pendimethalin reduced the root grade of Rhododendron cv. ‘Stewartsonian’ and Ilex crenata Thunb. ‘Helleri’ in 1990. Herbicide treatments in the 1990 study had no effect on growth parameters of Juniperus chinensis L. ‘Pfitzeriana Glauca’. Rout (oxyfluorfen ...

An application of the improved iterative method for the simultaneous determination of the hydraulic properties of growing media using the one-step experiment is described for highly porous media. Substrate hydraulic properties were characterized by the Brooks and Corey equation for water retention, and by the Kozeny power equation for hydraulic conductivity. The iterative procedure has been tested with a particular class of growing media generally used for container plant cultivation, represented by pure peat, pumice, and a 25:75 Peat:Pumice mix. The previously optimized One-Step method with Peat:Pumice ratio in the range from 1:0 to 1:1, was tested on five replications over the new range from 1:3 to 0:1. By analyzing the mean cumulative outflow curves recorded versus time, an estimation of hydraulic functions was derived. Estimated water retention was compared with nine experimental datasets and with estimation by the Van Genuchten model. Normalizing the saturated water content, the two models overlap except for the "wet" range near saturation. Estimated hydraulic conductivity was compared with the estimation derived from the Van Genuchten-Mualem equation involving 3 and/or 4-parameter analysis. Comparisons showed a good similarity between model estimations.

A solid-matrix-over-liquid (hybrid) growth system was developed for direct sowing of small-seeded crop species into hydroponic culture and compared for performance with a standard solid-matrix, capillary-wick hydroponic system. Seeds were sown directly onto a 3-cm (1.2-inch) deep soilless seed bed occupying 0.147 m 2 (1.582 ft 2) within a tray. The planted seed bed was moistened by wicking up nutrient solution through polyester wicking material from a 7.0-L (6.6-qt) reservoir just below the matrix seed bed. The hybrid system successfully grew dense [435 plants/m 2 (40.4 plants/ft 2)], uniform canopies of dwarf Brassica napus L. in a controlledenvironment growth room. Seed yield using the hybrid system was twice that achieved with the matrix-based system. Both systems eliminated the labor needed to transplant many small seedlings from a separate nurse bed into a standard bulk liquid hydroponic system. Root-zone pH extremes caused by ion uptake and exchange between roots and unrinsed soilless media were avoided for the hybrid system by the short dwell time of roots in the thin matrix before they grew through the matrix and an intervening headspace into the bulk solution below, where pH was easily managed. Once roots grew into the bulk solution, its level was lowered, thereby cutting off further capillary wicking action and drying out the upper medium. Beyond early seedling establishment, water and nutrients were provided to the crop stand only by the bulk nutrient solution. This hybrid hydroponic system serves as a prototype for largerscale soilless growth systems that could be developed for production of smallseeded crops in greenhouses or controlled environments.

Bark from Pinus brutia was extracted with supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), using CO 2 , at various extraction conditions both at laboratory and at pilot scale. Optimized parameters were 200 bar, 60°C , and 3% ethanol at a solvent/feed ratio of 30. Additionally, the pine bark was sonicated (1 h at 50°C) by different solvents (n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol) to investigate the correlation between the different extraction setups and to obtain information on SFE up-scaling possibilities. Analyzed by HPLC, 7.2% of (-)-catechin was extractable at laboratory scale, and 58.4% (800 bar) and 47.8% (200 bar), both with modifiers, at pilot scale. By sonication with ethanol, 46.8% of (-)-catechin and almost 100% of (-)-epicatechin and (-)-catechin gallate were extracted. Ethyl acetate extract revealed high correlations with the laboratory scale SFE (r) 0.98) and also pilot scale SFE runs at 200 (r) 0.99) and 800 bar (r) 0.98) without modifiers.