800 research outputs found
Subjective Experiences of Space and Time: Self, Sensation, and Phenomenal Time
No full textThe investigation of subjective experiences (SEs) of space and time is at the core of consciousness research. The term ‘space’ includes the subject and objects. The SE of subject, I-ness, is defined as ‘Self’. The SEs of objects, subject’s external body, and subject’s internal states such as feelings, thoughts, and so on can be investigated using the proto-experience (PE)-SE framework. The SE of time is defined as ‘phenomenal time’ (which includes past, present and future) and the SE of space as ‘phenomenal space’. The three non-experiential materialistic models are as follows: (I) The quantum-dissipation model [25] can connect the discrete neural signals to classical electromagnetic field to ‘quantum field theory and chaos theory’ for explaining memory. (II) The soliton-catalytic model [8] hypothesizes that all living processes including micro- and macro-processes can be explained by catalysis process. (III) The ‘sensation from evolution of action’ model [13] proposes that SEs are internalized during evolution. All these models can address to some extent the function of structures, such as perception. They cannot address explanatory gap. The complementary experiential PE-SE framework [37] addresses this psycho-physical gap and elucidates the SEs of space and time
Spontaneous Flora on Post-industrial Metalliferous Sites
No full textPandey VC, editor. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services on Post‐Industrial Land. John Wiley and Sons; 2024. p. 53-95
Plant diversity on post-industrial land: Resilience and restoration
No full textIndustries are starting to be acknowledged as a significant new global change factor that may have an impact on terrestrial ecosystems (de Souza Machado et al. 2018; Rillig 2012). Industrial pollution affects all aspects of our environment, including the food and the air. Due to its indistinctness, it might present a significant hazard and potentially remain unnoticed. Soil pollution is the condition when the soil contains excessive amounts of compounds, agrochemicals, and other substances that surpass a specific limit and disrupt the growth and survival of plants and animals. Soil contamination causes a variety of pressures that impede the growth of the plants. Additionally, industrial pollutants raise the soil’s salinity, making it insufficient for plant development. Consequently, the soil becomes deficient in minerals and becomes unusable. Although the global population is growing daily, agricultural yield is not rising at the same rate. Industrial pollution affects the biodiversity and abundance of organisms cohabiting in the soil, resulting in significant detrimental effects on soil functionality. A steady decrease in the activity of soil microbes leads to a decrease in the process of nitrogen cycling (Jacoby et al. 2017). This, in turn, has an impact on the structure and fertility of the soil, ultimately affecting crop yield. The generation of microplastics can adversely affect plant communities through many mechanisms. A significant amount of microplastics will be deposited in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems as a result of several factors, such as the wearing down of synthetic materials and big plastic objects during production or in their natural habitats, and the erosion of tires while driving. Microplastics can find their way into soil through soil additions, irrigation, diffuse urban runoff, floods, air fallout (Qi et al. 2018; Zhang and Liu 2018), and plastic mulching. (Rillig 2012; Mahon et al. 2017) (Hurley et al. 2018; Dris et al. 2015). As a result, microplastics can show up in soil as fibers, films, or granules with a range of shapes, compositions, and abundances, and at concentrations as high as 7% in the vicinity of industrial sites. (Fuller and Gautam 2016) For example, because plastic mulching is heavily employed to increase plant production, agricultural areas would be greatly impacted by microplastic films (Brodhagen et al. 2017), but microplastic pieces or microfibers would typically have a greater impact on waterways or roadsides. According to (Sommer et al. 2018), plant communities are significantly harmed by industrial waste
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-assisted phytoremediation: concepts, challenges and future perspectives
No full textAmongst the methods developed to clean-up contaminated soils, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-assisted phytoremediation is an emerging eco-sustainable technique to control and manage soil pollution. AMF are known to improve growth and mineral uptake of plants, but also these fungi can mitigate pollutant toxicity, increasing plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, and so allowing their better installation on polluted soils. They influence the pollutant fate in the rhizosphere through several phytotechnologies: phyto/rhizodegradation, phytostabilisation and phytoextraction. To improve phytomanagement efficiency, plant inoculation with AMF could be proposed as an interesting solution. Through this chapter, we tried to present a description of the AMF diversity as well as in persistent organic pollutants and trace elements-polluted soils and summarize current knowledge of AMF contribution in phytomanagement of contaminated soils and the impact of mycorrhizal inoculation on soil refunctionalisation. In conclusion, recommandations for AMF-assisted phytotechnologies adoption in polluted soil phytomanagement will be suggested
Phytobial remediation by bacteria and fungi
No full textHeavy metals, metaloids and persistent organic contaminants are released in the environment from industry, agriculture, urban zone, waste deposits and accidental spills presenting a serious threat for the ecosystems and health of human beings. Integrated phytobial remediation by bacteria and fungi has become a great challenge for successful removal of contaminants from polluted sites that is, combined plant/bacteria/fungi cross-talk offers effective tools to assist phytoremediation. Plant growth-promoting bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi obtain food for their metabolism whereas they promote plant growth, decrease metal(loid)s toxicity and degrade persistent organic compounds. This chapter focuses on joint action of plant/bacteria and fungi in removal of metal(loid)s, radionuclides, and chlorinated compounds, such as trichlorethylene, chlorinated pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Therefore, opportunities in exploitation of plant – bacteria-fungi interactions should be tailored in a framework platform and sustainable phytomanagement of polluted sites in the future around the globe
Integrating remotely sensed observations of surface water storage with climate forecast for freshwater management: report of senior researcher exchange April-May 2018
No full textThe India-UK Water Centre (IUKWC) promotes cooperation and collaboration between the complementary priorities of NERC-MoES water security research.
This report presents an overview of research exchange undertaken by Dr Vimal Mishra (IIT, Gandhinagar) at Dr Harjinder Sembhi’s lab at University of Leicester, UK. The exchange focused largely on developing a methodology to estimate freshwater storage of lakes in India using the Multi Spectral Instrument (MSI) on European Space Agency’s Sentinel 2 mission.
Remote sensing has successfully provided the solutions for monitoring water storage in large
water bodies, however monitoring changes in storage in smaller water bodies (less than 100,000 m2) remains a challenge. This is mainly because of the coarser resolution achieved by many space-borne sensors. Tracking of storage changes in smaller water bodies can help to understand the risks of water availability, particularly in vulnerable regions, and provide critical information for stakeholders in decision making for freshwater management. This exchange visit aimed to develop a remote sensing based framework to monitor changes in water storage during the dry season in India in a selection of diverse climatic regions located in semi-arid areas of Gujarat and West Bengal. The exchange aimed to utilise long-term climate data records of land surface temperature, developed at the University of Leicester, as well as, novel high-spatial
resolution observations from the Sentinel 2 mission
Directive speech acts in the New Testament
No full textDanuta Pytel-Pandey, WrocławThis article discusses the directive speech acts in the New Testament. The
author presents examples of such acts from the New Testament Scriptures, and
then carries out their pragmalinguistic [email protected]
Feasibility of Festuca rubra L. native grass in phytoremediation
No full textFestuca rubra L. as perennial, rhizomatous grass distributed worldwide tolerates different ecological conditions and grows in various habitats. This grass is used in ecorestoration of contaminated sites due to its extensive root system, good seedling vigor, fast growing, large biomass, and high tolerance to unfavorable environmental conditions. F. rubra has a high phytoremediation potential for As, B, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, and Se from fly ash. Despite the leaf chlorosis and necroses, deposited particles of fly ash on leaf surface, reduced photosynthetic efficiency, photopigments content, and high oxidative stress, this plants shows increased content of phenolics, ascorbate, and high total antioxidant activity. F. rubra growing on fly ash deposits shows a great adaptive potential indicating that this native grass has prominent role in ecosystem functioning, providing an excellent opportunity to implement this plant species in the police frameworks, sustainable management practices, and ecosystem services.Pandey VC, Singh D.P, editors. Phytoremediation Potential of Perennial Grasses. Elsevier; 2020. p. 115-64
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