Extraradical mycelia of mycorrhizal fungi are normally the �hidden half� of the symbiosis, but they are powerful underground influences upon biogeochemical cycling, the composition of plant communities, and agroecosystem functioning. Mycorrhizal mycelial networks are the most dynamic and functionally diverse components of the symbiosis, and recent estimates suggest they are empowered by receiving as much as 10% or more of the net photosynthate of their host plants. They often constitute 20%�30% of total soil microbial biomass yet are undetected by standard measures of biomass used by soil scientists and agromomists. Mycorrhizal mycelia provide extensive pathways for carbon and nutrient fluxes through soil, often exceeding tens of metres per gram of soil. We consider the amounts of photosynthate �power� allocated to these mycelial networks and how this is used in fungal respiration, biomass, and growth and in influencing soil, plant, and ecosystem processes. The costs and functional �benefits� to plants linking to these networks are fungal specific and, because of variations in physiology and host specificity, are not shared equally; some plants even depend exclusively on these networks for carbon. We briefly assess the potential contribution of extraradical mycorrhizal mycelium to sustainable agriculture and maintenance of biodiversity and highlight technologies that promise new vistas and improved fine-scale resolution of the dynamic spatial and temporal functioning of these networks in soil.Key words: arbuscular mycorrhiza, ectomycorrhiza, extraradical mycelium, hyphal networks.

Networks of power and influence: the role of mycorrhizal mycelium in controlling plant communities and agroecosystem functioning

The landscapes colonized by invasive earthworms in the eastern U.S. are often patchworks of forest stands in various stages of successional development. We established six field sites in tulip poplar dominated forests in the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, MD, that span mid (50–70 years-three plots) and late (120–150 years-three plots) successional stages where younger sites had greater earthworm density and biomass than older sites and were dominated by non-native lumbricid species. In particular Lumbricus rubellus, a litter-feeding species, was abundant in mid successional forests. Here, we separated particulate organic matter (POM) from the bulk soil by a combination of size and density fractionation and found that patterns in soil POM chemistry were similar to those found previously during litter decay: in younger forests with high abundance of earthworms, organic carbon normalized cutin- and suberin-derived substituted fatty acid (SFA) concentration was lower and lignin-derived phenols greater than in older forests where earthworms were less abundant. The chemistry of the dominant litter from mid versus late successional tree species did not fully explain the differences in POM chemistry between age classes. Instead, the differences in leaf body versus petiole and leaf versus root chemistry were the dominant drivers of POM chemistry in mid versus late successional stands, although aspects of stand age and tree species also impacted POM chemistry. Our results indicate that preferential ingestion of leaf body tissue by earthworms and the subsequent shifts in sources of plant biopolymers in soil influenced POM chemistry in mid successional forests. These results indicate that invasive earthworm activity in North American forests contributes to a shift in the aromatic and aliphatic composition of POM and thus potentially influences carbon stabilization in soil.

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Earthworms, stand age, and species composition interact to influence particulate organic matter chemistry during forest succession

An object of the present invention is to propose a novel thermoplastic resin composition having high impact resistance without degrading weather resistance even when the content of an impact modifier is small. A thermoplastic resin composition includes 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin (a) and 0.5 to 20 parts by weight of an impact modifier (b) containing a graft copolymer (b-1) containing at least one (meth)acrylate flexible polymer phase and a rigid polymer phase serving as the outermost part of the graft copolymer, a water-soluble polymer compound (b-2) having a physical gel-forming property, and a gelling agent (b-3). In the thermoplastic resin composition, the content of the water-soluble polymer compound (b-2) having the physical gel-forming property is 0.01 to 3.0 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the graft copolymer (b-1) and the content of the rigid polymer phase serving as the outermost part in the graft copolymer (b-1) is 0.5 to 10 percent by weight.

Thermoplastic Resin Composition

A sacroiliac belt with a non-elastic inner belt to wrap around the user's hips and an elastic outer belt to wrap from the back to opposite sides of the inner belt. Non-cinchable hook and loop fastener construction is used to secure the inner and outer belts in position. The inner belt includes an inside elastomeric foam layer with open-cell frictional gripping surface, a non-elastic outside layer of loop material, and a hook tab for engaging the loop material to close the belt. The inner belt may be established with a non-elastic composite foam-fabric structure comprising a bi-laminate of the foam and elastic fabric, and a strip of loop material secured lengthwise onto the fabric side of the bi-laminate. The outer belt includes an elastic strip and hook tabs for connecting to the strip of loop material. The non-elastic composite foam-fabric may be used in other orthopedic braces and supports.

Sacroiliac belt and composite structure

An electric motor for driving an oil pressure pump which feeds pressurized oil to a power cylinder comprises a brushless d.c. motor. An onboard main battery comprises a main battery which is onboard an electrically driven vehicle and which is constructed as a high tension d.c. voltage source delivering a high voltage on the order of 96 to 600V. The battery is directly connected to the motor, and a controller is connected therebetween to provide a pulse width modulated variable voltage signal to the motor from the battery.

Power steering apparatus with pump driven by pulse width modulated controlled, brushless d.c. electric motor

PURPOSE: To stabilize soil and to increase the strength of the soil, by grouting the soil with a liquid having a freely adjustable gel time and obtained by adding a water-soluble bicarbonate to a mixture of sodium silicate and a hardener comprising sodium aluminate, and gelatinizing the liquid. CONSTITUTION: A grouting liquid composed of (A) 200l of an aqueous solution of sodium silicate pref. containing 90W140l of JIS-No.3 sodium silicate and (B) 200l of an aqueous solution of 10W70l of sodium aluminate pref. containing 19.2wt% of Na 2 O and 11.5wt% of Al 2 O 3 and (C) a proper amount of a water-soluble bicarbonate (pref. sodium and/or potassium bicarbonate) added to the component (B). The (A) and (B) component are mixed together before grouting into the soil for stabilization. The amount of the bicarbonate is e.g. 15W20kg per 400l of (A)+(B) to attain the gel time of 1W3min at 5°C. COPYRIGHT: (C)1981,JPO&Japio

Stabilization of soil

PURPOSE: To markedly increase strength of the ground treated, by injecting a grout containing an aqeous solution of sodium silicate, a specified metal salt and a specified organic acid, together with glyoxal, ethylene carbonate, etc., into the ground. CONSTITUTION: A ground is stabilized by the injection of a grout prepared by compounding an aqueous solution of sodium silicate with (A) a metal salt selected from a chloride, sulfate and nitrate of aluminum, magnesium and iron, and its double salt, (B) at least one selected from citric, tartaric and lactic acids and (C) at least one selected from glyoxal, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate and γ-butyrolactone, into the ground, followed by gelation. Although the strength of the ground treated is increased as the amount of the component (C) is increased, an amount corresponding to its solubility in the aqueous solution of the component (B), is sufficiently effective. COPYRIGHT: (C)1981,JPO&Japio

Stabilization of ground

PURPOSE: To shorten the time for preparing a soil stabilizer, by a method wherein as components of a soil stabilizer, an aq. soln. of sodium silicate and another aq. soln. component contg. sodium hydrogensulfate together with potassium chloride are separately prepd., and both soln. are mixed together when applied. CONSTITUTION: Before applying, the following liquids A and B are separately prepd. When applied, both liquids are mixed together, and injected into a soil to cause the mixed liquid to gel in the soil, whereby the soil is stabilized. When the above liquid B for use in the above method is prepd., potassium chloride is used together with sodium hydrogensulfate. The above liquid A consists of an aq. soln. of sodium silicate. The above liquid B consists of an aq. soln. of sodium hydrogensulfate alone, or an aq. soln. of a mixt. composed of sodium hydrogensulfate and (a) magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide and/or (b) at least one member selected from sodium dihydrogenphosphate, disodium hydrogenphosphate, sodium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, aluminum sulfate, magnesium chloride and potash alum. COPYRIGHT: (C)1981,JPO&Japio

Soil stabilization method

PURPOSE: To inject simply a silicate-based grout using CO 2 as a curing agent into the ground, by a procedure in which an aqueous sodium silicate solution and CO 2 are separately sent under pressure into a grout injection pipe of a hollow double structure, and they are well mixed in the injection pipe and then injected into the ground. CONSTITUTION: In the injection of a silicate-based grout using CO 2 as a curing agent into the gound, a grout injection pipe of a hollow double structure, consisting of an outer pipe 1 and an inner pipe 2 is used. And, a stirrer mechanism consisting of an orifice disk 4 is provided between the tip of the inner pipe 2 and the outlet of the outer pipe 1 of the injection pipe and a check valve 6 is provided at the outlet. Liquid or gaseous CO 2 is sent under pressure into any one of the outer pipe 1 and the inner pipe 2 of the injection pipe and also an aqueous sodium silicate solution is sent under pressure into the other tipe, and then they are mixed by a stirrer mechanism in the pipe and then injected into the ground by opening the port of the check valve 6 by the pressure. COPYRIGHT: (C)1981,JPO&Japio

Injection of silicate-based grout into ground

PURPOSE: To control contstantly the setting time of grout by a method wherein liquid A is prepared by adding water to Portland cement, liquid B is prepared by adding water and specified setting-retardant to a mixt. of calcium aluminate mineral and gypsum, the liquid A is mixed with the liquid B, and the mixt. is injected into the ground. CONSTITUTION: Liquid A is prepared by adding water to Portland cement. Liquid B is prepared by suspending a mixt. of calcium aluminate mineral and gypsum into an aq. soln. of a setting-retardant consisting of at least one alkaline material selected from (a) bicarbonates, such as sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate, and (b) sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, disodium phosphate, or trisodium phosphate. The liquid A and the liquid B are fed separately to each grout pump. While the liquid A is mixed with the liquid B within a Y-type pipe connected to each discharge port of each pump, the mixt. is injected into the ground. COPYRIGHT: (C)1980,JPO&Japio

Takeuchi Kenji

Papers

Stabilization of soil

Stabilization of ground

Soil stabilization method

Injection of silicate-based grout into ground

Injection of portland cement grout into ground