Anticonvulsant activity of furanocoumarins and the essential oil obtained from the fruits of Heracleum crenatifolium

The anticonvulsant activity of furanocoumarins, coumarin mixture and the essential oil obtained from the fruits of Heracleum crenatifolium was examined against maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizures in mice. Bergapten showed significant anticonvulsant activity. The furanocoumarins isolated from the fruits of the plant were identified using thin-layer chromatography, melting points and spectroscopic methods (IR, MS, ¹H NMR) as isobergapten (1), pimpinellin (2), bergapten (3), isopimpinellin (4), sphondin (5) and byak-angelicol (6). The essential oil content of the fruits were found as 5.5%. Twenty-two compounds representing 99.3% of the essential oil obtained from the fruits of H. crenatifolium were determined and the major components were identified as octanol and octyl acetate (3.1% and 88.4% respectively) by GC and GC–MS.     

Enhanced catalytic activity of nanoshell carbon co-doped with boron and nitrogen in the oxygen reduction reaction

The use of carbon cathode catalysts in polymer electrolyte fuel cells instead of the current platinum catalysts is attracting increasing attention. We claim that two factors are important for enhancing the activity of carbon cathode catalysts in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR): the formation of a nanoshell structure and co-doping with boron and nitrogen. Herein, we investigate the preparation and characterization of active ORR carbon catalysts that combine the above factors. Boron and nitrogen (BN)-doped nanoshell-containing carbon (BN-NSCC) was prepared by carbonizing a mixture of poly(furfuryl alcohol), cobalt phthalocyanine, melamine, and a trifluoroborane–methanol complex at 1000 °C. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the formation of nanoshell structures with distorted graphitic layers and the introduction of boron and nitrogen atoms, respectively. The ORR activity was evaluated in oxygen-saturated 0.5 mol dm^?3 H₂SO₄ using Koutecky–Levich analysis. The BN-NSCC showed an eight to ten times higher ORR activity than undoped NSCC, with an increased number of electrons participating in the reaction. Tafel analysis revealed a change in the rate-determining step caused by BN-doping. Thus, the combination of a nanoshell structure and co-doping with boron and nitrogen was found to improve the ORR activity of carbon catalysts.     

Prioritization methodology of dangerous substances for water quality monitoring with scarce data

Monitoring and control of dangerous substances discharged into receiving waters have attracted more attention lately. Since it is not possible to analyze every single substance, a prioritization methodology is needed for the selection of those to be monitored. Existing well-developed models require significant amount of data for reliable outcomes. This paper presents a methodology to prioritize the dangerous substances having adverse effects on freshwaters in Turkey, where data are scarce. Such a methodology will also serve as a solid model for other countries with limited background data. The adopted methodology enabled the elimination of chemicals to generate a candidate list composed of 608 substances among more than 5000 substances. Further screening and prioritization were conducted using different assessment methods (i.e., Total Hazard Value, Total Impact Value, Combined Monitoring-based, and Modelling-based Priority Setting) to obtain a proposed Final Candidate Specific Pollutants List of 150 dangerous substances. The proposed Candidate National Pollutant List of Turkey was established by combining 45 priority pollutants of the European Union with a list of candidate specific pollutants. According to the outcomes of this study, monitoring and controlling of 195 dangerous substances in freshwaters are recommended. Further detailed studies should be conducted in order to observe the actual levels of these dangerous substances in freshwaters followed by a review of the monitoring list accordingly. Moreover, further revisions might be required in the proposed list due to some possible versatile conditions in terms of sampling points (i.e., change in the location of industries).     

Effect of Hydrogen on Tensile Properties of Ultrafine-Grained Type 310S Austenitic Stainless Steel Processed by High-Pressure Torsion

This study addresses a hydrogen effect on the tensile properties of a type 310S austenitic stainless steel with ultrafine-grained structures produced by high-pressure torsion (HPT) and subsequent annealing. The mean grain size was reduced to ~85 nm by the HPT processing. The grain size was increased by the post-HPT annealing, but the grain size of ~265 nm was retained after annealing at 1023 K (750 °C). The tensile strength of ~1.2 GPa, which is approximately twice as much as that of the solution-treated specimen, was attained in the 1023 K (750 °C) post-HPT-annealed specimen. The elongation to failure was restored up to ~15 pct by the post-HPT annealing, although it was still insufficient in comparison with the ~55 pct elongation of the solution-treated specimen. There was no change in the tensile strength of the HPT-processed specimens and the post-HPT-annealed specimens by hydrogen charging with the hydrogen content in the range of ~20 to 40 mass ppm. The HPT-processed and the 773 K (500 °C) post-HPT-annealed specimens exhibited a ductility loss through the fully shear type fracture. The hydrogen charge into higher temperature post-HPT-annealed specimens with σ-FeCr precipitates led to a mild hydrogen embrittlement.     

Synergistic corrosion inhibition effect of 1-ethyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate and iodide ions for low carbon steel in HCl solution

Investigation into the corrosion inhibition of low carbon steel in 0.1-M HCl solution by 1-ethyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium (EMTFB) and the effect of KI addition on the inhibition efficiency was carried out using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and surface analysis (scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX)) techniques. Results show that EMTFB suppresses low carbon steel dissolution in the corrosive environment. Inhibition efficiency increased with the increase in EMTFB concentration. Addition of iodide ions to EMTFB raises inhibition efficiency from 75 to 98%. PDP results indicate that EMTFB affects majorly anodic reactions while EMTFB + KI act as cathodic-type inhibitor. The adsorption of EMTFB onto low carbon steel surface is by physical adsorption mechanism and follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. SEM and EDAX results confirm the adsorption of EMTFB alone and in combination with KI onto the steel surface.     

Mechanical role of reinforcement in seismic behavior of steel-strip reinforced earth wall

In the current design practices of steel-strip reinforced earth walls (SSREWs), the length of the reinforcing material is determined based on the equilibrium between the reinforcement tension and the earth pressure acting on the wall. Here, the resistance of the reinforcing material laid in the active failure zone (AFZ) is not considered. Moreover, the mechanical role of the reinforcing material against the integrity of the SSREW has not been sufficiently verified. Regarding the seismic stability of SSREW, although it is investigated by treating the entire reinforced earth wall as a rigid body, this inspection method is for gravity-retaining walls, and the difference in the seismic behavior between the SSREW and the rigid body is not clear. In this study, therefore, dynamic centrifuge model tests on 6 types of SSREWs were conducted to clarify the following items: (1) the basic earthquake behavior of a SSREW, (2) the mechanical role of the reinforcing material laid in the AFZ and (3) the mechanical role of the reinforcing material against the integrity of the SSREW. The results indicated that the reinforcing material laid in the AFZ can restrain the amount of deformation of the wall during earthquakes. Furthermore, the more stable the AFZ is, the smaller the maximum wall displacement will be.     

锚杆支护在综采拆除中的应用

本文介绍了祁南煤矿326综采工作面收作扩大断面采用锚网支护的施工技术，简要说明了采用矿工钢棚支护与锚网支护的优缺点，为综采工作面收作提供了一种安全可靠、施工简便的支护形式，并且提出了锚索加固基本原则。     

北宿煤矿疏放唐村矿井积水工程系统优化

本文介绍了北宿煤矿疏放唐村煤矿老空水的工程设计及采取的措施，达到了矿井疏放和排水要求，保证了安全生产。