Influence of various concentrations of selenic acid (IV) on the activity of soil enzymes

The aim of this experiment was the assessment of the influence of various concentrations of H2SeO3 (0.05, 0.5 and 5 mM) on the activity of soil enzymes over 112 days. The lab experiment was performed using soil samples (dust-silt black soil of 1.92% organic C content, pH 7.7), 60% maximal water capacity. The soil samples were treated with a selenic acid water solution at the concentrations mentioned above. As a reference, natural soil was used (without the selenic acid). The activity of the following enzymes was tested: beta-glucosidase, nitrate reductase, urease, dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatases. The soil was sampled at days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 56 and 112. The results of the study have shown that the selenic acid had no effect on the activity of the beta-glucosidase in soil. In the course of the whole experiment, the applied selenic acid inhibited activity of the nitrate reductase up to 70% at 5 mM, and the activity of dehydrogenase was also decreased--by up to 85% at 5 mM, similarly to urease (with the exception of days 14 and 28), and acid phosphatase (until day 56). The activity of alkaline phosphatase was increased by the lowest concentration of selenic acid and decreased by the highest, which was found in the course of the whole experiment. The 5-mM concentration of selenic acid inhibited the activity of all the enzymes tested in this experiment.     

Fracture Toughness of Wood Fiber Gypsum Panels from Size Effect Law

This paper addresses the size effect of inplane bending strength as well as Mode I fracture toughness and process zone length of wood fiber-reinforced gypsum panels. Wood fiber gypsum panels represent an incombustible short fiber composite material composed of recycled paper fibers embedded in a gypsum matrix. The material, which is used for sheathing and bracing of timber frame constructions, exhibits marked fracture softening supposedly resulting in a considerable size effect. In the paper presented, in a first step Ba?ant’s size effect law for quasi-brittle materials is derived. The parameters of this size effect law are then determined by means of nonlinear regression analysis applied to a test series with scaled single edge notched beam specimens. Detailed consideration is given to the adequacy of linear confidence intervals of the model parameters in comparison to nonlinear inferential results. Finally, the probability densities of fracture toughness and fracture process zone length are determined from the distributions of the size effect parameters by means of theory of random variables.     

Material and Energy Interactions between Milling Bodies,Milled Particles,and Milling Environment

Changes in particle size, surface state, and composition brought about by planetary and vibration milling of silicon and quartz in various permittivity liquids were investigated. Using a variety of spectroscopic techniques (IRS, XPS, and Mössbauer spectroscopy) the changes in quality of the superficial layers of milled particles have been determined. During energy-intensive milling, the material being milled intensively interacts with the media and milling environment. The nature of the interaction and quality of the surface shell covering the milled particles depend on the reactivity and hardness of the interacting solids and of the milling environment. During planetary milling of silicon with tungsten carbide media, the superficial layers are formed by silicon suboxides and silicon oxide. The thickness of the superficial layer and the share of SiO₂ increase with increasing permittivity of liquids. Milling with steel media results in a more complicated composition of the superficial layer. According to Mössbauer spectra, the iron is present in two main forms: as a magnetically ordered form identical with basic material of balls and in a paramagnetic form as a product of a mechanically stimulated surface reaction between Si and Fe. The presence of the superficial layers on the milled particles of silicon and quartz markedly influences the values of the specific surface area. This influence should be taken into consideration when calculating the specific contamination of the milled powder.     

Description of an experimental/theoretical method to determine the metal flow during steady-state forming processes

A new method to determine the metal flow within the deformation zone of stationary deformation processes is introduced. Specimen preparation and analysis are explained for hot rolling of bars and structural shapes. Theoretical fundamentals concerning material velocity in the deformation zone are defined and specific equations are deduced. The method is applied to bars and structural steel and its results are discussed, demonstrating possible problems, inaccuracies and limits.     

Über die Löslichkeit des Phosphors in Eisen und Eisen-Kohlenstoff-Legierungen unterhalb 1000°C

Schrifttumsübersicht über die Löslichkeit des Phosphors in Eisen. Eigene Untersuchung der Phosphorlöslichkeit mit Hilfe von Diffusionspaaren Fe₃P/Reineisen und Fe₃P[kohlenstoffhaltiges Eisen mit bis zu rd. 0,6% C. Untersuchung der Phosphorverteilung mit der Mikrosonde und Messung der Mikrohärte nach Diffusionsglühungen bei Temperaturen zwischen 600 und 910°C. Erörterung der Versuchsergebnisse.     

Toxicity increases in ice containing monochlorophenols upon photolysis: environmental consequences

The toxic effects of photoproducts formed upon the photolysis of 2- and 4-chlorophenol (CP) frozen solutions in polycrystalline ice phase were determined with a bacterial luminescence test (Vibrio fisheri), and in vitro biomarker assay for dioxin-like effects (inductions of AhR-dependent luciferase in H4IIE-luc cells) and compared to the toxic effects of products of the same photoreaction in aquatic phase. Coupling photoproducts formed in ice samples (3'-chlorobiphenyl-2,4'-diol and 3-chlorobiphenyl-2,2'-diol from 2-CP photolysis and 5-chlorobiphenyl-2,4'-diol from 4-CP photolysis) were found to be more toxic to V. fisheri than parent CPs and elicited significant inductions of dioxin-like effects (the effective concentrations EC50 approximately 3 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) corresponded to known weaker ligands of AhR, such as nonplanar polychlorinated biphenyls or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). To complete the picture, a photoproduct formed from 4-CP (5-chlorobiphenyl-2,4'-diol) was synthesized, and a detailed toxicity assessment with purified compound confirmed the results obtained with irradiated samples. Our findings support a recently proposed model according to which solar radiation can trigger the formation of new types of organic pollutants in polar ice or tropospheric ice cloud particles, presenting possibly greater risk to the environment than the parent compounds.