The Effect of Titanium, Zirconium and Tin on the Growth of Diatom Synedra Acus and Morphology of Its Silica Valves

The effect of three Group IV metals (titanium, zirconium and tin) on the growth, morphology and chemical composition of the freshwater diatom Synedra acus subsp. radians (Kützing) Skabichevsky was studied and compared with germanium. The elements in their highest oxidation states were introduced into the culture medium in the form of hydroxides. Germanium was found to be toxic at ??5?mol. % of the total Ge-Si content in the culture medium. In the presence of other elements, a slight decrease in the cell division rate was observed independent of the element within 1?C15% content interval. The analysis of the obtained biomass and silica valves revealed the presence of all the added elements within the cells. However, only germanium was incorporated into the valves in considerable amounts. S. acus cultivation with the addition of 5% Group IV elements resulted in cells having the following aberrations in the structure of the silica valves: changes in valve shape, thickening of valves, alterations of the areolae rows, irregularity or absence of the areolae and a decrease in the mechanical strength of valves. Moreover, the effect of Group IV elements on silica formation was simulated in vitro using a synthetic polymer bearing polyamine and phosphate groups found in silaffines (proteins from diatom frustules). The studied elements were observed to provoke the formation of unstable silica particles in solution. We propose that the observed effects of germanium, titanium, zirconium and tin on diatom growth and structure are due to uncontrollable silica condensation.     

Static characteristics of gas bearings with a rotary bush

The static characteristics of a gas bearing with a rotary bush are investigated on the basis of an analytical method developed by Sheinberg for a specific bearing structure.     

Structural investigations on nanocrystalline Ni-W alloy films by transmission electron microscopy

Electrodeposited Ni-W alloys have been investigated in the as-deposited state by transmission electron microscopy in order to investigate the microstructural features in dependence of the tungsten content. Within the tungsten content range from 7 at.% up to 12 at.%, the microstructure is nanocrystalline characterized by a bimodal grain size distribution, consisting out of 20 to 200 nm sized grains and also larger grains with several 100 nm characteristic dimension. No clear trend in microstructure formation is visible with W content or deposition conditions in the investigated W content range. Only solid solution phase characteristics were observed. The lattice constant is 0.360 nm for 12 at.% W as derived from electron diffraction for the solid solution face centered cubic structure. Larger grains show twinning and stacking faults. Voids with diameter of a few nm were detected along with some multiple twinned particles, indicating high stress level during growth. About 2 at.% difference in the alloy composition from grain to grain was measured.     

Influence of weather conditions on the power of heat removal by the emergency cooling system of a reactor

An analytical and numerical analysis is made of the influence of the slot sizes between gate plates and weather conditions on total heat losses in the hot stand-by mode and emergency operating conditions of the passive safety system of an APS.