Effect of subcritical hydrophobicity in a sandy soil on water infiltration and mobile water content

Recent research shows that most soils are more or less water repellent. Already subcritical water repellency may cause incomplete soil wetting and preferential flow. Both processes potentially reduce the residence time of water and solutes in the vadose zone, resulting in an enhanced risk of groundwater contamination. The objective of the present paper is, therefore, to evaluate the impact of reduced soil wettability on the soil water infiltration rate and to investigate the tendency towards preferential flow with the analysis of the immobile water content in the infiltration zone. In november 2002, a field experiment was done in a coniferous forest, 30 km N of Hannover, Germany. Soil hydrophobicity was quantified by measuring the contact angles. The hydraulic conductivity of the podsolic sandy soil was measured depth‐dependent with a double‐ring tension infiltrometer in three soil horizons. To quantify possible preferential‐flow effects, a LiBr‐Tracer was added to the infiltrating water to evaluate the mobile water‐content fraction after infiltration. Additionally, infiltration rates of water were compared with infiltration rates of ethanol which were determined after water infiltration at the same locations. Results show that the actual water repellency of field‐moist soil was mainly subcritical (contact angle <90°). Water infiltration rates were reduced due to subcritical repellency by a factor of 3–170 compared with ethanol infiltration rates (exclusion of wetting effects). This spatially variable infiltration behavior was not clearly reflected neither by the small‐scale contact‐angle measurements nor by the analysis of the average immobile soil water content in the infiltration zone. We conclude that this specific infiltration behavior of water caused by small‐scale wettability effects may temporarily reduce the local connectivity of water‐flow pathways.     

A new plant-based bioassay for aquatic sediments

Background, Goal and Scope  To date, standardised bioassays for the assessment of the ecotoxicological potential in sediments and dredged material use test organisms like bacteria, algae and crustaceae. This paper presents the development and application of a novel sediment contact test (whole sediment) withMyriophyllum aquaticum, a representative of rooted aquatic macrophytes. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the value of a sediment contact test with rooted macrophytes as a supplement to existing test batteries in order to improve the assessment of sediment toxicity. Methods  The newly developed sediment contact test withMyriophylhim aquaticum was applied to natural whole sediments. For performing the test, whorls ofMyriophyllum aquaticum were directly planted in the native sediment and incubated in the light at 24°C (cf. section results and discussion). The end points of the test were the number of the shoots and the fresh weight of the whole plants. The duckweed growth inhibition test withLemna minor according to ISO/DIS 20079 was performed in pore waters from sediment samples. The results of the sediment contact test withMyriophyllum aquaticum were compared with each other and with those of the aquatic duckweed test. Results and Discussion  A test protocol for the new plant-based sediment contact test using the aquatic plantMyriophyllum aquaticum as an indicator was developed. The best control sediment proved to be the OECD sediment (OECD 207). A test period of 10 days appeared to be sufficient for the test. The increase of biomass and the derived growth rate were found to be the most suitable evaluation parameters. The growth behaviour ofMyriophyllum aquaticum differed depending on the origin of sediments. Therefore, plant-affecting contamination, that is bound in sediments, was indicated. Conclusions  The novel sediment contact test withMyriophyllum aquaticum can indicate phytotoxic effects in sediments. Therefore, it allows a better assessment of the overall-toxicity in whole sediments. Recommendations and Outlook  The sediment contact test withMyriophyllum aquaticum is a valuable tool for the evaluation of the ecotoxicological risk potential of waters and sediments. It should become a complement to a standardised test battery generally used for the assessment of sediment toxicity.     

53种植物提取物对褐飞虱的杀虫活性测定

用点滴法测定了53种植物66种提取物对褐飞虱的触杀活性。48h校正死亡率大于80％的植物提取物有10种,校正死亡率为50％～80％的植物提取物有10种。进一步测定了有触杀活性的12种植物提取物对褐飞虱的触杀毒力,其中银杏（Ginkgo biloba）叶、厚果鸡血藤（Millettia pachycarpa）种子、广西地不容（Stephania kwangsiensis）块根、黄连（Coptisc胁船瑚括）根的触杀毒力高,LD50值分别为0．0129,0．2519,1．5794和2．0578μg/头。     

BP神经网络在静力触探确定单桩承载力中的应用

运用BP神经网络建立了静力触探成果与单桩承载力的相关关系，并通过工程实例将BP神经网络预报值与线性回归数学模型、规范公式方法计算值进行对比，说明BP神经网络在利用静力触探成果确定单桩承载力中是一种行之有效的方法，具有精度高，信息处理智能化等特点，计算结果明显优于传统的线性回归数学模型和规范公式方法，具有较好的应用价值。     

番茄茎叶提取物对菜粉蝶的生物活性研究

以乙醇、乙醚、苯、石油醚和丙酮为溶剂对番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)茎叶进行浸提,测试各溶剂提取物对菜粉蝶5龄幼虫的触杀、拒食和胃毒活性。结果表明,各溶剂提取物对菜粉蝶(Pieris rapae L.)主要表现为拒食活性和胃毒活性,其中乙醇提取物的拒食和胃毒活性最强。     

考虑不密实接触地下埋管联合受力分析

埋藏式压力钢管设计中,钢衬、混凝土衬圈和围岩之间普遍存在着不连续的缝隙,致使设计计算时难以进行联合受力分析。针对这种不密实接触问题,采用厚壁圆环组合环法,提出了在钢衬和混凝土之间设置接触层的钢衬、混凝土衬圈和围岩三者联合受力分析方法。并利用变形协调条件,推导出各环变形的解析解,得到钢衬和围岩的压力分担比。不同接触情况下的受力分析结果表明,当接触层弹性模量小于混凝土弹模的1/100时,接触层的弹性模量变化对钢衬和围岩压力分担比的影响较大;而接触层厚度对压力分担比的影响不甚明显。另外,接触层参数可通过其变形与规范建议的初始缝隙相匹配的原则加以确定。     

接触辉光放电等离子体降解水体中的邻氯苯酚

接触辉光放电电解是一种新型的产生等离子体的电化学方法。本文测定了催化剂、pH 值对接触辉光放电等离子体降解水体中邻氯苯酚降解效率的影响;并利用高效液相色谱检测了中间产物和邻氯苯酚降解浓度随时间的变化。实验表明:碱性条件下降解有利,Fe2+催化作用下降解效率明显提高。     

高含水率非离子型水凝胶角膜接触镜材料的合成及性能研究

以丙烯酰胺(AM)和甲基丙烯酸β-羟乙酯(HEMA)为主要原料,采用适宜的制备工艺,得到一种高含水率、非离子型交联共聚水凝胶角膜接触镜材料,对影响其平衡溶胀率的各种因素、透光率、饱和含水率、力学强度等进行了研究.结果表明,所得膜材料的透光率、饱和含水率、力学强度均能很好满足水凝胶角膜接触镜的要求.     

利用OWRK法预测桃叶表面润湿性能的研究

对桃叶表面润湿性能的预测方法进行了研究。应用OWRK法对不同生长期桃叶的近轴面、远轴面的表面自由能及其分量进行了测定。无论近轴叶面还是远轴叶面,随着桃叶生长期的增长,均表现出表面自由能减小,润湿性能变差,极性分量所占比例下降,色散分量所占比例上升等特性。这些变化与前人对于桃叶表皮蜡的蜡质含量、组份含量变化的研究成果相一致。说明用OWRK法测定桃叶表面自由能及其分量所得结果可靠,可以较好地描述桃叶表面的润湿性能和能量特征。     

Insecticidal compounds from the essential oil of Chinese medicinal herb Atractylodes chinensis

BACKGROUND: In a screening programme for new agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal herbs, the essential oil of Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz was found to possess strong insecticidal activity against the common vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster L. The essential oil was extracted via hydrodistillation, and its constituents were determined by GC‐MS analysis. RESULTS: The main components of A. chinensis essential oil were β‐eudesmol (21.05%), β‐selinene (11.75%), γ‐elemene (7.16%) and isopetasam (5.36%). Bioactivity‐directed chromatographic separation on repeated silica gel columns led to the isolation of five compounds, namely atractylon, α‐elemol, β‐eudesmol, hinesol and β‐selinene. β‐Selinene, α‐elemol and hinesol showed pronounced contact toxicity against D. melanogaster adults, with LD₅₀ values of 0.55, 0.65 and 0.71 µg adult^?1 respectively. Atractylon and β‐eudesmol were also toxic to the fruit flies (LD₅₀ = 1.63 and 2.65 µg adult^?1 respectively), while the crude oil had an LD₅₀ value of 2.44 µg adult^?1. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that the essential oil of Atractylodes chinensis and its active constituents may be explored as natural potential insecticides. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry