Improvement of thermo-mechanical properties of basalt fiber using heat resistant polymeric coatings

Heat resistant coatings of textile materials are required so that they can fulfill the high security demand in the case of resistance to fire and improve thermo-mechanical properties. These coatings also enhance the interface properties of textiles in the composites. Liquid phase coatings, based on polysilazane and polysiloxane polymers were deposited onto the basalt fiber (BF) yarn using impregnation coating method. Tensile testing under thermal stress was conducted to examine the thermo-mechanical properties of both coated and uncoated yarns. The thermo-mechanical study indicated that the heat resistant coatings enhanced 40–70 % tensile strength and 25–40 % stiffness of original BF yarns up to 400 °C. BF yarn retained 65–90 % of its tensile strength at 500 °C due to coatings, whereas the uncoated BF yarn lost 85 % strength at this temperature. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the coatings have good thermal stability. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, optical microscopy and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses were executed in order to evaluate the surface microstructure as well as surface chemical compositions of the BF yarns.     

The role of humic substances in the aqueous mobilization of mercury from contaminated floodplain soils

The water-mobilizability of mercury from contaminated floodplain soils of the river Elbe in Northern Germany was evaluated by batch extraction experiments. It was shown that only a small amount of the total mercury present (about 1% per extraction) can be mobilized by water. This mercury is transported entirely in the form of a complex bound to humic acids (HA); particulates and fulvic acids (FA) did not seem to contribute to the process. It could not be removed from the HA even at pH 1, indicating an extremely strong complexation e.g. by sulfur-containing ligands. Furthermore, the influence of pH on the mobilization was investigated. It was found that in the range of natural pH-values, there was no observable effect of pH on the mobilization of either mercury or dissolved organic carbon (DOC). This surprising finding is explained by an unexpectedly high buffering capacity of the humics, both in the acidic and in the alkaline region. Only at extreme pH-values there was deviation from this behaviour. In contrast to other heavy metals, the amount of mobilized mercury decreases at pH < 3; and at pH > 12, an increased mobilization of mercury was observed because the humics are mobilized completely, accompanied by the total amount of mercury bound to them.     

Estimating Gaseous Mercury Emissions from Contaminated Floodplain Soils to the Atmosphere with Simple Field Measurement Techniques

The atmospheric emission of mercury (Hg) from a contaminatedwetlands system was studied in the floodplains along the riverElbe (Northern Germany). Results suggest that wetlands can beimportant transformation and phase transfer regions, linking theterrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric compartments of regionalbiogeochemical Hg cycles. Fluxes determined by flux chambermeasurements averaged 43 ± 5 ng m^-2 h^-1. Additionally,soil gas probe sampling was introduced to determine mercuryconcentrations in soil air. This technique shows some promise fordetecting and confining mercury contamination in soils. We alsopropose that measurements of total gaseous mercury (TGM) in soilair and the near-surface atmosphere, in combination with simplesoil physical parameters, may be suitable for calculatingsemiquantitative estimates of Hg evaporation from contaminatedsoils, based on laminar diffusion considerations. The results arecompared to other Hg flux measurements, and the advantages anddisadvantages of different approaches to quantify Hg emissionsfrom soils are discussed, especially with regard to possiblesystematic bias.     

Detection of interstellar pick-up hydrogen in the solar system

Interstellar hydrogen ionized primarily by the solar wind has been detected by the SWICS instrument on the Ulysses spacecraft at a distance of 4.8 astronomical units from the sun. This "pick-up" hydrogen is identified by its distinct velocity distribution function, which drops abruptly at twice the local solar wind speed. From the measured fluxes of pick-up protons and singly charged helium, the number densities of neutral hydrogen and helium in the distant regions of the solar system are estimated to be 0.077 +/- 0.015 and 0.013 +/- 0.003 per cubic centimeter, respectively.     

Avoidance responses of some indigenous and exotic freshwater pulmonate snails to leech predation in South Africa

The avoidance behaviour elicited from four species of freshwater pulmonate snails, Physa acuta and Aplexa marmorata (Physidae), Bulinus tropicus (Planorbidae) and Lymnaea natalensis (Lymnaeidae), following contact with a molluscivorous leech Hebbdella conifera (Glossiphoniidae), was examined experimentally. Although H. conifera showed no species preference for any of those species it attacked, the physids, both exotics, were killed less often than would be expected by chance. The indigenous species, B. tropicus and L natalensis, were more susceptible to leech attack than the introduced species. Size-preference trials using P. acuta showed decreased susceptibility to leech attack with an increase in snail size. These results are interpreted with reference to the mode of leech attack and to differences in snail morphology.     

Laser frequency combs for astronomical observations

A direct measurement of the universe's expansion history could be made by observing in real time the evolution of the cosmological redshift of distant objects. However, this would require measurements of Doppler velocity drifts of approximately 1 centimeter per second per year, and astronomical spectrographs have not yet been calibrated to this tolerance. We demonstrated the first use of a laser frequency comb for wavelength calibration of an astronomical telescope. Even with a simple analysis, absolute calibration is achieved with an equivalent Doppler precision of approximately 9 meters per second at approximately 1.5 micrometers-beyond state-of-the-art accuracy. We show that tracking complex, time-varying systematic effects in the spectrograph and detector system is a particular advantage of laser frequency comb calibration. This technique promises an effective means for modeling and removal of such systematic effects to the accuracy required by future experiments to see direct evidence of the universe's putative acceleration.     

An embryo transfer study of reciprocal cross differences in growth and carcass traits of Duroc and Landrace pigs.

Reciprocal cross differences have been reported for growth rate and carcass traits in F1 pigs with the Duroc (D) as a parent breed. Such differences are synonymous with maternal effects if effects of sex linkage and genomic imprinting are negligible. In the present study, transfer of embryos (ET) to paternal breed recipients partitioned effects occurring at or before fertilization from postfertilization effects for growth and carcass traits in F1 D-Landrace (L) pigs. Fifteen boars sired 115 F1 litters, 49 produced by ET. Growth rate of 349 barrows and 361 gilts and carcass measurements on 256 barrows and 159 gilts were analyzed assuming mixed linear models with animal and litter as random effects. Contrasts among genotype (D x L, L x D)- treatment (ET, non-ET) means were tested. Reciprocal cross differences were not detected for growth rate or for carcass weight, length, average backfat thickness, estimated carcass lean, or lean per day of age. Reciprocal cross differences for 10th rib backfat thickness (BF) and longissimus muscle area (LMA) were detected only in barrows. The sexual dichotomy for reciprocal cross differences followed expectations for a Y-linked gene(s), consistent with the fact that reciprocal D-L crossbred barrows exhibited a paternal effect, with responses more like the sire breed than the dam breed. Barrows that were non-ET from D sires and L dams had 3.9 cm2 larger LMA and 5.8 mm less BF than barrows from L sires and D dams (P less than .001). Barrows from ET sired by D boars had 3.8 cm2 larger LMA than did barrows from ET sired by L boars (P less than .001), although no difference was detected for BF. Barrows sired by D boars reared in a D postfertilization environment (ET) had 6.2 cm2 greater LMA and 4.1 mm less BF (P less than .05) than barrows sired by L boars gestated and reared by D dams (non-ET). Barrows sired by D boars reared by L dams (non-ET) had 1.5 cm2 greater LMA and 2.3 mm less BF (P greater than .10) than barrows sired by L boars reared by L dams (ET). In conclusion, reciprocal cross differences detected for BF and LMA in barrows were established before or at fertilization and seemed to be Y-linked.     

Manual irrigation in Middle America

Application of irrigation water by manually pouring or splashing is an old and widespread practice in Middle America. Two general types of manual irrigation are discussed. In container systems a vessel is used to lift, transfer, and apply water. Wells or other water sources may be as much as 10 m below field level. Although fields and water sources are arranged to minimize irrigation time and effort, only low water delivery rates of 10–20 l/min are possible.Splash systems use various hand scoops or shovels to impell water from canals or other sources at or near field level. Fields can be of any length but must be narrow to allow splash coverage from field-side sources. Delivery rates, limited by availability of water and speed of operator, reach or exceed 60 l/min.Despite great variability of human power units, representative performances can be determined. Careful measurement of times, distances, areas, and quantities permit calculation of other variables, such as water delivery rates and maximum field sizes, and suggest possibilities for further analyses.