Argon retention properties of silicate glasses and implications for <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar age and noble gas diffusion studies

Sized aggregates of glasses (47–84 wt% SiO₂) were fused from igneous-derived cohesive fault rock and igneous rock, and step-heated from ~400 to >1,200 °C to obtain their ³⁹Ar diffusion properties (average E=33,400 cal mol^?1; D _o=4.63×10^?3 cm² s^?1). At T<~1,000 °C, glasses containing <~69 wt% SiO₂ and abundant network-forming cations (Ca, Fe, Mg) reveal moderate to strong non-linear increases in D and E, reflecting structural modifications as the solid transitions to melt. Extrapolation of these Arrhenius properties down to typical geologic T-t conditions could result in a 1.5 log₁₀ unit underestimation in the diffusion rate of Ar in similar materials. Numerical simulations based upon the diffusion results caution that some common geologic glasses will likely yield ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar cooling ages rather than formation ages. However, if cooling rates are sufficiently high, ambient temperatures are sufficiently low (e.g., <65–175 °C), and coarse particles (e.g., radius (r) >~1 mm) are analyzed, glasses with compositions similar to ours may preserve their formation ages.     

Thermoelastic properties of chromium oxide Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> (eskolaite) at high pressures and temperatures

A new synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of chromium oxide Cr₂O₃ (eskolaite) with the corundum-type structure has been carried out in a Kawai-type multi-anvil apparatus to pressure of 15 GPa and temperatures of 1873 K. Fitting the Birch–Murnaghan equation of state (EoS) with the present data up to 15 GPa yielded: bulk modulus (K _0,T0), 206 ± 4 GPa; its pressure derivative K′_0,T , 4.4 ± 0.8; (?K _0,T /?T) = ?0.037 ± 0.006 GPa K^?1; a = 2.98 ± 0.14 × 10^?5 K^?1 and b = 0.47 ± 0.28 × 10^?8 K^?2, where α _0,T  = a + bT is the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The thermal expansion of Cr₂O₃ was additionally measured at the high-temperature powder diffraction experiment at ambient pressure and α _0,T0 was determined to be 2.95 × 10^?5 K^?1. The results indicate that coefficient of the thermal expansion calculated from the EoS appeared to be high-precision because it is consistent with the data obtained at 1 atm. However, our results contradict α ₀ value suggested by Rigby et al. (Brit Ceram Trans J 45:137–148, 1946) widely used in many physical and geological databases. Fitting the Mie–Grüneisen–Debye EoS with the present ambient and high-pressure data yielded the following parameters: K _0,T0 = 205 ± 3 GPa, K′_0,T  = 4.0, Grüneisen parameter (γ ₀) = 1.42 ± 0.80, q = 1.82 ± 0.56. The thermoelastic parameters indicate that Cr₂O₃ undergoes near isotropic compression at room and high temperatures up to 15 GPa. Cr₂O₃ is shown to be stable in this pressure range and adopts the corundum-type structure. Using obtained thermoelastic parameters, we calculated the reaction boundary of knorringite formation from enstatite and eskolaite. The Clapeyron slope (with \({\text{d}}P/{\text{d}}T = - 0.014\) GPa/K) was found to be consistent with experimental data.     

The effects of petroleum-contaminated soil on photosynthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amorpha fruticosa</Emphasis> seedlings

A pot experiment was conducted to monitor the dynamic response of photosynthesis of Amorpha fruticosa seedlings to different concentrations of petroleum-contaminated soils from April to September. The results showed that the photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of seedlings significantly decreased in 5–20 g kg^?1 petroleum-contaminated soil during the three given sampling period of July 31 (early), August 30 (mid-term) and September 29 (late). However, the intercellular CO₂ concentration significantly increased in 10 g kg^?1 contaminated soil, while declined in 20 g kg^?1 contaminated soil during the early sampling period as well as in 20 g kg^?1 contaminated soil during the late sampling period. The leaf relative water content of seedlings significantly increased in 20 g kg^?1 contaminated soil during the early sampling period, while it dropped dramatically in 15–20 g kg^?1 contaminated soil during the late sampling period. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and the total chlorophyll of seedlings showed a sharp decline during the three sampling periods in contaminated soil. Comprehensively, considering the negative effects of petroleum on the photosynthesis, growth performance and remediation effect on petroleum of A. fruticosa seedlings, this plant was tolerant of petroleum-contaminated soil and was potentially useful for the phytoremediation of petroleum-contaminated sites in northern Shaanxi, China.     

Thermal equation of state of CaIrO<Subscript>3</Subscript> post-perovskite

The pressure–volume–temperature (P–V–T) relation of CaIrO₃ post-perovskite (ppv) was measured at pressures and temperatures up to 8.6 GPa and 1,273 K, respectively, with energy-dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction using a DIA-type, cubic-anvil apparatus (SAM85). Unit-cell dimensions were derived from the Le Bail full profile refinement technique, and the results were fitted using the third-order Birth-Murnaghan equation of state. The derived bulk modulus \( K_{T0} \) at ambient pressure and temperature is 168.3 ± 7.1 GPa with a pressure derivative \( K_{T0}^{\prime } \) = 5.4 ± 0.7. All of the high temperature data, combined with previous experimental data, are fitted using the high-temperature Birch-Murnaghan equation of state, the thermal pressure approach, and the Mie-Grüneisen-Debye formalism. The refined thermoelastic parameters for CaIrO₃ ppv are: temperature derivative of bulk modulus \( (\partial K_{T} /\partial T)_{P} \) = ?0.038 ± 0.011 GPa K^?1, \( \alpha K_{T} \) = 0.0039 ± 0.0001 GPa K^?1, \( \left( {\partial K_{T} /\partial T} \right)_{V} \) = ?0.012 ± 0.002 GPa K^?1, and \( \left( {\partial^{2} P/\partial T^{2} } \right)_{V} \) = 1.9 ± 0.3 × 10^?6 GPa² K^?2. Using the Mie-Grüneisen-Debye formalism, we obtain Grüneisen parameter \( \gamma_{0} \) = 0.92 ± 0.01 and its volume dependence q = 3.4 ± 0.6. The systematic variation of bulk moduli for several oxide post-perovskites can be described approximately by the relationship K _T0  = 5406.0/V(molar) + 5.9 GPa.     

Compressibility of strontium orthophosphate Sr<Subscript>3</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> at high pressure

High pressure in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiment of strontium orthophosphate Sr₃(PO₄)₂ has been carried out to 20.0 GPa at room temperature using multianvil apparatus. Fitting a third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state to the P–V data yields a volume of V ₀ = 498.0 ± 0.1 Å³, an isothermal bulk modulus of K _T  = 89.5 ± 1.7 GPa, and first pressure derivative of K _T ′ = 6.57 ± 0.34. If K _T ′ is fixed at 4, K _T is obtained as 104.4 ± 1.2 GPa. Analysis of axial compressible modulus shows that the a-axis (K _a  = 79.6 ± 3.2 GPa) is more compressible than the c-axis (K _c  = 116.4 ± 4.3 GPa). Based on the high pressure Raman spectroscopic results, the mode Grüneisen parameters are determined and the average mode Grüneisen parameter of PO₄ vibrations of Sr₃(PO₄)₂ is calculated to be 0.30(2).     

Potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Micranthemum umbrosum</Emphasis> for phytofiltration of organic arsenic species from oxic water environment

Arsenic (As) is a toxic and carcinogenic metalloid that causes various hazards to human health. Phytofiltration is a more eco-friendly and green approach than chemoremediation, or other traditional technologies, for removing As from aquatic environments. Recently, Micranthemum umbrosum was shown as a promising candidate for phytofiltration of inorganic As species. This work examines the potential application of M. umbrosum to phytofiltration of organic As species, such as monomethylarsonic acid (MMAA, CH₅AsO₃) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA, C₂H₇AsO₂), from oxic water environments. M. umbrosum plants were grown in two test concentrations of MMAA and DMAA, or a control, in a hydroponic experiment. After seven days, leaves accumulated 90 ± 3.2 and 48 ± 1.6 µg As g^?1 (oven dry basis) from 1 µg As mL^?1 of water added from MMAA and DMAA, respectively. Bioconcentration factor values and translocation factor values were always greater than 1.0, indicating that M. umbrosum was a good As accumulator and that leaves accumulated significantly higher amounts of As than stems and roots. Analysis of macro- and micronutrient data showed that M. umbrosum had higher resistance to organic As treatments than the control. These results confirm the potential application of M. umbrosum for phytofiltration of organic As from contaminated oxic water environments.     

Sulfate Reduction and Sulfur Cycles at Two Seagrass Beds Inhabited by Cold Affinity <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zostera marina</Emphasis> and Warm Affinity <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halophila nipponica</Emphasis> in Temperate Coastal Waters

To evaluate the impact of invading seagrass on biogeochemical processes associated with sulfur cycles, we investigated the geochemical properties and sulfate reduction rates (SRRs) in sediments inhabited by invasive warm affinity Halophila nipponica and indigenous cold affinity Zostera marina. A more positive relationship between SRR and below-ground biomass (BGB) was observed at the H. nipponica bed (SRR = 0.6809 × BGB ? 4.3162, r ² = 0.9878, p = 0.0006) than at the Z. marina bed (SRR = 0.3470 × BGB ? 4.0341, r ² = 0.7082, p = 0.0357). These results suggested that SR was more stimulated by the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exuded from the roots of H. nipponica than by the DOC released from the roots of Z. marina. Despite the enhanced SR in spring-summer, the relatively lower proportion (average, 20%) of acid-volatile sulfur (AVS) in total reduced sulfur and the strong correlation between total oxalate-extractable Fe (Fe_(oxal)) and chromium-reducible sulfur (CRS = 0.2321 × total Fe_(oxal) + 1.8180, r ² = 0.3344, p = 0.0076) in the sediments suggested the rapid re-oxidation of sulfide and precipitation of sulfide with Fe. The turnover rate of the AVS at the H. nipponica bed (0.13 day^?1) was 2.5 times lower than that at the Z. marina bed (0.33 day^?1). Together with lower AVS turnover, the stronger correlation of SRR to BGB in the H. nipponica bed suggests that the extension of H. nipponica resulting from the warming of seawater might provoke more sulfide accumulation in coastal sediments.     

Toxinogenicity and cytotoxicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria,Aspergillus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> moulds isolated from working environments

There is currently limited research available on the secondary metabolites of moulds in workplaces. The aim of this study was to determine the mould contamination in museums (N = 4), composting plants (N = 4) and tanneries (N = 4) and the secondary metabolite profiles of Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium isolates from these workplaces. Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium species were identified using the ITS1/2 sequence of the rDNA region. Mould metabolites were quantitatively analysed on standard laboratory medium and mineral medium containing materials specific to each workplace using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We also examined the cytotoxicity of the moulds using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays. Air microbiological contamination analyses showed a number of microorganisms, ranging from 2.4 × 10³ CFU m^?3 (composting plants) to 6.8 × 10⁴ CFU m^?3 (tanneries). We identified high percentages of Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium moulds (air 57–59%, surfaces 10–65%) in all workplaces. The following moulds were the most cytotoxic (>90%): Alternaria alternata, A. limoniasperae, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium biourgeianum, P. commune and P. spinulosum. The same mould species isolated from different working environments exhibited varying toxigenic and cytotoxic properties. Modifying the culture medium to simulate environmental conditions most often resulted in the inhibition of secondary metabolite production. Moulds isolated from the working environments produced the following mycotoxins (ng g^?1): chanoclavines (0.28–204), cyclopiazonic acid (27.1–1045), fumigaclavines (0.33–10,640,000), meleagrin (0.57–13,393), roquefortins (0.01–16,660), rugulovasines (112–220), viridicatin (0.12–957), viridicatol (4.23–2753) and quinocitrinines (0.07–1104), which may have a negative impact on human health.     

High-pressure synthesis,long-term stability of single crystals of diboron trioxide,B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>, and an empirical electronic polarizability of <Superscript>[3]</Superscript>B<Superscript>3+</Superscript>

Single crystals of B₂O₃ are needed for the precise determination of the refractive indices used to calculate the electronic polarizability α of 3-coordinated boron. The α(B) values in turn are used to predict mean refractive indices of borate minerals. Since the contribution of boron to the total polarizability of a mineral is very low, the synthetic compound B₂O₃ represents an ideal model system because of its high molar content of boron. Millimeter-sized crystals were synthesized at 1 GPa in a piston-cylinder apparatus. The samples were heated above the liquidus (800 °C), subsequently cooled at 15 °C/h to 500 °C and finally quenched. The refractive indices were determined by the immersion method using a microrefractometer spindle stage. The refractive indices n _o = 1.653 (3) and n _e = 1.632 (3) correspond to a total polarizability for B₂O₃ of α = 4.877 Å³. These values were used to determine the electronic polarizability of boron of α(B) = 0.16 Å³. Although the surface of the B₂O₃ crystals was coated with a hydrous film immediately after being exposed to air, its bulk crystallinity is retained for a period of at least 2 months.     

New information on radionuclides concentration in phosphorites originating from Tunisia and Algeria

In this study we investigate the radiological hazard of naturally occurring radioactive material in Tunisian and Algerian phosphorite deposits. Eight samples of phosphorite were collected from the phosphorite mines. The Tunisian and Algerian phosphorites occur in the Late Paleocene and Lower Eocene (Ypresian-Lutetian) in age (Béji Sassi 1984 and Zaïer 1999). Activity concentrations in all the samples were measured by alpha spectrometry and gamma spectrometry. Alpha spectrometry analyses show that the specific activity values of ²³⁸U, ²³⁴U and ²³⁵U in the samples of Tunisian phosphorite were 327?±?7 (321–327), 326?±?6 (325–331) and 14.50?±?0.72 (13.90–15.57) Bq kg^?1, respectively. Specific activity measured by gamma spectrometry in the samples of the Tunisian and Algerian phosphorite shows a small difference. Specific activity levels of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U in the phosphorite samples from Tunisia were, respectively, 71.10?±?3.80, 391.54?±?9.39, 60.38?±?3.74, 12.72?±?0.54 and 527.42?±?49.57 Bq kg^?1 and Algeria were 15.72?±?1.73, 989.65?±?12.52, 12.08?±?1.20, 47.50?±?1.52 and 1,148.78?±?7.30 Bq kg^?1, respectively. The measured value of specific activity of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in the Tunisian phosphorite samples is relatively higher than that found in the samples of Algerian phosphorite. The measured activity of uranium (²³⁸U) in the Tunisian phosphorite (527?±?49) Bq kg^?1 is lower than in Algerian phosphorite. The measured activity of ²³⁸U in the Tunisian phosphorite samples was (527–1,315?±?65) ²³⁸U Bq kg^?1 which is higher than its maximum background value of 110 Bq kg^?1 in soils of the various countries of the world (Tufail et al. Radiat Meas 41:443–451, 2006). Different geological origins of phosphorites deposits are the main reason for the large spread in worldwide specific activities. The obtained results of uranium concentrations in phosphorites of different types (Algerian and Tunisian) demonstrate that the uranium concentrations are mainly governed by the phosphatic material. The present study reveals that phosphorite deposits contain natural radioactivity higher than background level.     

Stability at high-pressure,elastic behaviour and pressure-induced structural evolution of CsAlSi<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>, a potential host for nuclear waste

The elastic and structural behaviour of the synthetic zeolite CsAlSi₅O₁₂ (a = 16.753(4), b = 13.797(3) and c = 5.0235(17) Å, space group Ama2, Z = 2) were investigated up to 8.5 GPa by in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction with a diamond anvil cell under hydrostatic conditions. No phase-transition occurs within the P-range investigated. Fitting the volume data with a third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation-of-state gives: V ₀ = 1,155(4) ų, K _T0 = 20(1) GPa and K′ = 6.5(7). The “axial moduli” were calculated with a third-order “linearized” BM-EoS, substituting the cube of the individual lattice parameter (a ³, b ³, c ³) for the volume. The refined axial-EoS parameters are: a ₀ = 16.701(44) Å, K _T0a = 14(2) GPa (β_a = 0.024(3) GPa^?1), K′ _a = 6.2(8) for the a-axis; b ₀ = 13.778(20) Å, K _T0b = 21(3) GPa (β_b = 0.016(2) GPa^?1), K′ _b = 10(2) for the b-axis; c ₀ = 5.018(7) Å, K _T0c = 33(3) GPa (β_c = 0.010(1) GPa^?1), K′ _c = 3.2(8) for the c-axis (K _T0a:K _T0b:K _T0c = 1:1.50:2.36). The HP-crystal structure evolution was studied on the basis of several structural refinements at different pressures: 0.0001 GPa (with crystal in DAC without any pressure medium), 1.58(3), 1.75(4), 1.94(6), 3.25(4), 4.69(5), 7.36(6), 8.45(5) and 0.0001 GPa (after decompression). The main deformation mechanisms at high-pressure are basically driven by tetrahedral tilting, the tetrahedra behaving as rigid-units. A change in the compressional mechanisms was observed at P ≤ 2 GPa. The P-induced structural rearrangement up to 8.5 GPa is completely reversible. The high thermo-elastic stability of CsAlSi₅O_12, the immobility of Cs at HT/HP-conditions, the preservation of crystallinity at least up to 8.5 GPa and 1,000°C in elastic regime and the extremely low leaching rate of Cs from CsAlSi₅O₁₂ allow to consider this open-framework silicate as functional material potentially usable for fixation and deposition of Cs radioisotopes.     

Assessment of natural radioactivity,associated radiological health hazards indices and soil-to-crop transfer factors in cultivated area around a fertilizer factory in Onne,Nigeria

Concentration of natural radionuclides in three major staple food crops cultivated around a fertilizer plant in Onne, Rivers State Nigeria and the cultivated soil samples were determined using gamma spectroscopy operated on a Canberra vertical high purity 3″ × 3″ NaI(TI) detector. The average activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K was determined, for cassava flour (U 19.3 ± 5.0, Th 11.4 ± 3.3, K 426.9 ± 33.8) Bq kg^?1, for yam flour (U 6.3 ± 1.8, Th 8.4 ± 2.6, K 227.0.9 ± 27.3) Bq kg^?1 while for cocoyam flour (U 7.5 ± 2.7, Th 7.1 ± 2.3, K 195.8 ± 25.83) Bq kg^?1. The mean activity concentration for soil samples is 18.7 ± 3.7 Bq kg^?1, 18.0 ± 3.8 Bq kg^?1 and 308.4 ± 22.4 Bq kg^?1 for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, respectively. These values obtained show enhanced ⁴⁰K concentration which is attributed to the effluent discharge from a fertilizer plant and its applications to farmlands, but ²³⁸U, ²³²Th values are well within the global average and values reported in some regions and countries of the world. Radiation hazard indices obtained to estimate potential radiological health risk in both foodstuffs and soil samples are well below their permissible limit as set by UNSCEAR [Sources and effects of ionizing radiation (Report to the General Assembly), 2000]. The rate of radionuclides transfer from soil to crops was moderate with mean transfer factors of ²³²Th < ²³⁸U < ⁴⁰K.     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-assisted removal of nutrients from municipal wastewater by microalgae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlorella vulgaris</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scenedesmus obliquus</Emphasis>

Axenic culture of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris ATCC^® 13482 and Scenedesmus obliquus FACHB 417 was used for phycoremediation of primary municipal wastewater. The main aim of this study was to measure the effects of normal air and CO₂-augmented air on the removal efficacy of nutrients (ammonia N and phosphate P) from municipal wastewater by the two microalgae. Batch experiments were carried out in cylindrical glass bottles of 1 L working volume at 25 °C and cool fluorescent light of 6500 lux maintaining 14/10 h of light/dark cycle with normal air supplied at 0.2 L min^?1 per liter of the liquid for both algal strains for the experimental period. In the next set of experiments, the treatment process was enhanced by using 1, 2 and 5% CO₂/air (vol./vol.) supply into microalgal cultures. The enrichment of inlet air with CO₂ was found to be beneficial. The maximum removal of 76.3 and 76% COD, 94.2 and 92.6% ammonia, and 94.8 and 93.1% phosphate after a period of 10 days was reported for C. vulgaris and S. obliquus, respectively, with 5% CO₂/air supply. Comparing the two microalgae, maximum removal rates of ammonia and phosphate by C. vulgaris were 4.12 and 1.75 mg L^?1 day^?1, respectively, at 5% CO₂/air supply. From kinetic study data, it was found that the specific rates of phosphate utilization (q _phsophate) by C. vulgaris and S. obliquus at 5% CO₂/air supply were 1.98 and 2.11 day^?1, respectively. Scale-up estimation of a reactor removing phosphate (the criteria pollutant) from 50 MLD wastewater influent was also done.     

High-pressure phase transitions of CaRhO<Subscript>3</Subscript> perovskite

High-pressure phase transitions of CaRhO₃ perovskite were examined at pressures of 6–27 GPa and temperatures of 1,000–1,930°C, using a multi-anvil apparatus. The results indicate that CaRhO₃ perovskite successively transforms to two new high-pressure phases with increasing pressure. Rietveld analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data indicated that, in the two new phases, the phase stable at higher pressure possesses the CaIrO₃-type post-perovskite structure (space group Cmcm) with lattice parameters: a = 3.1013(1) Å, b = 9.8555(2) Å, c = 7.2643(1) Å, V _m  = 33.43(1) cm³/mol. The Rietveld analysis also indicated that CaRhO₃ perovskite has the GdFeO₃-type structure (space group Pnma) with lattice parameters: a = 5.5631(1) Å, b = 7.6308(1) Å, c = 5.3267(1) Å, V _m  = 34.04(1) cm³/mol. The third phase stable in the intermediate P, T conditions between perovskite and post-perovskite has monoclinic symmetry with the cell parameters: a = 12.490(3) Å, b = 3.1233(3) Å, c = 8.8630(7) Å, β = 103.96(1)°, V _m  = 33.66(1) cm³/mol (Z = 6). Molar volume changes from perovskite to the intermediate phase and from the intermediate phase to post-perovskite are –1.1 and –0.7%, respectively. The equilibrium phase relations determined indicate that the boundary slopes are large positive values: 29 ± 2 MPa/K for the perovskite—intermediate phase transition and 62 ± 6 MPa/K for the intermediate phase—post-perovskite transition. The structural features of the CaRhO₃ intermediate phase suggest that the phase has edge-sharing RhO₆ octahedra and may have an intermediate structure between perovskite and post-perovskite.     

Functional Performance of Three Invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Marenzelleria</Emphasis> Species Under Contrasting Ecological Conditions Within the Baltic Sea

A 4-week laboratory experiment investigated the behaviour (survival and bioirrigation) and impact of the invasive polychaetes Marenzelleria viridis, M. neglecta and M. arctia on sediment-water solutes exchange, porewater chemistry, and Fe and P interactions in high-salinity sandy sediment (HSS) and low-salinity muddy sediment (LSM) from the Baltic Sea. M. viridis showed deep burrowing with efficient bioirrigation (11 L m^?2 day^?1) and high survival (71%) in HSS, while M. arctia exhibited shallow burrowing with high bioirrigation (12 L m^?2 day^?1) and survival (88%) in LSM. M. neglecta behaved poorly in both ecological settings (bioirrigation, 5–6 L m^?2 day^?1; survival, 21–44%). The deep M. viridis bioirrigation enhanced total microbial CO₂ (TCO₂) production in HSS by 175% with a net efflux of NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3?, at rates 3- to 27-fold higher than for the other species. Although the shallow and intense bioirrigation of M. arctia in LSM stimulated microbial TCO₂ production to some extent (61% enhancement), the nutrient fluxes close to zero indicate that it effectively prevented the P release. Porewater Fe:PO₄^3? ratios revealed that the oxidizing effect of M. arctia bioirrigation increased the PO₄^3? adsorption capacity of LSM twofold relative to defaunated controls while no buffering of PO₄^3? was detected in M. viridis HSS treatment. Therefore, the different behaviour of the three species in various environments and the sharp contrast between M. viridis and M. arctia effects on C, N and P cycling must be considered carefully when the ecological role of Marenzelleria species in the Baltic Sea is evaluated.     

Detailed comparison of nine intact rock failure criteria using polyaxial intact coal strength data obtained through PFC<Superscript>3D</Superscript> simulations

Study of intact rock failure criteria is an important topic in rock mechanics. In this study, applicability of nine different intact rock failure criteria is investigated for intact coal strength data. PFC^3D modeling was used to simulate the laboratory polyaxial tests for cubic intact coal blocks of side dimension 110 mm under different confining stress combinations. A modified grid search procedure is proposed and used to find the best-fitting parameter values and to calculate the coefficient of determination (R ²) values for each criterion. Detailed comparisons of the nine criteria are made using the following aspects: R ² values, σ ₁ ? σ ₂ plots for different σ ₃, shapes on the deviatoric plane, linearity or nonlinearity on the meridian planes. Through the comparisons of R ² values, σ ₁ ? σ ₂ plots and meridian lines, the modified Wiebols–Cook and modified Lade criteria were found to fit the intact coal strength data best. The nine failure criteria are categorized into three types based on the appearances on the deviatoric plane.     

Tunisian landfill leachate treatment using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlorella</Emphasis> sp.: effective factors and microalgae strain performance

The potential of the autoclaved Tunisian landfill leachate treatment using microalgae (Chlorella sp.) cultivation was investigated in this study. Landfill leachate was collected from Borj Chakir landfill, Tunisia. A full factorial experimental design 2² was proposed to study the effects of the incubation time and leachate ratio factors on the organic matter removal expressed in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₄─N) and on the biological response of Chlorella sp. expressed by the cell density and chlorophyll content. All experiments were batch runs at ambient temperature (25 ± 2 °C). The Chlorella sp. biomass and chlorophyll a concentrations of 1.2 and 5.32 mg L^?1, respectively, were obtained with 10% leachate spike ratio. The obtained results showed that up to 90% of the ammoniacal nitrogen in landfill leachate was removed in 10% leachate ratio spiked medium with a residual concentration of 40 mg L^?1. The maximum COD removal rate reached 60% within 13 days of incubation time indicating that microalgae consortium was quite effective for treating landfill leachate organic contaminants. Furthermore, with the 10% leachate ratio spiked medium, the maximum lipid productivity was 4.74 mg L^?1 d^?1. The present study provides valuable information for potential adaptation of microalgae culture and its contribution for the treatment of Tunisian landfill leachate.     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> content of andesitic melts at graphite-saturated upper mantle conditions with implications for redox state of oceanic basalt source regions and remobilization of reduced carbon from subducted eclogite

We have performed experiments to determine the effects of pressure, temperature and oxygen fugacity on the CO₂ contents in nominally anhydrous andesitic melts at graphite saturation. The andesite composition was specifically chosen to match a low-degree partial melt composition that is generated from MORB-like eclogite in the convective, oceanic upper mantle. Experiments were performed at 1–3 GPa, 1375–1550?°C, and fO₂ of FMQ ?3.2 to FMQ ?2.3 and the resulting experimental glasses were analyzed for CO₂ and H₂O contents using FTIR and SIMS. Experimental results were used to develop a thermodynamic model to predict CO₂ content of nominally anhydrous andesitic melts at graphite saturation. Fitting of experimental data returned thermodynamic parameters for dissolution of CO₂ as molecular CO₂: ln(K ⁰) = ?21.79?±?0.04, ΔV ⁰?=?32.91?±?0.65 cm³mol^?1, ΔH ⁰?=?107?±?21 kJ mol^?1, and dissolution of CO₂ as CO₃ ^2?: ln(K ⁰ ) = ?21.38?±?0.08, ΔV ⁰?=?30.66?±?1.33 cm³ mol^?1, ΔH ⁰?=?42?±?37 kJ mol^?1, where K ⁰ is the equilibrium constant at some reference pressure and temperature, ΔV ⁰ is the volume change of reaction, and ΔH ⁰ is the enthalpy change of reaction. The thermodynamic model was used along with trace element partition coefficients to calculate the CO₂ contents and CO₂/Nb ratios resulting from the mixing of a depleted MORB and the partial melt of a graphite-saturated eclogite. Comparison with natural MORB and OIB data suggests that the CO₂ contents and CO₂/Nb ratios of CO₂-enriched oceanic basalts cannot be produced by mixing with partial melts of graphite-saturated eclogite. Instead, they must be produced by melting of a source containing carbonate. This result places a lower bound on the oxygen fugacity for the source region of these CO₂-enriched basalts, and suggests that fO₂ measurements made on cratonic xenoliths may not be applicable to the convecting upper mantle. CO₂-depleted basalts, on the other hand, are consistent with mixing between depleted MORB and partial melts of a graphite-saturated eclogite. Furthermore, calculations suggest that eclogite can remain saturated in graphite in the convecting upper mantle, acting as a reservoir for C.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella typhi</Emphasis> using four developed kits of ELISA for cleaning in place purification

Lack of reliable knowledge to detect antigen of Salmonella typhi in water samples was our reason to modify ELISA method by alteration ratio of buffer-carbonated solution as new kits. Our study was assigned as six groups based on the different concentrations of S. typhi, 10⁴, 10⁶ and 10⁸ cells mL^?1 of S. typhi, one negative control, two positive controls and different buffer-carbonated solutions at dilution of 1:1000, 1:2000, 1:4000 and 1:8000 as our kits. The ODs of S. typhi were measured with the kits and compared to each other. GLM multivariate statistical analysis also was used for selecting more appropriate ELISA kit to measure more precise ODs of the bacteria concentrations. The closest calculated value to the OD value of 4 (positive control) was dedicated to kit 4 measured for positive control 1 (3.49 ± 0.00), positive control 2 (3.75 ± 0.00) and relatively similar (p > 0.05) to that of positive control 2 (3.27 ± 0.00) measured with kit 1. On the other hand, our results showed that great coefficient variations were measured with kit 1 as well as kits 2 and 3 for all groups except for negative controls. It is concluded that buffer-carbonated solution at dilution of 1:8000, as kit 4 is more capable of detecting S. typhi in water samples using ELISA method.