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Notes: Abstract Photoelectron spectroscopy on pyrolytic carbon films revealed a main part of carbon atoms in graphitic planes and a smaller part of functional groups with oxygen bonded to carbon atoms. Oxygen totalled a share of 10 at% and more of the carbon coating. The films with a turbostratic structure consist of nearly parallel oriented atomic layers of hexagonal rings with dimensions in the nanometer scale, which is well known from HREM investigations. The oxygen atoms are proposed to saturate the numerous dangling bonds around these individual atomic planes. The oxygen atoms form double bonds or bridges between carbon atoms.

Notes: Human temporal lobe epilepsy is characterized by strong synaptic reorganization that leads to abnormal recurrent excitatory synaptic connections among hippocampal neurons. In addition, electrophysiological studies show that synaptic activity of the main afferent input to the hippocampus, the perforant path, is prolonged and amplified by changes in postsynaptic glutamate receptors. The current view is that these morphological and physiological abnormalities contribute significantly to the hyperexcitability seen in the hippocampus of temporal lobe epilepsy. Recently, it was found that presynaptic inhibitory metabotropic glutamate receptors are an important negative feedback mechanism that controls synaptic release of glutamate in the hippocampus. In this study, we assessed the functionality of this feedback system by investigating the metabotropic glutamate receptor mediated depression of excitatory synaptic transmission in surgically removed hippocampi from patients with marked synaptic reorganization (Ammon's horn sclerosis group) and from patients without detectable reorganization (lesion group). We report here that this control of synaptic transmission is lost in hippocampi from the Ammon's horn sclerosis group whereas this control is preserved in hippocampi from the lesion group. The data presented here suggest that the loss of feedback inhibition mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptors could be a further, previously not recognized, mechanism in the pathophysiology of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Notes: Abstract The death of buzzards (Buteo buteo) found in fodder and sugar beet fields treated with granular carbofuran was investigated. To determine if there was a causal relationship between carbofuran treatment and bird mortality, earthworms of a specific fodder beet field as well as the crop contents of dead buzzards were analyzed for carbofuran contamination. Earthworms of the fodder beet field contained carbofuran concentrations up to 3.2 mg/kg, while remains of earthworms and carbofuran were detected in all buzzard crop contents. The carbofuran concentrations found in the earthworms as well as in the crops of the buzzards corroborate the suspicion that the buzzards found on fodder and sugar beet fields treated with granular carbofuran had died of secondary poisoning with carbofuran via contaminated earthworms.

Notes: Abstract. The 96-h toxicity of four organophosphates (thiometon, disulfoton, malathion, and demeton-S-methyl, the oxygen analogue of thiometon) in the freshwater bivalve mollusc Dreissena polymorpha was tested using different nominal concentrations ranging between 6 and 50 mg/L. No mortalities were observed in mussels exposed to malathion and demeton-S-methyl (26 mg/L and 6 mg/L, respectively), and at the lowest concentrations of thiometon and disulfoton (6 and 10 mg/L, respectively). At higher thiometon and disulfoton concentrations, mortalities occurred. At the highest concentrations of 50 mg thiometon/L and 30 mg disulfoton/L, mussel mortalities of 88 and 93%, respectively, were determined. Organophosphate concentrations of up to a factor 10 times higher than in the ambient water were found in exposed mussels, irrespective of whether they were alive or dead. The search for organophosphate metabolites via GC/MS analysis of mussel tissue extracts was negative, suggesting lacking or low oxidative activation of the insecticides used. The mollusc is highly resistant to toxic effects of organophosphate insecticides and their biological active oxygen analogues.

Notes: Abstract The 96-h toxicity of four organophosphates (thiometon, disulfoton, malathion, and demeton-S-methyl, the oxygen analogue of thiometon) in the freshwater bivalve mollusc Dreissena polymorpha was tested using different nominal concentrations ranging between 6 and 50 mg/L. No mortalities were observed in mussels exposed to malathion and demeton-S-methyl (26 mg/L and 6 mg/L, respectively), and at the lowest concentrations of thiometon and disulfoton (6 and 10 mg/L, respectively). At higher thiometon and disulfoton concentrations, mortalities occurred. At the highest concentrations of 50 mg thiometon/L and 30 mg disulfoton/L, mussel mortalities of 88 and 93%, respectively, were determined. Organophosphate concentrations of up to a factor 10 times higher than in the ambient water were found in exposed mussels, irrespective of whether they were alive or dead. The search for organophosphate metabolites via GC/MS analysis of mussel tissue extracts was negative, suggesting lacking or low oxidative activation of the insecticides used. The mollusc is highly resistant to toxic effects of organophosphate insecticides and their biological active oxygen analogues.

Notes: Abstract Oxygen Fugacity measurements were carried out on chromites from the Eastern Bushveld Complex (Maandagshoek) and are compared with former measurements on chromites from the western Bushveld Complex (Zwartkop Chrome Mine). These results together with those of Hill and Roeder (1974) yield the following conditions of formation for the massive chromitite layers: Western Bushveld Complex (Zwartkop Chrome Mine) $$\begin{gathered} Layer{\text{ }}T(^\circ C) p_{O_2 } (atm) \hfill \\ LG3{\text{ 1160}} - {\text{1234 10}}^{ - {\text{5}}} - 10^{ - 7.6} \hfill \\ LG4{\text{ 1175}} - {\text{1200 10}}^{ - 6.35} - 10^{ - 7.20} \hfill \\ LG6{\text{ 1162}} - {\text{1207 10}}^{ - 6.20} - 10^{ - 7.50} \hfill \\ \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ Eastern Bushveld Complex (Farm Maandagshoek) $$\begin{gathered} {\text{LXI 1115}} - {\text{1150 10}}^{ - 7.80} - 10^{ - 8.80} \hfill \\ ( = {\text{Steelpoort Seam)}} \hfill \\ {\text{LX 1125 10}}^{ - 8.25} \hfill \\ {\text{V 1120 10}}^{ - 8.55} \hfill \\ {\text{LII 1120 10}}^{ - 8.0} - 10^{ - 8.60} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The comparison of the data shows, that the chronitite layers within each particular sequence were formed under approximately identicalp o 2- andT-conditions. The chromites from the western Bushveld Complex, however, were formed at higher temperatures and higher oxygen fugacities than the chromites from the eastern Bushveld Complex. Fromp o 2-T-curves of disseminated chromites and the temperatures derived above, the following conditions of formation for the host rocks were obtained: Western Bushveld Complex $$T = 1200^\circ {\text{C; }}p_{{\text{o}}_{\text{2}} } = 10^{ - 7.25} - 10^{ - 7.50} $$ Eastern Bushveld Complex $$T = 1125^\circ {\text{C; }}p_{{\text{o}}_{\text{2}} } = 10^{ - 8.50} - 10^{ - 9.25} $$ Consequently, the host rocks in the Zwartkop-Chrome-Mine, were formed under higher temperatures and higher oxygen fugacities than the host rocks at Maandagshoek. The rock sequence in the Zwartkop-Chrome-Mine therefore originated in an earlier stage of the differentiation of the Bushveld magma. Comparison of the chromites from the host rocks with the chromites from massive layers supports Ulmer's (1969) thesis that an increase of the oxygen fugacity is responsible for the formation of massive chromitite layers. The values in this investigation show that increases of only about 0.5–1.0 log units are necessary to enhance chromitite layer formation.

Notes: Abstract SEM, EDS and GDOES investigations on ferrous ore and slag samples contribute to the local history of mining and metallurgy. Quantitative X-ray analysis confirms the ore to be limonite. The slag consists of fayalithe and incompletely reduced ore parts (iron scale). Additional calcium and charcoal inclusions were reactants of the bloomery process. The charcoal shows anatomical details of spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). A multitude of typical trace elements was detected by GDOES both in ore and slag samples. The comparison of normalised GDOES signals for a series of constituents showed that the ore from the assumed deposit (Euba) was processed in the location (Sternmühlenthal), where the slag was discarded. The process was probably performed in the 17th century.

Notes: Abstract Investigations on CVD boron nitride films on fibres by means of photoelectron and X-ray spectroscopy resulted in B/N ratios above the stoichiometric value 1 and oxygen contents up to 25 at%. Compared to the hydrolytic rate of the films an apparent dependence was found on the deposition rate and some evidence of the oxygen concentration. CVD fibre coatings exhibit a hexagonal turbostratic structure with extremely small atomic layer plane dimensions, which was proved by transmission electron microscopy. Corresponding to oxygen concentrations in pyrolytic carbon films with similar structure a model is proposed, where the small atomic layers with dimensions of some nanometers cause a relatively high oxygen concentration in the boron nitride films. The oxygen atoms saturate the dangling bonds. Moreover the B/N ratio extents the expected stoichiometric ratio due to the oxygen atoms at nitrogen sites.

Notes: Abstract Crystalline strontium titanate layers were deposited on titanium anodes from Sr(OH)2 aqueous electrolyte solutions by a plasmachemical-electrochemical process of anodic spark deposition. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to study the properties of the polycrystalline material. Strontium titanate was deposited on the titanium anode surface as a ceramic layer from an aqueous electrolyte. The typical pore structure morphology of the anodic spark deposit (ASD) was characterized by SEM as well as fractures which provide an intimate contact between layer and substrate. XRD-study showed that the layers are composed of a mixture of SrTiO3 and TiO2.