Prospects and limitations of an isotope tracer technique for understanding sulfur cycling in forested and agro-ecosystems

Abstract Applications of isotopically distinct sulfur compounds have recently been used for tracing the fate of added sulfur in whole catchments or sub-compartments therein. Basic principles, the analytical methodology, and data evaluation for this isotope tracer technique are briefly described. We recommend that δ(34)S-values of applied and natural sulfur compounds in the investigated ecosystem should differ by more than 20‰ in order to successfully ascertain sulfur fluxes. Where possible, a high ratio of applied sulfur loads versus sulfur pool sizes in the ecosystem should also be realized in order to allow the assessment of sulfur transformations in the study area. Prospects and limitations of this isotope tracer technique are critically discussed by reviewing results from recently or currently conducted lysimeter and field experiments.     

Antihydrophobic cosolvent effects in organic displacement reactions

[formula: see text] Rates of reactions in water can be modified by the presence of antihydrophobic cosolvents such as ethanol and DMSO, which lower the energies of nonpolar surfaces. The rate effects reflect changes both in the solvation of nonpolar surfaces and also in the solvation of polar groups. The effects have been sorted out for some displacement reactions, revealing the geometry of an interesting branching reaction whose two paths show different antihydrophobic effects.     

Thermally activated conduction in molecular junctions

We report temperature dependence measurements on the conductance of individual molecular wires. The results show for the first time in a molecular junction the theoretically predicted transition from coherent superexchange tunneling conductance to an activated hopping mechanism as temperature is increased.     

Scaling properties of ℤ k- 1 actions on the circle

We derive universal scaling properties for ^k–1 actions on the circle whose generators have rotation numbers algebraic of degreek. As fork=2 these properties can be explained for arbitraryk in terms of a renormalization group transformation. It has at least one trivial fixed point corresponding to an action whose generators are pure rotations. The spectrum of the linearized transformation in this fixed point is analyzed completely. The fixed point is hyperbolic with a (k–1)-dimensional unstable manifold. In the casek=2 the known results are therefore recovered.     

Die Kristallstruktur von Si5O[PO4]6

The crystal structure of Si₅O[PO₄]₆ has been determined and refined by least-squares, using three-dimensional X-raydata fromWeissenberg photographs: space group R 3;a=7.86₉ andc=24.13₈ Å;Z=3; 418 independent reflections;R=6.0%. The crystal structure consists of isolated [SiO₆] octahedra and [Si₂O₇] groups which are linked by [PO₄] tetrahedra forming a three-dimensional network. The average interatomic distances are: Si[6]?O=1.76₈, Si[4]?O=1.60₇ and P?O=1.52_i Å. The compound is isotypic with Ge₅O[PO₄]₆.