The impact of humic and fulvic acids on the dynamic properties of liposome membranes: the ESR method.

This paper presents the results of research on the influence of two fractions of humic substances (HS): fulvic acids (FA) and humic acids (HA), as a function of concentration, on the liposome membranes formed from egg yolk lecithin (EYL). The concentration of HS in relation to EYL changed from 0% to 10% by weight. The influence of HS on various areas of membranes: interphase water-lipid, in the lipid layer just below the polar part of the membrane and in the middle of the lipid bilayer, was investigated by different spin labels (TEMPO, DOXYL 5, DOXYL 16). The study showed that HA slightly decreased the fluidity of the analyzed membranes on the surface layer, while FA significantly liquidated the center of the lipid bilayer. The strong effect of both fractions of HS on the concentration of free radicals as a function of time was also described.

The influence of the organic matter of sewage sediments on biological activity of microorganisms which carry out the transformations of carbon and nitrogen compounds.

Soil microorganisms play an important role in the organic matter transformation process. The soil microorganisms also are in symbiotic relationship with plants. At the same time, soil microorganisms are sensitive to both anthropogenic and natural habitat changes. Particular characteristics of organic matter (the C:N relation, pH, the content the content of assimilated nutrients, the xenobiotics etc.) modify the biotic conditions of the soils. This particularly concerns the microorganisms which carry out the changes in the mineral and organic nitrogen compounds and the transformation of the external organic matter. The first aim of this work was to assess the influence of the sewage sediments and the manure on the phytosanitary potential of the soil environment. The second aim of this article was to estimate the number and activity of microorganisms which carry out the transformation of carbon and nitrogen compounds. This work showed the stimulating effect of the external organic matter both on the number and on the activity of most of the physiological groups. The manure mainly stimulated ammonificators, amylolitic microorganisms and Azotobacter sp. The sewage sediments mainly stimulated ammonificators, nitrifiers of I phase and cellulolytic microorganisms. The statistically significant impact of the physio-chemical soil habitat on the biological activity of the analyzed groups of microbes was also noted.

The impact of Pleurotus ostreatus on organic matter transformation processes.

This study showed the effect of Pleurotus ostreatus on the external organic matter (OM) transformation processes. The kinetics of these changes were determined. The experiment was conducted as 42-day pot experiment done in four combinations (with four replications). The four combinations of different substrates were: (1) organic, (2) composted hay, (3) organic soil + composted hay, (4) organic soil + composted hay + lead. The study results showed that P. ostreatus had the ability to transform external OM as well as metal-organic complexes. These transformations were reflected in the constant rate of characterized changes and correlation coefficients. The study also indicated the direction of the external OM transformation. The direction leads to the selective oxidation of aliphatic structures, and an increase in humic substances which are resistant to oxidation. The study also identified the negative impact of lead on the ability of P. ostreatus to transform humic substances. The impact of lead was expressed as the lower value of the rapid rate constant k1 in objects enriched with lead acetate.