Sol-gel Synthesis, Photo- and Electrocatalytic Properties of Mesoporous TiO2 Modified with Transition Metal Ions

Abstract Mesoporous nanosized titania films modified with Co2+, Ni2+, Mn3+, and Cu2+ ions have been produced by templated sol-gel method and characterized by optical spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) surface area measurement. Band gap energy and the position of flat band potentials were estimated by photoelectrochemical measurements. The films doped with transition metals possessed higher photocurrent quantum yield, as well as photo- and electrochemical activity compared to undoped samples. Mn+/TiO2 (M–Co, Ni, Mn, Cu) electrodes with low dopant content demonstrate high efficiency in electrocatalytic reduction of dissolved oxygen. Polarization curves of TiO2, TiO2/Ni2+, TiO2/Co2+/3+, and TiO2/Mn3+ electrodes contain only one current wave (oxygen reduction current). It means that reaction proceeds without the formation of an intermediate product H2O2

A New Species of Waginella (Crustacea: Thecostraca: Ascothoracida) Parasitic on a Stalked Crinoid From Tasman Sea, With Notes on Morphology of Related Genera

A new ectoparasitic ascothoracidan species has been discovered off northern Tasman Sea at a depth of 520 m. Single female, described herein as Waginella ebonita Kolbasov and Newman sp. nov. in the family Synagogidae Gruvel, 1905, was collected on the column of crinoid Metacrinus sp. This is the first study of a new form of Waginella to be based on the extensive use of both light and scanning electron microscopy to document the fine-scale external morphology. We studied the external morphology of other two species of Waginella, W. cf. axotremata and W. sandersi utilizing SEM and compared fine structures of all congeners. The genus Waginella represents a monophyletic taxon including at least 4 species having similar and unique morphology even on the ultrastructural level. Two species, W. cf. axotremata and W. cf. metacrinicola may represent at least two complexes of species. The morphology of an attachment apparatus in all species of Waginella suggests that they remain attached to the host for a considerable period of time. The lattice organs of Waginella have a unique structure distinguishing from all Thecostraca. Waginella ebonita sp. nov. is the second species of this genus known to harbor hyperparasitic cryptoniscid isopods representing parasitic castrators

Vaginal dysbiosis as a factor contributing to the development of recurrent lower urinary tract infections

Introduction. It is known that women are significantly more likely to suffer from lower urinary tract infections (LUTIs) than men. Nowadays, there is growing evidence to demonstrate the impact of vaginal microbiota on the development of recurrent LUTIs.Objectives. To demonstrate the impact of vaginal microbiota disorders on the development of recurrent lower urinary tract infections.Materials & methods. Seventy-five women with recurrent LUTIs 19 – 76 years old were enrolled in this study. The examination was performed according to the algorithm developed in the Department of Urology and Surgical Andrology, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education. Real-time PCR of vaginal epithelial cell scrapings (Femoflor 16) was performed to comprehensively evaluate the vaginal microbiota.Results. Vaginal dysbiosis was detected in 47/75 (62.7%) women with recurrent UTIs: moderate vaginal dysbiosis was detected in 25/75 (33.3%) women and severe dysbiosis — in 22/75 (29.3%) women. A moderate correlation between the presence/absence of vaginal dysbiosis and the number of LUTI recurrences over 6 months was found (r = 0.310; p = 0.007). Vaginal dysbiosis was significantly more common among peri- and postmenopausal women with recurrent LUTIs than reproductive women (OR = 4.85; 95% CI = 1.45 – 16.17).Conclusion. Vaginal dysbiosis contributes to the development of recurrent LUTIs with more relapses. Vaginal microbiota disorders and, consequently, recurrent LUTIs are more common in peri- and postmenopausal women than reproductive women

CLUTCH OPERATING DEVICE WITH FRICTION LINING WEAR COMPENSATION ANALYSIS OF PROPERTIES AND UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY

In modern conditions of competition a lot of attention is paid to the comfort of driving. Control to driveline units is no exception. Application of clutch with the system of compensation of wear of friction overlays can not only enhance comfort, due to maintaining a stable effort on the pedal, but also improve the performance of the clutch. In the article a comparative analysis of the traditional design of the pneumohydraulic booster (PHB) and the design, which has a mechanism for compensat-ing the wear of friction plate of clutches. As a compensator for the wear of friction plate of clutches, a telescopic rod with a closed cavity is used, which is filled the brake fluid through a reverse valve. With the wear of friction clutches, the fluid has the ability to slowly flow out of the closed cavity of the rod due to the leakage of the reverse valve. A positive feature is the ability to implement the proposed de-sign within the framework of the traditional design of the pneumatic booster without changing the basic parts. As a result of the application of the proposed designs, it is expected to obtain such positive qualities as reducing the mass and material capacity of the product, maintaining high clutch performance regardless of the degree of wear of friction plates, reducing air consumption in operation (and, consequently, reducing fuel consumption), reducing the overall dimensions of the PHB. In order to confirm the new qualities, the consumption of air and fuel during the operation of both design of PHB on the typical urban route in the route bus is calculated. When calculating, the clutch exclusions taken into account are required during acceleration after each stop and traffic light. A reference to the investigation of the speed of the clutch control mechanism with new and worn friction plate of clutch is given. The properties of the proposed PHB design with the mechanism of compensation of the wear of the friction plate of the clutch are analyzed and the effect is shown not only in the manufacture of this design, but also from the application of this design in operation, which is expressed in fuel economy

Conference of Soviet and American Jurists on the Law of the Sea and the Protection of the Marine Environment

Included in the papers for the Conference of Soviet and American Jurists on the Law of the Sea and the Protection of the Marine Environment: Introduction by Milton Katz and Richard R. Baxter, p. 1 Freedom of Scientific Research in the World Ocean by A.F. Vysotsky, p. 7 The International Law of Scientific Research in the Oceans by Richard R. Baxter, p. 27 Responsibility and Liability for Harm to the Marine Environment by Robert E. Stein, p. 41 Liability for Marine Environment Pollution Damage in Contemporary International Sea Law by A. L. Makovsky, p. 59 Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution by Richard A. Frank, p. 73 The Freedom of Navigation and the Problem of Pollution of the Marine Environment by V. A. Kiselev, p. 93 The Freedom of Navigation Under International Law by William E. Butler, p. 107 International Fisheries Management Without Global Agreement: United States Policies and Their Impact on the Soviet Union by H. Gary Knight, p. 119 Some Biological Background for International Legal Acts on Rational Utilization of the Living Resources of the World Ocean by P. A. Moiseev, p. 143 An International Regime for the Seabed Beyond National Jurisdiction by Thomas M. Franck, p. 151 Settlement of Disputes Under the Law of Ocean Use, with Particular Reference to Environmental Protection by John Lawrence Hargrove, p. 18

Remarkable convergent evolution in specialized parasitic Thecostraca (Crustacea)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Thecostraca are arguably the most morphologically and biologically variable group within the Crustacea, including both suspension feeders (Cirripedia: Thoracica and Acrothoracica) and parasitic forms (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala, Ascothoracida and Facetotecta). Similarities between the metamorphosis found in the Facetotecta and Rhizocephala suggests a common evolutionary origin, but until now no comprehensive study has looked at the basic evolution of these thecostracan groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To this end, we collected DNA sequences from three nuclear genes [18S rRNA (2,305), 28S rRNA (2,402), Histone H3 (328)] and 41 larval characters in seven facetotectans, five ascothoracidans, three acrothoracicans, 25 rhizocephalans and 39 thoracicans (ingroup) and 12 Malacostraca and 10 Copepoda (outgroup). Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses showed the Facetotecta, Ascothoracida and Cirripedia each as monophyletic. The better resolved and highly supported DNA maximum likelihood and morphological-DNA Bayesian analysis trees depicted the main phylogenetic relationships within the Thecostraca as (Facetotecta, (Ascothoracida, (Acrothoracica, (Rhizocephala, Thoracica)))).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our analyses indicate a convergent evolution of the very similar and highly reduced slug-shaped stages found during metamorphosis of both the Rhizocephala and the Facetotecta. This provides a remarkable case of convergent evolution and implies that the advanced endoparasitic mode of life known from the Rhizocephala and strongly indicated for the Facetotecta had no common origin. Future analyses are needed to determine whether the most recent common ancestor of the Thecostraca was free-living or some primitive form of ectoparasite.</p

A bibliometric description of lignin applicability for the removal of chemical pollutants in effluents

Several industrial sectors produce tons of effluents daily containing a high amount of hazardous chemical pollutants that pose a major threat to the environment and human health. Current wastewater treatment methods, such as flocculation and activated carbon adsorption, have drawbacks linked to high material cost and too much energy consumption. Thus, the search for renewable, biodegradable, and efficient materials has been the object of research aimed at replacing the conventional materials used to cheapen processes and reduce environmental impacts. Lignin stands out in this context as it has low cost and high availability. Therefore, several scientific researches were developed to harness the potential of lignin, especially as adsorbent, for the removal of chemical agents from effluents. This paper presents a bibliometric review performed on the Scopus database, showing the evolution of studies related to the applicability of lignin in the removal of chemical pollutants in waters over the last five years. Data regarding annual publications, languages, journals, countries, institutions, keywords, and subjects were analyzed. The realized screening selected 130 articles that met the previously defined criteria. Results indicated a strong collaboration between countries and China's substantial contribution to the documents. The analysis also has shown that lignin is mainly used as adsorbent material, sorbent, flocculant agent, and hydrogel and presents important results and information for future researchers on this topic.The authors acknowledge financial assistance from the Brazilian research funding agencies such as CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) under Finance Code 001, a Brazilian foundation within the Ministry of Education (MEC), CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), a Brazilian foundation associated to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), and FAPITEC/SE (the Foundation of Support to Research and Technological Innovation of the State of Sergipe).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio