The Influence of Titania Nanoparticles on the Electrodeposition of Ni-Mo-W Composites in Aqueous Electrolytes at Different Electrolyte Temperatures

The electrodeposition of Ni-Mo-W alloys and composites with TiO2 are examined with a rotating Hull cell to better understand the influence of the particle on the deposition composition and morphology. The addition of the TiO2 particle to the electrolyte and deposit, significantly affected the deposit composition when the electrolyte temperature was 650C. Both Ni and Mo composition in the deposit was enhanced, but not due to higher reaction rates. The enhancement was a result of an apparent inhibition by the hydrogen evolving side reaction. The W partial current density was most significantly inhibited. The deposit morphology changed with the addition of TiO2 with a reduction of microcracks compared to the particle-free deposit. The results suggest that the adsorption of the hydrogen intermediate from the side reaction is influenced by the particle, hindering hydrogen desorption, and indirectly affects the partial current densities of the nickel, molybdate and tungstate ion reduction and the morphology.The United States National Science Foundation, #0957448, and the American Electroplaters and Surface Finishing (AESF) in part supported this work

Arenas de dragado marino como nueva fuente para materiales de construcción

This work deals with the use of dredged marine sand (DMS) in pastes and mortars as construction material. Different materials from two Spanish ports were used: DMS-0 from Sant Carles de la Ràpita and DMS-A, DMS-B and DMS-C from Barcelona. The aim of the study was to assess DMS as addition (its influence on cohesion and fluidity) or as a fine granular corrector (its influence on compressive strength) in different mixes of cement paste and mortars, respectively. Two experimental stages were carried out: firstly, DMS-0 material was used on the production of pastes and mortars (partial substitution of raw sand 0/2 mm); secondly, DMS-A, DMS-B and DMS-C were used on mortar production (partial substitution of raw sand 0/5 mm). The fresh and hardened properties obtained were compared to those of the control mixes; the results revealed 25 % as an optimum substitution ratio of raw sands for DMS.Este trabajo propone el uso de arenas de dragado marino (DMS) en pastas y morteros como material constructivo. Se utilizaron materiales de dos puertos españoles: DMS-0 del puerto de Sant Carles de la Ràpita, y DMS-A, DMS-B y DMS-C del puerto de Barcelona. El objetivo del estudio era evaluar el material DMS como adición (influencia sobre cohesión y fluidez) o como corrector granular (influencia sobre resistencia a la compresión) en diferentes mezclas de pasta y morteros de cemento, respectivamente. Se realizaron dos fases experimentales: primero, se empleó el DMS-0 en la producción de pastas y morteros (sustitución parcial de arena natural 0/2 mm); a continuación, se emplearon DMS-A, DMS-B y DMS-C en la producción de morteros (sustitución parcial de arena natural 0/5 mm). Los resultados obtenidos fueron comparados con las mezclas de control y revelaron que la proporción óptima de sustitución de arenas naturales por DMS era del 25 %

Biodiversity accounting and reporting: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis

Towards the improvement of environmental sustainability and the conservation of biodiversity, organisations are increasingly aware of the importance of reporting their impacts on biodiversity and the conservation plans undertaken. Biodiversity accounting and reporting are relevant for developing organisational practices oriented towards environmental sustainability, promoting cleaner management policies with less impact on the environment. Biodiversity accounting research has attracted scholars in business management and accounting, and as a result, the literature in the field has grown in recent years. This study analyses the intellectual structure of the biodiversity accounting and management discipline through a systematic literature review, along with bibliometric techniques based on a co-word analysis of the main keywords included in 63 publications. The results reveal five thematic clusters: one motor cluster (sustainability), two transversal clusters (biodiversity reporting, corporate biodiversity management) and two isolated clusters (environmental protection, emancipatory accounting). In addition, the content of the selected papers is analysed and promising research paths are found, such as the need for more robust quantitative analyses or the development of new forms of emancipatory accounting. The study discusses the main insights from the analysis, proposes future research directions and provides practical implications for biodiversity protection and environmental sustainability. © The Author

Sustainability reporting in view of the European sustainable finance taxonomy: Is the financial sector ready to disclose circular economy?

The European sustainable finance taxonomy requires financial and nonfinancial companies to provide investors with information about the environmental performance of their assets and economic activities. For financial institutions, making socially and environmentally responsible investments visible through a common label that guarantees specific standards for the entire European Union is crucial. Against this background, this study analyzes the evolution of sustainability reporting practices and their assurance in a sample of European financial institutions. To this end, we used a double qualitative methodological approach, based on (a) an external analysis of nonfinancial information and its relationship with the main economic-financial variables of the sample companies, and (b) a case study of a bank carried out through semi-structured interviews. This study provides an external measurement analysis of nonfinancial information in entities from different countries, which can contribute to broadening the scope and level of sustainability and circular economy accountability

Near-Earth asteroids spectroscopic survey at Isaac Newton Telescope

The population of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) shows a large variety of objects in terms of physical and dynamical properties. They are subject to planetary encounters and to strong solar wind and radiation effects. Their study is also motivated by practical reasons regarding space exploration and long-term probability of impact with the Earth. We aim to spectrally characterize a significant sample of NEAs with sizes in the range of $\sim$0.25 - 5.5 km (categorized as large), and search for connections between their spectral types and the orbital parameters. Optical spectra of NEAs were obtained using the Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) equipped with the IDS spectrograph. These observations are analyzed using taxonomic classification and by comparison with laboratory spectra of meteorites. A total number of 76 NEAs were observed. We classified 44 of them as Q/S-complex, 16 as B/C-complex, eight as V-types, and another eight belong to the remaining taxonomic classes. Our sample contains 27 asteroids categorized as potentially hazardous and 31 possible targets for space missions including (459872) 2014 EK24, (436724) 2011 UW158, and (67367) 2000 LY27. The spectral data corresponding to (276049) 2002 CE26 and (385186) 1994 AW1 shows the 0.7 $\mu$m feature which indicates the presence of hydrated minerals on their surface. We report that Q-types have the lowest perihelia (a median value and absolute deviation of $0.797\pm0.244$ AU) and are systematically larger than the S-type asteroids observed in our sample. We explain these observational evidences by thermal fatigue fragmentation as the main process for the rejuvenation of NEA surfaces. In general terms, the taxonomic distribution of our sample is similar to the previous studies and matches the broad groups of the inner main belt asteroids. Nevertheless, we found a wide diversity of spectra compared to the standard taxonomic types.Comment: Accepted in Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A

Antidiabetic effects of natural plant extracts via inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolysis enzymes with emphasis on pancreatic alpha amylase

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the negative clinical outcomes observed with the commercially available anti-diabetic drugs have led to the investigation of new therapeutic approaches focused on controlling postprandrial glucose levels. The use of carbohydrate digestive enzyme inhibitors from natural resources could be a possible strategy to block dietary carbohydrate absorption with less adverse effects than synthetic drugs. Areas covered: This review covers the latest evidence regarding in vitro and in vivo studies in relation to pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitors of plant origin, and presents bioactive compounds of phenolic nature that exhibit anti-amylase activity. Expert opinion: Pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitors from traditional plant extracts are a promising tool for diabetes treatment. Many studies have confirmed the alpha-amylase inhibitory activity of plants and their bioactive compounds in vitro, but few studies corroborate these findings in rodents and very few in humans. Thus, despite some encouraging results, more research is required for developing a valuable anti-diabetic therapy using pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitors of plant origin