PtM/CNT (M = Mo, Ni, CoCr) Electrocatalysts with Reduced Platinum Content for Anodic Hydrogen Oxidation and Cathodic Oxygen Reduction in Alkaline Electrolytes

Bimetallic catalysts containing platinum and transition metals (PtM, M = Mo, Ni, CoCr) were synthesized on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functionalized in an alkaline medium. Their platinum content is 10–15% by mass. PtM/CNTNaOH are active in both the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline electrolytes. Although catalysts based on a single transition metal are inactive in the HOR, their activity in the cathode process of ORR increases relative to CNTNaOH. When using the rotating ring-disk electrode method for ORR, PtM/CNT showed a high selectivity in reducing oxygen directly to water. In HOR, the PtM/CNT catalyst had an activity comparable to that of a commercial monoplatinum catalyst. The results obtained show that it is possible to use the PtM/CNT catalyst in an alkaline fuel cell both as an anode and as a cathode

Nanocomposite Cathode Catalysts Containing Platinum Deposited on Carbon Nanotubes Modified by O, N, and P Atoms

Platinum deposited on dispersed materials has so far been the most demanded catalyst for creating cathodes for a wide range of electrochemical power sources. This paper sets out to investigate the effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) modification by O, N, and P atoms on the structural, electrocatalytic, and corrosion properties of the as-synthesized monoplatinum catalysts. The investigated Pt/CNTmod catalysts showed an increased electrochemically active platinum surface area and electrical conductivity, as well as an increased catalytic activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline electrolytes. The improved characteristics of Pt/CNT catalysts are explained by alterations in the composition and number of groups, which are formed on the CNT surface, and their electronic structure. By the sum of the main characteristics, Pt/CNTHNO3+N and Pt/CNTHNO3+NP are the most promising catalysts for use as cathode materials in alkaline media

Nanocomposite Cathode Catalysts Containing Platinum Deposited on Carbon Nanotubes Modified by O, N, and P Atoms

Platinum deposited on dispersed materials has so far been the most demanded catalyst for creating cathodes for a wide range of electrochemical power sources. This paper sets out to investigate the effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) modification by O, N, and P atoms on the structural, electrocatalytic, and corrosion properties of the as-synthesized monoplatinum catalysts. The investigated Pt/CNTmod catalysts showed an increased electrochemically active platinum surface area and electrical conductivity, as well as an increased catalytic activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline electrolytes. The improved characteristics of Pt/CNT catalysts are explained by alterations in the composition and number of groups, which are formed on the CNT surface, and their electronic structure. By the sum of the main characteristics, Pt/CNTHNO3+N and Pt/CNTHNO3+NP are the most promising catalysts for use as cathode materials in alkaline media

L1 Processing of familiar Malay Idiomatic Phrases

Psycholinguistic research in the area of figurative language processing has been carried out tremendously over the past few decades particularly involving idioms in the English language and other European languages. According to Cooper (1999), the meaning of an idiomatic expression does not always come from meaning of its individual components. For instance, in the idiom to kick the bucket, none of the individual words contribute to the actual idiom meaning to die. In Malay language, a figurative phrase that is similar in notion to an ‘idiom’ in English is known as Simpulan Bahasa (Charteris-Black, 2003). The unique characteristic of idiomatic phrases as having ‘fixed’ meanings different from their single words components has prompted the research into first language (L1) and second language (L2) processing of figurative phrases or sentences. Various models, thus, have been developed contesting issues of compositionality in idiom comprehension (Bobrow & Bell, 1973; Swinney & Cutler, 1979), modular versus parallel views on processing (Cacciari & Tabossi, 1988; Tittone & Connine, 1999) and literality against non-literality (Gibbs, 1980, 1986), amongst other things

RATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF THE GENE POOL OF VALUABLE BREEDS OF ANIMALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Aim. The aim is to conduct an analysis of biodiversity of valuable breeds of animals, as well as to assess its condition, find ways of preserving domestic genetic resources and identify their economically valuable qualities. Discussion. The material is presented, which proves the need to preserve valuable, rare and endangered breeds of agricultural animals characterized by high quality indices of production, longevity, fertility, resistance to diseases, adaptive abilities to extreme environmental conditions. Importance of carrying out these measures is associated with the absorption of domestic flocks by foreign breeds, which led to a decrease in genetic diversity and the continuing trend in the displacement of rare and endangered breeds of animals. One of the ways of preserving animals that cause breeders' concern is the use of seed cryopreservation, which is actively pursued by a number of scientists and specialized institutions. Lack of effective legislative framework, as well as the lack of state support for conservation programs for these breeds, causes significant damage to the problem of preserving local breeds. Together with the listed benefits from breeding local livestock, their role in the biological diversity should be taken into account. Conclusion. Despite the invaluable contribution to the preservation of local breeds and animal populations made by the profile research institutes (the Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry - L. K. Ernst Institute of Animal Husbandry, All Russian Research Institute Of Animal Breeding) and individual scientists, the given problem requires its inclusion in the legislative framework and effective state support

Estetika nilai keislaman dalam tradisi lisan masyarakat Melayu Sarawak

Masyarakat Melayu Sarawak merupakan salah satu masyarakat terbesar di Kepulauan Borneo yang mempunyai adat dan budaya warisan yang ditunjangi dengan nilai keislaman. Pengaruh Islam dalam tradisi lisan masyarakat ini dapat dilihat menerusi nyanyian, syair, puisi, zikir, pantun, dan sebagainya. Ketinggian akal budi masyarakat ini yang memaparkan estetika nilai keislaman menjadi salah satu identiti masyarakat Islam di Kepulauan Borneo. Kajian deskriptif ini memanfaatkan tradisi lisan menerusi nyanyian dan zikir yang mencerminkan nilai keislaman yang telah lama bertapak di Bumi Kenyalang. Selain itu, kajian ini juga memerihalkan aspek budaya dan pemikiran yang terserlah menerusi tradisi lisan yang diteliti. Pemerian data tradisi lisan ini penting untuk dikemukakan kepada masyarakat umum sebagai catatan penyelidikan dalam merekod, menyimpan serta memelihara khazanah dialek Melayu di Borneo khususnya dan di Malaysia amny

Population Genomics of Stone Age Eurasia

Summary The transitions from foraging to farming and later to pastoralism in Stone Age Eurasia (c. 11-3 thousand years before present, BP) represent some of the most dramatic lifestyle changes in human evolution. We sequenced 317 genomes of primarily Mesolithic and Neolithic individuals from across Eurasia combined with radiocarbon dates, stable isotope data, and pollen records. Genome imputation and co-analysis with previously published shotgun sequencing data resulted in >1600 complete ancient genome sequences offering fine-grained resolution into the Stone Age populations. We observe that: 1) Hunter-gatherer groups were more genetically diverse than previously known, and deeply divergent between western and eastern Eurasia. 2) We identify hitherto genetically undescribed hunter-gatherers from the Middle Don region that contributed ancestry to the later Yamnaya steppe pastoralists; 3) The genetic impact of the Neolithic transition was highly distinct, east and west of a boundary zone extending from the Black Sea to the Baltic. Large-scale shifts in genetic ancestry occurred to the west of this “Great Divide”, including an almost complete replacement of hunter-gatherers in Denmark, while no substantial ancestry shifts took place during the same period to the east. This difference is also reflected in genetic relatedness within the populations, decreasing substantially in the west but not in the east where it remained high until c. 4,000 BP; 4) The second major genetic transformation around 5,000 BP happened at a much faster pace with Steppe-related ancestry reaching most parts of Europe within 1,000-years. Local Neolithic farmers admixed with incoming pastoralists in eastern, western, and southern Europe whereas Scandinavia experienced another near-complete population replacement. Similar dramatic turnover-patterns are evident in western Siberia; 5) Extensive regional differences in the ancestry components involved in these early events remain visible to this day, even within countries. Neolithic farmer ancestry is highest in southern and eastern England while Steppe-related ancestry is highest in the Celtic populations of Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall (this research has been conducted using the UK Biobank resource); 6) Shifts in diet, lifestyle and environment introduced new selection pressures involving at least 21 genomic regions. Most such variants were not universally selected across populations but were only advantageous in particular ancestral backgrounds. Contrary to previous claims, we find that selection on the FADS regions, associated with fatty acid metabolism, began before the Neolithisation of Europe. Similarly, the lactase persistence allele started increasing in frequency before the expansion of Steppe-related groups into Europe and has continued to increase up to the present. Along the genetic cline separating Mesolithic hunter-gatherers from Neolithic farmers, we find significant correlations with trait associations related to skin disorders, diet and lifestyle and mental health status, suggesting marked phenotypic differences between these groups with very different lifestyles. This work provides new insights into major transformations in recent human evolution, elucidating the complex interplay between selection and admixture that shaped patterns of genetic variation in modern populations

Population genomics of post-glacial western Eurasia

Western Eurasia witnessed several large-scale human migrations during the Holocene1,2,3,4,5. Here, to investigate the cross-continental effects of these migrations, we shotgun-sequenced 317 genomes—mainly from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods—from across northern and western Eurasia. These were imputed alongside published data to obtain diploid genotypes from more than 1,600 ancient humans. Our analyses revealed a ‘great divide’ genomic boundary extending from the Black Sea to the Baltic. Mesolithic hunter-gatherers were highly genetically differentiated east and west of this zone, and the effect of the neolithization was equally disparate. Large-scale ancestry shifts occurred in the west as farming was introduced, including near-total replacement of hunter-gatherers in many areas, whereas no substantial ancestry shifts happened east of the zone during the same period. Similarly, relatedness decreased in the west from the Neolithic transition onwards, whereas, east of the Urals, relatedness remained high until around 4,000 bp, consistent with the persistence of localized groups of hunter-gatherers. The boundary dissolved when Yamnaya-related ancestry spread across western Eurasia around 5,000 bp, resulting in a second major turnover that reached most parts of Europe within a 1,000-year span. The genetic origin and fate of the Yamnaya have remained elusive, but we show that hunter-gatherers from the Middle Don region contributed ancestry to them. Yamnaya groups later admixed with individuals associated with the Globular Amphora culture before expanding into Europe. Similar turnovers occurred in western Siberia, where we report new genomic data from a ‘Neolithic steppe’ cline spanning the Siberian forest steppe to Lake Baikal. These prehistoric migrations had profound and lasting effects on the genetic diversity of Eurasian populations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio