Characterisation of Cements From Dominantly Volcanic Raw Materials of the Carpathian Bend Zone

This paper presents the results of laboratory investigations regarding the production of cements from local raw materials, such as limestone from Varghis, gypsum from Nucsoara, basaltic scoria from Racosul de Jos, volcanic tuff from Racosul de Sus, diatomite from Filia, and red mud from Oradea. The raw mixtures, based on modified Bogue calculations, contain limestone, gypsum, and one or two of the above-mentioned materials. The cements resulted from clinker grinding in a laboratory gas furnace at 1260-1300 °C, with one hour at the peak temperatures, and were characterised for Blaine specific surface area, specific density, and mineral phases. Physico-mechanical properties, such as water content for normal consistency, setting time, soundness, and compressive strength were also determined. Results show that these cements contain belite, ferrite, calcium sulphoaluminate, anhydrite, and some minor compounds

Neurological Manifestations of SARS-CoV2 Infection: A Narrative Review

The COVID-19 virus frequently causes neurological complications. These have been described in various forms in adults and children. Headache, seizures, coma, and encephalitis are some of the manifestations of SARS-CoV-2-induced neurological impairment. Recent publications have revealed important aspects of viral pathophysiology and its involvement in nervous-system impairment in humans. We evaluated the latest literature describing the relationship between COVID-19 infection and the central nervous system. We searched three databases for observational and interventional studies in adults published between December 2019 and September 2022. We discussed in narrative form the neurological impairment associated with COVID-19, including clinical signs and symptoms, imaging abnormalities, and the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV2-induced neurological damage

THE EVOLUTION OF BIOCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF AMMONIA IONS IN SMALL RIVERS WATER

Nitrification is the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate, via nitrite and it occupies a central position within the global nitrogen cycle. Nitrifying bacteria are the organisms capable of converting the most reduced form of nitrogen, ammonia, to the most oxidized form, nitrate, but their activity is influenced by pollution level. Starting with the assumption that pollution of small internal water courses in the Republic of Moldova remained severe (phenols, detergents and copper regularly exceed the MACs) the work presented in the paper discusses the evolution of ammonia ions nitrification in the water of river Prut tributaries and its correlation with the content of pollutants in water: surface-active substances, Cu, BOD5, COD and other compounds

Evidence of Hybrid Excitons in Weakly Interacting Nanopeapods

<p>Nanopeapods, consisting of optically active pi-conjugated molecules encapsulated inside of the cavity of carbon nanotubes, exhibit efficient photon emission in the visible spectral range. Combining optical experiments with ab initio theory, we show that the puzzling features observed in photoluminescence spectra are of excitonic nature. The subunits though being van der Waals bound are demonstrated to interact in the excited state, giving rise to the formation of hybrid excitons. We rationalize why this many-body effect makes such nanohybrids useful for optoelectronic devices.</p>