Photoelectrocatalytic performances of nanostructured/decorated TiO 2 electrodes: Effect of wavelength and cell configuration

The behaviour of TiO2 based electrodes was investigated during the photoelectrocatalytic water splitting process. TiO2 nanotubes and compact oxide structures were obtained by electrochemical oxidation of Ti foils. A subsequent hydrothermal process carried out at both the nanotubular and compact oxide structures allowed decorating the structure by TiO2 nanoparticles. The synthesized TiO2 samples worked as photoanodes both in a bulk three electrode cell and in a thin gap cell. The results from measurements of the photocurrent and from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to highlight a combined effect of the wavelength of the incident light and the kind of cell configuration, on the global performance of the systems. The results indicate that the decoration process does not result only in a simple increase of the specific surface, but it also determines a different concentration of the bulk and superficial sites in the electrode. The different response of the sites at different wavelengths, along with the accessibility of the electrolyte to the porous structure are evocated to justify the experimental behaviour observed

Solution of Low-Thrust Lambert Problem with Perturbative Expansions of Equinoctial Elements

A method for solving the so-called low-thrust Lambert problem is proposed. After formulating it as a two-point boundary value problem, where initial and final positions are provided in terms of equinoctial variables, a first-order perturbative approach is used for investigating the variation of orbital elements generated by the low-thrust propulsion system, which acts as a perturbing parameter with respect to the zero-order Keplerian motion. An implicit algebraic problem is obtained, which allows for the determination of the low-thrust transfer trajectory that drives the equinoctial parameters from the initial to the final values in a prescribed time. Three test cases are presented, which demonstrate the flexibility of the method for different mission scenarios: an interplanetary transfer from Earth to Mars, a spiral multirevolution transfer from low Earth orbit to the International Space Station, and a maneuver to a highly elliptical orbit with large plane change

Bibliometric analysis on the papers dedicated to microplastics in wastewater treatments

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment is becoming a problem for soils and seas, as well as for the food chain of animals and humans. The scientific community has been called upon to contribute to solving the problem and several papers have been published, especially in the last decade. The aim of this work is to carry out a bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature dedicated to the problem of MPs, highlighting its course over the years, and to identify the sectors to which the research could be profitably addressed. The VOSviewer software has been used to perform the analysis of the data in which specific maps were used to represent the network of the relationships among countries, journals, organizations, authors, and keywords related to the investigated topic and subtopics. The results of the survey demonstrated that during the investigated range of time, most attention has been paid to the individuation of the MPs, and to marine pollution, while a gap seems to exist in the possible advanced oxidation processes specifically addressing the degradation of MPs and their derivates

Transmigrared y la investigación interdisciplinar sobre las migraciones latinoamericanas a Europa

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Effect of potential and chlorides on photoelectrochemical removal of diethyl phthalate from water

Removal of persistent pollutants from water by photoelectrocatalysis has emerged as a promising powerful process. Applied potential plays a key role in the photocatalytic activity of the semi-conductor as well as the possible presence of chloride ions in the solution. This work aims to investigate these effects on the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of diethyl phthalate (DEP) by using TiO2 nanotubular anodes under solar light irradiation. PEC tests were performed at constant potentials under different concentration of NaCl. The process is able to remove DEP following a pseudo-first order kinetics: values of kapp of 1.25 × 10−3 min−1 and 1.56 × 10−4 min−1 have been obtained at applied potentials of 1.8 and 0.2 V, respectively. Results showed that, depending on the applied potential, the presence of chloride ions in the solution affects the degradation rate resulting in a negative effect: the presence of 500 mM of Cl− reduces the value of kapp by 50 and 80% at 0.2 and 1.8 V respectively

Functional outcomes and clinical strength assessment after infraspinatus-sparing surgical approach to scapular fracture: Does it really make a difference?

Background: Surgical treatment of scapular fractures with posterior approach is frequently associated with postoperative infraspinatus hypotrophy and weakness. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare infraspinatus strength and functional outcomes in patients treated with the classic Judet versus modified Judet approach for scapular fracture. Patients and methods: 20 cases with scapular neck and body fracture treated with posterior approach for lateral border plate fixation were reviewed. In 11 of 20 cases, we used the modified Judet approach (MJ group), and in 9 cases we used the classic Judet approach (CJ group). All fractures were classified according to the AO classification system. At follow-up examinations, patients had X-ray assessment with acromiohumeral distance (AHD) measurement, clinical evaluation, active range of motion (ROM) examination, Constant Shoulder Score, and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Score. Infraspinatus strength assessment was measured using a dynamometer during infraspinatus strength test (IST) and infraspinatus scapular retraction test (ISRT). Results: Demographic data did not significantly differ between the CJ group and MJ group, except for mean follow-up, which was 4.15\ua0years in the CJ group and 2.33 in the MJ group (p\ua0<\ua00.001). All X-ray examinations showed fracture healing. AHD was significantly decreased in the CJ group (p\ua0=\ua00.006). We did not find significant differences in active ROM between the MJ and CJ groups in the injured arm (p\ua0<\ua00.05). The Constant Score was 75.83 (\ub114.03) in the CJ group and 82.75 (\ub110.72) in the MJ group (p\ua0=\ua00.31); DASH Score was 10.16 in the CJ group and 6.25 in the MJ group (p\ua0=\ua00.49). IST showed mean strength of 8.38\ua0kg (\ub11.75) in the MJ group and 4.61\ua0kg (\ub11.98) in the CJ group (p\ua0=\ua00.002), ISRT test was 8.7 (\ub11.64) in the MJ group and 4.95 (\ub12.1) in the CJ group (p\ua0=\ua00.002). Infraspinatus hypotrophy was detected during inspection in six patients (five in the CJ group and one in the MJ group); it was related to infraspinatus strength weakness in IST and ISRT (p\ua0<\ua00.001). Conclusions: Infraspinatus-sparing surgical approach for scapular fracture avoids infraspinatus hypotrophy and external-rotation strength weakness. We suggest use of the modified Judet approach for scapular fracture and to restrict the classic Judet approach to only when the surgeon believes that the fracture is not easily reducible with a narrower exposure. Level of evidence: Level\ua0IV

Dopamine genes and migraine

Migraine is a common chronic disorder with an etiology still mostly unknown. Several neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease and the study of their systems is crucial in the understanding of migraine. Dopaminergic receptors are variously represented in human CNS and periphery. The hypothesis that a hypersensitivity of the dopaminergic system may have a role in migraine is based on clinical and genetic data. Genetic data are represented by association studies using dopaminergic genes as candidate genes which show that the D2 receptor gene appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of migraine

Exploring relationships between the distribution of giant red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827) and environmental factors in the Central-Western Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean giant red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827) is one of the dominant species in deep-sea megafaunal assemblages, plays a key role in deep-sea communities and it is considered one of the most important targets of deep-water trawl fishing. Although a large number of studies have analysed the spatial distribution of epibenthic crustaceans in bathyal habitats with respect to environmental, geomorphological and hydrological factors, as well as fishing pressure, the manner in which these variables synergistically affect the spatio-temporal changes of giant red shrimp is unclear. To analyse the possible effects of abiotic predictors on the spatio-temporal distribution of giant red shrimp, Generalized Additived Models (GAMs) and Regression Trees were produced. Biological data were collected during the MEDITS trawl surveys carried out in the Sea of Sardinia (2009-2014), during which environmental data were obtained with a multiparametric probe. A longitudinal (west-east) trend was found, with higher abundances at depths of 400-600 m, corresponding to salinity values of 38.1-38.5 psu and temperatures of 13.6-13.8°C. Our results confirm the existence of a tight linkage between the distribution of the Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) from the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the preferential habitat characteristics of the giant red shrimp. We suggest that a deeper knowledge of the relationships between abiotic (hydrological) factors in the water column and the distribution of Mediterranean resources, such as the giant red shrimp, can provide valuable support for their better management, at the local scale (Sardinia) and across the whole Mediterranean Sea. al use only