A new promising Pt(Mo2C) catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction prepared by galvanic displacement reaction

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A new method for the synthesis of Pt(Mo2C) catalysts using the redox reaction between Mo2C and solution containing potassium tetracholoplatinate (II) is...     

Comparative Effect of Low-intensity Laser Radiation in Green and Red Spectral Regions on Functional Characteristics of Sturgeon Sperm

A comparative study of the effect of low-intensity laser radiation in green (λ = 532 nm) and red (λ = 632.8 nm) spectral regions at equal average irradiance (3 mW cm⁻²) on functional characteristics of Siberian sturgeon spermatozoa is carried out. Confirmation of the photobiomodulation effect of the radiation is obtained by analyzing spermatozoa motility, percentage of motile spermatozoa and fertilization rate. It is shown that, depending on the energy dose, the laser radiation in red and green spectral regions can have both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on spermatozoa motility. Contrary to popular belief that the short-wavelength radiation has great prospects in reproductive biotechnologies (due to more efficient absorption of radiation by cellular chromophores and increased generation of ROS), convincing evidence of a more pronounced stimulatory effect of radiation in the red spectral region was obtained. For the first time, metal-free porphyrins capable of acting as endogenous photosensitizers generating ROS were detected and identified in animal sperm. Using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, it is shown that the increased production of ROS capable of exerting an inhibitory effect on biological systems at high concentrations is among the possible reasons for reduction in the stimulatory effect of radiation when moving from red to green spectral region.     

Single machine scheduling with time-dependent linear deterioration and rate-modifying maintenance

We study single machine scheduling problems with linear time-dependent deterioration effects and maintenance activities. Maintenance periods (MPs) are included into the schedule, so that the machine, that gets worse during the processing, can be restored to a better state. We deal with a job-independent version of the deterioration effects, that is, all jobs share a common deterioration rate. However, we introduce a novel extension to such models and allow the deterioration rates to change after every MP. We study several versions of this generalized problem and design a range of polynomial-time solution algorithms that enable the decision-maker to determine possible sequences of jobs and MPs in the schedule, so that the makespan objective can be minimized. We show that all problems reduce to a linear assignment problem with a product matrix and can be solved by methods very similar to those used for solving problems with positional effects.     

Ergodicity and mixing of non-commuting epimorphisms

We study mixing properties of epimorphisms of a compact connectedfinite-dimensional abelian group X. In particular, we show thata set F, with |F| > dim X, of epimorphisms of X is mixingif and only if every subset of F of cardinality (dim X) + 1is mixing. We also construct examples of free non-abelian groupsof automorphisms of tori which are mixing, but not mixing oforder 3, and show that, under some irreducibility assumptions,ergodic groups of automorphisms contain mixing subgroups andfree non-abelian mixing subsemigroups.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of colloids fabricated by the layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte assembly onto Eu(III) complex as a core

The luminescent colloids have been synthesized through the layer-by-layer assembly of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) onto the luminescent core. The latter has been obtained by the reprecipitation of complex Eu[(TTA)(3)1] (where TTA(-) and 1 are thenoyltrifluoroacetonate and 2-(5-chlorophenyl-2-hydroxy)-2-phenylethenyl-bis-(2-methoxyphenyl)phosphine oxide, respectively) from organic solvent to aqueous solution. The variation of Eu(III) complexes indicates the role of the complex core in the development of such core-shell colloids. Complex Eu[(TTA)(3)1] is most convenient precursor of Eu-doped luminescent nanocomposites. The fluorometric measurements at each step of the layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte assembly onto Eu[(TTA)(3)1] core, at various pHs and additives reveal the quenching of Eu-centered luminescence as a result of the interfacial interaction of the core and the dye. The AFM images and electrochemical behavior of PSS-(PEI-PSS)(n)-Eu[(TTA)(3)1] colloids deposited on the surface indicate the stability of the polyelectrolyte multilayer in the dried state.     

Assessment of porosities of SBA-15 and MCM-41 using water sorption calorimetry

Water sorption calorimetry has been used for characterization of 2D hexagonally ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15. Experimental data on water sorption isotherm, the enthalpy, and the entropy of hydration of SBA-15 are presented. The results were compared with previously published results on MCM-41 obtained using the same technique. The water sorption isotherm of SBA-15 consists of four regimes, while the sorption isotherm of MCM-41 consists only of three. The extra regime in the water sorption isotherm for SBA-15 arises from filling of intrawall pores, that are present in SBA-15 but absent in MCM-41. The water sorption isotherms of the two types of mesoporous silica were analyzed using the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda approach. For the BJH analysis, t-curves of silica with different degrees of hydroxylation were proposed. Comparison of water and nitrogen t-curves shows that, independent of hydroxylation of silica surface, the adsorbed film of water is much thinner than the adsorbed film of nitrogen at similar relative pressures. This fact decreases the uncertainty of the assessment of porosity with water sorption originated from variations in surface properties. The pore size distribution of SBA-15 calculated with BJH treatment of water sorption data is in good agreement with nitrogen NLDFT results on the same material.     

Facile Approach for the Synthesis of 2,3,4,9-Tetrahydro-1H-xanthen-1-ones and 8,9,10,12-Tetrahydro-11H-benzo[a]xanthen-11-ones via Trapping of o-Quinone Methides

An efficient, simple synthesis of 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-xanthene-1-ones and 8,9,10,12-tetrahydro-11H-benzo[a]xanthen-11-ones is reported by one-pot condensation of 3-dimethylamino-2-cyclohexen-1-ones with hydroxybenzyl alcohols, phenol, and 2-naphthol Mannich bases or their quaternized derivatives. The mechanism of the reaction is believed to involve the formation of the o-quinone methide intermediate.     

Driving forces of phase transitions in surfactant and lipid systems

In aqueous surfactant and lipid systems, different liquid crystalline phases are formed at different temperatures and water contents. The "natural" phase sequence implies that phases with higher curvature are formed at higher water contents. On the other hand, there are exceptions to this rule, such as the monoolein/water system. In this system an anomalous transition from lamellar to reverse cubic phase upon addition of water is observed. The calorimetric data presented here show that the hydration-induced transitions to phases with higher curvature are driven by enthalpy, while the transitions to phases with lower curvature are driven by entropy. It is shown that the driving forces of phase transitions can be determined from the appearance of the phase diagram using the approach based on van der Waals differential equation. From this approach it follows that the slope of the phase boundary should be positive with respect to water content if the phase diagram obeys the "natural" phase sequence. The increase of entropy, which drives the anomalous phase transitions, arises from the increase of disorder of the hydrocarbon chains.