ALBERT

Description: The water-gas shift (WGS) reaction is a well-known industrial process used for the production of hydrogen. During the last few decades, it has attracted renewed attention due to the need for high-purity hydrogen for fuel-cell processing systems. The aim of the present study was to develop a cost-effective and catalytically efficient formulation that combined the advantageous properties of transition metal oxides and gold nanoparticles. Alumina-supported copper- manganese mixed oxides were prepared by wet impregnation. The deposition-precipitation method was used for the synthesis of gold catalysts. The effect of the Cu:Mn molar ratio and the role of Au addition on the WGS reaction’s performance was evaluated. Considerable emphasis was put on the characterization of the as-prepared and WGS-tested samples by means of a number of physicochemical methods (X-ray powder diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction) in order to explain the relationship between the structure and the reductive and WGS behavior. Catalytic tests revealed the promotional effect of gold addition. The best performance of the gold-promoted sample with a higher Cu content, i.e., a Cu:Mn molar ratio of 2:1 might be related to the beneficial role of Au on the spinel decomposition and the highly dispersed copper particle formation during the reaction, thus, ensuring the presence of two highly dispersed active metallic phases. High-surface-area alumina that was modified with a surface fraction of Cu–Mn mixed oxides favored the stabilization of finely dispersed gold particles. These new catalytic systems are very promising for practical applications due to their economic viability because the composition mainly includes alumina (80%).

Description: Eutrophication caused by the entry of nutrients into a water body may lead to algal bloom. Russia possesses the world’s second highest supply of renewable freshwater resources and has faced the problem of eutrophication for many years. Nevertheless, as far as we know, no general analysis of Russia’s algal bloom situation has been before carried out. We have analyzed mass media and scientific reports about algal outbreaks from 2016 to 2018, which allowed us to determine the geographical distribution of algal blooms in Russia, as well as the major effects of eutrophication. As a result, we showed that algal blooms happened in all major climate zones and all federal districts. Cyanobacteria are the most frequently reported photosynthetic organisms comprising algal blooms in freshwater reservoirs located in the continental part of Russia and in the Baltic Sea. Dinoflagellate dominated blooms are more characteristic for the coastal parts of the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The largest number of reports comes from the south of the European part of Russia. However, we did not find significant correlations between state statistics data on factors possibly affecting eutrophication (e.g., population, arable land area, fertilizers, livestock, air temperature, etc.) and the number of algal outbreaks in the regions. Mass media analysis showed that algal blooms attract considerable public attention in Russia, which requires the scientific community to actively participate in solving the problem.

Description: Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) participate in many important physiological processes in plants, including adaptation to stressors, e.g., salinity. Here we address the mechanism of this protective action of LTPs by studying the interaction between LTPs and abscisic acid (ABA, a “stress” hormone) and their mutual participation in suberin deposition in root endodermis of salt-stressed pea plants. Using immunohistochemistry we show for the first time NaCl induced accumulation of LTPs and ABA in the cell walls of phloem paralleled by suberin deposition in the endoderm region of pea roots. Unlike LTPs which were found localized around phloem cells, ABA was also present within phloem cells. In addition, ABA treatment resulted in both LTP and ABA accumulation in phloem cells and promoted root suberization. These results suggested the importance of NaCl-induced accumulation of ABA in increasing the abundance of LTPs and of suberin. Using molecular modeling and fluorescence spectroscopy we confirmed the ability of different plant LTPs, including pea Ps-LTP1, to bind ABA. We therefore hypothesize an involvement of plant LTPs in ABA transport (unloading from phloem) as part of the salinity adaptation mechanism.

Description: Minerals from mantle xenoliths in the Zapolyarnaya pipe in the Upper Muna field, Russia and from mineral separates from other large diamondiferous kimberlite pipes in this field (Deimos, Novinka and Komsomolskaya-Magnitnaya) were studied with EPMA and LA-ICP-MS. All pipes contain very high proportions of sub-calcic garnets. Zapolyarnaya contains mainly dunitic xenoliths with veinlets of garnets, phlogopites and Fe-rich pyroxenes similar in composition to those from sheared peridotites. PT estimates for the clinopyroxenes trace the convective inflection of the geotherm (40–45 mW·m−2) to 8 GPa, inflected at 6 GPa and overlapping with PT estimates for ilmenites derived from protokimberlites. The Upper Muna mantle lithosphere includes dunite channels from 8 to 2 GPa, which were favorable for melt movement. The primary layering deduced from the fluctuations of CaO in garnets was smoothed by the refertilization events, which formed additional pyroxenes. Clinopyroxenes from the Novinka and Komsomolskaya-Magnitnaya pipes show a more linear geotherm and three branches in the P-Fe# plot from the lithosphere base to the Moho, suggesting several episodes of pervasive melt percolation. Clinopyroxenes from Zapolyarnaya are divided into four groups according to thermobarometry and trace element patterns, which show a stepwise increase of REE and incompatible elements. Lower pressure groups including dunitic garnets have elevated REE with peaks in Rb, Th, Nb, Sr, Zr, and U, suggesting mixing of the parental protokimberlitic melts with partially melted metasomatic veins of ancient subduction origin. At least two stages of melt percolation formed the inclined PT paths: (1) an ancient garnet semi-advective geotherm (35–45 mW·m−2) formed by volatile-rich melts during the major late Archean event of lithosphere growth; and (2) a hotter megacrystic PT path (Cpx-Ilm) formed by feeding systems for kimberlite eruptions (40–45 mW·m−2). Ilmenite PT estimates trace three separate PT trajectories, suggesting a multistage process associated with metasomatism and formation of the Cpx-Phl veinlets in dunites. Heating associated with intrusions of protokimberlite caused reactivation of the mantle metasomatites rich in H2O and alkali metals and possibly favored the growth of large megacrystalline diamonds.

Description: Little is known on how to encourage effortful (rather than effortless) conservation behaviors, and prior research investigated only single (rather than multiple) message appeals in terms of their persuasive power in promoting pro-environmental intentions. The current study uses a framework from evolutionary psychology to propose and test a blend of message appeals that is most likely to drive green behaviors perceived as effortful. An experiment with a 2 (yes versus no anthropomorphic cue) × 2 (negative versus positive message frame) between-subjects design was run, and effort was included as a measured factor. The findings reveal that negatively framed messages are most effective in prompting effortful (but not effortless) pro-environmental intentions only when they are coupled with anthropomorphic cues (no differences between loss and gain messages were found when no anthropomorphism was used). These effects were replicated across two types of behaviors: water conservation and waste reduction.

Description: A new pumpellyite-group mineral shuiskite-(Cr), ideally Ca2CrCr2[SiO4][Si2O6(OH)](OH)2O, was found at the Rudnaya mine, Glavnoe Saranovskoe deposit, Middle Urals, Russia. It occurs on the walls of 0.5 to 1 cm thick fractures in chromitite, filled with calcite, Cr-bearing clinochlore, and uvarovite. Shuiskite-(Cr) forms long prismatic to acicular crystals up to 0.1 × 0.5 × 7 mm elongated along [010] and slightly flattened on [100]. The crystals are commonly combined into radial, sheaf-like aggregates. Most observed crystals are simple twins with a (001) composition plane. Shuiskite-(Cr) is greenish-black under daylight or purplish-black under incandescent light. It is optically biaxial (–), α = 1.757(5), β = 1.788(6), γ = 1.794(6), 2V (meas.) = 45(10)°, 2V (calc.) = 46° (589 nm). The Dcalc is 3.432 g/cm3. The IR spectrum is reported. The chemical composition (wt.%) is CaO 21.33, MgO 3.17, Al2O3 5.41, Cr2O3 28.50, TiO2 0.18, SiO2 33.86, H2O 5.82, total 98.27. The empirical formula calculated based on the sum of eight metal cations and Si atoms per formula unit is Ca2.02Mg0.42Cr3+1.99Al0.56Ti0.01Si3.00O10.57(OH)3.43. The simplified formula is Ca2(Cr,Mg)(Cr,Al)2[SiO4][Si2O6(OH,O)](OH,O)(OH)2. Shuiskite-(Cr) is monoclinic, C2/m, a = 19.2436(6), b = 5.9999(2), c = 8.8316(3) Å, β = 97.833(3)°, V = 1010.17(6) Å3, and Z = 4. The crystal structure, solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (R = 0.0469), is based on a pair of chains of edge-sharing Cr-centred octahedra running along the b axis, linked together via the [SiO4] and [Si2O6(OH)] groups and Ca-centred polyhedra. The mineral species shuiskite, ideally Ca2MgCr2[SiO4][Si2O6(OH)](OH)3, was renamed to shuiskite-(Mg) by the decision of the IMA CNMNC. The shuiskite solid solution series with the general formula Ca2XCr2[SiO4][Si2O6(OH,O)](OH)2(OH,O), which includes shuiskite-(Mg) and shuiskite-(Cr) with X = Mg and Cr3+, respectively, appeared in the pumpellyite group.

Description: Shallow soil slips are a significant hydrogeological hazard which could affect extended areas of the high-gradient mountainous landscape. Their triggering is highly dependent on the rainfall water infiltration and its further redistribution, as well as the characteristic properties of the soil itself. The complex interaction between those factors generates a considerable degree of uncertainty in the understanding of the governing processes. In this work, we take a small step further towards the untangling of those intricate relationships through observation. The results of a set of 20 downscaled shallow land mass failures are analysed through a principal component analysis and a further detailed look at the resulting parametric trends. Moreover, electrical resistivity tomography measurements are added up to the interpretation of experimental data, by providing a glimpse on the rainfall water infiltration process at the subsurface level. The outcome of this work implies that the coupled interaction between rainfall intensity, hydraulic conductivity and soil moisture gradient is governing the stability of soil and while rainfall intensity and duration are essential instability predictors, they must be integrated with antecedent moisture and site-specific characteristics. A tentative comparison of the dataset with existing rainfall thresholds for shallow landslide occurrence suggests the potential application of experimental tests for thresholds’ definition or validation under the appropriate dimensional analysis. A dimensional analysis indicated the interconnection of parameters intrinsic to the problem, and the significance of scale effects in performing a downscaled simulation of land mass failure.

Description: The assessment of knowledge and skills acquired by the student at each academic stage is crucial for every educational process. This paper proposes and tests an approach based on a structured assessment test for mathematical competencies in higher education and methods for statistical evaluation of the test. A case study is presented for the assessment of knowledge and skills for solving linear algebra and analytic geometry problems by first-year university students. The test includes three main parts—a multiple-choice test with four selectable answers, a solution of two problems with and without the use of specialized mathematical software, and a survey with four questions for each problem. The processing of data is performed mainly by the classification and regression tree (CART) method. Comparative analysis, cross-tables, and reliability statistics were also used. Regression tree models are built to assess the achievements of students and classification tree models for competency assessment on a three-categorical scale. The influence of 31 variables and groups of them on the assessment of achievements and grading of competencies is determined. Regression models show over 94% fit with data and classification ones—up to 92% correct classifications. The models can be used to predict students’ grades and assess their mathematical competency.

Description: For an active pharmaceutical ingredient, it is important to stabilize its specific crystal polymorph. If the potential interconversion of various polymorphs is not carefully controlled, it may lead to deterioration of the drug’s physicochemical profile and, ultimately, its therapeutic efficacy. The desired polymorph stabilization can be achieved via co-crystallization with appropriate crystallophoric excipients. In this work, we identified an opportunity for co-crystallization of anastrozole (ASZ), a well-known aromatase inhibitor useful in second-line therapy of estrogen-dependent breast cancer, with a classical XB donor, 1,2,4,5-tetrafluoro-3,6-diiodobenzene (1,4-FIB). In the X-ray structures of ASZ·1.5 (1,4-FIB) co-crystal, different non-covalent interactions involving hydrogen and halogen atoms were detected and studied by quantum chemical calculations and QTAIM analysis at the ωB97XD/DZP-DKH level of theory.

Description: In the Bazhenov Formation, framboidal clusters and nodular pyrite formed in the dysoxic–anoxic interface within organic-rich sediments. Some nodule-like pyritized bituminous layers and pyrite nodules are similar to pyritized microbial mat fragments by the typical fine laminated structure. Framboidal pyrite of the Bazhenov Formation is enriched in redox-sensitive elements such as Mo, V, Au, Cu, Pb, Ag, Ni, Se, and Zn in comparison with the host shales and nodular pyrite. Nodular pyrite has higher concentrations of As and Sb, only. Strong positive correlations that can be interpreted as nano-inclusions of organic matter (Mo, V, Au), sphalerite (Zn, Cd, Hg, Sn, In, Ga, Ge), galena (Pb, Bi, Sb, Te, Ag, Tl), chalcopyrite (Cu, Se) and tennantite (Cu, As, Sb, Bi, Te, Ag, Tl) and/or the substitution of Co, Ni, As and Sb into the pyrite. On the global scale, pyrite of the Bazhenov Formation is very similar to pyrite from highly metalliferous bituminous black shales, associated, as a rule, with gas and oil-and-gas deposits. Enrichment with Mo and lower Co and heavy metals indicate a higher influence of seawater during formation of pyrite from the Bazhenov Formation in comparison to different styles of ore deposits. Transitional elements such as Zn and Cu in pyrite of the Bazhenov Formation has resulted from either a unique combination of the erosion of Cu–Zn massive sulfide deposits of the Ural Mountains from one side and the simultaneous manifestation of organic-rich gas seep activity in the West Siberian Sea from another direction