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Climate change has far-reaching impacts on human health, with low- and middle-income countries, including India, being particularly vulnerable. While there have been several advances in the policy space with the development of adaptation plans, little remains known about how stakeholders who are central to the strengthening and implementation of these plans perceive this topic. We conducted a qualitative study employing key interviews with 16 medical doctors, researchers, environmentalists and government officials working on the climate change agenda from Puducherry, India. The findings were analysed using the framework method, with data-driven thematic analysis. We elucidated that despite elaborating the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on health, there remains a perceived gap in education and knowledge about the topic among participants. Knowledge of the public health burden and vulnerabilities influenced the perceived health risks from climate change, with some level of scepticism on the impacts on non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases. There was also a felt need for multi-level awareness and intervention programmes targeting all societal levels along with stakeholder recommendations to fill these gaps. The findings of this study should be taken into consideration for strengthening the region’s climate change and health adaptation policy. In light of limited research on this topic, our study provides an improved understanding of how key stakeholders perceive the impacts of climate change on health in India.

Studies of boron-gluconate electrolyte for obtaining nanocrystalline Co–W coatings and its separation by molecular weights of the components is carried out by gel filtration. It is shown that boric acid (as a buffer agent) and sodium chloride (as the agent increasing conductivity) after being introduced into the electrolyte form certain gluconate complexes in the solution. The boron-gluconate complex has a larger molecular weight. Three fractions with different molecular weights including the fractions that contain Co-boron-gluconate and W-boron-gluconate complexes were obtained. It is shown that the formation of certain macromolecular complexes is a slow process, the consequence of which is the dependence of the bulk properties of the electrolyte on time.

Radiation protection of astronauts remains an ongoing challenge in preparation of deep space exploratory missions. Exposure to space radiation consisting of multiple radiation components is associated with a significant risk of experiencing central nervous system (CNS) detriments, potentially influencing the crew operational decisions. Developing of countermeasures protecting CNS from the deleterious exposure requires understanding the mechanistic nature of cognitive impairments induced by different components of space radiation. The current study was designed to identify differences in neurochemical modifications caused by exposure to low- and moderate-LET radiations and to elucidate a distinction between the observed outcomes. We exposed rats to accelerated protons (170 MeV; 0.5 keV/μm) or to carbon ions (12C; 500 MeV/u; 10.5 keV/μm) delivered at the same dose of 1 Gy. Neurochemical alterations were evaluated 1, 30, and 90 days after exposure via indices of the monoamine metabolism measured in five brain structures, including prefrontal cortex, hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus and striatum. We obtained the detailed patterns of neurochemical modifications after exposure to the mentioned radiation modalities. Our data show that the enhancement in the radiation LET from relatively low to moderate values leads to different neurochemical outcomes and that a particular effect depends on the irradiated brain structure. We also hypothesized that exposure to the moderate-LET radiations can induce a hyperactivation of feedback neurochemical mechanisms, which blur metabolic deviations and lead to the delayed impairments in brain functions. Based on our findings we discuss possible contribution of the observed changes to behavioural impairments.

Polycrystalline CoW coatings (with a 5–6 at % content of W) were found to dissolve in a 2M NaNO3 solution with 100% current efficiency while reaching the conditions of thermokinetic instability (TKI) upon attaining the anode limiting currents resulting from the salt’s passivation. The anodic micromachining of nanocrystalline coatings (22–25 at % of W) in a nitrate solution also occurs with a 100% current efficiency, though at a very high degree of dissolution instability prior to attaining the TKI. The electrochemical micromachining of nanocrystalline coatings in a nitrate-alkaline solution (2M NaNO2 + 0.5 M KOH) at low current densities occurs at a current efficiency close to zero, but, in all the cases under the TKI conditions, the current efficiency (upon the coatings treatment with different W contents in different solutions) exceeds the 100% value. A procedure for the removal of the coating material under the TKI conditions is offered that suggests the formation of an oxide-salt film and its periodic destruction due to a thermal explosion. It is shown that the minimal surface roughness is registered after the coating dissolution under the TKI conditions. Results are reported that confirm the possibility of controlling the strengthening (weakening) process of a surface layer after micromachining in different electrolytes using constant and pulse currents.

A comprehensive study has been conducted on the composition of a citrate electrolyte used to produce Co-W coatings that contains (mol/l) the following: cobalt sulphate (0.2), sodium tungstate (0,2), citric acid, sodium citrate, boric acid (pH 6.5) at both its storage and long electrolysis (up to Q ≈ 17 A hour/l). The influence of the degree of operation, the electrolyte agitation, and current volume density on variations in its composition, as well as on the coating composition and microhardness is shown. The observed variations arise from the Podlaha-Landolt induced codeposition mechanism as applied to the used electrolyte composition and electrolysis modes.

The article presents the results on the adsorption of the dye methylene blue (MB) from an aqueous solution on a nanocomposite DDT (nanosized titanium dioxide in the anatase phase precipitated on diatomite) and its components – diatomite D and TiO2. The effect on adsorption of the pH of the solution, the dose of the adsorbent, the initial concentration, and temperature of the dye solution was studied. The equilibrium data were fitted to the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms equations. The obtained parameters and correlation coefficients showed that the adsorption of the dye on D and TiO2 was best described by the Langmuir isotherm model, while the adsorption isotherm of MB on DDT – by the Dubinin-Radushkevich model. The MB adsorption data on DDT and D, obtained at different solution temperatures (20, 30, and 40°C) revealed irreversible adsorption, which increased with an increment of T. Thermodynamic parameters of the process were calculated. The negative values of the Gibbs free standard energy ΔGo show that the adsorption of MB on these adsorbents is spontaneous. Positive values of ΔHo, characteristic of the endothermic process, were relatively high, which indicates that the interaction between the sorbent molecules and the adsorbate was not only physical, but also chemical. The dye adsorption on TiO2 decreases with increasing the solution temperature; it is physical and exothermic in nature, ΔGo being positive and ΔHo negative. The values of the activation energy of adsorption Ea of MB on DDT, D, and TiO2, calculated according to the Dubinin-Radushkevich equation, was equal to 10.74, 11.78, and -2.68 kJ/mol, respectively, thus indicating the ion-exchange mechanism of the adsorption of MB by DDT and initial diatomite and physical adsorption by TiO2. A negative value of the activation energy for a sample of TiO2 means the absence of a potential barrier during adsorption of MB on this adsorbent.

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The parasitic angiosperm Orobanche cumana is present in the main sunflower-producing countries around the world. In recent years, more aggressive races of broomrape have evolved and the parasite has rapidly spread to new areas. A similar trend has been observed in the Republic of Moldova. At the beginning of 1950s, broomrape was detected in Moldova, especially in the southern areas. Currently, all the known races of Orobanche are present in the country and the parasite has expanded considerably on new areas in the center and north. Based on these results and the data reported by other authors, related to influence of climate change on the phytosanitary situation, we studied the interdependence between the climate and the distribution of Orobanche cumana Wallr. over different parts of the Republic of Moldova. Prevalence of broomrape infection mainly in the southern and central part of the Republic of Moldova and its sporadic presence in the northern part can be influenced, not only by short rotations, type of sunflower hybrids grown and soil parameters, but also by the weather conditions such as higher temperatures and lower humidity in the south and center. Based on multiannual data and trends observed in recent years, characterized by an increase in temperature and decrease of relative humidity, we conclude that climate change will create favorable conditions for infecting sunflower plants in all the areas where sunflowers are grown, including the expansion of broomrape to the north of Moldova.