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We have investigated the hydrogen storage ability and the effect of hydrogenation on structure and physical properties of Ti/V and their oxides-based thin films. A series of Ti–TiO₂ and VOx–TiO₂ thin films with different layer structures, geometries and thicknesses have been prepared by the sputtering technique on different (Si(111), SiO₂, C) substrates. For the Ti–TiO₂–Ti films up to 50 at.% of hydrogen can be stored in the Ti layers, while the hydrogen can penetrate without accumulation through the TiO₂ layer. A large hydrogen storage was also found in some V₂O₅–TiO₂ films. Hydrogen could also remove the preferential orientation in the Ti films and induce a transition of V₂O₅ to VO₂ in the films.

BACKGROUND Fungi absorb and solubilize a broad spectrum of heavy metals such as vanadium (V), which makes them a main route of its entry into the biosphere. V as vanadate (V5+) is a potential medical agent due to its many metabolic actions such as interaction with phosphates in the cell, and especially its insulin-mimetic activity. Antidiabetic activity of V-enriched fungi has been studied in recent years, but the biological and chemical bases of vanadium action and status in fungi in general are poorly understood, with almost no information on edible fungi. METHODS This manuscript gives a deeper insight into the interaction of V5+ with Coprinellus truncorum, an edible autochthonous species widely distributed in Europe and North America. Vanadium uptake and accumulation as V5+ was studied by 51V NMR, while the reducing abilities of the mycelium were determined by EPR. 31P NMR was used to determine its effects on the metabolism of phosphate compounds, with particular focus on phosphate sugars identified using HPLC. RESULTS Vanadate enters the mycelium in monomeric form and shows no immediate detrimental effects on intracellular pH or polyphosphate (PPc) levels, even when applied at physiologically high concentrations (20 mM Na3VO4). Once absorbed, it is partially reduced to less toxic vanadyl (V4+) with notable unreduced portion, which leads to a large increase in phosphorylated sugar levels, especially glucose-1-phosphate (G1P) and fructose-6-phosphate (F6P). CONCLUSIONS Preservation of pH and especially PPc reflects maintenance of the energy status of the mycelium, i.e., its tolerance to high V5+ concentrations. Rise in G1P and F6P levels implies that the main targets of V5+ are most likely phosphoglucomutase and phosphoglucokinase(s), enzymes involved in early stages of G6P transformation in glycolysis and glycogen metabolism. This study recommends C. truncorum for further investigation as a potential antidiabetic agent.

Background and objectives: It has been argued that sex and disease-related traits should influence how observers respond to sensory sickness cues. In fact, there is evidence that humans can detect sensory cues related to infection in others, but lack of power from earlier studies prevents any firm conclusion regarding whether perception of sickness cues is associated with sex and disease-related personality traits. Here, we tested whether women (relative to men), individuals with poorer self-reported health, and who are more sensitive to disgust, vulnerable to disease, and concerned about their health, overestimate the presence of, and/or are better at detecting sickness cues. Methodology: In a large online study, 343 women and 340 men were instructed to identify the sick faces from a series of sick and healthy photographs of volunteers with an induced acute experimental inflammation. Participants also completed several disease-related questionnaires. Results: While both men and women could discriminate between sick and healthy individuals above chance level, exploratory analyses revealed that women outperformed men in accuracy and speed of discrimination. Furthermore, we demonstrated that higher disgust sensitivity to body odors is associated with a more liberal decision criterion for categorizing faces as sick. Conclusion: Our findings give strong support for the human ability to discriminate between sick and healthy individuals based on early facial cues of sickness and suggest that women are significantly, although only slightly, better at this task. If this finding is replicated, future studies should determine whether women’s better performance is related to increased avoidance of sick individuals., The behavioral experiment in the present paper was supported by Swedish Research Council Grants 2016-02742 (MO), 2020-02567 (MO), and 2021-03184 (AT) and Swedish Foundation for Humanities and Social Sciences Grant P12-1017 (MO).

Odors are important disease cues, and disgust sensitivity to body odors reflects individual differences in disease avoidance. The body odor disgust sensitivity (BODS) scale provides a rapid and valid assessment of individual differences. Nevertheless, little is known about how individual differences in BODS might correlate with overall odor perception or how it is related to other differences in emotional reactivity (e.g., affect intensity). We investigated how BODS relates to perceptual ratings of pleasant and unpleasant odors. We aggregated data from 4 experiments (total N = 190) that were conducted in our laboratory, and where valence and intensity ratings were collected. Unpleasant odors were body-like (e.g., sweat-like valeric acid), which may provide disease cues. The pleasant odors were, in contrast, often found in soap and cleaning products (e.g., lilac, lemon). Across experiments, we show that individuals with higher BODS levels perceived smells as more highly valenced overall: unpleasant smells were rated as more unpleasant, and pleasant smells were rated as more pleasant. These results suggest that body odor disgust sensitivity is associated with a broader pattern of affect intensity which causes stronger emotional responses to both negative and positive odors. In contrast, BODS levels were not associated with odor intensity perception. Furthermore, disgust sensitivity to odors coming from external sources (e.g., someone else's sweat) was the best predictor of odor valence ratings. The effects were modest in size. The results validate the BODS scale as it is explicitly associated with experimental ratings of odor valence., This work has been supported by the research grants from the Swedish Research Council (2016-02018) to M.T.L and Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (2016:0229) to J.K.O.

Body odour disgust sensitivity (BODS) reflects a behavioural disposition to avoid pathogens, and it may also involve social attitudes. Among participants in the USA, high levels of BODS were associated with stronger xenophobia towards a fictitious refugee group. To test the generalizability of this finding, we analysed data from nine countries across five continents (N = 6836). Using structural equation modelling, we found support for our pre-registered hypotheses: higher BODS levels were associated with more xenophobic attitudes; this relationship was partially explained by perceived dissimilarities of the refugees' norms regarding hygiene and food preparation, and general attitudes toward immigration. Our results support a theoretical notion of how pathogen avoidance is associated with social attitudes: ‘traditional norms’ often involve behaviours that limit inter-group contact, social mobility and situations that might lead to pathogen exposure. Our results also indicate that the positive relationship between BODS and xenophobia is robust across cultures., This study was funded by Vetenskapsrådet (grant no. 2016-02018) and Knut and Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse (grant no. 2016:0229).

The evidence for differences between women and men in terms of olfactory abilities is contradictory. We analyzed women and men's performance and reactions to a wider range of odour exposure outcomes than usually studied, to assess possible differences and similarities between sexes. Measures of sensitivity and sensory decision rule were established in 37 women and 39 men. Perceptual, cognitive, symptom-related and autonomic nervous system (skin conductance level and heart-rate variability) reactions were also assessed during extended ambient odour exposure, as well as participants' self-rated chemical intolerance. Bayesian analyses consistently revealed greater support for sex-related similarities than differences, suggesting that women and men perform and react comparably not only in terms of basic olfactory measures, but also to environmental odour exposure mimicking everyday situations.

© 2008 Elsevier B.V. The present work was performed at the Department of Nuclear Methods and Process Engineering, Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology Warsaw and was financially supported by FP6 European Funds under Marie Curie project: AMERAC no. MTKDCT-2004-509226. The authors acknowledge this financial support., The factorial design of experiments and desirability function approach has been applied for multiresponse optimization in pervaporation separation process. Two organic aqueous solutions were considered as model mixtures, water/acetonitrile and water/ethanol mixtures. Two responses have been employed in multi-response optimization of pervaporation, total permeate flux and organic selectivity. The effects of three experimental factors (feed temperature, initial concentration of organic compound in feed solution, and downstream pressure) on the pervaporation responses have been investigated. The experiments were performed according to a 21 full factorial experimental design. The factorial models have been obtained from experimental design and validated statistically by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The spatial representations of the response functions were drawn together with the corresponding contour line plots. Factorial models have been used to develop the overall desirability function. In addition, the overlap contour plots were presented to identify the desirability zone and to determine the optimum point. The optimal operating conditions were found to be, in the case of water/acetonitrile mixture, a feed temperature of 55 degrees C, an initial concentration of 6.58% and a downstream pressure of 13.99 kPa, while for water/ethanol mixture a feed temperature of 55 degrees C, an initial concentration of 4.53% and a downstream pressure of 9.57 kPa. Under such optimum conditions it was observed experimentally an improvement of both the total permeate flux and selectivity., FP6 European Funds, Depto. de Estructura de la Materia, Física Térmica y Electrónica, Fac. de Ciencias Físicas, TRUE, pub

© 2008 Elsevier B.V. This work was financially supported by FP6 European Funds under Marie Curie project: AMERAC no. MTKD-CT-2004-509226. The authors gratefully acknowledge this financial support., Both the conventional method of experimentation, in which one of factors is varied maintaining the other factors fixed at constant levels and the statistically designed experimental method, in which all factors are varied simultaneously are carried out for organic removal from water by pervaporation. Binary acetonitrile-water mixtures are considered. The effects of the operating parameters on the pervaporation performance of the membrane system have been investigated. The overall mass transfer coefficients have been determined for different conditions of feed temperature and initial organic concentration. in addition, the activation energy associated to the permeation process has been determined and discussed for each feed organic mixture. Statistical experimental design and response surface methodology, RSM, have been applied to optimize the operational conditions of pervaporation. process in order to maximize the output responses, which are permeate flux ratio and concentration of organic in permeate. The input variables employed for experimental design were the feed temperature, initial concentration of organic in feed and operational downstream pressure. Based on the design of experiment the quadratic response surface models have been developed to link the output responses with the input variables via mathematical relationships. The constructed response models have been tested using the analysis of variance and the canonical analysis. The obtained optimal point by means of Monte Carlo simulation method and desirability function corresponds to a feed temperature of 57.69 degrees C, a feed acetonitrile concentration of 6.96 wt% and a downstream pressure of 28.95 kPa. The maximal values of the permeate flux ratio and the concentration of organic in permeate obtained under optimal process conditions have been confirmed experimentally., Unión Europea. FP6, Depto. de Estructura de la Materia, Física Térmica y Electrónica, Fac. de Ciencias Físicas, TRUE, pub

© 2008 Elsevier B.V. This work was financially supported by FP6 European Funds under Marie Curie project: AMERAC no. MTKD-CT-2004-509226. The authors gratefully acknowledge this financial support., Pervaporation is applied for acetone, acetonitrile and ethanol removal from water solutions. The separation of binary acetone-water, acetonitrile-water and ethanol-water mixtures was initially carried out. The effects of feed concentration and feed temperature on the pervaporation performance, total and partial permeate fluxes as well as organic selectivity, have been investigated. The overall mass transfer coefficients have been determined and discussed for each organic-water mixture at different conditions of feed temperature and initial organic feed concentrations. The overall and individual activation energies of water and each organic compound associated to the permeation process have been calculated. Finally, pervaporation was applied to wastewater solutions containing acetone, acetonitrile and ethanol at a temperature of 40 degrees C. The organic selectivity was found to be in the order of acetone > acetonitrile > ethanol., Unión Europea. FP6, Depto. de Estructura de la Materia, Física Térmica y Electrónica, Fac. de Ciencias Físicas, TRUE, pub

Accurate measurement and prediction of the phase behaviour of mixtures involved in a chemical process are crucial for its optimisation. Given the importance of CO2 conversion technologies and considering possible benefits of CO2-ionic liquid biphasic systems, i.e., facilitating a product separation, we investigated the high-pressure behaviour of components of interest in a recently developed process of cyclic carbonate synthesis directly from CO2 and potentially bio-based alcohols. The solubility of 1,2-butanediol and 1,2-butylene carbonate in a dense carbon dioxide phase was determined experimentally at the temperature of 313.2 K and pressures between 6 and 18 MPa. The influence of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ionic liquid, [hmim][FAP], as a solvent, on the solubility of these compounds in CO2-rich phase, in ternary (CO2 + 1,2-butanediol + [hmim][FAP]), CO2 + butylene carbonate + [hmim][FAP]) and quaternary (CO2 + 1,2-butanediol + butylene carbonate + [hmim][FAP]) mixtures was investigated. The experimental results of the two binary systems were correlated using the density-based Chrastil equation. The knowledge of phase equilibria behaviours reported in this work will be useful for designing chemical conversions of carbon dioxide using [hmim][FAP] ionic liquid as reaction solvents.

Disease avoidance is one of the main roles of olfaction. In particular, body odors are universal elicitors of disgust, a core emotion that plays a key role in disease avoidance. The disease avoidance theoretical framework emphasizes psychological mechanisms – attitudes and behaviors – aiming to recognize and evade pathogen threats. Thus, it focuses on behavioral immune defenses and disgust, which often evokes such attitudes and behaviors. Importantly, the quality of body odors changes with sickness, and thus olfactory disease detection is possible. Body odor disgust sensitivity (BODS) might reflect a behavioral disposition to avoid pathogens, and it may also involve social attitudes that prefer limited contact with strangers. The general aim of this thesis was to investigate the connection between olfaction, (body) odor disgust, and social attitudes from the perspective of disease avoidance. In Study I, I investigated the relationship between disgust sensitivity to body odors and prejudice. Using an online survey, I found that high levels of BODS were associated with stronger prejudice towards a fictitious refugee group and that this relationship was partially explained by perceiving the group as different in terms of food, hygiene, and sanitary practices. In Study II, I looked at the association between olfactory stimulation, BODS, and implicit bias toward an outgroup. BODS levels were positively related to implicit bias towards an outgroup; however, this bias was not affected by olfactory cues. In Study III, I aimed to see if the relationship between BODS and prejudice generalizes across different cultures and locations. I found that higher BODS levels were associated with more prejudiced attitudes towards a fictitious refugee group across nine countries on all continents. As in Study I, this relationship was partially explained by perceived dissimilarities of the refugees’ norms regarding hygiene and food preparation, and general attitudes toward immigration. In

American bullfrog (Rana castesbeiana) saxiphilin (RcSxph) is a high-affinity "toxin sponge" protein thought to prevent intoxication by saxitoxin (STX), a lethal bis-guanidinium neurotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs). How specific RcSxph interactions contribute to STX binding has not been defined and whether other organisms have similar proteins is unclear. Here, we use mutagenesis, ligand binding, and structural studies to define the energetic basis of Sxph:STX recognition. The resultant STX "recognition code" enabled engineering of RcSxph to improve its ability to rescue NaVs from STX and facilitated discovery of 10 new frog and toad Sxphs. Definition of the STX binding code and Sxph family expansion among diverse anurans separated by ∼140 My of evolution provides a molecular basis for understanding the roles of toxin sponge proteins in toxin resistance and for developing novel proteins to sense or neutralize STX and related PSP toxins.

Phycomyces blakesleeanus is a strict aerobic filamentous fungus often used as a model system in studies of physiology, genetics, environmental sensing, and metabolism. As all other aerobic organisms, this fungus faces the toxic effects of oxygen-reactive species, but data about its antioxidative defense systems are scarce. The aim of this research was to examine the activities of three antioxidant enzymes during different phases of growth. The fungus was grown in two ways, in Petri dishes, and on a shaker in Erlenmeyer flasks. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were determined spectrophotometrically, while the activity of catalase (CAT) was determined polarographically with a Clark-type oxygen electrode. The highest activities of SOD were noticed in mycelia grown in Erlenmeyer flasks in the stationary phase of growth. In mycelia grown in Petri dishes, the highest activities of POD (0,014U/mg protein) and CAT (20,63 U/mg protein) were noticed in the early exponential phase. The activities of these two enzymes decreased with mycelial growth. In mycelia grown in Erlenmeyer flasks, POD and CAT showed similar behavior, but differences in activities between exponential and stationary phases were smaller and the highest activities were noticed in the mid-exponential to stationary phase of growth (0,011U/mg protein for POD and 17,21U/mg protein for CAT). High activities of these two enzymes indicated increased production of H2O2 and pointed out the importance of this phase for mycelia grown in this way.

Biotransformation of toxic selenium ions to non-toxic species has been mainly focused on biofortifcation of microorganisms and production of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), while far less attention is paid to the mechanisms of transformation. In this study, we applied a combination of analytical techniques with the aim of characterizing the SeNPs themselves as well as monitoring the course of selenium transformation in the mycelium of the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus. Red coloration and pungent odor that appeared after only a few hours of incubation with 10 mM Se+4 indicate the formation of SeNPs and volatile methylated selenium compounds. SEM–EDS confrmed pure selenium NPs with an average diameter of 57 nm, which indicates potentially very good medical, optical, and photoelectric characteristics. XANES of mycelium revealed concentration-dependent mechanisms of reduction, where 0.5 mM Se+4 led to the predominant formation of Se–S containing organic molecules, while 10 mM Se+4 induced production of biomethylated selenide (Se−2) in the form of volatile dimethylselenide (DMSe) and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), with the SeNPs/DMSe ratio rising with incubation time. Several structural forms of elemental selenium, predominantly monoclinic Se8 chains, together with trigonal Se polymer chain, Se8 and Se6 ring structures, were detected by Raman spectroscopy

In this study, mycelium of fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus was exposed to soluble toxic form of selenium, selenite (Se+4), to examine its ability to reduce it to nanoparticles. Red coloration appeared after only a few hours of incubation with 10 mM Se+4 indicating formation of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). SEM-EDS confirmed pure selenium NPs with an average diameter of 57 nm, which indicates to potentially very good medical, optical and photoelectric characteristics. Raman spectroscopy showed several structural forms of SeNPs formed in the extracellular space with a monoclinic Se8 chain as the most represented, and the other observed forms were trigonal Se polymer chain, Se8 ring and Se6 chain structures.

In this study, mycelium of fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus was exposed to soluble toxic form of selenium, selenite (Se+4), with the aim of determining the flow and products of its biotransformation. Selenite is reduced to Se0 in the form selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and Se-2 in the form of methylated volatile selenides. Low concentrations of Se+4 in the mycelium form RSSeSR type compounds, which could be a step in the process of SeNPs formation, or incorporation of Se into metabolites such as Se-amino acids.

Ethyl lactate is a hydrophilic solvent produced from bio-renewable sources (bioethanol and lactic acid produced from corn fermentation) that is considered a “green” solvent due to its extremely low toxicity, biodegradability and negligible eco-toxicity. This work focuses on the utilization of ethyl lactate to form aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) in the presence of inorganic salts for the extraction of antibiotics from aqueous solutions. The performance of three thiosulfate salts (Na2S2O3, K2S2O3 and (NH4)2S2O3) as salting-out media for the extraction of chloramphenicol and tetracycline from their aqueous solutions was examined. In this respect, cloud points for the ternary solutions composed of ethyl lactate, water and salt were determined at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) and 298.2 K. Partition coefficients of chloramphenicol and tetracycline between the two phases were determined by chemical analysis of phases in equilibrium for different initial compositions at 298.2 K. This paper is the first report to demonstrate the ability of the ATPS based on ethyl lactate to efficiently separate antibiotics. Thus, ATPS based on ethyl lactate represents a new and green platform for the extraction of antibiotics from aqueous solutions which can facilitate their detection, identification and quantification in surface waters as well as their extraction from fermentation broths.

Background: The emerging field of artificial intelligence (AI) will probably affect the practice for the next generation of doctors. However, the students' views on AI have not been largely investigated.Methods: An anonymous electronic survey on AI was designed for medical and dental students to explore: (1) sources of information about AI, (2) AI applications and concerns, (3) AI status as a topic in medicine, and (4) students' feelings and attitudes. The questionnaire was advertised on social media platforms in 2020. Security measures were employed to prevent fraudulent responses. Mann-Whitney U-test was employed for all comparisons. A sensitivity analysis was also performed by binarizing responses to express disagreement and agreement using the Chi-squared test.Results: Three thousand one hundred thirty-three respondents from 63 countries from all continents were included. Most respondents reported having at least a moderate understanding of the technologies underpinning AI and of their current application, with higher agreement associated with being male (p < 0.0001), tech-savvy (p < 0.0001), pre-clinical student (p < 0.006), and from a developed country (p < 0.04). Students perceive AI as a partner rather than a competitor (72.2%) with a higher agreement for medical students (p = 0.002). The belief that AI will revolutionize medicine and dentistry (83.9%) with greater agreement for students from a developed country (p = 0.0004) was noted. Most students agree that the AI developments will make medicine and dentistry more exciting (69.9%), that AI shall be part of the medical training (85.6%) and they are eager to incorporate AI in their future practice (99%).Conclusion: Currently, AI is a hot topic in medicine and dentistry. Students have a basic understanding of AI principles, a positive attitude toward AI and would like to have it incorporated into their training.

Paulina Paprocka,1 Bonita Durna&sacute;,1,2 Angelika Ma&nacute;kowska,1 Karol Sk&lstrok;odowski,3 Grzegorz Król,1 Magdalena Zakrzewska,3 Micha&lstrok; Czarnowski,3 Patrycja Kot,1 Kamila Fortunka,1 Stanis&lstrok;aw Gó&zacute;d&zacute;,2 Paul B Savage,4 Robert Bucki1,3 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Kielce, Poland; 2Holy Cross Oncology Center of Kielce, Kielce, Poland; 3Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bia&lstrok;ystok, Bia&lstrok;ystok, Poland; 4Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USACorrespondence: Robert Bucki Tel +48-85-7485493Fax +48-85 748 54 16Email buckirobert@gmail.comBackground: The increasing number of infections caused by antibiotic resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa posed a very serious challenge for clinical practice. This standing is driving scientists to develop new antibiotics against these microorganisms.Methods: In this study, we measured the MIC/MBC values and estimated the ability of tested molecules to prevent bacterial biofilm formation to explore the effectiveness of β-lactam antibiotics ceftolozane/tazobactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, meropenem/vaborbactam, and ceragenins CSA-13, CSA-44, and CSA-131 against 150 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that were divided into five groups, based on their antibiotic resistance profiles to beta-lactams. Selected strains of microorganisms from each group were also subjected to prolonged incubations (20 passages) with ceragenins to probe the development of resistance towards those molecules. Cytotoxicity of tested ceragenins was evaluated using human red blood cell (RBCs) hemolysis and microscopy observations of human lung epithelial A549 cells after ceragenin treatment. Poloxamer 407 (pluronic F-127) at concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 5% was tested as

Fungi could absorb heavy metals, metalloids, or radionuclides, thus fungal species possess great potential in bioremediation. Since fungi absorb the vanadium, in the present study ability of Coprinellus truncorum mycelia for vanadate uptake and its intracellular metabolism were investigated. The submerged cultivated C. truncorum was exposed to a rising concentration of vanadate. 31P NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate phosphate metabolism of the mycelium, while the status of vanadium in the cell was followed by 51V NMR spectroscopy. The mycelium could grow, and overcome vanadate presence, up to the concentration of 1.6 mM in the submerged medium. 31P NMR measurements pointed out that vanadate induced changes in the concentration of the crucial metabolite containing phosphorus, particularly sugar phosphates. The major result of vanadate action is evinced through an appearance of a signal positioned at around 2.8 ppm, and an increased signal of hexosephosphates. Using 51V NMR spectroscopy the presence of vanadate monomer in the mycelia of the fungal cell was confirmed.

Fungi represent the main route of vanadium’s entrance in ecosystem and are known to tolerate high concentrations of this transition metal. Despite it, its effects on antioxidant systems of fungi are not well-known. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of vanadate on antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants of filamentous fungus P. blakesleeanus. Mycelium in early exponential (20h) and stationary (56h) phase of growth was treated with relatively high concentrations of V+5 (1, 5 and 10 mM) for 1h or 5h. Activities of peroxidase (POD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), concentrations of total phenols and total glutathione were examined. In the 20h old mycelia, V5+ in all concentrations, after 1h treatments, induced decrease in total phenols with the largest decrease (25 ± 4%) after 10mM V5+ treatment, while in 56h old mycelia decrease in total phenols was noticed only after 1 mM V+5 treatment (11 ± 3%). Decrease of total glutathione, in 56h old mycelia, was noticed for all concentrations after 1h treatments, and the largest 38 ± 7% was induced by 5 mM V5+. The same effect was noticed in 20h old mycelia treated for 5h, with the largest decrease of 29 ± 7% after 5 mM V5+ treatment. In 56h old mycelia, after 1h treatments with 10 mM V+5, activities of GPx and POD increased, while after 5h treatments, concentration dependent increase in activities of GST, GPx and GR was noticed, with the largest increase of 112 ± 30% for GPx, 74 ± 39% for GST and 68 ± 26% for GR. Increase in the activities of GPx and GST was noticed in 20h old mycelia treated for 5h, with 5 mM and 10 mM V+5 and also increase of POD in 56h old mycelia, was noticed in same treatments, but the only statistically significant increase was after treatment with 10 mMV+5 in 56h old mycelia (43 ± 10%). The results shown indicate that after 1h treatments, V5+ influenced primarily on non-enzymatic antioxidants and after 5h treatments on e

Objective: This study investigated age-dependent and subtype-related alterations in electroencephalography (EEG) power spectra and current source densities (CSD) in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: We performed spectral and cortical source (exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography, eLORETA) analyses using resting state EEG recordings from 40 children (8-16 years) with combined and inattentive subtypes of ADHD and 41 age-matched healthy controls (HC). Group differences in EEG spectra and CSD were investigated at each scalp location, voxel and cortical region in delta, theta, alpha and beta bands. We also explored associations between topographic changes in EEG power and CSD and age. Results: Compared to healthy controls, combined ADHD subtype was characterized with significantly increased diffuse theta/beta power ratios (TBR) with a widespread decrease in beta CSD. Inattentive ADHD subtype presented increased TBR in all brain regions except in posterior areas with a global increase in theta source power. In both ADHD and HC, older age groups showed significantly lower delta source power and TBR and higher alpha and beta source power than younger age groups. Compared to HC, ADHD was characterized with increases in theta fronto-central and temporal source power with increasing age. Conclusions: Our results confirm that TBR can be used as a neurophysiological biomarker to differentiate ADHD from healthy children at both the source and sensor levels. Significance: Our findings emphasize the importance of performing the source imaging analysis in order to better characterize age-related changes in resting-state EEG activity in ADHD and controls.

Body odors are universal elicitors of disgust, a core emotion that plays a key role in the behavioral immune system (BIS) - a set of psychological functions working to avoid disease. Recent studies showed that body odor disgust sensitivity (BODS) is associated with explicit xenophobia and authoritarianism. In the current experimental pre-registered study (), we investigated the association between olfactory pathogen cues, BODS and implicit bias toward an outgroup (tested by an implicit association test). Results show that BODS is positively related to implicit bias toward an outgroup, suggesting that social attitudes may be linked to basic chemosensory processes. These attitudes were not influenced by background odors. Additionally, BODS was related to social, but not economic conservatism. This study extends the BIS framework to an experimental context by focusing on the role of disgust and body odors in shaping implicit bias., This work was supported by research grants from the Swedish Research Council (2016-02018) to MTL, a Pro Futura Scientia VII fellowship and research grants from the Swedish Research Council (421-2012-806) to JO and the Swedish Foundation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (M14-0375:1) to ML.

In the times of globalization and intense migration of people, the possibility of communicating with persons representing other cultural, ethnic or national background and using different languages and cultural codes becomes a crucial task for gaining education and developing professional skills, especially among today’s young adults and young professionals. Referring to key categories - multilingualism and multimodality as key competences in the development of intercultural dialogue and international cooperation - we will outline the results of the study conducted among students participating in the Erasmus+ program. The research was carried out among students studying at one of Polish pedagogical universities between 2017 and 2019. The results reflect the experiences of students related to their participation in the program on its various stages, as well as the benefits which they observed from participating in the program and which are connected with multingualism and multimodality as key competences in the development of intercultural dialogue and international cooperation.

In this article, through reference to the theories of multilingualism, we would like to outline issues pertaining to the bilingual upbringing of children in bicultural families and their education in Polish schools. Referring to research (interviews) with parents of bilingual children from Warsaw, we will point to strategies employed by parents who communicate with their children in two or three languages. We will also draw attention to difficulties connected with dominant and non-dominant languages (the case of grandparents). In the second section, we will discuss diverse school environments and language in schools where bilingual children function. We also explore the argumentation of both parents deciding to enrol their bilingual children in state schools with Polish as the language of instruction, and those opting for enrolment in private schools with English as the language of instruction or social schools. The research material was collected among parents of bicultural and bilingual children living in Poland, the Mazovian voivodship, including the capital city of Warsaw. The group presented consists of multinational families in which one parent (most frequently the father) comes from a country from the African continent.

The phenomenon of educational resistance shown by minors from disadvantaged backgrounds and placed in attendance centers is the main subject of interest in this article. This is a special group of students, because their attitude towards education is shaped by factors determined by dysfunctional families, antisocial pressure from peers, poor neighborhood, poor infrastructure, experience from the foster care institutions and a school curriculum, implemented without taking into account their specifics. Resistance is a reaction to their educational experience and perceived as a manifestation of a dominant culture associated with a form analyzed by Paul Willis. According to this concept, the connection between the hegemonic culture and subordinate groups is created not only by ethnic or national, but also by socio-cultural and economic factors. Young people from the underclass, shaped by various cultural patterns, norms, values, language and socio-economic conditions, reject the educational offer of the cultural hegemon, generating behaviors leading to school abandonment and truancy. Based on the research material collected during in-depth interviews, the educational resistance of minors was analyzed with particular attention to its causes, patterns and trajectories.

The purpose of the thesis is to analyse the EU’s and CJEU’s approach towards exit taxes by finding guidance on how the exit tax rules shall be made to be considered as compatible with the requirements of EU law. The EU law’s presumption of establishing an internal market without boundaries at the frontiers prohibits national measures which hinder, inter alia, the market access. Therefore, the EU’s Member States tax legislation that influences the taxpayer’s behavioural patterns are considered a restriction to the free movement rights. A legitimate objective within the reason of public interest may allow a restrictive national measure. The CJEU strike a balance between the purposes of public interest and the aim of establishing a single internal market within the EU. The States rationale behind the exit tax regimes is to protect their tax base followed by the right from the international tax law to tax an income accumulated within the tax jurisdiction of that State. Within the States’ tax sovereignty, the tax systems are underlined by different principles that, inter alia, determine the subject of taxation. Such mismatches and differences may create double taxation and double non-taxation. It results in a harmful effect but also affects the economic relation between the States. It also creates obstacles to the EU’s internal market. The States enter into bilateral tax treaties, that are based on the OECD model tax convention, to divide and define taxing rights between them. A balanced allocation of taxing rights is recognised by the CJEU as a legitimate aim. The exit taxation triggers at the event of emigration. It affects the mobility of a taxpayer by creating a dissuasive effect and therefore, is regarded as a restriction. The CJEU develops two lines of cases concerning exit taxation on accrued gains. The distinction in the CJEU’s reasoning occurs in the assessment of whether the measure at issue is proportionate to the aim pursued. For instance, in case of emigrati

The coronavirus has closed adults and children at home. We communicate by phone or the Internet. Life has moved online, it has lost its rhythm within traditional systems of school and work. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic spreading around the globe, many states have introduced numerous limitations in adults' and children's social functioning. The majority of education and care institutions have been closed, while companies and institutions whose type of activity allows to do so have decided to transform their work patterns into remote work. This new situation has particularly affected children, who, for their own and their families' safety, have been cut off from the possibility to participate in activities and events that used to be part of their daily lives. In order to look at this situation and analyse the situation of families with children, an online survey questionnaire was conducted among 158 adults that aimed to collect data from below (from the perspective of reflexive adults looking after children in the situation of spatial-mobile limitations). In the article, we discuss changes in parents' and children’s lives and analyse the social background of the areas discussed.

The members of the multidrug/oligosaccharidyl-lipid/polysaccharide (MOP) transporter superfamily mediate export of a wealth of molecules of physiological and pharmacological importance. According to the Transporter Classification Database (TCDB), the MOP superfamily is mainly categorized into six distantly related families functionally characterized families: the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE), the polysaccharide transporter (PST), the oligosaccharidyl-lipid flippase (OLF), the mouse virulence factor (MVF) the agrocin 84 antibiotic exporter (AgnG), and the progressive ankylosis (Ank) family. Among these, the multidrug resistance MATE family transporters are most ubiquitous, being present in all domains of life: Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya. As secondary active transporters, they utilize transmembrane electrochemical ion gradients of Na+ and/or H+ in order to drive the efflux of xenobiotics or cytotoxic metabolic waste products with specificity mainly for polyaromatic and cationic substrates. Active efflux of drugs and toxic compounds carried out by multidrug transporters is one of the strategies developed by bacterial pathogens to confer multidrug resistance. MATE proteins provide resistance to, e.g., fluoroquinolone, aminoglycoside antibiotics, and anticancer chemotherapeutical agents, thus serving as promising pharmacological targets for tackling a severe global health issue. Based on their amino acid sequence similarity, the MATE family members are classified into the NorM, the DNA-damage-inducible protein F (DinF), and the eukaryotic subfamilies. Structural information on the alternate conformational states and knowledge of the detailed mechanism of the MATE transport are of great importance for the structure-aided drug design. Over the past decade, the crystal structures of representative members of the NorM, DinF and eukaryotic subfamilies have been presented. They all share similar overall architecture comprising 12 transmembrane helices (TMs)

The phosphates (Pi) are nowadays recognized as pollutants. We studied the effect of Pi (0.625-12.500 mM KH2PO4) in the culture medium on in vitro grown 2-month-old Populus alba trees. The levels of sugar phosphates and vacuolar and cytoplasmic Pi in cell compartments of roots and stems were determined using P-31 NMR, while tissue-specific micro- and macroelements mapping on stem cross-sections were performed using synchrotron-based X-ray microfluorescence. Plants grown on 0.625 mM Pi (MS/2 medium) showed a survival rate of 70%. With the increase in Pi concentrations up to 6.250 mM, plant growth and survival increased, without changes in total P content per mass or in the levels of cytoplasmic and vacuolar phosphates, in both stems and roots, while the levels of Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca and Mn in stems increased. Further increase in Pi to 9.375 and 12.500 mM in the medium resulted in inhibited growth comparable with plants grown on MS/2, with the increase in total P content per mass up to 50%, in both stems and roots, but with no changes in cytoplasmic and vacuolar phosphates; 12.500 mM Pi affected even plant survival (70%) and thus might be considered as mildly toxic. P-31 NMR results indicate that the high tolerance of P. alba to increased Pi could result from its ability to maintain an intracellular P homeostasis, despite P accumulation up to 50%, in both stems and roots, indicating P. alba as a promising wood species for dendroremediation.

Mona Kotecha,1 William P Cheshire,2 Helen Finnigan,3 Kathryn Giblin,1 Himanshu Naik,1 Joanne Palmer,4 Simon Tate,4 Joanna M Zakrzewska5 1Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA; 2Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA; 3Biogen, Maidenhead, UK; 4Convergence Pharmaceuticals, a Biogen Company, Cambridge, UK; 5Facial Pain Unit and Pain Management Centre, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/University College London, London, UKCorrespondence: Mona Kotecha Email Mona.Kotecha@biogen.comPurpose: Vixotrigine (BIIB074) is a voltage- and use-dependent sodium channel blocker. These studies will evaluate the efficacy and safety of vixotrigine in treating pain experienced by patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) using enriched enrollment randomized withdrawal trial designs.Patients and Methods: Two double-blind randomized withdrawal studies are planned to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vixotrigine compared with placebo in participants with TN (NCT03070132 and NCT03637387). Participant criteria include ≥ 18 years old who have classical, purely paroxysmal TN diagnosed ≥ 3 months prior to study entry, who experience ≥ 3 paroxysms of pain/day. The two studies will include a screening period, 7-day run-in period, a 4- or 6-week single-dose-blind dose-optimization period (Study 1) or 4-week open-label period (Study 2), and 14-week double-blind period. Participants will receive vixotrigine 150 mg orally three times daily in the dose-optimization and open-label periods. The primary endpoint of both studies is the proportion of participants classified as responders at Week 12 of the double-blind period. Secondary endpoints include safety measures, quality of life, and evaluation of vixotrigine population pharmacokinetics.Conclusion: There is a need for an effective, well-tolerated, noninvasive treatment for the neuropathic pain associated with TN. The proposed studies will evaluate the efficacy and safety of vixotrigine in t

Body odors provide important social and health-related cues in many species. While human body odor perception often triggers feelings of disgust, few studies have investigated body odor disgust in a systematic way. We have developed the body odor disgust scale (BODS), a brief 12-item scale to assess the extent to which individuals are disgusted by common body odors such as sweat and urine. The scale development included both internal and external validation tests. We used the BODS in conjunction with scales measuring social attitudes and biases, and found consistent associations between high body odor disgust and stronger authoritarian attitudes, as well as more pronounced outgroup biases. Our work is consistent with the “behavioral immune system” framework, wherein social attitudes and political ideologies are shaped by perceived pathogen risk and disease avoidance via feelings of disgust. Body odor perception may thus not only be important for personal interactions, but may also be linked to social attitudes and political ideologies.

Why are certain individuals persistent in opposing immigration? The behavioral immune system framework implies that a psychological mechanism, which adapted to detect and avoid pathogen threats, is also reflected in contemporary social attitudes. Moreover, prejudice towards outgroups might be partially driven by implicit pathogen concerns related to the perceived dissimilarity with these groups' hygiene and food preparation practices. Disgust, a universal core emotion supposedly evolved to avoid pathogen threats, as well as olfaction, both play a pivotal role in evoking disgust. In an online study (N = 800), we investigated whether individual differences in body odor disgust sensitivity (BODS) correlate with negative attitudes towards a fictive refugee group. The data analysis plan and hypotheses were preregistered. Results show that body odor disgust sensitivity is associated with xenophobia: BODS was positively associated with negative attitudes towards the fictive group. This relationship was partially mediated by perceived dissimilarities of the group in terms of hygiene and food preparation. Our finding suggests prejudice might be rooted in sensory mechanisms.

In the text, we outline the pedagogical approaches and methods of participatory work with children in the Orphans’ Home in Warsaw applied by Janusz Korczak (Henryk Goldszmit). Korczak was a Jewish-Polish pedagogue, medical doctor, activist for children's rights and an important author for children as well as adults. His pedagogy oriented towards the child primarily related to children's subjectivity, children’s agency, children’s rights and their participation in activities in defense of their rights in the place of their daily life. This is a child-oriented approach based on respect for the child and the cooperation of adults in partnership with children. Through reference to the context and situationality, we attempt to show how Korczak’s methods can be used in the contemporary world while working with children in difficult circumstances , particularly in closed environments- such as educational institutions, refugee centres and camps, En el texto se esbozan los enfoques pedagógicos y los métodos de trabajo participativo con los niños del Hogar de Huérfanos de Varsovia aplicados por Janusz Korczak (Henryk Goldszmit). Korczak era un pedagogo judeo-polaco, médico, activista por los derechos de los niños y autor importante tanto para niños como para adultos. Su pedagogía orientada hacia el niño se relaciona principalmente con la subjetividad del niño, la agencia infantil, los derechos del niño y su participación en actividades en favor de sus derechos en el lugar donde se desarrolla su vida cotidiana. Se trata de un enfoque orientado a los niños y basado en el respeto por el niño y la cooperación de los adultos en asociación con los niños. A través de la referencia al contexto y la situación, intentamos mostrar cómo los métodos korczakianos pueden ser utilizados en el mundo contemporáneo mientras se trabaja con niños en circunstancias difíciles para su funcionamiento, particularmente en ambientes cerrados – instituciones educativas, centros de refugiados y campamentos., O texto descreve as abordagens pedagógicas e os métodos de trabalho participativo com as crianças do Lar dos Órfãos de Varsóvia, aplicadas por Janusz Korczak (Henryk Goldszmit). Korczak era um educador polaco de origem judia, médico, ativista pelos direitos das crianças e um autor importante, tanto sobre as crianças como os adultos. A sua pedagogia orientada para a criança está relacionada principalmente com a subjetividade da criança, a agência infantil, os direitos da criança e a sua participação em atividades em prol dos seus direitos no lugar da sua vida quotidiana. É uma abordagem orientada para a criança, baseada no respeito pela mesma e na cooperação dos adultos em associação com as crianças. Através da referência ao contexto e à situação, tentamos mostrar como os métodos korczakianos podem ser usados no mundo atual quando trabalhamos com crianças em circunstâncias difíceis para o seu funcionamento, particularmente em ambientes fechados como instituições educacionais, centros de refugiados e acampamentos.

Vanadium enters mycelium of fungus P. blakesleeanus in both +5 and +4 oxidation states. Mycelium in three stages of growth (20h, 36h and 56h) was treated with three concentrations of V+5 (1, 5 and 10 mM) for 1h or 5h. The decrease in viability of mycelium was noticed only at 36h for all applied concentrations. Glutathione has a role in reduction of V+5 to a less toxic form V+4 , so we assayed the changes in total glutathione. Mycelium in early exponential phase of growth (20 h), after 1h or 5h treatment, showed concentration dependent decrease in glutathione, with the largest decrease of 40±4% after 1h and 22±9% after 5h treatment induced by 10 mM V+5. In stationary phase of growth (56h), changes in glutathione concentration were noticed only after 1h of treatment, and the largest decrease (36±6%) was induced by 1 mM V+5. Activities of glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), have also been examined. Increase in the activities of GPx and GST was noticed in 56h old mycelia treated for 5h with 5 mM and 10 mM V+5, but the only statistically significant increase (54±20%) was noticed in GST activity after 5h of 10 mM V+5 treatment.

Background and purpose: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is an extremely painful condition which can be difficult to diagnose and treat. In Europe, TN patients are managed by many different specialities. Therefore, there is a great need for comprehensive European guidelines for the management of TN. The European Academy of Neurology asked an expert panel to develop recommendations for a series of questions that are essential for daily clinical management of patients with TN. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed and recommendations was developed based on GRADE, where feasible; if not, a good practice statement was given. Results: The use of the most recent classification system is recommended, which diagnoses TN as primary TN, either classical or idiopathic depending on the degree of neurovascular contact, or as secondary TN caused by pathology other than neurovascular contact. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), using a combination of three high-resolution sequences, should be performed as part of the work-up in TN patients, because no clinical characteristics can exclude secondary TN. If MRI is not possible, trigeminal reflexes can be used. Neurovascular contact plays an important role in primary TN, but demonstration of a neurovascular contact should not be used to confirm the diagnosis of TN. Rather, it may help to decide if and when a patient should be referred for microvascular decompression. In acute exacerbations of pain, intravenous infusion of fosphenytoin or lidocaine can be used. For long-term treatment, carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine are recommended as drugs of first choice. Lamotrigine, gabapentin, botulinum toxin type A, pregabalin, baclofen and phenytoin may be used either alone or as add-on therapy. It is recommended that patients should be offered surgery if pain is not sufficiently controlled medically or if medical treatment is poorly tolerated. Microvascular decompression is recommended as first-line surgery in patients with cla

Monika Witusik-Perkowska,1 Magdalena Zakrzewska,2 Dariusz J Jaskolski,3 Pawel P Liberski,2 Janusz Szemraj11Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; 2Department of Molecular Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; 3Department of Neurosurgery and Neurooncology, Medical University of Lodz, Barlicki University Hospital, Lodz, PolandPurpose: The in vitro environment can influence not only the molecular background of glioblastoma drug-resistance and treatment efficiency, but also the mechanisms and pathways of cell death. Both crucial molecular pathways and the deregulation of miRNAs are thought to participate in tumor therapy-resistance. The aim of our study is to examine the potential influence of ex vivo conditions on the expression of miRNAs engaged in the machinery of tumor-drug resistance, since in vitro models are commonly used for testing new therapeutics.Methods: Glioblastoma-derived cells, cultured under three different sets of conditions, were used as experimental models in vitro. The expression of 84 miRNAs relevant to brain tumorigenesis was evaluated by multi-miRNA profiling for initial tumors and their corresponding cultures. Finally, the expression of selected miRNAs related to temozolomide-resistance (miR-125b, miR-130a, miR-21, miR-221, miR-222, miR-31, miR-149, miR-210, miR-181a) was assessed by real-time PCR for each tumor and neoplastic cells in cultures.Results: Our results demonstrate significant discrepancies in the expression of several miRNAs between tumor cells in vivo and in vitro, with miR-130a, miR-221, miR-31, miR-21, miR-222, miR-210 being the most marked. Also differences were observed between particular models in vitro. The results of computational analysis revealed the interplay between examined miRNAs and their targets involved in processes of glioblastoma chemosensitivity, including the genes relevant to temozolomide response (MGMT, PTEN, MDM2, TP53, BBC3A).Conclusion

Successful social interaction relies on the accurate decoding of other peoples' emotional signals, and their contextual integration. However, little is known about how contextual odors may lead to modulation of cortical processing in response to facial expressions. We investigated how unpleasant and pleasant contextual background odors affected emotion perception and cortical event-related potential (ERP) responses to pictures of faces expressing happy, neutral and disgusted facial expressions. Faces were, regardless of expression, rated more positively in the pleasant odor condition and more negatively in the unpleasant odor condition. Faces were overall rated as more emotionally arousing in the presence of an odor, irrespective of its valence. Contextual odors also interacted with facial expressions, such that happy faces were rated as especially non-arousing in the unpleasant odor condition. The early, face-sensitive N170 ERP component also displayed an interaction effect. Here, disgusted faces were affected by the odor context such that the N170 revealed a relatively larger negativity in the context of a pleasant odor compared with an unpleasant odor. There were no odor effects on the responses to faces in other measured ERP components (P1, VPP, P2, and LPP). These results suggest that odors bias socioemotional perception early stages of the visual processing stream. However, effects may vary across emotional expressions and measurements., This work was supported by the Swedish Foundation for Humanities and Social Sciences (M14-0375:1); and Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation (MMW 2014:0178) to JO.

https://doi.org/10.21307/ane-2017-050

Epinephrine (Epi) is a physiologically important catecholamine. Molecular conformation of Epi controls the interactions with other molecules and its biological effects. There have been a number of theoretical studies addressing conformation and hydrogen bonding of Epi in different solvents, but experimental data are scarce. Herein, we applied H-1 NMR, H-1-H-1 COSY, H-1-N-15 HSQC, and NOESY to examine and compare the conformation of Epi in polar solvents-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and water. The main differences were observed for NH2 and CH2 groups. Both showed chemical nonequivalence of protons in DMSO that was not present in water. The analysis of the effects of increasing temperature and solvent substitution on NMR signals showed that one of the protons in amine group forms a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond with aliphatic OH group, which is H-donor in another hydrogen bond with DMSO. NOESY provided data on the spatial positions of protons in the side chain, allowing for 3D model of the structure of Epi in DMSO to be built. In close, Epi molecule forms an additional 5-membered ring that encompasses bifurcate intra-/intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and acquires conformation that resembles the shape of a "scorpion"-the catechol ring representing the body and the side chain being a forward-curved tail. The conformation of Epi in water lacks the intramolecular hydrogen bond and most likely largely depends on hydrogen bonds with water molecules.

Influence of chromium incorporation on structural and optical properties of titanium dioxide nanopowders obtained by flame spray synthesis, FSS is studied by means of: X-ray diffraction, XRD; Raman spectroscopy; transmission electron spectroscopy, TEM; photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS and optical spectrophotometry over the ultraviolet, UV and visible range of the light spectrum from 250 nm to 2200 nm. The specific surface area, SSA, of the powders has been adjusted from 48 m2/g for TiO2 + 0.1at.% Cr to 177 m2/g for TiO2 + 15 at.% Cr which is accompanied by a decrease in the anatase grain size from 21 nm to 5 nm. The anatase-to-rutile ratio changes with Cr3+ concentration but there is no evidence of precipitation of chromium oxides or chromium titanates. Incorporation of Cr3+ into TiO2 lattice, as proved by XPS, is found to affect the electronic structure of TiO2, as indicated by the optical spectrophotometry. The impurity band is formed within the forbidden band gap of titanium dioxide which results in the additional absorption within the visible range of the light spectrum. The general aim of this work is to improve the visible light absorption and hence the efficiency of photocatalytic decomposition of organic contaminants.