Aging by oxidation of asphalt roadway material promotes changes in its physical, chemical, and rheological properties, affecting its hardening and accelerating the degradation of its corresponding asphalt mixture. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been applied in engineering investigations to promote anti-aging and photocatalytic properties. In this study, a commercial binder was modified with nano-TiO2 (using contents of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 6%). It was evaluated by physicochemical and rheological tests (penetration, softening point, mass loss, dynamic viscosity, rheology, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy—FTIR) before and after aging by rolling thin-film oven test (RTFOT) and pressure aging vessel (PAV). The results indicated that incorporating nano-TiO2 mitigates binder aging, pointing out 0.25% as an optimum modification content for the investigated asphalt binder.

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In this work, the catalytic performance of clinoptilolite (CLIN) and SBA-15 catalysts, doped with Fe and Cu, was evaluated in the selective catalytic reduction of NO using NH3 as a reducing agent (SCR-NH3). Both Cu-CLIN and Fe-CLIN were obtained by ion-exchange using natural clinoptilolite zeolite originating from the Hrabovec deposit (northeast Slovakia region). Cu-SBA-15 and Fe-SBA-15 were prepared by impregnation into SBA-15 mesoporous synthesized silica. Standard catalytic activity tests were carried out on a bench-scale laboratory apparatus using a reaction mixture of a standard test. GHSV of 48,000 h−1 was adopted based on the space velocity of a real NH3-SCR catalyst for diesel vehicles (100–550 °C). All Cu-doped samples showed better NO conversion values than Fe-doped samples. Clinoptilolite catalysts were more active than those based on SBA-15. Maximum NO conversions of about 96% were observed for Cu-CLIN and Fe-CLIN at 350–400 °C, respectively. Moreover, Fe-CLIN also showed higher stability in the presence of SO2 and water steam at 350 °C. These results demonstrate the potential of metal-doped natural clinoptilolite to be used as cost-effective catalysts applied to the abatement of NOx emissions generated in automotive combustion processes.

Many emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic and transmitted by an arthropod vector; thus, the Global One Health perspective is necessary for a better understanding of these diseases. Bartonellosis, one of those emerging infectious diseases, is caused by bacteria of the genus Bartonella, and can have different clinical manifestations in humans and animals. Opossums and their ectoparasites have been linked to human-wildlife conflicts. Knowing this, we aimed to evaluate infection by Bartonella spp. in free-living opossums seized or rescued from Atlantic Forest biome of Rio de Janeiro (southeastern Brazil). Whole blood was obtained from seven Didelphis aurita and eight D. albiventris, and DNA was assessed by conventional and quantitative polymerase chain reactions (PCR and qPCR). Positivity was achieved in 40.0% (PCR) and 46.7% (qPCR) of the samples, revealing, possibly for the first time, the presence of Bartonella spp. DNA in opossums from peri-urban areas of Atlantic Forest biome. Studies should continue, in order to elucidate synanthropic mammals importance in bartonellosis epidemiology.