Conversion of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in mitigating pollution of water bodies is of significant importance to public health due to the fact that Cr(VI) is known to be a potent carcinogen, while Cr(III) is relatively low in toxicity. Photocatalytic approaches are considered as important means to achieve this reduction. Here, TiO2/SnS2 core-shell nanostructures have been produced using a single-step hydrothermal method and its photocatalytic activity is tested for the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI). The structural and optical properties of the as-synthesized products are characterized by XRD, HRTEM, Raman, FTIR, XPS and DRS techniques. The present work reveals that by calcining the core-shell nanoparticles in Ar atmosphere a defective Ti3O5 phase is formed as the core with low band gap, and hence, offers improved light absorption in the visible range. However, its photoactivity was found to be lower than that of the core-shell nanoparticles annealed in oxidizing atmosphere. The observed lower photoreduction was due to the presence of midgap states which acted as recombination centres and hence, reduced the photocatalytic activity.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a physical fitness intervention program within a physical education class on selected health-related fitness components among Malaysian secondary school girls. A quasi-experimental design was adopted for the study. Two schools in a district were randomly selected. In each school, two classes were randomly assigned intact to the experimental group (n = 48), and the other was the control group (n = 38). Pretest data were collected on cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and muscular strength. The experimental and the control groups underwent regular physical education classes twice a week for ten weeks. Apart from the regular physical education classes, the experimental group underwent the treatment of four exercises in form of a circuit immediately after the warm-up session. After ten weeks, posttest data were collected. ANCOVA indicated that there was a main effect in cardiovascular endurance F (1, 83) = 44.69, p < .05 and for flexibility F(1,83) = 46.80, p < .05. As for muscular strength, the result was not significant F (1,83) = 3.54, p>.05. The results indicate that a ten-week physical fitness program within the physical education class was effective in enhancing cardiovascular endurance and flexibility among Malaysian secondary school girls.Key words: cardiovascular endurance; flexibility; muscle strength; physical inactivity; secondary school girls.---Sažetak Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je proučiti utjecaj programa interventnog vježbanja u nastavi tjelesnog odgoja na određene komponente zdravstvene-tjelesne spremnosti među srednjoškolkama u Maleziji. U istraživanju smo se koristili kvazieksperimentalnom metodom.  Istraživanje je obuhvatilo dvije nasumce odabrane škole u okrugu. U svakoj su školi nasumce odabrana dva cjelokupna razreda od kojih je jedan razred označen kao eksperimentalna skupina (n = 48), a drugi kao kontrolna skupina (n = 38). Predtestom su dobiveni podaci vezani uz kardiovaskularnu izdržljivost, fleksibilnost i mišićnu snagu. Eksperimentalna i kontrolna skupina bile su deset tjedana podvrgnute redovnoj nastavi tjelesnog odgoja dva puta tjedno. Uz redovnu nastavu tjelesnog odgoja eksperimentalna skupina bila je podvrgnuta tretmanu od četiri vježbe po stanicama u krugu odmah nakon uvodnog dijela sata – zagrijavanja. Nakon deset tjedana dobiveni su rezultati posttesta. ANCOVA je pokazala da su posljedice vidljive u kardiovaskularnoj izdržljivosti F(1, 83) = 44,69, p < ,05 i fleksibilnosti F(1,83) = 46,80, p < ,05. Što se tiče mišićne snage, rezultat nije bio značajan F(1,83) = 3,54, p> ,05. Rezultati ukazuju na to da je 10-tjedni program interventnog vježbanja u redovitoj nastavi tjelesnog odgoja pridonio poboljšanju kardiovaskularne izdržljivosti i fleksibilnosti među malezijskim srednjoškolkama.Ključne riječi: kardiovaskularna izdržljivost; fleksibilnost; mišićna snaga; fizička izdržljivost; srednjoškolke