The method of acoustic spectroscopy is used for the first time for investigating the spectra of ultrasonic attenuation in the range of 3–100 MHz on oriented carbon nanotubes in the stabilized aqueous dispersion. The anisotropy of attenuation of ultrasound manifests itself in a significant distinction between the attenuation spectra for preferential perpendicular and parallel orientation of carbon nanotubes with respect to the wave-propagation direction. A qualitative agreement of the measured-spectra shape with that of the attenuation spectra calculated from the theoretical model is obtained.

A method for measurement of dimensions of platy particles of exfoliating, or delaminating, materials, such as clays, in aqueous suspensions in situ is proposed. Equivalent spherical diameter (esd), measured by many common methods, depends more on the major (lateral) dimension of a particle, while it is less sensitive to changes of the particle thickness. Addition of the second method, results of which are a function of the particle diameter and thickness too, would provide more accurate determination of the particle dimensions. Previously, a combination of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (BET) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) methods for determination of specific surface area of dry powder of platy particles and their esd in suspension was suggested. While such combination was suitable for measurement of particle size for non-exfoliating materials, it gave incorrect results for exfoliating materials, which dramatically change their surface area when dispersed in liquid. We modify this method by substituting BET method with NMR relaxometry, which allows to measure wetted surface area of the dispersed material directly in suspension. The advantages of this method are:•More accurate determination of diameter and thickness of platy, particularly exfoliating, materials directly in suspension.•Possibility of routine monitoring of particle size changes during the dispersing process.

The interaction between Laponite and other constituents in complex systems greatly depends on its available surface area. We report a study of exfoliation dynamics of Laponite in aqueous suspensions by NMR relaxometry. It showed that Laponite particles exfoliate to the same extent in a concentration range of 0.5-3% w/w. Faster increase of specific wetted surface area of Laponite particles in more concentrated suspensions suggests faster exfoliation of disc-shaped Laponite platelets from the initial layered structure.

Ultrasound attenuates when propagating through aqueous dispersions of carbon nanotubes. We established a significant difference in the ultrasound attenuation frequency spectra for the nanotubes oriented either along or across the ultrasound beam. This effect can be used for calculating geometrical and rheological properties of nanofiber materials dispersed in liquids.

The nanodisperse Au/Cе0.72Zr0.18Pr0.1O2 catalysts for low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide were synthesized. The compounds were identified by XRD, XPS, TEM, ISP-MS, and gas chromatography. The samples containing gold nanoparticles obtained by radiation chemical reduction in reverse micellar dispersion exhibited higher activity than the catalysts obtained by deposition-precipitation (DP) despite the higher content of the active component.

The properties of Josephson junctions with a barrier made of a PdFe weakly ferromagnetic alloy with an iron content of about 1 at % have been studied. It has been shown that this alloy is a weak ferromagnet with a Curie temperature of 10–15 K in the required thickness range of 30–50 nm. The effect of the domain structure and magnetic prehistory of the ferromagnetic barrier on the critical current of a junction and the form of the Josephson characteristics has been demonstrated. The application of these junctions as magnetic switches has been proposed.

The unified description of locomotions for the differently walking animals is developed. This description is based on a simplified picture of one row of the ipsilateral legs and is called "the locomotor system configuration". A comparative analysis of kinematic characteristics of the leg movements in the locomotion process of two species of the Crimean millipedes, Pachijulus flavipes (Diplopoda) and Scolopendra cingulata (Chilopoda), is made using this picture. Although visible manifestations of locomotor coordinations in these millipedes are much different, their locomotions are shown to be organized quite similarly at the functional level. The Scolopendra always walks on the ground "footprint into footprint", which means that the footprint "typed" on the ground by the first (or one of the first from the head) leg is consecutively stepped by all subsequent ipsilateral legs one after another through intervals of phase delay. The same kinematic principle of "walking footprint into footprint" is used by the Pachijulus, though not in support phases (on the ground) but in the return phases of legs (in the air). If one represents these millipedes as the schemes corresponding to their locomotor configurations, then it is sufficient to turn the Scolopendra's locomotor configuration "on the back" to receive the Pachijulus locomotor configuration, and vice versa. Such kinematic identity of the locomotor organizations in taxonomically distant animals raises new questions about the evolution of the locomotor programs.

The spatiotemporal parameters of leg movement in Scolopendra instantly changing the locomotion speed from V 1 to V 2 ≠ V 1 are investigated. It is shown that (i) the principle of “in trail” leg placement is kept upon a change of speed; (ii) the continuity of the metachronal coordination is not disturbed; but (iii) for some time after changing speed the set of ipsilateral legs comprises (a) head-proximal legs creating a new trackway of steps with pace ℓ2, and (b) distal legs still using the old trackway with pace ℓ1. The two groups differ in kinematic parameters. Group (a) works in the stationary mode corresponding to speed V 2, while group (b) works in a transitory mode. Consecutively, with a metachronal wave propagating backwards along the body but immobile relative to the ground, more and more legs from group (b) switch to the new stationary mode.