scholarly journals Increase of Productivity and Neutralization of Pathological Processes in Plants of Grain and Fruit Crops with the Help of Aqueous Solutions Activated by Plasma of High-Frequency Glow Discharge

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2161
Author(s):  
Yuri K. Danilejko ◽  
Sergey V. Belov ◽  
Alexey B. Egorov ◽  
Vladimir I. Lukanin ◽  
Vladimir A. Sidorov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glow Discharge ◽  
Aqueous Solutions ◽  
Chemical Reactor ◽  
Fruit Crops ◽  
Plasma Chemical Reactor ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Reactor Operating ◽  
Short Time ◽  
First Time ◽  
Positive Effect

In this work, we, for the first time, manufactured a plasma-chemical reactor operating at a frequency of 0.11 MHz. The reactor allows for the activation of large volumes of liquids in a short time. The physicochemical properties of activated liquids (concentration of hydrogen peroxide, nitrate anions, redox potential, electrical conductivity, pH, concentration of dissolved gases) are characterized in detail. Antifungal activity of aqueous solutions activated by a glow discharge has been investigated. It was shown that aqueous solutions activated by a glow discharge significantly reduce the degree of presence of phytopathogens and their effect on the germination of such seeds. Seeds of cereals (sorghum and barley) and fruit (strawberries) crops were studied. The greatest positive effect was found in the treatment of sorghum seeds. Moreover, laboratory tests have shown a significant increase in sorghum drought tolerance. The effectiveness of the use of glow-discharge-activated aqueous solutions was shown during a field experiment, which was set up in the saline semi-desert of the Northern Caspian region. Thus, the technology developed by us makes it possible to carry out the activation of aqueous solutions on an industrial scale. Water activated by a glow discharge exhibits antifungicidal activity and significantly accelerates the development of the grain and fruit crops we studied. In the case of sorghum culture, glow-discharge-activated water significantly increases drought resistance.

scholarly journals New insight on the simultaneous H2 and HNO2 production in concentrated HNO3 aqueous solutions under alpha radiation

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 12141-12152
Author(s):  
Raluca M. Musat ◽  
Jean-Luc Roujou ◽  
Vincent Dauvois ◽  
Muriel Ferry ◽  
Carole Marchand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solutions ◽  
Precise Determination ◽  
Alpha Radiation ◽  
System P ◽  
Set Up ◽  
First Time

For the first time ever, a specially designed set-up, coupled to the CEMHTI cyclotron allowed in situ monitoring of HNO2 and precise determination of H2 production in the external α radiolysis of HNO3 solution, while ensuring no perturbation of the investigated system.

Cobalt/Lewis Acid Catalysis for Hydrocarbofunctionalization of Alkynes via Cooperative C–H Activation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-Sheng Wang ◽  
Sabrina Monaco ◽  
Anh Ngoc Thai ◽  
Md. Shafiqur Rahman ◽  
Chen Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Catalytic System ◽  
Lewis Acid ◽  
Hydrogen Transfer ◽  
Acid Catalysis ◽  
Rate Limiting Step ◽  
Site Selectivity ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Site Selective ◽  
First Time ◽  
Rate Limiting

A catalytic system comprised of a cobalt-diphosphine complex and a Lewis acid (LA) such as AlMe3 has been found to promote hydrocarbofunctionalization reactions of alkynes with Lewis basic and electron-deficient substrates such as formamides, pyridones, pyridines, and azole derivatives through site-selective C-H activation. Compared with known Ni/LA catalytic system for analogous transformations, the present catalytic system not only feature convenient set up using inexpensive and bench-stable precatalyst and ligand such as Co(acac)3 and 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp), but also display distinct site-selectivity toward C-H activation of pyridone and pyridine derivatives. In particular, a completely C4-selective alkenylation of pyridine has been achieved for the first time. Mechanistic stidies including DFT calculations on the Co/Al-catalyzed addition of formamide to alkyne have suggested that the reaction involves cleavage of the carbamoyl C-H bond as the rate-limiting step, which proceeds through a ligand-to-ligand hydrogen transfer (LLHT) mechanism leading to an alkyl(carbamoyl)cobalt intermediate.

Rapid, Refined, and Robust Method for Expression, Purification, and Characterization of Recombinant Human Amyloid-beta M1-42

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Prakash ◽  
Travis Lantz ◽  
Krupal P. Jethava ◽  
Gaurav Chopra
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Beta ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Short Time

Amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients primarily consists of amyloid beta 1-42 (Ab42). Commercially, Ab42 is synthetized using peptide synthesizers. We describe a robust methodology for expression of recombinant human Ab(M1-42) in Rosetta(DE3)pLysS and BL21(DE3)pLysS competent E. coli with refined and rapid analytical purification techniques. The peptide is isolated and purified from the transformed cells using an optimized set-up for reverse-phase HPLC protocol, using commonly available C18 columns, yielding high amounts of peptide (~15-20 mg per 1 L culture) in a short time. The recombinant Ab(M1-42) forms characteristic aggregates similar to synthetic Ab42 aggregates as verified by western blots and atomic force microscopy to warrant future biological use. Our rapid, refined, and robust technique to purify human Ab(M1-42) can be used to synthesize chemical probes for several downstream in vitro and in vivo assays to facilitate AD research.

scholarly journals Environmental Engineering Techniques to Restore Degraded Posidonia oceanica Meadows

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 661
Author(s):  
Luigi Piazzi ◽  
Stefano Acunto ◽  
Francesca Frau ◽  
Fabrizio Atzori ◽  
Maria Francesca Cinti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Environmental Engineering ◽  
Bottom Surface ◽  
Sessile Invertebrates ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Short Time

Seagrass planting techniques have shown to be an effective tool for restoring degraded meadows and ecosystem function. In the Mediterranean Sea, most restoration efforts have been addressed to the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica, but cost-benefit analyses have shown unpromising results. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of environmental engineering techniques generally employed in terrestrial systems to restore the P. oceanica meadows: two different restoration efforts were considered, either exploring non-degradable mats or, for the first time, degradable mats. Both of them provided encouraging results, as the loss of transplanting plots was null or very low and the survival of cuttings stabilized to about 50%. Data collected are to be considered positive as the survived cuttings are enough to allow the future spread of the patches. The utilized techniques provided a cost-effective restoration tool likely affordable for large-scale projects, as the methods allowed to set up a wide bottom surface to restore in a relatively short time without any particular expensive device. Moreover, the mats, comparing with other anchoring methods, enhanced the colonization of other organisms such as macroalgae and sessile invertebrates, contributing to generate a natural habitat.

scholarly journals Efficacy of compressed sodium chloride (CSC) against E. coli and Candida auris in minutes and methods improvement for testing

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan N. Truong ◽  
Brayden D. Whitlock
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Chloride ◽  
Improved Method ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Antimicrobial Surfaces ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Route Of Transmission ◽  
The World ◽  
Short Time ◽  
First Time ◽  
Time Point

AbstractControlling infections has become one of the biggest problems in the world, whether measured in lives lost or money spent. This is worsening as pathogens continue becoming resistant to therapeutics. Antimicrobial surfaces are one strategy being investigated in an attempt to decrease the spread of infections through the most common route of transmission: surfaces, including hands. Regulators have chosen two hours as the time point at which efficacy should be measured. The objectives of this study were to characterize the new antimicrobial surface compressed sodium chloride (CSC) so that its action may be understood at timepoints more relevant to real-time infection control, under two minutes; to develop a sensitive method to test efficacy at short time points; and to investigate antifungal properties for the first time. E. coli and Candida auris are added to surfaces, and the surfaces are monitored by contact plate, or by washing into collection vats. An improved method of testing antimicrobial efficacy is reported. Antimicrobial CSC achieves at least 99.9% reduction of E. coli in the first two minutes of contact, and at least 99% reduction of C. auris in one minute.

scholarly journals Bactericidal activity of three different antiseptic ophthalmic preparations as surgical prophylaxis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Tognetto ◽  
Marco R. Pastore ◽  
Gian Marco Guerin ◽  
Giuliana Decorti ◽  
Martina Franzin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Povidone Iodine ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Viable Cells ◽  
Polyethylene Glycol 1000 ◽  
Oil Concentration ◽  
Short Time ◽  
First Time ◽  
Antiseptic Solutions

Abstract Purpose In the era of antibiotic resistance, there is an increased interest in antiseptic solutions that might represent a reliable option for ocular surface disinfection. The objective of this study is to compare for the first time three different antiseptic ophthalmic preparations to assess their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Methods The antiseptic activity of three commercial ophthalmic solutions, IODIM (povidone-iodine 0.6% in hyaluronic acid vehicle—Medivis, Catania, Italy), OZODROP (nanoemulsion with ozonated oil—concentration not specified—FBVision, Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals, Rome, Italy), and DROPSEPT (chlorhexidine 0.02% and vitamin E 0.5% Tocopherol Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate—TPGS, Sooft Italia, Montegiorgio, Italy), was tested in vitro on six reference strains by time-killing assays. Viable cells were evaluated after 1, 15, 30 min; 2, 6, and 24 h exposure by seeding 100 µl of the suspension (or appropriate dilutions) on LB agar or Sabouraud-dextrose agar. All plates were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h and evaluated by manually counting the colonies. Results IODIM solution showed a very rapid microbicidal activity: the number of viable cells for all the tested strains was under the detection limit (less than 10 CFU/ml) already after 1 min exposure, and this result was maintained at every incubation time. The rapid antimicrobial activity of povidone-iodine was not replicated when testing the other two antiseptics. Conclusions The study reports the great efficacy in reducing bacterial load in a very short time of povidone-iodine 0.6% compared with other antiseptic preparations.

scholarly journals Stay at Home! Governance Quality and Effectiveness of Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Alfano ◽  
Salvatore Ercolano
Keyword(s):  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Considerable Time ◽  
Government Effectiveness ◽  
Governance Indicators ◽  
Regulatory Quality ◽  
Governance Quality ◽  
World Governance Indicators ◽  
Set Up ◽  
First Time

AbstractIn order to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the first wave of the pandemic numerous countries decided to adopt lockdown policies. It had been a considerable time since such measures were last introduced, and the first time that they were implemented on such a global scale in a contemporary, information intensive society. The effectiveness of such measures may depend on how citizens perceive the capacity of government to set up and implement sound policies. Indeed, lockdown and confinement policies in general are binding measures that people are not used to, and which raise serious concerns among the population. For this reason governance quality could affect the perception of the benefits related to the government’s choice to impose lockdown, making citizens more inclined to accept it and restrict their movements. In the present paper we empirically investigate the relation between the efficacy of lockdown and governance quality (measured through World Governance Indicators). Our results suggest that countries with higher levels of government effectiveness, rule of law and regulatory quality reach better results in adopting lockdown measures.

scholarly journals Wheat Bread with Grape Seeds Micropowder: Impact on Dough Rheology and Bread Properties

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-150
Author(s):  
Veronika Valková ◽  
Hana Ďúranová ◽  
Jana Štefániková ◽  
Michal Miškeje ◽  
Marián Tokár ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Flour ◽  
Dough Rheology ◽  
Wheat Bread ◽  
Grape Seeds ◽  
Rheological Analysis ◽  
First Time ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Bread Properties ◽  
Electronic Eye ◽  
Different Levels

AbstractThe current study was designed to enhance the functionality of white bread by replacement of wheat flour with different levels (1%, 2%, 5%, and 8%) of grape seeds micropowder (GSMP) with nanosized particles (10 µm). Chemical composition of GSMP, volume and sensory attributes, evaluated with the panel of evaluators and an electronic nose (e-nose) and an electronic eye (e-eye) were investigated in the tested breads. It has been found out that GSMP contained appreciable amounts of flavonoids including catechin, epicatechin, gallic acid and minerals especially, Ca, K and Mg. The data from rheological analysis showed that the addition of GSMP (mainly at 5% and 8% levels) to the wheat flour had a positive effect on dough manifesting with rheology by increased dough stability. The volume of the experimental breads (above 1% concentration) was demonstrably declined (P < 0.0001) in comparison with the control bread. Sensory rating revealed that the bread fortified with 1% GSMP was judged by the consumer panelists as the most acceptable with the highest scores for all quality attributes which was also confirmed by the data of e-nose and e-eye. Our results suggest for the first time that 1% GSMP addition appears to be a promising functional ingredient to improve bread with required qualitative and sensory properties.

Using the Kalman Filtering for the Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) in the Nonlinear Dynamic Processes

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahya Chetouani
Keyword(s):  
Fault Detection ◽  
Nonlinear Dynamic ◽  
Nonlinear Dynamic System ◽  
Chemical Reactor ◽  
Fault Detection And Isolation ◽  
Decision Threshold ◽  
Normal Behaviour ◽  
Batch Mode ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Reactor Operating

This paper presents a Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) method for stochastic nonlinear dynamic systems. First, the developed fault detection method is based on statistical information generated by the extended Kalman filter (EKF) and is intended to reveal any drift from the normal behaviour of the process. A fault of a chemical origin in a perfectly stirred batch chemical reactor, occurring at an unknown instant, is simulated. The purpose is to detect the presence of this abrupt change, and pinpoint the moment it occurred. It is also shown that the convergence of the EKF is accomplished more or less rapidly according to the nature of the noise generated by the measurement sensors. The state estimate is observed and discussed, as well as the time delay in detection according to the decision threshold. Then, this study shows another method of tackling the problem of the physical origin diagnosis of faults by combining the technique based on the standardized innovations and the technique using the multiple extended Kalman filters for a strongly non-stationary nonlinear dynamic system. The usefulness of this combination is the implementation of all the fault dynamics models if the decision threshold on the standardized innovation exceeds a determined threshold. In the other case, one EKF is enough to estimate all the process state. An algorithm is described and applied to a perfectly stirred chemical reactor operating in a semi-batch mode. The chemical reaction used is an exothermic second order one.

scholarly journals The European TeleCheck-AF project on remote app-based management of atrial fibrillation during the COVID-19 pandemic: centre and patient experiences

EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Gawałko ◽  
David Duncker ◽  
Martin Manninger ◽  
Rachel M J van der Velden ◽  
Astrid N L Hermans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Patient Experiences ◽  
Af Ablation ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
Inclusion Rate ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Short Time

Abstract Aims TeleCheck-AF is a multicentre international project initiated to maintain care delivery for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) during COVID-19 through teleconsultations supported by an on-demand photoplethysmography-based heart rate and rhythm monitoring app (FibriCheck®). We describe the characteristics, inclusion rates, and experiences from participating centres according the TeleCheck-AF infrastructure as well as characteristics and experiences from recruited patients. Methods and results Three surveys exploring centre characteristics (n = 25), centre experiences (n = 23), and patient experiences (n = 826) were completed. Self-reported patient characteristics were obtained from the app. Most centres were academic (64%) and specialized public cardiology/district hospitals (36%). Majority of the centres had AF outpatient clinics (64%) and only 36% had AF ablation clinics. The time required to start patient inclusion and total number of included patients in the project was comparable for centres experienced (56%) or inexperienced in mHealth use. Within 28 weeks, 1930 AF patients were recruited, mainly for remote AF control (31% of patients) and AF ablation follow-up (42%). Average inclusion rate was highest during the lockdown restrictions and reached a steady state at a lower level after easing the restrictions (188 vs. 52 weekly recruited patients). Majority (&gt;80%) of the centres reported no problems during the implementation of the TeleCheck-AF approach. Recruited patients [median age 64 (55–71), 62% male] agreed that the FibriCheck® app was easy to use (94%). Conclusion Despite different health care settings and mobile health experiences, the TeleCheck-AF approach could be set up within an extremely short time and easily used in different European centres during COVID-19.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document