A hydrophilic silica-based stationary phase with surface bound N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc-silica) was prepared in house and characterized physically via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and chromatographically over a wide range of mobile phase compositions. While both FTIR and TGA confirmed the attachment of the GlcNAc ligands to the silica surface, the chromatographic evaluation of the GlcNAc-silica with polar and slightly polar standard solutes (e.g., sugars, nucleic acid fragments, phenolic and benzoic acid derivatives) yielded the typical hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) behaviors in the sense that retention increased with increased solute’s polarity and the organic content (i.e., acetonitrile) of the hydro-organic mobile phase (i.e., ACN-rich mobile phase). Sugars derivatized with 1-naphthylamine (1-NA) and 2-aminoanthrcene (2-AA) such as xylose, glucose and short chains maltooligosaccharides constituted the most polar species for HILIC retention evaluation, and in addition the maltooligosaccharides offered a polar homologous series for gauging the hydrophilicity of the GlcNAc-silica in analogy with alkylbenzene homologous series and other nonpolar homologous for evaluating the hydrophobicity of non-polar stationary phases. On the other hand, the benzoic acid and phenolic acid derivatives were the probe solutes for evaluating the HILIC retention dependence of ionizable solutes on the pH of the mobile phase. Similarly, the nucleobase and nucleoside weak basic solutes as well as some typical cyclic nucleotide acidic solutes allowed the examination of the dependence of solute retention on the pH of the mobile as well as the polarity of the species.

Chemical flooding is one of the effective methods to recover large volumes of oil from sandstone formations after primary depletion. However, silica dissolution often occurs during Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) flooding, affecting the petro-physical properties of the formation. To address this issue, samples from Berea sandstone formations were treated with various brine solutions, through static tube tests and core flooding experiments. Analytical tests such as DR/2800 spectrophotometer and scanning electron microscope were used to evaluate the silica solubility and the alteration in mineral content. The results indicated that the silicate contents decreased after the saturation due to silica solubility in the solution. Increasing brine salinity to 40,000ppm and introducing Magnesium and Calcium ions to the solution, reduces the silicate contents by 5.03 % and 7.32 %. Moreover, saturating the samples with ASP solution, further reduced the silicate contents by 14.86 %. This reduction is associated with a relative increase in silica solubility and pH of the solution. Silica dissolution affects the pore microstructure, which resulted in increasing the porosity and pore volume after the core flooding. The injection of the ASP solution increased the porosity by 5.83%, thus the pore volume increased from 17.72 to 18.76cc. This is associated with the high silica solubility and the increase of solution pH in the ASP solution. The permeability of the samples generally reduced after the core flooding, due to the silica solubility. However, injecting the ASP solution, resulted in a major reduction of the permeability by more than 75%. These changes in the petro-physical properties can lead to severe formation damage, and affect hydrocarbon production. This study assists in understanding the impact of silica dissolution during ASP treatment and addresses the factors involved. Efficient utilization of chemical flooding can help mitigating silicate scaling within the formation, and extend field productivity.

Fish oil rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), vitamin D₃ and natural astaxanthin sustainably extracted from anchovy fillet leftovers using biobased limonene only, can be conveniently stabilized by adsorption on periodic mesoporous silicas. The simplicity of the process, the high load of entrapped fish oil, and the biocompatible nature of silica support numerous forthcoming applications of this new class of “Omeg@Silica” materials.

As the major greenhouse gas, CO2 gas emission has been noticeably increased over the past decades resulting in global warming and climate change. As a result, it is imperative to reduce the excess CO2 in the atmosphere to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C (ideally 1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels set by the Paris Agreement on climate change. Among many ways, CO2 capture technology is considered as the most promising technology among the available technologies. Porous materials such as carbons, silica, zeolites, hollow fibers, and alumina are widely used as CO2 sorbents. However, among the available porous sloid sorbents, porous silica-based materials grabbed a significant attention due to their unique properties including high surface area, pore volume, good thermal and mechanical stability, and low cost. Therefore, development of porous silica materials as a promising CO2 absorbent is a continuously expanding research area in the current moment. Herein, we aim to visualize a full picture of the porous silica-based materials for CO2 capture. This review presents a comprehensive study of existing CO2 capture techniques and highlights the recent progress of different porous silica materials and synthesis processes. CO2 adsorption capacities of unmodified porous silica materials are less effective as compared with functionalized silica materials. Various research activities have been reported about functionalization of pours silica using amine groups. Therefore, in this review, different synthesis routes of amine-functionalized porous silica materials, CO2 adsorption capacities, gas selectivity and reusability were discussed. Moreover, the research challenges associated with the porous silica materials and future research directions are summarized.

Let R be a commutative ring and m, n be positive integers. We define a proper submodule N of an R-module M to be (m,n)-closed if for r∈R and b∈M, r^{m}b∈N implies rⁿ∈(N:_{R}M) or b∈N. This class of submodules lies properly between the classes of prime and primary submodules. Many characterizations, properties and supporting examples concerning this class of submodules are provided. The notion of (m,n)-modules is introduced and characterized. Furhermore, the (m,n)-closed avoidance theorem is proved. Finally, the (m,n)-closed submodules in amalgamated modules are studied.

The composites of heteropolyacids (H3PW12, H3PMo12) incorporated into amine-functionalized silica materials, were used for the first time as heterogeneous catalysts in the valorisation of glycerol (a large waste from biodiesel industry) by acetalization reaction with acetone. The polyoxotungstate catalyst H3PW12@AptesSBA-15 presented higher catalytic efficiency than the phosphomolybdate, with 97% of conversion with 97% of solketal selectivity, after 60 min at 25 °C, or 91% of glycerol conversion and the same selectivity, after 5 min, performing the reaction at 60 ºC. A relation of catalytic performance and acidity of the catalyst is here presented. Furthermore, the stability of the solid catalyst was investigated and discussed.

Mineral surfaces have been demonstrated to play a central role in prebiotic reaction, which are supposed to be at the basis of the origin of life. Among the various molecules proposed as precursors for these reactions, one of the most interesting is formamide. Formamide has been shown to be a pluripotent molecule, generating a wide distribution of relevant pre-biotic products. In particular, the outcomes of its reactivity are strongly related to the presence of mineral phases, acting as catalysts toward specific reaction pathways. Even if the mineral-products relationship has been deeply studied for a large pool of materials, the fundamental description of the formamide reactivity over the mineral surface at a microscopic level is missing in the literature. In particular, a key step of formamide chemistry at surfaces is its adsorption on the available interaction sites. This report aims to investigate the adsorption of formamide over a well-defined amorphous silica, chosen as model mineral surface. An experimental IR investigation of formamide adsorption has been carried out and its outcomes have been interpreted on the basis of first principles simulation of the process adopting a realistic model of the amorphous silica.

Nowadays, the study of preparing silica/rubber composites, which can be used in “green tire”, in energy saving method is fast-growing. In our work, silica modified by using alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO) and 3-Mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (K-MEPTS) together were investigated. Thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA) result indicated that both AEO and K-MEPTS could be grafted on the silica surface. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the AEO could generate a certain steric hindrance for the mercaptopropyl group on K-MEPTS. Silica modified by using AEO and K-MEPTS together can be completely co-coagulated with the rubber in preparing silica/natural rubber (NR) composites by latex compounding method. AEO can form a physical interface between silica and rubber; meanwhile, K-MEPTS can form a chemical interface between silica and rubber. The effects of chemical and physical interface between silica and rubber on dynamic and mechanical performances of silica/NR composites were also given in this research. A proper combination of physical and chemical interface between silica and NR can improve performances of silica/NR composites.

A series of novel N-n-butyl-1,8-naphthalimide derivatives were synthesized via a three-step reaction involving nucleophilic substitution and acylation. All of the compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS, and elemental analysis, and the crystal structure of N-n-butyl-4-[N’,N’-bis(2`,4`-dichlorobenzoyl)ethylamino]-1,8-naphthalimide was determined. The π-π stacking interactions and hydrogen bonds between the two molecular core planes (naphthalimide ring) and the van der Waals forces between the flexible n-butyl groups resulted in a 3D long-chain structure. The UV-vis and fluorescence properties of the title compounds were investigated. The results indicated that the monosubstituted 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives bearing an electron-donating group on the benzene ring or a structure with a larger conjugative effect exhibited enhanced fluorescence properties.

Let R be a commutative ring with identity and m, n be positive integers. In this paper, we introduce the class of (m,n)-prime ideals which lies properly between the classes of prime and (m,n)-closed ideals. A proper ideal I of R is called (m,n)-prime if for a,b∈R, a^{m}b∈I implies either aⁿ∈I or b∈I. Several characterizations of this new class with many examples are given. Analougus to primary decomposition, we define the (m,n)-decomposition of ideals and show that every ideal in an n-Noetherian ring has an (m,n)-decomposition. Furthermore, the (m,n)-prime avoidance theorem is proved.

Elevated antimony concentrations in aqueous environments from anthropogenic sources is becoming of global concern, here iron oxides are known to strongly adsorb aqueous antimony species with different oxidation states, but the effect of silica on the removal characteristics is not well understood despite being a common component in the environment. In this study, ferrihydrite was synthesized at various Si/Fe molar ratios to investigate its adsorption and co-precipitation behaviors with aqueous antimony anionic species, Sb(III) and Sb(V). The XRD analyses of the precipitates showed two broad diffraction features at approximately 35° and 62° 2θ, which are characteristic of 2-line ferrihydrite, no significant shifts in peak positions in the ferrihydrite regardless of the Si/Fe ratios. The infrared spectra showed a sharp band at ~990 cm⁻¹, corresponding to asymmetric stretching vibrations of Si-O-Fe bonds which increased in intensity with increasing Si/Fe molar ratios. Further, the surface charge on the precipitates became more negative with increasing Si/Fe molar ratios. The adsorption experiments indicated that Sb(V) was preferentially adsorbed at acidic conditions and decreased dramatically with increasing pH while the adsorption rate of Sb(III) ions was independent of pH, however, the presence of silica suppressed the adsorption of both Sb(III) and Sb(V) ions. The results showed that Sb(III) and Sb(V) ions were significantly inhibited by co-precipitation with ferrihydrite even in the presence of silica by isomorphous substitution in the ferrihydrite crystal structure.

Along with the familiar Rossby–Haurwitz waves, two-dimensional flows on the surface of a rotating sphere in the regime of zonostrophic turbulence harbour another class of waves known as zonons. Zonons are wave packets produced by energetic large-scale Rossby–Haurwitz wave modes `enslaving’ other wave modes. They propagate westward with the phase speed of the enslaving modes. Zonons can be visualized as enslaving modes’ `ringing’ in the enslaved ones with the frequencies of the former, the property that renders zonons non-dispersive. Zonons reside in high-shear regions confined between the opposing zonal jets yet they are mainly attached to westward jets and sustained by the ensuing barotropic instability. They exchange energy with the mean flow while preserving their identity in a fully turbulent environment, a feature characteristic of solitary waves. The goal of this study is to deepen our understanding of zonons’ physics using direct numerical simulations, a weakly non-linear theory, and asymptotic analysis, and ascertain that zonons are indeed isomorphic to solitary waves in the Korteweg - de Vries framework. Having this isomorphism established, the analysis is extended to eddies detected in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn based upon the observed mean zonal velocity profiles and earlier findings that circulations on both planets obey the regime of zonostrophic macroturbulence. Not only the analysis confirms that many eddies and eddy trains on both giant planets indeed possess properties of zonons, but the theory also correctly predicts latitudinal bands that confine zonal trajectories of the eddies.

Wobbling motion as an exotic collective mode in nuclei without axial symmetry, was intensively discussed during the last few years. The observation of the newly proposed transverse wobbling, first reported in $^{135}$Pr and soon after in nuclei from other mass regions, was considered as a significant discovery in low-spin nuclear structure. However, both the reported experimental results and the proposed theoretical models were lively questioned in a series of works devoted to the investigation of the low-spin wobbling mode in the same nucleus. The electromagnetic properties of the $\Delta I=1$ transitions connecting the one- to zero-phonon and the two- to one-phonon wobbling bands in $^{135}$Pr were recently remeasured, demonstrating their predominant $M1$ magnetic character which is in contradiction with the wobbling motion interpretation. These new experimental observables being well reproduced by both quasiparticle-plus-triaxial-rotor model and interacting boson-fermion model calculations, are against the previously proposed wobbling characteristics of the low-spin bands in $^{135}$Pr. On the other hand, we obtained conclusive experimental evidence for the theoretically suggested transverse wobbling bands at medium spin in $^{136}$Nd. The comparison of the experimental data with calculations utilizing the triaxial projected shell model and a new developed particle-rotor model with frozen orthogonal geometry of the active nucleons, supports the description in terms of transverse wobbling of medium-spin bands in triaxial even-even nuclei.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising solution to tackle bacterial infections and combat antibiotic resistance. However, their clinical application has been hindered by their vulnerability to protease degradation and toxicity towards mammalian cells. To overcome these challenges, our study aims to develop a method to enhance the stability and safety of AMPs, applicable to effective drug-device combination products. KR12 antimicrobial peptide was chosen and in order to further enhance its delivery and efficacy, HIV TAT protein-derived cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) was fused to form CPP-KR12. A new product, CPP-KR12@Si, was developed by forming silica nanoparticles with self-entrapped CPP-KR12 peptide using the biomimetic silica precipitability due to its cationic nature. Peptide delivery from CPP-KR12@Si to bacteria and cells was delivered at a slightly delayed rate with improved stability against trypsin treatment and a reduction in cytotoxicity over CPP-KR12. Finally, the antimicrobial potential of CPP-KR12@Si/bone graft substitute (BGS) combination product was demonstrated, which is coated with CPP-KR12 in the form of nanoparticles on the surface of BGS. Self-entrapped AMP in silica nanoparticles is a safe and effective AMP delivery method that will be useful for developing a drug/device combination product for tissue regeneration.

Marine sponges, a well documented prolific source of natural products, harbors numerous microbial communities believed to possess N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) mediated Quorum sensing (QS) as one of the mechanisms of interaction. Bacteria and eukaryotic organisms are known to produce molecules that can interfere with QS signaling, thus affecting microbial genetic regulation and function. In the present study, we established the potential for production of both QS signal molecules as well as QS interfering molecules (QSI) in the same sponge species Sarcotragus spinosulus. A total of eighteen saturated acyl chain AHLs were identified along with six putative unsaturated acyl chain AHLs. Bioassay guided purification led to the isolation of two brominated metabolites with QS-interfering activity. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by comparative spectral analysis of 1HNMR and HR-MS data and was identified as 3-Br-N-methyltyramine (1) and 5,6-dibromo-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (2). The QSI activity of compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated using reporter gene assays for long- and short-chain signals (E. coli pSB1075 and E. coli pSB401) and was confirmed by measuring dose dependent inhibition of proteolytic activity and pyocyanin production in P. aeruginosa PAO1. The obtained results showed the co-existence of QS and QSI in S. spinosulus, a complex network which may mediate the orchestrated function of the microbiome within the sponge holobiont.

Single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) has been used for particle size measurement of diverse types of individual nanoparticles and micrometer-sized carbon-based particles, such as microplastics. However, its applicability to the measurement of micrometer-sized non-carbon-based particles such as silica (SiO2) is unclear. In this study, the applicability of spICP-MS to particle size measurement of non-porous/mesoporous SiO2 micro-spheres with a nominal diameter of 5.0 µm or smaller was investigated. Particle sizes of these microspheres were measured using both spICP-MS based on a conventional calibration approach using an ion standard solution and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as a reference technique and the results were compared. The particle size distributions obtained using both techniques were in agreement within analytical uncertainty. The applicability of this technique to the detection of metal-containing protein-binding mesoporous SiO2 microspheres was also investigated. Bound iron (Fe)-containing proteins (i.e., lactoferrin and transferrin) of mesoporous SiO2 microspheres were detected using Fe as a presence marker for the proteins. Thus, spICP-MS is applicable to the particle size measurement of large-sized and non-porous/mesoporous SiO2 microspheres; it has considerable potential for element-based detection and qualification of bound proteins of mes-oporous SiO2 microspheres in a variety of applications.

In this work, a novel heterojunction based on ZnSnO3/ZnO nanofibers was prepared using electrospinning method. The crystal, structural and surface compositional properties of sample based on ZnSnO3 and ZnSnO3/ZnO composite nanofibers were investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). Compared to pure ZnSnO3 nanofibers, the ZnSnO3/ZnO heterostructure nanofibers display high sensitivity and selectivity response with fast response towards ethanol gas at low operational temperature. The sensitivity response of sensor based on ZnSnO3/ZnO composite nanofibers were 19.6 towards 50 ppm ethanol gas at 225°C, which was about 1.5 times superior than that of pure ZnSnO3 nanofibers, which can be owed mainly to the presence of oxygen vacancies and the synergistic effect between ZnSnO3 and ZnO.

Monodisperse and semi-facetted ultra-small templated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (US-MSN) of 20-25 nm were synthesized using a short-time hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) at room temperature followed by a dilution for nucleation quenching. According to dynamic light scattering (DLS), a two-step pH adjustment was necessary for growth termination and colloidal stabilization. The pore size was controlled by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the tiny amount of neutral surfactant F127 was added for minimizing the coalescence between US-MSN and favoring the transition towards internal ordering. Flocculation eventually occured allowing to harvest a powder by centrifugation ( 60% silica yield after one month). The scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and 3D high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (3D-HR-TEM) images revealed that the US-MSNs are partially ordered. The 2D FT transmorm images evidences the coexistance of four, five and sixfold patterns characterizing an “on-the-edge” crystallization step between amorphous raspberry and hexagonal pore array morphologies, typical of a protocrystalline state. Calcination preserved this state and yields a powder characterized by a packing developping a hierarchical porosity centered at 3.9 ± 0.2 (internal pores) and 68 ± 7 nm (packing voids) of high potential as support for separation and catalysis.

This study reports the preparation of silica and nano-fructosome encapsulated Candida antarctica lipase B particles (CalB@NF@SiO2) and demonstration of their enzymatic hydrolysis and acylation. CalB@NF@SiO2 particles were prepared as a function of TEOS concentration (3-100 mM). Their mean particle size was 185 nm by TEM. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed to compare catalytic efficiencies of CalB@NF and CalB@NF@SiO2. Catalytic constants (Km, Vmax, and Kcat) of CalB@NF and CalB@NF@SiO2 were calculated with Michaelis-Menten equation and Line-weaver Burk plot. Optimal stability of CalB@NF@SiO2 was found at pH 8 and temperature of 35 ℃. Moreover, CalB@NF@SiO2 particles were reused for seven cycles to evaluate their reusability. In addition, enzymatic synthesis of benzyl benzoate was demonstrated by an acylation reaction with benzoic anhydride. The efficiency of CalB@NF@SiO2 for converting benzoic anhydride to benzyl benzoate by the acylation reaction was 97%, indicating that benzoic anhydride was almost completely converted to benzyl benzoate. Consequently, CalB@NF@SiO2 particles are better than CalB@NF particles for enzymatic synthesis. In addition, they are reusable with high stability at optimal pH and temperature.

Major progress in the field of regenerative medicine are expected from the design of artificial scaffolds that mimic both the structural and functional properties of the ECM. The bionanocomposites approach is particularly well fitted to meet this challenge as it can combine ECM-based matrices and colloidal carriers of biological cues that regulate cell behavior. Here we have prepared bionanocomposites under high magnetic field from Tilapia fish scale collagen and multifunctional silica nanoparticles (SiNPs). We show that scaffolding cues (collagen), multiple display of signaling peptides (SiNPs) and control over the global structuration (magnetic field) can be combined into a unique bionanocomposite for the engineering of biomaterials with improved cell performances.

Heavy metals are non-biodegradable and have a high toxicity effect to living things which makes their presence in the environment extremely dangerous. The method of handling heavy metals waste by photocatalysis techniques using TiO2/SiO2 composite showed a good performance in reducing harmful pollutants. In this study, SiO2 from Bengkulu beach sand was used as a support material for TiO2 photocatalyst to reduce Cr(VI) and Pb(II) concentrations. SiO2 was obtained through leaching techniques using NaOH as a solvent. The TiO2/SiO2 composite photocatalyst were synthesized using a solvothermal method at 130 °C and then characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM and PSA. Based on the XRD diffractogram, the synthesized TiO2 showed the anatase structure while the SiO2 showed the amorphous structure. Ti-O-Si bond is defined in the IR spectra, which indicates that the relationship between TiO2 and SiO2 is a chemical interaction. The results of SEM and PSA characterizations show agglomerated spherical (round) particles with a mean particle size of 616.9 nm. The TiO2/SiO2 composite of 7:1 ratio showed the highest photocatalytic activity after 180 minutes of UV irradiation, with a concentration-decrease percentage of 93.77% and 93.55% for for Cr(VI) and Pb(II), respectively.

The present contribution is focused on the relation preparation – structure – optical properties of hybrid silica and zirconia powders containing Eu(III) complexes: [Eu(ntac)₃][pphendcn] and [Eu(phen)₂](NO₃)₃. Methods for functionalization of silica and zirconia microparticles, based on adsorption of 1,10-phenantroline and [Eu(ntac)₃][pphendcn], and doping with [Eu(phen)₂](NO₃)₃ nanoparticles are proposed to obtain of red emitting hybrid composites with quantum efficiency 20 – 50 %. The optical properties of rare earth ions incorporated in silica and zirconia composites are used to explore the site symmetry (D₂, C_2v or lower) of the Eu³⁺ optical centers in the hybrid composites. Quantum yields of the investigated sol-gel micropowders and quantification of their optical spectra are presented.

Herein, two title compounds, N-Benzoyl-N’-4-cyanophenyl thiourea (I) and N-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-N’-4-cyanophenyl thiourea (II) were synthesized in high yield, via aroyl isocyanate and 4-aminobenzonitrile. The structure of the prepared compounds was characterized by elementary analysis and FT-IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) experiments were performed with glassy carbon electrode. The reduction potential values of different functional group such as nitro, cyano in title compounds were investigated using CV curves.

An extensive thermodynamic study of N-methylformamide (CAS RN: 123-39-7) and N,N-dimethylformamide (CAS RN: 68-12-2), is presented in this work. The liquid heat capacities of N-methylformamide were measured by Tian–Calvet calorimetry in the temperature interval (250 – 300) K. The vapor pressures for N-methylformamide and N,N-dimethylformamide were measured using static method in the temperature range 238 K to 308 K. The ideal-gas thermo-dynamic properties were calculated using a combination of the density functional theory (DFT) and statistical thermodynamics. A consistent thermodynamic description was developed using the method of simultaneous correlation, where the experimental and selected titerature data for vapor pressures, vaporization enthalpies, and liquid phase heat capacities and calculated ide-al-gas heat capacities are treated together to ensure overall thermodynamic consistency of the results. Resulting vapor pressure equation is valid from the triple point to the normal boiling point temperature.

This paper presents a theory on graph topological structure and graph coloring, proving that for any N-order graph structure (with a topological structure similar to ), the maximum number of colors required for coloring is less than or equal to . The Four Color Theorem is just one special case of this theory, with the maximum structure size for a four-color graph being a 4-order structure graph, hence requiring only a maximum of 4 colors for coloring.

Background: When homeostasis is disturbed it can occur a pathological event named inflammation. The main drugs used in the treatment consist of the non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, the side effects remain an obstacle during the treatments. In this work we aimed to evaluate three new regioisomers analogues of naphthyl-N-acylhydrazone derivatives. Methods: Acute models of inflammation in vivo (formalin-induced licking and carrageenan-induced inflammation) as well as in vitro were used to evaluate the effects of LASSBio-2039, LASSBio-2040, and LASSBio-2041. Results: All three substances (at 1, 10 or 30 µmol/kg) presented significant effect in the in vivo model reducing leukocyte migration, nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-1β production. It was observed that only LASSBio-2039 significantly reduced cell migration in vitro. None of the LASSBios did affect inducible nitric oxide synthase activity nor presented NO scavenger effect. It was not observed any toxic effect neither in vivo nor in vitro. The new regioisomers analogues of naphthyl-N-acylhydrazone derivatives presented a significant anti-inflammatory activity suggesting LASSBio-2039 with a direct effect in leukocytes migratory capacity. Conclusions: Taken together the data indicate that these substances present promising effect for de development a prototype for new drugs.

This paper summarizes some works exploiting the ate-type addition of electron-withdrawing monomers to hydrogenosiloxane groups so as to generate new silicone materials. Two types of monomers were oligomerized onto silicone backbones, namely unsaturated phosphonate and sulfone monomers. Phosphonated silicones are thermally more resistant than conventional silicones and can be transformed into amphiphilic polymers after selective ester hydrolysis. Sulfoned silicones generate solid supramolecular elastomers thanks to the strong pseudo-ionic interactions in play between sulfone groups. Rheology and modulated DSC show a solid/viscoelastic transition around 175°C, which allows using these thermoplastic materials on a larger scale than conventional silicone urea copolymers. These results open new avenues in the generation of silicone block- and grafted-copolymers with unique functionality and properties.

The practical application of a pH-responsive Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System (NDDS) in cancer treatment is often hampered by several issues such as the protection of therapeutic molecules from external stresses, inefficient targeted delivery, sustained drug release, and poor efficacy. This study presents an effective design strategy for the synthesis of a pH-sensitive controlled hydrophobic drug delivery method based on the formulation of chitosan (CS)-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) through the sol-gel method, where hydrolysis takes place in the acidic medium followed by polycondensation of the hydrolyzed products. For this purpose, NH2 modified-MSNs were prepared by using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as precursor and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template, and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) for amine modification, followed by hydrophobic drug loading and CS coating of various concentrations. Camptothecin (CPT) was used as a model drug. Fabricated monodispersed functionalized nanoparticles had sizes ranging from 200nm to 245nm with an encapsulation efficiency as high as 90%. The highest encapsulation efficiency was found for 1% CS coating, which released 50% drug in 120h at pH 6.4 and 20% at pH 7.4 respectively. These nanoformulations exhibited pH-responsive release patterns of CPT under two different pH values (pH=7.4 and pH=6.4). These results contribute to the optimization of NDDS, with potential implications for nanoformulations designed for controlled and sustained drug release particularly to tumors without affecting healthy cells owing to differences in the pH of the tumor microenvironment and the normal physiological environment of cells.

This study aims to formulate binary cementitious systems containing silica fume (SF) and micro quartz (MQ) to improve cementitious concrete's durability and mechanical properties. In this investigation, we examined the effects of different essential variables, such as the level of SF and MQ replacement and the ratio of the water-binder (w/b). In this study, the w/b ratios were 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, and 0.4. Replacement levels for SF were 8, 10, and 12%, while replacement levels for MQ were 5, 8, 10, 15, 25, and 35%. The porosity and permeability decreased with an increase in replacement levels, regardless of the type of fine material used or the amount of replacement. Meanwhile, the strength increased markedly with SF replacement, reaching its maximum MQ of 25% at the SF level. The strength of the SF mixing was the highest in all mixes, and it remained the highest until 15% of MQ was replaced. The ultrafine size of MQ particles contributes to the improvement of compressive strength, porosity, and permeability in a similar way to SF particles, despite their high crystalline structure. Furthermore, in this study, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to verify the influence of each variable on the studied response.

The one pot hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation reaction of maltose to 2 moles of sorbitol has been carried out over different supported Cu catalysts in water at 180°C and 40 bar of H2. Only the catalysts supported on silicas were found to be effective in this reaction giving up to 86% yield in the desired product while the bare supports and the catalysts supported on alumina or silica alumina gave messy reactions. The peculiar activity of the two Cu/Silica systems tested was ascribed to high metal dispersion and suitable polarity of the catalyst surface. The reduced catalyst, exposing metallic Cu particles on the surface, showed unusual stability in the presence of water as a solvent and could be reused several times without any treatment.

Nanomaterials exhibit novel properties and profound attributes as an additive in asphalt binder modification. However, the application of nano-silica in asphalt binders and mixture modification is still limited and further research is required. Along these lines, in this work, nano-silica with a content from 2% to 8% and an increment of 2% were utilized in modifying the bitumen binder type C320, which is considered the most conventional type of bitumen used in Western Australia road asphalt mixtures. Various tests were performed to assess their properties including dynamic shear rheometer, penetration, softening point, and multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test. The extracted results revealed an increase in the strength and stiffness properties by lowering the penetration, improving the softening point, and increasing the complex shear modulus of all nano-silica modified bitumen samples. Interestingly, a relatively big content of nano-silica leads to a higher rutting resistance. Nevertheless, the rutting resistance was affected by the size of the nano-silica coated with the silane coupling agent. The ideal sample of nano-silica modified C320 was determined as NS-15nm (NS-A), which can improve the rutting resistance. Nevertheless, the rutting resistance of the modified asphalt mixtures needs to be further investigated in the future to elaborate on the impact of nano-silica as modified binders on the mechanical properties of Australian asphalt mixtures.

Because of their low cost and easy production silica nanoparticles (NPs) are amply used in multiple manufactures as anti-caking, densifying and hydrophobic agents. However, this has increased the exposure levels of the general population and has raised concerns about possible toxicity of this nanomaterial. NPs are known to affect the function of the airway epithelium, but the biochemical pathways targeted by these particles remain largely unknown. Here we investigated the effects of NPs on the responses of cultured human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells to the damage-associated molecular pattern ATP, using fluorometric measurements of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Upon stimulation with extracellular ATP these cells displayed a concentration-dependent increase in intracellular Ca2+, which was mediated by release from intracellular stores. Silica NPs inhibited the Ca2+ responses to ATP within minutes of application and at low micromolar concentrations, which are significantly faster and more potent than those previously reported for the induction of cellular toxicity and pro-inflammatory responses. NPs-induced inhibition appeared to be independent from the increase in intracellular Ca2+ they produce, and via a non-competitive mechanism. These findings suggest that NPs reduce the ability of airway epithelial cells to mount ATP-dependent protective responses such as the increase in mucociliary clearance and cough.

The article describes synthesis of aminoorgano-functionalized silica as a perspective material for catalysis application. The amino groups have electron donor properties valuable for metal chemical state of palladium. So presence of electron donor groups is important for increasing of catalysts stability. The research is devoted to investigation of silica amino-modified support influence on activity and stability of palladium species in 4-nitroaniline hydrogenation process. A series of catalysts with different supports such as SiO2, SiO2-C3H6-NH2 (amino-functionalized silica), γ-Al2O3 and activated carbon were studied. The catalytic activity was studied in the hydrogenation of 4-nitroaniline to 1,4-phenylenediamine. The catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and pulse chemisorption of hydrogen. The 5 wt. % Pd/SiO2-C3H6-NH2 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activity for 4-nitroaniline hydrogenation with 100% conversion and 99% selectivity with respect to 1,4-phenylenediamine.

A mixture of nonlabeled (14N2H4) and 15N labeled hydrazine (15N2H4) in an aqueous solution is oxidized to 15N2, 14N2, and 14N15N molecules, indicating the intermediate existence of the 14NH2-14NH-15NH-15NH2 with subsequent hydrogen transfers and splitting of side N-N bonds. Structures, thermodynamics, and electron characteristics of various N4H6 molecules in aqueous solutions are investigated using theoretical treatment at the CCSD/cc-pVTZ level of theory to explain the crucial part of the hydrazine oxidation reaction. Most N4H6 structures in aqueous solutions are decomposed during geometry optimization. Splitting the bond between central nitrogen atoms is the most frequent, but the breakaway of the side nitrogen is energetically the most preferred. The N-N fissions are enabled by suitable hydrogen rearrangements. Gibbs free energy data indicate the dominant abundance of NH3... N2... NH3 species. The side N atoms have very high negative charges, which should support hydrogen transfers in aqueous solutions. The only stable cyclo-(NH)4…H2 structure has a too high Gibbs energy and breaks the H2 molecule. The remaining initial cyclic structures are split into hydrazine and HN≡NH or H2N≡N species, and their relative abundance in aqueous solutions is vanishing.

Balanced nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) rates coupling with rational fertilization methodology could promote crop N accumulation, N use efficiency and yield production, particularly in semi-arid and arid regions. To test these characteristics, a two-year (2018 and 2019) pot experiment was therefore performed by growing summer maize in a rain-proof glass greenhouse, under 9 combined N (112, 150 and 187 kg ha-1, urea) and P (45, 60, 75 kg ha-1, calcium superphosphate) rates and three contrasting fertilizer placements. The fertilizers were placed by broadcast on soil surface (Broadcast), side band on 4 cm strip soil surface within 7 cm from sowing line (Side band) and deep band on 4 cm strip below 7 cm soil depth within 7 cm from sowing line (Deep band). Results from three maize growth stages (eight-leaf, 45 days after sowing, DAS; tasseling, 60 DAS; and harvest, 115 DAS) showed that leaf, stem, root N accumulation and total soil N were significantly increased under Deep band than under both Side band and Broadcast at N150P60, N187P60, N150P75 and N187P75, but not at N112P45, N150P45, N187P45, N112P60 and N112P75. Significantly greater leaf, stem, and root N accumulations were also displayed at N150 and N187 than at N112 for the same P60 or P75 under Deep band at 60 DAS and 115 DAS, while were for leaf and stem N accumulations at P75 and P60 than at P45 for the same N150 under Deep band at 45 DAS, 60 DAS and 115 DAS. Significantly greater agronomy N use efficiency, partial factor productivity and N use efficiency exhibited under Deep band than under Side band and Broadcast at N150P75 and N187P75, but at N150P60 and N187P60 for NUE only. In addition, leaf, stem, seed, root N concentrations positively correlated with their own N accumulations or soil N concentration at tasseling and harvest stages. Our results demonstrate that a synchronized N150P60, N187P60, N150P75 or N187P75 fertilization rate with Deep band placement can improve soil N availability and root N uptake, and hereby greater aboveground N accumulation, N use efficiency and yield production of maize particularly practical for small-holder farmers globally.

Throughout this paper, we will establish a comprehensive theoretical foundation and rigorously develop the methodology to investigate the structure of quotient ring S/P under the influence of symmetric generalized n-derivations, where S represents an arbitrary ring, and P signifies a prime ideal of S satisfying certain algebraic identities acting on prime ideal P without relying on the assumption of primeness or semi-primeness of the ring.

The seasonal and vertical spatial variation characteristics of total N, NH4+—N and NO3-—N in the soil in Picea mongolica forest at different stand ages were studied. The results showed that: (1) NH4+ —N in the soil in Picea mongolica forest was positively correlated with sample date, soil NO3-—N and forest age (P <0.05), and negatively correlated with soil depth (P < 0.01). NO3-—N in the soil in Picea mongolica forest was negatively correlated with sample date and forest age (P < 0.05), and significantly negatively correlated with soil depth (P < 0.01); (2) the content of NH4+—N is greater than that of NO3-—N in each soil layer of Picea mongolica forest at three forest ages. The correlation analysis showed which had an impact on the content of NH4+—N and NO3-—N in the soil in Picea mongolica forest. The content was lower in February and November, and higher in May and August；(3) The contents of total N, NH4+—N and NO3-—N in the soil of Picea mongolica forest in the three forest ages increased with the depth of soil layer (0-50cm), and showed an overall downward trend. The contents of NH4+—N in the soil layer of young forest (0-10cm, 10-20cm and 20-30cm, 30-40cm and 40-50cm) were significantly different (P＜0.05), and the contents of NO3-—N were also significantly different (P＜0.05), while their contents of middle-aged forest and near mature forest increased with the depth of soil layer, There was no significant difference in the content of NH4+—N; (4) The content of NH4+—N in the soil in Picea mongolica forest generally showed the following change trend near mature forest > middle-aged forest > young forest. The change trend of soil NO3-—N content is consistent with that of the content of NH4+—N in the soil in Picea mongolica forest.

Fused silica glass is a material with outstanding mechanical, thermal and optical properties. Being a brittle material, it is challenging to shape. In the last decade, the manufacturing of monolithic flexible mechanisms in fused silica has evolved with the femtosecond laser-assisted etching process. However, instrumenting those structures is demanding. To address this obstacle, this article proposes to inscribe a Bragg Grating sensor inside a flexure and interface it with an optical fibre to record the strain using a spectrum analyzer. The strain sensitivity of this Bragg Grating sensor is characterized at 1.2 pm/μϵ (1 μϵ = 1 microstrain). Among other applications, deformation sensing can be used to record a force. Its use as a micro-force sensor is estimated. The sensor resolution is limited by our recording equipment to 30 μN over a measurement range above 10 mN. This technology can offer opportunities for surgery applications or others where precision and stability in harsh environments are required.

In this work, alkylammonium-functionalized hollow mesoporous silica as nonocarrier of drugs was synthesized to realize enhanced cancer therapy by pH stimuli for sustained drug release. First, functionalized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Hollow MSNs) were synthesized using dodecyl dimethyl(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (DDAPS), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and triethanolamine as structure-directing agents, and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and N-trimethoxysilypropyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (TMAPS) as silica sources under basic condition via the sol-gel process. The structure and morphology of the alkylammonium-functionalized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Hollow MSN-N+CH3) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The functionalized hollow MSNs had a particle size of about 450 nm and a shell thickness of about 60 nm with uniform size. The nanoparticle had a surface area of 408 m2g-1, pore volume of 0.8 cm3g-1 and a uniform pore diameter of 45.9 Å. In the cancer cell viability test with MCF-7 cell, fludarabine-incorporated and alkylammonium-functionalized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Flu/Hollow MSN-N+CH3) showed excellent cancer cell death comparable with pure fludarabine drug with the controlled drug release by pH stimuli. It is considered that our current materials have the potential applicability as pH-responsive nanocarriers in the field of cancer therapy.

The purpose of this study is to identify the steps involved in fabricating silica/chitosan composite membranes and their suitability in fuel cell application. It also intends to identify the physical characteristics of chitosan composite membranes, including their degree of water absorption, proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and functional groups. In this investigation, composite membranes were fabricated using the solution casting method with chitosan content of 5 g and silica variations dosage of 2% and 4% while stirring at a constant speed for 2h. According to the findings, the analysis of composite membranes produced chitosan membranes that were successfully modified with silica. The optimum membrane was found to be 4% s-SiO2 from the Sol-gel method with composite membrane's optimal condition of 0.234 cm/s proton conductivity, water uptake of 56.21%, and reduced methanol permeability of 0.99 × 10 -7 cm2/s in the first 30 minutes and 3.31 × 10-7 in the last 150 minutes. Maintaining lower water uptake capacity at higher silica content is still a challenge that needs to be addressed. However, the fabricated membranes showed exceptional results in terms of proton conductivity and methanol permeability.

Benign design of alkali-activated slag/FA geopolymer paste has intriguing increasing attention for optimizing its service performance. Therefore, the replacement of fly ash (FA) with 10 wt% silica fume (SF) is investigated by mechanical strength after freeze-thawing cycles and microstructure characterization. The results show that an appropriate dosage (30 wt%) of slag is necessary to attain alkali-activated slag/FA geopolymer paste with excellent mechanical performance, and the SF/slag/FA (SF: slag: FA= 10:30:60, wt%) geopolymer paste exerts the compressive and flexural strength of 95.2 and 3.2 MPa, respectively. Meanwhile, the doped 10 wt% SF facilitates the propagation of (N, C)-A–S–H chains, rather than the formation of C-S-H gels, evidenced by the absent exothermic peak at about 861oC from the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves, leading to the increases in the pores volume with a pore diameter<20 nm and tortuosity by mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP) results, corresponding to an improved freezing-thawing resistance with the residual compressive strength of 52.8 MPa and the weight loss of 10.5% after 300 freeze-thawing cycles. It explores a cost-effective and benign facile approach to designing heating curing-free alkali-activated slag/FA geopolymer paste with good freezing-thawing resistance.

The fireproof design of geopolymer has intriguing increasing attention by adjusting multi-component metallurgical solid wastes, due to its low-carbon emission, cost-effectiveness, and environmental conservation. Herein, the effects of silica fume (SF) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of alkali-activated slag/FA (fly ash) pastes subjected to elevated temperatures (150, 500, 850, and 1200℃) are investigated, to clarify the fact that whether or not the SF generates positive roles in mechanical strength of slag/FA (slag: FA=30:70, wt.%) geopolymers during building fires. The results show that the replacement of FA with 10 wt% SF (silica fume) promotes the increasing pore volume with a diameter of 0.2~3 μm, leading to an increase in the compressive or flexural strength below 850℃, “right shifts” of the endothermic peak, appearing uniform and compact fracture surfaces. Meanwhile, the gehlenite and labradorite generate after exposure above 850℃. While the bloating effect of the SF-containing sample occurs at 1200℃, leading to a greater deformation, due to the further restructuring of the amorphous geopolymer chain N-A-S-H or N-(Ca)-A-S-H composed from the [SiO4]4− and [AlO4]5−. It explores an effective approach for improving geopolymer’s fireproof performance by adjusting the solid-waste formulation.

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are increasingly used in precast concrete industry to enhance concrete strength and durability. SCMs of large market share in precast concrete in-dustry include silica fume, also known as micro-silica and class C fly ash. The main objective of this research is to develop non-proprietary high strength concrete mixes for precast/prestressed concrete industry. Two SCMs are used simultaneously in partial replacement of portland cement to develop ternary mixes. Class c fly ash and silica fume incorporation in the mix design, in ad-dition to low water-to-powder ratio resulted in the successful development of high strength mixes with minimum 24-hour strength in excess of 70 MPa and a final compressive strength ex-ceeding 100 MPa at 28 days. Mechanical properties testing of developed concrete mixes showed that SCMs incorporation resulted in increased values for hardened concrete modulus of elasticity (MoE) and modulus of rupture (MoR). The enhanced concrete properties, mainly high early strength, are highly required in precast concrete industry as it allows for increased productivity of precast facilities and the possibility of pouring high strength slender sections for prestressed concrete applications

Expansive soil shows dual swell-shrink which is not suitable for the construction. Several mitigating techniques exist to counteract the problem promulgate by expansive clayey soils. This paper explored the penitential mecho-chemical reinforcement of expansive clayey soil to mitigate the effect of upward swelling pressure and heave. The polypropylene fiber is randomly distributed in the soil for mechanical stabilization, and the industrial residual silica fume is used as a chemical stabilizer. The experimental analysis is made in three phases which involved the tests on mechanical reinforced expansive soil using randomly distributed polypropylene fibers with different percentages (0.25%, 0.50%, and 1.00%), and 12mm length. The second phase of experiments carried out on chemical stabilized expansive soil with different percentages (2%, 4% and 8%) of silica and next phase of the experimental focused in the combination of mecho-chemical stabilization of the expansive soil with different combination of silica (i.e., 2%, 4% and 8%) and polypropylene fibers (i.e., 0.25%, 0.50% and 1.00%). Maximum dry density (MDD), optimum moisture content (OMC), liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), plastic index (PI) grain size, and constant volume swelling pressure test were performed on unreinforced and reinforced expansive soil to investigate the effect of polypropylene fiber and silica fume on the engineering properties of expansive clayey soil. The experimental results illustrate that the inclusion of polypropylene fiber has a significant effect on the upward swelling pressure and expansion property of expansive soil. The reduction in the upward swelling pressure and expansion is a function of fiber content. These results also indicated that the use of silica fume caused a reduction in upward swelling potential, and its effect was considerably more than the influence of fiber.

Highly colloidal Eu-doped Gd2O3 nanoparticles(core-NPs) were synthesized by thermal decomposition via weak base at low temperature (150oC), subsequently, silica layers were deposited to increased colloidal stability, solubility, biocompatibility and no-toxicity at the environmental condition. XRD results indicate the highly purified, crystalline, single phase cubic phase Gd2O3 nanocrystals. TEM image shows the mesoporous thick silica layer was effectively coated over the core nanocrystals, which have irregular size with nearly spherical shape and a mean grain size is about 10-30 nm. Absorption spectra and zeta potential results in aqueous media revealed that solubility, colloidal stability, and biocompatibility character was enhanced from core to core-shell structure because of silica layer surface encapsulation. The samples demonstrate excellent photoluminescence properties (dominant emission 5D0→7F2 transition in red region at 610 nm) indicated the advantage to use in optical bio-detection and bio-labeling etc. The photoluminescence intensity of the silica shell modified core/shell nanoparticles were suppressed relatively core-nanoparticles, it indicates the multi-photon relaxation pathways arising from the surface coated high vibrational energy molecules of the silanol groups. The core/nSiO2/mSiO2 nanocrystals display strong emission (5D0→7F2) transition along with excellent solubility and biocompatibility, which may find promising applications in photonic based biomedical applications.

ω-Transaminases have been immobilized on macrocellular silica monoliths and used as heterogeneous biocatalysts in a continuous flow mode enantioselective transamination reaction. The support was prepared by a sol-gel method based on emulsion templating. The enzyme was immobilized on the structured silica monoliths both by adsorption, and by covalent grafting using amino-functionalized silica monoliths and glutaraldehyde as a coupling agent. A simple reactor set-up based on the use of a heat-shrinkable Teflon tube is presented and successfully used for the continuous flow kinetic resolution of a chiral amine, 4-bromo-α-methylbenzylamine. The porous structure of the supports ensures effective mass transfer and the reactor works in the plug flow regime without preferential flow paths. When immobilized in the monolith and used in the flow reactor, transaminases retain their activity and their enantioselectivity. The solid biocatalyst is also shown to be stable both on stream and during storage. These essential features pave the way to the successful development of an environmentally friendly process for chiral amines production.

La reflexión sobre la formación que necesitan los docentes panameños tiene poca tradición investigativa, aunque recientemente se han desarrollado programas de formación de docentes para enseñar matemáticas de acuerdo con las tendencias actuales en la enseñanza de esta materia. Este artículo explica uno de estos programas de formación de posgrado. Específicamente, se discuten los lineamientos para su diseño y algunos resultados de su segunda implementación. Entre los resultados más importantes para este artículo tenemos a) la creación de la plataforma así como el conjunto de tareas diseñadas, las cuales han sido utilizadas para la formación de posteriores promociones de docentes; b) Destaca el cambio en los criterios que orientan la práctica docente al final del programa, en relación con los criterios utilizados antes de la formación, destacando particularmente la relevancia que adquieren los aspectos emocionales y los relacionados con la interacción en este proceso.

Ureaplasma species (Ureaplasma spp.) are commonly found as commensals in the human urogenital tracts , but their overgrowth can lead to infection in the urogenital tract and at distal sites. Treatment of Ureaplasma spp. infections is difficult. The lack of a cell wall confers resistance to all β-lactam and glycopeptide antibiotics whereas the lack of de novo synthesis of folic acid makes them resistant to sulfonamides and diaminopyrimidines. Thus, there is a need to search for new drugs effective against these bacteria. In the presented studies, the effect of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) at a concentration of 2 µg/ml, 20 µg/ml and 200 µg/ml on the growth and survival of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum was tested. Our results indicated that all DDC concentrations used showed both bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against both tested strains In brief, for the first time we showed the bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of DDC against Ureplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum. Based on literature data, we conclude that this DDC activity is related to the inhibition of urease activity, which is an indispensable enzyme for these bacteria. Further research is needed and the results obtained in the present study should be verified in in vivo models of infection.

Substituted bis(iminophosphoranyl)methanes are CH acidic compounds that can form complexes with formally dianionic central carbon centres. The reaction of H₂C(Ph₂P=NDip)₂ (≡ H₂L), Dip = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, with one equivalent of di-n-butylmagnesium afforded the methanide complex [HLMgnBu] 1. Treatment of complex 1 with phenylsilane in aromatic solvents at elevated temperatures afforded the methanediide complex [(LMg)₂] 2 presumably via the MgH intermediate [(HLMgH)_n] (n = 1 or 2). The reaction of 1 with LiAlH₄ in diethyl ether yielded the AlH complex [HLAlH₂] 3. Alternatively, this complex was also obtained from the reaction of H₂L with AlH₃∙NMe₃. The molecular structures of [HLMgnBu] 1, [(LMg)₂] 2, and [HLAlH₂] 3 are reported. Complex 3 shows no sign of H₂ elimination to a methanediide species at elevated temperatures in contrast to the facile elimination of the putative reaction intermediate [(HLMgH)_n] (n = 1 or 2) to form [(LMg)₂] 2. The chemical properties of complex 2 were investigated and this complex appears to be stable against coordination with strong donor molecules.

We assume that the current mathematical knowledge K is a finite set of statements from both formal and constructive mathematics, which is time-dependent and publicly available. Any theorem of any mathematician from past or present belongs to K. The set K exists only theoretically. Ignoring K and its subsets, sets exist formally in ZFC theory although their properties can be time-dependent (when they depend on K) or informal. In every branch of mathematics, the set of all knowable truths is the set of all theorems. This set exists independently of K. Algorithms always terminate. We explain the distinction between algorithms whose existence is provable in ZFC and constructively defined algorithms which are currently known. By using this distinction, we obtain non-trivial statements on decidable sets X⊆N that belong to constructive and informal mathematics and refer to the current mathematical knowledge on X. This and the next sentence justify the article title. For any empirical science, we can identify the current knowledge with that science because truths from the empirical sciences are not necessary truths but working models of truth from a particular context. The feature of mathematics from the article title is not quite new. Church's thesis, which is known from the beginning of computability theory, is based on the observation that the currently known computable functions are recursive, where the notion of a computable function is informal. It proves that the predicate of the current mathematical knowledge slightly increases the intuitive mathematics. For a set X⊆N whose infiniteness is false or unproven, we define which elements of X are classified as known. No known set X⊆N satisfies Conditions (1)-(4) and is widely known in number theory or naturally defined, where this term has only informal meaning. (1) A known algorithm with no input returns an integer n satisfying card(X)<ω ⇒ X⊆(-∞,n]. (2) A known algorithm for every k∈N decides whether or not k∈X. (3) No known algorithm with no input returns the logical value of the statement card(X)=ω. (4) There are many elements of X and it is conjectured, though so far unproven, that X is infinite. (5) X is naturally defined. The infiniteness of X is false or unproven. X has the simplest definition among known sets Y⊆N with the same set of known elements. We prove that the set X={n∈N: the interval [-1,n] contains more than 29.5+(11!/(3n+1))∙sin(n) primes of the form k!+1} satisfies Conditions (1)-(5) except the requirement that X is naturally defined. 501893∈X. Condition (1) holds with n=501893. card(X∩[0,501893])=159827. X∩[501894,∞)={n∈N: the interval [-1,n] contains at least 30 primes of the form k!+1}. If we add to X some set W satisfying 14≤card(W)≤23, then the following statements hold: X does not satisfy Condition (1), 159827+14≤card(X), the above lower bound is currently the best known, card(X)<ω ⇒ card(X)≤159827+23, the above upper bound is currently the best known, X satisfies Conditions (2)-(5) except the requirement that X is naturally defined. Analogical statements hold, if we add to X the set ⋃_{x∈N, x divides 99!} {k∈N: k-501894 is the x-th element of P(n^2+1)}, where P(n^2+1) denote the set of primes of the form n^2+1. For a non-negative integer n, let θ(n) denote the largest integer divisor of 10^{10^{10}} smaller than n. Let κ:N→N be defined by setting κ(n) to be the exponent of 2 in the prime factorization of n+1. The set X={n∈N: (θ(n)+κ(n))^2+1 is prime} satisfies Conditions (1)-(5) except the requirement that X is naturally defined. Condition (1) holds with n=0^{10^{10}}. We present a table that shows satisfiable conjunctions of the form #(Condition1)∧ (Condition 2)∧#(Condition 3)∧(Condition 4)∧#(Condition 5), where # denotes the negation ¬ or the absence of any symbol. No set X⊆N will satisfy Conditions (1)-(4) forever, if for every algorithm with no input, at some future day, a computer will be able to execute this algorithm in 1 second or less. The physical limits of computation disprove this assumption.

Deep ultraviolet (DUV) light emitting diode (LED) at emission wavelength of 254 nm is inevitable to replace the conventional toxic mercury UV Lamp as demanded by Minamata Convention of 2020. Both the conventional DUV LEDs (C-LED) and tunnel junction (TJ)-based UVC LEDs are suffering from high operating voltages, low hole injection efficiency and efficiency droops. Therefore, p-AlGaN and n-AlGaN layers-based TJ is one of the most promising parts of optical devices and has been widely utilized as carrier tunneling in DUV LEDs to mitigate both the contact resistance for Ohmic contact and low hole injection efficicny at 254 nm emission. Here an approach is presented to electrically manipulate the quantum tunneling probability by exploiting the transported carriers at the interface of n-AlGaN/p-AlGaN TJ with moderate Si and Mg-doping levels and optimized thickness. As a result, the Augur recomination rate was sucesfully suppressed and quite high radiative recombination rates were achived in the 254nm TJ-based DUV LEDs, which is attributed the improved holes injection toward the MQWs when compared to C-LED. The internal-quantum efficiency (IQE) of approximately ~ 88% in the TJ-based LED with zero efficiency droop is achived, which is 1.3 times greater than the IQE of approximately ~ 66% in the C-LED with efficiency droop of 53%. Based on our known knowledge, this is the highest reported IQE (88%) at emission wavelength of 254 nm in the AlGaN TJ-based LED with efficiency droop of 0%. It was found that the light output powers (LOP) of TJ-LED increases linearly under the varying current density, whereas in the case of C-LED the LOP changes nonlinearly under varying current density. This is attributed to the lower Augure recombination rate in the MQWs of TJ-based DUV LED. The operating voltages were remarkable reduced from 20 V to 5.4 V under 200 mA operation, which is attributed to the thickness and doping optimization in TJ and better selection of realively lower Al-content in the contact-layer. The demonstrated TJ-based DUV LEDs opens the door to epitaxial growth of high-performance UV emitters in MOCVD and MBE for a plethora of biomedical applications.

The results show that seven types of N-nitrosamines: N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), N-Nitrosopiperidine (NPIP), N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), N-nitrosodipropylamine (NDPA), N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA) and N-nitrosodiphenylamine (NDphA) were reduced after heat treatment of pork steaks marinated with L. plantarum MI-LP1, S. carnosus LM-SC1, S. vitulinus LM-SV1. Selected LAB suppressed the formation of putrescine and spermine, lowered acid and peroxide values, which were significantly lower than in the control samples, then P≤0.05 in all cases. The nitrites and nitrates amounts were significantly decreased in pork steaks samples marinated with L. plantarum MI-LP1 and S. carnosus MI-SV1 strains. These results presented that selected lactic acid bacteria could be used for marinating pork steaks to improve quality characteristics and reduce N-nitrosamine formation during grilling.

A highly-integrated experimental system for plasma decomposition of fuels was built. Experiments were conducted and confirmed that macromolecular chain hydrocarbons were cracked by large-gap dielectric barrier discharge under the excitation of a microsecond-pulse power supply. Alkanes and olefins with a C atom number smaller than 10 as well as hydrogen were found in the cracked products of n-decane (n-C10H22). The combination of preheating and plasma decomposition had strong selectivity for olefins. Under strong discharge conditions, micromolecular olefins were found in the products. Moreover, there was a general tendency that micromolecular olefins gradually accounted for higher percentage of products at higher temperature and discharge frequency.

The present paper contains data on the density (ρ), sound velocity (u), specific heat capacity (c_p ) of the mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide + 1-butanol (DMF + BuOH) determined in the entire concentration range of solution and in the temperature range: (293.15–318.15) K. The analysis of thermodynamic functions such as isobaric molar expansion, isentropic and isothermal molar compression, isobaric and isochoric molar heat capacity, as well as their excess functions (〖 E〗_(p,m)^E,〖 K〗_(S,m)^E,〖 K〗_(T,m)^E,〖 C〗_"p,m" ^E,〖 C〗_"V,m" ^E) and also V_m^E was undertaken. The analysis of changes in the physicochemical quantities was based on consideration of the system in an aspect of intermolecular interactions with resulting changes in the mixture structure. The results available in the literature are confusing during the analysis and became the reason for our decision to thoroughly examine the system. What is more, for a system whose components are widely used, there is no information in the literature regarding the heat capacity of the tested mixture, which was also achieved and presented in this publication. The conclusions drawn from so many data allow us to approximate and understand the changes that occur in the structure of the system due to repeatability and consistency of the obtained results

Optimizing the nitrogen (N) timings and rate can improve nutrient uptake, and nutrient-efficiencies, especially of N in wheat under the changing climate scenario. Climatic stress in the form of high temperature and drought resulted in the decreased crop physiology and, ultimately, grain yield. Taking the example of rainfed wheat, we quantified the impact of N application rates as full and split-dose at three variable sites of rainfed Pothwar, Pakistan by conducting field experiments for two years (2013-14 and 201-15). Treatments include, T1 = Control (No fertilizer applied), full dose of N applied at the time of crop sowing, i.e. T2 = 50 kg N ha^-1, T3 = 100 kg N ha^-1 and T4 = 150 kg N ha^-1 and split application of N at different timings during different stages of the crop called as split application of N, i.e. T5: Application of 50 kg N ha^-1 (15 kg N ha^-1 (Sowing) : 20 kg N ha^-1 (Tillering) :15 kg N ha^-1 (Anthesis), T6: Application of 100 kg N ha^-1 (30 kg N ha^-1 (Sowing): 40 kg N ha^-1 (Tillering) : 30 kg N ha^-1 (Anthesis) and T7: Application of 150 kg N ha^-1(45 kg N ha^-1 (Sowing) : 60 kg N ha^-1 (Tillering) : 45 kg N ha^-1 (Anthesis). Three study sites include viz. Islamabad (High rainfall with optimum temperature), University Research Farm (URF)-Koont (Medium rainfall with moderate temperature), and Talagang (low rainfall with high temperature). Results showed that the highest stomatal conductance (0.80 mole m^-2 sec^-1), net photosynthetic rate (20.07 μmole m^-2s^-1), transpiration rate (9.58 mmole m^-2s^-1), intercellular CO2 concentration (329.25 μmole CO₂ mol^-1 air), SPAD values (58.86 %) and proline contents (35.42 μg g^-1) were obtained for split application of N (T6 = Split N100) compared to control and full dose of N treatments. Among sites, these physiological traits remained highest at Islamabad and lowest at Talagang, while among years, maximum values of the measured parameters were obtained in 2013-14. A similar trend was observed for crop total N, N efficiencies, and agronomic traits of the crop. Our results suggest that optimum N application rate and its suitable timings can help to harvest real benefits of N as in our findings, split dose resulted in the maximum performance of the crop from physiological parameters to the agronomic traits of the rainfed wheat crop.

Optimizing the nitrogen (N) timings and rate can improve nutrient uptake, and nutrient-efficiencies, especially of N in wheat under the changing climate scenario. Climatic stress in the form of high temperature and drought resulted in the decreased crop physiology and, ultimately, grain yield. Taking the example of rainfed wheat, we quantified the impact of N application rates as full and split-dose at three variable sites of rainfed Pothwar, Pakistan by conducting field experiments for two years (2013-14 and 201-15). Treatments include, T₁ = Control (No fertilizer applied), full dose of N applied at the time of crop sowing, i.e. T₂ = 50 kg N ha^-1, T₃ = 100 kg N ha^-1 and T₄ = 150 kg N ha^-1 and split application of N at different timings during different stages of the crop called as split application of N, i.e. T₅: Application of 50 kg N ha^-1 (15 kg N ha^-1 (Sowing) : 20 kg N ha^-1 (Tillering) :15 kg N ha^-1 (Anthesis), T₆: Application of 100 kg N ha^-1 (30 kg N ha^-1 (Sowing): 40 kg N ha^-1 (Tillering) : 30 kg N ha^-1 (Anthesis) and T₇: Application of 150 kg N ha^-1(45 kg N ha^-1 (Sowing) : 60 kg N ha^-1 (Tillering) : 45 kg N ha^-1 (Anthesis). Three study sites include viz. Islamabad (High rainfall with optimum temperature), University Research Farm (URF)-Koont (Medium rainfall with moderate temperature), and Talagang (low rainfall with high temperature). Results showed that the highest stomatal conductance (0.80 mole m^-2 sec^-1), net photosynthetic rate (20.07 μmole m^-2s^-1), transpiration rate (9.58 mmole m^-2s^-1), intercellular CO₂ concentration (329.25 μmole CO₂ mol^-1 air), SPAD values (58.86 %) and proline contents (35.42 μg g^-1) were obtained for split application of N (T₆ = Split N₁₀₀) compared to control and full dose of N treatments. Among sites, these physiological traits remained highest at Islamabad and lowest at Talagang, while among years, maximum values of the measured parameters were obtained in 2013-14. A similar trend was observed for crop total N, N efficiencies, and agronomic traits of the crop. Our results suggest that optimum N application rate and its suitable timings can help to harvest real benefits of N as in our findings, split dose resulted in the maximum performance of the crop from physiological parameters to the agronomic traits of the rainfed wheat crop.

Hydrogels can offer many opportunities for drug delivery strategies. They can be used on their own or their benefits can be further exploited in combination with other nanocarriers. Intelligent hydrogels that react to changes in the surrounding environment can be utilized as gatekeepers and provide sustained on demand drug release. In this study, a hybrid nanosystem for tempera-ture and pH sensitive delivery was prepared from MCM-41 nanoparticles grafted with newly synthesized thermosensitive hydrogel (MCM-41/AA-g-PnVCL). The initial particles were chemi-cally modified by carboxyl groups attachment. Later, they were grafted with agar (AA) and vi-nylcaprolactam (VCL) by free radical polymerization. Doxorubicin was applied as a model hy-drophilic chemotherapeutic drug. The successful formulation was confirmed by FT-IR and TGA. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis showed small particles with negative zeta potential. Their release behaviour was investigated in vitro in different pH media and at different temperatures. At tumor simulating conditions (40ºC and pH 4.0) doxoru-bicin was almost completely released within 72 hours. The biocompatibility of the proposed na-noparticles was demonstrated by in vitro haemolysis assay. These results suggest the possible parenteral application of the newly prepared hydrogel-functionalized mesoporous silica nanopar-ticles for temperature-sensitive and pH-triggered drug delivery at the tumor site.

The risk of lung exposure to silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) and related lung inflammatory injury is increasing with the wide application of SiNPs in a variety of industries. A growing body of research has revealed that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2/ prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) up-regulated by SiNPs toxicity has a role during pulmonary inflammation. The detailed mechanisms underlying SiNPs-induced COX-2 expression and PGE2 synthesis remain unknown. The present study aims to dissect the molecular components involved in COX-2/PGE2 up-regulated by SiNPs in human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEpiCs) which are one of the major targets while SiNPs are inhaled. In the present study, we demonstrated that SiNPs induced COX-2 expression and PGE2 release, which were inhibited by pretreatment with a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger (edaravone) or the inhibitors of proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2, PF-431396), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, AG1478), phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase (PI3K, LY294002), protein kinase B (Akt, Akt inhibitor VIII), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (p38 MAPK inhibitor VIII), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK)1/2 (SP600125), Forkhead Box O1 (FoxO1, AS1842856), and activator protein 1 (AP-1, Tanshinone IIA). In addition, we also found that SiNPs induced ROS-dependent Pyk2, EGFR, Akt, p38 MAPK, and JNK1/2 activation in these cells. These signaling pathways induced by SiNPs could further cause c-Jun and FoxO1 activation and translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. AP-1 and FoxO1 activation could increase COX-2 and PGE2 levels induced by SiNPs. Finally, the COX-2/PGE2 axis might promote the inflammatory responses in HPAEpiCs. In conclusion, we suggested that SiNPs induced COX-2 expression accompanied by PGE2 synthesis mediated via ROS/Pyk2/EGFR/PI3K/Akt/p38 MAPK- and JNK1/2-dependent FoxO1 and AP-1 activation in HPAEpiCs.

The objective of this work is to study the physical and mechanical behavior of concrete with the addition of 0.5% and 1.0% of coconut fibers subjected to two chemical treatments in order to reduce their degradation and optimize their use in the elaboration of concrete specimens, which must comply with the standards of the American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM), the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the Instituto Ecuatoriano de Normalización (INEN). The coconut fibers were obtained from the raw material by hand and cut to a length of 4 cm. Subsequently, the coconut fibers were subjected to two chemical treatments: The first treatment is the immersion of the coconut fibers in 4% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution and the second treatment, the coconut fibers were immersed in gum arabic to consequently coat them with silica fume. A particular dosage was carried out with a proportion of 0.5% and 1.0% volume of coconut fiber for the two chemical treatments, replacing the volume of coarse aggregate. Simple concrete joists were made without fiber and with the post-treatment coconut fibers, which were subjected to flexural tests. The results indicated that the best chemical treatment is sodium hydroxide with a concentration of 4% and 1.0% coconut fiber for strengths of 210 kg/cm² and 240 kg/cm². In general, the joists with coconut fiber treated with sodium hydroxide outperformed the fibers treated with gum arabic and silica fume.

Recycling of metallurgical solid waste has intriguing increasing attention for fabricating cementitious materials, due to its low-carbon emission, cost-effectiveness, and environmental conservation. Herein, the effects of silica fume (SF) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of alkali-activated slag/FA (fly ash) pastes subjected to elevated temperatures (150, 500, 850, and 1200℃) are investigated, to clarify the fact that whether or not the SF generates positive roles in mechanical properties of slag/FA geopolymers. The results show that the replacement with 10 wt% SF (silica fume) promotes the increasing pore volume with a diameter of 0.2~3 μm at room temperature, leading to an increase in the compressive or flexural strength, “right shifts” of endothermic peak and the initial-final temperature of mass loss, presenting a denser and compact fracture surface. Meanwhile, the mineral phase of gehlenite and labradorite emerges after exposure above 850℃ from the XRD results. Furthermore, the bloating effect of the incorporated SF occurs due to the formation of a liquid phase altogether with the amorphous silicates after exposure to 1200℃, leading to a greater deformation and enhancement of restructuring involved in the [SiO4]4− and [AlO4]5−. It explores an effective recycling approach for fabricating paste binders using metallurgical solid wastes.

In this work, polyacrylic acid-functionalized MCM-41 was synthesized, which was further interacted with calcium ions, to realize enhanced pH-responsive nanocarrier for sustained drug release. First, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were prepared by the sol-gel method. Afterward, (3-trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) modified surface was prepared by using the post-grafting method, then polymerization of acrylic acid was proceeded. After adding calcium chloride solution, polyacrylic acid-functionalized MSNs with calcium-carboxyl ionic bonds in the polymeric layer, which can prevent the cargo from leaking out of the mesopore, were prepared. The structure and morphology of the modified nanoparticles (PAA-MSNs) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, etc. The controlled release of guest molecules was studied by using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The drug molecules-incorporated nanoparticles showed different releasing rates under different pH conditions. It is considered that our current materials have the potential as pH-responsive targeted nanocarriers in the field of medical treatment.

Background: Work experience is a key factor that influences safety awareness among workers. This study investigated the influence of work experience on the level of awareness on adverse health effects of silica dust exposure among stone quarry workers in Ghana while controlling for theoretically relevant compositional and contextual factors, evaluated the magnitude and order of association between the predictors and the predicted variable. Method: A cross-sectional survey data of 524 randomly selected stone quarry workers were subjected to multivariate statistical analyses. Results: Stone quarry workers who had 6 to10 years and more than 10 years of work experience were 48% (OR = 1.475, P = 0.021) and 82% (OR = 1.816, P = 0.003) respectively more likely to be aware of the adverse health effects of silica dust exposure compared to their counterparts who had 1 to 5 years work experience. Workers who had secondary or higher education were 32% (OR = 1.320, P = 0.036) more likely to be aware of the adverse health effects of silica dust exposure compared to their counterparts who had no education. Conclusion: These findings provide relevant information for managers and policymakers to plan and maximize awareness on silica dust health hazards among silica exposed workers.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have various applications in medicine, cosmetics, optics, catalysis, environmental purification, and other areas nowadays. With an increasing annual production of NPs, the risks of their harmful influence to the environment and human health is rising. Currently, our knowledge about the mechanisms of interaction between NPs and living organisms is limited. Additionally, poor understanding of how physical and chemical characteristic and different conditions influence the toxicity of NPs restrict our attempts to develop the standards and regulations which might allow us to maintain the safe living conditions. The marine species and their habitat environment are under continuous stress due to anthropogenic activities which result in the appearance of NPs in the aquatic environment. Our study aimed to evaluate and compare biochemical effects caused by the influence of different types of carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and silica nanotubes on four marine microalgae species. We have evaluated the changes in growth-rate, esterase activity, membrane polarization, and size changes of microalgae cells using flow cytometry method. Our results demonstrated that toxic effects caused by the carbon nanotubes strongly correlated with the content of heavy metal impurities in the NPs. More hydrophobic carbon NPs with less ordered structure had a higher impact on the red microalgae P. purpureum because of higher adherence between the particles and mucous covering of the algae; silica NPs caused significant inhibition of microalgae growth-rate predominantly produced by mechanical influence.

Thermal energy storage (TES) is a key technology to enhance the efficiency of energy systems as well as to increase the share of renewable energies. In this context, the present paper reports a literature review of the recent advancement in the field of adsorption TES systems. After a first introduction about different heat storage technologies, the adsorption TES working principle is explained and compared to the other technologies. Subsequently, promising features and critical issues at material, component and system levels are deeply analyzed and the ongoing activities to make this technology ready for marketing are introduced.

The quinoline derivative, N-(7-chloro-4-morpholinoquinolin-2-yl)benzamide, was synthesized in a conventional three-step procedure from 4,7-dichloroquinoline using N-oxidation reaction/C2-amidation reaction/C4 SNAr reaction sequence. The structure of the compound was fully characterized by FT-IR, 1H‐, 13C-NMR, DEPT-135°, and ESI-MS techniques. Its physicochemical parameters (Lipinski’s descriptors) were also calculated using the online SwissADME database. Such derivatives are relevant therapeutic agents exhibiting potent anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties.

Let $n \geq 2$ be a fixed integer and $\mathcal{A}$ be a $C^*$-algebra. A permuting $ n $-linear map $ \mathcal{G} : \mathcal{A} ^{n} \rightarrow \mathcal{A} $ is known to be symmetric generalized $n$-derivation if there exists a symmetric $n$-derivation $ \mathfrak{D} : \mathcal{A} ^{n} \rightarrow \mathcal{A} $ such that $ \mathcal{G} \left(x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{i} x_{i}^{\prime}, \ldots, x_{n}\right)= \mathcal{G} \left(x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{i}, \ldots, x_{n}\right) x_{i}^{\prime}+x_{i} \mathfrak{D} (x_{1}, x_{2},\ldots, x_{i}^{\prime}, \ldots, x_{n})$ holds for all $x_{i}, x_{i}^{\prime} \in \mathcal{A} $. In this paper, we investigate the structure of $C^*$-algebras involving generalized linear $n$-derivations. Moreover, we describe the forms of traces of linear $n$-derivations satisfying certain functional identity.

In the present study we tested the effect of small molecular weight redox molecules on collagen-induced platelet aggregation. We used N-acetylcysteine amide (AD4), the amide form of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a thiol antioxidant with improved lipophilicity and bio-availability compared to NAC, and the thioredoxin mimetics (TXM) peptides, TXM-CB3, TXM-CB13, and TXM-CB30. All compounds significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, with TXM-peptides and AD4 being more effective than NAC. The levels of TxB2 and 12-HETE, the main metabolites derived from the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways following platelet activation, were significantly reduced in the presence of AD4, TXM-peptides, or NAC, when tested at the highest concentration (0.6 mM). The effect of AD4, TXM-peptides, and NAC was tested also on the clotting time (CT) of whole blood. TXM-CB3 and TXM-CB30 showed the highest increase of CT. Furthermore, two representative compounds, TXM-CB3, and NAC, showed an increase in the an-ti-oxidant free sulfhydryl groups of plasma detected by Ellman’s method, suggesting a contribution of plasma factors to the antiaggregating effects. Our results suggest that these small molecular weight redox peptides might become useful for the prevention and/or treatment of oxidative stress conditions associated with platelet activation.

Biochar application to the soil can improve soil quality and nutrient leaching loss. Recent studies have reported that surficial application of biochar to stored swine manure can reduce emissions of odorous compounds and reduce the volatilization loss of ammonia. Our working hypothesis was that the biochar-treated manure application to the soil would decrease nutrient leaching from manure and increase plant-available nutrients. The study objectives were to evaluate the impact of biochar-treated swine manure on soil total C, N, and other major and minor nutrients. Three biochars (i) neutral pH red-oak (RO), (ii) highly alkaline autothermal corn (Zea mays) stover (HAP), and (iii) mild acidic Fe-treated autothermal corn stover (HAPE) were incubated with swine manure for a month. The biochar-manure mixture was applied in triplicate to soil columns with application rate determined by the P₂O₅-P content in manure or manure-biochar mixtures after the incubation. The ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃^-), and reactive P concentrations in soil column leachates were recorded for eight leaching events. Soil properties and plant-available nutrients were compared between treatments and control manure & soil. Manure-(HAP&HAPE) biochar treatments significantly increased soil organic matter (OM) and increased soil total C, N, and improved soil bulk density. Concentrations of KCl-extractable NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- significantly increased in HAPE column leachates during this 4-week study and in the soil after the experiment. A significant reduction in soil Mehlich3 Cu was also observed for the manure-HAPE mixture compared with the control. Overall, the manure-biochar incubation enabled biochar to sorb nutrients from manure, and the subsequent manure-biochar mixture application to soil improved soil quality and plant nutrient availability in comparison to conventional manure application to soil. This proof-of-the-concept study suggests that biochars could be used to solve both environmental and agronomic challenges and further improve the sustainability of animal and crop production agriculture.

Recently, many authors have been interested to introduce fuzzy implications over t-norms and t-conorms. In this paper, we introduce (S,N) and residuum fuzzy implication for Dubois t-norm and Hamacher's t-norm. Also, new concepts so-called (T,N) and residual fuzzy co-implication in dual Heyting Algebra are investigated. Some examples as well as application are discussed as well.

Pyrazinacenes are linearly fused heteroaromatic rings, with N atoms replacing all apical CH moieties. Component rings may exist in a reduced state having NH groups instead of N, causing cross-conjugation. These compounds have interesting optical and electronic properties, including strong fluorescence in the near infrared region and photocatalytic properties, leading to diverse possible applications in bio-imaging, organic synthesis as well as obvious molecular electronic uses. In this study, we have investigated the behaviour of seven-ring pyrazinacene 2,3,11,12-tetraphenyl-7,16-dihydro-1,4,5,6,7,8,9,12,13,14,15,16,17,18-tetradecaazaheptacene (Ph4H2N14HEPT) with emphasis on protic processes including oxidation, tautomerism, deprotonation and protonation, and the species resulting from those processes. We have used computational methods to optimize the structures of the different species and generate/compare molecular orbital structures. Aromaticity of species generated by the different processes has been assessed using the nucleus independent chemical shifts, and trends in the values have been associated with the different transformations of the pyrazinacene core. The computational data was compared with experimental data obtained from synthetic samples of the molecule tBu8Ph4H2N14HEPT.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance and urgent need of rapid and accurate diagnostic tests for detection and screening of this infection. In our proposal, a biosensor based on the ELISA immunoassay was developed for monitoring antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in human serum samples. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) was selected as a specific receptor for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid immunoglobulin G. Thus, the N-protein was immobilized on surface of screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with carboxylated graphene (CG). The IgG-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid concentration was quantified using a secondary antibody labelled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) (anti-IgG-HRP) catalyzed by 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) mediator by chronoamperometry. A linear response was obtained in the range of 1:1000-1:200 v/v in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and the limit of detection calculated was of 1:4947 v/v. The chronoamperometric method showed electrical signals directly proportional to antibody concentrations due to Ag-Ab specific and stable binding reaction.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) can be used as carrier materials for the controlled release of pesticides while reducing their negative environmental impact. In this study, we screened an active ingredient, p-cymene (PC), with an excellent inhibitory effect on rice bacterial blight. Subsequently, the PC was successfully loaded onto MSNs via physisorption(PC@MSNs). PC@MSNs, characterized by a regular spherical shape, smooth surface, and an MSN average size of 262.9 nm, achieved an 8.6 % drug loading capacity. The release kinetics of the PC from the PC@MSNs demonstrated a sustained release (288 h) pattern influenced by drug diffusion. The efficacy of the PC@MSNs against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae paralleled those of PC. Acute toxicity assays re-vealed that the PC@MSNs were less toxic to aquatic life (LC50=257.867 mg/L) and that the formu-lation showed no adverse effects on rice seedling growth. In summary, these results suggest that PC@MSNs can broaden PC's application scope in managing rice diseases.

Due to growing concerns about environmental pollution from plastic waste, plastic recycling research is gaining momentum. Traditional methods, such as incorporating inorganic particles, increasing cross-linking density with peroxides, and blending with silicone monomers, often improve mechanical properties but reduce flexibility for specific performance requirements. This study focuses on synthesizing silica nanoparticles with vinyl functional groups and evaluating their mechanical performance when used in recycled plastics. Silica precursors, namely sodium silicate, and vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), combined with a surfactant, were employed to create pores, increasing silica's surface area. Early-stage introduction of vinyl functional groups prevented the typical post-synthesis reduction in surface area. Porous silica was produced in varying quantities of VTMS, and the synthesized porous silica nanomaterials were incorporated into recycled Polyethylene to induce cross-linking. Despite a decrease in surface area with increasing VTMS content, a significant surface area of 883 m2/g was achieved. In conclusion, porous silica with the right amount of vinyl content exhibited improved mechanical performance, including increased tensile strength, compared to conventional porous silica. This study shows that synthesized porous silica with integrated vinyl functional groups effectively enhances the performance of recycled plastics.

The present study concerns the application of electrochemical chloride extraction to concrete designed with partial replacements of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) from different binders, namely ground granulated blast furnace (GGBS), pulverized fly ash (PFA) and Silica Fume (SF), to attend the need of corrosion repair for modern constructions. Electrochemical Chloride Extraction (ECE) was applied to the specimens at a current density of 2A/m2 for 4 weeks. The chloride types and binding mechanisms appeared to have important implications on the different performance of treatment perceived for all binders. Considering total chlorides, removal was more significant for OPC and GGBS when compared to others. The main difference noted was that for GGBS the removal of bound chlorides was more significant due to a possible release of adsorbed chlorides from the silicate hydrates, present at higher intensities in this case. However, even though GGBS had greater rates of bound chloride removal it had still the same percentage as OPC for total efficiency due to the fact that in OPC the removal of free chlorides is more expressive.

Reinforcement corrosion due to chloride attack is of major economic significance for reinforced concrete structures. Pozzolans are known to inhibit corrosion initiation mainly by reducing concrete permeability. However, there is evidence in the literature that changes in the chemical environment in the concrete due to the pozzolans may be creating improved corrosion resistance, by themselves. In this study, the composition of a pore solution of mature hydrated cement paste containing silica-fume at different ratios was analyzed. The electrochemical behavior of reinforcing steel was studied in simulated pore solutions with silicate concentrations ranging from 0 to 35.6 mM, which are within the concentration range found by pore solution extraction to be up to 49 mM. Polished reinforcing steel specimens were used for cyclic voltammetry in simulated pore solutions with chloride concentrations of 10-20%. Better corrosion protection was found with increasing silicate concentration up to 3.56 mM. This was indicated by lower corrosion currents both in the passive state and after anodic activation. Anodic activation of steel in a 35.6 mM silicate solution with 20% NaCl yielded a higher potential than the anterior potential.

The silanol activity and trace metal detection methods for chemically bonded silica gels were evaluated in silico. Test compounds with large molecular sizes may demonstrate negative results because of the possibility of indirect hydrogen bonding via short alkyl groups or siloxane of the silica gels. This hypothesis was based on the observation of weak hydrogen bonding energy values similar to those observed in the study of the alkyl group effect on the hydrogen bonding of alkanols. Consequently, smaller molecules may be a better choice for the analysis of bonded-phase quality.

This work describes the preparation of mesoporous silica by the green reaction of rice husk ash (RHA) with glycerol, followed by the modification and the potential use as a drug carrier. The reaction was carried out at 215 °C for 2 h. The solution was further hydrolyzed with deionized water and aged for various times (24, 48, 120, 360, 528 and 672 h) before calcinations at 500 oC for 24 h. Further treatment of prepared mesoporous silica was performed using trimethylmethoxysilane (TMMS) to obtain hydrophobic Mesoporous silica. For all synthesized silica, silica contents were as high as 95%wt, whereas organic residues were less than 3%wt. RHA-glycerol showed the highest specific surface area with smallest pore diameter (205.70 m2/g, 7.46 nm) when aged for 48 h. The optimal hydrolysis-ageing period of 120 h resulted in 500.7 m2/g BET surface area, 0.655 cm3/g pore volume and 5.23 nm pore diameter. The surface modification of RHA-glycerol was succeeded through the reaction with TMMS as confirmed by FTIR. Ibuprofen was selected as a model drug for the adsorption experiments. The adsorption under supercritical CO2 was carried out at isothermal temperature of 40 ˚C and 100 bar, % ibuprofen loading of TMMS modified mesoporous silica (TMMS-g-MS) was 6 times less than mesoporous silica aged for 24 h (MS-24h) due to the hydrophobic nature of modified mesoporous silica, not surface and pore characteristics. The release kinetics of ibuprofen-loaded mesoporous silicas were also investigated in vitro. The release rate of ibuprofen-loaded MS-24h was much faster than that of ibuprofen-loaded TMMS-g-MS, but comparable to the crystalline ibuprofen. The slower release rate was attributed to the diffusion control and the stability of hydrophobic nature of modified silica. This would allow the design for the controlled release drug delivery system.

Some peptide-based drugs including oxytocin, vasopressin, ziconotide, pramlintide, nesiritide, and octreotide, contain one intramolecular disulfide bonds. A novel and reusable monodispersed silica nanosphere-supported Pt(IV) complex (SiO2@TPEA@Pt(IV)) was synthesized via a four-step procedure and used for formation of intramolecular disulfide bonds in peptides. TEM and chemical mapping results for the Pt(II) intermediates and for SiO2@TPEA@Pt(IV) show that the silica nanospheres possess a monodisperse spherical structure and contain uniformly distributed Si, O, C, N, Cl, and Pt. The valence state of Pt on the silica nanospheres was characterized by XPS. The Pt(IV) loaded on SiO2@TPEA@Pt(IV) was 0.15 mmol/g, as determined by UV-vis spectrometry. Formation of intramolecular disulfides in six dithiol-containing peptides of variable lengths by use of SiO2@TPEA@Pt(IV) was investigated and the relative oxidation yields were determined by HPLC. In addition, peptide 1 (Ac-CPFC-NH2) was utilized to study the reusability of SiO2@TPEA@Pt(IV). No significant decrease in the relative oxidation yield was observed after ten reaction cycles. Moreover, the structure of SiO2@TPEA@Pt(IV) after being used ten cycles was determined to be similar to its initial one, demonstrating the cycling stability of the complex.

In this paper, we concentrate on the study of the properties of residual Tsallis entropy for order statistics. Order statistics have an important role in reliability structural engineering for example for modelling lifetimes of series and parallel systems. The residual Tsallis entropy of ith order statistic from a continuous distribution function and its deviation from the residual Tsallis entropy of ith order statistics from a uniform distribution is investigated. In a mathematical framework, a method to express the residual Tsallis entropy of the ith order statistic from a continuous distribution in terms of the residual Tsallis entropy of the ith order statistic from a uniform distribution is provided. This approach may provide insight into the behavior and properties of the residual Tsallis entropy for order statistics. Further, we study the monotonicity properties of the residual Tsallis entropy of order statistics under dierent conditions. By studying these properties, deeper understanding of the relationship between the position of order statistics and the resulting residual Tsallis entropy is gained.

Background: The prognostic value of erythrocyte levels of the n-6 fatty acids (FAs) for total mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes remains an open question. Methods: We examined CV outcomes and death in 2500 individuals in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort without prevalent CVD (mean age 66 years, 57% women) as a function of baseline levels of different length n-6 FAs (18 carbon, 20 carbon and 22 carbon) in the erythrocyte membranes. Clinical outcomes were monitored for up to 9.5 years (median follow up, 7.26 years). Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for a variety of demographic characteristics, clinical status and RBC n-6 and long chain n-3 FA content. Results: There were 245 CV events, 119 CHD events, 105 ischemic strokes, 58 CVD deaths, and 350 deaths from all causes. Few associations between either mortality or CVD outcomes were observed for the n-6 FAs, with those that were observed becoming non-significant after adjusting for n-3 FA levels. Conclusions: Higher circulating levels of the marine n-3 FA levels are associated with reduced risk for incident CVD and ischemic stroke and for death from CHD and all-causes, however in the same sample, little evidence exists for association with n-6 FAs. Further work is needed to identify a full profile of FAs associated with cardiovascular risk and mortality.

Li⁺-conducting polyethylene oxide-based membranes, incorporating the N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, are as electrolyte separators for all-solid-state lithium polymer batteries operating at medium-high temperatures. The incorporation of the ionic liquid remarkably improves the thermal, ion-transport and interfacial properties of the polymer electrolyte, which, in combination with the wide electrochemical stability even at medium-high temperatures, allow high current rates without any appreciable lithium anode degradation. Battery tests carried out at 80 °C have shown excellent cycling performance and capacity retention even at high rates, never tackled by ionic liquid-free polymer electrolytes. No dendrite growth onto the lithium metal anode was observed.

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) with fluorescence in the Near Infrared (NIR) by both one- and two-photon electronic excitation were incorporated in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) using a novel one-pot synthesis procedure where the condensation polymerization of alkoxysilane monomers in the presence of the AuNCs and a surfactant produce hybrid MSNs of 49 nm diameter. This method was further developed to prepare 30 nm diameter nanocomposite particles with simultaneous NIR fluorescence and superparamagnetic properties, with a core composed of superparamagnetic manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe2O4) coated with a thin silica layer, and a shell of mesoporous silica decorated with AuNCs. The nanocomposite particles feature NIR-photoluminescence with 0.6% quantum yield and large Stokes shift (290 nm), and superparamagnetic response at 300 K, with a saturation magnetization of 13.4 emu g-1. The conjugation of NIR photoluminescence and superparamagnetic properties in the biocompatible nanocomposite has high potential for application in multimodal bioimaging.

Nanocomposite hydrogels offer remarkable potential for applications in bone tissue engineering. They are synthesized through the chemical or physical crosslinking of polymers and nanomaterials, allowing for the enhancement of their behaviour by modifying the properties and compositions of the nanomaterials involved. However, their mechanical properties require further enhancement to meet the demands of bone tissue engineering. Here, we present an approach to improve the mechanical properties of nanocomposite hydrogels by incorporating polymer grafted silica nanoparticles into a double network inspired hydrogel (gSNP Gels). The gSNP Gels were synthesised via a graft polymerization process using a redox initiator. gSNP Gels were formed by grafting 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) as the first network gel followed by a sequential second network acrylamide (AAm) onto amine functionalized silica nanoparticles (ASNPs). We utilized glucose oxidase (GOx), to create an oxygen-free atmosphere during polymerization resulting in higher polymer conversion compared to argon degassing. The gSNP Gels showed excellent compressive strengths of 13.9 ± 5.5 MPa, a strain of 69.6 ± 6.4%, and a water content of 63.4% ± 1.8. The synthesis technique demonstrates a promising approach to enhance the mechanical properties of hydrogels, which can have significant implications for bone tissue engineering and other soft tissue applications.

Insects quickly develop resistance to conventional chemical insecticides. The use of silica nanoparticles (SiO₂NPs) is a promising new approach for managing insect pests. The insects that have been studied are, in most cases, external feeders and internal leaf feeders have not been well studied. Here, we investigate the efficiency of SiO₂NPs in controlling the American serpentine leafminer Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae), a devastating insect pest of a wide range of crops. SiO₂NPs at concentrations of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/L compared to a control of distilled water were applied to intact Phaseolus vulgaris leaves by spraying to evaluate their effects, via the plant, on the number, survival, developmental/feeding speed, body mass/size and sex ratio of L. trifolii released after spraying. A qRT-PCR analysis was conducted to assess oxidative stress in L. trifolii based on the gene expression level of the two major antioxidant enzymes; catalase and superoxide dismutase. The number of mines, survival rate and puparia weight were lower than the control at the highest concentration of SiO₂NPs, while pupariation was delayed at most of the concentrations studied and puparium weight/size decreased at low concentrations. Sex ratio was not affected by SiO₂NPs. Gene expression levels of the antioxidant enzymes at the pupal stage were not significantly affected by SiO₂NPs at any concentration but some individuals showed up-regulation at low SiO₂NP concentrations, inferring development of resistance. This study demonstrated that a priori application of the highest concentration of SiO₂NPs to plants effectively reduces a leafminer population but that application of even the lowest concentration can decrease the life history trait values of surviving leafminers.

This study's objective was to propose the use of textile braiding manufacturing methods, thus facilitating the application of the high precision and accurate measurability of optical fiber Bragg grating sensors to various structures. The purpose of this study was to Combine 3d braid processing with the optical Bragg grating sensor's accurate metrology. Out of limits of the sensor's epoxy attachment methods, the textile braiding method can make applicable scope diversify. The braiding processing is capable of designing a 3D fabric module processing, multiple objective mechanical fiber arrangement, and material characteristics. Optical stress-strain response conditions were explored through the optimization of design elements between the Bragg grating sensor and braiding. For this study, Bragg grating sensors were located 75% apart from the fiber center. The sensor core structure is helical of 1.54 pitch. A polyurethane synthetic yarn was braided together with the sensor on the Weaving machine core part in a braiding. Prototyping results, a negative Poisson's ratio makes curled the braided Bragg grating sensor. The number of polyurethane string yarns has been conducted the role of wrap angle in braiding. The 12 strands condition showed an increase in double stress-strain response rate at a Poisson ratio of 1.3%, and 16 strands condition was found to affect the sensor with noise at a Poisson ratio of 1.5%. This study can suggest applying braid processing of the Bragg grating sensor, which is expected to create and develop a new monitoring sensor.

This study's objective was to propose the use of textile braiding manufacturing methods, thus facilitating the application of the high precision and accurate measurability of optical fiber Bragg grating sensors to various structures.The purpose of this study was to Combine 3d braid processing with the optical Bragg grating sensor's accurate metrology. Out of limits of the sensor's epoxy attachment methods, the textile braiding method can make applicable scope diversify. The braiding processing is capable of designing a 3D fabric module processing, multiple objective mechanical fiber arrangement, and material characteristics. Optical stress-strain response conditions were explored through the optimization of design elements between the Bragg grating sensor and braiding. For this study, Bragg grating sensors were located 75% apart from the fiber center. The sensor core structure is helical of 1.54 pitch. A polyurethane synthetic yarn was braided together with the sensor on the Weaving machine core part in a braiding.Prototyping results, a negative Poisson's ratio makes curled the braided Bragg grating sensor. The number of polyurethan string yarns has been conducted the role of wrap angle in braiding. The 12 strands condition showed an increase in double stress-strain response rate at a Poisson ratio of 1.3%, and 16 strands condition was found to affect the sensor with noise at a Poisson ratio of 1.5%. This study can suggest applying braid processing of the Bragg grating sensor, which is expected to create and develop a new monitoring sensor.

The adsorption of carbon dioxide on amino silanes-functionalized MCM-41 and SBA-15 materials is reported. The functionalization of mesoporous silicas was made by post-synthesis method, by impregnation of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, nitrogen adsorption-desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The carbon dioxide adsorption capacities for the samples were carried out under ambient pressures. The obtained results evidenced that amino-silanes with a terminal amine (–NH₂) were functionalized through covalent coupling of this group on the surface of the channels in the ordered mesoporous silica, meaning that the amine is anchored on the surface of the bigger pores of the MCM-41 and SBA-15 support. For functionalized materials, the CO₂ adsorption capacity of the AMCM-41 increased from 0.18 to 1.1 mmol·g⁻¹, whereas for ASBA-15, it was from 0.6 to 1.8 mmol·g⁻¹. The Lagergren kinetic algorithms were applied in order to validate the obtained results, evidencing the enhanced carbon dioxide adsorption capacity and stability of the functionalized ordered mesoporous molecular sieves.

Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) is known to be a serious problem for concrete worldwide, especially in high humidity and high temperature regions. ASR is a slow process that develops over years to decades and it is influenced by changes in environmental and loading conditions of the structure. The problem becomes even more complicated if one recognizes that other phenomena like creep and shrinkage are coupled with ASR. This results in synergistic mechanisms that can not be easily understood without a comprehensive computational model. In this paper, coupling between creep, shrinkage and ASR is modeled within the Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) framework. In order to achieve this, a multi-physics formulation is used to compute the evolution of temperature, humidity, cement hydration, and ASR in both space and time, which is then used within physics-based formulations of cracking, creep and shrinkage. The overall model is calibrated and validated on the basis of experimental data available in the literature. Results show that even during free expansions (zero macroscopic stress), a significant degree of coupling exists because ASR induced expansions are relaxed by meso-scale creep driven by self-equilibriated stresses at the meso-scale. This explains and highlights the importance of considering ASR and other time dependent aging and deterioration phenomena at an appropriate length scale in coupled modeling approaches.

(1) Background: The severity of malaria is associated with low bioavailability of antioxidants and high concentration of free radicals that induce oxidative damage in cerebral and pulmonary microcirculation. This can be prevented by the action of consumable antioxidants present in foods. Therefore, we investigated the protective role of lycopene (LYC) on the oxidative changes induced by Plasmodium berghei (Pb); (2) Methods: Mice were infected by intraperitoneal injection of 106 parasitized red blood cells and treated via gavage with LYC (3.11 mg/kg bw/day) or NAC (62 mg/kg bw/day). They were then evaluated for 1, 4, 8 or 12 days after infection. Levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), antioxidant capacity by inhibition of ABTS radicals (AC-ABTS) and DPPH (AC-DPPH), uric acid (UA), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured in brain and lung tissues; (3) Results: The infection caused oxidative stress confirmed by increased levels of TBARS, AC-ABTS, AC-DPPH, UA, and NO in the tissues leading to the death of the animals. LYC prevented the increase in TBARS, AU, and NO levels compared to Pb (p&lt; 0.0001) and NAC+Pb groups (p&lt;0.0001), reaching values similar to those of Sham animals; (4) Conclusions: These results are striking evidence of the beneficial effect of lycopene supplementation on oxidative stress in experimental malaria in vivo and emphasize the importance of antioxidant supplementation in the treatment of the disease.

The N-acylhydrazone function has been reported as a pharmacophore group of molecules with diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, this study evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of the compound N'-(3-(1H-indol-3-yl)benzylidene)-2-cyanoacetohydrazide (JR19) in vivo. The study started with the carrageenan-induced peritonitis model, followed by an investigation of leukocyte migration using the subcutaneous air pouch test and an assessment of the antinociceptive profile using formalin-induced pain. To find out the likely mechanism of action, a preliminary molecular docking study was performed focusing on the crystallographic structures of NFκB, iNOS, and sGCs. The computational study revealed satisfactory interaction energies with the selected targets, and the same peritonitis model was used to validate the involvement of the nitric oxide pathway and cytokine expression in the peritoneal exudate of mice pretreated with L-NAME or methylene blue. In the peritonitis assay, JR19 (10 and 20 mg/kg) reduced leukocyte migration by 59% and 52%, respectively, compared to the control group, with the 10 mg/kg dose used in subsequent assays. In the subcutaneous air pouch assay, the reduction in cell migration was 66%, and the response to intraplantar formalin was reduced by 39%, particularly during the inflammatory phase, suggesting that the compound lacks central analgesic activity. In addition, a reversal of the anti-inflammatory effect was observed in mice pretreated with L-NAME or methylene blue, indicating the involvement of iNOS and sGC in the anti-inflammatory response of JR19. The compound effectively and significantly decreased the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17, and IFN-γ, and this effect was reversed in animals pretreated with L-NAME, supporting a NO-dependent anti-inflammatory effect. In contrast, pretreatment with methylene blue only reversed the reduction in TNF-α levels. Therefore, these results demonstrate the pharmacological potential of the novel N-acylhydrazone derivative, which acts through the nitric oxide pathway and cytokine signaling, making it a strong candidate as an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agent.

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of different soil tillage practices in sunflower cultivation in a rotation system with intercropping Triticosecale x Pisum sativum. For this purpose a two year experimental field of 5% slope was established in central Greece. There were four treatments with three replications each. The treatments were: (a) no tillage - planting parallel to the contour (NTC-PAC), (b) conventional tillage - planting parallel to the contour (CTC-PAC), (c) no tillage - planting perpendicular to the contour (NTC-PEC), (d) conventional tillage - planting perpendicular to the contour (CTC-PEC). During the experiment plant height, leaf area index, specific leaf area, plants’ total nitrogen and plants’ proteins were measured. According to the results plant height ranged from 64.9 (CTC-PAC) to 85.2 cm (NTC-PEC) the 1st year and between 66.5 – 86.5 cm in CTC-PAC and NTC-PEC treatments in the 2nd year. Furthermore, LAI and SLA, plant’s total nitrogen and protein content and N-uptake were affected positively by the no tillage practice. To conclude, sunflower is a promising crop in a rotation system with intercropping Triticosecale x Pisum sativum, cultivating under rainfed sloping conditions.

Inappropriate use of fertilizers is one of the major production constraints in sesame. Studies to optimize the use of N fertilizer on sesame were conducted at Humera Agricultural Research Center (HuARC) under rain fed and irrigation conditions. Thirteen (13) N doses were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) during 2016, 2017 and 2018. In the rain fed condition; results showed higher number of days to 50% flowering on the higher N application. The 31-121.5 kg N ha-1 have scored higher seed yield, where the lower (18 kg N ha-1) and higher (156 kg N ha-1) N doses scored lower seed yield. In the irrigation condition; higher N application rate prolonged the flowering time to some extent and days to 90% maturity was reduced as N rate increased. Heavier seed weights and maximum seed yield were recorded on 64 and 75 kg N ha-1 and the lower N doses scored low seed yield. Agronomic efficiency of N fertilizer (N-AE) was higher on 64 kg N ha-1 under both growing conditions. The partial budget analysis revealed that 64 kg N ha-1 (rain fed) and 75 kg N ha-1 (irrigation) had the higher net profit, MRR and residual ranking. Therefore, for the greater sesame productivity 64 kg N ha-1 has to be recommended for rain fed and 64 to 75 kg N ha-1 for the irrigated sesame.

In no-tillage systems, there is an accumulation of crop residues (CR) which plays an important role in available of soil-N. A study was set up to provide information regarding the CR N credit, and the influence of N mineral fertilizer. An incubation was run in a loam soil with addition of a similar rate of residue (10 Mg ha-1; sugarcane, soybean, and brachiaria) and N mineral fertilizer (urea; 120 kg N ha-1). After the stabilization of biological activity, soil and remaining residues were collected, and N monitored. Results showed that the N credit was positive with application of soybean, sugarcane, and brachiaria. There was an expressive performance of soybean N credit represented by a positive balance, and a reduction from 2.49 to 0.9 g kg-1 of N in residue, with direct increase of 90% of soil-N. There is no need of N fertilizer to potentialize the soybean N credit, but it is requested to potentialize N credit of brachiaria and sugarcane. The urea demonstrated be a good enhancer of brachiaria N credit, but it was not adequate to sugarcane residues. Based in our result, the accumulation and incorporation of CR can be considered as a N credit with positive contribution in soil-N.

The high interest in N-heterocyclic platinum carbene complexes in cancer research stems from their high cytotoxicity to human cancer cells, their stability, as well as their ease of functionalization. However, the development of these new molecules as anticancer agents still faces multiple challenges, in particular solubility in aqueous media. Here, we synthesized platinum-NHC bioconjugates that combine water-solubility and cytotoxicity by using polyethyleneimine as polymer carrier. We showed that the activity of these conjugates is modulated by the size of the polymer and the overall density of metal ions onto polymer chains. They displayed an effective activity after only 45 minutes of exposure in vitro correlated with a quick uptake by the cells as shown by the use of various fluorescent-tagged derivatives.

Researches on flexible thermoelectric (TE) materials usually focus on conducting polymers (CPs) and CP-based composites; however, it is a great challenge to obtain high TE properties comparable to inorganic counterparts. Here, we report an n-type Ag₂Se film on flexible nylon membrane with an ultrahigh power factor ~987.4 ± 104.1 μWm⁻¹K⁻² at 300 K and an excellent flexibility (93% of the original electrical conductivity retention after 1000 bending cycles around a 8-mm diameter rod). The flexibility is attributed to a synergetic effect of the nylon membrane and the Ag₂Se film intertwined with numerous high-aspect-ratio Ag₂Se grains. A TE prototype composed of 4-leg of the hybrid film generates a voltage and a maximum power of 19 mV and 460 nW, respectively, at a temperature difference of 30 K. This work opens opportunities of searching for high performance TE film for flexible TE devices.

In this work the influence of the structure forming agent on the composition, morphology and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of Fe-N-C catalysts was investigated. As structure forming agent (SFA), dicyandiamide (DCDA) (nitrogen source) or oxalic acid (oxygen source) or mixtures thereof were used. For characterization, cyclic voltammetry and rotating disc electrode (RDE) experiments were performed in 0.1 M H2SO4. In addition to this, N2 sorption measurements and Raman spectroscopy were performed for the structural characterization. The role of metal, nitrogen and carbon sources within the synthesis of Fe-N-C catalysts has been pointed out before. Here, we show that the optimum in terms of ORR activity is achieved if both N- and O-containing SFAs are used in almost similar fractions. All catalysts display a redox couple, whereat its position depends on the fractions of SFAs. The SFA has also a strong impact on the morphology: Catalysts that were prepared with a larger fraction of N-containing SFA revealed a higher order in graphitization, indicated by bands in the 2nd order range of the Raman spectra. Nevertheless, the optimum in terms of ORR activity is obtained for the catalyst with highest D/G band ratio. Therefore, the results indicate that the presence of an additional oxygen-containing SFA is beneficial within the preparation.

In order to understand the effect of Pb-CuI co-doping on the thermoelectric performance of Bi₂Te₃, n-type Bi₂Te₃ co-doped with x at% CuI and 1/2x at% Pb (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, and 0.10) were prepared via high temperature solid state reaction and consolidated using spark plasma sintering. Electron and thermal transport properties, i.e., electrical conductivity, carrier concentration, Hall mobility, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity, of CuI-Pb co-doped Bi₂Te₃ were measured in the temperature range from 300 K to 523 K and compared to corresponding x% of CuI-doped Bi₂Te₃ and undoped Bi₂Te₃. The addition of a small amount of Pb significantly decreased the carrier concentration, which could be attributed to the holes from Pb atoms, thus the CuI-Pb co-doped samples show a lower electrical conductivity and a higher Seebeck coefficient compared to CuI-doped samples with similar x values. The incorporation of Pb into CuI-doped Bi₂Te₃ rarely changed the power factor because of the trade-off relationship between the electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient. The total thermal conductivity(κ_tot) of co-doped samples (κ_tot ~1.4 W/m∙K at 300 K) is slightly lower than that of 1% CuI-doped Bi₂Te₃ (κ_tot~1.5 W/m∙K at 300 K) and undoped Bi₂Te₃ (κ_tot ~1.6 W/m∙K at 300 K) due to the alloy scattering. The 1% CuI-Pb co-doped Bi₂Te₃ sample shows the highest ZT value of 0.96 at 370 K. All data on electrical and thermal transport properties suggest that the thermoelectric properties of Bi₂Te₃ and its operating temperature can be controlled by co-doping.

In agriculture, soil-borne fungal pathogens, especially Fusarium oxysporum strains, are posing a serious threat to efforts to achieve global food security. In the search for safer agrochemicals, silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) have recently been proposed as a new tool to alleviate pathogen damage including Fusarium wilt. Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs), a unique class of SiO2NPs, have been widely accepted as a desired pesticide carrier. However, their role in enhancing the disease resistance and the specific mechanism remain unknown. In this study, three sizes of HMSNs (19, 96 and 406 nm as HMSNs–19, HMSNs–96 and HMSNs–406, respectively) were synthesized and characterized to determine their effects on seed germination, seedling growth, and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseolus (FOP) suppression in cowpea roots by foliar spray using phenotypes, fresh biomass and disease progression as indicators. The results revealed that three HMSNs exhibited no adverse impacts on seed germination and tended to improve plant growth. Also, they exert their FOP suppression with a size- and concentration-dependent manner. HMSNs–406 possessed the best control effect at a concentration of 1000 mg/L showing an upto 40.00% decline in the disease severity. The Si(OH)4 control was also effective on FOP suppression at a lower concentration of 100 mg/L, whereas its higher concentrations exhibited obviously adverse impacts on FOP control, seed germination and plant growth. Moreover, we conformed that HMSNs posed their Fusarium wilt suppression in cowpea plant by activating SA (salicylic acid)-dependent SAR (systemic acquired resistance) responses rather than directly suppressing FOP. A higher level of SA content and elevated expression of its maker genes of PR-1 and PR-5 in HMSNs–406 treated cowpea roots provided substantial evidences of this mode of action. Other resistance-related genes, as well as defense-responsive enzymes, were also involved in the HMSNs-activated SAR pathway. Overall, for the first time, our results extended a new role of HMSNs as a potent elicitor to serve as a versatile alternative for plant disease protection of low cost, highly efficiency and sustainability.

In tire tread applications, achieving enhanced abrasion resistance, wet grip, and rolling resistance is crucial for optimizing overall performance. To realize improvements in these attributes for silica-filled tire tread compound, it becomes imperative to improve dispersity of silica filler with investigating the effect of each component in tire tread compound. In this work, we study the effect of styrene content within solution styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR) on the properties of tire tread compounds. A higher styrene segment within SSBR contributes to increased silica dispersion and crosslink density. Thus, tire tread compounds featuring SSBR with increased styrene content not only improve physical and mechanical properties but also enhance major characteristics tailored for tire tread applications. These findings provide valuable insights into advancing the reinforced performance of tire tread compounds through the strategic utilization of SSBR enriched in styrene content.

Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (POSS) are one of the smallest silica nano particles. The presence of ordered ladder-like or cage conformation in their structure leads to remarkable thermal stability far greater than that for a linear polysiloxane. Reinforcement with nano particles is one of the recently favored strategy used to enhance the performance of polymers materials. The cyclic silica structure present in POSS ensures excellent thermal and mechanical stability. As a reinforcing filler, POSS can enhance the resistance of polymer matrix against pyrolysis and corrosion. In this paper, amine-terminated POSS with ladder like structure was synthesized by condensation of hydrolyzed aminosilane coupling agent. The ladder-like structure of POSS severely limits the motion of the chain backbone. The absence of phase transition for the synthesized POSS was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was utilized to evaluate the thermal stability of POSS. TGA data show that the ladder-like POSS reported here has high char yield of about 75 % in nitrogen atmosphere and 54% in air atmosphere at 800℃. The TGA derivative curves show that the degradation of ladder-like POSS involves multiple stages and that the degradation rate is directly proportional to the heating rate. With the aid of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), the cyclic structure of Si-O-Si bonding was determined to be the predominant structure. By analyzing the FTIR spectra of the cured POSS residue obtained at the specified temperatures, the detailed degradation mechanism of POSS was inferred. From the FTIR spectra of the low temperature cured samples, it was shown that the terminal silanol group was eliminated below 400℃. Some intermediate polymeric siloxane structures were observed by means of FT-IR and they eventually transitioned into silica which is the final product of pyrolysis of POSS. The presence of the FTIR transmission peaks at 1000 and 1100 cm-1, due to asymmetrical vertical and horizontal stretching of Si-O-Si, were the key evidence for the inferred ladder-like structure of POSS.