Bennetsensalling7070

A (111) predominant cubic Cu2O film terminated with nanopyramids was electrodeposited on copper foam as the cathode for electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate. The nitrate removal efficiency reached 94.3% and the selectivity for nontoxic nitrogen gas was 49.2%, 99% and 64.2% in neutral solution, alkaline solution and spiked actual lake water, respectively.Preparation of antibacterial coating materials is considered an effective strategy to prevent medical device-related infections. In the present study, by combining 2-lactobionamidoethyl methacrylamide with a uniquely structured borneol compound, new copolymers poly(2-lactobionamidoethyl methacrylamide-co-glycidyl methacrylate-co-isobornyl acrylate) (poly(LAEMA-co-GMA-co-BA)) were synthesized by a simple free-radical polymerization. An amine containing silane layer was first prepared on the substrate surface by a silanization reaction. The glycopolymers were grafted onto the silane layer through covalent bonding to obtain glycosylated coatings. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the successful preparation of the APTES-functionalized surface and polymer layers. The surface wettability was measured by the contact angle (CA). The coated surfaces were relatively flat and smooth as confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Moreover, the prepared coatings showed good antibacterial adhesion properties toward both E. coli and S. aureus. Furthermore, no significant cytotoxicity to the MRC-5 cells (lung fibroblasts) in vitro was observed, indicating the good biocompatibility of the antibacterial coatings. This study provides an excellent strategy for designing an antibacterial surface containing glycopolymers and natural antibacterial compounds, and these coatings may be suitable for medical devices.Artificial ion channels with ion permeability and selectivity comparable to their biological counterparts are highly desired for efficient separation, biosensing, and energy conversion technologies. In the past two decades, both nanoscale and sub-nanoscale ion channels have been successfully fabricated to mimic biological ion channels. Although nanoscale ion channels have achieved intelligent gating and rectification properties, they cannot realize high ion selectivity, especially single-ion selectivity. Artificial angstrom-sized ion channels with narrow pore sizes less then 1 nm and well-defined pore structures mimicking biological channels have accomplished high ion conductivity and single-ion selectivity. This review comprehensively summarizes the research progress in the rational design and synthesis of artificial subnanometer-sized ion channels with zero-dimensional to three-dimensional pore structures. Then we discuss cation/anion, mono-/di-valent cation, mono-/di-valent anion, and single-ion selectivities of the synthetic ion channels and highlight their potential applications in high-efficiency ion separation, energy conversion, and biological therapeutics. The gaps of single-ion selectivity between artificial and natural channels and the connections between ion selectivity and permeability of synthetic ion channels are covered. Finally, the challenges that need to be addressed in this research field and the perspective of angstrom-scale ion channels are discussed.We have utilized photoluminescence spectroscopy and optical ellipsometry to characterize the dose-dependence of the photoluminescence emission intensity and changes in optical absorption of thoria single crystals subject to irradiation with energetic protons at room- and elevated-temperatures. The photoluminescence peaks and the optical absorption bands are attributed to creation of new electronic states emerging from defects resulting from displacement damage. These bands are most likely associated with electrons trapped at the oxygen vacancy sites similar to color centers formed in other irradiated oxides and halides. Our experimental observations are supported by a standard density functional theory calculation of the electronic structure in pristine and oxygen vacancy-bearing thoria crystals. The dose-dependence of the intensity of the photoluminescence peaks is used to parameterize a rate theory model that estimates the concentration of color centers in the irradiated crystals. This parameterization provides optimized migration barrier parameters for oxygen interstitials and vacancies that simultaneously capture the optical response of the crystals irradiated at room- and elevated-temperature. These optical spectroscopy techniques offer a promising pathway to characterize the population of color centers formed at the sites of oxygen anion vacancies, particularly in irradiated nuclear fuels, where atomic-level defects cannot be readily imaged using electron microscopy. When combined with other direct and indirect characterization tools, our approach can provide new insight into defect formation and accumulation in energy materials over single atomic to extended length scales.The present study evaluated the antiparasitic effect of curcumin extract on Schistosoma mansoni in Swiss albino mice. The experimental design included four groups of S. mansoni - infected mice; without treatment (controls), curcumin-treated, Praziquantel (PZQ)-treated, and PZQ +curcumin treated mice. The results showed that curcumin improved ISHAK confluent necrosis score up to zero. PZQ +curcumin showed a significant reduction in portal inflammation. Both activity and fibrosis demonstrated lower scores in all treated groups, however, PZQ revealed a marked increase in confluent necrosis and interface hepatitis. Besides, the lobular inflammation revealed worsening in the overall ISHAK score in all treated groups compared with the control. Few periocular granulomas were recovered by PZQ +curcumin treatment at day 35 post-treatment (6±1.2), P-value less then 0.05. Infigratinib Curcumin revealed a mild reduction (60±7.376). Curcumin-treated groups, with and without PZQ, resulted in higher significant Immunoreactivity score (IRS) for Bcl-2-associated X (BAX) and lower Interleukine- 17A (IL-17A), and Human epidermal growth factor (EGF), compared to the control. However, PZQ revealed a lower mean IRS value in BAX, higher IL-17A and EGF in the periovulatory granuloma. It was concluded that PZQ +curcumin treatment had a potent synergistic outcome through lessening the number of granulomas, the inflammatory events, and the expression of EGF, and amelioration of apoptosis in the periovulatory granulomas if compared with either PZQ or curcumin alone.Platynosomum fastosum (synonym Platynosomum concinnum, Platynosomum illiciens ) is a hepatic fluke causing platynosomiasis or 'lizard poisoning' in cats. This disease is generally being underestimated by veterinary practitioners due to lack of awareness and difficulty in diagnosis although the severe cases of platynosomiasis could be fatal. This study was designed to detect the presence of cat liver fluke through faecal examination among cats kept in shelters, pet cats and stray cats around Klang Valley, Malaysia. The detection of liver flukes among stray cats was based on post-mortem examination. A total of 201 faecal samples were collected from eight shelters (n = 119) and five veterinary clinics (n = 82) in Klang Valley were subjected to simple floatation and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques for ova detection. P. fastosum ova were identified in three faecal samples obtained from shelters (2.52%) and three samples collected from veterinary clinics (3.66%) by faecal examination. A total of 51 stray cats were procured from Pest and Animal Control Unit of the respective municipality. The cats were euthanised and necropsied to collect liver samples and bile duct. The liver was then dissected for isolation and identification of the fluke and bile duct fluid were aspirated for detection of fluke ova. Twelve cats (23.5%) were positive for P. fastosum and ova were found in their bile. Macroscopically, affected cats showed mottled liver (33.3%), distended gall bladder with thick tenacious bile (66.7%) that microscopically exhibited hepatic steatosis (25.0%) and hepatitis (33.3%). The severity of parasite load was almost equally distributed between the positive cats with low (n = 5, 55.6%; > 125 adult fluke) and high parasite burden (n = 4, 44.4%; less then 125 adult fluke) cats, respectively. This study revealed the detection of P. fastosum among pet, shelters and stray cats in Klang Valley, Malaysia.Plant essential oils were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The isolates (n=03) were procured from Institute of Microbiology, UVAS Lahore, Pakistan. After biochemical and 16S rRNA gene-based PCR characterization, accession numbers were retrieved from NCBI i.e. MW344063.1, MW344064.1 and MW344065.1. These isolates exhibited molecular positivity by multiplex PCR for mecA, coa and eta toxin genes. Moreover, these isolates exhibited resistance to cefoxitin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, amoxicillin clavulanate, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and gentamicin. The antibiotic resistant isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils. The highest zone of inhibition (mean ZOI±S.D.) was measured for Cinnamomum verum (22.67±1.52 mm) followed by Eucalyptus globulus (18.67±2.51 mm) and Syzygium aromaticum (12.67±2.51 mm). Lowest mean MIC value (0.33±0.11 mg/mL) was recorded for E. globulus . Eucalyptus globulus was processed for fractionation by column chromatography and n-hexane, chloroform, n-hexane + chloroform and ethyl-acetate fractions were evaluated for antibacterial activity. Lowest mean MIC (10.04±5.80 mg/mL) was recorded for E. globulus n-hexane fraction. Cell survival percentage of BHK21 cell line was 51.7% at 54.87mg/mL concentration of E. globulus n-hexane fraction. Through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of n-hexane fraction, benzene was found abundant (29.9%) as active compound. It was concluded that E. globulus n-hexane fraction exhibited significantly promising results against MRSA .Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is an active agent against Burkholderia pseudomallei and is being used in intensive and maintenance phases of melioidosis therapy. In this study, we evaluated the bactericidal activities of β-lactams (imipenem, ceftazidime and amoxicillin- clavulanate) alone and in combinations with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole against B. pseudomallei . Four clinical strains of B. pseudomallei were selected based on different genotypes that are frequently found in Malaysia. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ceftazidime, imipenem and amoxicillin-clavulanate were determined using microdilution broth method. The bactericidal activities and synergy effects of β-lactams and/or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were evaluated by checkerboard and static time-kill analyses at 1×MIC concentration of each antibiotic. Using checkerboard method, the β-lactam/trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole combinations exhibited ΣFIC of 0.75-4.00. In time-kill analysis, ceftazidime/trimethoprmenon can lead to treatment failure in some patients.The present study aimed to identify larval trematodes shed by snails found in water bodies used by urban communities in a former schistosomiasis endemic area in the state of Piauí, in the Brazilian semiarid region. A malacological survey was performed followed by analysis of the cercariae shed by the snails after light exposure. Biomphalaria straminea specimens (n=1,224) were obtained from all seven collection sites. Cercariae shed by snails were i) single tailed, in which one type of cercariae was identified ( Echinostoma cercariae), and ii) with bifurcated tail (brevifurcate apharyngeate distome, brevifurcate pharyngeate distome, and longifurcate pharyngeate distome [strigeocercaria]). Brevifurcate apharyngeate distome were further examined and the presence of spikes in swimming membranes enabled the identification of Spirorchiidae cercariae in all individuals, demonstrating the absence of cercariae compatible with Schistosoma mansoni . Nevertheless, the accurate diagnosis of S. mansoni circulation in former endemic areas is still necessary.