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Journal of Vector Borne Diseases Apr 2024In Port Blair, the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, India, there was a sudden increase in fever cases resembling the symptoms of dengue in the...
BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES
In Port Blair, the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, India, there was a sudden increase in fever cases resembling the symptoms of dengue in the monsoon period of 2022. Hence, an investigation was carried out to find out epidemiological and entomological reasons behind the outbreak.
METHODS
An entomological survey was carried out in 24 wards of Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC) area, epidemiological data of last six years (January-December 2017-2021 and January-October 2022) and patient details of the year 2022 were collected. Both the epidemiological and entomological data were analyzed concerning time and place.
RESULTS
During this outbreak period tyres (22.4%) came out as a major breeding habitat followed by small discarded materials (17.5%), metal drums (15.3%), and plastic drums (11.7%). In rainy season, peri-domestic breeding (55%) was more than the domestic breeding (45%) habitat. Ae. aegypti had a high preference for indoor large containers (100-1000 L) like plastic tank, metal drum and cement tank whereasAe. albopictus prefers to breed in medium sized plastic container (20-100 L) and outdoor water receptacles like tyres, flower pots, and domestic discarded materials.
INTERPRETATION CONCLUSION
By source reduction, indoor space spray and outdoor fogging, vector density was controlled which curtailed the transmission and within eight weeks a decreasing trend of dengue cases was noticed. A regular entomological survey is crucial to know the seasonality and key breeding habitats of the vector for proper planning of vector control.
PubMed: 38922656
DOI: 10.4103/jvbd.jvbd_144_23 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Jun 2024Encapsulating enzymes within metal-organic frameworks such as zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) has been demonstrated to enhance enzymatic performance under harsh...
Encapsulating enzymes within metal-organic frameworks such as zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) has been demonstrated to enhance enzymatic performance under harsh conditions. However, by computer-aided analysis, we revealed that highly hydrophobic organic ligands and unfavorable metal ions could greatly impair the activity of haloalkane dehalogenase DhaA by directly interacting with the catalytic sites, causing an extremely low activity of DhaA after encapsulating within ZIF-8. We also found that the presence of a protecting polymer could protect DhaA from the damage of organic ligands and metal ions and that a positively charged amino acid could increase the DhaA activity. Based on the simulations and experimental observations, we have designed to coencapsulate DhaA with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and lysine (Lys) within the amorphous Co-based metal azolate coordination polymer (CoCP). The as-prepared immobilized enzyme (DhaA/PVP/Lys@CoCP) exhibited significantly increased activity (91.5 times higher than that of DhaA@ZIF-8), dramatically enhanced thermostability at 50-70 °C, greatly improved catalytic performance in several organic solvent solutions, and good recyclability (over 75% of the initial activity after 10 cycles). The superiority of the immobilized enzyme was also demonstrated with a substrate frequently detected in the real world. In addition to the protective effect of PVP and positive effect of Lys, experimental and computational investigations unveiled other two favorable aspects that contributed to the enhanced enzymatic performance: (1) high hydrophilicity of the immobilization material and (2) the use of Co with a minimal negative effect on DhaA. The research has thus provided a promising immobilized DhaA with favorable catalytic performance and great potential in industrial applications.
PubMed: 38922631
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c06357 -
Inorganic Chemistry Jun 2024Three coordination polymers were successfully constructed in this work by applying biligands and were distinctly characterized through single crystal X-ray diffraction....
Three coordination polymers were successfully constructed in this work by applying biligands and were distinctly characterized through single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds crystallized in acentric and centric space groups under the direction of coordination bonds and adopted 1-dimensional link and 2-dimensional layer structures, as well as different coordination geometries for metal atoms. All compounds exhibited good thermal stability and luminescence properties, and compound exhibited a good second harmonic generation (SHG) response. The method used in this work offers a feasible approach to using biligand and changing metal salt to obtain the microstructures of coordination materials with specific properties.
PubMed: 38922623
DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c01927 -
Inorganic Chemistry Jun 2024The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) plays a vital role in many next-generation electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices, motivating the search for low-cost...
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) plays a vital role in many next-generation electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices, motivating the search for low-cost ORR electrocatalysts possessing high activity and excellent durability. In this work, we demonstrate that iron-cobalt phosphide (FeCoP) nanoparticles encapsulated in a N-doped carbon framework (FeCoP@NC) represent a very promising catalyst for the ORR in alkaline media. The core-shell structured FeCoP@NC catalyst offered outstanding ORR activity with a half-wave potential () of 0.86 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and excellent stability in a 0.1 M KOH electrolyte, outperforming commercial Pt/C and many recently reported noble-metal-free ORR electrocatalysts. The superiority of FeCoP@NC as an ORR electrocatalyst relative to Pt/C was further verified in prototype zinc-air batteries (ZABs), with the aqueous and flexible ZABs prepared using FeCoP@NC offering excellent stability, impressive open circuit voltages (1.56 and 1.44 V, respectively), and high maximum power densities (183.5 and 69.7 mW cm, respectively). Density functional theory calculations revealed that encapsulating FeCoP nanoparticles in N-doped carbon shells resulted in favorable electron penetration effects, which synergistically regulated the adsorption/desorption of ORR intermediates for optimal ORR performance while also boosting the electronic conductivity. Our findings offer valuable new insights for rational design of transition metal phosphide-based catalysts for the ORR and other electrochemical applications.
PubMed: 38922608
DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c02077 -
Marine Biotechnology (New York, N.Y.) Jun 2024Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), including beta-defensin from fish, are a crucial class of peptide medicines. The focus of the current study is the molecular and...
A Novel Beta-Defensin Isoform from Malabar Trevally, Carangoides malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), an Arsenal Against Fish Bacterial Pathogens: Molecular Characterization, Recombinant Production, and Mechanism of Action.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), including beta-defensin from fish, are a crucial class of peptide medicines. The focus of the current study is the molecular and functional attributes of CmDef, a 63-amino acid beta-defensin AMP from Malabar trevally, Carangoides malabaricus. This peptide demonstrated typical characteristics of AMPs, including hydrophobicity, amphipathic nature, and +2.8 net charge. The CmDef was recombinantly expressed and the recombinant peptide, rCmDef displayed a strong antimicrobial activity against bacterial fish pathogens with an MIC of 8 µM for V. proteolyticus and 32 µM for A. hydrophila. The E. tarda and V. harveyi showed an inhibition of 94% and 54%, respectively, at 32 µM concentration. No activity was observed against V. fluvialis and V. alginolyticus. The rCmDef has a multimode of action that exerts an antibacterial effect by membrane depolarization followed by membrane permeabilization and ROS production. rCmDef also exhibited anti-cancer activities in silico without causing hemolysis. The peptide demonstrated stability under various conditions, including different pH levels, temperatures, salts, and metal ions (KCl and CaCl), and remained stable in the presence of proteases such as trypsin and proteinase K at concentrations up to 0.2 µg/100 µl. The strong antibacterial efficacy and non-cytotoxic nature suggest that rCmDef is a single-edged sword that can contribute significantly to aquaculture disease management.
PubMed: 38922559
DOI: 10.1007/s10126-024-10338-4 -
Mikrochimica Acta Jun 2024A ratiometric fluorescence sensing strategy has been developed for the determination of Cu and glyphosate with high sensitivity and specificity based on OPD...
A ratiometric fluorescence sensing strategy has been developed for the determination of Cu and glyphosate with high sensitivity and specificity based on OPD (o-phenylenediamine) and glutathione-stabilized gold nanoclusters (GSH-AuNCs). Water-soluble 1.75-nm size GSH-AuNCs with strong red fluorescence and maximum emission wavelength at 682 nm were synthesized using GSH as the template. OPD was oxidized by Cu, which produced the bright yellow fluorescence oxidation product 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) with a maximum fluorescence emission peak at 570 nm. When glyphosate existed in the system, the chelation between glyphosate and Cu hindered the formation of DAP and reduced the fluorescence intensity of the system at the wavelength of 570 nm. Meanwhile, the fluorescence intensity at the wavelength of 682 nm remained basically stable. It exhibited a good linear relationship towards Cu and glyphosate in water in the range 1.0-10 µM and 0.050-3.0 µg/mL with a detection limit of 0.547 µM and 0.0028 µg/mL, respectively. The method was also used for the semi-quantitative determination of Cu and glyphosate in water by fluorescence color changes visually detected by the naked eyes in the range 1.0-10 µM and 0.30-3.0 µg/mL, respectively. The sensing strategy showed higher sensitivity, more obvious color changes, and better disturbance performance, satisfying with the detection demands of Cu and glyphosate in environmental water samples. The study provides a reliable detection strategy in the environment safety fields.
Topics: Glyphosate; Glycine; Copper; Metal Nanoparticles; Phenylenediamines; Gold; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Limit of Detection; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Colorimetry; Glutathione; Herbicides; Fluorescent Dyes
PubMed: 38922503
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06484-0 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Jun 2024Biogas, as a sustainable energy source, encounters challenges in practical applications due to impurities, notably carbon dioxide (CO), and nitrogen (N). This study...
Biogas, as a sustainable energy source, encounters challenges in practical applications due to impurities, notably carbon dioxide (CO), and nitrogen (N). This study investigates the effect of metal/clay ratio on the adsorption selectivity of porous zirconium-pillared clay adsorbents for biogas upgradation. Comprehensive analyses including nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were conducted to evaluate the physicochemical properties. Adsorption properties for Zr-pillared clays for biogas components such as CO, CH, and N, at 25 °C under different pressures were investigated. The ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) was employed to assess selectivity for three binary gas mixtures (CO/CH, CO/N, and CH/N). Results revealed the substantial impact of Zr/Clay ratio on both adsorption capacity and selectivity of the prepared materials. For instance, the maximum adsorption capacity of gases varies as ZrPILC-4 > ZrPILC-2 > ZrPILC-8 > ZrPILC-1, whereas the adsorption selectivity for CO/CH separation (at 1000 kPa) varies as ZrPILC-1 > ZrPILC-2 > ZrPILC-8 > ZrPILC-4. Interestingly, the ZrPILC-8 with maximum surface area (147 m∙g) did not show maximum adsorption capacity for all the three gases, which was attributed to its lower pore volume, and basal spacing, as compared to ZrPILC-4. Amongst all the pillared samples, the ZrPILC-1 exhibited highest selectivity for all binary mixtures (at 1000 kPa), signifies increased nonspecific interactions due to its lower surface area. Its separation performance, particularly for CO/CH mixture exceeded that of the parent clay by 1.5 times. A significant increase in the working capacity of the prepared samples underscores the efficacy of these pillared materials in separating biogas components. This study provides valuable insights into effects of Zr/clay ratio for developing robust pillared adsorbents, contributing to the advancement of sustainable biomethane production.
PubMed: 38922470
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34018-x -
Mikrochimica Acta Jun 2024Since 2017, an infectious goose gout disease characterized by urate precipitation in viscera, mainly caused by novel goose astrovirus (GoAstV) infection, has emerged in...
Since 2017, an infectious goose gout disease characterized by urate precipitation in viscera, mainly caused by novel goose astrovirus (GoAstV) infection, has emerged in the main goose-producing region of China. The current challenge in managing goose gout disease is largely due to the absence of a rapid and efficient detection method for the GoAstV pathogen. Notably, the potential application of immunosensors in detecting GoAstV has not yet been explored. Herein, a label-free PEC immunosensor was fabricated by using purchased TiO as the photoactive material and antibody against GoAstV P2 proteins as the specific recognition element. First, we successfully expressed the capsid spike domain P2 protein of ORF2 from GoAstV CHSH01 by using the pET prokaryotic expression system. Meanwhile, the polyclonal antibody against GoAstV capsid P2 protein was produced by purified protein. To our knowledge, this is the first establishment and preliminary application of the label-free photoelectrochemical immunosensor method in the detection of AstV. The PEC immunosensor had a linear range of 1.83 fg mL to 3.02 ng mL, and the limit of detection (LOD) was as low as 0.61 fg mL. This immunosensor exhibited high sensitivity, great specificity, and good stability in detecting GoAstV P2 proteins. To evaluate the practical application of the immunosensor in real-world sample detection, allantoic fluid from goose embryos was collected as test samples. The results indicated that of the eight positive samples, one false negative result was detected, while both negative samples were accurately detected, suggesting that the constructed PEC immunosensor had good applicability and practical application value, providing a platform for the qualitative detection of GoAstV.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Electrochemical Techniques; Animals; Limit of Detection; Immunoassay; Titanium; Geese; Capsid Proteins; Avastrovirus; Antibodies, Immobilized; Antibodies, Viral; Photochemical Processes
PubMed: 38922459
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06514-x -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Jun 2024In this study, a convenient chitosan oligosaccharide laser lithograph (COSLL) technology was developed to fabricate laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes and flexible...
In this study, a convenient chitosan oligosaccharide laser lithograph (COSLL) technology was developed to fabricate laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes and flexible on-chip microsupercapacitors (MSCs). With a simple one-step CO laser, the pyrolysis of a chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) and in situ welding of the generated LIGs to engineering plastic substrates are achieved simultaneously. The resulting LIG products display a hierarchical porous architecture, excellent electrical conductivity (6.3 Ω sq), and superhydrophilic properties, making them ideal electrode materials for MSCs. The pyrolysis-welding coupled mechanism is deeply discussed through cross-sectional analyses and finite element simulations. The MSCs prepared by COSLL exhibit considerable areal capacitance of over 4 mF cm, which is comparable to that of the polyimide-LIG-based counterpart. COSLL is also compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) and micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) processes, enabling the fabrication of LIG/Au MSCs with comparable areal capacitance and lower internal resistance. Furthermore, the as-prepared MSCs demonstrate excellent mechanical robustness, long-cycle capability, and ease of series-parallel integration, benefiting their practical application in various scenarios. With the use of eco-friendly biomass carbon source and convenient process flowchart, the COSLL emerges as an attractive method for the fabrication of flexible LIG on-chip MSCs and various other advanced LIG devices.
PubMed: 38922439
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c02139 -
Transgenic Research Jun 2024Phytoremediation is an environmental safety strategy that might serve as a viable preventative approach to reduce soil contamination in a cost-effective manner. Using... (Review)
Review
Phytoremediation is an environmental safety strategy that might serve as a viable preventative approach to reduce soil contamination in a cost-effective manner. Using plants to remediate pollution from the environment is referred to as phytoremediation. In the past few decades, plants have undergone genetic manipulation to overcome inherent limitations by using genetically modified plants. This review illustrates the eco-friendly process of cleaning the environment using transgenic strategies combined with omics technologies. Herbicides tolerance and phytoremediation abilities have been established in genetically modified plants. Transgenic plants have eliminated the pesticides atrazine and metolachlor from the soil. To expand the application of genetically engineered plants for phytoremediation process, it is essential to test strategies in the field and have contingency planning. Omics techniques were used for understanding various genetic, hormonal, and metabolic pathways responsible for phytoremediation in soil. Transcriptomics and metabolomics provide useful information as resources to understand the mechanisms behind phytoremediation. This review aims to highlight the integration of transgenic strategies and omics technologies to enhance phytoremediation efficiency, emphasizing the need for field testing and comprehensive planning for successful implementation.
PubMed: 38922381
DOI: 10.1007/s11248-024-00393-x