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Sulfur-containing species are suggested as the UV absorbers in Venus’s atmosphere, which can be generated by photochemistry or electrochemistry. Here we report an electrical discharge experiment in the mixtures of SO2 with SO2 + N2, under the conditions relevant to the Venus cloud layer. We directly observed the primary breakdown products of SO2 as free radicals SO*, SI*, SII*, S2*, OI*, OII*; and the stable ending products as S8 particles and H2SO4 droplets. The observation of these products in a short-duration (minutes) experiment implies the formation of short-lived intermediate phases, including (SO)2 and polysulfur, as recognized candidates for the 2nd UV absorber. The simultaneous occurrence of SO* and S2* under all experimental conditions indicates an equal probability for two reaction paths and two groups of products. Compared with photochemistry, the high yields of electrochemistry could be responsible for the inhomogeneous distribution and temporal changes of UV features in Venus images observed by ground-based telescopes and spacecraft.

Purpose This study aims to prepare low-cost biomaterials from renewable natural resources (rosin). Design/methodology/approach Preparation of different biomaterials, ethylene glycol maleic rosin (EGMR), glycerol maleic rosin, pentaerythritol maleic rosin and sorbitol maleic rosin (SMR) esters, then evaluated by stability studies, moisture absorption, swelling index parameters, thermogravimetric analysis and skin irritation studies. Findings The prepared rosin derivatives had excellent moisture safety, according to the results. From EGMR to SMR, the swelling indices increase. Research limitations/implications These rosin biomaterials were used in coating, especially in the field of pharmaceutical coating, and good results were obtained in this study. Practical implications As these biomaterials rosin derivatives have excellent moisture resistance, they are recommended for use as coating materials for moisture-sensitive drugs. Originality/value There has recently been a lot of interest in researching the effects of rosin derivatives in various drug delivery systems.

The ethyl acetate and dichloromethane-soluble fractions, from a soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum total methanolic extract, exhibited significant anti-leishmanial and cytotoxic activities. These active fractions yielded a new cembranoid diterpene (1), two known analogues [sarcotrocheliol (2) and sarcophine (3)], and two sterols [(24S)-24-methylcholesterol (4) and gorgosterol (5)]. The structure of the new diterpene (1) was determined via a detailed analysis of its spectroscopic data. Compounds 3 and 5 demonstrated noticeable cytotoxicity on A549 (IC50 17.4 ± 1.9 µg/ml) and HepG2 (IC50 17.7 ± 1.5 µg/ml) cell lines, respectively. None of the isolates 1‒5 showed detectable anti-leishmanial activity (IC50 >100 µg/ml).

Bio-hydrogen production is of significant interest as it is capable of consuming waste material and synthesizing hydrogen which is a green gas. In this study, we examined the dose-dependent effect of iron shaving on bio-hydrogen production from an integrated dark and photo fermentation system from an artificial food waste. Overall, introduction of iron shaving enhanced the bio-gas production. Statistical analysis was performed on the extracted parameters obtained from fitting the experimental data to Gompertz function, revealing that the bio-gas production can be significantly enhanced by addition of iron shaving at concentrations up to 500 mg/L, with a maximum enhancement at 200 mg/mL. GC analysis showed that introduction of iron shaving at 200 mg/L also maximized the hydrogen percentage in the produced bio-gas. Based on the HPLC results, it was postulated that the dark-fermentation step was probably the step that was more affected by the introduction of iron shaving. Investigation of the pH showed that the acidification of the solution approximately coincided with the termination of the process. Our finding suggests that a more efficient buffer-assisted setup can significantly enhance the bio-hydrogen efficiency.

Background: Dissotis multiflora (Sm) Triana and Paullinia pinnata Linn are widely used in Cameroonian traditional medicine to treat infectious diseases. These plants were found to be a reservoir of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents and have the potential to be used in clinic. Objective: To determine the mechanism of action of the ethanolic leaves extracts of Dissotis multiflora and Paullinia pinnata on Escherichia coli. Methodology: The microbroth dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of D. multiflora and P. pinnata ethanolic leaves extracts. The above samples were tested for their rate of killing of E. coli cells at 1 MIC and 2 MICs. Sorbitol protection, outer membrane permeability, loss of 260-nm-absorbing material, fluorescence microscopy, and DNA degradation assay were used to examine the ultrastructural changes in bacteria induced by the extracts. Results: D. multiflora and P. pinnata extracts inhibited bacterial growth with MICs of 390.62 and 781.25 µg/mL respectively, while the MBCs values were found to be 781.25 and 1562.5 µg/mL respectively. Treatment with extracts had shorter kill-time in a time-dependent manner with effect most pronounced at 2 MICs than 1 MIC. The MIC of D. multiflora increased 4x from 390.62 µg/mL after 24 h of incubation to 1562.5 µg/mL after 7 days in the presence of an osmoprotectant indicating the inhibition of synthesis of cell wall constituents. P. pinnata had no effect on cell wall. Both extracts exhibited the greatest leakage and release of DNA materials at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min in concentration-dependent manner. Treated groups had higher values than control. At low concentrations (1/2 MIC and 1 MIC), these extracts effectively permeate the intact outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Both extract were implicated in DNA fragmentation. Moreover, fluorescent cells observed further confirmed its inhibitory effect against the tested pathogen. The antibacterial action involved disruption of membrane potential, increase of membrane permeabilization, leakage of cellular material, and death suggesting them to be an alternative to antibiotics. Conclusion: These findings contribute to the understanding of the antibacterial inhibitory effect of D. multiflora and P. pinnata.

To enable CMOS-compatible GaN HEMTs for the next generation of communication systems (5G and beyond), a low gate resistance is of great importance since it directly affects the RF power gain and ${f}_{\text {MAX}}$ of the transistor. In this article, the impact of various gate-metal stacks on the gate resistance and RF performance of the devices is studied. The optimized Ti-free gate-metal process leads to ${f}_{\text {MAX}}$ enhancement up to ~50% for devices scaled down to 0.32- $\mu \text{m}$ gate lengths. The gate resistance for the T-shaped gate is modeled from the S-parameters and validated on various gate field plate geometries. The tradeoff between the gate resistance and the parasitic capacitance in GaN HEMTs is highlighted in this case.

Polyol esters materials, which have been developed from ethylene glycol, glycerol, pentaerythritol and sorbitol with rosin, were investigated for their formed films and coating properties. Films were dried and characterized for chemical and mechanical resistances. Their films were highly resistant to water, solvents (acetone, toluene and methanol), and acids (10% hydrochloric acid and 20% sulfuric acid) and poorly resistant to alkali (10% sodium hydroxide) as well as adhesion, tensile strength, elongation test, modulus of elasticity, pinhole test and scratching and flexibility tests. Incorporation of ethylene glycol, glycerol, pentaerythritol and sorbitol with rosin was done to achieve good mechanical characteristics and high chemical resistance to these films. The prepared compounds were tested for antibacterial activity against Trametes versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum.

Cancer and infectious diseases are notoriously known as deleterious health threats for the world, especially in the developing countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities of the methanolic extracts of the soft corals Nephthea elatensis, Heteroxenia fuscescens, Ellisella juncea, Dendronephthya mollis, and Sinularia hirta, that are native to the Red Sea in Egypt. The cytotoxicity assay was carried out by the enzymatic reduction of 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549). Moreover, the antimicrobial activity was carried out against 11 human pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains using well-cut diffusion technique, while the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) were determined by microdilution method. Nephthea elatensis showed potent cytotoxicity [half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) 11.9 ± 1.2 µg/mL]. Also, it exhibited a potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus(MIC 1.0 µg/mL). Sinularia hirta exhibited significant antimicrobial activities against Salmonella typhimurium and S. aureus (MIC 5.0 and 10.0 µg/mL, respectively). The results recommended N. elatensis and S. hirta as promising sources for new anticancer and antibiotic natural candidates.

In this paper, Gallium Nitride (GaN) Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor (MIS)-HEMTs are compared with conventional Schottky Metal-Semiconductor HEMTs in terms of DC and ESD performance. Measurement results indicate TLP failures are highly related to 2DEG channel driving capability. The impacts of different gate interfaces in the GaN (MIS)-HEMTs on failure mechanisms are the key factor of final ESD robustness.

Oiticica (Licania rigida Benth) is considered an oilseed plant present in several states in northeastern Brazil. Its seeds are rich in good quality oil and performs various functions for the lubricants and textile industry. This work aims to evaluate the germination power of oiticica seeds in different sizes of whole fruits and without epicarp. The study was conducted from February to June 2015 using oiticica seeds from matrices located in the city of Dona Ines, PB. A randomized block design was adopted, with factorial 2 ×2 ×2, corresponding to two evaluation periods, two seed sizes (35 mm and 42 mm), with and without the presence of epicarp. Plant height, stem diameter, total chlorophyll and Dickson quality index (IDQ) were evaluated. Oiticica seeds with 42 mm have a larger kaolin diameter regardless of the presence of epicarp. Chlorophylls are not influenced by fruit length. Dickson's quality index (DQI) is not influenced by fruit length, however, oiticica seedlings with epicarp and length of 42 mm increase their performance in relation to those without epicarp.

A deposicao continua de residuos vegetais no solo oriundos da propria cultura resulta em sua decomposicao que possibilita o aumento da disponibilidade de nutrientes no solo. Assim, a ciclagem de nutrientes pode suprir parte da demanda nutricional da cultura, e reduzir o uso dos fertilizantes aplicados. Diante disso, objetivou-se avaliar a taxa de liberacao de nutrientes a partir da decomposicao da serrapilheira do abacateiro. Para isso, “litterbags” de 40x40cm foram colocadas debaixo de copa de arvores de abacate, sendo analisadas as serrapilheiras de duas variedades Hass e Margarida, e recolhidas a cada dois meses para avaliar as materias secas (MS) e nutrientes (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Zn e Mn). A MS remanescente aos 360 dias foi de 22% do valor inicial. O nutriente com maior taxa de mineralizacao foi o K, com total liberacao aos 240 dias. A menor taxa de liberacao foi do Ca. Os nutrientes N, P e Mg foram liberados em maior quantidade nos 120 primeiros dias. Em relacao aos micronutrientes, Zn apresentou menor taxa relativa de decomposicao, seguido do Cu e Mn. Devido as significativas quantidades de nutrientes mineralizados da serrapilheira, essa deve ser considerada na recomendacao de adubacao de abacateiro, especialmente quando o volume de serrapilheira e alto.

We report laboratory experimental results that support a brine-related hypothesis for the recurring slope lineae (RSL) on Mars in which the subsurface Cl-salts, i.e., hydrous chlorides and oxychlorine salts (HyCOS) are the potential source materials. Our experiments revealed that within the observed RSL temperature window TRSL (250–300 K), the deliquescence of HyCOS could occur in relative humidity ranges (RH ≥ 22%–46%) much lower than those for hydrous (Mg, Fe)-sulfates (RH ≥ 75%–96%). In addition, we demonstrated that the RH values kept by common HyCOS and hydrous sulfates in enclosures have a general trend as RHsulfates > RHperchlorates > RHchlorides (with same type of cation) in wide T range. It means that the required RH range for a Cl-bearing salt to deliquescence can be satisfied by a co-existing salt of different type, e.g., in the subsurface layers of mixed salts on Mars. Furthermore, we found a strong temperature dependence of the deliquescence rates for all tested HyCOS, e.g., a duration of 1–5 sols for all HyCOS at the high end (300 K) of TRSL, and of 20–70 sols for all tested HyCOS (except NaClO4·H2O) at the low end (250 K) of TRSL, which is consistent with the observed seasonal behavior of RSL on Mars. From a mass-balance point of view, the currently observed evidences on Mars do not support a fully-brine-wetted track model, thus we suggest a brine-triggered granular-flow model for the most RSL. Considering the recurrence of RSL in consecutive martian years, our experimental results support the rehydration of remnant HyCOS layers during a martian cold season through H2O vapor-to-salt direct interaction. We found that the evidences of HyCOS rehydration under Mars relevant P-T-RH conditions are detectable in a few minutes by in situ Raman spectroscopy. This rehydration would facilitate the recharge of H2O back into subsurface HyCOS, which could serve as the source material to trigger RSL in a subsequent warm season. The major limiting factor for this rehydration is the H2O supply, i.e., the H2O vapor density carried by current Mars atmospheric circulation and the diffusion rate of H2O vapor into the salt-rich subsurface in a cold season. In a worst-case scenario, these H2O supplies can support a maximum increase of hydration degrees of two for totally dehydrated HyCOS, whereas the full rehydration of subsurface HyCOS layers can be easily reached during a >30° obliquity period that has H2O vapor density 10× to 20× times the value of current obliquity. Overall, our results imply the existence of a large amount of Cl-bearing salts in the subsurface at RSL sites.

Adsorbed and structurally incorporated carbonate in bioapatite, the primary mineral phase of bone, is observed across vertebrates, typically at 2–8 wt%, and supports critical physiological and biochemical functions. Several turtle species contain elevated bone-associated carbonate, a property linked to pH buffering and overwintering survival. Prior studies of turtle bone utilized bulk analyses, which do not provide spatial resolution of carbonate. Using Raman spectroscopy, the goals of this study were to: (1) quantify and spatially resolve carbonate heterogeneity within the turtle shell; (2) determine if cortical and trabecular bone contain distinct carbonate concentrations; and (3) assess if simulated overwintering conditions result in decreased bioapatite carbonation. Here, we demonstrate the potential for Raman spectroscopic analysis to spatially resolve bioapatite carbonation, using the western painted turtle as a model species. Carbonate concentration was highly variable within cortical and trabecular bone, based on calibrated Raman spot analyses and mapping, suggesting heterogeneous carbonate distribution among crystallites. Mean carbonate concentration did not significantly differ between cortical and trabecular bone, which indicates random distribution of crystallites with elevated and depleted carbonate. Carbonate concentrations (range: 5–22 wt%) were not significantly different in overwintering and control animals, deviating from previous bulk analyses. In reconciling bulk and Raman analyses, two hypotheses explain how overwintering turtles potentially access carbonate: (1) mobilization of mineral-associated, surface components of bone crystallites; and (2) selective, dispersed crystallite dissolution. Elevated bioapatite carbonate in the western painted turtle, averaging 11.8 wt%, represents the highest carbonation observed in vertebrates, and is one physiological trait that facilitates overwintering survival.

Many chitosan adsorbent derivatives for metal ion adsorption have been developed by grafting novel functional groups on the chitosan chain, and these functional groups are combined with chitosan to improve sorption capability. The chemical structure of chitosan was characterized by the spectroscopy of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR). The degree of N-deacetylation (DDA) was also calculated from FT-IR data. The use of bio sorbent chitosan-fatty acid derivatives makes it possible to extract both heavy metals and organic compounds. In this analysis, the grafting copolymer of fatty chitosan derivatives with acrylic acid polymer was synthesized using ceric ammonium nitrate, the redox nitric acid method under UV irradiation. Synthesized copolymers have been subjected to various analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTA) to confirm the formation of copolymers and to research their thermal stability. The findings show the formation and strong chemical interaction between fatty chitosan derivatives and acrylic acid. Fatty Chitosan derivatives and prepared grafting copolymers have been treated with copper and chromium-containing metal solutions and the results have shown that fatty chitosan derivatives and prepared copolymers are excellent in the removal of heavy metals such as copper and chromium. Prepared compounds could therefore open the way for industrial wastewater treatment.

In late December 2019, a global outbreak (pandemic) of the coronavirus was reported, which WHO named 2019-nCoV. The virus is now spreading rapidly and has affected manycountries, including Iran. There is no definitive and effective treatment for this virus yet. This report aimed to define the effect of Tocilizumab in patient with COVID-19. This case report isabout a 52-year-old man with COVID-19 that has been treated with tocilizumab. The reported patient had an acceptable improvement in oxygen saturation but no significant change inlung CT scan. After 3 days treatment patient with Tocilizumab, extensive bilateral lungs involvement still exist but SPO2 level iimprovement up to 90%. According to the results, thisdrug had a positive impact on oxygen saturation. However, we cannot be certain whether this drug positively affected the patient’s coronavirus disease.

This study aimed to identify the physiological responses of house cricket females following short-term exposure to relatively low dietary doses of graphene oxide (GO, 20 μg · g−1 food), silver (Ag, 400 μg · g−1 food) nanoparticles (NPs), or graphene oxide‑silver nanoparticle composite (GO-AgNPs, 20: 400 μg · g−1 food). Energy intake and distribution were measured on the third, sixth, and tenth day. A semi-quantitative API®ZYM assay of digestive enzyme fingerprints was performed on the third and tenth day of continuous treatment. Physicochemical properties of the NPs were obtained by combining SEM, EDX spectrometry, AFM, and DLS techniques. The obtained results showed decreased energy consumption, particularly assimilation as an early response to dietary NPs followed by compensatory changes in feeding activity leading to the same consumption and assimilation throughout the experimental period (10 days). The increased activities of digestive enzymes in NP-treated females compared to the control on the third day of the experiment suggest the onset of compensatory reactions of the day. Moreover, the insects treated with GO-AgNP composite retained more body water, suggesting increased uptake. The observed changes in the measured physiological parameters after exposure to NPs are discussed in light of hormesis.

The GaN-on-Si technology for the upcoming RF/6G/mm-Wave applications requires a robust buffer design for enhanced device performance and improved reliability. The defect states present in the various layers of the buffer stack can have a detrimental impact on both the DC and the AC performance of the device, as they can interact with the 2DEG channel carriers and/or contribute to buffer leakage mechanisms. An important reliability concern is the dynamic-R ON , arising from the interaction of the 2DEG channel with the defects in the buffer stack and/or the defects in the barrier layer or barrier/cap interface. In this work, an improved and more robust current transient spectroscopy technique is used to extract the time constant spectra and the activation energies of various buffer defects. A thinner GaN channel layer is shown to increase the dynamic-R ON , while a specific buffer stack configuration is shown to have a considerable impact the dynamic-R ON .

We introduce a set of new characterization techniques for the direct defect analysis of the sidewall surfaces of Nano-ridge, Nanowire, and FinFET based devices, being used in current (and future) logic and RF technologies. We demonstrate the application of these techniques on GaAs mesa, Nano-ridge, and InGaAs nano-wire based PIN diodes where surface defect densities are difficult to extract currently. We show that a close match in extracted density, with both measured data and calibrated TCAD simulations of above device types, is achieved validating the applicability of the techniques.

Enviroment is worsening day by day due to industrial pollution, with hazardous chemicals contributing to the accumulation of heavy metal contaminants in waste water. Waste water polluted by these effluents disrupts the usual use of water for irrigation and marine life. The purity and efficiency of water is a paramount concern of mankind. These effluents must also be treated. Natural biopolymers are industrially desirable because of their ability to remove metal ions found in waste water. Among the many other low-cost absorbents listed, chitosan has the highest sorption potential for several metal ions (1) . In specific, we were trying to extract chitosan from shrimp, by N-deacetylation of chitin. The chemical structure of chitosan was characterised by the spectroscopy of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR). The degree of N-deacetylation (DDA) was also calculated from FT-IR data. The use of biosorbent chitosan-fatty acid derivatives makes it possible to extract both heavy metals and organic compounds. In this analysis, the grafting copolymer of fatty chitosan derivatives with acrylic acid polymer was synthesised using ceric ammonium nitrate, the redox nitric acid method under UV irradiation. Synthesized copolymers have been subjected to various analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTA) to confirm the formation of copolymers and to research their thermal stability. The findings show the formation and strong chemical interaction between fatty chitosan derivatives and acrylic acid. Fatty Chitosan derivatives and prepared grafting copolymers have been treated with copper and chromium-containing metal solutions and the results have shown that fatty chitosan derivatives and prepared copolymers are excellent in the removal of heavy metals such as copper and chromium. Prepared compounds could therefore open the way for industrial waste water treatment.

We report on the development of mm-wave GaN-on-Si AlGaN HEMTs integrated with a 3 level Cu damascene BEOL flow on 200mm Si wafers. Optimizations of the gate metal stack, contact resistance and gate length scaling to 110nm result in devices with a peak g m of 430 mS/mm and an f MAX of 135 GHz. While wafer warp was found to increase slightly through the processing of 3 levels of 1µm thick Cu metal, no significant deterioration was observed between devices measured at Metal 1 and Metal 3.

In this work, we will address the opportunities of a hybrid III-V/CMOS technology for next generation wireless communication, beyond 5G, moving to operating frequencies above 100GHz. Challenges related to III-V upscaling and CMOS co-integration using 3D technologies will be discussed.

A high gate-stack breakdown voltage is desired to enable the GaN-on-Si (MIS)HEMT device technology for upcoming RF/5G and mm-Wave applications. In this work, we show that the gate field-plate length (LGFP) has a considerable impact on the gate-stack TDDB lifetime for different gate-stack processing conditions and varying AlGaN barrier thickness. The TDDB lifetime is observed to increase with LGFP for devices suffering from high pre-stress gate-leakage, while it is observed to reduce with LGFP for devices with low gate-leakage and high RON dispersion. In devices with thinner AlGaN barrier, the higher RON dispersion results in further reduction of the TDDB lifetime. Additionally, the impact of L GFP on the TDDB lifetime is observed to reduce with thinner AlGaN barrier under similar processing conditions These results indicate a strong correlation between the gate-leakage and the barrier/cap interface properties, and their combined effect on the TDDB lifetime.

HIF-1α and STAT3 are two of the critical factors in the growth, proliferation, and metastasis of cancer cells and play a crucial role in inhibiting anti-cancer immune responses. Therefore, we used superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPION) nanoparticles (NPs) coated with thiolated chitosan (ChT) and trimethyl chitosan (TMC) and functionalized with hyaluronate (H) and TAT peptide for delivery of siRNA molecules against STAT3 and HIF-1α to cancer cells both in vivo and in vitro. The results indicated that tumor cell transfection with siRNA-encapsulated NPs robustly inhibited proliferation and migration and induced apoptosis in tumor cells. Furthermore, simultaneous silencing of HIF-1α and STAT3 significantly repressed cancer development in two different tumor types (4T1 breast cancer and CT26 colon cancer) which were associated with upregulation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and IFN-γ secretion. The findings suggest inhibiting the HIF-1α/STAT3 axis by SPION-TMC-ChT-TAT-H NPs as an effective way to treat cancer.

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide disease. HCV-related arthritis is one of the extrahepatic manifestations of the disease. The treatment of chronic HCV has been revolutionized with the introduction of oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs. We aim to determine the outcomes of treatment by the combination of sofosbuvir-daclatasvir with or without ribavirin in patients with HCV-related arthritis. Results Post-therapy, all group I patients had sustained viral response. Significant improvement of the outcome parameters was found 12 weeks post-treatment in group I compared to baseline and group II. Complete and partial remission of articular symptoms in group I patients was observed in 80% and 5%, respectively, while 85% of patients in group II showed no remission. Few mild side effects were encountered with therapy. Conclusion The combination of sofosbuvir-daclatasvir with or without ribavirin is an effective and safe therapy for eradication of HCV infection and amelioration of HCV-related arthritis.

Potassium (K) is the nutrient most extracted by the potato crop and its deficiency drastically reduces productivity and increases early blight severity. Excessive K fertilization may reduce calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) absorption and compromise productivity just as much as K deficiency. The influence of K fertilization on Ca, Mg and K absorption is not documented for Asterix potato grown in clay soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the absorption and partitioning of K, Ca and Mg in the potato plant, in the productivity, and in the severity of early blight as a function of K2O doses. The treatments consisted of five doses of K: 0, 150, 300, 500, and 700 kg ha-1 of K2O. Doses were applied in two steps: 150 kg ha-1 of K2O in the planting groove together with the N and P and the remainder of each dose, with broadcast fertilization preceding the hilling process that took place 21 days after planting. Early blight severity and the number of small tubers decreased, while the number of large tubers increased as a function of K doses. The optimal dose for total productivity was 291.3 kg ha-1 of K2O. In addition, the absorption of Ca and Mg were reduced by high doses of K, which shows that the doses of this nutrient must be consistent with the extraction of the potato crop.

The free-radical polymerization method was used to prepare crosslinked polymers as tramadol carriers for the controlled release process. The polymers were based mainly on ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) in two different molar levels: 15 and 13. These two polymers represented the non-imprinted polymers (NIPs). Other corresponding polymers were prepared by adding tramadol hydrochloride during the synthesis that was removed at the end of the preparation process to produce tramadol-imprinted polymers (TIPs). The four polymers were loaded with tramadol for testing their in vitro release at various parameters such as soaking times, pH, and temperatures. The effect of molar ratio and imprinting process on tramadol release was studied. FTIR, TGA, and UV –absorption techniques were used to investigate the prepared and loaded polymers and the releasing process. More physical interactions were observed between the loaded tramadol and the matrix in TIPs than in NIPs. TIP with a molar ratio of crosslinker to polymer equals 13 demonstrated the highest control of releasing tramadol over 12-hour.

The Talisia esculenta (popularly called Talisia esculenta) is a native plant from Brazil with great socioeconomic importance regarding its extraction cultivation, however only a few scientific studies were carried out with this species, especially concerning its physiological characteristics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utilization of different organic substrates and biofertilizers through the soil on the physiological performance of T. esculenta seedlings. The experiment was performed between August and November 2015. The trial design consisted of randomized blocks, with a factorial arrangement 4 x 2 corresponding to four substrates (Test: control group; SE: commercial substrate; RFV: compost of fruit and vegetable remains; RPI: substrate with remains of industrialized food), in both presence and absence of biofertilizer, with five replicates. The analyzed variables were chlorophyll indexes a , b and gas exchanges. The chlorophyll rates a , b and total were higher on SE, RFV and RPI, but no influences of the biofertilizer were detected on the chlorophyll indexes of T. esculenta seedlings. All substrates (SE, RFV and RPI) increased the chlorophyll indexes a , b and total of the seedlings. The substrates increases the chlorophyll a, b and total indices, except for the control substrate independent of the application of biofertilizer. The efficiency of gas exchange increases with the addition of biofertilizer.

A simple method for adsorption and recognition of tramadol-HCl in molecular imprinted poly (methacrylic acid-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate); poly (MAA-co-EGDMA), is described. Seven tramadol imprinted polymers (TIPs) were synthesized based on tramadol hydrochloride as the template molecule, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinker, chloroform as a porogenic solvent and benzoyl peroxide (BP) as an initiator. Other seven non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) were prepared with the same compositions as the TIPs without the template molecule. A simple method for determination of Tramadol concentration by optical absorption method was described. The effects of crosslinker and functional monomer concentration, soaking time and the pH on the adsorption efficiency of tramadol by the polymers were studied. TIPs exhibited more adsorption affinity than their NIPs counterparts as they acquired recognition sites to capture the tramadol molecules. The TIP polymer with 15 mmol EGDMA and 1.15 mmol MAA stirred for 3h at 7 pH tramadol solution showed 90% adsorption capability for the tramadol, while the corresponding NIP sample showed 55.6% adsorption. SEM images showed the presence of (micro/meso/macro) pores in such TIP sample.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:27:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-01-01 The pitombeira (Tasilia esculenta Radlk.) is a fruit native to Brazil, which is being exploited in an extractive way. To get agronomic information, such as the formation of mudase to be used in future commercial plantations, therefore, the objective was to evaluate the initial development and accumulation of nutrients in pitombeira seedlings submitted to different organic substrates and biofertilizer application in the soil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with a factorial arrangement of 4 × 2 and five replications. The treatments corresponded to four substrates (W, control; CS, commercial substrate; RFV, composite of fruit and vegetable remnants of a university restaurant; SIP, residues of industrialized products) in the substrate without and with Supermagro biofertilizer. Ninety days after sowing, the plant height, stem diameter, total dry mass, Dickson Quality Index, and leaf content in macronutrients were evaluated. The use of residues of fruits and vegetables (RFV) and residues of industrialized products (SIP) is recommended for the composition of submetry of pitombeira because these contribute to the greater growth of pitombeira seedlings. The addition of organic residues increases the quality of pitombeira seedlings having higher quality as biofertilizer treatments. Commercial substrate (CS) increases nitrogen and potassium terrors for substrates with fruit and vegetable residues (RFV), and the residues of industrialized products (RPI) used for the propagation of pitombeira seedlings can be recommended for the production of seedlings, because they increase the leaf content of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Paulista State University Department of Plant Science Federal University of Viçosa Department of Plant Science Federal University of Paraíba Department of Soil and Rural Engineering Federal University of Paraíba Department of Agriculture Paulista State University Department of Plant Science

Background: We evaluated role(s) of miR-202 in glioma cell lines, its effect on ROCK1 expression, and also evaluation of apoptosis and migration of human glioma cell line after transfection with miR-202 mimics and inhibitors. Material and methods: The cell lines were transfected with mimic, inhibitor and NC of miR-202. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted to evaluate the expression of miR‐202 and ROCK1 . Western blot was performed to detect the protein level of ROCK1. Furthermore, MTT and wound healing assay were performed to evaluate the effects of miR-202 on apoptosis and migration of human glioma cell line, respectively. Results: miR-202 showed a significantly decrease in human glioma cell lines, compared with the NHA cell line (P

We report experimental evidences to support a new formation mechanism, multiphase redox plasma chemistry, for perchlorate on Mars observed during the Phoenix mission, whose high concentrations and high ClO4/Cl ratio cannot be fully interpreted by photochemistry. This chemical reaction occurs between Cl-bearing minerals on the Mars surface and free radicals generated by electrostatic discharge (ESD) during Mars dust events (dust storms, dust devils, and grain saltation). We conducted simulated ESD experiments in a Mars chamber with pure CO2, CO2 + H2O(g), and Mars Simulate Gas Mixture at Martian atmospheric pressure. We directly observed (1) the instantaneous generation of atmospheric free radicals CO + 2 , CO+, OI, HIII, HII, OH, ArI, N2, and N + 2 in normal glow discharge (NGD), detected by in situ plasma emission spectroscopy, and O3 by UV and Mid-IR spectroscopy; (2) the fast transformation of NaCl to NaClO3 and NaClO4 detected by laser Raman spectroscopy, with oxychlorine enrichment at the sample surfaces confirmed by ion chromatography. Through two sets of experimental comparison, we found that the oxidation power of ESD-electron is three orders of magnitude higher than that of UVC-photon. We scaled our experimental results to the modeled ESD in Mars dust events and Mars surface UV radiation level, and concluded that plasma chemistry occurred during Mars dust events can be an additional important formation mechanism for the large amounts of perchlorates observed during various missions to Mars.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been used extensively over the past two decades to determine the mechanical and physical properties of nanomaterials. However, the discrepancy between the reported results from these atomistic studies shadows the reliability of this computationally efficient technique. This inconsistency is attributed to the misuse and incorrect application of MD as evidenced by the arbitrary use of interatomic potentials, cut-off function parameters, strain rate, time increment, and domain size in the conducted simulations. In this paper, we highlight erroneous simulations by investigating the influence of these parameters on the elastic and fracture properties of nanostructured materials; including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and boron nitride (BN) sheets subject to direct and contact loads. The effect of interatomic potential type was investigated by comparing the predicted properties from AIREBO, Tersofff, CVFF, and ReaxFF potentials with those obtained with experimental and DFT techniques. The cut-off function parameters were also investigated to determine the optimum inner and outer cut-off radii selected to capture the actual physical behavior and avoid the reported strain hardening phenomena. Furthermore, MD simulations with strain rates spanning several orders of magnitudes and time increments ranging from 0.1 to 20 fs were performed to define the maximum allowable parameters for each material and loading scheme. Additionally, graphene and BN sheets with side length up to 500 A were modeled to determine the size and edge effects on the mechanical properties. Finally, a set of parameters is recommended in each investigation to help guiding future atomistic studies obtaining reliable results using the available computational resources.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES While dermatoscopy improves diagnostic accuracy for raised nonpigmented lesions, those with white surface keratin can be problematical. We investigated whether retention of povidone-iodine by surface keratin provides a clue to benignity. METHODS We performed a retrospective pilot study (n = 57) followed by a prospective study (n = 117) on raised nonpigmented lesions with white surface keratin. An initial dermatoscopic image was taken of each lesion, povidone-iodine was applied and another image taken. Following lavage with 70% ethanol, a third image was acquired. The percentage surface area of residual povidone-iodine staining after lavage was recorded, and the results analysed. RESULTS The optimal cut-off point of residual staining was 80%, where values of ≤80% pointed to malignancy. At this cut-off, the OR for lesions with values ≤80% to be truly malignant in the retrospective set was 4.03 (95% CI: 2.1-7.6) and the AUC was 0.7 (95% CI: 0.62-0.78). For the prospective set, the corresponding OR was 2.3 (95% CI: 1.4-3.7) and the AUC was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.55-0.68). CONCLUSIONS This study presents evidence that povidone-iodine retention may have a degree of efficacy in distinguishing benign from malignant keratotic lesions. Further study is warranted.

The umbuzeiro (Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam.) is a fruit tree originating from the Caatinga biome that enjoys high acceptance in the market for in natura consumption or industrialized products; as a result, its cultivation has become of great importance for the region of Northeast Brazil. The objective was to evaluate growth, substrate temperature and chlorophyll indices in umbuzeiro seedlings at organic substrate levels and with organic foliar fertilizer (EcoLife®) applications. The experimental design was a randomized block with a factorial arrangement of 5x2, with four replicates and three plants per experiment unit. The factors corresponded to the proportions of the organic compost to the substrates (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%), with and without foliar applications of 1% organic foliar fertilizer. The growth, leaf area and chlorophyll indices of the umbuzeiro seedlings were higher in the treatments with organic compost and foliar applications of organic foliar fertilizer. RESUMEN El umbuzeiro (Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam.) es un árbol frutal originario del bioma Caatinga con gran aceptación en el mercado para consumo in natura o productos industrializados. Debido a esto, su cultivo ha adquirido gran importancia para la región del Nordeste brasileño. El objetivo fue evaluar el crecimiento, temperatura del sustrato e índices de clorofila en plántulas de umbuzeiro en niveles de compuestos orgánicos en el sustrato y aplicación foliar de fertilizante foliar orgánico (EcoLife®). El delineamiento experimental utilizado fue en bloques al azar, con arreglo factorial de 5x2, con cuatro repeticiones y tres plantas por unidad experimental. Los factores corresponden a las proporciones de compuesto orgánico a los sustratos (0, 25, 50, 75 y 100%) en el sustrato con y sin aplicación foliar de fertilizante foliar orgánico a 1%. El crecimiento, área foliar e índices de clorofila de plántulas de umbuzeiro fue mayor en los tratamientos con compuesto orgánico y aplicación foliar de fertilizante orgánico.

Orbital remote sensing data acquired from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) onboard Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), in conjunction with other datasets, are used to perform detailed spectral and stratigraphic analyses over a portion of south Melas Chasma, Mars. The Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer (DISORT) model is used to retrieve atmospherically corrected single scattering albedos from CRISM I/F data for mineral identification. A sequence of interbedded poly- and monohydrated sulfates associated with interior layered deposits (ILDs) is identified and mapped. Analyses from laboratory experiments and spectral unmixing of CRISM hyperspectral data support the hypothesis of precipitation and dehydration of multiple inputs of complex Mg-Ca-Fe-SO 4 -Cl brines. In this scenario, the early precipitated Mg sulfates could dehydrate into monohydrated sulfate due to catalytic effects, and the later-precipitated Mg sulfates from the late-stage “clean” brine could terminate their dehydration at mid-degree of hydration to form a polyhydrated sulfate layer due to depletion of the catalytic species (e.g., Ca, Fe, and Cl). Distinct jarosite-bearing units are identified stratigraphically above the hydrated sulfate deposits. These are hypothesized to have formed either by oxidation of a fluid containing Fe(II) and SO 4 , or by leaching of soluble phases from precursor intermixed jarosite-Mg sulfate units that may have formed during the later stages of deposition of the hydrated sulfate sequence. Results from stratigraphic analysis of the ILDs show that the layers have a consistent northward dip towards the interior of the Melas Chasma basin, a mean dip angle of ∼6°, and neighboring strata that are approximately parallel. These strata are interpreted as initially sub-horizontal layers of a subaqueous, sedimentary evaporite deposits that underwent post-depositional tilting from slumping into the Melas Chasma basin. The interbedded hydrated sulfate units and jarosite-bearing units, which have distinct stratigraphic relationships, are indicative of a complex sedimentary and aqueous history in south Melas Chasma.

To investigate the origin of fine-grained rims around chondrules (FGRs), we compared presolar grain abundances, elemental compositions and mineralogies in fine-grained interstitial matrix material and individual FGRs in the primitive CO3.0 chondrites Allan Hills A77307, LaPaz Icefield 031117 and Dominion Range 08006. The observation of similar overall O-anomalous (∼155 ppm) and C-anomalous grain abundances (∼40 ppm) in all three CO3.0 chondrites suggests that they all accreted from a nebular reservoir with similar presolar grain abundances. The presence of presolar silicate grains in FGRs combined with the observation of similar estimated porosity between interstitial matrix regions and FGRs in LAP 031117 and ALHA77307, as well as the identification of a composite FGR (a small rimmed chondrule within a larger chondrule rim) in ALHA77307, all provide evidence for a formation of FGRs by accretion of dust grains onto freely-floating chondrules in the solar nebula before their aggregation into their parent body asteroids. Our study also shows systematically lower abundances of presolar silicate grains in the FGRs than in the matrix regions of CO3 chondrites, while the abundances of SiC grains are the same in all areas, within errors. This trend differs from CR2 chondrites in which the presolar silicate abundances are higher in the FGRs than in the matrix, but similar to each other within 2σ errors. This observation combined with the identification of localized (micrometer-scaled) aqueous alteration in a FGR of LAP 031117 suggests that the lower abundance of presolar silicates in FGRs reflects pre-accretionary aqueous alteration of the fine-grained material in the FGRs. This pre-accretionary alteration could be due to either hydration and heating of freely floating rimmed chondrules in icy regions of the solar nebula or melted water ice associated with 26 Al-related heating inside precursor planetesimals, followed by aggregation of FGRs into the CO chondrite parent-body.

A simple and facile method was developed for the determination of trace amount of iron. The method is based on the complex formation between Fe (III) and picrate anion in the presence of piroxicam, as a complexing agent. Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) was applied to extract the formed ion associate, Fe (III)-piroxicam. The absorbance of the extracted iron in the sedimented phase was measured by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Two statistical methods of response surface methodology and genetic algorithm (GA) based on artificial neural network (ANN) were employed for prediction and optimization of a four-constituent DLLME. Plackett–Burman design was used for screening the influential parameters including pH, the volume of picrate anion, disperser, and extraction solvents. Central composite design (CCD) was used to obtain the optimum levels in the proposed method. The experimentally obtained data were used to train the GA model. CCD and GA models were compared for their predictive abilities. The result showed that both models have the ability to predict the proposed process, but ANN model is more reliable than CCD. The absorbance of the extracted iron obeys Beer’s law in the range of 0.03–0.96 $$\upmu \hbox {g}\,\hbox {mL}^{-1 }({R}^{2} = 0.998)$$ , and the limit of detection of 0.008 $$\upmu \hbox {g}\ \hbox {mL}^{-1}$$ and enhancement factor of 88.84 were achieved for the process. The developed procedure was successfully applied to the determination of iron in water samples and two types of common vegetation sample, i.e., tea and mint.

The basic analog parameters of three splits of In x Ga1– x As nTFETs are analyzed for the first time. The first two splits are In0.53Ga0.47As devices with a 3-nm HfO2/1-nm Al2O3 and a 2-nm HfO2/1-nm Al2O3, while the last one is an In0.7Ga0.3As channel with a 3-nm HfO2/1-nm Al2O3 gate. The low equivalent oxide thickness improves the electrostatic coupling, enhancing ${I}_{{\text {DS}}}$ , and, consequently, also gm and ${A}_{V}$ , especially for higher $\text {V}_{{\text {GS}}}$ . The InGaAs tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs) show compatible performance with Si TFETs, and have better performance than Si MOSFETs, making them useful for low-power and low-voltage analog applications. The highest efficiency is found using the combination of a 2-nm HfO2 with In0.53Ga0.47As, due to the 56-mV/dec subthreshold swing obtained. For all splits, the ${A}_{V}$ peak can be related to the ${V}_{{\text {GS}}}$ necessary for band-to-band tunneling to become the dominant transport mechanism.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:29:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-01-01 Salt-compromised agricultural areas in the semi-arid regions of the Brazilian Northeast, have increased due to the use of water with high saline concentration as the only water supply available to plants, damaging the quality of the seedlings and the productive yield of the crops. One way to alleviate the detrimental effects of salts is the addition of organic compound to the substrate as a way to attenuate the action of water and soil salinity on biomass formation and chlorophyllactic activity in seedlings and adult plants of forest species, including Licania rigida Benth, the Oiticica. In view of this issue, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of water salinity irrigation and of the addition of an organic compound obtained by fermentation of castor bean (Ricinus communis) and cattle manure on biomass accumulation and chlorophyll indices in Oiticica seedlings. The experiment was carried out in a 4 × 2 factorial scheme in randomized blocks, with five replications and two seedlings per plot, relative to the proportions of organic compost - C and soil - S (0C: 1S, 1C: 1S, 2C: 1S, 3C: 1S) and irrigation of the seedlings with non-saline (0.5 dS m-1) and saline (4.5 dS m-1) water. The increase of organic compound in the substrate in proportion to the soil of 3: 1 surpassed by 42.9% the biomass of the aerial part of the Oiticica seedlings irrigated with saline water. The results indicate that the organic compound mitigates, though does not eliminate, the detrimental effects of water salinity irrigation on the biomass formation and chlorophyllactic indexes of the seedlings. Universidade Federal de Viçosa Universidade Federal da Paraíba Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho

Metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, as well as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly atherosclerosis, are still leading causes of death worldwide. Plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are currently being considered as a critical risk factor for the diseases mentioned above, especially atherosclerosis. Because of the heterogeneous nature of LDL, many studies have already been conducted on its subclasses, especially small dense LDL (sdLDL). According to available evidence, sdLDL levels can be considered as an ideal alternative to LDL levels for monitoring CVD and early diagnosis of atherosclerosis. Recently, several researchers have focused on factors that are able to decrease sdLDL levels and improve health quality. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe the production process of sdLDL particles and review the effects of pharmaceutical and dietary agents as well as lifestyle on sdLDL plasma levels. In brief, their mechanisms of action are discussed. Apparently, cholesterol and LDL-lowering compounds are also effective in the reduction of sdLDL levels. In addition, improving lipid profile, especially the reduction of triglyceride levels, appropriate regimen, and lifestyle can decrease sdLDL levels. Therefore, all the aforementioned parameters should be taken into consideration simultaneously in sdLDL levels reducing strategies.

Clubroot caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae is an important disease on cruciferous crops worldwide. Management of clubroot has been challenging, due largely to the millions of resting spores produced within an infected root that can survive dormant in the soil for many years. This study was conducted to investigate some of the environmental conditions that may affect the survival of resting spores in the soil. Soil samples containing clubroot resting spores (1 × 107 spores g-1 soil) were stored at various temperatures for two years. Additionally, other samples were buried in soil, or kept on the soil surface in the field. The content of P. brassicae DNA and the numbers of viable spores in the samples were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and pathogenicity bioassays, respectively. The results indicated that 4°C, 20°C and being buried in the soil were better conditions for spore survival than were −20°C, 30°C and at the soil surface. Most of the spores kept on the soil surface were killed, suggesting the negative effect of light on spore viability. Additional experiments confirmed that ultraviolet (UV) light contributed a large negative effect on spore viability as lower pathogenicity and less DNA content were observed from the 2-and 3-hour UV light treated spores compared to the untreated control. Finally, this work demonstrated that DNA-based quantification methods such as qPCR can be poor predictors of P. brassicae disease potential due to the presence and persistence of DNA from dead spores.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are highly promising tools to deliver therapeutic molecules into tumours. &alpha, V&beta, 3 integrins are cell&ndash, matrix adhesion receptors, and are considered as an attractive target for anticancer therapies owing to their roles in the process of metastasis and angiogenesis. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effect of co-administration of zerumbone (ZER) and ZERencapsulated in hydroxypropyl-&beta, cyclodextrin with TP5-iRGD peptide towards cell cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction, and proliferation of normal and cancerous breast cells utilizing in vitro assays, as well as to study the molecular docking of ZER in complex with TP5-iRGD peptide. Cell viability assay findings indicated that ZER and ZERencapsulated in hydroxypropyl-&beta, cyclodextrin (ZER-HP&beta, CD) inhibited the growth of estrogen receptor positivebreast cancer cells (ER+ MCF-7) at 72 h treatment with an inhibitory concentration (IC)50 of 7.51 &plusmn, 0.2 and 5.08 &plusmn, 0.2 &micro, g/mL, respectively, and inhibited the growth of triple negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) with an IC50 of 14.96 &plusmn, 1.52 &micro, g/mL and 12.18 &plusmn, 0.7 &micro, g/mL, respectively. On the other hand, TP5-iRGD peptide showed no significant cytotoxicity on both cancer and normal cells. Interestingly, co-administration of TP5-iRGD peptide in MCF-7 cells reduced the IC50 of ZER from 7.51 &plusmn, g/mL to 3.13 &plusmn, g/mL and reduced the IC50 of ZER-HP&beta, CD from 5.08 &plusmn, g/mL to 0.49 &plusmn, 0.004 &micro, g/mL, indicating that the co-administration enhances the potency and increases the efficacy of ZER and ZER-HP&beta, CD compounds. Acridine orange (AO)/propidium iodide (PI) staining under fluorescence microscopy showed evidence of early apoptosis after 72 h from the co-administration of ZER or ZER-HP&beta, CD with TP5-iRGD peptide in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The findings of the computational modelling experiment provide novel insights into the ZER interaction with integrin &alpha, v&beta, 3 in the presence of TP5-iRGD, and this could explain why ZER has better antitumor activities when co-administered with TP5-iRGD peptide.

A simple analytical low-field electron mobility model to be employed for technology computer-aided design of thin-body MOSFETs based on III-V compound semiconductors is presented. The scattering sources accounted for in the model are Coulomb centers, lattice vibrations (i.e., phonons), and surface roughness. The dependence of the thin-body effective thickness on the transverse electric field is calculated through 1-D Schrodinger–Poisson numerical simulations and is introduced in the model by means of an appropriate analytical function. Then, the free-electron density distribution is determined by considering both quantization effects and oxide–semiconductor interface traps. The model is calibrated on the experimental data collected on In0.53Ga0.47As-on-InP thin-body MOSFETs featuring body thicknesses as low as 5 nm. In particular, the model accurately reproduces $C_{G}$ – $V_{\mathrm{ GS}}$ characteristics, effective mobility against inversion layer charge plots, and $I_{\mathrm{ DS}}$ – $V_{\mathrm{ GS}}$ curves at low $V_{\mathrm{ DS}}$ .

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) was synthesized by sol–gel method. Different ratios of molybdenum oxide (1–15 % w/w) supported on HAP were prepared by the impregnation method and calcined at 400 °C in a static air atmosphere. The catalysts were characterized by thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy and nitrogen sorption measurements. The surface acidity of the catalysts was investigated by the dehydration of isopropyl alcohol and the adsorption of pyridine (PY) and 2,6-dimethyl pyridine (DMPY). The gas–phase oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde was carried out in a conventional fixed-bed flow type reactor using N2 as a carrier gas. The obtained results clearly revealed that HAP–MoO3 systems were active and selective towards the formation of formaldehyde. The maximum yield of formaldehyde (97 %) was achieved on the catalyst containing 5 wt% MoO3/HAP. The generation of Mo6+as Lewis together with Bronsted acid sites play the main role in the formation of formaldehyde. Catalytic oxidation of methanol over MoO3/HAP calcined at 400 °C for 4 h.

Like most enveloped viruses, HIV must acquire a lipid membrane as it assembles and buds through the plasma membrane of infected cells to spread infection. Several sets of host cell machinery facilitate this process, including proteins of the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport pathway, which mediates the membrane fission reaction required to complete viral budding, as well as angiomotin (AMOT) and NEDD4L, which bind one another and promote virion membrane envelopment. AMOT and NEDD4L interact through the four NEDD4L WW domains and three different AMOT Pro-Pro-x (any amino acid)-Tyr (PPxY) motifs, but these interactions are not yet well defined. Here, we report that individual AMOT PPxY and NEDD4L WW domains interact with the following general affinity hierarchies: AMOT PPxY1>PPxY2>PPxY3 and NEDD4L WW3>WW2>WW1∼WW4. The unusually high-affinity of the AMOT PPxY1–NEDD4L WW3 interaction accounts for most of the AMOT–NEDD4L binding and is critical for stimulating HIV-1 release. Comparative structural, binding, and virological analyses reveal that complementary ionic and hydrophobic contacts on both sides of the WW–PPxY core interaction account for the unusually high affinity of the AMOT PPxY1–NEDD4L WW3 interaction. Taken together, our studies reveal how the first AMOT PPxY1 motif binds the third NEDD4L WW domain to stimulate HIV-1 viral envelopment and promote infectivity.