Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles from ball moss (Tillandsia recurvata) extracts: characterization and evaluation of their photocatalytic activity.

Green synthesis (GS), referred to the synthesis using bioactive agents such as plant materials, microorganisms, and various biowastes, prioritizing environmental sustainability, has become increasingly relevant in international scientific practice. The availability of plant resources expands the scope of new exploration opportunities, including the evaluation of new sources of organic extracts, for instance, to the best of our knowledge, no scientific articles have reported the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) from organic extracts of T. recurvata, a parasitic plant very common in semiarid regions of Mexico.This paper presents a greener and more efficient method for synthesizing ZnO NPs using T. recurvata extract as a reducing agent. The nanoparticles were examined by different techniques such as UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and BET surface analysis. The photocatalytic and adsorptive effect of ZnO NPs was investigated against methylene blue (MB) dye in aqueous media under sunlight irradiation considering an equilibrium time under dark conditions. ZnO nanoparticles were highly effective in removing MB under sunlight irradiation conditions, showing low toxicity towards human epithelial cells, making them promising candidates for a variety of applications. This attribute fosters the use of green synthesis techniques for addressing environmental issues.This study also includes the estimation of the supported electric field distributions of ZnO NPs in their individual spherical or rounded shapes and their randomly oriented organization, considering different diameters, by simulating their behavior in the visible wavelength range, observing resonant enhancements due to the strong light-matter interaction around the ZnO NPs boundaries.

Bone samples' behavior in sunlight, IR light, and temperature increase with FEM simulation.

Biological and environmental factors produce biochemical processes that modify the bone structure. A few studies have attempted to show the adverse biological effects of sun radiation. The bone tissue exposures to infrared and sunlight radiation are analyzed by using focused sound, characterization spectroscopy techniques, and image processing. The study is complemented with a finite element method simulation on temperature behaviors. The crystal morphology on the bone hydroxyapatite and functional groups was characterized by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The infrared spectra confirmed the hydroxyl group of bovine hydroxyapatite, amines, and lipids are also correlated with modifications of the hydroxyapatite. The diffractograms showed the characteristic peaks of hydroxyapatite, with the main intensity at 2θ = 32.02°. Bone samples exposed to sun radiation presented a peak at 2θ = 27.5°, evidencing the possible formation of ß-TCP y α-TCP. The analysis with the spectroscopy techniques about the structural changes in the samples suggests interpreting an increase of sound obtained by expanding the exposure time. It is possible to verify that there are some structural changes in the bone samples due to exposure to non-ionizing radiation. These results show an increase in the registered intensity sound correlated with the interpretation of the structural changes of bone. Thanks to the different novel analysis techniques established in the present study, it could establish the changes that experienced the bone structure under different sources of radiation, which will help to better detect scenarios of bone deficiency.

Molybdate and Phosphate Cross-Linked Chitosan Films for Corrosion Protection of Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel.

Environmentally friendly and sustainable methods to protect hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel from corrosion are extensively studied. Films of the biopolymer polyelectrolyte chitosan were ionically cross-linked in this work with the well-known corrosion inhibitors phosphate and molybdate. Layers on this basis are presented as components in a protective system and could, e.g., be applied in pretreatments similar to a conversion coating. For the preparation of the chitosan-based films, a procedure involving sol-gel chemistry and wet-wet application was utilized. Homogeneous films of few micrometers thickness were obtained on HDG steel substrates after thermal curing. Properties of chitosan-molybdate and chitosan-phosphate films were compared with purely passive epoxysilane-cross-linked chitosan, and pure chitosan. Delamination behavior of a poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) weak model top coating studied by scanning Kelvin probe (SKP) showed an almost linear time dependence over >10 h on all systems. Delamination rates were 0.28 mm h-1 (chitosan-molybdate) and 0.19 mm h-1 (chitosan-phosphate), ca. 5% of a non-cross-linked chitosan reference and slightly higher than of the epoxsyilane cross-linked chitosan. Immersion of the treated zinc samples over 40 h in 5% NaCl solution yielded a 5-fold increase of the resistance in the chitosan-molybdate system, as evidenced by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Ion exchange of electrolyte anions with molybdate and phosphate triggers corrosion inhibition, presumably by reaction with the HDG surface as well described in the literature for these inhibitors. Thus, such surface treatments have potential for application, e.g., in temporary corrosion protection.

Pathogenesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 Biofilm-Associated Is Dependent on the Pyoverdine and Pyocyanin Siderophores by Quorum Sensing Modulation.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium for humans, animals, and plants, through producing different molecular factors such as biofilm, siderophores, and other virulence factors which favor bacterial establishment and infection in the host. In P. aeruginosa PAO1, the production of these factors is regulated by the bacterial quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms. From them, siderophores are involved in iron acquisition, transport, and homeostasis. They are also considered some of the main virulence factors in P. aeruginosa; however, detailed mechanisms to induce bacterial pathogenesis are poorly understood. In this work, through reverse genetics, we evaluated the function of bacterial pathogenesis in the pvd cluster genes, which are required for synthesizing the siderophore pyoverdine (PVD). Single pvdI, pvdJ, pvdL, and double mutant strains were analyzed, and contrary to expected, the pvdL and pvdI mutations increased the concentration of PVD and other phenazines, such as pyocyanin (PYO) and phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and also an increased biofilm production and morphology depending on the autoinducer 2-alkyl-4-quinolone (PQS) and the QS molecules acyl-homoserine lactones. Consequently, in the in vivo pathogenicity model of Caenorhabditis elegans, the mutations in pvdI, pvdJ, and pvdL increased the survival of the worms exposed to supernatants or biofilms of the bacterial cultures. However, the double mutant pvdI/pvdJ increased its toxicity in agreeing with the biofilm production, PVD, PYO, and PCA. The findings indicate that the mutations in pvd genes encode non-ribosomal peptide synthetases impacted the biofilm's structure, but suppressively also of the phenazines, confirming that the siderophores contribute to the bacterial establishment and pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa PAO1.

A novel and stretchable carbon-nanotube/Ni@TiO2:W photocatalytic composite for the complete removal of diclofenac drug from the drinking water.

We present the structural, morphological and photocatalytic properties of stretchable composites made with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), silicon rubber and Ni@TiO2:W nanoparticles (TiWNi NPs) with average size of 37 ± 2 nm. Microscopy images showed that the TiWNi NPs decorated the surface of the CNT fibers, which are oriented in a preferential direction. TiWNi NPs presented a mixture of anatase/rutile phases with cubic structure. The performance of the TiWNi powders and stretchable composites was evaluated for the photocatalytic degradation of diclofenac (DCF) anti-inflammatory drug under ultraviolet-visible light. The results revealed that the maximum DCF degradation percentages were 34.6%, 91.9%, 97.1%, 98.5% and 100% for the CNT composite (stretched at 0%), TiWNi powders, CNT + TiWNi (stretched at 0%), CNT + TiWNi (stretched at 50%) and CNT + TiWNi (stretched at 100%), respectively. Thus, stretching the CNT + TiWNi composites was a good strategy to enhance the DCF degradation percentage from 97.1% to 100%, since stretching created additional defects (oxygen vacancies) that acted as electron sink, delaying the electron-hole recombination, and favors the DCF degradation. Raman/absorbance measurements confirmed the presence of such defects. Moreover, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined by the scavenger's experiments and found that the main ROS were the ·OH and O2- radicals, which attacked the DCF molecules, causing their degradation. The results of this investigation confirmed that the stretchable CNT/TiWNi-based composites are a viable alternative to remove pharmaceutical contaminants from water and can be manually separated from the decontaminated water, which is unviable using photocatalytic powders.

Fluorescent organic particle doped polymer-based gel dosimeter for neutron detection.

The purpose of this work is to develop a material capable of detecting neutrons produced by photodisintegration in a linear accelerator for its medical use. In this study, we have developed a gel-like material doped with fluorescent organic particles. PPO at 1 wt% is used as primary dopant and POPOP as secondary one at 0.03 wt%. A set of four samples is produced, with boric acid concentrations of 0, 400, 800 and 1200 ppm. The viscoelastic properties of the material are characterized with rheological measurements, finding a gel-like behavior, i.e., a material that can keep its original shape if no stresses are applied, but can also be deformed by applying a moderate shear rate. Furthermore, the material was irradiated with gamma, electron, and neutron emission sources from 137Cs, 22Na, 60Co, 210Po, 90Sr and 241AmBe, and its response was measured in two different experimental settings, in two different institutions, for comparative purposes. From these measurements, one can clearly establish that the new material detects neutrons, electrons, and gammas within the MeV regions and below. Thus, our findings show that the developed material and its properties make it a promising technology for its use in a neutron detector.

Nanoparticulate Double-Heterojunction Photocatalysts Comprising TiO2(Anatase)/WO3/TiO2(Rutile) with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity toward the Degradation of Methyl Orange under Near-Ultraviolet and Visible Light.

Nanoparticulate double-heterojunction photocatalysts comprising TiO2(Anatase)/WO3/TiO2(Rutile) were produced by a sol-gel method. The resulting photocatalysts exhibit clear synergistic effects when tested toward the degradation of methyl orange under both UV and visible light. Kinetic studies indicate that the degradation rate on the best double-heterojunction photocatalyst (10 wt % WO3-TiO2) depends mainly on the amount of dye concentration, contrary to pure oxides in which the degradation rate is limited by diffusion-controlled processes. The synergistic effects were confirmed through systematic and careful studies including holes and OH radical formation, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, elemental analysis, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and surface area analysis. Our results indicate that the successful formation of a double heterojunction in the TiO2(Anatase)/WO3/TiO2(Rutile) system leads to enhanced photoactivity when compared to individual oxides and commercial TiO2 P25.

MAl2O4 (M=Ba, Mg) photocatalytic activity dependence on annealing atmosphere.

Aluminate spinel type ${{\rm MAl}_2}{{\rm O}_4}$MAl2O4 (M=Ba or Mg) materials prepared using the combustion synthesis method were annealed either in an air or carbon atmosphere. The materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectra, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Their photocatalytic activity was evaluated for the dye degradation and hydrogen evolution. Methylene blue (15 ppm) was completely degraded using the air-annealed barium aluminate after 90 min, while a maximum hydrogen generation rate of $97 . 0 \;{\rm\unicode{x00B5}{\rm mol}\cdot{\rm h}^{ - 1}\cdot{\rm g}^{ - 1}}$97.0µmol⋅h-1⋅g-1 was achieved using the carbon-annealed magnesium aluminate. The results suggest that air-annealed photocatalysts are suitable for oxidation-dependent reactions, while carbon annealing may enhance reduction-dependent reactions.

Waterborne chitosan-epoxysilane hybrid pretreatments for corrosion protection of zinc.

Biopolymer-based systems are extensively studied as green alternatives for traditional polymer coatings, e.g., in corrosion protection. Chitosan-epoxysilane hybrid films are presented in this work as a chitosan-based protective system, which could, e.g., be applied in a pretreatment step. For the preparation of the chitosan-epoxysilane hybrid systems, a sol-gel procedure was applied. The function of the silane is to ensure adhesion to the substrate. On zinc substrates, homogeneous thin films with thickness of 50-70 nm were obtained after thermal curing. The hybrid-coated zinc substrates were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. As model corrosion experiments, linear polarization resistance was measured, and cathodic delamination of the weak polymer coating poly(vinylbutyral) (PVB) was studied using scanning Kelvin probe. Overall, chitosan-epoxysilane hybrid pretreated samples showed lower delamination rates than unmodified chitosan coatings and pure PVB. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed a reduced ion permeability and water uptake by chitosan-epoxysilane films compared to that of a nonmodified chitosan coating. Even though the coatings are hydrophobic and contain water, they slow down cathodic delamination by limiting ion transport.

Uptake of aromatic compounds by DNA: Toward the environmental application of DNA for cleaning water.

HYPOTHESIS: Although the interaction of DNA with various types of intercalating chemicals, such as planar polycyclic aromatic compounds, has been extensively investigated over the past several decades, little is known about the relationship between the structure of a DNA binder and its affinity for DNA. The use of DNA as an adsorbent for environmental cleaning purposes requires information on its affinity for organic chemicals with different structures. EXPERIMENT: In the present study we investigated the binding of DNA to aromatic chemicals with various structures and charges by three methods: binding of organic chemicals to DNA followed by removal by precipitation with cationic nanoparticles (1) or a cationic surfactant (2), and absorption of organic chemicals by a DNA hydrogel (3). FINDINGS: The results showed that, for most neutral organic chemicals, the hydrophobicity of the organic molecule is the main driving force for efficient binding to DNA. The double-helicity of DNA contributed to stronger binding to most of the compounds. The efficiency of the uptake of organic chemicals increased substantially when a hydrophobic cationic surfactant was used for DNA-complex condensation and removal. The potential environmental application of DNA as an adsorbent for the removal of aromatic organic pollutants from water is discussed.

Photodegradation of indigo carmine and methylene blue dyes in aqueous solution by SiC-TiO2 catalysts prepared by sol-gel.

Indigo carmine and methylene blue dyes in aqueous solution were photodegraded using SiC-TiO(2) catalysts prepared by sol-gel method. After thermal treatment at 450°C, SiC-TiO(2) catalysts prepared in this work showed the presence of SiC and TiO(2) anatase phase. Those compounds showed specific surface area values around 22-25 m(2)g(-1), and energy band gap values close to 3.05 eV. In comparison with TiO(2) (P25), SiC-TiO(2) catalysts showed the highest activity for indigo carmine and methylene blue degradation, but this activity cannot be attributed to the properties above mentioned. Therefore, photocatalytic performance is due to the synergy effect between SiC and TiO(2) particles caused by the sol-gel method used to prepare the SiC-TiO(2) catalysts. TiO(2) nanoparticles are well dispersed onto SiC surface allowing the transfer of electronic charges between SiC and TiO(2) semiconductors, which avoid the fast recombination of the electron-hole pair during the photocatalytic process.

Estudio bioinformático del metabolismo de Mycobacterium tuberculosis bajo condiciones de hipoxia / Bioinformatic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis metabolism under hypoxic conditions

Objetivo: Predecir, usando métodos bioinformáticos, las vías metabólicas preferentemente activas en Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT), bajo condiciones de hipoxia. Diseño: Análisis biológico. Lugar: Instituto de Química Biológica, Microbiología y Biotecnología Marco Antonio Garrido Malo, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, UNMSM. Material biológico: Genes de Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Métodos: Inicialmente se seleccionó 355 genes de MT H37Rv, cuya expresión ha sido demostrada que es inducida bajo condiciones de hipoxia, y 359 cuya expresión es reprimida. Usando la información de secuencia de los genes con expresión inducida y reprimida, se analizó de modo comparativo la posición en el genoma de cada grupo de genes, así como algunas propiedades fisicoquímicas (punto isoeléctrico y momento hidrofóbico) de sus proteínas correspondientes. Posteriormente, a cada gen se le asignó una vía metabólica o regulatoria, usando la información sobre MT de la librería de genes y genomas de Kyoto (KEGG), y el procesamiento de secuencias, empleando el programa PATH-A. Principales medidas de resultados: Vías metabólicas en genes de Mycobacterium tuberculosis, bajo condiciones de hipoxia. Resultados: No se encontró diferencias entre los genes con expresión inducida y reprimida, en su distribución en el genoma de MT, así como en la distribución de los valores para las propiedades fisicoquímicas analizadas en sus productos. De los 355 genes con expresión inducida iniciales, solamente fue posible asignar al menos una vía metabólica a 95, usando KEGG, y 57, usando PATH-A. Conclusiones: El análisis comparativo de las vías metabólicas asignadas a los genes con expresión inducida y reprimida reveló que, bajo condiciones de hipoxia, se encuentran reprimidos muchos genes relacionados a vías metabólicas que implican gasto de ATP, encontrándose inducidos algunos genes cuyas proteínas participan en vías del metabolismo central.

Objective: To predict by using bioinformatic tools Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) metabolic pathways under hypoxic conditions. Design: Biology analysis. Setting: Instituto de Química Biológica, Microbiología y Biotecnología Marco Antonio Garrido Malo Biological, Microbiologic and Biotechnologic Chemistry Institute, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, UNMSM. Biologic material: Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes. Methods: The study began with the selection of 355 genes of MT H37Rv whose expression has been shown by other studies is induced by hypoxic conditions and 359 genes whose expression was repressed. Up and down expressed genes were comparatively analyzed, localizing genes of each group within the MT genome and predicting some physicochemical properties (isoelectric point and hydrophobic moment) for their protein products. In order to assign a metabolic or regulatory pathway to each gene, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and PATH-A sequence analysis tool were used. Main outcome measures: Metabolic pathways in Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes under hypoxia conditions. Results: From the initial 355 up expressed genes, it was possible to assign metabolic pathways to only 95 using KEGG and 57 using PATH-A. Conclusions: There were no differences between up and down expressed genes for their genome distribution and values for studied physicochemical properties of their protein products. The comparative analysis of the assigned metabolic pathways to down and up-expressed genes revealed that under hypoxic conditions several metabolic pathways related to ATP spent were down-expressed, being induced some genes whose proteins participate incentral metabolism pathways such as the pyruvate metabolism, glycolysis and citric acid cycle.

Molecular and physiological adaptation to prolonged drought stress in the leaves of two Andean potato genotypes.

Responses to prolonged drought and recovery from drought of two South American potato (Solanum tuberosum L. ssp. andigena (Juz & Buk) Hawkes) landraces, Sullu and Ccompis were compared under field conditions. Physiological and biomass measurements, yield analysis, the results of hybridisation to a potato microarray platform (44 000 probes) and metabolite profiling were used to characterise responses to water deficit. Drought affected shoot and root biomass negatively in Ccompis but not in Sullu, whereas both genotypes maintained tuber yield under water stress. Ccompis showed stronger reduction in maximum quantum yield under stress than Sullu, and less decrease in stomatal resistance. Genes associated with PSII functions were activated during recovery in Sullu only. Evidence for sucrose accumulation in Sullu only during maximum stress and recovery was observed, in addition to increases in cell wall biosynthesis. A depression in the abundance of plastid superoxide dismutase transcripts was observed under maximum stress in Ccompis. Both sucrose and the regulatory molecule trehalose accumulated in the leaves of Sullu only. In contrast, in Ccompis, the raffinose oligosaccharide family pathway was activated, whereas low levels of sucrose and minor stress-mediated changes in trehalose were observed. Proline, and expression of the associated genes, rose in both genotypes under drought, with a 3-fold higher increase in Sullu than in Ccompis. The results demonstrate the presence of distinct molecular and biochemical drought responses in the two potato landraces leading to yield maintenance but differential biomass accumulation in vegetative tissues.