Unsupported trimetallic Ni(Co)-Mo-W sulphide catalysts prepared from mixed oxides: characterisation and catalytic tests for simultaneous tetralin HDA and dibenzothiophene HDS reactions

Unsupported A-Mo-W (A = Ni or Co) sulphide catalysts were obtained from mixed oxides containing different W:Mo ratios. An in situ liquid-phase sulphidation of the mixed oxides in a batch reactor was followed by catalytic tests in a liquid-phase reaction (at 613 K and 70 bar), using a mixture of dibenzotiophene (DBT) and tetralin (THN) as the feed. After the catalytic tests, the bulk sulphide catalysts were characterised by nitrogen physical adsorption, XANES/EXAFS, SEM and HR-(S)TEM. The HR-TEM images showed randomly oriented, stacked-layer particles typical of Mo (W) sulphides and an elemental HR-STEM mapping evidenced Mo/W homogeneous distribution in the trimetallic sulphides. The EXAFS results for the trimetallic catalysts are consistent with the presence of nickel or cobalt sulphide domains, and Mo1-xWxS2 solid solutions. The intralayer Mo:W solid solutions were confirmed to be thermodynamically stable with respect to phase separation by DFT calculations, which were also used to aid in the interpretation of the EXAFS results. The effect of the W:Mo ratio on the catalytic properties of the Ni- and Co-containing series was found to be different. For the Ni series, increasing the W content caused an activity increase in THN hydrodearomatization (HDA) relative to DBT hydrodesulphurization (HDS), while it had little influence on the relative contribution of the direct desulphurisation (DDS) route with respect to the previous hydrogenation (HYD) route for DBT HDS. In contrast, for the Co series, the activities and selectivities were essentially insensitive to the W content. Both the Ni and Co series of unsupported sulphides were more selective for the HYD route in DBT HDS than a supported NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst

Magnetic ordering of the antiferromagnet Cu2MnSnS4 from magnetization and neutron-scattering measurements

Magnetization and neutron-diffraction measurements were performed on a single crystal of Cu2MnSnS4. This quartenary magnetic semiconductor has the stannite structure (derived from the zinc-blende structure which is common to many II-VI dilute magnetic semiconductors), and it orders antiferromagnetically at low temperature. The neutron data for the nuclear structure confirm that the space group is I42̄m. Both the neutron and magnetization data give TN=8.8 K for the Néel temperature. The neutron data show a collinear antiferromagnetic (AF) structure with a propagation vector k=[1/2,0,1/2], in agreement with earlier neutron data on a powder. However, the deduced angle θ between the spin axis and the crystallographic c direction is between 6° and 16°, in contrast to the earlier value of 40°. The magnetization curve at T≪TN shows the presence of a spin rotation (analogous to a spin flop), which indicates that the spin axis is indeed close to the c direction. The deduced magnetic anisotropy gives an anisotropy field HA≅2 kOe. At high magnetic fields the magnetization curve at T≪TN shows the transition between the canted (spin-flop) phase and the paramagnetic phase. The transition field, H=245.5 kOe, yields an intersublattice exchange field HE= 124 kOe. The exchange constants deduced from HE and the Curie-Weiss temperature Θ=-25 K show that the antiferromagnetic interactions are an order of magnitude smaller than in II-VI dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMS's). The much weaker antiferromagnetic interactions are expected from the difference in the crystal structures (stannite versus zincblende). A more surprising result is that the exchange constant which controls the AF order below TN is not between Mn ions with the smallest separation. This result contrasts with a prediction made for the related II-VI DMS, according to which the exchange constants decrease rapidly with distance.The work at Tufts University was partially supported by NSF Grant No. DMR-9219727. The research in Zaragoza was supported by CICYT Grant No. MAT94-0043. The work at Brown University was supported by NSF Grant No. DMR-9221141. The Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory was supported by NSF.Peer Reviewe

Occupational Safety and Health Practices among Physical Therapists in Metro Manila during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study Protocol

Introduction: The purpose of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is to protect and prevent workers from being exposed to risks and hazards that are detrimental to their health and safety. For the past two years, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the most significant occupational health outcomes to physical therapists (PTs) due to the nature of their work. However, minimal studies have been conducted about the experiences and OSH practices of PTs during the pandemic. This study aims to understand the experiences of clinical PTs in Metro Manila, Philippines during the pandemic. The study also seeks to explore the OSH practices and responses of PTs to presenting occupational risks and hazards through a qualitative descriptive study design. Methods: In this qualitative descriptive study, a maximum variation purposeful sampling method will be used in recruiting an estimated total of twelve (12) participants. A preliminary questionnaire would be disseminated via Google Forms to determine the eligibility of potential participants. Data will be gathered through a one-to-one semi-structured online interview, which will be transcribed verbatim and recorded with audio and video. Both manual coding and software-aided coding (NVivo) will be utilized in the data analysis. Emerging themes will be identified using thematic inductive analysis. Discussion: The results of the study may contribute to the formulation of better guidelines in handling infectious diseases even after quarantine restrictions are lifted. Furthermore, the findings will also provide the groundwork for the local body of knowledge in the Philippines and may serve as a future reference for research concerning OSH practices in physical therapy locally

Lateral flow immunoassay for on-site detection of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. Pruni in symptomatic field samples

[EN] Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni is a quarantine pathogen and the causal agent of the bacterial spot disease of stone fruits and almond, a major threat to Prunus species. Rapid and specific detection methods are essential to improve disease management, and therefore a prototype of a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) was designed for the detection of X. arboricola pv. pruni in symptomatic field samples. It was developed by producing polyclonal antibodies which were then combined with carbon nanoparticles and assembled on nitrocellulose strips. The specificity of the LFIA was tested against 87 X. arboricola pv. pruni strains from different countries worldwide, 47 strains of other Xanthomonas species and 14 strains representing other bacterial genera. All X. arboricola pv. pruni strains were detected and cross-reactions were observed only with four strains of X. arboricola pv. corylina, a hazelnut pathogen that does not share habitat with X. arboricola pv. pruni. The sensitivity of the LFIA was assessed with suspensions from pure cultures of three X. arboricola pv. pruni strains and with spiked leaf extracts prepared from four hosts inoculated with this pathogen (almond, apricot, Japanese plum and peach). The limit of detection observed with both pure cultures and spiked samples was 10(4) CFU ml(-1). To demonstrate the accuracy of the test, 205 samples naturally infected with X. arboricola pv. pruni and 113 samples collected from healthy plants of several different Prunus species were analyzed with the LFIA. Results were compared with those obtained by plate isolation and real time PCR and a high correlation was found among techniques. Therefore, we propose this LFIA as a screening tool that allows a rapid and reliable diagnosis of X. arboricola pv. pruni in symptomatic plants.The work was supported by the following: Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria, Project RTA-2011-00140-C03-01 (http://www.inia.es), PLS MTG EMN MML; Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria, FPI-INIA grant (http://www.inia.es), PLS; Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeo II 2014/040) (http://www.gva.es), PN RP AM; Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) (CTQ2013-45875R) (http://www.mineco.gob.es), PN RP AM; European Social Fund, PLS MTG EMN MML; and European Regional Development Fund, PLS MTG EMN MML.López-Soriano, P.; Noguera Murray, PS.; Gorris, MT.; Puchades, R.; Maquieira Catala, A.; Marco-Noales, E.; López, M. (2017). Lateral flow immunoassay for on-site detection of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. Pruni in symptomatic field samples. PLoS ONE. 12(4):1-13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176201S113124Tjou-Tam-Sin, N. N. A., van de Bilt, J. L. J., Bergsma-Vlami, M., Koenraadt, H., Naktuinbouw, J. W., van Doorn, J., … Martin, W. S. (2012). First Report of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni in Ornamental Prunus laurocerasus in the Netherlands. Plant Disease, 96(5), 759-759. doi:10.1094/pdis-04-11-0265-pdnPothier, J. F., Vorhölter, F.-J., Blom, J., Goesmann, A., Pühler, A., Smits, T. H. M., & Duffy, B. (2011). The ubiquitous plasmid pXap41 in the invasive phytopathogen Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni: complete sequence and comparative genomic analysis. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 323(1), 52-60. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02352.xPalacio-Bielsa, A., Cubero, J., Cambra, M. A., Collados, R., Berruete, I. M., & López, M. M. (2010). Development of an Efficient Real-Time Quantitative PCR Protocol for Detection ofXanthomonas arboricolapv. pruni inPrunusSpecies. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 77(1), 89-97. doi:10.1128/aem.01593-10Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni. (2006). EPPO Bulletin, 36(1), 129-133. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2338.2006.00925.xPagani MC. An ABC transporter protein and molecular diagnoses of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni causing bacterial spot of stone fruits. Raleigh, North Carolina, USA: North Carolina State University, PhD thesis. 2004; Online, http://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/ir/bitstream/1840.16/4540/1/etd.pdfPark, S. Y., Lee, Y. S., Koh, Y. J., Hur, J.-S., & Jung, J. S. (2010). Detection of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni by PCR using primers based on DNA sequences related to the hrp genes. The Journal of Microbiology, 48(5), 554-558. doi:10.1007/s12275-010-0072-3Pothier, J. F., Pagani, M. C., Pelludat, C., Ritchie, D. F., & Duffy, B. (2011). A duplex-PCR method for species- and pathovar-level identification and detection of the quarantine plant pathogen Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 86(1), 16-24. doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2011.03.019Ballard, E. L., Dietzgen, R. G., Sly, L. I., Gouk, C., Horlock, C., & Fegan, M. (2011). Development of a Bio-PCR Protocol for the Detection of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni. Plant Disease, 95(9), 1109-1115. doi:10.1094/pdis-09-10-0650Boonham, N., Glover, R., Tomlinson, J., & Mumford, R. (2008). Exploiting generic platform technologies for the detection and identification of plant pathogens. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 121(3), 355-363. doi:10.1007/s10658-008-9284-3Posthuma-Trumpie, G. A., Korf, J., & van Amerongen, A. (2008). Lateral flow (immuno)assay: its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A literature survey. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 393(2), 569-582. doi:10.1007/s00216-008-2287-2De Boer, S. H., & López, M. M. (2012). New Grower-Friendly Methods for Plant Pathogen Monitoring. Annual Review of Phytopathology, 50(1), 197-218. doi:10.1146/annurev-phyto-081211-172942Thornton, C. R., Groenhof, A. C., Forrest, R., & Lamotte, R. (2004). A One-Step, Immunochromatographic Lateral Flow Device Specific to Rhizoctonia solani and Certain Related Species, and Its Use to Detect and Quantify R. solani in Soil. Phytopathology®, 94(3), 280-288. doi:10.1094/phyto.2004.94.3.280Lane, C. R., Hobden, E., Walker, L., Barton, V. C., Inman, A. J., Hughes, K. J. D., … Barker, I. (2007). Evaluation of a rapid diagnostic field test kit for identification of Phytophthora species, including P. ramorum and P. kernoviae at the point of inspection. Plant Pathology, 56(5), 828-835. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3059.2007.01615.xSafenkova, I., Zherdev, A., & Dzantiev, B. (2012). Factors influencing the detection limit of the lateral-flow sandwich immunoassay: a case study with potato virus X. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 403(6), 1595-1605. doi:10.1007/s00216-012-5985-8Safenkova, I. V., Pankratova, G. K., Zaitsev, I. A., Varitsev, Y. A., Vengerov, Y. Y., Zherdev, A. V., & Dzantiev, B. B. (2016). Multiarray on a test strip (MATS): rapid multiplex immunodetection of priority potato pathogens. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 408(22), 6009-6017. doi:10.1007/s00216-016-9463-6Braun-Kiewnick, A., Altenbach, D., Oberhänsli, T., Bitterlin, W., & Duffy, B. (2011). A rapid lateral-flow immunoassay for phytosanitary detection of Erwinia amylovora and on-site fire blight diagnosis. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 87(1), 1-9. doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2011.06.015Safenkova, I. V., Zaitsev, I. A., Pankratova, G. K., Varitsev, Y. A., Zherdev, A. V., & Dzantiev, B. B. (2014). Lateral flow immunoassay for rapid detection of potato ring rot caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus. Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology, 50(6), 675-682. doi:10.1134/s0003683814120011Hodgetts, J., Karamura, G., Johnson, G., Hall, J., Perkins, K., Beed, F., … Smith, J. (2014). Development of a lateral flow device for in-field detection and evaluation of PCR-based diagnostic methods forXanthomonas campestrispv.musacearum, the causal agent of banana xanthomonas wilt. Plant Pathology, 64(3), 559-567. doi:10.1111/ppa.12289Noguera, P., Posthuma-Trumpie, G. A., van Tuil, M., van der Wal, F. J., de Boer, A., Moers, A. P. H. A., & van Amerongen, A. (2010). Carbon nanoparticles in lateral flow methods to detect genes encoding virulence factors of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 399(2), 831-838. doi:10.1007/s00216-010-4334-zCambra M, López MM. Titration of Agrobacterium radiobacter var. tumefaciens antibodies by using enzyme labeled anti-rabbit γ-globulines (ELISA indirect method). In: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, ed. Station Pathologie Végétale, INRA Angers, 1978. pp: 327–331.O’Keeffe, M., Crabbe, P., Salden, M., Wichers, J., Van Peteghem, C., Kohen, F., … Moneti, G. (2003). Preliminary evaluation of a lateral flow immunoassay device for screening urine samples for the presence of sulphamethazine. Journal of Immunological Methods, 278(1-2), 117-126. doi:10.1016/s0022-1759(03)00207-2PM 7/98 (2) Specific requirements for laboratories preparing accreditation for a plant pest diagnostic activity. (2014). EPPO Bulletin, 44(2), 117-147. doi:10.1111/epp.12118Lamichhane, J. R., & Varvaro, L. (2013). Xanthomonas arboricoladisease of hazelnut: current status and future perspectives for its management. Plant Pathology, 63(2), 243-254. doi:10.1111/ppa.12152Fischer-Le Saux, M., Bonneau, S., Essakhi, S., Manceau, C., & Jacques, M.-A. (2015). Aggressive Emerging Pathovars of Xanthomonas arboricola Represent Widespread Epidemic Clones Distinct from Poorly Pathogenic Strains, as Revealed by Multilocus Sequence Typing. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 81(14), 4651-4668. doi:10.1128/aem.00050-15Bühlmann, A., Pothier, J. F., Tomlinson, J. A., Frey, J. 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WIMP dark matter as radiative neutrino mass messenger

The minimal seesaw extension of the Standard SU(3)(c)circle times SU(2)(L)circle times U(1)(Y) Model requires two electroweak singlet fermions in order to accommodate the neutrino oscillation parameters at tree level. Here we consider a next to minimal extension where light neutrino masses are generated radiatively by two electroweak fermions: one singlet and one triplet under SU(2)(L). These should be odd under a parity symmetry and their mixing gives rise to a stable weakly interactive massive particle (WIMP) dark matter candidate. For mass in the GeV-TeV range, it reproduces the correct relic density, and provides an observable signal in nuclear recoil direct detection experiments. The fermion triplet component of the dark matter has gauge interactions, making it also detectable at present and near future collider experiments

Stable-isotope techniques to investigate sources of plant water

Stable isotopologues of water (mainly 1H216O, HD16O and 1H218O) have been used for decades as tracers of the Earth's water cycle. In this chapter, we briefly describe the theoretical background and state-of-the-art techniques of the use of water stable isotopes to investigate the sources of plant water. We aim to provide the basic understanding of stable isotope fractionation within the Earth's critical zone that is relevant for studies of plant water sources. We then present a practical guide of their most common applications in field studies and the most common and up-to-date laboratory procedures. We finally introduce the existing statistical approaches for estimating the relative contributions of water sources to plant transpiration. By acknowledging the advantages and limitations of each approach, we aim to provide an overview of the current techniques to researchers in the fields of plant ecophysiology, ecohydrology and forest ecology, so that they can make informed decisions when designing their experiments

Silencing Agrobacterium oncogenes in transgenic grapevine results in strain-specific crown gall resistance

Crown gall disease of grapevine induced by Agrobacterium vitis or Agrobacterium tumefaciens causes serious economic losses in viticulture. To establish crown gall-resistant lines, somatic proembryos of Vitis berlandieri × V. rupestris cv. 'Richter 110' rootstock were transformed with an oncogene-silencing transgene based on iaaM and ipt oncogene sequences from octopine-type, tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid pTiA6. Twentyone transgenic lines were selected, and their transgenic nature was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These lines were inoculated with two A. tumefaciens and three A. vitis strains. Eight lines showed resistance to octopine-type A. tumefaciens A348. Resistance correlated with the expression of the silencing genes. However, oncogene silencing was mostly sequence specific because these lines did not abolish tumorigenesis by A. vitis strains or nopaline-type A. tumefaciens C58

Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus types in Mexican women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prevalence of high risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) types in the states of San Luis Potosí (SLP) and Guanajuato (Gto), Mexico, was determined by restriction fragment length-polymorphism (RFLP) analysis on the E6 ~250 bp (E6-250) HR-HPV products amplified from cervical scrapings of 442 women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive carcinoma (280 from SLP and 192 from Gto). Fresh cervical scrapings for HPV detection and typing were obtained from all of them and cytological and/or histological diagnoses were performed on 383.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Low grade intraepithelial squamous lesions (LSIL) were diagnosed in 280 cases (73.1%), high grade intraepithelial squamous lesions (HSIL) in 64 cases (16.7%) and invasive carcinoma in 39 cases (10.2%). In the 437 cervical scrapings containing amplifiable DNA, only four (0.9%) were not infected by HPV, whereas 402 (92.0%) were infected HR-HPV and 31 (7.1%) by low-risk HPV. RFLP analysis of the amplifiable samples identified infections by one HR-HPV type in 71.4%, by two types in 25.9% and by three types in 2.7%. The overall prevalence of HR-HPV types was, in descending order: 16 (53.4%) > 31 (15.6%) > 18 (8.9%) > 35 (5.6) > 52 (5.4%) > 33 (1.2%) > 58 (0.7%) = unidentified types (0.7%); in double infections (type 58 absent in Gto) it was 16 (88.5%) > 31 (57.7%) > 35 (19.2%) > 18 (16.3%) = 52 (16.3%) > 33 (2.8%) = 58 (2.8%) > unidentified types (1.0%); in triple infections (types 33 and 58 absent in both states) it was 16 (100.0%) > 35 (54.5%) > 31 (45.5%) = 52 (45.5%) > 18 (27.3%). Overall frequency of cervical lesions was LSIL (73.1%) > HSIL (16.7%) > invasive cancer (10.2%). The ratio of single to multiple infections was inversely proportional to the severity of the lesions: 2.46 for LSIL, 2.37 for HSIL and 2.15 for invasive cancer. The frequency of HR-HPV types in HSIL and invasive cancer lesions was 16 (55.0%) > 31 (18.6%) > 35 (7.9%) > 52 (7.1%) > 18 (4.3%) > unidentified types (3.6%) > 33 (2.9%) > 58 (0.7%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Ninety percent of the women included in this study were infected by HR-HPV, with a prevalence 1.14 higher in Gto. All seven HR-HPV types identifiable with the PCR-RFLP method used circulate in SLP and Gto, and were diagnosed in 99.3% of the cases. Seventy-one percent of HR-HPV infections were due to a single type, 25.9% were double and 2.7% were triple. Overall frequency of lesions was LSIL (73.1%) > HSIL (16.7%) > invasive cancer (10.2%), and the ratio of single to multiple infections was inversely proportional to severity of the lesions: 2.46 for LSIL, 2.37 for HSIL and 2.15 for invasive cancer. The frequency of HR-HPV types found in HSIL and invasive cancer was 16 (55.0%) > 31 (18.6%) > 35 (7.9%) > 52 (7.1%) > 18 (4.3%) > unidentified types (3.6%) > 33 (2.9%) > 58 (0.7%). Since the three predominant types (16, 31 and 18) cause 77.9% of the HR-HPV infections and immunization against type 16 prevents type 31 infections, in this region the efficacy of the prophylactic vaccine against types 16 and 18 would be close to 80%.</p

A Systematic Review of the Frequency of Neurocyticercosis with a Focus on People with Epilepsy

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection of the brain caused by the tapeworm Taenia solium, which infects humans and pigs. There have been increasing case reports and epidemiological studies on this disease, but its global frequency has never been determined, partly due to the fact that blood tests are not very good for the diagnosis of NCC. We present here a systematic review of the literature on the frequency of NCC diagnosed with neuroimaging worldwide. Overall, 565 articles were retrieved and 290 (51%) selected for further review. Of those, only 26 had information valid enough to estimate the frequency of NCC in various populations. Only one study estimated the prevalence of NCC in the general population. The most striking finding was that the proportion of NCC among persons with epilepsy was very consistent and estimated at 29.6% (95%CI: 23.5%–36.1%) from 12 studies conducted in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. A reinforcement of the suggested universal guidelines for the diagnostic process, declaring NCC an international reportable disease and standardizing procedures for data collection could improve our understanding of the frequency of NCC worldwide and hence its global burden