Battery-like behavior of Ni-ceria based systems: synthesis, surface defects and electrochemical assessment

NiO, CeO2 and respective composites are extensively used in energy storage devices due to mostly their high electrochemical activity. However, the assessment of battery-like behavior of Ni-ceria based systems comprising (Ni or Gd)-doped ceria combined with NiO seems to be neglected in the literature. In this work, NiO and ceria-based solid solutions composite powders were obtained by a co-precipitation synthesis method. The structure and particle size of the calcined powders were investigated by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. Oxidative states of composites were inspected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance of powders was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and impedance spectroscopy. Refinement of the XRD patterns showed that powders have nanosized crystallites and mean size of particles within 20 – 70 nm were revealed by FESEM. The improved specific capacity of the NiO-CeO2 electrode material (about 2.5 times higher than that of NiO-CGO at 5 mV s−1) is due to an increase in Faradic reactions taken place on its surface with a higher fraction of defects (namely Ni3+, Ce3+ and oxygen vacancies), as determined by XPS. The superior electrochemical performance of the NiO-CeO2 electrode is also confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.publishe

Ácidos orgânicos na solução de um gleissolo sob diferentes sistemas de cultivo com arroz irrigado Organic acids in the soil solution of a gley soil cropped with lowland rice under different systems

O alagamento do solo para o cultivo do arroz irrigado promove condições anaeróbias que favorecem a produção de ácidos orgânicos de cadeia curta, os quais podem ser tóxicos para a cultura. Entretanto, a quantidade produzida destes ácidos depende, dentre outros fatores, do sistema de manejo empregado para o cultivo do arroz. Para avaliar a formação de ácidos orgânicos durante o cultivo do arroz irrigado nos sistemas: convencional, semeadura direta e pré-germinado sobre resíduos de azevém, foram instalados coletores de solução do solo em duas profundidades (2,5 e 5,0 cm) em parcelas de campo e retiradas amostras da solução do solo aos 3, 5, 9, 11 e 17 dias de alagamento. Nestas amostras, foram determinados os teores dos ácidos: acético, butírico e propiônico por cromatografia gasosa. Independentemente da profundidade de coleta, os maiores teores dos três ácidos avaliados ocorreram no sistema de semeadura direta, em comparação com o sistema convencional e pré-germinado. Entretanto, as diferenças significativas entre os sistemas perduraram, no máximo, até os primeiros 11 dias de alagamento. Teores mais elevados de ácidos orgânicos foram encontrados aos 5,0 cm de profundidade em comparação com 2,5 cm em todos os sistemas, com picos no quinto dia de alagamento. O ácido acético foi o ácido produzido em maior quantidade, independentemente do sistema de cultivo de arroz.<br>The production of short-chain organic acids is favoured by anaerobic conditions in flooded soil during rice cultivation and they can be toxic for the crop. However, the amount of acids formed depends on the system used for the rice cultivation. In order to measure the amount and type of organic acids formed in three different systems (conventional tillage, no tillage and pre-germinated planting), soil solution samples were collected from two depths (2.5 and 5.0 cm) after 3, 5, 9, 11, and 17 days of flooding. The soil solutions were analysed for acetic, butyric and propionic acids by gas chromatography. Acid concentrations at both depths were higher in the no-tillage system, but significant differences were only observed during the first 11 days of flooding. In all three systems, higher organic acid concentrations were detected at a depth of 5.0 cm than at 2.0 cm, and they peaked at the 5th day of flooding. Acetic acid was produced in higher concentration than propionic and butyric acids in all three rice cultivation systems

Molecular Cloning And Insecticidal Effect Of Inga Laurina Trypsin Inhibitor On Diatraea Saccharalis And Heliothis Virescens

Native Inga laurina (Fabaceae) trypsin inhibitor (ILTI) was tested for anti-insect activity against Diatraea saccharalis and Heliothis virescens larvae. The addition of 0.1% ILTI to the diet of D. saccharalis did not alter larval survival but decreased larval weight by 51%. The H. virescens larvae that were fed a diet containing 0.5% ILTI showed an 84% decrease in weight. ILTI was not digested by the midgut proteinases of either species of larvae. The trypsin levels were reduced by 55.3% in the feces of D. saccharalis and increased by 24.1% in the feces of H. virescens. The trypsin activity in both species fed with ILTI was sensitive to the inhibitor, suggesting that no novel proteinase resistant to ILTI was induced. Additionally, ILTI exhibited inhibitory activity against the proteinases present in the larval midgut of different species of Lepidoptera. The organization of the ilti gene was elucidated by analyzing its corresponding genomic sequence. The recombinant ILTI protein (reILTI) was expressed and purified, and its efficacy was evaluated. Both native ILTI and reILTI exhibited a similar strong inhibitory effect on bovine trypsin activity. These results suggest that ILTI presents insecticidal properties against both insects and may thus be a useful tool in the genetic engineering of plants. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.1563-4148158Abdeen, A., Virgos, A., Olivella, E., Villanueva, J., Aviles, X., Gabarra, R., Prat, S., Multiple insect resistance in transgenic tomato plants over-expressing two families of plant proteinase inhibitors (2005) Plant Mol. 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Sildenafil delays the intestinal transit of a liquid meal in awake rats

Sildenafil slows down the gastric emptying of a liquid test meal in awake rats and inhibits the contractility of intestinal tissue strips. We studied the acute effects of sildenafil on in vivo intestinal transit in rats. Fasted, male albino rats (180-220 g, N = 44) were treated (0.2 mL, iv) with sildenafil (4 mg/kg) or vehicle (0.01 N HCl). Ten minutes later they were fed a liquid test meal (99m technetium-labeled saline) injected directly into the duodenum. Twenty, 30 or 40 min after feeding, the rats were killed and transit throughout the gastrointestinal tract was evaluated by progression of the radiotracer using the geometric center method. The effect of sildenafil on mean arterial pressure (MAP) was monitored in a separate group of rats (N = 14). Data (medians within interquartile ranges) were compared by the Mann-Whitney U-test. The location of the geometric center was significantly more distal in vehicle-treated than in sildenafil-treated rats at 20, 30, and 40 min after test meal instillation (3.3 (3.0-3.6) vs 2.9 (2.7-3.1); 3.8 (3.4-4.0) vs 2.9 (2.5-3.1), and 4.3 (3.9-4.5) vs 3.4 (3.2-3.7), respectively; P < 0.05). MAP was unchanged in vehicle-treated rats but decreased by 25% (P < 0.05) within 10 min after sildenafil injection. In conclusion, besides transiently decreasing MAP, sildenafil delays the intestinal transit of a liquid test meal in awake rats

Níveis de fibra em detergente neutro forrageiro na alimentação de ovelhas Santa Inês gestantes Level of fiber on feeding of Santa Ines pregnant ewes

Avaliaram-se o consumo, a digestibilidade aparente e o comportamento ingestivo de ovelhas no terço final de gestação com dietas contendo diferentes níveis de fibra em detergente neutro forrageiro (FDNf). Foram utilizadas 16 ovelhas adultas da raça Santa Inês, distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos: 9, 17, 26 e 35% de FDNf. Os consumos de matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta, energia bruta, energia digestível e energia metabolizável não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos, e os consumos de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e de fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) aumentaram com maiores níveis de FDNf. As digestibilidades do FDN e FDA e o tempo gasto pelos animais com ruminação também aumentaram com maiores níveis de FDNf na dieta. Dietas com maior quantidade de FDNf influenciaram comportamento ingestivo e digestibilidade de ovelhas em fase final de lactação.<br>The intake, apparent digestibility and feeding behavior of pregnant ewes ped diets containing different levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were evaluated. Sixteen Santa Inês ewes were randomly assigned to four treatments with 9, 17, 26 e 35% of NDF. Dry matter (DM), organic matter, crude protein, crude energy, digestible energy and metabolizable energy intake were not affected by the level of NDF in the diet, however, NDF and acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake increased with the increase of NDF diet levels. The apparent digestibility of the NDF and ADF and rumination time increased with the NDF diet level. Higher NDF diet levels influenced feeding behavior and apparent digestibility of ewes at the end of the lactation period

Silver Trimolybdate (Ag2Mo3O10.2H2O) Nanorods: Synthesis, Characterization, and Photo-Induced Antibacterial Activity under Visible-Light Irradiation

The present study reports the synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial properties of silver trimolybdate (Ag2Mo3O10.2H2O) nanorods. The synthesis was performed using a conventional hydrothermal method. The sample was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The direct antibacterial activity was evaluated using the microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). To assess the ability of Ag2Mo3O10.2H2O nanorods to modulate antibacterial resistance, the MIC of aminoglycosides was established in the presence of a subinhibitory concentration of this substance alone and associated with LED light exposure. The characterization of the sample indicated that the synthesis of silver trimolybdate generated nanometric crystals with rod-like morphology, without secondary phases. The treatment with Ag2Mo3O10.2H2O nanorods alone or combined with visible LED lights exhibited clinically relevant antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This nanostructure presented a variable antibiotic-modulating action, which was not improved by visible LED light exposure. Nevertheless, LED lights showed promising antibiotic-enhancing activities in the absence of Ag2Mo3O10.2H2O nanorods. In conclusion, silver trimolybdate dihydrate nanorods have antibacterial properties that can be photocatalysed by visible-light exposure. While showing the potential use to combat antibacterial resistance, the simultaneous combination of silver trimolybdate, visible LED lights, and antibacterial drugs should be carefully analysed to avoid antagonist effects that could impair the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy. © 2022 Maria Karollyna do Nascimento Silva Leandro et al