Nanosafety

The nanomaterials resembling nanotubes, nanospheres, nanofertilizer, nanoherbicide, nanoinsecticide, and nanosheets have the physical, chemical, biological, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. Still, the nanoparticles have very minute dimensions, enormous area and high reactivity they need the potential ability to penetrate in living cells quite rapidly. The petite size nanoparticles contain lofty surface area may cause higher reactivity with nearby particles. It is broadly predictable that there is a critical need for more information and facts about the implications of manufactured nanomaterials on personal fitness and surroundings. Concerns about potential risks to health that may arise during the making, management, use, and discarding of these nanomaterials have been spoken over the past few years. Consequently, strong research action is being undertaken in various institutions, and industries across the world to appraise their toxicity and spread of nanoparticle

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF MMP-9 GENE IN CYSTIC FLUID OF CYSTICERCUS TENUICOLLIS BY REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (RT-PCR)

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to confirm the presence of MMP-9 gene in the cystic fluid of Cysticercus tenuicollis. Collection of cyst was made from goats slaughtered at local abattoirs and washed thoroughly with PBS (pH 7.4). The cystic fluid was aspirated, centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 15 minutes at 4°C and the supernatants were used for further study. Total RNA was isolated from the cystic fluid of Cysticercus tenuicollis. The total cellular RNA was obtained from 400 µL of cystic fluid was 0.214 µg and the concentration of the RNA was 0.535 µg/mL. The RT-PCR product, 204 bp propeptide domain of MMP-9 was detected through agarose gel electrophoresis, which confirmed the presence of MMP-9 in the cystic fluid of Cysticercus tenuicolli

CO2 conversion via coupled plasma-electrolysis process

Surplus renewable electricity used to convert CO2 into CO, the building block of liquid fuels, advances the energy transition by enabling large-scale, long-term energy storage and the synthesis of fuel for long-haul transportation. Among the various technologies developed, renewable electricity driven conversion of CO2 by high-temperature electrolysis and by plasmolysis offer a tantalising potential. High-temperature electrolysis is characterized by high-yield and energy-efficiency and the direct separation of the CO2 dissociation products CO and O2. However, the difficulty to break the carbon-oxygen double bond poses challenging requirements on electrode materials. CO2 plasmolysis on the other hand, offers a similar energy efficiency, does not employ scarce materials, is easy to upscale, but requires efficient gas separation and recuperation because the produced CO remains mixed with O2 and residual CO2. Here, we demonstrate that the coupling of the two processes leads to a renewable-electricity-driven route for producing CO from CO2, overcoming the main bottleneck of CO2 plasmolysis. A simulated CO2 plasmolysis gas mixture is supplied to a high-temperature electrolyser to separate the product gases electrochemically. Our results show that the product stream of the coupled-process contains 91% less oxygen and 138% more CO compared with the bare plasmolysis process. Apart from upgrading the produced gas mixture, this coupled approach benefits from material stability. Durability tests (~100 h) show better stability in coupled operation when compared with conventional CO2 electrolysis. Synergy between plasmolysis and electrolysis opens up a novel route to efficient CO2 conversion into valuable CO feedstock for the synthesis of long-chain hydrocarbons

Distinct SARS-CoV-2 specific NLRP3 and IL-1β responses in T cells of aging patients during acute COVID-19 infection

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) that presents with varied clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic or mild infections and pneumonia to severe cases associated with cytokine storm, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and even death. The underlying mechanisms contributing to these differences are unclear, although exacerbated inflammatory sequelae resulting from infection have been implicated. While advanced aging is a known risk factor, the precise immune parameters that determine the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in elderly individuals are not understood. Here, we found aging-associated (age ≥61) intrinsic changes in T cell responses when compared to those from individuals aged ≤ 60, even among COVID-positive patients with mild symptoms. Specifically, when stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 peptides in vitro, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from individuals aged ≥61 showed a diminished capacity to produce IFN-γ and IL-1β. Although they did not have severe disease, aged individuals also showed a higher frequency of PD-1+ cells and significantly diminished IFN-γ/PD-1 ratios among T lymphocytes upon SARS-CoV-2 peptide stimulation. Impaired T cell IL-1β expression coincided with reduced NLRP3 levels in T lymphocytes. However, the expression of these molecules was not affected in the monocytes of individuals aged ≥61. Together, these data reveal SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell intrinsic cytokine alterations in the individuals older than 61 and may provide new insights into dysregulated COVID-directed immune responses in the elderly

Plasma-activated electrolysis for cogeneration of nitric oxide and hydrogen from water and nitrogen

With increasing global interest in renewable energy technology given the backdrop of climate change, storage of electrical energy has become particularly relevant. Most sustainable technologies (e.g., wind and solar) produce electricity intermittently. Thus, converting electrical energy and base molecules (i.e., H2O, N2) into energy-rich ones (e.g., H2, NH3) or chemical feedstock (e.g., NO) is of paramount importance. While H2O splitting is compatible with renewable electricity, N2 fixation is currently dominated by thermally activated processes. In this work, we demonstrate an all-electric route for simultaneous NO and H2 production. In our approach, H2O is reduced to H2 in the cathode of a solid oxide electrolyzer while NO is produced in the anode by the reaction of O2- species (transported via the electrolyte) and plasma-activated N2 species. High faradaic efficiencies up to 93% are achieved for NO production at 650 °C, and NO concentration is >1000 times greater than the equilibrium concentration at the same temperature and pressure

Plasma-activated electrolysis for cogeneration of nitric oxide and hydrogen from water and nitrogen

\u3cp\u3eWith increasing global interest in renewable energy technology given the backdrop of climate change, storage of electrical energy has become particularly relevant. Most sustainable technologies (e.g., wind and solar) produce electricity intermittently. Thus, converting electrical energy and base molecules (i.e., H\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO, N\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e) into energy-rich ones (e.g., H\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e, NH\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e) or chemical feedstock (e.g., NO) is of paramount importance. While H\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO splitting is compatible with renewable electricity, N\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e fixation is currently dominated by thermally activated processes. In this work, we demonstrate an all-electric route for simultaneous NO and H\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e production. In our approach, H\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO is reduced to H\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e in the cathode of a solid oxide electrolyzer while NO is produced in the anode by the reaction of O\u3csup\u3e2-\u3c/sup\u3e species (transported via the electrolyte) and plasma-activated N\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e species. High faradaic efficiencies up to 93% are achieved for NO production at 650 °C, and NO concentration is >1000 times greater than the equilibrium concentration at the same temperature and pressure.\u3c/p\u3

Enhancing the Electrocatalytic Activity of Redox Stable Perovskite Fuel Electrodes in Solid Oxide Cells by Atomic Layer-Deposited Pt Nanoparticles

The carbon dioxide and steam co-electrolysis in solid oxide cells offers an efficient way to store the intermittent renewable electricity in the form of syngas (CO + H2), which constitutes a key intermediate for the chemical industry. The co-electrolysis process, however, is challenging in terms of materials selection. The cell composites, and particularly the fuel electrode, are required to exhibit adequate stability in redox environments and coking that rules out the conventional Ni cermets. La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.5Mn0.5O3 (LSCrM) perovskite oxides represent a promising alternative solution, but with electrocatalytic activity inferior to the conventional Ni-based cermets. Here, we report on how the electrochemical properties of a state-of-the-art LSCrM electrode can be significantly enhanced by introducing uniformly distributed Pt nanoparticles (18 nm) on its surface via the atomic layer deposition (ALD). At 850 °C, Pt nanoparticle deposition resulted in a ∼62% increase of the syngas production rate during electrolysis mode (at 1.5 V), whereas the power output was improved by ∼84% at fuel cell mode. Our results exemplify how the powerful ALD approach can be employed to uniformly disperse small amounts (∼50 μg·cm-2) of highly active metals to boost the limited electrocatalytic properties of redox stable perovskite fuel electrodes with efficient material utilization

Enhancing the Electrocatalytic Activity of Redox Stable Perovskite Fuel Electrodes in Solid Oxide Cells by Atomic Layer-Deposited Pt Nanoparticles

The carbon dioxide and steam co-electrolysis in solid oxide cells offers an efficient way to store the intermittent renewable electricity in the form of syngas (CO + H2), which constitutes a key intermediate for the chemical industry. The co-electrolysis process, however, is challenging in terms of materials selection. The cell composites, and particularly the fuel electrode, are required to exhibit adequate stability in redox environments and coking that rules out the conventional Ni cermets. La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.5Mn0.5O3 (LSCrM) perovskite oxides represent a promising alternative solution, but with electrocatalytic activity inferior to the conventional Ni-based cermets. Here, we report on how the electrochemical properties of a state-of-the-art LSCrM electrode can be significantly enhanced by introducing uniformly distributed Pt nanoparticles (18 nm) on its surface via the atomic layer deposition (ALD). At 850 °C, Pt nanoparticle deposition resulted in a ∼62% increase of the syngas production rate during electrolysis mode (at 1.5 V), whereas the power output was improved by ∼84% at fuel cell mode. Our results exemplify how the powerful ALD approach can be employed to uniformly disperse small amounts (∼50 μg·cm-2) of highly active metals to boost the limited electrocatalytic properties of redox stable perovskite fuel electrodes with efficient material utilization

Plasma driven exsolution for nanoscale functionalization of perovskite oxides

Perovskite oxides with dispersed nanoparticles on their surface are considered instrumental in energy conversion and catalytic processes. Redox exsolution is an alternative method to the conventional deposition techniques for directly growing well-dispersed and anchored nanoarchitectures from the oxide support through thermochemical or electrochemical reduction. Herein, a new method for such nanoparticle nucleation through the exposure of the host perovskite to plasma is shown. The applicability of this new method is demonstrated by performing catalytic tests for CO2 hydrogenation over Ni exsolved nanoparticles prepared by either plasma or conventional H2 reduction. Compared to the conventional thermochemical H2 reduction, there are plasma conditions that lead to the exsolution of a more than ten times higher Ni amount from a lanthanum titanate perovskite, which is similar to the reported values of the electrochemical method. Unlike the electrochemical method, however, plasma does not require the integration of the material in an electrochemical cell, and is thus applicable to a wide range of microstructures and physical forms. Additionally, when N2 plasma is employed, the nitrogen species are stripping out oxygen from the perovskite lattice, generating a key chemical intermediate, such as NO, rendering this technology even more appealing