Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) effects of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook (Myrtaceae)

In addition to eucalyptin the methanol extract from leaves of Eucalyptus citriodora (Myrtaceae) afforded the known compounds apigenin, chrysin, luteolin, naringenin, quercetin; together with betulinic acid, oleanolic, ursolic acid, and two remaining complex mixtures of unidentified flavonoids and triterpenes. These compounds together with triterpenes mixtures, hexane and ethyl acetate extracts showed antifeedant, insecticidal and insect growth regulatory activities against fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] an important pest of corn, and yellow mealworm [Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae)] a pest of stored grains. The most active compounds were chrysin, eucalyptin, quercetin, luteolin, and betulinic and oleanolic acids and the mixtures of flavonoids and triterpenes (M1 and M2). These compounds and mixtures had IGR activity between 0.2 to 5.0 μg/mL and insecticidal effects between 5.0 and 10.0 μg/mL.The extracts were insecticidal to larvae, with lethal doses between 20-100 μg/mL. These compounds appear to have selective effects on the pre-emergence metabolism of the Lepidoptera, since in all treatments of the larvae of S. frugiperda the pupation was shortened and this process showed precociousness in relation to control. Thus, these substances may be useful as potential natural insecticidal agents

Topographical and Physicochemical Contrast in Photopatterned SU-8 Films for Microfabrication of Multilayer Structures

During SU-8 standard photolithography process, a patterned topography is formed with a characteristic height profile produced by the different shrinkage of the UV exposed and masked regions. We study the change of wettability, film solubility, and topographic modifications on SU-8 films of different thicknesses and show its relevance in the formation of spinning-flow arrays on top layers made from positive photoresists. Also, considerable contrast in film solubility and surface energy as observed from contact angle measurements is produced. Interface diffusion of the photoresists was also observed and followed by Rutherford Back Scattering. We discuss the derivations of the mentioned effects concerning the limitations to multilayered microfabrication processes and possibilities to take advantage of the surface profiles obtained

Efecto de la temperatura y pH sobre la actividad y estabilidad de pectinasas producidas por Bacillus spp.

    Las pectinasas se encuentran ampliamente distribuidas en la naturaleza, como por ejemplo en productos de desecho, y su utilidad industrial es de gran importancia. En la presente investigación se trata de establecer algunos parámetros cinéticos a nivel de laboratorio para la producción de pectinasas por Bacillus spp. Se aisló y seleccionó cultivos puros de Bacillus spp. productores de la enzima a partir de muestras de tierra de cultivo de papa y naranja en medio agar nutritivo con sales y pectina como sustrato, se incubó y se realizó la lectura agregando alícuotas de una solución de lugol y aquellos cultivos que presentaban mayor halo de hidrólisis de pectina fueron seleccionados. Estos cultivos se sembraron en medio líquido nutritivo más sales y pectina y se incubaron por 24 – 48 horas; luego se centrifugaron y se obtuvo el sobrenadante denominado extracto crudo de pectinasa (ECP), el cual sirvió para realizar los ensayos de actividad y estabilidad del ECP a pHs y temperaturas variables.  Se encontró que el pH y temperatura de máxima actividad del ECP está alrededor de 6,5 y 35°C, respectivamente. El ECP es estable a pH 6,5 y 8,5 a 35°C por 120 minutos, lo mismo es cierto a temperatura de 50°C hasta por 129 minutos y pierde su estabilidad a 70°C a los 120 minutos.Palabras clave: Bacillus, pectinasas, pH, temperatura, actividad y estabilidad

Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in patients with life-threatening COVID-19

Interindividual clinical variability in the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is vast. We report that at least 101 of 987 patients with life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia had neutralizing immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies (auto-Abs) against interferon-w (IFN-w) (13 patients), against the 13 types of IFN-a (36), or against both (52) at the onset of critical disease; a few also had auto-Abs against the other three type I IFNs. The auto-Abs neutralize the ability of the corresponding type I IFNs to block SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. These auto-Abs were not found in 663 individuals with asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infection and were present in only 4 of 1227 healthy individuals. Patients with auto-Abs were aged 25 to 87 years and 95 of the 101 were men. A B cell autoimmune phenocopy of inborn errors of type I IFN immunity accounts for life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia in at least 2.6% of women and 12.5% of men

1,4-Benzenedimethanethiol Interaction with Au(110), Ag(111), Cu(100), and Cu(111) Surfaces: Self-Assembly and Dissociation Processes

In this work, we study systematically the evaporative adsorption under high vacuum conditions of 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol (BDMT) onto different metal surfaces: Ag(111), Au(110), Cu(100), and Cu(111). The study is carried out by photoemission using synchrotron radiation. In the case of Ag(111) and Au(110), at low exposures, a lying down BDMT phase is formed, with both S atoms attached to Ag and Au. A standing up phase is attained after a large exposure, above several hundred thousand Langmuir. However, also a mixed complex over layer appears to be formed, attributable to molecules sticking on top of the SAM. In the case of Au(110), heating leads to BDMT desorption with some degree of SC bond scission, and some S atoms are left in different adsorption sites with mainly two different core level binding energies. On Ag(111), after heating the sample, BDMT desorbs and also sulfidation of Ag occurs. In the case of Cu(100) and Cu(111), SC bond cleavage occurs already after initial adsorption. Lost S from BDMT molecules is adsorbed on Cu. Surface passivation occurs and only then BDMT adsorption takes place, with an interface with Cu enriched with sulfur