Functionalization of Fluorine on the Surface of SnO2-Mg Nanocomposite as an Efficient Photocatalyst for Toxic Dye Degradation.

This work reports on the photocatalytic activity of tin oxide (SnO2)-doped magnesium (Mg) and fluorine (F) nanoparticles for methyl orange and safranin dye degradation under sunlight irradiation. Nanocatalysis-induced dye degradation was examined using UV-visible spectroscopy and a pseudo-first-order kinetics model. The results indicate that the prepared nanoparticles exhibit superior photocatalytic activity, and the degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye is approximately 82%. In contrast, the degradation of safranin dye is 96% in the same time interval of 105 min. The calculated crystallite size of the SnO2-Mg-F nanocomposite is 29.5 nm, which respects the particle size found in the DLS analysis with a tetragonal structure and spherical morphology affirmed. The optical characteristics were assessed, and their respective bandgap energies were determined to be 3.6 eV. The influence of F in Mg and SnO2 is recognized with the XRD and FT-IR spectra of the prepared particles.

Influence of Ni and Sn Perovskite NiSn(OH)6 Nanoparticles on Energy Storage Applications.

New NiSn(OH)6 hexahydroxide nanoparticles were synthesised through a co-precipitation method using various concentrations of Ni2+ and Sn4+ ions (e.g., 1:0, 0:1, 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1; namely, N, S, NS-3, NS-2, and NS-1) with an ammonia solution. The perovskite NiSn(OH)6 was confirmed from powder X-ray diffraction and molecule interactions due to different binding environments of Ni, Sn, O, and water molecules observed from an FT-IR analysis. An electronic transition was detected from tin (Sn 3d) and nickel (Ni 2p) to oxygen (O 2p) from UV-Vis/IR spectroscopy. Photo luminescence spectroscopy (PL) identified that the emission observed at 400-800 nm in the visible region was caused by oxygen vacancies due to various oxidation states of Ni and Sn metals. A spherical nanoparticle morphology was observed from FE-SEM; this was due to the combination of Ni2+ and Sn4+ increasing the size and porosity of the nanoparticle. The elemental (Ni and Sn) distribution and binding energy of the nanoparticle were confirmed by EDAX and XPS analyses. Among the prepared various nanoparticles, NS-2 showed a maximum specific capacitance of 607 Fg-1 at 1 Ag-1 and 56% capacitance retention (338 Fg-1 and 5 Ag-1), even when increasing the current density five times, and excellent cycle stability due to combining Ni2+ with Sn4+, which improved the ionic and electrical conductivity. EIS provided evidence for NS-2's low charge transfer resistance compared with other prepared samples. Moreover, the NS-2//AC (activated carbon) asymmetric supercapacitor exhibited the highest energy density and high-power density along with excellent cycle stability, making it the ideal material for real-time applications.

Water-soluble Cobalt(II) & Cobalt(III) complexes supported by new triazine Schiff base ligands: Synthesis, structure and biological evaluation.

A new class of triazine ligands (E)-2-(2-(6-methyl-5-oxo-2,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)hydrazono)propanoic acid hydrate (HL1.H2O) and (Z)-2-(((E)-4-amino-6-methyl-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-3(2H)ylidene)hydrazono)propanoic acid (H2L2) has been synthesized by the condensation reaction of pyruvic acid with diaminoguanidine and triaminoguanidine respectively. The corresponding Schiff base cobalt complexes [Co(L1)2].2H2O (1) and [Co(HL2)(L2)].H2O (2) have also been synthesized and characterized by analytical, thermal, spectroscopic and diffraction studies. Strong field ligand results low spin Co(III) centre in 2, which was evidenced by the shorter bond length of Co(III) complex. In H2L2 there is a choice of coordination modes based on distinct sets of donor atoms, both of which are seen in complex 2, involving either an -NH2 group on position 4 of the triazine ring, or via a ring nitrogen of the triazine itself. The deprotonation of one version of L2 allows the formation of the ligand field stabilized low spin Co(III) in 2. In complex 1, each ligand binds to the metal via pyruvate oxygen, azomethine nitrogen and triazine nitrogen forming two five-membered stable chelate rings. In complex 2, the coordination sphere assembled by two types of coordinating atoms from the same ligand with different conformation. Their binding ability and mode of binding with CT-DNA and BSA was studied by UV- absorption, fluorescence and CD spectroscopy. Density Functional Theory (DFT) studies provide further insights into the mode of binding, structure and mechanism. The HOMO and LUMO energy gap values indicate that both the complexes are prone to interact with CT-DNA and BSA. We have also performed molecular docking calculations to understand the mode of binding and the corresponding results confirm our experimental findings.

Event-triggered H∞ state estimation for semi-Markov jumping discrete-time neural networks with quantization.

This paper investigates H∞ state estimation problem for a class of semi-Markovian jumping discrete-time neural networks model with event-triggered scheme and quantization. First, a new event-triggered communication scheme is introduced to determine whether or not the current sampled sensor data should be broad-casted and transmitted to the quantizer, which can save the limited communication resource. Second, a novel communication framework is employed by the logarithmic quantizer that quantifies and reduces the data transmission rate in the network, which apparently improves the communication efficiency of networks. Third, a stabilization criterion is derived based on the sufficient condition which guarantees a prescribed H∞ performance level in the estimation error system in terms of the linear matrix inequalities. Finally, numerical simulations are given to illustrate the correctness of the proposed scheme.

Dissipativity and stability analysis of fractional-order complex-valued neural networks with time delay.

As we know, the notion of dissipativity is an important dynamical property of neural networks. Thus, the analysis of dissipativity of neural networks with time delay is becoming more and more important in the research field. In this paper, the authors establish a class of fractional-order complex-valued neural networks (FCVNNs) with time delay, and intensively study the problem of dissipativity, as well as global asymptotic stability of the considered FCVNNs with time delay. Based on the fractional Halanay inequality and suitable Lyapunov functions, some new sufficient conditions are obtained that guarantee the dissipativity of FCVNNs with time delay. Moreover, some sufficient conditions are derived in order to ensure the global asymptotic stability of the addressed FCVNNs with time delay. Finally, two numerical simulations are posed to ensure that the attention of our main results are valuable.

Analysis of global O(t(-α)) stability and global asymptotical periodicity for a class of fractional-order complex-valued neural networks with time varying delays.

In this paper, the problem of the global O(t(-α)) stability and global asymptotic periodicity for a class of fractional-order complex-valued neural networks (FCVNNs) with time varying delays is investigated. By constructing suitable Lyapunov functionals and a Leibniz rule for fractional differentiation, some new sufficient conditions are established to ensure that the addressed FCVNNs are globally O(t(-α)) stable. Moreover, some sufficient conditions for the global asymptotic periodicity of the addressed FCVNNs with time varying delays are derived, showing that all solutions converge to the same periodic function. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of our theoretical results.

Finite-time synchronization of fractional-order memristor-based neural networks with time delays.

In this paper, we consider the problem of finite-time synchronization of a class of fractional-order memristor-based neural networks (FMNNs) with time delays and investigated it potentially. By using Laplace transform, the generalized Gronwall's inequality, Mittag-Leffler functions and linear feedback control technique, some new sufficient conditions are derived to ensure the finite-time synchronization of addressing FMNNs with fractional order α:1<α<2 and 0<α<1. The results from the theory of fractional-order differential equations with discontinuous right-hand sides are used to investigate the problem under consideration. The derived results are extended to some previous related works on memristor-based neural networks. Finally, three numerical examples are presented to show the effectiveness of our proposed theoretical results.

Stability analysis of memristor-based fractional-order neural networks with different memductance functions.

In this paper, the problem of the existence, uniqueness and uniform stability of memristor-based fractional-order neural networks (MFNNs) with two different types of memductance functions is extensively investigated. Moreover, we formulate the complex-valued memristor-based fractional-order neural networks (CVMFNNs) with two different types of memductance functions and analyze the existence, uniqueness and uniform stability of such networks. By using Banach contraction principle and analysis technique, some sufficient conditions are obtained to ensure the existence, uniqueness and uniform stability of the considered MFNNs and CVMFNNs with two different types of memductance functions. The analysis results establish from the theory of fractional-order differential equations with discontinuous right-hand sides. Finally, four numerical examples are presented to show the effectiveness of our theoretical results.

Further analysis of global µ-stability of complex-valued neural networks with unbounded time-varying delays.

In this paper, we consider the problem of global µ-stability for complex-valued neural networks (CVNNs) with unbounded time-varying delays and it has been widely investigated. Under mild conditions, some new sufficient conditions for global µ-stability of considered CVNNs are derived. Moreover, some new sufficient conditions are obtained to ensure the global µ-stability of CVNNs in the form of complex-valued LMIs as well as real-valued LMIs by using an appropriate Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Both of complex-valued LMIs as well as real-valued LMIs are easily solved by using standard numerical algorithms. Finally, two numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of our theoretical results.

Existence and uniform stability analysis of fractional-order complex-valued neural networks with time delays.

This paper deals with the problem of existence and uniform stability analysis of fractional-order complex-valued neural networks with constant time delays. Complex-valued recurrent neural networks is an extension of real-valued recurrent neural networks that includes complex-valued states, connection weights, or activation functions. This paper explains sufficient condition for the existence and uniform stability analysis of such networks. Three numerical simulations are delineated to substantiate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.

miRNA and piRNA mediated Akt pathway in heart: antisense expands to survive.

The Akt signalling pathway is a crucial network of proteins, which plays a role in neonatal cellular proliferation, hypertrophy and cellular survival mechanism in the heart through a multifaceted system including, small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs). Despite numerous reports on the distorted expression of these proteins in various cardiovascular diseases, this review focuses on the role of miRNA and piRNA in altering Akt signalling. Nevertheless the role of these sncRNAs in the Akt pathway needs to be studied in detail, there are evidence indicating that they can play a vital function in Akt-mediated cardiac survival. Recent reports indicate that, modification of such miRNA/piRNA causes alteration in the Akt pathway during both physiology and pathology. Therefore, understanding the antisense mediated molecular mechanisms of Akt pathway can devise a new vision towards biomarkers and therapeutic approaches to various cardiovascular diseases.

Prolonged monocrotophos intake induces cardiac oxidative stress and myocardial damage in rats.

The morbidity and mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases are increasing massively worldwide. The environmental pollutants especially agrochemicals are the most unrecognized cardiovascular risk factors. Monocrotophos (MCP), an organophosphate pesticide with acetylcholine esterase inhibition activity is widely used in India and other parts of the world. The present study investigated the cardiotoxicity of prolonged intake of MCP. Wistar rats were administered 1/50th of LD50 dosage of MCP (0.36mg/kg body weight) orally via gavage daily for three weeks. MCP administered animals exhibited mild-hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in blood. Cardiac oxidative stress was conferred by accumulation of protein carbonyls, lipid peroxidation and glutathione production. The cardiac markers (cTn-I, CK-MB and LDH) were showed elevated expression in blood plasma, which signals the cardiac tissue damage. The histopathology of the heart tissue authenticated the MCP induced tissue damage by showing signs of nonspecific inflammatory changes and oedema between muscle fibres. Thus the findings of this preliminary study illustrate the cardiotoxic effect of prolonged MCP intake in rats and suggest that MCP can be a possible independent and potent environmental cardiovascular risk factor.

Genetic characterisation of Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife from North America revealed widespread and high prevalence of the fourth clonal type.

Little is known of the genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii circulating in wildlife. In the present study wild animals, from the USA were examined for T. gondii infection. Tissues of naturally exposed animals were bioassayed in mice for isolation of viable parasites. Viable T. gondii was isolated from 31 animals including, to our knowledge for the first time, from a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), five gray wolves (Canis lupus), a woodrat (Neotoma micropus), and five Arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus). Additionally, 66 T. gondii isolates obtained previously, but not genetically characterised, were revived in mice. Toxoplasma gondii DNA isolated from these 97 samples (31+66) was characterised using 11 PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers (SAG1, 5'- and 3'-SAG2, alt.SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico). A total of 95 isolates were successfully genotyped. In addition to clonal Types II, and III, 12 different genotypes were found. These genotype data were combined with 74 T. gondii isolates previously characterised from wildlife from North America and a composite data set of 169 isolates comprised 22 genotypes, including clonal Types II, III and 20 atypical genotypes. Phylogenetic network analysis showed limited diversity with dominance of a recently designated fourth clonal type (Type 12) in North America, followed by the Type II and III lineages. These three major lineages together accounted for 85% of strains in North America. The Type 12 lineage includes previously identified Type A and X strains from sea otters. This study revealed that the Type 12 lineage accounts for 46.7% (79/169) of isolates and is dominant in wildlife of North America. No clonal Type I strain was identified among these wildlife isolates. These results suggest that T. gondii strains in wildlife from North America have limited diversity, with the occurrence of only a few major clonal types.

Isolation and characterization of viable Toxoplasma gondii isolates revealed possible high frequency of mixed infection in feral cats ( Felis domesticus) from St Kitts, West Indies.

Cats are essential in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts in nature. Samples of serum, feces, and tissues from feral cats from St Kitts, West Indies were examined for T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test, and found in 71 of 96 (73.9%) of cats with titres of 1:10 in six, 1: 20 in six,1:40 in seven,1: 80 in three, 1: 160 in 10, 1:320 in 13, 1:640 in nine, and 1:1,280 or higher in 17. Tissues of 10 cats were bio-assayed in mice. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from tissues of 7 cats; from hearts of 6, from tongue of 5, and brains of 3 cats. All 7 isolates were avirulent for mice. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were not found in the feces of 51 cats. Genotyping of these 7 T. gondii isolates by 10 multi-locus PCR-RFLP markers, including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and an apicoplast marker, Apico, revealed 4 genotypes, including clonal Type II, Type III and 2 unique genotypes. Five of the 7 cats had infection with 2 genotypes, indicating high frequency of mixed infection in the cat population on the St Kitts island.

Isolate designation and characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from pigs in the United States.

Pigs are considered to be the most important meat source of Toxoplasma gondii for humans in the United States. In the present study, 168 T. gondii isolates (designated TgPgUs15-182) from various sources were genotyped using 10 polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico). Genotyping data from an additional 14 isolates collected from T. gondii-infected pigs in Maryland were included for analysis. Nine genotypes (1-9) were recognized from the 182 T. gondii isolates. Most (56%, 102) isolates were clonal Type II (genotypes 1 and 2) and 27% (49) were clonal Type III (genotype 3) strains. Genotype 4 had Type II alleles, with the exception of Type I alleles at loci Apico and L358. Eight isolates (genotype 5) from Iowa had a combination of alleles I, II, and III at different loci. The remaining 6 isolates were divided into genotypes 6-9 and had a combination of different alleles. Eight of the 9 genotypes were previously reported in different animal species and geographic regions. In conclusion, along with the predominance of clonal Type II and III strains, a few diverse, previously unrecognized T. gondii lineages were found circulating in domestic pigs used for human consumption.

Toxoplasmosis in captive dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and walrus (Odobenus rosmarus).

Toxoplasma gondii infection in marine mammals is intriguing and indicative of contamination of the ocean environment and coastal waters with oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii infection was detected in captive marine mammals at a sea aquarium in Canada. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in all 7 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) tested. Two of these dolphins, as well as a walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) at the facility, died. Encephalitis and T. gondii tissue cysts were identified in histological sections of the brain of 1 dolphin (dolphin no. 1). Another dolphin (dolphin no. 2) had mild focal encephalitis without visible organisms, but viable T. gondii was isolated by bioassay in mice and cats from its brain and skeletal muscle; this strain was designated TgDoCA1. The PCR-RFLP typing using 11 markers (B1, SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico) identified a Type II strain. The DNA sequencing of B1 and SAG1 alleles amplified from TgDoCA1 and directly from the brains of dolphin no. 1 and the walrus showed archetypal alleles consistent with infection by a Type II strain. No unique polymorphisms were detected. This is apparently the first report of isolation of T. gondii from a marine mammal in Canada.

Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from the keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) from Costa Rica.

Pectoral muscles from a captive keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) from Costa Rica were fed to a Toxoplasma gondii-free cat, and the cat shed oocysts. Laboratory mice fed these oocysts developed antibodies to T. gondii in their sera and T. gondii tissue cysts in their brains. The DNA extracted from the brains of infected mice was characterized using 10 polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphic markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico). The isolate designated TgRsCrl was found to be non-clonal with Type I, II, and III alleles at different loci. This is the first isolation of T. gondii from this host.

Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from animals in Durango, Mexico.

Little is known concerning the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in people and animals in rural Mexico. Serum samples and tissues from 150 dogs (Canis familaris), 150 cats (Felis catus), 65 opossums (Didelphis virginianus), 249 rats (Rattus spp.), 127 mice (Mus musculus), and 69 squirrels (Spermophilus variegatus) from the Durango area were evaluated for T. gondii infection. Using a modified agglutination test and a serum dilution of 1:25, antibodies to this parasite were found in 68 (45.3%) of 150 dogs, 14 (9.3%) of 150 cats, 11 (16.6%) of 66 opossums, 2 (0.8%) of 249 rats, 4 (3.1%) of 127 mice, and 0 of 69 squirrels. Tissues (brain and heart) of dogs, cats, opossums, rats, mice, and squirrels were bioassayed in mice for the presence of T. gondii. Viable T. gondii was isolated in tissues from 3 of 28 seropositive dogs and 5 of 8 seropositive cats, but not from the other animals. The DNA obtained from the 3 T. gondii isolates from dogs, 6 isolates from 5 cats, and 4 isolates from free-range chickens from Mexico, previously isolated, were genotyped. The PCR-RFLP typing, which used 11 markers (B 1, SAGI, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico), identified 5 genotypes. One genotype (the 4 chicken isolates) belongs to the clonal Type III lineage, three genotypes were reported in previous reports, and 1 genotype is unique.

Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from chickens from Brazil.

Until recently, Toxoplasma gondii was considered clonal with very little genetic variability. Recent studies indicate that T. gondii isolates from Brazil are genetically and biologically different from T. gondii isolates from USA and Europe. In the present study, we retyped 151 free range chicken isolates from Brazil including 117 newly isolated samples from 11 geographically areas (Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, São Paulo, Sergipe, and Rondonia) and 34 previously reported isolates from the very north (Pará) and the very south (Rio Grande do Sul). Ten PCR-RFLP markers including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico were used to genotype all isolates. Overall analysis of 151 T. gondii isolates revealed 58 genotypes. Half (29/58) of these genotypes had single isolate and the other half of the genotypes were characterized with two or more isolates. Only 1 of 151 isolates was clonal Type I strain and 5 were clonal Type III strains. Two isolates had mixed infections. Clonal Type II strain was absent. One strain was Type II at all loci, except BTUB. The results confirm high genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from Brazil.

Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Toxoplasma gondii infection in marine mammals is intriguing and indicative of contamination of the ocean environment and coastal waters with oocysts. In previous serological surveys, >90% of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the coasts of Florida, South Carolina, and California had antibodies to T. gondii by the modified agglutination test (MAT). In the present study, attempts were made to isolate T. gondii from dead T. truncatus. During 2005, 2006, and 2007, serum or blood clot, and tissues (brain, heart, skeletal muscle) of 52 T. truncatus stranded on the coasts of South Carolina were tested for T. gondii. Antibodies to T. gondii (MAT 1:25 or higher) were found in 26 (53%) of 49 dolphins; serum was not available from 3 animals. Tissues (heart, muscle, and sometimes brain) of 32 dolphins (26 seropositive, 3 seronegative, and 3 without accompanying sera) were bioassayed for T. gondii in mice, or cats, or both. Tissues of the recipient mice were examined for T. gondii stages. Feces of recipient cats were examined for shedding of T. gondii oocysts, but none excreted oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from hearts of the 3 dolphins (2 with MAT titers of 1:200, and 1 without accompanied serum) by bioassay in mice. Genotyping of these 3 T. gondii isolates (designated TgDoUs1-3) with the use of 10 PCR-RFLP markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico) revealed 2 genotypes. Two of the 3 isolates have Type II alleles at all loci and belong to the clonal Type II lineage. One isolate has a unique genotype. This is the first report of isolation of viable T. gondii from T. truncatus.