Prospects of ZnS and ZnO as smart semiconductor materials in light-activated antimicrobial coatings for mitigation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection.

We carried out theoretical and experimental analyses of ZnO and ZnS nanoparticles as smart semiconductor materials in light-activated antimicrobial coating for application in masks. We used low-cost hydrothermally processable precursors to direct the growth of the coatings on cotton fabric. Both ZnO and ZnS coatings had high reactivities as disinfection agents in photocatalysis reactions for the degradation of a methylene blue dye solution. Also, these coatings showed excellent UV protection properties. For understanding at the molecular level, the broad-spectrum biological activities of the ZnO and ZnS coatings against Fusarium Oxysporum fungi, Escherichia coli bacteria, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus and their variants, were investigated computationally. Hexagonal Zn6O6 and Zn6S6 clusters were used as models for the simulations through excited- and ground-state calculations. The theoretical findings show that changes in the local chemical environment in these excited systems have a profound impact on their physical and chemical properties and thus, can provide a better understanding to engineer new functional materials in light-activated antimicrobial coatings for the mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Consumo de nutrientes, comportamento ingestivo e desempenho de ovinos alimentados com fenos de gramíneas tropicais em diferentes intervalos entre cortes / Nutrient intake, feeding behavior and performance of sheep fed hay of tropical grasses at different cutting intervals

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito dos fenos de andropogon, buffel e massai em diferentes intervalos de cortes sob consumo, comportamento ingestivo e o desempenho de ovinos. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em fatorial 3x4 (andropogon, buffel e massai x intervalos entre corte de 21, 35, 49 e 63 dias). A interação entre as gramíneas e os intervalos não foi significativa para nenhuma das variáveis estudadas. Os maiores consumos de matéria seca, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro e lignina ocorreram com uso do feno de massai, 3,62; 0,48; 2,03 e 0,22% do peso vivo, respectivamente. Aos 63 dias de intervalo, foram observados os maiores consumos de lignina e os menores de proteína bruta, 0,20 e 0,42%, respectivamente. O menor ganho médio diário (121,1g/dia) e o menor peso final (17,6kg) foram dos animais alimentados com buffel. Não houve diferença para o tempo de alimentação e o ócio, com tempo médio despendido de 4,5 e 11,7h/dia, respectivamente. Os fenos de massai e andropogon promovem maior consumo de matéria seca e maior desempenho de ovinos em confinamento, enquanto o intervalo entre corte até 63 dias não modifica essas respostas.(AU)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Andropogon, Buffel and Massai on different intervals cuts of intake, ingestion behavior and sheep performance. The experimental design was completely randomized. The treatments were arranged in 3x4 factorial (Andropogon, Buffel and Massai x cut intervals of 21, 35, 49 and 63 days). The interaction between the grasses and the intervals was not significant for any of the studied variables. The highest intakes of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and lignin were for Massai hay, 3.62; 0.48; 2.03 and 0.22% of the live weight, respectively. At 63 days interval, the highest consumption of lignin and lowest crude protein, 0.20 and 0.42%, respectively, were observed. The lowest daily gain (121.1g/day) and final weight gain (17,6kg) were of Buffel fed animals. There was no difference in feeding time and time, with mean time removed from 4.5 and 11.7h day-1, respectively. Hays of Massai and Andropogon promote greater dry matter intake and performance of sheep in confinement, while the cut intervals up to 63 days does not modify these responses.(AU)

ß-Caryophyllene protects the C6 glioma cells against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity through the Nrf2 pathway.

ß-Caryophyllene (BCP), a natural bicyclic sesquiterpene present in several essential oils, displays analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and in vivo. Astrocytes are a major class of glial cells that regulate extracellular ion balance, repair and scarring processes in the CNS following neuroinflammatory conditions and traumatic injuries. This study sought to determine the protective effect of BCP against glutamate (Glu)-induced cytotoxicity in the C6 glioma cell line on neurochemical parameters as well as their biochemical mechanism. Glu increases intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and induces mitochondrial dysfunction as well as decreasing antioxidant defenses such as glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase activity. BCP prevented C6 cells from Glu-induced cytotoxicity by modulating the cellular antioxidant response, mainly by inhibiting ROS production and reestablishing the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm). Moreover, BCP per se induced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) which was reflected by improvement in the cellular GSH antioxidant system. Taken together, our results suggest that cytoprotective effects of BCP were mediated by the amelioration of cellular antioxidant responses via Nrf2 activation, which is, in part, dependent on cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) activation. This functional nonpsychoactive CB2R ligand, could represent an important molecule for protection of glial cells against oxidative stress induced by glutamate.

Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization in two soils amended with distillery yeast.

The possibility of using yeast from alcohol distilleries as a source of nutrients in soil was investigated. The following treatments were used: no fertilization (control), 0.5% (w/w) yeast, 1% (w/w) yeast, and NPK. The decomposition of yeast was monitored for 90 days in two soils. The CO2 production and the microbial biomass were increased by an average of 1- to 3-fold by yeast incorporation compared to control. Protease activity also was enhanced 3- to 8-fold in the soils supplemented with yeast compared to control. The phosphatase activities were higher than control only during the first days. While nitrate contents increased in all treatments compared to control, available P only increased in the soils amended with 1% yeast or NPK by 45-119% and 309-489%, respectively. These results indicate that there exists an excellent potential for the use of yeast in the soil as a source of nitrate and available P for plant nutrition.