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Knowledge of biotic predator–prey interactions is essential for understanding the role of species in the food web; however, information on these interactions is scarce for most species. Our aim in this study was to gather information on the potential predators of two species of herpetofauna abundant in the rainforest they inhabit, the frog Craugastor loki and the snake Ninia sebae. For this, realistic models of the two species were placed, and monitored using camera traps, in 13 sites located in a forest fragment belonging to a private protected natural area in southern Veracruz in three seasons (dry, rainy and windy) in 2019. In addition, the temporality and seasonality of the events and some behaviours of the potential predators are described. The recorded events were classified into four categories: presence, interest, contact and aggression. For C. loki, 159 events of appearances of potential predators were identified (32 with interaction: 18 events of interest, 2 contact and 12 aggressions). The aggressions were carried out by the mammals Didelphis marsupialis and Peromyscus sp. In the case of N. sebae, 201 appearances of potential predators were identified (75 with interaction: 36 events of interest, 7 contact and 32 aggressions). The aggressions were carried out by 10 species (seven birds and three mammals). Bird predation events towards models of both species occurred during daytime while the attacks by mammals occurred at night. Agonistic behaviours included pecking, biting and urine marking, previously unknown. Events of each category were recorded every season. Our results indicate that C. loki and N. sebae may have more predators than were previously known, and suggest that these species can be an important food resource for different species of birds and mammals in the environments where they live. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, commercial titania (TiO2‐P25) is modified with mono‐ and bi‐metallic (Au, Pd, and AuPd) nanoparticles synthesized by chemical reduction method using NaBH4 as a strong reducing agent at room temperature. Bimetallic AuPd nanoalloys homogeneous in size and well dispersed on the TiO2 surface are obtained. The charge‐carrier dynamics, which is a key factor in photocatalysis, is studied by time‐resolved microwave conductivity. The results reveal that surface modification plays a crucial role in charge‐carrier separation, increasing the activity under UV–vis light irradiation. The bimetallic AuPd nanoalloys formation is confirmed by high‐angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy and corroborated by semiempirical molecular dynamics simulations (Gupta‐LAMMPS). The surface‐modified TiO2 with bimetallic AuPd nanoalloys exhibits higher photocatalytic activity compared to TiO2 modified with their monometallic counterparts. The experimental results are also supported by density functional theory and density functional tight binding calculations, which show that alloying AuPd with low Pd content presents significant synergetic effects for hydrogen generation under UV–vis light from aqueous triethanolamine solutions. Additionally, the AuPd/TiO2 photocatalysts are stable with cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral diseases pose a significant threat to tomato crops (Solanum lycopersicum L.), one of the world's most economically important vegetable crops. The limited genetic diversity of cultivated tomatoes contributes to their high susceptibility to viral infections. To address this challenge, tomato breeding programs must harness the genetic resources found in native populations and wild relatives. Breeding efforts may aim to develop broad-spectrum resistance against the virome. To identify the viruses naturally infecting 19 advanced lines, derived from native tomatoes, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of small RNAs and confirmation with PCR and RT-PCR were used. Single and mixed infections with tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), tomato golden mosaic virus (ToGMoV), and pepper huasteco yellow vein virus (PHYVV) were detected. The complete consensus genomes of three variants of Mexican ToMV isolates were reconstructed, potentially forming a new ToMV clade with a distinct 3' UTR. The absence of reported mutations associated with resistance-breaking to ToMV suggests that the Tm-1, Tm-2, and Tm-22 genes could theoretically be used to confer resistance. However, the high mutation rates and a 63 nucleotide insertion in the 3' UTR, as well as amino acid mutations in the ORFs encoding 126 KDa, 183 KDa, and MP of Mexican ToMV isolates, suggest that it is necessary to evaluate the capacity of these variants to overcome Tm-1, Tm-2, and Tm-22 resistance genes. This evaluation, along with the characterization of advanced lines using molecular markers linked to these resistant genes, will be addressed in future studies as part of the breeding strategy. This study emphasizes the importance of using HTS for accurate identification and characterization of plant viruses that naturally infect tomato germplasm based on the consensus genome sequences. This study provides crucial insights to select appropriate disease management strategies and resistance genes and guide breeding efforts toward the development of virus-resistant tomato varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, ZnO thick films were synthesized via two simple and easy methods, mechanochemical synthesis and screen-printing deposition. The ZnO powders were obtained through milling at low temperature with milling times of 20, 40, and 60 min. The ZnO thick films were fabricated by depositing 10 cycles of ZnO inks onto glass substrates. The characterization of ZnO thick films revealed a thickness ranging from 4.9 to 5.4 µm with a surface roughness between 85 and 88 nm. The structural analysis confirmed a hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure of ZnO, both in powders and in thick films, with a preferred orientation on the (002) and (101) planes. Nanostructures with sizes ranging from 36 to 46 nm were observed, exhibiting irregular agglomerated shapes, with an energy band found between 2.77 and 3.02 eV. A static experimental set up was fabricated for gas sensing tests with continuous UV-LED illumination. The ZnO thick films, well adhered to the glass substrate, demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity to H2S gas under continuous UV-LED illumination at low operating temperatures ranging from 35 to 80 °C. The sensitivity was directly proportional, ranging from 3.93% to 22.40%, when detecting H2S gas concentrations from 25 to 600 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New technologies are providing opportunities for the design of novel educational methodologies. Virtual laboratories can simulate real conditions, thus reducing the workload of teachers and students, and removing the costs associated with laboratory or pilot plant tests. The present work describes the creation of a virtual and interactive lab using the Easy JavaScript Simulation (EJsS) 6.0 tool. The solar photo‐Fenton process for the degradation of the Acetamiprid pesticide (ACTM) as a micropollutant model in wastewater was implemented in discontinuous mode in a stirred tank reactor (STR) and in continuous mode in a raceway pond reactor (RPR). The objective was to achieve a virtual tool that would allow easy, intuitive connection to different devices (laptops, tablets, and smartphones), simplifying the difficulties related to teaching technology. This contribution details the design and implementation process of the model for its use as support material for theoretical classes. The virtual tool presented in this article is an example of how the EJsS platform can be used to teach dynamics systems in chemical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: acute respiratory distress syndrome by COVID-19 is a viral infectious disorder of systemic affection with a predominance of respiratory symptoms that in our country manifested itself in 16% of the severe form of the disease, which required treatment in care units. intensive. However, given the over-saturation of health services at all levels, therapeutic options are sought to slow the progression of the disease and thus avoid the need for these units. Objective: to observe the effect of colchicine as adjuvant therapy to glucocorticoid, on oxemia levels in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19. Material and methods: clinical records from the period from December 2020 to March 2021 were reviewed, from which clinical-epidemiological variables of 408 patients were obtained for descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: a greater hospitalization of male patients was observed in 65.9%, the most prevalent comorbidities were obesity and arterial hypertension, which increased the probability of COVID-19 disease with an OR of 1.7 and 2 times, respectively. The use of colchicine as adjuvant therapy to the glucocorticoid decreased mortality in severe forms of the disease (OR 0.17), increased the probability of discharge due to improvement (OR 5.22) and decreased the need for transfers (OR 6.65). On the other hand, it was found that awake prone ventilation is a protective factor in all groups (OR 0.36). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A novel strategy based on the sequential combination of UVC 254 nm -LED/H 2 O 2 and the Fenton process at neutral pH in continuous flow mode for wastewater reclamation has been assessed. The concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) reached water class A according to the European Union (EU) Regulation 2020/741 (≤10 CFU/100 mL) and a 87 ± 2 % of the contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) load was removed, complying with the new proposal regarding Urban Wastewater Treatment (Directive COM (2022) 541). To reach these results, initially the municipal wastewater secondary effluent was kept under UVC 254 nm -LED/H 2 O 2 process with a hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 5 min, a liquid depth of 5-cm and 1.8 mmol L−1 of H 2 O 2. In the sequence, addition of Fe2+ to the outside of the UVC 254 nm -LED reactor was added to acquire the desired concentration of 1.8 mmol L−1 Fe2+ (Fenton process). To obtain the same disinfection and CECs degradation by only UVC 254 nm -LED/H 2 O 2 process, 45 min-HRT were necessary. These results show that the coupled processes are the best strategy, given the reduction in HRT (from 45 to 5 min) and total cost (from 1.79 to 0.54 € m−3). In addition, new research on the application at pilot scale will encourage to evaluate the long-term toxicity of the reclaimed wastewater and to identify the main transformation products of the most abundant CECs. [Display omitted] • 45-min HRT to reach 87 ± 1 % CECs removal by UVC/H 2 O 2. • min-HRT to reach 87 ± 2 % CECs removal by coupling UVC/H 2 O 2 and Fenton processes. • Reductions of treatment time (89 %) and costs (70 %) coupling both processes. • Quality A of water reclaimed (EU2020/741) and 87 ± 2 % of CECs removal were reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inflorescences of the Mexican gordolobo are used as a folk medicine to treat various respiratory diseases. Currently, the botanical species that bear the name Mexican gordolobo belong to the genera Gnaphalium and Pseudognaphalium. Despite a long history of traditional use, most Mexican gordolobo species have never been fully chemically characterized, and the range of constituents in the species has not been comprehensively reported. To establish a quality control and chemical characterization method, a total of 49 samples belonging to 18 species of Pseudognaphalium and four species of Gnaphalium were studied. Nine flavones were quantified using a UPLC-PDA method. The method was validated in terms of linearity (R2 > 0.99), precision (intra- and inter-day: 0.1–3.9%), accuracy (96–103%), detection limit (10 ng/mL), limit of quantification (25 ng/mL) and robustness. 3-Methylquercetin, luteolin, quercetin, 3,5-dihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxyflavone, apigenin and gnaphaliin A were present at relatively high levels in most of the samples analyzed. The samples of P. oxyphyllum and P. liebmannii showed the highest content of the 9 compounds analyzed. Whereas the samples of the 5 species of Gnaphalium showed the lowest levels, including non-detectable, of the 9 compounds quantified. This marks an important difference with Pseudognaphalium species. Furthermore, using UHPLC-ESI-QToF data with targeted and non-targeted approaches, 57 compounds, were identified in Mexican gordolobo samples. Flavonoids were the main group of compounds found in Mexican gordolobo. [Display omitted] • Nine flavones were quantified in 18 species of Pseudognaphalium and 4 species of Gnaphalium. • Samples of P. oxyphyllum and P. liebmannii showed the highest content of the 9 compounds analyzed. • Using UHPLC-ESI-QToF data 57 compounds were identified in Mexican gordolobo. • This is the first work in which many Mexican gordolobo species have been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases displayed by the Heuser alloys Pd 2 MnAl, Pd 2 MnIn, and Pt 2 MnAl, are theoretically studied. The crystalline structure, electronic, and magnetic properties are calculated within the ab initio density functional theory. The super unit cell considered to describe the various magnetic arrangements contains 128 atoms. We analyzed the ferromagnetic (FM) and the three different antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases and found that the Pd 2 MnAl crystalline structure is orthorhombic with dimensions 6.055, 6.461, 6.026 Å. The AFM state with the lowest energy is the AFM3 with a Mn magnetic moment of 3.813 μ B. The Pd 2 MnIn crystallizes in an orthorhombic structure with lattice parameters 6.249, 6.763, 6.227 Å. The ground state antiferromagnetic arrangement is also of type 3 with a Mn magnetic moment of 3.932 μ B. The Pt alloy crystallizes in an orthorhombic structure with lattice dimensions of 6.029, 6.906, and 5.683 Å. In this case, the antiferromagnetic ground state is of type 1 with a Mn magnetic moment of 3.716 μ B. The Pd and Pt d states are deep in energy and do not interact much with the Mn d states. This produces, in Pd and Pt, no magnetic polarization. • X 2 MnZ (X = Pd, Pt; Z = Al, In) Heusler alloys were studied by DFT. • The energy difference between magnetic structures can reach up to 11 meV (≈ 128 K). • The Pt 2 MnAl structures have similar energies due to the strong coupling between Pt and Mn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pig farming generates highly polluted wastewater that requires effective treatment to minimize environmental damage. Microalgae can recover nutrients from piggery wastewater (PWW), but excessive nutrient and turbidity levels inhibit their growth. Solar photo-Fenton (PF) offer a sustainable and cost-effective pretreatment to allow microalgal growth for further PWW treatment. This study optimized the concentrations of PF reagents to minimise water and nutrient inputs while maintaining microalgae-based treatment efficiency. PF trials were conducted in pilot-scale raceway ponds under solar radiation, testing different concentrations of FeSO 4 (4.48 and 8.95 mM) and H 2 O 2 (77, 154, and 309 mM). Following PF, Tetradesmus obliquus was used in a biological treatment of PWW to recover the remaining nutrients. PF achieved high removal efficiencies for turbidity (97.6-99.5 %), total organic carbon (59.2-77.1 %), and chemical oxygen demand (83.8-94.7 %), but ammonium was not significantly removed. Phosphorus was almost completely removed through iron precipitation during neutralisation. Lowering the H 2 O 2 concentration from 309 to 77 mM did not compromise removal efficiency but reducing FeSO 4 below 8.95 mM negatively affected the process. Consequently, 8.95 mM FeSO 4 and 77 mM H 2 O 2 were selected for microalgae production. The pretreated PWW could be recycled at least once for microalgal production, without nutrient supplementation, improving biomass productivity and PWW treatment, especially targeting ammonium. Phosphorus supplementation, however, did not significantly boost biomass productivity or treatment efficiency. Moreover, the iron sludge generated from PF pretreatment contained enough NPK to be repurposed as an organic fertilizer boosting sustainable agricultural practices. These findings encourage further investigation of this emerging combined technology towards wastewater treatment at large-scale., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)