Total activity involving bioactive tetracyclic norditerpene dilactones

The mosquito Aedes albopictus is an invasive species first detected in Europe in Albania in 1979, and now established in 28 European countries. Temperature is a limiting factor in mosquito activities and in the transmission of associated arboviruses namely chikungunya (CHIKV) and dengue (DENV). Since 2007, local transmissions of CHIKV and DENV have been reported in mainland Europe, mainly in South Europe. Thus, the critical question is how far north transmission could occur. In this context, the Albanian infestation by Ae. albopictus is of interest because the species is present up to 1200 m of altitude; this allows using altitude as a proxy for latitude. Here we show that Ae. albopictus can transmit CHIKV at 28 °C as well as 20 °C, however, the transmission of DENV is only observed at 28 °C. We conclude that if temperature is the key environmental factor limiting transmission, then transmission of CHIKV, but not DENV is feasible in much of Europe.An innovative protocol for the consolidation of ancient bone remains based on the use of nanometric HydroxyAPatite (HAP) was set up and tested through a multidisciplinary approach. A new protocol for the synthesis of HAP nanoparticles was developed, and the composition of the obtained nanomaterial was investigated through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD); sizes, shape and morphology of the synthesized particles were studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The consolidation performance was evaluated by testing the new nanomaterial on degraded ancient bone findings. An increase of the mineral density and of the micro-hardness of the bone were observed. The new consolidation method was also tested to assess possible effects on the palaeogenetic analysis and radiocarbon dating on the treated bones. The consolidation treatment does not introduce any contaminations that could affect radiocarbon dating and has no general detrimental impact on the genetic characterization of the skeletal remains. This consolidation procedure represents a more compatible conservation tool with respect to traditional procedures it has been shown that the treatment is effective, easily-applicable and compatible with post-consolidation analysis.To counteract insect decline, it is essential to understand the underlying causes, especially for key pollinators such as nocturnal moths whose ability to orientate can easily be influenced by ambient light conditions. These comprise natural light sources as well as artificial light, but their specific relevance for moth orientation is still unknown. We investigated the influence of moonlight on the reproductive behavior of privet hawkmoths (Sphinx ligustri) at a relatively dark site where the Milky Way was visible while the horizon was illuminated by distant light sources and skyglow. We show that male moths use the moon for orientation and reach females significantly faster with increasing moon elevation. Furthermore, the choice of flight direction depended on the cardinal position of the moon but not on the illumination of the horizon caused by artificial light, indicating that the moon plays a key role in the orientation of male moths.The chemical quality of soil carbon (C) inputs is a major factor controlling litter decomposition and soil C dynamics. Mycorrhizal fungi constitute one of the dominant pools of soil microbial C, while their litter quality (chemical proxies of litter decomposability) is understood poorly, leading to major uncertainties in estimating soil C dynamics. We examined litter decomposability of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal species using samples obtained from in vitro cultivation. We showed that the chemical composition of AM and EM fungal mycelium differs significantly EM fungi have higher concentrations of labile (water-soluble, ethanol-soluble) and recalcitrant (non-extractable) chemical components, while AM fungi have higher concentrations of acid-hydrolysable components. Our results imply that differences in decomposability traits among mycorrhizal fungal guilds represent a critically important driver of the soil C cycle, which could be as vital as is recognized for differences among aboveground plant litter.An attempt is made to study the quantum criticality in non-Hermitian system with topological characterization. Alexidine phosphatase inhibitor We use the zero mode solutions to characterize the topological phases and, criticality and also to construct the phase diagram. The Hermitian counterpart of the model Hamiltonian possess quite a few interesting features such as Majorana zero modes (MZMs) at criticality, unique topological phase transition on the critical line and hence these unique features are of an interest to study in the non-Hermitian case also. We observe a unique behavior of critical lines in presence of non-Hermiticity. We study the topological phase transitions in the non-Hermitian case using parametric curves which also reveal the gap closing point through exceptional points. We study bulk and edge properties of the system where at the edge, the stability dependence behavior of MZMs at criticality is studied and at the bulk we study the effect of non-Hermiticity on the topological phases by investigating the behavior of the critical lines. The study of non-Hermiticity on the critical lines revels the rate of receding of the topological phases with respect to the increase in the value of non-Hermiticity. This work gives a new perspective on topological quantum criticality in non-Hermitian quantum system.Present work aimed to analyse single and competitive lead and cadmium batch adsorption, using experimental studies and mathematical modelling. The experiments were conducted in silent and ultrasound-assisted systems, in aqueous environment, using grinded hazelnut shells as porous biosorbent. The influence of process factors (pH, adsorbent concentration, adsorbent particle size, and initial species concentration in liquid phase) on species removal efficiency was evaluated when process equilibrium was attained. The statistical study, following a 24 factorial experimental design, allowed the development of a model to predict variables influence. Based on the obtained results a deeper analysis of the separation efficiency, depending on process factors, was conducted. The dynamic study was performed based on experimentally obtained removal rates, modelled considering species diffusion, with reversible kinetics of sorption inside solid particles. Hence, the dynamics of removal efficiency was determined for several representative experiments. The equilibrium isotherms data, best fitted by an appropriate Langmuir model, were used in the dynamic model to reduce the number of model parameters which normally require experimental identification.Laser direct writing is an attractive method for patterning 2D materials without contamination. Literature shows that the ultrafast ablation threshold of graphene across substrates varies by an order of magnitude. Some attribute it to the thermal coupling to the substrates, but it remains by and large an open question. For the first time the effect of substrates on the femtosecond ablation of 2D materials is studied using MoS2 as an example. We show unambiguously that femtosecond ablation of MoS2 is an adiabatic process with negligible heat transfer to the substrates. The observed threshold variation is due to the etalon effect which was not identified before for the laser ablation of 2D materials. Subsequently, an intrinsic ablation threshold is proposed as a true threshold parameter for 2D materials. Additionally, we demonstrate for the first time femtosecond laser patterning of monolayer MoS2 with sub-micron resolution and mm/s speed. Moreover, engineered substrates are shown to enhance the ablation efficiency, enabling patterning with low-power ultrafast oscillators. Finally, a zero-thickness approximation is introduced to predict the field enhancement with simple analytical expressions. Our work clarifies the role of substrates on ablation and firmly establishes ultrafast laser ablation as a viable route to pattern 2D materials.Non-pharmacological treatment with high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) may play a vital role in treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To evaluate the efficacy of HFNC, impulse oscillation system (IOS) is a new noninvasive technique in measuring the impedance of different portions of lungs. It shows higher sensitivity in contrast to conventional pulmonary function tests (PFT). However, whether IOS is an appropriate technique to evaluate the efficacy of HFNC in improving the impedance of small airways or peripheral lung in patients with COPD is still unclear. We enrolled 26 stable COPD participants randomised into two groups receiving HFNC or nasal cannula (NC) for 10 min followed by a 4-week washout period and crossover alternatively. IOS was used to detect the difference of respiratory impedance after HFNC or NC interventions. IOS parameters, PFT results, transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide, peripheral oxygen saturation, body temperature, respiratory rate, pulse rate, and blood pressure at the time of pre-HFNC, post-HFNC, pre-NC, and post-NC, were collected and analysed using SPSS (version 25.0, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). The IOS measurement indicated that HFNC significantly improved R5, R5% predicted, R5-R20, X5-predicted, and Fres compared with NC, whereas no significant difference was observed through the PFT measurement. The beneficial effect of HFNC in improving small airway resistance and peripheral lung reactance compared with that of NC in patients with stable COPD was confirmed through IOS measurement.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05130112 22/11/2021.Because of its extremely rare incidence, the safety and efficacy of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) for the treatment of hemoptysis caused by pulmonary metastasis from HCC are not well known. We therefore evaluated the safety and efficacy of BAE in these patients. Data from 18 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pulmonary metastasis who received BAE for the treatment of hemoptysis between 2003 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Technical and clinical success were achieved in 100% and 94% of patients, respectively. Of the 18 embolization procedures, six were performed using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles only, five were performed using gelfoam only, three were performed using gelfoam plus microcoils, one was performed using PVA plus microcoils, one was performed using embospheres, one was performed using lipiodol plus PVA and gelfoam, and one was performed using hystoacryl with microballoon protection. In eight patients for whom CT just before BAE and at follow-up were available, the mean size of the largest metastatic tumor decreased from 5.1 to 3.7 cm (P = 0.035). Hemoptysis recurred in three patients (17%) during follow-up. The median overall and hemoptysis-free survival periods were 149 days and 132 days, respectively. BAE is an effective and safe option for the treatment of hemoptysis in patients with pulmonary metastasis from HCC, with a favorable clinical success rate and a low rate of hemoptysis recurrence. In addition, we also observed BAE to have a positive antitumor effect on pulmonary metastases from HCC, but this requires confirmation in a future study.