Colloidal Synthesis and Characterization of Molybdenum Chalcogenide Quantum Dots Using a Two-Source Precursor Pathway for Photovoltaic Applications

The drawbacks of utilizing nonrenewable energy have quickened innovative work on practical sustainable power sources (photovoltaics) because of their provision of a better-preserved decent environment which is free from natural contamination and commotion. Herein, the synthesis, characterization, and application of Mo chalcogenide nanoparticles (NP) as alternative sources in the absorber layer of QDSSCs is discussed. The successful synthesis of the NP was confirmed as the results from the diffractive peaks obtained from XRD which were positive and agreed in comparison with the standard. The diffractive peaks were shown in the planes (100), (002), (100), and (105) for the MoS2 nanoparticles; (002), (100), (103), and (110) for the MoSe2 nanoparticles; and (0002), (0004), (103), as well as (0006) for the MoTe2 nanoparticles. MoSe2 presented the smallest size of the nanoparticles, followed by MoTe2 and, lastly, by MoS2. These results agreed with the results obtained using SEM analysis. For the optical properties of the nanoparticles, UV–Vis and PL were used. The shift of the peaks from the red shift (600 nm) to the blue shift (270–5 nm and 287–9 nm (UV–Vis)) confirmed that the nanoparticles were quantum-confined. The application of the MoX2 NPs in QDSSCs was performed, with MoSe2 presenting the greatest PCE of 7.86%, followed by MoTe2 (6.93%) and, lastly, by MoS2, with the PCE of 6.05%.

Logistic Models derived using Lasso Methods for Quantifying the Risk of Natural Contamination of Maize Grain with Deoxynivalenol

Models were developed to quantify the risk of deoxynivalenol (DON; ppm) contamination of maize grain based on weather, cultural practices, hybrid resistance, or Gibberella ear rot (GER) intensity. Data on natural DON contamination of 15-16 hybrids and weather were collected from 10 Ohio locations over four years. Logistic regression with 10-fold cross-validation was used to develop models to predict the risk of DON ≥ 1 ppm. The presence and severity of GER predicted DON risk with an accuracy of 0.81 and 0.87, respectively. Temperature, relative humidity, surface wetness, and rainfall were used to generate 37 weather-based predictor variables summarized over each of six 15-day windows relative to maize silking (R1). With these variables, LASSO followed by all-subsets variable selection, and logistic regression with 10-fold cross-validation were used to build single-window weather-based models, from which 11 with one or two predictors were selected based on performance metrics and simplicity. LASSO-logistic regression was also used to build more complex multi-window models with up to 22 predictors. The performance of the best single-window models was comparable to that of the best multi-window models, with accuracy ranging from 0.81 to 0.83 for the former and 0.83 to 0.87 for the latter group of models. These results indicated that the risk of DON ≥ 1 ppm can be accurately predicted with relatively simple models built using temperature- and moisture-based predictors from a single window. These models will serve as the foundation for developing tools to predict the risk of DON contamination of maize grain.

Vegetable biocholine as a hepatoprotectant in laying hens fed with diet contaminated with aflatoxin B1

The aim of the study was to determine whether the addition of vegetable biocholine (VB) in laying hens feed minimises the effects of daily intake of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). We allocated Hy-line Brown line laying hens into four groups with four replications/group and four birds/repetition. The treatments were as follows: Afla0Bio0: basal feed without aflatoxin and VB (natural contamination: 0.026 mg AFB1/kg), Afla0Bio800, basal feed supplementation of 800 mg VB/kg (natural contamination: 0.024 mg AFB1/kg); Afla2.5Bio0, basal feed contaminated experimentally with aflatoxin (2.51 mg/kg); Afla2.5Bio800, basal feed contaminated with aflatoxin (2.50 mg/kg) and supplemented with 800 mg VB/kg. The experiment took place over a period of 42 days, divided into two cycles of 21 days each. Significance was indicated by P≤0.05. The inclusion of aflatoxin reduced egg production after 42 days of consumption of contaminated feed. VB supplementation in the tested dose was insufficient to minimise the negative effects of the toxin on the laying rate. There was a lower percentage of yolk in Afla2Bio0 than in Afla0Bio0, and a higher percentage of albumen and specific gravity in Afla2.5Bio0 than in Afla0Bio0. Ingestion of aflatoxin in the feed increased lipoperoxidation (LPO) and decreased antioxidant capacity in the egg yolk; however, when VB was added, LPO was similar to the control. Lower total bacterial count (TBC) in the eggshell was observed when the birds consumed VB, as well as higher TBC in the eggshell of the birds was challenged with aflatoxin. In the blood of birds that consumed aflatoxin (Afla2.5Bio0) there was an increase in the activity of alkaline phosphatase and a reduction in the activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). In the birds that consumed VB without aflatoxin challenge, we observed that there was a stimulation of GPx activity. We conclude that the consumption of VB had positive effects on the health of the laying hens and improved the quality of the eggs.

Hydrogeological and hydrochemical characterization to assess wells vulnerability in the scope of Water Safety Plans, a case study in Northern Italy.

<p>Groundwater is a key resource to fulfil human drinking needs worldwide. Therefore, guaranteeing a safe and constant supply of drinking water to the public has been an important focus at European level. Recently, the EU approach to drinking water monitoring radically changed, moving from the simple water quality monitoring, toward a more comprehensive risk assessment, involving the whole supply chain from collection to distribution. Particularly, EU Directives 2015/1787 and 2020/2184 endorsed the Water Safety Plan (WSP) system which requires a detailed assessment of every possible dangerous event.</p><p>Groundwater extraction constitutes the first step of the supply chain, and therefore the most vital. In this work, an approach to assess groundwater wells vulnerability in the scope of WSP is proposed, considering natural and anthropogenic hazards, through a hydrogeological, hydrochemical and hydrodynamical characterization. The study area is the Lake Iseo morainic amphitheatre (ca. 180 km<sup>2</sup>) in the Brescia province, Northern Italy. Particularly, 17 wells have been analyzed, serving 4 municipalities.</p><p>Two main dangerous events have been considered as possible hazard for the collected groundwater: a) anthropogenic impact from the surface, related to the land use, and b) natural contamination by reduced species consequent to the degradation of natural organic matter.</p><p>Groundwater extraction vulnerability to these two dangerous events has been assessed, considering several hydrogeological aspects: a) the kind of the exploited aquifer (shallow, confined, semiconfined), b) groundwater depth for the shallow aquifers, c) permeability of the vadose zone for the shallow aquifers and d) red-ox conditions of the collected groundwater.</p><p>To assess these parameters, lithostratigraphic, chemical and piezometric data were analyzed, reaching a deep understanding of the system by characterizing the different exploited groundwater bodies from a hydrogeological, hydrochemical and hydrodynamic point of view.</p><p>Hydrogeological sections were elaborated, covering the whole amphitheater, 7 in the N-S direction and 7 in the W-E direction. The interpretation of these sections allowed to identify the distribution of the main aquifer bodies and the relationships between the various hydrogeological units. To evaluate the red-ox conditions and perform groundwater quality characterization, chemical data were analyzed, including major ions and red-ox sensitive species, through boxplot and statistical analysis. Furthermore, piezometric levels were analyzed to identify groundwater depth, flow directions and watersheds. Of the 17 wells, one resulted to be confined with reducing conditions. Among the remaining, 7 are semiconfined while 9 are shallow, with oxidizing conditions in both cases. Concerning groundwater depth, 13 present values above 40 m, 2 between 20 m and 40 m, and 1 below 20 m. As regards the vadose zone permeability, 9 present high permeability, 7 medium. Totally, in terms of vulnerability to anthropic impacts, one well has low vulnerability, 9 medium and 6 high, while in terms of vulnerability to natural contamination one well has high vulnerability and the remaining low.</p><p>This approach allowed a deep understanding of the system and constitutes a reproducible methodology to assess groundwater wells vulnerability to natural and anthropogenic contaminations.</p><p>Funding: this work was supported and carried out in cooperation with Acque Bresciane, water supplier.</p>

Review of photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of metal oxide nanoparticles

Photocatalytic degradation is an effective method to alleviate environmental pollution which is caused by organic pollutants. The expanding natural contamination has attracted the overall scientists to deal with the advancement of photocatalyst effectively depends on semiconductor for the treatment of defiled water assets by different natural poisons that are delivered from numerous industries. In this work, the research progress of properties and applications of photocatalytic and antimicrobial activities and understanding of the toxicity mechanisms of different metal oxide nanoparticles are reviewed. The metal oxide nanoparticles are a wide band hole semiconductor that can be eager to create electron opening sets when transmitted with light. Photographs are an actuated electron opening that instigates power hydrogen, oxygen, and debases inorganic/natural/organic mixes to make power. This review aims to examine the wide biological and mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation and antimicrobial applications.

THE DISINFECTION EFFICACY OF THE DRUG «PЕNOX-2»

The creation of highly effective, environmentally safe and cheap disinfectants is a priority task of veterinary science, for the rehabilitation of veterinary surveillance facilities. The article presents the results of laboratory tests of a new product «Penox-2» for simultaneous disinfection and whitewashing of veterinary surveillance objects. Museum cultures of Escherichia coli (1257 pieces), Staphylococcus aureus (209P pieces), mycobacteria (1257 pieces) were used as test microorganisms. (pieces B-5) and Bас. сereus (pieces 96). To simulate the natural contamination of test surfaces, inactivated blood serum from loschad was used. The quality of disinfection was studied by examining flushes from experimental and control test surfaces for the presence of a given test culture. At the same time, it was found that solutions of the drug «Penox-2» disinfects Escherichia coli on smooth surfaces for 15 minutes, and Staphylococcus aureus for 30 minutes, at the rate of 0.25 – 0.3 l / m2. Disinfection of Escherichia coli on rough (concrete, wood) test surfaces took place in 30 min., Staphylococcus aureus in 1 hour, at the rate of 0.5 l / m2.For decontamination of test surfaces contaminated with mycobacteria, a single irrigation with a solution of «Penox -2» was required, for 3 hours of exposure, and for spores You. cereus, with double irrigation, at the rate of 0.5 l / m2, exposure 3 hours. The results of research have shown that the solution of the drug «Penox-2» is an effective disinfectant against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms.

ESTIMATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE DISINFECTANT «BIOLOK» IN PRODUCTION CONDITIONS

The article presents the results of laboratory and production tests of a new domestic composite preparation «Biolok» (manufactured by «Biosfera»). Laboratory studies were carried out on smooth and rough surfaces. Museum cultures of E. coli (stream 1257), Staphylococcus aurous (stream 209 Р), Mycobacteria (stream B 5), B. cereus (stream 96) were used as test microorganisms. Inactivated horse blood serum was taken to simulate the natural contamination of the surfaces. Production tests were carried out at the objects of veterinary supervision in the Republic Dagestan. As a result of the test, it was found that Biolok has antimicrobial activity and can be recommended for preventive and forced disinfection in case of infectious diseases of farm animals and poiltry.

Assessment and Containment of Aflatoxin Impact on the Health by Solar Drying

Solar drying is well known to human being since time immemorial. Its impact on our life is multidimensional. However, gradual changes in our life style have consistently reduced its positive impact during last century. It is more evident in towns. One of them is contamination of dietary items by fungi, which produces carcinogens. The ubiquitous fungus Aspergillus flavus is notorious for contaminating many important crops and food stuffs with the carcinogenic mytoxin, aflatoxin. The Aspergillus spp., are widely spread in nature and contaminated food supplies of humans and animals resulting in health hazards and even death. A detail survey of wholesale depots was made to assess the impact of aflatoxin on the health of the human and other animals by the natural contamination of the dietary items. Samples of different dietary items collected from different wholesale depots belonging to five different mohallas of Darbhanga town (Bihar, India) during 2012 were brought to the laboratory for further studies. The findings suggest that Aspergillus flavus appeared as the most dominant mycoflora in general. Present bioassay on Daphnia magna subjected to static exposure of different concentration of A. flavus crude extract clearly indicate the stain to be potential toxic producer. The rate of mortality increased with increased in amount of toxin. Solar drying is a cost-effective solution to overcome this serious problem. The technology is well developed and tested. In this paper, appropriate solar dryer design is further proposed for households to eliminate this serious health hazard.

Production of poly hydroxy butyrate (PHB) from Eichhornia crassipes through microbial fermentation process

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is one of the highly biodegradable and biologically acceptable thermoplastics synthesized by many microorganisms collectively called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). All available biopolymers are viewed as perfect answers for the resolution of natural contamination issue by supplanting ordinary plastic business. They are likewise utilized as osteosclerotic stimulants attributable to their piezoelectric properties, in bone plates, during operations as suture material and vein substitutions. Synthesis of PHB is found in a wide range of Gram’s negative and gram’s positive bacteria belonging to distinct genera. Optimum culture condition for the PHB producing microbes are provided, including restricted centralization of nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, or the trace elements and maximum convergence of carbon source Indeed, to market PHAs, significant exertion has been dedicated towards a decline in the production cost through the improvement of bacterial strains and enhancing effectiveness of recovery/fermentation procedure. This is being done considering the fact that substrate prices show the greatest impact on PHA's manufacturing cost. The price of the substrate used has the most significant influence on the production cost of PHA. In this research, a potential bacterial strain was isolated from the soil and tested for its PHB producing ability. The use of cheaper substrate for lowering the cost is prerequisite. For PHB production, water hyacinth was used as a carbon source. Bacterial growth was optimized for maximum PHB production. The optimum condition was found to be 30 °C, 8% substrate concentration and 72 h of incubation time.