Efficacy of Helicoverpa Armigera Nucleopolyhedrovirus on Soybean for Control of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Arkansas Agriculture

Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) is a naturally occurring virus commercially produced for control of Heliothines, including Helicoverpa zea. One drawback with using this virus for control has been the slower time to mortality compared with synthetic insecticides. However, a new formulation (Heligen®) has anecdotally been thought to result in quicker mortality than previously observed. The objective of this study was to evaluate percent defoliation, the efficacy of HearNPV on mortality for each H. zea larval instar, and the potential for control of a second infestation. Fourteen days after the first infestation, all plants were re-infested with a second instar larva to simulate a second infestation. Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus was effective at killing 1st–3rd instars, resulting in 99% mortality over 4–6 days. However, 4th and 5th instar mortality only reached 35%. Second infestation larvae died between 3.4 and 3.8 days, significantly faster than the 1st infestation of 2nd instars, which had a mean time to mortality of 4.9 days. An increase in mortality rate is probably due to increasing viral concentrations after viral replication within the first hosts. Final defoliation percentages were significantly smaller in the treated plants versus the untreated plants. Only 3rd and 4th instar larvae caused percent defoliation to exceed the current Arkansas action threshold of 40%. Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus in the Heligen formulation can control 1st–3rd instars within 4–6 days, while keeping defoliation below the action threshold of 40%.

Nanodiamonds in Oil Emulsions as Effective Vaccine Adjuvants and Antitumor Therapeutic Agents

Background Composed of mineral oil and mycobacteria pathogens, complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) is one of the most commonly used adjuvants for antibody production and scientific research due to its high efficiency. However, the dead mycobacteria in CFA can cause many allergic reactions. We propose here a new formulation based on the use of nanodiamonds (NDs) as biocompatible non-allergic additives in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) to avoid these adverse effects. Methods Chicken egg ovalbumin (OVA) was used as the antigens and 100-nm NDs after purification by air oxidation and strong oxidative acid washes were used as the additives. Levels of OVA-specific IgG antibody in mouse sera were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) after the second and third immunizations of healthy mice with OVA and OVA/ND in IFA or CFA. Abilities of the OVA/ND/IFA vaccination to inhibit the tumor growth of mice inoculated with EL4 cells or OVA-expressing E.G7 cells were examined over 1 month. Results The new formulation worked well as a potent vaccine adjuvant, which could boost the immune responses and reduce the consumption of antigens in producing antibodies of interest in model animals like mice. Additionally, the composites showed distinct therapeutic activities, as proven by the OVA/ND/IFA treatment that effectively inhibited the tumor progression of E.G7-inoculated mice, allowing the animals to survive over 35 days post tumor-cell challenges. About 0.2% of the injected ND particles were found in mouse spleens on day 24 after vaccination of the E.G7-inoculated mice with OVA/ND/IFA. Conclusions The multiple functionality of ND makes it useful as an active and trackable component of a vaccine adjuvant not only to enhance antibody production but also to suppress tumor growth in vivo. The ND-based new formulation can be developed into single-dose vaccines with promising potential for real-world applications.

ДОЦІЛЬНІСТЬ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ СТЕРИЧНО УСКЛАДНЕНИХ АЦЕНАФТЕНОВИХ СПОЛУК У СКЛАДІ ПРОТИКОРОЗІЙНОЇ КОМПОЗИЦІЇ

Goal. Synthesis and study of the effect of the inhibitory component – sterically complicated acenaphthene compounds – on the effectiveness of the protective composition to prevent corrosion of metal products during the period of temporary preservation.Method. Coke-chemical acenaphthylene was isolated from the absorbing and anthracene fractions of coal tar, the bromination of which led to 1,2-dibromocenaphthene. Subsequent alkylation of azine bases with 1,2-dibromacenaphthene yielded a number of sterically complex acenaphthene compounds. In the conditions of simulation aggressiveness of NSS environment the influence of synthesized additives on efficiency of anticorrosive composition is investigated (ISO 9227:2017). Research methods: chromatography, synthesis, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, corrosion tests.Results. On the basis of low-demand, available and inexpensive components of coke production, a number of substances with high anti-corrosion properties were synthesized – Quaternary azine salts with acenaphthene fragment. It was determined that the greatest resistance to the destructive effects of corrosive NSS environment according to the results of accelerated atmospheric corrosion tests was demonstrated by a composite coating containing an inhibitory additive – 1-(2-bromo-1,2-dihydroacenaphthylen-1-yl) quinoline bromide. The dominant role of the structure of the inhibitory additive on the manifestation of anticorrosive properties of the protective composition is shown. The influence of the ratio of components of paints and varnishes on their technological and anti-corrosion properties has been studied. The obtained results allow to create a new formulation of the domestic competitive protective composition to prevent corrosion of the metal for the period of temporary preservation.Scientific novelty. The role of 1,2-dibromacenaphthene as a promising alkylating agent in the synthesis of inhibitory additives - sterically complicated acenaphthene compounds has been determined.Practical significance. The optimal content of inhibitory components – Quaternary azine salts with acenaphthene fragment – for the development of a formulation of an effective anti-corrosion composition for the period of temporary preservation of metal products.

A Short Review on Application of Liquisolid Technology

In this paper we have surveyed about formulation and evaluation of Liquisolid formulations and its work in antidiabetics . Mostly poorly water soluble drugs are in research category despite of less dissolution rate and poor bioavailability. Solubility is a vital parameter to develop new formulation as industries faced serious issue regarding the poor aqueous solubility of the drugs. Various methods for solubility enhancement include modifications of the drug, involvement of co-solvents, complexation, salt formation, size reduction. A propitious technique to solve major challenges like solubility, dissolution rate and their bioavailability. This technique can be defined as the conversion of poorly soluble liquid medications into non-adherent, dry, compressible and free flowing powder mixtures with help of excipients. Many anti-diabetic drugs are belonging to BCS Class-II facing challenges like solubility and bioavailability.

Characterization and Stabilization of a New 64Cu-Labeled Anti-EGFR Antibody NCAB001 for the Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer with Positron Emission Tomography

Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer using current imaging modalities remains challenging. We have developed a new approach to identify tumor lesions ≥ 3 mm in the pancreas by positron emission tomography (PET) with a new intraperitoneally administered 64Cu-labeled anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody (encoded as NCAB001), called 64Cu-NCAB001 ipPET. Generally, in clinical research, a radiometal-antibody complex must be prepared immediately before use at the imaging site. To make 64Cu-NCAB001 ipPET available to daily clinical practices in a sustainable way, the NCAB001-chelator conjugate and 64Cu-NCAB001 must be characterized and stabilized. NCAB001 was manufactured under cGMP conditions. NCAB001 was conjugated with a bifunctional chelator (p-SCN-Bn-PCTA), and the antibody-chelator conjugate (PCTA-NCAB001) was characterized by LC/MS and ELISA. Thereafter, to effectively manufacture 64Cu-NCAB001, we developed a new formulation to stabilize PCTA-NCAB001 and 64Cu-NCAB001. An average of three PCTA chelators were conjugated per molecule of NCAB001. The relative binding potency of PCTA-NCAB001 was comparable to cetuximab. The formulation consisting of acetate buffer, glycine, and polysorbate-80 stabilized PCTA-NCAB001 for a year-long storage. Additionally, this formulation enabled the stabilization of 64Cu-NCAB001 for up to 24 h after radiolabeling with a sufficient radioactivity concentration for clinical use. These results may accelerate the future use of 64Cu-NCAB001 ipPET in clinical settings for the early diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Robust Barron-Loss Tucker Tensor Decomposition

<p>In this work, we propose a new formulation for low-rank tensor approximation, with tunable outlier-robustness, and present a unified algorithmic solution framework. This formulation relies on a new generalized robust loss function (Barron loss), which encompasses several well-known loss-functions with variable outlier resistance. The robustness of the proposed framework is corroborated by the presented numerical studies on synthetic and real data.</p>

Robust Barron-Loss Tucker Tensor Decomposition

<p>In this work, we propose a new formulation for low-rank tensor approximation, with tunable outlier-robustness, and present a unified algorithmic solution framework. This formulation relies on a new generalized robust loss function (Barron loss), which encompasses several well-known loss-functions with variable outlier resistance. The robustness of the proposed framework is corroborated by the presented numerical studies on synthetic and real data.</p>

Floquet Spectral Almost-Periodic Modulation of Massive Finite and Infinite Strongly Coupled Arrays: Dense-Massive-MIMO, Intelligent-Surfaces, 5G, and 6G Applications

In this study, we introduce a new formulation based on Floquet (Fourier) spectral analysis combined with a spectral modulation technique (and its spatial form) to study strongly coupled sublattices predefined in the infinite and large finite extent of almost-periodic antenna arrays (e.g., metasurfaces). This analysis is very relevant for dense-massive-MIMO, intelligent-surfaces, 5G, and 6G applications (used for very small areas with a large number of elements such as millimeter and terahertz waves applications). The numerical method that is adopted to model the structure is the method of moments simplified by equivalent circuits MoM GEC. Other numerical methods (such as the ASM-array scanning method and the windowing Fourier method) used this analysis in their kernel to treat periodic and pseudo-periodic (or quasi-periodic) arrays.

Study of potential activity of clove oil 10 % emulsifiable concentrate formulation on Two-spotted spider Mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Clove oil is reported to have a great range of biological activities against many species of pests; termites, cockroaches, aphids, weevils and moths, and many different usages such as perfume and food flavoring agent. This study aimed to determine the acaricidal activity of clove oil emulsifiable concentrate new formulation against two-spotted spider mites Tetranychus urticae. Clove oil was formulated as 10 % emulsifiable concentrate (EC). The new formula passed successfully all physical and chemical tests reported for emulsifiable concentrates. It was then tested biologically on the individuals of two-spotted spider mite T. urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) on two host plants beans and squash under laboratory conditions. In both cases, there were a direct relationship between the increase in the concentration of the formulation and the percentage of inhibition on the individuals of the two-spotted spider mite, after 72 hours of treatment, at concentrations of 20, 40, and 80 mg/ml the new formulation showed 10.30, 44.8, and 75 percent inhibition, respectively in case of beans, while squash at the same concentrations and for the same period of treatment showed 33.3, 40.7, and 51.9 percent inhibition, but the effect in case of beans was greater than that in case of squash as its EC50 value was lower than that in case of squash. In the case of the former, it was 39.81 mg/ml, whereas in the case of the latter, it was 79.43 mg/ml. Therefore, the new clove oil formulation can be used to combat the two-spotted spider mite.

A New Method to Identify and Quantify Hydraulic Communication between Isolated Reservoir Systems Using Pressure-Transient Data

A new analytical workflow that uses pressure-transient data to characterize connectivity between two originally non-communicating reservoir zones is presented. With this technique, hydraulic communication is clearly identified and corresponding fluid crossflow rates accurately quantified. It is applicable to a wide range of communication mechanisms, including inactive commingled-completion wells, conductive fractures and faults, in addition to behind-casing completion problems. The impact of interference is also captured by handling an unlimited number of wells and communicating media. The solution uses pressure-transient data effectively to diagnose communication and estimate the amount of transported fluids. The new formulation is a general formulation for handling an unlimited number of producing wells and communicating media, which helps analyze pressure responses under the influence of interference. The reservoir system under consideration is assumed to be two-dimensional with two initially-isolated reservoir zones, intersected by an arbitrary number of wells, part of which are active producers while others can be penetrating wells with commingled completion, in addition to other communicating media. The well test duration is assumed long enough for the pressure-transient data to be affected by fluid communication. To demonstrate the applicability of the new model, a synthetic case study is presented to diagnose a fluid-communication mechanism. The system under consideration consists of two isolated reservoirs and two wells: a single producer completed in the top reservoir in which pressure responses are measured, and an offset well connecting both reservoirs through a fluid communication mechanism. Using the model, type-curves have been utilized to diagnose the hydraulic communication in the offset well. The connectivity of the communication channel in the offset well is also estimated by matching the pressure-transient responses of the model with the measured data. The rate of crossflow between the two reservoirs is also quantified as a function of time. It is observed from the log-log plot that higher connectivity values of the cement sheath causes a steeper merging ramp in the transition region, following a period dominated by the producing reservoir. Although the rate of crossflow depends on the magnitude of the connectivity, it is observed that there is an upper limit controlled by the rock and fluid properties of the individual reservoirs. In addition, the pressure regime at the location of the offset well plays an important role in the rate of crossflow. This study presents a novel analytical approach to detect communication from pressure-transient data, and to quantify the magnitude of crossflow rates between reservoir zones. The formulation captures the influence of interference between wells caused by production. While complementing diagnostic information from other sources to confirm fluid movement from isolated zones, the method also quantifies the connectivity of the communicating media, and the amount of crossflow rates as a continuous function of time.