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The adsorption of CO2 and its hydration to carbonic acid on copper alkoxide functionalized Metal–Organic Frameworks (Cu-MOFs) is studied by density functional theory calculations. The adsorption Gibbs free energies of CO2, H2O and two forms of carbonic acid on Cu-MOFs are −2.4, −14.1, −13.5, and −28.9 kcal/mol, respectively. The preferred adsorption of H2O on the Cu enhances also the stability of the Cu-MOFs against moisture. Two possible pathways are considered for the hydration reaction of CO2. In the first one, the reaction starts with the simultaneous forming of a CO bond and the breaking of an OH bond, leading to a HCO3 intermediate. This intermediate then undergoes a hydride-shift and is subsequently protonated to form carbonic acid. The second step is considered to be the rate-determining step of this reaction with an activation energy of 28.2 kcal/mol. In the second pathway, a three-step process is considered. It commences by dissociation of the water OH bond and the formation of a CO bond between the resulting OH species and the incoming CO2 molecule. Finally, the hydrogen transfers to the HCO3 intermediate to generate carbonic acid. The first step has the highest activation energy, 19.1 kcal/mol, and is therefore rate-determining. Since this is also much lower compared with the first pathway, the second pathway is preferred for the CO2 hydration on Cu-MOFs. Without a catalyst, the barrier is much higher, 53.4 kcal/mol, indicating that Cu-MOFs might be a suitable material to adsorb and hydrate CO2.

Arthropod-borne viral diseases (arboviruses) are a public-health concern in many regions of the world, including Thailand. This review describes the potential vectors and important human and/or veterinary arboviruses in Thailand. The medically important arboviruses affect humans, while veterinary arboviruses affect livestock and the economy. The main vectors described are mosquitoes, but other arthropods have been reported. Important mosquito-borne arboviruses are transmitted mainly by members of the genus Aedes (e.g., dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus) and Culex (e.g., Japanese encephalitis, Tembusu and West Nile virus). While mosquitoes are important vectors, arboviruses are transmitted via other vectors, such as sand flies, ticks, cimicids (Family Cimicidae) and Culicoides. Veterinary arboviruses are reported in this review, e.g., duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV), Kaeng Khoi virus (KKV), and African horse sickness virus (AHSV). During arbovirus outbreaks, to target control interventions appropriately, it is critical to identify the vector(s) involved and their ecology. Knowledge of the prevalence of these viruses, and the potential for viral infections to co-circulate in mosquitoes, is also important for outbreak prediction.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of breeding containers on the production of Aedes mosquitoes after a vector-control program in households that might support dengue transmission in tourist attraction areas of Bang Kachao Riverbend, Thailand. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted in an ecotourism area of Bang Kachao Riverbend, Thailand, during the period October 2016 to September 2017. A total of 832 households from five villages participated in the study. Data collection employed an interview questionnaire, larval mosquito survey and measurements of the chemical properties of the water in each container. A binary logistic regression model was used to investigate the characteristics of water containers influencing the presence or absence of Aedes immatures. Findings The study found that water containers located inside households had a highly presence of Aedes immatures (2.22 times) compared with outdoor containers. Water containers without lids and water containers with ineffective had a high presence of Aedes immatures (3.69 and 2.54 times, respectively). In addition, the chemical properties of the water inside the containers, such as pH, influenced the presence of Aedes immatures (1.76 times) (OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.59–1.96). Originality/value The study results emphasized the characteristics of water containers in households located in a tourist attraction area. The findings may inform public health vector-control messages for households located in the tourist attraction area.