Through this work, we have elucidated the mechanism of hydroxyl radicals (OH•) generation and its life time measurements in biosolution. We observed that plasma-initiated ultraviolet (UV) photolysis were responsible for the continues generation of OH• species, that resulted in OH• to be major reactive species (RS) in the solution. The density and lifetime of OH• species acted inversely proportional to each other with increasing depth inside the solution. The cause of increased lifetime of OH• inside the solution is predicted using theoretical and semiempirical calculations. Further, to predict the mechanism of conversion of hydroxide ion (OH−) to OH• or H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and electron, we determined the current inside the solution of different pH. Additionally, we have investigated the critical criterion for OH• interaction on cancer cell inducing apoptosis under effective OH• exposure time. These studies are innovative in the field of plasma chemistry and medicine.

Background. The largest outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outside the Middle East occurred in South Korea in 2015 and resulted in 186 laboratory-confirmed infections, including 36 (19%) deaths. Some hospitals were considered epicenters of infection and voluntarily shut down most of their operations after nearly half of all transmissions occurred in hospital settings. However, the ways that MERS-CoV is transmitted in healthcare settings are not well defined.Methods. We explored the possible contribution of contaminated hospital air and surfaces to MERS transmission by collecting air and swabbing environmental surfaces in 2 hospitals treating MERS-CoV patients. The samples were tested by viral culture with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using MERS-CoV Spike antibody, and electron microscopy (EM).Results. The presence of MERS-CoV was confirmed by RT-PCR of viral cultures of 4 of 7 air samples from 2 patients' rooms, 1 patient's restroom, and 1 common corridor. In addition, MERS-CoV was detected in 15 of 68 surface swabs by viral cultures. IFA on the cultures of the air and swab samples revealed the presence of MERS-CoV. EM images also revealed intact particles of MERS-CoV in viral cultures of the air and swab samples.Conclusions. These data provide experimental evidence for extensive viable MERS-CoV contamination of the air and surrounding materials in MERS outbreak units. Thus, our findings call for epidemiologic investigation of the possible scenarios for contact and airborne transmission, and raise concern regarding the adequacy of current infection control procedures.

We report the synthesis of centimeter-scale monolayer WS2 on gold foil by chemical vapor deposition. The limited tungsten and sulfur solubility in gold foil allows monolayer WS2 film growth on gold surface. To ensure the coverage uniformity of monolayer WS2 film, the tungsten source-coated substrate was placed in parallel with Au foil under hydrogen sulfide atmosphere. The high growth temperature near 935 °C helps to increase a domain size up to 420 μm. Gold foil is reused for the repeatable growth after bubbling transfer. The WS2-based field effect transistor reveals an electron mobility of 20 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) with high on-off ratio of ∼10(8) at room temperature, which is the highest reported value from previous reports of CVD-grown WS2 samples. The on-off ratio of integrated multiple FETs on the large area WS2 film on SiO2 (300 nm)/Si substrate shows within the same order, implying reasonable uniformity of WS2 FET device characteristics over a large area of 3 × 1.5 cm(2).

Translation of most mRNAs is suppressed under stress conditions. Phosphorylation of the a-subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2), which delivers initiator tRNA (Met-tRNA i ) to the P site of the 40S ribosomal subunit, is responsible for such translational suppression. However, translation of hepatitis C viral (HCV) mRNA is refractory to the inhibitory effects of eIF2a phosphorylation, which prevents translation by disrupting formation of the eIF2-GTP-Met-tRNA i ternary complex. Here, we report that eIF2A, an alternative initiator tRNA-binding protein, has a key role in the translation of HCV mRNA during HCV infection, in turn promoting eIF2a phosphorylation by activating the eIF2a kinase PKR. Direct interaction of eIF2A with the IIId domain of the HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES) is required for eIF2A-dependent translation. These data indicate that stress-independent translation of HCV mRNA occurs by recruitment of eIF2A to the HCV IRES via direct interaction with the IIId domain and subsequent loading of Met-tRNA i to the P site of the 40S ribosomal subunit.