Inhibition of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) viability by nanosecond pulsed electric field radiation

Radiation effects of high-intensity nanosecond pulsed electric fields on the viability of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) were determined. Statistical analyses from results show that the treatment energy density of up to 17.76 J m^?3 produced the optimum result in which the number of survived mosquitoes was decreased by 20% (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the average developmental rate into adult forms of treated fourth-instart lavae was found lower compared to that of the control (P < 0.05). The present study indicates that electrical pulse characteristics, especially the pulse amplitude, might be responsible for the decrease in mosquito viability.     

Electropermeabilization responses in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Effects of 3-kJ kg^?1 nanosecond pulsed electric fields (PEFs) on cellular permeabilization of Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus were observed. It was seen that bacterial responses depend on both the electrical pulse attribute and the cell plasma membrane structure. For traditional permeabilization, the responses involved the thickness of the peptidoglycan layer where a maximum of 2.5 log reduction in S. enterica population was achieved. Meanwhile, in the area of selective permeabilization, it showed insignificant reduction in both pathogens. Such inactivation mechanisms were described through the behavior of potential across plasma membrane and intracellular organelles by PSPICE simulations incorporating PEF-cell interaction model.     

Early growth effects on Arabidopsis thaliana by seed exposure of nanosecond pulsed electric field

Arabidopsis thaliana seeds were subjected to nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) to examine the growth effect. The exposures were carried out using electrical pulses of 10 ns duration with the field intensity varied from 5 to 20 kV cm^?1. Statistical analysis on the average leaf area showed that the positive nsPEF effect appeared a few days after germination. It was also found that the effect was significant the second week following treatments, especially at 10 kV cm^?1 with a maximum increase of 80% compared to the control (P < 0.01).