Sucrose ester micellar-mediated synthesis of Ag nanoparticles and the antibacterial properties

Ag nanoparticles with diameter in the range of 10–25 nm had been synthesized using a simple sucrose ester micellar-mediated method. Ag nanoparticles were formed by adding AgNO₃ solution into the sucrose ester micellar solution containing sodium hydroxide at atmospheric condition after 24 h of aging time. Trace amount of dimethyl formamide (DMF) in the sucrose ester solution served as a reducing agent while NaOH acted as a catalyst. The produced Ag nanoparticles were highly stable in the sucrose ester micellar system as there was no precipitation after 6 months of storage. The as-synthesized Ag nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV–vis spectroscopy (UV–vis). Formation mechanism of Ag nanoparticles in the micellar-mediated synthesis is postulated. The antibacterial properties of the Ag nanoparticles were tested against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (Gram-positive) and Aeromonas hydrophila (Gram-negative) bacteria. This work provides a simple and “green” method for the synthesis of highly stable Ag nanoparticles in aqueous solution with promising antibacterial property.     

Evaluation of discharge behavior of lithium ion cells

This paper presents a mathematical model based on a porous-electrode theory to describe the discharge of a lithium ion cell. The expression for the electrostatic cell potential has been obtained by subtracting the overpotential at the front of the anode from the overpotential at the back of the cathode plus the integral of the solution phase electrostatic potential in the cathode and the separator. The resulting expression is used to plot the cell potential against time and is compared with experimental results using parameter values from the literature. Paper presented at the International Conference on Functional Materials and Devices 2005, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 6 – 8, 2005.     

Gene Expression Analysis in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Treated with Recombinant Bromelain

The contributing molecular pathways underlying the pathogenesis of breast cancer need to be better characterized. The principle of our study was to better understand the genetic mechanism of oncogenesis for human breast cancer and to discover new possible tumor markers for use in clinical practice. We used complimentary DNA (cDNA) microarrays to compare gene expression profiles of treated Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) with recombinant bromelain and untreated MCF-7. SpringGene analysis was carried out of differential expression followed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), to understand the underlying consequence in developing disease and disorders. We identified 1,102 known genes differentially expressed to a significant degree (p?相似文献   

Mixing Behavior of Cationic Hydrotropes with Anionic Surfactant Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

Mixing behavior of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with cationic hydrotropes aniline hydrochloride (AH), o-toluidine hydrochloride (o-TH), and p-toluidine hydrochloride (p-TH) have been studied using conductivity at different temperatures. Critical micelle concentration for different mixing mole fractions, their ideal values, and different interaction parameters have been estimated. All the parameters show nonideal behavior with synergistic interactions. Thermodynamic parameters are also calculated for these systems.     

Kinetics for the Removal of Paraquat Dichloride from Aqueous Solution by Activated Date (Phoenix dactylifera) Stone Carbon

For the adsorption of Paraquat dichloride (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridyl dichloride) from synthetic aqueous solutions, batch experiments were carried out to study the kinetics of Paraquat dichloride onto calcium oxide activated date (Phoenix dactylifera) stone carbon powder (particle size dia. about 0.85 mm). Studies were conducted at various initial concentrations of 75 mg/L, 100 mg/L, and 125 mg/L of Paraquat dichloride with 8.0 g/L of adsorbent dose. The equilibrium time was found to be 140 minutes. Maximum removal was observed at pH 9.0. The regression analysis for the experimental data showed that the removal kinetic profiles followed a pseudo-second order kinetic models for all initial concentrations, pH, temperature, and salinity of sorbate. The experimental data were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameters, such as standard change in Gibbs free energy, standard change in enthalpy, and standard change in entropy, were evaluated, indicating that the overall adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous in nature.     

A novel method for the synthesis of 2-imidazolones

The superoxide ion electrochemically generated by reduction of oxygen, or chemically generated by dissolving potassium superoxide in ionic liquids, reacts with alkyl imidazolium cations of imidazolium-based ionic liquids at room temperature and atmospheric pressure to give the corresponding 2-imidazolones in excellent yields.     

Rapid parameter optimization of low signal‐to‐noise samples in NMR spectroscopy using rapid CPMG pulsing during acquisition: application to recycle delays

A method is presented that combines Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) during acquisition with either selective or nonselective excitation to produce a considerable intensity enhancement and a simultaneous loss in chemical shift information. A range of parameters can theoretically be optimized very rapidly on the basis of the signal from the entire sample (hard excitation) or spectral subregion (soft excitation) and should prove useful for biological, environmental, and polymer samples that often exhibit highly dispersed and broad spectral profiles. To demonstrate the concept, we focus on the application of our method to T₁ determination, specifically for the slowest relaxing components in a sample, which ultimately determines the optimal recycle delay in quantitative NMR. The traditional inversion recovery (IR) pulse program is combined with a CPMG sequence during acquisition. The slowest relaxing components are selected with a shaped pulse, and then, low‐power CPMG echoes are applied during acquisition with intervals shorter than chemical shift evolution (RCPMG) thus producing a single peak with an SNR commensurate with the sum of the signal integrals in the selected region. A traditional ¹³C IR experiment is compared with the selective ¹³C IR‐RCPMG sequence and yields the same T₁ values for samples of lysozyme and riverine dissolved organic matter within error. For lysozyme, the RCPMG approach is ~70 times faster, and in the case of dissolved organic matter is over 600 times faster. This approach can be adapted for the optimization of a host of parameters where chemical shift information is not necessary, such as cross‐polarization/mixing times and pulse lengths. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mathematical analysis of the dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis in the Sudan

In this paper we develop a mathematical model to study the dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis in the Sudan. To develop this model we consider the dynamics of the disease between three different populations, human, reservoir and vector populations. The model is analyzed at equilibrium and the stability of the equilibria is analyzed. The basic reproduction number is derived, and the threshold conditions for disease elimination established. Results show that the disease can be eliminated under certain conditions. Simulations of the model show that human treatment helps in disease control, and its synergy with vector control will more likely result in the elimination of the disease.     

Modulating protein structure with fluorous amino acids: increased stability and native-like structure conferred on a 4-helix bundle protein by hexafluoroleucine

There has recently been much interest in exploiting the unusual properties associated with fluorocarbons to modulate the physicochemical properties of proteins. Here we present a detailed investigation into the effect on structure and stability of systematically repacking the hydrophobic core of a model protein with the extensively fluorinated (fluorous) amino acid l-5,5,5,5',5',5'-hexafluoroleucine (hFLeu). The starting point was a 27-residue peptide, alpha(4)-H, that adopts an antiparallel 4-alpha-helix bundle structure, and in which the hydrophobic core comprises six layers of leucine residues introduced at the "a" and "d" positions of the canonical heptad repeat. A series of peptides were synthesized in which the central two (alpha(4)-F(2))(,) four (alpha(4)-F(4)), or all six layers (alpha(4)-F(6)) of the core were substituted hFLeu. The free energy of unfolding increases by 0.3 (kcal/mol)/hFLeu on repacking the central two layers and by an additional 0.12 (kcal/mol)/hFLeu on repacking additional layers, so that alpha(4)-F(6) is approximately 25% more stable than the nonfluorinated protein alpha(4)-H. One-dimensional proton, two-dimensional (1)H-(15)N HSQC, and (19)F NMR spectroscopies were used to examine the effect of fluorination on the conformational dynamics of the peptide. Unexpectedly, increasing the degree of fluorination also appears to result in peptides that possess a more structured backbone and less fluid hydrophobic core. The latter only occurs in alpha(4)-F(4) and alpha(4)-F(6), suggesting that crowding of the hFLeu residues may restrict the amplitude and/or time scales for rotation of the side chains.     

Flow Reversal of Fully-Developed Mixed MHD Convection in Vertical Channels

The present analysis is concerned with flow reversal phenomena of the fully-developed laminar combined free and forced MHD convection in a vertical parallel-plate channel. The effect of viscous dissipation is taken into account. Flow reversal adjacent to the cold （or hot） wall is found to exist within the channel as Gr/Re is above （or below） a threshold value. Parameter zones for the occurrence of reversed flow are presented.