Films prepared from electrosterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose

Electrosterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose (ENCC) was modified in three ways: (1) the hydroxyl groups on C2 and C3 of glucose repeat units of ENCC were converted to aldehyde groups by periodate oxidation to various extents; (2) the carboxyl groups in the sodium form on ENCC were converted to the acid form by treating them with an acid-type ion-exchange resin; and (3) ENCC was cross-linked in two different ways by employing adipic dihydrazide as a cross-linker and water-soluble 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylaminopropyl)] carbodiimide as a carboxyl-activating agent. Films were prepared from these modified ENCC suspensions by vacuum filtration. The effects of these three modifications on the properties of films were investigated by a variety of techniques, including UV-visible spectroscopy, a tensile test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and contact angle (CA) studies. On the basis of the results from UV spectra, the transmittance of these films was as high as 87%, which shows them to be highly transparent. The tensile strength of these films was increased with increasing aldehyde content. From TGA and WVTR experiments, cross-linked films showed much higher thermal stability and lower water permeability. Furthermore, although the original cellulose is hydrophilic, these films also exhibited a certain hydrophobic behavior. Films treated by trichloromethylsilane become superhydrophobic. The unique characteristics of these transparent films are very promising for potential applications in flexible packaging and other high-technology products.     

A New Method to Study Hawking Radiation from the Kerr-Newman-NUT Black Hole

Following Hamilton-Jacobi method, we have investigated the Hawking radiation of Kerr-Newman-NUT black hole. We have considered the spacetime background dynamical and incorporate the self-gravitation effect of the emitted particles when energy conservation and angular momentum conservation are taken into account. We have found that the emission rate at the event horizon is equal to the difference of Bekenstein-Hawking entropy before and after emission.     

Photophysical properties of a surfactive long-chain styryl merocyanine dye as fluorescent probe

This work deals with detailed investigations of the photophysical properties of a styryl merocyanine dye, namely 1-cetyl-4-[4′-(methoxy) styryl]-pyridinium bromide (CMSPB) of molecular rotor type. The solvatochromic analyses of the data in different solvents using the Kamlet-Taft parameters (α, β, π^?) were discussed. Optical excitation of the studied merocyanine dye populates a CT S₁ state with about 22.64 folds higher dipole moment value relative to that in the S₀ state. Moreover, the effect of solvent viscosity (glycerol at various temperatures (299.0–351.0 K)) on CMSPB fluorescent properties is analyzed to understand the molecular mechanisms of the characteristic increase in CMSPB fluorescence intensity. The results indicate that CMSPB exhibits fluorescent properties typical for molecular rotors. The results show that torsional relaxation dynamics of molecular rotors in high-viscosity solvents cannot be described by the simple stick boundary hydrodynamics defined by the Debye–Stokes–Einstein (DSE) equation. The fluorescence depolarization behavior in glycerol at various temperatures (299.0–351.0 K) shows that the molecular rotational diffusion is controlled by the free volume of the medium. Furthermore, excited state studies in ethanol/chloroform mixture revealed the formation of weak complex with chloroform of stoichiometry 1:1 with formation constant of 0.004l mol^?1. Moreover, the increase of the quantum yield values in micellar solutions of CTAB and SDS relative to that of water indicates that the guest dye molecules are microencapsulated into the hydrophobic interior of host micelle. The obtained non-zero values of fluorescence polarization in micellar solution imply reduced rotational depolarization of dye molecules via association with the surfactant. Upon comparing the spectral data in micelles with those in homogeneous solvent systems, more can be learned of the structural details of the micellar environment, which have often been used as models for more complex bioaggregates. The results point out to a possible use of this dye as a fluorescence probe for microenvironmental parameters as well as in some micellar systems.     

A multi-pH-dependent, single optical mesosensor/captor design for toxic metals

The fabrication of low-cost, simple nanodesigns with sensing/capture functionality has been called into question by the toxicity and non-degradability of toxic metals, as well as the persistent threat they pose to human lives. In this study, a single, pH-dependent, mesocaptor/sensor was developed for the optical and selective removal of toxic ions from drinking water and physiological systems such as blood.     

Impact of soil field water capacity on secondary metabolites, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), maliondialdehyde (MDA) and photosynthetic responses of Malaysian kacip fatimah (Labisia pumila Benth)

A randomized complete block design 2 × 4 experiment was designed and conducted for 15 weeks to characterize the relationships between production of total phenolics, flavonoid, anthocyanin, leaf gas exchange, total chlorophyll, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in two varieties of Labisia pumila Benth, namely the var. alata and pumila, under four levels of evapotranspiration replacement (ER) (100%; well watered), (75%, moderate water stress), (50%; high water stress) and (25%; severe water stress). The production of total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanin, soluble sugar and relative leaf water content was affected by the interaction between varieties and SWC. As the ER levels decreased from 100% to 25%, the production of PAL and MDA activity increased steadily. At the highest (100%) ER L. pumila exhibited signi?cantly higher net photosynthesis, apparent quantum yield, maximum efficiency of photosystem II (f(v)/f(m)) and lower dark respiration rates compared to the other treatment. The production of total phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanin was also found to be higher under high water stress (50% ER replacement) compared to severe water stress (25% ER). From this study, it was observed that as net photosynthesis, apparent quantum yield and chlorophyll content were downregulated under high water stress the production of total phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanin were upregulated implying that the imposition of high water stress can enhance the medicinal properties of L. pumila Benth.     

Synthesis of new indole derivatives structurally related to donepezil and their biological evaluation as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

New series of indole derivatives analogous to donepezil, a well known anti-Alzheimer and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drug, was synthesized. A full chemical characterization of the new compounds is provided. Biological evaluation of the new compounds as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors was performed. Most of the compounds were found to have potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor activity compared to donepezil as standard. The compound 1-(2-(4-(2-fluorobenzyl) piperazin-1-yl)acetyl)indoline-2,3-dione (IIId) was found to be the most potent.     

Exposure to Anacardiaceae Volatile Oils and Their Constituents Induces Lipid Peroxidation within Food-Borne Bacteria Cells

The chemical composition of the volatile oils from five Anacardiaceae species and their activities against Gram positive and negative bacteria were assessed. The peroxidative damage within bacterial cell membranes was determined through the breakdown product malondialdehyde (MDA). The major constituents in Anacardium humile leaves oil were (E)-caryophyllene (31.0%) and α-pinene (22.0%), and in Anacardium occidentale oil they were (E)-caryophyllene (15.4%) and germacrene-D (11.5%). Volatile oil from Astronium fraxinifolium leaves were dominated by (E)-β-ocimene (44.1%) and α-terpinolene (15.2%), whilst the oil from Myracrodruon urundeuva contained an abundance of δ-3-carene (78.8%). However, Schinus terebinthifolius leaves oil collected in March and July presented different chemical compositions. The oils from all species, except the one from A. occidentale, exhibited varying levels of antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. Oil extracted in July from S. terebinthifolius was more active against all bacterial strains than the corresponding oil extracted in March. The high antibacterial activity of the M. urundeuva oil could be ascribed to its high δ-3-carene content. The amounts of MDA generated within bacterial cells indicate that the volatile oils induce lipid peroxidation. The results suggest that one putative mechanism of antibacterial action of these volatile oils is pro-oxidant damage within bacterial cell membrane explaining in part their preservative properties.     

Free radical scavenging, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities of Orthosiphon stamineus

Orthosiphon stamineus is considered an important traditional folk medicine. In this study ethanol and aqueous extracts of O. stamineus were evaluated in vitro for their antioxidant, antimicrobial as well as for their immunomodulatory properties on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The DPPH radical scavenging method was used for the determination of antioxidant activity, while the antibacterial efficacy was investigated by both disc diffusion method and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) against four bacterial strains (Gram-positive and Gram-negative). Furthermore, the immunomodulatory potential of the extracts was investigated through the MTT assay. Aqueous extract of O. stamineus exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity with IC?? 50 9.6 μg/mL, whereas the IC?? for the ethanol extract was 21.4 μg/mL. The best antimicrobial activity was shown by the aqueous extract of O. stamineus against Staphylococcus aureus, with inhibition zone of 10.5 mm and MIC value 1.56 mg/mL. Moreover, the results observed from the MTT assay showed that both plant extracts stimulated the PBMCs proliferation in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner, but the aqueous extract has remarkable activity against PBMCs. These findings indicate that O. stamineus showed high antioxidant activity and may be considered as an immunomodulatory agent.     

Estimating the parameters of Weibull distribution and the acceleration factor from hybrid partially accelerated life test

This article considers the estimation of parameters of Weibull distribution based on hybrid censored data. The parameters are estimated by the maximum likelihood method under step-stress partially accelerated test model. The maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) of the unknown parameters are obtained by Newton–Raphson algorithm. Also, the approximate Fisher information matrix is obtained for constructing asymptotic confidence bounds for the model parameters. The biases and mean square errors of the maximum likelihood estimators are computed to assess their performances through a Monte Carlo simulation study.     

Phase shift analysis of the <Superscript>6</Superscript>He+<Superscript>208</Superscript>Pb and the <Superscript>6</Superscript>He+<Superscript>197</Superscript>Au systems

We present the elastic scattering of the ⁶He+²⁰⁸Pb and the ⁶He+¹⁹⁷Au systems at the laboratory energy of E _lab=27 MeV within the framework of the McIntyre parametrization, and systematically investigate χ ²/N analysis of both systems to obtain an excellent agreement between the theoretical results and the experimental data. We find large diffusivity parameters indicating long range absorption mechanisms. We also show that both systems lack both the nuclear and the Coulomb rainbow scattering for obtained S-matrix parameters.