Surface characterization and London dispersive surface free energy of functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes with a blend of polytetrafluoroethylene by inverse gas chromatography

The SWCNTs and SWCNT-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) blend were prepared by using simple reaction mixture in the presence of chromosorb (SiO₂). Surface morphology of SWCNTs and (SWCNT-PTFE) blend was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and surface BET analysis. In addition, the surface thermodynamic properties of n-alkanes and polar probe net retention volumes are measured by inverse gas chromatography (IGC). The London dispersive surface free energy values were found to be decreased linearly with increase of temperature. The specific component of the surface free energy of adsorption for the polar probes was obtained using the Donnet-Park method. The surface character “S” value (K_b/K_a) at SWCNTs was found to be 0.74, and SWCNT-PTFE blend surface character value was found to be 0.86. This result demonstrates that the (SWCNT-PTFE) blend surface contains relatively more acidic sites then that of SWCNT surface. Therefore, the IGC results provide useful complementary information on the (SWCNT-PTFE) blend surface.     

Inhibition of Swarming motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Methanol extracts of Alpinia officinarum Hance. and Cinnamomum tamala T. Nees and Eberm

Bacterial drug resistance is a challenge in clinical settings, especially in countries like India. Hence, discovery of novel alternative therapeutics has become a necessity in the fight against drug resistance. Compounds that inhibit bacterial virulence properties form new therapeutic alternatives. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic, nosocomial pathogen that infects immune-compromised patients. Swarming motility is an important virulence property of Pseudomonas which aids it in reaching host cells under nutrient limiting conditions. Here, we report the screening of five plant extracts against swarming motility of P. aeruginosa and show that methanol extracts of Alpinia officinarum and Cinnamomum tamala inhibit swarming motility at 5 μg mL^?1 without inhibiting its growth. These extracts did not inhibit swimming and twitching motilities indicating a mode of action specific to swarming pathway. Preliminary experiments indicated that rhamnolipid production was not affected. This study reveals the potential of the two plants in anti-virulence drug discovery.     

Impulsive effect on exponential synchronization of neural networks with leakage delay under sampled-data feedback control

We consider the impulsive effect on the exponential synchronization of neural networks with leakage delay under the sampled-data feedback control. We use an appropriate Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional combined with the input delay approach and some inequality techniques to derive sufficient conditions that ensure the exponential synchronization of the delayed neural network. The conditions are formulated in terms of the leakage delay, the sampling period, and the exponential convergence rate. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the usefulness and the effectiveness of the results.     

Synthesis,characterization of novel quinoline-2-carboxamide based chalcone derivatives and their molecular docking,photochemical studies

Abstract

Novel series of quinoline-2-carboxamide based chalcone derivatives (5a–g) have synthesized and characterized using ¹H-NMR, 13C-NMR, Mass, and elemental analysis. In-silico molecular docking studies exhibited that synthesized compounds 5a and 5g are good binding energy (?8.46?kcal and ?9.46?kcal) toward the essential requirements of targeted compounds for EGFR receptor-bearing quinazoline inhibitor (PDB ID: 1M17(Lapitinib)). UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy measurements provided a significant effect on the absorption, emission cyclic voltammetry (CV), and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). Lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) values of compound 5g are also confirmed band along with intramolecular charge transfer character (D-π-A). The red shift maxima (510?nm) the emission spectra in various solvents with increasing solvent polarity.     

Nootkatone,a Dietary Fragrant Bioactive Compound,Attenuates Dyslipidemia and Intramyocardial Lipid Accumulation and Favorably Alters Lipid Metabolism in a Rat Model of Myocardial Injury: An In Vivo and In Vitro Study

In the present study, we assessed whether nootkatone (NKT), a sesquiterpene in edible plants, can provide protection against dyslipidemia, intramyocardial lipid accumulation, and altered lipid metabolism in a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI) induced by subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol (ISO, 85 mg/kg) on days 9 and 10. The rats were pre- and co-treated with NKT (10 mg/kg, p.o.) administered daily for 11 days. A significant reduction in the activities of myocardial creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants, and alterations in lipids and lipoproteins, along with a rise in plasma lipid peroxidation and intramyocardial lipid accumulation, were observed in ISO-treated rats. ISO administration induced alterations in the activities of enzymes/expressions that played a significant role in altering lipid metabolism. However, NKT treatment favorably modulated all biochemical and molecular parameters altered by ISO and showed protective effects against oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and altered lipid metabolism, attributed to its free-radical-scavenging and antihyperlipidemic activities in rats with ISO-induced MI. Additionally, NKT decreased the accumulation of lipids in the myocardium as evidenced from Oil red O staining. Furthermore, the in vitro observations demonstrate the potent antioxidant property of NKT. The present study findings are suggestive of the protective effects of NKT on dyslipidemia and the underlying mechanisms. Based on our findings, it can be suggested that NKT or plants rich in NKT can be promising for use as a phytopharmaceutical or nutraceutical in protecting the heart and correcting lipid abnormalities and dyslipidemia, which are risk factors for ischemic heart diseases.     

Alterations in morphological parameters and photosynthetic pigment responses of Catharanthus roseus under soil water deficits

An experiment was conducted in two varieties, rosea and alba, of Catharanthus roseus plants with two watering treatments viz., 100 and 60% of field capacity, to understand the effects of water deficit on early growth, biomass allocation and photosynthetic pigment responses. We found that there were significant differences in early growth, dry matter accumulation and pigment variations between the two varieties. The root length, shoot length, total leaf area, fresh and dry weights were significantly reduced under water stress treatments. There was a significant reduction in the photosynthetic pigment contents in both the varieties. The rosea variety was more affected due to water deficit when compared to alba variety.