MRT Letter: Spatial distribution of vancomycin‐induced damage in Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm: An electron microscopic study

This study was planned to elucidate the efficacy of antibiotics on Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biofilms of S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 and S. aureus ATCC 29213 were grown on black, polycarbonate membranes placed on tryptic soy agar plates for 48 h at 37°C, and then exposed to vancomycin or amikacin or ciprofloxacin at clinically achievable levels for 24 h at 37°C. The morphology of antibiotic‐treated and untreated biofilms was elucidated by SEM. SEM analysis indicated a differential affection of S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 in the center and periphery of biofilm upon treatment with vancomycin. The center of biofilm revealed damaged cells with sparse distribution, smaller size, and irregular shape, whereas cells in the periphery were unaffected. This differential distribution of susceptibility within S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 biofilms was specific for vancomycin only and was not observed on exposure to amikacin or ciprofloxacin. No such response was found in S.aureus ATCC 29213 biofilms. Thus, our study suggests a spatial distribution of vancomycin‐induced damage in S. epidermidis biofilms. To our knowledge, this is the first report that indicates a differential affection of S. epidermidis in the center and periphery of biofilm upon treatment with vancomycin. Studies on the factors controlling this differential distribution could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in S. epidermidis biofilms. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Conductometric investigations on lanthanum soap solutions

The critical micelle concentration (CMC), degree of dissociation and dissociation constant of lanthanum caprate in benzene-methanol mixtures of varying composition were determined using conductometric measurements. The results show that the soap behaves as a weak electrolyte in these solutions below the CMC. The value of the CMC (0.0027 M) was found to be independent of the solvent composition but increases with the addition of dye.     

Preparation of luminescent polyethylene plastic composite nano-reinforced with glass fibers

Electrospun glass nanofibers (EGNFs) were prepared to reinforce polyethylene (PE) plastic waste towards the development of photochromic anti-counterfeiting patterns and long-persistent photoluminescent materials, such as smart windows and concrete. By physical integration of lanthanide-doped aluminate (LdA) nanoparticles (NPs) into polyethylene plastic reinforced with EGNFs, a transparent lanthanide-doped aluminate nanoparticles (LdANPs)/EGNFs@PE sheet was produced. The colorless EGNFs@PE hybrids became green under ultraviolet (UV) rays and greenish-yellow in a darkened room as proved by CIE Lab and photoluminescence analysis. In the luminescent LdANPs/EGNFs@PE hybrids, the identified photochromism was promptly reversed at low concentrations of LdANPs to designate fluorescence emission. Photoluminescence was maintained with slow reversibility for the high phosphor concentrations to designate afterglow emission. LdANPs exhibit diameters of 5–12 nm, whereas glass nanofibers have diameters of 70–120 nm. The morphologies of LdANPs/EGNFs@PE substrates were studied by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and x-ray fluorescence (XRF). The mechanical properties of the prepared polyethylene plastic were enhanced by reinforcement with glass nanofibers as a roughening agent. The photoluminescent substrates showed markedly improved scratch resistance in comparison to LdANPs-free EGNFs@PE substrate. The obtained luminescence spectra displayed an emission band at 519 nm upon excitation at 365 nm. The results demonstrated that the luminous plastic has improved hydrophobicity and UV shielding upon increasing the LdANPs content.     

Presence of vacuoles in natural rubber–Cloisite 15A nanocomposites

We studied natural rubber (NR) filled with frequently used organoclay Cloisite 15A using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cryoporosimetry, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Quantitative analysis of the TEM micrographs showed a high level of dispersion without the formation of a rigid filler network. The presence of vacuoles was established on the surface of Cloisite 15A; this indicated weak filler–matrix interactions. The mechanism of reinforcement is, therefore, discussed. The volume of vacuoles was found to be proportional to the crosslinking density; this was confirmed with ESR spin‐probe method. The shape of the ESR spectra was highly influenced by the presence of vacuoles. In the NR–Cloisite 10A nanocomposites, vacuoles were absent. The strong interactions implied by this result were confirmed by ESR measurements and are discussed further. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44776.     

Mechanical,thermal, and transport properties of nitrile rubber–nanocalcium carbonate composites

The article describes the properties of acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer (NBR)–nanocalcium carbonate (NCC) nanocomposites prepared by a two‐step method. The amount of NCC was varied from 2 phr to 10 phr. Cure characteristics, mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical properties, thermal behavior, and transport properties of NBR–NCC composites were evaluated. For preparing NBR nanocomposites, a master batch of NBR and NCC was initially made using internal mixer. Neat NBR and the NBR–NCC masterbatch was compounded with other compounding ingredients on a two roll mill. NCC activated cure reaction upto 5 phr. The tensile strength increased with the nanofiller content, whereas NBR–NCC containing 7.5 phr exhibited the highest modulus. The storage modulus (E′) increased up to 5 phr NCC loading; the reinforcing effect of NCC was seen in the increase of modulus which was more significant at temperatures above T_g. The effect of nanofiller content and temperature on transport properties was evaluated. The solvent uptake decreased with NCC content. The mechanism of diffusion of solvent through the nanocomposites was found to be Fickian. Transport parameters like diffusion, sorption, and permeation constants were determined and found to decrease with nanofiller content, the minimum value being at 7.5 phr. Thermodynamic constants such as enthalpy and activation energy were also evaluated. The dependence of various properties on NCC was supported by morphological analysis using transmission electron microscopy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Mechanical, thermal and transport properties of nitrile rubber (NBR)—nanoclay composites

The article describes the properties of nitrile rubber (NBR)—nanoclay composites prepared by a two-step method. viz. preparation of a 3:1 [by weight] masterbatch of NBR and nanoclay followed by compounding on a two roll mill and molding at 150 °C and 20 MPa pressure. The tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus, storage modulus (E’) and loss modulus (E”) increased with the nanofiller content, reached the maximum value at 5 phr and decreased thereafter. The solvent uptake, diffusion, sorption and permeation constants decreased with nanoclay content with the minimum value at 5 phr nanoclay. The mechanism of solvent diffusion through the nanocomposites was found to be Fickian. Thermodynamic constants such as enthalpy and activation energy were also evaluated. The dependence of various properties on nanoclay content was correlated to the morphology of the nanocomposites. supported by morphological analysis.     

Determinant for beta-subunit regulation in high-conductance voltage-activated and Ca(2+)-sensitive K+ channels: an additional transmembrane region at the N terminus

The pore-forming alpha subunit of large conductance voltage- and Ca(2+)-sensitive K (MaxiK) channels is regulated by a beta subunit that has two membrane-spanning regions separated by an extracellular loop. To investigate the structural determinants in the pore-forming alpha subunit necessary for beta-subunit modulation, we made chimeric constructs between a human MaxiK channel and the Drosophila homologue, which we show is insensitive to beta-subunit modulation, and analyzed the topology of the alpha subunit. A comparison of multiple sequence alignments with hydrophobicity plots revealed that MaxiK channel alpha subunits have a unique hydrophobic segment (S0) at the N terminus. This segment is in addition to the six putative transmembrane segments (S1-S6) usually found in voltage-dependent ion channels. The transmembrane nature of this unique S0 region was demonstrated by in vitro translation experiments. Moreover, normal functional expression of signal sequence fusions and in vitro N-linked glycosylation experiments indicate that S0 leads to an exoplasmic N terminus. Therefore, we propose a new model where MaxiK channels have a seventh transmembrane segment at the N terminus (S0). Chimeric exchange of 41 N-terminal amino acids, including S0, from the human MaxiK channel to the Drosophila homologue transfers beta-subunit regulation to the otherwise unresponsive Drosophila channel. Both the unique S0 region and the exoplasmic N terminus are necessary for this gain of function.     

Thermal expansion studies on UMoO5, UMoO6, Na2U(MoO4)3 and Na4U(MoO4)4

In the present work, thermal expansion behavior of lower valent sodium uranium molybdates, i.e., Na₂U(MoO₄)₃ and Na₄U(MoO₄)₄ were studied under vacuum in the temperature range of 298-873 K using high temperature X-ray diffractometry (HTXRD). Expansion behaviors of UMoO₅ and UMoO₆ were also studied in vacuum from 298 to 873 K and 773 K, respectively. UMoO₅ was synthesized by reacting UO₂ with MoO₃ in equi-molar proportion in evacuated sealed quartz ampoule at 1173 K for 14 h. Na₂U(MoO₄)₃ and Na₄U(MoO₄)₄ were prepared by reacting UMoO₅ and MoO₃ with 1 and 2 moles of Na₂MoO₄, respectively, at 873 K in evacuated sealed quartz ampoule. XRD data of UMoO₅ and UMoO₆ were indexed on orthorhombic and monoclinic systems, respectively, whereas, the data of Na₂U(MoO₄)₃ and Na₄U(MoO₄)₄ were indexed on tetragonal system. The lattice parameters and cell volume of all the four compounds, fit into polynomial expression with respect to temperature, showed positive thermal expansion (PTE) up to 873 K.     

Stress‐relaxation behavior of natural rubber/polystyrene and natural rubber/polystyrene/natural rubber‐graft‐polystyrene blends

We studied the stress‐relaxation behavior of natural rubber (NR)/polystyrene (PS) blends in tension. The effects of strain level, composition, compatibilizer loading, and aging on the stress‐relaxation behavior were investigated in detail. The dispersed/matrix phase morphology always showed a two‐stage mechanism. On the other hand, the cocontinuos morphology showed a single‐stage mechanism. The addition of a compatibilizer (NR‐g‐PS) into 50/50 blends changed the blend morphology to a matrix/dispersed phase structure. As a result, a two‐step relaxation mechanism was found in the compatibilized blends. A three‐stage mechanism was observed at very high loadings of the compatibilizer (above the critical micelle concentration), where the compatibilizer formed micelles in the continuous phase. The aged samples showed a two‐stage relaxation mechanism. The rate of relaxation increased with strain levels. The aging produced interesting effects on the relaxation pattern. The rate of relaxation increased with temperature due to the degradation of the samples. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008