Benzyl Isothiocyanate Attenuates Inflammasome Activation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS-Stimulated THP-1 Cells and Exerts Regulation through the MAPKs/NF-κB Pathway

Inflammasomes are a group of intracellular multiprotein platforms that play important roles in immune systems. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a constituent of cruciferous plants and has been confirmed to exhibit various biological activities. The modulatory effects of BITC on inflammasome-mediated interleukin (IL)-1β expression and its regulatory mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) LPS/ATP-stimulated THP-1 cells was investigated. Monocytic THP-1 cells were treated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) to induce differentiation into macrophages. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were performed to measure the levels of IL-1β produced in P. aeruginosa LPS/ATP-exposed THP-1 cells. Western blotting was performed to examine the BITC modulatory mechanisms in inflammasome-mediated signaling pathways. BITC inhibited IL-1β production in P. aeruginosa LPS/ATP-induced THP-1 cells. BITC also inhibited activation of leucine-rich repeat protein-3 (NLRP3) and caspase-1 in P. aeruginosa LPS/ATP-induced THP-1 cells. Furthermore, we show that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation in P. aeruginosa LPS was attenuated by BITC. These BITC-mediated modulatory effects on IL-1β production may have therapeutic potential for inflammasome-mediated disorders such as a nasal polyp.     

Discomfort luminance level of head-mounted displays depending on the adapting luminance

The Images in an immersive head-mounted display (HMD) for virtual reality provide the sole source for visual adaptation. Thus, significant, near-instantaneous increases in luminance while viewing an HMD can result in visual discomfort. Therefore, the current study investigated the luminance change necessary to induce this discomfort. Based on the psychophysical experiment data collected from 10 subjects, a prediction model was derived using four complex images and one neutral image, with four to six levels of average scene luminance. Result showed that maximum area luminance has a significant correlation with the discomfort luminance level than average, median, or maximum pixel luminance. According to the prediction model, the discomfort luminance level of a head-mounted display was represented as a positive linear function in log₁₀ units using the previous adaptation luminance when luminance is calculated as maximum area luminance.     

Developing conductive immiscible polystyrene/polypropylene blends with a percolated conducting polyaniline/polyamide filler by tuning its specific interactions with the styrene-based triblock compatibilizer grafted with maleic anhydride

An approach to induce conductivity in immiscible polystyrene/polypropylene (PS/PP) blends is described using a percolated conducting polyaniline/polyamide (PANI/PA) filler combined with a polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene-graft-maleic anhydride compatibilizer. The approach is based on the ability of the compatibilizer to concomitantly stabilize the cocontinuous morphology and to improve the state of dispersion of the PANI/PA filler. Selective localization of PANI/PA in the PS phase with improved filler dispersion is achieved with the optimal master batch (MB) preparation technique followed by its optimized sequence addition to the blend components. This results in an increase in the dc conductivity by six decades as compared with that of the neat compatibilized blend at an effective 4.8-wt % PANI concentration. An investigation of the effect of functionality and concentration of the filler and the compatibilizer on the filler connectivity in the blend is performed. The prevailing specific interactions are analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis of the MBs. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48433.     

Improvement of self‐activated luminescence from introduced cation disorder in Sr6V2O11

Adjusting the elemental composition of a host is regarded to be an effective strategy to tune its luminescent properties such as peak energy, emission efficiency, and bandwidth. In this work, the cation substitution of (Ba²⁺ → Sr²⁺) in self‐activated Sr₆V₂O₁₁ was conducted to investigate the luminescence modification. All the phosphors of Sr_6‐6xBa_6xV₂O₁₁ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) were synthesized by the traditional chemical sol‐gel method. The morphological properties were measured through scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrum measurements. The cation substitution brings out the disorder in the structure, which exerts modifications on the luminescence properties of Sr₆V₂O₁₁. The luminescence intensity and corresponding decay lifetime were enhanced with the cation disorder in the self‐activated phosphor. Cation disorder in a phosphor lattice could be one of the effective approaches to improve the luminescence efficiency.     

Photoluminescence properties of Eu-activated BaCa2Al8O15 nanophosphors

A new blue-emitting nanophosphor of Eu²⁺-activated BaCa₂Al₈O₁₅ was synthesized by the Pechini method. The phosphors were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) measurement and confirmed to be a pure crystalline phase of BaCa₂Al₈O₁₅. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, the luminescence decay and the color coordinates were taken to investigate the luminescence characteristics. The dependence of luminescence intensities BaCa₂Al₈O₁₅:Eu²⁺ on the doping concentrations was investigated. This nanophosphor can be efficiently excited by UV light and presents bright blue luminescence. Under the same conditions, the light yield of BaCa₂Al₈O₁₅:Eu²⁺ is about 1.2 times higher than that of blue-emitting phosphor BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺. Eu²⁺-activated BaCa₂Al₈O₁₅ nanophosphor exhibits the long-lasting phosphorescence, which was analyzed by measuring the afterglow decay curves. The co-doped Eu³⁺ ions and some defects were suggested to be the possible trap-centers.     

Effect of Repetitive Lysine-Tryptophan Motifs on the Eukaryotic Membrane

In a previous study, we synthesized a series of peptides containing simple sequence repeats, (KW)_n–NH₂ (n = 2,3,4 and 5) and determined their antimicrobial and hemolytic activities, as well as their mechanism of antimicrobial action. However, (KW)₅ showed undesirable cytotoxicity against RBC cells. In order to identify the mechanisms behind the hemolytic and cytotoxic activities of (KW)₅, we measured the ability of these peptides to induce aggregation of liposomes. In addition, their binding and permeation activities were assessed by Trp fluorescence, calcein leakage and circular dichrorism using artificial phospholipids that mimic eukaryotic liposomes, including phosphatidylcholine (PC), PC/sphingomyelin (SM) (2:1, w/w) and PC/cholesterol (CH) (2:1, w/w). Experiments confirmed that only (KW)₅ induced aggregation of all liposomes; it formed much larger aggregates with PC:CH (2:1, w/w) than with PC or PC:SM (2:1, w/w). Longer peptide (KW)₅, but not (KW)₃ or (KW)₄, strongly bound and partially inserted into PC:CH compared to PC or PC:SM (2:1, w/w). Calcein release experiments showed that (KW)₅ induced calcein leakage from the eukaryotic membrane. Greater calcein leakage was induced by (KW)₅ from PC:CH than from PC:SM (2:1, w/w) or PC, whereas (KW)₄ did not induce calcein leakage from any of the liposomes. Circular dichroism measurements indicated that (KW)₅ showed higher conformational transition compared to (KW)₄ due to peptide-liposome interactions. Taken together, our results suggest that (KW)₅ reasonably mediates the aggregation and permeabilization of eukaryotic membranes, which could in turn explain why (KW)₅ displays efficient hemolytic activity.     

PG-2, a Potent AMP against Pathogenic Microbial Strains,from Potato (Solanum tuberosum L cv. Gogu Valley) Tubers Not Cytotoxic against Human Cells

In an earlier study, we isolated potamin-1 (PT-1), a 5.6-kDa trypsin-chymotrypsin protease inhibitor, from the tubers of a potato strain (Solanum tuberosum L cv. Gogu Valley). We established that PT-1 strongly inhibits pathogenic microbial strains, but not human bacterial strains, and that its sequence shows 62% homology with a serine protease inhibitor. In the present study, we isolated an antifungal and antibacterial peptide with no cytotoxicity from tubers of the same potato strain. The peptide (peptide-G2, PG-2) was isolated using salt-extraction, ultrafiltration and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) showed the protein to have a molecular mass of 3228.5 Da, while automated Edman degradation showed the N-terminal sequence of PG-2 to be LVKDNPLDISPKQVQALCTDLVIRCMCCC-. PG-2 exhibited antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, a human pathogenic yeast strain, and Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, a plant late blight strain. PG-2 also showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, but did not lyse human red blood cells and was thermostable. Overall, these results suggest PG-2 may be a good candidate to serve as a natural antimicrobial agent, agricultural pesticide and/or food additive.     

Electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power studies of solution-combustion-processed Ca2.76Cu0.24Co4O9

Nanocrystalline Ca_2.76Cu_0.24Co₄O₉ powders (25 nm in crystallite size) are synthesized by the solution combustion method, using aspartic acid as the combustion fuel. In this study, we discuss the effect of sintering temperature on the microstructure and thermoelectric properties of Ca_2.76Cu_0.24Co₄O₉. The density and grain size increase with an increase in sintering temperature. The Ca_2.76Cu_0.24Co₄O₉ sintered at 900 °C shows the largest value of electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, resulting in the largest power factor (3.8×10^?4 W m^?1 K^?2 at 800 °C). This value is more than 22 times larger than that of the Ca_2.76Cu_0.24Co₄O₉ sintered at 940 °C (1.7×10^?5 W m^?1 K^?2 at 800 °C).     

2-D WO3 decorated with Pd for rapid gasochromic and electrical hydrogen sensing

The ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials display unique properties owing to their ultrahigh specific surface area and strong quantum confinement of electrons in two dimensions. In this work, we fabricated a rapid gasochromic and electrical hydrogen sensing system containing 2D WO₃ and Pd nanoparticles. 2D WO₃ nano-plates (NP) are synthesized using sol–gel method and Pd nanoparticles are coated on WO₃ by green photochemical deposition method. The sensor is fabricated by dispersing the 2D WO₃/Pd composite on filter paper. In presence of hydrogen gas, 2D WO₃/Pd composite produces visible change in color from brown to dark blue. With the fabricated sensor, as low as 0.1% H₂ gas in air at room temperature can be easily detected using electrical sensing scheme whereas for higher concentration from 1 to 100%, eye readable gasochromic scheme can be utilized. The use of 2D WO₃ decreased the response time in great deal compared to WO₃ nanoparticles indicating the advantage of 2D structure in fabricating rapid response H₂ sensors. The proposed method is simple and can be easily employed to large scale fabrication system for commercial applications.     

First dicadmium(II) complex of tripodal amide ligand with one edge-sharing monocapped octahedral geometry

A new dicadmium(II) complex [Cd₂(L)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₄ · 8H₂O (1) with the tripodal amide ligand L (tris[3-aza-2-oxo-4-(2-pyridyl)butyl]amine) was synthesized and structurally characterized. Complex 1 is revealed as a dinuclear 2:2 (Cd:L) complex, in which each cadmium(II) ion is hepta-coordinated with the coordination surrounding of distorted monocapped octahedral geometry. Two cadmium(II) ions are dibridged by two carbonyl μ-O atoms forming a Cd₂(μ-O)₂ parallelogram-type moiety. Interestingly, the dinuclear coordination sphere can be seen as resulting from the fusion of two distorted monocapped octahedral [Cd(L)(H₂O)]²⁺ units through sharing one edge originated from the two carbonyl μ-O atoms as a first example. Comparative NMR, IR and FAB-mass data of 1 are also discussed.