On theK-theory of the classifying space of a discrete group

Partially supported by an NSF grant     

Phytochemical Profiling and Evaluation of the Hepatoprotective Effect of Cuscuta Campestris by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection

Plant-derived antioxidant compounds have the potential to prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. As a holoparasitic plant, Cuscuta campestris Yuncker is being valorized for treatment of liver injury and cancer prevention in traditional medicine. The main purpose of this present study is to elucidate the antioxidant- and anticancer-associated contents of C. campestris by spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. Diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, n-butanol, and water were used as extraction solvents to reach a wide range of secondary metabolites synthesized by this plant. Antioxidant potentials of these extracts were characterized by (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)-free radical scavenging activity. Their anticancer activities were evaluated on SNU-398 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and controlled on the normal adult human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) cells. Their phenolic compounds were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector to illuminate the responsible anticancer agent(s). The ethyl acetate extract revealed the most significant antioxidant effect. Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were found to be cytotoxic on the SNU-398 cell lines with CC₅₀ values of 18.7 and 19.6?µg?mL^?1, respectively, whereas these extracts were not cytotoxic to the adult hDFs cells. Due to their abundance in the extracts, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, and quercetin may have caused this anticancer activity. Methanol extract has the highest concentration of phenolic compounds. Based on chromatographic analyses, we propose that these anticancer effects were positively correlated with plant phenolic compounds. The results showed that this plant is worth further study for its therapeutic uses.     

The role of 60Co γ-ray irradiation on the interface states and series resistance in MIS structures

The effect of γ-ray exposure on the metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structures has been investigated using the electrical characteristics at room temperature. The MIS structures are irradiated with ⁶⁰Co γ-ray source. The energy distribution of interface states was determined from the forward bias I–V characteristics by taking into account the bias dependence of the effective barrier height and ideality factor. The value of series resistance decreases with increasing dose. Experimental results confirmed that γ-ray irradiation have a significant effect on electrical characteristics of MIS structures.     

Formation of spiro and ansa derivatives in the reaction of 2,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluoropentane-1,5-diol with cyclotriphosphazene: Comparison with 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorobutane-1,4-diol

Reaction of cyclophosphazene, N₃P₃Cl₆ (1), with the sodium derivative of the fluorinated diol, 2,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluoropentane-1,5-diol (2), in THF solution at room temperature afforded five isolated products, whose structures have been characterised by X-ray crystallography and ¹H, ¹⁹F and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy: the mono-spiro compound, N₃P₃Cl₄(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O) (3), its ansa isomer (4), a di-spiro derivative N₃P₃Cl₂(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O)₂ (5), its spiro-ansa (6) isomer and the tri-spiro compound N₃P₃(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O)₃ (7). Quantitative ³¹P NMR measurements of the soluble portion of the reaction mixture show that in the reaction of (1) with the sodium derivative of the fluorinated pentanediol (2) there is a small preference for spiro compounds compared to ansa compounds (ratio ca. 1.3:1), similar to the analogous reaction of (1) with the sodium derivative of the fluorinated butanediol where there is a slightly greater proportion of spiro compared to ansa compounds (ratio ca. 1.5:1). The relative proportions of spiro and ansa compounds is likely to depend on the fine balance in stabilities of the different medium-sized rings in the fluorinated pentanediol (spiro, 8- and ansa, 10-membered rings) compared to the fluorinated butanediol (spiro, 7- and ansa, nine-membered rings) derivatives of cyclophosphazene.     

Synthesis of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) with a low molecular weight and a low polydispersity index by single‐electron transfer living radical polymerization

The single‐electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) method in the presence of chain transfer agent was used to synthesize poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) [poly(NIPAM)] with a low molecular weight and a low polydispersity index. This was achieved using Cu(I)/2,2′‐bipyridine as the catalyst, 2‐bromopropionyl bromide as the initiator, 2‐mercaptoethanol as the chain transfer agent (TH), and N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent at 90 °C. The copper nanoparticles with diameters of 16 ± 3 nm were obtained in situ by the disproportionation of Cu(I) to Cu(0) and Cu(II) species in DMF at 22 °C for 24 h. The molecular weights of poly(NIPAM) produced were significantly higher than the theoretical values, and the polydispersities were less than 1.18. The chain transfer constant (C_tr) was found to be 0.051. Although the kinetic analysis of SET‐LRP in the presence of TH corroborated the characteristics of controlled/living polymerization with pseudo‐first‐order kinetic behavior, the polymerization also exhibited a retardation period (k > k_tr). The influence of molecular weight on lower critical solution temperature (LCST) was investigated by refractometry. Our experimental results explicitly elucidate that the LCST values increase slightly with decreasing molecular weight. Reversibility of solubility and collapse in response to temperature well correlated with increased molecular weight of poly(NIPAM). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Focusing with two-dimensional angular-symmetric circular acoustic lenses

Focusing properties of an acoustic lens based on a modified triangular sonic crystal slab whose columns are aligned on concentric arcs of equal radial distance are investigated. Capability of focusing normally-incident plane waves is demonstrated by means of Finite Element Method. Focusing mechanisms are discussed on the basis of band structures and equifrequency contours considering a model where triangular lattice is elongated along ΓK direction. Focusing behavior of the proposed lens is argued to arise from negative refractions at the air-lens interfaces accompanied by index guiding in its interiors. Wavelength-order confinement in the transverse direction is observed. Double focusing is attributed to geometrical effects and contribution of self guiding is discussed. Possibility of occurrence of birefraction at the input face of the lens together with positive refraction at the output face is also discussed.     

Exact solutions of a generalized (3 + 1)-dimensional Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation using Lie symmetry analysis

In this paper, Lie group analysis is employed to derive some exact solutions of a generalized (3 + 1)-dimensional Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation which describes the dynamics of solitons and nonlinear waves in plasmas and superfluids.     

Synthesis of superparamagnetic and thermoresponsive hybrid nanoparticles via surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization of di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate and (oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate

A reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent was directly anchored onto superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (SPNPs) in a simple procedure using a ligand exchange reaction of 2‐[(dodecylsulfanylcarbonylthiolsulfanyl) propionic acid] (DCPA) with oleic acid initially present on the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The DCPA‐modified SPNPs were then used for the surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization of di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate and (oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate to fabricate structurally well‐defined hybrid SPNPs with temperature‐responsive poly[di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate‐co‐(oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] shell and magnetic Fe₃O₄ core. Evidence of a well‐controlled surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization was gained from a linear increase of number‐average molecular weight with overall monomer conversions and relatively narrow polydispersity indices of the copolymers grown from the SPNPs. The resultant hybrid nanoparticles exhibited superparamagnetic property with a saturation magnetization of 55.1–19.4 emu/g and showed a temperature‐responsive phenomenon as the temperature changed between 25 and 40 ^°C. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3420–3428     

Hydrolysis, Condensation, and Tetragonal Phase Formation in Sol-Gel Zirconia Prepared with Electron-Irradiated Alkoxide Solutions

Sol-gel zirconia precursor, zirconium n-butoxide in ter-butanol, was irradiated with 1.3 MeV electrons to a dose of 330 KGy. Gelling was instantaneously produced when an aqueous solution of sulfuric, hydrochloric or acetic acid was added to the irradiated solution; no hydrolysis catalyst was required. Samples were characterized with X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance. The electron irradiation accelerated hydrolysis and condensation, which avoided the stabilization of the tetragonal phase via carboxyls, and decreased the capability of sulfate ions to stabilize it. These results suggest that the stabilization of the tetragonal phase of sol-gel zirconia via carboxyl and sulfate ions depends on their diffusion in the sol.     

Structural and thermosensitive properties of novel octopus shape cyclotriphosphazenes

Three novel compounds (3–5) were synthesized from the reactions of non-geminal cis-2,4,6 diethylene glycol monobutyl ether substituted cyclotriphosphazene (2a) with ethylamine, hexylamine and dodecylamine. Compounds 3–5 were characterized by ³¹P NMR, MS and elemental analysis. The thermosensitive properties of compounds 3–5 were investigated. Compound 3 showed thermosensitive properties which might enable it to be used as a biomedical material.