Analytical applications of Zr(IV) and Ti(IV) arsenophosphates as ion-exchangers

The distribution of 27 metal ions between zirconium and titanium arsenophosphate and demineralized water, perchloric acid and nitric acid has been studied. On the basis of the results, several binary and ternary separations can be designed. The data have been used in application of these materials to the analysis of certain alloys and rocks.     

Temperature derivatives at constant volume of the elastic constants of alkali halide crystals

A new method has been developed for calculating the temperature derivatives at constant volume of the elastic constants of the alkali halides using the concept of phonon pressure. Calculated values of temperature derivatives of elastic constants are compared with the corresponding values recently derived from ultrasonic experimental data.     

Spectroscopic assessment of biomolecular changes in Helicobacter pylori and Epstein–Barr virus co-infected gastric epithelial cells

Helicobacter pylori and Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) are Group 1 carcinogens that can enhance gastric cancer progression. Bioactive substances extracted from plants can be effective therapeutic agents in cancer treatment. For example, Withania somnifera extract-WSE reduces the Gankyrin oncoprotein, which is upregulated in the presence of H. pylori and EBV. The various biochemical and metabolic changes upon 24 hrs post-infection followed by W. somnifera extract (WSE) treatment on gastric epithelial cells (AGS) can be studied using spectroscopic techniques. In the biomedical sciences, Raman and NMR spectroscopy have been extensively employed to interpret cellular alterations contributing to the onset of infection and the severity of gastric cancer. More specifically, alterations in cellular biochemical homeostasis are linked to the moieties of cholesterol, collagen, choline, carbohydrate, lipids, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. Further, we have found significantly elevated FWHM for carbohydrates, tumor associated protein, collagen, cholesterol, and cholesterol ester in the co-infection model. We also looked into the potential correlation between these molecules using molecular network analysis and found several related factors that can be modulated through biomolecular levels. These molecules are crucial in several physiological functions, including cell division, cell proliferation, apoptosis, necrosis, cell migration, and lipid transport. Our study paves the pathway to study H. pylori and EBV co-infection in human gastric epithelial cells and the therapeutic interventions of WSE in this scenario and highlights specific biomolecular alterations, which can be focused for further mechanistic investigations.     

New prospects for “living” anionic polymerization of (meth) acrylic esters

The living low temperature polymerization in polar solvents of most methacrylates, even functional ones, can now be performed by direct and experimentally convenient anionic methods, thanks to the use of α-methylstyrene and of complex-purified monomers. A diversified family of block copolymers has thus been generated, that are used as compatibilizing agents in the designing of interesting heterophase materials: i.e. blends of polymers and inorganic fillers, and liquid-solid dispersions. The living polymerization of acrylates (or of methacrylates under more drastic conditions) raises additional requirements: they have been met to a large extent by the use of specific ligands of the growing ion-pair. Resulting structures such as f.i. block copolymers and end-functionalized oligomers of a low dispersity, should have a great interest in the molecular engineering of (meth)acrylate-based products. Finally, these new initiators lend themselves to structural and mechanistic studies which should shed some light on the critical features of these living propagation processes.     

Two dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopic studies of the viscoelastic behavior of liquid crystalline polyurethanes

Dynamic infrared dichroism techniques have been used to study a complex side chain liquid crystalline segmented polyurethane. The obtained dynamic spectra were analyzed using two dimensional infrared techniques (2D-IR) that allow the easier interperation of the dynamic response of this system. Side chain mesogens are monitored by the cyano tag at the end of the molecule while the hard segments can be viewed in the carbonyl spectral region. A study of the different parts of the macromolecule leads to an understanding of the elastic and the viscous orientation behavior of the polymer. We find that the elastic component of the strain aligns smectic layers parallel and hard domains perpendicular to the direction of strain. The viscous strain component, on the other hand, induces a perpendicular smectic layer and parallel hard domain orientation behavior. These observations are consistent with a model proposed in earlier work that the hard segments and the smectic layers change orientation as the applied strain is increased from low to high strains. In addition, we show further evidence for the coupling of the mechanical deformation behavior of the smectic layers and the hard domains and identified two primary relaxation times in this system.