Extreme self-organization in networks constructed from gene expression data

We study networks constructed from gene expression data obtained from many types of cancers. The networks are constructed by connecting vertices that belong to each others' list of K nearest neighbors, with K being an a priori selected non-negative integer. We introduce an order parameter for characterizing the homogeneity of the networks. On minimizing the order parameter with respect to K, degree distribution of the networks shows power-law behavior in the tails with an exponent of unity. Analysis of the eigenvalue spectrum of the networks confirms the presence of the power-law and small-world behavior. We discuss the significance of these findings in the context of evolutionary biological processes.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel chiral imidazolium and pyridinium ionic liquids derived from tartaric acid and 2-oxazolidinone

Abstract

Novel chiral imidazolium and pyridinium ionic liquids based on tartaric acid and 2-oxazolidinone were designed. Symmetrical dicationic ionic liquids based on tartaric acid have been synthesized and characterized. These chiral ionic liquids were designed by employing very short and simple methods. Incorporation of alkyl halide over tartaric acid and 2-oxazolidinone is an important step. N-methyl imidazole and pyridine were used for preparation of quaternary salts. These ionic liquids have been evaluated for the asymmetric sulfide oxidation. Chiral ionic liquids based on tartaric acid showed superior chiral inducing property as compare to 2-oxazolidinone based chiral ionic liquids.     

Cation-pi interactions stabilize the structure of the antimicrobial peptide indolicidin near membranes: molecular dynamics simulations

We implemented molecular dynamics simulations of the 13-residue antimicrobial peptide indolicidin (ILPWKWPWWPWRR-NH2) in dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles. In DPC, a persistent cation-pi interaction between TRP11 and ARG13 defined the structure of the peptide near the interface. A transient cation-pi interaction was also observed between TRP4 and the choline group on DPC lipids. We also implemented simulation of a mutant of indolicidin in the DPC micelle where TRP11 was replaced by ALA11. As a result of the mutation, the boat-shaped conformation is lost and the structure becomes significantly less defined. On the basis of this evidence, we argue that cation-pi interactions determine the experimentally measured, well-defined boat-shaped structure of indolicidin. In SDS, the lack of such interactions and the electrostatic binding of the terminal arginine residues to the sulfate groups leads to an extended peptide structure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a cation-pi interaction between peptide side chains has been shown to stabilize the structure of a small antimicrobial peptide. The simulations are in excellent agreement with available experimental measurements: the backbone of the peptide is more ordered in DPC than in SDS; the tryptophan side chains pack against the backbone in DPC and point away from the backbone in SDS; the rms fluctuation of the peptide backbone and peptide side chains is greater in SDS than in DPC; and the peptide backbone order parameters are higher in DPC than in SDS.     

Modeling of Semibatch Esterification Process for Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Synthesis

The esterification kinetics of terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG) in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) synthesis were studied using a semibatch reactor. Rate constants were optimized by data fitting with the oligomeric chain length, the fraction of carboxyl groups in the terminal groups (α) and the water generation curve for different EG/TPA feed ratios. The influence of the TPA particle size distribution on the solid‐liquid mass transfer rate and on acid conversion (ε) was investigated. It was observed that conversion became more sensitive towards TPA particle size as the EG/TPA feed ratio was lowered. It is advantageous to use the model based on TPA particle size for mass transfer limited esterification reactors. The effect of the monomer feed ratio on conversion, chain length and system heterogeneity can be predicted with this model.

     

Parametric study of the energy efficiency of the HDH desalination unit integrated with nanofluid-based solar collector

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Humidification–dehumidification desalination (HDH) systems have been found to be ideal for treating seawater at a smaller scale. It requires...     

A facile and efficient multicomponent ultrasound-assisted “on water” synthesis of benzodiazepine ring

Molecular Diversity - A facile and efficient multicomponent synthesis of benzodiazepine ring in water under ultrasound irradiation is reported first time. The current procedure escapes traditional...     

An Electron-Rich Helical Host for the Exclusive Removal of a Planar Electron-Deficient Organic Compound

In this study, a series of electron-rich helical hosts, viz. Pyr-HAC , Anth-HAC and Ben-HAC , containing pyrene, anthracene and benzene residues, respectively, at their periphery, were screened for their interaction with different planar electron-deficient organic guests (PEDOGs). A strong and highly selective charge-transfer interactions (CTI) was observed between the host Pyr-HAC and the guest 1,2,4,5-tetracyano-benzene (TCNB), leading to a yellow-to-bright-red color change in both the solubilized and the solid state. The interaction between Pyr-HAC and TCNB also induced profound structural and morphological changes. Pyr-HAC self-assembled into belt-like morphology created by homochiral stacking of the host molecules, but in the Pyr-HAC⊃TCNB complex, square bipyramids containing intertwined heterochiral C₂-double helices of Pyr-HAC were observed. Other PEDOGs did not induce any of the above changes in Pyr-HAC . Detailed UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR, and X-ray diffraction studies confirmed this selectivity, which arises due to CTI assisted by complementary, directional intermolecular hydrogen bonding (DIHB) between Pyr-HAC and TCNB. This allowed for the exclusive extraction of TCNB from a solution enriched in other PEDOGs. Thus, this study provides a ground work for designing responsive helical hosts towards CTI-driven selective “catch-and-release” of guests.     

LC Determination of Isosorbide-5-Mononitrate in Human Plasma

A simple, sensitive, selective and cost effective LC–UV method was developed for determination of isosorbide mononitrate in human plasma using guaifenesin as an internal standard. Isosorbide mononitrate in plasma was extracted by a single step liquid extraction using tert-butyl methyl ether and chromatographed on a C18 column using water and acetonitrile (80:20 v/v) as mobile phase. The method was validated and exhibited a linear range from 51.6 to 2064.4 ng mL^?1. The inter- and intra-assay accuracy ranged from 97.2–102.7 to 94.2–105.5%, respectively, with precision less than 10% in both the cases. The LLQ was 51.6 ng mL^?1. The validated method was applied to the quantitation of isosorbide mononitrate from plasma samples in a pharmacokinetic study.     

Chloride‐Bridged Dinuclear Rhodium(III) Complexes Bearing Chiral Diphosphine Ligands: Catalyst Precursors for Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Simple Olefins

Efficient rhodium(III) catalysts were developed for asymmetric hydrogenation of simple olefins. A new series of chloride‐bridged dinuclear rhodium(III) complexes 1 were synthesized from the rhodium(I) precursor [RhCl(cod)]₂, chiral diphosphine ligands, and hydrochloric acid. Complexes from the series acted as efficient catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)‐prop‐1‐ene‐1,2‐diyldibenzene and its derivatives without any directing groups, in sharp contrast to widely used rhodium(I) catalytic systems that require a directing group for high enantioselectivity. The catalytic system was applied to asymmetric hydrogenation of allylic alcohols, alkenylboranes, and unsaturated cyclic sulfones. Control experiments support the superiority of dinuclear rhodium(III) complexes 1 over typical rhodium(I) catalytic systems.