Rainbow Connection and Graph Products

A path in an edge colored graph G is called a rainbow path if all its edges have pairwise different colors. Then G is rainbow connected if there exists a rainbow path between every pair of vertices of G and the least number of colors needed to obtain a rainbow connected graph is the rainbow connection number. If we demand that there must exist a shortest rainbow path between every pair of vertices, we speak about strongly rainbow connected graph and the strong rainbow connection number. In this paper we study the (strong) rainbow connection number on the direct, strong, and lexicographic product and present several upper bounds for these products that are attained by many graphs. Several exact results are also obtained.     

X‐ray absorption spectroscopy analysis of Ru in La2RuO5

The compound La₂RuO₅ was examined by the x‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) methods, x‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended x‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). XANES technique was used to probe directly the average valence of Ru atoms in the compound. The energy shift of the Ru K‐edge in the XANES signal gave the average Ru valence state as 4.0 ± 0.1. EXAFS analysis provided, by yielding directly the interatomic distances and coordination numbers, the first information on the Ru atom neighborhood, on which the model for the Rietveld refinement of the unit cell of the new compound was devised. Finally, the local structure around the Ru atoms from the refinement was used in the FEFF6 code for a model EXAFS spectrum. The very good quantitative agreement with the measured spectrum proves that the refined crystal structure contains no systematic defects in the vicinity of Ru atoms. This result, together with the valence obtained from XANES, strongly confirms the proposed La₂RuO₅ stoichiometry. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of the Lead Environment in Liquid and As-Dried Precursors of PZ, PT and PZT Thin Films

The environment of lead and zirconium atoms in liquid and as-dried precursors for PbZrO3 (PZ), PbTiO3 (PT) and Pb1.1Zr0.53Ti0.47O3 (PZT) thin film deposition were analyzed by EXAFS. The sols were prepared by 2-methoxyethanol route with lead acetate and lead oxide as lead sources. Pb—O—M (M = Zr and/or Ti, depending on the sol composition) linkages were determined in all sols. The choice of lead source weakly influences the lead environment, and strongly influences that of zirconium in both PZ and PZT sols. By drying lead oxide based sols the Pb–M correlation is moderately reduced in PZ, PT and is strongly reduced in PZT.     

The Evolving Role of Microsampling in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Monoclonal Antibodies in Inflammatory Diseases

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been extensively developed over the past few years, for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. They are large molecules characterized by complex pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is routinely implemented in the therapy with mAbs, to monitor patients’ treatment response and to further guide dose adjustments. Serum has been the matrix of choice in the TDM of mAbs and its sampling requires the visit of the patients to laboratories that are not always easily accessible. Therefore, dried blood spots (DBS) and various microsampling techniques have been suggested as an alternative. DBS is a sampling technique in which capillary blood is deposited on a special filter paper. It is a relatively simple procedure, and the patients can perform the home-sampling. The convenience it offers has enabled its use in the quantification of small-molecule drugs, whilst in the recent years, studies aimed to develop microsampling methods that will facilitate the TDM of mAbs. Nevertheless, hematocrit still remains an obstacle that hinders a more widespread implementation of DBS in clinical practice. The introduction of novel analytical techniques and contemporary microsampling devices can be considered the steppingstone to the attempts made addressing this issue.     

Structural Characterization,Antimicrobial Activity and BSA/DNA Binding Affinity of New Silver(I) Complexes with Thianthrene and 1,8-Naphthyridine

Three new silver(I) complexes [Ag(NO₃)(tia)(H₂O)]_n (Ag1), [Ag(CF₃SO₃)(1,8-naph)]_n (Ag2) and [Ag₂(1,8-naph)₂(H₂O)_1.2](PF₆)₂ (Ag3), where tia is thianthrene and 1,8-naph is 1,8-naphthyridine, were synthesized and structurally characterized by different spectroscopic and electrochemical methods and their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Their antimicrobial potential was evaluated against four bacterial and three Candida species, and the obtained results revealed that these complexes showed significant activity toward the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the investigated Candida species with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the range 1.56–7.81 μg/mL. On the other hand, tia and 1,8-naph ligands were not active against the investigated strains, suggesting that their complexation with Ag(I) ion results in the formation of antimicrobial compounds. Moreover, low toxicity of the complexes was detected by in vivo model Caenorhabditis elegans. The interaction of the complexes with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied to evaluate their binding affinity towards these biomolecules for possible insights into the mode of antimicrobial activity. The binding affinity of Ag1–3 to BSA was higher than that for DNA, indicating that proteins could be more favorable binding sites for these complexes in comparison to the nucleic acids.     

Spectral properties of Eu(III) compound with antibacterial agent ciprofloxacin (cfqH). Crystal structure of [Eu(cfqH)(cfq)(H2O)4]Cl2 · 4.55H2O

A novel europium complex of fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (cfqH) with formula [Eu(cfqH)(cfq)(H₂O)₄]Cl₂ · 4.55H₂O (1) was synthesized and its crystal structure determined by X-ray crystallography. The coordination number of europium is eight and in this structure two bidentate, O,O-bonded quinolone molecules and four aqua ligands are coordinated to the metal. One molecule of quinolone is anionic whereas the other is zwitterionic. Additionally, two chloride ions are also present in the structure to compensate the charge of the europium(III) whilst disordered solvent water molecules too are present. The spectral properties (IR, Raman, luminescence) of compound 1 were studied. Analysis of the Stark structure of the luminescence spectra was carried out and the scheme of the electronically excited states and photophysical processes of compound 1 was arranged. The spectral properties show that europium–ciprofloxacin complexes could be suitable for various applications based on their solution-state stability as measured by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR.     

The Interactions of Titanocene Dihalides with α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrin Host Molecules

The inclusion of titanocene dihalides (X = F, Cl) into -, - and -cyclodextrin hosts was studied by NMR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and mass spectrometry. It was found that -cyclodextrin does not form inclusion complexes with titanocene halides whereas - and -cyclodextrin do form such complexes. According to the changes in NMR spectra we propose that there is a shallow penetration of a guest molecule of titanocene dihalide into the cavity in the case of -cyclodextrin, but deeper penetration in the case of -cyclodextrin. The stability of the latter inclusion complexes was studied by NMR shift titration.     

A novel copper(II) complex with 1,10‐phenanthroline and ciprofloxacin

The X‐ray structure analysis of the title compound, chloro[1‐cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐7‐(piperazin‐4‐ium‐1‐yl)‐3‐quinolinecarboxylate‐κ²O³,O⁴](1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)copper chloride dihydrate, [CuCl(C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃)(C₁₂H₈N₂)]Cl·2H₂O or [CuCl(cfH)(phen)]Cl·2H₂O, where cfH is 1‐cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐7‐(piperazin‐4‐ium‐1‐yl)‐3‐quinolinecarboxylate and phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline, shows that the geometry around the Cu ion is a slightly distorted square pyramid. Two O atoms of the carbonyl and carboxyl groups of ciprofloxacin and two N atoms of 1,10‐phenanthroline are coordinated to the metal centre in the equatorial plane, and a Cl⁻ ion is coordinated at the apical position. Extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonding produces a supramolecular structure that consists of alternating six‐ and 12‐membered rings.     

Compressed octahedral coordination in chain compounds containing divalent copper: structure and magnetic properties of CuFAsF6 and CsCuAlF6

Crystal structures and magnetic investigations of CuFAsF6 and CsCuAlF6 are reported. Together with KCuAlF6, these appear to be the only examples of Jahn-Teller pure Cu(II) compounds containing only one type of ligand that exhibits a compressed octahedral coordination geometry. The Rietveld method has been used for refining the CsCuAlF6 structure based on neutron powder diffraction data at 4 K. The compound crystallizes in space group Pnma (no. 62) with a=7.055(1), b=7.112(1), c=10.153(1) A and Z=4 at 4 K. The structure is built from infinite [CuF5]n(3n-) chains of [CuF6]4- octahedra running along the [1 0 0] direction and (AlF6)3- octahedra connected by corners in the trans position, thus giving rise to chains oriented along the [0 1 0] direction. Single crystals of CuFAsF6 were prepared under solvothermal conditions in AsF5 above its critical temperature. The structure was determined from single-crystal data. CuFAsF6 crystallises in the orthorhombic space group Imma (No. 74) with a=10.732(5), b=6.941(3), c=6.814(3) A and Z=4 at 200 K. The structure can also be described in terms of one-dimensional infinite [CuF5]n(3n-) chains of tilted [CuF6](4-) octahedra linked by trans-vertices running along the b axis. The [CuF5]n(3n-) chains are connected through [AsF6]- units sharing joint vertices. The compressed octahedral coordination of CuII atoms in CuFAsF6 and CsCuAlF6 compounds at room temperature is confirmed by Cu K-edge EXAFS (extended x-ray absorption fine structure) analysis. For both compounds strong antiferromagnetic interactions within the [CuF5]n(3n-) chains were observed (theta(p)=-290+/-10 K and theta(p)=-390+/-10 K for CuFAsF6 and CsCuAlF6, respectively). The peculiar magnetic behaviour of chain compounds containing divalent copper at low temperature could be related to uncompensated magnetic moments in the one-dimensional network.     

Super-resolution RESOLFT microscopy of lipid bilayers using a fluorophore-switch dyad

Dyads consisting of a photochromic switch covalently linked to a fluorescent dye allow the emission from the dye to be controlled by reversible photoisomerization of the switch; one form of the switch quenches fluorescence by accepting energy from the dye. Here we investigate the use of dyads of this type for super-resolution imaging of lipid bilayers. Giant unilamellar vesicles stained with the dyads were imaged with about a two-fold resolution-enhancement compared with conventional confocal microscopy. This was achieved by exciting the fluorophore at 594 nm, using a switch activated by violet and red light (405/640 nm).

A photoswitchable quencher can be used to reversibly turn off the emission from a fluorescent dye, generating a small molecule dyad that is effective for super-resolution RESOLFT microscopy.