Thermosensitive noncovalently bonded block copolymerlike micelles from interpolymer complexes

Interpolymer complexes between polystyrene‐b‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine), (PS‐P2VP), and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), have been studied in dioxane. Dioxane is a good solvent for PS‐P2VP copolymers but it is a nonsolvent for PMAA at room temperature. In this way noncovalent bonded micelles are formed after mixing the solutions of the polymers at 60 °C and then allowing them to cool at room temperature. Static and dynamic light scattering as well as viscosity measurements have been used to study the dependence of aggregate mass and size as a function of the molar ratio of functional groups in PS‐P2VP/PMAA mixtures, as well as temperature. Plots of apparent average molecular weight and hydrodynamic radius of the aggregates versus amine to carboxyl group ratio show a maximum at a ratio close to one. The size of the aggregates decreases at higher ratios because of the formation of more stable micelles with smaller cores. In all cases rather compact structures were formed, as evidenced by viscometry. The mass of the aggregates was found to decrease by an increase in temperature while hydrodynamic radii were increased. This was attributed to the increase of the thermodynamic quality of the solvent toward PMAA as temperature increases. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6230–6237, 2004     

Electron Tunneling Rates in Respiratory Complex I Are Tuned for Efficient Energy Conversion

Respiratory complex I converts the free energy of ubiquinone reduction by NADH into a proton motive force, a redox reaction catalyzed by flavin mononucleotide(FMN) and a chain of seven iron–sulfur centers. Electron transfer rates between the centers were determined by ultrafast freeze‐quenching and analysis by EPR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The complex rapidly oxidizes three NADH molecules. The electron‐tunneling rate between the most distant centers in the middle of the chain depends on the redox state of center N2 at the end of the chain, and is sixfold slower when N2 is reduced. The conformational changes that accompany reduction of N2 decrease the electronic coupling of the longest electron‐tunneling step. The chain of iron–sulfur centers is not just a simple electron‐conducting wire; it regulates the electron‐tunneling rate synchronizing it with conformation‐mediated proton pumping, enabling efficient energy conversion. Synchronization of rates is a principle means of enhancing the specificity of enzymatic reactions.     

Recent trends on the implementation of reticular materials in column-centered separations

Advances in the development of column-based analytical separations are strongly linked to the development of novel materials. Stationary phases for chromatographic separation are usually based on silica and polymer materials. Nevertheless, recent advances have been made using porous crystalline reticular materials, such as metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks. However, the direct packing of these materials is often limited due to their small crystal size and nonspherical shape. In this review, recent strategies to incorporate porous crystalline materials as stationary phases for liquid-phase separations are covered. Moreover, we discuss the potential future directions in their development and integration into suitable supports for analytical applications. Finally, we discuss the main challenges to be solved to take full advantage of these materials as stationary phases for analytical separations.     

Anti-Cancer Properties of Stevia rebaudiana; More than a Sweetener

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a perennial shrub from Paraguay that is nowadays widely cultivated, since it is increasingly being utilized as a sugar substitute in various foodstuffs due to its sweetness and minimal caloric content. These properties of the plant’s derivatives have spurred research on their biological activities revealing a multitude of benefits to human health, including antidiabetic, anticariogenic, antioxidant, hypotensive, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antitumor actions. To our knowledge, no recent reviews have surveyed and reported published work solely on the latter. Consequently, our main objective was to present a concise, literature-based review of the biological actions of stevia derivatives in various tumor types, as studied in in vitro and in vivo models of the disease. With global cancer estimates suggesting a 47% increase in cancer cases by 2040 compared to 2020, the data reviewed in this article should provide a better insight into Stevia rebaudiana and its products as a means of cancer prevention and therapy within the context of a healthy diet.     

Soluble Polystyrenes Functionalized by Triorgano[(1‐oxoalkyl)oxy]stannanes (=Triorganotin Carboxylates): Synthesis,Structure, and Anion‐Recognition Characteristics

Polystyrene copolymers of the type ( P −H)_1−x( P −(CH₂)_n−COOSnR₃)_x containing [(1‐oxoalkyl)oxy]triphenylstannane or tributyl[(1‐oxoalkyl)oxy]stannanes as side chains ( P −H=styrene; P −(CH₂)_n−COOSnR₃ =para‐substituted styrene‐like monomeric unit with R=Ph (x=0.1), Bu (x=0.5); n=2–4) were investigated. The tributyl[(1‐oxoalkyl)oxy]stannane copolymer was prepared by direct conversion of the corresponding copolymeric methyl esters with hexabutyldistannoxane. By contrast, the [(1‐oxoalkyl)oxy]triphenylstannane copolymer could be prepared only by a procedure involving two reaction steps consisting of a preliminary hydrolysis of the related methyl ester ( P −H)_1‐x( P −(CH₂)_n−COOMe)_x followed by functionalization of the corresponding poly(carboxylic acid) ( P −H)_1‐x( P −(CH_2n−COOH)_x with hydroxytriphenylstannane. Attempts to directly convert the methyl ester with hydroxytriphenylstannane or hexaphenyldistannoxane led to the formation of uncompletely functionalized product. The structure of the stannane‐functionalized polymers was investigated in solution and solid state by NMR, IR, and thermal analysis. The tributylstannane and triphenylstannane copolymers were assessed as chloride‐selective anion carriers in polymeric‐liquid‐membrane potentiometric ion‐selective electrodes.     

Multisided matching games with complementarities

The paper considers multisided matching games with transfereable utility using the approach of cooperative game theory. Stable matchings are shown to exist when characteristic functions are supermodular, i.e., agents' abilities to contribute to the value of a coalition are complementary across types. We analyze the structure of the core of supermodular matching games and suggest an algorithm for constructing its extreme payoff vectors. Received February 1997/Final version September 1998     

A new Chloride-Selective Carrier and its Evaluation in Ion-Selective Electrodes

 A new chloride selective carrier, the tributyltin cinnamate, is evaluated for its analytical characteristics when incorporated in liquid polymeric membranes of ion-selective electrodes. The electrode constructed based on this carrier exhibited an improved selectivity towards chloride as compared to those based on the existing chloride carriers, completely satisfying the selectivity for direct blood measurements. Additionally, the response time of the sensor is fast, while the good signal stability allows for the application as a stand-alone device or as a detector in FIA system. The electrode exhibited analytical characteristics suitable for its employment in a variety of real-sample analysis.     

Optimization of background electrolytes for capillary electrophoresis: II. Computer simulation and comparison with experiments

A mathematical and computational model described in the previous paper (Gas, B., Coufal, P., Jaros, M., Muzikár, J., Jelínek, L., J. Chromatogr. A 2001, 905, 269-279) is adapted, algorithmized, and a computer program PeakMaster having a status of freeware (http://natur.cuni.cz/ approximately gas) is introduced. The model enables optimization of background electrolyte (BGE) systems for capillary zone electrophoresis. The model allows putting to use uni- or di- or trivalent electrolytes and allows also for modeling highly acidic or alkaline BGEs. It takes into account the dependence of ionic mobilities and dissociation of weak electrolytes on the ionic strength. The model calculates the effective mobility of analytes and predicts parameters of the system that are experimentally available, such as the transfer ratio, which is a measure of the sensitivity in the indirect UV detection or the molar conductivity detection response, which expresses the sensitivity of the conductivity detection. Further, the model enables evaluation of a tendency of the analyte to undergo electromigration dispersion or peak broadening. The suitability of the model is verified by comparison of the predicted results with experiments, even under conditions that are far from ideal (under extreme pH and a high ionic strength).     

Determination of cationic mobilities and pKa values of 22 amino acids by capillary zone electrophoresis

The effective mobilities of the cationic forms of common amino acids--mostly proteinogenic--were determined by capillary zone electrophoresis in acidic background electrolytes at pH between 2.0 and 3.2. The underivatized amino acids were detected by the double contactless conductivity detector. Experimentally measured effective mobilities were fitted with the suitable regression functions in dependence on pH of the background electrolyte. The parameters of the given regression function corresponded to the values of the actual mobilities and the mixed dissociation constants (combining activities and concentrations) of the compound related to the actual ionic strength. McInnes approximation and Onsager theory were used to obtain thermodynamic dissociation constants (pK(a)) and limiting (absolute) ionic mobilities.