Synthesis and fluorescence sensing properties of a new naphthalimide derivative of calix[4]arene

A new naphthalimide derivative of calix[4]arene was synthesized as a highly selective fluorescent compound for Cu²⁺ among the selected metal ions. This compound was examined for its fluorescent properties toward different metal ions (Na⁺, Li⁺, Mg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺) and anions (F^?, Cl^?, Br^?, ${\text{H}}_2{\text{PO}}_4^{-}$, ${\text{NO}}_3^{-}$, I^?, ${\text{HSO}}_4^{-}$, CH₃COO^?) by UV, NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and pyrolysis of ABC type miktoarm star copolymers with polystyrene,poly(lactic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol) arms

An ABC type miktoarm star copolymer possessing polystyrene (PS), poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) arms was synthesized by combining Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) and Ring Opening Polymerization (ROP) with two click chemistries, namely thiol–ene and copper catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). For this purpose, a core 1-(allyloxy)-3-azidopropan-2-ol with allyl and azide functionalities was synthesized in two steps. Then, clickable polymers, polystyrene with thiol functionality (PS–SH) and poly(ethylene glycol) with alkyne functionality (PEG–acetylene) were independently prepared. As the first step of the grafting onto process, PS–SH was thiol–ene clicked onto the core to yield PS–N₃–OH. The second arm was then incorporated onto the core by the Ring Opening Polymerization (ROP) of l-(?)-Lactide (LA) using as PS–N₃–OH initiator and tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate as catalyst. Finally, alkyne–PEG–acetylene was bonded to the resulting PLA–PS–N₃ using CuAAC click reaction. All intermediates, related polymers at different stages and final PS–PLA–PEG miktoarm star copolymer were characterized by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, SEC and DP-MS analyses. Direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry, (DP-MS) analyses of PS–PLA–PEG and all intermediate polymers indicated that the decomposition of PS and PEG chains occurred almost independently, following the degradation mechanisms of the corresponding homopolymers. On the other hand, during the pyrolysis of PS–PLA–PEG, elimination of H₂O during the decomposition of PEG chains at the early stages of pyrolysis caused hydrolysis of PLA chains and increased the yields of CO₂, CO and units involving unsaturation and/or crosslinked structure.     

Equilibrium and stability analysis of delayed neural networks under parameter uncertainties

This paper proposes new results for the existence, uniqueness and global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point for neural networks with multiple time delays under parameter uncertainties. By using Lyapunov stability theorem and applying homeomorphism mapping theorem, new delay-independent stability criteria are obtained. The obtained results are in terms of network parameters of the neural system only and therefore they can be easily checked. We also present some illustrative numerical examples to demonstrate that our result are new and improve corresponding results derived in the previous literature.     

A strategy based on protein-protein interface motifs may help in identifying drug off-targets

Networks are increasingly used to study the impact of drugs at the systems level. From the algorithmic standpoint, a drug can "attack" nodes or edges of a protein-protein interaction network. In this work, we propose a new network strategy, "The Interface Attack", based on protein-protein interfaces. Similar interface architectures can occur between unrelated proteins. Consequently, in principle, a drug that binds to one has a certain probability of binding to others. The interface attack strategy simultaneously removes from the network all interactions that consist of similar interface motifs. This strategy is inspired by network pharmacology and allows inferring potential off-targets. We introduce a network model that we call "Protein Interface and Interaction Network (P2IN)", which is the integration of protein-protein interface structures and protein interaction networks. This interface-based network organization clarifies which protein pairs have structurally similar interfaces and which proteins may compete to bind the same surface region. We built the P2IN with the p53 signaling network and performed network robustness analysis. We show that (1) "hitting" frequent interfaces (a set of edges distributed around the network) might be as destructive as eleminating high degree proteins (hub nodes), (2) frequent interfaces are not always topologically critical elements in the network, and (3) interface attack may reveal functional changes in the system better than the attack of single proteins. In the off-target detection case study, we found that drugs blocking the interface between CDK6 and CDKN2D may also affect the interaction between CDK4 and CDKN2D.     

Synthesis of a glutaraldehyde derivative of calix[4]arene as a cross-linker reagent for lipase immobilization

This article describes the synthesis of a new calix[4]arene 1,3-distal glutaraldehyde derivative 4 as a cross-linker-reagent for immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase (CRL). p-tert-Butylcalix[4]arene 1,3-distal diaminoalkyl derivative (3) synthesized via aminolysis reaction of 5,11,17,23-tert-butyl-25,27-ethoxycarbonylmethoxy-26,28-hydroxycalix[4]arene (2) with 1,8-diaminooctane. Compound 3 was converted to its aldehyde derivative (4) by the treatment with glutaraldehyde solution. 4 was used in lipase immobilization in order to see the role of calix[4]arene binding site on the lipase activity and stability. It was observed that the immobilized lipase activity was maintained at levels exceeding 95% of its original activity after 40 min.     

Photocharacterization of Novel Ruthenium Dyes and Their Utilities as Oxygen Sensing Materials in Presence of Perfluorochemicals

Photophysical constants of three novel ruthenium dyes derived from tridentate pyridinediimine (pydim) ligands has been declared and their photoluminescent properties were investigated in solvents of dichloromethane (DCM), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and ethanol (EtOH) by UV-Visible absorption, emission and excitation spectra. The quantum yield, fluorescence decay time, molar extinction coefficient and Stoke’s shift values of the novel ruthenium complexes were determined. The perfluoro compound (PFC) nonadecafluorodecanoic acid which is also known as medical gas carrier has been used for the first time together with newly synthesized Ruthenium complexes in ethyl alcohol. The utilities of oxygen sensing materials were investigated in EtOH in presence of chemically and biochemically inert PFC.     

Role of the 30° Telescope in Evaluation of Laryngeal Masses During Direct Laryngoscopy

SUMMARY: Visualization of enlarged laryngeal lesions is the most important factor in choosing a surgical technique, especially for partial surgery. For this reason standard microlaryngoscopy, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the larynx, and 30 degrees telescopic microlaryngoscopy were compared during evaluation of the laryngeal ventricul and sub-glottic area. The histopatholgoical findings of the specimens collected under each modality were simultaneously compared. Comparison of the histopathological findings, which corresponded to inspection with the 30 degrees telescopic method, was more significant than with the use of standard microlaryngoscopy or the CT scan. The aim of the current study therefore was to determine the importance of the 30 degrees telescopic microlaryngoscopic method for the evaluation of the laryngeal ventricle and subglottic area.     

Solutions of Three-Dimensional Separable Non-Central Potential

We show that a wide class of non-central potentials can be analysed via the improved picture of the Nikiforov- Uvarov method [Physica Scripta 75 （2007） 686]. It has been shown that using the alternative approach, polynomial solutions of three-dimensional separable non-central potential can be obtained.     

Effect of surfactant on electrokinetic properties of polyindole/TiO2-conducting nanocomposites in aqueous and nonaqueous media

In this study, polyindole (PIN)/TiO₂ nanocomposites were synthesized with and without the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate, anionic surfactant, with two different PIN contents. The synthesized materials were subjected to various characterizations namely: particle size, apparent density, conductivity, dielectric constants, magnetic susceptibility, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Characterization results revealed the successful preparations of PIN/TiO₂ hybrid nanocomposites. Electrokinetic properties of all the materials were determined by zeta (ζ)-potential measurements in aqueous and nonqueous media. Effects of pH, temperature, presence of various electrolytes, and surfactants on electrokinetic properties of the materials were examined.