Temperature dependent electrical conductivity of polyaniline/Y2O3 composites

Composites of polyaniline with yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) nanoparticles have been prepared by chemical polymerizations method by increasing the weight percentage of yttrium oxide. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FTIR) were used to characterize the composites. XRD and FTIR pattern indicate that Polyaniline (PANI) is intercalated into the layers of Y₂O₃ nanoparticles successfully by in situ polymerization and therefore the degree of crystallinity increases due to crystalline of yttrium oxide nanoparticles. The scanning electron micrographs (SEM) also confirm the formation of dual phase of platelet as well as of flaky structure in PANI-Y₂O₃. Temperature dependant DC conductivity showed three dimensional variable ranges hopping (3D VRH) model. Activation energy, density of states and hopping length are calculated and found to be influenced by intercalating PANI into the layers of Y₂O₃ clay.     

Validated HPLC method for simultaneous quantification of mutant IDH1/2 inhibitors (enasidenib,ivosidenib and vorasidenib) in mouse plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) inhibitors comprise a novel class of anticancer drugs, which are approved to treat acute myeloid leukemia patients having mutations on IDH1/2. We report the development and validation of a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous quantitation of IDH inhibitors, namely enasidenib (EDB), ivosidenib (IDB) and vorasidenib (VDB), in mouse plasma as per the US Food and Drug Administration regulatory guidelines. The method involves extraction of EDB, IDB and VDB along with internal standard (IS; phenacetin) from mouse plasma (100 μl) using a simple protein precipitation process. The chromatographic analysis was performed on an HPLC system using a gradient mobile phase (comprising 10 mm ammonium acetate and acetonitrile in a flow‐gradient) and an X‐Terra Phenyl column. The UV detection wave length was set at λ_max 265 nm. EDB, IDB, VDB and the IS eluted at 7.36, 8.60, 9.50 and 5.12 min, respectively, with a total run time of 10 min. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range of 0.20–12.5 μg/ml for EDB and 0.50–12.5 μg/ml for IDB and VDB (r² = ≥0.998 for all of the analytes). Validation results met the acceptance criteria. The validated HPLC method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in mice.     

New heteroleptic palladium(II) dithiocarbamates: synthesis,characterization, packing and anticancer activity against five different cancer cell lines

Two new heteroleptic palladium(II) complexes have been synthesized by reacting equimolar quantities of palladium(II) chloride, sodium 4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)piperazine‐1‐carbodithioate and diphenyl‐p‐tolylphosphine ( 1 ) or tri‐p‐tolylphosphine ( 2 ). Complexes 1 and 2 have been characterized using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P) spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The latter technique confirms a pseudo square‐planar geometry in which two adjacent positions are occupied by bidentate dithiocarbamate while chloro and substituted triphenylphosphine are present at the remaining two positions. The anticancer activity of both complexes against five different cancer cell lines (LU – human lung carcinoma, established at UIC, Department of Surgical Oncology; MCF7 – human breast adenocarcinoma, ATCC number HTB‐22?; MDA‐MB‐231 – human breast adenocarcinoma, ATCC number HTB‐26?; Hepa‐1c1c7 – mouse liver hepatoma, ATCC number CRL‐2026?; PC‐3 – human prostate adenocarcinoma, ATCC number CRL‐1435?) was determined by MTT assay, revealing 2 has higher activity than 1 . A drug–calf thymus DNA binding study with UV–visible spectroscopy reveals a higher DNA binding affinity of 2 (3.511 × 10⁴ M^?1) than 1 (4.213 × 10³ M^?1). Density functional theory studies confirm the relatively more stable nature of 2 than 1 . Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Formal (4+1) Cycloaddition and Enantioselective Michael–Henry Cascade Reactions To Synthesize Spiro[4,5]decanes and Spirooxindole Polycycles

Spiro[4,5]decanes and polycyclic compounds bearing spiro[4,5]decane systems are important biofunctional molecules. Described are diastereoselective formal (4+1) cycloaddition reactions to afford oxindole-functionalized spiro[4,5]decanes and organocatalytic enantioselective Michael–Henry cascade reactions of the (4+1) cycloaddition products to generate spirooxindole polycyclic derivatives bearing the spiro[4,5]decane system. Spiro[4,5]decanes bearing oxindoles containing three stereogenic centers and spirooxindole polycycles having seven stereogenic centers, including two all-carbon chiral quaternary centers and one tetrasubstituted chiral carbon center, were obtained with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities.     

Ultra-broadband piezoelectric energy harvesting via bistable multi-hardening and multi-softening

Nonlinear Dynamics - An electromechanical coupled distributed parameter model is derived for a broadband piezoelectric energy harvester with nonlinear magnetic interaction and...     

A calibrated model of local food system of Hawaii: What are the economic implications of the state's food goals and policies?

We develop a fully calibrated positive mathematical programming model for Hawaii's local food systems—which captures the production and the consumer sides of the market. Then we use the model to assess two proposed policies—a general excise tax (GET) exemption on locally produced foods, and an investment in agricultural infrastructure. For the GET exemption case, our results indicate an economic gain of $118 per $100 cost. On the other hand, an investment in 1,200 acres of land injected to support local production may generate an economic gain of up to $357 per $100 annual cost of the investment. However, these estimates should be considered preliminary, and thus viewed with caution. Although the model is used to capture Hawaii's local food systems, we believe that our model is generalizable and can be adopted by other economies to assess their respective food localization policies. Recommendations for Resource Managers

• Local food policies need to be based on quantitative terms instead of mere armchair speculation because often their potential outcomes may vary significantly.

• The current modeling framework demonstrates the potential of using positive mathematical programming (PMP) in capturing the intricacies of local food systems. However, this exploratory exercise should be viewed as preliminary in nature and the ensuing results were taken with caution because many important factors such as labor availability may have been left out.

• Thus, further model refinements are necessary to better capture the complexities of local food systems such as farm heterogeneity, availability of farm labor, water availability, and interisland transportation of farm products in the case of Hawaii.