Evaluation of quantum dots applied as switchable layer in a light-controlled electrochemical sensor

Gold electrodes with switchable conductance are created by coating the gold surface with different colloidal quantum dots. For the quantum dot immobilization, a dithiol compound was used. By polarizing the electrode and applying a light pointer, local photocurrents were generated. The performance of this setup was characterized for a variety of different nanoparticle materials regarding drift and signal-to-noise ratio. We varied the following parameters: quantum dot materials and immobilization protocol. The results indicate that the performance of the sensor strongly depends on how the quantum dots are bound to the gold electrode. The best results were obtained by inclusion of an additional polyelectrolyte film, which had been fabricated using layer-by-layer assembly.      

Novel homo-bimetallic complexes of [N10] macrocyclic ligand modified with tetrapeptide function: Biological activities, spectral and cyclic voltammetric studies

The bimetallic complexes [M₂LCl₄] (M = Cr, Co, Ni, Cu) prepared via metal template cyclization reactions were characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. L is a 30-membered [N₁₀] macrocycle with tetraamide functions bind metal ions through aza donors forming hexa-coordinate geometry. The perspective view and important structural parameters have been computed from the molecular model (MOPAC) method. The electrochemical studies indicate existence of quasi-reversible redox couples in solution. The metal complexes were screened (in vitro) against a few pathogenic fungi and bacteria to assess their growth inhibiting potential.     

Simulations of DNA coiling around a synthetic supramolecular cylinder that binds in the DNA major groove

In this work we present the results of a molecular simulation study of the interaction between a tetracationic bis iron(II) supramolecular cylinder, [Fe2(C25H20N4)3]4+, and DNA. This supramolecular cylinder has been shown to bind in the major groove of DNA and to induce dramatic coiling of the DNA. The simulations have been designed to elucidate the interactions that lead the cylinder to target the major groove and that drive the subsequent DNA conformational changes. Three sets of multi-nanosecond simulations have been performed: one of the uncomplexed d(CCCCCTTTTTCC) d(GGAAAAAGGGGG) dodecamer; one of this DNA complexed with the cylinder molecule; and one of this DNA complexed with a neutralised version of the cylinder. Coiling of the DNA was observed in the DNA-cylinder simulations, giving insight into the molecular level nature of the supramolecular coiling observed experimentally. The cylinder charge was found not to be essential for the DNA coiling, which implies that the DNA response is moderated by the short range interactions that define the molecular shape. Cylinder charge did, however, affect the integrity of the DNA duplex, to the extent that, under some circumstances, the tetracationic cylinder induced defects in the DNA base pairing at locations adjacent to the cylinder binding site.     

EEG-fMRI mapping of asymmetrical delta activity in a patient with refractory epilepsy is concordant with the epileptogenic region determined by intracranial EEG

We studied a patient with refractory focal epilepsy using continuous EEG-correlated fMRI. Seizures were characterized by head turning to the left and clonic jerking of the left arm, suggesting a right frontal epileptogenic region. Interictal EEG showed occasional runs of independent nonlateralized slow activity in the delta band with right frontocentral dominance and had no lateralizing value. Ictal scalp EEG had no lateralizing value. Ictal scalp EEG suggested right-sided central slow activity preceding some seizures. Structural 3-T MRI showed no abnormality. There was no clear epileptiform abnormality during simultaneous EEG-fMRI. We therefore modeled asymmetrical EEG delta activity at 1-3 Hz near frontocentral electrode positions. Significant blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes in the right superior frontal gyrus correlated with right frontal oscillations at 1-3 Hz but not at 4-7 Hz and with neither of the two frequency bands when derived from contralateral or posterior electrode positions, which served as controls. Motor fMRI activations with a finger-tapping paradigm were asymmetrical: they were more anterior for the left hand compared with the right and were near the aforementioned EEG-correlated signal changes. A right frontocentral perirolandic seizure onset was identified with a subdural grid recording, and electric stimulation of the adjacent contact produced motor responses in the left arm and after discharges. The fMRI localization of the left hand motor and the detected BOLD activation associated with modeled slow activity suggest a role for localization of the epileptogenic region with EEG-fMRI even in the absence of clear interictal discharges.     

Generic warped product submanifolds of locally conformal keahler manifolds

Warped product manifolds are known to have applications in physics. For instance, they provide an excellent setting to model space-time near a black hole or a massive star (cf. [9]). The studies on warped product manifolds with extrinsic geometric point of view were intensified after the B.Y. Chen's work on CR-warped product submanifolds of Kaehler manifolds (cf. [6], [7]). Later on, similar studies were carried out in the setting of l.c.K. manifolds and nearly Kaehler manifolds (cf. [3], [11]). In the present article, we investigate a larger class of warped product submanifolds of l.c.K. manifolds, ensure their existence by constructing an example of such manifolds and obtain some important properties of these submanifolds. With regard to the CR-warped product submanifold, a special case of generic warped product submanifolds, we obtain a characterization under which a CR-submanifold is reducesd to a CR-warped product submanifold.     

Sonogel-carbon electrode based on hemin for detection of superoxide

The Sonogel electrode was immersed in hemin solution to obtain the hemin-Sonogel-modified electrode by cyclic voltammetry (CV). It was applied to detect superoxide radicals produced by xanthine oxidase catalyzed hypoxanthine oxidation. The characterization of hemin-Sonogel was modified by impedance and CV.     

Synthesis,structural chemistry and antimicrobial activity of −(−) borneol derivative

Borneol is a monoterpene that is a part of traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. (−) borneol reacted with methanesulfonyl chloride in THF/pyridine to afford the new 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl methane sulfonate derivative in excellent yield. The product is characterized by H1NMR, C¹³NMR, mass spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis and its structure was identified by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The packing of 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl methanesulfonate exhibits the non-classical C-H···O hydrogen bonding in C(4) and R² ₂(8) chain and ring motifs as structural determinants. This was also confirmed by the analysis of Hirshfeld surfaces. The 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl methane sulfonate antimicrobial activity was tested and compared with its parent (−) borneol against three different pathogens. Particularly, 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl methane sulfonate showed high sensitivity, compared to Chloramphenicol reference material, against Escherichia coli.      

Synthesis of fluorescent analogues of the anticancer natural products 4-hydroxyphenylmethylene hydantoin and delta-tocotrienol

4-Hydroxyphenylmethylene hydantoin (PMH, 1), isolated from the Red Sea sponge Hemimycale arabica, and delta-tocotrienol (3), isolated from the tocotrienol-rich fraction of palm oil, are important antimetastatic and antiproliferative natural products that proved effective against metastatic prostate and breast cancers, respectively. New fluorescent derivatives of PMH (2) and delta-tocotrienol (4) were synthesized by Steglich esterification. Both 2 and 4 retained good anti-migratory and antiproliferative activities, respectively. Fluorescent analogues 2 and 4 can be used for the identification of molecular targets of 1 and 3 in tumor cell cultures.