Photocatalytic decomposition of textile dyestuffs by photosensitive metal oxide catalysts

Textile azo dyes are one of the pollutants in waste water that adversely affect human and environmental health. Removal of these chemicals from wastewater is important for eco-system and human health. In this study, Bi₂O₃ nanoflakes and ZnO were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. Adsorption and photocatalytic degradation reactions were carried out to remove dyes (Victoria blue (VB) and Malachite green (MG)) from wastewater with the photocatalysts. In order to improve the activity of catalysts, cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) was added as a surfactant to pure oxide structures, and Bi₂O₃-CTAB and ZnO-CTAB catalysts were prepared. The structural and morphological properties of these catalysts were determined by BET, XRD, DRS, FTIR, and SEM analysis. It was found that the activity of the catalyst was improved by adding surfactant to the Bi₂O₃. The total mineralization of VB dye was completed in 60 min under sunlight with Bi₂O₃-CTAB catalyst. However, the degradation of the MG dye with the same catalyst under UV-C irradiation could be completed in 120 min.     

Barriers to internal rotation around the C-N bond in 3-(o-aryl)-5-methyl-rhodanines using NMR spectroscopy and computational studies. Electron density topological analysis of the transition states

We have investigated the pairs of rotational isomers for six 3-(o-aryl)-5-methyl-rhodanines (Z = H, F, Cl, Br, OH, and CH3) using NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Electron density topological and NBO analysis has demonstrated the importance of non-covalent interactions, characterised by (3, -1) bond critical points (BCPs), between the oxygen and sulfur atoms on the thiazolidine ring with the aryl substitutents in stabilizing the transition states. The energetic activation barriers to rotation have also been determined using computational results; rotational barriers for 3-(o-chlorophenyl)-5-methyl-rhodanine (3S) and 3-(o-tolyl)-5-methyl-rhodanine (6S) were determined experimentally based on NMR separation of the diastereoisomeric pairs, and the first-order rate constants used to derive the value of the rotational barrier from the Eyring equation.     

Theoretical modeling of the doping process in polypyrrole by calculating UV/Vis absorption spectra of neutral and charged oligomers

Changes in absorption spectra during doping of oligopyrroles were investigated with time-dependent density functional theory on optimized structures of neutral, singly, and doubly charged pyrrole oligomers with up to 24 rings. In the absence of counterions, defects are delocalized. Counterions induce localization. For dications two polarons on the same chain are preferred over a bipolaron. Intragap absorptions arise in charged species, no matter whether defects are localized or delocalized. Cations and dications give rise to two sub-band transitions. The cation peaks have lower energies than those of dications. The first excitations of cations have lower oscillator strengths than the second; for dications the second peak is weaker than the first. For very long oligomers, the second sub-band absorption vanishes and a third one appears at higher energy. The behavior of pyrrole oligomers is analogous to that of thiophene oligomers. Theoretical UV spectra for cations and dications of short oligomers (six to eight rings) match experimental spectra of polypyrrole at low and at high doping levels, respectively. The error in the theoretical calculations is about 0.4 eV, slightly larger than for thiophene oligomers at the same level of theory.     

Synthesis and bioactivities of 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-((heteroaryl)thio)ethanones as carbonic anhydrase I,II and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

The discovery of enzyme targeting inhibitors is a popular area of drug research. Biological activities of the compounds bearing phenol and heteroaryl groups make them popular groups in drug design targeting important enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE, E.C.3.1.1.7) and carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1). 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)- 2-((aryl)thio)ethanones as possible AChE and CAs inhibitors were synthesized, and their chemical structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS. The compounds 2 and 4 were found potent AChE inhibitors with the Ki values of 22.13 ±1.96 nM and 23.71 ±2.95 nM, respectively, while the compounds 2 (Ki = 8.61 ±0.90 nM, on hCA I) and 1 (Ki = 8.76 ±0.84 nM, on hCA II) had considerable CAs inhibitory potency. The lead compounds may help the scientists for the rational designing of an innovative class of drug candidates targeting enzyme-based diseases.     

HIV-1 protease flaps spontaneously close to the correct structure in simulations following manual placement of an inhibitor into the open state

We report unrestrained, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of HIV-1 protease (HIV-PR) with a continuum solvent model that reproducibly sample closing of the active site flaps following manual placement of a cyclic urea inhibitor into the substrate binding site of the open protease. The open form was obtained from the unbound, semi-open HIV-PR crystal structure, which we recently reported (Hornak, V.; et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2006, 103, 915-920.) to have spontaneously opened during unrestrained dynamics. In those simulations, the transiently open flaps always returned to the semi-open form that is observed in all crystal structures of the free protease. Here, we show that manual docking of the inhibitor reproducibly induces spontaneous conversion to the closed form as seen in all inhibitor-bound HIV-PR crystal structures. These simulations reproduced not only the greater degree of flap closure, but also the striking difference in flap "handedness" between bound and free enzyme. In most of the simulations, the final structures were highly accurate. Root-mean-square deviations (RMSD) from the crystal structure of the complex were approximately 1.5 A (averaged over the last 100 ps) for the inhibitor and each flap despite initial RMSD of 2-5 A for the inhibitors and 6-11 A for the flaps. Key hydrogen bonds were formed between the flap tips and between flaps and inhibitor that match those seen in the crystal structure. The results demonstrate that all-atom simulations have the ability to significantly improve poorly docked ligand conformations and reproduce large-scale receptor conformational changes that occur upon binding.     

Labeling of acetaminophen with I-131 and biodistribution in rats

The aim of the present study was to label acetaminophen (APAP) with I-131 and to determine its radiopharmaceutical potential in rats. Acetaminophen was labeled with I-131 using the iodogen method. The radiochemical purity of (131)I-APAP was determined by RTLC and paper electrophoresis. The labeling yield was 94 +/- 4%. The biodistribution studies of the labeled compound (specific activity; 56.60 GBq/mmol) were performed in male Albino Wistar rats. The uptake of (131)I-APAP in some organs were determined at different time after injection to the rats. The radioactivity in each organ was counted and the percentage of injected activity per gram of tissue weight (%ID/g) for each organ and blood was calculated. (131)I-APAP uptake in the lung, liver, kidneys, pancreas, blood, stomach and some brain region, were observed. Thus, (131)I-APAP may be radiopharmaceutical for the imaging of the brain.     

Modeling and implementation of local volatility surfaces in Bayesian framework

Computational Management Science - In this study, we focus on the reconstruction of volatility surfaces via a Bayesian framework. Apart from classical methods, such as, parametric and...     

Renal replacement lipomatosis: MR findings in one case

Replacement lipomatosis of the kidney is the result of severe atrophy or destruction of the renal parenchyma, often caused by calculous disease with secondary marked proliferation of renal sinus, renal hilus, and perirenal fatty tissue. Different diagnostic tools have been used to define this entity, with ultrasonography (US), i.v. pyelography (IVP) and computed tomography (CT) used most commonly. We report MR urography and MR appearance of replacement lipomatosis in a 38-year-old man. We think that it combines the advantages of IVP, US and CT.     

Humidity adsorption kinetics of a trypsin gel film

This study focuses on the humidity adsorption kinetics of an isopropanol-induced and pH-triggered bovine pancreatic trypsin gel (BPTG). The BPTG was adsorbed on a gold coated Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) substrate with a thickness of 376 nm. The morphology of the film was characterized using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). QCM was used to investigate the humidity sensing properties of the BPTG film. The response of the humidity sensor was explained using the Langmuir model. The average values of adsorption and desorption rates between 11% RH (relative humidity) and 97% RH were calculated as 2482.5 M(-1) s(-1) and 0.02 s(-1), respectively. The equilibrium constant and average Gibbs Free Energy of humidity adsorption and desorption cycles were obtained as 133,000 and -11.8 kJ/mol, respectively.