On Minimum Edge Ranking Spanning Trees

In this paper, we introduce the problem of computing a minimum edge ranking spanning tree (MERST); i.e., find a spanning tree of a given graph G whose edge ranking is minimum. Although the minimum edge ranking of a given tree can be computed in polynomial time, we show that problem MERST is NP-hard. Furthermore, we present an approximation algorithm for MERST, which realizes its worst case performance ratio where n is the number of vertices in G and Δ* is the maximum degree of a spanning tree whose maximum degree is minimum. Although the approximation algorithm is a combination of two existing algorithms for the restricted spanning tree problem and for the minimum edge ranking problem of trees, the analysis is based on novel properties of the edge ranking of trees.     

Smooth solutions to a class of quasilinear wave equations

This article investigates the existence/nonexistence of smooth solutions of nonlinear vibration equations which arise from the one-dimensional motion of polytropic gas without external forces contained in a finite interval. For any fixed arbitrarily long time, we show that there are smooth small amplitude solutions of the nonlinear equations for which the periodic solutions of the linearized equation are the first-order approximations. On the other hand, when the nonlinearity is strictly convex or concave, there exists no time-periodic solutions which are twice continuously differentiable. An example of possible singularities which occur at the second derivatives is illustrated. We also give another kind of exact solutions with singularity such that shocks occur after a finite time. Furthermore, we get an estimate of the life span of smooth solutions to the initial-boundary value problem.     

Peroxy radicals as motional probes at the end of isolated polystyrene chains and on the cellulose surfaces in vacuum

The isolated polystyrene chains spin-labeled with peroxide radical at the free end (IPSOO) in which the chain roots were covalently bonded to the surface of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) powder were produced by mechanochemical polymerization of styrene initiated by MCC mechanoradicals. The IPSOO was used as motional probes at the ends of isolated polystyrene chains tethered on the surface of MCC powder. Two modes for the molecular motion of IPSOO were observed. One was a tumbling motion of IPSOO on the MCC surface, defined as a train state, and another was a free rotational motion of IPSOO protruding out from the MCC surface, defined as a tail state. The temperature of tumbling motion (T _tum ) of IPSOO at the train state was at 90 K with anisotropic correlation times. T _tum (90 K) is extremely low compared to the glass transition temperature (T _g ^b ; 373 K) of polystyrene in the bulk. At temperatures above 219 K, the IPSOO was protruded out from the MCC surface, and freely rotated at the tail state. The train–tail transition temperature (T _train–tail ) was estimated to be 222 K. T _tum (90 K) and T _train–tail (222 K) are due to the extremely low chain segmental density of IPSOO on the MCC surface under vacuum. The interaction between IPSOO and the MCC surface is a minor contributing factor in the mobility of IPSOO on the surface under vacuum. It was found that peroxy radicals are useful probes to characterize the chain mobility reflecting their environmental conditions.     

Cidep study of radical-ion pair systems: Photooxidation reactions of carbazoles by maleic anhydride in alcohol solution

Photooxidation (charge transfer) reactions of carbazole derivatives by maleic anhydride (MA) in alcoholic media are studied by a time-resolved cw-ESR (TRESR) and Fourier transform ESR (FTESR) techniques. The CIDEP spectra observed in the systems (methyl-, ethyl-, and phenyl-substituted carbazoles with MA) remarkably depend on the MA concentration. Under the high concentration conditions, an emissive TM (triplet mechanism) polarization with a slight A/E (absorption/emission) pattern of the RPM (radical pair mechanism) is observed. In the low concentration of MA, a TM-like absorptive polarization is superimposed on the A/E pattern of the RPM. Since this reaction takes place exclusively through the triplet state, this spectral phase reveals that the singlet state of the radical-ion pair (RIP) has an energy higher than that of the triplet state, in other words, the sign of the apparent exchange interaction of the present RIP systems is positive. The total absorptive polarization observed in the low concentration of MA is tentatively explained by the polarization transfer from the excited triplet state of carbazoles in thermal equilibrium.     

Development of pyrrole-imidazole polyamide for specific regulation of human aurora kinase-A and -B gene expression

Pyrrole-imidazole polyamide (PIP) is a nuclease-resistant novel compound that inhibits gene expression through binding to the minor groove of DNA. Human aurora kinase-A (AURKA) and -B (AURKB) are important regulators in mitosis during the cell cycle. In this study, two specific PIPs (PIP-A and PIP-B) targeting AURKA and AURKB promoter regions were designed and synthesized, and their biological effects were investigated by several in vitro assays. PIP-A and PIP-B significantly inhibited the promoter activities, mRNA expression, and protein levels of AURKA and AURKB, respectively, in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, 1:1 combination treatment with both PIPs demonstrated prominent antiproliferative synergy (CI value [ED(50)] = 0.256) to HeLa cells as a result of inducing apoptosis-mediated severe catastrophe of cell-cycle progression. The novel synthesized PIP-A and PIP-B are potent and specific gene-silencing agents for AURKA and AURKB.     

Phagostimulatory effect of uptake of PLGA microspheres loaded with rifampicin on alveolar macrophages

In this work we obtain the thermodynamic properties of mixed (1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) PC and (1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (sodium salt)) PS monolayers. Measurements of compressibility (isotherms, bulk modulus, and excess area per molecule) and surface potential show that the properties of monolayers at the air–water interface depend on the concentration of ions (Na⁺ and K⁺) and the proportion of PS in the mixture. The dependence on PS arises because the molecule is originally bound to a Na⁺ counterion; by increasing the concentration of ions the entropy changes, creating a favorable system for the bound counterions of PS to join the bulk, leaving a negatively charged molecule. This change leads to an increase in electrostatic repulsions which is reflected by the increase in area per molecule versus surface pressure and a higher surface potential. The results lead to the conclusion that this mixture of phospholipids follows a non ideal behavior and can help to understand the thermodynamic behavior of membranes made of binary mixtures of a zwitterionic and an anionic phospholipid with a bound counterion.     

Direct Conjugate Addition of Alkynes with α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds Catalyzed by NCN‐Pincer Ru Complexes

NCN‐pincer Ru‐complexes containing bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl ligands serve as suitable catalysts in the direct conjugate additions of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds, including ketones, esters, and amides, as well as vinylphosphonates, giving various β‐alkynyl carbonyl and phosphonate compounds. A bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl (phebox)–Ru complex also catalyzes the asymmetric conjugate addition of an alkyne with a β‐substituted, α,β‐unsaturated ketone to produce a chiral β‐alkynyl ketone.     

Polyelectrolyte behavior and conformation of poly-L-methionine S-methylsulfonium salts in aqueous solution

The influence of the species of counterion on the polyelectrolyte behavior and the conformation of poly-L -methionine S-methylsulfonium salts in aqueous solution was studied by viscometric, electrochemical, and optical measurements. The degree of binding of small counterions to charged polyions increases in the sequence: chloride ? bromide < iodide < thiocyanate. The conformations of chloride and bromide salts are independent of polymer concentration. On the contrary, iodide and thiocyanate salts indicate a conformational transition, probably from a random-coil conformation to an intermolecularly stabilized β-form, with the increase of polymer concentration. The results suggest the existence of a strong specific interaction between counterion and macroion in iodide and thiocyanate salt solutions at high polymer concentration.     

Rotational isomerism involving an acetylenic carbon. Part 5: Restricted rotation about acetylenic axis in sterically crowded bis(1-phenyl-9-anthryl)ethynes

The title sterically crowded di-9-anthrylethyne derivative with 3,5-ⁱPr₂-phenyl groups at 1-position showed a barrier to rotation about the acetylenic axis of 18.0 kcal mol⁻¹ based on a dynamic NMR study, which is an extremely high value for acyclic diarylethynes. The mechanism of the dynamic stereochemistry and the substituent effect on the rotational barrier are discussed.     

Cationic polymerization of formaldehyde in liquid carbon dioxide. Part II: A kinetic study of the polymerization

The kinetic behavior on the polymerization of formaldehyde with and without acidic catalyst, in liquid carbon dioxide, in the temperature range of 30 to 50°C. was investigated. In the polymerization without catalyst both the polymer yield and the degree of polymerization increased with reaction time and also with rising temperature. With acidic catalyst, such as acetic acid and dichloroacetic acid, both the polymer yield and the degree of polymerization increased more than that in the polymerization without catalyst. The overall rate of polymerization with and without acidic catalyst was expressed by the first-order rate equation with respect to monomer concentration. From the results it was concluded that the polymerizations belonged to a type of successive polymerization with rapid initiation and no termination. The rate constant and the activation energy of each elementary process of polymerization were estimated on the basis of the results.