<Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-factors in regular graphs

Plesnik in 1972 proved that an （m - 1）-edge connected m-regular graph of even order has a 1-factor containing any given edge and has another 1-factor excluding any given m - 1 edges. Alder et al. in 1999 showed that if G is a regular （2n ＋ 1）-edge-connected bipartite graph, then G has a 1-factor containing any given edge and excluding any given matching of size n. In this paper we obtain some sufficient conditions related to the edge-connectivity for an n-regular graph to have a k-factor containing a set of edges and （or） excluding a set of edges, where 1 ≤ k ≤n/2. In particular, we generalize Plesnik＇s result and the results obtained by Liu et al. in 1998, and improve Katerinis＇ result obtained 1993. Furthermore, we show that the results in this paper are the best possible.     

A novel approach to determine the molecular overlap of polyelectrolyte using an ultrafiltration membrane

The overlapping of charged polymers (e.g., polyelectrolyte) in the liquid phase is one of the key parameters affecting the processing of the macromolecular solutions. This work focused on the development of a novel method for determining the overlap concentration of polyelectrolytes with stirred cell ultrafiltration (UF) techniques. A new, simplified equation that incorporated the resistance-in-series UF model into the osmosis phenomenon caused by polymers was developed, and then applied to estimate the threshold concentration for macromolecular overlap. The overlap concentrations of model polymers, such as poly(dimethylamine-co-epichlorohydrin-co-ethylenediamine) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), were evaluated with different, initial polymer concentrations and membrane pore sizes. In the correlation between ln R_t/C_r and ln C_r, the concentration where ln R_t/C_r had the minimal value was referred to as the overlap concentration. The gyration radius of polyelectrolytes was calculated using the overlap concentration, which can provide insight into the understanding of the size of polymers and their rejections by membranes. Determining the overlap concentration of polymers with a UF membrane appeared to be viable and practical.     

One-pot preparation and uranyl adsorption properties of hierarchically porous zirconium titanium oxide beads using phase separation processes to vary macropore morphology

A simple and engineering friendly one-step process has been used to prepare zirconium titanium mixed oxide beads with porosity on multiple length scales. In this facile synthesis, the bead diameter and the macroporosity can be conveniently controlled through minor alterations in the synthesis conditions. The precursor solution consisted of poly(acrylonitrile) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide to which was added block copolymer Pluronic F127 and metal alkoxides. The millimeter-sized spheres were fabricated with differing macropore dimensions and morphology through dropwise addition of the precursor solution into a gelation bath consisting of water (H(2)O beads) or liquid nitrogen (LN(2) beads). The inorganic beads obtained after calcination (550 °C in air) had surface areas of 140 and 128 m(2) g(-1), respectively, and had varied pore architectures. The H(2)O-derived beads had much larger macropores (5.7 μm) and smaller mesopores (6.3 nm) compared with the LN(2)-derived beads (0.8 μm and 24 nm, respectively). Pluronic F127 was an important addition to the precursor solution, as it resulted in increased surface area, pore volume, and compressive yield point. From nonambient XRD analysis, it was concluded that the zirconium and titanium were homogeneously mixed within the oxide. The beads were analyzed for surface accessibility and adsorption rate by monitoring the uptake of uranyl species from solution. The macropore diameter and morphology greatly impacted surface accessibility. Beads with larger macropores reached adsorption equilibrium much faster than the beads with a more tortuous macropore network.     

'Living' controlled in situ gelling systems: thiol-disulfide exchange method toward tailor-made biodegradable hydrogels

A 'living' controlled hydrogel formation method was first reported to create loose and compact in situ biodegradable hydrogels. The method executed under mild reaction conditions can conveniently tailor the hydrogel properties, and it has the potential to develop into a powerful tool for the design, synthesis, and self-assembly of novel tailor-made biomaterials and drug delivery systems.     

Quantification of oxyresveratrol analog trans-2,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene in rat plasma by a rapid HPLC method: application in a pre-clinical pharmacokinetic study

A rapid HPLC method was developed and validated for the quantification of oxyresveratrol analog trans‐2,4,3′,5′‐tetramethoxystilbene (oxyresveratrol tetramethyl ether, OTE) in rat plasma. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an RP‐HPLC column, which was protected by a guard column through a 12 min gradient delivery of a mixture of acetonitrile–water at 50°C. The UV absorbance at 325 nm was recorded. The retention time of OTE and trans‐stilbene (internal standard) was about 7.7 and 8.4 min, respectively. The calibration curves were linear (R² ≥ 0.9986) with a lower limit of quantification of 15 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day variations, in terms of RSD, were all lower than 9.8% while the intra‐day and inter‐day bias ranged from ?8.3 to +9.2%. The pharmacokinetics of OTE was assessed in rats using 2‐hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as a dosing vehicle. After intravenous administration, OTE possessed a long terminal elimination half‐life (t_{1/2 λz} = 481 ± 137 min) and slow clearance (Cl = 29.1 ± 3.7 mL/min/kg). Upon oral administration, OTE was rapidly absorbed. However, it only displayed minimal plasma exposure and its absolute oral bioavailability (F) was as low as 4.5 ± 3.2%. Fortunately, the levels of OTE after single oral administration were sufficient to inhibit human cytochrome P450 1B1. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaporative Preconcentration of Fluorescent Protein Samples in Capillary Based Microplates

The preconcentration of analytes is important in biochemical analysis as it offers the ability to detect for trace species, and increase signal-to-noise ratios when using optical sensing on fluorophores. A strong advantage of the evaporation technique lies in its ability to operate without the need of any energy source; albeit major challenges exist on how to increase the surface area exposure to air for heightened evaporation, ensure no further increases once specified analyte concentrations have been achieved, and not needing any intervening membranes. We demonstrate here that the droplet creation and retraction approach in capillary based microplates offers such abilities whilst at the same time facilitating mixing.     

Determination of Allosteric Effects and Interstrand Bidentate Interactions in DNA‐Peptide Molecular Recognition

To study DNA allostery, quantitative DNase I footprinting studies were carried out on a newly designed peptide His‐Hyp‐Lys‐Lys‐(Py)₄‐Lys‐Lys‐NH₂ (HypKK‐10) containing the XHypKK (Hyp = hydroxyproline) and polyamide motifs. The interconnection of DNA footprints of peptides HypKK‐10 and the parent peptide PyPro‐12 supports the proposal that interaction network cooperativity is preferred in DNA‐peptide interactions between multiple recognition sites. A simple method of determining interstrand bidentate interactions between the peptide moieties and DNA bases is introduced. It is envisaged that interstrand bidentate interactions also participate in the relay of conformational changes to recognition sites on the complementary strands. Circular dichroism studies of the titration of peptide HypKK‐10 with an oligonucleotide duplex indicate that this peptide binds in a dimeric fashion to DNA in the minor groove. This work may prompt the design of new DNA binding ligands for the study of DNA‐peptide allosteric interactions and DNA interaction network.     

Electronic parameters and electronic structures in modulation-doped highly strained InxGa1−xAs/InyAl1−yAs coupled double quantum wells

Electronic parameters of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in modulation-doped highly strained In_xGa_1−xAs/In_yAl_1−yAs coupled double quantum wells were investigated by performing Shubnikov-de Haas (S-dH), Van der Pauw Hall-effect, and cyclotron resonance measurements. The S-dH measurements and the fast Fourier transformation results for the S-dH at 1.5 K indicated the electron occupation of two subbands in the quantum well. The electron effective masses of the 2DEG were determined from the cyclotron resonance measurements, and satisfied qualitatively the nonparabolicity effects in the quantum wells. The electronic subband structures were calculated by using a self-consistent method.