Weighted extended b-splines for one-dimensional electromagnetic problems

This paper considers the weighted extended b-splines as basis function for finite element method in electromagnetics and compares with the standard finite element method applied to the two-point boundary value problems with different boundary conditions. This new approach, which provides more accurate results than standard finite element method, is presented to compare other numerical techniques and applied to one-dimensional electromagnetic problems. Computed results are compared with other numerical results in literature.     

Radially symmetric weighted extended b-spline model

In this paper, the weighted extended basis splines approach in the finite element method is applied to the electrostatic, electromagnetic wave and bioheat problems for inhomogeneous boundary conditions and radially symmetric structures. This new method, which does not need mesh generation, overcomes some of the drawbacks of using meshes and piecewise-uniform or linear trial functions. Two-dimensional radially symmetric electrostatic and electromagnetic wave equations are evaluated. We also attempt to propose a three-dimensional radially symmetric unexposed human eye model for simulating changes in corneal temperature using these new finite elements in conjunction with linear, quadratic and cubic b-splines. Our findings indicate that weighted extended basis spline solutions improve the standard finite element method. The simulation results which are verified using the values reported in the literature, point out to better efficiency in terms of the accuracy level.     

Effect of molecular conformations on the adsorption behavior of gold-binding peptides

Despite extensive recent reports on combinatorially selected inorganic-binding peptides and their bionanotechnological utility as synthesizers and molecular linkers, there is still only limited knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of peptide binding to solid surfaces. There is, therefore, much work that needs to be carried out in terms of both the fundamentals of solid-binding kinetics of peptides and the effects of peptide primary and secondary structures on their recognition and binding to solid materials. Here we discuss the effects of constraints imposed on FliTrx-selected gold-binding peptide molecular structures upon their quantitative gold-binding affinity. We first selected two novel gold-binding peptide (AuBP) sequences using a FliTrx random peptide display library. These were, then, synthesized in two different forms: cyclic (c), reproducing the original FliTrx gold-binding sequence as displayed on bacterial cells, and linear (l) dodecapeptide gold-binding sequences. All four gold-binding peptides were then analyzed for their adsorption behavior using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The peptides exhibit a range of binding affinities to and adsorption kinetics on gold surfaces, with the equilibrium constant, Keq, varying from 2.5x10(6) to 13.5x10(6) M(-1). Both circular dichroism and molecular mechanics/energy minimization studies reveal that each of the four peptides has various degrees of random coil and polyproline type II molecular conformations in solution. We found that AuBP1 retained its molecular conformation in both the c- and l-forms, and this is reflected in having similar adsorption behavior. On the other hand, the c- and l-forms of AuBP2 have different molecular structures, leading to differences in their gold-binding affinities.     

Spectroscopic characterization,photoinduced processes and cytotoxic properties of substituted N‐ethyl selenadiazoloquinolones

7‐R‐9‐ethyl‐6,9‐dihydro‐6‐oxo‐[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐h]quinolines (R = H, COOC₂H₅, COOCH₃, COOH and COCH₃, E1h , E2h , E3h , E4h , E5h ) and 6‐ethyl‐6,9‐dihydro‐9‐oxo‐[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐f]quinoline ( E1f ) were characterized by UV/vis, FT‐IR and fluorescence spectroscopy. The electronic absorption spectra of the derivatives E1h , E2h , E3h and E5h in the aprotic solvents dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and acetonitrile (ACN) reveal low‐energy absorption maxima with λ_max > 400 > nm, shifted hypsochromically in water. In DMSO, N‐ethyl selenadiazoloquinolones behave as strong fluorescent agents (λ_em ≥ 550 nm) with the exception of the carboxylic acid derivative E4h which shows only poor emission. Photoinduced reactions of N‐ethyl selenadiazoloquinolones were investigated by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Photoexcitation of N‐ethyl selenadiazoloquinolones in aerated DMSO with either 385 nm or 400 nm wavelengths, monitored by EPR spin trapping technique, results in the generation of superoxide radical anions; under an inert atmosphere, the generation of methyl radicals originating from the solvent predominates. Upon exposure at either 365 nm, 385 nm or 400 nm, aerated ACN solutions of selenadiazoloquinolones in the presence of sterically hindered amines produce nitroxide radicals via a reaction with photogenerated singlet oxygen. The 7‐substituted derivatives of 9‐ethyl‐6,9‐dihydro‐6‐oxo‐[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐h]quinoline behave as photosensitizers activating molecular oxygen upon photoexcitation and possess the sufficient photochemical stability under the given experimental conditions. The cytotoxic effects of non‐photoactivated and UVA photoactivated N‐ethyl substituted selenadiazoloquinolones on cancer (human HeLa and murine L1210) and non‐cancer (NIH‐3T3) cell lines were monitored by the MTT test. The derivative E2h demonstrates the highest cytotoxic/photocytotoxic activity on the neoplastic cell lines. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cannabisol, a novel Δ-THC dimer possessing a unique methylene bridge, isolated from Cannabis sativa

Cannabisol (1), a unique dimer of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) with a methylene bridge, was isolated from Cannabis sativa. This is the first example of a C-bridged dimeric cannabinoid. The structure of 1 was unambiguously deduced by HRESIMS, GCMS, and NMR spectroscopy. A plausible biogenesis of 1 is described.     

Comparison of polyphenol extractions from olive pomace and solid fraction of olive mill waste water

The solid fraction of olive mill waste water (OMWW) was separated from OMWW and then the solutes in the solid fraction of OMWW were extracted with ethanol. The detection of polyphenols in the ethanol extract showed the presence of polyphenols in the solid fraction of OMWW. Effects of solvent-to-solid ratio, extraction and agitation time on the extraction of polyphenols from the solid fraction of OMWW were examined and the maximum amount of polyphenol was extracted from the solid fraction of OMWW with a solvent-to-solid ratio of 15 at 70?min of extraction and 10?min of agitation time. Percent yields and purities of the polyphenols extracted from solid fraction of OMWW were higher than those of the polyphenols extracted from olive pomace with ethanol at 70?min of extraction and 10?min of agitation time with solvent-to-solid ratio of 15.     

Platinum nanoparticle-facilitated reflective surfaces for non-contact temperature control in microfluidic devices for PCR amplification

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is critical for amplification of target sequences of DNA or RNA that have clinical, biological or forensic relevance. While extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometry (EFPI) has been shown to be adequate for non-contact temperature sensing, the difficulty in defining a reflective surface that is semi-reflective, non-reactive for PCR compatibility and adherent for thermal bonding has limited its exploitation. Through the incorporation of a reflective surface fabricated using a thermally driven self-assembly of a platinum nanoparticle monolayer on the surface of the microfluidic chamber, an enhanced EFPI signal results, allowing for non-contact microfluidic temperature control instrumentation that uses infrared-mediated heating, convective forced-air cooling, and interferometic temperature sensing. The interferometer is originally calibrated with a miniature copper-constantan thermocouple in the PCR chamber resulting in temperature sensitivities of -22.0 to -32.8 nm·°C(-1), depending on the chamber depth. This universal calibration enables accurate temperature control in any device with arbitrary dimensions, thereby allowing versatility in various applications. Uniquely, this non-contact temperature control for PCR thermocycling is applied to the amplification of STR loci for human genetic profiling, where nine STR loci are successfully amplified for human identification using the EFPI-based non-contact thermocycling.     

Single step sol-gel made silver chloride on Titania xerogels to inhibit <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> bacteria growth: effect of preparation and chloride ion on bactericidal activity

We report the antibacterial efficacies of silver and/or silver chloride containing titania xerogels synthesized with modified single step sol-gel methods against Escherichia coli bacteria. As the silver loading in TiO₂ increases, the amount of the xerogel required to inhibit the growth of the bacteria decreases and also we found that pure TiO₂ was not bactericidal. Among modified single step sol-gel methods used in this study, the additional HCl treatment sol-gel route III was very effective to obtain only AgCl crystallites in TiO₂. Based on viable cell count method, 0.125 g/L of 29%Ag/TiO₂ (made with HNO₃ sol-gel route I) was enough to inhibit the growth of E. coli whereas 0.6 g/L of 29%Ag/TiO₂ (made with the additional HCl treatment sol-gel route III) was required. However, antibacterial activity of 29%Ag/TiO₂ (made with HNO₃ sol-gel route I) after 6 usages was the same as 29%Ag/TiO₂ (made with the additional HCl treatment sol-gel route III).     

Correlation of chemical structure and swelling behavior in N-alkylacrylamide hydrogels

The thermoshrinking properties have been studied for the series of N-alkyl-acrylamide hydrogels (alkyl = methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, and n-propyl), which were prepared by free-radical copolymerization of the alkylacrylamide, sodium acrylate, and N,N′-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS) in aqueous solution. The reaction mixtures were prepared using the same nominal compositions in an effort to study the effect of the chemical structure of the alkyl substituent on the gel swelling behavior as a function of temperature. The alkyl group was found to have a pronounced effect on the features of gel swelling. Generally, larger alkyl chains produced dramatic decreases in gel transition temperature. In addition, a change in the nature of the swelling behavior from continuous to discontinuous was noted upon changing the alkyl group from ethyl to the two propyl derivatives. Discontinuous transitions were accompanied by hysteresis. The transition temperatures of the isomeric propyl derivatives were found to differ by 12°C, with n-propyl exhibiting the lower value. Additionally, a quantitative correlation was found between the gel transition temperatures and the water/octanol partition coefficients for appropriately chosen small molecule model compounds. The transition temperatures of other gels in the series, including the cyclopropyl derivative and the n-propyl/isopropyl copolymer gels (NIPA/NNPA), also fit this correlation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2095–2102, 1998     

Tuning the Binding Affinity and Selectivity of Perfluoroaryl-Stapled Peptides by Cysteine-Editing

A growing number of approaches to “staple” α-helical peptides into a bioactive conformation using cysteine cross-linking are emerging. Here, the replacement of l -cysteine with “cysteine analogues” in combinations of different stereochemistry, side chain length and beta-carbon substitution, is explored to examine the influence that the thiol-containing residue(s) has on target protein binding affinity in a well-explored model system, p53–MDM2/MDMX, which is constituted by the interaction of the tumour suppressor protein p53 and proteins MDM2 and MDMX, which regulate p53 activity. In some cases, replacement of one or more l -cysteine residues afforded significant changes in the measured binding affinity and target selectivity of the peptide. Computationally constructed homology models indicate that some modifications, such as incorporating two d -cysteine residues, favourably alter the positions of key functional amino acid side chains, which is likely to cause changes in binding affinity, in agreement with measured surface plasmon resonance data.