Digital Commons Network^™

Investigation Of Factors Influencing Trichloromethane Levels In Milk And Its Control., Siobhan Ryan

Theses

Trichloromethane (TCM) is an undesirable chemical residue that can develop in milk. While TCM levels in milk are not within ranges of public health concern, it is important that minimal levels are maintained in order to promote the marketing of Irish dairy products abroad. Germany has enacted strict regulations on TCM concentrations in foodstuffs with a recommended level of0.002 mg/kg and re-analyse those milks, subsequent to cause identification and provision of advice on reducing TCM levels in milk. Milk samples were analysed using Gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection. The GC method was adapted and a standard curve was …

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine Amide Protects Retinal Pigment Epithelium Against Methamphetamine-Induced Oxidative Stress, Nuran Ercal, Joshua W. Carey, Shakila Tobwala, Xinsheng Zhang, Atrayee Banerjee, Eylem Y. Pinarci, Humeyra Karacal

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Methamphetamine (METH), a highly addictive drug used worldwide, induces oxidative stress in various animal organs. Recent animal studies indicate that methamphetamine also induces oxidative stress in the retina, which is an em- bryonic extension of the forebrain. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the pro- tecttive effects of N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) against oxidative stress induced by METH in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Our stud- ies showed that NACA protected against METH- induced oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Although METH significantly de- creased glutathione (GSH) levels and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondial- dehyde …

Neutron Repulsion, Oliver Manuel

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Earth is connected gravitationally, magnetically and electrically to its heat source and the source of its chemical elements - a neutron star obscured from view by waste products in the photosphere. Neutron repulsion makes the solar core like the hot filament in an incandescent light bulb. Excited neutrons are emitted from the pulsar, decay to hydrogen, and partially fuse into the helium now trapped with it in the photosphere, like a frosted light bulb. Neutron repulsion is the overlooked source of energy, the keystone of an arch that locks together many earlier, puzzling observations: 1.) Excess ¹³⁶Xe accompanied primordial …

The Kamlet Laboratories Collection At The University Of South Florida, Dean F. Martin, Karina Bidani

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Jonas Kamlet (1914-1960) and his wife Edna (1915- 2011) founded the Kamlet Laboratory (as it was then called) in 1941 (I). It was in many ways a pioneering consulting laboratory that was unique for its approach and creativity. In 2006, the collected papers of the Kamlet Laboratories that were housed in two storage units in Sarasota, Florida, were donated to the University of South Florida (USF) Library, Tampa Campus, as noted elsewhere (I). This paper describes the background of the laboratory and indicates the potential value of the material in the Kamlet Chemical Laboratories Collection. The collection came to USF …

Azlactone-Functionalized Polymers As Reactive Platforms For The Design Of Advanced Materials: Progress In The Last Ten Years, Maren E. Buck, David M. Lynn

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Polymers functionalized with azlactone (or oxazolone) functionality have become increasingly useful for the rapid and modular design of functional materials. Because azlactones can react via ring-opening reactions with a variety of different nucleophilic species (e.g., primary amines, hydroxyl groups, and thiol functionality), azlactone-functionalized materials can serve as convenient 'reactive' platforms for the post-synthesis or post-fabrication introduction of a broad range of chemical functionality to soluble polymers, insoluble supports, and surfaces/interfaces. The last decade has seen an increase in both the number and the variety of reports that exploit the properties and the reactivities of azlactone-functionalized polymers. Here, we highlight recent …

Educational Technology: Podcasts, Vodcasts, And Blogs In The Science Classroom, Danielle N. Thompson

Masters Theses

Junior-level Chemistry students at De Soto High School, Missouri, were introduced to educational technology in the form of podcasts, vodcasts, and blogs to facilitate learning outside of the traditional four walls of the classroom. Educational technology was utilized to see if content knowledge could be delivered from the teacher to the students as well as from the students to the teacher. Students were surveyed eight weeks after educational technology was introduced in the classroom to see if participation, attitudes, and interests in science were influenced by the use of educational technology in addition to traditional pedagogical methods.

Design, Synthesis, And Biological Evaluation Of Indole-Based 1,4-Disubstituted Piperazines As Cytotoxic Agents, Meri̇ç Köksal Akkoç, Mi̇ne Yarim Yüksel, İrem Durmaz, Rengül Çeti̇n Atalay

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

A series of 3-[(4-substitutedpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-1H-indole derivatives were synthesized, and their structures were confirmed by spectral analysis. All the compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity in vitro against 3 human tumor cell lines: human liver (HUH7), breast (MCF7), and colon (HCT116). Among the designed derivatives, most of the compounds showed significant cytotoxicity against liver and colon cancer cell lines with lower IC_{50} concentrations than the standard drug 5-fluorouracil. Compound 3s, with 3,4-dichlorophenyl substituent on the piperazine ring, was the most active in suppressing the growth of all screened cancer cells.

Determination Of Lidocaine Based On Electrocatalysis Of A Chemically Modified Electrode, Gamze Tan, Gülçi̇n Bolat, Mehmet Ali̇ Onur, Serdar Abaci

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The potential application of biochemically modified electrodes was investigated for construction of a drug biosensor. The electrocatalytic response of lidocaine was examined through modified electrodes using the electron transfer ability of hemoglobin (Hb) immobilized on gold film modified with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA). According to the results of voltammetric studies, Au/MPA/Hb electrodes exhibited high sensitivity and good electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of lidocaine, motivating us to construct drug biosensors. With this study, a new electroanalytical procedure is proposed for the determination of lidocaine level in medical applications or therapeutic formulations containing lidocaine as the active …

Synthesis And Structural X-Ray Analysis Of 1,1'-(Naphthalene-1,8-Diyl)-3,3'-Dibenzoyl-Bisthiourea And Its Use As Anion-Binding Receptor, Fatma Aydin, Nazan Tunoğlu, Doğan Aykaç, Nahi̇de Burcu Arslan, Canan Kazak

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

A novel artificial receptor, 1,1'-(naphthalene-1,8-diyl)-3,3'- dibenzoyl-bisthiourea, based on a 1,8-naphthalene skeleton bearing bisthiourea groups was prepared and characterized by IR and ^1H-NMR, ^{13}C-NMR, and MS spectroscopic techniques. The compound proved to be an efficient and selective naked-eye detector for the fluoride, cyanide, and hydroxide ions in DMSO. The crystal structure of the title compound was examined by using X-ray crystallographic techniques and found to be crystallized in the monoclinic space group P -1 with the unit cell parameters: a = 8.1556(8) Å, b = 12.0127(11) Å, c = 13.2081(11) Å, \alpha = 109.510(7)°, \beta = 95.390(7)°, \gamma = 103.660(7)°, Z …

Synthesis Of 3-Pyrroline-2-Ones From Amino Acids And An Aryl Amine, Nezi̇re Saygili, Cemi̇l Aydoğan

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The conversion of the amino group of amino dicarboxylicacid esters and an aryl amine into N-substituted pyrrolinone derivatives with dimethoxydihydrofurane is described. The conversion also occurs with serine methylester but it decomposes very quickly.

Synthesis And Antioxidant And Antimicrobial Evaluation Of Novel 4-Substituted-1h-1,2,4-Triazole Derivatives, Sultan Baytaş, Evi̇n Kapçak, Tülay Çoban, Hati̇ce Özbi̇lge

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

A series of 4-benzyl/phenyl-3-(1-methyl-1H-indole-2-yl)-1H- 1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione (4a,b) and 2-{4-[benzyl/phenyl-5- (substitutedbenzylthio)]-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-yl}-1-methyl-1H-indole derivatives (5a-p) were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro scavenging of DPPH and superoxide radical, and lipid peroxidation inhibition effects as well as their antimicrobial properties. DPPH radical scavenging capacity was found to be equipotent with BHT and found in compounds containing 1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione moiety (4a,b). With regard to antimicrobial properties, compound 5k showed slight antimicrobial activity against all the test microorganisms.

Mwcnt/Nano-Zro_2 As A New Solid Phase Extractor: Its Synthesis, Characterization, And Application To Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination Of Lead, Orhan Murat Kalfa, Özcan Yalçinkaya, Ali̇ Rehber Türker

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Nanoscale ZrO_2 was synthesized on a multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and designed as a new solid phase extractor for metal ion preconcentration. The characterization of the synthesized material was achieved by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Then the new nanoscale material was applied to preconcentration of lead(II) from various matrices. Different experimental factors including pH of the sample solution, sample volume, flow rate of the sample solution, and volume and concentration of the eluent for the preconcentration step were examined. The effect of interfering ions on the recovery of the lead(II) was also investigated. The recovery of …

3,3-Dimethyl-1,2,3,4-Tetra­Hydro­Cyclo­Penta­[B]Indole-1,2-Dione (Bruceolline E), Jason A. Jordon, Jeanese C. Badenock, Gordon W. Gribble, Jerry P. Jasinski, James A. Golen

Dartmouth Scholarship

The title compound, C13H11NO2, crystallizes with two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. The crystal packing is stabilized by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which link the mol­ecules into chains along [10], and weak C—H⋯O inter­actions.

Drug Resistance Mechanisms And Drug Design Strategies For Human Immunodeficiency Virus And Hepatitis C Virus Proteases, Yong Wang

Wayne State University Dissertations

The antiviral drug development has improved steadily to treat the infections of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) which represent heavy public health burdens. The viral protease plays an indispensable role in viral maturation and therefore becomes one of the most important targets for drug design. Nine HIV-1 protease inhibitors and two HCV protease inhibitors have been developed and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, mutations in the protease decrease reduce the efficacy the drugs. In this study, the enzyme assays indicate that darunavir and tipranavir exhibit the most potent inhibition against the multi-drug …

Single Molecule Studies Of Rna-Target Interactions, Sharla Leann Wood

Wayne State University Dissertations

We have used FRET, single molecule spectroscopy, and several other biophysical techniques to study how the folding of RNA allows it to perform its various functions by recognizing and binding a target ligand. We have shown that the c-di-GMP riboswitch undergoes a large, global conformational change upon binding of the ligand. The folding dynamics of the c-di-GMP riboswitch upon Mg2+ binding help to pre-organize the aptamer for efficient ligand binding and ultimately efficient gene expression. We have also investigated two instances, a fluorophore-binding aptamer and molecular beacon, where the folding of RNA can be used to detect an analyte. We …

Synthesis Of Oligosaccharide Mimetics By The Desulfurative Rearrangement Of Allylic Disulfides And Stereoelectronic Influence Of C-O Bonds On C- And O-Glycosylation, Myriame Moume-Pymbock

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on two different problems. The first part of this manuscript presents the application of a novel methodology to access the synthesis of oligosaccharide mimetics while the second part focuses on the study of the stereoelectronic effects of proximal C-O bonds in C- and O-glycosylation reactions.

The first chapter provides a brief overview of the important roles that oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates play in biological processes and sets out the major advances that have been made in the past few decades in the synthesis of such complex structures while bringing out the ongoing challenges and the limitations that impede …

Publish And Flourish, Stephen K. Taylor

Faculty Publications

At primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), teaching is usually the primary responsibility, and many PUI professors do not regularly produce publications, even if they were hired to include research as an important responsibility. Most instructors at these schools are busy enough with just teaching and other academic responsibilities. It can seem intimidating to think of doing research, writing a research proposal, then a publication, and so on. Perhaps the sum of these duties may seem like a daunting set of tasks, and a "fear factor," consciously or subconsciously, may slow or even stop the research initiative. But at PUIs, it is …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Novel Pyridyl Silver (I) Lipid Complexes, Luis J. Andujo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Cationic surfactants are being used in many applications in industrial manufacture and medical technologies. Pyridinium salts come under the category of cationic surfactants. Surfactants have two distinct regions in their chemical structure, one of which is water-linking or hydrophilic and the other of which water-avoiding or hydrophobic. These molecules are referred to as amphiphilic or amiphipathic molecules or simply as surfactants or surface active agents. Depending on their charge the characteristics of the surface-active molecules may be anionic, cationic, zwitterionic (ampholytic) or non-ionic. These surfactants are used less for their wetting abilities than for their pronounced germicidal properties and their …

Crystal Structure Of Bacillus Subtilis Gabr, An Autorepressor And Transcriptional Activator Of Gabt, Raji Edayathumangalam, Rui Wu, Roman Garcia, Yuguang Wang, Wei Wang

Chemistry: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Bacillus subtilis GabR is a transcription factor that regulates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism. GabR is a member of the understudied MocR/GabR subfamily of the GntR family of transcription regulators. A typical MocR/GabR-type regulator is a chimeric protein containing a short N-terminal helix-turn-helix DNA-binding domain and a long C-terminal pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-binding putative aminotransferase domain. In the presence of PLP and GABA, GabR activates the gabTD operon, which allows the bacterium to use GABA as nitrogen and carbon sources. GabR binds to its own promoter and represses gabRtranscription in the absence of GABA. Here, we report two crystal structures of …

Natural Antiparasitic Coumarins: An In Silico Study, William R. Erwin

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

The Spliceosomal Protein Prp8 Stabilizes A Compact Conformation Of The U2-U6 Complex, Subasinghe Appuhamilage Lemintha Imali Subasinghe

Wayne State University Theses

The spliceosome is a large, RNA-protein complex that catalyzes pre-mRNA splicing during mRNA maturation. The RNA components (small nuclear RNA; snRNAs) of the spliceosome have been well studied and are believed to be involved in the splicing catalysis. Although proteins are essential for splicing, they may not be directly involved in catalysis. Among hundreds of proteins, Prp8 is the only protein that interacts with all of the catalytically important snRNAs. Therefore, it is hypothesized that Prp8 may catalyze splicing either by directly participating in catalysis or by stabilizing the conformation of the catalytically active spliceosome. In order to test whether …

Effect Of Low Endogenous Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels On Striatal Dopamine Dynamics, Francis Kabui Maina

Wayne State University Dissertations

Many neurological diseases and disorders are a result of alterations with neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and/or proteins. Specifically, one protein that has been linked to numerous neurological diseases and disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, addiction, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). As a trophic factor, BDNF role is to assist in the growth, survival, and differentiation of neurons. However, there is increasing evidence that BDNF may mediate neurotransmitter dynamics. Our goals were to understand how endogenous BDNF levels and aging modulate the dopamine (DA) dynamics in the mouse striatum. Two complementary neurochemical techniques, slice …

Determination Of Descriptors By Liquid-Liquid Partition And Chromatographic Methods, Thushara Namal Karunasekara

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

DETERMINATION OF DESCRIPTORS BY LIQUID-LIQUID PARTITION AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHODS

by

THUSHARA KARUNASEKARA

September 2012

Advisor: Prof. Colin F. Poole

Major: Chemistry (Analytical)

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Partition coefficients for varied compounds were determined for several totally organic biphasic systems using formamide, propylene carbonate, ethylene glycol or dimethyl sulfoxide as the base solvent and n-heptane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1-octanol or isopentyl ether as the counter solvent. These partition coefficient databases are analyzed using the solvation parameter model facilitating a quantitative comparison of these systems with other totally organic and water-based partition systems. These totally organic biphasic solvent systems offer a complementary approach …

Ultraviolet Resonance Raman Spectroscopy For Characterization Of Rna Structure And Thermodynamics, Joseph Dustin Handen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Raman spectroscopy is a technique well suited for the study of biological molecules such as proteins, peptides, or RNAs. By utilizing an ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) instrument, we are afforded a tremendous increase in sensitivity because of resonance enhancement. Additionally, this technique does not require any labeling. Moreover, this technique is better suited for studying biological systems than infrared absorption due to reduced interference from water. In this study, we apply techniques we have developed for the study of protein and peptide fibrillation to a model RNA homodimer. We demonstrate that UVRR spectroscopy is uniquely suited to monitoring the free …

Selection Of Chemically Modified Rna Aptamers Against The Glua2q Flop Ampa Receptor, Hyojung Seo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The á-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors play an important role in neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system. Excessive activity of these receptors has been implicated in some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, ischemic stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). AMPA receptor inhibitors are therefore drug candidates for potential treatment of these neurological disorders and diseases. The objective of my MS thesis work is to develop a stable aptamer so that it can be tested and used in vivo where the aptamer must be exposed to ribonucleases. To do this, I prepared a library containing RNAs with 2'-Fluoro …

Trace Element Analysis Of Environmental And Clinical Materials Using Novel Instrumentation Based On X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry : New Capabilities For Public Health Laboratories, Kathryn G. Mcintosh

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry is a well-established analytical technique for determining the elemental content of many different materials. XRF has long been used for public health applications, particularly for identifying lead-based paint hazards. The primary advantage of XRF over other atomic spectrometric techniques is that it is nondestructive. In addition, little sample preparation is required, so results are obtained rapidly and at low cost. The principal aim of this study was to characterize the utility and reliability of current XRF instrumentation for use in the environmental health sciences. Interest in the use of XRF for detecting lead in children's toys …

The Analytic Reconciliation Of Classic Mayan Elite Pottery : Squaring Pottery Function With Form, Adornment, And Residual Contents, Jennifer Ann Loughmiller-Newman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation presents a multidisciplinary means of determining the actual content (foodstuff, non-foodstuff, or lack of contents) of Classic Mayan (A.D. 250-900) vessels. Based on previous studies that have identified the residues of foodstuffs named in hieroglyphic texts (e.g. cacao), this study is designed to further investigate foodstuff residues in the elite vessels indicated by text or image to contain those residues, and the methods employed for residue characterization. Prior to studies utilizing residue analysis, the content of Classic Maya vessels largely had long been inferred largely by ethnographic analogy, associating specific vessel forms with specific uses based on ethnographic …

Inhibition Of Glutamate Receptors By Constructing Bipartite Rna Aptamers, Jeffrey Hebert

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The relationship of excessive activity of AMPA-type glutamate receptors, and cell death, has long provided researchers a means of investigating neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Inhibitors of AMPA receptor channels, including chemical and nucleic acid molecules such as RNA aptamers, have served as potential therapeutic agents and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, building bipartite aptamers to enhance inhibitory potency, as compared with a monomeric aptamer of AMPA receptor, is described. An enhanced potency is due, at least in part; to the proximity effect in bipartite structures or binding of a monomeric …

A Novel Fabrication Technique For Three-Dimensional Nanostructures, Ravi Kiran Bonam

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Three dimensional micro- and nano-structures are commonly used in the field of Photonics, Optoelectronics, Sensors and Biological applications. Although numerous physical models are developed, a major challenge has been in their fabrication which is commonly limited to conventional layer-by-layer techniques. In this dissertation, a novel method for fabricating three dimensional structures using Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) will be presented.

Mechanism Of Inhibition Of The Glua2 Receptors By N-3 Derivatives Of 2,3-Benzodiazepines With C-4 Methyl Group, Congzhou Wang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors are one of the three subtypes of ionotropic glutamate receptors. AMPA receptors mediate fast synaptic neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). Over-activation of calcium permeable AMPA receptors causes intracellular calcium overload, which leads to neurodegeneration and cell death. As such, AMPA receptors have been implicated in a number of neurological disorders and diseases, such as epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson's disease. 2,3-Benzodiazepine derivatives (or GYKI compounds) are a group of structurally similar compounds synthesized as inhibitors of AMPA receptors, and they have been used as potential drug candidates for the treatment of various …