Digital Commons Network^™

Persistent Radical Anion Polymers Based On Naphthalenediimide And A Vinylene Spacer, Sashi Debnath, Connor J. Boyle, Dongming Zhou, Bryan M. Wong, Kevin R. Kittilstved, Dhandapani Venkataraman

Chemistry Department Faculty Publication Series

Persistent n-doped conjugated polymers were achieved by doping the electron accepting PDNDIV and PFNDIVpolymers with ionic (TBACN) or neutral (TDAE) dopants. The great electron affinities, as indicated by the low LUMO levels of PDNDIV (−4.09 eV) and PFNDIV (−4.27 eV), facilitated the chemical reduction from either TBACN or TDAE. The low-lying LUMOs of the neutral polymers PDNDIV and PFNDIV were achieved by incorporation of vinylene spacers between the electron poor NDI units to increase the conjugation length without the use of an electron donor, and this was lowered further by an electron-withdrawing fluorinated N-substituent on the NDI moiety. The …

Virucidal And Synergistic Activity Of Polyphenol-Rich Extracts Of Seaweeds Against Measles Virus, Karla Morán-Santibañez, Mario A. Peña-Hernández, Lucia Elizabeth Cruz-Suárez, Denis Ricque-Marie, Rachid Skouta, Abimael H. Vasquez, Cristina Rodríguez-Padilla, Laura M. Trejo-Avila

Chemistry Department Faculty Publication Series

Although preventable by vaccination, Measles still causes thousands of deaths among young children worldwide. The discovery of new antivirals is a good approach to control new outbreaks that cause such death. In this study, we tested the antiviral activity against Measles virus (MeV) of Polyphenol-rich extracts (PPs) coming from five seaweeds collected and cultivated in Mexico. An MTT assay was performed to determine cytotoxicity effect, and antiviral activity was measured by syncytia reduction assay and confirmed by qPCR. PPs from Ecklonia arborea (formerly Eisenia arborea, Phaeophyceae) and Solieria filiformis (Rhodophyta) showed the highest Selectivity Index (SI), >3750 and >576.9 respectively. …

3' End Additions By T7 Rna Polymerase Are Rna Self-Templated, Distributive And Diverse In Character––Rna-Seq Analyses, Yasaman Gholamalipour, Aruni K. Mudiyanselage, Craig T. Martin

Chemistry Department Faculty Publication Series

Synthetic RNA is widely used in basic science, nanotechnology and therapeutics research. The vast majority of this RNA is synthesized in vitro by T7 RNA polymerase or one of its close family members. However, the desired RNA is generally contaminated with products longer and shorter than the DNA-encoded product. To better understand these undesired byproducts and the processes that generate them, we analyze in vitro transcription reactions using RNA-Seq as a tool. The results unambiguously confirm that product RNA rebinds to the polymerase and self-primes (in cis) generation of a hairpin duplex, a process that favorably competes with promoter driven …

Structural And Optical Properties Of Nanocrystalline Tio2 With Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes And Its Photovoltaic Studies Using Ru(Ii) Sensitizers, Sagar D. Delekar, Ananta G. Dhodamani, Krantiveer V. More, Tukaram D. Dongale, Rajanish K. Kamat, Steve Acquah, Naresh S. Dalal, Dilip K. Panda

Chemistry Department Faculty Publication Series

In this study, the in situ sol–gel method has been deployed to prepare the titanium dioxide/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiO2/MWCNTs) nanocomposite (NCs) powders with varying content of MWCNTs (0.01–1.0 wt %), to construct the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). First, binder-free NCs were deposited on a transparent-conducting F:SnO2 (FTO) glass substrate by a doctor-blade technique and then anchored with Ru(II)-based dyes to either N719 or ruthenium phthalocyanine (RuPc). The structural and optical properties and interconnectivity of the materials within the composite are investigated thoroughly by various spectral techniques (XRD, XPS, Raman, FT-IR, and UV–vis), electron microscopy (HRTEM), and BET analysis. The experimental …

Interplay Between Ion Transport, Applied Bias And Degradation Under Illumination In Hybrid Perovskite P-I-N Devices, Emily C. Smith

Chemistry Department Faculty Publication Series

We studied ion transport in hybrid organic inorganic perovskite p-i-n devices as a function of applied bias under device operating conditions. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and equivalent circuit modeling, we elucidated various resistive and capacitive elements in the device. We show that ion migration is predictably influenced by a low applied forward bias, characterized by an increased capacitance at the hole transporting (HTM) and electron transporting material (ETM) interfaces, as well as through the bulk. However, unlike observations in n-i-p devices, we found that there is a capacitive discharge leading to possible ion redistribution in the bulk at high …

Development Of Thiophene Compounds As Potent Chemotherapies For The Treatment Of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused By Leishmania Major, Felipe Rodriguez, Eva Iniguez, Guadalupe Pena Contreras, Haidar Ahmed, Thadeu E. M. M. Costa, Rachid Skouta, Rosa A. Maldonado

Chemistry Department Faculty Publication Series

Leishmania major (L. major) is a protozoan parasite that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis. About 12 million people are currently infected with an annual incidence of 1.3 million cases. The purpose of this study was to synthesize a small library of novel thiophene derivatives, and evaluate its parasitic activity, and potential mechanism of action (MOA). We developed a structure–activity relationship (SAR) study of the thiophene molecule 5A. Overall, eight thiophene derivatives of 5A were synthesized and purified by silica gel column chromatography. Of these eight analogs, the molecule 5D showed the highest in vitro activity against Leishmania major promastigotes (EC_{50 …}

Stem Education Centers: Catalyzing The Improvement Of Undergraduate Stem Education, Deborah L. Carlisle, Gabriela C. Weaver

Chemistry Department Faculty Publication Series

Background

With the remarkable attention being paid to STEM education nationally, with the growing engagement of universities and colleges in STEM education reform, and with the rise of STEM education centers, SECs, assisting universities as they strive to achieve these reforms, this research provides insight into the roles of six SECs. Through a multi-dimensional cross-site comparison, we provide a lens into the ways in which SECs function on their campuses, illuminating possibilities for those seeking to strengthen undergraduate STEM education.

Results

SECs play an important networking role on their campuses, where they inform and unify institutional efforts, serving to elevate …