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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Use Of Fluorescence To Investigate The Factors Leading To Complex Formation Between Naphthalenes And ├Ƒ-Cyclodextrins, Jamie M. Iannacone Jun 2003

The Use Of Fluorescence To Investigate The Factors Leading To Complex Formation Between Naphthalenes And ├Ƒ-Cyclodextrins, Jamie M. Iannacone

Honors Theses

Fraiji et al. determined a binding constant (K) of 581 = 6 M-1 for the 1:1 complex between 2-acetylnaphthalene (2-AN) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in H20 using fluorescence quenching experiments (Appl. Spectrosc. 1994, 48, 79). Molecular modeling experiments indicate the possibility of complex stabilization resulting from hydrogen bonds between the C=O group of 2-AN and the -OH groups on the rim of β-CD. To check this possibility, we measured the K of the 2-AN:trimethyl-β-CD (TM-β- CD) complex, where all rim -OH groups are converted to –OCH3. In this case, K decreases to 134 M-1. To show that this is due to …


Sol-Gel-Platform Optical Sensors For Oxygen Gas : Sensor Development And Investigation Of Probe Partitioning In Sol-Gel Matrices, Desiree L. Plata Jun 2003

Sol-Gel-Platform Optical Sensors For Oxygen Gas : Sensor Development And Investigation Of Probe Partitioning In Sol-Gel Matrices, Desiree L. Plata

Honors Theses

I have developed gas sensors that respond rapidly and noticeably to changes in oxygen concentration by doping fluorescent complexes into gas-permeable sol-gel materials. Ruthenium (II) 4,7-diphenyl-1,10- phenanthroline, Ru(dpp)32+, responds to variations in ambient oxygen concentrations through marked changes in its fluorescence intensity. I investigated the response of Ru(dpp)32+ to oxygen in solution, in aerogels (sol gels dried under ambient conditions) and in aerogels (sol gels dried using supercritical conditions). Aerogels have particularly high porosity and low density, which allows for rapid diffusion of gases into the material. The aerogel sensor responds reversibly to changes in ambient oxygen concentration within 10 …


Investigation Of Indicators In Aerogels And Xerogels, Rebecca L. Wolfe Jun 2003

Investigation Of Indicators In Aerogels And Xerogels, Rebecca L. Wolfe

Honors Theses

A sol-gel is a silicon-oxygen matrix that is suitable for the entrapment of chemical species, including biological species, indicators, dyes, and sensors. Aerogels are sol-gels prepared by supercritical extraction, whereas aerogels are allowed to dry under ambient conditions. The resulting materials differ considerably in their physical properties. We are investigating a series of luminescent species for use as probes of the microenvironment in different sol-gel materials. Sol gels containing each probe are prepared as both aerogels and aerogels; aerogels are formed using a novel contained mold process. Spectral properties, including absorption or excitation spectra, emission spectra, time-based fluorescence scans, and …


Solution Structure Refinement Comparing Reference Model Noe Volumes, Maura Mahar Jun 2003

Solution Structure Refinement Comparing Reference Model Noe Volumes, Maura Mahar

Honors Theses

NMR is a powerful experimental technique which can be used to determine protein structures. Central to this process is conversion of peak volumes in the NOE data sets into distance constraints and then structural refinement against those constraints. In general, each solution structural analysis is initiated de novo. We are interested in the structural analysis of a series of hybrids derived from two parental proteins (rubredoxins from mesophilic bacterium Clostridium pasteurianum (Cp) and the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus (Pf)). Near 1 A resolution X-ray structures of Cp and Pf rubredoxins are available to provide a basis for quantitative comparison of …


Flanking Sequences Modulate Diepoxide Cross-Linking Efficiencies At The 5'-Gnc Sste, Gregory A. Sawyer Jan 2003

Flanking Sequences Modulate Diepoxide Cross-Linking Efficiencies At The 5'-Gnc Sste, Gregory A. Sawyer

Honors Theses

Diepoxybutane, diepoxyoctane, and mechlorethamine are cytotoxic DNA crosslinking agents that vary in their carcinogenic versus chemotherapeutic potentials. Interstrand cross-linking occurs between the N7 positions of deoxyguanosine residues on opposite strands of the DNA duplex. Each synthetic DNA oligomer used in this study contained four 5'-N\GN2CN3 sites (within a 32 base sequence) and we have systematically varied the bases in the N1 and N2 positions to determine the resulting cross-linking efficiencies of each cytotoxic agent. Each duplex was 5' -end labeled and incubated with cross-linking agent. Interstrand cross-links were purified through denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and then subjected to piperidine cleavage. …


Quantitative Analysis Of Diepoxybutane Damage Within The Chicken Β-Globin Domain, André M. Pilon Jan 2003

Quantitative Analysis Of Diepoxybutane Damage Within The Chicken Β-Globin Domain, André M. Pilon

Honors Theses

In industrial polymer and synthetic rubber production facilities, workers are exposed to 1,3-butadiene. This compound is converted in vivo to 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB) and has been linked to increased incidences of cancer in these individuals. Carcinogenesis has been attributed to formation of DEB induced DNA interstrand cross-links. Previous studies have demonstrated that DEB cross-links deoxyguanosine residues within 5'-GNC sequences in synthetic DNA, in restriction fragments, and in defined sequence nucleosomes. The current study utilized the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to examine DEB damage frequencies within nuclear genes, found within "open" regions of chromatin, as compared to regions of unexpressed sequence that …


Application Of The Chan-Evans Diaryl Ether Synthesis To The Formation Of Bis(Bibenzyls), Eric Rosenthal Jan 2003

Application Of The Chan-Evans Diaryl Ether Synthesis To The Formation Of Bis(Bibenzyls), Eric Rosenthal

Honors Theses

Alkene (6) was produced in three steps from 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde (8), and 3-bromobenzyl bromide (10). A variety of strategies were employed to synthesize the desired boronic acid (13), but as of this time none have been successful. The synthesis of this boronic acid is necessary to study the feasibility of applying the Chan-Evans copper mediated formation of diaryl ethers to a bis(bibenzyl) synthesis. In seeking to exploit the advantages of the Chan-Evans ether synthesis over the Ullman ether synthesis, we have encountered some of the associated difficulties. The utilization of an arylboronic acid to produce a diaryl ether first requires the …


Synthesis Of Montiporynes A And B, Traci Jenelle Speed Jan 2003

Synthesis Of Montiporynes A And B, Traci Jenelle Speed

Honors Theses

This thesis reports the first complete synthesis of monriporynes A and B. isomeric diacetylenes that bear α, β unsaturated ketone functionalities. Recently isolated from the stony coral Montipora sp. these compounds are reported to possess in vitro cytotoxic activity against several human solid tumor cells. We have synthesized both isomers in three simple steps. In the first step, l-iodononyne was prepared by reacting 1-nonyne with N-iodosuccinimide and a catalytic amount of silver nitrate. This iodoalkyne was then coupled with propargyl alcohol using copper iodide as the catalyst to give 2,4dodecadiynyl alcohol. Finally, the diacetylenic alcohol was subjected to the Swern …


Sedimentological And Plant Taphonomic Evaluation Of The Early Middle Devonian Trout Valley Formation, Jonathan Allen Jan 2003

Sedimentological And Plant Taphonomic Evaluation Of The Early Middle Devonian Trout Valley Formation, Jonathan Allen

Honors Theses

The Trout Valley Formation of Emsian-Eifelian age, outcropped in Baxter State Park, Maine, consists offluvial and coastal deposits preserving early land plants. Massive, crudely bedded conglomerate represents deposits of proximal braided channels on an alluvial fan complex. Lithic sandstone bodies in channel-form geometries represent deposits of river channels draining the Acadian highlands whereas associated siltstones represent overbank deposits, intertidal flats, and tidal channels. Localized lenticular quartz arenites represent nearshore shelf bar deposits that were storm influenced. The majority of plant assemblages preserved mainly in siltstone lithologies are allochthonous and parautochthonous, with only one autochthonous assemblage identified in the sequence. Plant …


Double Stranded Dna-Binding Studies Of Potential Rhodium(Ll) Antitumor Complexes, Amity Elizabeth Burr Jan 2003

Double Stranded Dna-Binding Studies Of Potential Rhodium(Ll) Antitumor Complexes, Amity Elizabeth Burr

Honors Theses

In 1952, Dwyer and coworkers began testing a series of metal complexes for potential inhibition of cancer cell proliferation in animals.[l] The complexes tested were unsuitable for such studies due to their high toxicity. Therefore, no further work was done on the project. However, in 1965, Rosenberg and coworkers revisited the possibility of potential metal-based drugs. Serendipitously, they discovered that cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(lI) (cisplatin) inhibits cell division in E. coli.[2] Further studies of this and other platinum compounds revealed inhibition of tumor cell lines sarcoma 180 and leukemia LI2l0 in mice.[l] Cisplatin was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1970 …