Chemistry Commons^™

Development Of Nano-Scale Featured Materials For Electrode Modification And Solid Supports., Amy Rue

Theses and Dissertations

This work utilized the sol-gel process in two ways. First, macroporous silica thin films were developed using a combination of casting techniques and templating. Macroporsity was introduced to the silica thin films by either doping the silica sol before casting or by ordering the template on a substrate and then casting a sol over it. These techniques were first used to create silica thin films with long microchannel pores (200 nm x 60 µm) from a doped sol with the bacteria, B. Megaterium, as the template for nanomaterial formation. To enable the formation long microchannels, the flexible bacteria chains were …

Il-6 Regulation On Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Remodeling During Cancer Cachexia In The ApcMin/+ Mouse, James P. White, Melissa J. Puppa, Shuichi Sato, Song Gao, Robert L. Price, John W. Baynes, Matthew C. Kostek, Lydia E. Matesic, James A. Carson

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND:

Muscle protein turnover regulation during cancer cachexia is being rapidly defined, and skeletal muscle mitochondria function appears coupled to processes regulating muscle wasting. Skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and the expression of proteins regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics are disrupted in severely cachectic Apc^Min/+ mice. It has not been determined if these changes occur at the onset of cachexia and are necessary for the progression of muscle wasting. Exercise and anti-cytokine therapies have proven effective in preventing cachexia development in tumor bearing mice, while their effect on mitochondrial content, biogenesis and dynamics is not well understood. The purposes of …

Analysis Of Biodiesel Quality Using Reversed Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Kellyann M. Murphy

Pomona Senior Theses

The alternative fuel biodiesel is produced from the transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fat to fatty acid methyl esters. Pomona has a reactor on campus that can be used to run this reaction and produce biodiesel. The use of biodiesel has been found to lower air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions, but can be potentially harmful to the engines if it contains impurities. This paper proposes a method using high-performance liquid chromatography to test the quality of biodiesel. This method utilizes instrumentation and materials that are available in Pomona College's Chemistry Department, requires very little sample preparation, and is …

Mechanistic Studies And Optimization Of Microwave-Assisted Palladium-Catalyzed Carbon-Carbon Bond Forming Reactions And An Academic Prospective On “Quality By Design”, Neha K. Grewal

Honors Scholar Theses

This compilation of work includes four aspects: (1) an academic review on the significance and implementation of Quality by Design (QbD), (2) mechanistic studies on the palladium-catalyzed synthesis of diarylmethanes, (3) the optimization of microwave-assisted click reactions and Suzuki couplings for use in an undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory manual, and (4) monitoring the progress of organic transformations using Raman spectroscopy.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Thanaporn Chittiphalungsri

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster describes the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Linus Pauling: Scientist Of The 20th Century, Laura Ward

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster describes the contributions scientist Linus Pauling made to the fields of chemistry and molecular biology, including his hybridization theory.

Design And Synthesis Of Antithrombotic Liposomal Protein Conjugate, Hailong Zhang

ETD Archive

Recent advances in the molecular bases of haemostasis have highlighted that endothelial thrombomodulin (TM) plays a critical role in local haemostasis by binding thrombin and subsequently converting protein C to its active form (APC). In addition, the binding of thrombin to TM drastically alters the thrombin's procoagulant activities to anticoagulant activities. The lipid bilayer in which it resides serves as an essential 'cofactor', locally concentrating and coordinating the appropriate alignment of reacting cofactors and substrates for protein C activation. On the other hand, liposomes have been extensively studied as cell membrane model as well as carrier for delivering certain vaccines, …

Methylation Markers In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Avinash Gavicharla

ETD Archive

Hepatocellular Carcinoma is one of the major causes for mortality in the world and is usually asymptomatic until late stage decreasing the survival rate. There is an increase of incidence every year and current diagnostic and prognostic bio markers like AFP have their limitations in the wider context. Therefore, it is important to develop novel biomarkers. The aim of the Research is to understand the cytosine methylation and investigate the role of the p16 and SLIT-2 genes as biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. The methylation profiles of the genes were assessed on bisulfite modified DNA samples with the aid of Real …

Characterization Of A Reductively-Activated Elimination Pathway Relevant To The Biological Chemistry Of The Kinamycins And Lomaiviticins, Seann P. Mulcahy, Christina M. Woo, Weidong Ding, George A. Ellestad, Seth B. Herzon

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The lomaiviticins (1 and 2) and kinamycins (3–5) are bacterial metabolites with potent antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. Herein we establish that 1–5 are capable of generating electrophilic acylfulvene intermediates (6) under mildly reducing conditions. These acylfulvenes 6 are formed by a multistep process comprising two-electron reduction and loss of dinitrogen to form an ortho-quinone methide, followed by elimination. Based on these studies, the structure of the product formed from 1 in DNA-cleavage assays is proposed (26). We also show that the bis(hydroxynaphthoquinone) substructures of the lomaiviticins activate the metabolites toward reduction. Finally, based on COMPARE and time-dependent cell response profiling …

Ethanol From The Field To The Pump, Cameron Heiser

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster describes the use of dry mill and wet mill processes to produce ethanol.

The Many Pharmaceutical Discoveries Of Gertrude B. Elion, Alayna Bonse

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster discusses the contributions of Gertrude B. Elion to pharmaceutical science.

Fluoride And Your Teeth: How Fluoride In Dental Products Protects Your Teeth From Cavities, Jacob Dickey

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster examines the use and effectiveness of fluorine to prevent cavities.

Statistical Analysis Of Gasoline As An Accelerant Using Principal Component Analysis, Carolyn Frantz

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Arson is one of the most difficult crimes to investigate, as much of the physical evidence is destroyed by the fire. Evidence of an accelerant at a scene is often vital in determining whether a fire was intentional or accidental. Gasoline is one of the most commonly used accelerants, due to its wide availability and low cost. Neat gasoline samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify the components present in each gasoline and differentiate between gasoline samples based on their seasonal blend and grade. Advanced distillations were executed to compare regular and premium grade gasolines and determine …

Fractional Comparison Of Arson Accelerants Using Advanced Distillation, Sarah Clickner

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Detection of accelerants is often critical in proving a fire was intentional. Establishing a fire was intentionally set is not an easy task and hinges on the preservation of accelerant present in fire debris. Various accelerants have previously been studied using the advanced distillation method to get fractional composition information. The resulting fractions from advanced distillations were compared to evaporation and burn samples to determine if there were any similarities.

Plane And Simple: Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon Centers In Small Moleculesw, Chad Crigger, Bernard K. Wittmaack, Marina Tawfik, Gabriel Merino, Kelling J. Donald

Chemistry Faculty Publications

A class of neutral 18-electron molecules with planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) centers is introduced. We show computationally that when n = 3 the neutral singlet molecule C(BeH)_n(BH₂)_4-n and other isoelectronic (18-valence electron) molecules of main group elements collapse from locally tetrahedral arrangements at the C-center to (near) planar tetracoordinate structures. For C(BeH)₃BH₂ and C(CH₃)(BH₂)Li₂, for example, the tetrahedral type conformation is not even a minimum on the potential energy surface at the B3PW91, MP2(full), or CCSD levels of theory. The Mg analogue C(MgH)₃BH_{2 …}

Cbe5e− (E = Al, Ga, In, Tl): Planar Pentacoordinate Carbon In Heptaatomic Clusters, Abril C. Castro, Gerarso Martinez-Guajardo, Thomas Johnson, Jesus M. Ugalde, Yan-Bo Wu, Jose M. Mercero, Thomas Heine, Kelling J. Donald, Gabriel Merino

Chemistry Faculty Publications

A series of clusters with the general formula CBe₅E^- (E = Al, Ga, In, Tl) are theoretically shown to have a planar pentacoordinate carbon atom. The structures show a simple and rigid topological framework—a planar EBe4 ring surrounding a C center, with one of the ring Be–Be bonds capped in-plane by a fifth Be atom. The system is stabilized by a network of multicenter σ bonds in which the central C atom is the acceptor, and π systems as well by which the C atom donates charge to the Be and E atoms that encircle it.

Process-Evaluation Of Tropospheric Humidity Simulated By General Circulation Models Using Water Vapor Isotopologues: 1. Comparison Between Models And Observations, Camille Risi, David Noone, John Worden, Christian Frankenberg, Gabriele Stiller, Michael Kiefer, Bernd Funke, Kaley Walker, Peter Bernath, Matthias Schneider, Debra Wunch, Vanessa Sherlock, Nicholas Deutscher, David Griffith, Paul O. Wennberg, Kimberly Strong, Dan Smale, Emmanuel Mahieu, Sabine Barthlott, Frank Hase, Omaira García, Justus Notholt, Thorsten Warneke, Geoffrey Toon, David Sayres, Sandrine Bony, Jeonghoon Lee, Derek Brown, Ryu Uemura, Christophe Sturm

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The goal of this study is to determine how H₂O and HDO measurements in water vapor can be used to detect and diagnose biases in the representation of processes controlling tropospheric humidity in atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs). We analyze a large number of isotopic data sets (four satellite, sixteen ground-based remote-sensing, five surface in situ and three aircraft data sets) that are sensitive to different altitudes throughout the free troposphere. Despite significant differences between data sets, we identify some observed HDO/H₂O characteristics that are robust across data sets and that can be used to evaluate …

Progress Towards Heterocycles As Inhibitors Of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, Gregory Alan Abernathy

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Multi-Configurational Investigation Of Thermolytic Pathways Of Highly Strained Ring Systems, Jeffrey Dwayne Veals

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The isomerization pathways of model high energy structures are of interest because of their relation to high energy density fuels. Electron resonance has been found to greatly affect the relative activation barriers for several isomerization pathways, and the major goal of this research is to accurately describe its role in determining the relative barriers for strain energy release pathways. This research is centered around the potential energy surfaces (PES's) for ? bond breaking and ? bond rotation in these highly strained structures. Of particular interest was how would resonance and or electronegativity affect the allowed/disallonature of the activation barriers in …

Facile Synthesis Of Functionalized Poly (Arylene Ether Sulfone)S, Mehmet Tatli

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The synthesis of poly(arylene ether sulfone)s, with a pendant aryl iodide, was achieved via nucleophilic aromatic substitution (NAS) polycondensation of 3-iodo-3',5'-difluoro-diphenylsulfone (2) with Bisphenol-A. Monomer 2 was prepared by the reaction of 3, 5-difluorodiphenylsulfone with N-iodosuccinimide (NIS). Model reactions indicated that the iodo group was stable to NAS conditions. Both GC/MS analysis and NMR spectroscopy indicated quantitative displacement of the two fluorine atoms while the iodo group remained untouched. Furthermore, the modification of the iodo polymer was achieved via Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction with phenyl, naphthyl, and phenylacetyl boronic acids. The thermal properties of the polymers were evaluated via DSC and …

Synthesis Of Mixed Metal Trinuclear Cluster Of Molybdenum And Tungsten And Their Electrochemistry In Ionic Liquids, Jessica Ann Davis

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Research is being done to find a material to improve the efficiency of the ethanol fuel cell by using a platinum free catalyst. Mo2WO2(O2CCH3)6 cluster was synthesized using Mo2(O2CCH3)4 dimer and Na2WO4. One ionic liquid, EMImBF4, was synthesized using methylimidazolim and chloroethane in the first step, and EMImCl and NaBF4 in the second step. The electrochemical properties of the ionic liquid and the metal cluster were studied. A potential window for the EMImBF4 was found to be 3.2 V. The ionic liquid has a wider potential window, and allowed for the observation of the redox properties of Mo2WO2(O2CCH3)6. The electrochemistry …

5a-Butyl-1,3,8,10-Tetra-Chloro-7,13-Bis-(4-Nitro-Benzo-Yl)-5a,6a,12a,12b-Tetra-Hydro-7h,13h-Thieno[2,3-B:4,5-B']Bis-(1,4-Benzoxazine), Kai Tang, Margaret E. Kastner

Faculty Journal Articles

The title compound, C(34)H(24)Cl(4)N(4)O(8)S, is a linear penta-cyclic system formed of two substituted benzoxazinyl groups fused to 2-n-butyl-tetra-hydro-thio-phene. The oxazine ring, which is fused to the n-butyl-substituted side of the thio-phene ring, is in a boat conformation. The other fused oxazine ring and the tetra-hydro-thiene ring are each in an envelope conformation. The bridgehead C atom alpha to both the S and N atoms forms the flap of each envelope. This results in a twist of the penta-cyclic system such that the dihedral angle between the terminal dichloro-benzene rings is 82.92 (8)°. In the crystal, inversion-related mol-ecules form a weakly …

Effects Of Activated Carbon Surface Chemistry Modification On The Adsorption Of Mercury From Aqueous Solution, Emily K. Faulconer

Publications

Mercury (Hg), a naturally occurring element, is toxic and can lead to negative health impacts for humans and ecosystems. Activated carbon adsorption is effective in treating Hg-laden aqueous effluent for safe discharge. Two modifications of commercially available activated carbon were investigated: iron impregnation to allow for magnetic sorbent recapture and wet chemical oxidation to enhance aqueous Hg capture. The modified carbons were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption, XRD, pHpzc, vibrating sample magnetometry, elemental analysis, and total acidity titration. The 3:1 C:Fe magnetic powdered activated carbon (MPAC) retained a high surface area of 790 m2 /g and was 95% magnetically recoverable, with …

Open Data, Open Source, And Open Standards In Chemistry: The Blue Obelisk Five Years On, Andrew Lang, Noel M. O'Boyle, Rajarshi Guha, Egon Willighagen, Samuel Adams, Jonathan Alvarsson, Jean-Claude Bradley, Igor Filippov, Robert M. Hanson, Marcus D. Hanwell, Geoffrey R. Hutchison, Craig A. James, Nina Jeliazkova, Karol M. Langner, David C. Lonie, Daniel M. Lowe, Jerome Pansanel, Dmitry Pavlov, Ola Spjuth, Christoph Steinbeck, Adam L. Tenderholt, Kevin J. Theisen, Peter Murray-Rust

College of Science and Engineering Faculty Research and Scholarship

Background: The Blue Obelisk movement was established in 2005 as a response to the lack of Open Data, Open Standards and Open Source (ODOSOS) in chemistry. It aims to make it easier to carry out chemistry research by promoting interoperability between chemistry software, encouraging cooperation between Open Source developers, and developing community resources and Open Standards. Results: This contribution looks back on the work carried out by the Blue Obelisk in the past 5 years and surveys progress and remaining challenges in the areas of Open Data, Open Standards, and Open Source in chemistry. Conclusions: We show that the Blue …

The Regulation Of Skeletal Muscle Protein Turnover During The Progression Of Cancer Cachexia In The ApcMin/+ Mouse, James P. White, John W. Baynes, Stephen L. Welle, Matthew C. Kostek, Lydia E. Matesic, Shuichi Sato, James A. Carson

Faculty Publications

Muscle wasting that occurs with cancer cachexia is caused by an imbalance in the rates of muscle protein synthesis and degradation. The Apc(Min/+) mouse is a model of colorectal cancer that develops cachexia that is dependent on circulating IL-6. However, the IL-6 regulation of muscle protein turnover during the initiation and progression of cachexia in the Apc(Min/+) mouse is not known. Cachexia progression was studied in Apc(Min/+) mice that were either weight stable (WS) or had initial (≤5%), intermediate (6-19%), or extreme (≥20%) body weight loss. The initiation of cachexia reduced %MPS 19% and a further ∼50% with additional weight …

Cucurbit[8]Uril Rotaxanes, Vijayakumar Ramalingam, Adam R. Urbach

Chemistry Faculty Research

The synthesis of [2]rotaxanes, each comprising a viologen core threaded through a cucurbit[8]uril (Q8, Figure 1) macrocycle and stoppered by tetraphenylmethane groups, and their binding to second guests as inclusion complexes in organic and aqueous media are described. Stoppering was observed to have little effect on binding. Chemical modification of the threaded guest was used to control solubility and binding characteristics, thus demonstrating a novel approach to making artificial receptors with readily modifiable properties.

Creation Of Post Ap Chemistry Class, Julian Medrano

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The creation of a Post AP Chemistry Class to be taught at the high school level for grade 12 students is discussed. The class is to be taught under the supervision of the University of Texas Pan American professors and taught by an MS Chemistry teacher, in order to better transition students into upper level chemistry courses beyond Chemistry 1401 and 1402.

Chemical Education Experiences From The English Language Learner Perspective, Annette Flores

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a region populated by Spanish-speaking immigrants and their descendants producing a large English Language Learner (ELL) student population. ELLs have historically had low literacy rates and achievement levels when compared to their counterparts. In order to address this achievement gap, previous research efforts and curriculum interventions have focused on language acquisition as being the determining factor in ELL education, with little attention given to academic content acquisition. More current research efforts have transitioned into English language acquisition through academic content instruction; this present research study specifically focuses on ELL experiences in chemistry. Participants were …

Efficient Quantum Trajectory Representation Of Wavefunctions Evolving In Imaginary Time, Sophya V. Garashchuk, James Mazzuca, Tijo Vazhappilly

Faculty Publications

The Boltzmann evolution of a wavefunction can be recast as imaginary-time dynamics of the quantum trajectory ensemble. The quantum effects arise from the momentum-dependent quantum potential – computed approximately to be practical in high-dimensional systems – influencing the trajectories in addition to the external classical potential [S. Garashchuk, J. Chem. Phys.132, 014112 (2010)]. For a nodelesswavefunction represented as ψ(x, t) = exp ( − S(x, t)/ℏ) with the trajectory momenta defined by ∇S(x, t), analysis of the Lagrangian and Eulerian evolution shows that for bound potentials the former …

Synthesis Of The Precursors For A New Covalent Organic Framework With Triangular Shaped Pores, Fernando J. Correa ^, Venkata P. Neti, Luis A. Echegoyen *

COURI Symposium Abstracts, Summer 2011

No abstract provided.