The competitive solvent extractions of alkali and alkaline earth metals by di-ionizable calix[4]arene nano-baskets were studied using nine conformers of calix[4]arene nano-baskets. The objective of this work is to assess the variation of macrocycle conformation, orientation and position of pendant moieties upon the extraction parameters (efficiency, selectivity and $pH_{1/2}$) of the complexes. The results revealed that alternation of ring conformation in calixarene scaffold affects the solvent extraction parameters towards alkali and alkaline earth metals, while changing the orientation of pendant moieties from ortho- to para- as well as cis- to trans-analogues depicted no changes in those extraction parameters.

Rhodamine B dye (RB) has been introduced into the mesoporous silica (SBA15) and Ag anchored mesoporous silica by applying solution impregnation method. Surface treatment of SBA15 with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) facilitates selective anchoring of the RB molecules on SBA15. The photoluminescence spectra of RB confined within SBA15 indicates higher emission intensity, than that of the RB solid, particularly in the presence of Ag nanoparticles. The significant enhancement in photoluminescence intensity is attributed to the local enhancement of the optical fields near the molecules by interactions with silver plasmons.

A quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) study was performed for the prediction of the absorption maxima of azobenzene dyes. The entire set of 191 azobenzenes was divided into a training set of 150 azobenzenes and a test set of 41 azobenzenes according to Kennard and Stones algorithm. A seven-descriptor model, with squared correlation coefficient ($R^2$) of 0.8755 and standard error of estimation (s) of 14.476, was developed by applying stepwise multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis on the training set. The reliability of the proposed model was further illustrated using various evaluation techniques: leave-many-out crossvalidation procedure, randomization tests, and validation through the test set.

The potential energy surface (PES) for the isomerizations and dissociations of the acrylonitrile radical cation was determined from the CBS-QB3 and CBS-APNO calculations. The Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus model calculations were performed based on the PES in order to predict the competitions among the dissociation channels. The mechanisms for the loss of $H^{\bullet}$, $H_2$, $CN^{\bullet}$, HCN, and HNC were proposed. The $C_3H_2N^+$ ion formed by loss of $H^{\bullet}$ was predicted as a mixture of $CH{\equiv}C-C=NH^+$, $CH{\equiv}C-N{\equiv}CH^+$, and $CH_2=C-C{\equiv}N^+$. Furthermore $CH{\equiv}C-C{\equiv}N^{+{\bullet}}$ was formed mainly by a consecutive 1,2-H shift and 1,2-H2 elimination.

The nucleophilic substitution reactions of diisopropyl thiophophinic chloride (3) with substituted anilines ($XC_6H_4NH_2$) and deuterated anilines ($XC_6H_4ND_2$) are investigated kinetically in acetonitrile at $65.0^{\circ}C$. The anilinolysis rate of 3 is rather slow to be rationalized by the conventional stereoelectronic effects. The obtained deuterium kinetic isotope effects (DKIEs; $k_H/k_D$) are secondary inverse ($k_H/k_D$ = 0.80-0.96). The anilinolyses of ten P=S systems in MeCN are reviewed on the basis of DKIEs and selectivity parameters to obtain systematic information on the DKIEs and mechanism for thiophosphoryl transfer reactions. The steric effects of the two ligands on reactivity, DKIEs, mechanism, and substituent effects of the nucleophile (X) on the DKIEs are discussed.

An efficient synthesis of 1,5-Benzothiazepines via Michael addition of corresponding (E)-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-(phenylthio)phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one is described under ultrasound irradiation. A series of novel 2-((E)-2,3-dihydro-2-(4-(phenylthio)phenyl)benzo[b][1,4]thiazepin-4-yl)phenol derivatives was confirmed on the basis of $^1H$ NMR, Mass, IR spectral data and Elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities. Most of the compounds were found to be comparable potent than the reference standard drugs. Utilization of ultrasound irradiation, simple reaction conditions, isolation, and purification makes this manipulation very interesting from an economic and environmental perspective.

Cellular uptake of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) triggers strong innate immune responses via activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ transcription factor. However, the detailed mechanism of dsDNA-mediated innate immune response remains yet to be elucidated. Here, we show that the expression of tazarotene-induced gene 3 (TIG3) is dramatically induced by dsDNA stimulation, and the siRNA-mediated down-regulation of TIG3 mRNA results in significant suppression of dsDNA-triggered cytokine expression. Because TIG3 has been previously shown to physically interact with transglutaminase (TG) 1 to activate TG activity, and TG2 has been shown to induce NF-${\kappa}B$ activity by inducing $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ polymerization, we tested whether TG also plays a role in dsDNA-mediated innate immune response. Pre-treatment of TG inhibitors dramatically reduces dsDNA-triggered cytokine induction. We also show that, in HeLa cells, TG2 is the major TG, and TIG3 physically interacts with TG2. Combined together, our results suggest a novel mechanism of dsDNA-triggered innate immune response which is critically dependent on TIG3 and TG2.

General, fast, and efficient fusion methods for the synthesis of dendrimers with 1,3-diynes at a core were developed. The synthetic strategy was employed the oxidative homo-coupling of terminal alkyne. The oxidative homo-coupling reaction of the alkyne-functionalized Frechet-type dendrons 1-Dm was allowed to provide first through fourth generation dendrimers 2-Gm with 1,3-diynes at core. The fusion of the propargylfunctionalized PAMAM dendrons 3-Dm by homo-coupling of terminal alkyne lead to the formation of symmetric PAMAM dendrimers 4-Gm. Their structure of dendrimers was confirmed by $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and GPC analysis.

A new octahedral Ru(III) complex with a tripodal tetraamine ligand, tpea = tris[2-(1-pyrazoyl)ethyl]amine, has been prepared and characterized. The single crystal X-ray crystallographic study of the complex revealed that the complex has a near octahedral geometry with the tetradentate ligand and two chloride ions. Peroxidase activity was examined by observing the oxidation of 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the complex. Amount of $ABTS^{+{\bullet}}$ generated during the reaction was monitored by UV/VIS and EPR spectroscopies. After the initiation of the peroxidase reaction, $ABTS^{+{\bullet}}$ concentration increases and then decreases after certain time, indicating that both ABTS and $ABTS^{+{\bullet}}$ are the substrates of the peroxidase activity of the Ru(III) complex.

In this paper we have carried out molecular dynamics simulations (MD) for model systems of liquid n-alkane oligomers ($C_{12}{\sim}C_{80}$) at high temperatures (~2300 K) in a canonical ensemble to calculate viscosity ${\eta}$, self-diffusion constants D, and monomeric friction constant ${\zeta}$. We found that the long chains of these n-alkanes at high temperatures show an abnormality in density and in monomeric friction constant. The behavior of both activation energies, $E_{\eta}$ and $E_D$, and the mass and temperature dependence of ${\eta}$, D, and ${\zeta}$ are discussed.

3-Chloro-1-benzothiophene-2-carbonyl chloride 1 was reacted with glycine in acetone to give 3-chloro-1-benzothiophen-2-yl-carbonylaminoacetic acid 2. Various aldehydes on treatment with compound 2 in acetic anhydride to gave 1,3-oxazol-5-ones 3a-d. These oxazolones was treated with aromatic amines or hydrazides to get various imidazol-4-ones 4a-t or 5a-l. Oxazolones 3a-d was also treated with aromatic hydrazines, expansion of five member oxazole ring to six member triazine ring occurs to yield 1,2,4-triazin-6-ones 6a-h. The structures of all the synthesized compounds were confirmed by spectral data and had been screened for antibacterial activity.

A noble method for pre-concentration and speciation of ultra trace As (III) and As (V) in urine and whole blood samples based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) has been developed. In this method, As (III) was complexed with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate at pH = 4 and Then, As (III) was extracted into the ionic liquid (IL). Finally, As (III) was back-extracted from the IL with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and its concentration was determined by flow injection coupled with hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-HGAAS). Total amount of arsenic was determined by reducing As (V) to As (III) with potassium iodide (KI) and ascorbic acid in HCl solution and then, As (V) was calculated by the subtracting the total arsenic and As (III) content. Under the optimum conditions, for 5-15 mL of blood and urine samples, the detection limit ($3{\sigma}$) and linear range were achieved 5 ng $L^{-1}$ and 0.02-10 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The method was applied successfully to the speciation and determination of As (III) and As (V) in biological samples of multiple sclerosis patients with suitable precision results (RSD < 5%). Validation of the methodology was performed by the standard reference material (CRM).

We synthesized peptide-resin conjugates (1 and 2) by immobilizing ${\beta}$-sheet antibacterial peptide and ${\alpha}$ helical antibacterial peptide on PEG-PS resin, respectively. Conjugate 1 showed considerable antibacterial activity in various conditions, whereas conjugate 2 did not exhibit antibacterial activity. The growths of various bacteria were inhibited by conjugate 1 even at lower concentrations than MIC. Conjugate 1 killed bacteria at MIC and had a potent synergistic effect with current antibacterial agents such as vancomycin and tetracycline, respectively. Overall results indicate that polymer surface modification using antibacterial ${\beta}$ sheet peptide is a powerful way to prevent microbial contamination on polymer surfaces.

General, fast, and efficient stitching methods for the synthesis of dendrimers with linear PEG units at a core, as dendritic-linear-dendritic materials, were developed. The synthetic strategy involved the click reaction between an alkyne and an azide. The linear core building blocks, three dialkyne-PEG units, were chosen to serve as the alkyne functionalities for dendrimer growth via click reactions with the azide-dendrons. These three building blocks were employed together with the azide-functionalized Fr$\acute{e}$chet-type dendrons in a convergent strategy to synthesize the Fr$\acute{e}$chet-type dendrimers with different linear core units. Their structure of dendrimers was confirmed by $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and GPC analysis.

The specific rates of sovolysis of 1-piperidincarbonyl chloride (1) have been determined in 26 pure and binary solvents at $25.0^{\circ}C$. Comparison of the specific rates of solvolyses of 1 with those for p-methoxybenzoyl chloride and those for 4-morpholinecarbonyl chloride in terms of linear free energy relationships (LFER) are helpful in mechanistic considerations, as is also treatment in terms of the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation. It is proposed that the solvolyses of 1 in binary aqueous solvent mixtures proceed through an ionization [I] pathway rather than through an $S_N1/S_N2$ and/or ionization/(ionization-elimination) = [I/(I-E)] pathway.

The nucleophilic substitution reactions of Y-aryl ethyl chlorothiophosphates with X-pyridines are studied kinetically in acetonitrile at $55.0^{\circ}C$. The Hammett and Bronsted plots for substituent X variations in the nucleophiles exhibit biphasic concave upwards with a break point at X = 3-Me. The substituents of X = 4-CN and 4-Ac show great positive deviations from both the Hammett and Bronsted plots. The Hammett plots for substituent Y variations in the substrates exhibit biphasic concave upwards with a minimum point at Y = H. The obtained values of the cross-interaction constants (${\rho}_{XY}$) are all in spite of the biphasic free energy correlations for both substituent X and Y variations, since the ${\rho}_X$values with both the strongly and weakly basic pyridines are almost constant. A stepwise mechanism with a rate-limiting leaving group departure from the intermediate is proposed where the distance between X and Y does not vary from the intermediate to the second transition state. A frontside attack is proposed with the strongly basic pyridines based on the considerably great magnitudes of ${\rho}_X$ and ${\beta}_X$ values and a backside attack is proposed with the weakly basic pyridines based on the relatively small magnitudes of ${\rho}_X$ and ${\beta}_X$. The positive deviations of the two strong ${\pi}$-acceptor parasubstituents, X = 4-Ac and 4-CN, from both the Hammett and Bronsted plots are rationalized by the great extents of bond formation and breaking.

The effect of sintering temperature on the electrochemical property of $LiMn_2O_4$ was investigated. Results showed that the particle size was increased at higher sintering temperatures while the initial capacity was decreased after high temperature sintering. Capacity fading, on the other hand, was suppressed at lower sintering temperatures since the sintering at higher temperatures (${\geq}800^{\circ}C$) increased the Mn ions with a lower oxidation state ($Mn^{+3}$), which induced structural instability during cycling due to dissolution of Mn ions into the electrolyte. In particular, $LiMn_2O_4$ sintered above $830^{\circ}C$ showed severe capacity fading (capacity loss was 38% of initial capacity) by lower coulombic efficiency due to the abnormally increased particle size.

A simple propargylamide-fuctionalized chemodosimeter was prepared for the ratiometric fluorescence detection of mercuric ions in HEPES buffer. The chemodosimeter exhibited $Hg^{2+}$-induced propargyl amide-tooxazole transformation, with a significant accompanying ratiometric change in fluorescence. It afforded high selectivity for mercuric ion detection without any competitive inhibition by common alkali, alkaline earth, or other transition metal ions. The probe showed a $17{\times}10^{-6}M$ detection limit for $Hg^{2+}$ ions and potential applicability for detecting aqueous $Hg^{2+}$ ions.

A series of pyranopyrazoles, was efficiently synthesized via one-pot, four component reaction of ethyl acetoacetate, hydrazine hydrate, aldehydes and malononitrile in the presence of catalytic amount silicotungstic acid under solvent free condition. NOE experiments confirmed that the product exist exclusively in the 2H form. The present protocol offers the advantages of clean reaction, short reaction time, high yield, easy purification and economic availability of the catalyst.

A whole body physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was applied to investigate absorption, distribution, and physiologic variations on pharmacokinetics of imatinib in human body. Previously published pharmacokinetic data of the drug after intravenous (i.v.) infusion and oral administration were simulated by the PBPK model. Oral dose absorption kinetics were analyzed by adopting a compartmental absorption and transit model in gut section. Tissue/plasma partition coefficients of drug after i.v. infusion were also used for oral administration. Sensitivity analysis of the PBPK model was carried out by taking parameters that were commonly subject to variation in human. Drug concentration in adipose tissue was found to be higher than those in other tissues, suggesting that adipose tissue plays a role as a storage tissue for the drug. Variations of metabolism in liver, body weight, and blood/plasma partition coefficient were found to be important factors affecting the plasma concentration profile of drug in human body.

The reductive pinacol coupling reaction of aldehydes or ketones creating a new C-C bond has been a major tool to produce 1,2-diol compounds. The reaction mechanism is known to be composed of sequential three steps (activation, coupling, and dissociation). In this work, we studied the dissociation step of half-titanocene-based catalytic systems. Cp and $Cp^*$ derivatives of the pinacolato-bridged dinuclear complex were synthesized and evaluated as possible models for intermediates from the coupling step. We monitored $^1H$-NMR spectra of the reaction between the metalla-pinacol intermediates and $D_2O$. New reaction routes of the dissociation step including oxo- and pinacolato-dibridged dinuclear complexes and oxo-bridged multinuclear complexes have been suggested.

Eight ionizable nano-baskets of cone 25,26-di(carboxymethoxy)calix[4]arene-crown-3,4,5,6 were synthesized and were verified by $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The competitive solvent extractions of alkali and alkaline earth metal cations were studied using such nano-baskets. The novelty of this study is including three binding units of calixarene's bowl, crown ether's ring and electron-donor ionizable moieties in a unique scaffold to assess the binding tendency towards the cations. The objective of this work is to study the extraction efficiency, selectivity and $pH_{1/2}$ of such complexes. The result of solvent extraction experiments indicated that these compounds were effective extractants of alkali and alkaline earth metal cations. Their selectivities were greatly influenced by the acidity of solution and the conformations of the calixcrown. One conformer was selective to $Na^+$ in pH ${\geq}$ 4, while the other was highly selective to $Ba^{2+}$ in pH 6 and upper.

$TiO_2-SiO_2-In_2O_3$ nanocomposite thin film was deposited on the glass substrates using a dip coating technique. The morphology, surface composition, surface hydroxyl groups, photocatalytic activity and hydrophilic properties of the thin film were investigated by AFM, XPS, methyl orange decoloring rate and water contact angle measurements. The hydroxyl content for $TiO_2$, $TiO_2-SiO_2$ and $TiO_2-SiO_2-In_2O_3$ nanocomposite films was calculated to be 11.6, 17.1 and 20.7%, respectively. $TiO_2-SiO_2-In_2O_3$ film turned superhydrophilic after 180-min irradiation with respect to pure $TiO_2$ and $TiO_2-SiO_2$ thin films. The photocatalytic decomposition of methyl orange for $TiO_2$, $TiO_2-SiO_2$ and $TiO_2-SiO_2-In_2O_3$ thin films was measured as 38.19, 58.71 and 68.02%, respectively. The results indicated that $SiO_2$ and $In_2O_3$ had a significant effect on the hydrophilic, photocatalytic and self-cleaning properties of $TiO_2$ thin film.

In an attempt to find a new class of anti microbial agents, a series of thiazolidinone and their 5-arylidene derivatives containing 4-(4-methyl benzamido)-benzoyl moiety were synthesized via the reaction of benzocaine with appropriate chemical reagents. These compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus thuringiensis), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and antifungal activity against Botrytis fabae, Fusarium oxysporan and Candida albicans. On the other hand the synthesized compounds were also screened for their anti tubercular activity. IR, $^1H$ NMR, $^{13}C$ NMR and MS spectral analyses established the structures of the newly synthesized compounds. The results revealed that some of these compounds have shown promising antimicrobial and anti tubercular activity in comparison with standard drugs.

Various 5-substituted 1H-tetrazole derivatives were synthesized in a simple and environmentally benign method from the reaction of aryl and benzyl nitriles with sodium azide in solvent-free media using montmorillonite K-10 clay as solid recyclable heterogeneous acidic catalyst and microwave irradiation in good yields and short reaction times.

We investigated thermal behavior of spin-coated films of P(HB-co-HHx)/PEG blends by using infraredreflection absorption (IRRAS) spectroscopy and 2D correlation spectroscopy. Based on 2D IRRAS correlation spectra, we could determine the sequence of spectral intensity changes with increasing temperature that PEG band changes first and then a band for crystalline component of P(HB-co-HHx) changes before a band for amorphous component. The intensities of bands for PEG and amorphous P(HB-co-HHx) were changed greatly as PEG weigh % of P(HB-co-HHx)/PEG blends increased. Transition temperatures of P(HB-co-HHx)/PEG blends were successfully determined by 2D gradient mapping method. The transition temperature of spincoated films of 98/2 and 90/10 P(HB-co-HHx)/PEG blends and 80/20 P(HB-co-HHx)/PEG blend determined by 2D gradient map are, respectively, about 137.5 and $132.5^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, P(HB-co-HHx)/PEG blends show an additional transition temperature that have been interpreted in terms of different lamellar thicknesses in spin coated films.

We explored the interpretation of the well-accepted correlation between the apparent peak maximum position shift and extent of molecular interactions, like hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole interactions, based on the overlapped multiple band model. The simulation of two overlapped Lorentzian bands was carried out to interpret how the maximum position of a composite peak relates to the relative contributions of two species representing the different levels of molecular interactions, i.e., free (or very weekly bound) vs. strongly bound. To demonstrate the validity of our interpretation of the origin of the peak position shift, the temperaturedependent IR spectra of ethylene glycol were also analyzed. It was found through the analysis of simulated and experimental spectra that the apparent peak shift in certain case can be safely interpreted as the measure of the strength of hydrogen bonding. The result of this study gives a new insight to interpret molecular interactions probed by vibrational spectroscopy.

A number of mimetic peptides of apolipoprotein A-I, a major component for high density lipoproteins (HDL), were screened from the phase-displayed random peptide library by utilizing monoclonal antibodies (A12). A mimetic peptide for A12 epitope against apolipoprotein A-I was selected as FVLVRDTFPSSVCCP(pA2) exhibiting 45% homology with Apo A-I in the BLAST search. Solution structure determination of this mimotope was made by using 2D-NMR data and NMR-based distance geometry (DG)/molecular dynamic calculations. The resulting DG structures had low penalty value of 0.4-0.6 ${\AA}^2$ and the total RMSD of 0.7-1.7 ${\AA}$. The mimotope pA2 exhibited a characteristic ${\beta}$-turn conformation from Val[2] to Phe[8] near Pro[9] residue.

Functions of the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) and its induced release by divalent metal ions have received great attention because this neurotransmitter subsequently regulates the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH). Metal-LHRH complexes were synthesized by addition of various Cu(II),Ni(II),Zn(II) ions into LHRH in order to understand how the induced release of LHRH is possible. The degree of complexation was monitored by $^1H$, $^{13}C$-NMR chemical shifts, and final products were identified by Mass spectrometry. Solutionstate structure determination of Zn(II)-LHRH out of metal-complexes was accomplished by using NMR and NMR-based distance geometry (DG). Interproton distance information from nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy was utilized for structure determination. Structure obtained in this study has a cyclic conformation exhibiting a specific ${\alpha}$-helical turn with residue numbers His[2]-Leu[7] out of 10 amino acids. Comparison of chemical shifts and EPR studies of Ni(II),Cu(II)-LHRH complexes exhibit that these metal complexes have 4-coordination geometry.

$CaCO_3$ crystalline structures having novel assemblies were in situ fabricated as analogs of naturally occurring proteins and polysaccharides for biomineralization. The calcite crystal was mineralized in a poly(vinyl alcohol)-$Ca^{2+}$ complex film immersed in a $Na_2CO_3$ solution containing poly(aspartic acid). The morphology and size of the $CaCO_3$ crystals were tuned by varying the concentration of poly(aspartic acid). The mechanisms of their nucleation orientation and formation were investigated experimentally and through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in order to obtain a better understanding of the interactions between the polymers and the crystal at the molecular level. Both the MD results and experimental results indicate that the interaction between PVA and calcite mainly depends on the concentration of the polymer. The novel approach proposed herein for the fabrication of inorganic crystalline assembly structures can be used to fabricate precise crystalline structures.

Long $TiO_2$ nanotube (NT) arrays, prepared by electrochemical anodization of Ti foils, have been utilized as dye-adsorbing electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). By anodizing for 1-24 hr and subsequent annealing, highly crystallized and tightly-adhered NT arrays were tailored to 11-150 ${\mu}m$ lengths, ~90 nm innerpore diameter and ~30 nm wall thickness. I-V curves revealed that the photovoltaic conversion efficiency (${\eta}$) was proportional to the NT length up to 36 ${\mu}m$. Beyond this length, the ) was proportional to the NT length up to ${\eta}$ was still steadily increased, though at a much lower rate. For example, an ${\eta}$ of 5.05% at 36 ${\mu}m$ was increased to 6.18% at 150 ${\mu}m$. Transient photoelectron spectroscopic analyses indicated that NT array-based DSCs revealed considerably higher electron diffusion coefficient ($D_e$) and life time (${\tau}_e$) than those with $TiO_2$ nanoparticles (NP). Moreover, the electron diffusion lengths ($L_e$) of the photo-injected electrons were considerably larger than the corresponding NT lengths in all the cases, suggesting that electron transport in NT arrays is highly efficient, regardless of tube length.

High molecular weight tetrasulfonated poly(arylene biphenylsulfone ether) (TsPBPSEH) copolymers containing up to four pendant sulfonate groups per repeat unit were synthesized via aromatic nucleophilic displacement condensation from 4,4'-bis(4-chloro-3-sulfonatophenylsulfonyl)biphenyl-2,2'-disulfonate (SBCSBPD), 4,4'-dichlorodiphenylsulfone (DCDPS) and 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphenol (6F-BPA). The synthesized copolymers were structurally characterized using $^1H$ NMR and FT-IR techniques. They were analytically pure, amorphous and were readily soluble in a wide range of organic solvents. Electrolyte membranes were successfully cast using the synthesized polymers with various sulfonation levels and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. This new class of polymer membranes exhibited elevated thermal and physical stabilities and reduced swelling at high temperatures. An increase of acidic functional groups in the copolymer yielded high ion exchange capacity and moderate ionic conductivity values even at higher temperatures, which makes them potential ion conducting candidates.

A new compound, kalopanaxin F (3), and 11 known compounds (1, 2, 4-12), were isolated from the stem bark of Kalopanax pictus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic methods. Five of the compounds (2, 3, 5, 6, and 12) significantly inhibited $TNF{\alpha}$-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ transcriptional activity in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 6.2 to 9.1 ${\mu}M$. Furthermore, the transcriptional inhibitory function of these compounds was confirmed based on decreases in COX-2 and iNOS gene expression in HepG2 cells. Compounds 3-7, 9, and 12 significantly activated the transcriptional activity of PPARs dose-dependently, with $EC_{50}$ values ranging from 4.1-$12.7{\mu}M$. Compounds 4 and 5 exhibited $PPAR{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, and $PPAR{\beta}({\delta})$ transactivational activities in a dose-dependent manner, with $EC_{50}$ values of 16.0 and 17.0, 8.7 and 16.5, 26.2 and 26.3 ${\mu}M$, respectively.