Design, synthesis and cholinesterase inhibitory properties of new oxazole benzylamine derivatives.

The enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) are primary targets in attenuating the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. Their inhibition results in elevated concentrations of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which supports communication among nerve cells. It was previously shown for 4/5-arylethenyloxazole compounds to have moderate AChE and BChE inhibitory properties.

Episodic Visual Snow Associated With Migraine Attacks.

This case series describes 3 individuals with episodic visual snow, co-occurring with migraines.

A Hole Delocalization Strategy: Photoinduced Mixed-Valence MLCT States Featuring Extended Lifetimes.

Bimetallic -[Ru(tpm)(bpy)(μNC)Ru(L)(CN)], where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, tpm is tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane and L = 4-methoxypyridine (MeOpy) or pyridine (py), was examined using ultrafast vis-NIR transient absorption spectroscopy. Of great relevance are the longest-lived excited states in the form of strongly coupled photoinduced mixed-valence systems, which exhibit intense photoinduced absorptions in the NIR and are freely tunable by the judicious choice of the coordination spheres of the metallic ions. Using the latter strategy, we succeeded in tailoring the excited state lifetimes of bimetallic complexes and, in turn, achieving significantly longer values relative to related monometallic complexes.

Electronic Energy Transduction from {Ru(py)} Chromophores to Cr(III) Luminophores.

Despite the large body of work on {Ru(bpy)} sensitizer fragments, the same attention has not been devoted to their {Ru(py)} analogues. In this context, we explored the donor-acceptor trans-[Ru(L){(μ-NC)Cr(CN)}], where L = pyridine, 4-methoxypyridine, 4-dimethylaminopyridine. We report on the synthesis and the crystal structure as well as the electrochemical, spectroscopical, and photophysical properties of these trimetallic complexes, including transient absorption measurements.

Counterion effects on the ultrafast dynamics of charge-transfer-to-solvent electrons.

We performed femtosecond transient absorption (TA) experiments to monitor the solvation dynamics of charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) electrons originating from UV photoexcitation of ammoniated iodide in close proximity to the counterions. Solutions of KI were prepared in liquid ammonia and TA experiments were carried out at different temperatures and densities, along the liquid-gas coexistence curve of the fluid. The results complement previous femtosecond TA work by P.

Distant ultrafast energy transfer in a trimetallic {Ru-Ru-Cr} complex facilitated by hole delocalization.

Multi-metallic complexes based on {Ru-Cr}, {Ru-Ru} and {Ru-Ru-Cr} fragments are investigated for their light-harvesting and long-range energy transfer properties. We report the synthesis and characterization of [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(μ-CN)Ru(py)Cl] and [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(μ-CN)Ru(py)(μ-NC)Cr(CN)]. The intercalation of {Ru(py)} linked by cyanide bridges between {Ru(tpy)(bpy)} and {Cr(CN)} results in efficient, distant energy transfer followed by emission from the Cr moiety.

Mind in the Gap Between Neural and Social Networks - Cyberspace and Virtual Reality in Psychiatry and Healthcare.

In terms of health and healthcare cyberspace and virtual reality can be used differently and for different purposes and consequently create different outcomes. The three main areas which we shall discuss here are: 1) cyberspace as provider of health information and self-help resources, since the anonymity cyberspace provides is particularly important in the highly stigmatized field of psychiatry where a large number of people never seek professional help, which in turn negatively affects not only the person in question, but the family and ultimately the society (work efficiency, disability-adjusted life year - DALY, etc.), 2) cyberspace and virtual reality (VR) as cause of psychopathology, starting from violent behaviour, to addictive behaviour and other, 3) and finally cyberspace and VR as providers of efficient professional therapy in the field of psychiatry.

Spectroscopic signatures of ligand field states in {Ru(II)(imine)} complexes.

Ligand field (LF) states have been present in discussions on the photophysics and photochemistry of ruthenium-iminic chromophores for decades, although there is very little documented direct evidence of them. We studied the picosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy of four {Ru(II)(imine)} complexes that respond to the formula trans-[Ru(L)4(X)2], where L is either pyridine (py) or 4-methoxypyridine (MeOpy) and X is either cyanide or thiocyanate. Dicyano compounds behave as most ruthenium polypyridines and their LF states remain silent.

Multiphoton Excitation of Upconverting Nanoparticles in Pulsed Regime.

Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) present emission in the visible region upon irradiation with NIR light through a multiphoton mechanism. However, the long characteristic time of their emission has prevented the use of this kind of entities as multiphoton probes. We present a study on the use of erbium-containing UCNPs under pulsed excitation, showing that both the power density and the duration of the excitation pulse are key factors to understand the emission behavior.

Tuning the structure, dimensionality and luminescent properties of lanthanide metal-organic frameworks under ancillary ligand influence.

This manuscript addresses the synthesis, structural characterization and optical properties of a 1D coordination polymer (CPs) and 2D and 3D Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) obtained from lanthanide metals, 3-hydroxinaftalene-2,7-disulfonic acid (3-OHNDS) and two different phenanthroline derivates as ancillary ligands. The first is a family of 2D compounds with formula [Ln(3-OHNDS)(H2O)2], where Ln = La(), Pr(), Nd() and Sm(). The addition of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in the reaction produces 1D compounds with general formula [Ln(3-OHNDS)(phen)(H2O)]·3H2O, where Ln = La(), Pr(), Nd() and Sm().

Improved elongation factor-1 alpha-based vectors for stable high-level expression of heterologous proteins in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Background: Establishing highly productive clonal cell lines with constant productivity over 2-3 months of continuous culture remains a tedious task requiring the screening of tens of thousands of clonal colonies. In addition, long-term cultivation of many candidate lines derived in the absence of drug selection pressure is necessary. Expression vectors based on the elongation factor-1 alpha (EEF1A) gene and the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) selection marker (with separate promoters) can be used to obtain highly productive populations of stably transfected cells in the selection medium, but they have not been tested for their ability to support target gene amplification under gradually increasing methotrexate pressure.

Direct observation of single layer graphene oxide reduction through spatially resolved, single sheet absorption/emission microscopy.

Laser reduction of graphene oxide (GO) offers unique opportunities for the rapid, nonchemical production of graphene. By tuning relevant reduction parameters, the band gap and conductivity of reduced GO can be precisely controlled. In situ monitoring of single layer GO reduction is therefore essential.

Direct observation of spatially heterogeneous single-layer graphene oxide reduction kinetics.

Graphene oxide (GO) is an important precursor in the production of chemically derived graphene. During reduction, GO's electrical conductivity and band gap change gradually. Doping and chemical functionalization are also possible, illustrating GO's immense potential in creating functional devices through control of its local hybridization.

The role of counterion valence and size in GAAA tetraloop-receptor docking/undocking kinetics.

For RNA to fold into compact, ordered structures, it must overcome electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged phosphate groups by counterion recruitment. A physical understanding of the counterion-assisted folding process requires addressing how cations kinetically and thermodynamically control the folding equilibrium for each tertiary interaction in a full-length RNA. In this work, single-molecule FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) techniques are exploited to isolate and explore the cation-concentration-dependent kinetics for formation of a ubiquitous RNA tertiary interaction, that is, the docking/undocking of a GAAA tetraloop with its 11-nt receptor.

Psychiatric hospital--from asylums to centres for mind-body wellness.

Throughout history mental illness was mystified, feared and condemned, but over time perception and treatment of psychiatric patients changed. Systematic care for the mentally ill in specialised institutions began about six hundred years ago. However, it was of a repressive and restrictive character towards the patients until as late as 19th century, a time of significant progress and development for the science of psychiatry.

Low temperature solution-phase growth of ZnSe and ZnSe/CdSe core/shell nanowires.

High quality ZnSe nanowires (NWs) and complementary ZnSe/CdSe core/shell species have been synthesized using a recently developed solution-liquid-solid (SLS) growth technique. In particular, bismuth salts as opposed to pre-synthesized Bi or Au/Bi nanoparticles have been used to grow NWs at low temperatures in solution. Resulting wires are characterized using transmission electron microscopy and possess mean ensemble diameters between 15 and 28 nm with accompanying lengths ranging from 4-10 μm.

Design of low cost gas sensor based on SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 films.

We have prepared SrTiO3/BaTiO3 multilayer film on alumina substrates by a sol-gel technique and investigated their response for sensing ethanol vapor. The surface morphology of the films were characterized by atomic force microscope (AFM) showing that the grain size of the films increase up to 40 nm as the annealing temperature increased to 1000 degrees C. The ethanol sensors based on SrTiO3/BaTiO3 thin films were fabricated by applying interdigitated gold electrodes by sputtering technique.

Monovalent and divalent promoted GAAA tetraloop-receptor tertiary interactions from freely diffusing single-molecule studies.

Proper assembly of RNA into catalytically active three-dimensional structures requires multiple tertiary binding interactions, individual characterization of which is crucial to a detailed understanding of global RNA folding. This work focuses on single-molecule fluorescence studies of freely diffusing RNA constructs that isolate the GAAA tetraloop-receptor tertiary interaction. Freely diffusing conformational dynamics are explored as a function of Mg(2+) and Na(+) concentration, both of which promote facile docking, but with 500-fold different affinities.

Preparation of iron boride-silica core-shell nanoparticles with soft ferromagnetic properties.

A one-pot aqueous chemical synthesis for silica-passivated ferromagnetic nanoparticles is presented. The average size of these particles is 84 ± 20 nm. The x-ray and electron diffraction experiments revealed that the nanoparticles are mainly composed of polycrystalline iron boride.

Metal ion dependence, thermodynamics, and kinetics for intramolecular docking of a GAAA tetraloop and receptor connected by a flexible linker.

The GAAA tetraloop-receptor motif is a commonly occurring tertiary interaction in RNA. This motif usually occurs in combination with other tertiary interactions in complex RNA structures. Thus, it is difficult to measure directly the contribution that a single GAAA tetraloop-receptor interaction makes to the folding properties of a RNA.

Docking kinetics and equilibrium of a GAAA tetraloop-receptor motif probed by single-molecule FRET.

Docking kinetics and equilibrium of fluorescently labeled RNA molecules are studied with single-molecule FRET methods. Time-resolved FRET is used to monitor docking/undocking transitions for RNAs containing a single GAAA tetraloop-receptor tertiary interaction connected by a flexible single-stranded linker. The rate constants for docking and undocking are measured as a function of Mg2+, revealing a complex dependence on metal ion concentration.

Sudden cardiac death after manual or automated snow removal.

To examine the proximate circumstances of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the setting of major snowstorms, we reviewed records from the medical examiners' offices of 3 counties in the weeks before, during, and after 2 heavy snowfalls that occurred in the greater metropolitan Detroit area. Of those who experienced SCD due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (n = 271), 36 (33 men, 3 women) were engaged in snow removal, representing the largest number of exertion-related deaths after heavy snowfalls reported to date.

Herniated intervertebral disc without pain.

The diagnosis of herniated intervertebral disc is often made in cases of radicular pain in the low back, the neck, or sciatica or brachialgia. Practitioners often call upon radiologic imaging to confirm this diagnosis. But on radiologic examination, such a herniation may consist of a bulge, protrusion, prolapse, extension, extrusion or sequestration of this disc.

Cerebral bloodflow in and around spontaneous malignant gliomas.

Knowledge of the cerebral bloodflow (CBF) in and around malignant gliomas is of crucial importance in developing strategies for hyperthermia-, radiation-, and chemo-therapy of these difficult to cure lesions. To gather data regarding this important physiological variable, the perfusion distributions of 26 patients who had either a glioblastoma multiforme or an anaplastic astrocytoma were determined using stable xenon computed tomography (XeCT). Perfusion values were determined for each of the following anatomical regions: low density tumour core, the enhancing active ring of the tumour, the low density peripheral region of edema, an ipsilateral region of normal brain adjacent to the tumour, and a region of remote normal tissue on the contralateral side of the brain.