The role of solar photolysis in the atmospheric removal of methacrolein oxide and the methacrolein oxide-water van-der Waals complex in pristine environments.

Biogenic hydrocarbons are emitted into the Earth's atmosphere by terrestrial vegetation as by-products of photosynthesis. Isoprene is one such hydrocarbon and is the second most abundant volatile organic compound emitted into the atmosphere (after methane). Reaction with ozone represents an important atmospheric sink for isoprene removal, forming carbonyl oxides (Criegee intermediates) with extended conjugation.

Novel correction procedure for compensating thermal contraction errors in the measurement of the magnetic field of superconducting undulator coils in a liquid helium cryostat.

Superconducting undulators (SCUs) can offer a much higher on-axis undulator field than state-of-the-art cryogenic permanent-magnet undulators with the same period and vacuum gap. The development of shorter-period and high-field SCUs would allow the free-electron laser and synchrotron radiation source community to reduce both the length of undulators and the dimensions of the accelerator. Magnetic measurements are essential for characterizing the magnetic field quality of undulators for operation in a modern light source.

Modeling the Ground- and Excited-State Unimolecular Decay of the Simplest Fluorinated Criegee Intermediate, HFCOO, Formed from the Ozonolysis of Hydrofluoroolefin Refrigerants.

Hydrofluoroolefins (HFO) are fourth-generation refrigerants designed to function as efficient refrigerants with no ozone depletion potential and zero global warming potential. Despite extensive studies on their chemical and physical properties, the ground- and excited-state chemistry of their atmospheric oxidation products is less well understood. This study focuses on the ground- and excited-state chemistry of the simplest fluorinated Criegee intermediate (CI), fluoroformaldehyde oxide (HFCOO), which is the simplest fluorinated CI formed from the ozonolysis of HFOs.

MAM-2201 acute administration impairs motor, sensorimotor, prepulse inhibition, and memory functions in mice: a comparison with its analogue AM-2201.

Rationale: 1-[(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indol-3-yl](4-methyl-1-naphthalenyl) methanone (MAM-2201) is a potent synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist illegally marketed in "spice" products and as "synthacaine" for its psychoactive effects. It is a naphthoyl-indole derivative which differs from its analogue 1-[(5-Fluoropentyl)-1H-indol-3-yl](1-naphthylenyl) methanone (AM-2201) by the presence of a methyl substituent on carbon 4 (C-4) of the naphthoyl moiety. Multiple cases of intoxication and impaired driving have been linked to AM-2201 and MAM-2201 consumption.

Acute Cardiovascular and Cardiorespiratory Effects of JWH-018 in Awake and Freely Moving Mice: Mechanism of Action and Possible Antidotal Interventions?

JWH-018 is the most known compound among synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) used for their psychoactive effects. SCs-based products are responsible for several intoxications in humans. Cardiac toxicity is among the main side effects observed in emergency departments: SCs intake induces harmful effects such as hypertension, tachycardia, chest pain, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, breathing impairment, and dyspnea.

Pharmaco-Toxicological Effects of Atypical Synthetic Cathinone Mephtetramine (MTTA) in Mice: Possible Reasons for Its Brief Appearance over NPSs Scene.

Over the last year, NPSs have been steadily on the rise in the illicit drug market. Among these, synthetic cathinones seem to become increasingly popular among young adults, mainly because of their ability to replicate the effects of traditional psychostimulant drugs, such as cocaine, MDMA and amphetamines. However, scarce data are available about the in vivo pharmaco-toxicology of these new substances.

Behavioral and Pharmacokinetics Studies of -Methyl-2-Aminoindane (NM2AI) in Mice: An Aminoindane Briefly Used in the Illicit Drug Market.

Drug forums are considered as the main platform sources that have contributed to the increase in NPS popularity, especially for those not yet known to law enforcement and therefore not yet illegal. An example is the new synthetic stimulant NM2AI, which has a very short history of human use and abuse. Little is known regarding this compound, but some information from internet forums and the scientific literature indicates NM2AI as a structural derivate of MDAI, which is known for its entactogenic activity.

The Old and the New: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Alterations Induced by Acute JWH-018 Administration Compared to Δ-THC-A Preclinical Study in Mice.

Several new psychoactive substances (NPS) are responsible for intoxication involving the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Among NPS, synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) provoked side effects in humans characterized by tachycardia, arrhythmias, hypertension, breathing difficulty, apnoea, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest. Therefore, the present study investigated the cardio-respiratory (MouseOx Plus; EMKA electrocardiogram (ECG) and plethysmography TUNNEL systems) and vascular (BP-2000 systems) effects induced by 1-naphthalenyl (1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-methanone (JWH-018; 0.

Sensorimotor Alterations Induced by Novel Fentanyl Analogs in Mice: Possible Impact on Human Driving Performances.

Operating a vehicle is a complex task that requires multiple cognitive functions and psychomotor skills to cooperate. Driving might be impaired by licit or illicit drugs, including novel psychoactive substances (NPS) and novel synthetic opioids (NSO), the effects of which are still yet to be elucidated in humans. In the present work, a revision of the literature regarding the psychomotor impairing effects of Fentanyl (FENT) and three analogues (Acrylfentanyl, Ocfentanyl and Furanylfentanyl) is presented, as emerged by experimental studies on humans, driving under the influence of a drug (DUID) and intoxication cases.

Synthetic cannabinoid JWH-073 alters both acute behavior and electrophysiological responses in mice.

JWH-073 is a synthetic cannabinoid (SCB) that is illegally marketed within an "herbal blend", causing psychoactive effects more intense than those produced by Cannabis. Users report that JWH-073 causes less harmful effects than other SCBs, misrepresenting it as a "safe JWH-018 alternative", which in turn prompts its recreational use. The present study is aimed to investigate the pharmacological activity on physiological and neurobehavioral parameters in male CD-1 mice after acute 1 mg/kg JWH-073 administration.

Insights into the Ultrafast Photodissociation Dynamics of Isoprene-Derived Criegee Intermediates.

Isoprene is the most abundant nonmethane volatile organic compound emitted into the troposphere by terrestrial vegetation. Reaction with ozone represents an important isoprene removal process from the troposphere and is a well-known source of Criegee intermediates (CIs), which are reactive carbonyl oxides. Three CIs, formaldehyde oxide (CH OO), methyl vinyl ketone oxide (MVK-oxide) and methacrolein oxide (MACR-oxide) are formed during isoprene ozonolysis.

In Vivo Bio-Activation of JWH-175 to JWH-018: Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Studies in Mice.

3-(1-Naphthalenylmethyl)-1-pentyl-1H-indole (JWH-175) is a synthetic cannabinoid illegally marketed for its psychoactive cannabis-like effects. This study aimed to investigate and compare in vitro and in vivo pharmacodynamic activity of JWH-175 with that of 1-naphthalenyl (1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-methanone (JWH-018), as well as evaluate the in vitro (human liver microsomes) and in vivo (urine and plasma of CD-1 male mice) metabolic profile of JWH-175. In vitro binding studies showed that JWH-175 is a cannabinoid receptor agonist less potent than JWH-018 on mouse and human CB1 and CB2 receptors.

Small Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Nigrostriatal Astrocytes Rescue Cell Death and Preserve Mitochondrial Function in Parkinson's Disease.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as powerful players in cell-to-cell communication both in healthy and diseased brain. In Parkinson's disease (PD)-characterized by selective dopaminergic neuron death in ventral midbrain (VMB) and degeneration of their terminals in striatum (STR)-astrocytes exert dual harmful/protective functions, with mechanisms not fully elucidated. Here, this study shows that astrocytes from the VMB-, STR-, and VMB/STR-depleted brains release a population of small EVs  in a region-specific manner.

Tin-based metal organic framework catalysts for high-efficiency electrocatalytic CO conversion into formate.

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (ERCO) allows for the conversion of CO to value-added low-carbon chemicals. Catalysts are indispensable for an efficient ERCO process. In this work, a Sn-based metal-organic framework (Sn-MOF) was synthesized as an electrocatalyst for the conversion of CO to formate (HCOO).

A direct dynamics study of the exotic photochemistry of the simplest Criegee intermediate, CHOO.

Criegee intermediates are amongst the most fascinating molecules in modern-day chemistry. They are highly reactive intermediates that find vital roles that range from atmospheric chemistry to organic synthesis. Their excited state chemistry is exotic and complicated, and a myriad of electronic states can contribute to their photodissociation dynamics.

Epigenetic Studies for Evaluation of NPS Toxicity: Focus on Synthetic Cannabinoids and Cathinones.

In the recent decade, numerous new psychoactive substances (NPSs) have been added to the illicit drug market. These are synthetized to mimic the effects of classic drugs of abuse (i.e.

Electronic Absorption Spectroscopy and Photochemistry of Criegee Intermediates.

Interest in Criegee intermediates (CIs), often termed carbonyl oxides, and their role in tropospheric chemistry has grown massively since the demonstration of laboratory-based routes to their formation and characterization in the gas phase. This article reviews current knowledge regarding the electronic spectroscopy of atmospherically relevant CIs like CH OO, CH CHOO, (CH ) COO and larger CIs like methyl vinyl ketone oxide and methacrolein oxide that are formed in the ozonolysis of isoprene, and of selected conjugated carbene-derived CIs of interest in the synthetic chemistry community. Of the aforementioned atmospherically relevant CIs, all except CH OO and (CH ) COO exist in different conformers which, under tropospheric conditions, can display strikingly different thermal loss rates via unimolecular and bimolecular processes.

Effect of Compounds on Sensorimotor, Motor, and Prepulse Inhibition Responses in Mice in Comparison With the Analogs and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: From Preclinical Evidence to Forensic Implication in Driving Under the Influence of Drugs.

In the last decade, the market for new psychoactive substances has been enriched by numerous psychedelic phenethylamines, which mimic the psychoactive effect of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). In particular, the -NBOMe series, which are more potent than their 2C compounds analogs, are considered worthy substitutes for LSD by users. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 25-NBOMe and its halogenated derivatives (25-NBOMe and 25-NBOMe) in comparison to their 2C compounds analogs and LSD on the sensorimotor (visual, acoustic, and overall tactile), reaction time, spontaneous (total distance traveled) and stimulated (drag, accelerod test) motor activity, grip strength test, and prepulse inhibition (PPI) responses in mice.

"Reframing" dopamine signaling at the intersection of glial networks in the aged Parkinsonian brain as innate Nrf2/Wnt driver: Therapeutical implications.

Dopamine (DA) signaling via G protein-coupled receptors is a multifunctional neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine-immune modulator. The DA nigrostriatal pathway, which controls the motor coordination, progressively degenerates in Parkinson's disease (PD), a most common neurodegenerative disorder (ND) characterized by a selective, age-dependent loss of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) neurons, where DA itself is a primary source of oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment, intersecting astrocyte and microglial inflammatory networks. Importantly, glia acts as a preferential neuroendocrine-immune DA target, in turn, counter-modulating inflammatory processes.

In vitro and in vivo pharmaco-dynamic study of the novel fentanyl derivatives: Acrylfentanyl, Ocfentanyl and Furanylfentanyl.

Fentanyl derivatives (FENS) belongs to the class of Novel Synthetic Opioids that emerged in the illegal drug market of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). These substances have been implicated in many cases of intoxication and death with overdose worldwide. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the pharmaco-dynamic profiles of three fentanyl (FENT) analogues: Acrylfentanyl (ACRYLF), Ocfentanyl (OCF) and Furanylfentanyl (FUF).

Modeling the Conformer-Dependent Electronic Absorption Spectra and Photolysis Rates of Methyl Vinyl Ketone Oxide and Methacrolein Oxide.

Criegee intermediates are important atmospheric oxidants, formed via the reaction of ozone with volatile alkenes emitted into the troposphere. Small Criegee intermediates (e.g.

Achieving high selectivity towards electro-conversion of CO using In-doped Bi derived from metal-organic frameworks.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derivatives have shown great potential as electrocatalysts, in virtue of their ease of functionalization and abundance of active sites. Here, we report a series of indium-doped bismuth MOF-derived composites (BiIn-Y@C) for the direct conversion of carbon dioxide (CO) to hydrocarbon derivatives. Amongst the catalysts studied, BiIn-500@C demonstrated high selectivity for the production of formate and intrinsic activity in a wide potential window, ranging from - 1.

The states that hide in the shadows: the potential role of conical intersections in the ground state unimolecular decay of a Criegee intermediate.

Criegee intermediates are of great significance to Earth's troposphere - implicated in altering the tropospheric oxidation cycle and in forming low volatility products that typically condense to form secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). As such, their chemistry has attracted vast attention in recent years. In particular, the unimolecular decay of thermal and vibrationally-excited Criegee intermediates has been the focus of several experimental and computational studies, and it is now recognized that Criegee intermediates undergo unimolecular decay to form OH radicals.

Insights into the Ultrafast Dynamics of CH OO and CH CHOO Following Excitation to the Bright ππ* State: The Role of Singlet and Triplet States.

Criegee intermediates make up a class of molecules that are of significant atmospheric importance. Understanding their electronically excited states guides experimental detection and provides insight into whether solar photolysis plays a role in their removal from the troposphere. The latter is particularly important for large and functionalized Criegee intermediates.

Ethanol enhanced MDPV- and cocaine-induced aggressive behavior in mice: Forensic implications.

Background: Reports concerning the causal link between aggressive behavior and use and abuse of different substances (i.e., alcohol, MDPV) can be found in the literature.