The characteristic response of domestic cats to plant iridoids allows them to gain chemical defense against mosquitoes.

Domestic cats and other felids rub their faces and heads against catnip () and silver vine () and roll on the ground as a characteristic response. While this response is well known, its biological function and underlying mechanism remain undetermined. Here, we uncover the neurophysiological mechanism and functional outcome of this feline response.

Tolerance of Perovskite Solar Cell to High-Energy Particle Irradiations in Space Environment.

Materials to be used in the space environment have to withstand extreme conditions, particularly with respect to cosmic particle irradiation. We report robust stability and high tolerance of organolead trihalide perovskite solar cells against high-fluence electron and proton beams. We found that methylammonium and formamidinium-based lead iodide perovskite solar cells composed of TiO and a conductive polymer, as electron and hole transport materials, can survive against accumulated dose levels up to 10 and 10particles/cm of electrons (1 MeV) and protons (50 KeV), respectively, which are known to completely destroy crystalline Si-, GaAS-, and InGaP/GaAs-based solar cells in spacecraft.

Improved Syntheses of (+)-Iridomyrmecin and (-)-Isoiridomyrmecin, Major Components of Matatabilactone.

Improved syntheses'of iridomyrmecin and isoiridomyrmecin, major components of matatabilactone, are described. The synthesis features a direct transformation of nepetalactol into key intermediates by DIBAL-H reduction and provides an expeditious and straightforward production of iridoid lactones for biological investigations of the Matatabi phenomenon.