Both systemic and local application of Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is neuroprotective after retinal ganglion cell axotomy

Background  

The hematopoietic Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) plays a crucial role in controlling the number of neutrophil progenitor cells. Its function is mediated via the G-CSF receptor, which was recently found to be expressed also in the central nervous system. In addition, G-CSF provided neuroprotection in models of neuronal cell death. Here we used the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axotomy model to compare effects of local and systemic application of neuroprotective molecules.     

The effect of optical bias on grating formation dynamics in photorefractive BSO

We present experimental results describing the influence of optical bias on the transient characteristics of gratings formed in photorefractive BSO. A transient peak is evident, and the properties of this peak can be controlled by suitable adjustment of the relative intensities of the optical beams involved.     

Proposed standard inelastic differential electron scattering cross sections; Excitation of the 21 P level in He

Differential and integral cross section data for electron-impact excitation of the 2¹ P level in He have been critically reviewed. Experimental and theoretical results have been compared and a set of differential cross sections at 20° scattering angle in the 25 to 500 eV impact energy range has been deduced based on all available information. It is proposed that this set of data represents the most accurate inelastic differential cross sections available at the present time and could be used as a secondary standard for normalization of cross sections.     

Thermal stability of the crystallisation nucleant

The 2,2',4,4',6,6'hexanitrostilbene, HNS, nucleant, used in the crystallisation of 2,4,6,trinitrotoluene, TNT, was precipitated from molten TNT and examined by differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, at several stages during purification by vacuum sublimation. During purification a broad endotherm, associated with nucleant decomposition, which could be resolved into two endotherms, depending on the sublimation temperature, was observed. Pure nucleant prepared at 70C showed a similar behaviour during thermal annealing for extended periods of time at >85C. Thus TNT, retained in the recrystallised HNS nucleant, may be migrating during the purification process or may occupy a range of lattice sites, which exhibit different activation energies for migration to the surface of the solid during thermal decomposition of the nucleant. Loss of TNT from the nucleant, during purification, could produce some free HNS. The activation energy for nucleant decomposition, which may be a two-stage processes with the initial mobility of the TNT being the limiting reaction, was estimated to be 210 kJ mol^–. The lattice sites available for the TNT in the host HNS nucleant require elucidation and are the subject of further studies to be published at a later date.     

Aqueous allylmolybdenum(II) chemistry

Dissolution of [MoCl(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₄R)(NCMe)₂] (R = H or Me) in methanol yields yellow conducting solutions containing the [Mo(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₄R)(HOMe)₃]⁺ cations. The same species are formed on dissolution of [Mo(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₄R)(NCMe)₃]BF₄ in methanol, and one of the cations (R = Me) has been isolated as its tetrafluoroborate salt. There is strong spectroscopic evidence that hydrated allyldicarbonylmolybdenum(II) cations [Mo(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₄R)(H₂O)_x]⁺ are present on dissolution of [MoCl(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₄R)(NCMe)₂] in deoxygenated water, and treatment of these solutions with bi- and tridentate ligands yields neutral complexes [MoCl(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₄R)L₂] (R = H or Me; L₂ = 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) or 2,2′-bipyridylamine (bpa)), and cationic species [Mo(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₄R)L₃]⁺ (R = H or Me; L₃ = diethylenetriamine (dien) or bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (bpma)) respectively. The latter were isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. Addition of Ph₄AsCl to basic methanolic solutions of [MoCl(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₄R)(NCMe)₂] causes the precipitation of the anionic molybdenum derivatives Ph₄As[Mo₂(CO)₄(η³-C₃H₄R)₂(μ-OMe)₃] (R = H or Me).     

Magnetic-sublevel differential cross sections for electron-impact excitation of He n1P levels: Theory and experiment in natural and atomic coordinate frames

Experimental data for the average transferred angular momentum, 〈_⊥〉, have been combined with experimental differential cross section [DCS] data for electron impact excitation of the 2¹ P and 3¹ P levels of helium to obtain the individual magnetic-sublevel differential cross-sections, [DCS _M ⁿ ], in the natural (and atomic) coordinate system. First-order many-body theory (FOMBT) has been used to obtain corresponding theoretical predictions for DCS _M ⁿ which are compared to these results. This comparison shows that FOMBT generally predictsM=+1 sublevel excitation DCS better than that forM=?1.     

Templated xerogels as platforms for biomolecule-less biomolecule sensors

We designed and synthesized new armed 12-oxacrown-3s bearing oxygen donor arms and forming encapsulated complexes with metal ions. The ISEs based on the single armed 12-oxacrown-3s exhibited Na⁺ ion selectivity, while the ISE based on the double armed 12-oxacrown-3 exhibited Li⁺ ion selectivity. The conformational analysis was performed on the free armed 12-oxaciown-3s and the non-encapsulated and the encapsulated armed 12-oxacrown-3 complexes using a semi-empirical method. The conformational analysis indicated that all armed 12-oxacrown-3s structurally prefer the Na⁺ ion rather than the Li⁺ ion. Further, it became apparent that the single armed 12-oxacrown-3s without a guest cation have the C_3v 12-oxaciown-3 ring and the double armed 12-oxacrown-3 without a guest cation has the bent 12-oxacrown-3 ring. The oxygens except carbonyl oxygens were directed toward the cation center in the structures of the complexes. It was clear that the ether and ester oxygens participate in the sidearm coordination.     

An adeno-associated viral vector transduces the rat hypothalamus and amygdala more efficient than a lentiviral vector

Background  

This study compared the transduction efficiencies of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector, which was pseudotyped with an AAV1 capsid and encoded the green fluorescent protein (GFP), with a lentiviral (LV) vector, which was pseudotyped with a VSV-G envelop and encoded the discosoma red fluorescent protein (dsRed), to investigate which viral vector transduced the lateral hypothalamus or the amygdala more efficiently. The LV-dsRed and AAV1-GFP vector were mixed and injected into the lateral hypothalamus or into the amygdala of adult rats. The titers that were injected were 1 × 10⁸ or 1 × 10⁹ genomic copies of AAV1-GFP and 1 × 10⁵ transducing units of LV-dsRed.