Imaging cytoplasmic cAMP in mouse brainstem neurons

Background  

cAMP is an ubiquitous second messenger mediating various neuronal functions, often as a consequence of increased intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. While imaging of calcium is commonly used in neuroscience applications, probing for cAMP levels has not yet been performed in living vertebrate neuronal tissue before.     

A first transition series pseudotetrahedral oxynitride anion: synthesis and characterization of Ba(2)VO(3)N

Ammonolysis of reactive oxide precursors affords the vanadium(V) phase Ba(2)VO(3)N that is shown by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy to contain pseudotetrahedral VO(3)N(4-) anions. This is the first example of such species for the first transition series metals.     

Designed layer assembly: a three-dimensional framework with 74% extra-framework volume by connection of infinite two-dimensional sheets

A coordination polymer with 74% extra-framework volume is prepared by predictable linking of the honeycomb network to generate a framework-structured solid designed with two distinct connecting ligands.     

Direct observation of magnetic ordering in the (CH3NH2)K3C60 fulleride

The zero-field muon-spin-relaxation (ZF-micro(+)SR) technique provides direct observation of the development of antiferromagnetic long range order in the hyperexpanded methylaminated fulleride salt, (CH(3)NH(2))K(3)C(60) below T(N) approximately 10 K-coherent ordering of the electronic magnetic moments leads to a local field of approximately 25 G at the muon site at 1.2 K.     

Structural and magnetic characterization of the complete delafossite solid solution (CuAlO?)?-x(CuCrO?)x

We have prepared the complete delafossite solid solution series between diamagnetic CuAlO(2) and the t(2g)(3)frustrated antiferromagnet CuCrO(2). The evolution with composition x in CuAl(1-x)Cr(x)O(2) of the crystal structure and magnetic properties has been studied and is reported here. The room-temperature unit cell parameters follow the Végard law and increase with x as expected. The μ(eff) is equal to the Cr(3+) spin-only S = 3/2 value throughout the entire solid solution. Θ(CW) is negative, indicating that the dominant interactions are antiferromagnetic, and its magnitude increases with Cr substitution. For dilute Cr compositions, the nearest-neighbor exchange coupling constant J(BB) was estimated by mean-field theory to be 3.0 meV. Despite the sizable Θ(CW), long-range antiferromagnetic order does not develop until x is almost 1, and is preceded by glassy behavior. The data presented here, and those on dilute Al substitution from Okuda et al, suggest that the reduction in magnetic frustration due to the presence of non-magnetic Al does not have as dominant an effect on magnetism as chemical disorder and dilution of the magnetic exchange. For all samples, the 5 K isothermal magnetization does not saturate in fields up to 5 T and minimal hysteresis is observed. The presence of antiferromagnetic interactions is clearly evident in the sub-Brillouin behavior with a reduced magnetization per Cr atom. An inspection of the scaled Curie plot reveals that significant short-range antiferromagnetic interactions occur in CuCrO(2) above its Néel temperature, consistent with its magnetic frustration. Uncompensated short-range behavior is present in the Al-substituted samples and is likely a result of chemical disorder.     

Electrocrystallisation of Highly Conductive Thia Adducts

Conductive adducts such as TTFX_n (X = halide) are more highly conductive when electrocrystallised galvanorather than potentiostatically. With the latter method, current-time behaviour is diagnostic of crystal quality, five different classes of behaviour and product being discernible. Mixed-halide TTF (I + Br)_n with n ～ 0.7 as in the monohalides, can be electrocrystallised. Electrode and cell configuration and conditions also govern crystal properties and accessibility of products. Thus, conical electrodes of 4mm diameter and 9mm height with a vertical wire as counter -electrode give the largest TTF (NO₃)_0.55 crystals

Higher temperature yields larger crystals.

Adduct compositions are sometimes governed by solvent.     

CO2 selectivity of a 1D microporous adenine-based metal-organic framework synthesised in water

The coordination of adenine to Ni(2+) forms a dimer unit which can be linked by 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylic acid into chains which assemble under hydrothermal conditions via hydrogen bonding into a robust porous network. The material displays selectivity for CO(2) over CH(4) and an isosteric heat which increases with guest loading.