The Cytotoxic Effect of α-Synuclein Aggregates

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder involving a functional protein, α-synuclein, whose primary function is related to vesicle trafficking. However, α-synuclein is prone to form aggregates, and these inclusions, known as Lewy bodies, are the hallmark of Parkinson's disease. α-synuclein can alter its conformation and acquire aggregating capacity, forming aggregates containing β-sheets. This protein's pathogenic importance is based on its ability to form oligomers that impair synaptic transmission and neuronal function by increasing membrane permeability and altering homeostasis, generating a deleterious effect over cells. First, we establish that oligomers interfere with the mechanical properties of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) membrane, as demonstrated by nanoindentation curves. In contrast, nanoindentation revealed that the α-synuclein monomer's presence leads to a much more resistant lipid bilayer. Moreover, the oligomers’ interaction with cell membranes can promote lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, suggesting the activation of cytotoxic events.     

Instability of the paramagnetic state towards incommensurate magnetic order in the 2-d Hubbard model

We determine the instability line separating the paramagnetic phase in the phase diagram of the 2-d Hubbard Model from a phase with incommensurate magnetic order. A mean-field approximation of the Kotliar-Ruckenstein slave boson representation is used to calculate the wave-vector dependent magnetic susceptibility. For largeU/t the instability occurs at a densityn0.37, and a wave-vector close toq=(0,). The dependence ofq onU andn is also given.     

Synthesis of the 2-aza-7-oxatricyclo[4.3.2.04,8]undecane nucleus of some gelsemium alkaloids

The preparation of a key tricyclic intermediate for the eventual total synthesis of the alkaloids gelsemicine and gelsedine is described.     

N4-Benzoylspermidine from Oncinotis tenuiloba: Analytical differentiation of the three isomeric N-benzoylspermidines

During the examination of extracts from Oncinotis tenuiloba STAPF a new polyamine, N⁴-benzoylsperimidine ( 8 ), was isolated. For unambiguous structure elucidation, it was transformed into the diacetyl derivative 13 , and the three possible N-benzoyl-substituted isomers of spermidine 5, 8 , and 11 together with their peracetylated derivatives 12–14 , respectively, were synthesized and identified.     

Taming the rugged landscape: production, reordering, and stabilization of selected cluster inherent structures in the X13-nYn system

We present studies of the potential energy landscape of selected binary Lennard-Jones 13 atom clusters. The effect of adding selected impurity atoms to a homogeneous cluster is explored. We analyze the energy landscapes of the studied systems using disconnectivity graphs. The required inherent structures and transition states for the construction of disconnectivity graphs are found by combination of conjugate gradient and eigenvector-following methods. We show that it is possible to controllably induce new structures as well as reorder and stabilize existing structures that are characteristic of higher-lying minima. Moreover, it is shown that the selected structures can have experimentally relevant lifetimes.     

Synthesis of Oncinotin-11-one,a Macrocyclic Polyamine Alkaloid from Oncinotis tenuiloba

This paper presents a short synthesis of oncinotin-11-one ( 11 ), a minor alkaloid of Oncinotis tenuiloba (Apocynaceae). Based on a disconnection approach, the spermidine portion of the key intermediate 6 was constructed consecutively by simple N-alkylations starting from ethyl piperidine-2-carboxylate ( 1 ). Treatment of 6 with in situ lithiated 2-[(10-bromodecyl)oxy]tetrahydropyran resulted in the formation of the keto moiety under simultanous deprotection of the lactam N-atom to give the amino ketone 7 in 71% yield. Cleavage of the tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl(Thp) portion and Jones oxidation of the resulting alcohol 8 gave the amino acid 9 which was cyclized. Final N-debenzylation of 10 provided the natural alkaloid 11 . Only two protective groups were needed in this synthesis. The reaction of N-alkyl-lactams with organometallic reagents is discussed.     

Structure Prediction of Binary Pernitride MN2 Compounds (M=Ca,Sr, Ba,La, and Ti)

Metal‐pernitride compounds belong to a class of chemical systems in which both the complex ions and the non‐bonding electrons may play roles in the formation of their modified crystalline structures. To investigate this issue, the energy landscapes of pernitrides of metals with different maximum valence (M=Ca, Sr, Ba, La, and Ti) were globally explored on the ab initio level at standard and high pressures, thereby yielding possible (meta)stable modifications in these systems together with information on how the landscape changed as function of the valence of the metal cation. For all of the systems in which no compounds had been synthesized so far, we predicted the existence of kinetically stable modifications that should, in principle, be experimentally accessible. In particular, TiN₂ should crystallize in a new structure type, TiN₂‐I.     

LiFePO<Subscript>4</Subscript> synthesized via melt synthesis using low-cost iron precursors

LiFePO₄/C material has been prepared using fast-melt synthesis method followed by grinding and carbon coating. The low-cost iron ore concentrate (IOC) and purified iron ore concentrate (IOP) were used as iron precursors in the melt process to reduce significantly the cost of LiFePO₄/C. The same product was also synthesized using pure Fe₂O₃ under similar conditions as reference. The physical-chemical and electrochemical properties of samples were investigated. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) results confirm the formation of an olivine structure of LiFePO₄ with a minor amount of Li₃PO₄ and Li₄P₂O₇ impurities for all the samples but no Fe₂P. The power performances of LiFePO₄/C using low-cost iron precursors were close to the sample using pure Fe₂O₃ precursor although capacity in mAh g^?1 is somewhat lower. With the inherent presence of silicon and other metals species, multi-substitution may take place when using IOC as source of iron leading to a Li(Fe_1-yM_y)(P_1-xSi_x)O₄ general composition. Multi-substitution, however, allows a better cycling stability. Therefore, these iron precursors present a promising option in this field to reduce the cost of a large-scale synthesis of LiFePO₄/C for Li-ion batteries application.     

Comparison of impurities in charcoal sorbents found by neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation of gas samples in a reactor often requires a medium to retain sufficient amounts of the gas for analysis. Charcoal is commonly used to adsorb gas and hold it for activation; however, the amount of activated sodium in the charcoal after irradiation swamps most signals of interest. Neutron activation analysis was performed on several commonly available charcoal samples in an effort to determine the activation background. The results for several elements, including the dominant sodium element, are reported. It was found that ECN charcoal had the lowest elemental background, containing sodium at 2.65 ± 0.05 ppm, as well as trace levels of copper and tungsten.