TGF-β1 induction of the adenine nucleotide translocator 1 in astrocytes occurs through Smads and Sp1 transcription factors

Background  

The adenine nucleotide translocator 1 (Ant1) is an inner mitochondrial membrane protein involved with energy mobilization during oxidative phosphorylation. We recently showed that rodent Ant1 is upregulated by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in reactive astrocytes following CNS injury. In the present study, we describe the molecular mechanisms by which TGF-β1 regulates Ant1 gene expression in cultured primary rodent astrocytes.     

P(i-PrNCH2CH2)3N: An efficient nonionic catalyst for the regioselective Michael addition of a β,γ-unsaturated ester and a nitrile

Michael additions of a β,γ-unsaturated ester and a nitrile to a variety of α,β-unsaturated ketones can be effected with high regioselectivity and in good yields using P(i-PrNCH₂CH₂)₃N as a catalyst.     

Fourth-derivative spectrophotometric determination of fungicide ferbam (iron(III) dimethyldithiocarbamate) in a commercial sample and wheat grains using 2,2′-bipyridyl

A procedure has been developed for the direct fourth-derivative spectrophotometric determination of iron(III) dimethyldithiocarbamate by converting it into an iron(II) 2,2'-bipyridyl complex, which is then dissolved in Triton X-100. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range 0.5-20 microg mL(-1 )in the final solution. Various parameters such as the effect of pH and interference of large number of ions on the determination of ferbam have been studied in detail. The method is sensitive, highly selective and can be used for the determination of ferbam in a commercial sample and in mixtures with various dithiocarbamates (ziram, zineb, maneb, etc.) and from wheat grains.     

Preparation and reactions of triphenylarsoranylideneketene

Preparation and some reactions of the first cumulated ylide of arsenic, viz. triphenylarsoranylideneketene are described.     

Effect of disorder on relaxation in the one-dimensional Glauber model

We study the long-time relaxation of magnetization in a disordered linear chain of Ising spins from an initially aligned state. The coupling constants are ferromagnetic and nearest-neighbor only, taking valuesJ ₀ andJ ₁ with probabilitiesp and 1–p, respectively. The time evolution of the system is governed by the Glauber master equation. It is shown that for large timest, the magnetizationM(t) varies as [exp(–₀ t](t), where ₀ is a function of the stronger bond strengthJ ₀ only, and (t) decreases slower than an exponential. For very long times, we find that ln (t) varies as –t ^1/3. For low enough temperatures, there is an intermediate time regime when ln (t) varies as –t ^1/2. The results can be extended to more general probability distributions of ferromagnetic coupling constants, assuming thatM(t) can only increase if any bond in the chain is strengthened. If the coupling constants have a continuous distribution in which the probability density varies as a power law near some maximum valueJ ₀, we find that ln (t) varies as –t ^1/3(lnt)^2/3 for large times.     

Gas chromatographic determination of residual hydrazine and morpholine in boiler feed water and steam condensates

Summary Hydrazine, an oxygen scavenger in boiler water, was derivatised to the corresponding acetone azine and determined at the ng ml^–1 level by gas chromatography. Morpholine, a corrosion inhibitor used in steam boilers, was estimated either directly (if >2.0 g ml^–1) or by quantitative preconcentration (0.1 ng – 2.0 g ml^–1). To obtain symmetrical peaks for these amines, the column packing was coated with KOH. Use of a nitrogen-specific detector improved accuracy of estimation of hydrazine and morpholine, giving a RSD of 1.9–3.6%. Chromatographic analysis of these amines in boiler feed water and steam condensate samples collected from boilers servicing a petroleum refinery is described. Environmental safety regulations calls for monitoring of hydrazine and the methods developed can easily be adapted for this purpose.     

Low temperature specific heats of very dilute alloys of Ce in Al

Measurements of the specific heat of two alloys of Ce (0.00275 and 0.0121 at % Ce) in Al have been made in the region 0.3<T<3.8 K. Within the limits of detection (<1 ppm), the alloys contained no metallic impurities other than Ce and their homogeneity was checked by neutron activation analysis. For the alloys in their normal electronic states, the change/c was found to be 6±3 and 3.5±1.5mJ/at% K². The behavior of the alloys in their superconducting states (e.g.: the shift ofT _c with the concentration of Ce; the correlation betweenT _C/T_C0 andC/C ₀) indicates the existence of short-lived local moments associated with the Ce impurities.     

Synthesis of polyester from renewable feedstock: a comparison between microwave and conventional heating

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Synthesis and Characterization of Dichlorotin(IV)trithiophosphates and Their Adducts with Nitrogen Donor Bases

Abstract

Dichlorotin(IV)trithiophosphates [(RO)P(S)S ₂ ]SnCl ₂ were prepared by the reaction of methanolic solution of SnCl ₄ and dipotassium salt of trithiophosphates in a 1:1 molar ratio and their adducts [(RO)P(S)S ₂ ]SnCl _2.N ₂ C ₁₂ H ₈ and [(RO)P(S)S ₂ ]SnCl _2.N ₂ C ₁₀ H ₈ were prepared by the reaction of methanolic solution of [(RO)P(S)S ₂ ]SnCl ₂ and N-donor bases in a 1:1 molar ratio. These newly synthesised derivatives have been characterized by elemental analysis; molecular weight measurements; and IR, ¹³ C, ³¹ p and ¹¹⁹ Sn NMR spectral studies. Coordination number of four and six was suggested for dichlorotin (IV)trithiophosphates and their adducts with N-donor bases respectively.