Human Neuroepithelial Cells Express NMDA Receptors

L-glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, binds to both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors. In certain parts of the brain the BBB contains two normally impermeable barriers: 1) cerebral endothelial barrier and 2) cerebral epithelial barrier. Human cerebral endothelial cells express NMDA receptors; however, to date, human cerebral epithelial cells (neuroepithelial cells) have not been shown to express NMDA receptor message or protein. In this study, human hypothalamic sections were examined for NMDA receptors (NMDAR) expression via immunohistochemistry and murine neuroepithelial cell line (V1) were examined for NMDAR via RT-PCR and Western analysis. We found that human cerebral epithelium express protein and cultured mouse neuroepithelial cells express both mRNA and protein for the NMDA receptor. These findings may have important consequences for neuroepithelial responses during excitotoxicity and in disease.     

General boundary conditions for the wave equation around non-homogenous scatterers

To solve the wave equation inside a region that contains an inhomogenous dielectric material of arbitrary shape under the influence of an incoming wave, we establish a generalized boundary condition. The solutions inside a finite region resulting form a given incoming wave from the outside, are determined by a linear relation between the normal gradient and the function values on the boundary. This boundary condition is non-local and we show how it can be used in conjunction with the variational principle applied to an open system.     

Enhancing Fullerene‐Based Solar Cell Lifetimes by Addition of a Fullerene Dumbbell

Cost‐effective, solution‐processable organic photovoltaics (OPV) present an interesting alternative to inorganic silicon‐based solar cells. However, one of the major remaining challenges of OPV devices is their lack of long‐term operational stability, especially at elevated temperatures. The synthesis of a fullerene dumbbell and its use as an additive in the active layer of a PCDTBT:PCBM‐based OPV device is reported. The addition of only 20 % of this novel fullerene not only leads to improved device efficiencies, but more importantly also to a dramatic increase in morphological stability under simulated operating conditions. Dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (DSIMS) and TEM are used, amongst other techniques, to elucidate the origins of the improved morphological stability.     

An efficient and convergent synthesis of the potent and selective H3 antagonist ABT-239

An efficient and convergent process for the preparation of a potent and selective H₃ receptor antagonist, ABT-239, 1A was accomplished with an overall yield of 64%. The key step in the synthesis is a Sonogashira coupling/cyclization reaction of 1-but-3-ynyl-2-(R)-methylpyrrolidine (9) with 4′-hydroxy-3′-iodo-biphenyl-4-carbonitrile (3). Additionally, the key amine component 2-(R)-methylpyrrolidine (7) was effectively synthesized from the readily available Boc-l-prolinol with a simple catalytical hydrogenolysis as the key step. This column chromatography-free process is highlighted by several simple work-up and purification procedures and is amendable to the large-scale preparation of 1A.