Decreased l-tryptophan concentration in distinctive brain regions of mice treated repeatedly with phencyclidine

It has been reported that repeated phencyclidine (PCP) treatment induces schizophrenia-like behavior in mice. l-Tryptophan (Trp) concentrations in brain tissues of control (n?=?8) and PCP-treated mice (10 mg/kg/day, s.c., 14 days, n?=?10) were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The HPLC method involved pre-column fluorescence derivatization with (R)-(?)-4-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-7-(3-isothiocyanatopyrrolidin-1-yl)-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-PyNCS). Eight different parts of the brain, namely, the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, striatum, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, and cerebellum, of both groups were investigated. A significant decrease in the l-Trp concentration in the nucleus accumbens (p?=?0.024) and hippocampus (p?=?0.027) was observed in PCP-treated mice, suggesting that alteration of the l-Trp metabolism might occur in these brain parts.     

Synthesis and application of head-to-head-type styrene dimers bearing two fluoroalkyl end-groups

Head-to-head-type styrene and substituted styrene dimers bearing two fluoroalkyl end-groups have been efficiently synthesized by a simple reaction of perfluoroalkyl iodide with styrene under radical conditions as a mixture of meso and racemic forms. The meso form obtained from the mixture by recrystallization gave a crystal suitable for X-ray diffraction study and the crystal structure was found to be based on π-stacking of benzene rings and aggregation of fluoroalkyl chains. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed that meso-styrene dimers bearing two fluoroalkyl end-groups can form the nanometer size-controlled self-assemblies through the intermolecular π-stacking of benzene rings and aggregation of end-capped fluoroalkyl groups in methanol.

7,7,8,8‐Tetraaryl‐o‐quinodimethane Stabilized by Dibenzo Annulation: A Helical π‐Electron System That Exhibits Electrochromic and Unique Chiroptical Properties

When two benzene rings are fused to a tetraaryl‐o‐quinodimethane skeleton, sterically hindered helical molecules 1 acquire a high thermodynamic stability. Because the tetraarylbutadiene subunit contains electron‐donating alkoxy groups, 1 undergo reversible two‐electron oxidation to 2 ²⁺, which can be isolated as deeply colored stable salts. Intramolecular transfer of the point chirality (e.g., sec‐butyl) on the aryl groups to helicity induces a diastereomeric preference in dications 2 b ²⁺ and 2 c ²⁺, which represents an efficient method for enhancing circular‐dichroism signals. Thus, those redox pairs can serve as new electrochiroptical response systems. X‐ray analysis of dication 2 ²⁺ revealed π–π stacking interaction of the diarylmethylium moieties, which is also present in solution. The stacking geometry is the key contributor to the chirosolvatochromic response.     

Classical phase space revealed by coherent light

We study the far-field characteristics of oval-resonator laser diodes made of an GaAs/Al(x)Ga(1-x)As quantum well. The resonator shapes are various oval geometries, thereby probing chaotic and mixed classical dynamics. The far-field pattern shows a pronounced fine structure that strongly depends on the cavity shape. Comparing the experimental data with ray-model simulations for a Fresnel billiard yields convincing agreement for all geometries and reveals the importance of the underlying classical phase space for the lasing characteristics.     

High-quality lowest-loss-mode lasing in GaAs quasi-stadium laser diodes having unstable resonators

We obtained high-quality lowest-loss-mode lasing in quasi-stadium laser diodes having unstable resonators that consisted of two curved end mirrors and two straight sidewall mirrors. The laser diodes were fabricated by applying a reactive ion etching technique to a metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition-grown graded-index separate-confinement heterostructure single-quantum-well GaAs/AlGaAs structure. The electrode contact area of the laser diodes was formed along unstable periodic orbits, along which the optical beams are localized. Highly directional fan-out beams corresponding to the numerically obtained lowest loss mode were emitted from the end mirrors under CW operation at room temperature.     

Colorimetric detection of Cu2+ using of a mixture of ponceau 6R and a cationic polyelectrolyte in aqueous solution

Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry - A colorimetric chemosensor is reported for Cu2+ by a simple mixture of two commercially available reagents, ponceau 6R (P6R) and...     

Anisotropic Poisson Effect and Deformation-Induced Fluorescence Change of Elastic 9,10-Dibromoanthracene Single Crystals

Elastic organic crystals have attracted considerable attention as next-generation flexible smart materials. However, the detailed information on both molecular packing change and macroscopic mechanical crystal deformations upon applied stress is still insufficient. Herein, we report that fluorescent single crystals of 9,10-dibromoanthracene are elastically bendable and stretchable, which allows a detailed investigation of the deformation behavior. We clearly observed a Poisson effect for the crystal, where the short axes (b and c-axes) of the crystal are contracted upon elongation along the long axis (a-axis). Moreover, we found that the Poisson's ratios along the b-axis and c-axis are largely different. Theoretical molecular simulation suggests that the tilting motion of the anthracene may be responsible for the large deformation along the c-axis. Spatially resolved photoluminescence (PL) measurement of the bent elastic crystals reveals that the PL spectra at the outer (elongated), central (neutral), and inner (contracted) sides are different from each other.