Parkin-deficient mice are not more sensitive to 6-hydroxydopamine or methamphetamine neurotoxicity

Background  

Autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (AR-JP) is caused by mutations in the parkin gene which encodes an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. Parkin is thought to be critical for protecting dopaminergic neurons from toxic insults by targeting misfolded or oxidatively damaged proteins for proteasomal degradation. Surprisingly, mice with targeted deletions of parkin do not recapitulate robust behavioral or pathological signs of parkinsonism. Since Parkin is thought to protect against neurotoxic insults, we hypothesized that the reason Parkin-deficient mice do not develop parkinsonism is because they are not exposed to appropriate environmental triggers. To test this possibility, we challenged Parkin-deficient mice with neurotoxic regimens of either methamphetamine (METH) or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Because Parkin function has been linked to many of the pathways involved in METH and 6-OHDA toxicity, we predicted that Parkin-deficient mice would be more sensitive to the neurotoxic effects of these agents.     

Cyclotomic factors of Coxeter polynomials

In this paper we show that the cyclotomic factors of the En Coxeter polynomials depend only on the value of nmod360, and come exclusively from spherical subdiagrams.     

Demonstration of a 100 Hz repetition rate gain-saturated diode-pumped table-top soft x-ray laser

We demonstrate the operation of a gain-saturated table-top soft x-ray laser at 100?Hz repetition rate. The laser generates an average power of 0.15?mW at λ=18.9 nm, the highest laser power reported to date from a sub-20-nm wavelength compact source. Picosecond laser pulses of 1.5?μJ energy were produced at λ=18.9 nm by amplification in a Mo plasma created by tailoring the temporal intensity profile of single pump pulses with 1?J energy produced by a diode-pumped chirped pulse amplification Yb:YAG laser. Lasing was also obtained in the 13.9?nm line of Ni-like Ag. These results increase by an order of magnitude the repetition rate of plasma-based soft x-ray lasers opening the path to milliwatt average power table-top lasers at sub-20?nm wavelengths.     

Stoichiometric determination of moisture in edible oils by Mid-FTIR spectroscopy

A simple and accurate method for the determination of moisture in edible oils by differential FTIR spectroscopy has been devised based on the stoichiometric reaction of the moisture in oil with toluenesulfonyl isocyanate (TSI) to produce CO₂. Calibration standards were devised by gravimetrically spiking dry dioxane with water, followed by the addition of neat TSI and examination of the differential spectra relative to the dry dioxane. In the method, CO₂ peak area changes are measured at 2335 cm⁻¹ and were shown to be related to the amount of moisture added, with any CO₂ inherent to residual moisture in the dry dioxane subtracted ratioed out. CO₂ volatility issues were determined to be minimal, with the overall SD of dioxane calibrations being ∼18 ppm over a range of 0–1000 ppm. Gravimetrically blended dry and water-saturated oils analysed in a similar manner produced linear CO₂ responses with SD's of <15 ppm on average. One set of dry–wet blends was analysed in duplicate by FTIR and by two independent laboratories using coulometric Karl Fischer (KF) procedures. All 3 methods produced highly linear moisture relationships with SD's of 7, 16 and 28 ppm, respectively over a range of 200–1500 ppm. Although the absolute moisture values obtained by each method did not exactly coincide, each tracked the expected moisture changes proportionately. The FTIR_TSI-H2O method provides a simple and accurate instrumental means of determining moisture in oils rivaling the accuracy and specificity of standard KF procedures and has the potential to be automated. It could also be applied to other hydrophobic matrices and possibly evolve into a more generalized method, if combined with polar aprotic solvent extraction.     

A rapid method for determining recent sunscreen use in field studies

The role of sunscreens in preventing skin cancer and melanoma is the focus of ongoing research. Currently, there is no objective measure which can be used in field studies to determine whether a person has applied sunscreen to their skin, and researchers must use indirect assessments such as questionnaires. We sought to develop a rapid, non-invasive method for identifying sunscreen on the skin for use in epidemiological studies. Our basic method is to swab the skin, elute any residues which have been adsorbed onto the swab by rinsing in ethanol, and submit the eluted washings for spectrophotometric analysis. In a controlled study, we applied 0.1 ml of sunscreen to a 50 cm(2) grid on both forearms of 21 volunteers. Each forearm was allocated one of 10 different sunscreen brands. The skin was swabbed after intervals of 20 min, 1 h, 2 h and 4 h. In a field study conducted among 12 children aged 2-4 years attending a child care centre, sunscreen was applied to the faces of half the children. Swabs were then taken from the face and back of all children without knowledge of sunscreen status. In the controlled study, sunscreen was clearly detectable up to 2 h after application for all brands containing organic sunscreen, and marginally detectable at 4 h. In the field study, this method correctly identified all children with and without sunscreen. We conclude that spectrophotometric analysis of skin swabs can reliably detect the presence of sunscreen on the skin for up to 2 h after application.     

The Crystal and Molecular Structure of Bis(cyclopentadienyldicarbonylchromium) (CrCr)

The crystal structure of bis(cyclopentadienyldicarbonyl-chromium) has been determined by x-ray diffraction. The compound crystalizes in the triclinic system, space group P1¯(C¹_i, No. 2) with unit cell parameters: a, 7.829(3); b, 14.543(6); c, 6.588(2)Å; α, 94.67(3), β, 110.70(3); γ, 104.04°(3); V, 699.1(4)ų; z=2. There are two independent molecules per unit cell located at the inversion centers at O,O,O and O, 1/2, O. The CrCr bond distances are, respectively 2.200(3) and 2.230(3), thus supporting their formulation as triple bonds. The CpCrCr angles in the two molecules are 165.0° and 158.7°, respectively. The structural features are compared with those of Cp₂Mo₂(CO)₄, which has a linear CpMoMoCp axis; and the differences rationalized in terms of electronic interactions of the Cp-ligand with the orbitals of the M₂ unit. The differences observed in the structures of the two independent molecules are also related to the proposed bonding model and to packing considerations.     

2-(1-Azulyl)ethyl tosylate methylene scrambling in the gas phase. Similarities to solution chemistry

The methylene groups in 2-(1-azulyl)ethyl tosylate are largely scrambled prior to formation of fragment ions in the mass spectrometer. This process also occurs in the 3-nitro analog, where it is dependent on sample residence time in the source and independent of electron energy. It could not be observed with the isomeric 6-substituted tosylates, the 1-substituted acetates or alcohols, or with 2-(p-anisyl)ethyl tosylate. Scrambling occurs in the neutral molecule prior to ionization and a mechanism involving absorption onto the metal surface and formation of a complexed ethylenazulonium ion is suggested.     

Biotransformation-mediated synthesis of (1S)-1-(2,6-dichloro-3-fluorophenyl)ethanol in enantiomerically pure form

An efficient four-step biotransformation-mediated synthesis of (1S)-1-(2,6-dichloro-3-fluorophenyl)ethanol in enantiomerically pure form is described. This compound is a key intermediate required for the preparation of PF-2341066, a potent inhibitor of c-Met/ALK that is currently in clinical development. The described synthesis was used to manufacture 6 kg of the title compound and can also be employed to produce the corresponding (1R)-enantiomer.