Specific solute-solute and solute-solvent interactions in organic solutions of indole

The temperature dependence of the UV absorption spectra of indole and N-methylindole in propyl ether and in 3-methylpentane was investigated. The results indicate the existence of hydrogen bond interactions between indole and the ether, and also the existence of self-associations of indole through bonding in the non-polar solvent.     

α-CGRP disrupts amylin fibrillization and regulates insulin secretion: implications on diabetes and migraine

Despite being relatively benign and not an indicative signature of toxicity, fibril formation and fibrillar structures continue to be key factors in assessing the structure–function relationship in protein aggregation diseases. The inability to capture molecular cross-talk among key players at the tissue level before fibril formation greatly accounts for the missing link toward the development of an efficacious therapeutic intervention for Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We show that human α-calcitonin gene-related peptide (α-CGRP) remodeled amylin fibrillization. Furthermore, while CGRP and/or amylin monomers reduce the secretion of both mouse Ins1 and Ins2 proteins, CGRP oligomers have a reverse effect on Ins1. Genetically reduced Ins2, the orthologous version of human insulin, has been shown to enhance insulin sensitivity and extend the life-span in old female mice. Beyond the mechanistic insights, our data suggest that CGRP regulates insulin secretion and lowers the risk of T2DM. Our result rationalizes how migraine might be protective against T2DM. We envision the new paradigm of CGRP : amylin interactions as a pivotal aspect for T2DM diagnostics and therapeutics. Maintaining a low level of amylin while increasing the level of CGRP could become a viable approach toward T2DM prevention and treatment.

CGRP concentration is elevated in migraine conditions. The protective effect of migraine against type 2 diabetes is attributed to the ability of CGRP to remodel human amylin aggregation and to suppress the secretion of mouse insulin 2 (the orthologue of human insulin).     

Theoretical and experimental vibrational study of phenylurea: structure, solvent effect and inclusion process with the beta-cyclodextrin in the solid state

FTIR and Raman vibrational spectroscopic techniques as well as DFT quantum chemical calculation were used for characterizing conformational changes of phenylurea (a herbicide parent molecule) occurring from solid state to aqueous medium. Experimental infrared frequencies were assigned on the base of urea and benzenic derivatives spectroscopic data available in the literature and vibrational normal modes analytical calculation at the fully optimized geometry. Investigation of isotopic and solvent effects has revealed that the structure of phenylurea is particularly sensitive to the electrostatic environment via hydrogen non covalent bonds. The ability of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) to form host-guest inclusion complex with phenylurea in the solid state was also evidenced by significant frequency shifts observed in the 1400-1800 cm(-1) spectral range.     

Straightforward preparation of polymers based on oligodimethylsiloxane and alkylamine

Novel oligodimethylsiloxane‐based polymers with alkyl side chain were synthesized in bulk by step‐growth polymerization between α,ω‐glycidyl ether oligodimethylsiloxanes and a monoalkylamine in the absence of catalyst and at temperatures ranging between 80 and 180 °C. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight results attested for the high reactivity of the amine functions with the glycidyl groups and revealed that the main polymer structure was (A₂B₂)_n type with alkyl moieties as dangling chains. No etherification was observed during the reaction even at high temperatures and the nature of the end groups strongly depended on the molar ratio between glycidyl and amine functions. Polymerization reactions were followed by ¹H NMR and the kinetics of the glycidyl‐amine reaction pointed out the dependence of temperature, molar ratio, and the molar mass of the oligodimethylsiloxane. High conversion rates were obtained, especially with the lowest molecular weight oligodimethylsiloxane. An optimized kinetic model derived from the Horie's model was discussed and permitted to correctly fit the experimental data. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Finite-temperature quasicontinuum: molecular dynamics without all the atoms

Using a combination of statistical mechanics and finite-element interpolation, we develop a coarse-grained (CG) alternative to molecular dynamics (MD) for crystalline solids at constant temperature. The new approach is significantly more efficient than MD and generalizes earlier work on the quasicontinuum method. The method is validated by recovering equilibrium properties of single crystal Ni as a function of temperature. CG dynamical simulations of nano-indentation reveal a strong dependence on temperature of the critical stress to nucleate dislocations under the indenter.     

Resonant secondary emission and spectral diffusion in isotopically mixed naphthalene crystals

Resonant secondary radiation (zero-phonon lines) flourescence spectra of isotopic 3D aggregates of traps (NH₈) in a host crystal (ND₈), as well as transfer-induced fluorescence at trap concentrations between 0.01 and 10% and at temperatures between 1.6 and 10 K, are presented. Laser-excited (0–1) resonant secondary (zero-phonon) emission is used to resolve close-lying electronic resonances, corresponding to monomers, aggregates and to their host and trap satellite lines, in a quasi-continuum of 3D trap states. Such states are also calculated by numerically diagonalizing a mixed-crystal 3D hamiltonian. Measured and calculated delocalization indices are given for all trap species. In addition, low-temperature spectral diffusion of photoselected trap species is measured by plotting the attenuation of the zero-phonon lines. We give a simple discussion on the modulation of the resonant secondary radiation spectra by concentration, excitation wavelength and temperature. We show that low-temperature exciton diffusion, assited by acoustical phonon creation, occurs above a very low concentration threshold (C > 0.05% for monomers at T = 1.6 K). Thermally activated transfer of the photoselected excitons is also plotted for temperatures up to 10 K above which the zero-phonon lines are quenched.     

Spectra of direct excitation of phosphorescence in an isotopic mixed naphthalene crystal. High resolution excitation of the two Davydov components of the N-d8 host crystal

Direct excitation spectra of the triplet exciton band of deuterated naphthalene are presented. The high resolution spectra (0.1 cm^?1) of the two Davydov components show a substructure that we attribute to the presence in the crystal of natural traps and local strains. A model based on the calculation of the eigenstates of a finite plane of molecules is provided for lineshape simulations. In this work the artificial edge effects introduced by the finite size of the model crystal are eliminated by appropriate boundary conditions. Our method allows us to introduce a random distribution of traps, with variable energies, located inside and outside the exciton band, thus featuring a real crystal. Comparison between calculations and experimental results accounts for the salient effects of the traps on the spectroscopic properties of a mixed crystal.     

Calcium imaging in the ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Camponotus fellah</Emphasis> reveals a conserved odour-similarity space in insects and mammals

Background  

Olfactory systems create representations of the chemical world in the animal brain. Recordings of odour-evoked activity in the primary olfactory centres of vertebrates and insects have suggested similar rules for odour processing, in particular through spatial organization of chemical information in their functional units, the glomeruli. Similarity between odour representations can be extracted from across-glomerulus patterns in a wide range of species, from insects to vertebrates, but comparison of odour similarity in such diverse taxa has not been addressed. In the present study, we asked how 11 aliphatic odorants previously tested in honeybees and rats are represented in the antennal lobe of the ant Camponotus fellah, a social insect that relies on olfaction for food search and social communication.