POSTSYNAPTIC ALPHA-2 RECEPTOR STIMULATION IMPROVES MEMORY IN AGED MONKEYS - INDIRECT EFFECTS OF YOHIMBINE VERSUS DIRECT EFFECTS OF CLONIDINE

Very low doses (0.00001 mg/kg) of the alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist, yohimbine, improved working memory performance in a subset of aged monkeys. Improvement appeared to result from increased norepinephrine (NE) release onto postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors, as the response was blocked by the ''postsynaptic'' alpha-2 antagonist, SKF104078. Cognitive-enhancing effects of low dose yohimbine treatment may depend on aged animals retaining an intact, endogenous NE system. In contrast to yohimbine, the alpha-2 agonist, clonidine, has improved working memory in air aged animals examined. In the present study, clonidine's beneficial effects were also blocked by the postsynaptic antagonists SKF104078 and SKF104856, suggesting that clonidine acts by directly stimulating postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors. Beneficial doses of clonidine (0.01 mg/kg) and yohimbine (0.00001 mg/kg) were combined to see if they would produce additive effects on memory enhancement. This strategy was successful in young monkeys with intact NE systems but was not effective in the aged monkeys. These findings demonstrate that drugs that indirectly stimulate postsynaptic alpha-2 receptors by increasing NE release are not as reliable in aged monkeys as directly acting agonists that can replace NE at postsynaptic alpha-2 receptors.

2-ps passively mode-locked Nd : YVO4 laser using an output-coupling-type semiconductor saturable absorber mirror

We have demonstrated stable self-starting passive mode-locking in a diode-end-pumped Nd: YVO4 laser using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM). An ln(0.25)Ga(0.75)As single quantum-well SESAM, which was grown by the metalorganic chemical-vapor deposition technique at low temperature, acts as a passive mode-locking device and an output coupler at the same time. Continuous-wave mode-locked transform-limited pulses were obtained at 1064 nm with a pulse duration of 2.1 ps and an average output power of 1.28 W at a repetition rate of 96.5 MHz. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Spectroscopic investigation of the function of aqueous 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate/glutaraldehyde solution as a dentin desensitizer

Fourier-transform (FT)-Raman and -infrared (IR) spectroscopy were employed to investigate the function of the aqueous 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate/glutaraldehyde solution (Gluma) as a desensitizer. 2-Hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), glutaraldehyde (GA), and the mixture of HEMA/GA (i.e. Gluma) were used to interact with dentin, collagen, hydroxyapatite (HAP), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) individually. All the interactions were monitored by an FT-Raman spectrometer. FT-IR spectroscopy was also used in this study. The results show that HEMA could be absorbed by dentin and collagen; GA could cross-link collagen and BSA; and when BSA was added to Gluma, polymerization of HEMA occurred. The results suggest that Gluma acts as a desensitizer whereby, first, GA reacts with part of the serum albumin in dentinal fluid, which induces a precipitation of serum albumin, then, second, a reaction of GA with serum albumin induces polymerization of HEMA. The function of Gluma as a desensitizer to block dentinal tubules occurs via these two reactions.

A new alpha-Keggin type polyoxometalate coordinated to four silver complex moieties: {PW9V3O40[Ag(2,2 '-bipy)](2)[Ag-2(2,2 '-bipy)(3)](2)}

A new polyoxometalate derivative {PW9V3O40[Ag(2,2'-bipy)](2)[Ag-2(2,2'-bipy)(3)](2)} 1 has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by the single crystal X-ray diffraction. X-Ray analysis showed that both [Ag(2,2'-bipy)](+) and [Ag-2(2,2'-bipy)(3)](2+) units are supported on the alpha-Keggin polyoxoanion [PW9V3O40](6-) via the surface bridging oxygen atoms. 1 represents the first alpha-Keggin type polyoxoanion coordinated with four transition metal complex moieties, which further acts as a neutral molecular units for the construction of an interesting three-dimensional supramolecular framework.

Investigation on moleculare and crystal structures of metal complexes with aminopolycarboxylic acids (VII) - Syntheses and structure determination of Na-3[Hg (I) (edta) C1] center dot 6H(2)O

In this paper we describe the moleculare and crystal structures of the Na-3[Hg( II )(edta)Cl] . 6H(2)O (edta=ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate). The crystal data are as follows: orthorhombic, a=8. 083 (2) Angstrom , b=13. 870(3) Angstrom , c=38. 617(5) Angstrom , v=4329. 4 (13) Angstrom(3) , Z=8, Dc= 1. 798 g . cm(-3), mu=5. 564 mm(-1), P(000)=2280, R=0. 0317 and R-w=0. 0731 for 3883 unique reflections. In complex, the complex anion [Hg ( II ) (edta)Cl](3-) has a seven-coordination structure like a mono-capped trigonal-prism (C-2v-MTP) in which the edta(4-) acts as a hexadentate ligand with four O atoms and two N atoms and a Cl- caps a quadrilateral face as a seventh ligand. It can be known that the Hg2+ which has a d(10) electronic structure can form a high-coordinate compound with a hexadentate ligand (edta) because it has a big ionic radius.

K-2[MoO3(C2O4)].H2O

In the title compound, catena-poly[dipotassium [[(oxalato-O,O')dioxomolybdate]-mu-oxo]monohydrate], oxalate acts as a bidentate ligand coordinating to each Mo atom through the two deprotonated carboxylate groups. The coordination polyhedron of molybdenum is distorted octahedral and there are infinite chains in the structure. Principal dimensions are: Mo-O(terminal) 1.560 (3) and 1.739 (3) Angstrom, Mo-O(bridging) 2.046 (4) and 2.410 (4) Angstrom, and Mo-O(carboxylate) 1.949 (3) and 2.113 (3) Angstrom.

Compatibilizing effect of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) for poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenyleneoxide) chlorinated polyethylene blends

The compatibilizing effect and mechanism of compatibilization of the diblock copolymer polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) P(S-b-4VPy) on immiscible blends of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO)/chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mechanical properties and FTIR measurements. The block copolymer was synthesized by sequential anionic polymerization and melt-blended with PPO and CPE. The results show that the P(S-b-4VPy) added acts as an effective compatibilizer, located at the interface between the PPO and the CPE phase, reducing the interfacial tension, and improving the interfacial adhesion. The tensile strength and modulus of all blends increase with P(S-b-4VPy) content, whereas the elongation at break increases for PPO-rich blends, but decreases for CPE-rich blends. The polystyrene block of the diblock copolymer is compatible with PPO, and the poly(4-vinylpyridine) block and CPE are partially miscible.

CURE AND IONIC-CONDUCTIVITY OF A 2-COMPONENT EPOXY NETWORK POLYMER ELECTROLYTE

In order to raise the room temperature ionic conductivity and improve the mechanical strength of a PEO-based polymer electrolyte, a non-crystalline two-component epoxy network was synthesized by curing diglycidyl ether of polyethylene glycol (DGEPEG) with triglycidyl ether of glycerol (TGEG) in the presence of LiClO4 salt, which acts in this system as both a ring opening catalyst and a source of ionic carrier. The structure of the precursors, the curing process and the cured films have been characterized by C-13 NMR, IR, DSC and ionic conductivity measurement techniques. The electrolyte system exhibits an ionic conductivity as high as similar to 10(-5) S/cm at 25 degrees C and is mechanically self-supportable. The dependence of ionic conductivity was investigated as a function of temperature, salt content, MW of PEG segment in DGEPEG and the proportion of DGEPEG in DGEPEG/TGEG ratio.