l-pGlu-(2-propyl)-l-His-l-ProNH2 attenuates 4-aminopyridine-induced epileptiform activity and sodium current: a possible action of new thyrotropin-releasing hormone analog for its anticonvulsant potential

L-PGlu-(2-proPyl)-L-His-L-ProNH(2) (NP-647) is a CNS active thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analog with potential application in various CNS disorders including seizures. In the present study, mechanism of action for protective effect of NP-647 was explored by studying role of NP-647 on epileptiform activity and sodium channels by using patch-clamp methods. Epileptiform activity was induced in subicular pyramidal neurons of hippocampal slice of rat by perfusing 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) containing Mg(+2)-free normal artificial cerebrospinal fluid (nACSF). Increase in mean firing frequency was observed after perfusion of 4-AP and zero Mg(+2) (2.10+/-0.47 Hz) as compared with nACSF (0.12+/-0.08 Hz). A significant decrease in mean firing frequency (0.61+/-0.22 Hz), mean frequency of epileptiform events (0.03+/-0.02 Hz vs. 0.22+/-0.05 Hz of 4-AP+0 Mg), and average number of action potentials in paroxysmal depolarization shift-burst (2.54+/-1.21 Hz vs. 8.16+/-0.88 Hz of 4-AP +0 Mg) was observed. A significant reduction in peak dV/dt (246+/-19 mV ms(-1) vs. 297 18 mV ms-1 of 4-AP+0 Mg) and increase (1.332+/-0.018 ms vs. 1.292+/-0.019 ms of 4-AP+0 Mg) in time required to reach maximum depolarization were observed indicating role of sodium channels. Concentration-dependent depression of sodium current was observed after exposure to dorsal root ganglion neurons to NP-647. NP-647 at different concentrations (1, 3, and 10 mu M) depressed sodium current (15+/-0.5%, 50+/-2.6%, and 75+/-0.7%, respectively). However, NP-647 did not show change in the peak sodium current in CNa18 cells. Results of present study demonstrated potential of NP-647 in the inhibition of epileptiform activity by inhibiting sodium channels indirectly. (C) 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural and dielectric behavior of pulsed laser ablated Sr(0.6)Ca(0.4)TiO(3) thin film and asymmetric multilayer of SrTiO(3) and CaTiO(3)

Homogeneous thin films of Sr(0.6)Ca(0.4)TiO(3) (SCT40) and asymmetric multilayer of SrTiO(3) (STO) and CaTiO(3) (CTO) were fabricated on Pt/Ti/SiO(2)/Si substrates by using pulsed laser deposition technique. The electrical behavior of films was observed within a temperature range of 153 K-373 K. A feeble dielectric peak of SCT40 thin film at 273 K is justified as paraelectric to antiferroelectric phase transition. Moreover, the Curie-Weiss temperature, determined from the epsilon'(T) data above the transition temperature is found to be negative. Using Landau theory, the negative Curie-Weiss temperature is interpreted in terms of an antiferroelectric transition. The asymmetric multilayer exhibits a broad dielectric peak at 273 K. and is attributed to interdiffusion at several interfaces of multilayer. The average dielectric constants for homogeneous Sr(0.6)Ca(0.4)TiO(3) films (similar to 650) and asymmetric multilayered films (similar to 350) at room temperature are recognized as a consequence of grain size effect. Small frequency dispersion in the real part of the dielectric constants and relatively low dielectric losses for both cases ensure high quality of the films applicable for next generation integrated devices. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dislocation mechanisms for plastic flow of nickel in the temperature range 4.2 – 1200 K

The temperature ranges of thermal and athermal deformation behaviour of nickel are identified by employing the temperature-dependence of flow-stress and strain-rate cycling data. The results are used to present a unified view of dislocation mechanisms of glide encompassing the two thermally activated and the intermediate athermal regimes of plastic flow.In the low-temperature thermally activated region (<250 K) the strain rate is found to be controlled by the repulsive intersection of glide and forest dislocations, in accordance with current ideas. The athermal stress in this region can be attributed mainly to the presence of strong attractive junctions which are overcome by means of Orowan bowing, a small contribution also coming from the elastic interactions between dislocations. The values of activation area and activation energy obtained in the high-temperature region (> 750 K) negate the operation of a diffusion-controlled mechanism. Instead, the data support a thermal activation model involving unzipping of the attractive junctions. The internal (long-range) stress contribution here results solely from the elastic interactions between dislocations. This view concerning the high-temperature plastic flow is further supported by the observation that the Cottrell–Stokes law is obeyed over large strains in the range 750–1200 K.

Ba(3)(P(1-x)Mn(x)O(4))(2): Blue/green inorganic materials based on tetrahedral Mn(V)

We describe a blue/green inorganic material, Ba(3)(P(1-x)-Mn(x)O(4))(2) (I) based on tetrahedral MnO(4)(3-):3d(2) chromophore. The solid solutions (I) which are sky-blue and turquoise-blue for x <= 0.25 and dark green for x >= 0-50, are readily synthesized in air from commonly available starting materials, stabilizing the MnO(4)(3-) chromophore in an isostructural phosphate host. We suggest that the covalency/ionicity of P-O/Mn-O bonds in the solid solutions tunes the crystal field strength around Mn(V) such that a blue colour results for materials with small values of x. The material could serve as a nontoxic blue/green inorganic pigment.

Studies on hydrogen-bonds .4. proposed working criteria for assessing qualitative strength of hydrogen-bonds

The data obtained in the earlier parts of this series for the donor and acceptor end parameters of N-H. O and O-H. O hydrogen bonds have been utilised to obtain a qualitative working criterion to classify the hydrogen bonds into three categories: “very good” (VG), “moderately good” (MG) and weak (W). The general distribution curves for all the four parameters are found to be nearly of the Gaussian type. Assuming that the VG hydrogen bonds lie between 0 and ± la, MG hydrogen bonds between ± 1s̀ and ± 2s̀, W hydrogen bonds beyond ± 2s̀ (where s̀ is the standard deviation), suitable cut-off limits for classifying the hydrogen bonds in the three categories have been derived. These limits are used to get VG and MG ranges for the four parameters 1 and θ (at the donor end) and ± and ± (at the acceptor end). The qualitative strength of a hydrogen bond is decided by the cumulative application of the criteria to all the four parameters. The criterion has been further applied to some practical examples in conformational studies such as α-helix and can be used for obtaining suitable location of hydrogen atoms to form good hydrogen bonds. An empirical approach to the energy of hydrogen bonds in the three categories has also been presented.

ZnFe(2)O(4): Rapid and sub-100 degrees C synthesis and anneal-tuned magnetic properties

Nanocrystalline zinc ferrite (ZFO) has been synthesized from metal acetylacetonates by microwave irradiation for 5 min in the presence of a surfactant. The as-prepared material is ZFO and has been subjected in air to conventional furnace annealing and to rapid annealing at different temperatures. Both annealing protocols lead to well-crystallized ZFO, with crystallite sizes in the range similar to 8-20 nm, which is ferrimagnetic, even at room temperature, with magnetization attaining saturation. While the magnetization M(S) of conventionally annealed ZFO varies with crystallite size in the expected manner, rapid annealing leads to high M(S) even when the crystallite size is relatively large. The coercivity is greater in the conventionally annealed ZFO. Thermal and magnetic measurements suggest that the inhomogeneous site cationic distribution within each crystallite caused by rapid annealing can be used to tailor the magnetic behaviour of nanocrystalline ferrites.

Synthesis and Antileukemic Activity of Novel 2-(4-(2,4-dimethoxybenzoyl)phenoxy)-1-(4-(3-(piperidin-4-yl)propyl)piper idin-1-yl)ethanone Derivatives

A series of novel 2-(4-(2,4-dimethoxybenzoyl)phenoxy)-1-(4-(3-(piperidin-4-yl)propyl) piperidin-1-yl)ethanone derivatives 9(ae) and 10(ag) were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, IR, mass spectral, and elemental analysis. These novel compounds were evaluated for their antileukemic activity against two human leukemic cell lines (K562 and CEM) by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide assay. Some of the tested compounds showed good antiproliferative activity with IC50 values ranging from 1.6 to 8.0 mu m. Compound 9c, 9e, and 10f with an electron-withdrawing halogen substituent at the para position on the phenyl ring showed excellent in vitro potency against tested human leukemia cells (K562 and CEM).

Self-assembly of Ru-4 and Ru-8 assemblies by coordination using organometallic Ru(II)(2) precursors: Synthesis, characterization and properties

Coordination-driven self-assembly of binuclear half-sandwich p-cymene ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru-2(mu-eta(4)-C2O4)(MeOH)(2)(eta(6)-p-cymene)(2)](O3SCF3)(2) (1a) or [Ru-2(mu-eta(4)-N,N'-diphenyloxamidato)(MeOH)(2)(eta(6)-p-cymene)(2)]( O3SCF3)(2) (1b) separately with an imidazole-based tetratopic donor L in methanol affords two tetranuclear metallamacrocycles 2a and 2b, respectively. Conversely, the similar combination of L with 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinonato (dhbq) bridged binuclear complex [Ru-2(mu-eta(C6H2O4)-C-4)(MeOH)(2)(eta(6)-p-cymene)(2)](O3SCF3)(2) (1c) in 1:2 molar ratio resulted in an octanuclear macrocyclic cage 2c. All the self-assembled macrocycles 2a-2c were isolated as their triflate salts in high yields and were characterized fully by multinuclear (H-1, C-13 and F-19) NMR, infrared (IR) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS). In addition, the molecular structure of macrocycle 2a was established unequivocally by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and adopts a tetranuclear rectangular geometry with the dimensions of 5.53 angstrom x 12.39 angstrom. Furthermore, the photo-and electrochemical properties of these newly synthesized assemblies have been studied by using UV-vis absorption and cyclic voltammetry analysis.

IN-VITRO CYTOTOXICITY AND CELL CYCLE ANALYSIS OF TWO NOVEL BIS-1, 2, 4-TRIAZOLE DERIVATIVES: 1,4-BIS[5-(5-MERCAPTO-1,3,4-OXADIAZOL-2-yl-METHYL)-THIO-4-(p-TOLYL)-1, 2,4-TRIAZOL-3-yl]-BUTANE (MNP-14) AND 1,4-BIS[5-(CARBETHOXY-METHYL)-THIO-4-(p-ETHOXY PHENYL)-1,2,4-TRIAZOL-3-yl]-BUTANE (MNP-16)

In the present study, we have tested the cytotoxic and DNA damage activity of two novel bis-1,2,4 triazole derivatives, namely 1,4-bis[5-(5-mercapto-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl-methyl)-thio4-(p-tolyl)-1,2 ,4-triazol-3-yl]-butane (MNP-14) and 1,4-bis[5-(carbethoxy-methyl)-thio-4-(p-ethoxy phenyl) -1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]-butane (MNP-16). The effect of these molecules on cellular apoptosis was also determined. The in-vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay as well as Trypan blue dye exclusion methods against human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MOLT4) and lung cancer cells (A549). Our results showed that MNP-16 induced significant cytotoxicity (IC50 of 3-5 mu M) compared with MNP-14. The cytotoxicity induced by MNP-16 was time and concentration dependent. The cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry (fluorescence-activated cell sorting [FACS]) revealed that though there was a significant increase in the apoptotic population (sub-G1 phase) with an increased concentration of MNP-14 and 16, there was no cell cycle arrest. Further, the comet assay results indicated considerable DNA

Thermodynamic, Raman and electrical switching studies on Si15Te85-xAgx (4 <= x <= 20) glasses

We have investigated thermal properties of bulk Si15Te85-xAgx (4 <= x <= 20) glasses in detail, through alternating differential scanning calorimetry experiments. The composition dependence of thermal parameters reveal the signatures of rigidity percolation and chemical threshold at compositions x = 12 and x = 19, respectively. The stability and glass forming ability of these glasses have also been determined using the data obtained from different thermodynamic quantities and it is found that the Si15Te85-xAgx glasses in the region 12 <= x <= 17 are more stable when compared to other glasses of the same series. Further, the blueshift observed in Raman spectroscopy investigations, in the composition range 12 <= x <= 13, support the occurrence of stiffness threshold in this composition range. All Si15Te85-xAgx (4 <= x <= 20) glasses are found to exhibit memory type switching (for sample thickness 0.25 mm) in the input current range 3-9 mA. The effect of rigidity percolation and chemical thresholds on switching voltages are observed at x = 12 and 19, respectively. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3682759]