The synapsin cycle:a view from the synaptic endocytic zone

Although the synapsin phosphoproteins were discovered more than 30 years ago and are known to play important roles in neurotransmitter release and synaptogenesis, a complete picture of their functions within the nerve terminal is lacking. It has been shown that these proteins play an important role in the clustering of synaptic vesicles (SVs) at active zones and function as modulators of synaptic strength by acting at both pre- and postdocking levels. Recent studies have demonstrated that synapsins migrate to the endocytic zone of central synapses during neurotransmitter release, which suggests that there are additional functions for these proteins in SV recycling.

A magnetic cycle of τ Bootis? The coronal and chromospheric view

τ Bootis is a late F-type main sequence star orbited by a Hot Jupiter. During the last years spectropolarimetric observations led to the hypothesis that this star may host a global magnetic field that switches its polarity once per year, indicating a very short activity cycle of only one year duration. In our ongoing observational campaign, we have collected several X-ray observations with XMM-Newton and optical spectra with TRES/FLWO in Arizona to characterize τ Boo's corona and chromosphere over the course of the supposed one-year cycle. Contrary to the spectropolarimetric reconstructions, our observations do not show indications for a short activity cycle.

Review of Slavery by Any Other Name: African Life under Company Rule in Colonial Mozambique.

Book review of Slavery by Any Other Name: African Life under Company Rule in Colonial Mozambique, by Eric Allina, Charlottesville, University of Virginia Press, 2012, 255 pp., £44.50, ISBN 978-0-8139-3272-9.