Novel anti-inflammatory compound SEN1176 alleviates behavioural deficits induced following bilateral intrahippocampal injection of aggregated amyloid-beta(1-42).

Behavioral effects of a novel anti-inflammatory SEN1176 were investigated. This pyrrolo[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine suppresses amyloid-ß (Aß)1-42-induced macrophage production of nitric oxide, TNF-a, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in a dose-dependent fashion, an activity profile consistent with SEN1176 being a neuroinflammation inhibitor. Using male Sprague-Dawley rats, SEN1176 was examined relative to detrimental behavioral effects induced following bilateral intrahippocampal (IH) injections of aggregated Aß1-42. The rats were trained to respond under an alternating-lever cyclic-ratio (ALCR) schedule of food reinforcement, enabling measurement of parameters of operant performance that reflect aspects of learning and memory. Under the ALCR schedule, orally administered SEN1176 at 5, 20, or 30 mg/kg was effective in reducing the behavioral deficit caused by bilateral IH aggregated Aß1-42 injections in a dose-related manner over a 90-day treatment period. SEN1176 at 20 and 30 mg/kg significantly reduced lever switching errors and, at doses of 5, 10, and 30 mg/kg, significantly reduced incorrect lever perseverations, indicating a reduction of the behavioral deficit induced as a result of inflammation following IH Aß1-42 injections. When treatment with SEN1176 was instigated 30 days after IH Aß1-42 injections, it resulted in progressive protection, and withdrawal of SEN1176 treatment 60 days after IH Aß1-42 injections revealed partial retention of the protective effect. SEN1176 also significantly reduced numbers of activated astrocytes adjacent to the aggregated Aß1-42 injection sites. These results indicate the potential of SEN1176 for alleviating chronic neuroinflammatory processes related to brain Aß deposition that affect learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease.

Characterisation of the photocatalyst Pilkington Activ (TM): a reference film photocatalyst?

Pilkington Glass Activ(TM) represents a possible suitable successor to P25 TiO2, especially as a benchmark photocatalyst film for comparing other photocatalyst or PSH self-cleaning films. Activ(TM) is a glass product with a clear, colourless, effectively invisible, photocatalytic coating of titania that also exhibits PSH. Although not as active as a film of P25 TiO2, Activ(TM) vastly superior mechanical stability, very reproducible activity and widespread commercial availability makes it highly attractive as a reference photocatalytic film. The photocatalytic and photo-induced superhydrophilitic (PSH) properties of Activ(TM) are studied in some detail and the results reported. Thus, the kinetics of stearic acid destruction (a 104 electron process) are zero order over the stearic acid range 4-129 monolayers and exhibit formal quantum efficiencies (FQE) of 0.7 X 10(-5) and 10.2 x 10(-5) molecules per photon when irradiated with light of 365 +/- 20 and 254 nm, respectively; the latter appears also to be the quantum yield for Activ(TM) at 254 nm. The kinetics of stearic acid destruction exhibit Langmuir-Hinshelwood-like saturation type kinetics as a function of oxygen partial pressure, with no destruction occurring in the absence of oxygen and the rate of destruction appearing the same in air and oxygen atmospheres. Further kinetic work revealed a Langmuir adsorption type constant for oxygen of 0.45 +/- 0.16 kPa(-1) and an activation energy of 19 +/- 1 Kj mol(-1). A study of the PSH properties of Activ(TM) reveals a high water contact angle (67) before ultra-bandgap irradiation reduced to 0degrees after prolonged irradiation. The kinetics of PSH are similar to those reported by others for sol-gel films using a low level of UV light. The kinetics of contact angle recovery in the dark appear monophasic and different to the biphasic kinetics reported recently by others for sol-gel films [J. Phys. Chem. B 107 (2003) 1028]. Overall, Activ(TM) appears a very suitable reference material for semiconductor film photocatalysis. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.

The effects of hexetidine (Oraldene (TM)) on the adherence of Candida albicans to human buccal epithelial cells in vitro and ex vivo and on in vitro morphogenesis

Purpose. This study reports the effects of hexetidine (Oraldene(TM)) on two virulence attributes of Candida albicans, namely, in vitro and ex vivo adherence of yeast cells to buccal epithelial cells (BEG) and in vitro morphogenesis.

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS CONCERNING THE ANTI-ADHERENCE PROPERTIES OF POLYHEXAMETHYLENEBIGUANIDE (VANTOCIL IB(TM))

The effect of polyhexamethylenebiguanide (PHMB) on adherence of Candida albicans blastospores to human buccal epithelial cells (BEG) was examined in vitro. Treatments of either blastospores or BEC with PHMB (50 and 1000 mu g ml(-1)) significantly reduced the number of adherent blastospores per BEC and increased the number of BEC devoid of blastospores.

Ultrafast low-loss 42-70 GHz differential SPDT switch in 0.35 μm SiGe technology

This paper presents an ultrafast wideband low-loss single-pole double-throw (SPDT) differential switch in 0.35 µ m SiGe bipolar technology. The proposed topology adopting current-steering technique results in a total measured switching time of 75 ps , which suggests a maximum switching rate of 13 Gb/s, the fastest ever reported at V-band. In addition, the switch exhibits an insertion loss lower than 1.25 dB and an isolation higher than 18 dB from 42 GHz to 70 GHz. © 2006 IEEE.

Synergistic effects on gene delivery - co-formulation of small disulfide-linked dendritic polycations with Lipofectamine 2000 (TM)

This paper describes the application of gene delivery vectors based on connecting together two well-defined low-generation poly(L-lysine) (PLL) dendrons using a disulfide-containing linker unit. We report that the transfection ability of these vectors in their own right is relatively low, because the low-generation number limits the endosomal buffering capacity. Importantly, however, we demonstrate that when applied in combination with Lipofectamine 2000 (TM), a vector from the cationic lipid family, these small cationic additives significantly enhance the levels of gene delivery (up to four-fold). Notably, the cationic additives have no effect on the levels of transfection observed with a cationic polymer, such as DEAE dextran. We therefore argue that the synergistic effects observed with Lipofectamine 2000 (TM) arise as a result of combining the delivery advantages of two different classes of vector within a single formulation, with our dendritic additives providing a degree of pH buffering within the endosome. As such, the data we present indicate that small dendritic structures, although previously largely overlooked for gene delivery owing to their inability to transfect in their own right, may actually be useful well-defined additives to well-established vector systems in order to enhance the gene delivery payload.

Energy levels, radiative rates and lifetimes for transitions in Br-like ions with 38 ≤ Z ≤ 42

Energy levels and radiative rates for transitions in five Br-like ions (Sr IV, Y V, Zr VI, Nb VII and Mo VIII) are calculated with the general-purpose relativistic atomic structure package (GRASP). Extensive configuration interaction has been included and results are presented among the lowest 31 levels of the 4s²4p⁵, 4s²4p⁴4d and 4s4p⁶ configurations. Lifetimes for these levels have also been determined, although unfortunately no measurements are available with which to compare. However, recently theoretical results have been reported by Singh et al (2013 Phys. Scr. 88 035301) using the same GRASP code. But their reported data for radiative rates and lifetimes cannot be reproduced and show discrepancies of up to five orders of magnitude with the present calculations.

Escaping the Holocaust: human and health capital of refugees to the United States, 1940-42

The large-scale persecution of Jews during World War II generated massive refugee movements. Using data from 20,441 predominantly Jewish passengers from 19 countries traveling from Lisbon to New York between 1940 and 1942, we analyze the last wave of refugees escaping the Holocaust and verify the validity of height as a proxy for human and health capital. We further show this episode of European migration displays well-known features of migrant self-selection: early migrants were taller than late migrants; a large migrant stock reduces migrant selectivity; and economic barriers to migration
apply. Our findings show that Europe experienced substantial losses in human and health capital while the US benefitted from the immigration of European refugees.