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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that involves progressive cognitive decline accompanied by synaptic degeneration and impaired neurotransmission. Recent studies revealed that apple pomace, a waste byproduct of the apple processing industry, has beneficial health properties, but its potential to prevent and treat AD has not been determined. Herein, we examined the effects of apple pomace extract on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801-induced memory impairment in mice. Repeated treatment with apple pomace extract for 7 days reversed the MK-801-induced impairment of associative memory and recognition memory. RNA sequencing revealed that repeated treatment with apple pomace extract altered the gene expression profile in the hippocampus of mice. Real-time PCR showed that apple pomace extract induced upregulation of the mRNA expression for Zfp125 and Gstp1. Furthermore, gene sets related to synapse and neurotransmission were upregulated by apple pomace extract. These findings indicate that apple pomace extract may be useful for the prevention and treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two series of Aerosol-OT-analoguesurfactants (sulfosuccinate-typedi-BCnSS and sulfoglutarate-type di-BCnSG) with hyperbranched alkyl double tails(so-called “hedgehog” groups, carbon number n= 6, 9, 12, and 18) have been synthesized and shown todemonstrate interfacial properties comparable to those seen for relatedfluorocarbon (FC) systems. Critical micelle concentration (CMC), surfacetension at the CMC (γCMC), and minimum area per molecule(Amin) were obtained from surface tensionmeasurements of aqueous surfactant solutions. The results were examinedfor relationships between the structure of the hedgehog group andpacking density at the interface. To evaluate Aand Bvalues in the Klevens equation for these hedgehog surfactants,log(CMC) was plotted as a function of the total carbon number in thesurfactant double tail. A linear relationship was observed, producing Bvalues of 0.20–0.25 for di-BCnSS and di-BCnSG, compared to avalue of 0.31 for standard double-straight-tail sulfosuccinate surfactants.The lower Bvalues of these hedgehog surfactantshighlight their lower hydrophobicity compared to double-straight-tailsurfactants. To clarify how hydrocarbon density in the surfactant-taillayer (ρlayer) affects γCMC, theρlayerof each double-tail surfactant was calculatedand the relationship between γCMCand ρlayerexamined. As expected for the design of low surface energysurfactant layers, ρlayerwas identified as an importantproperty for controlling γCMCwith higher ρlayer, leading to a lower γCMC. Interestingly,surfactants with BC9and BC12tails achievedmuch lower γCMC, even at low ρlayervalues of <0.55 g cm–3. The lowest surfaceenergy surfactant studied here was di-BC6SS, which hada γCMCof only 23.8 mN m–1. Sucha low γCMCis comparable to those obtained with shortFC-tail surfactants (e.g., 22.0 mN m–1for the sulfosuccinate-typeFC-surfactant with R = F(CF2)6CH2CH2−). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After preparing a homologous series of tetrameric mesogenic compounds in which two U-shaped molecules were connected via a rigid benzene derivative or a flexible alkyl chain, we investigated their phase transition behaviour using optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis. The compounds possessing an alkyl spacer as the central group exhibited nematic and smectic A phases just as the corresponding U-shaped molecule did. The compound possessing a 1,2-benzene unit as the connecting group showed nematic and smectic A phases, although the compound possessing a 1,3-benzene unit exhibited only an anticlinic smectic C phase. Structure-property relations of the liquid crystalline tetramers are interpreted in terms of preorganised effects of the four mesogenic units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesized novel liquid crystal tetramers possessing cyanobiphenyl and phenylpyrimidine moieties, and investigated their phase transition behavior. The liquid crystal tetramers exhibited nematic (N) and smectic A (SmA) phases. X-ray diffraction measurements suggest that the SmA phase has an intercalated structure. We discuss the transition behavior of the newly designed tetramers in terms of their molecular shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel oligomeric compounds in which three mesogenic moieties are connected via 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid or 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid were prepared and the physical properties investigated. Some of the compounds were found to have a tendency to form glassy states. With respect to 4-cyanobiphenyl-4'-yl 4-octyloxy-2-(3,4-bis{6-[4-(5-octylpyrimidine-2-yl)phenyloxy]hexyloxybenzoyloxy)benzoate, it is possible to obtain a supercooled nematic phase despite it deviating from a strongly rod-like structure. We discuss intermolecular interactions between neighbouring mesogenic parts for the appearance of the nematic phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A homologous series of novel liquid crystal trimers in which cyanobiphenyl and phenylpyrimidine moieties are connected via resorcinol was prepared and their physical properties investigated. 3‐{6‐[4‐(4‐Cyanophenyl)phenyl]hexyloxy}‐1‐{6‐[4‐(5‐octylpyrimidine‐2‐yl)phenyl]hexyloxy}benzene, compound I‐(6,6), was found to show monotropic nematic, smectic A and anticlinic smectic C (SmCanti) phases. We investigated the effects of the spacer length and the linking group on the phase transition behaviour. In addition, trimers with identical mesogenic units were prepared and their physical properties compared with those containing two different mesogens. Only the meta ‐substituted trimers showed the SmCanti phase despite its reduced tendency to exhibit liquid crystallinity than the ortho ‐ and para ‐substituted trimers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]