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Both polyesters and polycarbonates have been proposed as alternatives to polyethers as host materials for future polymer electrolytes for solid-state lithium-ion batteries. While being comparatively similar functional groups, the electron density on the coordinating carbonyl oxygen is different, thereby rendering different coordinating strength towards lithium ions. In this study, the transport properties of poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(trimethylene carbonate) as well as random copolymers of systematically varied composition of the two have been investigated, in order to better elucidate the role of the coordination strength. The cationic transference number, a property well-connected with the complexing ability of the polymer, was shown to depend almost linearly on the ester content of the copolymer, increasing from 0.49 for the pure poly(ε-caprolactone) to 0.83 for pure poly(trimethylene carbonate). Contradictory to the transference number measurements that suggest a stronger lithium-to-ester coordination, DFT calculations showed that the carbonyl oxygen in the carbonate coordinates more strongly to the lithium ion than that of the ester. FT-IR measurements showed the coordination number to be higher in the polyester system, resulting in a higher total coordination strength and thereby resolving the paradox. This likely originates in properties that are specific of polymeric solvent systems, e.g. steric properties and chain dynamics, which influence the coordination chemistry. These results highlight the complexity in polymeric systems and their ion transport properties in comparison to low-molecular-weight analogues, and how polymer structure and steric effects together affect the coordination strength and transport properties., A linear dependence of the lithium transference number and the composition of the polyester–polycarbonate copolymer electrolyte host material was discovered, and the coordination properties causing the trend were investigated with DFT calculations.

This study utilized pharmacological manipulations to analyze the role of direct and indirect activation of 5-HT 7 receptors (5-HT 7 Rs) in passive avoidance learning by assessing emotional memory in male C57BL/6J mice. Additionally, 5-HT 7 R binding affinity and 5-HT 7 R-mediated protein phosphorylation of downstream signaling targets were determined. Elevation of 5-HT by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine had no effect by itself, but facilitated emotional memory performance when combined with the 5-HT 1A R antagonist NAD-299. This facilitation was blocked by the selective 5-HT 7 R antagonist SB269970, revealing excitatory effects of the SSRI via 5-HT 7 Rs. The enhanced memory retention by NAD-299 was blocked by SB269970, indicating that reduced activation of 5-HT 1A Rs results in enhanced 5-HT stimulation of 5-HT 7 Rs. The putative 5-HT 7 R agonists LP-44 when administered systemically and AS19 when administered both systemically and into the dorsal hippocampus failed to facilitate memory. This finding is consistent with the low efficacy of LP-44 and AS19 to stimulate protein phosphorylation of 5-HT 7 R-activated signaling cascades. In contrast, increasing doses of the dual 5-HT 1A R/5-HT 7 R agonist 8-OH-DPAT impaired memory, while co-administration with NAD-299 facilitated of emotional memory in a dose-dependent manner. This facilitation was blocked by SB269970 indicating 5-HT 7 R activation by 8-OH-DPAT. Dorsohippocampal infusion of 8-OH-DPAT impaired passive avoidance retention through hippocampal 5-HT 1A R activation, while 5-HT 7 Rs appear to facilitate memory processes in a broader cortico-limbic network and not the hippocampus alone.

Activating mutations in the kinase domain of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) have recently been shown to be an important determinant in the genetics of the childhood tumor neuroblastoma. Here we discuss an in-depth analysis of one of the reported gain-of-function ALK mutations-ALK(I1250T)-identified in the germ line DNA of one patient. Our analyses were performed in cell culture-based systems and subsequently confirmed in a Drosophila model. The results presented here indicate that the germ line ALK(I1250T) mutation is most probably not a determinant for tumor initiation or progression and, in contrast, seems to generate a kinase-dead mutation in the ALK receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). Consistent with this, stimulation with agonist ALK antibodies fails to lead to stimulation of ALK(I1250T) and we were unable to detect tyrosine phosphorylation under any circumstances. In agreement, ALK(I1250T) is unable to activate downstream signaling pathways or to mediate neurite outgrowth, in contrast to the activated wild-type ALK receptor or the activating ALK(F1174S) mutant. Identical results were obtained when the ALK(I1250T) mutant was expressed in a Drosophila model, confirming the lack of activity of this mutant ALK RTK. We suggest that the ALK(I1250T) mutation leads to a kinase-dead ALK RTK, in stark contrast to assumed gain-of-function status, with significant implications for patients reported to carry this particular ALK mutation.

Midkine (MDK) and Pleiotrophin (PTN) are small heparin-binding cytokines with closely related structures. The Drosophila genome harbours two genes encoding members of the MDK/PTN family of proteins, known as miple1 and miple2. We have investigated the role of Miple proteins in vivo, in particular with regard to their proposed role as ligands for the Alk receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). Here we show that Miple proteins are neither required to drive Alk signaling during Drosophila embryogenesis, nor are they essential for development in the fruit fly. Additionally we show that neither MDK nor PTN can activate hALK in vivo when ectopically co-expressed in the fly. In conclusion, our data suggest that Alk is not activated by MDK/PTN related growth factors Miple1 and Miple 2 in vivo.

Glomerular hyperfiltration is commonly observed in diabetics early after the onset of the disease and predicts the progression of nephropathy. Sustained hyperglycaemia is also closely associated with kidney hypertrophy and increased electrolyte and glucose reabsorption in the proximal tubule. In this study, we investigated the role of the increased tubular sodium/glucose cotransport for diabetes-induced glomerular hyperfiltration. To eliminate any potential confounding effect of the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism, we used adenosine A₁-receptor deficient (A1AR(-/-)) mice known to lack a functional TGF mechanism and compared the results to corresponding wild-type animals (A1AR(+/+)).Diabetes was induced by an intravenous bolus injection of alloxan. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined in conscious mice by a single bolus injection of inulin. The sodium/glucose cotransporters were inhibited by phlorizin 30 min prior to GFR measurements.Normoglycaemic animals had a similar GFR independent of genotype (A₁AR(+/+) 233 ± 11 vs. A₁AR(-/-) 241 ± 25 μL min(-1)), and induction of diabetes resulted in glomerular hyperfiltration in both groups (A₁AR(+/+) 380 ± 25 vs. A₁AR(-/-) 336 ± 35 μL min(-1); both P0.05). Phlorizin had no effect on GFR in normoglycaemic mice, whereas it reduced GFR in both genotypes during diabetes (A₁AR(+/+) 365 ± 18 to 295 ± 19, A₁AR(-/-) 354 ± 38 to 199 ± 15 μL min(-1); both P0.05). Notably, the reduction was more pronounced in the A₁AR(-/-) (P0.05).This study demonstrates that increased tubular sodium/glucose reabsorption is important for diabetes-induced hyperfiltration, and that the TGF mechanism is not involved in these alterations, but rather functions to reduce any deviations from a new set-point.

Serotonergic (5-HT) neurotransmission plays a role in learning and memory processes, but the physiological role of various receptor subtypes is not well characterised. Among these, 5-HT1B receptors are located as autoreceptors on 5-HT axons and heteroreceptors on non-serotonergic terminals. This study examined the role of the 5-HT1B receptor in one-trial aversive contextual learning using the passive avoidance (PA) task in NMRI mice. Subcutaneous administration of the 5-HT1B receptor agonist anpirtoline (0.1–1.0 mg/kg) before PA training impaired retention performance 24 h later. Combined administration of anpirtoline with the selective 5-HT1B receptor antagonist NAS-181 (0.1–1.0 mg/kg) fully blocked the impairments. Administration of NAS-181 alone dose-dependently improved PA retention performance. This facilitatory effect was blocked by subthreshold doses of both the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine (0.03 mg/kg) and the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (0.03 mg/kg). NAS-181 also fully blocked the PA impairments induced by an amnesic dose of scopolamine (0.1 mg/kg), when administered prior to, but not after, scopolamine. In addition, NAS-181 attenuated PA impairments induced by MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg). These findings indicate that 5-HT1B receptors are activated at basal levels of 5-HT transmission. The facilitatory effect of NAS-181 involved alleviation of an inhibitory 5-HT tone mediated via 5-HT1B receptors on cholinergic and glutamatergic transmission. This disinhibition is expected to occur in neuronal circuits involved in contextual learning including the hippocampus and interconnected cortico-limbic regions. Blockade of brain 5-HT1B heteroreceptors may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for restoration of deficient cholinergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission contributing to memory disorders.

The ascending serotonin (5-HT) neurons innervate the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, septum and amygdala, all representing brain regions associated with various domains of cognition. The 5-HT innervation is diffuse and extensively arborized with few synaptic contacts, which indicates that 5-HT can affect a large number of neurons in a paracrine mode. Serotonin signaling is mediated by 14 receptor subtypes with different functional and transductional properties. The 5-HT(1A) subtype is of particular interest, since it is one of the main mediators of the action of 5-HT. Moreover, the 5-HT(1A) receptor regulates the activity of 5-HT neurons via autoreceptors, and it regulates the function of several neurotransmitter systems via postsynaptic receptors (heteroreceptors). This review assesses the pharmacological and genetic evidence that implicates the 5-HT(1A) receptor in learning and memory. The 5-HT(1A) receptors are in the position to influence the activity of glutamatergic, cholinergic and possibly GABAergic neurons in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and in the septohippocampal projection, thereby affecting declarative and non-declarative memory functions. Moreover, the 5-HT(1A) receptor regulates several transduction mechanisms such as kinases and immediate early genes implicated in memory formation. Based on studies in rodents the stimulation of 5-HT(1A) receptors generally produces learning impairments by interfering with memory-encoding mechanisms. In contrast, antagonists of 5-HT(1A) receptors facilitate certain types of memory by enhancing hippocampal/cortical cholinergic and/or glutamatergic neurotransmission. Some data also support a potential role for the 5-HT(1A) receptor in memory consolidation. Available results also implicate the 5-HT(1A) receptor in the retrieval of aversive or emotional memories, supporting an involvement in reconsolidation. The contribution of 5-HT(1A) receptors in cognitive impairments in various psychiatric disorders is still unclear. However, there is evidence that 5-HT(1A) receptors may play differential roles in normal brain function and in psychopathological states. Taken together, the evidence indicates that the 5-HT(1A) receptor is a target for novel therapeutic advances in several neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by various cognitive deficits.

A new compound, Mn8Pd15Si7, is reported to crystallize in a face centered cubic unit cell of dimension a = 12.0141(2) A, space group F m 3 ¯ m , and can thus be classified as a G-phase. The crystal structure was studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray and neutron powder diffraction and electron diffraction. A filled Mg6Cu16Si7 type structure was found, corresponding to the Sc11Ir4 type structure. The magnetic properties were investigated by magnetization measurements and Reverse Monte Carlo modeling of low temperature magnetic short-range order (SRO). Dominating near neighbor antiferromagnetic correlations were found between the Mn atoms and geometric frustration in combination with random magnetic interactions via metal sites with partial Mn occupancy were suggested to hinder formation of long-range magnetic order.

A new compound, IrMnSi, has been synthesized, and its crystal structure and magnetic properties have been investigated by means of neutron powder diffraction, magnetization measurements, and first-principles theory. The crystal structure is found to be of the TiNiSi type (ordered Co2P, space group Pnma). The Mn-projected electronic states are situated at the Fermi level, giving rise to metallic binding, whereas a certain degree of covalent character is observed for the chemical bond between the It and Si atoms. A cycloidal, i.e., noncollinear, magnetic structure was observed below 460 K, with the propagation vector q=[0,0,0.4530(5)] at 10 K. The magnetism is dominated by large moments on the Mn sites, 3.8 mu(B)/atom from neutron diffraction. First-principles theory reproduces the propagation vector of the experimental magnetic structure as well as the angles between the Mn moments. The calculations further result in a magnetic moment of 3.21 mu(B) for the Mn atoms, whereas the Ir and Si moments are negligible, in agreement with observations. A calculation that more directly incorporates electron-electron interactions improves the agreement between the theoretical and experimental magnetic moments. A band mechanism is suggested to explain the observed magnetic order.

Background In Drosophila muscle cell fusion takes place both during the formation of the somatic mesoderm and the visceral mesoderm, giving rise to the skeletal muscles and the gut musculature respectively. The core process of myoblast fusion is believed to be similar for both organs. The actin cytoskeleton regulator Verprolin acts by binding to WASP, which in turn binds to the Arp2/3 complex and thus activates actin polymerization. While Verprolin has been shown to be important for somatic muscle cell fusion, the function of this protein in visceral muscle fusion has not been determined. Results Verprolin is specifically expressed in the fusion competent myoblasts of the visceral mesoderm, suggesting a role in visceral mesoderm fusion. We here describe a novel Verprolin mutant allele which displays subtle visceral mesoderm fusion defects in the form of mislocalization of the immunoglobulin superfamily molecule Duf/Kirre, which is required on the myoblast cell surface to facilitate attachment between cells that are about to fuse, indicating a function for Verprolin in visceral mesoderm fusion. We further show that Verprolin mutant cells are capable of both migrating and fusing and that the WASP-binding domain of Verprolin is required for rescue of the Verprolin mutant phenotype. Conclusions Verprolin is expressed in the visceral mesoderm and plays a role in visceral muscle fusion as shown by mislocalization of Duf/Kirre in the Verprolin mutant, however it is not absolutely required for myoblast fusion in either the visceral or the somatic mesoderm.