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Shrinkage and loss of dendritic spines are vital components of the neuronal plasticity that supports learning. To investigate the mechanisms of spine shrinkage and loss, Oh and colleagues established a two-photon glutamate uncaging protocol that reliably induces input-specific spine shrinkage on dendrites of rodent hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Here, we provide a detailed description of that protocol and also an optimized version that can be used to induce input- and synapse-specific shrinkage of dendritic spines at physiological Ca2+ levels. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Oh et al. (2013), Stein et al. (2015), Stein et al. (2020), and Stein et al. (2021).

Chemical proteomics using biotin probes of natural products have significantly advanced our understanding of molecular targets and therapeutic potential. This review highlights recent progress in the application of biotin probes of homoisoflavonoids for identifying binding proteins and elucidating mechanisms of action. Notably, homoisoflavonoids exhibit antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects. A combination of biotin probes, pull-down assays, mass spectrometry, and molecular modeling has revealed how natural products and their derivatives interact with several proteins such as ferrochelatase (FECH), soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2), phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH). These target identification approaches pave the way for new therapeutic avenues, especially in the fields of oncology and ophthalmology. Future research aimed at expanding the repertoire of target identification using biotin probes of homoisoflavonoids promises to further elucidate the complex mechanisms and develop new drug candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging diesel engines on the road require the development of an after-treatment system to meet current emission regulations, and a reduction in NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) is significant. The SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system is the after-treatment system for removing NOx from exhaust gas in diesel engines using NH3 (Ammonia) gas. However, the mixing and conversion process between NH3 and NOx in SCR has not been entirely clarified. That process produces NH3 slip in the catalyst surface; the NH3 slip will make the after-treatment performance worse. This study informs how the UWS (Urea Water Solution) injection controlling method can minimize the NH3 slip in the after-treatment system. For this, the NH3 adsorption and desorption rates are important factors for determining the quantity of UWS injection in the system. The NH3 adsorption rate and desorption rate in the SCR are not significantly affected by engine speed, i.e., the exhaust gas flow rate. However, as the exhaust gas temperature increased, the adsorption rate and desorption rate of NH3 in the SCR increased. Through this, the exhaust gas temperature dramatically affects the NH3 adsorption rate and desorption rate in the SCR. Therefore, if the urea water is injected based on this knowledge that the NH3 adsorption amount in the SCR decreases as the exhaust gas flow rate increases, NH3 slip can be suppressed and a high NOx reduction rate can be achieved. Therefore, if the SCR adsorption and desorption mechanisms are analyzed according to the exhaust temperature and the exhaust flow rate in this paper, it can be used as a reference for selecting an appropriate SCR when retrofitting an old diesel engine car. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]