(E)-2,3-Bis[(E)-benzyl­idene­amino]­but-2-enedinitrile

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C18H12N4, consists of a half-mol­ecule, where the two halves of the mol­ecule are related by inversion symmetry. The mol­ecule is effectively planar, with the largest deviation from the 22-atom mean plane, measuring 0.024 (2) Å, exhibited by the ortho-C atom of the phenyl ring. The crystal structure exhibits π-stacking, with an inter­planar spacing of 3.431 (3) Å

2-(4-Chloro­phen­yl)naphtho­[1,8-de][1,3,2]diaza­borinane

The title compound, C16H12BClN2, is one in a series of diaza­borinanes, derived from 1,8-diaminona­phthalene, featuring substitution at the 1, 2 and 3 positions in the nitro­gen-boron heterocycle. The structure deviates from planarity, the torsion angle subtended by the p-chloro­phenyl ring relative to the nitro­gen–boron heterocycle being −44-.3(3)°. The mol­ecules form infinite chains with strong inter­actions between the vacant pz orbital of the B atom and the π-system of an adjacent mol­ecule. The distance between the B atom and the 10-atom centroid of an adjacent naphthalene ring is 3.381 (4) Å. One N-H H atom is weakly hydrogen bonded to the Cl atom of an adjacent mol­ecule. This combination of inter­molecular inter­actions leads to the formation of an infinite two-dimensional network perpendic­ular to the c axis

2-Phenyl­naphtho­[1,8-de][1,3,2]diaza­borinane

The title compound, C16H13BN2, is one compound in a series of diaza­borinanes featuring substitution at the 1, 2 and 3 positions in the nitro­gen–boron heterocycle. The title compound is slightly distorted from planarity, with a dihedral angle of 9.0 (5)° between the mean planes of the naphthalene system and the benzene ring. The m-carbon atom of the benzene ring exhibits the greatest deviation of 0.164 (2) Å from the 19-atom mean plane defined by all non-H atoms. The two N—B—C—C torsion angles are 6.0 (3) and 5.6 (3)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by π–π inter­actions into columns, with a distance of 3.92 (3) Å between the naphthalene ring centroids. Adjacent π-stacked columns, co-linear with the b-axis, are linked by C—H⋯π inter­actions

2-[4-(Methyl­sulfan­yl)phen­yl]naphtho[1,8-de][1,3,2]diaza­borinane

The title compound, C17H15BN2S, is one member in a series of diaza­borinanes featuring substitution at the 1-, 2- and 3-positions in the nitro­gen–boron heterocycle. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the naphthalene and phenyl ring systems is 19.86 (6)°. In the crystal structure, two C—H⋯π inter­actions link the mol­ecules into sheets which lie parallel to the bc plane. There is a π–π inter­action between each pair of centrosymmetrically related sheets [centroid–centroid distance = 3.5922 (8) Å]

Endocannabinoid Signaling in Embryonic Neuronal Motility and Cell-Cell Contact - Role of mGluR5 and TRPC3 Channels

Cell-cell communication plays a central role in the guidance of migrating neuronal precursor cells during the development of the cerebral cortex. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) have previously been shown to be one of the central factors regulating neuronal migration. In this study the effects of eCBs on different parameters, expected to affect embryonic cortical neuronal motility have been analyzed in neurosphere-derived neuroblasts using time-lapse microscopy. Increased endogenous production of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG) causes bursts of neuroblast motility. The neuroblasts move longer distances and show a low frequency of turning, and the number of neuron-neuron contacts are reduced. Similar changes occur interfering with the function of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) or its transducer canonical transient receptor potential channel 3 (TRPC3) or the neuregulin receptor ErbB4. Blocking of 2-AG production reverses these effects. The data suggest that eCB-regulated neuronal motility is controlled by mGluR5/TRPC3 activity possibly via NRG/ErbB4 signaling. (C) 2018 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Flow cytometric S-phase fraction in soft-tissue sarcoma: prognostic importance analysed in 160 patients.

We could determine the S-phase fraction (SPF) by flow cytometric DNA analysis of paraffin archival material in 160 of 260 patients with soft-tissue sarcoma of extremity and trunk wall. The prognostic value of SPF was compared with other clinicopathological factors. The median follow-up time was 16 (6-31) years. In a univariate analysis, deep tumour location, increasing tumour size and histological malignancy grade, microscopic tumour necrosis, vascular invasion, DNA non-diploidy and high SPF (>3.0%) were associated with poor metastasis-free survival. In a multivariate analysis, microscopic tumour necrosis and high SPF were independently prognostic for metastasis. Used in combination with tumour size, microscopic tumour necrosis and vascular invasion, SPF could identify a group of patients with a 5-year metastasis-free survival rate of 0.97. This group constituted one-quarter of all patients. Patients with low SPF who did recur had a prolonged clinical course both as regards metastases and local recurrence. We conclude that SPF is a valuable adjunct in prognostication in soft-tissue sarcoma

Heat and Dehydration Additively Enhance Cardiovascular Outcomes following Orthostatically-Stressful Calisthenics Exercise

Exercise and exogenous heat each stimulate multiple adaptations, but their roles are not well delineated, and that of the related stressor, dehydration, is largely unknown. While severe and prolonged hypohydration potentially “silences” the long-term heat acclimated phenotype, mild and transient dehydration may enhance cardiovascular and fluid-regulatory adaptations. We tested the hypothesis that exogenous heat stress and dehydration additively potentiate acute (24 h) cardiovascular and hematological outcomes following exercise. In a randomized crossover study, 10 physically-active volunteers (mean ± SD: 173 ± 11 cm; 72.1 ± 11.5 kg; 24 ± 3 year; 6 females) completed three trials of 90-min orthostatically-stressful calisthenics, in: (i) temperate conditions (22°C, 50% rh, no airflow; CON); (ii) heat (40°C, 60% rh) whilst euhydrated (HEAT), and (iii) heat with dehydration (no fluid ~16 h before and during exercise; HEAT+DEHY). Using linear mixed effects model analyses, core temperature (TCORE) rose 0.7°C more in HEAT than CON (95% CL: [0.5, 0.9]; p < 0.001), and another 0.4°C in HEAT+DEHY ([0.2, 0.5]; p < 0.001, vs. HEAT). Skin temperature also rose 1.2°C more in HEAT than CON ([0.6, 1.8]; p < 0.001), and similarly to HEAT+DEHY (p = 0.922 vs. HEAT). Peak heart rate was 40 b·min−1 higher in HEAT than in CON ([28, 51]; p < 0.001), and another 15 b·min−1 higher in HEAT+DEHY ([3, 27]; p = 0.011, vs. HEAT). Mean arterial pressure at 24-h recovery was not consistently below baseline after CON or HEAT (p ≥ 0.452), but was reduced 4 ± 1 mm Hg after HEAT+DEHY ([0, 8]; p = 0.020 vs. baseline). Plasma volume at 24 h after exercise increased in all trials; the 7% increase in HEAT was not reliably more than in CON (5%; p = 0.335), but was an additional 4% larger after HEAT+DEHY ([1, 8]; p = 0.005 vs. HEAT). Pooled-trial correlational analysis showed the rise in TCORE predicted the hypotension (r = −0.4) and plasma volume expansion (r = 0.6) at 24 h, with more hypotension reflecting more plasma expansion (r = −0.5). In conclusion, transient dehydration with heat potentiates short-term (24-h) hematological (hypervolemic) and cardiovascular (hypotensive) outcomes following calisthenics

Apparent counter-rotation in the torus of NGC 1068: influence of an asymmetric wind

The recent ALMA maps together with observations of H$_2$O maser emission seem to suggest the presence of a counter-rotation in the obscuring torus of NGC 1068. We propose to explain this phenomenon as due to the influence of a wind, considered as radiation pressure, and the effects of torus orientation. In order to test this idea: 1. we make $N$-body simulation of a clumpy torus taking into account mutual forces between particles (clouds); 2. we apply ray-tracing algorithm with the beams from the central engine to choose the clouds in the torus throat that can be under direct influence of the accretion disk emission; 3. we use semi-analytical model to simulate the influence of the asymmetrical radiation pressure (wind) forced on the clouds in the torus throat. An axis of such a wind is tilted with respect to the torus symmetry axis; 4. we orient the torus relative to an observer and again apply ray-tracing algorithm. In this step the beams go from an observer to the optically thick clouds that allows us to take into account the mutual obscuration of clouds; 5. after projecting on the picture plane, we impose a grid on the resulting cloud distribution and find the mean velocity of clouds in each cells to mimic the ALMA observational maps. By choosing the parameters corresponding to NGC 1068 we obtain the model velocity maps that emulate the effect of an apparent counter-rotation and can explain the discovery made by ALMA.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

The most metal-poor damped Ly alpha system at z<3: constraints on early nucleosynthesis

To constrain the conditions for very early nucleosynthesis in the Universe we compare the chemical enrichment pattern of an extremely metal-poor damped Lyman alpha (DLA) absorber with predictions from recent explosive nucleosynthesis model calculations. For this, we have analyzed chemical abundances in the DLA system at z_abs=2.6183 toward the quasar Q0913+072 (z_em=2.785) using public UVES/VLT high spectral resolution data. The total neutral hydrogen column density in this absorber is logN(HI)=20.36. Accurate column densities are derived for CII, NI, OI, AlII, SiII, and FeII. Upper limits are given for FeIII and NiII. With [C/H]=-2.83, [N/H]=-3.84, and [O/H]=-2.47, this system represents one of the most metal-poor DLA systems investigated so far. It offers the unique opportunity to measure accurate CNO abundances in a protogalactic structure at high redshift. Given the very low overall abundance level and the observed abundance pattern, the data suggest that the chemical evolution of this DLA system is dominated by one or at most a few stellar generations. With reference to numerical model calculations, the chemical abundances in the DLA system are consistent with an enrichment from a single starburst of a zero-metallicity population of massive stars (10-50 M_sun) exploding as core-collapse Supernovae (SNe), i.e., the classical Type II Supernovae (SNeII), and possibly as hyper-energetic (E>10^51erg) core-collapse Supernovae, so-called Hypernovae (HNe), as well. In contrast, models using non-zero metallicity progenitors or other explosion mechanisms, such as pair-instability Supernovae (PISNe) or Type Ia Supernovae (SNeIa), do not match the observed abundance pattern.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

A network model for field and quenched disorder effects in artificial spin ice

We have performed a systematic study of the effects of field strength and quenched disorder on the driven dynamics of square artificial spin ice. We construct a network representation of the configurational phase space, where nodes represent the microscopic configurations and a directed link between node i and node j means that the field may induce a transition between the corresponding configurations. In this way, we are able to quantitatively describe how the field and the disorder affect the connectedness of states and the reversibility of dynamics. In particular, we have shown that for optimal field strengths, a substantial fraction of all states can be accessed using external driving fields, and this fraction is increased by disorder. We discuss how this relates to control and potential information storage applications for artificial spin ices