Crystal structure and ionic conductivity of a new bismuth tungstate, Bi<SUB>3</SUB>W<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>10.5</SUB>

The compound Bi3W2O10.5 was synthesized by the solid-state technique from Bi2O3 and WO3 in stoichiometric quantities. Single crystals were grown by the melt-cooling technique and the crystal structure was solved in the tetragonalI4/m space group with a = 3.839 (1) &#197;,c = 16.382 (5) &#197;,V = 241.4 (1) &#197;3,Z = 4 and was refined to anR index of 0.0672. The structure represents a modification of the Aurivillius phase and consists of [Bi2O2]2+ units separated by WO8 polyhedra. a.c. impedance studies indicate oxide ion conductivity of 2.91 10-5 Scm-1 at 600&#176;C

X-ray studies on crystalline complexes involving amino acids and peptides. XVII. Chirality and molecular aggregation: the crystal structures of DL-arginine DL-glutamate monohydrate and DL-arginine DL-aspartate

DL-Arginine DL-glutamate monohydrate and DL-arginine DL-aspartate, the first DL-DL amino acid-amino acid complexes to be prepared and x-ray analyzed, crystallize in the space group P1 with a = 5.139(2), b = 10.620(1), c = 14.473(2) &#197;, &#945; = 101.34(1)&#176;, &#946; = 94.08(2)&#176;, &#947; = 91.38(2)&#176; and a = 5.402(3), b = 9.933(3), c = 13.881(2) &#197;, &#945; = 99.24(2)&#176;, &#946; = 99.73(3)&#176;, &#947; = 97.28(3)&#176; , respectively. The structures were solved using counter data and refined to R values of 0.050 and 0.077 for 1827 and 1739 observed reflections, respectively. The basic element of aggregation in both structures is an infinite chain made up of pairs of molecules. Each pair, consisting of a L- and a D-isomer, is stabilized by two centrosymmetrically or nearly centrosymmetrically related hydrogen bonds involving the &#945;-amino and the &#945;-carboxylate groups. Adjacent pairs in the chain are then connected by specific guanidyl-carboxylate interactions. The infinite chains are interconnected through hydrogen bonds to form molecular sheets. The sheets are then stacked along the shortest cell translation. The interactions between sheets involve two head-to-tail sequences in the glutamate complex and one such sequence in the aspartate complex. However, unlike in the corresponding LL and DL complexes, head-to-tail sequences are not the central feature of molecular aggregation in the DL-DL complexes. Indeed, fundamental differences exist among the aggregation patterns in the LL, the LD, and the DL-DL complexes

Hypoxia modulates cholinergic but not opioid activation of G proteins in rat hippocampus

Intermittent hypoxia, such as that associated with obstructive sleep apnea, can cause neuronal death and neurobehavioral dysfunction. The cellular and molecular mechanisms through which hypoxia alter hippocampal function are incompletely understood. This study used in vitro [ 35 S]guanylyl-5′- O -(Γ-thio)-triphosphate ([ 35 S]GTPΓS) autoradiography to test the hypothesis that carbachol and DAMGO activate hippocampal G proteins. In addition, this study tested the hypothesis that in vivo exposure to different oxygen (O 2 ) concentrations causes a differential activation of G proteins in the CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the hippocampus. G protein activation was quantified as nCi/g tissue in CA1, CA3, and DG from rats housed for 14 days under one of three different oxygen conditions: normoxic (21% O 2 ) room air, or hypoxia (10% O 2 ) that was intermittent or sustained. Across all regions of the hippocampus, activation of G proteins by the cholinergic agonist carbachol and the mu opioid agonist [D-Ala 2 , N-Met-Phe 4 , Gly 5 ] enkephalin (DAMGO) was ordered by the degree of hypoxia such that sustained hypoxia > intermittent hypoxia > room air. Carbachol increased G protein activation during sustained hypoxia (38%), intermittent hypoxia (29%), and room air (27%). DAMGO also activated G proteins during sustained hypoxia (52%), intermittent hypoxia (48%), and room air (43%). Region-specific comparisons of G protein activation revealed that the DG showed significantly less activation by carbachol following intermittent hypoxia and sustained hypoxia than the CA1. Considered together, the results suggest the potential for hypoxia to alter hippocampal function by blunting the cholinergic activation of G proteins within the DG. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57386/1/20312_ftp.pd

4-(4-Methoxy­phen­yl)-1-phenyl­pyridine-2,6(1H,3H)-dione

In the title compound, C18H15NO3, the pyridine-2,6-dione ring adopts an envelope conformation. The phenyl ring lies approximately perpendicular to the mean plane of the pyridine-2,6-dione ring [dihedral angle = 81.5 (1)°], while the methoxy­phenyl ring is tilted to the same plane by a dihedral angle of 34.8 (1)°. Inter­molecular C—H⋯O inter­actions link the mol­ecules into chains along [100]

3-(4-Methoxy­phen­yl)pent-2-ene-1,5-dioic acid

In the title compound, C12H12O5, mol­ecules are linked into anti­parallel hydrogen-bonded sheets through inversion dimers generated via two O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Using the R 2 2(8) motif as a building block, hydrogen-bonded chains of a C 2 2(8) superstructure are then generated

Promoting Financial Capability of Incarcerated Women for Community Reentry: A Call to Social Workers

Female incarceration rates are increasing at unprecedented rates. The majority of women are poor single mothers, serving sentences for nonviolent drug-related and property offenses. Among challenges faced when transitioning back into society are a history of interpersonal violence and financial instability. This study examines literature with regard to the barriers women experience with an emphasis on financial struggles and explores outcomes of one initiative to begin addressing the financial capability of women in a minimum security prison. Findings reveal women benefited from the class experience. Social workers are called upon for additional financial capability programming and research in this area

Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Cognitive Deficits Are Mediated by NADPH Oxidase Activity in a Murine Model of Sleep Apnea

Background: In rodents, exposure to intermittent hypoxia (IH), a hallmark of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is associated with neurobehavioral impairments, increased apoptosis in the hippocampus and cortex, as well as increased oxidant stress and inflammation. Excessive NADPH oxidase activity may play a role in IH-induced CNS dysfunction. Methods and Findings: The effect of IH during light period on two forms of spatial learning in the water maze and well as markers of oxidative stress was assessed in mice lacking NADPH oxidase activity (gp91phox _/Y) and wild-type littermates. On a standard place training task, gp91phox _/Y displayed normal learning, and were protected from the spatial learning deficits observed in wild-type littermates exposed to IH. Moreover, anxiety levels were increased in wild-type mice exposed to IH as compared to room air (RA) controls, while no changes emerged in gp91phox _/Y mice. Additionally, wild-type mice, but not gp91phox _/Y mice had significantly elevated levels of NADPH oxidase expression and activity, as well as MDA and 8-OHDG in cortical and hippocampal lysates following IH exposures. Conclusions: The oxidative stress responses and neurobehavioral impairments induced by IH during sleep are mediated, at least in part, by excessive NADPH oxidase activity, and thus pharmacological agents targeting NADPH oxidase may provid

Mitochondrial haplogroup N1a phylogeography, with implication to the origin of European farmers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tracing the genetic origin of central European farmer N1a lineages can provide a unique opportunity to assess the patterns of the farming technology spread into central Europe in the human prehistory. Here, we have chosen twelve N1a samples from modern populations which are most similar with the farmer N1a types and performed the complete mitochondrial DNA genome sequencing analysis. To assess the genetic and phylogeographic relationship, we performed a detailed survey of modern published N1a types from Eurasian and African populations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The geographic origin and expansion of farmer lineages related N1a subclades have been deduced from combined analysis of 19 complete sequences with 166 N1a haplotypes. The phylogeographic analysis revealed that the central European farmer lineages have originated from different sources: from eastern Europe, local central Europe, and from the Near East via southern Europe.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results obtained emphasize that the arrival of central European farmer lineages did not occur via a single demic diffusion event from the Near East at the onset of the Neolithic spread of agriculture into Europe. Indeed these results indicate that the Neolithic transition process was more complex in central Europe and possibly the farmer N1a lineages were a result of a 'leapfrog' colonization process.</p