Synthesis and Characterization of LnAg(WO4)(MoO4)

Polycrystalline LnAg(WO4)(MoO4) powders, with Ln = La to Lu and Y, have been obtained by ceramic method. Rietveld refinement for all compounds reveals that they present tetragonal symmetry, space group I41/a (No. 88), where the Ln3+/Ag+ ions are located in the 4a atomic positions, since the W/Mo are randomly distributed into 4b crystal sites. In these compounds, a and b lattice parameters take values between those corresponding to tungstate and molybdate compounds. A progressive decrease in the lattice parameters is observed in going from La to Lu derivatives as a consequence of the well-known lanthanide contraction

The arylpiperazine derivatives N-(4-cyanophenylmethyl)- 4-(2-diphenyl)-1-piperazinehexanamide and N-benzyl-4- (2-diphenyl)-1-piperazinehexanamide exert a long-lasting inhibition of human serotonin 5-HT 7 receptor binding and cAMP signaling

Abstract We performed a detailed in vitro pharmacological characterization of two arylpiperazine derivatives, compound N-(4-cyanophenylmethyl)-4-(2-diphenyl)-1-piperazinehexanamide (LP-211) previously identified as a high-affinity brain penetrant ligand for 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) type 7 (5-HT 7 ) receptors, and its analog N-benzyl-4-(2-diphenyl)-1-piperazinehexanamide (MEL-9). Both ligands exhibited competitive displacement of ]-SB-269970) radioligand binding and insurmountable antagonism of 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT)-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells stably expressing human 5-HT 7 receptors. They also inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in 5-HT 7 -expressing HEK293 cells but not in the parental cell line. The compounds elicited long-lasting (at least 24 h) concentration-dependent inhibition of radioligand binding at 5-HT 7 -binding sites in whole-cell radioligand binding assays, after pretreatment of the cells with the compounds and subsequent compound removal. In cAMP assays, pretreatment of cells with the compounds rendered 5-HT 7 receptors unresponsive to 5-CT and also rendered 5-HT 7 -expressing HEK293 cells unresponsive to forskolin. Compound 1-(2-biphenyl)piperazine (RA-7), a known active metabolite of LP-211 present in vivo, was able to partially inhibit 5-HT 7 radioligand binding in a long-lasting irreversible manner. Hence, LP-211 and MEL-9 were identified as high-affinity long-acting inhibitors of human 5-HT 7 receptor binding and function in cell lines. The detailed in vitro characterization of these two pharmacological tools targeting 5-HT 7 receptors may benefit the study of 5-HT 7 receptor function and it may lead to the development of novel selective pharmacological tools with defined functional properties at 5-HT 7 receptors. Abbreviations 5-CT, 5-carboxamidotryptamine; 5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin); ANOVA, analysis of variance; E max , maximal response; Fmr1, fragile X mental retardation 1; Fos, FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog; GPCR, G protein-coupled receptors; HEK293, human embryonic kidney cells; HTRF, homogeneous timeresolved fluorescence; IBMX, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine; IC 50, irrev , potency of compounds inhibiting 5-HT 7 -stimulated cAMP signaling or whole-cell 5-HT

Recent advances in hydrothermal carbonisation:from tailored carbon materials and biochemicals to applications and bioenergy

Introduced in the literature in 1913 by Bergius, who at the time was studying biomass coalification, hydrothermal carbonisation, as many other technologies based on renewables, was forgotten during the "industrial revolution". It was rediscovered back in 2005, on the one hand, to follow the trend set by Bergius of biomass to coal conversion for decentralised energy generation, and on the other hand as a novel green method to prepare advanced carbon materials and chemicals from biomass in water, at mild temperature, for energy storage and conversion and environmental protection. In this review, we will present an overview on the latest trends in hydrothermal carbonisation including biomass to bioenergy conversion, upgrading of hydrothermal carbons to fuels over heterogeneous catalysts, advanced carbon materials and their applications in batteries, electrocatalysis and heterogeneous catalysis and finally an analysis of the chemicals in the liquid phase as well as a new family of fluorescent nanomaterials formed at the interface between the liquid and solid phases, known as hydrothermal carbon nanodots