Coordination Chemistry with the P2 Ligand Complex [Cp2Mo2(CO)4(µ,ɳ2:2 P2)], Ag(I) and Cu(I) Salts with Weakly Coordinating Anions and Pyridine-Based Organic Linkers

The organometallic P2 ligand complex [Cp2Mo2(CO)4(µ,ɳ2:2 P2)] was reacted with monovalent coinage metal (Ag, Cu) salts of weakly coordinating anions and organic, pyridine-based organic linkers to synthesise one-, two- or three-dimensional metal-organometallic-organic coordination polymers. Goal of the experiments was to study the influence of the nature of the linker, the anion, the metal and the crystallisation method, respectively, on the formation of the products. Additionally, two-component-reactions of the Mo2P2 complex and some of the copper(I) and silver(I) salts were performed which yielded different coordination complexes, among them one compound bearing a planar and highly symmetric Cu3P4 motif

Hot Topics on COVID-19 and Its Possible Association with Guillain-Barré Syndrome

As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, reports of neurological manifestations are increasing. However, despite a high number of case reports and case series on COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré-Syndrome (GBS), a causal association is still highly debated, due to the lack of case-control studies. In this opinion paper, we focus on a few clinically relevant questions regarding the possible link between GBS and SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination based on our personal clinical experience and literature review

Benzylglucosinolate Derived Isothiocyanate from Tropaeolum majus Reduces Gluconeogenic Gene and Protein Expression in Human Cells

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) contains high concentrations of benzylglcosinolate. We found that a hydrolysis product of benzyl glucosinolate—the benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC)—modulates the intracellular localization of the transcription factor Forkhead box O 1 (FOXO1). FoxO transcription factors can antagonize insulin effects and trigger a variety of cellular processes involved in tumor suppression, longevity, development and metabolism. The current study evaluated the ability of BITC—extracted as intact glucosinolate from nasturtium and hydrolyzed with myrosinase—to modulate i) the insulin-signaling pathway, ii) the intracellular localization of FOXO1 and, iii) the expression of proteins involved in gluconeogenesis, antioxidant response and detoxification. Stably transfected human osteosarcoma cells (U-2 OS) with constitutive expression of FOXO1 protein labeled with GFP (green fluorescent protein) were used to evaluate the effect of BITC on FOXO1. Human hepatoma HepG2 cell cultures were selected to evaluate the effect on gluconeogenic, antioxidant and detoxification genes and protein expression. BITC reduced the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT/PKB) and FOXO1; promoted FOXO1 translocation from cytoplasm into the nucleus antagonizing the insulin effect; was able to down-regulate the gene and protein expression of gluconeogenic enzymes; and induced the gene expression of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes. Knockdown analyses with specific siRNAs showed that the expression of gluconeogenic genes was dependent on nuclear factor (erythroid derived)-like2 (NRF2) and independent of FOXO1, AKT and NAD- dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1). The current study provides evidence that BITC might have a role in type 2 diabetes T2D by reducing hepatic glucose production and increasing antioxidant resistance

DISCURSO PUBLICITÁRIO E IDENTIDADE REGIONAL: UM OLHAR PARA AS MARCAS DE GAUCHIDADE NA PEÇA PEPSITCHÊ

Há um crescente interesse pela cultura e identidade regional local nos textos publicitários. Assim, este artigo tem como objetivo verificar de que forma a expressão “tchê” reitera a identidade do possível consumidor da marca Pepsi, considerando as práticas sociais e discursivas. Além disso, pretende demonstrar que as escolhas lexicais propiciam uma imagem do produto próxima à imagem do possível consumidor. A análise foi construída a partir da peça publicitária “PepsiTchê” e utilizou como abordagem a pesquisa de natureza bibliográfica. Para desenvolver a investigação foi realizado um levantamento através do hotsite dedicado à publicidade da “PepsiTchê”, material de cunho publicitário exclusivo para consumidores gaúchos. Essa metodologia articula contribuições advindas dos conceitos de gênero do discurso, acento de valor, intertextualidade e dialogismo, a partir dos estudos do Círculo de Bakhtin. Como resultados da pesquisa compreendemos que as escolhas dos elementos linguísticos, no gênero discurso publicitário, contribuem com as relações dialógicas estabelecidas entre a marca e o possível consumidor e delimitam os acentos valorativos sobre a marca/produto

Structure and dielectric properties of electrochemically grown ZrO2 films

The dielectric properties of electrochemically grown zirconium oxide films by anodisation of zirconium in 1.0 mol dm?3 phosphoric acid solution were investigated in a 3 to 30 V potential range with a view to inducing surface modifications for eventual use in biomedical and electronic applications. The oxide films grown at different potentials were characterised by Atomic Force Microscopy, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopies; the latter demonstrated the incorporation of phosphate ions into the passive films. Flat band potentials calculated from the Mott-Shottky analysis of the oxides semiconducting properties confirm the bilayer structure of the films. The oxide dielectric permittivity was evaluated from impedance spectroscopy measurements and the film oxide model proposed gave values independent of the oxide growth potentialFil: Gomez Sanchez, Andrea Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Katunar, Maria Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Schreiner, Wido. Universidade Federal do Paraná. Departamento de Física; BrasilFil: Duffo, Gustavo Sergio. Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica. Gerencia D/area de Energia Nuclear. Unidad de Actividad de Materiales (cac); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Cere, Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Schiffrin, David. University of Liverpool; Reino Unid

Digestibility of total, insoluble and soluble dietary fiber of sows during gestation

When the level of fiber is increased, it is important to evaluate the impact of this addition upon the nutrients digestibility. The present study evaluated the effect of variation in the amount of total dietary fiber in sow diets, provided from 74 to 87 days of gestation, on the digestibility of nutrients. Thirty three sows were used in a randomized experimental design. The amounts of total dietary fiber in three treatment diets were 15.6; 22.3 and 28.2%. To increase the amount of dietary fiber, rice grain and soybean meal were partially substituted for defatted rice bran and soybean hulls. The daily consumption of nutrients and energy was similar between the 74 to 87 days of gestation, differing only in the volume of ration consumed, which was 2.1; 2.2 and 2.4 kg/day. During gestation, the increase in total dietary fiber resulted in a significant decrease in the apparent total tract digestibility of total dietary fiber, insoluble dietary fiber e soluble dietary fiber. Increasing the amount of total dietary fiber reduced the digestibility of nutrients, mainly of the total dietary fiber and insoluble dietary fiber

Linking of Cu(I) units by tetrahedral Mo2E2 complexes (E = P, As)

The reaction of [Cp2Mo2(CO)(4)(mu,eta(2:2)-E-2)] (A: E=P,B: E=As, Cp=C5H5) with the WCA-containing Cu(I)salts ([Cu(CH3CN)(4)][Al{OC(CF3)(3)}(4)] (CuTEF,C), [Cu(CH3CN)(4)][BF4] (D) and [Cu(CH3CN)(3.5)][FAl{OC6F10(C6F5)}(3)] (CuFAl,E)) affords seven unprecedented coordination compounds. Depending on the E(2)ligand complex, the counter anion of the copper salt and the stoichiometry, four dinuclear copper dimers and three trinuclear copper compounds are accessible. The latter complexes reveal first linear Cu(3)arrays linked by E(2)units (E=P, As) coordinated in an eta(2:1:1)coordination mode. All compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallography, NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. To define the nature of the Cu...Cu...Cu interactions, DFT calculations were performed

Trans-cellular control of synapse properties by a cell type-specific splicing regulator

The recognition of synaptic partners and specification of synaptic properties are fundamental for the function of neuronal circuits. ‘Terminal selector’ transcription factors coordinate the expression of terminal gene batteries that specify cell type-specific properties. Moreover, pan-neuronal alternative splicing regulators have been implicated in directing neuronal differentiation. However, the cellular logic of how splicing regulators instruct specific synaptic properties remains poorly understood. Here, we combine genome-wide mapping of mRNA targets and cell type-specific loss-of-function studies to uncover the contribution of the nuclear RNA binding protein SLM2 to hippocampal synapse specification. Focusing on hippocampal pyramidal cells and SST-positive GABAergic interneurons, we find that SLM2 preferentially binds and regulates alternative splicing of transcripts encoding synaptic proteins, thereby generating cell type-specific isoforms. In the absence of SLM2, cell type-specification, differentiation, and viability are unaltered and neuronal populations exhibit normal intrinsic properties. By contrast, cell type-specific loss of SLM2 results in highly selective, non-cell autonomous synaptic phenotypes, altered synaptic transmission, and associated defects in a hippocampus-dependent memory task. Thus, alternative splicing provides a critical layer of gene regulation that instructs specification of neuronal connectivity in a trans-synaptic manner

A cell-type-specific alternative splicing regulator shapes synapse properties in a trans-synaptic manner

The specification of synaptic properties is fundamental for the function of neuronal circuits. "Terminal selector" transcription factors coordinate terminal gene batteries that specify cell-type-specific properties. Moreover, pan-neuronal splicing regulators have been implicated in directing neuronal differentiation. However, the cellular logic of how splicing regulators instruct specific synaptic properties remains poorly understood. Here, we combine genome-wide mapping of mRNA targets and cell-type-specific loss-of-function studies to uncover the contribution of the RNA-binding protein SLM2 to hippocampal synapse specification. Focusing on pyramidal cells and somatostatin (SST)-positive GABAergic interneurons, we find that SLM2 preferentially binds and regulates alternative splicing of transcripts encoding synaptic proteins. In the absence of SLM2, neuronal populations exhibit normal intrinsic properties, but there are non-cell-autonomous synaptic phenotypes and associated defects in a hippocampus-dependent memory task. Thus, alternative splicing provides a critical layer of gene regulation that instructs specification of neuronal connectivity in a trans-synaptic manner

Discrete and polymeric organometallic‐organic hybrid materials based on the diphosphorus complex [Cp₂Mo₂(CO)₄(η²‐P₂)], Cu salts, and 2,2′‐bipyrimidine

The reaction of the diphosphorus complex [Cp2Mo2(CO)(4)((2)-P-2)] (1), with the Cu-I salts [Cu(CH3CN)(4)][BF4] or [Cu(CH3CN)(4)][PF6], and a mixture of [Cu(CH3CN)(4)][BF4] and CuCl in the presence of 2,2-bipyrimidine (2) is studied. Depending on the Cu-I salts used and the layering solvent involved in the crystallisation, a variety of novel coordination compounds are accessible in moderate to excellent yields (26-80%): the novel dicationic molecular organometallic-organic hybrid complexes [{Cp2Mo2(CO)(4)(mu(3),(1:2:2)-P-2)}(4)(mu(2),(1:1:1:1)-C8H6N4)Cu-2][BF4](2) (3) and [{Cp2Mo2(CO)(4)(mu(3),(1:2:2)-P-2)}(2){Cp2Mo2(CO)(4)(mu(3),(2:2:2)-P-2)}(2)(mu(2),(1:1:1:1)-C8H6N4)Cu-2][PF6](2) (4), the unique neutral 1D organometallic-organic hybrid polymer [{Cp2Mo2(CO)(4)(mu(4),(1:1:2:2)-P-2)}(2)(mu(2),(1:1:1:1)-C8N6N4)(CuCl)(2)](n) (5) and the unprecedented 2D organometallic-organic hybrid polymer [{Cp2Mo2(CO)(4)(mu(4),(1:1:2:2)-P-2)}(mu(2),(1:1:1:1)-C8H6N4){Cu-2(mu-Cl)}](2)[BF4](2n) (6)