1.8 V Aqueous Symmetric Carbon-Based Supercapacitors with Agarose-Bound Activated Carbons in an Acidic Electrolyte

The specific energy of an aqueous carbon supercapacitor is generally small, resulting mainly from a narrow potential window of aqueous electrolytes. Here, we introduced agarose, an ecologically compatible polymer, as a novel binder to fabricate an activated carbon supercapacitor, enabling a wider potential window attributed to a high overpotential of the hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) of agarose-bound activated carbons in sulfuric acid. Assembled symmetric aqueous cells can be galvanostatically cycled up to 1.8 V, attaining an enhanced energy density of 13.5 W h/kg (9.5 µW h/cm²) at 450 W/kg (315 µW/cm²). Furthermore, a great cycling behavior was obtained, with a 94.2% retention of capacitance after 10,000 cycles at 2 A/g. This work might guide the design of an alternative material for high-energy aqueous supercapacitors.

High Durability of Pt3Sn/Graphene Electrocatalysts toward the Oxygen Reduction Reaction Studied with In Situ QEXAFS

To prevent the corrosion of carbon and to enhance corrosion resistance, charge transfer, and mass transfer, graphene, which exhibits a high surface area and good conductivity, was used as an electrocatalyst support for a fuel cell. Pt₃Sn/G electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were prepared with alcohol reduction. The characterization of synthesized catalysts was analyzed according to the energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The electrochemical performance was analyzed with cyclic-voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and accelerated degradation test (ADT) measurements. The Pt₃Sn/G electrocatalysts showed more positive onset potential and larger ORR mass activity than commercial Pt/C catalysts after 5000 cycles of ADT, indicating that in an acidic environment, Pt₃Sn/G is more chemically stable than Pt/C. Graphene has effective acid tolerance, is more stable against corrosion, and shows increased stability through preventing PtSn nanoparticles from detaching from the surface. According to the in situ quick EXAFS (QEXAFS) under a CV test to clarify the potential-dependent state of the Pt₃Sn/G electrocatalyst, the results show that the electrode surface is reproducible; there is no perceptible change in the oxidation state of the Pt₃Sn/G electrocatalyst. The radial distribution function (RDF) of the EXAFS spectra shows that the adsorption and desorption of H⁺ and OH^- cause no structural change in the Pt₃Sn crystallites. This work provides insight into the reaction mechanism of proton electroreduction and hydrogen adsorption on a Pt₃Sn/G electrocatalyst surface.

The fluctuating population of Sm 4f configurations in topological Kondo insulator SmB6 explored with high-resolution X-ray absorption and emission spectra

High-resolution partial-fluorescence-yield X-ray absorption and resonant X-ray emission spectra were used to characterize the temperature dependence of Sm 4f configurations and orbital/charge degree of freedom in SmB₆. The variation of Sm 4f configurations responds well to the formed Kondo gap, below 140 K, and an in-gap state, below 40 K. The topological in-gap state is correlated with the fluctuating population of Sm 4f configurations that arises via carrier transfer between 3d⁹4f⁶ and 3d⁹4f⁵ states; both states are partially delocalized, and the mediating 5d orbital plays the role of a transfer path. Complementary results shown in this work thus manifest the importance of configuration fluctuations and orbital delocalization in the topological surface state of SmB₆.

Cheap, High-Performance, and Wearable Mn Oxide Supercapacitors with Urea-LiClO4 Based Gel Electrolytes

Here we report a simple, scalable, and low-cost method to enhance the electrochemical properties of Mn oxide electrodes for highly efficient and flexible symmetrical supercapacitors. The method involving printing on a printer, pencil-drawing, and electrodeposition is established to fabricate Mn oxide/Ni-nanotube/graphite/paper hybrid electrodes operating with a low-cost, novel urea-LiClO₄/PVA as gel electrolyte for flexible solid-state supercapacitor (FSSC) devices. The Mn oxide nanofiber/Ni-nanotube/graphite/paper (MNNGP) electrodes in urea-LiClO₄/PVA gel electrolyte show specific capacitance (C_sp) 960 F/g in voltage region 0.8 V at 5 mV/s and exhibit excellent rates of capacitance retention more than 85% after 5000 cycles. Moreover, the electrochemical behavior of the MNNGP electrodes in urea-LiClO₄/PVA at operating temperatures 27-110 °C was investigated; the results show that the MNNGP electrodes in urea-LiClO₄/PVA exhibit outstanding performance (1100 F/g), even at 90 °C. The assembled FSSC devices based on the MNNGP electrodes in urea-LiClO₄/PVA exhibit great C_sp (380 F/g in potential region of 2.0 V at 5 mV/s, exhibiting superior energy density 211.1 W h/kg) and great cycle stability (less than 15% loss after 5000 cycles at 25 mV/s). The oxidation-state change was examined by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy. FSSC devices would open new opportunities in developing novel portable, wearable, and roll-up electric devices owing to the cheap, high-performance, wide range of operating temperature, and simple procedures for large-area fabrication.

Influence of Fe substitution on the Jahn-Teller distortion and orbital anisotropy in orthorhombic Y(Mn1-xFex)O3 epitaxial films

Multiferroic YMn1-xFexO3(020) (x = 0.125, 0.25, 0.50) epitaxial thin films with an orthorhombic structure (space group Pbnm) were prepared on a YAlO3(010) substrate by pulsed-laser deposition. Upon Fe substitution, the b-axis was clearly shortened, whereas the a- and c-axes were slightly lengthened based on XRD analysis. To understand the influence of orbital polarization and the Jahn-Teller effect of Mn(3+) on Fe substitution and also the local octahedral-site distortion of Fe(3+) in an environment of Jahn-Teller-active Mn(3+) ions in YMn1-xFexO3 films, we measured the polarization-dependent X-ray absorption spectra at the Mn-L2,3 and Fe-L2,3 edges, and also simulated the experimental spectra using configuration-interaction multiplet calculations. Although Δeg for the Mn(3+) ion decreased from 0.9 eV in pure YMnO3 to 0.6 eV in the half-Fe-substituted sample, a single eg electron was still strongly constrained to the d3y(2)-r(2) orbital for all the Fe concentrations tested. The largest Δeg, 0.5 eV, for the Fe(3+) ion was derived for a sample with 12.5% Fe substitution, and gradually decreased to 0.15 eV for the half-Fe-substituted sample. The local octahedral-site distortion of the Fe(3+) ion inside the YMnO3 lattice was similar to that of the Mn(3+) ion, whereas the Jahn-Teller distortion and GdFeO3-type distortion of the Mn(3+) ion were decreased by the spherical high-spin Fe(3+) ions. The combination of the experimental and theoretical data provides both profound insight into the variation of the Jahn-Teller distortion and orbital anisotropy and instructive information about the magnetic structures in these orthorhombic YMn1-xFexO3 thin films.

Local structure distortion induced by Ti dopants boosting the pseudocapacitance of RuO2-based supercapacitors

Binary oxides with atomic ratios of Ru/Ti = 90/10, 70/30, and 50/50 were fabricated using H2O2-oxidative precipitation with the assistance of a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) template, followed by a thermal treatment at 200 °C. The characteristics of electron structure and local structure extracted from X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses indicate that incorporation of Ti into the RuO2 lattice produces not only the local structural distortion of the RuO6 octahedra in (Ru-Ti)O2 with an increase in the central Ru-Ru distance but also a local crystallization of RuO2. Among the three binary oxides studied, (Ru70-Ti30)O2 exhibits a capacitance improvement of about 1.4-fold relative to the CTAB-modified RuO2, mainly due to the enhanced crystallinity of the distorted RuO6 structure rather than the surface area effect. Upon increasing the extent of Ti doping, the deteriorated supercapacitive performance of (Ru50-Ti50)O2 results from the formation of localized nano-clusters of TiO2 crystallites. These results provide insight into the important role of Ti doping in RuO2 that boosts the pseudocapacitive performance for RuO2-based supercapacitors. The present result is crucial for the design of new binary oxides for supercapacitor applications with extraordinary performance.

Low cost facile synthesis of large-area cobalt hydroxide nanorods with remarkable pseudocapacitance

Large-area Co(OH)2-based supercapacitor electrodes composed of nanotube arrays grown on a 3D nickel-foam (CONTA) electrode and sucker-like nanoporous films grown on a 3D nickel-foam (COSNP) electrode were prepared with a facile electrochemical method for applications in energy storage. These nanoporous Co(OH)2 electrodes were fabricated with the codeposition of Cu/Ni film on the nickel foam, then etching of Cu from the Cu/Ni layer to form Ni nanotube arrays and sucker-like Ni nanoporous layers, and further cathodic deposition of Co(OH)2 on the prepared nanoporous Ni substrates. The CONTA and COSNP electrodes exhibited specific capacitances of 2500 and 2900 F/g in a voltage range of 0.65 V (capacitance of the substrates deducted from the total) at 1 A/g in a three electrode cell, respectively. The COSNP electrode demonstrated an excellent supercapacitive performance with specific capacitances 1100 F/g at 1 A/g and 850 F/g at 20 A/g in a voltage range of 1.2 V in a two electrode cell. The remarkable performance of COSNP electrodes correlated with a large conversion of the Co oxidation state during the charge/discharge cycling were examined by in situ X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES).

Low temperature structural anomalies arising from competing exchange interactions in pyrochlore Nd2Ru2O7 probed by XRD and EXAFS

Quantitative structural parameters of pyrochlore Nd₂Ru₂O₇, with temperature dependence, have been derived upon fitting XRD and EXAFS data.

Electronic structure and characteristics of Fe 3d valence states of Fe(1.01)Se superconductors under pressure probed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy and resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy

The electronic structure and characteristics of Fe 3d valence states of iron-chalcogenide Fe(1.01)Se superconductors under pressure were probed with x-ray absorption spectroscopy and resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy (RXES). The intensity of the pre-edge peak at ~7112.7 eV of the Fe K-edge x-ray absorption spectrum of Fe(1.01)Se decreases for pressure from 0.5 GPa increased to 6.9 GPa. The satellite line Kβ' was reduced in intensity upon applying pressure and became absent for pressure 52 GPa. Fe(1.01)Se shows a small net magnetic moment of Fe(2+), likely arising from strong Fe-Fe spin fluctuations. The 1s3p-RXES spectra of Fe(1.01)Se at pressures 0.5, 6.9, and 52 GPa recorded at the Fe K-edge reveal that unoccupied Fe 3d states exhibit a delocalized character, stemming from hybridization of Fe 3d and 4p orbitals arising from a local distortion around the Fe atom in a tetrahedral site. Application of pressure causes suppression of this on-site Fe 3d-Fe 4p hybridization, and thereby decreases the intensity of the pre-edge feature in the Fe K-edge absorption spectrum of Fe(1.01)Se. Compression enhances spin fluctuations at Fe sites in Fe(1.01)Se and increases the corresponding T(c), through a competition between nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic and next-nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions. This result aids our understanding of the physics underlying iron-based superconductors.

Dissociation dynamics of positive-ion and negative-ion fragments of gaseous and condensed Si(CH(3))(2)Cl(2) via Si 2p, Cl 2p, and Cl 1s core-level excitations

The state-selective positive-ion and negative-ion dissociation pathways of gaseous and condensed Si(CH(3))(2)Cl(2) following Cl 2p, Cl 1s, and Si 2p core-level excitations have been characterized. The excitations to a specific antibonding state (15a(1) (*) state) of gaseous Si(CH(3))(2)Cl(2) at the Cl 2p, Cl 1s, and Si 2p edges produce significant enhancement of fragment ions. This ion enhancement at specific core-excited states correlates closely with the ion kinetic energy distribution. The results deduced from ion kinetic energy distribution are consistent with results of quantum-chemical calculations on Si(CH(3))(2)Cl(2) using the ADF package. The Cl(-) desorption yields for Si(CH(3))(2)Cl(2)Si(100) at approximately 90 K are notably enhanced at the 15a(1) (*) resonance at both Cl 2p and Si 2p edges. The resonant enhancement of Cl(-) yield occurs through the formation of highly excited states of the adsorbed molecules. These results provide insight into the state-selective ionic fragmentation of molecules via core-level excitation.

Facilitation of conditioned fear extinction by d-cycloserine is mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase cascades and requires de novo protein synthesis in basolateral nucleus of amygdala

Recent results showed that either systemic or intra-amygdala administration of d-cycloserine, a partial agonist at the glycine modulatory site on the glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor facilitates the extinction of conditioned fear. Here we evaluated the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in the basolateral nucleus of amygdala on the effect of d-cycloserine. The facilitation effect of d-cycloserine on fear extinction and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation was completely blocked by intra-amygdala administration of mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor PD98059 (500 ng/side, bilaterally) or U0-126 (20 microM/side, bilaterally). Furthermore, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor (wortmannin, 5.0 microg/side, bilaterally) infused into the basolateral nucleus of amygdala significantly reduced both facilitation effect of d-cycloserine and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation. Intra-amygdala administration of a transcription inhibitor (actinomycin D, 10 microg dissolved in 1.6 microl vehicle; 0.8 microl per side) and a translation inhibitor (anisomycin, 125 microg dissolved in 1.6 microl vehicle; 0.8 microl per side) completely blocked the facilitation effect of d-cycloserine. Control experiments indicated the blockage by actinomycin D or anisomycin were not due to lasting damage to the basolateral nucleus of amygdala or state dependency. In addition, none of the active drugs used here altered the expression of conditioned fear. These results suggested that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent signaling cascades and new protein synthesis within the basolateral nucleus of amygdala played important roles in the d-cycloserine facilitation of the extinction of conditioned fear.

State selective enhanced production of excited fragments and ionic fragments of gaseous Si(CH3)2Cl2 and solid-state analogs following core-level excitation

State-selective fragmentation dynamics for excited fragments and ionic fragments of gaseous and condensed Si(CH3)2Cl2 following Cl 2p and Si 2p core-level excitations have been characterized. The Cl 2p-->15a1* excitation of Si(CH3)2Cl2 induces significant enhancement of the Cl+ desorption yield in the condensed phase and the Si(CH3)+2 and SiCH+3 yields in the gaseous phase. The core-to-Rydberg excitations at both Si 2p and Cl 2p edges lead to enhanced production of the excited fragments. These complementary results provide deeper insight into the origin of state-selective fragmentation of molecules via core-level excitation.

Genetic testing in spinocerebellar ataxia in Taiwan: expansions of trinucleotide repeats in SCA8 and SCA17 are associated with typical Parkinson's disease

DNA tests in normal subjects and patients with ataxia and Parkinson's disease (PD) were carried out to assess the frequency of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and to document the distribution of SCA mutations underlying ethnic Chinese in Taiwan. MJD/SCA3 (46%) was the most common autosomal dominant SCA in the Taiwanese cohort, followed by SCA6 (18%) and SCA1 (3%). No expansions of SCA types 2, 10, 12, or dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) were detected. The clinical phenotypes of these affected SCA patients were very heterogeneous. All of them showed clinical symptoms of cerebellar ataxia, with or without other associated features. The frequencies of large normal alleles are closely associated with the prevalence of SCA1, SCA2, MJD/SCA3, SCA6, and DRPLA among Taiwanese, Japanese, and Caucasians. Interestingly, abnormal expansions of SCA8 and SCA17 genes were detected in patients with PD. The clinical presentation for these patients is typical of idiopathic PD with the following characteristics: late onset of disease, resting tremor in the limbs, rigidity, bradykinesia, and a good response to levodopa. This study appears to be the first report describing the PD phenotype in association with an expanded allele in the TATA-binding protein gene and suggests that SCA8 may also be a cause of typical PD.

A role for the PI-3 kinase signaling pathway in fear conditioning and synaptic plasticity in the amygdala

Western blot analysis of neuronal tissues taken from fear-conditioned rats showed a selective activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3 kinase) in the amygdala. PI-3 kinase was also activated in response to long-term potentiation (LTP)-inducing tetanic stimulation. PI-3 kinase inhibitors blocked tetanus-induced LTP as well as PI-3 kinase activation. In parallel, these inhibitors interfered with long-term fear memory while leaving short-term memory intact. Tetanus and forskolin-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was blocked by PI-3 kinase inhibitors, which also inhibited cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. These results provide novel evidence of a requirement of PI-3 kinase activation in the amygdala for synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation, and this activation may occur at a point upstream of MAPK activation.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in the basolateral nucleus of amygdala is involved in extinction of fear-potentiated startle

Previous results indicate that intra-amygdala infusions of NMDA receptor antagonists block the extinction of conditioned fear. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) can be activated by NMDA receptor stimulation and is involved in excitatory fear conditioning. Here, we evaluate the role of MAPK within the basolateral amygdala in the extinction of conditioned fear. Rats received 10 light-shock pairings. After 24 hr, fear was assessed by eliciting the acoustic startle reflex in the presence of the conditioned stimulus (CS) (CS-noise trials) and also in its absence (noise-alone trials). Rats subsequently received an intra-amygdala or intrahippocampal infusion of either 20% DMSO or the MAPK inhibitor PD98059 (500 ng/side) followed 10 min later by 30 presentations of the light CS without shock (extinction training). After 24 hr, they were again tested for fear-potentiated startle. PD98059 infusions into the basolateral amygdala but not the hippocampus significantly reduced extinction, which was otherwise evident in DMSO-infused rats. Control experiments indicated that the effect of intra-amygdala PD98059 could not be attributed to lasting damage to the amygdala or to state dependency. These results suggest that a MAPK-dependent signaling cascade within or very near the basolateral amygdala plays an important role in the extinction of conditioned fear.

State-specific enhancement of Cl+ and Cl- desorption for SiCl4 adsorbed on a Si(100) surface following Cl 2 p and Si 2 p core-level excitations

State-specific desorption for SiCl4 adsorbed on a Si(100) surface at approximately 90 K with variable coverage following the Cl 2p and Si 2p core-level excitations has been investigated using synchrotron radiation. The Cl+ yields show a significant enhancement following the Cl 2p-->8a*1 excitation. The Cl- yields are notably enhanced at the 8a*1 resonance at both Cl 2p and Si 2p edges. The enhancement of the Cl- yield occurs through the formation of highly excited states of the adsorbed molecules. These results provide some new dissociation processes from adsorbates on surfaces via core-level excitation.

Protective effects of anti-C5a peptide antibodies in experimental sepsis

We evaluated antibodies to different peptide regions of rat C5a in the sepsis model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) for their protective effects in rats. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies were developed to the following peptide regions of rat C5a: amino-terminal region (A), residues 1-16; middle region (M), residues 17-36; and the carboxyl-terminal region (C), residues 58-77. With rat neutrophils, the chemotactic activity of rat C5a was significantly inhibited by antibodies with the following rank order: anti-C > anti-M >> anti-A. In vivo, antibodies to the M and C (but not A) regions of C5a were protective in experimental sepsis, as determined by survival over a 10-day period, in a dose-dependent manner. The relative protective efficacies of anti-C5a preparations (in descending order of efficacy) were anti-C > anti-M >> anti-A. In CLP rats, a delay in infusion of antibodies, which were injected at 6 or 12 h after CLP, still resulted in significant improvement in survival rates. These in vivo and in vitro data suggest that there are optimal targets on C5a for blockade during sepsis and that delayed infusion of anti-C5a antibody until after onset of clinical evidence of sepsis still provides protective effects.

Role of C5a in multiorgan failure during sepsis

In humans with sepsis, the onset of multiorgan failure (MOF), especially involving liver, lungs, and kidneys, is a well known complication that is associated with a high mortality rate. Our previous studies with the cecal ligation/puncture (CLP) model of sepsis in rats have revealed a C5a-induced defect in the respiratory burst of neutrophils. In the current CLP studies, MOF occurred during the first 48 h with development of liver dysfunction and pulmonary dysfunction (falling arterial partial pressure of O(2), rising partial pressure of CO(2)). In this model an early respiratory alkalosis developed, followed by a metabolic acidosis with increased levels of blood lactate. During these events, blood neutrophils lost their chemotactic responsiveness both to C5a and to the bacterial chemotaxin, fMLP. Neutrophil dysfunction was associated with virtually complete loss in binding of C5a, but binding of fMLP remained normal. If CLP animals were treated with anti-C5a, indicators of MOF and lactate acidosis were greatly attenuated. Under the same conditions, C5a binding to blood neutrophils remained intact; in tandem, in vitro chemotactic responses to C5a and fMLP were retained. These data suggest that, in the CLP model of sepsis, treatment with anti-C5a prevents development of MOF and the accompanying onset of blood neutrophil dysfunction. This may explain the protective effects of anti-C5a in the CLP model of sepsis.

Quantitative measurement on three-dimensional computed tomography: an experimental validation using phantom objects

BACKGROUND

The use of 3-dimensional computed tomography (CT) imaging has been applied to the craniofacial region as well as to many other parts of the human body. Quantitative measurements have frequently been performed on the 3-dimensional images. However, critical validation of the measurement has been insufficient in the literature. This study was designed to evaluate the errors of the 3-dimensional measurements.

METHODS

Four phantom objects, a cube, a sphere, a cylinder, and a life-size adult skull model, were scanned using standard CT acquisition protocol. The data were transferred, reformatted, and displayed on an IBM-compatible personal computer running AnalyzePC 2.5 software. Linear, area, and volume measurements were obtained using one of the two methods. The first was physical measurement of the phantom objects using a caliper for linear measurement and mathematical calculations for area and volume measurements. The second was done by computer measurement on 3-dimensional images using the AnalyzePC 2.5 program. Each measurement was performed twice. The differences were compared between the repeated measurements and between the two methods.

RESULTS

The images were displayed according to standard 3-dimensional CT protocol. The differences between the measurements were insignificant and ranged from 0.00 to 2.57%.

CONCLUSION

This study validated the accuracy of the quantitative measurements on 3-dimensional CT images.

Promotion of forskolin-induced long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission by caffeine in area CA1 of the rat hippocampus

Caffeine which is present in soft drinks has been shown to increase alertness and allays drowsiness and fatigue. The aim of this study is to investigate whether caffeine could produce a long-term effect on the synaptic transmission using extracellular recording technique in the hippocampal slices. Bath application of caffeine (100 microM) reversibly increased the slope of field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP). Forskolin (25 microM) by its own did not affect the fEPSP significantly. However, in the presence of caffeine, forskolin induced a long-term potentiation (LTP) of fEPSP. Enprofylline which has been shown to exhibit some actions like caffeine but with a low adenosine antagonistic potency did not affect the normal synaptic transmission or the effect of forskolin at a lower concentration (10 microM). However, when the concentrations were increased to 20 and 50 microM, enprofylline significantly enhanced the fEPSP slope and promoted forskolin-induced LTP. The parallel increase of fEPSP and promotion of LTP observed with enprofylline suggests that adenosine A1 antagonism is the primary mechanism behind caffeine's effect. This hypothesis was further strengthened by the finding that promotion of forskolin-induced LTP was mimicked by the non-xanthine adenosine antagonist 9-chloro-2-(furyl)[1,2,4]triazolo [1,5-c]quinazolin-5-amine (CGS 15943). The promotion of forskolin-induced LTP provides a cellular basis behind caffeine's increase in capacity for sustained intellectual performance.

Involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase in hippocampal long-term potentiation

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade classically is thought to be involved in cellular transformation, including proliferation and differentiation. Recent behavioral studies suggest that MAPK may also have a role in learning and memory. Long-term potentiation (LTP), a candidate mechanism for learning and memory, has at least two distinct temporal phases: an early phase (E-LTP) which lasts for 1-2 h and a late phase (L-LTP) which can persist >/=3 h. Here, we report that PD 098059, a selective inhibitor of MAPK cascade, attenuates L-LTP induced by bath application of forskolin without affecting basal synaptic transmission. This effect was mimicked by direct injection of animals with MAPK antisense oligonucleotide into the hippocampal CA1 region. MAPK activity measured by using a synthetic peptide corresponding to the sequence surrounding the major site of phosphorylation of the myelin-basic protein by MAPK was enhanced by forskolin. The same antisense treatment also completely inhibited the increased MAPK activity. These results demonstrate an involvement of MAPK in the induction of L-LTP in the hippocampal CA1 neurons.

Masking of forskolin-induced long-term potentiation by adenosine accumulation in area CA1 of the rat hippocampus

At hippocampal Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses, activation of beta-adrenergic receptors and adenylyl cyclase increases transmitter release. However, this effect is transient, which is in contrast to that seen at mossy fiber-CA3 synapses, where activation of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase results in long-lasting facilitation of transmitter release, a phenomenon known as a presynaptic form of long-term potentiation. The present study was aimed at investigating whether forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, could produce long-term effects at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses using extracellular recording techniques. As has been reported previously, forskolin persistently increased the amplitude of evoked population spikes without having a long-term effect on the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials. However, under the conditions where adenosine A1 receptors are inhibited, cyclic-AMP metabolism is disrupted or the transport of cyclic-AMP is blocked, forskolin induces long-term potentiation. Forskolin-induced potentiation is associated with a decrease in paired-pulse facilitation and is blocked by the cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor Rp-adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate. Activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors is not required for forskolin-induced long-term potentiation, because pretreatment of slices with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate did not prevent forskolin-induced potentiation. These results suggest that blockade of adenosine A1 receptors unmasks forskolin-induced long-term potentiation, and activation of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase induces a form of long-term potentiation which is different from that induced by tetanic stimulation.

Endogenous serotonin inhibits epileptiform activity in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons via 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor activation

The modulatory effects of endogenous serotonin on the synaptic transmission and epileptiform activity were studied in the rat hippocampus with the use of extracellular and intracellular recording techniques. Field excitatory postsynaptic potential was reversibly depressed by serotonin in a concentration-dependent manner. Intracellular recordings revealed that serotonin-mediated synaptic depression was unaffected by extracellular Ba2+ or intracellular application of Cs+ while the postsynaptic hyperpolarizing effect was completely blocked. Epileptiform activity induced by picrotoxin (50 microM), a GABA(A) receptor antagonist, was also dose-dependently suppressed by serotonin. The antiepileptic effect was mimicked by 5-hydroxytryptamine1A agonist and was blocked by 5-hydroxytryptamine1A antagonists. 5-Hydroxytryptamine2 antagonist had no effect on the modulation. Similarly, fluoxetine, a selective serotonin re-uptake blocker, potently inhibited the epileptiform activity and this effect was blocked by 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor antagonist. Depletion of endogenous serotonin by pretreating the slices with p-chloroamphetamine completely prevented the antiepileptic action of fluoxetine, without modifying the action of serotonin in the same cells. These results suggest that the antiepileptic action of fluoxetine is due to an enhancement of endogenous serotonin which in turn is mediated by 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor. Endogenous serotonin transmission in the hippocampus is therefore capable of limiting the development and propagation of seizure activity.

Heat shock protein expression protects against death following exposure to heatstroke in rats

Rats 0, 16, or 48 h after heat shock (42 degrees C core temperature for 15 min) or chemical stress (5 mg/kg sodium arsenite, i.p.) were exposed to a high ambient temperature (43 degrees C) to induce heatstroke onset. The moment in which the mean arterial pressure and cerebral blood flow began to decrease from their peak values was taken as the onset of heatstroke. Prior heat shock or chemical stress conferred significant protection against heatstroke-induced arterial hypotension, cerebral ischemia, cerebral neuronal damage and death, and correlated with expression of HSP72 in brain, heart, liver and kidney at 16 h. However, at 48 h, when HSP72 expression returned to basal values, the above responses that occurred after the onset of heatstroke of two groups (0 h group VS 48 h group) were indistinguishable. The data suggest that HSP72 presence increases survival in rat heatstroke by attenuating arterial hypotension, cerebral ischemia and neuronal damage.

Population cell differentiation of Serratia marcescens on agar surface and in broth culture

The bacterium Serratia marcescens shows population surface migration (swarming) phenomenum on an LB swarming plate, and differentiated cells can be observed at the swarming front. How the cell population differentiates during swarming on the agar surface is not known, neither is it clear whether cells with differentiated characteristics can be observed in broth culture. To monitor the population cell differentiation in a highly sensitive way without cell destruction, experiments were designed using bacterial luciferase genes luxAB as the reporter genes to allow direct monitoring of the differentiating cells through bioluminescence. An isogenic S. marcescens strain was constructed with luxAB under the control of the promoter of flagellin gene hag (phag::luxAB). Patterns of cell differentiation were monitored either by direct X-ray film exposure and/or by Autolumat luminometer detection. Results show that population cell differentiation on the agar surface occurs first in a temporal and then spatial way during colonial growth. It was also found that cells harvested from both the spreading agar plate and broth culture showed differentiation patterns similar to those from swarming cells, suggesting that the agar surface culture may not be essential for the formation of differentiated cells.

Inhibition of synaptic transmission and epileptiform activity in central neurones by fluspirilene

1. Recent studies have shown that fluspirilene, a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist which is a long-acting neuroleptic useful in the maintenance therapy of schizophrenic patients, also displays Ca2+ channel blocking activity. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of fluspirilene on synaptic transmission and epileptiform activity induced in slices of hippocampus and amygdala. 2. Fluspirilene reversibly suppressed the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (f-e.p.s.p) in a concentration-dependent manner in the area CA1 of the hippocampus without affecting the size and shape of fibre volley. Fluspirilene also inhibited the intracellularly recorded e.p.s.p. in amygdala neurones without affecting the resting membrane potential or neuronal input resistance. 3. Fluspirilene increased the ratio of paired-pulse facilitation suggesting a presynaptic mode of action. 4. Epileptiform activity induced in the disinhibited slices was suppessed by fluspirilene in a concentration-dependent manner. This antiepileptic effect was occluded in slices pretreated with the adenosine A1 receptor agonist, N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA). 5. It is concluded that fluspirilene-induced synaptic inhibition is probably due to a reduction in presynaptic Ca2+ currents. In clinical trials, the low incidence of seizures provoked by fluspirilene might be related to its intrinsic ability to inhibit synaptic transmission and epileptiform activity.

Effect of glucose concentration on swimming motility in enterobacteria

Since the observation that glucose prevents the synthesis of flagella in Escherichia coli was first reported in 1967, many studies have addressed the underlying mechanism. Currently, it is thought that an increase in glucose concentration decreases the intracellular CRP/cAMP concentration. This leads to an inhibitory effect on the expression of the flhD operon, the master operon for flagella synthesis. In our study on defining factors influencing the cell differentiation of Serratia marcescens, glucose catabolite repression of hag expression and swimming/swarming motility was not observed. Further experiments using a simple swimming motility assay extended this observation to other members of Enterobacteriaceae. Although the underlying mechanism is still uncharacterised, our results suggest that glucose catabolite repression of swimming motility may not be a common phenomenon in Enterobacteriaceae.

Subspecies typing of Vibrio parahaemolyticus by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is one of the most important food-borne pathogens in Taiwan, Japan, and other costal regions. We report on the development of a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method for the molecular typing of this pathogen. Genomic DNA was digested with SfiI, and the fragments were resolved on 1% agarose with a contour-clamped homogeneous electric field apparatus set at 190 V and a pulse time of 3 to 80 s. A total of 130 selected isolates obtained from outbreaks during 1993 and 1994 on Taiwan were also characterized by this PFGE method. These isolates were grouped into 14 PFGE types which consisted on one to six patterns, and a total of 39 patterns were identified. Most of these domestic clinical isolates could be clustered into several major types (types A, B, C, and G). These major types showed relatively low degrees of similarity to several foreign strains and other domestic but environmental strains. Strain CCRC12863, which originated from Japan, was close to the group consisting of F, G, and H PFGE types, suggesting a clonal relationship between this Japanese strain and other domestic isolates.

Differential interactive effects of gliotoxin and MPTP in the substantia nigra and the locus coeruleus in BALB/c mice

We have previously demonstrated that chronic 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) infusion to the substantia nigra (SN) and the locus coeruleus (LC) both produce a long-lasting neurotoxicity on dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) neurons in these two areas, respectively. In the present study, we further examined the toxicity of MPTP in these two areas by using the immunohistochemical method. We have also assessed the role of glia cells in the SN and LC in mediating the toxicity of MPTP. Immunohistochemical results have confirmed the direct toxicity of MPTP in the SN, as revealed by significant decreases of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells in the SN and TH-positive fibers in the striatum. The specific gliotoxin alpha-aminoadipic acid (alpha-AA), when administered to the SN at 48 h interval, partially antagonized DA depletions and behavioral deficits produced by chronic MPTP treatment. When alpha-AA was administered to the SN every 24 h, it completely abolished the toxicity of MPTP. On the other hand, chronic MPTP infusions to the LC significantly decreased DA-beta-hydroxylase-positive cells in this area. When alpha-AA was injected into the LC at 48 h intervals, it did not prevent depletions of NE in the LC and the hippocampus caused by chronic MPTP infusions. It did not protect against the behavioral deficits produced by MPTP, either. When alpha-AA was injected into the LC every 24 h, it only partially prevented the toxicity of MPTP on NE in the LC. It also partially prevented the motor-impairing effect of MPTP; however, it barely protected against MPTP's toxicity on NE in the hippocampus and it did not antagonize the stereotypy deficit produced by chronic MPTP, either. Phasic tremor and rigidity were observed following MPTP infusions to the SN and the LC every day, but these symptoms were less frequently observed during the later experimental stage. Serotonin measures were not significantly altered by these treatments throughout these experiments. Immunoblotting results of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker protein of astrocytes, have confirmed proper lesions of astrocytes by alpha-AA. These results together suggest that chronic MPTP treatment exerts a direct and long-lasting toxicity on DA neurons along the nigrostriatal pathway and NE neurons along the coeruleus-hippocampal pathway. The neurotoxicity of MPTP is probably mediated through astrocytes in the SN, and may be partly mediated through astrocytes in the LC also. These results imply a role for dendritic uptake of DA and NE in these cell body regions. However, these findings also suggest the possibility of differential mechanisms of MPTP's toxicity in these two areas.

Protein synthesis in the hippocampus associated with memory facilitation by corticotropin-releasing factor in rats

The present study used pharmacological, biochemical, and behavioral methods to examine the role of protein synthesis in the hippocampus in memory processes of a passive avoidance learning in rats. Results indicated that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) significantly improved memory retention in rats. Both cycloheximide (CHX) and actinomycin-D (ACT-D) impaired memory at high doses. At doses of CHX and ACT-D that did not affect memory alone, they both antagonized the memory-enhancing effect of CRF. Biochemically, there were specific increases in the optical density of three protein bands in the cytosolic fraction of hippocampal cells in rats showing good memory. There were also marked increases in the optical density of two protein bands in the nucleus fraction of the same animals. Similar results were observed in animals injected with CRF. However, no significant protein alteration was observed in animals receiving stress. These results together suggest that there are new protein syntheses in the hippocampus that are specifically associated with passive avoidance learning in rats.

Comparative studies of the neurotoxicity of MPTP in rats of different ages

The present study investigated the neurotoxic effects of repeated MPTP injections on monoamine neurotransmitters and locomotor activity in rats of different ages. We also examined the mortality of MPTP-treated rats at different ages. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in all experiments. In the first experiment, we examined the mortality of rats (11-12 month old) subject to different doses of MPTP. In the second experiment, rats of 2-3 months old were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 served as the control; Groups 2,3,4 and 5 received daily MPTP injections (30 mg/kg, ip) for a continuation of 7 days. Biochemical and behavioral assays were conducted at 1,7,14 and 28 days after withdrawal of MPTP, respectively. In the third and fourth experiments, the same experimental design was adopted except that rats of 5-6 months old and rats of 11-12 months old were used, respectively. Besides, the doses of MPTP used were 22.5 mg/kg and 12.5 mg/kg, respectively. Immunohistochemical experiments were always conducted 7 days after withdrawal of MPTP. Results indicated that, in young rats, repeated MPTP injections did not significantly decrease DA, and 5HT levels as well as TH and DBH immunoreactivities although it impaired locomotor activity. The same treatment significantly depleted DA, NE and 5HT levels in the middle-aged rats. It also decreased the density of TH and DBH immunoreactivities and altered the morphology of DA and NE neurons. Meanwhile, it impaired locomotor activity. In old rats, MPTP injections produced effects similar to those observed in the middle-age rats except that the hippocampal serotonergic system was also affected. However, all these effects recovered 28 days after withdrawal of MPTP injection. Finally, the dose of MPTP required to exert similar extent of neurotoxicity decreased as the age of rats increased, and the dose required to result in mortality markedly decreased in old rats. These results together suggest that MPTP does exert a toxicity on DA, NE and 5HT neurons and impair motor activity in rats. These effects are age-dependent while the irreversibility of MPTP's toxicity in rats requires further investigation.