Ventral tegmental area dopamine (DA VTA) neurons are important for the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse such as ethanol and nicotine. We have previously shown that M-current (IM) regulates the excitability of DA VTA neurons. Zinc (Zn2+) contributes to the regulation of neuronal excitation as a neuromodulator. In the present study, we investigated zinc effect on the properties of IM and the...

The widely spread use of the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) for multi-ion analysis is primarily ascribed to following reasons: (i) excellent reproducibility owing easy renewal surface avoiding any hysteresis effect (i.e., a new identical generated each measurement be accomplished); (ii) wide cathodic potential window originating from passive hydrogen evolution and solvent electrolysis; (...

Hybrid A–B–A type nanowires (NWs) with Ag5Te3–HgTe–Ag5Te3 composition have been created by the reaction of Hg2+ with Ag2Te NWs. The NW morphology of Ag2Te is preserved upon reaction with minor changes and the two separate phases formed are spatially separated within the same NW. The reaction of Hg2+ with Ag2Te NWs was monitored at different concentrations and the reactivity was attributed to ca...

Agricultural by-products, such as peanut shells, contribute large quantities of lignocellulosic waste to the environment each growing season; but few, if any, value-added uses exist for their disposal. The objective of this study was to convert peanut shells to activated carbons for use in adsorption of select metal ions, namely, cadmium (Cd2+), copper (Cu2+), lead (Pb2+), nickel (Ni2+) and zin...

To identify the divalent metal ions that can support the self-cleavage activity of the genomic ribozyme of human hepatitis delta virus (HDV), we tested the activity of various divalent metal ions in the ribozyme reactions catalyzed by HDV88 (683-770 nt) and 88DI3 (HDV88 with the sequence from 740-752 nt deleted). Among various metal ions tested, Mg2+, Mn2+, Ca2+ and Sr2+ efficiently supported t...

The study of binding affinity is essential in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing because it allows researchers to quantify the affinity between the analyte and immobilised ligands of an SPR sensor. In this study, we demonstrate the derivation of the binding affinity constant, K, for Pb2+ and Hg2+ ions according to their SPR response using a gold/silver/gold/chitosan-graphene oxide (Au/Ag/A...

The effective ionic radii of Shannon & Prewitt [Acta Cryst. (1969), B25, 925-945] are revised to include more unusual oxidation states and coordinations. Revisions are based on new structural data, empirical bond strength-bond length relationships, and plots of (1) radii vs volume, (2) radii vs coordination number, and (3) radii vs oxidation state. Factors which affect radii additivity are poly...

A stable bacterial consortium (LV-1) capable of degrading di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) was enriched from river sludge. Community analysis revealed that the main families of LV-1 are Brucellaceae (62.78%) and Sinobacteraceae (14.83%), and the main genera of LV-1 are Brucella spp. (62.78%) and Sinobacter spp. (14.83%). The optimal pH and temperature for LV-1 to degrade DBP were pH 6.0 and 30°C, res...

A new extracellular protease having a prospective application in the food industry was isolated from Bacillus sUbtilis NCIM 2711 by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation from the cell broth. It was purified using DEAE-Cellulose and CM-Sephadex C-50 ion-exchange chromatography. With casein as a substrate, the proteolytic activity of the purified protease was found to be optimal at pH 7.0 and temperature 55 de...