Neurological symptoms might be associated with a Covid-19 infection. There are frequent reports in the last weeks. The neurological symptoms range from harmless side effects of a viral infection to meningoencephalitis and acute haemorrhagic necrotizing encephalopathy. Our patient reported burning headache and paresthesia as the initial symptoms mainly without other signs of viral infection like cough or fever. Such an initial neurological presentation seems to be rare. Most cases have neurological symptoms which can be expected after severe systemic viral infections like fever associated headache. Many COVID-19 patients with mild disease are at home and the further course is unknown. Our case shows, that neurological symptoms can be the first manifestation of an COVID-19 disease. While restricted paraesthesia has been reported in SARS-CoV-2 infections, hemisymptoms have not been described as initial symptoms.

The snake venom rhodocytin has been reported to bind to integrin alpha2beta1 and glycoprotein (GP) Ibalpha on platelets, but it is also able to induce activation independent of the 2 receptors and of GPVI. Using rhodocytin affinity chromatography, we have identified a novel C-type lectin receptor, CLEC-2, in platelets that confers signaling responses to rhodocytin when expressed in a cell line. CLEC-2 has a single tyrosine residue in a YXXL motif in its cytosolic tail, which undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation upon platelet activation by rhodocytin or an antibody to CLEC-2, but not to collagen, thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP), or convulxin. Tyrosine phosphorylation of CLEC-2 and other signaling proteins by rhodocytin is inhibited by the Src family kinase inhibitor PP2. Further, activation of murine platelets by rhodocytin is abolished in the absence of Syk and PLCgamma2, and partially reduced in the absence of LAT, SLP-76, and Vav1/Vav3. These findings define a novel signaling pathway in platelets whereby activation of CLEC-2 by rhodocytin leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of its cytosolic tail, binding of Syk and initiation of downstream tyrosine phosphorylation events, and activation of PLCgamma2. CLEC-2 is the first C-type lectin receptor to be found on platelets which signals through this novel pathway.

Nitrification, a key process in the global nitrogen cycle that generates nitrate through microbial activity, may enhance losses of fertilizer nitrogen by leaching and denitrification. Certain plants can suppress soil-nitrification by releasing inhibitors from roots, a phenomenon termed biological nitrification inhibition (BNI). Here, we report the discovery of an effective nitrification inhibitor in the root-exudates of the tropical forage grass Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick. Named ''brachialactone,'' this inhibitor is a recently discovered cyclic diterpene with a unique 5-8-5-membered ring system and a ␥-lactone ring. It contributed 60 -90% of the inhibitory activity released from the roots of this tropical grass. Unlike nitrapyrin (a synthetic nitrification inhibitor), which affects only the ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) pathway, brachialactone appears to block both AMO and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase enzymatic pathways in Nitrosomonas. global warming ͉ nitrogen pollution ͉ nitrous oxide emissions ͉ root exudation ͉ climate change M ost modern agricultural systems are based on large inputs of inorganic nitrogen (N), with ammonium (NH 4 ϩ ) being the primary N source (1, 2). Also, current crop management practices result in the development of highly nitrifying soil environments (3, 4). Nitrification results in the transformation of the relatively immobile NH 4 ϩ to highly mobile nitrate (NO 3 Ϫ ), making inorganic N susceptible to losses through leaching of NO 3 Ϫ and/or gaseous N emissions, potentially initiating a cascade of environmental and health problems (1, 2, 5, 6). Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is one of the three major biogenic greenhouse gases contributing to global warming, produced primarily from denitrification processes in agricultural systems (5, 7). Also, assimilation of NO 3 Ϫ by plants can result in further N 2 O emissions directly from plant canopies (8). The low agronomic N-use efficiency (NUE) found in many agricultural systems is largely the result of N losses associated with nitrification (i.e., N losses from NO 3 Ϫ leaching and denitrification) (9-11). Most plants have the ability to assimilate both NH 4 ϩ and NO 3 Ϫ (12); therefore, nitrification does not need to be a dominant process in the N cycle for efficient N use.Nitrification is low in some forest and grassland soils (13-17). Since the early 1960s, some tropical grasses have been suspected of having the capacity to inhibit nitrification (18-21). However, this concept remained controversial due to the lack of direct evidence showing such inhibitory effects or the identification of specific inhibitors (22).We adopted a very sensitive bioassay using a recombinant luminescent Nitrosomonas europaea to detect biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) in plant-soil systems with the inhibitory activity of roots expressed in allylthiourea units (ATU) (23). Using this methodology, we were able to show that certain plants release nitrification inhibitors from their roots (23-26). Such BNI capacity appears to be relatively widespread among...

Photoinduced charge separation (CS) and charge recombination (CR) processes have been examined in various porphyrin-fullerene linked systems (i.e., dyads and triads) by means of time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime measurements. The investigated compounds comprise a homologous series of rigidly linked, linear donor-acceptor arrays with different donor-acceptor separations and diversified donor strength: freebase porphyrin-C60 dyad (H2P-C60), zincporphyrin-C60 dyad (ZnP-C60), ferrocene-zincporphyrin-C60 triad (Fc-ZnP-C60), ferrocene-freebase porphyrin-C60 triad (Fc-H2P-C60), and zincporphyrin-freebase porphyrin-C60 triad (ZnP-H2P-C60). Most importantly, the lowest lying charge-separated state of all the investigated systems, namely, that of ferrocenium ion (Fc+) and the C60 radical anion (C60.-) pair in the Fc-ZnP-C60 triad, has been generated with the highest quantum yields (close to unity) and reveals a lifetime as long as 16 micros. Determination of CS and CR rate constants, together with the one-electron redox potentials of the donor and acceptor moieties in different solvents, has allowed us to examine the driving force dependence (-DeltaG0ET) of the electron-transfer rate constants (kET). Hereby, the semilogarithmic plots (i.e., log kET versus -DeltaG0ET) lead to the evaluation of the reorganization energy (lambda) and the electronic coupling matrix element (V) in light of the Marcus theory of electron-transfer reactions: lambda = 0.66 eV and V = 3.9 cm(-1) for ZnP-C60 dyad and lambda = 1.09 eV and V = 0.019 cm(-1) for Fc-ZnP-C60, Fc-H2P-C60, and ZnP-H2P-C60 triads. Interestingly, the Marcus plot in Fc-ZnP-C60, Fc-H2P-C60, and ZnP-H2P-C60 has provided clear evidence for intramolecular CR located in both the normal and inverted regions of the Marcus parabola. The coefficient for the distance dependence of V (damping factor: betaCR = 0.58 A(-1) is deduced which depends primarily on the nature of the bridging molecule.

Podoplanin (aggrus), a transmembrane sialoglycoprotein, is involved in tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation, tumor metastasis, and lymphatic vessel formation. However, the mechanism by which podoplanin induces these cellular processes including its receptor has not been elucidated to date. Podoplanin induced platelet aggregation with a long lag phase, which is dependent upon Src and phospholipase C␥2 activation. However, it does not bind to glycoprotein VI. This mode of platelet activation was reminiscent of the snake toxin rhodocytin, the receptor of which has been identified by us as a novel platelet activation receptor, C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2) (Suzuki-Inoue, K.

Schizophrenia is believed to involve altered activation of dopamine receptors, and support for this hypothesis comes from the antipsychotic effect of antagonists of the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R). D2R is expressed most highly in the striatum, but most of the recent positron emission tomography (PET) studies have failed to show any change in D2R densities in the striatum of schizophrenics, raising the possibility that other receptors may also be involved. In particular, the dopamine D1 receptor (D1R), which is highly expressed in the prefrontal cortex, has been implicated in the control of working memory, and working memory dysfunction is a prominent feature of schizophrenia. We have therefore used PET to examine the distribution of D1R and D2R in brains of drug-naive or drug-free schizophrenic patients. Although no differences were observed in the striatum relative to control subjects, binding of radioligand to D1R was reduced in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics. This reduction was related to the severity of the negative symptoms (for instance, emotional withdrawal) and to poor performance in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. We propose that dysfunction of D1R signalling in the prefrontal cortex may contribute to the negative symptoms and cognitive deficits seen in schizophrenia.

Nitrification, a microbial process, is a key component and integral part of the nitrogen (N) cycle. Soil N is in a constant state of flux, moving and changing chemical forms. During nitrification, a relatively immobile N-form (NH + 4) is converted into highly mobile nitrate-N (NO − 3). The nitrate formed is susceptible to losses via leaching and conversion to gaseous forms via denitrification. Often less than 30% of the applied N fertilizer is recovered in intensive agricultural systems, largely due to losses associated with and following nitrification. Nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) is defined as the biomass produced per unit of assimilated N and is a conservative function in most biological systems. A better alternative is to define NUE as the dry matter produced per unit N applied and strive for improvements in agronomic yields through N recovery. Suppressing nitrification along with its associated N losses is potentially a key part in any strategy to improve N recovery and agronomic NUE. In many mature N-limited ecosystems, nitrification is reduced to a relatively minor flux. In such systems there is a high degree of internal N cycling with minimal loss of N. In contrast, in most highproduction agricultural systems nitrification is a major process in N cycling with the resulting N losses and inefficiencies. This review presents the current state of knowledge on nitrification and associated N losses, and discusses strategies for controlling nitrification in agricultural systems. Limitations of the currently available nitrification inhibitors are highlighted. The concept of biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) is proposed for controlling nitrification in agricultural systems utilizing traits found in natural ecosystems. It is emphasized that suppression of nitrification in agricultural systems is a critical step required for improving agronomic NUE and maintaining environmental quality.

Since the three-dimensional electron-accepting fullerene has been found to be an excellent building block for self-assembled supramolecular systems, we have investigated photoinduced electron transfer processes in supramolecular fullerene systems with porphyrins and phthalocyanines as electron donors to mimic natural photosynthesis. We have successfully formed self-assembled supramolecular dyads and triads via metal-ligand coordination, crown-ether inclusion, ion pairing, hydrogen-bonding, or pi-pi stacking interactions. Although the single mode of binding gives usually flexible supramolecular structures, the newly developed strategy of multiple modes of binding results in conjugates of defined distance and orientation between the donor and acceptor entities, which influences the overall electron transfer reactions. In these conjugates, we observe the anticipated acceleration of the charge separation process and deceleration of the charge recombination process. Applications of these supramolecular systems for reversible photoswitching of inter- and intramolecular electron transfer events open up new opportunities in the area of photosensors. Extension of the self-assembly approaches to single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) results in SWNT-porphyrin/phthalocyanine nanohybrids capable of undergoing photoinduced electron transfer. These photochemical processes lead to photocatalytic reactions accumulating redox active substances of electron acceptor/mediator entities with the help of a sacrificial electron donor. Studies on these self-assembled supramolecular dyads, triads, tetrads, etc., are only in the beginning stages and future studies anticipate involvement of more complex systems targeted for better performances in light-driven devices.