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Itch and pain are two distinct sensations. Although our previous study suggested that gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is an itch-specific gene in the spinal cord, a long-standing question of whether there ate separate neuronal pathways for itch and pain remains unsettled. We selectively ablated lamina I neurons expressing GRPR in the spinal cord of mice. These mice showed profound scratching deficits in response to all of the itching (pruritogenic) stimuli tested, irrespective of their histamine dependence. In contrast, pain behaviors were unaffected. Our data also suggest that [GRPR.sup.+] neurons are different from the spinothalamic tract neurons that have been the focus of the debate. Together, the present study suggests that [GRPR.sup.+] neurons constitute a long-sought labeled line for itch sensation in the spinal cord.

Antimicrobial textiles can be categorized into two groups, biocidal and biostatic materials, according to their functions. Biostatic functions refer to inhibiting growth of microorganisms on textiles and preventing the materials from biodegradation and biocidal materials are able to kill microorganisms, thus eliminating their growth, sterilizing the textile, and possibly protecting wearers of the textiles from biological attacks.

The anomalous IR properties of nanostructured films composed of Pt islands are investigated using CO adsorption as a probe reaction. Combination of in situ microscope Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with an individually addressable array of Pt microelectrodes (ME(sub ij)) is used in combinatorial spectroelectrochemical analysis.

The synthesization of platinum nanoparticles and their agglomerates by using the chemical reduction method is studied. It is shown that the enhanced infrared absorption (EIRA) and the abnormal infrared effects (AIRES) are closely related to agglomerate states of Pt nanoparticles.

A new study uses magnetization and x-ray diffraction measurements to investigate the effects of Mn substitution for Co on the structure and magnetic properties of Tb2Co17-xMnx(x=0-7) compounds.

The feasibility of engineering and optimizing a four-level optically pumped infrared laser based on intersubband transitions in multiple quantum wells is evaluated. The requirements for the attainment of population inversion are analyzed using a four-level system to resolve all the contradictions. The relaxation mechanisms describing the transition rates between levels are then studied. Results show that the transition rates are strongly dependent on the overlaps of the envelope wave functions of different subbands.

The honeycomb domain structures are found in the as-deposited amorphous TbFe thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy by using magnetic force microscope (MFM). The charge contrast and susceptibility contrast were separated by forming the difference and sum of two images with opposite tip magnetization and the z component of both magnetization and the stray field of single domain dots were obtained with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

The magnetic entropy change and resistivity measurements of LaFe11.375Al1.625 compound are discussed. Near constant magnetic entropy change in a wide temperature range from ~140 K to 210 K was observed in LaFe11.375Al1.625 due to the two closely spaced magnetic transitions at T(sub O) (~140 K) and T(sub N) (~181 K).

The remarkable improvement in coercivity of nanoscaled TbMn6Sn6 powder made by the mechanical milling process is discussed. The highest coercivity of about 12 kOe is observed at room temperature in the TbMn6Sn6 powders milled for 3 h and annealed at 723 K for 20 min.

The magnetic properties and domain structure of amorphous TbFe thin films were studied by magnetic measurement and magnetic force microscope. Honeycomb domain structures were found in the as-deposited amorphous film which were composed of many small white round dots embedded in the black matrix, which formed an irregular hexagonal pattern with some deformation.

X-ray diffraction (XRD) and magnetization measurements were employed to investigate the effect of Mn substitution for Co on the structure and magnetic properties of Y(sub 2)Co(sub 17-x)Mn(sub x) compounds with x=0-8. XRD patterns show that all samples are single phase with a hexagonal Th(sub 2) Ni(sub 17) type structure.

A new study applies magnetic force microscopy to investigate the domain structure of Sm2Fe15xCuxSi2C ribbons, when x=0 and 1.

The article presents a new approach that can be used for the direct electrodeposition of the tetrahexahedral Pd nanocrystals with high-index facets. The method is shown to be extremely beneficial in the synthesis of metal nanocrystals with high catalytic activity.

The development of a cascade Stetter-aldol reaction of phthalaldehyde and Michael acceptors catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes is described. Oxidation or dehydration of the 4-hydroxytetralone has given the corresponding naphthalenediol or naphthol derivative.

The synthesis and shape transformations of Fe nanocrystals from rhombic dodecahedra and tetragonal bipyramids, both bounded by {110} facets, to 18-facet polyhedra enclosed by different combinations of {110} and {100} facets and finally to cubes exclusively covered by {100} facets is presented. A study of the surface-structure functionality of the Fe nanocrystals toward electroreduction of nitrite revealed that the electrocatalytic activity of the Fe nanocrystals increased as the fraction of {100} facets on the surface of the Fe NCs increased.

A newly developed, enhanced shotgun lipidomics approach was employed to demonstrate the presence of changes in the cardiolipin (CL) molecular species profile in the perinatal period that is temporally correlated to the massive alteractions in neuronal remodeling and apoptosis that occur after birth. The results obtained provide insight into the complex function of CL in neuronal signaling, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and apoptosis.

Electrocatalytic properties of a Pt electrode modified with adatoms of Sb and S for 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BD) oxidation were studied by cyclic voltammetry and in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pt electrode was altered by two adatoms, [Sb.sub.ad] adatom blocks three surface sites for hydrogen adsorption on a Pt electrode while [S.sub.ad] blocks only one surface site resulting in different interactions between reactant 1,3-BD molecules with electrode surface.

The infrared optical properties of Palladium clusters and zeolite matrix effects on the properties of Pd clusters in the supercages of NaX and NaY were studied comparatively using in situ FTIR reflection spectroscopy and in situ FTIR transmission spectroscopy with a CO molecule probe. The results suggested that part of the Pd(super 2+) ions in NaX are located in sites III and III' that are near the 12-ring window of the supercage of zeolite, leading to the formation of small Pd clusters.

The anomalous IR properties of nanostructured Ni thin films are reported by using CO adsorption as the probe indicator and monitored with in situ Fourier transform infrared reflection (FTIR) spectroscopy. Investigations by in situ FTIR spectroscopy employing adsorbed CO as the probe revealed that these nanostructures of Ni films yield abnormal IR features, Fano-like IR features and normal IR features respectively.

A series of compounds derived from the substrate analogue of copper amine oxidases (CuAOs) are screened against six different CuAOs in order to design potent and selective inhibitors and the substrate analogues investigated were the family of 4-(aryloxy)-2-butynamines. The structural and inhibition results support the feasibility of designing selective mechanism-based inhibitors of copper amine oxidases.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid Pt(100), Pt(110), Pt(111), Pt(320), and Pt(331) surfaces modified with Sb adatoms (Pt(hkl)/Sb) was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, potential step technique, and in-situ FTIR spectroscopy. The results show that the kinetics of HCOOH oxidation is faster on bare surfaces of Pt(100), Pt(110) and Pt(320) tan on Sb-modified surfaces of the Pt single-crystal electrodes.

Nanometer-scale thin films of rhodium are prepared by electrochemical deposition using cyclic voltammetry. A study is made, which demonstrates that the abnormal infrared effects are general phenomena exhibited by nanostructured thin-film materials at both solid/liquid and solid/gas interfaces and are important in revealing the intrinsic properties of 2D nanomaterials.

Double-stranded DNA(poly(dA)30.poly(dT)30) modified gold electrodes, prepared by air-drying/adsorption method, is investigated by various techniques, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM), and surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS). CV, QCM, and EC-STM techniques are useful tools for profound insight into the nature of DNA attached to surfaces.