In this issue of Neuron, Maruyama et al. (2013) demonstrate the binding of a new class of selective tau ligands, termed PBBs, to tau deposits in transgenic mice and in human subjects with normal cognition, Alzheimer's disease, or a corticobasal syndrome.

The growth, cellular total lipids, bioaccumulation amount, and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of 2,4,4'-tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE28), 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE47), and 2,2',4,4',5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE99) in a semi-continuous culture of Prorocentrum donghaiense were studied in relation to nitrate (0, 128, and 512 micromol/L) and phosphate (0, 8, and 32 micromol/L) concen...

The fate of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sewage sludge after agricultural application was analysed. This study was based on the analysis of sewage sludge and sludge amended soil samples collected during 2005. PBDE concentrations in sewage sludge ranged from 197 to 1185ng/g dry weight (dw), being deca-BDE-209 the predominant congener. PBDE levels in soils ranged between 21 and 690ng...

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) can be reductively degraded by microorganisms under anaerobic conditions. However, little is known about the effect of electron donors on microbial communities involved in PBDEs degradation. Here we employed 454 Titanium pyrosequencing to examine the phylogenetic diversity, composition, structure and dynamics of microbial communities from microcosms under ...

The atmospheric deposition of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) was investigated at four locations in different suburban and urban functional districts of Guangzhou City. The annual deposition fluxes of total PBDD/Fs (eight 2,3,7,8-substituted tetra- to hexa-BDD/Fs) were in the range of 36-51 (mean 46) pg m(-2) day(-1), and the corresponding TEQ fluxes were estimated ...

A rapid determination of decabromodiphenyl ether (DeBDE) in polystyrene (PS) by thermal desorption (TD)-GC/MS was studied. The TD-GC/MS method using a pyrolysis-GC/MS system allowed the quick quantification of DeBDE in a waste TV back plate composing of a PS flame-retarded with polybrominated diphenyl ethers on the basis of the resulting chromatogram with a ca. 4% relative standard deviation wi...

Using an in vitro assay system, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) was assessed for its ability to inhibit metabolic cooperation between 6-thioguanine sensitive and resistant Chinese hamster V79 cells. Using a nonlethal range of the chemical, PBB was shown to inhibit metabolic cooperation (a form of cell-cell communication) in a manner similar to other known tumor promoters. Results suggest that PBB...

PBB found in relatively low levels among animals present on a cross-section of Michigan farms during the time PBB was inadvertantly added to dairy feeds had no effect upon these animals' milk production, body weight, weight gain, breeding and reproduction performance, incidence of commonly experienced health problems, calving rate, and the health of their calves. No significant differences in t...

Eleven house dust samples were collected in Beijing to quantify 42 different polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Total PBDEs concentrations ranged from 140 to 1,300 ng g(-1). The dominant PBDEs congener identified was BDE 209, which made up more than 70% of all PBDEs congeners. Concentrations of PBDEs in Chinese house dust were lower than in other countries. The most polluted areas were ele...

Polyfluorinated biphenyls are interesting and promising substrates for many different applications. Unfortunately, all current methods for the syntheses of these compounds only work for a hand full of molecules or only in very special cases. Thus, many of these compounds are still inaccessible to date. Here we report a general strategy for the synthesis of a wide range of highly fluorinated bip...