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Fractional order partial differential equations have a wide range of applications in image processing. The solution of partial differential equations is generally obtained using the finite difference method, which still requires improvement in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. In this work, a multi‐scale interpolative wavelet operator is constructed by means of Shannon‐Cosine wavelets with interpolation, smoothness, compact support and other excellent properties. We use the wavelet operator instead of the finite difference operator to solve fractional‐order partial differential equations. The proposed method can limit the artefacts and remove the noises appeared in the processed images effectively. In addition, for the loss of texture in the denoised image, we enhance the image by employing fractional order differential equations to improve the quality of the image. Finally, the biological sections images are taken as the examples to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to uneven illumination and dim environment in the tunnel, the monitored image is blurred, which makes it difficult to recognise the traffic status. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the tunnel image in advance. In this study, a fast image enhancement algorithm based on imaging model constraint is proposed. First, the method uses the combination of global atmospheric light and partitioned atmospheric light to estimate the local atmospheric light. Second, the transmission is estimated based on the formula derived from the imaging model constraints. Third, the method uses a constant instead of illumination to balance tunnel image illumination. Last, the tunnel image is enhanced according to the imaging model. Experimental and comparative analysis results show that the proposed method can rapidly and effectively enhance the tunnel image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Methods Results Conclusions To investigate the effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) sertraline and paroxetine at therapeutically relevant concentrations on beta‐cell mass and function.Viability was quantified in mouse insulinoma (MIN6) beta cells and mouse islets after 48‐h exposure to sertraline (1–10 μM) or paroxetine (0.01–1 μM) using the Trypan blue exclusion test. The effects of therapeutic concentrations of these SSRIs on insulin secretion were determined by static incubation and perifusion experiments, while islet apoptosis was investigated by Caspase‐Glo 3/7 assay, TUNEL staining and quantitative PCR analysis. Finally, proliferation of MIN6 and mouse islet beta cells was assessed by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence.Sertraline (0.1–1 μM) and paroxetine (0.01–0.1 μM) were well tolerated by MIN6 beta cells and islets, whereas 10 μM sertraline and 1 μM paroxetine were cytotoxic. Exposure to 1 μM sertraline and 0.1 μM paroxetine significantly potentiated glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion from mouse and human islets. Moreover, they showed protective effects against cytokine‐ and palmitate‐induced apoptosis of islets, they downregulated cytokine‐induced Stat1 and Traf1 mRNA expression, and they significantly increased proliferation of mouse beta cells.Our data demonstrate that sertraline and paroxetine act directly on beta cells to enhance glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion and stimulate beta‐cell mass expansion by increasing proliferation and decreasing apoptosis. These drugs are therefore likely to be appropriate for treating depression in people with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The duration of sexual phases in dichogamous plants are affected by many factors. Using both experimental and observational studies, we investigated natural patterns of pollen removal and deposition, visiting frequency of pollinators, patterns of nectar secretion, and effects of pollen removal and stigmatic pollen deposition on the duration of sexual phases in a protandrous plant, Glechoma longituba. We found that visiting frequency of pollinators correlated with the nectar secretion pattern. The nectar volume during the male phase was higher than during the female phase. In the morning, the main pollinator, the bee Anthophora plumipes, mainly foraged for nectar and showed no preference for flowers in male or female phase, despite male phase flowers producing higher amounts of nectar. However, in the afternoon, they changed their behavior and foraged mainly for pollen, and then showed a preference for flowers in male phase. Furthermore, the rates of pollen removal and stigmatic pollen deposition can affect the starting time and the duration of the female phase. When pollen removal and pollination rates are low due to scarcity of pollinator services, the sexual phase can be prolonged, leading to an overlap, and thereby enhance the chance for sexual reproduction through pollinator-facilitated self-pollination. We consider the variation of sexual phases in Glechoma longituba an adaptive mechanism prepared for both cross-pollination enhancement and reproductive assurance depending on the available pollination services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research and utilization of medicinal insects in China is introduced briefly in this paper. Medicinal insects have been used to treat human diseases from ancient times. There are approximately 300 medicinal insects species distributed in 70 genera, 63 families and 14 orders at present. An estimated 1700 traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions include medicinal insects or insect-derived crude drugs. Many insect-derived compounds have been studied and show efficient therapeutic functions. Techniques for mass rearing and cultivation of medicinal insects have been developed in order to have sufficient quantities of medicinal insects. Suggestions are made towards the uses of medicinal insects and it is proposed that insects will be a main resource for the future discovery of new drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The aims of the present study were to determine whether δ-opioid receptor stimulation enhanced proliferation of and to investigate the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in ventricular myocytes from neonatal rats. 2. At concentratins ranging from 10 nmol/L to 10 µmol/L, [d-Ala2,d-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE) concentration-dependently promoted myocardial growth and DNA synthesis and altered the cytoskeleton. 3. At 1 µmol/L, DADLE also increased the expression and phosphorylation of ERK. 4. These effects of 1 µmol/L DADLE were abolished by 10 µmol/L naltrindole, a selective δ-opioid receptor antagonist, 10 nmol/L U0126, a selective ERK antagonist, 1 µmol/L staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase (PK) C, and 100 µmol/L Rp-adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphorothioate triethylammonium salt hydrate (Rp-cAMPS), an inhibitor of PKA. 5. In conclusion, δ-opioid receptor stimulation enhances the proliferation and development of the ventricular myocytes of neonatal rats. The ERK pathway and related signalling mechanisms, namely PKC and PKA, are involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound healing is a complex and well-orchestrated biological process. Corneal epithelial cells (CECs) must respond quickly to trauma to rapidly restore barrier function and protect the eye from noxious agents. They express a high level of ß2-adrenergic receptors but their function is unknown. Here, we report the novel finding that they form part of a regulatory network in the corneal epithelium, capable of modulating corneal epithelial wound repair. ß-adrenergic receptor agonists delay CEC migration via a protein phosphatase 2A-mediated mechanism and decrease both electric field-directed migration and corneal wound healing. Conversely, ß-adrenergic receptor antagonists accelerate CEC migration, enhance electric field-mediated directional migration, and promote corneal wound repair. We demonstrate that CECs express key enzymes required for epinephrine (ß-adrenergic receptor agonist) synthesis in the cytoplasm and can detect epinephrine in cell extracts. We propose that the mechanism for the pro-motogenic effect of the ß-adrenergic antagonist is blockade of the ß2-adrenergic receptor preventing autocrine catecholamine binding. Further investigation of this network will improve our understanding of one of the most frequently prescribed class of drugs. J. Cell. Physiol. 211: 261–272, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometry of the Cd atom in the polymeric title complex, {[Cd(SO4)(C2H5N5)2]·H2O}n, is six-coordinate distorted octahedral, defined by two 0-atom donors derived from two sulfate dianions and four N atoms from four different 3,5- diamino-1,2,4-triazole ligands. The sulfate dianions interact with CdII atoms, forming infinite strands running in the c-axis direction. The three-dimensional supramolecular structure is stabilized by N—H…O and O—H…N interactions. The two independent water molecules lie on different twofold axes and interact with the network through hydrogen bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medium frequency transformer (MFT) plays a key role in future power systems and new energy systems. It is very important for the safe operation of MFT to correctly calculate the temperature rise and hot spot position. According to the heat dissipation of transformer, the equivalent thermal network model of the core-type transformer is established in this paper. The traditional thermal network model ignores the heat dissipation of the magnetic core column and the inner surface of the yoke to the air. In this paper, the magnetic core column is divided into the air surrounding part and winding surrounding part. The heat dissipation on the inner surface of the yoke is further considered. The improved thermal network model is verified by finite element simulation. The results show that compared with the traditional thermal network model, the improved thermal network model proposed in this paper can more comprehensively analyse the temperature field distribution and calculate the node temperature more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the centrosymmetric trinuclear cation of the title compound, [Ni3(C2H5N5)6(H2O)6](SO4)3·18H2O, the six 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole ligands each bridge two metal atoms; the Ni atom in the centre (site symmetry 3 2) of the cluster is coordinated by six N atoms in an octahedral geometry. The other metal atom (site symmetry 3) is connected to three N atoms and three O atoms. The sulfate anion on the site is heavily disordered whereas that on the 3 site is ordered. The hexacation, dianions and uncoordinated water molecules interact through numerous O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have suggested that PGF2a may play a role in K homeostasis. Urinary PGF2a, preferentially stimulated by an increased dietary K intake, has been shown to regulate Na absorption and K secretion. The purpose of this study is to determine if PGF2a regulates VUK through the FP receptor. Mice lacking the FP receptors (FP-/-) and wild type mice were fed normal chow (1.1% K, NK), a high K diet (5% K, HK), and a low K diet (0.07% K, LK). The VUK and PK during the NK diet were similar in the FP -/- (703 ± 64 mEq and 4.45 ±0.18 mEq/l, respectively) and the wild type (627 ± 67 mEq and 4.21 ± 0.11 mEq/l, respectively) mice. The FP -/- mice had a greater VUK (1918 ± 224 mEq) on the HK diet than the wild type mice (1623 ± 299 mEq). The PK during the HK diet increased in the FP-/- mice (5.23 ± 0.18 mEq/l, r< 0.001); but not in the wild type mice (4.63±0.23 mEq/l). The LK diet decreased the VUK and PK in the FP-/- (9.59 ± 1.40 µEq and 3.78 ± .26 mEq/l, respectively) and wild type (2.87 ± 0.45 µEq and 3.72 ± .41 mEq/l, respectively, r < 0.001) mice. FP-/- mice fed a LK diet exhibited a greater VUK indicating an inability to regulate K excretion. The aldosterone concentrations during NK and HK diets were greater in the FP-/- mice (354 ± 42 and 638 ± 63 rg/ml, respectively) than in the wild type mice (223 ± 45 and 401 ± 25 rg/ml, respectively). Quantitative RTPCR analysis indicated that the SGK-1 expression was lower in the FP-/-mice than in the wild type mice. The SGK-1 expression increased with the HK diet, but still remain lower in the FP-/- mice than in the wild type mice. The results of these studies lead us to conclude that the PGF2a via the FP receptor, in part, plays a role in K homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the title compound, [Mn(C7H3NO4)(C12H8N2)(H2O)2]·H2O, the MnII atom is surrounded by one 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligand, one pyridine-2,5-dicarboxyl­ate (pydc) dianion and two water mol­ecules in a distorted octa­hedral MnN3O3 coordination. Hydrogen bonding between neighbouring mol­ecules leads to a two-dimensional network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title complex, [Ni(C3H2O4)(C12H8N2)(H2O)2]·3H2O, displays a distorted octa­hedral NiN2O4 coordination geometry, formed by a malonate dianion, a 1,10-phenanthroline ligand and two trans water mol­ecules. The Ni atom and one O atom, the latter from a solvent water mol­ecule, are located on twofold axes of symmetry. The crystal structure is stabilized by extensive O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the crystal structure of the title cadmium(II) complex, [Cd2(C7H3NO4)2(C10H8N2)2(H2O)2]·2H2O, the pyridine-2,5-dicarboxyl­ate (pydc) dianions bridge the CdII ions to form a centrosymmetric dimeric complex. Each CdII ion has a distorted octa­hedral coordination geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual attributes have been demonstrated to influence the entrepreneurial decisions of returnees, but little is known about the regional factors. This study employed a dual-level logistic model to explore the effects of both individual characteristics and regional context on returnee entrepreneurship in China. The results indicated the significance of both individual-level attributes and regional context in the entrepreneurial entry: regional prosperity, government fiscal expenditure, tax burden, rainfall, and transportation infrastructure significantly affected the entrepreneurial probability. This study extends the returnee entrepreneurship literature by first, elucidating the importance of regional context in entrepreneurship and second, highlighting the joint impact of economic, institutional, and geographical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelialization repairs the lining of damaged vasculature and is a key process in preventing thrombosis and restenosis. It has been demonstrated that extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o) influx is important for subsequent endothelialization. The role of intracellular Ca2+ stores in mechanical denudation induced intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) rise and endothelialization remains to be demonstrated. Using monolayer culture of a human endothelial cell line (human umbilical vein endothelial cell, HUVEC), we investigated [Ca2+]i wave propagation and re-endothelialization following mechanical denudation. Consistent with previous reports for other types of cells, mechanical denudation induces calcium influx, which is essential for [Ca2+]i rise and endothelialization. Moreover, we found that intracellular Ca2+ stores are also essential for denudation induced [Ca2+]i wave initiation and propagation, and the subsequent endothelialization. Thapsigargin which depletes intracellular Ca2+ stores completely abolished [Ca2+]i wave generation and endothelialization. Xestospongin C (XeC), which prevents Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores by inhibition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor, inhibited intercellular Ca2+ wave generation and endothelialization following denudation. Purinergic signaling through a suramin sensitive mechanism and gap junction communication also contribute to in intercellular Ca2+ wave propagation and re-endothelialization. We conclude that intracellular Ca2+ stores, in addition to extracellular Ca2+, are essential for intracellular Ca2+ signaling and subsequent endothelialization following mechanical denudation. J. Cell. Physiol. 214: 595–603, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three novel bibenzyl derivatives, blestritins A–C (1–3), along with 18 known constituents, were isolated from the tubers of Bletilla striata (Orchidaceae), a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of tuberculosis and haemorrhage of the stomach and lungs. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper control of cell migration is critically important in many biologic processes, such as wound healing, immune surveillance, and development. Much progress has been made in the initiation of cell migration; however, little is known about termination and sometimes directional reversal. During active cell migration, as in wound healing, development, and immune surveillance, the integrin expression profile undergoes drastic changes. Here, we uncovered the extensive regulatory and even opposing roles of integrins in directional cell migration in electric fields (EFs), a potentially important endogenous guidance mechanism. We established cell lines that stably express specific integrins and determined their responses to applied EFs with a high throughput screen. Expression of specific integrins drove cells to migrate to the cathode or to the anode or to lose migration direction. Cells expressing αMβ2, β1, α2, αIIbβ3, and α5 migrated to the cathode, whereas cells expressing β3, α6, and α9 migrated to the anode. Cells expressing α4, αV, and α6β4 lost directional electrotaxis. Manipulation of α9 molecules, one of the molecular directional switches, suggested that the intracellular domain is critical for the directional reversal. These data revealed an unreported role for integrins in controlling stop, go, and reversal activity of directional migration of mammalian cells in EFs, which might ensure that cells reach their final destination with well-controlled speed and direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoclasts are multinuclear giant cells responsible for bone resorption in lytic bone diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis, periodontitis, and bone tumors. Due to the severe side-effects caused by the currently available drugs, a continuous search for novel bone-protective therapies is essential. Artesunate (Art), the water-soluble derivative of artemisinin has been investigated owing to its anti-malarial properties. However, its effects in osteoclastogenesis have not yet been reported. In this study, Art was shown to inhibit the nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis, the mRNA expression of osteoclastic-specific genes, and resorption pit formation in a dose-dependent manner in primary bone marrow-derived macrophages cells (BMMs). Furthermore, Art markedly blocked the RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by attenuating the degradation of IκB and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. Consistent with the in vitro results, Art inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bone resorption by suppressing the osteoclastogenesis. Together our data demonstrated that Art inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway and that it is a promising agent for the treatment of osteolytic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the event-triggered output tracking control under wireless network environments. First, an improved event-triggered communication scheme and a sampled-state-error dependent tracking model for wireless networked control systems is presented. In this scheme and model, (a) the sensor takes samples in a periodic manner; (b) an improved event-triggering condition is applied in the communications to determine whether the sampled data is transmitted to the controller or not; and (c) the closed-loop tracking system with a networked state-dependent controller is modelled as an augmented time-delay system. Second, by constructing a novel Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional, two theorems are derived with guaranteed H∞ tracking performance subject to imperfect wireless communications. The tracking performance is based on two permissible limits on the signal transmission. That is, the maximum allowable communication delay bound and maximum allowable number of successive data dropouts. Finally, a satellite tracking example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the effects of different host plants on the fitness and performance of the Yellow Peach Moth, C onogethes punctiferalis ( Guenée, 1854), experiments were carried out to test the developmental duration and reproduction of C o. punctiferalis by feeding larvae with chestnut C astanea mollissima, maize Z ea mays, plum P runus salicina, apple M alus pumila, pear P yrus sorotina and peach P runus persica. The results showed that there were significant differences in developmental duration and reproduction among C o. punctiferalis groups fed on different host plants. The longest larval duration was observed for groups fed on plum and apple (35.63 and 35.55 days, respectively). In contrast, the shortest was for larvae fed on maize and chestnut (21.61 and 21.77 days, respectively). Larval survival of C o. punctiferalis was lowest on plum (24.1%) and highest on maize (80.0%). Adult females developed from the larvae fed on chestnut and maize laid significantly more eggs (averagely 141.8 and 133.5 eggs per female, respectively) than those fed on the other four host plants. Analysis of life-table parameters indicated that C o. punctiferalis larvae fed on chestnut and maize had better performance than those larvae fed on plum, apple, pear and peach. These findings may aid our understanding of the population dynamics of C o. punctiferalis on different host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 4-quinolones having the urea or carbamate moiety at the 2-position showed the facile deuterium-hydrogen (D-H) exchange of the 3-H proton in deuteriotrifluoroacetic acid-deuteriodimethyl sulfoxide (3:1) at 60°C, whereas the 4-quinolones possessing the carboxylate or carbohydrazide group at the 2-position and 2-substituted 4-methoxyquinolines represented no D-H exchange of the 3-H proton under the same condition. The aforementioned D-H exchange was found to require both the of the 4-quinolone into 4-hydroxyquinoline in strongly acidic media and the nitrogen functional group at the 2-position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 4-quinolone-2-carbohydrazide 6a was converted into 1-aryl-3-(4-quinolon-2-yl)ureas 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 1-aryl-3-(4-quinolon-2-yl)imidazolidine-2,4-diones 9a, 9b, and N-(4-quinolon-2-yl)carbamates 10a, 10b via 4-quinolone-2-carbonylazide 7a. The 4-methoxyquinoline-2-carbohydrazide 6b was also transformed into 1-aryl-3-(4-methoxyquinolin-2-yl)ureas 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 1-aryl-3-(4-methoxyquinolin-2-yl)imidazolidine-2,4-diones 12a, 12b, and N-(4-methoxyquinolin-2-yl)carbamates 13a, 13b via 4-methoxyquinoline-2-carbonylazide 7b. Some of the 1-aryl-3-(4-quinolon-2-yl)ureas 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e showed the in vitro antimalarial activity to chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, wherein IC50 was 0.93 to 4.00 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1-hydrazinocarbonylmethyl-4-quinolone-3-carboxylate ( 10) was converted into the 1-(4-amino-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylmethyl)-4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid ( 13), whose reaction with arylcarbaldehydes gave the 1-(4-arylmethyleneamino-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylmethyl)-4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acids ( 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g). Compound 10 was also transformed into the 1-(4-amino-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylmethyl)-4-quinolone-3-carbohydrazide ( 15), whose reaction with phenyl isocyanate or phenyl isothiocyanate afforded the 4-phenyl-1-(1-triazolylmethyl-4-quinolon-3-ylcarbonyl)semicarbazide ( 6a) or 4-phenyl-1-(1-triazolylmethyl-4-quinolon-3-ylcarbonyl)thiosemicarbazide ( 6b), respectively. Compounds 6a, 6b showed the in vitro antimalarial activity to chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, wherein their IC50 was 3.89 and 3.91 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, C17H17NO4, was synthesized by the Reformatsky reaction of 1,3-benzodioxole-5-carbaldehyde and N-methyl- N-phenyl­carbamic bromide. The two benzene rings are inclined at a dihedral angle of 50.6 (3)°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mol­ecules of the title compound, C23H24N4O, are linked into chains by O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π inter­actions. Aromatic π–π stacking inter­actions exist between chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical investigation of the whole plants of Gerbera delavayi (Compositae) led to the isolation and identification of 15 compounds, including the new monoterpene-coumarin and the new monoterpene-chromone . Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments and comparison with spectroscopic data of the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new coumarins, 1-4, and two new triterpenes, 5 and 6, along with nine known compounds have been identified from the leaves of Calophyllum inophyllum on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. The structure of apetalolide (7), previously reported from C. apetalum, was revised by means of 2D-NMR, and the absolute configuration of the known compound inophyllum D (8) was established by a modified Mosher's method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study attempts to characterize the feature of immunologically competent cells (ICCs) and evaluate its clinical implication in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in relation to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods: Circulating ICCs were examined in ACLF patients ( n = 75), as well as in patients with hepatitis B (CHB, n = 31), CHB-related liver cirrhosis (LC, n = 36), and normal controls (NC, n = 30). Intrahepatic ICCs in some patients were further analyzed via immunohistochemical and flow cytometric assays. Results: Total lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and NK cells in circulation were numerically lower in the ACLF and LC groups compared to the CHB and NC groups. Importantly, the number of these cells was significantly lower in non-surviving ACLF patients compared with surviving ACLF patients. In comparison to NC, ACLF patients displayed a significantly higher ratio of liver-infiltrating CD4+ T-cell frequency than its circulating counterpart, suggesting that the possiblility of the ICCs compartmentalization from the peripheral blood into the liver in ACLF. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that intrahepatic CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, and CD56+ cells were significantly higher in the ACLF group compared with the other three groups, suggesting a stronger cellular immune response-mediated inflammation in ACLF group than other patient groups. Conclusions: The abnormal prevalence of circulating and intrahepatic ICCs possibly acts as an important factor that may drive the progression of HBV-related ACLF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectively directed neuron migration is critical for development and repair in the central nervous system (CNS). Endogenous electric fields (EFs) are widespread in developing and regenerating tissues and regulate a variety of cell behaviors including directed cell migration. Electrically-directed neuronal migration has not been tested previously and we show that an applied EF directs migration of hippocampal neurons toward the cathode at a field strength of 120 mV/mm, close to the physiological range. Reversal of the field polarity reversed the direction of neuron migration. Neuron migration from an explant also was directed by an applied EF. Mechanistically, EF-guided migration was transduced by activation of the second messenger molecules ROCK (Rho-associated protein kinase) and PI3 kinase (phosphoinositide-3 kinase) since their pharmacological inhibition decreased the directedness and speed of neuron migration. This work demonstrates that rat hippocampal neurons respond to applied EFs with directional migration and raises the possibility that EFs may be used as a cue to direct neuronal migration in novel strategies to repair the CNS. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 527–535, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel compounds possessing a bis(bibenzyl) (see 1) and a (propylphenyl)bibenzyl skeleton (see 2) and eight known compounds were isolated from the stems of Dendrobium nobileLindl. (Orchidaceae). Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new labdane diterpene, amentotaxin A (1), and an unprecedented dinorlabdane diterpene, amentotaxin B (2), were isolated from the stems of Amentotaxus argotaenia (Hance) Pilger, together with seven known compounds. Their structures were identified by in-depth spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, C24H24O4, was synthesized by the reaction of ethylmagnesium bromide with 5,5′-bimethyl-2,2′-biindanylidene-1,1′,3,3′-tetraone under an argon atmosphere. The molecule lies across a crystallographic inversion centre. The cyclopentenone ring adopts a flattened envelope conformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is evidence that isoprostanes (IsoPs) can regulate sympathetic neurotransmission in bovine irides in vitro (Opere et al., Free Rad Res. 35:2001). However, the regulation of dopamine (DA) levels by IsoPs in mammalian retinae remains unclear. We examined the effect of IsoPs on endogenous DA levels in rabbit, in vivo and on K+-evoked release of exogenously applied [³H]DA release in bovine retinae, in vitro. Albino rabbits were sedated, then injected intravitreally with IsoPs. After 4 hours, animals were sacrificed and retinae isolated for measurement of DA using HPLC. Isolated bovine retinae were incubated in Krebs solution containing 150 nM of [³H]DA for 45 mins and then prepared for studies of neurotransmitter release using the Superfusion Method. In rabbit retina, 8-isoPGF2α (0.1 µM & 10µM) attenuated DA levels by 50% (p<0.05) and 52% (p<0.05) while 8-isoPGE2 (0.1 µM & 10µM) increased DA levels by 56 % (p<0.01) and 107 % (p<0.001). In isolated bovine retinae, 8-isoPGF2α (0.1 µM and 10 µM) attenuated DA release by 25% and 16% while 8-isoPGE2 inhibited the catecholamine by 25% (p<0.05) and 50% (p<0.01) respectively. The effect of both IsoPs on K+-evoked [³H]DA release was reversed by the COX enzyme inhibitor, flubiprofen (3 µM). IsoPs can regulate endogenous DA levels and the release of exogenously applied DA in mammalian retinae. PGs are involved in the inhibitory effect of IsoPs on DA release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the title compound, C24H34O8, a strong intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond is formed between the OH substituent of salicyaldehyde and the aldehyde O atom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an analysis of the electrical inhibition of lens epithelial cell (LEC) proliferation as an additional factor in secondary cataract. Description of cataract; Effect of electrical fields on the proliferation of LEC; Role of electrical fields on cell cycle regulators.

The title compound, C21H25NO2, was synthesized by a Reformatsky-type reaction. In the molecule, the dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings is 66.1 (1)° and the crystal packing exhibits no classical hydrogen bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theare are two independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C24H34O8. The crystal packing is mainly determined by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and van der Waals inter­actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]