Three Pb(COO) Cluster Frameworks Based on a Flexible Triazinetricarboxylic Acid Ligand: Syntheses, Structures, and Fluorescent Sensing Application for Nitrophenols.

Three new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, [Pb(TTPCA)Cl]·3HO (), [Pb(TTPCA)(DMA)(HCOO)]·HO (), and [Pb(TTPCA)]·3DMF·2HO·HO (), were synthesized by the HTTPCA ligand [HTTPCA = 1,1',1″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)-tripiperidine-4-carboxylic acid], with lead(II) nitrate under solvothermal conditions. They were characterized by CHN analysis, IR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. In addition, their thermogravimetric analysis and fluorescence properties were studied.

Imperatorin ameliorates learning and memory deficits through BDNF/TrkB and ERK/CaMKIIα/CREB signaling in prenatally-stressed female offspring.

Prenatal stress (PS) can lead to impaired spatial learning and memory in offspring. Imperatorin (IMP) is a naturally occurring furanocoumarin with many pharmacological properties. However, the effects of IMP on cognitive impairment induced by PS and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Triazine Poly(carboxylic acid) Metal-Organic Frameworks and the Fluorescent Response with Lead Oxygen Clusters: [Pb(COO)X] by Halogen Tuning (X = Cl, Br, or I).

A series of novel metal-organic frameworks were synthesized by using semirigid ligand 1,1',1″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tripiperidine-4-carboxylic acid (HTTPCA) and lead halide (Cl, Br, or I). The three complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis demonstrated that all three complexes were three-dimensional inorganic-organic framework structures with Pb-X (X = Cl, Br, or I).

Non-linear scaling of a musculoskeletal model of the lower limb using statistical shape models.

Accurate muscle geometry for musculoskeletal models is important to enable accurate subject-specific simulations. Commonly, linear scaling is used to obtain individualised muscle geometry. More advanced methods include non-linear scaling using segmented bone surfaces and manual or semi-automatic digitisation of muscle paths from medical images.

The relationship between lateral meniscus shape and joint contact parameters in the knee: a study using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Introduction: The meniscus has an important role in force transmission across the knee, but a detailed three-dimensional (3D) morphometric shape analysis of the lateral meniscus to elucidate subject-specific function has not been conducted. The aim of this study was to perform 3D morphometric analyses of the lateral meniscus in order to correlate shape variables with anthropometric parameters, thereby gaining a better understanding of the relationship between lateral meniscus shape and its load-bearing function.

Methods: The lateral meniscus (LM) was manually segmented from magnetic resonance images randomly selected from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) non-exposed control subcohort.

3D Morphometric and posture study of felid scapulae using statistical shape modelling.

We present a three dimensional (3D) morphometric modelling study of the scapulae of Felidae, with a focus on the correlations between forelimb postures and extracted scapular shape variations. Our shape modelling results indicate that the scapular infraspinous fossa becomes larger and relatively broader along the craniocaudal axis in larger felids. We infer that this enlargement of the scapular fossa may be a size-related specialization for postural support of the shoulder joint.

Body mass index in Japanese patients with autoimmune liver disease: overweight patients with primary biliary cirrhosis tend to be asymptomatic.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of being overweight on autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients.

Methodology/results: 44 AIH and 95 PBC patients were enrolled in this study. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) of AIH (57.

Analysis of the complete hepatitis B virus genome in patients with genotype C chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C and the basic core promoter (BCP) mutations were reported to be associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study the full sequences of HBV genomes were analyzed in order to find the other predictors of HCC development. We determined the full sequences of HBV genomes in 24 genotype C carriers who developed HCC (HCC group) at the beginning of follow-up and at the time of HCC diagnosis, and 20 patients who did not develop HCC (non-HCC group) served as a control.

Inhibition of subgenomic hepatitis C virus RNA replication in HeLa cells.

Background/aims: Antiviral therapy such as combination interferon and ribavirin can eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA by up to 40-50%. However, many patients still remain non-responders to this treatment for various reasons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of interferon or ribavirin treatment on subgenomic HCV RNA replication in 'non-hepatic' HeLa cells.