The angiogenesis-modulating effects of coumarin-derivatives.

Coumarin is a natural compound that is rich in plants. Coumarin and its derivates were reported to have many biological activities, such as anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, and anti-coagulation. In this study, we examined the angiogenic modulating activities of six previously synthesized coumarin derivatives (Compound #1-#6) in zebrafish embryos and further confirmed them in a chick model.

Synthesis and Characterization of DOPO-Containing Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)s by Oxidative Coupling Polymerization.

A set of polyphenylene oxides incorporating DOPO (9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide) functionality, denoted as DOPO-R-PPO, was synthesized by copolymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol (2,6-DMP) with various DOPO-substituted tetramethyl bisphenol monomers. In the initial step, a Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction was employed to react 2,6-DMP with different acyl chlorides, leading to the formation of ketone derivatives substituted with 2,6-dimethylphenyl groups. Subsequently, the ketones, along with DOPO and 2,6-DMP, underwent a condensation reaction to yield a series of DOPO-substituted bisphenol derivatives.

Butyrate reduction and HDAC4 increase underlie maternal high fructose-induced metabolic dysfunction in hippocampal astrocytes in female rats.

Maternal nutrient intake influences the health of the offspring via microenvironmental systems in digestion and absorption. Maternal high fructose diet (HFD) impairs hippocampus-dependent memory in adult female rat offspring. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced Autophagy Increases SOX2-positive Astrocytes While Decreasing Neuronal Differentiation in the Adult Hippocampus.

Inflammation alters the neural stem cell (NSC) lineage from neuronal to astrogliogenesis. However, the underlying mechanism is elusive. Autophagy contributes to the decline in adult hippocampal neurogenesis under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation.

Fructose milieu undermines the therapeutic effect of Tribulus terrestris extract on neuroblastoma cell line via maintaining mitochondrial function.

Fructose overconsumption promotes tumor progression. Neuroblastoma is a common extracranial tumor with about 50% 5-year survival rate in high-risk children. The anti-tumor effect of Tribulus terrestris might bring new hope to neuroblastoma therapy.

Coumarin Derivatives Inhibit ADP-Induced Platelet Activation and Aggregation.

Coumarin was first discovered in Tonka bean and then widely in other plants. Coumarin has an anticoagulant effect, and its derivative, warfarin, is a vitamin K analogue that inhibits the synthesis of clotting factors and is more widely used in the clinical treatment of endovascular embolism. At present, many artificial chemical synthesis methods can be used to modify the structure of coumarin to develop many effective drugs with low toxicity.

Effects of dietary Lactobacillus reuteri and Pediococcus acidilactici on the cultured water qualities, the growth and non-specific immune responses of Penaeus vannamei.

This study discussed the effects of two types of lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) and Pediococcus acidilactici (P. acidilactici), on the growth and nonspecific immunity of Penaeus vannamei (P.

Energy decomposition analysis of cationic carbene analogues with group 13 and 16 elements as a central atom: a comparative study.

Decomposition of the molecular interaction energies into physically intuitive components provides insight to the chemical bonding between fragments. Extended transition state-natural orbital for chemical valence (ETS-NOCV) and natural energy decomposition analysis (NEDA) are methodologically different schemes to partition the interaction energies into physically similar components. To answer the question if the two energy decomposition analysis (EDA) schemes render the same interpretations of reactions, both schemes are employed to study the reactions of two cationic carbene analogues: (1) bis(tri--butylphosphane) group-13-element monocations [(PBu)M (M = B, Al, Ga, In, and Tl)] and (2) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) dications with a group 16 element as the central atom [(DippDAB)M, M = O, S, Se, and Te; DippDAB = 1,4-(2,6-diisopropyl)phenyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene].

Altered glutamate level and its association with working memory among patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS): a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

Background: Treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and non-TRS may be associated with different dopaminergic and glutamatergic regulations. The concept of dysregulated glutamatergic concentrations in specific brain regions remains controversial. Herein, we aimed to assess (i) the distribution of the glutamatergic concentration in the brain, (ii) the association between working memory (WM) differences in TRS and non-TRS patients, and (iii) whether an alteration in the glutamate (Glu) level is associated with WM.

Resolving Entangled -Coupling Patterns for Steroidal Structure Determinations by NMR Spectroscopy.

For decades, high-resolution H NMR spectroscopy has been routinely utilized to analyze both naturally occurring steroid hormones and synthetic steroids, which play important roles in regulating physiological functions in humans. Because the H signals are inevitably superimposed and entangled with various splitting patterns, such that the individual H chemical shift and associated coupling identities are hardly resolved. Given this, applications of thess information for elucidating steroidal molecular structures and steroid/ligand interactions at the atomic level were largely restricted.

Synthesis and Characterization of -Substituted Polyether--Amide Copolymers.

A series of substituted polyether--amide (PEBA-X%) copolymers were prepared by melt polycondensation of nylon-6 prepolymer and polytetramethylene ether glycol at an elevated temperature using titanium isopropoxide as a catalyst. The structure, thermal properties, and crystallinity of PEBA-X% were investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. In general, the crystallinity, melting point, and thermal degradation temperature of PEBA-X% decreased as the incorporation of -methyl functionalized groups increased, owing to the disruption caused to the structural regularity of the copolymer.

Reactivity of dicationic N-heterocyclic chalcogen carbene analogues with methane and ethene: a theoretical investigation.

The reactions of chalcogen N-heterocyclic carbenic (NHC) dications [(Dipp2DAB)M2+, M = O, S, Se, and Te, and Dipp2DAB = 1,4-(2,6-diisopropyl)phenyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene] with methane and ethene are investigated by the density functional theory. The activation energies and reaction enthalpies are analyzed by the energy decomposition analysis (EDA) to understand the reactivity of the reactions. Calculations show that the oxide carbenic dication (Dipp2DAB)O2+ reactant has a pair of rather unbalanced O-N bonds due to the combined effects of the smallness of the central O atom and the bulkiness of the two Dipp ligands surrounding the DAB ring, suggesting the oxide reactant is much less stable than the chalcogenide ones.

Studies of rice Hd1 haplotypes worldwide reveal adaptation of flowering time to different environments.

Rice domestication/adaptation is a good model for studies of the development and spread of this important crop. Mutations that caused morphological and physiological change, followed by human selection/expansion, finally led to the improvement of phenotypes suitable for different kinds of environments. We used the sequence information for Heading date 1 (Hd1) gene to reveal the association between sequence changes and flowering phenotypes of rice in different regions.

The Effect of Calcium and Halide Ions on the Gramicidin A Molecular State and Antimicrobial Activity.

Gramicidin A (gA) forms several convertible conformations in different environments. In this study, we investigated the effect of calcium halides on the molecular state and antimicrobial activity of gramicidin A. The molecular state of gramicidin A is highly affected by the concentration of calcium salt and the type of halide anion.

H/C chemical shifts and cation binding dataset of the corticosteroid Prednisolone titrated with metal cations.

We here reported the H/C chemical shifts, binding affinity and binding free energy of 1,4-pregnadiene-11β,17α,21-triol-3,20-dione (Prednisolone; Prd) interacting with metal cations. Six different Prd/Ni or Co mixtures were examined at different molar ratios (1:0, 1:0.1, 1:0.

VEGF mediates fat embolism-induced acute lung injury via VEGF receptor 2 and the MAPK cascade.

Fat embolism (FE) is a lethal medical emergency often caused by fracture of long bones and amputation of limbs. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability. We tested the hypothesis that VEGF plays a critical role in FE-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI).

Magnesium and calcium reveal different chelating effects in a steroid compound: A model study of prednisolone using NMR spectroscopy.

In this work, we used high resolution NMR spectroscopy to investigate metal cation chelation by the steroidal drug 1,4-pregnadiene-11β,17α,21-triol-3,20-dione (Prednisolone; abbreviated as Prd). Prd/MgCl and Prd/CaCl mixtures were prepared at eight different molar ratios. Using two-dimensional H/C heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy, we were able to resolve most of the H signals, except those at 1.

Vaccinia viral A26 protein is a fusion suppressor of mature virus and triggers membrane fusion through conformational change at low pH.

Vaccinia mature virus requires A26 envelope protein to mediate acid-dependent endocytosis into HeLa cells in which we hypothesized that A26 protein functions as an acid-sensitive membrane fusion suppressor. Here, we provide evidence showing that N-terminal domain (aa1-75) of A26 protein is an acid-sensitive region that regulates membrane fusion. Crystal structure of A26 protein revealed that His48 and His53 are in close contact with Lys47, Arg57, His314 and Arg312, suggesting that at low pH these His-cation pairs could initiate conformational changes through protonation of His48 and His53 and subsequent electrostatic repulsion.

Identifying Reducing and Capping Sites of Protein-Encapsulated Gold Nanoclusters.

The reducing and capping sites along with their local structure impact photo properties of the red bovine serum albumin-capped Au nanocluster (BSA-AuNC), however, they are hard to identify. We developped a workflow and relevant techniques using mass spectrometry (MS) to identify the reducing and capping sites of BSA-AuNCs involved in their formation and fluorescence. Digestion without disulfide cleavages yielded an Au core fraction exhibiting red fluorescence and [AuS] ion signals and a non-core fraction exhibiting neither of them.

Application of Crumb Rubber in Cement-Matrix Composite.

Many studies have used rubber as an additive to form a cement-matrix composite (rubcrete). However, rubcrete has a lower mechanical strength than standard concrete. To improve the properties of rubcrete, this study performed surface modifications on crumb rubber through a partial oxidization reaction.

Measuring Athletic Mental Energy (AME): Instrument Development and Validation.

Although considerable research indicates that mental energy is an important factor in many domains, including athletic performance (Cook and Davis, 2006), athletic mental energy (AME) has never been conceptualized and measured. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conceptualize and develop a reliable and valid instrument to assess AME. In Study 1, a focus group interview established the initial framework of AME.

Recovery of cutting fluids and silicon carbide from slurry waste.

The wafer slicing process generates large amounts of slurry waste. The recovery of cutting oil and abrasives from slurry waste can reduce both the cost and environmental damage. A process combining magnetic precipitation and flocculation was developed for the recovery of cutting oil.

Neonatal Dexamethasone Treatment Suppresses Hippocampal Estrogen Receptor α Expression in Adolescent Female Rats.

Previous studies showed that neonatal dexamethasone treatment (NDT) transiently impaired hippocampal function in male rats. Hippocampal estrogen receptors (ERs) participate in avoidance learning. As previous studies focused on males only, this study was aimed to investigate the NDT effects on the hippocampal function of female rats.

The Effect of Radiative Cooling on Reducing the Temperature of Greenhouses.

Currently, greenhouses are widely used for the cultivation of various crops. However, in tropical and subtropical regions, undesired near-infrared radiation (NIR) causes heat loads inside the greenhouse. Recent works have demonstrated that radiative cooling, releasing energy via radiative heat exchange where the heat is dumped directly into outer space, can be achieved by using silica particles designed to emit in the infrared atmospheric transparency window.