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Three new complexes {[Cu( L1)2(NO3)2]⋅H2O}oo ( 1), {[Cu4( L2)2(OAc)8]-CH3CH2OH}oo ( 2) and [Cd2( L3)3(NO3)4(H2O)2]oo ( 3) ( L1=4-phenyl-7-(pyridine-3-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazole, L2=4-(pyridine-3-yl)-7-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazole, and L3=4-(pyridine-4-yl)-7-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazole) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structural analyses reveal that complex 1 is a neutral 2-D network structure with a 44 topology, 2 has a 1-D neutral coordination chain with a [Cu2(CH3COO)4] dinuclear structural unit bridged by four acetate ions, and 3 is a neutral rhombohedral grid structure. All the complexes are air stable at room temperature. Furthermore, the fluorescent properties of complex 3 and corresponding ligand L3 have been investigated and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the sub-pixel analysis model, and by using 2000-2009 MODIS NDVI (250 m resolution), this paper quantitatively analyzed the spatiotemporal change characteristics and their causes of fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) in Shannxi Province. From 2000 to 2009, the FVC in the Province had a significant increasing trend, with the great magnitude of 35.0%. During that period, the vegetation coverage increased from 56.9% in 2000 to 68.9% in 2009 in the provincial scale, and the increment was much higher in northern Shannxi, being 21.6% in Yulin and 22.0% in Yan'an. Though the vegetation coverage had an overall increase, it was locally degraded in some areas. The areas with improved vegetation coverage at the significance levels of <0.01, and <0.05 were 37.8% and 11.9%, while those with non-improved and degraded vegetation coverage were 46.1% and 4.2%, respectively. The areas whose vegetation coverage had a change rate of 200%, 200% -100%, 100% -10%, 10% -10%, and < -10% occupied 12.2%, 13.3%, 38.8%, 29.3%, and 6.4% of the total, respectively. During the study period, the structure of vegetation coverage in the Province also improved. The areas with high and normal vegetation density increased significantly by 10% and 8.4%, respectively, while the area with low vegetation density decreased significantly by 18.4%. The improvement of the FVC in Shaanxi Province was the interactive effect of natural factors and human activities, but the main cause was the implementation of a series of ecological construction projects such as closing hill for forestation and restoring farmland into forestland and grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can enhance synaptic plasticity and improve neurological dysfunction. However, the mechanism through which rTMS can improve moderate traumatic brain injury remains poorly understood. In this study, we established rat models of moderate traumatic brain injury using Feeney's weight-dropping method and treated them using rTMS. To help determine the mechanism of action, we measured levels of several important brain activity-related proteins and their mRNA. On the injured side of the brain, we found that rTMS increased the protein levels and mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 1, and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein, which are closely associated with the occurrence of long-term potentiation. rTMS also partially reversed the loss of synaptophysin after injury and promoted the remodeling of synaptic ultrastructure. These findings suggest that upregulation of synaptic plasticity-related protein expression is the mechanism through which rTMS promotes neurological function recovery after moderate traumatic brain injury., Competing Interests: None

A series of supramolecular assemblies of types [Ag 8 (L) 4 ](PF 6 ) 8 and [Ag 4 (L) 2 ](PF 6 ) 4 , obtained from the tetraphenylethylene (TPE) bridged tetrakis(1,2,4-triazolium) salts H 4 -L(PF 6 ) 4 and Ag I ions, is described. The assembly type obtained dependends on the N-wingtip substituents of H 4 -L(PF 6 ) 4 . Changes in the lengths of the N4-wingtip substituents enables controlled formation of assemblies with either [Ag 4 (L) 2 ](PF 6 ) 4 or [Ag 8 (L) 4 ](PF 6 ) 8 stoichiometry. The molecular structures of selected [Ag 8 (L) 4 ](PF 6 ) 8 and [Ag 4 (L) 2 ](PF 6 ) 4 assemblies were determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. While H 4 -L(PF 6 ) 4 does not exhibit fluorescence in solution, their tetra-NHC (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) assemblies do upon NHC-metal coordination. Upon irradiation, all assemblies undergo a light-induced, supramolecule-to-supramolecule structural transformation by an oxidative photocyclization involving phenyl groups of the TPE core, resulting in a significant change of the luminescence properties., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Based on the sub-pixel analysis model, and by using 2000-2009 MODIS NDVI (250 m resolution), this paper quantitatively analyzed the spatiotemporal change characteristics and their causes of fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) in Shannxi Province. From 2000 to 2009, the FVC in the Province had a significant increasing trend, with the great magnitude of 35.0%. During that period, the vegetation coverage increased from 56.9% in 2000 to 68.9% in 2009 in the provincial scale, and the increment was much higher in northern Shannxi, being 21.6% in Yulin and 22.0% in Yan' an. Though the vegetation coverage had an overall increase, it was locally degraded in some areas. The areas with improved vegetation coverage at the significance levels of < 0.01, and < 0.05 were 37.8% and 11.9%, while those with non-improved and degraded vegetation coverage were 46.1% and 4.2%, respectively. The areas whose vegetation coverage had a change rate of 200%, 200%-100%, 100%-10%, 10%-10%, and < -10% occupied 12.2%, 13.3%, 38.8%, 29.3%, and 6.4% of the total, respectively. During the study period, the structure of vegetation coverage in the Province also improved. The areas with high and normal vegetation density increased significantly by 10% and 8.4%, respectively, while the area with low vegetation density decreased significantly by 18.4%. The improvement of the FVC in Shaanxi Province was the interactive effect of natural factors and human activities, but the main cause was the implementation of a series of ecological construction projects such as closing hill for forestation and restoring farmland into forestland and grassland.

Objective: To study the effects of pulsed magnetic field on insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the association of IGF-1 alterations with the activities of daily living (ADL) of patients with brain injury., Methods: Sixty-five patients with brain injury were divided randomly into the control group (n=30) and magnetic therapy group (n=35), both receiving conventional therapy and in the latter group, daily pulsed magnetic field treatment (20-40 mT, 50 Hz, 20 min per time, 1 time per day) for 14 consecutive days were administered. On the first and 14th days of the treatment, 2 ml CSF was collected from the cases patients for IGF-1 measurement by radioimmunoassay, and Barthel index (BI) was used to assess the ADL of the patients., Results: After a 14-day treatment, IGF-1 level in the CSF were significantly increased in the magnetic group in comparison with the level before the treatment and with those in the control group (P<0.05). IGF-1 in the CSF underwent no significant changes in the control group (P>0.05). The scores of BI increased significantly in both groups after the treatment (P<0.01), but the increment was more obvious in the magnetic therapy group (P<0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between IGF-1 level in the CSF and BI in these patients (r=0.283, P=0.022)., Conclusion: Pulsed magnetic field might increase IGF-1 level in the CSF of patients with brain injury to promote the recovery of the patients ADL, suggesting its potential clinical value in the treatment of brain injury.

Objective: To investigate the effect of infrasound therapy on the proliferation, apoptosis and ultrastructure of human B lymphoma Raji cells., Methods: Human B lymphoma Raji cells were exposed to infrasound treatment for 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min and cultured subsequently for 24 or 48 h. MTT assay, flow cytometry analysis, and electron microscopy were performed to examine the proliferative status, cell apoptosis and ultrastructural changes of the exposed cells, respectively., Results: MTT assay revealed no significant changes in the proliferation of the cells exposed to infrasound treatment (P>0.05), nor did flow cytometry analysis identified significant variation in the cell apoptosis (P>0.05). Scanning electron microscopy, however, identified shortened or reduced cell processes and microvilli on the surface of the cells with infrasound exposure and a subsequent 24-hour culture, and the cell membrane surface became smooth. Under transmission electron microscope, the cells with infrasound treatment presented with significantly reduced microvilli, and the cell nuclei appeared homogeneous, with cytoplasmic budding and losses after a 48-hour culture., Conclusion: Infrasound less than 90 dB does not obviously affect the proliferation and apoptosis of Raji cells, but may directly cause cell ultrastructural changes such as reduction of the cell processes.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of infrared radiation and magnetic field therapy on cartilage damage in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis., Methods: Knee osteoarthritis was induced in 24 adult New Zealand rabbits by prolonged fixation of the knee joint in extension for 6 weeks. The rabbits were subsequently randomized into control group (without treatment), infrared therapy group, magnetic field therapy group and the combined infrared and magnetic field therapy group. At the end of the first, second and third weeks of the therapy, respectively, 2 rabbits from each group were sacrificed to observe the general changes and histopathology of the condylar cartilage of the femur, and the findings were assessed using Mankin scores., Results: Compared with other groups, the rabbits in the combined therapy group showed significantly milder cartilage damage (including injury of the cartilage surface and chondrocyte's proliferation and disarrangement) with significantly lower Mankin scores (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the findings between the two groups with exclusive infrared or magnetic field therapy (P>0.1)., Conclusion: Combined infrared and magnetic field therapy can effectively alleviate cartilage destruction, shortens the disease course and enhance the therapeutic effects in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To investigate nestin activation in rat brain subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury and its changes in response to Tongxinluo treatment., Methods: Cerebral ischemia was induced by temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. At 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after MCAO, nestin expression in the ependyma, subventricular zone (SVZ), hippocampal subdentate gyrus zone (HDG) of the rats treated with Tongxinluo were guantified by immunohistochemistry., Results: Compared with the sham operation group, nestin was significantly increased 7, 14 and 21 days after MCAO (P<0.05), and immunofluorescence of BrdU+nestin-positive neurons significantly increased in the SVZ. After treatment with Tongxinluo, the number of BrdU-positive neurons and BrdU+nestin-positive neurons significantly increased as compared with MCAO group (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Focal cerebral ischemia in the rat results in rapid response and proliferation of neural stem cells in the SVZ and HDG in the ischemic hemisphere, and Tongxinluo may enhance the differentiation and proliferation capacity of the neural stem cells after MCAO.

Objective: To explore mechanisms of acupuncture in treatment of vertebrobasilar insufficiency., Methods: Forty cases of vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) were divided into an acupuncture group and a routine treatment group, 20 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated by routine treatment plus acupuncture. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) before treatment and 2 weeks after treatment were determined to investigate the effects of acupuncture on blood flow velocity and brain electrophysiology in the patient of VBI., Results: Before treatment, the blood velocity of vertebral artery and vertebrobasilar artery at bilateral sides in the patient of VBI decreased as compared with the control group, and the abnormal rate of TCD was 75.0% (30/40) and the abnormal rate of BAEP was 70.0% (28/40), characterized with brainstem abnormality type; after treatment, the blood velocity in the two groups was improved and the abnormal rate of TCD was 47.5% (19/40), and the abnormal rate of BEAP was 45.0% (18/40). The nerve conduction of the two groups was improved, the peak latency of V wave and interpeak latency of III-V and I -V in the acupuncture group were improved significantly as compared with the routine treatment group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Acupuncture can improve the blood velocity of vertebrobasilar artery and the nerve conduction function of brainstem in the patient of vertebrobasilar insufficiency.