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Celamonols A–D (1–4), featuring an unusual pattern of conjunction between a 24,29-dinorfriedelane-type triterpenoid and a catechin, were isolated from the stems of Celastrus monospermus. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, modified Mosher's method, and ECD calculations. Compounds 1 and 4 exhibited moderate activities against the proliferation of B lymphocytes with IC50 values of 1.46 and 1.35 μM, respectively.

Solid-state photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) solar energy converters are newly proposed devices that can directly convert solar energy into electrical power at high temperatures. An analytical model based on a one-dimensional steady-state equation is developed to analyze the temperature-dependent performance of the solid-state PETE converter. The treatment used to derive the reverse saturation current density ( J 0 ) and open-circuit voltage ( V o c ) of the solid-state PETE converter is similar to that used in photovoltaic cells. Thus, their performances at elevated temperatures can be compared. Analysis results show that J 0 of the solid-state PETE converter with a GaAs absorption layer is approximately three orders of magnitude lower, and the decrease rate of open-circuit voltage ( &minus, d V o c / d T ) is smaller than that of a practical GaAs photovoltaic cell. The improved performance of the solid-state PETE converter at high temperatures is attributed to the simultaneous use of diffusion and ballistic transport to harvest photo-generated electrons. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that, besides using wide bandgap materials and increasing doping density, harvesting solar energy via PETE effect can effectively improve the performance of solar cells at elevated temperatures.

Phytochemical investigation into the seeds of Paeonia ostii T. Hong et J. X. Zhang (Paeoniaceae) led to the identification of three new aromatic monoterpenoid glycosides, named paeostisides A-C (1-3), along with one known compound. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis and chemical method.

Further phytochemical investigation of the root bark of Periploca sepium afforded nine new spiro-orthoester group-containing pregnane-type glycosides termed periplosides O–V and 3-O-formyl-periploside A. The structures of these glycosides along with the absolute configuration of the unique seven-membered formyl acetal-bridged spiro-orthoester function and the 4,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-Δ3-2-hexosulosyl moiety were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation and chemical transformation. The absolute configurations of the major compounds periplosides C and F were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against the proliferation of T-lymphocytes. As a result, periploside C, the most abundant glycoside containing a spiro-orthoester moiety found in the plant, exhibited the most favorite selective index value (SI = 82.5). The length and constitution of the saccharide chain in the periplosides were found to influ...

Phytochemical investigation of the root barks of Periploca chrysantha D. S. Yao, X. C. Chen et J. W. Ren (Asclepiadaceae) led to the elucidation of four new spiroorthoester group-containing pregnane glycosides (1-4), named periplosides W-Y and 3-O-formyl-periploside F. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The four new pregnane glycosides (1-4) were found to exhibit significantly inhibitory activities against the proliferation of B and T lymphocytes and favorable selective index comparable to those of cyclosporin A.

Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Cynanchum bungei Decne (Asclepiadaceae) led to the elucidation of seven C

Aiming at the question of high-speed spindle’s long development cycle, take the structural design and the performance analysis of cnc machining center’s high-speed spindle system as key points, use the cad technology, fea technology,dynamic simulation technology and virtual design theory, and integrate them into an integration technology, the virtual design and analysis software system devoted to the cnc machining center’s high-speed spindle was developed too, and gave parts of the operating instance. Through the practical application in one large-scale enterprise of machine tool, the fea sibility and practicability of proposed system principle and implementation techniques were verified, and the better design quality and higher efficiency were shown too.

Although vascularized tissue-engineered bone grafts (TEBG) have been generated ectopically in several studies, the use of prevascularized TEBG for segmental bone defect repair are rarely reported. In current study, we investigated the efficacy of prevascularized TEBG for segmental defect repair. The segmental defects of 15 mm in length were created in the femurs of rabbits bilaterally. In treatment group, the osteotomy site of femur was implanted with prevascularized TEBG, which is generated by seeding mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into β-TCP scaffold, and prevascularization with the insertion of femoral vascular bundle into the side groove of scaffold; whereas in the control group, only MSC mediated scaffolds (TEBG) were implanted. The new bone formation and vascularization were investigated and furthermore, the expression of endogenous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which might express during defect healing was evaluated, as well. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively, the treatment of prevascularized TEBG led to significantly higher volume of regenerated bone and larger amount of capillary infiltration compared to non-vascularized TEBG. The expression of VEGF in mRNA and protein levels increased with implantation time and peaked at 4 weeks postoperatively, followed by a slow decrease, however, treatment group expressed a significant higher level of VEGF than control group throughout the whole study. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that prevascularized TEBG by insertion of vascular bundle could significantly promote the new bone regeneration and vascularization compared to non-vascularized TEBG, which could be partially explained by the up-regulated expression of VEGF.

Integrin activation is crucial for numerous cellular responses, including cell adhesion, migration, and survival. Recent studies in mice have specifically emphasized the vital role of kindlin-3 in integrin activation. Kindlin-3 deficiency in humans also has now been documented and includes symptoms of bleeding, frequent infections, and osteopetrosis, which are consequences of an inability to activate beta1, beta2, and beta3 integrins. To date, kindlin-3 was thought to be restricted to hematopoietic cells. In this article, we demonstrate that kindlin-3 is present in human endothelial cells derived from various anatomical origins. The mRNA and protein for KINDLIN-3 was detected in endothelial cells by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blots. When subjected to sequencing by mass spectrometry, the protein was identified as authentic kindlin-3 and unequivocally distinguished from KINDLIN-1 and KINDLIN-2 or any other known protein. By quantitative real time PCR, the level of kindlin-3 in endothelial cells was 20-50% of that of kindlin-2. Using knockdown approaches, we show that kindlin-3 plays a role in integrin-mediated adhesion of endothelial cells. This function depends upon the integrin and substrate and is distinct from that of kindlin-2. Formation of tube-like structures in Matrigel also was impaired by kindlin-3 knockdown. Mechanistically, the distinct functions of the kindlins can be traced to differences in their subcellular localization in integrin-containing adhesion structures. Thus, the prevailing view that individual kindlins exert their functions in a cell type-specific manner must now be modified to consider distinct functions of the different family members within the same cell type.

To compare the different effects of implanting sensory nerve tracts or blood vessel on the osteogenesis, vascularization, and neurotization of the tissue-engineered bone in vivo, we constructed the tissue engineered bone and implanted the sensory nerve tracts (group SN), blood vessel (group VB), or nothing (group Blank) to the side channel of the bone graft to repair the femur defect in the rabbit. Better osteogenesis was observed in groups SN and VB than in group Blank, and no significant difference was found between groups SN and VB at 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively. The neuropeptides expression and the number of new blood vessels in the bone tissues were increased at 8 weeks and then decreased at 12 weeks in all groups and were highest in group VB and lowest in group Blank at all three time points. We conclude that implanting either blood vessel or sensory nerve tract into the tissue-engineered bone can significantly enhance both the vascularization and neurotization simultaneously to get a better osteogenesis effect than TEB alone, and the method of implanting blood vessel has a little better effect of vascularization and neurotization but almost the same osteogenesis effect as implanting sensory nerve.

Human Nanog1 is a 305-amino acid (aa) homeodomain-containing transcription factor critical for the pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) and embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells. Somatic cancer cells predominantly express a retrogene homolog of Nanog1 called NanogP8, which is ~99% similar to Nanog at the aa level. Although the predicted M.W of Nanog1/NanogP8 is ∼35 kD, both have been reported to migrate, on Western blotting (WB), at apparent molecular masses of 29-80 kD. Whether all these reported protein bands represent authentic Nanog proteins is unclear. Furthermore, detailed biochemical studies on Nanog1/NanogpP8 have been lacking. By combining WB using 8 anti-Nanog1 antibodies, immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and studies using recombinant proteins, here we provide direct evidence that the Nanog1 protein in NTERA-2 EC cells exists as multiple M.W species from ~22 kD to 100 kD with a major 42 kD band detectable on WB. We then demonstrate that recombinant NanogP8 (rNanogP8) proteins made in bacteria using cDNAs from multiple cancer cells also migrate, on denaturing SDS-PAGE, at ~28 kD to 180 kD. Interestingly, different anti-Nanog1 antibodies exhibit differential reactivity towards rNanogP8 proteins, which can spontaneously form high M.W protein species. Finally, we show that most long-term cultured cancer cell lines seem to express very low levels of or different endogenous NanogP8 protein that cannot be readily detected by immunoprecipitation. Altogether, the current study reveals unique biochemical properties of Nanog1 in EC cells and NanogP8 in somatic cancer cells.

Based on the characteristic of high speed line scanning for CCD in transient spectrum detection, a method of transient spectrum detection with array CCD is presented. The high speed line scanning with array CCD was realized by changing the mode of charge transfer. In order to explore the feasibility of this method, a fast detection system of single point based on linear CCD was designed and fabricated. Seven different LED pulses were measured when the system worked at fast detection mode of single point and normal mode respectively. The results demonstrate that the method of fast detection of single point based on linear CCD is feasible, and the rate of single point detection reaches up to 20 MHz. Thus, in theory, it was proved that transient spectrum detection with array CCD by changing the mode of charge transfer is also feasible.

Based on the spectral characteristic of the detonation temperature, the present paper presents a measurement system of transient multi-wavelength pyrometry with the theory of multi-wavelength thermometry. The FPGA was applied as the hardware developing platform and the high-speed linear CCD was utilized. Each module was controlled by FPGA to achieve the process of real-time data acquisition, storage and transmission. Using the multiple regression analysis method, the dynamic spectral waveforms were calculated. The two laser spectral lines, 630 and 532 nm, were used to calibrate the corresponding pixel sequence numbers and the No. 175 and No. 270 were confirmed. In this paper, the halide tungsten light was measured. The results show that the system can sample continuous spectrum signal at several different times; the CCD can stably work with 40 MHz clock and the frame scanning frequency can achieve 73 kHz.

To investigate the effectiveness and mechanism of tissue engineering vascularized bone in repairing segmental femoral bone defects in rabbits.Thirty-two rabbits were randomized into two groups (n = 16 each). A segmental and critical bone defect of 15 mm in length was made at left femur. In experimental group, the tissue engineering bone constructed from autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells plus beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) and vascular bundle was implanted into bony defect. In control group, there was no implantation of vascular bundle. Animals were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks post-implantation respectively. Histological observation was conducted to determine the process of new bone formation and remodeling. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in new bone was measured by immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR and Western blot.As indicated by histological observations over time, new bone formation increased in both groups. It was better in the experimental group than the control group at the beginning of 4 weeks. The expression level of VEGF gradually decreased in each group after an initial rise. And the expression of VEGF was significantly higher than the control group after implantation at all time points and peaked at 4 weeks.Tissue engineering vascularized bone accelerates bone repair in critical size defect model of femur in rabbit. Implantation of vascular bundle can promote the secretion of VEGF. And VEGF is an essential mediator of both angiogenesis and ossification.

We investigated whether implantation of vascular bundles or sensory nerves affected the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide type I receptor (CGRP1R) and neuropeptide Y1 receptor (NPY1R) in tissue-engineered bone. We implanted osteogenically induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) with β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) as the scaffold material either with sensory nerve tracts (group I, n = 18), vascular bundles (group II, n = 18) or alone (group III, n = 18) to repair a 1.2 cm femur defect in the rabbit. Better osteogenesis was observed by x-ray and histology in groups I and II than in group III at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Within the new bone, the mRNA levels of the two neuropeptide receptors determined by real-time PCR increased through week 8, and then gradually decreased (P < 0.05). Expression of the neuropeptide receptors determined by immunohistochemistry was lowest at 4 weeks (P < 0.05) and was higher in group II than in group I (P < 0.05). Expression was significantly higher in groups I and II than in group III at all time points. We conclude that implanting vascular bundles into tissue-engineered bone can significantly improve the early expression of CGRP1R and NPY1R. In contrast, implantation of sensory nerves did not show the same dramatic effect as implantation of vascular bundles.

Cells receive and send signals across the plasma membrane using the integrin family of receptors. What is it about their structure that can mediate their function?