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In this article, two novel adaptive fault-tolerant control schemes for a class of nonlinear strict-feedback cyber-physical systems (CPSs) with deception attacks are presented. Deception attacks, such as false data-injection attacks, which destroy sensor networks, make the outputs and states of the CPSs unavailable. It is very difficult and challenging for a designer to achieve the tracking control under the circumstance of cyberattacks. To realize the tracking control for the studied CPSs, we propose a new coordinate transformation technology without precedent, where it takes the attack gains into account and uses the compromised states to design the corresponding controllers. In the backstepping design process, Nussbaum functions are presented to alleviate the influence of the unknown attack gains. Furthermore, we consider the actuator faults problem, which includes the loss of effectiveness and the bias fault. By skillfully designing the adaptive laws, the effect of actuator faults is completely eliminated. It is theoretically proved that the first proposed tracking control scheme can guarantee all signals in the closed-loop system are bounded and the output can track the desired reference signal. In addition, the second adaptive control scheme is also developed for the CPSs under the actuator faults and a more general assumption on the deception attacks is proposed simultaneously. Finally, the feasibility of the new proposed methods is verified by MATLAB simulation analysis.

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is an important cause of myocardial injury in patients with ischemic heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the mechanism is mainly related to the break out of oxygen free radicals, Ca2+ overload, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and so on. Recent studies have confirmed that inappropriate autophagy level of cardiomyocytes is also involved in the occurrence of myocardial I/R injury. The target of rapamycin in mammals (mTOR) is an important regulatory molecule of autophagy, which, under different conditions, mainly regulates autophagy through PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AMPK/mTOR signal pathways. At present, the results of in vitro and in vivo studies show that a variety of drugs can regulate the level of cardiomyocyte autophagy through mTOR to improve myocardial I/R injury, but the specific mechanism is not clear. Therefore, the present article mainly reviews the research progress of mTOR in myocardial I/R injury and clarifies its related mechanism, in order to explore the possibility of mTOR as a potential therapeutic target for myocardial I/R injury. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2020.11.09

Myelinated Ah-type vagal ganglion neurons (VGNs) were specific subpopulation in adult females, rather than neonate and key players in sexual dimorphism in baroreflex afferent function and closely associated with estrogen. However, the gender related development changes in Ah-type VGNs remains unknown. To quantify the developmental changes in ion channels overtime, the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was performed and three afferent fiber types of VGNs were identified upon electrophysiological/pharmacological validations. The K+ currents were recorded with or without specific blockers from postnatal day 4–32 and adult in both sexes. The electrophysiological data conjugated with analysis of action potential (AP) trajectory strongly indicated that in male rats, Ah-types were likely to disappear or transform during development. The percentage of myelinated A-, Ah-, and unmyelinated C-type afferents in females remained relatively steady during the 4–32-day period. Conversely, Ah-type afferents in males declined from levels comparable with those in females at birth to near absence in adulthood at 32 days. The coordinated changes in the current density of certain ion channels may be the underlying mechanism of developmental changes in AP waveform and neuroexcitability. As expected, the coordinated change between the down-regulation of iberiotoxin-sensitive and up-regulation of 4-aminopyridine-sensitive K+ currents played a key role in shaping AP and neuroexcitability in Ah-types during development. Our results demonstrated that the myelinated Ah-type VGNs in males almost disappear at 4 weeks old where closes to adult and the correlative ion channel changes contribute to the sexual dimorphism in visceral afferent function.

Silent angina is a critical phenomenon in the clinic and is more commonly associated with women patients suffering from myocardial ischemia. Its underlying cause remains mysterious in medicine. With our recent discovery of female-specific Ah-type baroreceptor neurons (BRNs), we hypothesize that cardiac analgesia is due to the direct activation of Ah-type BRNs by elevated levels of circulating serotonin (5-HT) myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Electromyography and the tail-flick reflex were assessed in control and MI-model rats to evaluate 5-HT-mediated BP regulation as well as peripheral and cardiac nociception. 5-HT or a 5-HT receptor agonist was microinjected into the nodose ganglion to confirm the involvement of the afferent pathway of the baroreflex arc. An inward current was observed in identified BRNs by applying a whole-cell patch-clamp technique in conjunction with qRT-PCR to verify the afferent-specific action of 5-HT and the expression of 5-HT receptors. Although the tail-flick reflex and mean arterial pressure were dramatically reduced in female MI rats with elevated serum 5-HT, intrapericardial capsaicin-evoked muscular discharges were significantly inhibited in comparing with those of males, which were mimicked by microinjection of 5-HT or SR57227A into the nodose. Ah-type BRNs displayed robust inward currents at lower concentrations of 5-HT than the C-type or the A-type, with significantly increased expression and cellular distribution of 5-HT3AR but not 5-HT3BR compared to the A- and C-types. Activation of 5-HT3AR in Ah-type BRNs by 5-HT contributes significantly to cardiac analgesia, which may suggest the pathogenic condition that silent angina occurs mainly in female patients.

Migrant workers are an important human resource for economic and social development. Considering the government&rsquo, s goal of serving and improving people&rsquo, s livelihoods, improving the happiness of migrant workers is necessary. This study investigates in-depth the impact of the conversion of household registration on migrant workers&rsquo, happiness, which is represented by a multi-dimensional comprehensive index based on the propensity matching score model and data from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) in 2017. Moreover, this study explores the different effects of conversion among the groups divided by the characteristics of migrant workers. The results show that from an overall perspective, although the conversion of household registration could improve the happiness of migrant workers, the degree of this improvement is minor. Further, the characteristics of the different groups, including age, educational background, contracted land, collective dividends, and income significantly affect the improvement of happiness. The conversion of household registration has obviously improved the happiness of migrant workers with low educational backgrounds, low income, and contracted land. Based on these findings, the government should take more targeted actions to improve the positive effects of household registration among different migrant worker groups due to the different characteristics in the process of household registration system reform.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in health and consumer products that routinely contact skin. However, the biological effects and possible mechanisms of AgNPs on skin remain unclear. Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) plays a critical role in multicellular organisms to maintain tissue homeostasis. The aim of this study is to examine if non-coated AgNPs affect GJIC in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells), and to identify the possible molecular mechanisms responsible for the effects. GJIC, connexin (Cx)43 protein and mRNA expression, and the effect of siRNA-mediated knockdown of Cx43 on GJIC were assessed. HaCaT cells exposed to non-coated AgNPs at different doses after a 24 hour exposure. To explore further the underlying mechanism, reactive oxygen species and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway were evaluated after 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Our results revealed that non-coated AgNP exposure at subcytotoxic doses increase GJIC partially via Cx43 upregulation. Reactive oxygen species and extracellular signal-regulated kinase and activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase were involved in the AgNP-induced upregulation of Cx43. This study provides new insight into the potential mechanism of AgNP biological activity.

Texturing is an indispensable functionality of GPU. To against the texture look-up operating speed and texture memory bandwidth problem, this paper presents a dedicated hardware architecture of texture engine for 3D graphics engine based on OpenGL 3.0 and GLSL 1.40 with a number of novel features, such as an optimized full-purpose four-way pipelined Parallel texel data formatters and filters, multi-port multi-bank non-blocking texture cache. The design of the texture engine is synthesized under SMIC 40 nm CMOS process technology. Performance evaluation results show that the design can achieve up to 33 fps for 1024×768 resolution at 150 MHz and is efficient for real time rendering.

Summary Background Baroreflex gain increase up closely to adult level during initial postnatal weeks, and any interruption within this period will increase the risk of cardiovascular problems in later of life span. We hypothesize that this short period after birth might be critical for postnatal development of vagal ganglion neurons (VGNs). Methods To evaluate neuroexcitability evidenced by discharge profiles and coordinate changes, ion currents were collected from identified A- and C-type VGNs at different developmental stages using whole-cell patch clamping. Results C-type VGNs underwent significant age-dependent transition from single action potential (AP) to repetitive discharge. The coordinate changes between TTX-S and TTX-R Na+ currents were also confirmed and well simulated by computer modeling. Although 4-AP or iberiotoxin age dependently increased firing frequency, AP duration was prolonged in an opposite fashion, which paralleled well with postnatal changes in 4-AP- and iberiotoxin-sensitive K+ current activity, whereas less developmental changes were verified in A-types. Conclusion These data demonstrate for the first time that the neuroexcitability of C-type VGNs increases significantly compared with A-types within initial postnatal weeks evidenced by AP discharge profiles and coordinate ion channel changes, which explain, at least in part, that initial postnatal weeks may be crucial for ontogenesis in visceral afferent reflex function.

Nodose ganglia are composed of A-, Ah- and C-type neurons. Despite their important roles in regulating visceral afferent function, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal homeostasis, information about subtype-specific expression, molecular identity, and function of individual ion transporting proteins is scarce. Although experiments utilizing the sliced ganglion preparation have provided valuable insights into the electrophysiological properties of nodose ganglion neuron subtypes, detailed characterization of their electrical phenotypes will require measurements in isolated cells. One major unresolved problem, however, is the difficulty to unambiguously identify the subtype of isolated nodose ganglion neurons without current-clamp recording, because the magnitude of conduction velocity in the corresponding afferent fiber, a reliable marker to discriminate subtypes in situ, can no longer be determined. Here, we present data supporting the notion that application of an algorithm regarding to microscopic structural characteristics, such as neuron shape evaluated by the ratio between shortest and longest axis, neuron surface characteristics, like membrane roughness, and axon attachment, enables specific and sensitive subtype identification of acutely dissociated rat nodose ganglion neurons, by which the accuracy of identification is further validated by electrophysiological markers and overall positive predictive rates is 89.26% (90.04%, 76.47%, and 98.21% for A-, Ah, and C-type, respectively). This approach should aid in gaining insight into the molecular correlates underlying phenotypic heterogeneity of nodose ganglia. Additionally, several critical points that help for neuron identification and afferent conduction calibration are also discussed.

Three new ferrocenylbenzene derivatives, 1-ferrocenyl-2,3,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (1), 1-ferrocenyl-2,4-diphenylbenzene (2), and 1-ferrocenyl-2,4-ditrimethylsilylbenzene (3), were synthesized by cycloaddition of ferrocenylacetylene cobalt cluster with different alkynes and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR, and MS. The molecular structures of 2 and 3 were identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The oxidation potentials of ferrocenyl unit in these compounds were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and theoretical calculations. The results indicated that the electron-donating or electron-withdrawing effect of substituents on the central phenyl was the key factor that influenced the oxidation potential of the ferrocenyl unit.

Ferrocenylbenzene (1) and ferrocenylbenzene tricarbonylchromium (2) were synthesized and characterized. NMR chemical shifts of benzene in 2 are shifted upfield compared to those of 1. We attribute the NMR spectrum of 2 to the reduced magnetic anisotropy effect of the benzene ring. Herein, we associate the electron density of the benzene ring in 1, 2, and p-ferrocenylaniline with the oxidation potential of the ferrocenyl group. The increased oxidation potential of ferrocene showed that the electron density of the benzene ring in 2 is reduced compared to that of 1, and the reduced oxidation potential of ferrocene indicates that the electron density of the benzene ring in p-ferrocenylaniline increased compared to that of 1. Therefore, ferrocene could be used as an electrochemical probe to predict the electron density of the benzene ring in 1, 2, and p-ferrocenylaniline.

The environmentally benign Suzuki cross-coupling reaction was developed by using ScCO2(Supercritical CO2) instead of traditionally organic solvent. In the paper the compound phenylferrocene was synthesized by the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of iodoferrocene and phenylboronic acids in ScCO2/PEG (polyethylene glycol) with excellent yield ratio in the presence of ligand-free Pd/C catalyst and K2CO3.1.5H2O as base. The Pd/C catalyst can be reused by simply washing sequence and CO2can be recycled after depressurization. The catalytic reaction conditions were optimized in the reaction using ScCO2as solvent.

Five new ortho-diferrocenylbenzene derivatives, 1,2-diferrocenyl-4,5-dimethylbenzene (2), 1,2-diferrocenyl-4,5-diphenylbenzene (3), 1,2-diferrocenyl-4,5-ditrimethylsilylbenzene (4), 1,2-diferrocenyl-3,4,5,6-tetramethylbenzene(5), and 1,2-diferrocenyl-3,4,5,6-tetraphenyl -benzene (6), were synthesized through the cycloaddition reactions of alkynes with the cobalt cluster Co2(CO)6(μ2-alkyne) as reaction precursors, and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR, and MS. The molecular structures of compounds (2–6) were identified using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and the electron interactions between two ferrocenyl units of each of the five compounds were investigated using cyclic voltammetric techniques. The results of electrochemical experiment indicated that the charge density of the aryl bridge is the key factor that influences electron communications between two ferrocenyl units.

Complex 1 (1,2,4-triferrocenylbenzene tricarbonylchromium), possessing four heterometals, has been synthesized efficiently by a new method in one pot. Through detailed study on the NMR chemical shi...

In this study, four ferrocenyl indenyl derivatives, C9H7–C≡C–Fc (1), C9H7–C≡C–Ph–Fc (2), C9H7–C≡C–Ph–C≡C–Fc (3), and C9H7–Ph–C≡C–Fc (4) (where C9H7=indenyl; Fc=C5H5FeC5H4; Ph=C6H5), have been synthesized by Sonogashira and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions and characterized by elemental analysis, and FT-IR, 1H, 13C-NMR, and MS spectroscopic methods, respectively. The molecular structures of 1, 2, and 4 were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. Two molecules appeared in the crystal structure of 4, and they interact through an intermolecular hydrogen bond. The electrochemical redox potential differences in 1–4 were investigated using cyclic voltammetry and calculations.

Two novel bimetallic complexes, [Cr(CO)3(η 6-C6H5)–C≡C–C6H4–Fc] (Fc = C5H5FeC5H4] (1) and [Cr(CO)3(η 6-C6H5)–C ≡ C–Fc–C(CH3)2–Fc] (3), were synthesized by the Sonogashira coupling reaction. By using of (1) and (3) as ligands to react with Co2(CO)8, two others novel polymetallic complexes, [Cr(CO)3(η 6-C6H5){Co2(CO)6-η 2-μ 2-C≡C–}–C6H4–Fc] (2) and [Cr(CO)3(η 6-C6H5){Co2(CO)6-η 2-μ 2-C≡C–}Fc–C(CH3)2–Fc] (4) were obtained. Four carbonyl complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR and MS. The molecular structures of complexes (1), (2) and (4) were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The interactions among the ferrocenyl, Cr(CO)3 and Co2(CO)6-η 2-μ 2-C≡C– units were investigated by cyclic voltammetry.

Four diferrocenyl compounds: FcC(CH3)2Fc (1), Fc(CH3)C(C2H5)Fc (2), Fc(CH3)C(C3H7)Fc (3), and Fc(CH3)C(C6H5)Fc (4) were synthesized and characterized by NMR, FT-IR, MS, and elemental analysis. The molecular structures were determined by using X-ray single crystal diffraction. The electrochemical interactions between two ferrocenyl units in these compounds were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and theoretical calculation. The electron density of bridging carbon was a key factor for the separation of two ferrocenyl units.

Three alkynylbiferrocenyl derivatives (1–3) were synthesized by cross coupling of 1′,1′′′-diiodobiferrocene with the corresponding alkynyl cuprous species and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR, and MS. The molecular structures of C6H5C≡CFc′Fc′C≡CC6H5 (1), NO2–C6H4C≡CFc′Fc′C≡CC6H4–NO2 (2), and I–Fc′Fc′C≡CC6H4Fc (3) have been identified by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The electrode reaction processes of 1–3 were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, and microelectrode chronoamperometry.

As health hazards of synthetic pigments are continuously found, more and more natural food pigments have been applied to the food industry. Astaxanthin is one of carotenoids that have been widely used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries as natural colorants. In this paper, the micronization of astaxanthin in dichloromethane via the solution enhanced dispersion by supercritical fluids through prefilming atomization (SEDS-PA) process has been successfully performed. Morphologies and particle sizes (PSs) of the astaxanthin microparticles were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of micronization show that astaxanthin crystals with PSs about 20–30 µm have successfully been micronized to the microparticles with PSs about 0.5–6.0 µm by the SEDS-PA process. The effect of experimental variables on micronization of the astaxanthin has been studied. With the increase of initial solution concentration, the PSs of astaxanthin microparticles decrease initially, then increase. With the increase of solution flow rate and temperature, the PSs of astaxanthin microparticles increase. With the increase of pressure, the PSs of astaxanthin microparticles decrease. The nubbly particles were obtained in SEDS-PA process, and the crystallinity change of astaxanthin was showed by X-ray powder diffraction patterns (XRD).

An alkynyl-coupled diferrocenylpropane and azobenzene derivative has been synthesized. Photoinduced change of UV-absorbance and shifts of redox potential of synthesized compound were elucidated by time-dependent density function theory (TD-DFT) calculations, indicating that isomerization of trans to cis configuration occurs by UV irradiation.

The micronization of emodin in a mixed solution of dichloromethane and methanol by the Solution Enhanced Dispersion by Supercritical Fluids through Prefilming Atomization (SEDS-PA) process has been successfully performed. Morphologies and particle sizes (PSs) of the emodin microparticles were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The results of micronization show that the acicular or rod-like emodin crystals with PSs of about 3-10 µm wide and 100-300 µm long have successfully been micronized to needle-like, rod-like, twisted fiber-like and coalesced net-like microparticles with PSs of about 0.1-1.0μm wide and 2-40μm long by the SEDS-PA process. The effect of technological conditions on micronization has been studied. With the increase of initial solution concentration and temperature, the PSs of emodin microparticles increase. With the increase of solution flow rate and pressure, the PSs of emodin microparticles decrease. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

New biferrocenylpropane derivatives FcC(CH3)2Fc′-C≡C–R [Fc = C5H5FeC5H4; Fc′ = C5H5FeC5H3, R = C6H5 (L 1 ), Fc (L 2 )] and their complexes [FcC(CH3)2Fc′-C≡C–R][Co2(CO)6] [R = C6H5 (1); R = Fc (2)] have been synthesized by the Castro-Stephens coupling reaction and the reactions of ligands L 1 , L 2 with Co2(CO)8. Compounds L 1 , L 2 , 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H (13C) NMR and MS, and the molecular structures of ligands L 1 , L 2 were determined by X-ray single crystal analysis. The electrochemical properties of L 1 , L 2 , 1 and 2 demonstrate two or three resolved one-electron redox processes.

A new ferrocenylphenyl butadiynyl compound Fc–C6H4–(C C)2–C6H5 (L) has been synthesized by the Glaser cross-coupling reaction and three new complexes with a 4-ferrocenylphenyl-μ-alkyne-dicobalt moiety, [Fc–C6H4–(C C)n–R][Co2(CO)6]n′ [Fc = C5H5FeC5H4, R = H, n = 1, n′ = 1 (1); R = C6H5, n = 2, n′ = 2 (2); R = Fc-C6H4, n = 2, n′ = 2 (3) ], were obtained in the reaction of p-ferrocenylphenylacetylene compounds with Co2(CO)8. Compounds L, 1, 2 and 3 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H, 13C NMR and MS. The molecular and crystal structures of compounds L and 2 have been determined by X-ray single crystal analysis. There is a linear C5H4–C6H4–(C C)2–C6H5 linkage in compound L, and the terminal ferrocenylphenyl and phenyl groups in complex 2 are a cis arrangement.

New multiferrocenyl diyne ligands FcC(CH3)2Fc′–C≡C–C≡C–Fc [L 1 ; Fc = C5H5FeC5H4; Fc′ = C5H5Fe(1,3-disubstituted)C5H3], FcC(CH3)2Fc′–C≡C–C≡C–Fc′C(CH3)2Fc (L 2 ) and their complexes [FcC(CH3)2Fc′–C≡C–C≡C–Fc][Co2(CO)6] n [n = 1, (1); n = 2, (2)], [FcC(CH3)2Fc′–C≡C–C≡C–Fc′C(CH3)2Fc][Co2(CO)6] n [n = 1, (3); n = 2, (4)] have been synthesized by the coupling reaction of terminal ferrocenylacetylene and the reaction of ligands L1 and L2 with Co2(CO)8. The composition and molecular structure of the ligands L1 , L2 and their cobalt complexes were characterized by element analysis, IR, 1H(13C)NMR and MS. The electrochemical properties of compounds L1 , L2 , 1, 2, 3, 4 were studied by cyclic voltammetry(CV). The results of the electrochemical research reveal that all three ferrocenyl groups in L1 become redox active centers, but there are only two (not four) ferrocenyl redox active centers in L2 .

A series of ferrocenylacetylenylbiphenyl derivatives Fc-C C R [R = C6H4 C6H5 (1), C6H4 C6H4 I (2), C6H4 C6H4 NO2 (3), C6H3(NO2) C6H4I (4)] and Fc-C C R′ C C R″ [R″ = Fc, R′ = C6H4 C6H4 (5), C6H3(NO2) C6H4 (6); R″ = C6H5, R′ = C6H4 C6H4 (7)] were synthesized from FcC CH and biphenyl iodides by the Castro–Stephens and Sonogashira coupling reactions, in which compounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 are new. Seven new complexes [Fc-C C R][Co2(CO)6] [R = C6H4 C6H5 (8), C6H4 C6H4 I (9), C6H4 C6H4 NO2 (10), C6H3(NO2) C6H4I (11)] and [Fc-C C R′ C C R″] [Co2(CO)6]2 [R″ = Fc, R′ = C6H4 C6H4 (12), C6H3(NO2) C6H4 (13); R″ = C6H5, R′ = C6H4 C6H4 (14)] were obtained by the reaction of the ligands Fc-C C R and Fc-C C R′ C C R″ with Co2(CO)8, respectively. Compounds 1–7 and their complexes 8–14 have been characterized by element analysis and spectroscopy, as well as by X-ray diffraction for 1, 4, 8, 9 and 11. The electrochemical data of compounds 1–12 have been obtained by cyclic voltammetry.

New π-conjugated butadiynyl ligand FcC(CH3)2Fc′–C C–C C–Ph (L1) has been synthesized and its reaction with Co2(CO)8 has been studied. New clusters [FcC(CH3)2Fc′–C C–C C–Ph][Co2(CO)6]n [(1): n = 1; (2): n = 2] and [Fc–C C–C C–Ph][Co2(CO)6]n [(3): n = 1; (4): n = 2] were obtained by the reaction of ligands FcC(CH3)2Fc′–C C–C C–Ph (L1) and Fc–C C–C C–Ph (L2) with Co2(CO)8 respectively and the composition and structure of the clusters and ligands have been characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR and MS. The crystal structures of compounds L1, L2, 2 and 4 have been determined by X-ray single crystal analysis.

This study aims to understand the special expression patterns of angiotensin-II receptor (AT 1 R and AT 2 R) in nodose ganglia and nucleus of tractus solitary of baroreflex afferent pathway and their contribution in sex difference of neurocontrol of blood pressure regulation. In this regard, action potentials were recorded in baroreceptor neurons (BRNs) using whole-cell patch techniques; mRNA and protein expression of AT 1 R and AT 2 R in nodose ganglia and nucleus of tractus solitary were evaluated using real time–polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry at both tissue and single-cell levels. The in vivo effects of 17β-estradiol on blood pressure and AT 2 R expression were also tested. The data showed that AT 2 R, rather than AT 1 R, expression was higher in female than age-matched male rats. Moreover, AT 2 R was downregulated in ovariectomized rats, which was restored by the administration of 17β-estradiol. Single-cell real time–polymerase chain reaction data indicated that AT 2 R was uniquely expressed in Ah-type BRNs. Functional study showed that long-term administration of 17β-estradiol significantly alleviated the blood pressure increase in ovariectomized rats. Electrophysiological recordings showed that angiotensin-II treatment increased the neuroexcitability more in Ah- than C-type BRNs, whereas no such effect was observed in A-types. In addition, angiotensin-II treatment prolonged action potential duration, which was not further changed by iberiotoxin. The density of angiotensin-II–sensitive K + currents recorded in Ah-types was equivalent with iberiotoxin-sensitive component. In summary, the unique, sex- and afferent-specific expression of AT 2 R was identified in Ah-type BRNs, and AT 2 R-mediated KCa1.1 inhibition in Ah-type BRNs may exert great impacts on baroreflex afferent function and blood pressure regulation in females.

The reaction of new ferrocenylacetylene HC C(C 5 H 5 FeC 5 H 3 )C(CH 3 ) 2 Fc′C CH ( 1 ; Fc′ = C 5 H 4 FeC 5 H 4 ) with Co 2 (CO) 8 has been studied and the spectra and molecular structure of complexes [HC C(C 5 H 5 FeC 5 H 3 )C(CH 3 ) 2 Fc′C CH][Co 2 (CO) 6 ] n [ n = 1, ( 4 ); n = 2, ( 5 )] have been determined. Novel complex [FcC(CH 3 ) 2 Fc′CH C]FeCo 2 (CO) 9 ( 6 ; Fc = C 5 H 5 FeC 5 H 4 ) has been synthesized by using a nuclear expanding reaction of complex [FcC(CH 3 ) 2 Fc′C CH]Co 2 (CO) 6 ( 3 ) with Fe 2 (CO) 9 and the structural characterization of complex 6 was accomplished by elemental analysis, IR, 1 H, 13 C NMR and MS. The electrochemical properties of the compounds with ferrocenylacetylene reveal that there is significant electronic communication between the ferrocenyl groups.

The new mixed metal carbonyl clusters (μ3-FcCHC)FeCo2(CO)7dppm (Fc = C5H5FeC5H4, ferrocenyl; dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2) (1), (μ3-FcCHC)FeCo2(CO)8L [L = PPh3 (2); AsPh3 (3)] and (μ-FcC CH)Co2(CO)5PPh3 (4) have been synthesized by facile substituted reactions. The crystal and molecular structures of 1, 2 and 3 have been determined by single crystal X-ray analysis; the ligand dppm replaces two equatorial carbonyls from two Co(CO)3 groups in the FeCo2 core, and the ligands PPh3 and AsPh3 replace one equatorial carbonyl from a Co(CO)3 group. The new compounds were characterized by IR, 1H, 13C, 31P (for 1, 2) NMR and MS. The electrochemical properties for 1, 2, 3 and 5 were investigated and the results show that the replacement of CO alters the electron density on the cluster core FeCo2 leading to a variety of interactions between FeCo2 and the apical FcCHC, and making the Fe of the ligand FcCHC in clusters 1, 2 and 3 turn into a redox center.

The reaction of ferrocenylacetylide compounds with Co2(CO)8 at room temperature affords four complexes bearing ferrocenyl units with approximately tetrahedral (μ-alkyne)dicobalt moieties [R–(C≡C) n –R′] [Co2(CO)6] n ′ [R = C5H5FeC5H4-C(CH3)2-C5H4FeC5H4, R′ = H, n = 1, n′ = 1 (1); R = C5H5FeC5H4 [ferrocenyl (Fc)], R′ = –CH=CHCl, n = 1, n′ = 1 (2); R = Fc, R′ = Fc, n = 2, n′ = 1 (3), n′ = 2 (4)]. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H(13C) NMR, MS and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The X-ray analyses show that coordination of the carbon–carbon triple bond and the dicobalt unit result in the formation of a Co2C2 tetrahedral core, and the substituents on the acetylenic units show a distortion from linearity that reflects this coordination mode.

electrophysiologically remodels the membraneexcitation in physiological or disease condition. Membrane excitabilityis a common feature in all excitable tissues including baroreceptorneurons (BRNs) to achieve their normal function. The evidences showthat all major ion channels contribute to stabilize the membrane inBRNs.PreviousdatashowthattheresponsesofBRNstoelectronicstim-ulus are quite different upon the afferent types.Intriguing observationsfrom the cardiovascular literature have provided quantitative evidencethat myelinated and unmyelinated cardiovascular afferents evoke notonlydifferentfrequency-dependentreflexresponsesbutalsopotential-ly and distinctly different sensory information processing mechanisms[3]. Whereas the frequency-dependent spike often leads to increasedinflux of Ca

Multiferrocenyl derivatives FcC(CH3)2Fc′–C C–Fc(A) (Fc = C5H5FeC5H4, Fc′ = C5H5FeC5H3) and FcC(CH3)2Fc′–C C–C C–Fc′C(CH3)2Fc (B) have been synthesized and characterized by MS, NMR, FT-IR and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of compound A was given by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The electron transfer numbers of two compounds were determined by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperomeric technique.

Evidence has shown gender differences regarding the critical roles of histamine in the prevalence of asthma, anaphylaxis, and angina pectoris. Histamine depolarizes unmyelinated C-type neurons without any effects on myelinated A-type vagal ganglion neurons (VGNs) in male rats. However, little is known if VGNs from females react to histamine in a similar manner. Membrane depolarization and inward currents were tested in VGNs isolated from adult rats using a whole-cell patch technique. Results from males were consistent with the literature. Surprisingly, histamine-induced depolarization and inward currents were observed in both unmyelinated C-type and myelinated A- and Ah-type VGNs from female rats. In Ah-type neurons, responses to 1.0 μM histamine were stronger in intact females than in males and significantly reduced in ovariectomized (OVX) females. In C-type neurons, histamine-induced events were significantly smaller (pA/pF) in intact females compared with males and this histamine-induced activity was dramatically increased by OVX. Female A-types responded to histamine, which was further increased following ovariectomy. Histamine at 300 nM depolarized Ah-types in females, but not Ah-types in OVX females. In contrast, the sensitivity of A- and C-types to histamine was upregulated by OVX. These data demonstrate gender differences in VGN chemosensitivity to histamine for the first time. Myelinated Ah-types showed the highest sensitivity to histamine across female populations, which was changed by OVX. These novel findings improve the understanding of gender differences in the prevalence of asthma, anaphylaxis, and pain. Changes in sensitivity to histamine by OVX may explain alterations in the prevalence of certain pathophysiological conditions when women reach a postmenopausal age.

TaLEA1, a gene encoding a late-embryogenesis-abundant protein, was cloned from wheat and was transformed into Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge by Agrobacterium-mediated leaf-disk transformation method. Seven transgenic lines were obtained after kanamycin (50 mg/L) screening. Six positive lines were obtained by PCR amplification, and after four additional generations, one stable line was obtained by Southern hybridization. Transgenic plants had better growth states than control plants on mediums containing 1% NaCl and 8% PEG6000, which demonstrated that TaLEA1 played an important role in increasing the salt and drought tolerance of S. miltiorrhiza.