Dichloridobis{2-[(triphenyl­meth­yl)amino]pyridine-κN}cadmium(II)

In the mol­ecule of the title compound, [CdCl2(C24H20N2)2], the CdII centre has a distorted tetra­hedral coordination geometry defined by two chloride ions and two pyridine N atoms of the monodentate 2-[(triphenyl­meth­yl)amino]pyridine ligands. Weak intra­molecular N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds help to establish the three-dimensional architecture

Toxicological evaluation of precocene II isolated from Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) in Sprague Dawley rats

Precocene II (6,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2-chromene) was the main constituent isolated from Ageratum conyzoides L. and reportedly possessed antifungal activity. The study investigated the isolation, purification and toxicological effects of precocene II from A. conyzoides in Sprague Dawley rats. Precocene II was isolated from the petroleum ether fraction of the plant and the structure was determined by 1H-,13C-,DEPT-NMR and MS spectral techniques. Three groups of eight rats per group were used for the study. While groups B and C were respectively administered with 25 and 50 mg/kg of precocene II in 0.25% CMC-Na for 11 days by gastric intubation, group A was administered with 0.25% CMC-Na and served as the control group. After the last treatment, animals were fasted overnight and on the 12th day, they were injected intravenously with 0.2 ml/kg body weight of phenobarbital. Animals were subsequently dissected from the abdominal region; blood was collected from the pulmonary vein into EDTA anti-coagulated and non anti-coagulated tubes. The liver, kidney and spleen tissues were extracted into separate bottles for histopathological examinations. Results from hematological study indicated that the white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), plateletcrit (PCT) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin count (MCHC) were significantly higher across the treated groups. Biochemical result showed that serum glucose level was significantly reduced in the treated groups. No apparent damage was noticed in the liver, kidney and spleen tissues. The result therefore suggests that precocene II possesses hypoglycemic property and could alter some hematopoietic elements but was not toxic to the liver, kidney and spleen tissues

Expression of VP60 gene from rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) YL strain under control of the ats1A promoter in tobacco

The VP60 gene from rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) YL strain in Northeast of China, under control of the ats1A promoter from Rubisco small subunit genes of Arabidopsis thaliana, was introduced into the transfer deoxyribonucleic acid (T-DNA) region of plant transfer vector pCAMBIA1300 and transferred to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Petit Havanna SR1) with Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reverse transcription(RT) and -PCR analysis of the transformed tobacco plants confirmed the integration of the VP60 gene copy into the plant DNA and VP60 gene transcription produced. Western blot analysis revealed that the VP60 protein was expressed in tobacco under control of ats1A promoter.Key words: Agrobacterium tumefaciens, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), VP60 protein, ats1A promoter, plant-derived vaccine

Penta­aqua­(5-carb­oxy­pyridine-2-carboxyl­ato-κ2 N,O 2)(pyridine-2,5-dicarboxyl­ato-κ2 N,O 2)cerium(III) tetra­hydrate

In the title compound, [Ce(C7H3NO4)(C7H4NO4)(H2O)5]·4H2O, the Ce3+ ion is nine-coordinated by two O atoms and two N atoms from one single and from one double deprotonated pyridine-2,5-dicarboxyl­ate ligand and five water mol­ecules in a distorted monocapped square-anti­prismatic geometry. In the crystal, extensive O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions result in a three-dimensional supra­molecular architecture

Hábitos alimenticios de Calanus sinicus (Crustacea: Copepoda) durante primavera y otoño en el mar Bohai, investigados mediante un índice de herbivoría

Pigment ingestion rate (PIR) and egg production rate (EPR) of the dominant copepod Calanus sinicus, as well as chlorophyll-a concentration and phytoplankton assemblages were measured in the Bohai Sea, North China in June 1997, October 1998 and May 1999. A herbivore index (H) was also calculated as the carbon specific ratio of PIR and EPR, in order to investigate its feeding habits in the spring and autumn phytoplankton bloom respectively. On average, chlorophyll-a concentration was relatively similar (1-1.34 mg m-3) in the three cruises, but PIR was quite different. It was 3.24 µg C female-1 d-1 in October, equivalent to one half of the PIR for June and one third of the PIR for May. Average EPR was highest in May, and quite similar during the other two months. According to H values, herbivorous feeding contributed 100% of the egg production of C. sinicus in June, 82.5% in May, but only 47.8% in October. It is possible that omnivorous feeding of C. sinicus in October was induced by a prevalence of large-sized diatoms and sufficient non-phytoplankton food resources during the autumn bloom period.La tasa de ingestión de pigmentos (PIR) y la tasa de producción de huevos (EPR) del copépodo dominante Calanus sinicus ha sido determinada, conjuntamente con la concentración de clorofila- a y la composición del fitoplancton, en el mar de Bohai, norte de China, en junio 1997, octubre 1998 y mayo 1999. Para investigar los hábitos alimenticios durante los blooms de fitoplancton de primavera y otoño se ha determinado un índice de herbivoría (H), calculado como el cociente de las tasas específicas PIR y EPR en carbono. En promedio, la concentración de clorofila-a fue relativamente similar (1-1,34 mg m-3) en las tres campañas oceanográficas. Pero los valores de PIR difirieron bastante, variando desde 3,24 μg C hembra-1 d-1 en octubre a valores un medio y un tercio de dicho valor, respectivamente, en junio y mayo. Los valores promedio de EPR fueron máximos en mayo, y bastante similares durante los otros dos meses. Según los valores del índice H obtenidos, la herbivoría contribuyó un 100% en la producción de huevos de C. sinicus en junio y un 82,5% en mayo, mientras que sólo explicó un 47,8% de la producción de huevos en octubre. este estudio sugiere que la alimentación omnivora de C. sinicus en octubre fue inducida por la prevalencia de diatomeas de gran tamaño y la presencia suficiente de alimento no fitoplanctónico durante el periodo del bloom otoñal.

A new norlignan from Taxodium ascendens

A new norlignan, (2R,3R,4S,5S)-2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-tetrahydropyran (1), together with 9 known compounds were isolated from the branches and leaves of Taxodium ascendens. Their structures were mainly determined on the basis of MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR spectral evidences. Methanol extract showed inhibitory activity on carbonic anhydrase II with an IC50 value of 4.27 μg/ml, acetone extract and methanol extract inhibited activity of cathepsin B with IC50 values of 2.12 and 3.71 μg/ml, respectively.

Investigation on Microstructure and Optical Property of Nanocrystalline Silicon Thin Film

Nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) thin films were deposited by capacitive coupled radio-frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD) system with direct current (DC) bias applied. Raman, XRD and ultraviolet-visible transmission spectra were employed to investigate their microstructure and optical properties, respectively. Both the crystalline volume fraction and the average crystalline size increase with the substrate temperature. With the increase of silane concentration, the crystalline volume fraction increases, while the average crystalline size decreases. With the increase of the radio frequency (RF) power or the DC negative bias voltage, the crystalline volume fraction and the average crystalline size increase firstly, then decreases. Finally, the optical band gaps were discussed in detail