Multilateral inversion of A_r, C_r and D_r basic hypergeometric series

In [Electron. J. Combin. 10 (2003), #R10], the author presented a new basic hypergeometric matrix inverse with applications to bilateral basic hypergeometric series. This matrix inversion result was directly extracted from an instance of Bailey's very-well-poised 6-psi-6 summation theorem, and involves two infinite matrices which are not lower-triangular. The present paper features three different multivariable generalizations of the above result. These are extracted from Gustafson's A_r and C_r extensions and of the author's recent A_r extension of Bailey's 6-psi-6 summation formula. By combining these new multidimensional matrix inverses with A_r and D_r extensions of Jackson's 8-phi-7 summation theorem three balanced very-well-poised 8-psi-8 summation theorems associated with the root systems A_r and C_r are derived.Comment: 24 page

Enhanced Integrin α4β1-Mediated Adhesion Contributes to a Mobilization Defect of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Diabetes.

Diabetes is associated with a deficit of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which has been attributed to their defective mobilization from the bone marrow. The basis for this mobilization defect is not completely understood, and we sought to determine if hyperglycemic conditions enhanced EPC adhesion. We found that culturing EPCs in high glucose media increased adhesion to bone marrow stromal cells. This enhanced adhesion was associated with decreased expression of protein kinase A regulatory subunit 1β (PRKAR1β), activation of protein kinase A (PKA), and phosphorylation of α4-integrin on serine 988. This potentiated adhesion was reversed by treatment with a PKA inhibitor, overexpression of PRKAR1β, or expression of a phosphorylation-defective α4-integrin variant (α4[S988A]). Using a model of type 1 diabetes, we showed that α4(S988A)-expressing mice have more circulating EPCs than their wild-type counterparts. Moreover, diabetic α4(S988A) mice demonstrate enhanced revascularization after hind limb ischemia. Thus, we have identified a novel signaling mechanism activating PKA in diabetes (downregulation of an inhibitory regulatory subunit) that leads to deficits of circulating EPCs and impaired vascular repair, which could be reversed by α4-integrin mutation

Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine requires materials that are biodegradable, biocompatible, structurally and chemically stable, and that can mimic the properties of the native extracellular matrix (ECM). Hydrogels are hydrophilic three-dimensional networks that have long received attention in the field of regenerative medicine due to their unique properties. Hydrogels have a potential to be the future of regenerative medicine due to their desirable mechanical and chemical properties, ease of their synthesis, and their multiple applicability as drug delivery vehicles, scaffolds, and constructs for cell culture. In this chapter, we have described hydrogels in terms of their cross-linking and then discussed the most recent developments in the use of hydrogels for peripheral nerve regeneration, tooth regeneration, and 3D bioprinting

Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopic Studies on the Oviducts of Pekin Ducks Fed Methyl Mercury Containing Diets

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of varying levels of methyl mercury (MeHg) on the ultrastructure of the surface epithelium of the oviduct of ducks. Accordingly, Pekin ducks were maintained on feed containing varying doses of (0.0; 0.5; 5.0; 15.0 ppm) of MeHg (Group I - control to IV) for 12 weeks and sacrificed. Tissue from the magnum and the shell gland regions of the oviduct was processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the primary and secondary folds of these regions of the oviducts of the control and 0.5 ppm treatment group were densely populated with ciliated cells and that the cilia tend to cover the apical surfaces of the non-ciliated secretory cells. This unchanged ultrastructural morphology of the surface epithelium of 0.5 ppm treatment group was verified with TEM. The ciliated and nonciliated cells in surface epithelium appeared to be equal in frequency. The nuclei of ciliated cells were superficial in location compared to nonciliated secretory cells which had nuclei in the basal part of the cytoplasm. In the oviducal tissues from ducks fed 5.0 ppm MeHg isolated areas of ciliary loss, but minimal disruption of the apical plasma membrane were observed by SEM. In a few birds plasma membrane lesions, condensation of nuclear chromatin and very dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum were seen with TEM. In the oviducal tissues from ducks fed 15.0 ppm MeHg it could be seen that ciliary loss was much more extensive than hitherto observed, and disruption of the apex of cells could be seen. TEM showed degeneration of cytoplasmic organelles, more or less severely damaged ciliated cells, loss of ciliary extensions and formation of compound cilia. These observations indicate that methyl mercury at 5.0 and 15.0 ppm dose levels causes toxic injury to oviducal surface epithelium of Pekin duck that may cause reduced reproductive capability