Poly[[bis­[μ2-8-ethyl-5-oxo-2-(piperazin-1-yl)-5,8-dihydro­pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carboxyl­ato]manganese(II)] dihydrate]

In the title compound, {[Mn(C14H16N5O3)2]·2H2O}n, the MnII atom (site symmetry ) exhibits a distorted trans-MnN2O4 octa­hedral geometry defined by two monodentate N-bonded and two bidentate O,O′-bonded 8-ethyl-5-oxo-2-(piperazin-1-yl)-5,8-dihydro­pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carboxyl­ate anions. An N—H⋯O hydrogen bond is present in the crystal structure. The extended two-dimensional structure is a square grid and the disordered uncoordinated water mol­ecules occupy cavities within the grid

Fixed cost allocation based on the principle of efficiency invariance in two-stage systems

Fixed cost allocation among groups of entities is a prominent issue in numerous organisations. Addressing this issue has become one of the most important topics of the data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology. In this study, we propose a fixed cost allocation approach for basic two-stage systems based on the principle of efficiency invariance and then extend it to general two-stage systems. Fixed cost allocation in cooperative and noncooperative scenarios are investigated to develop the related allocation plans for two-stage systems. The model of fixed cost allocation under the overall condition of efficiency invariance is first developed when the two stages have a cooperative relationship. Then, the model of fixed cost allocation under the divisional condition of efficiency invariance wherein the two stages have a noncooperative relationship is studied. Finally, the validation of the proposed approach is demonstrated by a real application of 24 nonlife insurance companies, in which a comparative analysis with other allocation approaches is included

Mesenchymal stem cells promote incision wound repair in a mouse model

Purpose: To investigate the wound healing process via the application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a mouse model.Methods: MSCs were collected from the bone marrow of the femur and tibia of 6 – 12-week-old C57BL/6 mice. Full-thickness cutaneous wounds (4 × 2 cm) were made by incision on the dorsal side of the mice. The wound was then subjected to one of four random treatments: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution, 3T3 fibroblasts, naive MSCs, or interferon gamma-activated MSCs. Chalkley method was used to determine vascular density. A score was given, for each field examined, for CD31-positive areas, and the results of blind analysis were confirmed by independent analysis of a second evaluator.Results: The tensile strength of the wound area was significantly lower in older versus younger mice (p ≤ 0.0007). Only one quarter of the mean force was required to disrupt wound integrity in older mice compared to young mice. Treatment with MSCs showed positive effects on wound healing. Activated MSCs showed the greatest efficacy at a dosage of 5 × 104 activated MSCs/8 cm2 of wound area or 6, 250 cells/cm2.Conclusion: The results suggest that MSC therapies enhance the tissue regeneration capacity in mice, especially in older populations, through effective transdifferentiation into the epithelium.Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cell, wound healing, mous

New cell separation technique for the isolation and analysis of cells from biological mixtures in forensic caseworks

Aim To isolate mucosal cells of the perpetrator in a sexual assault case from a complex mixture of his mucosal cells and the victim’s skin by micromanipulation prior to genomic analysis. Methods To capture and analyze mucosal cells we used the micromanipulation with on-chip low volume polymerase chain reaction (LV-PCR). Consensus DNA profiles were generated from 5 replicate experiments. Results and conclusions We validated the use of micromanipulation with on-chip LV-PCR for genomic analysis of complex biological mixtures in a fatal rape case. The perpetrator’s mucosal cells were captured from nipple swabs of the victim, and a single-source DNA profile was generated from cell mixtures. These data suggest that micromanipulation with on-chip LV-PCR is an effective forensic tool for the analysis of specific cells from complex samples

Developmentally Programmed Division of Labor in the Aquatic Invader Alternanthera philoxeroides Under Homogeneous Soil Nutrients

Clonal traits can contribute to plant invasiveness, but little is known about the roles of division of labor (a key clonal trait) in homogeneous habitats. The hypothesis tested is that clonal integration allows division of labor and increases the overall performance of an invasive clonal plant, especially under higher soil nutrients. Clonal fragment pairs of aquatic invader Alternanthera philoxeroides (each with four ramets and a stolon apex) were grown in two homogenous habitats with high or low soil nutrient supply, and with stolon connections being either severed (clonal integration prevented) or kept intact (clonal integration allowed). Results showed that stolon connection allowed the division of labor within the clonal fragment, with basal ramets specializing in acquisition of belowground resources and apical ramets specializing in acquisition of aboveground expansion. Moreover, the capacity for division of labor was greater, which brought the clonal fragments of A. philoxeroides stronger clonal propagation and better performance in high nutrient habitats than in low nutrient habitats. The results supported our hypotheses that the developmentally programmed division of labor may facilitate the clonal expansion of this aggressive invader in some homogeneous habitats with high resource availability

Polygonum cuspidatum

Anoikis has been recognized as a potential target for anticancer therapy. Polygonum cuspidatum (Huzhang) is a frequently used Chinese herb in hepatocarcinoma. In present study, we evaluated the effects of Polygonum cuspidatum extract (PCE) in hepatocarcinoma cells in suspension. The results showed that PCE inhibited the proliferation of hepatocarcinoma cells in suspension in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PCE also inhibited anchorage-independent growth of hepatocarcinoma cells in soft agar. PCE induced anoikis in human hepatocarcinoma Bel-7402 cells accompanied by caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, which was completely abrogated by a pan caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK. In addition, PCE treatment induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in Bel-7402 cells. NAC, an ROS scavenger, partially attenuated PCE-induced anoikis and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. Furthermore, PCE inhibited expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in Bel-7402 cells. Overexpression of FAK partially abrogated PCE-induced anoikis. These data suggest that PCE may inhibit suspension growth and induce caspase-mediated anoikis in hepatocarcinoma cells and may relate to ROS generation and FAK downregulation. The present study provides new insight into the application of Chinese herb for hepatocarcinoma treatment

Long-term straw incorporation significantly reduced subsoil organic carbon stock in cinnamon soil

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