Bis[2-(cyclo­pentyl­imino­meth­yl)-4-nitro­phenolato-κ2 N 2,O]cobalt(II)

In the title compound, [Co(C12H13N2O3)2], the CoII ion is situated on a twofold rotation axis and is coordinated by two N and two O atoms from two symmetry-related Schiff base 2-(cyclo­pentyl­imino­meth­yl)-4-nitro­phenolate ligands (L) in a distorted tetra­hedral geometry. The cyclo­pentyl ring in L is disordered over two conformations in a 0.640 (19):0.360 (19) ratio

Bis(2,2′-bipyridine)(2-hy­droxy-2,2-diphenyl­acetato)­copper(II) nitrate dihydrate

In the title complex, [Cu(C14H11O3)(C10H8N2)2]NO3·2H2O, the CuII atom is coordinated by four N atoms from two 2,2′-bipyridine ligands and two O atoms from one benzilate ligand in a distorted octa­hedral geometry. A supra­molecular network is formed via inter­molecular O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions. π–π stacking inter­actions between neighboring pyridine rings are also present, the centroid—centroid distance being 3.808 (2) Å

Origin of two types of rhyolites in the Tarim Large Igneous Province: Consequences of incubation and melting of a mantle plume

The Early Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province (LIP) in northwestern China contains a large area of silicic volcanics (similar to 48,000 km(2)) which are spatially and temporally associated with mafic-ultramafic rocks. In order to understand the behavior of crust above a mantle plume, selected rhyolitic samples are investigated in terms of U-Pb zircon dating, geochemical and isotopic analyses. The Tarim rhyolites have high A/CNK ratios (= molar Al2O3/CaO + Na2O + K2O), Fe#, Ga/Al ratios, concentrations of high field strength elements (HFSEs) such as Zr and Nb, and rare earth elements (REEs), along with high zircon saturation temperatures (872-940 degrees C), typical of aluminous A-type granitoids. Two contrasting rock types have been recognized. The low Nb-Ta type rhyolites are mainly associated with the first phase of the Tarim flood basalt magmatism at similar to 290 Ma. They are characterized by negative Nb-Ta anomalies, low epsilon(Nd)(t) and epsilon(Hf)(t) values, and high Sr-87/Sr-88(t) and delta(18) O-zircon values, consistent with a derivation from continental crustal source. The high Nb-Ta type rhyolites and their plutonic equivalents are associated with the second episode of Tarim magmatism (283-272 Ma). They are characterized by small negative to positive Nb-Ta anomalies, oceanic island basalt (0113)-like trace element ratios, low Sr-87/Sr-88(t) and high epsilon(Nd)(t) and epsilon(Hf)(t) values. These high Nb-Ta rhyolites are best interpreted as hybrid products of crystal fractionation of mafic magmas, coupled with crustal assimilation. The temporal and compositional evolution of the Tarim rhyolites reflects various extents of thermal and mass exchange between mantle-derived basaltic magma and crustal material above a mantle plume. When the plume head rises to the base of the Tarim craton, it first melts enriched components in the lithospheric mantle (similar to 290 Ma), part of which may have ponded near the crust-mantle boundary and induced crustal anatexis leading to the formation of the low Nb-Ta type rhyolites. At similar to 280 Ma, large magma chambers and plumbing systems were formed due to increasing magma supply rate during decompression melting of the mantle plume. This led to the formation of a mafic-ultramafic and felsic association of which the high Nb-Ta type rhyolites are a part. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All right reservedGeochemistry & GeophysicsMineralogySCI(E)[email protected],SI59-7220

Overexpression of YAP 1 contributes to progressive features and poor prognosis of human urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

BACKGROUND: Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP 1), the nuclear effector of the Hippo pathway, is a key regulator of organ size and a candidate human oncogene in multiple tumors. However, the expression dynamics of YAP 1 in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) and its clinical/prognostic significance are unclear. METHODS: In this study, the methods of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were utilized to investigate mRNA/ protein expression of YAP 1 in UCBs. Spearman’s rank correlation, Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Up-regulated expression of YAP 1 mRNA and protein was observed in the majority of UCBs by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, when compared with their paired normal bladder tissues. By IHC, positive expression of YAP 1 was examined in 113/213 (53.1%) of UCBs and in 6/86 (7.0%) of normal bladder specimens tissues. Positive expression of YAP 1 was correlated with poorer differentiation, higher T classification and higher N classification (P < 0.05). In univariate survival analysis, a significant association between positive expression of YAP 1 and shortened patients’ survival was found (P < 0.001). In different subsets of UCB patients, YAP 1 expression was also a prognostic indicator in patients with grade 2 (P = 0.005) or grade 3 (P = 0.046) UCB, and in patients in pT1 (P = 0.013), pT2-4 (P = 0.002), pN- (P < 0.001) or pT2-4/pN- (P = 0.004) stage. Importantly, YAP 1 expression (P = 0.003) together with pT and pN status (P< 0.05) provided significant independent prognostic parameters in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidences that positive expression of YAP 1 in UCB may be important in the acquisition of an aggressive phenotype, and it is an independent biomarker for poor prognosis of patients with UCB

Upconversion Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Mechanism, and Applications in Sensing

Upconversion is an optical process that involves the conversion of lower-energy photons into higher-energy photons. It has been extensively studied since mid-1960s and widely applied in optical devices. Over the past decade, high-quality rare earth-doped upconversion nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized with the rapid development of nanotechnology and are becoming more prominent in biological sciences. The synthesis methods are usually phase-based processes, such as thermal decomposition, hydrothermal reaction, and ionic liquids-based synthesis. The main difference between upconversion nanoparticles and other nanomaterials is that they can emit visible light under near infrared irradiation. The near infrared irradiation leads to low autofluorescence, less scattering and absorption, and deep penetration in biological samples. In this review, the synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles and the mechanisms of upconversion process will be discussed, followed by their applications in different areas, especially in the biological field for biosensing

Leptospira santorosai serovar shermani detergent extract induces an increase in fibronectin production through a toll-like receptor 2-mediated pathway

Leptospirosis can activate inflammatory responses through Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and may cause renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). We have previously demonstrated that Leptospira santorosai serovar Shermani detergent extract stimulates ECM accumulation in vitro. The aim of this study was to examine the mechanistic basis of these previous observations and, in particular, to examine the potential involvement of TLRs. The addition of serovar Shermani detergent extract led to an increase in fibronectin gene expression and production. Inhibition of TLR2 but not TLR4 expression abrogated serovar Shermani detergent extract-mediated increases in fibronectin production. This response was also blocked by the knockdown of the gene expression of the TLR2 downstream transducers myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6). Serovar Shermani detergent extract also activated nuclear factor-κB, and its inhibition by curcumin-attenuated serovar Shermani detergent extract induced increases in fibronectin production. These effects were also mimicked by the specific TLR2 agonist, Pam(3)CsK(4), a response that was also abrogated by the knockdown of MyD88 and TRAF6. Similarly, the administration of live leptospires to cells also induced fibronectin production that was blocked by inhibition of TLR2 and MyD88 expression. In conclusion, serovar Shermani detergent extract can induce fibronectin production through the TLR2-associated cascade, providing evidence of an association between TLRs and leptospirosis-mediated ECM deposition

ALMA Survey of Orion Planck Galactic Cold Clumps (ALMASOP) : How Do Dense Core Properties Affect the Multiplicity of Protostars?

During the transition phase from a prestellar to a protostellar cloud core, one or several protostars can form within a single gas core. The detailed physical processes of this transition, however, remain unclear. We present 1.3 mm dust continuum and molecular line observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array toward 43 protostellar cores in the Orion molecular cloud complex (lambda Orionis, Orion B, and Orion A) with an angular resolution of similar to 0.'' 35 (similar to 140 au). In total, we detect 13 binary/multiple systems. We derive an overall multiplicity frequency (MF) of 28% +/- 4% and a companion star fraction (CSF) of 51% +/- 6%, over a separation range of 300-8900 au. The median separation of companions is about 2100 au. The occurrence of stellar multiplicity may depend on the physical characteristics of the dense cores. Notably, those containing binary/multiple systems tend to show a higher gas density and Mach number than cores forming single stars. The integral-shaped filament of the Orion A giant molecular cloud (GMC), which has the highest gas density and hosts high-mass star formation in its central region (the Orion Nebula cluster), shows the highest MF and CSF among the Orion GMCs. In contrast, the lambda Orionis GMC has a lower MF and CSF than the Orion B and Orion A GMCs, indicating that feedback from H ii regions may suppress the formation of multiple systems. We also find that the protostars comprising a binary/multiple system are usually at different evolutionary stages.Peer reviewe