Effect of extracts from safflower seeds on osteoblast differentiation and intracellular calcium ion concentration in MC3T3-E1 cells

Although safflower seeds have long been used in Korea as herbal medicines, very little research has been published on the effects of safflower seed on bone formation or bone density. The study reported here therefore examined bone nodule formation, calcium uptake, alkaline phosphatase activity, and intracellular concentration of calcium ion [Ca(2+)](i) in murine osteoblastic cells of the MC3T3-E1 line that were cultured on modified Eagle's minimal essential medium alone (controls) or with addition of 0.1% crude extract of safflower seed (experimental group I) or 0.1% aqueous fraction of safflower seed (experimental group II). Fluorescence spectrometry measurement of ([Ca(2+)](i)) showed significantly accelerated rates of osteoblast differentiation in experimental group I (3 microL of crude extract in 8 x 10(4) cells) and experimental group II (2 microL of aqueous fraction in 8 x 10(4) cells) compared to the control group.     

A highly E-stereoselective approach to beta-iodo Morita-Baylis-Hillman esters: synthesis of secokotomolide A

A geometric-selective synthesis of (E)-beta-iodo Morita-Baylis-Hillman esters has been developed through a three-component aldol-type reaction using BF3.Et2O and TMS-I. The synthetic utility of the (E)-beta-iodo Morita-Baylis-Hillman esters was demonstrated in the first reported short synthesis of secokotomolide A.     

Calix[4]thiacrowns as ditopic hosts for homo- and heterobinuclear accommodation: first report of a chopsticks-type pi-coordination

[reaction: see text] Calix[4]thiacrowns with hetero-L(1) and a homodonor set (L(2)) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray analysis. From the reaction of L(2) with AgPF(6), disilver complex [Ag(2)(L(2))](PF(6))(2) (1) was isolated. By comparing 1,3-alternate conformations of L(2) and 1, we found a considerable decrease of dihedral angles of two opposite aromatic rings upon complexation. This finding can be explained in terms of the "chopsticks process", which illustrates how Ag(+)-arene pi-coordination occurs. Heterobinuclear complexation of L(1) in solution was also observed.     

Transformations of (-)-myrtenal epoxide over askanite-bentonite clay

Acid-catalyzed transformations of (-)-myrtenal epoxide over askanite-bentonite clay involve skeletal rearrangements of the pinane framework, leading to an optically active dialdehyde (an analog of campholenic aldehyde), aldehydes having a p-menthane skeleton, and an unusual optically active aldehyde with a bicyclo[3.2.1]octene skeleton.     

Quasi-Isentropic Compression of a Nonideal Plasma of Deuterium and its Mixture with Helium at Pressures up to 250 GPa

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics - We present data on the quasi-isentropic compressibility of a strongly coupled (nonideal) plasma of a deuterium–helium mixture in the range of...     

Photocatalytic activity of a mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Ni composite in the generation of hydrogen from aqueous ethanol systems

TiO₂/Ni metal-semiconductor composites were prepared from mesoporous titanium dioxide obtained by sol-gel precipitation in the presence of a structure-forming template. The photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO₂/Ni composites in the generation of hydrogen from aqueous ethanol mixtures was discovered and studied in detail.__________Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimentalnaya Khimiya, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 24–29, January–February, 2005.     

Synthesis and biological activity of fluorine-containing amino derivatives based on 4-caranethiol

Fluorine-containing N-substituted sulfinamides were synthesized via 4-caranethiol-based sulfenimines and sulfinimines. Stereochemical features of oxidation of sulfenimines and addition of fluorine-containing reagents to sulfinimines were discussed. Antimicrobial activities of the obtained compounds were screened.     

Reflection of Reflections: Scientist’s Activity in the Mirror of Bibliometrics

Using data form Chemical Abstracts Plus, Web of Science, Scopus, and Russian Science Citation Index, a bibliometric and thematic analysis of scientific publications by V.A. Parmon, full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, is made.     

Kinetics of Curing of Epoxy Oligomer by Diaminodiphenyl Sulfone: Rheology and Calorimetry

Diaminodiphenyl sulfone is used as a curing agent to obtain an epoxy-resin-based binder with improved thermal stability. The kinetics of curing of this composition is studied by rheokinetic and calorimetric methods. It is shown that complete conversion is attained at a temperature of 200°С or higher. The rate of viscosity increase in the course of time in curing under flow conditions does not depend on the shear rate; the viscosity changes monotonically. The curing reaction occurs in the homogeneous mode without separation of a crosslinked polymer; it is described by a second-order equation with self-deceleration at low temperatures. The rheokinetic characteristics and temperature dependences of kinetic parameters of the process are determined.