Multiplicative preservers of C-numerical ranges and radii on certain groups and semigroups of complex n × n matrices are characterized. The general and special linear groups are considered, as well as the semigroups of matrices having ranks not exceeding k, with k fixed in advance. For a fixed C, it turns out that typically the multiplicative preservers of the C-numerical range (or radius) have...

Intracellular calcium transients in skeletal muscle cells initiate phenotypic adaptations via activation of calcineurin and its effector nuclear factor of activated t-cells (NFAT). Furthermore, endogenous production of nitric oxide (NO) via calcium-calmodulin-dependent NO synthase (NOS) is involved in skeletal muscle phenotypic plasticity. Here, we provide evidence that NO enhances calcium-depe...

Interferon-gamma (Ifnγ), a key macrophage activating cytokine, plays pleiotropic roles in host immunity. In this study, the ability of Ifnγ to induce the aggregation of resident mouse adherent peritoneal exudate cells (APECs), consisting primarily of macrophages, was investigated. Cell-cell interactions involve adhesion molecules and, upon addition of Ifnγ, CD11b re-localizes preferentially to ...

The solution behaviour of the square-planar gold(III) complex [Au(dien)Cl]Cl(2) (dien = 1,5- diamino-3-azapentane) was investigated by (13)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. We have found that (1)H NMR spectra of [Au(dien)Cl] Cl(2) are characterised by exchange behaviour over the whole pH range, and some exchange effects are also seen in (13)C NMR spectra of the deprotonated hydroxo derivative of th...

Pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, a precursor of polyurethane, was synthesized with 75% yield by permethylation diethylenetriamine methanol over composite copper catalysts.

Oxalato-bridged divalent homometallic compounds A(2)[M(II)(2)(C(2)O(4))(3)] (M(II) = Fe(2+) (1), Co(2+) (2)) were obtained by a solvothermal method. They consist of honeycomb anions and cations, that is, the 5-oxo-1,4,7-triazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-6-en-7-yl ammonium ion (hereafter abbreviated as A(1)) in 1 and the 2-(2,3-dioxo-1-piperazinyl)eth-1-yl ammonium ion (hereafter abbreviated as A(2)) in 2...

Nitric oxide has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. However, it is still unclear whether nitric oxide plays a protective role or is deleterious. We have previously shown that peroxynitrite, a reaction product of nitric oxide and superoxide, is toxic to mature oligodendrocytes (OLs). The toxicity is mediated by intracellular zinc release, phosphorylation of extracellular ...

Adult human cardiac mesenchymal-like stromal cells (CStC) represent a relatively accessible cell type useful for therapy. In this light, their conversion into cardiovascular precursors represents a potential successful strategy for cardiac repair. The aim of the present work was to reprogram CStC into functionally competent cardiovascular precursors using epigenetically active small molecules. ...

It has previously been reported that uterine nitric oxide (NO) production is enhanced during rat pregnancy compared to non-pregnant, labouring or postpartum states. The present hypothesis is that these changes in uterine NO production during pregnancy are caused by the interplay of oestrogen and progesterone. It is further postulated that changes in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) product...