In a recent work [FR], Frenkel and Reshetikhin developed the theory of q-vertex operators. They showed that n-point correlation functions associated to q-vertex operators satisfy a qdifference equation called q-deformed Kniznik-Zamolodchikov equation. In the derivation of this equation, a crucial point is that the quantum affine algebra is a quasi-triangular Hopf algebra. By using several prope...

Endothelin (ET)-1 is one of the most potent agonists of airway smooth muscle and can act via two different ET receptor subtypes, i.e., ETA and ETB. To determine the effects of ET-1 on in vivo pulmonary function and which ET receptors are involved in murine lungs, we investigated 1) the effects of ET and sarafotoxin S6c (S6c), a selective ETB agonist, on pulmonary function and 2) the effects of ...

Betel nut (BN), betel quid (BQ) and products derived from them are widely used as a socially endorsed masticatory product. The addictive nature of BN/BQ has resulted in its widespread usage making it the fourth most abused substance by humans. Progressively, several additives, including chewing tobacco, got added to simple BN preparations. This addictive practice has been shown to have strong e...

Global reports estimate 600 million betel quid (BQ) chewers. BQ chewing has been demonstrated not only to be a risk factor for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) but also to cause other cancers and adverse health effects. Herein, we summarized the international comparison data to aid in the understanding of the close relationship between the p...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of salvianolic acid B (SA-B) on portal hypertension induced by endothelin-1 in rats. METHODS Twenty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: ET-1 group, ET-1+SA-B group, ET-1+ET(A)R blocker (BQ-123) group and ET-1+ET(B)R blocker (BQ-788) group. The rats of ET-1+SA-B group underwent intragastrical administration of salvianolic acid ...

BACKGROUND Due to its use of ionising radiation, the field of nuclear medicine is a unique and significant part of medical diagnostics and patient treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the internal exposure of nuclear medicine employees to radioiodine 131I and technetium 99mTc as well as to assess the external exposure doses. MATERIAL AND METHODS The radioiodine 131I and technetium 9...

This work presents a joint theoretical and experimental characterization of the structural and electronic properties of two tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based acceptor-donor-acceptor triads (BQTTF-BQ and BTCNQ-TTF-BTCNQ, where BQ is naphthoquinone and BTCNQ is benzotetracyano-p-quinodimethane) in their neutral and reduced states. The study is performed making use of electrochemical, electron parama...

The effect of various proton-donors on the electrochemical reduction of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) was investigated in acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide and methylene chloride. Three representative types of acids, protonated amines, carboxylic acids and phenol derivatives, were used as proton-donors to cover a wide range of pKa. As a proton-donor is added, a new peak appears and the magnitude of the p...

A novel integrated biosensor for biotoxicity assay has been developed by co-immobilizing microorganisms and mediators within a novel redox hydrogel. The proposed redox hydrogel acts as an immobilizing matrix both for microorganism E. coli and redox mediator, which was prepared by grafting the benzoquinone (BQ) redox mediator with gelatin/silica hybrid hydrogel (GSH). This redox hydrogel was cha...

This study presents the first electrochemical characterization of the pyranose oxidase (POx) variant N593C (herein called POx-C), which is considered a promising candidate for future glucose-sensing applications. The resulting cyclic voltammograms obtained in the presence of various concentrations of glucose and mediator (1,4-benzoquinone, BQ), as well as the control experiments by addition of ...