Xiaoqin Zhang, Tao Tong, Bin Tian, Yunxia Fang, Jiangjie Pan, Junjun Zheng and Dawei Xue*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.88, No.3, pp. 253-260, 2019, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2019.06143

Abstract Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most Aluminum (Al) sensitive cereal species. In this study, the physiological, biochemical, and molecular response of barley seedlings to Al treatment was examined to gain insight into Al response and tolerance mechanisms. The results showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity were inhibited to different degrees following Al exposure. The MDA content also significantly increased with increasing Al concentrations. SRAP results indicated significant differences between Al treatments and controls in terms of SRAP profile, and the genomic template stability (GTS) decreased with increasing Al concentration and duration. These… More >

Xiachen Lv^1,#, Yunxia Fang^1,#, Lantian Zhang¹, Weiyi Zhang¹, Ling Xu¹, Jingjin Han¹, Bailing Jin², Xian Zhang¹, Xiaoqin Zhang^1,*, Dawei Xue^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.88, No.2, pp. 91-100, 2019, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2019.06622

Abstract Melatonin (MLT) is a hormonal substance found in many organisms and can improve plant stress resistance. In this study, the japonica rice variety Y32 and indica rice variety NJ6 were cultivated in hydroponics under different concentrations of CdCl₂ at the two-leaf stage. The growth, physiological and biochemical responses of the seedlings and the expression of cadmium (Cd)-related genes under exogenous melatonin (MLT) treatment were assessed. The results indicated that Cd stress destroyed the dynamic balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and removal, resulting in ROS accumulation, membrane lipid peroxidation, and impaired growth and development. Following the application of exogenous… More >

S. Najmeh Aboutorabi¹, Majid Nasiriboroum,^2,*, Pourya Mohammadi¹, Hassan Sheibani^1,*, Hossein Barani³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.8, pp. 787-794, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.06438

Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by a bio-reduction method using an aqueous extract of mullein leaves (Verbascum thapsus L.) functioning as reducing as well as a stabilizing agent. Various synthesis parameters such as reaction time, temperature and concentration of the extract were also studied for the synthesis of AgNPs. The so prepared AgNPs were characterized by various techniques including UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (equipped with energy dispersive analysis of X-rays), and transmission electron microscopy. The electron microscopy images suggest the formation of polydispersed spherical AgNPs with average particle size of about 20 nm. The kinetic analysis revealed… More >

Virginia Aragon Sanabria¹, Cheng Dong^*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.15, No.1, pp. 1-19, 2018, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2018.015.001

Abstract Endothelial barrier function is critical for tissue homeostasis throughout the body. Disruption of the endothelial monolayer leads to edema, vascular diseases and even cancer metastasis among other pathological conditions. Breakdown of the endothelial barrier integrity triggered by cytokines (e.g.IL-8,IL-1β) and growth factors (e.g.VEGF) is well documented. However, endothelial cells are subject to major biomechanical forces that affect their behavior. Due to their unique location at the interface between circulating blood and surrounding tissues, endothelial cells experience shear stress, strain and contraction forces. More than three decades ago, it was already appreciated that shear flow caused endothelial cells alignment in the… More >

F. S. Tabatabaei^∗, M. Jazayeri^†, P. Ghahari^‡, N. Haghighipour^§

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 209-220, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.209

Abstract During orthodontic treatments, applied mechanical forces create strain and result in tooth movement through the alveolar bone. This response to mechanical strain is a fundamental biological reaction. The present study evaluated the effect of equiaxial strain within the range of orthodontic forces on the osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Following isolation and culture of hDPSCs, 3rd passage cells were transferred on a silicone membrane covered with collagen. Cell adhesion to the membrane was evaluated under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Cells were divided into three groups: the first group was placed in a conventional culture medium, transferred… More >

Hong Qian^∗, Hao Ge^†

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.9, No.1, pp. 1-30, 2012, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2012.009.001

Abstract Biochemical reaction systems in mesoscopic volume, under sustained environmental chemical gradient(s), can have multiple stochastic attractors. Two distinct mechanisms are known for their origins: (a) Stochastic single-molecule events, such as gene expression, with slow gene on-off dynamics; and (b) nonlinear networks with feedbacks. These two mechanisms yield different volume dependence for the sojourn time of an attractor. As in the classic Arrhenius theory for temperature dependent transition rates, a landscape perspective provides a natural framework for the system's behavior. However, due to the nonequilibrium nature of the open chemical systems, the landscape, and the attractors it represents, are all themselves… More >