Liquid crystals are promising materials for optical switching and image storage because of their high resolution sensitivity. Azobenzene liquid (LCs) have been developed, in which azobenzene moieties play roles as both mesogens photosensitive chromophores. LC films showed a nematic phase trans isomers no cis isomers. Trans-cis photoisomerization with laser pulse resulted nematic-to-isotropic transition rapid response 200 microseconds.

BACKGROUND: There is broad human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemical widely used for the production of plastic products. BPA reported affect preimplantation embryos or fetuses and alter their postnatal development at doses typically found in environment. We measured contamination various kinds biological fluids by a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from healthy premenopausal women, women with early full-term...

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is known to mediate the hydrolysis not only of triacylglycerol stored in adipose tissue but also cholesterol esters adrenals, ovaries, testes, and macrophages. To elucidate its precise role development obesity steroidogenesis, we generated HSL knockout mice by homologous recombination embryonic stem cells. Mice homozygous for mutant allele (HSL−/−) were superficially normal except that males sterile because oligospermia. HSL−/− did have hypogonadism or adrenal...

Freestanding azobenzene‐containing liquid‐crystalline gel films that undergo a significant and anisotropic bending toward the irradiation direction when exposed to UV light have been prepared. When bent are visible they unbend immediately, initial flat restored (see Figure Inside front cover).

This study was performed to investigate the serum levels of bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, in women with ovarian dysfunction and obesity. Fasting samples were obtained from 19 non-obese 7 obese normal menstrual cycles: patients hyperprolactinemia, 21 hypothalamic amenorrhea, 13 6 polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). BPA measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. detected all human sera. Serum concentrations significantly higher both (1.05 ± 0.10 ng/ml, 1.17 0.16 ng/ml; p<0.05,...

Hoping to get more insight into a role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), putative substance involved in the development preeclampsia, we measured concentrations soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1), natural antagonist VEGF, serum from women with (n = 31) and without 52) preeclampsia. The sVEGFR-1 preeclampsia (median 7791 pg/mL) were > 6-fold higher than those control (1132 pg/mL, p < 0.0001). levels decreased markedly after delivery both groups. Serum non-preeclamptic positively...

Abstract This review provides an overview of the current state‐of‐the‐art emerging field flexible multifunctional sensors for wearable and robotic applications. In these application sectors, there is a demand high sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility, mechanical flexibility, low cost. The ability to empower robots future electronic skin (e‐skin) with resolution, rapid response sensing capabilities interest broad range applications including healthcare devices, biomedical prosthesis,...

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates the proliferation of various mammalian cells in culture, but its physiological role is not well defined. In mature male mice, large amounts EGF are produced submandibular gland; it present circulation at approximately 5 nanograms per milliliter plasma. Sialoadenectomy (removal glands) decreased amount circulating to an undetectable level did affect levels testosterone or follicle-stimulating hormone. The number sperm epididymis by as much 55 percent;...

Bisphenol A (BPA), a monomer of plastic used in consumer products, is abundant the environment and enters body by ingestion or adsorption. We developed cell based transcription assay system using reporter gene under transcriptional control estrogen receptor α (ERα) as well ERβ performed chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) on HeLa cells transfected with either human ERα cDNA to characterize estrogenic effect BPA. Estrogenic activity BPA was detectable at concentration 10-9M increased dose...

Chromophores based on a donor−acceptor−donor structure possessing large two-photon absorption cross section and one or two mono-aza-15-crown-5 ether moieties, which can bind metal cations, have been synthesized. The influence of Mg2+ binding their one- spectroscopic properties has investigated. Upon binding, the action sections at 810 nm decrease by factor up to 50 high concentrations this results in contrast excited fluorescence signal between bound unbound forms, for excitation range 730...

Current studies have shown that atresia of ovarian follicles is induced through apoptosis in granulosa cells. Several articles been devoted to study the molecular mechanisms responsible for APO-1/CD95 (Fas) a cell surface protein can mediate lymphoid cells, and Fas ligand was recently identified cytotoxic T line. To clarify involvement Fas-Fas system apoptosis, we investigated expression at an individual level. For this purpose, raised specific polyclonal antibodies against ligand. Western...

The mouse Peg1/Mest gene is an imprinted that expressed particularly in mesodermal tissues early embryonic stages. It was the most abundant among eight paternally genes (Peg 1–8) isolated by a subtraction-hybridization method from embryonal cDNA library. has been mapped to proximal chromosome 6, maternal duplication of which causes lethality. human chromosomal region shares syntenic homology with this 7q21-qter, and uniparental disomy 7 (UPD 7) apparent growth deficiency slight morphological...

Optical switching behavior of low-molecular-weight and polymer azobenzene liquid crystals (LCs) was explored by means reflection-mode analysis. Reflectivity changed on pulse irradiation under various conditions orientations LC molecules with respect to incident probe light, either s-polarization or p-polarization. For the LCs, we obtained a response time 100 μs, which very similar that observed in transmission-mode analysis, while decay 1 ms, significantly shorter than The fast may be due...

Modulation of light by as stimulus has been explored the use liquid-crystalline (LC) materials with photosensitive moieties. Azobenzene derivatives monomeric and polymeric forms were prepared, which show nematic (N) LC behavior in trans form no phase cis isomer. Photoirradiation a very thin film azobenzene (∼200 nm) resulted disappearance N because trans−cis photoisomerization each mesogen, recovered quickly when irradiated sample was kept dark whole temperature range where LCs showed...

In order to investigate the localization of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ERbeta in reproductive organs rat, polyclonal antibodies were raised each specific amino acid sequence. The Western blot with anti-ERalpha antibody showed a 66 kDa band rat ovary uterus, while that anti-ERbeta detected 55 ovary, uterus prostate. ligand-independent nuclear two receptors was verified by immunocytochemistry. By immunohistochemistry, nuclei glandular luminal epithelial cells stained antibody, whereas...

Bisphenol A (BPA), a monomer of plastic used in consumer products, is abundant the environment and enters body by ingestion or adsorption. In order to characterize estrogenic effect BPA, we performed luciferase assay on three independent cell lines derived from different tissues transfected with either human ERα cDNA ERβ cDNA. The activities BPA were detectable all via both ERβ. 293T cells Hec-1 cells, significantly decreased when expressing incubated 10-6 M presence 10-8 17β-estradiol (E2)...

Polydomain films of liquid crystalline polymer (MACB-AB6) with low content (6 mol %) azobenzene units were prepared and irradiated linearly polarized light at 366 nm, thus inducing an alignment the photochromic side groups as well nonphotoactive mesogens, cyanobiphenyl groups. An induced order parameter, S, was obtained from UV IR spectroscopy, it increased increase in temperature first then decreased due to phase transition. The effect intensity on behavior has been investigated detail....

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been raised in relation its potential for adverse health outcomes. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogenic EDC widely found plastic products. We determined BPA concentrations premenopausal women by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and evaluated possible linkage between contamination levels endometrial hyperplasia, estrogen-related disorder of the uterus. It implied that higher BPA, which binds estrogen receptor plays roles may, enhance...

Problem: Endometriosis accompanies local inflammatory reactions in the peritoneal cavity. We examined phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), i.e. extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAPK (p38) and c‐Jun N‐terminal (JNK) endometriotic stromal cells, their possible pathophysiological roles endometriosis relation to proinflammatory substances. Method study: Endometriotic cells were isolated from endometriomas cultured for experiments. Phosphorylation MAPKs...