A methodology is given to solve the problem, and results on specific examples (periodic and random rough surfaces) are discussed in order to support the method. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3552920]“
“In contrast to animals, plants maintain highly plastic growth and development throughout their life, which enables them to adapt to environmental fluctuations. Phytohormones coordinately regulate these adaptations by integrating environmental inputs

into a complex signalling network. In this review, the focus is on the rapid elongation that occurs in response to canopy shading or submergence, and current knowledge selleck and recent advances in deciphering the network of phytohormone signalling that regulates this response are explored. The review concentrates on the involvement of the phytohormones auxins,

gibberellins, cytokinins, and ethylene. Despite the occurrence of considerable gaps in current understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms, it was possible to identify a network of phytohormone signalling intermediates at multiple levels that regulates elongation growth in response to canopy shade or submergence. Based on the observations that there are spatial and temporal differences in the interactions of phytohormones, the importance of more integrative approaches for future studies is highlighted.”
“Stroke is a major see more human health problem inducing long-term disability without any efficient therapeutic option being currently available. Under hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) activates several genes as erythropoietin receptor (Epo-R) related with O-2 supply, and

the multidrug-resistance gene (MDR-1) related with drug-refractory phenotype. Brain cortical injection of CoCl2 produces focal hypoxia-like lesion with neuronal and glial alterations, as well as HIF-1 alpha stabilization DNA Damage inhibitor and MDR-1 overexpression. Intranasal (IN) drug delivery can by-pass blood-brain barrier (BBB) where MDR-1 is normally expressed. We evaluated the effects of IN-rHu-Epo administration on spontaneous motor activity (SMA) and the brain pattern expression of HIF-1 alpha, MDR-1, and Epo-R in our cobalt-induced hypoxia model. Adult male Wistar rats were injected by stereotaxic surgery in frontoparietal cortex, with CoCl2 (2 mu l-50 mM; n = 20) or saline (controls; n = 20). Ten rats of each group were treated with IN-rHu-Epo 24 U or IN-saline. In addition, erythropoietic stimulation was evaluated by reticulocytes (Ret) account during three consecutive days, after intraperitoneal (i.p.)-recombinant-human Epo (rHu-Epo) (950 U; n = 6) or IN-rHu-Epo (24 U; n = 6) administration.