Abstract To study the effects of prolactin (PRL) in pituitary on the reproduction of the Striped Hamsters via the photoperiods. Mature female striped hamsters were raised under various photoperiods to study the differential expression pattern of PRL in pituitary, and prolactin receptor (PRLR) in the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary. Photoperiods affect the pituitary PRL mRNA level and pituitary, hypothalamus and ovaries PRLR mRNA levels in striped hamsters. Positive correlations of PRL mRNA expression in the pituitary with that of PRLR in hypothalamus and ovaries, and that of GnRH in hypothalamus were determined. The serum concentration of PRL, FSH, LH and GnRH were significantly different among the striped hamsters from different photoperiods. Serum concentration of PRL is positively correlated with that of FSH, LH and GnRH of the striped hamsters. Photoperiod was important environment factor modulating the expression profile of PRL and PRLR in the striped hamsters.

Prolactin (PRL) plays critical roles in regulation of biological functions with the binding of specific prolactin receptor (PRLR). Revealing the expression patterns of PRLR at different developmental stages is beneficial to better understand the role of PRL and its mechanism of action in striped hamsters. In this study, the cDNA sequence of PRLR (2866-base-pairs) was harvested from the pituitary of mature female striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) that contains an 834-base-pair 5′-untranslated region (1-834 bp), a 1848-base-pair open reading frame (835-2682 bp), and a 184-base-pair 3′-untranslated region (2683-2866). The 1848-base-pair open reading frame encodes a mature prolactin-binding protein of 592 amino acids. In the mature PRLR, two prolactin-binding motifs, 12 cysteines, and five potential Asn-linked glycosylation sites were detected. Our results showed that the PRLR mRNA quantity in the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovaries, or testis was developmental-stage-dependent, with the highest level at sub-adult stage and the lowest level at old stage. We also found that PRLR mRNAs were highest in pituitary, medium level in hypothalamus, and lowest in ovaries or testis. PRLR mRNAs were significantly higher in males than in females, except in the hypothalamus and pituitary from 7-week-old striped hamsters. Moreover, the PRLR mRNAs in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries or testis were positively correlated with the expression levels of GnRH in the hypothalamus. These results indicated that the PRLR has conserved domain in striped hamster, but also possesses specific character. PRLR has multiple biological functions including positively regulating reproduction in the striped hamster.

The context-aware concept is to reduce the gap between users and information systems so that the information systems actively get to understand users' context and demand and in return provide users with better experience. This study integrates the concept of context-aware with association algorithms to establish the context-aware recommendation systems (CARS). The CARS contains three modules and provides the product recommendations for users with their smartphone. First, the simple RSSI Indoor localization module (SRILM) locates the user position and detects the context information surrounding around users. Second, the Apriori recommendation module (ARM) provides effective recommended product information for users through association rules mining. The appropriate product information can be received effectiveness and greatly enhanced the recommendation service.

An efficient, convenient and inexpensive CuI-catalyzed method for the synthesis of 1,2-dichlorovinylphosphine oxides from substituted phosphites, diphenylphosphine oxide and 1,2-dichloroethyne has been developed in moderate-good yields, and the reactions provided mainly regioselective anti addition products.

A chemical study of the EtOAc-soluble ethanolic extract of Monascus kaoliang BCRC 31506 (Eurotiaceae) fermented rice led to the isolation of a new furan-3-one derivative along with 9 known compounds, monascin (2), ankaflavin (3), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (4), vanillic acid (5), 4-acetonyl-3,5-dimethoxy-p-quinol (6), (+)-ß-eudesmol (7), trans-phytol (8), aesculetin dimethyl ether (9) and (-)-matairesinol (10). Structure 1 is proposed for monascuskaoliaone on the basis of spectroscopic evidence (NMR, UV, IR, and HRMS). None of the compounds exhibited significant scavenging activity toward DPPH radical in bioautography or spectroscopic assays.

Anhydrous p-aminobenzene sulphonic acid mediated solvent-free protocol is described for the synthesis of dihydropyrimidi-nones by the cyclocondensation of aldehydes, β-ketoesters and urea/thiourea. Yields obtained are significantly higher than those obtained utilizing classical Biginelli reaction conditions.

The mycelia of Antrodia cinnamomea (BCRC 36799) were extracted and four compounds were purified: one new benzoquinone, 5-methyl-benzo[1,3]dioxole-4,7-dione (1), one new benzenoid, isobutylphenol (2), along with two known benzoquinone derivatives, 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl[1,4]benzoquinone (3), 2-methoxy-5-methyl[1,4]benzoquinone (4). Their structures were elucidated by intensive MS and 2D NMR study. These compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activities in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and supero xide radical scavenging assay. Preliminary antioxidant activity data revealed that compound 4 showed a poor radical scavenging activity