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Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) powder spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times (T(1)) are used to measure the deuterium quadrupolar coupling constants (QCCs) chi(BD) and chi(ND) and to investigate the molecular reorientation of the BD(3) and ND(3) groups in solid deuterated borane monoammoniate, BD(3)NH(3) and BH(3)ND(3), respectively. In the high-temperature, tetragonal, phase (above 225 K) the following Arrhenius parameters are obtained from the temperature-dependent T(1): E(a) = 5.9 +/- 0.5 kJ/mol and tau(infinity) = 1.1 x 10(-)(13) s for BD(3)NH(3); E(a) = 7.3 +/- 0.8 kJ/mol and tau(infinity) = 4.4 x 10(-)(14) s for BH(3)ND(3). In the low-temperature, orthorhombic, phase the following parameters are obtained: E(a) = 26.4 +/- 1.4 kJ/mol and tau(infinity) = 1.2 x 10(-)(17) s for BD(3)NH(3); E(a) = 13.7 +/- 0.9 kJ/mol and tau(infinity) = 5.7 x 10(-)(15) s for BH(3)ND(3). Here tau(infinity) is proportional to the inverse of the usual Arrhenius preexponential factor, A. Deuterium line shape measurements for the low-temperature phase of BD(3)NH(3) yield E(a) = 25 +/- 2 kJ/mol and tau(infinity) = 4.7 x 10(-)(19) s. These dynamic factors indicate that the molecule is probably undergoing whole molecule rotation above the phase transition but the BH(3) and NH(3) groups are undergoing uncorrelated motion in the low-temperature phase. Deuterium quadrupolar coupling constants of 105 +/- 10 and 200 +/- 10 kHz were determined for BD(3)NH(3) and BH(3)ND(3), respectively. Molecular orbital (MO) calculations (CI(SD)/6-31G(d,p)//MP2/6-31G(d,p)) for the isolated molecule yield values of 143 and 255 kHz. MO calculations also show that the deuterium quadrupolar coupling constants chi(BD) and chi(ND) are relatively insensitive to all molecular structural parameters except the B-H and N-H bond lengths, respectively. It is suggested that the large decrease in the QCC on going from the gas phase to the solid state may be due to a slight lengthening of the B-H and N-H bonds, possibly a result of attractive B-H.H-N interactions.

BackgroundThe crude extract of the fruit bearing plant, Physalis peruviana (golden berry), demonstrated anti-hepatoma and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the cellular mechanism involved in this process is still unknown.MethodsHerein, we isolated the main pure compound, 4β-Hydroxywithanolide (4βHWE) derived from golden berries, and investigated its antiproliferative effect on a human lung cancer cell line (H1299) using survival, cell cycle, and apoptosis analyses. An alkaline comet-nuclear extract (NE) assay was used to evaluate the DNA damage due to the drug.ResultsIt was shown that DNA damage was significantly induced by 1, 5, and 10 μg/mL 4βHWE for 2 h in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.005). A trypan blue exclusion assay showed that the proliferation of cells was inhibited by 4βHWE in both dose- and time-dependent manners (p < 0.05 and 0.001 for 24 and 48 h, respectively). The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 4βHWE in H1299 cells for 24 and 48 h were 0.6 and 0.71 μg/mL, respectively, suggesting it could be a potential therapeutic agent against lung cancer. In a flow cytometric analysis, 4βHWE produced cell cycle perturbation in the form of sub-G1 accumulation and slight arrest at the G2/M phase with 1 μg/mL for 12 and 24 h, respectively. Using flow cytometric and annexin V/propidium iodide immunofluorescence double-staining techniques, these phenomena were proven to be apoptosis and complete G2/M arrest for H1299 cells treated with 5 μg/mL for 24 h.ConclusionsIn this study, we demonstrated that golden berry-derived 4βHWE is a potential DNA-damaging and chemotherapeutic agent against lung cancer.

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Protoapigenone, isolated from the native fern plant Thelypteris torresiana, has anticancer activity against some cancer cells. However, the toxicological mechanism for protoapigenone is still unknown. Here, we investigated the anticancer effect of protoapigenone on human lung cancer cell lines. The comet assay showed that DNA damage induced by protoapigenone is dose-dependent. Trypan blue exclusion showed that the cell killing by protoapigenone is both time and dose dependent. The IC(50) of protoapigenone for 12, 24, and 48 h in H1299 cells is 6.11, 2.74, and 1.49 microM, respectively. Flow cytometry showed cell cycle perturbation such as sub-G(1) accumulation (at 1.57 microM for 48 h and at 3.57 microM for 12 and 24 h) and G(2)/M arrest (at 3.57 microM for 12 and 24 h) for protoapigenone. The sub-G(1) accumulation phenomena in the 3.57 microM for 24 h sample were shown to be apoptosis using Annexin V-immunofluorescence/propidium iodide staining. These results suggest protoapigenone is a potential chemotherapeutic agent for lung cancers.

Knowledge management (KM) is important in the Taiwan business world. Only 0.1% of SMEs, however, have been guided by the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration (SMEA) to introduce knowledge management from 1993 through 2008. The population of KM‐implementing SMEs is low. The climate of knowledge sharing has been recognized as the critical factor to successful KM. According to the research results obtained in this study, relation‐based motivation is positively related to one's intention to share knowledge. Individual workers can have increased relation‐based motivation to become leaders of SMEs building the culture of interpersonal trust and offering group‐based reward mechanisms in an organization. This research can help business managers to identify the motivational elements that can encourage investment and propose pragmatic suggestions for introducing initiatives to reinvigorate the number of SMEs implementing KM in Taiwan. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.