In the first (forward) stage reflectance spectra corresponding to given instances of the parameter values were computed using Monte Carlo simulation of photon propagation through a multi-layered tissue. In the second (inversion) stage the parameter values were obtained via optimization using an iterated conditional modes algorithm based on Discrete Markov Random Fields. The method was validated on computer generated data contaminated with noise giving a mean normalized root mean square deviation (NRMSD) of 2.04. Validation on ex vivo images demonstrated

that parametric maps show gross correspondence with histological features of mucosa characteristic of cancerous, precancerous and noncancerous colon lesions. The key signs of abnormality were shown to be the increase in the blood volume fraction and NU7441 DNA Damage inhibitor decrease in the density of scattering particles.”
“This study was undertaken to investigate the herbicidal activity of mango (Mangifera indica L.) leaves against parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.). The aqueous leaf extract at 15% concentration (on fresh weight basis) significantly

reduced germination, shoot length and the shoot and root biomasses of parthenium seedlings. In a leaf residue incorporation pot trial, 2% residue incorporation treatment significantly suppressed the root and shoot biomasses of parthenium, while a 5% residue treatment completely stopped the growth of the weed. Five flavonoids, namely this website (-)-epicatechin-3-O–glucopyranoside (1), 5-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)pyrano[3,2-g]chromene-4(8H)-one (2), 6-(p-hydroxybenzyl)taxifolin-7-O–D-glucoside (tricuspid) (3), quercetin-3-O–glucopyranosyl-(1 2)–D-glucopyranoside (4) and (-)-epicatechin(2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H chromene-3,5,7-triol (5) were isolated from mango leaves. In a laboratory bioassay, 50 ppm solution of compounds 3 and 4 caused yellowing of the parthenium seedlings. A 250 ppm solution of compound 4 also significantly reduced germination and the root and buy CT99021 shoot lengths of parthenium seedlings. This study concludes that compound 4 exhibits herbicidal activity against parthenium

weed.”
“Ligularia achyrotricha (Diels) Ling has been used as a traditional Tibetan herbal medicine. Ligulachyroine A (1), a new twelve-membered macrocyclic pyrrolizidine alkaloid with a ketonic group located at C-3 and an hydroxy group linked at C-8, was isolated from the roots of L. achyrotricha. It is particularly noteworthy that the structure of 1 rarely appears in any other naturally occurring twelve-membered macrocyclic pyrrolizidine alkaloid reported to date. Three known lignans (2-4) and eight known coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol derivatives (5-12) were also obtained in this species. Their structures were elucidated through a careful analysis of their IR, MS, and NMR spectra. Compound 1 exhibited moderate activity against HL-60 and SMMC-7721 cells.