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Phytoremediation technology can help achieve moderate cost and considerable effect with respect to the remediation of heavy metal (HM) pollution in soil and water. Many previous studies have suggested the role of nitrogen (N) in the alleviation of effects of HM on plants. Herein, we sought to determine the molecular mechanisms by which additional N supplementation mitigates cadmium (Cd) toxicity in poplars using a combination of physiological, transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic analyses. The application of N can alleviate the toxicity of Cd to Populus by reducing chlorophyll degradation, maintaining the stability of ions inside and outside the cell membrane and increasing the soluble sugar content. Plant samples from the control, Cd stress and Cd_N treatments were used for an integrated analysis of the transcriptome, as well as for phosphoproteomics analysis. Moreover, 1314 differentially expressed genes and 119 differentially expressed kinase genes were discovered. Application of additional N under Cd stress promoted the phosphorylation process. Furthermore, 51 significantly enriched phosphorylated protein sites and 23 differentially expressed kinases were identified using phosphoproteomic and proteomic analyses. Importantly, transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic analyses jointly determined that the application of N could activate corresponding gene expression [ UDP-glucose-dehydrogenase (UGD), GAUT , PME , pectin lyase , UDP-glucose-pyrophosphorylase 2 (UGP2), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), SUS and SPP2 ] and protein phosphorylation (UGP2 and SPS) in the sugar and starch synthesis pathways, which promoted the synthesis of sucrose and soluble sugar and subsequently alleviated the damage caused by Cd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Orosomucoid like-3 (ORMDL3) has been identified to be associated with the development of asthma according to previous studies. However, the definite role of ORMDL3 in the pathogenesis of asthma remains unclear. In this study, we found ORMDL3 was highly expressed in PBMC specimens from childhood asthma patients. Cytokines production and p-ERK/MMP-9 pathway expression was also increased in childhood asthma patients compared with controls. In addition, ORMDL3 overexpression induced IL-6 and IL-8 release and activated p-ERK/MMP-9 pathway in vitro. Increased ORMDL3 expression was observed after treated with 5-Aza-CdR. 5-Aza-CdR decreased the percentage of the CpG island in the ORMDL3 promoter region and increased its promoter activity. In addition, 5-Aza-CdR significantly increased IL-6 and IL-8 levels in NHBE cells while there was no obvious alteration after knocking down ORMDL3. Knockdown of ORMDL3 also significantly decreased the expression of p-ERK/MMP-9 pathway in the presence or absence of 5-Aza-CdR. In conclusion, our study provided novel evidence for the association between ORMDL3 and asthma-associated cytokines. Moreover, DNA methylation plays an important role in ORMDL3-mediated increased IL-6 and IL-8 levels and p-ERK/MMP-9 pathway expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharide extracted from the Maitake mushroom (MP) is considered as a potential anticancer agent. The present study was performed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of MP and vitamin C (VC) alone and in combination on the viability of human neuroglioma M059 K cells in vitro. A combination of MP (1.0 mg/mL) and VC (0.4 mmol/L) led to a 53.10% reduction in cell viability and this treatment induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, and apoptosis occurred in 38.54% of the cells. Results of Hoechst 33258 staining and Western blot showed apoptotic cells appeared and changes in the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (upregulation of Bax and caspase-3, downregulation of Bcl-2, and activation of poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase). Moreover, the activities of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 were enhanced in M059 K cells. The inhibiting effect of combined treatment with MP and VC on M059 K cells indicates the mechanism of anticancer activity involved induction of cell apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the factor endowments and the institution evolution perspectives, offering a conceivable interpretation to the development of Taizhou's out-oriented economy is the main subject of this paper. At the very start, this paper starts off with looking backward the paths of development and summarizing the general situations of Taizhou's out-oriented economy, the main characteristics & patterns of the evolution of out-oriented economy in "Taizhou economical phenomena" are concluded in the part I of this paper. Secondly, based on the above analysis, the part II and the part III of this paper focus on tracing back respectively the factor endowments, such as natural resources, location, human capital and so on, and the institutional environment which are depended on. Finally, this paper defines clearly the essential connotation of the development pattern of Taizhou's out-oriented economy. Namely, according to existing constraints, the paths of the development of Taizhou's out-oriented economy is the optimal choices which have been made by rational Taizhoeumen in every phase of history; then it depends basically on the accumulation of internally private funds, furthermore it not only has carried out creatively the regulations from the upper governments, but also stimulated furthest indigenes to greatest effort.; eventually, it has gained remarkable success by achieving double reciprocations, viz. one is the reciprocation between the local governments and the microeconomic entities, the other is the reciprocation between the special markets and the private economical entities. Consequently, this research shows that, depending mainly on the accumulation of internally private funds, the "mutual aid" local governments and the developed specialized markets, the patterns of the development of Taizhou's out-oriented economy are the optimal choices under existing resources constraints. This unique orbit of the development pattern of out-oriented economy not only provides a mass of very valuable material for academic studies; but also presents west poverty-stricken regions which are highly short of funds and entrepreneurs with the guide to develop local economics relying on developing out-oriented economy. Furthermore, the more important signification of this study lies in the more general conclusion that, in fact, there is not a simplex indicator of evaluating out-oriented economy, the key is to discover the optimal development pattern of out-oriented economy which maximizes income under existing resources constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]