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Increasing evidence has demonstrated that excessive fructose intake induces liver fibrosis. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) driven by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad) signaling activation promotes the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate is clinically used as a hepatoprotective agent to treat liver fibrosis, but its underlying molecular mechanism has not been identified. Using a rat model, we found that high fructose intake reduced microRNA (miR)-375-3p expression and activated the janus-activating kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) cascade and TGF-β1/Smad signaling, which is consistent with the EMT and liver fibrosis. To further verify these observations, BRL-3A cells and/or primary rat hepatocytes were exposed to high fructose and/or transfected with a miR-375-3p mimic or inhibitor or treated with a JAK2 inhibitor, and we found that the low expression of miR-375-3p could induce the JAK2/STAT3 pathway to activate TGF-β1/Smad signaling and promote the EMT. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate was found to ameliorate high fructose-induced EMT and liver fibrosis in rats. More importantly, magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate increased miR-375-3p expression to suppress the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and TGF-β1/Smad signaling in these animal and cell models. This study provides evidence showing that magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate attenuates liver fibrosis associated with a high fructose diet.

To better understand the effects of heavy metal stress on inducible defenses of woody plants, contents of nutritional substances and secondary metabolites, plus the activities of defense enzymes and protease inhibitors in the leaves of Populus alba berolinensis seedlings that were planted in either non-contaminated soil (control) or Pb-contaminated soil (at 300, 500 and 700 mg/kg) were studied. Our results showed that protein and soluble sugar contents in leaves 30–50 days after the Pb stress were significantly lower than those in the control group in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the lignin and flavonoid contents were significantly higher. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalnine ammonialyase (PAL) activities in leaves were significantly enhanced by the low Pb concentration stress (300 mg/kg) for all three sampling dates (30, 40 and 50 days after the Pb treatments), while at the two higher Pb concentrations (500 and 700 mg/kg), PPO activities were always inhibited and PAL activities presented a tendency of “promoting first and then restraining” with the increase of exposure duration. The response patterns of trypsin inhibitor (TI) and chymotrypsin inhibitor (CI) activities to Pb stress were similar to that of PPO, and presented a “low-promotion, high-inhibition” effect of Pb concentrations in leaves. These results suggest that the inducible defense responses in P. alba berolinensis leaves to Pb stress depend on both the Pb concentrations and the exposure duration, and the low Pb concentration at 300 mg/kg seemed to induce the strongest defense responses in the poplar seedlings, much stronger than those at the higher Pb concentrations.

Prostate cancer is a major cause of death in males. Cyproterone acetate (CPA), the steroidal anti-androgen for part of androgen deprivation therapy, may block the androgen-receptor interaction and then reduce serum testosterone through its weak anti-gonadotropic action. In addition to CPA inducing hepatitis, CPA is known to cause liver tumors in rats also. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a cytoplasmic receptor and regulates multiple physiological functions. CYP1A1 is an AhR-targeted gene. We found that CPA induced CYP1A1 expression, transcriptional activity of the aryl hydrocarbon response element (AHRE), and the nuclear localization of AhR in mouse Hepa-1c1c7 cells. However, CPA suppressed CYP1A1 mRNA expression and the transcriptional activity of AHRE in human HepG2 and MCF7 cells, and also decreased AhR ligand-induced CYP1A1 protein expression and transcriptional activity of AHRE in HepG2 cells. In summary, CPA is an AhR agonist in mouse cells, but an AhR antagonist in human cells. Accordingly, CPA potentially plays a role as an endocrine disruptor of the AhR. This study helps us to understand why CPA induces acute hepatitis, gene mutation, and many other side effects. In addition, it may trigger further studies investigating the relationships between CPA, glucocorticoid receptor and castration-resistant prostate cancer in the future.

Graphical abstract, The fungi kingdom is composed of eukaryotic heterotrophs, which are responsible for balancing the ecosystem and play a major role as decomposers. They also produce a vast diversity of secondary metabolites, which have antibiotic or pharmacological properties. However, our lack of knowledge of gene function in fungi precludes us from tailoring them to our needs and tapping into their metabolic diversity. To help remedy this, we gathered genomic and gene expression data of 19 most widely-researched fungi to build an online tool, fungi.guru, which contains tools for cross-species identification of conserved pathways, functional gene modules, and gene families. We exemplify how our tool can elucidate the molecular function, biological process and cellular component of genes involved in various biological processes, by identifying a secondary metabolite pathway producing gliotoxin in Aspergillus fumigatus, the catabolic pathway of cellulose in Coprinopsis cinerea and the conserved DNA replication pathway in Fusarium graminearum and Pyricularia oryzae. The tool is available at www.fungi.guru.

The fungi kingdom is composed of eukaryotic heterotrophs, which are responsible for balancing the ecosystem and play a major role as decomposers. They also produce a vast diversity of secondary metabolites, which have antibiotic or pharmacological properties. However, our lack of knowledge of gene function in fungi precludes us from tailoring them to our needs and tapping into their metabolic diversity. To remedy this, we gathered genomic and gene expression data of 19 most widely-researched fungi to build a database, fungi.guru, which contains tools for cross-species identification of conserved pathways, functional gene modules, and gene families. We exemplify how our database can elucidate the molecular function, biological process and cellular component of genes involved in various biological processes, by identifying a secondary metabolite pathway producing gliotoxin in Aspergillus fumigatus, the catabolic pathway of cellulose in Coprinopsis cinerea and the conserved DNA replication pathway in Fusarium graminearum and Pyricularia oryzae. The database is available at www.fungi.guru.

The data presented herein are related to the research article entitled "Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate blocks fructose-induced hepatic NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome activation and lipid metabolism disorder" (Zhao et al., 2017) [1]. This article describes the effects of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on 24-h food or water intake in fructose-fed rats at 15-week. In addition, this article expands the effect of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on the animal body weight change during 1-17 week. The field dataset is made publicly available to enable critical or extended analyzes.

Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate as a hepatoprotective agent possesses immune modulation and anti-inflammation, and treats liver diseases. But its effects on immunological-inflammatory and metabolic profiles for metabolic syndrome with liver injury and underlying potential mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate alleviated liver inflammation and lipid accumulation in fructose-fed rats with metabolic syndrome. It also suppressed hepatic inflammatory signaling activation by reducing protein levels of phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (p-NF-κB p65), inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase α/β (p-IKKα/β) and inhibitor of NF-κB α (p-IκBα) as well as nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) and Caspase-1 in rats, being consistent with its reduction of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-6 levels. Furthermore, magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate modulated lipid metabolism-related genes characterized by up-regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1), and down-regulating sensor for fatty acids to control-1 (SREBP-1) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1) in the liver of fructose-fed rats, resulting in the reduction of triglyceride and total cholesterol levels. These effective actions were further confirmed in fructose-exposed BRL-3A and HepG2 cells. The molecular mechanisms underpinning these observations suggest that magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate may inhibit NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome activation to reduce immunological-inflammatory response, which in turn may prevent liver lipid metabolic disorder and accumulation under high fructose condition. Thus, blockade of NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome activation and lipid metabolism disorder by magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate may be the potential therapeutic approach for improving fructose-induced liver injury with metabolic syndrome in clinic.

Zr–Si–N coatings with cyclic gradient concentration were fabricated using reactive direct current magnetron cosputtering. The low-Si-content coatings, Zr60N40 and Zr58Si2N40, exhibited a face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) structure, accompanied with a nanohardness of 21.0–23.6 GPa and a Young's modulus of 248–267 GPa, whereas the medium-Si-content coatings, Zr54Si6N40 and Zr52Si8N40, exhibited a mixture of f.c.c. and near-amorphous structures, accompanied with a nanohardness of 19.7–18.4 GPa and a Young's modulus of 204–207 GPa. When the Si content ranged from 14 to 19 at.%, the structures of Zr–Si–N coatings were X-ray amorphous; those coatings exhibited lower nanohardness levels of 13.7–10.3 GPa and Young's modulus values of 196–148 GPa. The high-Si-content coatings, Zr28Si24N48 and Zr22Si30N48, exhibited an amorphous structure, accompanied with a nanohardness of 13.7–16.2 GPa and a Young's modulus of 196–217 GPa, which were higher than those of the coatings with a Si content of 14–19 at.%. Coatings formed by adding Si into the Zr–N matrix and performing annealing at 600 °C in a 1% O2–99% Ar atmosphere showed notably high oxidation resistance because Si–Zr–O oxide scales formed on the surfaces. The mechanical properties of crystalline Zr–Si–N coatings declined after annealing, whereas near-amorphous Zr–Si–N coatings retained high levels of mechanical properties after annealing.

A reliable temporary bonding scheme with both inorganic amorphous silicon release layer and HD-3007 polyimide based on high 355-nm-wavelength laser absorption coefficient in release layer is proposed and investigated. Effects of laser absorption coefficient and laser ablation path are also studied to develop a high throughput laser ablation process. The bonding scheme can be achieved within the optimized temperature of 210 °C under 1 MPa bonding force. In addition, chemical resistance, mechanical strength with reliability assessment, and thermal stability test for bonded structure are inspected. There is no obvious degradation in electrical characterization after laser ablation, indicating that the temporary bonding scheme has high potential to be used for 3-D integration applications.

A new temporary bonding technology with an ultrafast laser-release process of less than 20 s is presented, where a 300-nm-thick photolysis polymer and polyimide are served as the release layer and adhesive layer, respectively. The submicrometer-thick polymer has the feature of high absorption of a 355-nm laser in contrast to polyimide during debonding procedures. In addition, the thin release layers of high chemical resistance and mechanical strength demonstrate their feasibility for handling process. Electrical characteristics of the devices before and after the laser-release process are investigated, showing no degradation. Thus, this technology scheme demonstrates its potential for temporary bonding and release in 3-D integration applications.

High fructose intake is a risk of glomerular podocyte dysfunction. Podocyte apoptosis has emerged as a major cause of podocyte loss, exacerbating proteinuria. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) is usually used as a hepatoprotective agent in clinic. Liver and kidney injury often occurs in human diseases. Recent report shows that MgIG improves kidney function. In this study, we found that MgIG significantly alleviated kidney dysfunction, proteinuria and podocyte injury in fructose-fed rats. It also restored fructose-induced podocyte apoptosis in rat glomeruli and cultured differentiated podocytes. Of note, high-expression of miR-193a, downregulation of Wilms' tumor protein (WT1) and RelA, as well as upregulation of C-Maf inducing protein (C-mip) were observed in these animal and cell models. The data from the transfection of miR-193a mimic, miR-193a inhibitor, WT1 siRNA or LV5-WT1 in cultured differentiated podocytes showed that fructose increased miR-193a to down-regulate WT1, and subsequently activated C-mip to suppress RelA, causing podocyte apoptosis. These disturbances were significantly attenuated by MgIG. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence that MgIG restrains fructose-induced podocyte apoptosis at least partly through inhibiting miR-193a to upregulate WT1, supporting the application of MgIG with a novel mechanism-of-action against podocyte apoptosis associated with fructose-induced kidney dysfunction.

Excessive fructose intake is a risk factor for liver oxidative stress injury. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate as a hepatoprotective agent is used to treat liver diseases in clinic. However, its antioxidant effects and the underlying potential mechanisms are still not clearly understood. In this study, magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate was found to alleviate liver oxidative stress and inflammatory injury in fructose-fed rats. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate suppressed hepatic reactive oxygen species overproduction (0.97 ± 0.04 a.u. versus 1.34 ± 0.07 a.u.) in fructose-fed rats by down-regulating mRNA and protein levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) 1, NOX2 and NOX4, resulting in reduction of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels (1.13 ± 0.09 a.u. versus 1.97 ± 0.12 a.u.). Similarly, magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate reduced reactive oxygen species overproduction (1.07 ± 0.02 a.u. versus 1.35 ± 0.06 a.u.) and IL-1β levels (1.14 ± 0.09 a.u. versus 1.66 ± 0.07 a.u.) in fructose-exposed HepG2 cells. Furthermore, data from treatment of reactive oxygen species inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine or NOXs inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium in fructose-exposed HepG2 cells showed that fructose enhanced NOX1, NOX2 and NOX4 expression to increase reactive oxygen species generation, causing oxidative stress and inflammation, more importantly, these disturbances were significantly attenuated by magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate. The molecular mechanisms underpinning these effects suggest that magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate may inhibit NOX1, NOX2 and NOX4 expression to reduce reactive oxygen species generation, subsequently prevent liver oxidative stress injury under high fructose condition. Thus, the blockade of NOX1, NOX2 and NOX4 expression by magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate may be the potential therapeutic approach for improving fructose-induced liver injury in clinic.

International audience; Plant volatiles are vital cues in the location of hosts for feeding and oviposition for Lepidoptera moths. The noctuid Helicoverpa assulta is a typical polyphagous moth, regarded as a good model for studying the olfactory reception of plant volatiles. In this study, four full-length genes encoding odorant receptors HassOR24, HassOR40, HassOR41, and HassOR55 expressed in antenna in H. assulta were functionally characterized. The highly expressed HassOR40 was narrowly tuned to a few structurally-related plant volatiles: geranyl acetate, geraniol and nerolidol. By systematically analyzing responses of single neuron in both trichoid sensilla and basiconic sensilla using single sensillum recording, the specific neuron B in one type of short trichoid sensilla was found to be mainly activated by the same chemicals as HassOR40 with high sensitivity, and with no significant difference between male and female neurons. Thus, a clear “receptor-neuron” relationship in H. assulta was demonstrated here, suggesting that HassOR40/HassOrco are expressed in neuron B of short trichoid sensilla. The active tobacco volatile nerolidol, recognized by this receptor-neuron line, elicits significant behavioral attraction of both sexes in H. assulta adults. The results indicate that we identified a receptor-neuron route for the peripheral coding of a behaviorally relevant host volatile in H. assulta.

The tolerance of device morphology in wafer-level bonding through polymer-coated layer was investigated for the application of 3D integration. Several different pillar heights were fabricated on wafers to simulate the case of bonding with real devices on wafers. Overall, the wafer morphology with polymer-coated layer above devices less than 2 μm can achieve excellent bonding quality. Furthermore, undamaged carrier wafers can be obtained after laser-assisted de-bonding technology and post clean treatment. Based on bonding results, this research can provide a practical concept on device morphology for polymer-based temporary wafer-level bonding in 3D integration.

A novel amorphous silicon temporary bonding and corresponding laser assisted de-bonding technology are investigated for the improvement of 3D integration. Excellent bonding results with real device wafer with α-IGZO thin-film transistor are shown at the bonding temperature of 210°C, as well as outstanding performances for bonding strength, thermal stability, reliability and chemical resistance. Laser ablated amorphous silicon is proved stable and ultra-fast. Advantages of excellent bonding quality, lower cost and higher throughput demonstrate that this scheme can be a potential candidate in 3D integration platform.

A submicron photolysis polymer temporary bonding with ultra-fast laser de-bonding process of less than 20 s has been demonstrated where both photolysis polymer and polyimide are served as release layer and adhesive layer, respectively. In addition, the bonded structure provides high chemical resistance and mechanical strength for handling process. By measuring the electrical characteristics of devices before and after de-bond, it shows promising performance without degradation. Thus it can be a potential candidate for temporary bonding and de-bonding in 3D integration.

Hepatoma cells are relatively resistant to TRAIL. We have previously shown that isoobtusilactone A (IOA), a potent anticancer agent isolated from Cinnamomum kotoense, induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in hepatoma cells. Here, we report that IOA could potentiate TRAIL-induced apoptosis in Hep G2 cells. The combined treatment with IOA and TRAIL significantly induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. This correlated with the up-regulation of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and death receptor 5 (DR5) protein levels. Gene silencing of the DR5 by small interfering RNA abrogated the apoptosis induced by the combined regimen of IOA and TRAIL, suggesting that the sensitization to TRAIL was mediated through DR5. By analyzing the DR5 promoter, we found that IOA induced a CHOP-dependent DR5 transactivation. DR5 expression after IOA treatment was accompanied by provoking intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) attenuated IOA-induced CHOP and DR5 expression and inhibited TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our data suggested that ROS-dependent and CHOP-regulated DR5 expression played a pivotal role in the synergistic enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis instigated by IOA in Hep G2 cells.

Aphis glycines were collected in primary grain crop production region of Hei long jiang province in 2010.The resistance of Aphis glycines to ten commonly used insecticides was tested by immension method.The LC50 and relative toxicity ratio of Aphis glycines were gotten. it could be used as a reference for resistance monitoring or other related researches. The results showed that Aphis glycines had light resistance to organophosphorus pesticide, and it was sensitive to avermectins and cypermethrin.

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a plant hormone that plays a key role in the interactions between plants, herbivores and herbivore parasitoids. To determine the effect of JA-induced larch defence, two-year-old seedlings of Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. (LG) and Larix olgensis Herry (LO) were sprayed with different concentrations of JA. The effects of these treatments on behavioural responses of the moth, Dendrolimus superans Butler (DS), and its egg parasitoid Anastatus japonicus Ashmead (AJ) were tested by using cages and Y-tube olfactometers. The results showed that the numbers of DS eggs laid on JA-treated seedlings were lower than on control seedlings. The moth (DS) displayed a negative approach response to JA-treated seedlings (P

In this study, the variation of biomass, kinetic parameters, and stoichiometric parameters for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in TNCU3 process were explored at different aerobic hydraulic retention time (AHRT). The results indicated that the growth rate constants of AOB were 0.92, 0.88, and 0.95 days−1, respectively, meanwhile, those of NOB were 2.58 1.41, and 1.40 days−1, respectively, when AHRT was 5, 6, and 7 h. The lysis rate constants for AOB and NOB were 0.13 and 0.17 days−1, respectively. When AHRT was 5, 6, and 7 h, the yield coefficients of AOB were 0.20, 0.23, and 0.28 g COD g−1 N, respectively, meanwhile those of NOB were 0.23, 0.19, and 0.22 g COD g−1 N, respectively. The average percentage of AOB was 0.44, 0.61, and 0.64%, respectively, while that of NOB was 0.46, 0.61, and 0.74%, respectively. The relation between the biomass percentage of AOB and AHRT was in a good agreement with first type hyperbolic curve. The relation between the biomass percentage of NOB and AHRT was in a good agreement with seven types of curve including simple exponential curve, power exponential curve, and first type hyperbolic curve etc. When the AHRT increased from 5 to 7 h, the removal efficiency of NH4 +–N increased from 80.2 to 94.8%, or by 14.6%. Meanwhile, the removal efficiency of total nitrogen increased from 63.6 to 70.9%, or by 7.3%.

Ultra-fine particles of protein lysozyme were prepared with a supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) apparatus by using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent and carbon dioxide as anti-solvent. The influences of various experimental factors on the morphology and the mean size of particulate products were investigated. As evidenced from the experimental results, phase behavior of the mixtures in precipitator during the particle formation stage played a crucial role in the SAS processes. Uniform networked nano-particles were obtained when the precipitations were conducted in the supercritical region of carbon dioxide + DMSO mixture. Several different types of morphologies were produced simultaneously as the precipitations were operated near the critical region. Spherical micron-scale clusters were formed in the superheated vapor region, while submicron-particles were aggregated as dense cake when lysozyme precipitated in the vapor–liquid coexistence region. The wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) patterns indicated that both the raw lysozyme and the processed particulate samples were amorphous. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermograms showed that the dehydration peak was disappeared after SAS treatment. Moreover, the networked primary particles could be disintegrated and dispersed well in water through ultrasonication, which were confirmed by analysis with dynamic laser scattering (DLS). A continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) model was used to calculate the dynamic composition variations of the mixtures in precipitator during the particle formation period.

Nanoparticles of the metallocene catalyzed cyclic olefin copolymer (mCOC) were prepared with a lab scale continuous supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) apparatus. Several experimental parameters were investigated to explore their influences on the morphology and the mean size of the products. These parameters included the character of carbon dioxide injector, precipitation pressure and temperature, anti-solvent density, the polymer concentration, the flow rate of feed, and the nature of organic solvents. The phase states of the mixtures of solvent + anti-solvent in precipitation stage may govern the mean size of the resulting particles. Nanoparticles of mCOC were obtained in the homogeneous compressed liquid or supercritical region, while sub-micrometric particles were formed in the vapor–liquid coexistence region. The morphology of precipitates was also significantly changed, turning from spherical nanoparticles to microfibrils, as the polymer concentration of feed was increased from 2 to 4 wt.%. Under 15 MPa and 306.2 K, the mean size of the resultant primary mCOC particles as small as 39 nm with a standard deviation of about 6 nm could be produced. The residual solvent was about 1.6 wt.% in the sample after SAS processing by analyzing with a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and the particle samples exhibited sub-glass transition behavior according to the thermal histograms of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC).

An ultra-fast temporary bonding and release process was investigated for the improvement of 3D integration. The bonding scheme composes of two different kinds of polymer for release layer and adhesive layer. The submicron release layer is a positive photoresist with the characteristic of high UV absorption induced into the de-bonding procedure within 20 s. In addition, the adhesive layer provides robust mechanical strength for the wafer thinning process. Based on results, this structure is a potential candidate for temporary bonding and de-bonding technique in 3D integration.

Several main monoterpenes and their combinations from Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) cones were used as odor sources in olfactory experiment to test the responses of larch cone flies (Strobilomyia spp.) in 1998. The results revealed that blend of α -pinene, β -pinene, laurene and β -ocimene in a ratio close to its volatile profile of damaged cones achieved the best response while certain odors showed repellent tendency to cone flies. Field spraying Dahurian larch cones with some of its volatile components had mixed results but support the olfactory testing results. The role of monoterpenes in cone fly host location and oviposition in terms of attractive signals or repellent is discussed.

Jasmonates (JAs) are plant signal compounds and can induce many biochemical responses. In the current study, the effects of three concentrations of exogenous JAs plus control on the free amino acid (FAA) contentsin needles of Larix olgensis Herry seedlings were investigated. Our results showed that the proportions of nineessential FAAs detected/identified in all treatments varied with concentrations of JAs. Total FAA contents in control needles fluctuated in an increasing-decreasing-increasing pattern within a 20-day period; however, a decreasing-increasing-decreasing pattern was observed in JAs-treated needles compared to their controls.They were significantly affected by the interactions of time, JAs type and JAs concentration. Furthermore,methyl jasmonate (MeJA) showed stronger treatment effect on total FAA contents than did cis-jasmone (cisJ)or jasmonic acid (JA). While total FAA contents were significantly influenced by 0.01 mM JA, 0.1 mM cisJ and 0.1 and 1 mM MeJA treatments compared to their corresponding controls. The results indicated that exogenous JAs might induce significant changes of the individual FAA ratios and total FAA contents in larch needles. This could be a potential factor influencing the preference and performance of pest insects that utilizeL. olgensis as a host. Key words: Larix olgensis, jasmonic acid, methyl jasmonate, cis-jasmone, induce function.

In hyperlipidemia rats fed the purified oil of Anguilla japonica (POAJ, 127.7–510.8 mg/kg), we have shown that serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) decreasing percentages were 13.3–48.7, 9.5–25.2, and 5.1–62.2%, respectively, high density lipoprotein (HDL) incrasing percentage was 8.2–67.3%, and the POAJ (255.4–510.8 mg/kg) significantly reduced whole blood and plasma viscosity. The POAJ had marked increasing effect on some immunological indices, such as transferable function of T lymphocyte, in mice. In this paper, we show that the POAJ (1.8 g, 3 times a day, for 30 days) significantly lowered plasma lipids in 50 hyperlipidemia patients. The percentages of cases with marked efficiency for TC and TG decreasing were 92.0 and 88.0%, and those of cases with effectiveness (marked efficiency and efficiency) were 98.0 and 96.0%. In comparison with before-treatment values, the decreasing percentages of TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL levels were 28.6, 54.3, 27.3, and 50.0%, and the increasing percentage of HDL was 70.0%, At the same time, the POAJ dramatically changed some immunological indices in which IgG and IgM levels increased by 25.0 and 36.8%, but C4 levels were lowered by 33.3%, respectively. Drug Dev. Res. 39:135–137. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We examined the expression of the glutathione S-transferase π(GSTπ), estrogen (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR) genes in breast tumor samples and in the corresponding adjacent normal tissues from 120 patients. We also analyzed DNA amplification and RNA expression of GSTπ in fresh breast tumor tissues and in adjacent normal tissue from 32 patients. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that 78% of the breast cancer samples and 68% of the adjacent normal tissues were positive for GSTπ. GSTπ expression was inversely correlated with ER and PR expression. Nucleic acid hybridization with dot-blot analysis showed that three out of 32 breast cancer patients (9.4%) had GSTπ gene amplification, and 9 out of 32 cases (28.1%) showed GSTπ mRNA overexpression. These results suggest that the increased expression of GSTπ in breast cancer could occur at the level of DNA and mRNA, but mainly occurs at the post-transcriptional level.

Single-crystalline germanium nanowires were synthesized via vapor–liquid–solid mechanism. The characteristics of the Ge nanowires were investigated by a transmission electron microscope to identify the [111] growth direction. The Ge nanowire-based field-effect-transistors on Si3N4 dielectrics were fabricated, showing a p-type semiconducting behavior with hole mobility of 47.03 cm2 V−1 s−1. The formation of Cu3Ge/Ge/Cu3Ge nanoheterostructures was demonstrated with the reaction between copper contacts and Ge nanowires by rapid thermal annealing. The diameter-dependent electrical transport property of Ge nanowires indicates that with diameters of more than 80 nm, the resistivity of Ge nanowires decreased with diameter decrease, while with diameters of less than 80 nm, it increased. With multiple annealing processes, the channel length of the Ge nanowire transistors can be successfully controlled. From electrical measurements of each annealing step, the electrical transport property was significantly improved by sequential formation of Cu3Ge contacts. The gradual formation of the germanide structure reduces Fermi level pinning effect and increases the Ohmic behavior of electrical transportation.

Decoupling of an electron-ion interacting system is considered and the pseudopotential method of Phillips and Kleinman is extended to include the effect of electron-phonon interactions. It is shown that the effective potential experienced by a decoupled electron is the instantaneous pseudopotential averaged over all possible phonon states. The averaged pseudopotential is not only periodic but also temperature-dependent. After decoupling, a simple procedure for calculating single-electron excitation energies resulting from the coupling term is given and the result is formally in agreement with that obtained by Green's function method.

Diets containing egg white, casein, menhaden fish meal, soy protein or wheat gluten were fed to rats to assess the impact of dietary protein (and other nutrients) on gastric functions. The menhaden fish meal group exhibited increases in stomach histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity, histamine concentration, as well as acid secretion when compared with the control, casein group. When rats were fed amino acid-supplemented casein or fish meal diets to simulate each other's amino acid profile, a small increase in gastric HDC activity, histamine content and acid secretion was observed in comparison with the unsupplemented casein or fish meal groups. The high mineral content of menhaden fish meal (15%) was thought to be a potential inducing factor for gastric histamine metabolism and acid secretion. Adding fish meal ash to the casein diet or to a cod fillet diet elevated stomach HDC activity and histamine concentration significantly. Furthermore, when calcium (Ca) was added to the casein diet to simulate its high content in menhaden fish meal (7.8%), similar elevated levels of gastric histamine were obtained for the Ca-supplemented casein group as for the fish meal group. The role of Ca could be due to release of gastrin, which results in release of stomach histamine, or by facilitating mast cell histidine incorporation with subsequent histamine synthesis.

A cell line derived from a well-differentiated human transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, designated TSGH-8301, was established in vitro. The cultured epithelioid cells exhibited monolayer growth and loss of contact inhibition. The tumorigenicity of TSGH-8301 had been shown by growth in soft agar and tumor induction in athymic nude mice. A reverse ratio of lactate dehydrogenase (LHD) isoenzyme in the cell line and nude mouse-grown tumors was seen predominantly with LDH-V. Chromosomal analysis revealed a heterodiploid stem line with a modal number of 50. Sera of urinary bladder cancer patients reacted with membrane antigens of the TSGH-8301 cells, suggesting the existence of tumor-associated antigens in the cells. In vitro chemosensitivity tests of these cells may provide data valuable in the selection of proper anticancer drugs for the TSGH-8301 donor patient.