An assessment was made of beta-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme (BACE1) inhibitory, feeding, climbing activities and lifespan of the diarylalkyls curcumin (CCN), demethoxycurcumin (DCCN) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDCCN) identified in the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. Based on IC50 values, BDCCN (0.024 mM) was the most inhibitory constituent, followed by DCCN (0.31 mM) and CCN (0.59 mM). Overall the three curcuminoids were significantly less inhibitory than BACE1 inhibitor IV isophthalamide (8.5 × 10-5 mM). The expression of human APP and BACE1 in compound eye of Drosophila melangaster presented rough abnormal ommatidial lattice. Co-expression of APP and BACE1 within the developing nervous system of drosophila showed climbing defects. These transgenic flies kept on media containing 1 mM of CCN and BDCCN were observed to ameliorate eye degeneration, significantly suppress locomotive dysfunctions, and increase media life time, as well as isophthalamide. CCN and BDCCN as human BACE1 inhibitory constituents may be used as potential therapeutics or lead molecules to develop Alzheimer's disease treatment drugs.

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is one of the important modes of action available for the control of insects. An assessment was made of the electric eel AChE inhibitory activity of 55 endophytic fungi isolated from the leaves of Huperzia serrata collected in Eunshi, Hubei Province, China. Of 55 mycelial extracts and 55 ethyl acetate-soluble fractions from liquid culture of the fungi, the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of strain ES056 exhibited strong AChE inhibitory activity (88%) at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. Based on morphological characteristics and nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequence analysis, this fungus showed greatest similarity to members of the order Eurotiales and was shown to be most closely related to members of the Aspergillus aculeatus group. It was designated Aspergillus sp. MY056. This strain merits further study as a potential anti-AChE product.

The oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta, is an oligophagous insect feeding on a few species of Solanaceae plants, including Nicotina tabacum. This study investigated the relationship between H. assulta and plants, focusing on oviposition preference and larval performance of the specialist in host and non-host plants. (1) In choice experiments, N. tabacum and Phaseolus vulgaris were put in a cage with 5 females and 10 males. Most of eggs (ca. 98%) were layed in N. tabacum, whereas few eggs in P. vulgaris. (2) In non-choice experiments, N. tabacum, Datura stramonium, or P. vulgaris was individually put in a cage with 3 females and 6 males, resulting that N. tabacum was the most preferred host, followed by D. stramonium and P. vulgaris. Oviposition was delayed about 2 days in P. vulgaris (a non-host plant) compared to the two host plants. (3) Larval performances were also compared with the three plants. Larval growth was better in N. tabacum followed by D. stramonium and P. vulgaris, High mortality (ca. 100%) of larvae was observed in P. vulgaris, suggesting toxic component(s) derived from the non-host plant might cause the death. The ovipositional avoidance in P. vulgaris is current being investigated to search for the oviposition deterrent, which could be useful for the environment-friendly pest management of H. assulta.

An assessment was made of the toxicity of hiba, Thujopsis dolabrata var. hondai, oil and 24 oil constituents and control efficacy of four experimental spray formulations containing the oil (0.5. 1, 2, and 3% sprays) to adult American house dust mite (AHDM), Dermatophagoides farinae, and copra mite (CM), Tyrophagus putrescentiae. Results were compared with those of three conventional acaricides benzyl benzoate, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (deet), and permethrin. Based on 24 h LC50 values, (–)-thujopsene was the most toxic constituent against AHDM (9.82 μg/cm2) and CM (10.92 μg/cm2) and the toxicity of the compound was nearly identical to that of benzyl benzoate (9.33 and 10.14 μg/cm2). High toxicity was also observed with (–)-(E)-pinocarveol, carvacrol, (+)-terpinen-4-ol, β-thujaplicin, cedrol, α-terpineol, (+)-ledene, thymol, and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol against both mite species (LC50, 11.92–19.19 and 12.49–22.97 μg/cm2). These constituents were more toxic than deet (LC50, 35.53 and 38.42 μg/cm2). Hiba applied as 2 and 3% sprays provided >95% mortality against both mite species, whereas permethrin (cis:trans, 25:75) 2.5 g/L spray treatment resulted in ca 11% mortality. Global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic acaricides in indoor environments justify further studies on hiba oil preparations containing the constituents described as potential contact-action fumigants or lead molecules for the control of mite populations.

The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is a vector for transmitting dengue fever and yellow fever. An assessment was made of the histopathological and molecular effects of pellitorine, an isobutylamide alkaloid, on third instar Ae. aegypti larvae. At 5 mg/L concentration of pellitorine, whole body of the treated larvae became dark in color, particularly damaged thorax and abdominal regions. Pellitorine targeted mainly on midgut epithelium and anal gills, indicating variably dramatic degenerative responses of the midgut through a sequential epithelial disorganization. The anterior and posterior midgut was entirely necrosed, bearing only gut lumen residues inside the peritrophic membranes. Pellitorine caused comprehensive damage of anal gill cells and branches of tracheole and the debris was found in hemolymph of anal gills. RT-PCR analysis indicates that the compound inhibited gene expression encoding V-type H+-ATPase and aquaporine 4 after treatment with 2.21 mg/L pellitorine. The results provide a fact that pellitorine merits further study as a potential larvicide with a specific target site or a lead molecule for the control of mosquito populations.

When it comes to designing a product or a process, the robust parameter design (RPD) methodology devised by Taguchi is recognized as a way to produce products or processes with less variability, while the specifications of products or processes are met, so that the ratio of nonconforming products can be as minimized as possible. Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, there have been many pros and cons concerning the RPD method, mainly because of the use of signal to noise ratio as the measure of quality characteristic. Meanwhile, the variability analysis method has been highly recommended as an alternative of the RPD in the literature. In this paper, it is demonstrated that RPD can also be implemented within the framework of the variability analysis, which is sounder in the statistical sense. In light of an example of RPD approach, the modeling and estimation procedure is discussed in some detail with a view to a comparison of the two methods.

Coevolution is a large part of evolution and the patterns of adaptation and speciation may be modified by coevolution processes. The arms races between insects and plants in natural system are one of coevolutionary processes and the mechanistic and predictive processes of the system may be helpful to understand the interaction between host plants and herbivores in agricultural systems. Furthermore, human activities may give direct and/or indirect effects on ecological and evolutionary processes in natural and agricultural ecosystems and have selection power as well as natural selection. Recent studies showed that the fundamental principles of evolution – variation (genetic difference, phenotypic plasticity, epigenetic change, and nongenetic inheritance), selection (directional or fluctuating), connectivity and eco-evolutionary dynamics – are important to understand the interplay between insects and plants. The coevolutionary processes between plants and herbivores were also interpreted by the geographic mosaic theory. The evolutionary effects on ecological dynamics in natural ecosystems were classified four categories: trophic specialization, evolution of defense, interaction outcome and loss of traits in absent of interaction. It was reviewed that it is necessary to consider the ecological response in evolutionary studies as well as evolutionary variation in ecological researches.

An assessment was made of the biological control potential of mud loaches, Misgurnus mizolepis, toward Culex pipiens molestus, in laboratory condition and septic tank and rainwater storage tank (RST) systems. Results were compared with those of temephos 20% emulsifiable concentrate (EC) and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI). In the laboratory tests, all M. mizolepis survived on waters from the settling tank of aerobic septic tank (AST), sump tank of AST, and RST. However, all M. mizolepis died within 3 h after introduction in the settling tank and sump tank waters of anaerobic septic tank (AnAST). Gill or dorsal fin inflammation was detected in the dead mud loaches. M. mizolepis consumed an average of 968–1087, 901–986, and 993–1087 of 1500 third instars of Cx. p. molestus in AST settling tank, AST sump tank, and RST waters, respectively. In the AST and RST systems, predation of Cx. p. molestus by mud loaches at a release rate of 900 larvae/fish resulted in complete mosquito control from the first wk after treatment through the end of the survey period for 16 wk. The average mosquito reduction rates by temephos 20% EC and BTI treatments were 28.6 and 2.1% 2 wk post-treatment, respectively. Mud loaches merit further study as a potential biological control agent for the control of mosquito populations in light of global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic insecticides in the aquatic environment.

The toxicity of materials derived from the seed of Pongamia pinnata to third instars of insecticide-susceptible Culex pipiens pallens and Aedes aegypti and wild Aedes albopictus was examined using a direct contact bioassay. Results were compared with those of the currently used insecticides fenthion and temephos. The active principles of Pongamia pinnata were identified as the karanjin (1), karanjachromene (2), pongamol (3), pongarotene (4), oleic acid (5), and palmitic acid (6) by spectroscopic analysis. Based on 24 h LC50 values, karanjin (14.61 and 16.13 mg/L) was the most toxic compound, followed by oleic acid (18.07 and 18.45 mg/L) and karanjachromene (18.74 and 20.57 mg/L). These constituents were less toxic than either fenthion (LC50, 0.0031 and 0.0048 mg/L) or temephos (0.021 and 0.050 mg/L) against Ae. aegypti and Cx. p. pallens. Low toxicity was produced by pongamol (LC50, 23.95 and 25.76 mg/L), pongarotene (25.52 and 37.61 mg/L), and palmitic acid (34.50 and 42.96 mg/L). Against A. alpopictus instars, oleic acid (LC50, 18.79 mg/L) was most toxic. Low toxicity was observed with the other five constituents (LC50, 35.26- 85.61 mg/L). P. pinnata seed-derived active principles, particularly karanjin, karanjachromene, and oleic acid, merits further study as potential mosquito larvicides for the control of mosquito populations in light of global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic larvicides in the aquatic environment.

The toxicity of red pine needle hydrodistillate (RPN-HD), 19 RPN-HD constituents and 12 structurally related compounds and control efficacy of four experimental spray formulations containing RPN-HD (0.5. 1, 2 and 3% sprays) to adult Dermatophagoides farinae was evaluated. RPN-HD (24 h LC50,68.33 μg cm–2) was toxic. Menthol was the most toxic compound (12.69 μg cm–2) and the toxicity of this compound and benzyl benzoate did not differ significantly from each other. High toxicity was also produced by α-terpineol, bornyl acetate, geranyl acetate, thymol, linalyl acetate, terpinyl acetate, citral, linalool and camphor (18.79–36.51 μg cm–2). These compounds were more toxic than either deet or dibutyl phthalate. In vapour-phase mortality tests, these compounds were consistently more toxic in closed versus open containers, indicating that their mode of delivery was largely a result of vapour action. RPN-HD 3% experimental spray provided 95% mortality against adult D. farinae, whereas permethrin (cis:trans,25:75)2.5gL–1 spray treatment resulted in 0% mortality. In the light of global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic acaricides in indoor environments, RPN-HD and the compounds described merit further study as potential biocides for the control of Dermatophagoides populations as fumigants with contact action.

The toxicity of 102 plant essential oils against third instars of cecidomyiid gall midge, Camptomyia corticalis, was examined using a vapor-phase mortality bioassay. Results were compared with that of a conventional insecticide dichlorvos. Based on 24 h LC50 values, all essential oils were less toxic than dichlorvos (LC50, 0.027 mg/cm3). The LC50 of caraway seed, armoise, sage (Clary), oreganum, lemongrass, niaouli, spearmint, cassia special, sage (Dalmatian), thyme red, bay, garlic, and pennyroyal essential oil is between 0.55–0.60 mg/cm3. The LC50 of cassia pure, thyme white, cassia redistilled, star anise, peppermint, wintergreen, cinnamon bark, majoram, chamomile romon, eucalyptus, rosemary, cedar wood, pimento berry, savory (summer), lavender, and coriander oil is between 0.61–0.99 mg/cm3. All other essential oils tested exhibited low toxicity to the cecidomyiid larvae (LC50,>0.99 mg/cm3). The active principles of active essential oils were identified by GC-MS analysis. The major active principles are such as pulegone, thujone, camphor, 1,8-cineole, a-pinene, thymol, menthol. At a rate of 5 mg/cm3, pulegone, and thujone, exhibited 100% morality whereas camphor, 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, thymol and menthol showed 90% mortality at 15 mg/cm3. Global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic insecticides in the agricultural environment justify further studies on the essential oils and their constituents described as potential insecticides for the control of the mushroom fly as fumigants with contact action.

Mine and gall makers among Lepidoptera are found in the family Gracillariidae. The genus Borboryctis Kumata et Kuroko, 1988, have 2 species B. euryae Kumata et Kuroko and B. triplaca (Mayrick). B. euryae is known a gall maker of Eurya spp. In this study, Borboryctis euryae Kumata et Kuroko, 1988 feeding on Eurya japonica Thunb. and E. emarginata Makino (Theaceae), is reported for the first time from Is. Jeju and Geoje, Korea. The host plant, Eurya spp. an evergreen tree, is widely distributed in East Asia including Korea. The early instar larva makes linear mine near the surface of the leaves and mature larva makes gall on the leaves of the host plant. Larval frass ejected behaviour were not observed. The mature larva makes a light brown spindle-shape cocoon on the somewhere of the host plant, mainly edge of the leaf. The descriptions and figures of the male and female genitalia, mine, gall, larvae and pupae in immature stages, are provided.

UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGT) catalyze the conjugation of a range of diverse small lipophilic compounds with sugars to produce glycosides, playing an important role in the detoxification of xenobiotics and in the regulation of endobiotics in insects. Recent progress in genome sequencing has enabled an assessment of the extent of the UGT multigene family in insects. Here we report over 310 putative UGT genes identified from genomic databases of eight different insect species together with a transcript database from the lepidopteran Helicoverpa armigera. Phylogenetic analysis of the insect UGTs showed Order-specific gene diversification and inter-species conservation of this multigene family. Only one family (UGT50) is found in all insect species surveyed (except the pea aphid) and may be homologous to mammalian UGT8. Three families (UGT31, UGT32, and UGT305) related to Lepidopteran UGTs are unique to baculoviruses. A lepidopteran sub-tree constructed with 40 H. armigera UGTs and 44 Bombyx mori UGTs revealed that lineage-specific expansions of some families in both species appear to be driven by diversification in the N-terminal substrate binding domain, increasing the range of compounds that could be detoxified or regulated by glycosylation. By comparison of the deduced protein sequences, several important domains were predicted, including the N-terminal signal peptide, UGT signature motif, and C-terminal transmembrane domain. Furthermore, several conserved residues putatively involved in sugar donor binding and catalytic mechanism were also identified by comparison with human UGTs. Many UGTs were expressed in fat body, midgut, and Malpighian tubules, consistent with functions in detoxification, and some were expressed in antennae, suggesting a role in pheromone deactivation. Transcript variants derived from alternative splicing, exon skipping, or intron retention produced additional UGT diversity. These findings from this comparative study of two lepidopteran UGTs as well as other insects reveal a diversity comparable to this gene family in vertebrates, plants and fungi and show the magnitude of the task ahead, to determine biochemical function and physiological relevance of each UGT enzyme.

The defect sites on chemical vapor deposition grown graphene are investigated through the selective electrochemical deposition (SED) of Au nanoparticles. For SED of Au nanoparticles, an engineered potential pulse is applied to the working electrode versus the reference electrode, thereby highlighting the defect sites, which are more reactive relative to the pristine surface. Most defect sites decorated by Au nanoparticles are situated along the Cu grain boundaries, implying that the origin of the defects lies in the synthesis of uneven graphene layers on the rough Cu surface.

This study investigates apology strategies for Koreans in six offence contexts in an attempt to find out how these contexts are perceived and what apology strategies are used by them and to compare the findings of the study with other studies cross-culturally. The data of apologies in Korean were collected in a questionnaire in which 175 native speakers of Korean who were participated in the study evaluated socio-pragmatic factors and completed dialogs which were related with each offence situation. As general apology strategies, IFIDs (Illocutionary Force Indicating Devices) and responsibility were used mostly, which supports the similar findings in the CCSARP (Cross-Cultural Speech Act Realization Project). As a situation specific apology strategy, however, explanation was used in a surprising degree, which was not shown in the findings in the CCSARP. In addition, modifications of apology strategies such as intensifiers, minimizers, and concern for the hearer in the study were also used much more than other studies in the CCSARP. Correlations between severity and obligation in the study support other studies, however correlations between IFIDs and obligation, inverse correlations between responsibility and explanation in the study are quite unique in apology studies.

This paper explores the dynamic construction of expert and novice identities in language-exchange conversations between Korean students learning English and American students learning Korean. Drawing on recent view on identity as performance (Butler, 1990), this study employs video- and audio-recordings of language-exchange interactions to examine the dialogic interaction between three language-exchange pairs. Adopting a conversation analytic perspective, the study examines whether and how participants of language-exchange interactions orient to their assumed roles as peer-teacher and peer-learner during language-exchange through micro-analysis of the interaction. The findings demonstrate that participant roles as linguistic expert and novice are not invoked in language-exchange interactions unless they arc treated as relevant in the interaction; rather than foregrounded by the situational arrangements of language-exchange, the expert-novice relationship in language-exchange dialogues is interactionally constituted by the local practices of the participants. Data analysis also shows that the construction of expert and novice identities in language-exchange interaction is a jointly constructed achievement and that participant roles as language expert and novice arc not given but ‘achieved’ as language-exchange participants ratify or reject the identity their partners display in the course of unfolding interaction.

As a sensor of cellular energy status, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications. Because AMPK is also expressed in podocytes, podocyte AMPK would be an important factor contributing to development of podocyte injury. We investigated the roles of AMPK in the pathological changes of podocyte synaptopodin induced by angiotensin II (Ang II), a major injury inducer. Mouse podocytes were incubated in media containing various concentrations of Ang II and AMPK-modulating agents, and the changes of synaptopodin were analyzed by confocal imaging and Western blotting. Ang II and compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, concentrated and re-localized synaptopodin from peripheral cytoplasm to the internal cytoplasm portion in podocytes. Ang II also reduced synaptopodin protein and mRNA, which were reversed by metformin and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside. Losartan, an Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist, also recovered synaptopodin mRNA, which was suppressed by Ang II. We suggest that Ang II induces the relocation and suppression of podocyte synaptopodin by suppression of AMPK and via Ang II type 1 receptor, which would be an important mechanism in Ang II-induced podocyte phenotypical changes.