Ascidian embryos have become an important model for embryological studies, offering a simple example for mechanisms of cytoplasmic components segregation. It is a well-known example that segregation of mitochondria into muscle lineage cells occurs during ascidian embryogenesis. It is, however, still unclear what signaling and molecular event control polarized distribution of mitochondria in the early ascidian embryonic development. To obtain molecular markers for studying mechanisms involved in polarized distribution of mitochondria, we have produced monoclonal antibodies, Mito-1, Mito-2 and Mito-3, that specifically recognize mitochondria-rich cytoplasm in all cells of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi embryos. These antibodies stained cytoplasm like a mesh structure in epidermis cells, except for nuclei, at the early tailbud stage. Similar pattern was observed in vital staining of mitochondria with DiOC2, a fluorescent probe of mitochondria. These antibodies showed that mitochondria were distributed evenly in the animal hemisphere blastomeres at cleavage stages, whereas did not in the vegetal hemisphere blastomeres. Mitochondria were transferred more into cells of the marginal zone, such as muscle and nerve cord lineage cells, than into cells of the central zone, such as mesenchyme, notochord and endoderm lineage, in the vegetal hemisphere. Therefore, it is suggested that these antibodies may be useful as markers for analysing mechanisms involved in polarized distribution of mitochondria during ascidian embryogenesis.

Asymmetric cell divisions play crucial roles during ascidian embryogenesis. In these processes, an FGF signaling is an essential inductive signal for establishing cell fate polarization, such as mesenchyme and notochord. It was well reported that the FGF signaling cascade is composed of FGF, FGF receptor, Ras, MEK, Erk and Ets. However, mechanisms of communication between the FGF and other signaling pathways and of integrated regulation of signaling pathways have remained largely unknown. In this study, we isolated HrS6K, a homologue of the S6K gene that belongs to the S6-H1 kinase of the ribosomal S6 kinase family, and HrNck1, a homologue of Nck1 gene that encodes an adaptor protein containing Src homology 2 and 3 domains, from the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi, to elucidate the mechanisms. Zygotic expression of HrS6K was initiated as early as the 16-cell stage. In the 64-cell stage embryos, expression of HrS6K was seen in mesenchyme precursor cells. The signal was detected in dorsal midline cells and mesenchyme clusters of the early tailbud embryos, and then down-regulated by the late tailbud stage. In adults, HrS6K mRNA was highly detected in muscle and stomach by QPCR method. On the other hand, HrNck1 transcripts are detected maternally. Zygotic HrNck1 mRNA was strongly expressed in mesenchyme clusters of the neurula, and in tail tip cells of the early tailbud embryos. These results suggest that HrS6K and HrNck1 are involved in formation of mesenchyme cells, which are specified by the FGF signaling.

To create urban landscapes that take human emotion into consideration, the present study verified the psychological effects of artificial waterscape facilities on users, as these facilities significantly impact their psychological comfort. Data was collected using the SD scales and POMS of 60 male and 60 female participants after they watched a video of four waterscape facilities. Participants deemed the video clip of a fountain waterscape to be artificial and linked it with changeable images that increased their vigor. The video clip of waterfall stimulated various impressions (e.g., vital, liked, active, etc.) and changed participant’ mood states by increasing their vigor and decreasing fatigue. The video clip of the pond yielded familiar impressions, produced less free images, and decreased tension among participants. Finally, the video clip of the stream stimulated quiet and comfortable images as well as reduced negative feelings of anger, confusion, and depression among participants. Furthermore, males experienced more positive effects than females, regardless of the type of waterscape facility. The study findings indicate that the four different waterscape facilities influenced participants’ mood states. Additionally, the psychological effects differed by gender. The data suggest that landscape planners need to carefully consider their choice of waterscape facility when designing green spaces to ensure that the space is psychologically comforting to users.

Cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy is regarded as a relatively simple and safe procedure to protect the brain and improve neurological function. However, some serious complications, such as infection, hematoma, bone resorption, seizure, and epidural or subdural fluid collection may develop after cranioplasty. Among these complications, epidural fluid collection after cranioplasty is not well described and with limited reports on the same. Here, we report recurrent epidural fluid collection after cranioplasty, eventually necessitating the removal of the bone flap. This study discusses the possible pathological mechanisms of this undesirable complication with a review of the literature.

The anti-diabetic effect of Cirsium setidens water extract and the combinations with Bletilla striata, Cymbidium kanran, and Sparganium stoloniferum Buch.-Ham. ethanolic extracts had been studied. The combination of four extracts (3:1:1:1) showed larger anti-diabetic activity in vitro and in vivo. It is notable that the single water extract from C. setidens exhibited more effective anti-diabetic effect than most of the combinations. We also investigated whether fermentation process was promoted the anti-diabetic activity. The data suggested the fermentation product of combination of four extracts (3:1:1:1) exhibited the strongest activity both in vitro and in vivo, which was higher than the non-fermented group. The result indicated the fermentation and the appropriate combination of extracts enhanced the anti-diabetes activity.

The authors calculate the long-term predictability of GDP, domestic demand, investment, and net exports for Guangdong province, P.R. China from 2000 to 2013. A vector autoregressive (VAR) model with quarterly data for this period is first co-integrated then the Granger causality test is applied to empirically assess the relationships among gross domestic product (GDP), consumption, investment, and net exports. There is a strong causality effect between investment and net exports in Guangdong province. However, the variance decomposition results indicate that exports respond to foreign shocks rather than domestic ones, making their impact on the Guangdong economy to predict. Results show the stimulating effect of domestic demand on GDP is larger than the stimulating effect of net exports and much larger than even the stimulating effect of investment. The analysis suggests that there are dynamic influences with various levels of persistence between GDP, consumption, investment, and net exports. Macroeconomic policy adjustments are urgently required to expand domestic demand and thereby stimulate economic growth in Guangdong province.

The follicle loss of transplanted ovarian tissue (OT) is caused by ischemia and slow revascularization. To shorten the ischemic period and promote angiogenesis, some angiogenic factors have been treated for transplanted tissues. Angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2) is one of the major angiogenic factors and has been reported to promote blood vessels and increase vascular permeability in the ischemic and/or hypoxic environment. So, this study was designed to assess the impact of ANG-2 on follicle integrity and revascularization of mouse OT grafts. The 5-week-old B6D2F1 female mice were divided into 3 groups (a control and 2 ANG-2 groups) followed by ovary collection and vitrification. After warming, the ovaries were autotransplanted into kidney capsules with/without ANG-2 injection (50 or 500 ng/kg), and then killed at day(D)2, 7, 21 and 42 after transplantation. Total 2,437 follicles in OT grafts were assessed for the follicular density, integrity and classification by H&E staining. Apoptosis, revascularization, and serum FSH levels were evaluated by TUNEL assay, CD31 immunohistochemistry, and ELISA respectively. All the ANG-2 groups showed remarkable increase of morphologically intact follicle ratio across all the grafting duration except D21 (no statistical difference). The numbers of CD31(+) vessels (the sum of 3 fields at ×400 magnification) were significantly increased in both ANG-2 groups compared with the control group at all the grafting duration. Especially at D42, the 500ng ANG-2 group showed significantly more vessels than the 50 ng ANG-2 group as well as the control group. However the mean follicle numbers of grafts, apoptosis ratio and serum FSH levels showed no significant difference among the groups. In this study, remarkably well preserved follicles and larger amount of vessels were appeared in ANG-2 treated groups. So we thought that ANG-2 treatment is effective for OT transplantation and improve transplantation outcomes.

Fungal blast caused Magnaporthe oryzae, bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), bacterial streak caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) are devastating diseases of rice worldwide. Application of host resistance to these pathogens is the most economical and environment-friendly approach to solve this problem. Some major disease resistance (MR) genes controlling qualitative resistance and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling quantitative resistance are valuable sources for broad-spectrum and durable disease resistance. We have characterized a number of rice MR genes and resistance QTL genes that confer a broad-spectrum or durable resistance to M. oryzae, Xoo, and Xoc. How to efficiently use these genes for rice improvement will be discussed.

Early pregnancy loss in humans, which often occurs due to defects that occur before, during or immediately after implantation, is a worldwide social and economic concern. For successful implantation to occur in the receptive uterus, the blastocyst must also attain implantation competency. The first evidence that the state of activity of the blastocyst determines the “window” of implantation in the receptive uterus was derived from reciprocal blastocyst transfer experiments in a delayed implantation mouse model. This model is a powerful approach to define the molecular signaling components that direct blastocyst activation or dormancy. Nearly 100 mammals in seven different orders undergo delayed implantation, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. There is evidence that catecholestrogens produced from primary estrogens in the uterus activate blastocysts. Another lipid signaling molecule that targets blastocysts is an endocannabinoid anandamide, which activates G-protein coupled cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Expression of CB1 in the Tr, and uterine synthesis of anandamide, suggest that endocannabinoid signaling is critical to implantation in mice. Levels of uterine anandamide and blastocyst CB1 are coordinately downregulated with the attainment of uterine receptivity and blastocyst activation, respectively, in contrast to their elevated levels in the nonreceptive uterus and dormant blastocysts. Anandamide regulates blastocyst function by differentially modulating MAPK signaling and Ca2+channelactivityviaCB1. Using delayed implantation model, a global gene expression study showed that these two different physiological states of the blastocyst are molecularly distinguishable. The main functional categories of altered genes include cell cycle, cell signaling and energy metabolic pathways. This study also showed an upregulated expression of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) in activated blastocysts and is complementary to earlier reports of upregulated expression of its receptor ErbB1 and ErbB4 in similar blastocysts. Recently, we demonstrated that silencing of Wnt-beta-catenin signaling in mice does not adversely affect the development of preimplantation embryos to blastocysts and uterine preparation for receptivity, but, remarkably, blocks blastocyst competency to implantation. A coordinated activation of canonical Wnt-beta-catenin signaling with Cox-2-PPARd signaling pathway ensures blastocyst competency to implantation. These findings constitute novel evidence that Wnt signaling is at least one pathway that determines blastocyst competency for implantation. More insight into the molecular basis of blastocyst competency for implantation might help to improve pregnancy rates in human IVF programs.

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), a key enzyme of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, is activated by a number of developmental and environmental cues. The coding region of the NtPAL4 gene was 2,154 bp in length, and its deduced protein was composed of 717 amino acids. Sequence analysis of NtPAL4 cDNA from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) revealed high structural similarity to PAL genes of other plant species. The NtPAL4 gene exists as a single copy in the tobacco plant, and its transcripts were strongly expressed in flowers and leaves. NtPAL4 expression was significantly induced in response to NaCl, mannitol, and cold treatments, but it was not induced by abscisic acid (ABA). NtPAL4 expression decreased gradually after treatment with ABA and H2O2; however, NtPAL4 transcripts accumulated after treatment with methyl viologen (MV). Our results suggest that the NtPAL4 gene may function in response to abiotic stresses.

Hovenia dulcis Thunb fruits were successively extracted with hot water, water, methanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform. The crude extracts were investigated for potential antioxidant by measuring scavenging against DPPH free radicals, reducing power, superoxide radicals, and protection of protein damage and cultured cells from a lethal dose of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In all chemical assays used, the hot water extract of H. dulcis fruits, which contained 61.14±2.57 (Tannic acid mg/g extract, n=3) of total phenolic compounds contents exhibited highest activity in in vitro models of DPPH free radical scavenging activity, reducing power assay, superoxide radical scavenging activity and protection of protein damage. In addition, the hot water extract protected cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages from a lethal dose of H2O2 and reduced reactive oxygen species level in RAW 264.7 cells.

Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs), in which each line carries a single or a few defined chromosome segment of donor genome and has a pure genetic background from a recurrent genotype, is a fundamental approach to conduct the QTL mapping in order to improve the mapping precision. In the present study, variety ‘ZM36’ (Gossypium. hirsutum) and ‘Hai1’ (Gossypium. Barbadense) were used as recurrent and donor parent to produce a segment substitution lines populations, respectively. The results indicated that most of fiber quality traits, yield-related traits and verticillium wilt traits fit the normal distribution in the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. In 133 lines of BC4S2:3 generation fiber length longer the recurrent parent has 37, micronaire lower than the recurrent parent has 58, Fiber strength over than the recurrent parent has 34. In 199 individuals of BC4S2:4 generation fiber length longer the recurrent parent has 37, micronaire lower than the recurrent parent has 36, Fiber strength over than the recurrent parent has 49. Fiber length had significantly positive correlation with fiber strength and negative correlation with micronaire, seed index had significantly positive correlation with boll weight and negative correlation with lint percentage, lint percentage had negative correlation with fiber length and strength.

Acanthopanax senticosus is a typical oriental folk medicinal herb and has been used clinically as a tonic, anti-rheumatic and prophylactic for chronic bronchitis, hypertension, anti-stress, ischemic heart disease, and gastric ulcer. Acanthopanax senticosus was successively extracted with water, boiling water, methanol, and 70% methanol. The antioxidant properties of various extracts were evaluated by antioxidant tests, such as DPPH free radical-scavenging activity, metal-chelating activity, superoxide radical scavenging activity, and reducing power assay. The boiling water extract exhibited the highest activity in the in vitro models of DPPH free radical-scavenging activity, and reducing power assay. The 70% methanol extract showed high metal chelating activity. In addition, the total phenolic content of different extracts was also investigated. These results indicate the high possibility of using A. senticosus for medical application due to their efficient antioxidant properties.

Most traits of crop are quantitative, which are controlled by polygenes. Finely mapping ofquantitative trait loci (QTLs) is very important for cotton genetic improvement. Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) containing only one or a few segments of donor chromosome introgressed into a recipient genetic background can be used for QTL fine mapping and map-based cloning. In this study, the Gossypium. hirsutum variety ‘ZM36’ and Gossypium. barbadense ‘Hai1’ were respectively used as recurrent and donor parent to produce a segment substitution lines populations, including the BC4F2:3 and BC4S2:4 generations, by using microsatellite marker-assisted selection (MAS). We obtained 283 SSR marks by taking about the average 5 cM distance selection marks on this map, and these marks were carried to the molecular examination with to two populations. The results showedthat recurrent parent genetic background already to restore the very high degree through the high generation of backcross.

An experiment was conducted to find out among 9 trap settings the most appropriate site for trap placement in the Brinjal field based on Brinjal shoot and fruit borer trapping efficiency, shoot and fruit infestation, healthy and total fruit yield, and BCR. The efficiency of different trap setting positions varied significantly. Trapping efficiency observed the T1 ensured the minimum shoot and fruit infestation 10.02% and 20.95%, respectively, minimum infested fruit yield (4.75 ton/ha), maximum healthy and total fruit yield (26.72 and 31.47 ton/ha) and the maximum BCR (1.70), which was followed by T2 and T4. The minimum trapping efficiency of T9 treatment led the maximum shoot and fruit infestation 13.89 and 29.26%, respectively, maximum infested fruit yield (7.59 ton/ha), minimum healthy and total fruit yield (17.74 and 25.32 ton/ha) and the minimum BCR (1.00). A correlation between the number of BSFB adults trapped from the most efficient trap setting and the shoot and fruit infestation recorded and found a linear positive correlation between number of BSFB adults trapped and shoot infestation (r = 0.781) and fruit infestation (r = 0.810). The effect of pheromone trap positions observed in this study may be attributed to the easy accessibility of the lures and traps, when they are placed at the canopy.

A novel miniaturized CMOS C-Band bandpass filter based on diagonally end-shorted coupled lines and interdigital capacitors is proposed. The utilized coupled lines structure reduced the configuration in size, as small as a few degrees. Moreover, the characteristic of interdigital capacitor, relatively high Q and good capacitance tolerance, accounts for the satisfied performance of this new filter. A two-stage bandpass filter was designed and fabricated with chip surface area only 1.02×1.4 mm2.

We carried out to study the function of ArgE in transgenic rice plants, which were confirmed by PCR analysis and hygromycin selection. Transgenic rice plants were with selectable marker gene(HPT) inserted in genome of the rice. Southern analysis with hpt probe confirmed by two restriction enzymes that copy numbers of the selectable gene was introduced into the plant genome. We displayed that the relationship between drought stress and ArgE gene with the overexpressing rice plants. From this result, we observed that the degree of leaves damage has no difference in control and transgenic lines. The total RNAs were extracted from 6 weeks-seedling in normal condition in order to examine their expression levels with ArgE-overexpressed transgenic rice. In particular, expression patterns of genes encoding enzymes involved in abiotic stress, including drought and salt stresses. OsGF14a and OsSalt were investigated by reverse transcription-PCR(RT-PCR). Expression levels of the OsSalt gene decreased significantly in transgenic rice plants compared to control plant. However, ion leakage measurement did not demonstrate any leaves damage change between control and ArgE transgenic plants exposure to mannitol treatment. These results suggest that expression of the ArgE is not involved in tolerance for drought stress in rice but may playa role of signaling networks for salt-induced genes.