Bee venom is a complex mixture of toxic components that induces immediate local inflammatory and allergic responses. However, the presence and role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in bee venom have not been previously investigated. Here, we provide the first demonstration that bee venom contains Cu,Zn SOD (SOD3), a novel extracellular component that promotes local inflammation. Bee venom SOD3 was shown to be an oxidant, rather than an antioxidant, that induces the inflammation-signaling molecule H2O2 in vivo. H2O2 plays a pathological role by triggering an immediate local inflammatory response. Furthermore, bee venom SOD3 significantly induced the activation of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α and COX-2) and cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) via the overproduction of H2O2 in mice. Our data demonstrate that bee venom SOD3 induced H2O2, which drives an immediate local inflammatory response, indicating a novel mechanism underlying bee venom-induced local inflammation.

The development of nanostructured functional materials derived from biomass and/or waste is of growing importance for creating sustainable energy-storage systems. In this study, nanoporous carbonaceous materials containing numerous heteroatoms were fabricated from waste coffee grounds using a top-down process via simple heating with KOH. The nanoporous carbon nanosheets exhibited notable material properties such as high specific surface area (1960.1 m2 g–1), numerous redox-active heteroatoms (16.1 at% oxygen, 2.7 at% nitrogen, and 1.6 at% sulfur), and high aspect ratios (>100). These unique properties led to good electrochemical performance as supercapacitor electrodes. A specific capacitance of ~438.5 F g–1 was achieved at a scan rate of 2 mV s–1, and a capacitance of 176 F g–1 was maintained at a fast scan rate of 100 mV s–1. Furthermore, cyclic stability was achieved for over 2000 cycles.

Examining the experiences of seven preservice teachers enrolled in a materials development class, this qualitative case study aimed to explore the way their participation in the materials development process was connected not only to their increased knowledge of and skills in materials development but also to their self-perceived confidence as prospective teachers, contributing to their professional development. The data were collected from multiple reflection papers and were analyzed qualitatively. The findings demonstrated that the materials development class offered the preservice teachers an opportunity to gain insight into the importance of materials in language education and of teachers being knowledgeable and skilled in materials design and development. They also came to a new realization that teachers were active agents who could take initiatives in adapting and developing materials, rather than passive users following the prescribed textbooks. The materials development class further taught them the need to prioritize the goal of promoting successful language learning when developing materials and to take a critical approach in order to counteract any biased cultural representations and their negative consequences on students’ worldviews. Gaining confidence, the preservice teachers spoke highly of their experiential learning in the class as they thought the experience prepared them to become more competent teachers.

A large number of transgenic crop varieties expressing the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) insecticidal proteins have been commercialized in 13 countries since 1996. Although the use of these insect-resistant Bt crops can increase crop quality and yields, concerns remain about the potential negative effects of such crops on ecosystems. Transgenic soybean containing cry1Ac gene have been developed to control Lepidopteran pests of soybean and we aimed to investigate whether this soybean could affect non-target arthropods, which play a major role in ecological functions in agricultural ecosystems. In the present study, we first measured the levels of Cry1Ac protein in Bt soybean at different growth stages of soybean and then we compared the community structure of arthropods occurred in fields of transgenic and wild-type soybean. The levels of Cry1Ac protein in transgenic soybean leaves ranged from 252.9 to 604.5 μg g-1 DW. Multivariate analyses (PerMANOVA and NMDS) showed that the composition of the non-target arthropod community was affected by sampling date but not by soybean genotype. These results suggest that transgenic soybean expressing Cry1Ac protein may not adversely affect such non-target arthropod communities.

We sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes (mt genomes) of four Apis species, such as A. cerana, A. dorsata, A. laboriosa, and A. mellifera ligustica. The A. m. ligustica used in this study was originated from United States and selected for a high hygienic behavior during several years of breeding program. Considering current phylogenetic hypothesis of Apis the positive relationships between phylogeny and gene rearrangement was not supported. Phylogenetic reconstruction using available Apoidea species has shown the relationships ((Apidae + Colletidae) + Crabronidae). Within Apis, a strong support for three groups was obtained: A. florea and A. andreniformis as a basal group to the other A. cerana and A. mellifera group and A. dorsata and A. laboriosa group. The test to find out suitable single mt gene for the phylogeny at the genus level and below-genus level of Apis provided an identical topology from ND4L and ND6 in the ML analysis and ND3 and NF4L in the BI analysis to that from whole mt genome, with relatively strong support, indicating that these individual genes can potentially be utilized for within-species level phylogeny of Apis.

The cabbage whitefly Aleyrodes proletella L. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a specialized insect that uses its mouthparts(stylets) to feed from the phloem of its host plants, which are found among the Brassicaceae and Asteraceae. Female whiteflies lay their eggs in circular patterns embedded in wax on the underside of the leaves. These were collected from the leaf of triangular lettuce, Crepidiastrum sonchifolium throughout the whole Chungnam province, 2013. We reared the cabbage whitefly on the egg-plant. The elongate-oval eggs are laid upright in a semicircle on the underside of Brassica leaves but didn’t in lab. Initially pale and translucent, the eggs become darker. Nymphs are scale-like and covered with wax; their color is white with two yellow spots on the abdomen. On the dorsal surface of the last abdomial segment is the vasiform orifice charactersitic of the group. The fourth instar is called the “pupa”. The pupa is thicker, immobile, and pale in color with red eyes. The adults are tiny, about 1.5 mm long, and moth-like. The head and thorax are dark. The abdomen is yellow and covered by a conspicuous white waxy layer. The forewings have a faint, dark bar. If disturbed, the adults fly readily. The duration of development of immature stages of Aleyrodes proletella decreased with increase in temperature, the mortality was higher below 16 ℃ and above 28 ℃.

This study was carried out to investigate optimal mixture of persimmon peels for Pleurotus eryngii cultivation. The 5-50% of persimmon peels was mixed with mushroom growing medium for Pleurotus eryngii cultivation. Mycelial growth of persimmon peels treatment were 74-165 mm (28 days) and slower than that of control (treatment without persimmon peels) as 160 mm (28 days). Mycelial growth time of 5-20% persimmon peels treatment were similar to control as 34 days but that 30-50% of persimmon peels treatment were delayed for 17 days. The time of pinhead formations in control and 5-50% persimmon peels treatment were 11 days, the growth time to harvest were 6-7 days. The sizes of pileus of 15% persimmon peels treatment was tend to be smaller compared with control. The length of stipe of 15% persimmon peels treatment was 124 mm which was longer than that of the control with 118 mm. The thickness of stipes of 15% persimmon peels treatments was 48 mm which were tend to be thicker than that of the control with 47 mm. Thirty percent of persimmon peels treatment was better than other treatment comparing with control.

This study was carried out to develope mushroom growing medium for Pleurotus eryngii cultivation using persimmon peels. Total nitrogen, carbon source and protein of commercial cultivation medium used in this study was 1.34, 53.9 and 0.09 %, respectively. The C/N ratio was 40.22. The total nitrogen was increased by increasing mixing ratio of persimmon peels. The carbon source and protein was no significant difference by increasing mixing ratio of persimmon peels. In column test, mycelial growth of 15% persimmon peels treatment was similar with control, but mycelia of 20-50% persimmon peels treatment was growed slowly compared with control. To investigate yields of fruiting body, 15% of persimmon peels was mixed with commercial cultivation medium. The fruiting body of 15% persimmon peels treatment was no significant difference yield compared with control. But, the chemical contents of 15% persimmon peels treatment were the higher than control.

Bee venom contains a variety of peptide constituents that have various biological, toxicological, and pharmacological actions. However, the biological actions of secapin, a venom peptide in bee venom, remain largely unknown. Here, we provide the first evidence that the Asiatic honeybee (Apis cerana) secapin (AcSecapin-1) exhibits anti-fibrinolytic, anti-elastolytic, and anti-microbial activities. AcSecapin-1 functions as a serine protease inhibitor-like peptide that has inhibitory effects against plasmin, elastases, microbial serine proteases, trypsin, and chymotrypsin. Consistent with these functions, AcSecapin-1 inhibited the plasmin-mediated degradation of fibrin to fibrin degradation products, thus indicating the role of AcSecapin-1 as a clotting factor. AcSecapin-1 also inhibited both human neutrophil and porcine pancreatic elastases. Furthermore, AcSecapin-1 exhibited anti-microbial activity against fungi and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Taken together, our data demonstrated that AcSecapin-1 has a multifunctional role as an anti-fibrinolytic agent, an anti-elastolytic agent, and an anti-microbial peptide, and our data suggested novel functions for the biological actions of the bee venom peptide, secapin.