Effect of Cycloheximide on the Adaptive Response Induced by Low Dose Radiation

Human lymphocytes pre-exposed to 10 mGy or 50 mGy of X-rays become less sensitive to subsequent large dose irradiation, exhibited lower rate of chromosome aberration than expected. This adaptive response could be inhibited by cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor for successive 2 h period ranging from 0.5h before to 4h after the low dose exposure, indicating that the adaptive response was directly related with the protein synthesis.

TLR signaling that induces weak inflammatory response and SHIP1 enhances osteogenic functions

Toll-like receptor （TLR）-mediated inflammatory response could negatively affect bone metabolism. In this study, we determined how osteogenesis is regulated during inflammatory responses that are downstream of TLR signaling. Human primary osteoblasts were cultured in collagen gels. Pam3CSK4 （P3C） and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide （EcLPS） were used as TLR2 and TLR4 ligand respectively. Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS having TLR2 activity with either TLR4 agonism （Pg1690） or TLR4 antagonism （Pg1449） and mutant E. coli LPS （LPxE/LPxF/WSK） were used. IL-lp, SH2-containing inositol phosphatase-1 （SHIP1） that has regulatory roles in osteogenesis, alkaline phosphatase and mineralization were analyzed. 3α-Aminocholestane （3AC） was used to inhibit SHIP1. Our results suggest that osteoblasts stimulated by P3C, poorly induced IL-1β but strongly upregulated SHIP1 and enhanced osteogenic mediators. On the contrary, EcLPS significantly induced IL-1β and osteogenic mediators were not induced. While Pg1690 downmodulated osteogenic mediators, Pg1449 enhanced osteogenic responses, suggesting that TLR4 signaling annuls osteogenesis even with TLR2 activity. Interestingly, mutant E. coli LPS that induces weak inflammation upregulated osteogenesis, but SHIP1 was not induced. Moreover, inhibiting SHIP1 significantly upregulated TLR2-mediated inflammatory response and downmodulated osteogenesis. In conclusion, these results suggest that induction of weak inflammatory response through TLR2 （with SHIP1 activity） and mutant TLR4 ligands could enhance osteogenesis.

Numerical Calculation Methods for Wavemaking Response Induced by Explosion in Harbour

Using the axial symmetry results of marker and cell (MAC) method as initial value in this paper, two numerical calculating methods are presented for the late wavemaking response induced by explosion in harbour. One of the methods is the superposition method of the vibration mode based on fluid slosh in container. Another one is the joining method of the MAC results with the shallow wave theory calculation in time domain. As a practical example, it is conducted to the numerical calculation about 1000 ton TNT equivalent explosion within touch of water surface. The results show that it can be rationally described with the methods to the wavemaking progress and character. The numerical results are identical with the observed scene on the spot experiment. The methods are simple and applicable in the engineering design.

Analysis of the Antimicrobial Activity of Antimicrobial Peptides Extracted from Immunized Tenebrio molitor Induced by Different Microbial Treatments Against 26 Pathogens

[Objective] The study was to explore whether antimicrobial activity of the antimicrobial peptides extracted from immunized Tenebrio molitor varied with different pathogens as inducers.[Method]By inducing T.molitor hungry larvaes to generate immune response via feeding with bacteria and with fungi or actinomycete post to pricking,the antimicrobial peptides extracts were obtained by grinding and centrifuging the cultures.Its antimicrobial activity against 26 pathogens was measured by bacteriostatic ring,and evaluated by trisection to four types and inhibitory spectrum.[Result]Both the antimicrobial activity and antimicrobial spectrum of the antimicrobial peptides extracts varied remarkably among different pathogens as inducers.[Conclusion]Bio-control used strains have obvious advantage in inducing the insect to express body fluid immunity material-antimicrobial peptides.

Vibration Control Induced by Ice of a Jacket Platform

Based on the self-excited vibration theory of ice, the vibration control technology of jacket platform is studied in this paper. The magnetorheological suspensions (MR) unit is chosen as the damper, the control objective function for vibration excited by ice is determined by instantaneous optimal control (IOC) method, and genetic algorithm (GA) is used to select the optimal control force. For the jacket platform of 40 m in height and a 3-floor deck, the vibration responses induced by ice have been calculated before and after control considering the different thickness and speed of ice. It is shown that the control method presented in this paper can reduce the vibration response by 30%, and it is feasible to adopt MR absorber and GA in the control of vibration induced by ice.

Enhancement of Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase,Polyphenoloxidase,and Peroxidase in Cucumber Seedlings by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera:Aleyrodidae) Infestation

In this study, the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase （PAL）, polyphenoloxidase （PPO）, and peroxidase （POD） were assayed in cucumber seedlings （Cucumis sativus L.） at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after they were infested by Bemisia tabaci （Gennadius） using spectrophotometric analysis. The results indicated that herbivore infestation increased the activities of PAL, PPO, and POD. The enzymes showed different activity levels at different times after the infestation. The PAL activity reached the first high peak by 23.1% at 6 h and the highest peak by 29.1% at 48 h compared to the control. The PPO activity reached the first high peak by 22.7% at 6 h and the highest peak by 52.6% at 24 h, and the POD activity reached the highest peak by 213.2% at 6 h and another higher peak value by 135.2% at 96 h. The results suggest that the enhanced activities of the enzymes may contribute to bioprotection of cucumber plants against B. tabaci infestation.

Effect of the postfeeding interval on olfactory responses of thrips to herbivore-induced cotton plants

We investigated the responses of 3 thrips species, Frankliniella schultzei Tryborn, E occidentalis Pergrande, and Thrips tabaci Lindeman （Thysanoptera： Thripidae） to herbivore-damaged and undamaged cotton seedlings （Gossypium hirsutum L. [Malvales： Malvaceae]） at a range of time intervals following damage by adult Tetranychus urticae （Koch）, adult T. ludeni （Zacher） （Acari： Tetranychidae） or Helicoverpa armigera （Hubner） （Lepidoptera： Noctuidae） larvae in olfactometer assays. The intensity/frequency of the response of thrips to herbivore-induced plants decreased with time and ultimately disappeared in all cases; however, the rate at which the response declined was related to the herbivore species that inflicted the damage. All 3 species of thrips were attracted to plants damaged by T. urticae for longer than they were to plants damaged by T. ludeni. The duration for which damaged plants remained attractive was also affected by the degree of damage inflicted on cotton seedlings. For example, E schultzei was attracted to plants damaged by a higher density of two-spotted spider mites （100/plant） for much longer than to plants damaged by a lower density of these mites （50/plant）. The results reinforce previous studies that demonstrate that arrangement of variables influences the responses of thrips to their herbivore-induced cotton host plants. Results also show that these responses are variable in time following herbivore damage to cotton plants, which further demonstrates how difficult it is to generalize about the functional significance of these interactions.

Lipopolysaccharide immune stimulation but not β-mannanase supplementation affects maintenance energy requirements in young weaned pigs

Background: Pathogen or diet-induced immune activation can partition energy and nutrients away from growth,but clear relationships between immune responses and the direction and magnitude of energy partitioning responses have yet to be elucidated. The objectives were to determine how β-mannanase supplementation and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) immune stimulation affect maintenance energy requirements(MEm) and to characterize immune parameters, digestibility, growth performance, and energy balance.Methods: In a randomized complete block design, 30 young weaned pigs were assigned to either the control treatment(CON; basal corn, soybean meal and soybean hul s diet), the enzyme treatment(ENZ; basal diet + 0.056% β-mannanase),or the immune system stimulation treatment(ISS; basal diet + 0.056% β-mannanase, chal enged with repeated increasing doses of Escherichia coli LPS). The experiment consisted of a 10-d adaptation period, 5-d digestibility and nitrogen balance measurement, 22 h of heat production(HP) measurements, and 12 h of fasting HP measurements in indirect calorimetry chambers. The immune chal enge consisted of 4 injections of either LPS(ISS) or sterile saline(CON and ENZ), one every48 h beginning on d 10. Blood was collected pre-and post-challenge for complete blood counts with differential,haptoglobin and mannan binding lectin, 12 cytokines, and glucose and insulin concentrations.Results: Beta-mannanase supplementation did not affect immune status, nutrient digestibility, growth performance,energy balance, or MEm. The ISS treatment induced fever, elevated proinflammatory cytokines and decreased leukocyte concentrations(P < 0.05). The ISS treatment did not impact nitrogen balance or nutrient digestibility(P > 0.10),but increased total HP(21%) and MEm(23%), resulting in decreased lipid deposition(-30%) and average daily gain(-18%)(P < 0.05).Conclusions: This experiment provides novel data on β-mannanase supplementation effects on immune parameters and energy balance in pigs and is the first to directly relate decreased ADG to increased MEm independent of changes in feed intake in immune challenged pigs. Immune stimulation increased energy partitioning to the immune system by 23% which limited lipid deposition and weight gain. Understanding energy and nutrient partitioning in immune-stressed pigs may provide insight into more effective feeding and management strategies.

Different headspace profiles in wild crucifer species in response to Plutella xylostella herbivory and exogenous jasmonic acid application

Although exogenous treatment of plants withjasmonic acid （JA） may result in induced responses similar to plant defences induced by herbivory, few studies have compared the details of insect herbivory and JA-mimicked responses. We compared volatiles of two crucifer species, Cardamine impatiens and Lepidium virginicum, in response to Plutella xylostella larval feeding and exogenous application of JA, over the entire period of time when induced changes were detectable. Significant differences in the composition and timing of volatiles occurred between herbivory and JA treatments in both plants. The quantity ofnitrile and isothiocyanate released in response to herbivory was significantly larger than that upon JA treatment. In each of the two plant species, most volatile components were emitted immediately upon larval feeding and their quantity dropped rapidly once feeding ceased. In contrast, the emission of volatiles in response to JA treatment lasted for a longer period of time, and the maximum emission rate was recorded 2 and 3 days after JA treatment in L. virginicum and C. impatiens respectively. These findings are discussed in the context of signal-transduction pathways and mechanisms involved in induced emissions of plant volatiles, as well as induced defences mediated by plant volatiles.

Effects of single and dual species herbivory on the behavioral responses of three thrips species to cotton seedlings

This study investigated the olfactory responses of 3 thrips species [Frankliniella schultzei Trybom, E occidentalis Pergrande and Thrips tabaci Lindeman （Thysanoptera： Thripidae）] to cotton seedlings [Gossypium hirsutum L. （Malvales： Malvaceae）] simulta- neously damaged by different combinations of herbivores. Cotton seedlings were damaged by foliar feeding Tetranychus urticae Koch （Trombidiforms： Tetranychidae）, Helicoverpa armigera Hibner （Lepidoptera： Noctuidae）, Aphis＇ gossypii Glover （Hemiptera： Aphidi- dae） or root feeding Tenebrio molitor L. （Coleoptera： Tenebrionidae）. Thrips responses to plants simultaneously damaged by 2 species of herbivore were additive and equivalent to the sum of the responses of thrips to plants damaged by single herbivore species feeding alone. For example, E occidentalis was attracted to T. urticae damaged plants but more attracted to undamaged plants than to plants damaged by H. armigera. Plants simultane- ously damaged by low densities of T. urticae and H. armigera repelled E occidentalis but as T. urticae density increased relative to H. armigera density, E occidentalis attraction to coinfested plants increased proportionally. Thrips tabaci did not discriminate between un- damaged plants and plants damaged by H. armigera but were attracted to plants damaged by T. urticae alone or simultaneously damaged by T. urticae and H. armigera. Olfactometer assays showed that simultaneous feeding by 2 herbivores on a plant can affect predator- prey interactions. Attraction of F. occidentalis to plants damaged by its T. urticae prey was reduced when the plant was simultaneously damaged by H. armigera, T. molitor, or A. gossypii and F. schultzei was more attracted to plants simultaneously damaged by T. urticae and H. armigera than to plants damaged by T. urticae alone. We conclude that plant responses to feeding by I species of herbivore are affected by responses to feeding by other herbivores. These plant-mediated interactions between herbivore complexes af- fect the behavioral responses ofthrips which vary between species and are highly context dependent.

Antidepressant-like effects of the ethanolic extract of XiaobuxinTang,a traditional Chinese herbal prescription in animal models of depression

Background Xiaobuxin-Tang, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription recorded in a silk scroll unearthed from Mogao Caves of Dunhuang has been indicated that it can remit depressive disorder. The present study was designed to investigate its antidepressant effects in various animal depression models.Methods Xiaobuxin-Tang was extracted by 70% alcohol, and then three behavioral despair models and 5-Hydroxytryptophan （HTP）-induced head twitch response model were adopted to assess the antidepressant effects of the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang with the study on spontaneous motor activity. Groups of mice and rats received oral treatment with Xiaobuxin-Tang （150-1200 mg/kg） only once acutely in all tests. The duration of immobility was measured during the last 4 minutes of the 6-minutes test period in mice forced swimming test, rats forced swimming test and mice tail suspension test. In 5-HTP-induced head twitch response, the mice were intraperitoneally administered with 120 mg/kg of L-5-HTP, and then the cumulative number of head twitches was counted in 20 minutes. Spontaneous motor activities of mice were recorded automatically in 10 minutes by VIDEOMEX-V image analytic system.Results The extract at doses of 300 mg/kg （p.o.） and 600 mg/kg （p.o.） significantly decreased the duration of immobility time in a dose dependent manner in mice forced swimming test; also, the extract at dose of 1200 mg/kg （p.o.） significantly decreased the duration of immobility time in rat forced swimming test. Furthermore, the extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg had the same effect in mice tail suspension test. Meanwhile, the extract at the effective doses for behavioral despair models, had no effect on spontaneous motor activity in mice. The extract （300-1200 mg/kg, p.o.） also increased the accumulative number of the 5-HTP-induced head twitch response in mice in 20 minutes.Conclusion Our results suggested that the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang exerts antidepressant-like effect.

Gene mutation in patients with primary open angle glaucoma in a pedigree in China

Objective To investigate the genetic basis of the pathogenesis of a Guangzhou (GZ 1) pedigree with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) Methods DNA fragments of the trabecular meshwork inducible glucocorticoid response protein (TIGR) gene from 4 typical POAG patients and 2 normal subjects were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) The amplified PCR fragment was cloned into a pT Adv vector, and direct sequencing was carried out on an ABI 373 automated DNA sequencer using dye terminator chemistry to detect the mutation Results The TIGR gene mutation was identified in the selected subjects of this pedigree This mutation is a “C to T” transition at position 370, different from that of western countries and equivalent to the position change found in Japanese patients with familial POAG No mutation was found in the TIGR gene fragment in 2 normal subjects of the pedigree Conclusions These preliminary results provide insights into the pathogenesis of POAG by the TIGR gene mutation, and into the underlying action of the different mutations in oriental and western peoples