A mixture of trans, trans conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with reciprocal expression of Bax and Bcl-2

The growth inhibitory effect of a mixture of trans, trans conjugated linoleic acid isomers (t, t CLA) was investigated in a human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, with references to c9, t11 CLA, t10, c12 CLA, and linoleic acid. The t, t CLA treatment effectively induced a cytotoxic effect in a time-dependent (0-6 days) and concentration-dependent (0-40 microM) manner, as compared to the reference and control treatments. The apoptotic parameters were measured on cells treated with 40 microM t, t CLA for 4 days. The occurrence of the characteristic morphological changes and DNA fragmentation confirmed apoptosis. The t, t CLA treatment led to an increase in the level of p53 tumor suppressor protein and Bax protein, but suppressed the expression of Bcl-2 protein. In addition, cytochrome c was released from the mitochondria into the cytosol, and the activation of caspase-3 led to the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Moreover, the composition of the linoleic and arachidonic acids was decreased in cellular membranes. These findings suggest that incorporation of t, t CLA in the membrane induces a mitochondria-mediated apoptosis that can enhance the antiproliferative effect of t, t CLA in MCF-7 cells.     

Assessment of nitrogen contamination of groundwater in paddy and upland fields

This study aims to assess the nitrogen contamination of groundwater in paddy and upland fields. A reactive chemical transport model PHREEQC and a variable saturated groundwater flow and transport model FEMWATER were used to evaluate the vertical transport of nitrogen compound in various soil types of paddy and upland. The shallow groundwater quality monitoring data of 2003, 2006, 2009 in the Choushui river alluvial fan, the major agriculture production area in Taiwan, were applied to support the validity of the numerical simulation findings. Results from PHREEQC and FEMWATER simulations showed that the organic-rich impermeable plow sole layer underneath the muddy layer of rice paddy can effectively reduce NO₃ ⁻ and N₂ to NH₄ ⁺ and retard the movement of NH₄ ⁺. However, in the upland field which has no plow sole layer, the NH₄ ⁺ can move easily to the shallow aquifer and contaminate the groundwater. The spatiotemporal distribution of NO₃ ⁻–N and NH₄ ⁺–N in the Choushui river alluvial fan revealed that high nitrate–N contamination areas were located mainly in the upland field of the proximal fan, where the granular unconfined aquifer was vulnerable to surface contaminants. Moreover, the unconfined nature of the aquifer allows the oxidization of NH₄ ⁺ to NO₃ ⁻ and accelerates the plume movement. High ammonium–N concentration areas were mostly dispersed in the distal-fan area where upland planting and aquacultural farming were prevailed. The high NH₄ ⁺–N found in the northern Choushui river alluvial fan was attributed to the alternative planting of rice and upland crops, and the plow sole layer was broken to maintain the quick drainage upland crop needs.     

Multidetector row computed tomography evaluation of the micropig kidney as a potential renal donor

Multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) provides anatomical information about the kidney and other internal organs. Presently, the suitability of 64-channel MDCT to assess the kidney of healthy micropigs was evaluated. Morphological evaluations of the kidney and the major renal vessels of six healthy micropigs were carried out using MDCT, recording kidney volume and the diameter and length of renal arteries and veins. The mean diameters and lengths of the renal artery were 0.44 ± 0.05 and 4.51 ± 0.55 cm on the right side and 0.46 ± 0.06 and 3.36 ± 0.27 cm on the left side, respectively. The mean diameters and lengths of the renal vein were 1.44 ± 0.52 and 4.22 ± 1.29 cm on the right side and 1.38 ± 0.17 and 5.15 ± 0.87 cm on the left side, respectively. The mean volume of the right kidney was 79.3 ± 14.5 mL and of the left kidney was 78.0 ± 13.9 mL. The data presented in this study suggest that the MDCT offers a noninvasive, rapid, and accurate method for the evaluation of the renal anatomy in living kidney donors. It also provides sufficient information about extra-renal anatomy important for donor surgery and determination of organ suitability.     

Insecticidal activities of crude extracts and phospholipids from Chenopodium ficifolium against melon and cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii

Several organic solvent extracts of Chenopodium ficifolium were tested for their insecticidal activity against melon and cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, on cucumber plants. Both methanol and ethanol extracts, at 5000 μg ml⁻¹, were highly active giving over 80% control. The other crude extracts displayed moderate or weak insecticidal activity giving control in the range of 16–69%. Two phospholipids were isolated as insecticidal active substances from C. ficifolium. Their chemical structures were identified as 1-palmitoyl-2-(3-trans)-hexadecenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol and 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-glycerophosphocholine by GC–MS, EDS, mass and NMR spectral analyses. Both compounds displayed a dose-dependent mortality of A. gossypii. Furthermore, the liquid formulation that was obtained by partitioning with n-hexane from the methanol extract of C. ficifolium controlled melon and cotton aphid on cucumber plants effectively. These results indicate that extracts of C. ficifolium have potential for development as botanical insecticides for controlling A. gossypii infesting cucumber plants.     

Hydrophilic modification of PET fabric via continuous photografting of acrylic acid (AA) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)

Poly(acrylic acid) and poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) were introduced onto PET fabrics by UV-induced photografting to improve its hydrophilicity. Several factors affecting the photografting were studied including irradiation energy, monomer, and photoinitiator (PI) concentrations. ATR and ESCA analyses proved successful grafting of the two monomers onto PET. Morphology of fabric surface was examined using FE-SEM. Both zeta potential and water wetting time of the grafted PET fabrics decreased with increasing grafting yield. Also cationic dyeability of the grafted PET fabrics increased because of the increased electrostatic interactions between the anionic dyeing sites and cationic dyes.     

Determination of regression model parameter for constructed wetland using operating data

Seven years of performance data from a free surface flow constructed wetland system receiving agricultural runoff were used to determine treatment performance and to develop regression and wetland design models. Removal rates by the wetland were 21–43.6% for 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), 49.0–58.1% for total phosphorous (TP), 24.1–46.0% for total nitrogen (TN), and 57.6–77.8% for total suspended solids (TSS). First-order area-based rate constant (k ₂₀) values for BOD₅ were 15.48 m/year in the early stage of observation and decreased to 12.00 m/year for the stable period. Similar results were found for TP, for which k ₂₀ values were 18.72 m/year in the early stage and 14.92 m/year for the stable period. For TN, k ₂₀ values in the early stage (21.32 m/year) were slightly lower than those for the stable period (38.02 m/year). Finally, TSS had values of 132.4 and 172.6 m/year in the early and stable periods, respectively. The low k ₂₀ for BOD₅ was not important for nonpoint source pollution control in the constructed wetland because these kinds of wetlands mainly focus on nitrogen and phosphorus retention. The wetland area and outlet concentration could be approximately predicted using the first-order kinetic model, but the maturity and hydraulic loading rate should be considered for more accurate prediction.     

Antimicrobial treatment properties of Tencel Jacquard fabrics treated with ginkgo biloba extract and silicon softener

Tencel Jacquard fabric is one of the eco-fabrics used for underwear, sportswear, bedclothes, clothes for aged people, and hospital textiles. It is popular for these uses because it is easy to process into yarns and fabrics alone or in blends, very stable in washing and drying, thermally stable, and easy to dye with deep vibrant colors using direct, reactive, or vat dyes. In order to provide antimicrobial properties for Tencel Jacquard fabrics, they were treated with ginkgo biloba extract and silicon softener using two different processes so the results could be compared. One of the processes treated the fabrics with ginkgo biloba extract and silicon softener simultaneously, and the other process treated the fabrics with these agents sequentially. The treated Tencel Jacquard fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and their antimicrobial properties were evaluated. In addition, water repellency, air permeability, water vapor permeability, and yellowness were measured. It was observed that the ginkgo biloba extract and silicon softener were present on the surface of the treated fibers, and the quantity of these agents before and after laundering was proportional to the measured antimicrobial activity of the fabrics before and after laundering. Fabrics treated with both agents had stronger water/oil repellency than fabrics treated with only ginkgo biloba extract. As the quantities of the two treating agents on fabrics were increased, their air permeability and water vapor permeability decreased. No significant changes were observed for yellowness based on the amounts of treating agents applied. From these results, it is expected that Tencel fabrics treated with ginkgo biloba extract and silicon softener are excellent for use as bedclothes.     

Development of effective environmentally-friendly approaches to control Alternaria blight and anthracnose diseases of Korean ginseng

In ginseng fields, Alternaria blight, caused by Alternaria panax, and anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporoides, have become serious problems in Korea, and control of these diseases relies mainly on intensive applications of fungicides. In an effort to develop an effective environmentally-friendly control system, we utilized preventative control approaches including rain shelter shading plates and the removal of dead plants, as well as a curative control approach, such as the application of microbial agents. In the presence of rain shelter shading plates, the occurrence of Alternaria blight and anthracnose decreased significantly compared to that seen with polyethylene shading nets. In addition, the eradication of dead ginseng plants, which harboured abundant spores of the pathogens, significantly reduced the incidence of both diseases. In fields with rain shelter shading plates and in which dead plants were eradicated, four applications of a bioformulated product containing chitinolytic bacterial strains in a simple medium containing chitin provided control similar in effect to that observed with the application of the fungicide under low disease pressure. The efficacy of the bioformulated product was decreased slightly under severe disease pressure. These findings indicate that integration of the three disease management measures might constitute a new effective and environmentally-friendly system for the control of Alternaria blight and anthracnose in Korean ginseng fields.     

Seroprevalence investigation of bovine ephemeral fever in yaks in Tibetan Plateau of China from 2012 to 2015

Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) is caused by the arthropod-borne bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV), which is classified in family Rhabdoviridae and genus Ephemerovirus. However, it is still unclear whether yaks from the Tibetan plateau of China are exposed to BEFV. It is the first time that a survey was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of BEFV infection in yaks (Bos grunniens) on the Tibetan Plateau of China. A total of 1123 serum samples were collected randomly from yaks from 2012 to 2015 and were assayed for BEFV antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proportions of positive serum samples were assessed among the 1123 samples, as well as factors of geographical origin and years. The results showed that there were 454 serum samples that tested positive for BEFV, and the total positive rate is 40.4 %. The prevalence in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 was 49.3, 36, 44.1, and 34.0 %, respectively, and the difference is statistically significant (P<?0.01). In different regions, the prevalence was ranged from 34.7 to 45.7 % with a significant difference among the different regions of (P?<?0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that yaks in Tibet (Xizang autonomous region) (45.7 %) had 1.6 times (OR = 1.589, 95 % CI = 1.141–2.215, P?<?0.01) higher risk of being seropositive compared to yaks in Qinghai province, while no regional difference was found of Sichuan province compared to Qinghai (P?>?0.05). The prevalence in 2012 (49.3 %) was more than 1.8 time (OR = 1.880, 95 % CI = 1.350–2.619, P?<?0.001) at risk of acquiring the infection compared to the year of 2015. The prevalence of yaks in 2014 (44.1 %) had a 1.5 times (OR = 1.528, 95 % CI = 1.350–2.619, p?<?0.001) at risk of being seropositive compared to yaks in 2015, while no year difference was found of 2013 compared to 2015 (P?>?0.05). Our study suggests that the yaks from the high plateau are highly infected by BEFV, and geographical origin and years are main risk factors for BEF seroprevalence.