Management of pine wilt disease in Korea through preventative silvicultural control

Pine wilt disease (PWD) represents a major threat to forest ecosystems worldwide. Although PWD is now better understood, effective control measures for this disease have still not been devised. Here, we report several years of field studies on preventative silvicultural control of PWD. Silvicultural control through preventative clear-cutting and the manual removal of logs was implemented between 2005 and 2009 in 16 Korean districts that had newly PWD-infected stands. Preventative clear-cutting of neighboring asymptomatic pine trees (within a 10-50-m radius of wilt trees) and the removal of felled logs or branches suppressed spread of PWD. Occurrences of PWD wilt pines in districts (city or county) subjected to this silvicultural control method were significantly reduced compared with those in districts using conventional controls (physical or chemical treatment of wilt pine trees). Through silvicultural control, PWD was successfully suppressed in 11 of 16 districts investigated. In contrast, successful control was achieved in only 1 among 18 districts subjected to conventional control. Our results will be of considerable interest to those engaged in the very difficult battle against the global spread of PWD.     

5-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)oxymethyl-5-methyl-3-(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)- 1,2-isoxazoline as a useful rice herbicide

5-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)oxymethyl-5-methyl-3-(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)-1,2-isoxazoline derivative was synthesized, and its herbicidal activity was assessed under glasshouse and flooded paddy conditions. 5-(2,6-Difluorobenzyl)oxymethyl-5-methyl-3-(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)-1,2-isoxazoline demonstrated good rice selectivity and potent herbicidal activity against annual weeds at 125 g of a.i. ha(-1) under greenhouse conditions. Soil application of this compound showed complete control of barnyard-grass to the fourth leaf stage at 250 g of a.i. ha(-1). Field trials indicated that this compound controlled annual weeds rapidly with a good tolerance on transplanted rice seedlings by post-emergence and soil application. This compound showed a low mammalian and environmental toxicity in various toxicological tests.     

MET amplification leads to gefitinib resistance in lung cancer by activating ERBB3 signaling

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors gefitinib and erlotinib are effective treatments for lung cancers with EGFR activating mutations, but these tumors invariably develop drug resistance. Here, we describe a gefitinib-sensitive lung cancer cell line that developed resistance to gefitinib as a result of focal amplification of the MET proto-oncogene. inhibition of MET signaling in these cells restored their sensitivity to gefitinib. MET amplification was detected in 4 of 18 (22%) lung cancer specimens that had developed resistance to gefitinib or erlotinib. We find that amplification of MET causes gefitinib resistance by driving ERBB3 (HER3)-dependent activation of PI3K, a pathway thought to be specific to EGFR/ERBB family receptors. Thus, we propose that MET amplification may promote drug resistance in other ERBB-driven cancers as well.     

Biscrolling nanotube sheets and functional guests into yarns

Multifunctional applications of textiles have been limited by the inability to spin important materials into yarns. Generically applicable methods are demonstrated for producing weavable yarns comprising up to 95 weight percent of otherwise unspinnable particulate or nanofiber powders that remain highly functional. Scrolled 50-nanometer-thick carbon nanotube sheets confine these powders in the galleries of irregular scroll sacks whose observed complex structures are related to twist-dependent extension of Archimedean spirals, Fermat spirals, or spiral pairs into scrolls. The strength and electronic connectivity of a small weight fraction of scrolled carbon nanotube sheet enables yarn weaving, sewing, knotting, braiding, and charge collection. This technology is used to make yarns of superconductors, lithium-ion battery materials, graphene ribbons, catalytic nanofibers for fuel cells, and titanium dioxide for photocatalysis.     

Molecular characterization of Korean rabies virus isolates

The nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) of 11 Korean rabies virus (RABV) isolates collected from animals diagnosed with rabies between 2008 and 2009 were subjected to molecular and phylogenetic analyses. Six isolates originated from domestic animals (cattle and dogs) and five were obtained from wild free-ranging raccoon dogs. The similarities in the nucleotide sequences of the N gene among all Korean isolates ranged from 98.1 to 99.8%, while those of the G gene ranged from 97.9 to 99.3%. Based on the nucleotide analysis of the N and G genes, the Korean RABV isolates were confirmed as genotype I of Lyssavirus and classified into four distinct subgroups with high similarity. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Korean isolates were most closely related to the non-Korean NeiMeng1025B and 857r strains, which were isolated from rabid raccoon dogs in Eastern China and Russia, respectively. These findings suggest that the Korean RABV isolates originated from a rabid raccoon dog in Northeastern Asia. Genetic analysis of the Korean RABV isolates revealed no substitutions at several antigenic sites, indicating that the isolates circulating in Korea may be pathogenic in several hosts.     

Resorptive tooth root lesions in the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)

Facial abscessation and osteomyelitis due to dental disease is commonly seen in the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), but little is known about the prevalence or etiology of these lesions. To determine the prevalence of dental ailments, 56 skulls and mandibles of deceased Malayan tapirs were visually and radiographically evaluated. Dental lesions were scored according to severity, and individuals were classified according to their age (juvenile/ young adult/adult) and origin (captive/free ranging). All of the lesions identified were of a resorptive nature. seemingly originating at the cementoenamel junction and burrowing towards the center of the tooth. Overall, 27% of the investigated skulls presented radiolucent dental lesions. The prevalence among captive animals was 52% (13/25), while only 6% (2/31) of the free-ranging tapirs had dental lesions. The second, third, and fourth premolars and first molar were the teeth most commonly affected, and the mandibular teeth were more often involved than the maxillary dentition. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of resorptive dental lesions in captive Malayan tapirs and provides a strong indication that age and captivity are significant risk factors in the development of these lesions. Dental disease, Malayan tapir, radiology, resorptive lesions, Tapirus indicus.     

Eop1 from a Rubus strain of Erwinia amylovora functions as a host-range limiting factor

Strains of Erwinia amylovora, the bacterium causing the disease fire blight of rosaceous plants, are separated into two groups based on host range: Spiraeoideae and Rubus strains. Spiraeoideae strains have wide host ranges, infecting plants in many rosaceous genera, including apple and pear. In the field, Rubus strains infect the genus Rubus exclusively, which includes raspberry and blackberry. Based on comparisons of limited sequence data from a Rubus and a Spiraeoideae strain, the gene eop1 was identified as unusually divergent, and it was selected as a possible host specificity factor. To test this, eop1 genes from a Rubus strain and a Spiraeoideae strain were cloned and mutated. Expression of the Rubus-strain eop1 reduced the virulence of E. amylovora in immature pear fruit and in apple shoots. Sequencing the orfA-eop1 regions of several strains of E. amylovora confirmed that forms of eop1 are conserved among strains with similar host ranges. This work provides evidence that eop1 from a Rubus-specific strain can function as a determinant of host specificity in E. amylovora.     

Occurrence of Honeysuckle Yellow Vein Virus (HYVV) containing a monopartite DNA-A genome in Korea

Two newly emerged begomoviruses were isolated from naturally infected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants grown in greenhouses at Jeju Island and Dangjin in Korea and their genomes were characterized. These viruses-infected plants had very small leaves that curled upward, yellow margins and a leathery appearance, and a bushy and stunted appearance with short internodes. Nucleotide (nt) sequence analysis of their genomes showed that they have a DNA-A component of a monopartite begomovirus. Their genomes comprised 2763 and 2764 nucleotides with six open reading frames. The results of nt sequence similarity analysis of DNA-A genome between the two Korean isolates and isolates of Tobacco leaf curl Japan virus (TbLCJV), Honeysuckle yellow vein virus (HYVV), Honeysuckle yellow vein mosaic virus (HYVMV), and Eupatorium yellow vein virus in Japan (EpYVV) showed that they are likely similar to HYVV-[Masuda] (89.4–92.8% nt identity). Consequently, we tentatively propose the two isolates’ names as HYVV-Jeju and -DJ according to the ICTV geminivirus rules. Phylogenetic relationship analysis of 33 DNA-A genome sequences using PAUP* 4.0b10 and MrBayes revealed that HYVV-Jeju and -DJ belong to the Far East Asian begomovirus species complex. Within the Far East Asian begomovirus species complex, HYVV-Jeju and -DJ are distantly related to EpYVV, HYVMV, and TbLCJV groups. Based on the presence of a recombination fragment spanning the C3 ORF, a recombinant origin was suggested for both HYVV-Jeju and –DJ, with parents close to Japanese isolates HYVMV-[SP1:00] and Eupatorium yellow vein virus (EpYVV)-[Suya]. In addition, the presence of a further recombination fragment spanning the IR suggested the parents of HYVV-DJ were close to HYVV-Jeju and EpYVV-[Suya].     

Thermal inactivation kinetics and application of phospho- and galactolipid-degrading enzymes for evaluation of quality changes in frozen vegetables

Lipid-acyl hydrolases (LAHases) play significant roles in lipid degradation during the storage of vegetables. In particular, spinach contains a large portion of galactolipids (59.5%) and phospholipids (22.4%) among its fat-soluble components, which are used as substrates for LAHases. Thermal inactivation of various LAHases, including phospholipases A, C, and D, phosphatase, and galactolipase, from spinach and carrot was investigated to optimize the blanching process prior to the frozen storage of vegetables. Thermostability of phospholipase C or galactolipase was greatest among the LAHases from both spinach and carrot. Galactolipase from spinach exhibited a D value of 3.39 x 10(2) s at 80 degrees C and a z value of 8.21 degrees C, whereas phospholipase C from spinach showed D(80) of 1.72 x 10(2) s with a z value of 9.26 degrees C. In the case of LAHases from carrot, the D(65) and z values of galactolipase were 6.66 x 10(2) s and 8.69 degrees C, respectively, whereas phospholipase C displayed D(85) of 3.12 x 10(2) s and a z value of 15.8 degrees C. Highly active and thermostable galactolipase and phospholipase C in spinach and carrot made it possible for them to be used as indicator enzymes for the determination of quality deterioration of the stored vegetables.     

Fuel-powered artificial muscles

Artificial muscles and electric motors found in autonomous robots and prosthetic limbs are typically battery-powered, which severely restricts the duration of their performance and can necessitate long inactivity during battery recharge. To help solve these problems, we demonstrated two types of artificial muscles that convert the chemical energy of high-energy-density fuels to mechanical energy. The first type stores electrical charge and uses changes in stored charge for mechanical actuation. In contrast with electrically powered electrochemical muscles, only half of the actuator cycle is electrochemical. The second type of fuel-powered muscle provides a demonstrated actuator stroke and power density comparable to those of natural skeletal muscle and generated stresses that are over a hundred times higher.