Modified QuEChERS method for 24 plant growth regulators in grapes using LC-MS/MS.

A multiresidue analytical method was developed for grapes for the following 24 plant growth regulators: 1-naphthylacetamide, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, 2,4,5-T, 2-naphthoxyacetic acid, 3-indolylacetic acid, 4-(3-indolyl)-butyric acid, 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 4-nitrophenol, 6-benzylaminopurine, N6-isopentenyladenine, butralin, chlormequat chloride, chlorphonim-Cl, cloprop, forchlorfenuron, gibberellic acid 3, gibberellic acid 4, gibberellic acid 7, inabenfide, mepiquat chloride, paclobutrazol, prohydrojasmon, thidiazuron and uniconizole-P. The compounds were extracted from grape samples using an extraction method modified from the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method. Liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry was used for the detection and quantification of the compounds.

LGR5 overexpression confers poor relapse-free survival in breast cancer patients.

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are believed to promote the malignant transformation of breast cancer via multiple signaling pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) has been identified as a CSC-associated Wnt-regulated target gene, but its clinical significance in the context of breast cancer remains elusive. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of the LGR5-β-catenin axis in breast cancer.

Inheritance and stability of mevinphos-resistance in Plutella xylostella (L.), with special reference to mutations of acetylcholinesterase 1.

Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) causes enormous damage on cruciferous vegetables and can rapidly develop resistance to all kinds of insecticides. To effectively manage the insecticide resistance of P.

Clarification of the Antagonistic Effect of the Lipopeptides Produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BPD1 against Pyricularia oryzae via In Situ MALDI-TOF IMS Analysis.

This study tried to clarify the antagonistic effect of the lipopeptides secreted by strain BPD1 (Ba-BPD1) against Cavara (PO). To determine the major antifungal lipopeptides effective against PO, single and dual cultures were carried out in solid-state media. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF IMS) was used to identify the most effective lipopeptide in situ.

Involvement of type VI secretion system in secretion of iron chelator pyoverdine in Pseudomonas taiwanensis.

Rice bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the most destructive rice diseases worldwide. Therefore, in addition to breeding disease-resistant rice cultivars, it is desirable to develop effective biocontrol agents against Xoo.

Xylella taiwanensis sp. nov., causing pear leaf scorch disease.

A Gram-stain-negative, nutritionally fastidious bacterium (PLS229T) causing pear leaf scorch was identified in Taiwan and previously grouped into Xylella fastidiosa. Yet, significant variations between PLS229T and Xylellafastidiosa were noted. In this study, PLS229T was evaluated phenotypically and genotypically against representative strains of Xylellafastidiosa, including strains of the currently known subspecies of Xylellafastidiosa, Xylella fastidiosa subsp.

Ethanol extract of Phellinus merrillii protects against diethylnitrosamine- and 2-acetylaminofluorene-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Objective: To study whether the ethanol extract of Phellinus merrillii (EPM) has chemopreventive potential against liver carcinogenesis.

Methods: Thirty male Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, EPM control group, hepatocarcinoma control group, low-dose EPM group and high-dose EPM group, 6 in each group. Using the Solt and Farber protocol in a rat model of hepatocarcinogenesis, the chemopreventive effect of EPM on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-initiated, 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and partial hepatectomy (PH)-promoted liver carcinogenesis in rats was evaluated.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship approach for assessing toxicity of mixture of organic compounds.

Four types of reactivity indices were employed to construct quantitative structure-activity relationships for the assessment of toxicity of organic chemical mixtures. Results of analysis indicated that the maximum positive charge of the hydrogen atom and the inverse of the apolar surface area are the most important descriptors for the toxicity of mixture of benzene and its derivatives to Vibrio fischeri. The toxicity of mixture of aromatic compounds to green alga Scenedesmus obliquus is mainly affected by the electron flow and electrostatic interactions.

Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor reduces carbendazim-induced cell death.

Carbendazim inhibits microtubule assembly, thus blocking mitosis and inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Accordingly, carbendazim is being explored as an anticancer drug. Data show that carbendazim increased mRNA and protein expressions and promoter activity of CYP1A1.

Identification of a carboxylesterase associated with resistance to naled in Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel).

Compared to other organophosphate-resistant and -susceptible (S) lines of Bactrocera dorsalis, the carboxylesterase (CBE) BdE5 in the naled-resistant (nal-r) line has been found to possess remarkable quantitative elevation. Our study attempts to identify the role of BdE5 in naled resistance, and we discovered several points of interest. Firstly, activity staining on native PAGE revealed that the percentage of flies with intensive BdE5 bands in the nal-r line was substantially higher than in the S line, indicating that the BdE5 band correlates with naled susceptibility.

Characterization of an insecticidal toxin and pathogenicity of Pseudomonas taiwanensis against insects.

Pseudomonas taiwanensis is a broad-host-range entomopathogenic bacterium that exhibits insecticidal activity toward agricultural pests Plutella xylostella, Spodoptera exigua, Spodoptera litura, Trichoplusia ni and Drosophila melanogaster. Oral infection with different concentrations (OD = 0.5 to 2) of wild-type P.

Identification of CD24 as a cancer stem cell marker in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a unique sub-population of tumor cells with the ability to initiate tumor growth and sustain self-renewal. Although CSC biomarkers have been described for various tumors, only a few markers have been identified for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we show that CD24+ cells isolated from human NPC cell lines express stem cell genes (Sox2, Oct4, Nanog, Bmi-1, and Rex-1), and show activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Oxidized frying oil and its polar fraction fed to pregnant mice are teratogenic and alter mRNA expressions of vitamin A metabolism genes in the liver of dams and their fetuses.

We previously observed a higher incidence of congenital malformations in the fetuses of dams fed an oxidized frying oil (OFO)-containing diet during pregnancy. In this study, we hypothesized that, during pregnancy, maternal ingestion of OFO, specifically the oxidized components (i.e.

Draft Genome Sequence of Xylella fastidiosa Pear Leaf Scorch Strain in Taiwan.

The draft genome sequence of Xylella fastidiosa pear leaf scorch strain PLS229, isolated from the pear cultivar Hengshan (Pyrus pyrifolia) in Taiwan, is reported here. The bacterium has a genome size of 2,733,013 bp, with a G+C content of 53.1%.

Zebrafish transgenic line huORFZ is an effective living bioindicator for detecting environmental toxicants.

Reliable animal models are invaluable for monitoring the extent of pollution in the aquatic environment. In this study, we demonstrated the potential of huORFZ, a novel transgenic zebrafish line that harbors a human upstream open reading frame of the chop gene fused with GFP reporter, as an animal model for monitoring environmental pollutants and stress-related cellular processes. When huORFZ embryos were kept under normal condition, no leaked GFP signal could be detected.

First Report of a 16SrII-A Subgroup Phytoplasma Associated with Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Witches'-Broom Disease in Taiwan.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), widely grown as an ornamental and medicinal plant, is a perennial flowering plant that is native to eastern North America. In July 2011, symptoms indicative of phytoplasma disease, including floral virescence, phyllody, and witches'-broom (WB), were observed to be affecting plants in coneflower fields in Wufeng, Taichung City, Taiwan. Incidence of infected plants was estimated to be greater than 90% within a single field.

First Report of Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus Infecting Cucurbits in Taiwan.

In April 2009, chlorosis, yellows, and bleaching accompanied with green veins and brittleness on the lower leaves of cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) were observed in Lunbei Township, Yunlin County, Taiwan. The same symptoms were also found on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.

Effect of pesticides on soil microbial community.

According to guidelines for the approval of pesticides, information about effects of pesticides on soil microorganisms and soil fertility are required, but the relationships of different structures of pesticides on the growth of various groups of soil microorganisms are not easily predicted. Some pesticides stimulate the growth of microorganisms, but other pesticides have depressive effects or no effects on microorganisms. For examples, carbofuran stimulated the population of Azospirillum and other anaerobic nitrogen fixers in flooded and non-flooded soil, but butachlor reduced the population of Azospirillum and aerobic nitrogen fixers in non-flooded soil.

Analysis of aqueous pyrethroid residuals by one-step microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with electron capture detection.

A one-step microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction (MA-HS-SPME) has been applied to be a pretreatment step in the analysis of aqueous pyrethroid residuals by gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection (ECD). Microwave heating was applied to accelerate the vaporization of pyrethroids (bioallenthrin, bifenthrin, fenpropathrin, cyhalothrin, permethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, fluvalinate, fenvalerate and deltamethrin) into the headspace, and then being absorbed directly on a SPME fiber under the controlled conditions. Optimal conditions for the SPME sampling, such as the selection of sampling fiber, sample pH, sampling temperature and time, microwave irradiation power, desorption temperature and time were investigated and then applied to real sample analysis.

Isolation and characterization of the native entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis brevicaudis, and its symbiotic bacteria from Taiwan.

The occurrence of Heterorhabditis brevicaudis (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) and its symbiotic bacteria, Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. akhurstii in Taiwan were recorded for the first time. H.

Simultaneous determination of airborne carbamates in workplace by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence (HPLC-F) detector was examined to simultaneous determination of airborne carbamates in the workplace of manufactory. The OVS-2 air sampling tube filled with glass fiber filter or quartz fiber and combined filter/XAD-2 were evaluated to collect nine commonly used carbamates (Carbofuran, Isoprocarb, Methomyl, Metolcarb, Thiodicarb, Carbaryl, Oxamyl, Methiocarb, and Prpoxur) from the air of manufactory in high humidity country. After being extracted with acetonitrile from sampling tubes, the carbamates were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection posterior to on-line derivatization.

Expression and purification of a recombinant Fip-fve protein from Flammulina velutipes in baculovirus-infected insect cells.

Aims: To develop an efficient and facile expression system supply of high purity and stable activity of rFip-fve for oral administration, medicinal study and applications.

Methods And Results: A recombinant virus that contained the chimera gene, encoding a bombyxin signal peptide sequence fused to a Fip-fve-6His sequence, was constructed. The rFip-fve was purified from the supernatant of the infected Sf21 cells using a nickel-chelated affinity column, and was verified by Western blot and MALDI-MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry) analyses.

Alterations of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis are correlated with resistance to the organophosphate insecticide fenitrothion.

Alterations of the structure and activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) leading to resistance to organophosphate insecticides have been examined in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), an economic pest of great economic importance in the Asia-Pacific region. We used affinity chromatography to purify AChE isoenzymes from heads of insects from lines showing the phenotypes of resistance and sensitivity to insecticide treatments. The AChE enzyme from a strain selected for resistance to the insecticide fenitrothion shows substantially lower catalytic efficiency for various substrates and 124-, 373- and 5810-fold less sensitivity to inhibition by paraoxon, eserine and fenitroxon, respectively, compared to that of the fenitrothion susceptible line.

Mobility of adsorbed arsenic in two calcareous soils as influenced by water extract of compost.

The mobility of arsenic (As) in soil affects both the bio-toxicity of As and the groundwater quality, which in turn indirectly affects the quality of edible part of crops and human health, if the crops were irrigated with As contaminated groundwater. A vertical soil column simulates the depth of a soil profile in a real soil environment. Thus soil column experiment is much more pertinent to soil environment than a batch experiment to simulate solute movement as well as leaching through soil profile.