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Fruit yield is the most important horticultural trait of tomato. SlMBP21,a SEPALLATA subclass MADS-box gene has been reported to have functions in regulating pedicel abscission zone identity and development and controlling sepal size in tomato. However, we generated transgenic tomato plants which overexpress SlMBP21and found the transformants displayed curly leaves, abnormally shaped flowers with twisted and opened stamens, reduced yield parameters, and small and light seeds. Our studies on the gain-of-function phenotype and gene expression level showed that its novel aspects played important roles in determining leaf morphology, flower and inflorescence architecture, and seed size, as well as the fruit yield. Overexpression of SlMBP21in tomato resulted in curly leaves with fewer leaflets due to the regulation of the critical leaf polarity genes that cause an imbalance between the midvein adaxial–abaxial cell growth. Defects in the architecture of flowers and inflorescences resulted in reduced fruit set. Furthermore, we demonstrated that SlMBP21plays its role through inhibiting the expression of the genes involved in the determination of seed development in tomato and SlMBP21 protein can interact with other MADS-box protein (SlAGL11, TAGL1 and SlMBP3) to control seed size. Thus, these results suggest that overexpression of SlMBP21causes multiple types of damage to plant growth and development, especially fruit yield, in tomato.

The spectral responsivity of the filter radiometer（FR）is an essential parameter which needs to be measured accurately in the radiometric determination of the thermodynamic temperature. In this paper the facility of the spectral responsivity measurement and a 900 nm centered FR are studied. The influence issues of the facility and the FR, including the central region, wings and the wavelength step, are discussed. The measurement repeatability of the integration of spectral responsivity is estimated 0.03%, which is suitable for the requirement.

Nanotechnology has the potential to stimulate scientific innovation, promote traditional material industry chain to develop towards high-end direction and greatly benefit the society. In the process of value chain formation and operation, the value chain risks of high-end oriented nanomaterial industry associated with ecological and social environment, health, and safety issues cannot be ignored, however. Value chain formation and risks in high-end oriented nanomaterial industry are studied, and value chain risk management process for risk mitigation and loss prevention has also been put forward.

Growing concern in China has arisen about risks and risk management. China's iron and steel industry has been of primary importance in Chinese national economy. Studies on risks and risk management in Chinese iron and steel enterprises are rare, however. A model of risk sources based on resource ecological economics and eco-industry theory is built up, and the risk factors are analyzed in this paper. Measures contain a circular and dynamic risk management process model, a risk management integration model, and creating a risk management culture, which will help seize potential risk opportunities, take precautions against risks and mitigate risk losses. The enterprises’ performance would benefit from the new ERM process model and measures.

Hydroxyurea (HU), as an inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase (RR) through interaction with the R2 component, has been used in the treatment of malignancies. Recently, therapeutic strategies in Epstein‐Barr Virus (EBV)‐targeted lymphoma have been reported. In order to study the effect of HU on EBV, infected Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) Raji cells were passaged in medium containing 50 μM HU for more than 2 months. EBV DNA was eliminated in about 40% of the cells in the HU‐treated cultures. The cells were cloned from such cultures, and only EBV‐positive clones could be isolated in 102 examined clones. No differences were observed in the EBV‐latent state, EBV‐gene expression, or cell growth between HU‐untreated Raji cells and HU‐treated clones. However, relative to parental Raji cells, the HU‐treated Raji clones were almost eight times resistant to growth inhibition by HU according to the ID50value, and the expression of the R2 component of RR increased more than two to three times. These results indicate that HU not only efficiently eliminates the EBV genome from Raji cells but also induces HU resistance. HU resistance was accompanied by over‐expression of the R2 component of RR. However, the HU‐resistant clones were sensitive to gemcitabine, another inhibitor of RR, and this seems highly relevant to chemotherapeutic combination in the use of these drugs. J. Med. Virol. 73:589–595, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Background:T-cell activation and alteration of cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of atopic asthma. However, the profile of circulating T-lymphocyte subsets, related cytokines, and plasma IgE during acute asthma attacks is still unclear. Objective:In an attempt to illustrate the dynamics of these parameters in asthma attacks, we investigated the changes of T-cell subsets, lymphocyte activation, soluble IL-2R, and IgE in peripheral blood in children during and after acute asthma attacks. Methods:This study was carried out in a cohort of Chinese children (n = 59) with acute asthma attacks. Immunoassays were performed when the patients had acute attacks before treatment, and the patients were reexamined in the 4 weeks after the resolution of acute attacks with therapy. Paired ttests were used for the statistical analysis of these patients to compare the data obtained during and after the acute attacks. Twenty healthy, age-matched subjects were used as normal control subjects. Nine children with long-term stable asthma were used as control subjects with stable asthma. Results:CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and IL-2R+ (CD25+) cells; plasma soluble IL-2 receptor; and IgE were significantly higher in patients with acute attacks than in control subjects. (P< .05, P< .05, P< .001, P< .05, P< .0001, and P< .0001, respectively). Immunoelectron microscopy exhibited an increased expression of IL-2R on lymphocytes in acute attacks as compared to control subjects. The abnormalities returned to normal, with the exception of IgE, when clinical remission was achieved after treatment. Correlation analyses revealed a positive relationship between plasma IgE and soluble IL-2R in asthma attacks (r= 0.83, P= .0001). Plasma IgE and soluble IL-2R of those who were in remission positively correlated with their production in acute attacks (r= 0.58, P= .001 and r= 0.71, P= .0001, respectively). Conclusion:This study suggests that (1) the percentage of CD4+, CD8+, or IL-2R+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood was significantly elevated during acute attacks and returned to normal ranges after complete remission was achieved; (2) plasma soluble IL-2R is a sensitive marker for asthma activity; and (3) atopic asthmatic children seem to have a hereditary predisposition of having higher levels of soluble IL-2R in asthma attacks, coinherited with the trait of IgE. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:388-94.)