Characterization and regulation of growth hormone receptors in goldfish (Carassius auratus L.)

Recombinant carp (Cyprinus carpio) growth hormone (rcGH) was used to develop a GH receptor binding assay in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). LIGAND analysis indicated a single class of high affinity and low capacity binding sites, with an association constant (Ka) of 1.9 * 1010 M-1 and a maximum binding capacity (Bmax) of 9 fmol mg-1 protein. The hepatic GHR was further studied using a covalent hormone-receptor cross-linking technique. Covalent cross-linking of rcGH or bovine GH (bGH) to goldfish, rabbit and rat liver membrane proteins resulted in the same specifically labeled bands, with apparent molecular weights (Mr) of 88, 142 and >200KD. The cross-reactivity of recombinant teleost GH from carp, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and sea bream (Sparus aurata ) to mammalian GHR was further studies using GH binding assays and the 3T3-F442A preadipocyte bioassay. LIGAND analysis of 125I-bGH binding to rabbit and rat liver membranes indicated two classes of binding sites: high affinity, low capacity sites, and low affinity, high capacity sites. In contrast, a single class of high affinity and low capacity sites for rcGH and recombinant rainbow trout GH (rtGH) was identified in rabbit and rat liver membranes. A single class of binding sites for recombinant sea bream (rsbGH) was also identified in rabbit liver membranes, but with a much lower affinity. High cross-reactivity of rcGH and rtGH to mammalian GHR also corresponded with a high antimitogenic activity equivalent to that of bGH in the mammalian 3T3-F442A cell line. I also found conclusive evidence for the presence of a specific, high affinity GH binding protein (GHBP) in the serum of goldfish. LIGAND analysis identified a single class of high affinity and low capacity binding sites for rcGH in the goldfish serum, with a Ka of 20.1 * 109 M-1 and a Bmax of 161 fmol ml-1 serum. Ligand blotting revealed multiple forms of GHBP in sera of goldfish, rabbit and rat. In vivo rcGH injection to intact or hypophysectomized (Hx) goldfish resulted in a rapid down-regulation of hepatic GHR, suggesting that endogenous GH may have a role in the regulation of its own receptors in goldfish. The roles of GH, GHR, GHBP and thyroid hormones in endocrine regulation of somatic growth were studied using fasted goldfish. Fasting resulted in significant decreases in body weight and length, liver-somatic index, hepatic GHR, serum GHBP and thyroxin (T4) whereas serum glucose and GH levels increased. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels also remained unchanged during fasting. These results suggest that nutrition is also important in the regulation of hepatic GHR and serum GHBP in goldfish. Finally, the influence of GH on goldfish hepatocyte proliferation and hepatic GHR was studied in vitro. All GH displayed antimitogenic effect on the cultured goldfish hepatocytes. In contrast, PRL, T3, insulin, rhIGF-I, and rsbIGF-I had no effect on the growth of cultured goldfish hepatocytes. In vitro administration of rcGH to goldfish hepatocytes resulted in a rapid down-regulation of hepatocyte GHR

The impact of institutional investors’ cross-ownership in takeover process, empirical results in SIC 7300 industry

Institutional investors exert an important influence in the takeover process. Several relationships are identified in this paper. Institutional ownership increases the probability of firms becoming takeover targets. The cross-holders’ (institutional investors owning shares in both acquirers and targets) shares before takeover bids are negatively related to the likelihood of takeover success, offer price and total acquirers’ premiums. Institutional investors and cross-holders achieve insignificant positive excess returns around the announcement period, compared to heavy loss of total acquirer stockholders. Higher excess returns during event window (-1, +1) will raise the possibility that acquiring firms becoming new targets in following three years. The empirical results are derived from 7300 industry (Business Service Industry) from 1985 to 2010

Strain Softening of Siltstones in Consolidation Process

Strain softening is the mechanical behavior of soil and rock materials and is important in understanding soft rock foundation. To investigate the mechanical behavior of siltstone, a sedimentary soft rock, consolidation tests using constant-strain rate loading were conducted using the consolidation ring to constrain lateral deformation. Using Quaternary siltstones distributed in the Boso Peninsula, central Japan as specimens, strain softening in the consolidation process was confirmed in some formations using two test machines at Kyoto University and Nagoya Institute of Technology. Just before the yielding, stress decreased suddenly at increasing strain. The stress at the time of the softening differed even for specimens taken from the same formation. Furthermore, micro-focus X-ray CT images taken before and after the tests indicated that the specimens had no macro cracks inside. This suggests that strain softening is not due to brittle failure in local areas but due to the softening of the framework structure of the siltstone itself

A pathway to the green revolution in emerging economies: how does green technological innovation affect green growth and ecological sustainability?

Green technological innovation (G.T.I.) contributes to making economic growth compatible with ecological sustainability (E.S.). Thus, in light of environmental challenges and attempts of emerging economies’ progress toward a green revolution, this study examines the effects of G.T.I. on green growth (G.G). and E.S. for 25 emerging economies from 1990 to 2018. It also investigates the moderating role of G.T.I. on the impacts of energy intensity and foreign direct investment (F.D.I.) on G.G. and E.S. to illustrate the energy rebound effect and pollution haven hypothesis. The Fully modified least square (F.M.O.L.S.), the Dynamic least square (D.O.L.S.), and the Pooled mean group autoregressive distributed lag (P.M.G./A.R.D.L.) estimators are used. The findings imply that G.T.I. positively impacts G.G. and E.S. in emerging economies. Conversely, F.D.I. and energy intensity have adverse effects on G.G. and E.S. However, the negative effects of F.D.I. and energy intensity on G.G. and E.S. are decreasing with respect to G.T.I., implying that emerging countries promoting G.T.I. minimize the pollution haven effects of F.D.I. and mitigate the negative effect of energy intensity. Therefore, G.T.I. is a vital factor to facilitate the pathway to the green revolution in emerging economies. Policy implications are forwarded based on the findings of the study