Abstract To investigate effects of high-fat diet (HFD) on body length, weight and depression-like behavior of prenatal stress (PS) offspring rats. PS rat model was established by restraint stress. Sucrose preference and forced swimming tests were performed. Moreover, the effects of HFD on the growth and depression-like behavior in offspring rats were observed. Length of male and female HF group was significantly longer than that control, but length of male PS+HF group was significantly shorter than HF group. Body weight of male and female HF group was significantly higher than control, and body weight of male PS+HF group was significantly lower than HF group. No significant differences were observed in length between female PS +HF and HF groups. Compared with male PS+HF group, growth rate of male HF group was significantly higher. Moreover, HFD could reduce sucrose preference, and prolong immobility time of PS offspring rats. HFD can promote weight gain of male and female normal offspring rats. PS can partially inhibit effects of HFD on weight gain of PS male offspring rats, but exert no significant effects on PS female offspring rats. HFD can aggravate PS-induced depression-like behavior in offspring rats.

Abstract Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), one kind of common oilseeds, has many biologically active compounds including α-linolenic acid (ALA), lignan and dietary fiber. At present, the research of flaxseed is focused on biological and clinical studies of its compounds. However, the studies of flaxseed protein obtained generally from flaxseed cake, are relatively limited. As many other kinds of plant proteins, flaxseed protein presents many excellent functionalities which can be used for food applications. Many evidence have showed that flaxseed protein hydrolysates can provide health benefits to our body, such as anti-bacterial activity, antioxidant capacity and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition ability. Therefore, in order to make better use of flaxseed protein in foods, the extraction, functionalities and applications of flaxseed protein were reviewed in this paper. In addition, the preparation of flaxseed protein hydrolysates was discussed.

ABSTRACT Plants and insects have co-existed for millions of years. Although research has been conducted on various insect species that induce galls on various plant tissues, information is particularly scarce when it comes to insects that form galls on the tough trunk of their host plants. This contribution describes the gall-inducing aphid Nipponaphis hubeiensis sp. nov. from the Zhushan County, Shiyan City, Hubei Province of China. This aphid induces enclosed galls with woody external layer on the trunk of Sycopsis sinensis (Saxifragales: Hamamelidaceae), an uncommon ecological niche in the aphid-plant interaction system. Morphological features for the identification of new species are provided. In addition, a partial sequence of the nuclear gene EF1α was amplified and sequenced to construct a cluster graph. Based on the clustering graph combined with morphology traits, the gall-forming aphid was classified into Nipponaphis. The unique ecological habits of this new aphid will bring innovative perspectives to the study of the evolution and diversity in aphid-host interaction.