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The high activity electrocatalysts with low cost are crucial for large-scale direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) applications. In this study, the "self-doping-defects" mesoporous carbon (SDMC) as support of uniformly-dispersed Pd nanoparticles (Pd/SDMC) was prepared for high active electrooxidation by a simple route without additional surfactant and acid treatment. According to the mutually corroborated experimental and theoretical calculation results, our route can significantly increase the carbon defect, which is conducive to the anchoring and uniform distribution of Pd nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the uniquely and hierarchically mesoporous nanostructure of SDMC provides abundant pathways for mass transport in the electrooxidation reaction. Benefitting from the above advantages, Pd/SDMC exhibits superior activity than commercial Pd/C and previously reported carbon-based electrocatalysts. The mass activities and specific activities of Pd/SDMC toward ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) are 3404.3 mA mg−1, 4.48 mA cm−2, respectively. The mass activities and specific activities of Pd/SDMC for ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR) are 4002 mA mg−1, 5.26 mA cm−2, respectively. We believe that the facile strategy to synthesis mesoporous carbon with "self-doping" defects would promote large-scale DAFCs applications in the future. • The mesoporous carbon with "Self-Doping" defects was prepared via a simple method. • Pd nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on the SDMC by a simple method without surfactant. • The Pd/SDMC enhances the catalytic of EOR and EGOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The first study of HSP70 genes in the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne). • Six HSP70 genes from L. serricorne are identified. • L. serricorne HSP70 s exhibit developmental-stage-specific expression. • Transcription of HSP70 s is induced by temperature stress. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play essential roles in stress tolerance in insects, such as the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne , which is an important pest of stored products. However, the function of HSPs in environmental stress response in L. serricorne is poorly understood. In this study, six cDNAs encoding putative HSP70s were identified in L. serricorne (LsHSP70-1 to LsHSP70-6). The LsHSP70 proteins identified have signature motifs of insect HSP70s and exhibit high amino-acid identity with their respective orthologs from other insect species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these LsHSP70s fall into three major clans: HSP70 in the cytosol (four genes), endoplasmic reticulum (one gene), and mitochondria (one gene). LsHSP70 genes are differentially expressed in different developmental stages. LsHSP70-4 and LsHSP70-5 are mainly expressed at the larval stage, while LsHSP70-3 shows the highest level at the pupal stage. The other genes are ubiquitously expressed. Furthermore, the expression levels of LsHSP70-1 and LsHSP70-4 are significantly upregulated upon exposure to temperatures of both 0 and 15 °C, while LsHSP70-3 is inducible at 15 °C and LsHSP70-6 at 0 °C. In addition, treatment at 0 °C causes significant downregulation of LsHSP70-2 and LsHSP70-3. Exposure to a temperature of 30 °C upregulates LsHSP70-1 expression, while 35 and 40 °C treatments result in significantly enhanced transcription of all the LsHSP70 genes. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the sequence characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, and expression profiles of HSP70 genes in L. serricorne. The cold- and heat-inducible regulation of LsHSP70 s suggests that these genes are related to tolerance of abnormal temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the experiences of ancient acupuncture physicians in acupoint combination with meridians and body regions involved in treatment of chronic gastritis through data mining technology so as to provide the evidences for the clinical application of acupuncture for chronic gastritis in the modern time. Firstly, the ancient literature (database), searching words, inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined. Secondly, the database was organized through computer and manual retrieval. Finally, using data mining techniques, such as frequency analysis and association analysis, the experiences of ancient acupuncture physicians were explored in meridian selection and acupoint combination in treatment of chronic gastritis. A total of 2243 items in compliance with the relevant requirements were included, covering 224 acupoints for the treatment of chronic gastritis. Of them, the involved meridians were closely related to the stomach, especially to bladder, spleen and stomach meridians as well as Conception Vessel. The acupoints selected not only focus on the local acupoints related to lesions, but also on the distal ones, especially those located in the lower limbs. The most common acupoints for any symptom were Zúsānlĭ (足三里 ST36), Nèiguān (内关PC6), Zhōngwăn (中脘CV12), Gōngsūn (公孙SP4) and Tàibái (太白SP3). For epigastric pain, Liángmén (梁门ST21) and Xiàngŭ (陷谷ST43) were the representatives as the combination of acupoints from the same meridian. For the disorders with upward reversion of qi , PC6 and SP4 were generally combined. Among the specific points, the five- shu points were the most common, followed by the front- mu points. In the combination with the specific points involved, PC4 and SP4 were highly associated. The acupoint combination was particular for each category of main symptoms. In treatment of chronic gastritis with acupuncture, the ancient physicians give the great consideration to symptom differentiation and meridian differentiation relevant with gastric disorders, as well as the combination of the distal and nearby acupoints. Besides, the specific points are of the best choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to analyze differences in esthetic smile preferences between Thai dentists and the general population and determine factors that affect smile perception. For the analysis, in addition to the frontal smile view, the three-quarter and lateral smile views were considered.Methods: A computer-based questionnaire was used that comprised a demographic survey and multiple photographs of smiles. In total, 61 orthodontists, 180 general dentists, 378 orthodontic patients, and 421 laypersons were asked to select the most preferred digitally altered smile for each variable in the frontal, three-quarter, and lateral views. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests with post-hoc tests were used for comparing groups. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influence of demographic factors on smile esthetics. Significance was set at P < 0.05.Results: Chi-square tests revealed significant differences in preference between men and women and between the professional and nonprofessional groups for almost all variables. Demographic factors influenced smile esthetics in the nonprofessional group.Conclusions: Both sex and dental knowledge background affected smile preference. The smile preferences of observers varied based on the view, and therefore, the lateral and three-quarter views should be routinely included in smile analyses. Demographics negligibly affected smile perception in the professional group, whereas they significantly affected perceptions in the nonprofessional group, especially age and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bioflavonoids were isolated from Selaginella doederleinii. • Cytotoxic potential of bioflavonoids in human cancer cell lines (A549, MCF-7, SMMC-7721 and LoVo). • Compounds 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , and 10 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities. Two new biflavonoids, (2 R ,2" R)-2,3,2",3"-tetrahydrorobustaflavone (1), and 7- O -methyl-2,3,2",3"-tetrahydro-3',3"'-biapigenin (2), along with eight known bioflavonoids, 3',3"'-binaringenin (3), robustaflavone (4), 7- O -methylrobustaflavone (5), 7"- O -methylrobustaflavone (6), 4'- O -methylrobustaflavone (7), 4'-di- O -methylrobustaflavone (8), 7",4"'-tetra- O -methylrobustaflavone (9), and 3-dihydrorobustaflavone (10), were isolated from the whole herbs of Selaginella doederleinii. The structures of the new compounds were determined via NMR, HRESIMS data and absolute configurations of C-2 and C-2" of compound 1 was suggesting by circular dichroism data. In addition, all the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cell lines (A549, MCF7, SMMC7721, and LoVo). Among them, compound 2 and 10 exhibited modest selectivity for A549 cells and MCF7 cells with IC 50 value of 14.41 μM and 14.55 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of motherwort injection (MI, Yi mu cao) in preventing post-abortion hemorrhage and promoting uterine retraction after induced abortion surgery.Methods: In this multi-center randomized controlled trial undertaken between September 2014 and August 2016, 408 child-bearing age women who underwent induced abortion surgery and randomly assigned to two groups: MI group who received intramuscular MI treatment (n = 207) and no-treatment group (n = 201). The volume of vaginal bleeding and its duration were used as primary end points; and uterine size and dimension were measured as secondary end points. Blood coagulation indices, routine blood and adverse events were recorded to evaluate the safety.Results: The efficacy analysis was based on 366 patients. No significant difference were found in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). The amount of vaginal bleeding and duration of bleeding were significantly reduced in MI group compared with on-treatment group in Full Analysis Set (FAS) and Per Protocol Set (PPS) populations (P < 0.001). The volume and perimeter of the uterine dimensions in MI group were smaller than no-treatment group (P < 0.001). No significant abnormal vital signs were observed. Only 1 case of mild, transient erythema was found in MI group.Conclusions: MI could reduce post-abortion hemorrhage and improve uterine retraction in women undergoing surgical induced abortion, without serious adverse events. It was a safe and effective treatment in preventing post-abortion hemorrhage after induced abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between the expression of the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the clinicopathologic parameters associated with the disease. The diagnostic and prognostic potential of CAR in OSCC was also investigated.Study Design: Immunohistochemistry was performed on human tissue microarrays, containing 42 oral mucosa, 69 dysplasia, and 176 OSCC tissue sections, to reveal the expression pattern of CAR. Statistical analysis was used to determine the correlation between CAR expression and the patient survival rate as a measure of the prognostic value of CAR.Results: CAR was overexpressed in human OSCC tissues (P = .002), and higher expression of CAR was associated with a lower survival rate, which was not statistically significant (P = .123). In addition, patients with OSCC in the human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive group showed significantly higher CAR expression compared with the HPV- negative group (P = .0491).Conclusions: This study indicated that CAR expression was upregulated in human OSCC and that patients with OSCC with higher expression of CAR had a lower survival rate. Moreover, CAR expression may be associated with HPV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An image moving target tracking algorithm based on three branches twin network was proposed. • A three-dimensional surface model of aggregate particles based on multi-view average principle and scale invariant feature transformation algorithm was proposed. • The changing laws of coordination number, contact force chain, velocity, displacement and fabric anisotropy of particles along with the gradation, nominal maximum particle size, friction coefficient between particle contact interfaces, and elastic modulus were revealed. Under traffic dynamic load, the microscopic mechanical properties and the fabric anisotropic evolution of open graded gravel permeable base directly determine the ability of open graded gravel permeable base to resist external loads and maintain stability in service. Firstly, this article constructed a discrete element numerical model for open graded gravel permeable base, and verified the accuracy of the model through experiments. Then, the effects of gradation, nominal maximum particle size, friction coefficient between aggregate particles, and effective elastic modulus of aggregate on the microscopic mechanical properties, migration behavior, and the fabric anisotropic evolution of open graded gravel aggregate particles were studied in sequence. The research results indicate that the proposed image moving target tracking algorithm based on the three branches twin network can achieve precise tracking and measurement of particle microscopic migration behavior. The method proposed in this study for constructing a three-dimensional surface model of gravel particles based on the principle of multi view averaging and the scale invariant feature transformation algorithm can achieve rapid numerical reconstruction of the three-dimensional morphology of gravel particles at a low cost. The internal aggregate particles of intermediate grade gravel are more likely to form a stable network force chain topology structure that can effectively resist external loads. As the maximum nominal particle size increases, the topological structure of the contact force of gravel particles becomes sparse, and the proportion of strong contact force increases. Increasing the friction coefficient of the contact interface between aggregate particles can to some extent hinder the migration behavior of aggregate particles inside the graded gravel. As the effective elastic modulus of the aggregate increases, the internal network strong contact force chain topology of open graded gravel gradually forms. Under external loads, the migration speed and displacement of the aggregate particles inside open graded gravel decrease, and the degree of internal normal contact force and branch vector anisotropy also decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Phospholipids and neutral lipids extracted from egg yolk were added to chicken meat. • GC–MS showed key volatiles significantly increased when phospholipids were added. • Sensory profiling showed an increase in chicken meat aroma. • Addition of neutral lipids had very little impact on the volatile profile or aroma. • Addition of egg yolks phospholipids can be applied to improve chicken meat aroma. Abstract Lipids, particularly phospholipids, are known to play a significant role in the characteristic aroma of the different meat species. Both neutral lipids and phospholipids were extracted from egg yolk and added to minced chicken (1% w/w) prior to cooking in water at 100 °C for 20 min. Sensory analysis of the broths showed that the addition of phospholipids significantly increased the chicken meat aroma whereas the addition of neutral lipids did not. GC–MS analysis showed a significant increase in most of the lipid-derived volatile components when the phospholipids were added, especially 2,4-decadienal, which is a characteristic odour impact compound in chicken. There were very few significant changes in the volatile profile when the neutral lipids were added. These data provide direct evidence that the addition of phospholipids can enhance chicken meat aroma, and addition of egg yolk phospholipids could be applied to improve chicken meat aroma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The dynamic response and design optimization of clamped sandwich panels comprising two aluminum alloy face-sheets and a layered-gradient closed-cell aluminum foam core subjected to air-blast loading were examined in this study. The numerical approach was first validated by blast test results of sandwich panels with monolithic aluminum foam cores, and then the dynamic responses of layered-gradient core sandwich panels were briefly discussed in terms of deflection response and energy absorption. Two surrogate model methods (i.e., response surface method – RSM, and radial basis function – RBF) were adopted to construct objective response functions, and the single-objective adaptive response surface method (ARSM) and multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) were used for the defined optimization problem. The optimization results show the trade-off relationships among the maximum energy absorption, minimum structural mass and minimum deflection, and the advantage of "Pareto front" in such design circumstances. Furthermore, the applicability and accuracy of RSM and RBF agent models in the multi-objective design optimization (MDO) of sandwich panels with layered-gradient foam cores under air-blast loading were also compared and revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) has been widely used in information retrieval, computer vision, and face recognition because it captures the underlying intrinsic structure of data by using its parts-based representations in the low dimensional space. In this paper, we first propose a novel semi-supervised least squares NMF (SLSNMF) method. This SLSNMF uses hyperplanes to separate the labelled points from different classes and minimizes the least squares loss. By considering the maximum margin principle, the discriminative abilities of clustering representations are greatly enhanced. We further present a graph-based least squares NMF (GLSNMF) method by incorporating the local manifold regularization into SLSNMF. Clustering experiments on five popular databases verify the effectiveness of our proposed SLSNMF and GLSNMF compared to the other state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To compare the clinical efficacy differences of acupotomy therapy guided by the meridian sinew theory and acupotomy therapy guided by the anatomy theory of western medicine in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods Sixty-three patients were randomly divided into the acupotomy group of the meridian sinew theory (Group A, n = 32) and the acupotomy group of the anatomy theory (Group B, n = 31). For Group A, with positive reaction points such as the tenderness points of three yang meridians and three yin meridians of the foot, and funicular nodules as the points of needle insertion, the needle-knife, after disinfection and anesthesia, gives priority to longitudinal dissection after insertion, and then carries out subcutaneous sweeping maniplation. For Group B, with 8 points for needle insertion, including the origins and terminations of the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, the origins and terminations of the patellar ligament, the terminations of the quadriceps femoris tendon, and pes anserinus bursa point, the treatment was performed in strict accordance with the four-step procedures of acupotomy (positioning, orientating, pressurizing to separate, and puncturing) after disinfection and anesthesia. The treatment was conducted once a week and three times in total. Statistical analysis was conducted with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for overall pain before treatment and at week 2 and 4 during treatment, and the adverse reactions of patients were observed and recorded to evaluate the curative effect. Results During the treatment period, the overall response rates (ORRs, that is markedly effective + effective) were compared between the two groups. The ORR of Group A was 90.63% and that of Group B was 87.09%. There was no statistical significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the WOMAC function score of Group A was significantly lower than that before treatment (17.28 ± 10.22 vs 32.75 ± 14.88, P < 0.001), and that of Group B was lower than that before treatment (24.87 ± 16.48 vs 30.90 ± 16.64, P < 0.05), there was a statistical significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). As for the comparison of VAS pain scores, in Group A, there was statistical significant difference (4.48 ± 1.60 vs 5.05 ± 1.60, P < 0.05) between at Week 2 and before treatment, and statistically significant difference (1.88 ± 1.03 vs 5.05 ± 1.60, P <0.001) between at Week 4 and before treatment. In Group B, there was no significant difference (P >0.05) between at Week 2 and before treatment, and there was statistically significant difference (3.31 ± 1.56 vs 4.77 ± 1.68, P <0.001) between at Week 4 and before treatment. The VAS pain score of Group A was significantly lower than that of Group B (P < 0.001), and 2 cases of mild adverse reactions occurred in Group A and 3 in Group B. Conclusion Both acupotomy therapies guided by the meridian sinew theory and by the anatomy theory of Western medicine have good curative effect on knee osteoarthritis, but acupotomy guided by the meridian sinew theory has more superiorities in operability, safety and effectiveness, which is easy to be generalized in grass-roots and community hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel copper-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction of α -amino carbonyl compounds with nitromethane to synthesis of ( Z )-nitroalkene derivatives has been established. ( Z )-Nitroalkene derivatives are achieved through the cleavage of sp 3 CsbndH bonds and formation of CsbndC double bond, with mild reaction conditions and excellent stereoselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PC is the most abundant class in egg yolk PLs, and it is very efficient in generating odorants. • Linoleic acid is the predominant PUFA in egg yolk PLs, and its corresponding predominant hydroperoxide is 9-HPOD. • 9-HPOD is the precursor of 2,4-decadienals, the key odorants of chicken meat and fried foods. • Egg yolk PLs are an ideal precursor of lipid-derived odorants, especially for chicken meat and fried foods. Egg yolk phospholipids (PLs) have been demonstrated to generate large quantities of lipid-derived odorants, especially the fatty note odorants. Recently, egg yolk PLs have been successfully used in chicken meat and fried foods to improve aroma. This review comprehensively summarizes the properties of egg yolk PLs as precursors of fatty note odorants, including their classes, extraction, identification, oxidation, decomposition and odorant formation, applications, considerations and future prospects in the food industry. Most likely, phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the most abundant class in egg yolk PLs, and PC is more efficient than phosphatidylethanolamine in generating fatty note odorants; moreover, the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acid is linoleic acid, and its corresponding predominant hydroperoxide is 9-hydroperoxy-10,12-octadecadienoic acid during autoxidation, which is the precursor of 2,4-decadienals and 2,4-nonadienals, the key fatty note odorants. Therefore, egg yolk PLs could be an ideal precursor of fatty note odorants for chicken meat and fried foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate tire-pavement noise prediction model is highly needed by transportation agencies and pavement designers during the porous asphalt mixture design to reduce the tire-pavement noise which has been recognized as a dominant contributor to the overall traffic noise. In this paper, the surface texture level and distributions of porous asphalt mixture are acquired by a recently developed program named as 2-Dimensional Image Texture Analysis Method (2D-ITAM). The acoustic absorption coefficient of porous asphalt mixture is calculated using a proposed sound absorption model based on the micro-structure of porous asphalt mixture. Also, a prediction model correlating the tire-pavement noise level with macro-texture and short wavelength of mega-texture of pavement is established using a multivariate non-linear regression analysis. This prediction model is validated through laboratory experiment demonstrating its effectiveness of predicting the tire-pavement noise level. The model is anticipated to serve as an improved tool which could be considered by practitioners in an optimized porous asphalt mixture design incorporating the evaluation of noise produced by asphalt pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egg yolk phospholipids (EPLs) are sensitive to oxidation and can produce large quantities of volatile compounds. This study monitored the oxidation process of EPLs at frying temperature. The changes in the classes of EPLs, molar percentages of their fatty acyl groups and the concentrations of oxidation compounds under frying temperature were monitored by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 1H NMR. Meanwhile, egg yolk triglycerides (ETGs) were used as controls. EPLs were mainly composed by phosphatidylcholine (76.74% ± 1.48%), phosphatidylethanolamine (17.97% ± 1.40%) and phosphatidylserine (1.26% ± 0.55%). EPLs, especially phosphatidylethanolamine, were degraded significantly during heating. The molar percentages of unsaturated acyl groups in EPLs were decreased, while the percentages of saturated plus modified acyl groups were increased during heating. EPLs produced large quantities of hydroperoxides and secondary oxidation compounds quickly. The results proved that EPLs were more sensitively to oxidation than ETGs during frying process, and EPLs could generate abundant of secondary oxidation compounds, especially 2,4-alkadienals, which demonstrated that EPLs are an ideal precursor of lipid-derived odorants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly (d,l-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) based microspheres have been extensively used as controlled drug release systems. However, the burst effect has been a persistent issue associated with such systems, especially for those prepared by the double emulsion technique. An effective approach to preventing the burst effect and achieving a more ideal drug release profile is to improve the drug distribution within the polymeric matrix. Therefore, it is of great importance to establish a rapid and robust tool for screening and optimizing the drug distribution during pre-formulation. Transition Temperature Microscopy (TTM), a novel nano-thermal and imaging technique, is an extension of nano-thermal analysis (nano-TA) whereby a transition temperature is detected at a localized region of a sample and then designated a color based on a particular temperature/color palette, finally resulting in a coded map based on transition temperatures detected by carrying out a series of nanoTA measurements across the surface of the sample. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of applying the aforementioned technique combined with other thermal, imaging and structural techniques for monitoring the drug microstructure and spatial distribution within bovine serum albumin (BSA) loaded and nimodipine loaded PLGA microspheres, with a view to better predicting the in vitro drug release performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycarbonate (PC) has been widely applied in aerospace and railway industries, and it is imperative to improve its fire safety related properties, especially heat release properties. Particularly, the MARHE value (maximum average rate of heat emission) directly obtained from the cone calorimeter (CONE) test is a comprehensive property that is presented in the EN45545-2 standard developed by the EU. In order to study the effect of flame retardants on the MARHE of polycarbonate, four flame retardants with different flame retardant mechanisms were used to prepare low heat release PC. CONE was used to characterize the heat release performance of PC, focusing on exploring the factors affecting MARHE and the method of preparing low heat release materials. The flame-retardant mechanism of PC was studied by SEM and TG/DTG. Meanwhile, the flame retardant index (FRI) is calculated as a reference for the flame retardant performance of PC. Results show the MARHE of HPCTP/PC is reduced by 31.12%, and it is confirmed that MARHE is influenced by time to ignition (TTI), peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release rate (THR), and the shape of the peak. Mica-RDP/PC materials were prepared based on the conclusions of MARHE derivation. RDP and Mica play a typical synergistic flame-retardant mechanism, with MARHE reductions from 20.31% to 20.00% of the single-component systems to 31.39%. All FRI values of PC materials are in the range of Good flame retardancy. This study provides a feasible way for the deep understanding and wide application of MARHE and the improvement of the fire safety performance of PC. • Analyzing influencing behavior to MARHE, studying flame-retardant mechanism via CONE and carbon residue. • Mathematical derivation for MARHE to further guide experiment, MARHE drops by 31% via synergistic effect, and all FRI values are in good. • To meet the requirements of EN45545-2 for MARHE on low heat release PC material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This study characterized a heat-inducible Hsp70 from Myzus persicae. • The Hsp70 gene is highly expressed in M. persicae adults. • Knockdown of Hsp70 impairs thermal tolerance in M. persicae. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are encoded by Hsp genes and are important in insect tolerance to heat stress. The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae , is an important agricultural pest. The functions of Hsp genes in the thermal tolerance of M. persicae are unknown. This study identified an Hsp70 gene (MpHsp70a) and analyzed its role in protection against high-temperature stress. MpHsp70a encoded a protein consisting of 659 amino acid residues. The protein had three signature motifs of the HSP70 family and was predicted to be localized in the cytoplasm. The highest expression level of MpHsp70a was in adults, and differences in the mRNA levels between apterous and alate adults were not significant. Exposure to high temperatures (30, 35 and 40 °C) for one hour and treatment with 40 °C for different times (0.5, 1 and 2 h) all resulted in a greatly elevated expression level of MpHsp70a , suggesting that the gene is heat-inducible. The transcriptional level of MpHsp70a was suppressed by injection with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), and knockdown of MpHsp70a significantly increased the susceptibility of apterous adults to 40 °C. These results indicate that MpHsp70a is required for tolerance to high-temperature stress in M. persicae. Our findings highlight the molecular mechanism underlying Hsp70 -mediated thermal adaptation in M. persicae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new cassane diterpenes, caesaldecapes A-B ( 1 – 2 ), were isolated from the seeds of Caesalpinia decapetala . Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, including NMR, MS, and HRESIMS. Compounds 1 – 2 are novel examples of rearranged cassane diterpenes obtained from C. decapetala . The two compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity in vitro against four human cancer cell lines, and compound 1 showed selectively cytotoxic activity against KB cancer cell lines, with an IC 50 value at 9.6 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]