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RNA interference (RNAi) is a pivotal strategy in gene functional analysis and pest management. However, the efficacy of RNAi varies significantly across different insect species, particularly exhibiting limited effectiveness in Lepidopteran insects. Therefore, it is imperative to develop innovative delivery strategies of dsRNA to enhance efficient gene silencing in these insects. In this study, we utilized the globally distributed polyphagous Lepidopteran insect pest Helicoverpa armigera as our research model due to its substantial implications for agriculture and limited success with RNAi-based approaches. Through the utilization of RNAi technique, HaLCP17 was identified as a larval cuticle protein gene with the highest lethality among 61 potential lethal target genes of H. armigera. Additionally, silencing HaLCP17 during the larval stage resulted in a maximum decrease of 2.66-fold in expression, accompanied by a mortality rate of 23.33% after 10 days. The larvae in the treatment group exhibited significant reductions in size and epidermal relaxation, leading to maximum decrease of 28.89% and 53.57% in feeding amount and larval weight respectively. Notably, the introduction of Imidazole-Modified Graphene Quantum Dots (IGQDs), a novel type of quantum dot nanoparticles, into the insect RNAi system demonstrated proficient delivery capability for dsRNA and potentiated gene silencing efficiency. Compared with naked dsRNA treatment, the injection of IGQDs-dsHaLCP17 complex reduced the expression of HaLCP17 by 1.66-fold, on the 10th day after treatment the mortality rate increased by 92.88%, and the eclosion rate decreased by 31.42%. These findings hold great potential for future control and analysis of gene function in Lepidopteran insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a long-period grating assisted directional coupler in lithium niobate (LN) for the realization of electro-optic tunable mode filtering functionality. Our typical device, fabricated with the annealed proton-exchange process and designed for filtering out the fundamental mode in a two-mode LN waveguide, achieves a maximum mode extinction ratio of 29 dB at 1551.7 nm wavelength and a –20 dB bandwidth of ∼2.5 nm with an electrical wavelength tuning sensitivity of 0.182 nm/V.

NALCN, a sodium leak channel, plays a key role in regulating the resting membrane potential and controlling neuronal excitability. Here the authors report a cryo-EM structure of human NALCN in complex with FAM155A, that with complementary functional analyses provide insights on its ion selectivity, voltage sensing and specific interactions with auxiliary subunits.

ABSTRACT Endosymbionts can strongly affect bacterial microbiota in pests. The white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera, a notorious pest in rice, is usually co-infected with Cardinium and Wolbachia, but the effects of these endosymbionts together or individually on the host microbiome and fecundity are unclear. Here, we established three S. furcifera lines (Cardinium and Wolbachia double-infected, Cardinium single-infected, and both-uninfected lines) backcrossed to a common nuclear background and found that single and double infections reduced bacterial diversity and changed bacterial community structure across nymph and adult stages and across adult tissues. The endosymbionts differed in densities between adults and nymphs as well as across adult tissues, with the distribution of Cardinium affected by Wolbachia. Both the single infection and particularly the double infection reduced host fecundity. Lines also differed in levels of metabolites, some of which may influence fecundity (e.g., arginine biosynthesis and nicotinamide metabolism). Cardinium in the single-infected line upregulated metabolic levels, while Wolbachia in the double-infected line appeared to mainly downregulate them. Association analysis pointed to possible connections between various bacteria and differential metabolites. These results reveal that Cardinium by itself and in combination with Wolbachia affect bacterial microbiota and levels of metabolites, with likely effects on host fecundity. Many of the effects of these metabolically limited endosymbionts that are dependent on the hosts may be exerted through manipulation of the microbiome. IMPORTANCE Endosymbionts can profoundly affect the nutrition, immunity, development, and reproduction of insect hosts, but the effects of multiple endosymbiont infections on microbiota and the interaction of these effects with insect host fitness are not well known. By establishing S. furcifera lines with different endosymbiont infection status, we found that Cardinium and the combined Cardinium + Wolbachia infections differentially reduced bacterial diversity as well as changing bacterial community structure and affecting metabolism, which may connect to negative fitness effects of the endosymbionts on their host. These results established the connections between reduced bacterial diversity, decreased fecundity and metabolic responses in S. furcifera.

Purpose: To evaluate the value of ultrasound (US)-guided vacuum-assisted excisional biopsy (VAB) in treating benign phyllodes tumors (PTs) of the breasts and to investigate the lesion characteristics that could affect the local recurrence rate. Patient and methods: From December 2008 to February 2018, 93 patients with PTs diagnosed on histology underwent US-guided, 7-gauge VAB. The recurrence rate of benign PT and complications of VAB were evaluated on follow-up US every three to six months. The lesion characteristics were analyzed to identify the factors affecting the recurrence rate. Results: Of the 87 patients, local recurrence was found in 15 patients (17%) in a mean follow-up period of 35.8 months, and the rate of complete excision was 82.8% (72/87). PTs with a largest diameter less than 3.3 cm had a significantly lower recurrence rate than PTs with a largest diameter larger than 3.3 cm (P

We present a dynamics study toward the G326.611+0.811 (G326) hub–filament system (HFS) cloud using new APEX observations of both ^13 CO and C ^18 O ( J = 2–1). The G326 HFS cloud constitutes a central hub and at least four hub-composing filaments that are divided into a major branch of filaments (F1 and F2) and a side branch (F3–F5). The cloud holds ongoing high-mass star formation as characterized by three massive dense clumps (i.e., 370–1100 M _⊙ and 0.14–0.16 g cm ^−2 for C1–C3) with high clump-averaged mass infalling rates (>10 ^−3 M _⊙ yr ^−1 ) within the major filament branch, and the associated point sources bright at 70 μ m, typical of young protostars. Along the five filaments, velocity gradients are found in both ^13 CO and C ^18 O ( J = 2–1) emission, suggesting that filament-aligned gravitational collapse toward the central hub (i.e., C2) is responsible for the high-mass star formation therein. Moreover, a periodic velocity oscillation along the major filament branch is revealed in both ^13 CO and C ^18 O ( J = 2–1) emission with a characteristic wavelength of ∼3.5 pc and an amplitude of ∼0.31–0.38 km s ^−1 . We suggest that this pattern of velocity oscillation in G326 could arise from clump-forming gas motion induced by gravitational instabilities. The prevalent velocity gradients, fragmentation of the major branch of filaments, and the ongoing collapse of the three massive dense clumps are indicative that G326 is an HFS undergoing global collapse.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common serious acute condition of the digestive system that remains a clinical challenge. Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in particular is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Galangin (Gal), a natural flavonol obtained from lesser galangal, on L-arginine-induced SAP in mice and in AR42J cells. Amylase and lipase activities were measured and the histopathology of the pancreas, lung, and kidney was evaluated. Inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed using ELISA, western blotting, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Gal was shown to reduce proinflammatory cytokine production and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in vivo and in vitro. L-arginine treatment reduced the expression of components of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway and the downstream protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in mice, whereas Gal increased their expression. Furthermore, the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway inhibitor brusatol prevented the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Gal in mice with SAP. Taken together, our results imply that Gal has protective effects in L-arginine-induced SAP that are induced by the upregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Thus, Gal may represent a promising treatment for SAP.

Pregnancy is associated with physiological changes that may affect drug pharmacokinetics (PKs). The aim of this study was to establish a maternal–fetal physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of oxcarbazepine (OXC) and its active metabolite, 10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-carbazepine (MHD), to (1) assess differences in pregnancy, (2) predict changes in PK target parameters of these molecules following the current dosing regimen, (3) assess predicted concentrations of these molecules in the umbilical vein at delivery, and (4) compare different methods for estimating drug placental penetration. Predictions using the pregnancy PBPK model of OXC resulted in maternal concentrations within a 2-fold error, and extrapolation of the model to early-stage pregnancies indicated that changes in median PK parameters remained above target thresholds, requiring increased frequency of monitoring. The dosing simulation results suggested dose adjustment in the last two trimesters. We generally recommend that women administer ≥ 1.5× their baseline dose of OXC during their second and third trimesters. Test methods for predicting placental transfer showed varying performance, with the in vitro method showing the highest predictive accuracy. Exposure to MHD in maternal and fetal venous blood was similar. Overall, the above-mentioned models can enhance understanding of the maternal–fetal PK behavior of drugs, ultimately informing drug-treatment decisions for pregnant women and their fetuses.