Pheromone antagonism in Plu tella xylostella (Linnaeus) by sex pheromones of two sympatric noctuid moths.

BACKGROUND: Responses to sex pheromones are commonly antagonized by pheromone components of closely related species. Pheromone antagonism has not been widely explored for phylogenetically distant species that have completely different pheromone components. Yet, pheromone components of sympatrically occurring species may also interfere with each other even if these species are distantly related. Here, the effects of heterospecific pheromones on electrophysiology (electroantennogram, EAG) and behavioral responses were tested on the diamondback moth Plutella xyloslella (Plutellidae) and two sympatric noctuid moth species, Spodoptera litura and Spodoptera exigua, whose larvae also feed on Brassica crops. RESULTS: The sex pheromone blend of P. xyloslella, and its components, did not elicit EAG responses in males of the two noctuid species, while sex pheromone components of the noctuid moths elicited significant EAG responses in P. xyloslella males. In wind tunnel bioassays, both (Z, E)-9, 12-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZE-9,12-14:OAc) and (Z, E)-9, 11-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZE-9,11-14:OAc), sex pheromone components from the noctuid moths, inhibited the upwind flight behavior of P. xyloslella males toward an intraspecific pheromone odor source. In Brassica fields, sex pheromone lures of P. xyloslella did not influence trap catches of the noctuid moths, while P. xyloslella pheromone lures baited with either ZE-9,11-14:OAc or ZE-9,12-14:OAc decreased trap catches of P. xyloslella males in a dose-dependent manner. Trap catches of P. xylostella males were also affected by the proximity of ZE-9,11-14:OAc or ZE-9,12-14:OAc to P. xylostella lures. CONCLUSION: The uni-directional pheromone antagonism by ZE-9,11-14:OAc and ZE-9,12-14:OAc suggests innovative semiochemical-based strategies for the management of P. xyloslella and other economically important pests in Brassica fields. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of Two Polysaccharides From Traditional Chinese Medicines on Rat Immune Function.

The aim is to study the immune function effect of two polysaccharides extracted from traditional Chinese herbs on rats. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction was used to extract the polysaccharide from traditional Chinese medicines. MTT assay was used to determine the effects of two polysaccharides on the conversion of pig peripheral T lymphocytes. For this, 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were selected for the clinical trial and divided into groups B (blank), CK (cyclophosphamide inhibitory control), AP (angelica polysaccharide), and RIP (radix isatidis polysaccharide). Except for group B, other groups can induce the immunodeficiency by using cyclophosphamide. Rats of the AP and RIP groups were given gavage of 1 mL of AP and RIP. The blood was sampled from the eyeball on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35, respectively, to determine immune cells, IgG and IgM of immunoglobulin, body weight, and spleen index. Results: The average content of AP and RIP was 51.27 and 14.8%, and the extraction rate was 75.23 and 60.94%. The maximum stimulation index was 1.407 when the concentration of AP was 8,000 µg mL-1 and 1.5 when the concentration of RIP was 125 µg mL-1. Both kinds of polysaccharides can alleviate the decline of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and serum IgG and IgM caused by cyclophosphamide. The two polysaccharides can regulate the rapid recovery of weight in immunosuppressed rats and increase the spleen index of immunosuppressed SD rats. The polysaccharides from the two traditional Chinese medicines can alleviate the immunosuppression caused by cyclophosphamide and promote the immune function of the body, which can be used as raw material resources of new veterinary medicine.

Impact of fecal microbiota transplantation on TGF-ß1/Smads/ERK signaling pathway of endotoxic acute lung injury in rats.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common clinical disease with high morbidity in both humans and animals. Studies have shown that intestinal microbiota affect the pathology and immune function of respiratory diseases through the "gut-lung axis". The authors investigated the therapeutic effect of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in rats with ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Rats were treated with FMT, and then measured lung wet/dry ratio, PaO2 in artery, proinflammatory marker, and TGF-ß1, Smad3, Smad7, and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) protein levels, as well as a histopathologic analysis and high-throughput sequencing of intestinal microbiota. FMT significantly reduced lung wet/dry ratio and TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels, but increased the levels of PaO2 in artery. In addition, FMT significantly decreased the expression of TGF-ß1, Smad3, and p-ERK, while increased the levels of Smad7. Lung histopathological analyses showed that FMT reduced the inflammatory cell infiltration and interstitial lung exudates. High-throughput sequencing of intestinal microbiota analyses showed that FMT reconstructed the structure of intestinal microbiota, and increased the gene abundance of the bacterial community. Therefore, FMT may act on the TGF-ß1/Smads/ERK pathway by regulating intestinal microbiota, inhibiting immune inflammation, reducing the production of inflammatory markers in the body and release, and reducing alveolar epithelial damage and repair, thereby improving the endotoxic ALI in rats induced by LPS.

Assessment of the Bacteria community structure across life stages of the Chinese Citrus Fly, Bactrocera minax (Diptera: Tephritidae).

BACKGROUND: Symbiotic bacteria play a critical role in insect's biology. They also offer great opportunities to improve on current pest management techniques. In order to exploit and integrate the roles played by the gut microbiota on pest management programs, a better understanding of the structural organization of the microbial community in the Chinese citrus fly Bactrocera minax is essential. RESULTS: The results revealed a total of 162 OTUs at 97% similarity interval. The dominant bacteria phyla were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Antinobacteria and Firmicutes, with the Proteobacteria having the highest relative abundance (more than 80% in all life stages). There was also a shift in the dominant OTUs from the early developmental stages to the late developmental stages and adult stages in B. minax. These OTUs related to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Providencia rettgeri and Enterobacter aerogenes, respectively. Six bacteria OTU were shared by all the life stages. These belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae and the Enterococcaceae families. CONCLUSION: The common bacteria groups shared by all the life stages and other fruit flies could be important targets for further research. This should aim towards realizing how these bacteria affect the biology of the fly and how their relationship could be exploited in the development of sustainable management strategies against fruit flies.

Two Sympatric Spodoptera Species Could Mutually Recognize Sex Pheromone Components for Behavioral Isolation.

Spodoptera exigua and S. litura are two sympatric species in China and many other countries. Both moths employ a multiple component sex pheromone blend, including a common component Z9,E12-14:OAc, and two specific components Z9-14:OH and Z11-16:OAc for S. exigua, and one specific component Z9,E11-14:OAc for S. litura. For the two species, it has been well documented that males are able to recognize and behaviorally attracted by their species-specific sex pheromone, which functions as a means of reproductive isolation, but whether males could mutually recognize pheromone components of its sympatric species is unknown. In the present study, the electroantennogram (EAG) and field evaluation were conducted to address this topic. The EAG recordings revealed that males of each species could significantly respond to specific components of its sympatric species, although the response values were lower than that to its own major component. In field tests, the specific components Z9-14:OH and Z11-16:OAc of S. exigua strongly inhibited the male catches of S. litura to its conspecific sex pheromone, while specific component Z9,E11-14:OAc of S. litura significantly reduced the male catches of S. exigua to its sex pheromone. Furthermore, the combined lure of the two species completely inhibited male catches of S. litura, and significantly decreased the male catches of S. exigua, compared to the species-specific lure alone. The results demonstrated that males of the two sibling species could perceive the specific components of its counterpart, suggesting that mutual recognition of pheromone components may function to strengthen the behavioral isolation between the two species. Our study has added new knowledge to the reproductive isolation via sex pheromone communication system in sympatric moth species, and provided a base for designing of mating disruption tactics targeting multispecies by using insect sex pheromones.

Metallic Ni3 P/Ni Co-Catalyst To Enhance Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Metallic Ni3 P/Ni can be used as a co-catalyst to replace noble metal Pt for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, due to its excellent trapping-electron ability. The applications of metallic Ni3 P/Ni co-catalyst on CdS, Zn0.5 Cd0.5 S, TiO2 (Degussa P25) and g-C3 N4 are further confirmed, indicating its versatile applicability nature like Pt.

Isolation of single Pt atoms in a silver cluster: forming highly efficient silver-based cocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

The atomically controlled transition of nanohybrids and their effects on charge-carrier dynamics are highly desirable for fundamental studies in photocatalysis. Herein, for the first time, a method combining atomic monodispersity and single-atom alloy was used to prepare a new form of highly efficient silver-based cocatalysts (Ag25 & Pt1Ag24) on graphitic carbon nitride, representing a novel photocatalytic system for hydrogen evolution.

Black Tungsten Nitride as a Metallic Photocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting Operable at up to 765†nm.

Semiconductor photocatalysts are hardly employed for overall water splitting beyond 700 nm, which is due to both thermodynamic aspects and activation barriers. Metallic materials as photocatalysts are known to overcome this limitation through interband transitions for creating electron-hole pairs; however, the application of metallic photocatalysts for overall water splitting has never been fulfilled. Black tungsten nitride is now employed as a metallic photocatalyst for overall water splitting at wavelengths of up to 765 nm. Experimental and theoretical results together confirm that metallic properties play a substantial role in exhibiting photocatalytic activity under red-light irradiation for tungsten nitride. This work represents the first red-light responsive photocatalyst for overall water splitting, and may open a promising venue in searching of metallic materials as efficient photocatalysts for solar energy utilization.

Rhodium Dopants on Zn2 GeO4 Surfaces as Active Sites for Photocatalytic Water Splitting.

Doping has been widely used to engineer efficient photocatalysts for the water-splitting process in energy conversion and storage systems. Although composition tuning through heteroatom doping is one of the strategies to enhance photoactivity, the origin of the increased activity by doping remains unclear and most illustrations of its role fall in the band engineering area. Herein, it is reported that the rhodium dopants on the surface of Zn2 GeO4 , which affect the band structure negligibly, can act as active sites for water splitting. As a result, the Rhδ+ /Zn2 GeO4 photocatalyst demonstrates excellent stability for up to 460 days and significant enhancement of the photocatalytic activity to that of the undoped photocatalyst. The findings in this work may open the door for a rethink of the detailed principles of dopants in photocatalysis, and highlight a feasible route to fabricating efficient photocatalysts.

Controllable Synthesis of Hexagonal WO3 Nanoplates for Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Oxygen Production.

Facilitating charge-carrier separation and transfer is fundamentally important to improve the photocatalytic performance of semiconductor materials. Herein, two-dimensional hexagonal WO3 nanoplates were synthesized by a two-step route: rapid evaporation and solid-phase sintering. The as-prepared WO3 exhibits an enhanced activity of photocatalytic water oxidation compared to bulk monoclinic WO3 . The electron dynamics analysis reveals that a more efficient charge-carrier separation in the former can be obtained, the origin of which can be attributed to an increased number of surface defects in hexagonal WO3 nanoplates. This work not only presents a novel and simple method to produce two-dimensional hexagonal WO3 nanoplates, but also demonstrates that surface defects and two-dimensional geometric structures can promote the charge separation, which may be extended to the design of other efficient photocatalysts.

One-step fabrication of porous oxygen-doped g-C3N4 with feeble nitrogen vacancies for enhanced photocatalytic performance.

Porous oxygen-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with feeble nitrogen vacancies was fabricated through thermal polycondensation of melamine with an appropriate amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone. After optimization, the bandgap of g-C3N4 can be narrowed by 0.2 eV and the specific surface area expanded, which contribute to increasing the utilization of solar energy. Consequently, the optimized g-C3N4 exhibits impressive enhancement in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance, by nearly 5 times compared with the pristine one under the irradiation of visible light.

Advanced Cd(II) complexes as high efficiency co-sensitizers for enhanced dye-sensitized solar cell performance.

This work reports on two new complexes with the general formula [Cd3(IBA)3(Cl)2(HCOO)(H2O)]n (1) and {[Cd1.5(IBA)3(H2O)6]·3.5H2O}n (2), which can be synthesized by the reaction of Cd(II) with rigid linear ligand 4-HIBA containing imidazolyl and carboxylate functional groups [4-HIBA = 4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzoic acid]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses indicate that complex 1 is a 2D "wave-like" layer structure constructed from trinuclear units and complex 2 is just a mononuclear structure. Surprisingly, both complexes 1 and 2 appear as a 3D supramolecular network via intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. What's more, due to their strong UV-visible absorption, 1 and 2 can be employed as co-sensitizers in combination with N719 to enhance dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) performance. Both of them could overcome the deficiency of the ruthenium complex N719 absorption in the region of ultraviolet and blue-violet, and the charge collection efficiency is also improved when 1 and 2 are used as co-sensitizers, which are all in favor of enhancing the performance. The DSSC devices using co-sensitizers of 1/N719 and 2/N719 show an overall conversion efficiency of 8.27% and 7.73% with a short circuit current density of 17.48 mA cm(-2) and 17.39 mA cm(-2), and an open circuit voltage of 0.75 V and 0.74 V, respectively. The overall conversion efficiency is 27.23% and 18.92% higher than that of a device solely sensitized by N719 (6.50%). Consequently, the prepared complexes are high efficiency co-sensitizers for enhancing the performance of N719 sensitized solar cells.

Tunable Luminescence and Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells of Zn(II)/Hg(II) Complexes: Methyl Substitution-Induced Supramolecular Structures Based on (E)-N-(6-Methoxypyridin-2-ylmethylene)arylamine Derivatives.

Using Schiff-base ligands (E)-N-(6-methoxypyridin-2-yl)(CH═NAr) (where Ar = C6H5, L1; 2-MeC6H4, L2; 2,4,6-Me3C6H2, L3), six Zn(II)/Hg(II) complexes, namely, [ZnL1Cl2] (Zn1), [HgL1Cl2] (Hg1), [ZnL2Cl2] (Zn2), [HgL2Cl2] (Hg2), [ZnL3Cl2] (Zn3), and [HgL3Cl2] (Hg3) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. The structures of six complexes have been established by X-ray single-crystal analysis and further physically characterized by EA, FT-IR, (1)H NMR, and ESI-MS. The crystal structures of these complexes indicate that noncovalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonds, C-H···Cl, and π···π stacking, play essential roles in constructing the resulting supramolecular structures (1D for Hg3; 2D for Zn2, Hg2; 3D for Zn1, Hg1, and Zn3). Upon irradiation with UV light, the emission of complexes Zn1-Zn3 and Hg1-Hg3 could be finely tuned from green (480-540 nm) in the solid state to blue (402-425 nm) in acetonitrile solution. It showed that the ligand and metal cation can influence the structures and luminescence properties of complexes such as emission intensities and maximum wavelengths. Since these ligands and complexes could compensate for the absorption of N719 in the low-wavelength region of the visible spectrum and reduce charge recombination of the injected electron, the ligands L1-L3 and complexes Zn3/Hg3 were employed to prepare cosensitized dye-sensitized solar cells devices for investigating the influences of the electron-donating group and coordination on the DSSCs performance. Compared to DSSCs only being sensitized by N719, these prepared ligands and complexes chosen to cosensitize N719 in solar cell do enhanced its performance by 11-41%. In particular, a DSSC using L3 as cosensitizer displays better photovoltaic performance with a short circuit current density of 18.18 mA cm(-2), corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 7.25%. It is much higher than that for DSSCs only sensitized by N719 (5.14%).

Solvatochromic and application in dye-sensitized solar cells of sandwich-like Cd(II) complexes: supramolecular architectures based on N(1),N(3)-bis[(6-methoxypyridin-2-yl)methylene]benzene-1,3-diamine.

A novel polydentate Schiff base ligand N(1),N(3)-bis[(6-methoxypyridin-2-yl)methylene]benzene-1,3-diamine (L) and its two dinuclear sandwich-like complexes {[CdL(NO3)(H2O)]·NO3}2 (1) and {[CdL(CH3CN)(H2O)]·(ClO4)2·(CH3CN)2}2 (2) were synthesized. Both C-H∙∙∙O, C-H∙∙∙N and π-π non-covalent interactions had essential roles in constructing the resulting three-dimensional supramolecular networks. L emits a more intense blue-green fluorescence emission around 493 nm than in dilute solution, exhibiting stacking-induced emission properties. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibited the dual properties of exceptional solvatochromism and fluorescence quenching towards CH3OH molecules. As these compounds could overcome the absent absorption of ruthenium complex N719 in the low wavelength region of the visible spectrum, offset the competitive visible light absorption of I3(-) and reduce the charge recombination of injected electrons, the Schiff base ligand l and complexes 1 and 2 were used as co-sensitizers in combination with N719 to investigate their effect on enhancing the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. A short circuit current density of 14.37 mA cm(-2), an open-circuit voltage of 0.71 V and a fill factor of 0.61 corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 6.17% under AM 1.5 G solar irradiation were achieved when 1 was used as a co-sensitizer, which are much higher than the results obtained for dye-sensitized solar cells sensitized by N719 alone (5.06%).

Preparation, characterization, and properties of PMMA-doped polymer film materials: a study on the effect of terbium ions on luminescence and lifetime enhancement.

Poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) doped with Tb-based imidazole derivative coordination polymer {[Tb(3)(L)(µ(3)-OH)(7)]·H(2)O}(n) (1) (L = N,N'-bis(acetoxy)biimidazole) was synthesized and its photophysical properties were studied. The L'(L' = N,N'-bis(ethylacetate)biimidazole) ligand was synthesized by an N-alkylation reaction process followed by ester hydrolysis to produce ligand L. Polymer 1 and ligand L' have been characterized by (1)H NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, PXRD and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Coordination polymer 1 is the first observation of a CdCl(2) structure constructed with hydroxy groups and decorated by ligand L in lanthanide N-heterocyclic coordination polymers. In the 2D layered structure of 1, each Tb3 metal center is connected with three Tb1 and three Tb2 metal centers by seven hydroxyl groups in different directions, resulting in a six-membered ring. After doping, not only the luminescence intensity and lifetime enhanced, but also their thermal stability was increased in comparison with 1. When 1 was doped into poly(methylmethacrylate) (1@PMMA), polymer film materials were formed with the PMMA polymer matrix (w/w = 2.5%-12.5%) acting as a co-sensitizer for Tb(3+) ions. The luminescence intensity of the Tb(3+) emission at 544 nm increases when the content of Tb(3+) was 10%. The lifetime of 1@PMMA (914.88 µs) is more than four times longer than that of 1 (196.24 µs). All τ values for the doped polymer systems are higher than coordination polymer 1, indicating that radiative processes are operative in all the doped polymer films. This is because PMMA coupling with the O-H oscillators from {[Tb(3)(L)(µ(3)-OH)(7)]·H(2)O}(n) can suppress multiphonon relaxation. According to the variable-temperature luminescence (VT-luminescence) investigation, 1@PMMA was confirmed to be a stable green luminescent polymer film material.

Synthesis and characterization of substituted Schiff-base ligands and their d(10) metal complexes: structure-induced luminescence tuning behaviors and applications in co-sensitized solar cells.

Nine IIB group complexes, [ZnL1Cl2] (Zn1), [CdL1Cl2]2 (Cd1), [HgL1Cl2] (Hg1), [ZnL2Cl2] (Zn2), [CdL2Cl2] (Cd2), [HgL2Cl2] (Hg2), [ZnL3Cl2] (Zn3), [CdL3Cl2] (Cd3) and [HgL3Cl2] (Hg3), have been synthesized from the corresponding ortho-(6-methoxy-pyridyl)(CH[double bond, length as m-dash]NAr) (where Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3, L1; 4-MeC6H4, L2; 2-OMeC6H4, L3) Schiff base and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, (1)H NMR and X-ray single-crystal analysis. Crystallographic studies reveal that the center metal of the complexes adopts a distorted tetrahedron geometry (except for Cd1 and Cd3, which display square pyramidal geometry) and C-HCl hydrogen bonds and ππ stacking interactions contribute to three-dimensional supramolecular structures. The series of complexes exhibit tunable luminescence from blue, through green, to light yellow by varying the temperature (298 K and 77 K), both in solution and in the solid state. Moreover, the quantum yields range from 0.027 to 0.422, and decrease according to the order of the periodic table (Zn > Cd > Hg). These results indicate that the center atom of the complexes leads to the geometry differences and hence to the tunable luminescence properties. Because Zn1-Zn3 exhibited higher molar extinction coefficients and a distinct absorption region, they were employed as co-sensitizers in ruthenium dye N719-sensitized photoanodes to deliver light-electricity efficiency enhancement, being assembled with counter-electrodes and electrolyte to prepare ZnX/N719 (where ZnX = Zn1, Zn2, and Zn3) co-sensitized dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) devices. The prepared co-absorbent could overcome the deficiency of N719 absorption in the low-wavelength region of the visible spectrum, and offset competitive visible-light absorption of I3(-). Application of these prepared complexes in N719-sensitized solar cells enhanced their performance by 10-36%, which indicated a potential application of these types of complexes in DSSCs.

Crystal transformation synthesis of a highly stable fluorescent 3D indium-tetranuclear {In4(µ2-OH)3} building block based metal organic framework through a dinuclear complex.

A rare 3D tetranuclear {In4(µ2-OH)3} building block based MOF {[In4/3(µ2-OH)(2,6-pydc)(1,4-bda)0.5(H2O)]·2H2O}n (2) was obtained through a crystal transformation from a dimeric complex In3(2,6-pydc)3(1,4-bda)1.5(H2O)6 (1). With a 2D + 3D → 3D compact structure, 2 retains crystallinity in boiling water and organic solvents, exhibiting exceptional fluorescence quenching behaviour for the DMSO molecule.

[Treatment of recurrent odontogenic keratocyst with enucleation and cryosurgery: a retrospective study of 10 cases].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of treatment of recurrent odontogenic keratocyst with enucleation and cryosurgery in 10 consecutive cases. METHODS: 10 patients with recurrent odontogenic keratocyst of the jaw were treated with enucleation and liquid nitrogen cryosurgery between 1994 and 2000. After enucleation of the cystic lining, liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) was applied to the bony walls via cotton rolls for cryosurgery. The time for cryosurgery was between 3 to 5 minutes with 3 cycles of freeze and thaw. All the patients were followed up for 5 to 10 years after treatment with regular clinical and radiographic examinations. Postoperative complications and the final outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: No recurrence was noted within the follow-up period after combined treatment of enucleation and cryosurgery. Secondary wound healing developed in 1 patient due to accidental freezing of the adjacent tissues, and pathologic fracture of the mandible occurred in 1 patient. The fracture healed secondarily with intermaxillary fixation. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, the combination of enucleation and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy offers patients improved therapy in the management of recurrent odontogenic keratocysts of the jaw, with lower recurrence and avoidance of ostectomy, which is likely to be accepted by the patients.