The novel function of an orphan pheromone receptor reveals the sensory specializations of two potential distinct types of sex pheromones in noctuid moth.

Sex pheromones play crucial role in mating behavior of moths, involving intricate recognition mechanisms. While insect chemical biology has extensively studied type I pheromones, type II pheromones remain largely unexplored. This study focused on Helicoverpa armigera, a representative species of noctuid moth, aiming to reassess its sex pheromone composition. Our research unveiled two previously unidentified candidate type II sex pheromones-3Z,6Z,9Z-21:H and 3Z,6Z,9Z-23:H-in H. armigera. Furthermore, we identified HarmOR11 as an orphan pheromone receptor of 3Z,6Z,9Z-21:H. Through AlphaFold2 structural prediction, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations, we elucidated the structural basis and key residues governing the sensory nuances of both type I and type II pheromone receptors, particularly HarmOR11 and HarmOR13. This study not only reveals the presence and recognition of candidate type II pheromones in a noctuid moth, but also establishes a comprehensive structural framework for PRs, contributing to the understanding of connections between evolutionary adaptations and the emergence of new pheromone types.

A Degree-Dependent Polynomial-Based Reciprocally Convex Matrix Inequality and Its Application to Stability Analysis of Delayed Neural Networks.

In this article, several improved stability criteria for time-varying delayed neural networks (DNNs) are proposed. A degree-dependent polynomial-based reciprocally convex matrix inequality (RCMI) is proposed for obtaining less conservative stability criteria. Unlike previous RCMIs, the matrix inequality in this article produces a polynomial of any degree in the time-varying delay, which helps to reduce conservatism. In addition, to reduce the computational complexity caused by dealing with the negative definite of the high-degree terms, an improved lemma is presented. Applying the above matrix inequalities and improved negative definiteness condition helps to generate a more relaxed stability criterion for analyzing time-varying DNNs. Two examples are provided to illustrate this statement.

Effect of Sonication and Ceria Doping on Nanoparticles Fabricated by Laser Marker Ablation of Ti in Water.

By employing the laser marker fast ablation technique in water, combined with the innovative inclusion of sonication, we successfully developed Ti-based nanoparticles with improved characteristics. sonication increased the nanoparticle concentration in the colloid, reduced nanoparticle size, and also narrowed size distribution. Our findings also provide valuable insights into the influence of laser parameters, such as wavelength and fluence, on nanoparticle properties. UV laser led to small nanoparticles compared with 1064 nm laser. Additionally, high laser fluence appeared to increase the ablated particle size until a plateau fluence at 28.5 J/cm2; at 38 J/cm2, the particle size decreased. Notably, all synthesized particles exhibited a regular spherical shape, as confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping, which also indicated that the majority of Ti-based particles were in an oxidized state. Additionally, the presence of rutile TiO2 in the particles was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Ceria doping Titania nanoparticles was also attempted.

Stability Analysis of Discrete-Time Neural Networks With a Time-Varying Delay: Extended Free-Weighting Matrices Zero Equation Approach.

This research investigates the stability of discrete-time neural networks (DNNs) with a time-varying delay by using the Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional (LKF) method. Recent researches acquired some less conservatism stability criteria for time-varying delayed systems via some augmented LKFs. However, the forward difference of such LKFs resulted in high-degree time-varying delay-dependent polynomials. This research aims to develop some augmented state-related vectors and the corresponding extended free-weighting matrices zero equations to avoid the appearance of such high-degree polynomials and help to provide more freedom for the estimation results. Besides, an augmented delay-product-type LKF is also established for ameliorating the stability conditions of the time-varying delayed DNNs. Then, based on the above methods and Jensen's summation inequality, the auxiliary-function-based summation inequality, and the reciprocally convex matrix inequality, some less conservatism stability criteria for time-varying delayed DNNs are formulated. The validity of the proposed time-varying delay-dependent stability criteria is illustrated by two numerical examples.

Mutual interactions between α-amylase and amyloglucosidase in the digestion of starch with distinct chain-length distributions at a fully gelatinized state.

Amyloglucosidase (AMG) and α-amylase (AMY) are both involved in starch digestion in human small intestine, whereas their mutual interactions with starch molecules of distinct structures are still unknown. In the current study, starches with different amylose contents (from waxy to high amylose content) were used to investigate the starch-enzyme interactions in the in vitro starch digestibility at a fully gelatinized state. The starch chain-length distributions (CLDs) before and after digestion were obtained by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and the in vitro digestograms with a single or combined AMY and AMG were obtained. The results showed that the digestion extent generally followed an order of AMG > AMG + AMY > AMY, suggesting that there was an antagonistic effect between AMG and AMY. Starches with distinct structures were preferred differently by these enzyme combinations. For example, waxy starch could be digested at a much faster rate by AMG + AMY than by a single enzyme. By fitting to the logarithm of slope plot and the combination of parallel and sequential kinetics models, two different starch digestible fractions (slowly vs. rapidly) were identified, and AMG and AMY typically had an antagonistic effect in digesting the rapidly digestible fraction. Finally, the CLD results suggested that a small starch portion with DP 7-2000, not present in the original starch samples, was formed after the digestion. The starch portion with DP > 2000 could be very rapidly digested by AMY, whereas the starch portion with DP 7-2000 could only be less effectively digested by AMY, and the addition of AMG could further reduce this activity. This study provides important information for understanding the starch-enzyme interactions as well as their effects on starch digestibility at a molecular level.

The Combined Use of a Non-Invasive Skin-Stretching Device and the Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy Technique in the Treatment of Postoperative Diabetic Foot.

OBJECTIVE: The present study explored the effectiveness of using a non-invasive skin-stretching device (NSSD) combined with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for the postoperative wound repair of diabetic foot (DF) gangrene. METHODS: The treatment group in this study involved 42 patients with Wagner grade 3-4 DF and undergone concomitant toe amputation or debridement, who were given NPWT combined with the use of a NSSD. The control group comprised 42 patients with similar trauma areas (±20%) that were matched at a ratio of 1:1. Following surgery, these patients received NPWT combined with the use of conventional dressings. A comparison was made of the postoperative wound healing rates and wound healing times of the two groups, with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis being used to compare the healing rate over time. RESULTS: The three-month wound healing rate was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (38 of 42 [90.5%] vs 25 of 42 [59.5%], p = 0.002), and the wound healing time was shorter in the treatment group (44 days [95% CI 40.0-48.0]) than that in the control group (76 days [95% CI 63.0-89.0], p = 0.000). Taking the end of the final NPWT as the starting point, the comparison of wound healing time revealed that this period was shorter in the treatment group than that in the control group and the difference was statistically significant (11 days [95% CI 9.0-13.0] vs 42 days [95% CI 23.0-ND], p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The use of the NPWT technique combined with a NSSD can shorten the wound healing time and improve the wound healing rate of DF gangrene patients during the postoperative wound repair period.

[Methane oxidation in soil profiles of broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountain].

Samples were collected from dark-brown forest soil in different depths in the virgin broad-leaved/Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountain. Laboratory study on methane oxidation of forest soil revealed the vertical profiles of methane oxidation activity. The maximum methane oxidation occurred at the horizon 5-15 cm below the soil surface. When incubated with 400 ppmv methane, it had the highest uptake rate of 3.3 nmol.h-1.g-1 dw. Soil at horizon below 25 cm had a negligible capacity to oxidize methane. The methane-oxidation capacity of surface soil (0-5 cm) decreased because of the inhibition effect of high concentration NH4+ on methanotrophs.

[Relationship between CH4 and N2O emissions and related microorganism populations in paddy soils under different water management regimes].

Methanogens, methanotrophs, nitrifiers and denitrifiers are the important microorganisms in the production and consumption of CH4 and N2O in soil. In order to understand the microbial processes related to the two greenhouse gases in paddy soil, the four bacteria groups in phaeozem (Hailun) and burozem (Shenyang) were surveyed during rice growth season by using MPN counting technique. The CH4 and N2O emissions were measured with closed chamber method. Two different water management regimes, i.e., continual irrigation and intermittent irrigation, were used for the two paddy soils. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that there was a significantly positive correlation between CH4 emission and methanogen population in both phaeozem and burozem under two water management regimes. In the soil of Shenyang, there was a significantly positive correlation between CH4 emission and methanotropli population. The N2O emission was significantly correlated to the denitrifier population in both phaeozem and burozem under intermittent irrigation, and in the soil of Shenyang, there was a significantly positive correlation between N2O emission and nitrifier population under two water managements.

[Effect of elevated CO2 concentration on carbohydrate and nitrogen contents in seedlings foliage of three tree species in Changbai mountain].

The contents of sucrose, fructose, soluble total sugar, starch and total nitrogen were analyzed in seedlings of Pinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestriformis and Fraxinus mandshurica grown for three growing seasons in open-top chambers in Changbai mountain under elevated CO2 (700, 500 mumol.mol-1) and ambient CO2 (350 mumol.mol-1) concentrations. The results showed that in the first two growing seasons the treatment of 700 mumol.mol-1 CO2 accumulated the contents of starch in Pinus sylvestriformis and Fraxinus mandshurica seedlings, while total nitrogen content significantly decreased in Pinus koraiensis seedlings under 700 and 500 mumol.mol-1 CO2. The content of starch increased and the content of total nitrogen decreased in Pinus koraiensis and Fraxinus mandshurica seedlings grown under 700, 500 mumol.mol-1 CO2 at the first two weeks in the third growing season. The change of starch and total nitrogen in Fraxinus mandshurica at the eighth week was similar to the first and second week. There was no significant increase or decrease of C and N content in Pinus sylvestriformis at the third growing season. CO2 concentration affected the forms of carbohydrate accumulation in foliage.

[Photosynthetic characteristics of three tree species seedlings in Changbai Mountain under different CO2 concentrations].

The photosynthetic characteristics of three-year-old seedlings of coniferous Pinus koraiensis and Pinus sylvestriformis and broadleaf Fraxinus mandshurica in open-top chambers in Changbai Mountain were studied. Seedlings were planted at four different conditions respectively:elevated CO2 concentration(700 and 500 mumol.mol-1) and ambient CO2 concentration (control chamber and in open field). After treating of two growing seasons in the first two years, seedlings were continuously grown under different CO2 concentration for another eight weeks. The results indicated that the photosynthetic capacity of three species was enhanced under high CO2 concentration in the first two growing seasons. The maximum net photosynthetic rates and light response parameters of different tree species were different at the same CO2 concentration. No photosynthetic acclimation was observed in the third growing season except Pinus sylvestriformis seedlings grown under 500 mumol.mol-1 CO2. The increase or decrease of net photosynthetic rates and light response parameters were related to the time of CO2 treatment. Elevated CO2 concentration could alter the ability of utilizing strong light and low light of seedlings.

[Effect of Pinus sylvestriformis seedlings density on net photosynthetic rate under elevated CO2].

The effect of Pinus sylvestriformis seedlings density on net photosynthetic rate was studied under elevated CO2. Atmospheric CO2 concentration was controlled in OTC (Open Top Chamber). The results showed that elevated CO2 not only made net photosynthetic rates (NPRs) of two Pinus sylvestriformis seedlings densities increased, but also mitigated their intra-specific competition. Meanwhile, the difference of seedling NPRs between 100 and 400 plant.m-2 under 500 mumol.mol-1 air CO2 concentration was less tha that under 350 mumol.mol-1 with the same PAR levels. When air CO2 concentration reached 700 mumol.mol-1, the NPRs of seedlings under both planting densities were close to each other with the same PAR levels. The intra-specific competition was minimized under air CO2 concentration of 700 mumol.mol-1.

[Advances in the research on sources and sinks of CH4 and CH4 oxidation (uptake) in soil].

Methane (CH4) is one of the main greenhouse gases contributing greenhouse effect, and its potential greenhouse effect is 21 times of CO2. Therefore, to determine the sources and sinks of atmospheric CH4 and to assess and forecast their amounts become and important focus concerning the researches on global change and greenhouse effect. This paper summarized the researches on the sources and sinks of CH4, and amplified on the influential factors (e.g. land-use, ambient atmospheric CH4 concentration, soil temperature, soil moisture content, soil pH and soil porosity) on atmospheric and interior CH4 oxidation in soil. It is significant that studying CH4 oxidation in vertical zonation soil in forests of Changbai Mountain to evaluate the CH4 consumption in forest soil.