Relationship between preoperative psychological stress and short-term prognosis in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture.

BACKGROUND: Older adults are at high risk of femoral neck fractures (FNFs). Elderly patients face and adapt to significant psychological burdens, resulting in different degrees of psychological stress response. Total hip replacement is the preferred treatment for FNF in elderly patients; however, some patients have poor postoperative prognoses, and the underlying mechanism is unknown. We speculated that the postoperative prognosis of elderly patients with FNF may be related to preoperative psychological stress. AIM: To explore the relationship between preoperative psychological stress and the short-term prognosis of elderly patients with FNF. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, the baseline data, preoperative 90-item Symptom Checklist score, and Harris score within 6 months of surgery of 120 elderly patients with FNF who underwent total hip arthroplasty were collected. We analyzed the indicators of poor short-term postoperative prognosis and the ability of the indicators to predict poor prognosis and compared the correlation between the indicators and the Harris score. RESULTS: Anxiety, depression, garden classification of FNF, cause of fracture, FNF reduction quality, and length of hospital stay were independent influencing factors for poor short-term postoperative prognoses in elderly patients with FNF (P < 0.05). The areas under the curve for anxiety, depression, and length of hospital stay were 0.742, 0.854, and 0.749, respectively. The sensitivities of anxiety, depression, garden classification of FNF, and prediction of the cause of fracture were 0.857, 0.786, 0.821, and 0.821, respectively. The specificities of depression, FNF quality reduction, and length of hospital stay were the highest at 0.880, 0.783, and 0.761, respectively. Anxiety, depression, and somatization scores correlated moderately with Harris scores (r = -0.523, -0.625, and -0.554; all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative anxiety, depression, and somatization are correlated with poor short-term prognosis in elderly patients with FNF and warrant consideration.

An Experimental Study of a Composite Wick Structure for Ultra-Thin Flattened Heat Pipes.

As the thickness of an ultra-thin flattened heat pipe (UTHP) decreases, the fabrication difficulty increases exponentially, and the thermal performance deteriorates rapidly. In this study, three types of composite wicks were developed for UTHPs with a 0.6 mm thickness: copper foam and mesh wick (CFMW), two layers of different mesh wick (TDMW), and three layers of the same mesh wick (TSMW). The startup and steady-state performances of the UTHPs with liquid filling ratios of 60% to 120% were investigated. The findings indicated that the CFMW UTHP with a filling ratio of 100% exhibited the best startup performance, with the highest equilibrium temperature of 58.37 °C. The maximum heat transport capacities of the CFMW, TDMW, and TSMW UTHP samples were 9, 8, and 8.5 W, respectively, at their corresponding optimum filling ratios of 110%, 90%, and 100%. The CFMW UTHP exhibited the lowest evaporation and condensation thermal resistances of 0.151 and 0.189 K/W, respectively, which were 24.67% and 41.85% lower than those of the TSMW UTHP. CFMW can be used to improve the thermal performance of UTHPs. This study provides important guidelines for the structural design, fabrication technology, and performance improvement of high-performance UTHPs used in portable electronic devices.

Mitigating dengue incidence through advanced Aedes larval surveillance and control: A successful experience from Pakistan.

Dengue fever is a viral disease caused by one of four dengue stereotypes (Flavivirus: Flaviviridae) that are primarily transmitted by Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Aedes aegypti (L.). To safeguard public health, it is crucial to conduct surveys that examine the factors favouring the presence of these species. Our study surveyed 42 councils across four towns within the Bhakkar district of Punjab Province, by inspecting man-made or natural habitats containing standing water. First, door-to-door surveillance teams from the district health department were assigned to each council to surveillance Aedes species and dengue cases. Second, data collection through surveillance efforts, and validation procedures were implemented, and the verified data was uploaded onto the Dengue Tracking System by Third Party Validation teams. Third, data were analysed to identify factors influencing dengue fever cases. The findings demonstrated the following: (1) Predominantly, instances were discerned among individuals who had a documented history of having travelled beyond the confines of the province. (2) Containers associated with evaporative air coolers and tyre shops were responsible for approximately 30% of the Aedes developmental sites. (4) Variability in temperature was responsible for approximately 45% of the observed differences in the quantity of recorded Aedes mosquito developmental sites. (5) Implementation of dengue prevention initiatives precipitated a 50% reduction in Aedes-positive containers, alongside a notable 70% decline in reported cases of dengue fever during the period spanning 2019 to 2020, while the majority of reported cases were of external origin. Aedes control measures substantially curtailed mosquito populations and lowered vector-virus interactions. Notably, local dengue transmission was eliminated through advanced and effective Aedes control efforts, emphasising the need for persistent surveillance and eradication of larval habitats in affected regions.

[Randomized,double-blind,parallel controlled,multicenter clinical trial of effectiveness and safety of Shexiang Zhuifeng Zhitong Ointment in alleviating pain in knee osteoarthritis(syndrome of cold-dampness obstruction)].

The Shexiang Zhuifeng Zhitong Ointment with the effects of dispelling wind, removing dampness, dissipating cold, and relieving pain is used for treating arthralgia, muscular pain, and sprain pain caused by cold-dampness obstruction. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Zhuifeng Zhitong Ointment in relieving the pain due to knee osteoarthritis(syndrome of cold-dampness obstruction), a randomized, double-blind, parallel controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted. The stratified randomization method was used to randomize the 240 subjects into a treatment group and a control group in a ratio of 1∶1. In each group, 60 patients received external application for 12 h and the other 60 patients received external application for 6 h. The treatment group received external application of Shexiang Zhuifeng Zhitong Ointment, while the control group received external application of Shexiang Zhuifeng Ointment. The treatment lasted for 21 days in both groups. Follow-up was conducted on days 7, 14, and 21 of treatment. The results based on the full analysis set were as follows.(1)In visual analog scale(VAS) score, the mean difference in the VAS score between baseline and 12 h post-treatment was 3.02 in the treatment group and 2.31 in the control group, with a significant difference(P<0.05). The mean difference in the VAS score between baseline and 6 h post-treatment was 3.19 in the treatment group and 2.48 in the control group, with a significant difference(P<0.05).(2)Response rate in terms of VAS score, after treatment for 12 h, the response rate was 93.22% in the treatment group and 73.33% in the control group, with a significant difference(P<0.05). After treatment for 6 h, theresponse rate in the treatment group was 88.33%, which was higher than that(63.33%) in the control group(P<0.05).The results showed that Shexiang Zhuifeng Zhitong Ointment applied for 12 and 6 h effectively relieved the knee joint pain of patients with knee osteoarthritis due to cold-dampness obstruction, as demonstrated by the reduced VAS score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index(WOMAC), stiffness, and joint function score. Moreover, Shexiang Zhuifeng Zhitong Ointment outperformed the positive control Shexiang Zhuifeng Ointment in terms of reducing the VAS score, demonstrating a definitetherapeutic effect on the pain due to knee osteoarthritis(syndrome of cold-dampness obstruction).In addition, Shexiang Zhuifeng Zhitong Ointment did not cause other adverse reactions except for mild allergic reactions, which were common in the external application of traditional Chinese medicine plasters on the skin, inseveral patients.Neither other adverse reactions nor abnormalities of liver and kidney functions and electrocardiogram were observed. This ointment had high safety and could be popularized in clinical application.

Porous Morphology of High Grafting Density Mixed Polyelectrolyte Brushes Grown from a Y-Inimer Coating.

Mixed A/B polyelectrolyte (PE) brushes of opposite charges are grown from a Y-shaped initiator-bearing coating to facilitate intimate mixing of the A and B polyelectrolytes in a 1:1 grafting ratio. The design of the Y-shaped inimer includes both ATRP and NMP initiators attached to a common Y-junction. A copolymer of a Y-shaped inimer with glycidyl methacrylate is cross-linked to the substrate resulting in a stable ultrathin coating decorated with Y-shaped initiators. Weak PE A/B mixed brushes based on poly(methacrylic acid)/poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PMAA/P2VP) with a high grafting density of ∼1 chain/nm2 are grown by surface-initiated ATRP and NMP, respectively. Detailed morphological characterization of the PMAA/P2VP brushes in response to pH changes reveals a nanoporous morphology under conditions that maximize complex coacervate formation between oppositely charged brushes. The charge ratio between the A and B brushes is varied via the composition of the brushes to further study the morphology evolution. The effect of intimate contact between the A and B brushes on the morphology is probed by comparing with a mixed A/B PE system with random fluctuations in grafting composition. A quantitative and qualitative study of the pore evolution with pH as well as charge composition is presented using a combination of atomic force microscopy, water contact angle measurement, and image analysis using Gwyddion software. These studies demonstrate that the porous morphology is enhanced and most uniform when the brushes are grown from the Y-inimer, indicating that a 1:1 grafting ratio and intimate contact between A and B brushes are essential.

Topological Organization of the Brain Network in Patients with Primary Angle-closure Glaucoma Through Graph Theory Analysis.

Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) is a sight-threatening eye condition that leads to irreversible blindness. While past neuroimaging research has identified abnormal brain function in PACG patients, the relationship between PACG and alterations in brain functional networks has yet to be explored. This study seeks to examine the influence of PACG on brain networks, aiming to advance knowledge of its neurobiological processes for better diagnostic and therapeutic approaches utilizing graph theory analysis. A cohort of 44 primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) patients and 44 healthy controls participated in this study. Functional brain networks were constructed using fMRI data and the Automated Anatomical Labeling 90 template. Subsequently, graph theory analysis was employed to evaluate global metrics, nodal metrics, modular organization, and network-based statistics (NBS), enabling a comparative analysis between PACG patients and the control group. The analysis of global metrics, including small-worldness and network efficiency, did not exhibit significant differences between the two groups. However, PACG patients displayed elevated nodal metrics, such as centrality and efficiency, in the left frontal superior medial, right frontal superior medial, and right posterior central brain regions, along with reduced values in the right temporal superior gyrus region compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, Module 5 showed notable disparities in intra-module connectivity, while Module 1 demonstrated substantial differences in inter-module connectivity with both Module 7 and Module 8. Noteworthy, the NBS analysis unveiled a significantly altered network when comparing the PACG and healthy control groups. The study proposes that PACG patients demonstrate variations in nodal metrics and modularity within functional brain networks, particularly affecting the prefrontal, occipital, and temporal lobes, along with cerebellar regions. However, an analysis of global metrics suggests that the overall connectivity patterns of the entire brain network remain unaltered in PACG patients. These results have the potential to serve as early diagnostic and differential markers for PACG, and interventions focusing on brain regions with high degree centrality and nodal efficiency could aid in optimizing therapeutic approaches.

Mex-3 RNA binding family member A (MEX3A)/circMPP6 complex promotes colorectal cancer progression by inhibiting autophagy.

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs)-RNA networks have contributed to cancer development. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are considered as protein recruiters; nevertheless, the patterns of circRNA-protein interactions in colorectal cancer (CRC) are still lacking. Processing bodies (PBs) formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are membrane-less organelles (MLOs) consisting of RBPs and RNA. Previous evidence suggests a connection between PBs dynamics and cancer progression. Despite the increasingly acknowledged crucial role of RBPs and RNA in the accumulation and maintenance of MLOs, there remains a lack of specific research on the interactions between PBs-related RBPs and circRNAs in CRC. Herein, we identify that MEX-3 RNA binding family member A (MEX3A), frequently upregulated in CRC tissues, predicts poorer patient survival. Elevated MEX3A accelerates malignance and inhibits autophagy of CRC cells. Importantly, MEX3A undergoes intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs)-dependent LLPS in the cytoplasm. Specifically, circMPP6 acts as a scaffold to facilitate the interaction between MEX3A and PBs proteins. The MEX3A/circMPP6 complex modulates PBs dynamic and promotes UPF-mediated phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) mRNA degradation, consequently leading to the aggressive properties of CRC cells. Clinically, CRC patients exhibiting high MEX3A expression and low PDE5A expression have the poorest overall survival. Our findings reveal a collaboration between MEX3A and circMPP6 in the regulation of mRNA decay through triggering the PBs aggregation, which provides prognostic markers and/or therapeutic targets for CRC.

Lateralised courtship behaviour and its impact on mating success in Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

Lateralisation is a well-established phenomenon observed in an increasing number of insect species. This study aims to obtain basic details on lateralisation in courtship and mating behaviour in Ostrinia furnacalis, the Asian corn borer. We conducted laboratory investigations to observe lateralisation in courtship and mating behaviours in adult O. furnacalis. Our goal was also to detect lateralised mating behaviour variations during sexual interactions and to elucidate how these variances might influence the mating success of males. Our findings reveal two distinct lateralised traits: male approaches from the right or left side of the female and the direction of male turning displays. Specifically, males approaching females from their right side predominantly exhibited left-biased 180° turning displays, while males approaching females from the left-side primarily displayed right-biased 180° turning displays. Notably, left-biased males, executing a 180° turn for end-to-end genital contact, initiated copulation with fewer attempts and began copulation earlier than their right-biased approaches with left-biased 180° turning displays. Furthermore, mating success was higher when males subsequently approached the right side of females during sexual encounters. Left-biased 180° turning males exhibited a higher number of successful mating interactions. These observations provide the first report on lateralisation in the reproductive behaviour of O. furnacalis under controlled laboratory conditions and hold promise for establishing reliable benchmarks for assessing and monitoring the quality of mass-produced individuals in pest control efforts.

High-voltage pulsed radiofrequency improves ultrastructure of DRG and enhances spinal microglial autophagy to ameliorate neuropathic pain induced by SNI.

Neuropathic pain (NeP) is intractable for which many therapies are ineffective. High-voltage pulsed radiofrequency (HVPRF) on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is considered an effective treatment for NeP. The aim of this study is to explore the therapeutic voltage for the optimal efficacy of PRF and the underlying mechanisms. The radiofrequency electrode was placed close to the L5 DRG of rats with spared nerve injury (SNI) and emitted current by the corresponding voltage in different groups. Four different voltages (45 V, 65 V, 85 V, and 100 V) of PRF on DRG significantly alleviated the SNI-induced NeP, reduced the levels of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in DRG, improved the ultrastructure of DRG, and promoted autophagy in spinal microglia to varying degrees and partially reversed the increased expression of TNF-α and the reduced expression of IL-10 in spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH). The beneficial effect of 85V-PRF was superior to those of other three PRF treatments. The underlying mechanisms may be related to repairing the DRG damage and improving the DRG ultrastructure while regulating spinal microglial autophagy and thereby alleviating neuroinflammation.

Comparative analysis of granular starch hydrolysis and multi-structural changes by diverse α-amylases sources: Insights from waxy rice starch.

Three cultivars of waxy rice starch with different multi-scale structures were subjected to α-amylase hydrolysis to determine amylopectin fine structure, production of oligosaccharides, morphology, and crystallinity of the partially hydrolyzed starch granules. α-amylases hydrolyzed the amylopectin B2 chain during the initial stage of hydrolysis, suggesting that it is primarily located in the outer shell of the granules. For waxy rice starch with loose structure, α-amylases attacked the crystalline and amorphous regions simultaneously in the initial stage, while for starch granules with compact structure, the outer shell blocklet (crystalline structure) can be a hurdle for α-amylases to proceed to hydrolysis of the internal granule structure. The ability of α-amylases from porcine pancreatic α-amylases to attack the outer shell crystalline structure was lower than that of α-amylases from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Aspergillus oryzae. These results show that α-amylase source and rice cultivar combinations can be used to generate diverse structures in degraded waxy rice starch.

Dual specific phosphatase 4 suppresses ferroptosis and enhances sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIMS: This investigation aims to elucidate the mechanism underlying sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The role of dual specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) in sorafenib-treated HCC was investigated using comprehensive assessments both in vitro and in vivo, including Western blotting, qRT-PCR, cell viability assay, lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, immunohistochemistry, and xenograft tumor mouse model. Additionally, label-free quantitative proteomics was employed to identify potential proteins associated with DUSP4. RESULTS: Our study revealed that suppression of DUSP4 expression heightens the susceptibility of HCC cells to ferroptosis inducers, specifically sorafenib and erastin, in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Furthermore, we identified DUSP4-mediated regulation of key ferroptosis-related markers, such as ferritin light chain (FTL) and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1). Notably, label-free quantitative proteomics unveiled the phosphorylation of threonine residue T148 on YTH Domain Containing 1 (YTHDC1) by DUSP4. Further investigations unraveled that YTHDC1, functioning as an mRNA nuclear export regulator, is a direct target of DUSP4, orchestrating the subcellular localization of FTL and FTH1 mRNAs. Significantly, our study highlights a strong correlation between elevated DUSP4 expression and sorafenib resistance in HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings introduce DUSP4 as a negative regulator of sorafenib-induced ferroptosis. This discovery opens new avenues for the development of ferroptosis-based therapeutic strategies tailored for HCC treatment.

Reliability and validity evaluation of the stigma of loneliness scale in Chinese college students.

BACKGROUND: The stigma of loneliness exacerbates the negative effect of loneliness, reduces the willingness to seek help, damages interpersonal relationships, and threatens health status. However, there is currently no valid scale for measuring the stigma of loneliness in China. The study aims to translate the Stigma of Loneliness Scale (SLS) and evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version. METHODS: The investigation was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the SLS was used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 657 college students aged 17 to 24; in the second phase, the SLS, the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8), the Distress Disclosure Index (DDI), the Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale (RCBS), the Self-Concealment Scale (SCS), the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), the Social Phobia Scale (SPS), the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were used to conduct the questionnaire survey on 801 college and graduates students aged 18 to 39. RESULTS: Two dimensions of Self-stigma of Loneliness and Public Stigma of Loneliness were extracted with a cumulative factor interpretation rate of 74.60% when conducting exploratory factor analysis on the first-stage data. The factor loading of each item ranged from 0.585 to 0.890, and the commonality ranged from 0.609 to 0.735. The confirmatory factor analysis and reliability and validity test were carried out on the data gathered in the second phase, indicating that the two-factor model fits well. In addition, the scores of SLS and all dimensions were significantly positively correlated with the total scores of ULS-8, RCBS, SCS, SIAS, SPS, and K10, and negatively correlated with those of DDI and RSES. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for SLS and SSL and PSL dimensions were 0.957, 0.941, and 0.955. The cross-group invariance test found that the SLS was equivalent for males and females. Meanwhile, males scored significantly higher than females on both the total scores of SLS score and each dimension. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of SLS displayed satisfactory psychometric properties and can be a valid tool to assess the stigma of loneliness among Chinese young people.

LncRNA MYLK antisense RNA 1 activates cell division cycle 42/Neutal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein pathway via microRNA-101-5p to accelerate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of colon cancer cells.

Long noncoding RNA MYLK antisense RNA 1 (MYLK-AS1) is the crux in multiple diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism of MYLK-AS1. A total of 62 colon cancer (CC) specimens and paired adjacent normal tissues were collected, and the expression of MYLK-AS1, microRNA (miR)-101-5p/cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) was detected. CC cell lines were transfected with MYLK-AS1, miR-101-5p, CDC42-related plasmids, and the biological functions and markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were analyzed. The binding relationship between MYLK-AS1, miR-101-5p, and CDC42 was evaluated. In CC tissues and cell lines, MYLK-AS1 and CDC42 were highly expressed, and miR-101-5p was lowly expressed. Inhibition of MYLK-AS1 or upregulation of miR-101-5p can inhibit CC cell growth and EMT. miR-101-5p inhibited CDC42/N-wasp axis activation in CC cells by targeting CDC42. Knockdown of CDC42 or upregulation of miR-101-5p partially reversed the effects caused by upregulation of MYLK-AS1. MYLK-AS1, which is significantly upregulated in CC, may be a molecular sponge for miR-101-5p, and MYLK-AS1 promotes the activation of the CDC42/N-wasp axis in CC cells by targeting CDC42 through miR-101-5p, which in turn promotes tumor development. MYLK-AS1 may be a potential biomarker and target for CC therapy.

Exploring the catalytic diversity of two short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases from Stachybotrys chartarum.

Short-chain dehydrogenase/reductases (SDRs) belong to the NAD(P)(H)-dependent oxidoreductase superfamily, which have various functions of catalyzing oxidation/reduction reactions and have been generally used as powerful biocatalysts in the production of pharmaceuticals. In this study, ScSDR1 and ScSDR2, two new SDRs have been identified and characterized from Stachybotrys chartarum 3.5365. Substrate scope investigation revealed that both of the enzymes possessed the ability to oxidize ß-OH to ketone specifically, and exhibited substrate promiscuity and high stereo-selectivity for efficiently catalyzing the structurally different prochiral ketones to chiral alcohols. These findings not only suggest that ScSDR1 and ScSDR2 might be potent synthetic tools in drug research and development, but also provide good examples for further engineered enzymes with higher efficiency and stereo-selectivity.

Pulsed radiofrequency on DRG inhibits hippocampal neuroinflammation by regulating spinal GRK2/p38 expression and enhances spinal autophagy to reduce pain and depression in male rats with spared nerve injury.

Evidence indicates that microglial G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) is a key regulator of the transition from acute to chronic pain mediated by microglial products via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in the spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH). Increasing studies have shown that autophagic dysfunction in the SCDH and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus underlie NeP. However, whether GRK2/p38MAPK and autophagic flux in the SCDH and hippocampal neuroinflammation are involved in NeP and depression comorbidity has not been determined. Here, we explored the effects of high-voltage pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) (85 V-PRF; HV-PRF) to the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) on pain phenotypes in Wistar male rats with spared nerve injury (SNI) and the underlying mechanisms. The exacerbation of pain phenotypes was markedly relieved by PRF-DRG. The SNI-induced reduction in GRK2 expression, elevation of p-p38 MAPK levels in the SCDH, and increase in IL-1ß and TNF-α levels in the hippocampus were reversed by PRF, which was accompanied by an increase in autophagic flux in spinal microglia. The beneficial effect of 85 V-PRF was superior to that of 45 V-PRF. In addition, the improvements elicited by 85 V-PRF were reversed by intrathecal injection of GRK2 antisense oligonucleotide, and these changes were accompanied by GRK2 downregulation and p-p38 upregulation in the SCDH, increased pro-inflammatory factor levels in the hippocampus, and excessive autophagy in spinal microglia. In conclusion, our data indicate that the application of HV-PRF to the DRG could serve as an excellent therapeutic technique for regulating neuroimmunity and neuroinflammation to relieve pain phenotypes.

Larval competition analysis and its effect on growth of Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) at natural conditions in Northeast China.

The Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis, Lepidoptera, Crambidae) and Oriental armyworm (Mythimna separata, Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) are 2 major lepidopteran pests of the maize plant, especially the whorls and tassels. The aim of this study was to investigate competition between 2 lepidopteran pests of maize. Intraspecific and interspecific competition occurs when O. furnacalis and M. separata larvae interact with various stages of the maize plant. Therefore, determining whether this competition can decrease larval damage by causing adverse effects on larval growth is crucial. During the maize growing season of 2022, the interaction of these species was assessed in the experimental field of Jilin Agricultural University, China. Interspecific and intraspecific competition of larvae in different maize tissues and the influence of competition on larval development was determined in the fields. The results showed that first, probing behavior was significantly frequent in O. furnacalis larvae; intraspecific and interspecific attack was significant at 4th instar (with leaf, silk, and kernel). Interspecific defense behavior was significant at 3rd instar (without food). O. furnacalis larvae showed attack behavior toward M. separata larvae frequently. Second, competition increased the mortality rate of O. furnacalis larvae (intraspecific, 67%; interspecific, 33%) and decreased pupation emergence rate. Thus, intraspecific and interspecific competition might affect the competitive displacement of pest species sharing the same ecological niche, as well as the prevalence and population dynamics of pests, and help to develop integrated pest management strategies.

Fabrication of Fe-Fe1-xO based 3D coplanar microsupercapacitors by electric discharge rusting of pure iron substrates.

Iron oxides with advanced functional properties show great potential for applications in the fields of water splitting, drug delivery, sensors, batteries and supercapacitors. However, it is challenging to develop a simple and efficient strategy for fabricating patterned iron oxide based electrodes for supercapacitor applications. Herein, a facile, simple, scalable, binder-free, surfactant-free and conductive additive-free electric discharge rusting (EDR) technique is proposed to directly synthesize Fe1-xO oxide layer on a pure iron substrate. This new EDR strategy is successfully adopted to fabricate Fe-Fe1-xO integrative patterned electrodes and coplanar microsupercapacitors (CMSC) in one step. The CMSC devices with different geometries could be directly patterned by EDR, which is automatically controlled by a computer numerical control system. The fabricated Fe-Fe1-xO based 3D 2F-CMSC exhibits a maximum areal specific capacitance of 112.4 mF cm-2. Another important finding is the fabrication of 3D 2F-CMSC devices, which show good capacitive behavior at an ultra high scanning rate of 20 000 mV s-1. The results prove that EDR is a low-cost and versatile strategy for the scalable fabrication of high-performance patterned supercapacitor integrative electrodes and devices. Furthermore, it is a versatile technique which shows a great potential for development of next generation microelectronic devices, such as microbatteries and microsensors.

Sublethal effects of spinetoram and emamectin benzoate on key demographic parameters of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under laboratory conditions.

Fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda, is a serious invasive pest of many crops that causes huge economic losses to agricultural commodities. Insecticides are employed for the management of S. frugiperda. In this study, we investigated the impact of sublethal concentration (LC10) and low lethal concentration (LC30) of spinetoram and emamectin benzoate on S. frugiperda using two-sex life table method. Bioassay results revealed that emamectin benzoate exhibited more toxicity on the 3rd instar of S. frugiperda (LC50 8.35 × 10-4 mgL-1) than spinetoram (LC50 2.6 × 10-2 mgL-1) after 48 h exposure. The total longevity, adult pre-ovipositional period (APOP) and total pre-ovipositional period (TPOP) were prolonged, while pre-adult survival rate and fecundity were reduced at both concentrations of spinetoram and emamectin benzoate. Moreover, the key demographic parameters, including the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and net reproductive rate (R0), were significantly lower in insecticide treated groups as compared to untreated insects. Our findings revealed that the sublethal and low lethal concentrations of both insecticides reduce the survival and reproductive capability of S. frugiperda. These results would be useful to assess the overall effect of both insecticides on S. frugiperda and can provide important implications for the rational utilization of insecticides against S. frugiperda.

AFG, an important maillard reaction product in red ginseng, alleviates D-galactose-induced brain aging in mice via correcting mitochondrial dysfunction induced by ROS accumulation.

Red ginseng is a classical processed product from Panax ginseng. C.A Meyer with many bioactive components formed through the Maillard reaction called Maillard reaction products. Maillard reaction refers to complex reversible reactions between amino acids or proteins and glycosides, which are used in food processing and storage, as well as in tobacco development, traditional Chinese medicine processing, and wine brewing. Arginyl-fructosyl-glucose (AFG) is a main non-saponin (ginsenoside) component produced in red ginseng processing, with high antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective efficiencies. However, its effects and mechanisms against oxidation stress in on the brain remain elusive. Therefore, this study aimed at exploring the therapeutic effect exerted by AFG on murine subacute brain aging induced by D-galactose (D-gal) and its potential molecular mechanism in the murine model, finding that AFG (40 and 80 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated D-gal-resulted changes in pathology. Besides, according to the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Western blot, AFG corrected the mitochondrial dysfunction resulted from ROS, thereby delaying the mice brain aging caused by D-gal.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Duodenum Secondary to Metastasis From Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review.

This report describes a case involving the diagnosis and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the duodenum, which was found to be a metastatic lesion originating from recurrent head and neck cancer (HNC) in a 74-year-old female patient. The patient had a past medical history of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), tonsillar SCC, and recurrent HNC. She presented with symptoms of burning, tingling, and numbness of the throat and left side of the tongue. Upon examination with an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, an ulcerated hard area mass was detected in the third portion of the duodenum. Biopsy results confirmed the mass to be a metastatic poorly differentiated SCC. The incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) metastasis to the duodenum is rare, likely due to the unique anatomic location and the lack of lymphatic drainage in the area. The patient was treated with a combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and pembrolizumab. This case underscores the significance of considering unusual sites of metastasis in HNSCC patients and utilizing advanced imaging modalities and immunotherapy to detect and treat these locations effectively.