Sublethal doses of broflanilide prevents molting in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda via altering molting hormone biosynthesis.

Broflanilide is a novel insecticide with a unique mode of action on the insect GABA receptor and is registered worldwide for the control of agricultural pests. It shows high efficacy in controlling the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda, which is a destructive pest to various crops. FAW was exposed to sublethal concentrations of broflanilide to determine its impact on insect development. Sublethal doses (LD10 and LD30) caused failure of ecdysis, reduced body length of larvae, malformation of pupae, and vestigial wing formation in adults. Also, broflanilide at LD30 significantly reduced the amount of molting hormone (MH). After exposure to LD10 or LD30 broflanilide, expression of five Halloween genes, which participate in MH biosynthesis, were found to be altered. Specifically, the transcript levels of SfrCYP307A1 (Spook), SfrCYP314A1 (Shade) and SfrCYP315A1 (Shadow) in 3rd day larvae were significantly decreased as well as SfrCYP302A1 (Disembodied) and SfrCYP306A1 (Phantom) in 5th day pupae. In contrast, the transcript levels of SfrCYP302A1 in 3rd day larvae, SfrCYP307A1 and SfrCYP314A1 in 5th day pupae, and SfrCYP306A1, SfrCYP307A1 and SfrCYP315A1 in 0.5th day adults were significantly increased. Our results demonstrate that broflanilide caused the failure of ecdysis in FAW possibly by influencing the intake of cholesterol through inhibition of feeding and also via altering expression of genes important for MH biosynthesis.

Influence of three insecticides targeting GABA receptor on fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda: Analyses from individual, biochemical and molecular levels.

The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a severe agricultural pest, which has invaded into China in 2019 and caused heavy damage to maize. The γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAR)-targeted insecticides including broflanilide, fluralaner and fipronil exhibit high toxicity towards lepidopteran pests. However, whether they could be used for control of FAW and their possible mode of action in FAW remain unclear. In this study, broflanilide, fluralaner and fipronil exhibited high oral toxicity in FAW larvae with median lethal dose (LD50) values of 0.677, 0.711, and 23.577 mg kg-1 (active ingredient/ artificial food), respectively. In the electrophysiological assay, fluralaner and fipronil could strongly inhibit GABA-induced currents of homomeric FAW resistance to dieldrin 1 (RDL1) receptor with median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 5.018 nM (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.864-8.789) and 8.595 nM (95% CI 5.105-14.47), respectively, whereas broflanilide could not. In addition, the cytochrome P450 (P450), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and carboxylesterase (CarE) activities were positively response to broflanilide, P450 and GST to fluralaner, and GST and CarE to fipronil, respectively, compared with those of control. In conclusion, we firstly reported a notable insecticidal activity of three representative GABAR-targeted insecticides to FAW in vivo, and in vitro using electrophysiological assay. The GST is the primary detoxification enzyme for three tested insecticides. Our results would guide the rotational use of GABAR-targeted insecticides in field.

Identification of transcriptome and fluralaner responsive genes in the common cutworm Spodoptera litura Fabricius, based on RNA-seq.

BACKGROUND: Fluralaner is a novel isoxazoline insecticide with a unique action site on the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAR), shows excellent activity on agricultural pests including the common cutworm Spodoptera litura, and significantly influences the development and fecundity of S. litura at either lethal or sublethal doses. Herein, Illumina HiSeq Xten (IHX) platform was used to explore the transcriptome of S. litura and to identify genes responding to fluralaner exposure. RESULTS: A total of 16,572 genes, including 451 newly identified genes, were observed in the S. litura transcriptome and annotated according to the COG, GO, KEGG and NR databases. These genes included 156 detoxification enzyme genes [107 cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s), 30 glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and 19 carboxylesterases (CarEs)] and 24 insecticide-targeted genes [5 ionotropic GABARs, 1 glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl), 2 voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs), 13 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), 2 acetylcholinesterases (AChEs) and 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR)]. There were 3275 and 2491 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in S. litura treated with LC30 or LC50 concentrations of fluralaner, respectively. Among the DEGs, 20 related to detoxification [16 P450s, 1 GST and 3 CarEs] and 5 were growth-related genes (1 chitin and 4 juvenile hormone synthesis genes). For 26 randomly selected DEGs, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) results showed that the relative expression levels of genes encoding several P450s, GSTs, heat shock protein (HSP) 68, vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 13 (VPSAP13), sodium-coupled monocarboxylate transporter 1 (SCMT1), pupal cuticle protein (PCP), protein takeout (PT) and low density lipoprotein receptor adapter protein 1-B (LDLRAP1-B) were significantly up-regulated. Conversely, genes encoding esterase, sulfotransferase 1C4, proton-coupled folate transporter, chitinase 10, gelsolin-related protein of 125 kDa (GRP), fibroin heavy chain (FHC), fatty acid synthase and some P450s were significantly down-regulated in response to fluralaner. CONCLUSIONS: The transcriptome in this study provides more effective resources for the further study of S. litura whilst the DEGs identified sheds further light on the molecular response to fluralaner.

Toxicity and sublethal effects of fluralaner on Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The increasing occurrence of resistance to chemical insecticides in insect pest populations is a serious threat to the integrity of current pest management strategies, and exploring new alternative chemistries is one important way to overcome this obstacle. Fluralaner, as a novel isoxazoline insecticide, has broad spectrum activity against a variety of insect pests, but little data is available about its effect on Lepidopterans. The effects of fluralaner on Spodoptera litura Fabricius, a widespread and polyphagous pest, were evaluated in the present study. Our results showed younger larvae were more susceptible to fluralaner treatment, but feeding and topical applications were similarly effective in 3rd instar larvae. Synergism assays indicated that piperonyl butoxide (PBO) could increase the toxicity of fluralaner to S. litura to a certain degree and P450 may be involved in the detoxification of fluralaner in vivo. Sublethal developmental effects included reduced larval body weight, decreased pupation and emergence, and notched wings in adults, accompanied by changes in the transcript levels of chitinase 5 (CHT5) and juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase (Jhamt), genes vital for insect development. Above results manifested that fluralaner is highly toxic to S. litura larvae via either topical or oral application and provide an indication of how this insecticide is metabolized in vivo. Further, our results provided a foundation for further development of fluralaner as a new tool in insect pest management.

Emerging energy and environmental applications of vertically-oriented graphenes.

Graphene nanosheets arranged perpendicularly to the substrate surface, i.e., vertically-oriented graphenes (VGs), have many unique morphological and structural features that can lead to exciting properties. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition enables the growth of VGs on various substrates using gas, liquid, or solid precursors. Compared with conventional randomly-oriented graphenes, VGs' vertical orientation on the substrate, non-agglomerated morphology, controlled inter-sheet connectivity, as well as sharp and exposed edges make them very promising for a variety of applications. The focus of this tutorial review is on plasma-enabled simple yet efficient synthesis of VGs and their properties that lead to emerging energy and environmental applications, ranging from energy storage, energy conversion, sensing, to green corona discharges for pollution control.

Molecular characterization of the piggyBac-like element, a candidate marker for phylogenetic research of Chilo suppressalis (Walker) in China.

BACKGROUND: Transposable elements (TEs, transposons) are mobile genetic DNA sequences. TEs can insert copies of themselves into new genomic locations and they have the capacity to multiply. Therefore, TEs have been crucial in the shaping of hosts' current genomes. TEs can be utilized as genetic markers to study population genetic diversity. The rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis Walker is one of the most important insect pests of many subtropical and tropical paddy fields. This insect occurs in all the rice-growing areas in China. This research was carried out in order to find diversity between C. suppressalis field populations and detect the original settlement of C. suppressalis populations based on the piggyBac-like element (PLE). We also aim to provide insights into the evolution of PLEs in C. suppressalis and the phylogeography of C. suppressalis. RESULTS: Here we identify a new piggyBac-like element (PLE) in the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis Walker, which is called CsuPLE1.1 (GenBank accession no. JX294476). CsuPLE1.1 is transcriptionally active. Additionally, the CsuPLE1.1 sequence varied slightly between field populations, with polymorphic indels (insertion/deletion) and hyper-variable regions including the identification of the 3' region outside the open reading frame (ORF). CsuPLE1.1 insertion frequency varied between field populations. Sequences variation was found between CsuPLE1 copies and varied within and among field populations. Twenty-one different insertion sites for CsuPLE1 copies were identified with at least two insertion loci found in all populations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the initial invasion of CsuPLE1 into C. suppressalis occurred before C. suppressalis populations spread throughout China, and suggest that C. suppressalis populations have a common ancestor in China. Additionally, the lower reaches of the Yangtze River are probably the original settlement of C. suppressalis in China. Finally, the CsuPLE1 insertion site appears to be a candidate marker for phylogenetic research of C. suppressalis.

Characterization of cysteine protease-like genes in the striped rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis.

The striped rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker), is a major pest for rice production in China and the rest of Southeast Asia. Chemical control is the main means to alleviate losses due to this pest, which causes serious environmental pollution. An effective and environmentally friendly approach is needed for the management of the striped rice stem borer. Cysteine proteases in insects could be useful targets for pest management either through engineering plant protease inhibitors, targeting insect digestive cysteine proteases, or through RNA interference-based silencing of cysteine proteases, disrupting developmental regulation of insects. In this study, eight cysteine protease-like genes were identified and partially characterized. The genes CCO2 and CCL4 were exclusively expressed in the larval gut, and their expression was affected by the state of nutrition in the insect. The expression of CCL2, CCL3, and CCO1 was significantly affected by the type of host plant, suggesting a role in host plant - insect interactions. Our initial characterization of the striped rice stem borer cysteine protease-like genes provides a foundation for further research on this important group of genes in this major insect pest of rice.

Transcriptome and tissue-specific expression analysis of Obp and Csp genes in the dark black chafer.

The dark black chafer, Holotrichia parallela, is an economically important pest in China and worldwide. Traps based on chemical communication are being developed as an alternative control measure to pesticides for this pest, and studies to reveal chemical communication mechanisms in this pest are highly desirable. To systematically analyze genes potentially involved in chemical communication in this pest, we generated a comprehensive transcriptome with combined samples derived from multiple tissues and developmental stages. A total of 43,967 nonredundant sequences (unigenes) with average length of 806 bp were obtained. These unigenes were annotated into different pathways using gene ontology analysis and cluster analysis of orthologous groups of proteins, and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes. In total, 25 transcripts encoding odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and 16 transcripts encoding chemosensory proteins (CSPs) were identified based on homology searches. Tissue-specific expression profile indicates that OBP17 and CSP7 are likely responsible for male sex pheromone recognition, whereas OBP1-4, OBP9, OBP13-14, OBP17-18, OBP20, OBP22, OBP25, CSP1-7, CSP11, and CSP12-15 are likely responsible for chemical communication between the beetle and environments. Our data shall provide a foundation for further research on the molecular aspects of chemical communication of this insect, and for comparative genomic studies with other species.

A cadherin-like protein from the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a putative Cry1Ac receptor.

In S. exigua, ingestion of Cry1Ac reduces larval growth, shortens lifespan, and decreases copulation and oviposition of the adults. Cadherin-like protein SeCad1b in S. exigua has recently been published. Here, we tested whether SeCad1b mediates the negative effects of Cry1Ac. We identified three potential Cry toxin binding regions in SeCad1b, i.e., (879) EIAIQITDTNN(889) , (1357) SLLTVTI(1363) , and (1436) GVISLNFQ(1443) . We expressed and purified a truncated cadherin, rSeCad1bp, and its interspecific homologue, rHaBtRp, from H. armigera that contain the putative toxin binding regions. Using a toxin overlay assay, we found that rSeCad1bp specifically binds to biotinylated Cry1Ac in a dose-dependent manner. We also discovered that an addition of rSeCad1bp and rHaBtRp enhances the suppression of larval growth by Cry1Ac, although rSeCad1bp is less suppressive than rHaBtRp. Finally, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of SeCad1b reduced approximately 80% of the target gene and significantly alleviated the negative effect of CrylAc on larval growth. We infer that the S. exigua SeCad1b is a functional receptor of Cry1Ac.

Organic/hybrid nanoparticles and single-walled carbon nanotubes: preparation methods and chiral applications.

Nanoparticles are molecular-sized solids with at least one dimension measuring between 1-100 nm or 10-1000 nm depending on the individual discipline's perspective. They are aggregates of anywhere from a few hundreds to tens of thousands of atoms which render them larger than molecules but smaller than bulk solids. Consequently, they frequently exhibit physical and chemical properties somewhere between. On the other hand, nanocrystals are a special class of nanoparticles which have started gaining attention recently owing to their unique crystalline structures which provide a larger surface area and promising applications including chiral separations. Hybrid nanoparticles are supported by the growing interest of chemists, physicists, and biologists, who are researching to fully exploit them. These materials can be defined as molecular or nano-composites with mixed (organic or bio) and inorganic components, where at least one of the component domain has a dimension ranging from a few Å to several nanometers. Similarly, and due to their extraordinary physical, chemical, and electrical properties, single-walled carbon nanotubes have been the subject of intense research. In this short review, the focus is mainly on the current well-established simple preparation techniques of chiral organic and hybrid nanoparticles as well as single-walled carbon nanotubes and their applications in separation science. Of particular interest, cinchonidine, chitosan, and ß-CD-modified gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are discussed as model examples for organic and hybrid nanoparticles. Likewise, the chemical vapor deposition method, used in the preparation of single-walled carbon nanotubes, is discussed. The enantioseparation applications of these model nanomaterials is also presented.

A Spodoptera exigua cadherin serves as a putative receptor for Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ca toxin and shows differential enhancement of Cry1Ca and Cry1Ac toxicity.

Crystal toxin Cry1Ca from Bacillus thuringiensis has an insecticidal spectrum encompassing lepidopteran insects that are tolerant to current commercially used B. thuringiensis crops (Bt crops) expressing Cry1A toxins and may be useful as a potential bioinsecticide. The mode of action of Cry1A is fairly well understood. However, whether Cry1Ca interacts with the same receptor proteins as Cry1A remains unproven. In the present paper, we first cloned a cadherin-like gene, SeCad1b, from Spodoptera exigua (relatively susceptible to Cry1Ca). SeCad1b was highly expressed in the larval gut but scarcely detected in fat body, Malpighian tubules, and remaining carcass. Second, we bacterially expressed truncated cadherin rSeCad1bp and its interspecific homologue rHaBtRp from Helicoverpa armigera (more sensitive to Cry1Ac) containing the putative toxin-binding regions. Competitive binding assays showed that both Cry1Ca and Cry1Ac could bind to rSeCad1bp and rHaBtRp, and they did not compete with each other. Third, Cry1Ca ingestion killed larvae and decreased the weight of surviving larvae. Dietary introduction of SeCad1b double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) reduced approximately 80% of the target mRNA and partially alleviated the negative effect of Cry1Ca on larval survival and growth. Lastly, rSeCad1bp and rHaBtRp differentially enhanced the negative effects of Cry1Ca and Cry1Ac on the larval mortalities and growth of S. exigua and H. armigera. Thus, we provide the first lines of evidence to suggest that SeCad1b from S. exigua is a functional receptor of Cry1Ca.

Cloning and characterization of serpin-like genes from the striped rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis.

Serpins, also called serine proteinase inhibitors, are widely distributed in eukaryotes. In insects, serpins play important roles in regulating immune responses, gut physiology, and other processes. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of 12 serpin-like cDNAs from the striped rice stem borer (Chilo suppressalis), a major rice pest. The putative proteins share significant sequence similarity with known insect serpins, especially those from lepidopterons. Analysis of functional domains revealed that nine of the cloned serpins are putative trypsin- or chymotrypsin-like inhibitors; two are mixed-type serpins that may act as inhibitors for trypsins, elastases, or thrombin; and the remaining one is truncate. The potential functions of these serpins in interacting with host plants were also investigated by analyzing tissue-specific expression and the impact of different host plant genotypes on gene expression. Our results provide a foundation for future studies on the role of serpins in gut physiology in the striped rice stem borer, and also useful information for comparative analyses of serpins from different insect species.

Characteristics of epoxy resin/SiO2 nanocomposite insulation: effects of plasma surface treatment on the nanoparticles.

The present study compares the effects of two different material processing techniques on modifying hydrophilic SiO2 nanoparticles. In one method, the nanoparticles undergo plasma treatment by using a custom-developed atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium plasma reactor. With the other method, they undergo chemical treatment which grafts silane groups onto their surface and turns them into hydrophobic. The treated nanoparticles are then used to synthesize epoxy resin-based nanocomposites for electrical insulation applications. Their characteristics are investigated and compared with the pure epoxy resin and nanocomposite fabricated with unmodified nanofillers counterparts. The dispersion features of the nanoparticles in the epoxy resin matrix are examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. All samples show evidence that the agglomerations are smaller than 30 nm in their diameters. This indicates good dispersion uniformity. The Weibull plot of breakdown strength and the recorded partial discharge (PD) events of the epoxy resin/plasma-treated hydrophilic SiO2 nanocomposite (ER/PTI) suggest that the plasma-treated specimen yields higher breakdown strength and lower PD magnitude as compared to the untreated ones. In contrast, surprisingly, lower breakdown strength is found for the nanocomposite made by the chemically treated hydrophobic particles, whereas the PD magnitude and PD numbers remain at a similar level as the plasma-treated ones.

Uniform, dense arrays of vertically aligned, large-diameter single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Precisely controlled reactive chemical vapor synthesis of highly uniform, dense arrays of vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) using tailored trilayered Fe/Al(2)O(3)/SiO(2) catalyst is demonstrated. More than 90% population of thick nanotubes (>3 nm in diameter) can be produced by tailoring the thickness and microstructure of the secondary catalyst supporting SiO(2) layer, which is commonly overlooked. The proposed model based on the atomic force microanalysis suggests that this tailoring leads to uniform and dense arrays of relatively large Fe catalyst nanoparticles on which the thick SWCNTs nucleate, while small nanotubes and amorphous carbon are effectively etched away. Our results resolve a persistent issue of selective (while avoiding multiwalled nanotubes and other carbon nanostructures) synthesis of thick vertically aligned SWCNTs whose easily switchable thickness-dependent electronic properties enable advanced applications in nanoelectronic, energy, drug delivery, and membrane technologies.

Cloning and characterization of trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like genes in the striped rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis.

Serine proteinases including trypsins and chymotrypsins play various important roles in insects, including food digestion, immune defense, and zymogen activation. Studies on insect serine proteinases could reveal their feeding preference (polyphagous and monophagous) and facilitate identification of protease inhibitors, which can be engineered for pest management. In this paper, 11 transcripts encoding trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteins were cloned from the striped rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker). All the predicted proteins share high sequence similarity with known trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteins from either lepidopterans or dipterans, and most of the proteins have conserved motifs that are characteristics of serine proteinases. Among the 11 cloned genes, six were expressed predominantly and one exclusively in the midgut of the insect, three were expressed relatively evenly in examined tissues, and one was not expressed in either the gut or hemolymph based on RT-PCR results. The seven genes that were predominantly or exclusively expressed in the gut were also affected by feeding on different host plants. The genes that were expressed in the gut and were affected by host plants are likely to encode digestive proteinases. The identification of trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like genes in this insect species is the first step towards further comparative studies and for identification of insect-specific proteinase inhibitors, which might be engineered to protect rice plants against the striped rice stem borer, which is one of the destructive pests of rice.

Molecular and biochemical characterization of two odorant-binding proteins from dark black chafer, Holotrichia parallela.

The dark black chafer, Holotrichia parallela Motschulsky, is an economically important pest worldwide. Odorant-based lures and traps are being developed as a key kind of alternative control measures for this pest, and studies to reveal the mechanisms for chemotaxis in this pest are necessary. Two full-length cDNAs encoding different odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) were cloned. The predicted proteins were found to have the functional domains characteristic of typical OBPs and share a high degree of sequence similarity with OBP1 and OBP2 from other insects and were therefore designated as H. parallela OBP-1 and H. parallela OBP-2 (HparOBP-1 and HparOBP-2, respectively). These two OBPs were specifically expressed in antennae. The binding affinity of two purified proteins indicated that HparOBP-1 and HparOBP-2 could selectively interact with various volatiles emitted from host plants and pheromone components. Among the 10 chemicals tested, HparOBP-1 could bind to six of the tested compounds with a dissociation concentration (Ki) less than 20, and HparOBP-2 could bind to three of the compounds. The two OBPs are probably involved in chemotaxis of the dark black chafer. This discovery should accelerate research on chemical communications of this pest, which could potentially lead to the improvement of control measures based on lures and traps.

Resistance mechanisms to chlorpyrifos and F392W mutation frequencies in the acetylcholine esterase ace1 allele of field populations of the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci in China.

The tobacco whitefly B-biotype Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a worldwide pest of many crops. In China, chlorpyrifos has been used to control this insect for many years and is still being used despite the fact that some resistance has been reported. To combat resistance and maintain good control efficiency of chlorpyrifos, it is essential to understand resistance mechanisms. A chlorpyrifos resistant tobacco whitefly strain (NJ-R) and a susceptible strain (NJ-S) were derived from a field-collected population in Nanjing, China, and the resistance mechanisms were investigated. More than 30-fold resistance was achieved after selected by chlorpyrifos for 13 generations in the laboratory. However, the resistance dropped significantly to about 18-fold in only 4 generations without selection pressure. Biochemical assays indicated that increased esterase activity was responsible for this resistance, while acetylcholine esterase, glutathione S-transferase, and microsomal-O-demethylase played little or no role. F392W mutations in acel were prevalent in NJ-S and NJ-R strains and 6 field-collected populations of both B and Q-biotype from locations that cover a wide geographical area of China. These findings provide important information about tobacco whitefly chlorpyrifos resistance mechanisms and guidance to combat resistance and optimize use patterns of chlorpyrifos and other organophosphate and carbamate insecticides.

Novel meta-diamide insecticide, broflanilide, suppresses the population of common cutworm Spodoptera litura through its lethal and sublethal effects.

BACKGROUND: Broflanilide has been registered in China for the control of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera pests, and is widely used to control the target pests at lethal and sublethal levels. The lethal and sublethal effects of broflanilide on the common cutworm (CCW) Spodoptera litura Fabricius, a representative Lepidopteran pest in agricultural crops, were examined to explore its ecological influence on pests. RESULTS: In F0 , broflanilide had little influence on the hatchability of eggs, but significantly reduced the neonate survival rate. The lethal activity of broflanilide towards third-instar larvae and adults was 0.13 mg kg-1 (LD50 ) and 3.59 mg L-1 (LC50 ) respectively at 48 h. After being treated with a sublethal dose (LD10 and LD30 ) of broflanilide, the duration of third- to sixth-instar larvae and the mean fecundity of reproductive females were significantly increased, but pupation rate, weight of pupae and life-cycle rate were significantly decreased. In F1 , the duration of F1 larvae and the doubling time were prolonged, whereas the rates of pupation and the life cycle were decreased by 14.92% and 18.00%, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase and net reproductive rate in the sublethal group were lower than in the control group. The relative fitness of F1 treated by LD10 and LD30 was 0.81 and 0.66, respectively. CONSLUSION: Broflanilide not only has highly lethal activity, but also suppresses the population growth and progeny of CCW, as a critical factor for guidelines of its usage in the field.

Effect of hydrophilicity of carbon nanotube arrays on the release rate and activity of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Novel nanostructures such as vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays have received increasing interest as drug delivery carriers. In the present study, two CNT arrays with extreme surface wettabilities are fabricated and their effects on the release of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) are investigated. It is found that the superhydrophilic arrays retained a larger amount of rhBMP-2 than the superhydrophobic ones. Further use of a poloxamer diffusion layer delayed the initial burst and resulted in a greater total amount of rhBMP-2 released from both surfaces. In addition, rhBMP-2 bound to the superhydrophilic CNT arrays remained bioactive while they denatured on the superhydrophobic surfaces. These results are related to the combined effects of rhBMP-2 molecules interacting with poloxamer and the surface, which could be essential in the development of advanced carriers with tailored surface functionalities.

Polymeric piezoresistive airflow sensor to monitor respiratory patterns.

Monitoring human respiratory patterns is of great importance as it gives essential information for various medical conditions, e.g. sleep apnoea syndrome and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, etc. Herein, we have developed a polymeric airflow sensor based on nanocomposites of vertically grown graphene nanosheets (VGNs) with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and explored their applications in monitoring human respiration. The sensing performance of the VGNs/PDMS nanocomposite was characterized by exposing to a range of airflow rates (20-130 l min-1), and a linear performance with high sensitivity and low response time (mostly below 1 s) was observed. To evaluate the experimental results, finite-element simulation models were developed in the COMSOL Multiphysics package. The piezoresistive properties of VGNs/PDMS thin film and fluid-solid interaction were thoroughly studied. Laser Doppler vibrometry measures of sensor tip displacement closely approximated simulated deflection results and validated the dynamic response of the sensor. By comparing the proposed sensor and some other airflow sensors in the literature, it is concluded that the VGNs/PDMS airflow sensor has excellent features in terms of sensor height, detection range and sensitivity. The potential application of the VGNs/PDMS airflow sensor in detecting the respiration pattern of human exercises like walking, jogging and running has been demonstrated.