CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of the abdominal-B homeotic gene in the global pest, fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).

The Homeotic complex (Hox) genes play a crucial role in determining segment identity and appendage morphology in bilaterian animals along the antero-posterior axis. Recent studies have expanded to agricultural pests such as fall armyworm (FAW), scientifically known as Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which significantly threatens global agricultural productivity. However, the specific role of the hox gene Sfabd-B in FAW remains unexplored. This research investigates the spatial and temporal expression patterns of Sfabd-B in various tissues at different developmental stages using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additionally, we explored the potential function of the Sfabd-B gene located in the FAW genome using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The larval mutant phenotypes can be classified into three subgroups as compared with wild-type individuals, that is, an excess of pedis in the posterior abdomen, deficient pedis due to segmental fusion and deviations in the posterior abdominal segments. Importantly, significant differences in mutant phenotypes between male and female individuals were also evident during the pupal and adult phases. Notably, both the decapentaplegic (dpp) and cuticular protein 12 (cp 12) genes displayed a substantial marked decrease in expression levels in the copulatory organ of male mutants and the ovipositor of female mutants compared with the wild type. These findings highlight the importance of Sfabd-B in genital tract patterning, providing a potential target for improving genetic control.

Regulation of neuronal plasticity associated with neuropsychiatric disorders by the orexinergic system.

Orexins are a family of neuropeptides secreted by neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH). These peptides act widespreadly across the body by interacting with specific orexin receptors on target cells, which comprise the orexinergic system. Emerging evidence has revealed that the orexinergic system is tightly associated with neuropsychiatric disorders; however, the underlying mechanisms require further exploration. Neuropsychiatric disorders have also been associated with neuroplasticity, while orexins have been shown to play regulatory roles in neuronal plasticity. As such, this review aims to summarize the recent progress of research investigating the roles of the orexinergic system in neuronal plasticity and associated neuropsychiatric disorders, including addiction, depression, and schizophrenia, which may provide novel insights into the mechanism of the orexinergic system in the pathogenesis of these neuropsychiatric disorders.

Quality of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Information on the Chinese Internet: Website Evaluation Study.

BACKGROUND: The development of internet technology has greatly increased the ability of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to obtain health information, giving patients more initiative in the patient-physician decision-making process. However, concerns about the quality of website health information will affect the enthusiasm of patients' website search behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the current situation of Chinese internet information on COPD. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the quality of COPD treatment information on the Chinese internet. METHODS: Using the standard disease name "" ("chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" in Chinese) and the commonly used public search terms "" ("COPD") and "" ("emphysema") combined with the keyword "" ("treatment"), we searched the PC client web page of Baidu, Sogou, and 360 search engines and screened the first 50 links of the website from July to August 2021. The language was restricted to Chinese for all the websites. The DISCERN tool was used to evaluate the websites. RESULTS: A total of 96 websites were included and analyzed. The mean overall DISCERN score for all websites was 30.4 (SD 10.3; range 17.3-58.7; low quality), no website reached the maximum DISCERN score of 75, and the mean score for each item was 2.0 (SD 0.7; range 1.2-3.9). There were significant differences in mean DISCERN scores between terms, with "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" having the highest mean score. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of COPD information on the Chinese internet is poor, which is mainly reflected in the low reliability and relevance of COPD treatment information, which can easily lead consumers to make inappropriate treatment choices. The term "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" has the highest DISCERN score among commonly used disease search terms. It is recommended that consumers use standard disease names when searching for website information, as the information obtained is relatively reliable.

Preparation of Perilla frutescens L. essential oil hydrogel beads and preservation application research in strawberry.

Perilla frutescens L. essential oil (PLEO) has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which can effectively maintain the quality of fruits and extend their shelf life. In this study, sodium alginate and chitosan were used as wall materials, and PLEO microcapsule powder was used as the core materials to prepare PLEO hydrogel beads. The best results were obtained by using 2%w/v sodium alginate and 1.5%w/v chitosan as wall materials, with a core-to-wall ratio of 2:1 and homogenized for 15 min producing PLEO hydrogel beads with encapsulation efficiency of 82.61 %. For strawberries preservation, PLEO hydrogel beads preservation group had a better effect after 5 d of storage, showing a lower decay rate (15.71 %), better maintaining the hardness of 1.75 kg/cm2, and a weight loss of 3.29 %. Furthermore, organic acids and total phenols were retained more in this group, the number of microorganisms was significantly reduced, and sensory qualities were improved, especially taste and color. This study provides important insights into the application of natural preservatives in the food industry and promotes sustainable practices in food preservation.

Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of Physcion against Sclerotium rolfsii, the Causal Agent of Peanut Southern Blight.

Peanut southern blight, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii, is a widespread and devastating epidemic. Frequently, it is laborious to effectively control by labor-intensive foliar sprays of agrochemicals due to untimely find. In the present study, seed treatment with physcion (PHY) at doses of 0.08, 0.16, and 0.32 g AI kg-1 seed significantly improved the growth and photosynthetic activity of peanuts. Furthermore, PHY seed treatment resulted in an elevated enzymatic activity of key enzymes in peanut roots, including peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, polyphenol oxidase, catalase, lipoxygenase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, as well as an increase in callus accumulation and lignin synthesis at the infection site, ultimately enhancing the root activity. This study revealed that PHY seed treatment could promote the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA)/ethylene (ET) in peanut roots, while also decreasing the content of malondialdehyde levels in response to S. rolfsii infection. The results were further confirmed by transcriptome data and metabolomics. These findings suggest that PHY seed treatment activates the plant defense pathways mediated by SA and JA/ET in peanut roots, enhancing the resistance of peanut plants to S. rolfsii. In short, PHY is expected to be developed into a new plant-derived immunostimulant or fungicide to increase the options and means for peanut disease control.

Single-cell omics: experimental workflow, data analyses and applications.

Cells are the fundamental units of biological systems and exhibit unique development trajectories and molecular features. Our exploration of how the genomes orchestrate the formation and maintenance of each cell, and control the cellular phenotypes of various organismsis, is both captivating and intricate. Since the inception of the first single-cell RNA technology, technologies related to single-cell sequencing have experienced rapid advancements in recent years. These technologies have expanded horizontally to include single-cell genome, epigenome, proteome, and metabolome, while vertically, they have progressed to integrate multiple omics data and incorporate additional information such as spatial scRNA-seq and CRISPR screening. Single-cell omics represent a groundbreaking advancement in the biomedical field, offering profound insights into the understanding of complex diseases, including cancers. Here, we comprehensively summarize recent advances in single-cell omics technologies, with a specific focus on the methodology section. This overview aims to guide researchers in selecting appropriate methods for single-cell sequencing and related data analysis.

Effects on Metallization of n+-Poly-Si Layer for N-Type Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact Solar Cells.

Thin polysilicon (poly-Si)-based passivating contacts can reduce parasitic absorption and the cost of n-TOPCon solar cells. Herein, n+-poly-Si layers with thicknesses of 30~100 nm were fabricated by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) to create passivating contacts. We investigated the effect of n+-poly-Si layer thickness on the microstructure of the metallization contact formation, passivation, and electronic performance of n-TOPCon solar cells. The thickness of the poly-Si layer significantly affected the passivation of metallization-induced recombination under the metal contact (J0,metal) and the contact resistivity (ρc) of the cells. However, it had a minimal impact on the short-circuit current density (Jsc), which was primarily associated with corroded silver (Ag) at depths of the n+-poly-Si layer exceeding 40 nm. We introduced a thin n+-poly-Si layer with a thickness of 70 nm and a surface concentration of 5 × 1020 atoms/cm3. This layer can meet the requirements for low J0,metal and ρc values, leading to an increase in conversion efficiency of 25.65%. This optimized process of depositing a phosphorus-doped poly-Si layer can be commercially applied in photovoltaics to reduce processing times and lower costs.

Identification of bioactive ingredients and potential mechanisms of flowers of Hosta Plantaginea in treating pneumonia based on network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Flowers of Hosta plantaginea (H. plantaginea), a widely utilized medicinal herb in Mongolian medicine, holds a significant historical background in terms of its medicinal applications. This herb is renowned for its ability to clear heat and detoxify the body, alleviate cough, and provide relief to the throat. However, the active ingredients and the potential mechanism of action remain ambiguity. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the efficacy of H. plantaginea in treating pneumonia, identify its active ingredients and unveil the pharmacological mechanism in the treatment of pneumonia. In vivo experiments demonstrate the plant's anti-pneumonia properties, while mass spectrometry analysis identifies 62 chemicals, with 14 absorbed into the bloodstream. Network pharmacology and Venn analysis reveal 195 targets of 52 active ingredients, with 49 gene targets common to H. plantaginea and pneumonia. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and enrichment analysis highlight the key targets and pathways such as AKT, EGFR, IL-17. Western blotting confirms downregulation of these pathways, indicating the anti-inflammatory effects of H. plantaginea in treating acute lung injury. Our findings showed that the treatment of ALI with the H. plantaginea exerts its anti-inflammatory effects through multiple components, targets, and pathways. This study established a solid experimental foundation for investigating the various components, targets, and pathways involved in the treatment of pneumonia using H. plantaginea. It offers valuable insights from multiple perspectives and can serve as a reference for the clinical application of this plant in pneumonia treatment.

Orexin B protects dopaminergic neurons from 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced neurotoxicity associated with reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation.

BACKGROUND: The loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) is a major pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Orexin B (OXB) has been reported to promote the growth of DA neurons. However, the roles of OXB in the degeneration of DA neurons still remained not fully clear. METHODS: An in vivo PD model was constructed by administrating 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in mice. Pole test was performed to investigate the motor function of mice and the number of DA neurons was detected by immunofluorescence (IF). A PD cell model was established by treating SH-SY5Y cells with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). OXB was added to the culture medium 2 h after MPP + treatment. Microscopic analysis was carried out to investigate the function of OXB in the cell model of PD 24 h after MPP + challenge. RNA-Seq analysis of the PD cell model was performed to explore the possible mechanisms. Western blot was used to detect the phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). RESULTS: OXB significantly decreased the DA neurons death caused by MPTP, alleviated MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, and robustly enhanced the weight and motor ability of PD mice. Besides, RNA-Seq analysis demonstrated that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was involved in the pathology of PD. Furthermore, MPP + led to increased levels of phosphorylation of ERK (p-ERK), OXB treatment significantly decreased the levels of p-ERK in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that OXB exerts a neuroprotective role associated with reduced ERK phosphorylation in the PD model. This suggests that OXB may have therapeutic potential for treatment of PD.