Sustainability assessment of small hydropower from an ESG perspective: A case study of the Qin-Ba Mountains, China.

Small hydropower (SHP) has made significant contributions to economic and social development in rural and remote mountainous regions. However, the adverse ecological-environmental impacts resulting from the SHP sector and challenges in hydropower management have become major areas of concern. From an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) perspective and using three SHP stations (GXD, WZL, and SJB) in the Qin-Ba Mountains as case studies, we constructed a sustainability assessment system comprising 18 indicators across three dimensions. The hesitant fuzzy linguistic term sets (HFLTSs) and cloud models were employed to determine the sustainability level of SHP by characterizing the hesitancy of the evaluator and the uncertainty of the evaluated data. (1) The ecological-environmental protection (E) dimension was assigned the greatest weight, followed by the dimensions of social responsibility contribution (S) and corporate governance management (G). The weights of certain indicators, including the water qualification rate, river morphology maintenance, guaranteed rate of instream flow, comprehensive utilization, and production safety standardization grade were relatively high, conforming to the current context of green development prioritization in which ecological-environmental protection is of the utmost importance. (2) The overall sustainability levels of all three SHP stations were "good", with the E-dimension contributing the most and the G-dimension contributing the least to the sustainability goal. (3) The GXD, WZL, and SJB stations were ranked first, second, and third, respectively, in terms of their sustainability scores. This study provides an innovative perspective for the sustainability assessment of SHP. The evaluation method can be generalized to encompass multi-attribute decision-making problems. The findings of this study can aid in addressing the shortcomings associated with SHP development and promote sustainability within the SHP industry.

Impact of Caterpillar Increased Feeding Rates on Reduction of Bt Susceptibility.

The use of insect-resistant transgenic crops producing Bacillus thuringiensis protein Cry toxins (Bt) to control caterpillars is wide-spread. Development of a mechanism to prevent Bt from reaching its target site in the digestive system could result in Bt resistance and resistance to other insecticides active per os. Increased feeding rates by increasing temperature in tobacco budworms, Chloridea virescens, and bollworms, Helicoverpa zea, decreased Bt Cry1Ac susceptibility and mortality. The same was found in C. virescens for Bollgard II plant extract containing Bt Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 toxins. Furthermore, H. zea from the same inbred laboratory colony that fed faster independent of temperature manipulation were less susceptible to Bt intoxication. A laboratory derived C. virescens Bt resistant strain demonstrated a higher feeding rate on non-Bt artificial diet than the parental, Bt susceptible strain. A laboratory-reared Bt resistant fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, strain also fed faster on non-Bt diet compared to Bt susceptible caterpillars of the same species, both originally collected from corn. The studies in toto and the literature reviewed support the hypothesis that increased feeding rate is a behavioral mechanism for reducing caterpillar susceptibility to Bt. Its possible role in resistance needs further study.

Backscattering Raman spectroscopy using multi-grating spatial heterodyne Raman spectrometer.

Spatial heterodyne Raman spectrometry (SHRS) is a spectral analysis technique used to study material structures and compositions. We propose a multi-grating SHRS system that uses a multi-grating module rather than the single grating used to terminate each arm in traditional spatial heterodyne spectrometry (SHS). The proposed system not only retains the advantages of traditional SHS but also resolves the mutual limitation between system spectral range and resolution. The increased spectral range and resolution that can be achieved in detection are dependent on the number of sub-gratings used in the module. A verification system was built using 130 gr/mm and 150 gr/mm sub-gratings and calibrated. Under different experimental conditions (including laser power, integration time, container material and thickness, pure and mixed samples, and standoff experiments), the backscattered Raman spectra of different types of targets (including organic solutions, inorganic powders, and minerals) were tested. The multi-grating SHRS shows good performance for broad spectral range and high-resolution Raman detection.

Characterization and expression profiling of serine protease inhibitors in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).

BACKGROUND: Serine protease inhibitors (SPIs) have been found in all living organisms and play significant roles in digestion, development and innate immunity. In this study, we present a genome-wide identification and expression profiling of SPI genes in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), a major pest of cruciferous crops with global distribution and broad resistance to different types of insecticides. RESULTS: A total of 61 potential SPI genes were identified in the P. xylostella genome, and these SPIs were classified into serpins, canonical inhibitors, and alpha-2-macroglobulins based on their modes of action. Sequence alignments showed that amino acid residues in the hinge region of known inhibitory serpins from other insect species were conserved in most P. xylostella serpins, suggesting that these P. xylostella serpins may be functionally active. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that P. xylostella inhibitory serpins were clustered with known inhibitory serpins from six other insect species. More interestingly, nine serpins were highly similar to the orthologues in Manduca sexta which have been demonstrated to participate in regulating the prophenoloxidase activation cascade, an important innate immune response in insects. Of the 61 P.xylostella SPI genes, 33 were canonical SPIs containing seven types of inhibitor domains, including Kunitz, Kazal, TIL, amfpi, Antistasin, WAP and Pacifastin. Moreover, some SPIs contained additional non-inhibitor domains, including spondin_N, reeler, and other modules, which may be involved in protein-protein interactions. Gene expression profiling showed gene-differential, stage- and sex-specific expression patterns of SPIs, suggesting that SPIs may be involved in multiple physiological processes in P. xylostella. CONCLUSIONS: This is the most comprehensive investigation so far on SPI genes in P. xylostella. The characterized features and expression patterns of P. xylostella SPIs indicate that the SPI family genes may be involved in innate immunity of this species. Our findings provide valuable information for uncovering further biological roles of SPI genes in P. xylostella.

Spatiotemporal variability and predictability of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in Alberta, Canada.

As one of the most popular vegetation indices to monitor terrestrial vegetation productivity, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has been widely used to study the plant growth and vegetation productivity around the world, especially the dynamic response of vegetation to climate change in terms of precipitation and temperature. Alberta is the most important agricultural and forestry province and with the best climatic observation systems in Canada. However, few studies pertaining to climate change and vegetation productivity are found. The objectives of this paper therefore were to better understand impacts of climate change on vegetation productivity in Alberta using the NDVI and provide reference for policy makers and stakeholders. We investigated the following: (1) the variations of Alberta's smoothed NDVI (sNDVI, eliminated noise compared to NDVI) and two climatic variables (precipitation and temperature) using non-parametric Mann-Kendall monotonic test and Thiel-Sen's slope; (2) the relationships between sNDVI and climatic variables, and the potential predictability of sNDVI using climatic variables as predictors based on two predicted models; and (3) the use of a linear regression model and an artificial neural network calibrated by the genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) to estimate Alberta's sNDVI using precipitation and temperature as predictors. The results showed that (1) the monthly sNDVI has increased during the past 30 years and a lengthened growing season was detected; (2) vegetation productivity in northern Alberta was mainly temperature driven and the vegetation in southern Alberta was predominantly precipitation driven for the period of 1982-2011; and (3) better performances of the sNDVI-climate relationships were obtained by nonlinear model (ANN-GA) than using linear (regression) model. Similar results detected in both monthly and summer sNDVI prediction using climatic variables as predictors revealed the applicability of two models for different period of year ecologists might focus on.

[Algorithm for Background Removal in Spectral Image of Echelle Spectrometer].

Echelle spectrometer gets full spectrum by transient direct reading because of the characteristic of cross-dispersion. The two-dimension spectra received by flat-plane detector needs to be reduced to one-dimension spectra so that the effective wavelength can be detected. Because of huge original data and few effective data, background removal plays an important role of decreasing the amount of data and improving data processing speed. The two-dimension spectrum of echelle spectrometer is analyzed and a suitable background removal algorithms is came up. The edge detection method is applied to diffuse spot detection. Selecting appropriate operator to convolute original image to get edge image and calculating global threshold to segment edge image which can be used to map original image to get the background removed image. Two-dimensional spectral images based on different elements at different integration time are used to judge the effect of different background removal algorithm and different operator are analyzed to figure out their effect of speed and accuracy for algorithm. Experimental result shows that the algorithm came up by this letter is better for image background removal than the others. The background removed image can be used in spectrum reductionand the speed of data processing is notable promoted.

[An Effective Wavelength Detection Method Based on Echelle Spectra Reduction].

Echelle spectrometer with high dispersion, high resolution, wide spectral coverage, full spectrum transient direct-reading and many other advantages, is one of the representative of the advanced spectrometer. In the commercialization trend of echelle spectrometer, the method of two-dimension spectra image processing is becoming more and more important. Currently, centroid extraction algorithm often be used first to detect the centroid position of effective facula and then combined with echelle spectrum reduction method to detect the effective wavelength, but this method is more difficult to achieve the desired requirements. To improve the speed, accuracy and the ability of imaging error correction during detecting the effective wavelength, an effective wavelength detection method based on spectra reduction is coming up. At the beginning, the two-dimension spectra will be converted to a one-dimension image using echelle spectra reduction method instead of finding centroid of effective facula. And then by setting appropriate threshold the one-dimension image is easy to be dealing with than the two-dimension spectra image and all of the pixel points stand for effective wavelength can be detected at one time. Based on this new idea, the speed and accuracy of image processing have been improved, at the same time a range of imaging errors can be compensated. Using the echelle spectrograph make a test applying this algorithm for data processing to check whether this method is fit for the spectra image processing or not. Choosing a standard mercury lamp as a light source during the test because the standard mercury lamp have a number of known characteristic lines which can be used to examine the accuracy of wavelength detection. According to experimental result, this method not only increase operation speed but improve accuracy of wavelength detection, also the imaging error lower than 0.05 mm (two pixel) can be corrected, and the wavelength accuracy would up to 0.02 nm which can satisfy the requirements of echelle spectrograph for image processing.

Insomnia among coronavirus disease 2019 survivors: A single-center cross-sectional study.

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, insomnia has become one of the longer COVID-19 symptoms. This study aimed to investigate insomnia among COVID-19 survivors and explore the occurrence and influencing factors of insomnia. A cross-sectional study was performed from December 2022 to February 2023 through an online questionnaire star survey with 8 questions. The insomnia severity index scale (ISI) was used to assess the severity of insomnia. Univariate analysis was used to analyze the factors related to COVID-19 infection. A total of 564 participants (183 males and 381 females) were surveyed in the present study. The prevalence of insomnia was 63.12%. Among these insomnia patients, there were 202 (35.82%) with sub-threshold symptoms, 116 (20.57%) with moderate symptoms, and 38 (6.74%) with severe symptoms. Univariate analysis indicated that there were statistically significant differences in the prevalence of insomnia among COVID-19 survivors of different ages, occupations, and educational levels (P < .05). Of the 356 insomnia patients, 185 (51.97%) did not take any measures against insomnia, while those who took drugs only, physical exercise only, drugs and physical exercise, and other measures were 90 (25.28%), 42 (11.80%), 17 (4.78%), and 22 (6.18%), respectively. Additionally, of the 107 insomnia patients with drug therapy, 17 (15.89%) took estazolam, 16 (14.95%) took alprazolam, 39 (36.45%) took zopiclone, and 35 (32.71%) took other drugs to improve insomnia symptoms. The prevalence of insomnia symptoms remains high among COVID-19 survivors in China. Education level and occupation may be the influencing factors. Unfortunately, most patients with insomnia do not take corresponding treatment measures.

Antitumor Effects of Pegylated Zinc Protoporphyrin-Mediated Sonodynamic Therapy in Ovarian Cancer.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill tumor cells. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), as an important antioxidant enzyme, resists killing by scavenging ROS. Zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) not only effectively inhibits HO-1 activity, but also becomes a potential sonosensitizer. However, its poor water solubility limits its applications. Herein, we developed an improved water-soluble method. It was proved that pegylated zinc protoporphyrin-mediated SDT (PEG-ZnPP-SDT) could significantly enhance ROS production by destroying the HO-1 antioxidant system in ovarian cancer. Increased ROS could cause mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, release cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytoplasm, and trigger the mitochondrial-caspase apoptotic pathway. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that PEG-ZnPP-SDT, as a novel sonosensitizer, could improve the antitumor effects by destroying the HO-1 antioxidant system. It provided a new therapeutic strategy for SDT to treat cancers, especially those with higher HO-1 expression.

Identification of NDRG1-regulated genes associated with invasive potential in cervical and ovarian cancer cells.

N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is an important gene regulating tumor invasion. In this study, shRNA technology was used to suppress NDRG1 expression in CaSki (a cervical cancer cell line) and HO-8910PM (an ovarian cancer cell line). In vitro assays showed that NDRG1 knockdown enhanced tumor cell adhesion, migration and invasion activities without affecting cell proliferation. cDNA microarray analysis revealed 96 deregulated genes with more than 2-fold changes in both cell lines after NDRG1 knockdown. Ten common upregulated genes (LPXN, DDR2, COL6A1, IL6, IL8, FYN, PTP4A3, PAPPA, ETV5 and CYGB) and one common downregulated gene (CLCA2) were considered to enhance tumor cell invasive activity. BisoGenet network analysis indicated that NDRG1 regulated these invasion effector genes/proteins in an indirect manner. Moreover, NDRG1 knockdown also reduced pro-invasion genes expression such as MMP7, TMPRSS4 and CTSK. These results suggest that regulation of invasion and metastasis by NDRG1 is a highly complicated process.

Crocin Improves Endothelial Mitochondrial Dysfunction via GPx1/ROS/KCa3.1 Signal Axis in Diabetes.

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which is a dramatic cause to promote endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. It was previously demonstrated that crocin protected the endothelium based on its diverse medicinal properties, but its effect on the mitochondrion and the potential mechanism are not fully understood. In this study, mitochondrial function was analyzed during the process of excessive ROS generation in high glucose (HG)-cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The role played by KCa3.1 was further investigated by the inhibition and/or gene silence of KCa3.1 in this process. In addition, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase 2 (NOX2), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) were also detected in this study. Our data showed that crocin improved mitochondrial dysfunction and maintained normal mitochondrial morphology by enhancing the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial mass, and mitochondrial fusion. Furthermore, KCa3.1 was confirmed to be located in the mitochondrion, and the blockade and/or silencing of KCa3.1 improved mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced excessive ROS generation but did not affect NOX2 and/or the SOD1 system. Intriguingly, it was confirmed that KCa3.1 expression was elevated by ROS overproduction in the endothelium under HG and/or diabetes conditions, while crocin significantly suppressed this elevation by promoting GPx1 and subsequently eliminating ROS generation. In addition, crocin enhanced CD31, thrombomodulin (TM), and p-/t-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expressions as well as NO generation and decreased vascular tone. Hence, crocin improved mitochondrial dysfunction through inhibiting ROS-induced KCa3.1 overexpression in the endothelium, which in turn reduced more ROS generation and final endothelial dysfunction in diabetes.

Control of Filth Flies, Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), and Sarcophaga bullata (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Using Novel Plant-Derived Methyl Ketones.

Filth flies live in close proximity to humans and livestock and transmit pathogens. Current control relies on chemical insecticides, and flies can develop resistance to these insecticides. The public is also interested in natural and safer insecticides. Therefore, alternative pesticides compatible with the synanthropic nature of flies are needed. Four plant aliphatic methyl ketones were evaluated for control of adult house flies, Musca domestica L., blow flies, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.), and gray flesh flies, Sarcophaga bullata (Parker). In sealed petri dish assays, 2-heptanone, 2-octanone, 2-nonanone, and 2-undecanone exhibited fumigant activity against house flies with 24-h LC50s of 6.9, 7.5, 8.0, and 9.2 µg/cm3, respectively. Further research focused on undecanone (a U.S. EPA-registered biopesticide). When tested in larger enclosures at 1.7, 2.3, and 2.8 µg/cm3, undecanone provided 60.4, 82.2, and 94.4% house fly mortality; 56.9, 75.6, and 92.5% flesh fly mortality; and 62.1, 84.5, and 97.9% blow fly mortality, respectively, after a 2-h exposure. In a two-choice behavioral assay with 194.6 µg/cm2 of the test compound on the treatment versus an untreated surface of the same area, the overall mean repellencies for blow flies were 84.7% for undecanone versus 87.6% for N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). For house flies, mean repellencies were 80.7% for undecanone and 84.9% for DEET. The house fly topical LD50 for undecanone was 58.1 µg per fly. Undecanone was far less expensive for filth fly control than the gold standard for insect fumigation, methyl bromide.

Exogenous and endogenous microbiomes of wild-caught Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) flies from a suburban farm by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

The black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is one of the most abundant carrion flies in North America. Calliphorids are important in agriculture and animal production, veterinary sciences, forensics and medical entomology. While the role of flies in the epidemiology of human and animal diseases is an active area of research, little is known about the microorganisms associated with these insects. We examined the diversity of wild-caught black blow fly endogenous (internal body) and exogenous (external body) microbial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Overall, 27 phyla, 171 families and 533 genera were detected, and diversity was significantly higher (P < 0.05) on external body surfaces. At the genus level, Dysgonomonas, Ignatzschineria, Acinetobacter, Vagococcus, Myroides, and Wohlfahrtiimonas were predominant. Cloning and sequencing of nearly full-length fragments of the 16S rRNA gene showed that some of the species identified are known to be pathogenic to humans, animals, and plants. Myroides odoratimimus and Acinetobacter radioresistens are well-known, multi-drug resistant bacteria. These results provide a snapshot of the microbial communities harbored by adult black blow flies and call for more comprehensive studies to better characterize the role these flies may play in the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms.

Autophagy is required for proper meiosis of porcine oocytes maturing in vitro.

Autophagy is an essential cellular mechanism that degrades cytoplasmic proteins and organelles to recycle their components; however, the contribution of autophagy during meiosis has not been studied in porcine oocytes maturing in vitro. In this study, we observed that the autophagy-related gene, LC3, was expressed in porcine oocytes during maturation for 44 h in vitro. Knockdown of the autophagy-related gene, BECN1, reduced both BECN1 and LC3 protein expression levels. Moreover, BECN1 knockdown and treatment with the autophagy inhibitor, LY294002, during maturation of porcine oocytes in vitro impaired polar body extrusion, disturbed mitochondrial function, triggered the DNA damage response, and induced early apoptosis in porcine oocytes. Autophagy inhibition during oocyte maturation also impaired the further developmental potential of porcine oocytes. These results indicate that autophagy is required for the in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes.

Novel use of aliphatic n-methyl ketones as a fumigant and alternative to methyl bromide for insect control.

BACKGROUND: Fumigants like phosphine, methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride are highly effective for the control of structural, storage and agricultural arthropod pests. Unfortunately, many of these synthetic compounds are highly toxic to people, many pests have developed resistance to these compounds and methyl bromide, the 'gold standard' for fumigants, was de-registered because of its contribution to depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. Alternative fumigant chemistry is needed. RESULTS: Several plant species produce n-aliphatic methyl ketones to prevent plant herbivory. To examine the use of methyl ketones as a fumigant, structure-mortality studies were conducted using the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, as a model. A new easy-to-use, inexpensive and disposable bioassay system was developed for this study. The LC50 values for heptanone, octanone, nonanone and undecanone were 4.27, 5.11, 5.26 and 8.21 µg/cm3 of ambient air, respectively. Although heptanone, octanone and nonanone were more effective than undecanone, subsequent research was conducted with 2-undecanone because this compound already has US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration as a biopesticide. In dose-response field studies, 12.4 mL of undecanone injected into mounds was the lowest application rate that produced no ant activity in the mound with no re-establishment of ants. Reagent grade undecanone was more cost-effective than methyl bromide for fire ants, adult German cockroaches and tobacco budworm eggs, but slightly more expensive for adult flour beetles. CONCLUSION: The naturally occurring methyl ketone undecanone has the potential to be an alternative to current fumigants for a variety of pest applications. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Infrared light detection by the haller's organ of adult american dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (Ixodida: Ixodidae).

The Haller's organ (HO), unique to ticks and mites, is found only on the first tarsus of the front pair of legs. The organ has an unusual morphology consisting of an anterior pit (AP) with protruding sensilla and a posterior capsule (Cp). The current thinking is that the HO's main function is chemosensation analogous to the insect antennae, but the functionality of its atypical structure (exclusive to the Acari) is unexplained. We provide the first evidence that the HO allows the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, to respond to infrared (IR) light. Unfed D. variabilis adults with their HOs present were positively phototactic to IR. However, when the HOs were removed, no IR response was detected. Ticks in these experiments were also attracted to white light with and without the HOs, but were only positively phototactic to white light when the ocelli (primitive eyes) were unobstructed. Covering the eyes did not prevent IR attraction. A putative TRPA1 receptor was characterized from a D. variabilis-specific HO transcriptome we constructed. This receptor was homologous to transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1) from the pit organ of the pit viper, python, and boa families of snakes, the only receptor identified so far for IR detection. HO scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies in the American dog tick showed the AP and Cp but also novel structures not previously described; the potential role of these structures in IR detection is discussed. The ability of ticks to use IR for host finding is consistent with their obligatory hematophagy and has practical applications in tick trapping and the development of new repellents.

Silicon Supplementation Alters the Composition of Herbivore Induced Plant Volatiles and Enhances Attraction of Parasitoids to Infested Rice Plants.

Silicon (Si) is important in plant defenses that operate in a direct manner against herbivores, and work in rice (Oryza sativa) has established that this is mediated by the jasmonate signaling pathway. Plant defenses also operate indirectly, by the production of herbivore induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) that attract predators and parasitoids of herbivores. These indirect defenses too are mediated by the jasmonate pathway but no earlier work has demonstrated an effect of Si on HIPVs. In this study, we tested the effect of Si supplementation versus Si deprivation to rice plants on subsequent HIPV production following feeding by the important pest, rice leaffolder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses showed lower production of α-bergamotene, ß-sesquiohellandrene, hexanal 2-ethyl, and cedrol from +Si herbivore-infested plants compared with -Si infested plants. These changes in plant chemistry were ecologically significant in altering the extent to which parasitoids were attracted to infested plants. Adult females of Trathala flavo-orbitalis and Microplitis mediator both exhibited greater attraction to the HIPV blend of +Si plants infested with their respective insect hosts compared to -Si infested plants. In equivalent studies using RNAi rice plants in which jasmonate perception was silenced there was no equivalent change to the HIPV blend associated with Si treatment; indicating that the effects of Si on HIPVs are modulated by the jasmonate pathway. Further, this work demonstrates that silicon alters the HIPV blend of herbivore-infested rice plants. The significance of this finding is that there are no earlier-published studies of this phenomenon in rice or any other plant species. Si treatment to crops offers scope for enhancing induced, indirect defenses and associated biological control of pests because parasitoids are more strongly attracted by the HIPVs produced by +Si plants.

Irgm1 is required for the inflammatory function of M1 macrophage in early experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

The classically activated (M1) macrophage has been shown to play an indispensable role in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, most studies focus on the effect of macrophage on CNS demyelination of EAE; whether the M1 macrophage participates in early EAE and the molecular mechanism underlying remains unclear. Here, we showed that the immunity-related GTPase family member 1 (Irgm1), also known as LRG-47, was expressed in M1 macrophages of draining lymph nodes (dLNs) from C57BL/6 mice with early EAE, and the IRGM1 heterozygote substantially reduced M1 macrophage accumulation in dLNs and spleen of the primary EAE stage. In vitro silence of IRGM1 in M1 macrophages impaired NOS2 expression and inflammatory cytokine release. We also found that IRGM1 knockout (Irgm1-/-) in M1 macrophages increased Akt activation but attenuated NF-κB p65 activation, which may reveal Irgm1-mediated mechanisms of action. Interestingly, macrophage depletion in vivo inhibited Th1/Th17 differentiation in the spleen and promoted regulatory T cell (Treg) polarization in dLNs at 7 d postimmunization (dpi). Moreover, we observed that M1 macrophages in vitro promoted Th1/Th17 differentiation, which was reversed by treatment with IRGM1 small interfering RNA (siRNA), anti-TNF-α, or anti-IL-1ß mAb. These results suggest that the M1 macrophage may promote Th1/Th17 cell differentiation during the early EAE, and the proinflammatory function of M1 cells requires Irgm1.

Effects of ultrasonic agitation and surfactant additive on surface roughness of Si (111) crystal plane in alkaline KOH solution.

In the silicon wet etching process, the "pseudo-mask" formed by the hydrogen bubbles generated during the etching process is the reason causing high surface roughness and poor surface quality. Based upon the ultrasonic mechanical effect and wettability enhanced by isopropyl alcohol (IPA), ultrasonic agitation and IPA were used to improve surface quality of Si (111) crystal plane during silicon wet etching process. The surface roughness Rq is smaller than 15 nm when using ultrasonic agitation and Rq is smaller than 7 nm when using IPA. When the range of IPA concentration (mass fraction, wt%) is 5-20%, the ultrasonic frequency is 100 kHz and the ultrasound intensity is 30-50 W/L, the surface roughness Rq is smaller than 2 nm when combining ultrasonic agitation and IPA. The surface roughness Rq is equal to 1 nm when the mass fraction of IPA, ultrasound intensity and the ultrasonic frequency is 20%, 50 W and 100 kHz respectively. The experimental results indicated that the combination of ultrasonic agitation and IPA could obtain a lower surface roughness of Si (111) crystal plane in silicon wet etching process.

Mevalonate-Farnesal Biosynthesis in Ticks: Comparative Synganglion Transcriptomics and a New Perspective.

Juvenile hormone (JH) controls the growth, development, metamorphosis, and reproduction of insects. For many years, the general assumption has been that JH regulates tick and other acarine development and reproduction the same as in insects. Although researchers have not been able to find the common insect JHs in hard and soft tick species and JH applications appear to have no effect on tick development, it is difficult to prove the negative or to determine whether precursors to JH are made in ticks. The tick synganglion contains regions which are homologous to the corpora allata, the biosynthetic source for JH in insects. Next-gen sequencing of the tick synganglion transcriptome was conducted separately in adults of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, and the relapsing fever tick, Ornithodoros turicata as a new approach to determine whether ticks can make JH or a JH precursor. All of the enzymes that make up the mevalonate pathway from acetyl-CoA to farnesyl diphosphate (acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, HMG-S, HMG-R, mevalonate kinase, phosphomevalonate kinase, diphosphomevalonate decarboxylase, and farnesyl diphosphate synthase) were found in at least one of the ticks studied but most were found in all three species. Sequence analysis of the last enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, demonstrated conservation of the seven prenyltransferase regions and the aspartate rich motifs within those regions typical of this enzyme. In the JH branch from farnesyl diphosphate to JH III, we found a putative farnesol oxidase used for the conversion of farnesol to farnesal in the synganglion transcriptome of I. scapularis and D. variabilis. Methyltransferases (MTs) that add a methyl group to farnesoic acid to make methyl farnesoate were present in all of the ticks studied with similarities as high as 36% at the amino acid level to insect JH acid methyltransferase (JHAMT). However, when the tick MTs were compared to the known insect JHAMTs from several insect species at the amino acid level, the former lacked the farnesoic acid binding motif typical in insects. The P450s shown in insects to add the C10,11 epoxide to methyl farnesoate, are in the CYP15 family; this family was absent in our tick transcriptomes and in the I. scapularis genome, the only tick genome available. These data suggest that ticks do not synthesize JH III but have the mevalonate pathway and may produce a JH III precursor.