Binding properties of odorant-binding protein 4 from bean bug Riptortus pedestris to soybean volatiles.

The bean bug Riptortus pedestris is a notorious insect pest that can damage various crops, especially soybean, in East Asia. In insects, the olfactory system plays a crucial role in host finding and feeding behaviour in which the odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are believed to be involved in initial step in this system. In this study, we produced the R. pedestris adult antennae-expressed RpedOBP4 protein using a recombinant expression system in E. coli. Fluorescence competitive binding confirmed that RpedOBP4 has binding affinities to 7 of 20 soybean volatiles (ligands), and that a neutral condition is the best environment for it. The binding property of RpedOBP4 to these ligands was further revealed by integrating data from molecular docking, site-directed mutagenesis and ligand binding assays. This demonstrated that five amino acid residues (I30, L33, Y47, I57 and Y121) are involved in the binding process of RpedOBP4 to corresponding ligands. These findings will not only help us to more thoroughly explore the olfactory mechanism of R. pedestris during feeding on soybean, but also lead to the identification of key candidate targets for developing environmental and efficient behaviour inhibitors to prevent population expansion of R. pedestris in the future.

Two-way fiber-wireless convergence systems based on two-stage injection-locked VCSELs transmitter and optical interleaver.

A two-way fiber-wireless convergence system based on a two-stage injection-locked 1.55-µm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) transmitter and an optical interleaver (IL) to deliver intensity-modulated and phase-remodulated millimeter-wave (MMW) data signals over a 40-km single-mode fiber (SMF) and a 5-m radio frequency (RF) wireless transport is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Bit error rate (BER) and eye diagram perform brilliantly through a serious investigation in systems. Such a two-way fiber-wireless convergence system is a promising option, it reveals a prominent one to present its advancement in integration of distribute fiber and in-house network.

A full-duplex CATV/wireless-over-fiber lightwave transmission system.

A full-duplex CATV/wireless-over-fiber lightwave transmission system consisting of one broadband light source (BLS), two optical interleavers (ILs), one intensity modulator, and one phase modulator is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The downstream light is optically promoted from 10Gbps/25GHz microwave (MW) data signal to 10Gbps/100GHz and 10Gbps/50GHz millimeter-wave (MMW) data signals in fiber-wireless convergence, and intensity-modulated with 50-550 MHz CATV signal. For up-link transmission, the downstream light is phase-remodulated with 10Gbps/25GHz MW data signal in fiber-wireless convergence. Over a 40-km single-mode fiber (SMF) and a 10-m radio frequency (RF) wireless transport, bit error rate (BER), carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR), composite second-order (CSO), and composite triple-beat (CTB) are observed to perform well in such full-duplex CATV/wireless-over-fiber lightwave transmission systems. This full-duplex 100-GHz/50-GHz/25-GHz/550-MHz lightwave transmission system is an attractive alternative. This transmission system not only presents its advancement in the integration of fiber backbone and CATV/wireless feeder networks, but also it provides the advantages of a communication channel for higher data rates and bandwidth.

[Spectral Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Matter in Sediments from Poyang Lake].

At present, there are few studies on the spectral characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the sediments of the Poyang Lake basin. Therefore, excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMs) technology and ultraviolet-visible spectra combined with the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) were applied to investigate the fluorescent components and sources of DOM in sediments from Poyang Lake. The results showed that the DOM in sediments originated from both terrestrial and autochthonous sources with a high humification. Compared with the sub-lakes, the DOM from the main lake was characterized with a higher concentration of colored DOM, larger particle size, and higher aromaticity and humification degree. In addition, four fluorescence components of DOM in sediments were identified by the PARAFAC model, including three humic-like components (C1, C2, and C4) and one protein-like component (C3). The fluorescence intensity of the humic substances in the sub-lakes was higher than those in the main lake. Furthermore, the percentage of fluorescence abundance of C1 was the highest both in the sub-lakes (42%) and main lake (46%). The spatial distribution of the fluorescence intensity of the four components gradually increased from west to east, and the peak values were observed in the Duchang and Nanji Wetland. This may be related to the death of a large number of plants due to the rise in the water level during the wet season and human activities. Principal component analysis showed that although there were no significant differences in the four fluorescent components between the sub-lakes and the main lake, the humification degree of DOM in the sub-lakes was slightly higher than that in the main lake.

Venom apparatus of the endoparasitoid wasp Opius caricivorae Fischer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): morphology and ultrastructure.

The morphology and ultrastructure of the venom apparatus of the endoparasitoid wasp, Opius caricivorae Fischer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), were observed using light and electron microscopes. The venom apparatus consists of one venom reservoir and several gland filaments. The gland filaments join together at the end of the reservoir and consist of an outer single layer of secretory cells, a layer of degenerated epidermal cells, and an inner intima that encloses the lumen. The secretory cells are organelle rich, with abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and vacuole, in which vesicular organelles secrete the components of venom. The reservoir consists of a muscular sheath, secretory cells, and squamous cells. The intima has an unevenly thickened chitinous coat. The vesicular organelles of the reservoir secretory cells differ from those of the gland filament: the microvilli being much longer and radiating in all directions. The venom reservoir not only serves to store but also secretes the venom. Virus-like particles were discovered in the secretory cells of the gland filaments. The structural features of venom apparatus of this species are discussed in a biological context.