Silencing NlFAR7 destroyed the pore canals and related structures of the brown planthopper.

Fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) is one of the key enzymes, which catalyses the conversion of fatty acyl-CoA to the corresponding alcohols. Among the FAR family members in the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens), NlFAR7 plays a pivotal role in both the synthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons and the waterproofing of the cuticle. However, the precise mechanism by which NlFAR7 influences the formation of the cuticle structure in N. lugens remains unclear. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the impact of NlFAR7 through RNA interference, transmission electron microscope, focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and lipidomics analysis. FIB-SEM is employed to reconstruct the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the pore canals and related cuticle structures in N. lugens subjected to dsNlFAR7 and dsGFP treatments, enabling a comprehensive assessment of changes in the cuticle structures. The results reveal a reduction in the thickness of the cuticle and disruptions in the spiral structure of pore canals, accompanied by widened base and middle diameters. Furthermore, the lipidomics comparison analysis between dsNlFAR7- and dsGFP-treated N. lugens demonstrated that there were 25 metabolites involved in cuticular lipid layer synthesis, including 7 triacylglycerols (TGs), 5 phosphatidylcholines (PCs), 3 phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) and 2 diacylglycerols (DGs) decreased, and 4 triacylglycerols (TGs) and 4 PEs increased. In conclusion, silencing NlFAR7 disrupts the synthesis of overall lipids and destroys the cuticular pore canals and related structures, thereby disrupting the secretion of cuticular lipids, thus affecting the cuticular waterproofing of N. lugens. These findings give significant attention with reference to further biochemical researches on the substrate specificity of FAR protein, and the molecular regulation mechanisms during N. lugens life cycle.

The genome assembly and annotation of the white-lipped tree pit viper Trimeresurus albolabris.

Trimeresurus albolabris, also known as the white-lipped pit viper or white-lipped tree viper, is a highly venomous snake distributed across Southeast Asia and the cause of many snakebite cases. In this study, we report the first whole genome assembly of T. albolabris obtained with next-generation sequencing from a specimen collected in Mengzi, Yunnan, China. After genome sequencing and assembly, the genome of this male T. albolabris individual was 1.51 Gb in length and included 38.42% repeat-element content. Using this genome, 21,695 genes were identified, and 99.17% of genes could be annotated using gene functional databases. Our genome assembly and annotation process was validated using a phylogenetic tree, which included six species and focused on single-copy genes of nuclear genomes. This research will contribute to future studies on Trimeresurus biology and the genetic basis of snake venom.

Artificial Leaky Integrate-and-Fire Sensory Neuron for In-Sensor Computing Neuromorphic Perception at the Edge.

Neuromorphic perception and computing show great promise in terms of energy efficiency and data bandwidth compared to von Neumann's computing architecture. In-sensor computing allows perception information processing at the edge, which is highly dependent on the functional fusion of receptors and neurons. Here, a leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) artificial spiking sensory neuron (ASSN) based on a NbOx memristor and an a-IGZO thin-film transistor (TFT) is successfully developed. The ASSN is fabricated mainly through simple sputter deposition processes, showing the prospect of high process compatibility and potential for integration fabrication. The device shows excellent spike encoding ability to deliver the neuromorphic information through spike rate and time-to-first spike. Moreover, in the ASSN, the a-IGZO TFT not only provides the fundamental spike signal computing function of the artificial neuron but also has NO2 gas and ultraviolet (UV) light dual sensitivity to introduce the neuromorphic perception capability. As a result, the ASSN successfully exhibits an inhibitory property under NO2 stimulation while exhibiting an excitatory state under UV light stimulation. Futhermore, self-adaption and lateral regulation circuits between different ASSNs are proposed at the edge in mimicking biological neurons' rich interconnection and feedback mechanisms. The ASSNs successfully achieve self-regulation after a huge response during a burst stimulus. In addition, the neuron transmits a more obvious output when the target-sensitive events occur through the edge internal regulation. The self-adaption and lateral regulation demonstrated in ASSN move an important step forward to in-sensor computing, which provides the potential for a multiscene perception in complex environments.

A highland-adaptation mutation of the Epas1 protein increases its stability and disrupts the circadian clock in the plateau pika.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) harbors hundreds of species well adapted to its extreme conditions, including its low-oxygen (hypoxic) atmosphere. Here, we show that the plateau pika-a keystone mammal of the QTP-lacks robust circadian rhythms. The major form of the plateau pika Epas1 protein includes a 24-residue insert caused by a point mutation at the 5' juncture site of Intron14 and is more stable than other mammalian orthologs. Biochemical studies reveal that an Epas1-Bmal1 complex with lower trans-activation activity occupies the E1/E2 motifs at the promoter of the core-clock gene Per2, thus explaining how an Epas1 mutation-selected in the hypoxic conditions of the QTP-disrupts the molecular clockwork. Importantly, experiments with hypoxic chambers show that mice expressing the plateau pika Epas1 ortholog in their suprachiasmatic nucleus have dysregulated central clocks, and pika Epas1 knockin mice reared in hypoxic conditions exhibit dramatically reduced heart damage compared with wild-type animals.

Methods for Detecting PER2:LUCIFERASE Bioluminescence Rhythms in Freely Moving Mice.

Circadian rhythms are driven by daily oscillations of gene expression. An important tool for studying cellular and tissue circadian rhythms is the use of a gene reporter, such as bioluminescence from the reporter gene luciferase controlled by a rhythmically expressed gene of interest. Here we describe methods that allow measurement of circadian bioluminescence from a freely moving mouse housed in a standard cage. Using a LumiCycle In Vivo (Actimetrics), we determined conditions that allow detection of circadian rhythms of bioluminescence from the PER2 reporter, PER2::LUC, in freely behaving mice. The LumiCycle In Vivo applies a background subtraction that corrects for effects of room temperature on photomultiplier tube (PMT) output. We tested delivery of d-luciferin via a subcutaneous minipump and in the drinking water. We demonstrate spikes in bioluminescence associated with drinking bouts. Further, we demonstrate that a synthetic luciferase substrate, CycLuc1, can support circadian rhythms of bioluminescence, even when delivered at a lower concentration than d-luciferin, and can support longer-term studies. A small difference in phase of the PER2::LUC bioluminescence rhythms, with females phase leading males, can be detected with this technique. We share our analysis scripts and suggestions for further improvements in this method. This approach will be straightforward to apply to mice with tissue-specific reporters, allowing insights into responses of specific peripheral clocks to perturbations such as environmental or pharmacological manipulations.

Effects of AlN Coating Layer on High Temperature Characteristics of Langasite SAW Sensors.

High temperature characteristics of langasite surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices coated with an AlN thin film have been investigated in this work. The AlN films were deposited on the prepared SAW devices by mid-frequency magnetron sputtering. The SAW devices coated with AlN films were measured from room temperature to 600 °C. The results show that the SAW devices can work up to 600 °C. The AlN coating layer can protect and improve the performance of the SAW devices at high temperature. The SAW velocity increases with increasing AlN coating layer thickness. The temperature coefficients of frequency (TCF) of the prepared SAW devices decrease with increasing thickness of AlN coating layers, while the electromechanical coupling coefficient (K²) of the SAW devices increases with increasing AlN film thickness. The K² of the SAW devices increases by about 20% from room temperature to 600 °C. The results suggest that AlN coating layer can not only protect the SAW devices from environmental contamination, but also improve the K² of the SAW devices.