Expression profiling of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) microRNAs and microRNA core genes by Bacillus thuringiensis GS57 infection.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding RNAs, which are functional in a variety of biological processes through post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. However, the role of miRNAs in the interaction between Bacillus thuringiensis and insects remains unclear. In this study, small RNA libraries were constructed for B. thuringiensis-infected (Bt) and uninfected (CK) Spodoptera exigua larvae (treated with double-distilled water) using Illumina sequencing. Utilising the miRDeep2 and Randfold, a total of 233 known and 726 novel miRNAs were identified, among which 16 up-regulated and 34 down-regulated differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified compared to the CK. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that potential target genes of DE miRNAs were associated with ABC transporters, fatty acid metabolism and MAPK signalling pathway which are related to the development, reproduction and immunity. Moreover, two miRNA core genes, SeDicer1 and SeAgo1 were identified. The phylogenetic tree showed that lepidopteran Dicer1 clustered into one branch, with SeDicer1 in the position closest to Spodoptera litura Dicer1. A similar phylogenetic relationship was observed in the Ago1 protein. Expression of SeDicer1 increased at 72 h post infection (hpi) with B. thuringiensis; however, expression of SeDicer1 and SeAgo1 decreased at 96 hpi. The RNAi results showed that the knockdown of SeDicer1 directly caused the down-regulation of miRNAs and promoted the mortality of S. exigua infected by B. thuringiensis GS57. In conclusion, our study is crucial to understand the relationship between miRNAs and various biological processes caused by B. thuringiensis infection, and develop an integrated pest management strategy for S. exigua via miRNAs.

Juvenile hormone inhibits lipogenesis of Spodoptera exigua to response to Bacillus thuringiensis GS57 infection.

The application of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has brought environmental benefits and delayed resistance development of pests. Most studies focus on the Bt insecticidal activity against pests, however, the molecular mechanism of Bt on impairing the growth and development of Spodoptera exigua remains unknown. Here, we show that juvenile hormone (JH) inhibits the lipogenesis mediated by fatty acid synthases (Fas) of S. exigua in response to Bt infection. The weight and lipid accumulation of S. exigua larvae post Bt infection were less than those of larvae without Bt infection. We further demonstrated that Bt infection causes the JH titer with a significant increase, which downregulates the expression of lipogenesis-related genes, SeFas3, SeFas4, and SeFas5, resulting in the delayed development of S. exigua larvae. In addition, the expression levels of SeFas genes were regulated by SeACC, indicating that SeFas genes were modulated by multiple pathways. Our findings reveal that novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the impaired development caused by Bt infection which can inform the development of strategies for the sustainable pest control in the future.

Study on the Superlubricity Behavior of Ions under External Electric Fields at Steel Interfaces.

Realizing macroscopic superlubricity in the presence of external electric fields (EEFs) at the steel interfaces is still challenging. In this work, macroscopic superlubricity with a coefficient of friction value of approximately 0.008 was realized under EEFs with the lubrication of LiPF6-based ionic liquids at steel interfaces. The roles of cations and anions in the superlubricity realization under EEFs were studied. Based on the experimental results, the macroscopic superlubricity behavior of Li(PEG)PF6 under EEFs at steel interfaces is attributed to the strong hydration effect of Li+ cations and the complete reactions of anions that contributed to the formation of a boundary film on the appropriate surface. Moreover, the reduction in the number of iron oxides in the boundary film on the disc was beneficial for friction reduction. We also provide a calculation model to describe the relationship between the hydration effect and the optimal voltage position, at which the lowest friction might occur. Ultimately, this work proves that macroscopic superlubricity can be realized under EEFs at steel interfaces and provides a foundation for engineering applications of superlubricity in an electrical environment.

Involvement of Sep38ß in the Insecticidal Activity of Bacillus thuringiensis against Beet Armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera).

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are associated with insect immunity, tissue repair, and the insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Here, a p38 MAPK family gene (Sep38ß) was identified from Spodoptera exigua. Among the developmental stages, the transcription level of Sep38ß was the highest in egg, followed by that in prepupa and pupa. Sep38ß expression peaked in Malpighian tubules and the hemolymph of fifth instar larvae. Knockdown of Sep38ß or injection of SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) significantly downregulated the SeDUOX expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the midgut, accounting for deterioration of the midgut to scavenge pathogens and enhancement of Bt insecticidal activity. In conclusion, all the results demonstrate that Sep38ß regulates the immune-related ROS level in the insect midgut, which suppresses the insecticidal activity of Bt against S. exigua by 17-22%. Our study highlights that Sep38ß is essential for insect immunity and the insecticidal activity of Bt to S. exigua and is a potential target for pest control.

Lubrication Performances of Polyalkylene Glycols at Steel Interface under External Electric Fields.

This work studied the lubrication performances of polyalkylene glycols, which are insulating oils, at the steel interface under external electric fields. The results show that external electric fields greatly affect the lubrication performances of polyalkylene glycols, and there is an optimal voltage (-1.0 V) for the improvement in friction reduction performance. The surface analysis and experiment results indicate that the polyalkylene glycol adsorption film and the reduction in the amount of FexOy and FeOOH in the tribochemical film contribute to improved friction performance under the negative voltage condition. This work proves that the lubrication performances of insulating oils can be affected by external electric fields as well. A lubrication model was proposed, hoping to provide a basic understanding of the lubrication mechanisms of ether-bond-containing insulating oils in the electric environment.

Multilayer Coatings for Tribology: A Mini Review.

Friction and wear usually lead to huge energy loss and failure of machine pairs, which usually causes great economic losses. Researchers have made great efforts to reduce energy dissipation and enhance durability through advanced lubrication technologies. Single-layer coatings have been applied in many sectors of engineering, but the performance of single-layer coatings still has many limitations. One solution to overcome these limitations is to use a multilayer coating that combines different components with varied physical and chemical properties. In addition, multilayer coating with alternating layers only containing two components can lead to improved performance compared to a coating with only two different layers. This paper systematically reviews the design concept and properties of different types of multilayer coatings, including transition-metal nitride coatings, diamond-like carbon-based coatings, and other multilayer coatings. The inherent functional mechanisms of the multilayer structures are also detailed and discussed.

Intelligent Algorithm-Based Ultrasound Image for Evaluating the Effect of Comprehensive Nursing Scheme on Patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease.

This study was aimed at exploring the effect of ultrasound image evaluation of comprehensive nursing scheme based on artificial intelligence algorithms on patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). 44 patients diagnosed with DKD were randomly divided into two groups: group A (no nursing intervention) and group B (comprehensive nursing). In the same period, 32 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. Ultrasonographic images based on the K non-local-means (KNL-Means) filtering algorithm were used to perform imaging examinations in healthy people and DKD patients before and after care. The results suggested that compared with those of the SAE reconstruction algorithm and KAVD reconstruction algorithm, the PSNR value of artificial bee colony algorithm reconstruction of image was higher and the MSE value was lower. The resistant index (RI) of DKD patients in group B after nursing was 0.63 ± 0.06, apparently distinct from the RI of the healthy people (controls) in the same group (0.58 ± 0.06) and the RI of DKD patients in group A (0.68 ± 0.07) (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of complications in DKD patients in group B was apparently inferior to that in group A. After comprehensive nursing intervention (CNI), the scores of all dimensions of quality of life (QoL) in DKD patients in group B were obviously superior versus those in DKD patients in group A. It suggests that implementation of nursing intervention for DKD patients can effectively help patients improve and control the level of renal function, while ultrasound images based on intelligent algorithm can dynamically detect the changes in the level of renal function in patients, which has the value of clinical promotion.

Liquid Superlubricity Enabled by the Synergy Effect of Graphene Oxide and Lithium Salts.

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) nanoflakes and lithium salt (LiPF6) were utilized as lubrication additives in ether bond-containing dihydric alcohol aqueous solutions (DA(aq)) to improve lubrication performances. The apparent friction reduction and superlubricity were realized at the Si3N4/sapphire interface. The conditions and laws for superlubricity realization have been concluded. The underlying mechanism was the synergy effect of GO and LiPF6. It was proven that a GO adsorption layer was formed at the interface, which caused the shearing interface to transfer from solid asperities to GO interlayers (weak interlayer interactions), resulting in friction reduction and superlubricity realization. In addition to the GO adsorption layer, a boundary layer containing phosphates and fluorides was formed by tribochemical reactions of LiPF6 and was conducive to low friction. Additionally, a fluid layer contributed to friction reduction as well. This work proved that GO-family materials are promising for friction reduction, and provided new insights into realizing liquid superlubricity at macroscale by combining GO with other materials.

Probing the Conductive and Tribological Behaviors of Solid Additives in Multiply Alkylated Cyclopentanes for Sliding Electrical Contact.

Sliding electrical contacts need to be lubricated by conductive lubricants to perform low energy dissipation, high reliability, and long service life. This work studied the thermal stability, anti-corrosion capacity, and conductive, and tribological behaviors of several solid additives in multiply alkylated cyclopentanes (MACs), including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), multilayer graphene (MG), and silver microparticles. The results showed that all the additives possessed favorable thermal stability and corrosion resistance; in particular, CNTs and MG exhibited lower and more stable electrical contact resistance (ECR) and better lubricity abilities than Ag microparticles. Moreover, based on the characterization of the worn surfaces and the film thickness calculation, the favorable conductive and tribological properties of CNTs and MG were related to the high conductivity and specific structure of the additives and the good chemical inertness of MACs.

Charge Transfer in Nanowire-Embedded PEDOT:PSS and Planar Heterojunction Solar Cells.

Hybrid metallic nanowire-embedded, highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy thiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) with synergetic properties is indispensable for enhancing the performances of conductive polymer-based electronic devices. Here, we report embedment of silver nanowires (AgNWs), with diameter ∼100 nm and a high concentration (500 mg/mL) of nanowires dispersed in either ethanol or isopropanol, in PEDOT:PSS and compare the effects of the nanowire-dispersing solvents as well as its thicker diameter and high concentration on the overall properties and particularly its charge transfer characteristics and planar heterojunction solar cell (HSC) properties. Furthermore, electrostatic force microscopy is applied to elucidate the direct charge transfer from AgNWs to the PEDOT:PSS matrix. The AgNW-embedded PEDOT:PSS-based planar HSCs show a very high open-circuit voltage of over 638 mV and a high power conversion efficiency greater than 15.3% and without any significant influence from the AgNW dispersing solvents. While charge transfer in PEDOT:PSS without AgNWs occurs through the conducting PEDOT grains, enhanced charge transfer is realized in AgNW-embedded PEDOT:PSS with charge transport from PEDOT grains to AgNWs and then to PEDOT grains before reaching the top electrode in the HSC. The AgNW-embedded PEDOT:PSS hybrid materials pave a simple way to enhance the charge transfer performance in not only HSCs but also other hybrid or heterojunction electronics.

Tentative identification of torulene cis/trans geometrical isomers isolated from Sporidiobolus pararoseus by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-mass spectrometry and preparation by column chromatography.

The major carotenoids (ß-carotene, γ-carotene, torulene, and torularhodin) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, with torulene present in the largest amount (167.0 µg/g), followed by torularhodin (113.4 µg/g), ß-carotene (52.1 µg/g) and γ-carotene (15.4 µg/g). In addition, cis/trans torulene isomers were further identified by developing an HPLC-DAD coupled with an atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (APCI) MS method, following isolation and purification torulene from crude pigments by column chromatography. A total of 8 torulene geometrical isomers were resolved within 60 min by employing a YMC C30 column and a binary gradient mobile phase consisting of methanol-methyl tert-butyl ether-water, (50:47.5:2.5, v/v/v) (A) and methanol-methyl tert-butyl ether-water, (8:90:2, v/v/v) (B). Geometrical carotenoid isomers behave differently with respect to bioavailability; therefore, it is of great importance to expand our knowledge on their biological roles to determine the appropriate method to separate torulene cis/trans isomers.