Effects of constant and variable temperatures on development and reproduction of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae).

We focused on the influence of different temperature amplitudes on development and reproduction of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, at a 16:8 (L:D) h photoperiod and 60-95 % RH. The temperature amplitudes varied from 0 to 24 °C in steps of 6 °C; i.e. 22 ± 0, 22 ± 3, 22 ± 6, 22 ± 9 and 22 ± 12 °C. Temperature changed every 24 h between a low and an upper value, but without changing the average temperature (22 °C). The number of eggs laid by five females for 24 h was slightly lower at 22 ± 12 °C than at constant temperature (22 ± 0 °C), and egg hatchability differed among the five temperature regimes. Developmental time at 22 ± 0 °C was shorter than that at 22 ± 3 and 22 ± 6 °C, but longer than that at 22 ± 9 and 22 ± 12 °C. The oviposition period, total fecundity per female and adult longevity gradually decreased with increasing amplitudes. Sex ratio was similar at all five temperature regimes. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m) was affected by temperature amplitude and the r m-values at all amplitudes except 22 ± 12 °C were higher than that at constant temperature. Thus, this study showed that variable temperature regimes influence population growth rates of T. urticae and that large amplitude regimes are stressful for this species.

Network analysis of the autophagy biochemical network in relation to various autophagy-targeted proteins found among SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Autophagy is an important cellular process that triggers a coordinated action involving multiple individual proteins and protein complexes while SARS-CoV-2 (SARS2) was found to both hinder autophagy to evade host defense and utilize autophagy for viral replication. Interestingly, the possible significant stages of the autophagy biochemical network in relation to the corresponding autophagy-targeted SARS2 proteins from the different variants of concern (VOC) were never established. In this study, we performed the following: autophagy biochemical network design and centrality analyses; generated autophagy-targeted SARS2 protein models; and superimposed protein models for structural comparison. We identified 2 significant biochemical pathways (one starts from the ULK complex and the other starts from the PI3P complex) within the autophagy biochemical network. Similarly, we determined that the autophagy-targeted SARS2 proteins (Nsp15, M, ORF7a, ORF3a, and E) are structurally conserved throughout the different SARS2 VOC suggesting that the function of each protein is preserved during SARS2 evolution. Interestingly, among the autophagy-targeted SARS2 proteins, the M protein coincides with the 2 significant biochemical pathways we identified within the autophagy biochemical network. In this regard, we propose that the SARS2 M protein is the main determinant that would influence autophagy outcome in regard to SARS2 infection.

Asymmetric Alkylthienyl Thienoacenes Derived from Anthra[2,3-b]thieno[2,3-d]thiophene for Solution-Processable Organic Semiconductors.

Anthra[2,3-b]thieno[2,3-d]thiophene (ATT), which is readily accessed from thieno[3,2-b]thiophene and 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxylic anhydride, allows for selective substitution at the terminal thiophene ring, thereby providing asymmetric monoalkyl and monoalkylthienyl thienoacenes. Alkyl-substituted ATT (CnATT, n = 6, 8, 10, 12) has characteristics of a p-type field-effect transistor (FET), with mobility on the order of 0.01 cm2 V-1 s-1, which is the same as ATT. Conversely, alkylthienyl-substituted ATT (CnTATT, n = 6, 8, 10, 12) exhibits FET mobility of 0.15-1.9 cm2 V-1 s-1, which is up to 2 orders of magnitude greater than that of ATT and CnATT. Moreover, CnTATT forms crystalline thin films both by spin coating and drop casting, and C8TATT in particular exhibits a mobility of up to 1.6 cm2 V-1 s-1 in the drop-cast film. X-ray diffraction patterns of CnTATT thin films indicate that the molecules become oriented edge-on at the substrate surface with a highly ordered structure in the in-plane direction. Accordingly, CnTATT serves as a solution-processable p-type organic field-effect transistor, where the additional thiophene ring contributes significantly to the highly ordered thin-film structure and the high carrier mobility.