Automatic detection, segmentation, and classification of primary bone tumors and bone infections using an ensemble multi-task deep learning framework on multi-parametric MRIs: a multi-center study.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an ensemble multi-task deep learning (DL) framework for automatic and simultaneous detection, segmentation, and classification of primary bone tumors (PBTs) and bone infections based on multi-parametric MRI from multi-center. METHODS: This retrospective study divided 749 patients with PBTs or bone infections from two hospitals into a training set (N = 557), an internal validation set (N = 139), and an external validation set (N = 53). The ensemble framework was constructed using T1-weighted image (T1WI), T2-weighted image (T2WI), and clinical characteristics for binary (PBTs/bone infections) and three-category (benign/intermediate/malignant PBTs) classification. The detection and segmentation performances were evaluated using Intersection over Union (IoU) and Dice score. The classification performance was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and compared with radiologist interpretations. RESULT: On the external validation set, the single T1WI-based and T2WI-based multi-task models obtained IoUs of 0.71 ± 0.25/0.65 ± 0.30 for detection and Dice scores of 0.75 ± 0.26/0.70 ± 0.33 for segmentation. The framework achieved AUCs of 0.959 (95%CI, 0.955-1.000)/0.900 (95%CI, 0.773-0.100) and accuracies of 90.6% (95%CI, 79.7-95.9%)/78.3% (95%CI, 58.1-90.3%) for the binary/three-category classification. Meanwhile, for the three-category classification, the performance of the framework was superior to that of three junior radiologists (accuracy: 65.2%, 69.6%, and 69.6%, respectively) and comparable to that of two senior radiologists (accuracy: 78.3% and 78.3%). CONCLUSION: The MRI-based ensemble multi-task framework shows promising performance in automatically and simultaneously detecting, segmenting, and classifying PBTs and bone infections, which was preferable to junior radiologists. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Compared with junior radiologists, the ensemble multi-task deep learning framework effectively improves differential diagnosis for patients with primary bone tumors or bone infections. This finding may help physicians make treatment decisions and enable timely treatment of patients. KEY POINTS: • The ensemble framework fusing multi-parametric MRI and clinical characteristics effectively improves the classification ability of single-modality models. • The ensemble multi-task deep learning framework performed well in detecting, segmenting, and classifying primary bone tumors and bone infections. • The ensemble framework achieves an optimal classification performance superior to junior radiologists' interpretations, assisting the clinical differential diagnosis of primary bone tumors and bone infections.

The influence of high-temperature frequency variation on the life-history traits of pyridaben-sensitive and -resistant strains of Tetranychus truncatus.

With a generally warming global climate, the number of Tetranychus truncatus specimens in the Hexi region in China has been increasing. As ectotherms, the growth and development of T. truncatus are greatly affected by changes in environmental temperature. The effect of heatwaves on organisms depends on a delicate balance between damage and repair periods. Therefore, we simulated nine patterns of periodically recurring changes in the frequency of high-temperature days using an intraday gradual temperature change model to study and compare the effects on the development and reproduction of pyridaben-sensitive and -resistant strains of T. truncatus. The results showed that the influence of the frequency of high-temperature days on developmental stages, longevity and fecundity was different between the two strains. The egg and immature stages of the sensitive strain were all affected by hot days, whereas the adult stage was less affected by the frequency. The egg stage of the resistant strain was less affected; it was mainly affected in the immature and adult stages. Under the moderate condition of increasing the proportion of days at normal temperature, the longevity of the resistant strain gradually increased and reached a maximum at a 1:3 frequency, and then it decreased with the increase in high-temperature days. The longevity of the sensitive strain was less affected by frequency, and there was no significant difference between most treatment and control groups. In addition, both sensitive and resistant strains were able to complete growth and development under all nine frequencies of high-temperature days, but the reproductive rate was lower than it was at normal temperatures, indicating that both strains of T. truncatus adapted to high temperatures at the expense of reduced reproduction rates. This lays a key theoretical foundation for predicting the occurrence of agricultural pest populations under the background of climate warming and developing appropriate control strategies.

Chlorbenzuron caused growth arrest through interference of glycolysis and energy metabolism in Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) larvae.

Chlorbenzuron is a kind of benzoylphenylureas (BPUs), which plays a broad role in insect growth regulators (IGRs), with an inhibitory effect on chitin biosynthesis. However, BPUs how to regulate glycolysis and insect growth remains largely unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of chlorbenzuron on growth, nutritional indices, glycolysis, and carbohydrate homeostasis in Hyphantria cunea, a destructive and highly polyphagous forest pest, to elucidate the action mechanism of chlorbenzuron from the perspective of energy metabolism. The results showed that chlorbenzuron dramatically restrained the growth and nutritional indices of H. cunea larvae and resulted in lethality. Meanwhile, we confirmed that chlorbenzuron significantly decreased carbohydrate levels, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and pyruvic acid (PA) in H. cunea larvae. Further studies indicated that chlorbenzuron caused a significant enhancement in the enzyme activities and mRNA expressions of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and pyruvate kinase (PK), resulting in increased glycolytic flux. Expressions of genes involved in the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway were also upregulated. Moreover, chlorbenzuron had remarkable impacts on H. cunea larvae from the perspective of metabolite enrichment, including the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and glycolysis, indicating an energy metabolism disorder in larvae. The findings provide a novel insight into the molecular mechanism by which chlorbenzuron abnormally promotes glycolysis and eventually interferes with insect growth and nutritional indices.

The role of cytochrome P450 3A2 and 4V2 in response to high-temperature stress in Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Temperature is an important factor influencing the physiological activities of agricultural pests. Therefore, understanding pest physiological activities and the molecular response to high-temperature stress is of paramount importance for pest management. Tetranychus truncatus Ehara (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a harmful organism, that may cause serious harm to crops such as corn and cotton in high-temperature environments. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) is induced by high-temperature stress, and it plays an important role in the resistance of spider mites to high temperatures. Because of their role in high-temperature tolerance, the cytochrome P450 genes of the spider mite are attracting more and more attention. In this study, we identified and analyzed CYP450 genes in T. truncatus to investigate their potential roles in growth and development and the resistance to high-temperature stress. Based on phylogenetic and structural analyses, we identified 17 CYP450 genes in T. truncatus. RNA-seq and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed differential expression patterns of these genes at different developmental stages and levels of high-temperature stress resistance. The RNA interference results of selected CYP450 showed that when TtCYP3A2 and TtCYP4V2 were silenced by feeding on dsRNA, respectively, the high-temperature resistance of T. truncatus was decreased, which indicated that the expression of these two CYP450 genes in this species may be related to high-temperature tolerance. Our results provide potential evidence for the response of spider mites to high-temperature stress and help to improve the understanding of T. truncatus's ability to resist high-temperature stress.

miR-455-5p regulates circadian rhythms by accelerating the degradation of Clock mRNA.

Circadian rhythms are approximately 24-hr cycles generated by organisms to adapt to daily rhythms. Core circadian proteins such as CLOCK, BMAL1, PER1/2, and CRY1/2/3 form a transcription-translation feedback loop (TTFL) to maintain circadian rhythms. MicroRNAs are involved in regulating circadian rhythms; however, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Here, using miRNA-seq screening, we discovered that the expression level of miR-455 was controlled by CLOCK. Furthermore, miR-455-5p also binds to the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of Clock mRNA and regulates its stability. To further study whether such mutual regulation forms a feedback loop to regulate circadian rhythms, we recorded bioluminescence traces of Per2::Luc U2OS cells in real time and confirmed that overexpression of miR-455-5p lengthens the period and attenuates the amplitude of circadian rhythms in synchronized cells (and vice versa). We also discovered that miR-455-5p can function as a Clock modulator to induce a fine-orchestral circadian rhythm in vitro, as well as other known factors such as dexamethasone, horse serum, or temperature. In conclusion, miR-455-5p is essential for maintaining a normal circadian rhythm via regulating Clock mRNA stability. Our study reveals a new mutual regulatory mechanism between CLOCK protein, Clock mRNA, and miR-455-5p, which regulates circadian rhythms in cells.

A Novel Five-Dimensional Three-Leaf Chaotic Attractor and Its Application in Image Encryption.

This paper presents a novel five-dimensional three-leaf chaotic attractor and its application in image encryption. First, a new five-dimensional three-leaf chaotic system is proposed. Some basic dynamics of the chaotic system were analyzed theoretically and numerically, such as the equilibrium point, dissipative, bifurcation diagram, plane phase diagram, and three-dimensional phase diagram. Simultaneously, an analog circuit was designed to implement the chaotic attractor. The circuit simulation experiment results were consistent with the numerical simulation experiment results. Second, a convolution kernel was used to process the five chaotic sequences, respectively, and the plaintext image matrix was divided according to the row and column proportions. Lastly, each of the divided plaintext images was scrambled with five chaotic sequences that were convolved to obtain the final encrypted image. The theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrated that the key space of the algorithm was larger than 10150 that had strong key sensitivity. It effectively resisted the attacks of statistical analysis and gray value analysis, and had a good encryption effect on the encryption of digital images.

Arachidonic acid inhibit granulosa cell function by affecting metabolic function of liver in brown adipose transplantation rats.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a gynecological endocrine disease and could be considered a metabolic disease because it is often accompanied by obesity and insulin resistance. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) transplantation has been shown to be effective in treating PCOS rats. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that BAT successfully recovered the reproductive and metabolic phenotype of PCOS rats. The disorder estrous cycle, abnormal hyperglycemia and the expression of liver factors were improved. Differentially expressed metabolites were analyzed, among them, arachidonic acid may play a role in inhibiting cell proliferation, enhancing oxidative stress reaction, promoting estrogen expression, and reducing progesterone level in KGN cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that BAT transplantation may be a therapeutic strategy for PCOS by changing the expression of some cytokines and metabolites. Differentially expressed metabolites might be crucially important for the pathogenesis of PCOS.

Differential Antioxidant Enzyme Gene Expression and Functional Analysis of Pyridaben-Susceptible and -Resistant Strains of Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae) under High Temperature Stress.

Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae) has caused serious economic losses on some crops (soybean, corn, and cotton) in China, and has developed resistance to most acaricides. Our laboratory study found that T. truncatus was resistant to pyridaben and also adapted to high temperature (34-40 °C). High temperature stress may cause arthropods to produce a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative damage. Antioxidant enzymes, as the main antioxidants, can reduce the damage caused by excessive ROS in arthropods. In order to study the adaptation mechanism of the pyridaben-resistant strain of T. truncatus to high temperature and the role of antioxidant enzyme genes under high temperature stress, four antioxidant enzyme genes, TtSOD, TtPOD3, TtPOD4, and TtGSTs2, were screened according to the transcriptome sequencing data of pyridaben-susceptible and -resistant strains in T. truncatus. Firstly, the phylogeny and structure analyses of these four genes were carried out. Then, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) technology was used to analyze the gene expression patterns of antioxidant enzymes in two strains of T. truncatus at three different high temperature ranges (34 °C, 38 °C, and 42 °C). The results showed that the expression levels of four antioxidant enzyme genes of two strains of T. truncatus were induced by high temperature stress, and the expression levels of antioxidant enzyme genes were significantly different in each development state. The gene expression of antioxidant enzyme genes in resistant strains at the adult stage was significantly higher than that in susceptible strains. After the TtSOD and TtPOD4 genes of adult mites of the resistant strain were silenced by RNA interference (RNAi) technology, the mortality rate of mites with TtPOD4 gene silencing reached 41.11% after 96 h at 34 °C, which was significantly higher than that of the control and TtSOD gene silencing. It has been confirmed that the TtPOD4 gene plays a key role in the adaptation of pyridaben-resistant strain of T. truncatus to high temperature. It lays a theoretical foundation for revealing the thermal adaptation mechanism of T. truncatus.

Screening of bacterial endophytes of larch against Neofusicoccum laricinum and validation of their safety.

In order to provide a highly feasible research pathway for the control of larch shoot blight, healthy larch branches and leaves were collected from 13 sampling sites in 8 provinces in China. The antagonistic endophytic bacteria obtained from the screening were used to carry out disease control experiments in potted seedlings. The safety evaluation test was conducted on the antagonistic bacteria. Subsequently, the strains with better preventive effect and high safety were identified by morphological and molecular methods. A total of 391 strains of endophytic bacteria were isolated from healthy larch branches and leaves. Seventy-eight strains of larch endophytic bacteria with antagonistic effect were obtained by primary sieving. Ten strains of endophytic bacteria with obvious antagonism were further obtained by secondary sieving, and all of them had an inhibition rate of more than 57%. Among them, strains YN 2, JL 6, NMG 23, and JL 54 showed the highest inhibition rate of 63.16%-65.08%, which was significantly different from the other treatments. The results of the pot test showed that 14 days after inoculation with the pathogen, strains YN 2 and JL 54 were more effective in the control of larch shoot blight, with the preventive effects reaching 57.7% and 50.0%, respectively. Strains JL 6 and JL 54 were biologically safe in the safety evaluation test. Therefore, strain JL 54 was selected for identification. It was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens through morphological observation, 16S rDNA sequence, gyrB gene sequence and 16S rDNA-gyrB tandem feature sequence analysis. IMPORTANCE: Larch shoot blight is a widely distributed, damaging, and rapidly spreading fungal disease of forest trees that poses a serious threat to larch plantations. Endophytic bacteria have biological effects on host plants against pests and diseases, and they have a growth-promoting effect on plants. In this paper, we investigated for the first time the biocontrol effect of endophytic bacteria on larch shoot blight by screening endophytic bacteria with the function of antagonizing dieback fungi. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JL 54 has a better prospect of biocontrol against larch shoot blight, which lays the foundation for the application of this bacterium in the future.

The cuticular protein gene ApCP7 and ApCP62 are essential for reproduction in Acyrthosiphon pisum, affecting ecdysis and survival.

Cuticular proteins, in conjunction with chitin, compose the insect exoskeleton, and play a key role in the growth, development, and molting of insects. However, the specific functions of most cuticular protein genes in the growth, development, and reproductive processes of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) remain unclear. In this study, we have identified six cuticular protein genes in the pea aphid, namely ApCP7, ApCP10, ApCP19, ApCP19.8-like, ApCP35 and ApCP62. We found that the expression levels of six genes were highly expressed during the adult stage, and except for ApCP10, which is highly expressed in the pea aphid cuticle, other genes were highly expressed in the ovaries. Subsequently, we observed that the survival rate and fecundity of pea aphid were significantly lower than those of the control group after silencing ApCP7 and ApCP62 through RNA interference. Furthermore, when ApCP7 transcript levels were reduced, aphid encountered difficulties in molting, were smaller in body size, and exhibited a darker body color. These results indicate that ApCP7 and ApCP62 are involved in the development and reproduction of pea aphid, and could be used as RNAi targets for controlling pea aphid.

Automatic segmentation of fat metaplasia on sacroiliac joint MRI using deep learning.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a deep learning (DL) model for segmenting fat metaplasia (FM) on sacroiliac joint (SIJ) MRI and further develop a DL model for classifying axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and non-axSpA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively collected 706 patients with FM who underwent SIJ MRI from center 1 (462 axSpA and 186 non-axSpA) and center 2 (37 axSpA and 21 non-axSpA). Patients from center 1 were divided into the training, validation, and internal test sets (n = 455, 64, and 129). Patients from center 2 were used as the external test set. We developed a UNet-based model to segment FM. Based on segmentation results, a classification model was built to distinguish axSpA and non-axSpA. Dice Similarity Coefficients (DSC) and area under the curve (AUC) were used for model evaluation. Radiologists' performance without and with model assistance was compared to assess the clinical utility of the models. RESULTS: Our segmentation model achieved satisfactory DSC of 81.86% ± 1.55% and 85.44% ± 6.09% on the internal cross-validation and external test sets. The classification model yielded AUCs of 0.876 (95% CI: 0.811-0.942) and 0.799 (95% CI: 0.696-0.902) on the internal and external test sets, respectively. With model assistance, segmentation performance was improved for the radiological resident (DSC, 75.70% vs. 82.87%, p < 0.05) and expert radiologist (DSC, 85.03% vs. 85.74%, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DL is a novel method for automatic and accurate segmentation of FM on SIJ MRI and can effectively increase radiologist's performance, which might assist in improving diagnosis and progression of axSpA. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: DL models allowed automatic and accurate segmentation of FM on sacroiliac joint MRI, which might facilitate quantitative analysis of FM and have the potential to improve diagnosis and prognosis of axSpA. KEY POINTS: • Deep learning was used for automatic segmentation of fat metaplasia on MRI. • UNet-based models achieved automatic and accurate segmentation of fat metaplasia. • Automatic segmentation facilitates quantitative analysis of fat metaplasia to improve diagnosis and prognosis of axial spondyloarthritis.

Functional Characterization of the Niemann-Pick C2 Protein BdioNPC2b in the Parasitic Wasp Baryscapus dioryctriae (Chalcidodea: Eulophidae).

Reverse chemical ecology has been widely applied for the functional characterization of olfactory proteins in various arthropods, but few related studies have focused on parasitic wasps. Here, the odorant carrier Niemann-Pick C2 protein of Baryscapus dioryctriae (BdioNPC2b) was studied in vitro and in vivo. Ligand binding analysis revealed that BdioNPC2b most strongly bound to 2-butyl-2-octenal and which compound could elicit an EAG response and attracted B. dioryctriae adults. Moreover, this odorant attractant significantly improved the reproductive efficiency of B. dioryctriae compared to that of the control. Then, the relationship between BdioNPC2b and 2-butyl-2-octenal was validated by RNAi, and site-directed mutagenesis revealed the involvement of three key residues of BdioNPC2b in binding to 2-butyl-2-octenal through hydrogen bonding. Our findings provide not only a deeper understanding of the olfactory function of NPC2 in wasps but also useful information for improving the performance of the parasitoid B. dioryctriae as a biological control agent.

A radiograph-based deep learning model improves radiologists' performance for classification of histological types of primary bone tumors: A multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To develop a deep learning (DL) model for classifying histological types of primary bone tumors (PBTs) using radiographs and evaluate its clinical utility in assisting radiologists. METHODS: This retrospective study included 878 patients with pathologically confirmed PBTs from two centers (638, 77, 80, and 83 for the training, validation, internal test, and external test sets, respectively). We classified PBTs into five categories by histological types: chondrogenic tumors, osteogenic tumors, osteoclastic giant cell-rich tumors, other mesenchymal tumors of bone, or other histological types of PBTs. A DL model combining radiographs and clinical features based on the EfficientNet-B3 was developed for five-category classification. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated to evaluate model performance. The clinical utility of the model was evaluated in an observer study with four radiologists. RESULTS: The combined model achieved a macro average AUC of 0.904/0.873, with an accuracy of 67.5 %/68.7 %, a macro average sensitivity of 66.9 %/57.2 %, and a macro average specificity of 92.1 %/91.6 % on the internal/external test set, respectively. Model-assisted analysis improved accuracy, interpretation time, and confidence for junior (50.6 % vs. 72.3 %, 53.07[s] vs. 18.55[s] and 3.10 vs. 3.73 on a 5-point Likert scale [P < 0.05 for each], respectively) and senior radiologists (68.7 % vs. 75.3 %, 32.50[s] vs. 21.42[s] and 4.19 vs. 4.37 [P < 0.05 for each], respectively). CONCLUSION: The combined DL model effectively classified histological types of PBTs and assisted radiologists in achieving better classification results than their independent visual assessment.

The circSNX14 functions as a tumor suppressor via the miR-562/ LATS2 pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles in the initiation and progression of various cancers. However, the potential functional roles of circSNX14 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unknown. CircSNX14 expression pattern was analyzed in HCC tissues and cell lines via qRT-PCR. The effects of circSNX14 on cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were investigated by overexpression experiments. The role of circSNX14 in the tumorigenesis of HCC cells was examined using in vivo xenograft mouse model. The interaction between circSNX14, miR-562, and Large Tumor Suppressor Kinase 2 (LATS2) mRNA was confirmed by Luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) analysis. CircSNX14 was significantly down-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and its down-regulation was correlated with a poor prognosis in HCC patients. In the following functional experiments, circSNX14 overexpression remarkably suppressed the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells, and attenuated the mesenchymall status. circSNX14 overexpression also suppressed the tumorigenesis of HCC cells in the mouse model. We further revealed the interaction of circSNX14 and miR-562, and miR-562 could suppress the expression of LATS2 by interacting with its mRNA. The negative correlation of circSNX14 and miR-562, negative correlation of miR-562 and LATS2, and positive correlation of circSNX14 and LATS2 have been confirmed by Pearson correlation in the HCC samples. Collectively, these results reveal a novel role of circSNX14/miR-562/LATS2 axis in regulating the malignant progression of HCC cancer progression, indicating the tumor suppressor role of circSNX14 and its potential as a prognostic biomarker.

Effects of stirring speed ladder on the acid-promoted refolding of rice glutelin.

The effects of stirring speed (0, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, and 1500 rpm) on the rice glutelin hydrocolloids (1 %, w/v) during the acidified process were investigated. As the stirring speed was increased to 750 rpm, the hydration diameter of the rice glutelin was significantly decreased, but higher stirring speeds had no significant effect on size. The highest and lowest solubility were recorded for the samples treated at 750 and 0 rpm stirring speeds, respectively. The surface hydrophobicity and molecular weight increased first and then decreased, both the minimum value was recorded at 750 rpm sample. The principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to detect patterns between changes in various properties (solubility, particle size, ß-sheet content, surface hydrophobicity, and ζ-potential) and stirring treatment. To conclude, the various properties of rice glutelin refold during acidification are drastically affected by employing different stirring speeds. Choosing a suitable stirring speed is important for quality control in protein hydrocolloid production.

Differences in metabonomic profiles of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder that often coexists with a metabolic disorder. Studies have demonstrated that the malfunction of adipose tissue, particularly abdominal adipose tissue, could exacerbate reproductive and metabolic problems in PCOS patients. Adipose tissue-secreted signaling mediators (e.g., lipids and metabolites) would then interact with other body organs, including the ovary, to maintain the systemic equilibrium. Methods: In this study, we examined adipose samples from PCOS patients and unaffected individuals using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabonomics approach (LC-MS/MS). PCOS biomarkers were selected using multivariate statistical analysis. Results: Our pathway analysis revealed that these differential metabolites could be engaged in inflammatory diseases and mitochondrial beta-oxidation. We further developed an in vitro PCOS cell model to examine the effects of hyperandrogenism on granulosa cells and related metabolic disorders. We noted that isoleucine recovered the promotive effect on cell apoptosis, inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, sex hormone secretion, and mitochondrial function induced by dehydroepiandrosterone. Our gas chromatography-mass spectrometry targeted analysis (GC-MS/MS) revealed that isoleucine was significantly decreased in PCOS patients. Discussion: Based on these results, we speculate that metabolome alterations are vital in ameliorating PCOS symptoms. This may be a novel therapeutic target for PCOS treatment. Our study provides preliminary evidence that these findings will enhance our ability to accurately diagnose and intervene in PCOS.

Functional Analysis of Amino Acid Transporter Genes ACYPI000536 and ACYPI004320 in Acyrthosiphon pisum.

In recent years, pea aphids have become major pests of alfalfa. Our previous study found that "Gannong 5" is a highly aphid-resistant alfalfa variety and that "Lie Renhe" is a susceptible one. The average field susceptibility index of "Gannong 5" was 31.31, and the average field susceptibility index of "Lie Renhe" was 80.34. The uptake and balance of amino acids in insects are usually dependent on amino acid transporters. RT-qPCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of seven amino acid transporter differential genes in the different instar pea aphids fed on resistant and susceptible alfalfa varieties after 24 h, and two key genes were selected. When pea aphids fed on "Gannong 5", the expression of ACYPI004320 was significantly higher than that in pea aphids fed on "Lie Renhe"; however, the expression of ACYPI000536 was significantly lower than that in pea aphids fed on "Lie Renhe". Afterward, the RNA interference with pea aphid ACYPI000536 and ACYPI004320 genes was performed using a plant-mediated method, and gene function was verified via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and pea aphid sensitivity to aphid-resistant and susceptible alfalfa varieties. The results showed that the down-regulation of the ACYPI000536 gene expression led to an increase in the histidine and lysine contents in pea aphids, which, in turn, led to an increase in mortality when pea aphids fed on the susceptible variety "Lie Renhe". The down-regulation of the ACYPI004320 gene expression led to an increase in phenylalanine content in pea aphids, which, in turn, led to a decrease in mortality when pea aphids fed on the resistant variety "Gannong 5".

Adaptive changes in pheromone production and release under rearing conditions in stink bugs.

BACKGROUND: Healthy cultures of arthropods are important for pest management programs (e.g. biocontrol). Little is known about how rearing conditions may affect pheromonal interactions. We investigated how rearing histories and densities affect pheromone emission/production in two stink bug species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), the predatory bug Arma custos, a biocontrol agent, and the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, a pest on legume crops. RESULTS: Nymphs from newly established laboratory colonies of both species produced higher amounts of the defense (dispersal) compound, 4-oxo-(E)-hexenal (OHE), in the presence of conspecific nymphs. Also, when two or more A. custos males were placed together, the dorsal abdominal glands (DAGs) ceased to release aggregation pheromone, whereas the metathoracic glands (MTGs) increased the emission of defensive odors. These changes resulted from exposure to conspecific pheromone odors, as confirmed by exposing bugs to pheromone standards. Hence, pheromone emissions in these stink bugs are readily changed in response to the odors of conspecifics, which may become a problem after long-term rearing. Indeed, an old laboratory colony of A. custos (~30 generations) exhibited less-developed DAGs and reduced pheromone production. Instead, males released significantly more defensive odors from the enlarged MTGs. Furthermore, long-term rearing conditions appeared to favor nymphs that were able to share space with conspecifics by releasing less OHE, which has not yet occurred in the new laboratory colonies. CONCLUSION: Rearing density affects pheromone release in newly established laboratory colonies of stink bug species, whereas long-term rearing results in new pheromonal compositions coinciding with adaptive changes in gland development. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Morphology and ultrastructure of antennal sensilla of the parasitic wasp Baryscapus dioryctriae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

Baryscapus dioryctriae is an endoparasitic wasp in the pupae of many Pyralidae pests, such as Dioryctria mendacella, Ostrinia furnacalis, and Chilo suppressalis. To provide requisite background for our ongoing research on the mechanisms of host location in B. dioryctriae, the morphology, abundance, distribution, and ultrastructure of the antennal sensilla were investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The geniculate antennae of B. dioryctriae are composed of scape, pedicel, and flagellum. Eight types of sensilla including Böhm sensilla, chaetica, trichodea, basiconic capitate peg, campaniformia, placodea, coeloconica, and sensilla styloconicum with a long hair were identified on both sexes. Sexual dimorphism exists in the antennae of B. dioryctriae. The number of flagellomere in males is over females, and the subtypes and abundance of sensilla are also different between the sexes. Additionally, the possible functions of distinct sensilla were discussed, which varies from olfaction, contact chemoreceptive, mechanoreception to hygro-/thermoreception, especially, the sensilla trichodea and placodea might be involved in olfactory perception in B. dioryctriae. These results provide an essential basis for further study on chemical communication between B. dioryctriae and their hosts, and contribute to the development of B. dioryctriae becoming an effective biocontrol agent against the pests of agriculture and forestry.

Novel bisthienylethene containing ferrocenyl-substituted naphthalimide: a photo- and redox multi-addressable molecular switch.

A new photochromic bisthienylethene system (BTE-NAFc) is reported in which the ferrocene unit (Fc) is incorporated into a naphthalimide chromophore as the central ethene bridging unit. The incorporated Fc unit in the photochromic system of BTE-NAFc has several effects on optical properties, such as fluorescence-modulation through photoinduced electron transfer (PET), a decrease in the photochromic cyclization quantum yield, and a selective two-step oxidation process. The ability to drive ring-opening and ring-closing reactions with a secondary redox-modulation provides increased functionality to the photochromic system. Based on these meaningful photo- and redox-modulation properties, five unprecedented multi-addressable states (BTE-NAFc, BTE-NAFc(+), c-BTE-NAFc, c-BTE-NAFc(+), and BTE(+)-NAFc(+)) and gated photochromism are successfully obtained within the unimolecular BTE platform, thus providing deeper insight into photochromic systems as multifunctional outputs.