Identification and Expression Analysis of Four Small Heat Shock Protein Genes in Cigarette Beetle, (Fabricius).

Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are molecular chaperones that play crucial roles in the stress adaption of insects. In this study, we identified and characterized four genes (, , , and ) from the cigarette beetle, (Fabricius). The four cDNAs encoded proteins of 169, 180, 181, and 194 amino acids with molecular weights of 19.

Functional characterization of chitin deacetylase 1 gene disrupting larval-pupal transition in the drugstore beetle using RNA interference.

Chitin deacetylases (CDAs) are chitin degradation enzymes that strictly regulate growth and development in insects. In this study, we identified and characterized a full-length cDNA of the CDA gene (SpCDA1) in the drugstore beetle, Stegobium paniceum. The open reading frame of SpCDA1 (1614 bp) encoded a 537 amino acid protein, which possessed typical domain structures of CDAs.

Effects of Temperature on the Development and Reproduction of Thrips hawaiiensis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Environmental temperature has a significant impact on insect behavior. The present study aimed to determine the effects of temperature on the development, survival, and reproduction of Thrips hawaiiensis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), an important flower-inhabiting thrips. These effects were evaluated at five constant temperatures (18, 21, 24, 27, and 30°C) on thrips reared in the laboratory on excised Gardenia jasminoides flowers.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the bamboo snout beetle, (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The bamboo snout beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a destructive forest pest and distributed widely in Southeast Asia. The 15,035 bp complete mitochondrial genome of the species consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 21 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) and a control region (GenBank accession no. MG674390).

The complete mitochondrial genome of the cigarette beetle, (Coleoptera: Anobiidae).

The cigarette beetle, (Fabricius), is an important pest of stored commodities and distributed widely in the world. Here, we report the complete mitochondrial genome of which was 15,958 bp and composed of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a control region. The gene order and orientation of were identical to those of other Coleopteran mitogenomes.

The complete mitochondrial genome of (Coleoptera: Anobiidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) is a circular DNA molecule of 15,271 bp (GenBank accession number XK819317), and its nucleotide composition is biased towards A + T nucleotides (78.32%). This genome comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and an A + T-rich region.

Transesterification of rapeseed oil for biodiesel production in trickle-bed reactors packed with heterogeneous Ca/Al composite oxide-based alkaline catalyst.

A conventional trickle bed reactor and its modified type both packed with Ca/Al composite oxide-based alkaline catalysts were studied for biodiesel production by transesterification of rapeseed oil and methanol. The effects of the methanol usage and oil flow rate on the FAME yield were investigated under the normal pressure and methanol boiling state. The oil flow rate had a significant effect on the FAME yield for the both reactors.

Effect of calcination temperature on the activity of solid Ca/Al composite oxide-based alkaline catalyst for biodiesel production.

A solid Ca/Al composite oxide-based alkaline catalyst containing Ca(12)Al(14)O(33) and CaO was prepared by chemical synthesis and thermal activation from sodium aluminate solution and calcium hydroxide emulsion. The effect of calcination temperatures ranging from 120 °C to 1000 °C on activity of the catalyst was investigated. The catalyst calcined at 600 °C showed the highest activity with >94% yield of fatty acid methyl esters (i.