Publications by authors named "Zewen Liu"

Spiders are important predatory enemies that control a range of insect pests in the rice ecosystem. m-Aminophenylacetylene (m-A) has been demonstrated to induce maternal care behaviors in Pardosa pseudoannulata, protecting young spiders and promoting population growth. Here the roles of m-A on other reproduction stages were evaluated by injecting m-A into virgin and postreproductive female spiders.

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Spider peptide toxins, as potent insecticides, distinguish them from current insecticides, and thus expand the range of viable molecular targets of insecticides in insect pests. This study reports the isolation of two neurotoxic peptides, ω-Atyptoxin-Cs2a (Cs2a) and ω-Atyptoxin-Cs2b (Cs2b), from the venom gland of the burrowing spider Calommata signata. These peptides exhibit strong insecticidal activity against two insect pests with agricultural importance, Nilaparvata lugens and Spodoptera frugiperda.

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In circular production lines, issues such as positional errors, manufacturing errors at different square groove workstations, and the accumulation of errors during continuous assembly reduce the assembly success rate and limit efficiency. To address these challenges in assembling square groove parts, this study focuses on the jamming and wedging problems encountered during the assembly of square grooves and square parts. It analyzes typical assembly hole searching contact situations and proposes corresponding strategies.

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As one of the most significant insecticides, neonicotinoids have played a pivotal role in crop protection and public sanitation. However, the high resistance and bee toxicity of neonicotinoid insecticides have attracted considerable attention. Herein, a series of neonicotinoid compounds with conjugated diene moieties were synthesized through the cascade allylation/isomerization reaction.

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Background: The application of resistant rice varieties and insecticides represents two crucial strategies for managing the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål). Insects often employ similar detoxification mechanisms to metabolize plant secondary metabolites and insecticides, which poses a potential risk that BPH population adapted to resistant rice may also obtain resistance to some insecticides.

Results: Here in a BPH population (R-IR56) that has adapted to the resistant rice variety IR56 through continuous selection, the moderate resistance to etofenprox was observed.

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As a zoonotic pathogen, serotype 2 (SS2) can cause severe diseases in both pigs and humans, and develop resistance to antibiotics. Plant natural compounds are regarded as promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Phillyrin is the major bioactive components of Chinese herbal medicine Forsythia suspensa.

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Islet transplantation is a promising therapy for diabetes, yet the limited survival and functionality of transplanted islet grafts hinder optimal outcomes. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an endogenous hormone, has shown potential to enhance islet survival and function; however, its systemic administration can result in poor localization and undesirable side effects. To address these challenges, we developed a novel peptide-based nanofiber hydrogel incorporating GLP-1 functionality for localized delivery.

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Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) in insect males are critical for reproduction, being transported into female ovary. In Nilaparvata lugens, a significant rice pest, seven spermary-specific carboxylesterases (CarEs) were found abundantly in SFPs, with over-expression in males of an imidacloprid-resistant (RES) strain compared to a susceptible (SUS) strain. This study aimed to evaluate roles of spermary-specific CarEs in N.

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Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is crucial for acetylcholine synthesis and regulates diverse functions in numerous biological processes. Omeprazole, an inhibitor on human ChAT, was evaluated here on insect ChAT as a potential inhibitor, as well as its insecticidal potency on Nilaparvata lugens, a major insect pest on rice. The evaluation also included omeprazole analogs and α-NETA, in order to explore a superior leading compound targeting on insect ChAT.

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Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) guarantees the acetylcholine signal in insect central nervous system, and is the target of organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides, towards which resistance was often reported due to AChE mutations. In Nilaparvata lugens, a major pest on rice, two mutations (G119S and F331C) were detected in AChE1 in a chlorpyrifos-resistant (CHL) strain. The double mutations in AChE1 reduced total AChE activity in metabolizing acetylcholine, such as low protein stability, substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency, which needed compensation in a special way.

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Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic pathogen that causes encephalitis in humans and reproductive failure in pigs. The transmission of JEV between humans and animals poses a significant public health threat and results in substantial economic losses. Excessive inflammation in the central nervous system of JEV-infected patients is a major cause of mortality and disability.

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Natural enemies are essential for the integrated pest management (IPM) strategy in insect pest control. However, chemical pesticides remain the primary method for insect pest control, diminishing natural enemies and causing environmental contamination. The wolf spider (Pardosa pseudoannulata), a major enemy in agro-ecosystem, exhibits maternal care (MC) behaviors such as eggsac-carrying and pulli-carrying, which are crucial for population growth.

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Article Synopsis
  • Lipids are crucial for the development and reproduction of insects, with lipases being key enzymes in lipid metabolism; a study identified 110 lipase genes in the Spodoptera frugiperda genome.
  • Most lipases were found to be neutral lipases, predominantly expressed in the larval gut, and displayed diet-specific expression patterns indicating adaptation to their hosts.
  • While neutral lipases in the gut showed a loss of triacylglycerol (TAG) hydrolytic activity, they retained this activity in the fat body, suggesting different roles for lipases in male and female reproduction, which could be targeted for new insecticide development.
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Introduction: Ongoing interactions between host and herbivorous insect trigger a co-evolutionary arms race. Genetic diversity within insects facilitates their adaptation to phytochemicals and their derivatives, including plant-derived insecticides. Cytochrome P450s play important roles in metabolizing phytochemicals and insecticides, due to their diversity and almost perfect evolution.

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  • Etofenprox is a low-toxicity pyrethroid insecticide used for controlling pest insects like the brown planthopper (BPH) in rice fields, affecting their nervous system.
  • The application of etofenprox reduces the expression of several salivary protein genes in BPH, which are crucial for their feeding processes, with nine genes showing significant changes.
  • Notably, silencing a specific gene (Nl12) disrupts ovary development and oocyte formation, highlighting how etofenprox impacts the reproductive abilities of BPH possibly through its effects on both the salivary glands and ovaries.
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Background: Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) have rapidly become one of the fastest-growing categories of fungicides used against plant pathogenic fungi. Recent research advancements have emphasized that structural modifications of SDHIs using naturally sourced scaffolds represent an innovative strategy for developing new, highly effective, broad-spectrum fungicides. A novel series of d/l-camphorhydrazide derivatives potentially targeting fungal succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antifungal effects against Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium graminearum, Valsa mali and Botrytis cinerea.

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  • Spiders are important natural predators of insect pests, but their use in biological pest control is limited due to challenges in mass production, particularly intense aggression among individuals.
  • This study investigates how serotonin (5-HT) affects aggression in the wandering spider Pardosa pseudoannulata, finding that manipulating serotonin levels can decrease aggression, with specific 5-HT receptors having distinct effects on aggressive behaviors.
  • The research suggests that understanding serotonin's role in aggression can help develop strategies for reducing spider aggression, which is essential for their successful mass rearing and use in pest control without affecting their predation abilities.
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  • Preliminary results from a phase I clinical trial show positive outcomes for a patient receiving autologous transplantation of chemically induced pluripotent stem cell-derived islets (CiPSC islets) to treat type 1 diabetes.
  • After 75 days post-transplant, the patient achieved sustained insulin independence, and their time-in-target glycemic range significantly improved from 43.18% to 96.21%.
  • At the 1-year mark, the patient maintained stable glycemic control, with over 98% time-in-target and glycated hemoglobin levels around 5%, indicating the need for further studies on CiPSC-islet transplantation.
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  • Nanopore sensors uniquely detect biomolecular translocation by monitoring electric current changes, making them promising for DNA sequencing despite challenges in signal clarity due to noise.
  • Innovative detection methods, like optical detection and nanopore field-effect transistor (FET) detection, address limitations of traditional nanopore technologies, with nanopore FET sensors providing superior signal clarity and bandwidth.
  • The review covers the history, principles, and applications of traditional solid-state nanopores, highlights novel detection methods with a focus on nanopore FETs, evaluates their pros and cons, and discusses future possibilities for these sensors in DNA sequencing.
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Spiders are important in ecosystem and serve as predators in the biological control of pest insects in agroecosystem, where they encounter various harsh challenges including pesticides and low temperature in winter. Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are widely and frequently applied to diminish weeds, exposing spiders a disturbed habitat, especially to overwintering spiders. We conducted a study combining field surveys and lab assays, to assess the effects of a GBH on the overwintering of the agrobiont wolf spider, Pardosa pseudoannulata.

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Background: The endocycle can generate cells referred to as 'polyploid'. Fizzy-related protein (Fzr) plays an important role in driving the mitosis-to-endocycle transition. The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), a serious insect pest, feeds exclusively on rice.

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Nitenpyram, taking the place of imidacloprid, is a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide to control in Asia. Two P450s, CYP4CE1 and CYP6ER1, are key factors in the metabolic resistance against nitenpyram and imidacloprid. In this study, we found that expression was strongly associated with nitenpyram resistance in 8 field-collected populations, whereas expression correlated with imidacloprid resistance.

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Article Synopsis
  • African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a deadly virus affecting pigs, with mortality rates as high as 100%, first identified in Kenya in 1921 and spreading globally, including a serious outbreak in China in 2018.
  • The immune system's T and B cells recognize specific patterns, called antigenic epitopes, which are essential for fighting ASFV and understanding these can help develop new treatments and vaccines.
  • This review discusses advancements in identifying these antigenic epitopes and the role of vaccine adjuvants, which enhance the immune response, in the effort to create effective vaccines against ASFV.
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  • * A case is presented of a premenopausal woman who experienced nipple discharge and a palpable breast mass, leading to further imaging tests for diagnosis.
  • * Imaging techniques like ultrasound and MRI often show these tumors as oval, well-defined masses, with confirmation of tubular adenoma diagnosis occurring after surgical removal and pathological examination.
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  • Porous polymer membranes serve as crucial separators in energy storage devices, aiding in the separation of cathode and anode, electrolyte storage, and ion transport.
  • A new method has been developed to create a superwetting electrolyte membrane that enhances lithium (Li) ion transport, preserves electrode integrity, and boosts the overall stability and safety of lithium metal batteries.
  • The resulting membrane, composed of a PVDF and PAN composite layer, shows remarkable performance, achieving 1500 hours of cycle stability and high capacity retention rates in various lithium battery configurations after extensive testing.
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