Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an omnivorous pest that poses a great threat to food security. Insect antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small peptides that are important effector molecules of innate immunity. Here, we investigated the role of the AMP cecropin B in the growth, development, and immunity of M. separata. The gene encoding M. separata cecropin B (MscecropinB) was cloned. The expression of MscecropinB was determined in different developmental stages and tissues of M. separata. It was highest in the prepupal stage, followed by the pupal stage. Among larval stages, the highest expression was observed in the fourth instar. Tissue expression analysis of fourth instar larvae showed that MscecropinB was highly expressed in the fat body and haemolymph. An increase in population density led to upregulation of MscecropinB expression. MscecropinB expression was also upregulated by the infection of third and fourth instar M. separata with Beauveria bassiana or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). RNA interference (RNAi) targeting MscecropinB inhibited the emergence rate and fecundity of M. separata, and resulted in an increased sensitivity to B. bassiana and Bt. The mortality of M. separata larvae was significantly higher in pathogen plus RNAi-treated M. separata than in controls treated with pathogens only. Our findings indicate that MscecropinB functions in the eclosion and fecundity of M. separata and plays an important role in resistance to infection by B. bassiana and Bt.

Trematodes of the genus Ogmocotyle are intestinal flukes that can infect a variety of definitive hosts, resulting in significant economic losses worldwide. However, there are few studies on molecular data of these trematodes. In this study, the mitochondrial (mt) genome of Ogmocotyle ailuri isolated from red panda (Ailurus fulgens) was determined and compared with those from Pronocephalata to investigate the mt genome content, genetic distance, gene rearrangements and phylogeny. The complete mt genome of O. ailuri is a typical closed circular molecule of 14 642 base pairs, comprising 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 2 non-coding regions. All genes are transcribed in the same direction. In addition, 23 intergenic spacers and 2 locations with gene overlaps were determined. Sequence identities and sliding window analysis indicated that cox1 is the most conserved gene among 12 PCGs in O. ailuri mt genome. The sequenced mt genomes of the 48 Plagiorchiida trematodes showed 5 types of gene arrangement based on all mt genome genes, with the gene arrangement of O. ailuri being type I. Phylogenetic analysis using concatenated amino acid sequences of 12 PCGs revealed that O. ailuri was closer to Ogmocotyle sikae than to Notocotylus intestinalis. These data enhance the Ogmocotyle mt genome database and provide molecular resources for further studies of Pronocephalata taxonomy, population genetics and systematics.

Celestial navigation is an important means of maritime navigation; it can automatically achieve inertially referenced positioning and orientation after a long period of development. However, the impact of different accuracy of observations and the influence of nonstationary states, such as ship speed change and steering, are not taken into account in existing algorithms. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an adaptively robust maritime celestial navigation algorithm, in which each observation value is given an equivalent weight according to the robust estimation theory, and the dynamic balance between astronomical observation and prediction values of vessel motion is adjusted by applying the adaptive factor. With this system, compared with the frequently used least square method and extended Kalman filter algorithm, not only are the real-time and high-precision navigation parameters, such as position, course, and speed for the vessel, calculated simultaneously, but also the influence of abnormal observation and vessel motion status change could be well suppressed.

It was reported that about 10% of people suffer from painful knee arthritis, and a quarter of them were severely disabled. The core activities of daily living were severely limited by knee osteoarthritis (KOA). In order to reduce knee pain and prolong the life of the knee joint, there has been an increasing demand on the development of exoskeletons, for prevention and treatment. The course of KOA was closely related to the biomechanics of knee joint, and the pathogenesis was summarized based on the biomechanics of knee joint. For the prevention and clinical treatment, exoskeletons are classified into three categories: prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation after the operation. Furthermore, the design concepts, actuators, sensors, control strategies, and evaluation criteria were presented. Finally, the shortcomings and limitations were summarized. It is useful for researchers to develop suitable exoskeletons in the future.

Single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction data, collected at room temperature, unit-cell parameters and space group for eluxadoline nitrate monohydrate, C32H35N5O5⋅2HNO3⋅H2O, are reported [a = 11.066(5) Å, b = 13.452(6) Å, c = 24.373(9) Å, unit-cell volume V = 3628.15 Å3, Z = 4, ρcal = 1.344 g⋅cm−3, and space group P212121]. All the diffraction peaks in the experimental pattern have been indexed and are consistent with the P212121 space group.

Systematic error is one of the major factors that affect positioning accuracy owing to the changeable and complex nature of seawater environments. Based on a Global Navigation Satellite System-acoustic intelligent buoys system, whose acoustic array consists of a series of surface buoys, a single-difference method for underwater dynamic positioning is proposed to eliminate systematic error. Positioning configuration optimisation was addressed using dilution of precision (DOP). A simulation of DOP proved that for the single-difference method, a radiation network with a centre-difference reference point was superior to a regular polygon network. The positioning experiment showed that the novel method could effectively eliminate systematic error, improving vertical positioning accuracy from a metre- to a decimetre scale.

High-precision underwater positioning must eliminate the influence of refraction artefacts. Since a Time Of Arrival - Global Navigation Satellite System Intelligent Buoys (TOA-GIB) system does not measure incident beam angles, common refraction correction methods cannot be directly used for refraction artefacts. An Equivalent Sound Speed (ESS) iteration method is proposed and is based on the transformation relations between depth, the ESS gradient and the incident beam angle. On this basis, a TOA/AOA-GIB system without a real-time Sound Speed Profile (SSP) is proposed to estimate the target position and the ESS gradient as unknown parameters. The results from a simulation experiment show that the positioning accuracy of a TOA/AOA-GIB system is better than 0·07% of water depth when the accuracy of the incident beam angle is 0·1°.

In this paper, zircon U–Pb geochronology, major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd isotope geochemistry of the Baiyanghe dolerites in northern West Junggar of NW China are presented. The U–Pb dating of zircons from the dolerites yielded ages of 272.2±4 Ma and 276.7±6.2 Ma, which indicate the emplacement times. The dolerites are characterized by minor variations in SiO2 (46.89 to 49.07 wt%), high contents of Al2O3 (13.60 to 13.92 wt%) and total Fe2O3 (11.14 to 11.70 wt%), and low contents of MgO (2.67 to 3.64 wt%) and total alkalis (Na2O+K2O, 5.1 to 5.97 wt%, K2O/Na2O = 0.37–0.94), which indicate affinities to metaluminous tholeiite basalt. The REE pattern ((La/Sm)N = 2.25–2.34, (La/Yb)N = 7.42–8.36), V–Ti/1000 and 50*Zr–Ti/50–Sm discrimination diagrams show that these rocks are OIB-type. The high contents of Zr and Ti indicate a within-plate tectonic setting, and samples plot in the ‘plume source’ field shown on the Dy/Yb(N) versus Ce/Yb(N) diagram. The positive εNd(t) values (+7.09 to +7.48), high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.70442 to 0.70682) and depletions of Nb and Ta elements in the samples can be explained by the involvement of subducted sediments. In summary, it is possible that the Baiyanghe dolerites were derived from an OIB-like mantle source and associated with a mantle plume tectonic setting. Therefore, our samples provide the youngest evidence for the existence of a mantle plume, which may provide new insights into the Late Palaeozoic tectonic setting of West Junggar.

The relationship between hydrophobicity and the protective effect of whey protein hydrolysates (WPHs) against oxidative stress was studied. Whey protein was first hydrolysed by pepsin and trypsin to obtain WPHs. After absorbed by macroporous adsorption resin DA201-C, three fractions named as M20, M40, and M60 were eluted by various concentrations of ethanol. The hydrophobicity showed a trend of increase from M20 to M60. Antioxidant ability test in vitro indicated that all the three components of WPHs displayed reasonably good antioxidant ability. Moreover, with the increase of hydrophobicity, antioxidant ability of WPHs improved significantly. Then rat pheochromocytoma line 12 (PC12) cells oxidative model was built to evaluate the suppression of oxidative stress of three components on PC12 cells induced by H2O2. Morphological alterations, cell viability, apoptosis rate, and intracellular antioxidase system tests all indicated that WPHs exert significant protection on PC cells against H2O2-induced damage. Among them, M60 had the highest protective effect by increasing 19·3% cell survival and reducing 28·6% cell apoptosis. These results suggested hydrophobicity of WPHs was contributing to the antioxidant ability and the protective effect against oxidative damage.

Zhang X, Wang X, Sha W, Zhou H, Zhang Y. Val66Met polymorphism and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentration in depressed patients.

Objective: Accumulating evidence has suggested a pathophysiological role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in major depressive disorder (MDD). The present study evaluated serum levels of BDNF and explored whether Val66Met BDNF gene polymorphism is correlated with changes in circulating BDNF levels in patients with MDD and control subjects.

Methods: Subjects were 76 patients with MDD and 50 controls. Diagnosis of MDD was determined by the use of a structured clinical interview according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-IV (DSM-IV) criteria. The concentrations of BDNF were measured by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Val66Met BDNF gene polymorphism was examined by the polymerase chain reaction technique.

Results: Serum BDNF was significantly lower in MDD patients than in normal control subjects (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences either in allele or genotype in the Val66Met polymorphism between the MDD and control groups. Moreover, genotype did not significantly correlate with the BDNF serum levels in the MDD or control groups.

Conclusions: Our study suggests that there is a decrease in serum BDNF levels in untreated MDD patients. However, serum BDNF levels were not associated with the Val66Met polymorphism.

An accurate and direct algorithm for solving the semiclassical Boltzmann equation with relaxation time approximation in phase space is presented for parallel treatment of rarefied gas flows of particles of three statistics. The discrete ordinate method is first applied to discretize the velocity space of the distribution function to render a set of scalar conservation laws with source term. The high order weighted essentially non-oscillatory scheme is then implemented to capture the time evolution of the discretized velocity distribution function in physical space and time. The method is developed for two space dimensions and implemented on gas particles that obey the Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. Computational examples in one- and two-dimensional initial value problems of rarefied gas flows are presented and the results indicating good resolution of the main flow features can be achieved. Flows of wide range of relaxation times and Knudsen numbers covering different flow regimes are computed to validate the robustness of the method. The recovery of quantum statistics to the classical limit is also tested for small fugacity values.

Systemic Fe overload can contribute to abnormal glucose metabolism and the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although hepcidin is the master regulator of systemic Fe homeostasis, few studies have systematically evaluated the associations of serum hepcidin concentrations with Fe metabolism parameters and risks for the development of T2D. In this regard, whether hepcidin concentrations are associated with T2D remains controversial. We measured serum hepcidin and ferritin concentrations in a case–control study of 1259 Han Chinese participants to evaluate the possible associations of serum hepcidin concentrations with Fe metabolism parameters and risks of T2D. Individuals with diabetes (n 555) and control participants (n 704) were recruited and serum hepcidin and ferritin concentrations were quantified. Additionally, selected biochemical and anthropometric variables were determined. A logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association of serum hepcidin and ferritin concentrations with T2D. A linear regression analysis was used to test for associations between serum hepcidin and ferritin concentrations and a number of clinical, demographic and diabetes-associated variables. We found that serum hepcidin concentrations correlated with Hb and serum ferritin concentrations. No differences in hepcidin concentrations were found between the group with diabetes and the control group. Hepcidin concentrations were not significantly correlated with T2D risk factors. We also found that serum ferritin concentrations were elevated in individuals with diabetes and were positively correlated with both Hb concentrations and T2D risk factors. The present findings suggest that serum ferritin concentrations correlate with T2D risk factors, while serum hepcidin concentrations are positively associated with Hb and serum ferritin concentrations, but do not correlate with T2D.

There are about 70 Galactic supernova remnants (SNRs) that are now confirmed or suggested to be in physical contact with molecular clouds (MCs) with six kinds of evidence of multiwavelength observations. Recent detailed CO-line spectroscopic mappings of a series of SNRs reveal them to be in cavities of molecular gas, implying the roles the progenitors may have played. We predict a linear correlation between the wind bubble sizes of main-sequence OB stars in a molecular environment and the stellar masses and discuss its implication for supernova progenitors. The molecular environments of SNRs can serve as a good probe for the γ-rays arising from the hadronic interaction of the accelerated protons, and this paper also discusses the γ-ray emission from MCs illuminated by diffusive protons that escape from SNR shocks.

Tycho is one of nearly a dozen Galactic supernova remnants which are suggested to emit hadronic γ-ray emission. Among them, however, it is the only one in which the hadronic emission is proposed to arise from the interaction with low-density ambient medium. Based on the multi-band observations, we suggest that Tycho is encountering dense cloud at the northeastern boundary. The γ-ray emissions can be explained by hadronic process with self-consistent parameters, such as a modest energy conversion efficiency. In this SNR-cloud association scenario, the distance can be estimated as ~2.5 kpc.

The primary objective of the paper is to explore using reinsurance as a risk management tool for an insurance company. We consider an insurance company whose surplus can be modeled by a Brownian motion with drift and that the surplus can be invested in a risky or riskless asset. Under the above Black-Scholes type framework and using the objective of minimizing the ruin probability of the insurer, we formally establish that the excess-of-loss reinsurance treaty is optimal among the class of plausible reinsurance treaties. We also obtain the optimal level of retention as well as provide an explicit expression of the minimal probability of ruin.

This trial was aimed at investigating the effect of different doses of progesterone (P4) and types of vaginal bolts on new follicular wave induction, oestrus synchronization and superovulation in Holstein heifers. Results showed that the interval after prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) application and oestrus occurrence between the sponge blot (SP) group (48.3 h) and the progestin release device (PRD) group (39 h) was significantly different (P<0.05). The average number of embryos obtained in the SP group (13.2) was significantly higher than that (8.7) in the PRD group (P<0.05). The same trend was observed for the number of usable embryos (5.7 and 3.3 for SP and PRD groups, respectively). The injection of 50 and 100 mg of P4 efficiently induced a new follicular wave, whereas no significant difference (P>0.05) was recorded on oestrus synchronization and superovulation between the two groups.

This paper presents an approach for decoding the pressure information exerted over a piece of fabric by means of resistive sensing. The proposed sensor includes a distributed resistive grids constructed by two systems of orthogonally contacted electrical conductive yarns, with no external sensing element to be attached on the fabric. Since the conductive yarns serve as the sensing and wiring elements simultaneously, this design simplifies the fabrication process, reduces the cost and makes the production of large area flexible pressure sensor possible. The location of the pressure applied on the fabric can be identified by detecting the position where the change of the resistances occurs between two embroidered yarns. Meanwhile, the magnitude of the pressure can be acquired by measuring the variations of the resistance. In order to eliminate the “crosstalk” effect between adjoining fibers, the yarns were separately wired on the fabric surface.