Aphis spiraecola Patch is one of the most economically important tree fruit pests worldwide. The pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin is commonly used to control A. spiraecola. In this 2-year study, we quantified the resistance level of A. spiraecola to lambda-cyhalothrin in different regions of the Shaanxi province, China. The results showed that A. spiraecola had reached extremely high resistance levels with a 174-fold resistance ratio (RR) found in the Xunyi region. In addition, we compared the enzymatic activity and expression level of P450 genes among eight A. spiraecola populations. The P450 activity of A. spiraecola was significantly increased in five regions (Xunyi, Liquan, Fengxiang, Luochuan, and Xinping) compared to susceptible strain (SS). The expression levels of CYP6CY7, CYP6CY14, CYP6CY22, P4504C1-like, P4506a13, CYP4CZ1, CYP380C47, and CYP4CJ2 genes were significantly increased under lambda-cyhalothrin treatment and in the resistant field populations. A L1014F mutation in the sodium channel gene was found and the mutation rate was positively correlated with the LC50 of lambda-cyhalothrin. In conclusion, the levels of lambda-cyhalothrin resistance of A. spiraecola field populations were associated with P450s and L1014F mutations. Our combined findings provide evidence on the resistance mechanism of A. spiraecola to lambda-cyhalothrin and give a theoretical basis for rational and effective control of this pest species.

Although ethanol treatment is widely used to activate oocytes, the underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. Roles of intracellular calcium stores and extracellular calcium in ethanol-induced activation (EIA) of oocytes remain to be verified, and whether calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is involved in EIA is unknown. This study showed that calcium-free ageing (CFA) in vitro significantly decreased intracellular stored calcium (sCa) and CaSR expression, and impaired EIA, spindle/chromosome morphology and developmental potential of mouse oocytes. Although EIA in oocytes with full sCa after ageing with calcium does not require calcium influx, calcium influx is essential for EIA of oocytes with reduced sCa after CFA. Furthermore, the extremely low EIA rate in oocytes with CFA-downregulated CaSR expression and the fact that inhibiting CaSR significantly decreased the EIA of oocytes with a full complement of CaSR suggest that CaSR played a significant role in the EIA of ageing oocytes. In conclusion, CFA impaired EIA and the developmental potential of mouse oocytes by decreasing sCa and downregulating CaSR expression. Because mouse oocytes routinely treated for activation (18 h post hCG) are equipped with a full sCa complement and CaSR, the present results suggest that, while calcium influx is not essential, CaSR is required for the EIA of oocytes.

Underground Nuclear Astrophysics in China (JUNA) will take the advantage of the ultra-low background in Jinping underground lab. High current accelerator with an ECR source and detectors were commissioned. JUNA plans to study directly a number of nuclear reactions important to hydrostatic stellar evolution at their relevant stellar energies. At the first period, JUNA aims at the direct measurements of 25Mg(p,γ)26 Al, 19F(p,α) 16 O, 13C(α, n) 16O and 12C(α,γ) 16O near the Gamow window. The current progress of JUNA will be given.

This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of oxidised dietary lipids and high-dose vitamin E (VE) on growth performance and immune responses of large yellow croaker. Juvenile fish (initial average body weight of 7·82 (sem 0·68) g) were fed diets containing either fresh fish oil (fresh diet, peroxide value (POV)=1·72 mEq/kg) or fish oil oxidised to varying degrees (oxidised diets, POV=28·29–104·21 mEq/kg), with or without supplementary 600 mg VE/kg diet, for 10 weeks in floating cages. Growth was significantly lower and feed intake (g/100 g body weight per d) was higher in fish fed the oxidised diet. Supplementation with VE increased the growth of fish fed the oxidised diets, but significantly decreased the growth of fish fed the fresh diet. Hepatosomatic index increased with increasing dietary POV and decreased with VE supplementation. Hepatic catalase activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde content were significantly higher in fish fed the oxidised diets, and these values decreased significantly following VE supplementation. However, hepatic SOD activity was enhanced by VE supplementation in fish fed the fresh diet. Air-exposure mortality was significantly increased by dietary POV, and this effect was inhibited by VE supplementation. These results suggest that dietary oxidised fish oil could stimulate the activities of antioxidant defence enzymes in stressed large yellow croaker. High-dose VE supplementation can alleviate oxidative stress of large yellow croaker fed oxidised fish oil, but can exert deleterious effects on fish in the absence of oxidative stress.

Interest in development in the use of nanoparticles in structural composites for the improvement of thermal conductivity, mechanical properties and electrical properties has recently stimulated some research efforts. Such improvements require the introduction of functional groups and the proper selection and concentration of the nanoparticles, as well as their uniform dispersion. The identification and verification of uniformity of dispersion is very important in the efficient processing for improved performance. Recently, new methods for studying and evaluating the interfacial properties between the reinforcing fibers and the epoxy matrix, have been developed. Distinct from FE-SEM observation, electrical resistance methods are being developed which can be applied for to measure interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and degree of dispersion. The main principle, on which the electrical resistance measurement is based, is Kirchhoff’s laws, which considers conductive materials as electrical circuits. In this research, the self sensing character of the conductive carbon nanotubes (CNT) and conventional carbon reinforcing fibers has been successfully used as a method for evaluating the dispersion of nanoparticles and interfacial adhesion. The electrical resistance in these composites was observed to be dependent on differences in wetting and interfacial adhesion between matrix and fillers. In summary, a correlation was observed between the electrical resistance and dispersion and degree of cure. It is felt that these methods, along with the electro-micromechanical methods, provide valuable tools for investigating the role of interfacial behavior on thermal conductivity, electrical and mechanical properties. Optical observations by FE-SEM of degree of dispersion and interfacial adhesion are consistent with the electrical resistance results. Additionally, it may be possible to use electrical resistance circuit analysis to detect the location of and extent of micro-damage within composite materials.

We report here the fabrication and characterization of ultra-long AlN whiskers by physical vapor transport method. The obtained whiskers are 1–3 µm in diameter and up to millimeters in length. The whiskers grow along the [0001] crystallographic direction and are well crystallized. They exhibit a strong ultraviolet emission at 345 nm, the shortest wavelength reported in AlN whiskers or nanowires. Our results indicate that these large scales of AlN whiskers are less contaminated by oxygen and other impurities compared with the previously reported ones, which may find wide applications in fabricating ultraviolet optoelectronic devices.

A total of twenty-seven species of marine-living coccolithophores were recorded from seawater samples that were collected during two spring cruises along the shelf regions of the Yellow Sea (YS) and the East China Sea (ECS). They were classified into ten families and four orders, with some additional species incertae sedis. Most of these species were heterococcolithophores, and no holococcolithophores were examined from the YS waters. Six species were recorded for the first time from the coastal waters of the China Seas and their morphological characteristics are described and photographically illustrated in this paper. They were Cyrtosphaera lecaliae, Syracosphaera histrica, Syracosphaera marginaporata, Pappomonas cf. sp. type 3, Calyptrolithophora papillifera and Corisphaera strigilis. Three types of Emiliania huxleyi, type A, type B/C and type C, were examined. Species of the genus Syracosphaera, in addition to E. huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica, frequently occurred at the surveyed sites. The coccolithophore assemblages in the offshore waters of the ECS were characterized by high species diversity—fourteen species in one sample. This finding indicated that the shelf waters adjacent to the Kuroshio path were ideal habitats for living coccolithophores. The variation in taxonomic composition of these algae could be associated with differences in their preferred habitats.

Nano- and hetero-structures of carbon nanotube (CNT) and indium tin oxide (ITO) can control significantly piezoelectric and optoelectronic properties in Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) as sensing and actuators under cyclic loading. Optimized preparation conditions were obtained for multi-functional purpose of the specimens by obtaining the best dispersion and turbidity in the solution. Optical transmittance and electrical properties were investigated for CNT and ITO dipping and spraying coating on boro-silicate glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates by electrical resistance measurement under cyclic loading and wettability test. Uniform dipping coating was performed using Wilhelmy plate method due to it simple and convenience. Specimen was applied with spraying coating additionally. The change in the electrical and optical properties of coated layer is mainly dependent upon the number of dip-coating, the concentration of CNT and ITO solutions, and the surface treatment condition. Electric properties of coating layers were measured using four-point probe method, and surface resistance was calculated using a dual configuration method. Optical transmittance of CNT and ITO coated PET film was also evaluated using UV spectrum. Surface energy and their hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of CNT and ITO coated substrates were investigated by wettability test via static and dynamic contact angle measurements. As the elapsing time of cyclic loading passed, the stability of surface resistance and thus comparative interfacial adhesion between coated layer and substrates was evaluated to compare the thermodynamic work of adhesion, Wa . As dip-coating number increased, surface resistance of CNT coating decreased, whereas the transmittance decreased step-by-step due to the thicker CNT and ITO networking layer. Nano- and hetero-structural effects of CNT and ITO solution on the optical and electrical effects have been studied continuously.