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Background: Lachninae (Insecta: Aphididae) represent a fascinating group of aphids that are traditionally divided into five tribes. Among these, members of the tribe Tuberolachnini exhibit remarkable morphological and biological diversity. One genus of this group, Miyalachnus, known from Japan, is characterized by unique features. Our study aimed to re-examine the tribal classification within Lachninae, with a focus on the diverse Tuberolachnini and the previously understudied genera Miyalachnus and Sinolachnus. Results: We conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis using four genes (COI, COII, CytB, and EF1α), employing both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods on a combined dataset. Our findings challenge the monophyly of Tuberolachnini. The analyses revealed that Miyalachnus and Sinolachnus are phylogenetically distinct from the core Tuberolachnini genera (Nippolachnus, Pyrolachnus, and Tuberolachnus), instead showing a closer relationship with Tramini. Specifically, the Miyalachnus clade forms a sister clade to the clade containing Sinolachnus and Tramini. Conclusions: On the basis of these molecular results, corroborated by morphological evidence, we propose to erect a new tribe within the Lachninae-Miyalachnini trib. nov. with Miyalachnus as the type genus. We also provide updated taxonomic diagnoses for the remaining tribes and discuss their relationships as well as distinguishing features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into enhancing the performance and durability of anion exchange membrane (AEM)‐based water electrolysis (AEMWE) cells has primarily aimed to facilitate commercialization efforts and improve the chemical stability of AEMs, with anion exchange ionomers (AEIs) playing an increasingly important role. This study aimed to reduce ionomer swelling and enhance AEM–catalyst adhesion via AEM–ionomer crosslinking within a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), using allyl‐ and quaternary ammonium‐functionalized poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO), allyl‐m‐PPO, as both the AEM and AEI. Bis(aryl azide) was added as a crosslinker to an ionomer solution to generate the MEA, which was heated to induce allyl–azide crosslinks at the membrane–ionomer interface. Peel test indicated an increased adhesion at both electrodes for the crosslinked x‐allyl‐0.05‐PPO (5 mol% allyl content relative to the total ion‐conducting head group content). Further, x‐allyl‐0.05‐PPO exhibited a smaller voltage increase due to crosslinking compared to TA‐PPO, signifying a notable improvement in durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This publication describes a new Lachninae aphid genus and species (Insecta, Hemiptera: Aphididae)—Miyalachnus—from Japan. This genus is characterized by unique and outstanding morphological features on the legs and antennae and can be easily recognized within the remaining Lachninae genera. We provided a detailed scanning electron microscopy study on the general morphology and sensilla of the viviparous and sexual generations. We presented the biology of the genus with descriptions of all available morphs. The tribe Tuberolachnini within the Lachninae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is particularly intriguing due to its morphological traits and various ecological associations. Among the genera within this group, Pyrolachnus stands out as relatively understudied. Currently, only one species, Pyrolachnus imbricatus nipponicus Sorin, 2011, is known from Japan, distinguished by its distinctive characteristics. Through meticulous morphological analyses, we introduce a novel Lachninae genus, Miyalachnus gen. nov., associated with Cerasus and Prunus spp. (Rosaceae) in Japan. This new genus accommodates P. imbricatus nipponicus, now recognized as Miyalachnus nipponicus (Sorin, 2011) comb. nov. Additionally, we present a second species within this genus, Miyalachnus sorini sp. nov., along with comprehensive SEM morphological examination and insights into its biology. Our study describes in detail the morphological characteristics of both viviparous and bisexual generations of Miyalachnus, as well as their relationships with related genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge-aware recommender systems, which utilize knowledge graphs (KGs) to enrich item information, have been shown to improve the accuracy and explainability of recommendations. Besides, KGs are further explored to determine the intent of choosing items (i.e., the reason why users select items of interest). Conventional methods represent intents either as sets of relations in a KG or as KG entities. However, such approaches fail to fully leverage the combined information provided by both entities and relations. To address this issue, we propose a new KG-based user Intent Extraction Framework (KIEF) to capture user intents at a more fine-grained level for recommendation. Specifically, we propose a novel intent representation constructed with relation-aware entity representation, encouraging finer granularity for user intents. Furthermore, since a KG may contain noisy information that impairs the quality of user intent, it is compulsory to consider which factors in a KG are important to represent a user's intent. Thus, we introduce global intent which are comprehensive features for the entire interactions of all users and local intent, which are empirical features of individual users from personal history. By maximizing mutual information between global and local intents, KIEF captures user preference for items. Through extensive experiments on four real-world benchmark datasets, we prove the superior performance of KIEF over the state-of-the-art and analyze interpretable explanations for understanding user intents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calaphidinae is the second‐largest subfamily in the family Aphididae. Despite their species diversity and some taxonomic controversy, no phylogenetic studies have been conducted on them thus far. Herein, we report the first molecular phylogeny of Calaphidinae and two related lineages, Phyllaphidinae and Saltusaphidinae, based on five genes (3418 bp) for 126 taxa. Maximum parsimony, maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian inference phylogenetic analyses were performed on the multilocus dataset. Divergence time estimation, biogeographical reconstruction, ancestral host plant reconstruction and PhyloType analyses were performed to identify evolutionary trends in Calaphidinae. Our phylogenetic results lead to several conclusions: Phyllaphidinae is a sister group to Calaphidinae s.l.; Calaphidinae is paraphyletic with respect to the former "Saltusaphidinae"; the ingroup clade was subdivided into nine newly recognized lineages; and three subtribes of Calaphidinae (Monaphidina, Calaphdina and Panaphidina) and many genera were not recovered as monophyletic. A new classification is proposed with eight tribal divisions that reflect our phylogenetic results, including three new tribes (Pterocallidini trib.n., Pseudochromaphidini trib.n. and Shivaphidini trib.n.) and three new statuses (Saltusaphidini stat.n., Therioaphidini stat.n. and Myzocallidini stat.n.). The ancestral reconstruction results imply that the ingroup taxa's common ancestor originated in the Eastern Palaearctic and might have fed on Fagaceae in the Late Cretaceous. Later, multiple host shifts and an expanding geographical distribution led to the current species diversity of Calaphidinae. Our reconstructions suggest that species diversification cannot solely be explained by speciation via host shifts and that geographical isolation probably also played a key role. Our results provide new insight into the natural classification and history of the host plant associations and biogeography of Calaphidinae s.l. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids provide a good model system to understand the ecological speciation concept, since the majority of the species are host-specific, and they spend their entire lifecycle on certain groups of host plants. Aphid species that apparently have wide host plant ranges have often turned out to be complexes of host-specialized biotypes. Here we investigated the various host-associated populations of the two recently diverged species, Aphis gossypii and A. rhamnicola, having multiple primary hosts, to understand the complex evolution with host-associated speciation. Using mitochondrial DNA marker and nine microsatellite loci, we reconstructed the haplotype network, and analyzed the genetic structure and relationships. Approximate Bayesian computation was also used to infer the ancestral primary host and host-associated divergence, which resulted in Rhamnus being the most ancestral host for A. gossypii and A. rhamnicola. As a result, Aphis gossypii and A. rhamnicola do not randomly use their primary and secondary host plants; rather, certain biotypes use only some secondary and specific primary hosts. Some biotypes are possibly in a diverging state through specialization to specific primary hosts. Our results also indicate that a new heteroecious race can commonly be derived from the heteroecious ancestor, showing strong evidence of ecological specialization through a primary host shift in both A. gossypii and A. rhamnicola. Interestingly, A. gossypii and A. rhamnicola shared COI haplotypes with each other, thus there is a possibility of introgression by hybridization between them by cross-sharing same primary hosts. Our results contribute to a new perspective in the study of aphid evolution by identifying complex evolutionary trends in the gossypii sensu lato complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native to China and the Korean Peninsula, the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), Anoplophora glabripennis, has been introduced to North America and Europe. In both its native range and the territory it has invaded, ALB is responsible for the death or removal of millions of urban, roadside, and forest trees. Here, we present the population genetic structure of ALB in South Korea, using 801 bp of mitochondrial DNA and the most comprehensive sampling to date. ALB populations in South Korea are divided into three distinct geographical subgroups: the northeastern natural forest, and the western and southern urban areas. Historical records suggest that the forest-dwelling subgroup is native, as does the moderate genetic diversity of this population. Meanwhile, the fact that ALB was first observed in the western and southern areas only recently, the extreme genetic bottleneck status of these populations, their distribution in large port cities and adjacent areas, and the difference in observed host plants used by the forest subgroup and the urban subgroups suggest that the urban populations are non-native recent invaders. Approximate Bayesian computation suggests that the western and southern subgroups most likely originated from northeastern and northwestern China, respectively. Therefore, our study demonstrates that ALB invasion has occurred even within the species' native territory. This finding alters our perception of biological invasion by providing a unique example of a species that has invaded its own native range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curved-horn moths or gelechioid moths (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) represent one of the most diverse lepidopteran groups. Due to the large number of species, generally small size of adults and subtle morphological differences, their confident identification requires tenacious and long-term dedication on their diversity. Over the past decade, DNA barcoding has repeatedly been used to elucidate boundaries of species in many large and difficult groups. Here, we conducted a test of DNA barcoding with the diverse fauna of Korean Gelechioidea with very little prior information of COI gene region from the area. Altogether 509 specimens representing 154 morphospecies were included in the study. The species assignments of all three tested species delimitation methods (ABGD, bPTP and PTP) were consistent with morphological identifications for 117 species (75.97%). A threshold of 2.5% genetic divergence was observed to differentiate the morphological species efficiently. Careful morphological examination of morphospecies exceeding 2.5% intraspecific variability prove cryptic diversity in three species (Neoblastobasis biceratala, Evippe albidoesella and Promalactis atriplagata). One morphospecies, Promalactis odaiensis, showed high intraspecific divergence while consisted of only a single MOTU. Overall, DNA barcoding was shown to provide a powerful tool to discriminate species of Korean Gelechioidea and reveal cases of cryptic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicle charging demand is highly variable depending on the charging pattern of consumers. If electric vehicle charging time is converged, the charging demand connected to power grids will increase and system instability may be induced. Wind Generating Sources (WGRs) can provide as much of the charging energy as possible. In this paper, we propose a simultaneous approach implementing wind-powered electric vehicle charging stations in order to distribute the charging demand of the electric vehicle with wind generating resources. The Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Exogenous Variables (ARIMAX) model is applied to predict hourly wind power outputs. The augmented ARIMAX model is extended from Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model by adding exogenous such as a wind speed including grid integration analysis simulation processes. To validate the proposed approach for electric vehicle charging dispersion, we use the empirical data from the Jeju Island's wind farms in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aphid genus Tinocallis Matsumura, 1919 (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Calaphidinae) in central and northern Europe is reviewed; it includes four species. The first records of the Asian elm aphid Tinocallis takachihoensis Higuchi, 1972 are reported from the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Poland. The record in Denmark is the first in Scandinavia. Alate viviparous females and nymphs of T. takachihoensis were collected from Ulmus glabra "Pendula" (the Czech Republic and Poland) and from U. minor (Denmark) in 2017. Tinocallis takachihoensis is the fourth Tinocallis species to be recorded from Poland and together with two other species from the subgenus Sappocallis, T. nevskyi and T. saltans, is a species of alien origin. The alate viviparous females are reviewed and re-described and their affinities and distribution in central and northern Europe are discussed. A key to the European species of Tinocallis based on the characters of live and slide-mounted specimens is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids are a species rich group comprising many important pests. However, species identification can be very difficult for aphids due to their morphological ambiguity. DNA barcoding has been widely adopted for rapid and reliable species identification as well as cryptic species detection. In this study, we investigated cryptic diversity in the subfamily Calaphidinae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) based on 899 sequences of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) for 115 morphospecies (78 species collected in this study and sequences of 73 species downloaded from Genbank). Among these 115 morphospecies, DNA barcoding results of 90 (78.3%) species were identical to results of morphological identification. However, 25 (21.7%) morphospecies showed discrepancies between DNA barcoding and traditional taxonomy. Among these 25 discordances, a total of 15 cryptic species were identified from 12 morphospecies. We also found three morphologically distinct species pairs that sharing DNA barcoding. Based on molecular operational taxonomic unit (MOTU) estimation, we discussed on species delimitation threshold value for these taxa. Our findings confirm that Calaphidinae has high cryptic diversity even though aphids are relatively well-studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(aryl piperidinium) (PAP), the aryl ether-free polymer backbone, has drawn recent attention as a high-performance anion exchange membrane (AEM) material due to its excellent ion-conduction and alkaline stability. However, the relatively low mechanical (strain) property and poor phase separation of these PAP-based membranes require further improvement. Thus, this study crosslinked the poly(bibenzyl N -methyl piperidine) (PBB), a rigid PAP unit, with poly(styrene- b -ethylene- co -butylene- b -styrene) (SEBS), an elastic unit. Crosslinked PBB-SEBS membranes were prepared with different rigid and elastic polymer ratios by tuning the crosslinking degree. The membrane with a crosslinking degree of 40% exhibited a high elongation at break, 70.3%, a high Young's modulus, 486 MPa, and very high ionic conductivity (72.28–146.25 mS cm−1) from the high bound water content and the optimized morphology. Furthermore, it exhibited excellent alkaline (99% conductivity remaining for 720 h, 2 M KOH, 80 °C) and oxidative stability (98% for 120 h, 60 °C). With the highest RH and normalized conductivity in water, the membrane showed peak power density of 555 mW cm−2 in an AEM fuel cell test and a current density of 1042 mA cm−2 at 1.8 V, 178% of the value of the commercially available FAA-3-50, in the AEM water electrolysis test. [Display omitted] ➢ Two aryl-ether free polymers with different properties were crosslinked. ➢ Effect of phase separation induced from both polymers was investigated. ➢ Good phase separation helped to enhance water holding capacity, conductivity and cell performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae ( Sulzer), feeds consistently and regularly throughout all stages of nymphs and adult. That is, honey dew production, which indicates a state of feeding, occurs at regular intervals within a given stage, and moving, which interrupts feeding, tends to occur rarely. We used these behaviors to test whether sound stimuli acted as a stress in this species. We conducted the playback experiment in which acoustic stimuli with a combination of five frequencies (100, 500, 1000, 5000, and 10000 Hz) and three intensity levels (66, 78, 90 dB SPL) were presented to all stages of aphids. Under all acoustic stimuli, honey dew production occurred less often, and moving occurred more often and for longer. The results of two-way multivariate analysis of variance showed that the stimulus frequency was a significant factor for variation in aphid behaviors in the playback experiment. However, there was no intensity effect on the aphid's behavior. Based on the electrical penetration graph experiment, aphid feeding stopped frequently and lasted only for short durations under acoustic stimuli. The results of both experiments demonstrated that the acoustic stimuli were effective in inducing feeding suppression in this species. Thus, the acoustic stimuli may be a stressor in the green peach aphid. Furthermore, the behavioral bioassay employed in this study may be used to assess the effect of various stressors on aphids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play central roles in regulating posttranscriptional expression of genes. Many of them are known to be deregulated in a wide variety of cancers. Dysregulated RBPs influence the expression levels of target RNAs related to cancer phenotypes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, senescence, and EMT/invasion/metastasis. Thus, understanding the molecular functions of RBPs and their roles in cancer-related phenotypes can lead to improved therapeutic strategies. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) crucially regulate gene expression through post-transcriptional regulation, such as by modulating microRNA (miRNA) processing and the alternative splicing, alternative polyadenylation, subcellular localization, stability, and translation of RNAs. More than 1500 RBPs have been identified to date, and many of them are known to be deregulated in cancer. Alterations in the expression and localization of RBPs can influence the expression levels of oncogenes, tumor-suppressor genes, and genome stability-related genes. RBP-mediated gene regulation can lead to diverse cancer-related cellular phenotypes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, senescence, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)/invasion/metastasis. This regulation can also be associated with cancer prognosis. Thus, RBPs can be potential targets for the development of therapeutics for the cancer treatment. In this review, we describe the molecular functions of RBPs, their roles in cancer-related cellular phenotypes, and various approaches that may be used to target RBPs for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein dynamics play a crucial role in biological function, encompassing motions ranging from atomic vibrations to large-scale conformational changes. Recent advancements in experimental techniques, computational methods, and artificial intelligence have revolutionized our understanding of protein dynamics. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy provides atomic-resolution insights, while molecular dynamics simulations offer detailed trajectories of protein motions. Computational methods applied to X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have enabled the exploration of protein dynamics, capturing conformational ensembles that were previously unattainable. The integration of machine learning, exemplified by AlphaFold2, has accelerated structure prediction and dynamics analysis. These approaches have revealed the importance of protein dynamics in allosteric regulation, enzyme catalysis, and intrinsically disordered proteins. The shift towards ensemble representations of protein structures and the application of single-molecule techniques have further enhanced our ability to capture the dynamic nature of proteins. Understanding protein dynamics is essential for elucidating biological mechanisms, designing drugs, and developing novel biocatalysts, marking a significant paradigm shift in structural biology and drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid advancements in nucleic acid-based electrochemical sensors for implantable and wearable applications have marked a significant leap forward in the domain of personal healthcare over the last decade. This technology promises to revolutionize personalized healthcare by facilitating the early diagnosis of diseases, monitoring of disease progression, and tailoring of individual treatment plans. This review navigates through the latest developments in this field, focusing on the strategies for nucleic acid sensing that enable real-time and continuous biomarker analysis directly in various biofluids, such as blood, interstitial fluid, sweat, and saliva. The review delves into various nucleic acid sensing strategies, emphasizing the innovative designs of biorecognition elements and signal transduction mechanisms that enable implantable and wearable applications. Special perspective is given to enhance nucleic acid-based sensor selectivity and sensitivity, which are crucial for the accurate detection of low-level biomarkers. The integration of such sensors into implantable and wearable platforms, including microneedle arrays and flexible electronic systems, actualizes their use in on-body devices for health monitoring. We also tackle the technical challenges encountered in the development of these sensors, such as ensuring long-term stability, managing the complexity of biofluid dynamics, and fulfilling the need for real-time, continuous, and reagentless detection. In conclusion, the review highlights the importance of these sensors in the future of medical engineering, offering insights into design considerations and future research directions to overcome existing limitations and fully realize the potential of nucleic acid-based electrochemical sensors for healthcare applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multifunctional carbon catabolite repression negative on TATA-box-less complex (CCR4-NOT) is a multi-subunit complex present in all eukaryotes, including fungi. This complex plays an essential role in gene expression; however, a functional study of the CCR4-NOT complex in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae has not been conducted. Seven genes encoding the putative CCR4-NOT complex were identified in the M. oryzae genome. Among these, a homologous gene, MoNOT3, was overexpressed during appressorium development in a previous study. Deletion of MoNOT3 in M. oryzae resulted in a significant reduction in hyphal growth, conidiation, abnormal septation in conidia, conidial germination, and appressorium formation compared to the wild-type. Transcriptional analyses suggest that the MoNOT3 gene affects conidiation and conidial morphology by regulating COS1 and COM1 in M. oryzae. Furthermore, Δmonot3 exhibited a lack of pathogenicity, both with and without wounding, which is attributable to deficiencies in the development of invasive growth in planta. This result was also observed in onion epidermal cells, which are non-host plants. In addition, the MoNOT3 gene was involved in cell wall stress responses and heat shock. Taken together, these observations suggest that the MoNOT3 gene is required for fungal infection-related cell development and stress responses in M. oryzae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Filter feeders can retain environmental DNA (eDNA) within their bodies, making them potential eDNA samplers. In this study, eDNA from the gut contents of Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) was used to identify biodiversity in estuarine ecosystems. Various organisms, such as fish, copepods, and green algae, were detected, representing a wide range of habitats. Of the 20 families detected (except for Fungi and terrestrial taxa), 8 families were also documented in the conventional field survey, enabling the identification of an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) of migratory fish that are challenging to observe directly. These results support the potential application of C. fluminea as a supplementary tool for investigating the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems. Environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from the gut contents of filter feeders can be used to identify biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we used eDNA from the gut contents of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea to examine biodiversity within estuarine ecosystem. Field sampling was conducted at three points in the Nakdong River Estuary, which is characterised by closed estuarine features resulting from the presence of an estuarine barrage. The collected C. fluminea samples were dissected to separate the gut contents, and the extracted eDNA was amplified using 18S V9 primer targeting all eukaryote-derived DNA. The amplified DNA was sequenced using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique, and a BLASTn search was performed based on the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database for taxa identification. We obtained 23 unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs), including fish (approximately 8.70%), copepods (approximately 17.39%), and green algae (approximately 21.74%), representing a wide range of habitats. Furthermore, 8 out of the 20 families were identified through comparisons with reference data from conventional field surveys, and the OTUs of elusive migratory fish were detected. The results support the application of C. fluminea as an eDNA sampler for supplementary biodiversity monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aryl-ether free polymer backbones containing ion-conducting head groups have drawn recent interest as high-performance anion exchange membrane (AEM) materials because of their excellent chemical stability against hydroxide ions. However, a relatively high ion exchange capacity (IEC) is required to ensure high ion conductivity and cell performance. In this study, new AEMs based on crosslinked poly(m -terphenyl N -methyl piperidinium)- poly(styrene- b -ethylene- co -butylene- b -styrene), x-PmTP-SEBS, were developed by crosslinking two aryl-ether free polymers with different structures: poly(m -terphenyl N -methyl piperidine) (PmTP) and SEBS. The crosslinked x-PmTP-SEBS membranes showed excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength of 28.5 MPa and elongation of break of 170.3% for the sample with 50% crosslinking degree, 50xPmTP-SEBS), as well as high dimensional stability (swelling ratio of around 30%) despite its high water uptake. In addition, despite its relatively low IEC value (1.68 meq g−1), this membrane also exhibited excellent ionic conductivity (116 mS cm−1 at 80 °C) and hydration number (λ = 42), which are higher than representative AEMs. This is due to the high content of bound water, which originates from the excellent phase separation of the SEBS unit and the kinked structure of the m -terphenyl unit. The AEM fuel cell using this membrane had a peak power density of 642 mW cm−2 with H 2 /O 2 gas flow at 60 °C and 95% room humidity (RH). Moreover, the 50x-PmTP-SEBS membrane retained around 99% of its original conductivity and IEC after immersion in 2 M KOH solution at 80 °C for 600 h, exceeding the alkaline stability of most reported AEMs. [Display omitted] • Poly(m -terphenyl N -methyl piperidinium)-SEBS prepared as novel materials for anion exchange membranes. • Two aryl-ether free polymers with different structures were crosslinked. • The effect of the kink structure in the meta -terphenyl unit was investigated. • Enhanced free volume helped to increase water holding capacity and enhance conductivity and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lycorma delicatula (White), the spotted lanternfly (SLF) is known to be native to China, India, and Vietnam, but after the first detection in 2004 as invasive in Korea, it was also found in Japan in 2008 and the United States in 2014. As a polyphagous sap-sucking insect, the SLF seriously damages the host plant by sucking phloem sap and producing honeydew, which causes sooty mold disease on leaves and this damage eventually results in an economic loss by reducing the quality and yield of the fruits. After the emergence and spread of SLF in Korea, it has not been confirmed yet where they came from and how they invaded from the source region. To infer the most likely source population for the Korean invasive populations, we investigated the population structure of SLF including its native region (China) and invasive regions (Japan and Korea) using 15 microsatellite loci which were previously developed. Our study set out to solve the correlation between the source and invasive populations of SLF, especially with regards to identifying artificial transfer possibly reoccurring in other invasive regions. Lycorma delicatula (White) suddenly arrived in Korea where it rapidly spread out in the central region of Korea and caused serious damage to grape vineyards. To trace the source region of its invasiveness, population genetic structures were compared between the native region, China, and the introduced regions, Korea and Japan. We examined 762 individuals from 38 different population collections using 15 microsatellite loci. Both principal coordinate and structure analyses displayed that the Chinese populations were separated into three subgroups which were located significantly far apart from each other. Among them, the Shanghai population was located closest to most Korean populations. Based on the genetic relationships and structures, it was revealed that the multiple introductions into Korea occurred at least three times. In addition, the Shanghai population was strongly estimated to be a source of initial invasive populations of Korea. In addition, analysis of the approximate Bayesian computation suggested simultaneous spread from two distant locations early in the invasion by artificial transportation of the host plants bearing egg masses. Our population genetics study can provide a precedent case with regards to identifying spreads by anthropogenic outcomes in other invasive regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria alternata JS-1623 is an endophytic fungus isolated from a stem tissue of Korean fir, Abies koreana. Ethyl acetate extracts of culture filtrates exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in LPS induced microglia BV-2 cell without cytotoxicity. Here we report a 33.67 Mb sized genome assembly of JS-1623 comprised of 13 scaffolds with N50 of 4.96 Mb, and 92.41% of BUSCO completeness. GC contents were 50.97%. Of the 11,197 genes annotated, gene families related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites or transcription factors were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An endolichenic fungus, Xylaria grammica strain EL000614, showed strong nematicidal effects against plant pathogenic nematode, Meloidogyne incognita by producing grammicin. We report genome assembly of X. grammica EL000614 comprised of 25 scaffolds with a total length of 54.73 Mb, N50 of 4.60 Mb, and 99.8% of BUSCO completeness. GC contents of this genome were 44.02%. Gene families associated with biosynthesis of secondary metabolites or regulatory proteins were identified out of 13,730 gene models predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal conformational changes in tau protein. Early hyperphosphorylation-induced conformational changes are considered a hallmark of tauopathy, but real-time tracking methods are lacking. Here, we present two novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based tau biosensors that detect such changes with high spatiotemporal resolution at the single-cell level. The TAUCON biosensor measures instantaneous conformational changes in hyperphosphorylated tau within 20 min, while the TAUCOM biosensor detects changes in the paper-clip structure of microtubule-associated tau. Our biosensors provide faster and more precise detection than conventional methods and can serve as valuable tools for investigating the initial causes, mechanisms, progression, and treatment of tauopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kelp grouper (Epinephelus bruneus Bloch 1793) is a commercially important fish in Korea. In recent years, the catch of kelp grouper in the coastal waters of Korea has significantly declined. Despite its importance, little is known about its genetic diversity and conservation efforts are hampered. In this study, we isolated and characterized 12 microsatellite loci using an enrichment method based on magnetic/biotin capture of microsatellite sequences from a size-selected genomic library. All loci were readily amplified and contained TG/CA denucleotide repeats. To characterize each locus, 30 individuals from a natural E. bruneus population in the coastal waters of Jeju Island, Korea, were genotyped. All loci except three, KEm118, KEm154, and KEm219, were polymorphic, with an average of 8.1 alleles per locus (range 2–18). The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.47 (range 0.19–1.00) and 0.61 (range 0.29–0.92), respectively. A significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed at three loci (KEm134, KEm184, and KEm283). These findings will be useful for effective monitoring and management of genetic variation of kelp grouper as well as for the implementation of a fisheries conservation program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compartment-specific control of phosphoinositide lipids is essential for cell function. The Sac1 lipid phosphatase regulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate [PI(4)P] in response to nutrient levels and cell growth stages. During exponential growth, Sac1p interacts with Dpm1p at the ER but shuttles to the Golgi during starvation. Here, we report that a C-terminal region in Sac1p is required for retention in the perinuclear ER, whereas the N-terminal domain is responsible for Golgi localization. We also show that starvation-induced shuttling of Sac1p to the Golgi depends on the coat protein complex II and the Rer1 adaptor protein. Starvation-induced shuttling of Sac1p to the Golgi specifically eliminates a pool of PI(4)P generated by the lipid kinase Pik1p. In addition, absence of nutrients leads to a rapid dissociation of Pik1p, together with its non-catalytical subunit Frq1p, from Golgi membranes. Reciprocal rounds of association/dissociation of the Sac1p lipid phosphatase and the Pik1p/Frq1p lipid kinase complex are responsible for growth-dependent control of Golgi phosphoinositides. Sac1p and Pik1p/Frq1p are therefore elements of a unique machinery that synchronizes ER and Golgi function in response to different growth conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The more the global agricultural product trade becomes active every year, the more foreign pests' invasion probability increases. Accordingly, many notorious invasive pests are spreading worldwide, and the nations should try to block their introduction through quarantine systems. As an important quarantine pest, the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the most destructive pest insects for fruit crops in tropical and subtropical areas. This species is a highly invasive and economically important pest with a broad host range. Here, we collected 40 geographically or temporally different collections from 12 Asian countries, including four from the Korean border quarantine detection, and performed haplotype analysis and population genetics analysis. To infer the introduction sources of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, we used a mitochondrial marker to reconstruct the haplotype network and 15 microsatellite loci to reveal genetic structure and relationships between the geographically or temporally different collections from Asia. We performed Approximate Bayesian computations to infer a global origin and a source of the quarantine collections found in Korea. As a result, the 40 populations were divided into three groups, of which genetic similarity is not related to the geographic vicinity. Korean samples had a similar genetic structure to Taiwan and Thailand ones. Our results suggest that the place of origin of the B. dorsalis specimens found in Korea's border quarantine is likely to be Taiwan or Thailand. As the global origin of B. dorsalis, we estimated that Taiwan and Thailand were most likely the global origins of Southeast Asian populations by testing hypothetical scenarios by the approximate Bayesian computation analyses. Our results will allow easier identification of the source region of the forthcoming invasion of quarantined B. dorsalis specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]