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Pump–probe thermoreflectance has been commonly applied for characterizing the thermal properties of materials. Generally, a reliable and efficient non-linear fitting process is often implemented to extract unknown thermal parameters during the pump–probe thermoreflectance characterizations. However, when it comes to processing large amounts of data acquired from similar structural samples, non-linear fitting process appears to be very time-consuming and labor-intensive to search for the best fitting for every testing curve. Herein, we propose to apply deep learning (DL) approach to nanosecond transient thermoreflectance technique for high-throughput experimental data processing. We first investigated the effect of training set parameters (density and bounds) on the predictive performance of the DL model, providing a guidance to optimize the DL model. Then, the DL model is further verified in the measurement of the bulk sapphire, SiC, diamond samples, and GaN-based multilayer structures, demonstrating its capability of analyzing the results with high accuracy. Compared to the conventional non-linear fitting method (such as Global Optimization), the computation time of the new model is 1000 times lower. Such a data-driven DL model enables the faster inference and stronger fitting capabilities and is particularly efficient and effective in processing data acquired from wafer-level measurements with similar material structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophila suzukii is a notorious pest which causes devastating damage to thin‐skinned fruits, and the larvae feed on the fruit, causing extensive agricultural economic loss. The current application of insecticides to manage this pest results in serious resistance and environmental hazards, so an alternative strategy for D. suzukii biocontrol is urgently needed. Here, we reported that entomopathogenic Bacillus cereus has the potential to biocontrol D. suzukii. We isolated and identified the bacterial strain, B. cereus H1, that was detrimental to the fitness of both D. suzukii progenies and parents. D. suzukii was robustly repelled to depositing eggs on the halves with metabolites of B. cereus H1. Both males and females of D. suzukii were susceptible to B. cereus H1. B. cereus H1 significantly arrested larval development with at least 40% lethal larvae. The median lethal time (LT50) of males and females of D. suzukii challenged with B. cereus H1 was 3 and 2 d, respectively. Moreover, B. cereus H1 disrupted the intestinal integrity and pH value of D. suzukii and resulted in an increase in bacterial load of guts and hemolymph. Mechanistically, infection of B. cereus H1 led to the activation of the dual oxidase (DUOX)‐ROS‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. The findings showed that the entomopathogen B. cereus H1 could potentially act as a biological control agent against D. suzukii, advancing fundamental concepts of integrated pest management programs against D. suzukii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective behaviors efficiently impart benefits to a diversity of species ranging from bacteria to humans. Fly larvae tend to cluster and form coordinated digging groups under crowded conditions, yet understanding the rules governing this behavior is in its infancy. We primarily took advantage of the Drosophila model to investigate cooperative foraging behavior. Here, we report that Drosophila‐related species and the black soldier fly have evolved a conserved strategy of cluster digging in food foraging. Subsequently, we investigated relative factors, including larval stage, population density, and food stiffness and quality, that affect the cluster digging behavior. Remarkably, oxygen supply through the posterior breathing spiracles is necessary for the organization of digging clusters. More importantly, we theoretically devise a mathematical model to accurately calculate how the cluster digging behavior expands food resources by diving depth, cross‐section area, and food volume. We found that cluster digging behavior approximately increases 2.2 fold depth, 1.7‐fold cross‐section area, and 1.9 fold volume than control groups, respectively. Amplification of food sources significantly facilitates survival, larval development, and reproductive success of Drosophila challenged with competition for limited food resources, thereby conferring trophic benefits to fitness in insects. Overall, our findings highlight that the cluster digging behavior is a pivotal behavior for their adaptation to food scarcity, advancing a better understanding of how this cooperative behavior confers fitness benefits in the animal kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophila suzukii is notoriously a pest that causes serious damage to soft-skinned fruits. However, the management of this key pest currently relies on chemical insecticides that seriously cause pest resistance and environmental hazards. In the present study, we reported the potential of Artemisia argyi (mugwort) essential oil to act as deterrent for D. suzukii oviposition. First, we identified that eucalyptol of mugwort essential oil efficiently induced the oviposition avoidance of D. suzukii. Second, the ovipositional aversion to eucalyptol was mediated by the activation of olfactory neurons in adult. Moreover, we found that eucalyptol potentially arrested the development of the fly progeny and impaired the survival and lifespan of flies through intestinal dysplasia. Finally, the result of field trials showed that mugwort essential oil had a deterrent effect on vineyard flies. Overall, our findings show that eucalyptol potentially acted as a biological control agent against D. suzukii by deterring oviposition, highlighting fundamental concepts of integrated pest management programs against D. suzukii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive land use and land marketization is an important engine for promoting regional integration, especially on the background of China's fragmented land market. It might be difficult to establish an integrated national land market in the short run. As a compromise, the establishment of regional land markets consisting of a few neighboring provinces could be an option. Particularly, the Yangtze River Delta Region (YRDR), could be an ideal place for such a policy trial. This study uses the data of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui in YRDR from 1999 to 2017 to quantitatively calibrate possible economic benefits when the land misallocation is corrected with an integrated land market. We find that, if an integrated construction land market was established in YRDR, and Anhui could transfer some of its construction land quota to Shanghai, the transaction between Anhui and Shanghai in 2017 could bring an improved income of 289.8 billion yuan in YRDR, ceteris paribus, about 1.73% of the regional gross domestic product. The integration of regional land markets has brought about significant efficiency improvements. This study provides insights into sustainable economic growth in future China and the regional development strategy of other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]