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Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) nonthermal plasma is applied for the gasification of kitchen waste. The gas production performance of kitchen waste gasification based on DBD under different reaction ambientes is studied. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations are used to investigate the gas production mechanism via glucose and aspartate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy are used to investigate the physicochemical properties of the produced carbon materials and reveal the plasma reaction mechanism. The plasma treatment of millet and soybean has good gasification effect and can inhibit tar production. N2 and CO2 ambientes are more conducive to the gasification of millet and soybean. The H2 concentration in plasma‐treated millet gasification under plasma in N2 ambient can reach 4%. Glucose is finally decomposed through ring‐opening reaction, decarbonylation reaction, dehydration reaction, and carbon–carbon bond breaking. And the decomposition process of aspartic acid mainly includes decarbonylation and deammonia reaction. With the increase of gas ionization energy, the surface pore structure of the carbon material after plasma treatment is more developed, which indicates that the reaction between plasma and solid is on a layer by layer basis with the solid surface facing the inner surface. This paper aims to provide valuable theoretical support for the application of DBD in the treatment of kitchen waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcriptomic data have been used to study sex chromosome dosage compensation (SCDC) in approximately 10 Lepidoptera ZW species, yielding a consensus compensation pattern of Z ≈ZZ

Purpose: Numerous empirical studies consistently support the detrimental impact of job insecurity (JI) on employees. However, a new perspective suggests that individuals perceiving JI may proactively take measures to protect their positions. Drawing from the conservation of resources theory, this study argues that perceived resource loss due to JI motivates employees to engage in ingratiating behaviors for expanding their social capital. Additionally, this study empirically establishes the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of power distance. Methods: A daily diary design was used to examine the relationship between daily JI and next-day ingratiation. Our analyses of data collected from 134 full‐time employees across 10 consecutive working days using multi-level model. Results: Our results showed that daily JI was found to affect next-day ingratiation (γ = 0.14, p < 0.01), and this relationship was mediated by emotional exhaustion (indirect effect = 0.07, p < 0.05, 95% CI [0.01, 0.13]). Power distance moderated the relationship between emotional exhaustion and ingratiation (γ = 0.25, p < 0.001), and further moderated the indirect effect of JI on ingratiation via emotional exhaustion. Conclusion: Our study has revealed that JI serves as a catalyst for employees to engage in resource creation behavior, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of the implications of JI as an independent variable for both scholars and businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum homocysteine (Hcy), Galectin-3 concentration and atrial structural remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.

Simple Summary: The Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway has been suggested to induce the expressions of antioxidant and counter-defense genes, and aid cells in xenobiotic and oxidative responses. Nrf2 is the central transcription factor, and Keap1 is its specific repressor in this signaling pathway. To estimate the function of the Keap1 gene on plant toxin gossypol metabolism, we characterized the pathway in Helicoverpa armigera. The results demonstrated that the suppression of the Keap1 gene not only increased the expressions of three counter-defense genes CYP9A17, CYP4L11 and UGT41B3, but also reduced the larval mortality and promoted the larval development of those treated by the diet with gossypol. Our study showed that Keap1 negatively regulated the transcription of these three counter-defense genes and the knockdown of the Keap1 gene contributed to decreasing the susceptibility to gossypol in the cotton bollworm, which may be beneficial for further research on the regulation of insect counter-defense gene expression and insect–plant interactions. Expressions of a wide range of cytoprotective counter-defense genes are mainly regulated by the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway in response to oxidative stress from xenobiotics. Gossypol is the major antiherbivore secondary metabolite of cotton, but how the polyphagous pest Helicoverpa armigera copes with this phytochemical to utilize its favorite host plant cotton remains largely elusive. In this study, we first suppressed the Keap1 gene in newly hatched larvae of cotton bollworm by feeding them the siRNA diet for 4 days. All of the larvae were subsequently fed the artificial diet supplied with gossypol or the control diet for 5 days. We identified that the knockdown of the Keap1 gene significantly decreased larval mortality and significantly increased the percentages of larval survival, reaching the fourth instar, compared with ncsiRNA when exposed to a diet containing gossypol. Three counter-defense genes CYP9A17, CYP4L11 and UGT41B3, which were related to the induction or metabolism of gossypol according to the report before, were all significantly up-regulated after the knockdown of the Keap1 gene. The Antioxidant Response Elements (AREs) were also detected in the promoter regions of the three counter-defense genes above. These data indicate that the suppression of the Keap1 gene activates the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, up-regulates the expressions of counter-defense genes involved in the resistance of oxidative stress and finally contributes to reducing the susceptibility of gossypol. Our results provide more knowledge about the transcriptional regulation mechanisms of counter-defense genes that enable the cotton bollworm to adapt to the diversity of host plants including cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: To develop new maize germplasm, and understand the genetic basis of fall armyworm resistance, 12 experimental hybrids (six sets of reciprocal crosses) with diverse genetic backgrounds were compared with four commercial checks. Reciprocal crosses (an inbred line was used in a pair of crosses as male and female parents) were used to determine the maternal effect of an inbred line on fall armyworm resistance. Fall armyworm resistance was assessed using its injury ratings on artificially infested maize plants, and possibly plant attraction to predators of the fall armyworm larvae. Two reciprocal crosses ('FAW1430' × 'Oh43' and 'CML333' × 'NC358') showed the least fall armyworm injury. A total of 11 taxa of predators (five lady beetles and five other insect predators, and spiders) were recorded. However, the number of predators was not negatively correlated to fall armyworm injury. The predator data also varied greatly between the two years when the experiment was conducted. In addition, both parents contributed similarly and no maternal effect on fall armyworm resistance was detected. The polyphagous fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, has become an invasive pest worldwide in recent years. To develop maize germplasm with multiple pest resistance and understand genetic inheritance, 12 experimental hybrids (six pairs of reciprocal crosses) with diverse genetic backgrounds and four commercial checks were examined for FAW resistance in 2013 and 2014. The experiment utilized a randomized complete block design with four replications as the block factor. FAW injury on maize plants was assessed at 7 and 14 d after the artificial infestation at the V6 stage, and predatory arthropod taxa and abundance on maize seedlings were recorded 7 d after the infestation. Spodoptera frugiperda resistance varied significantly among the 16 hybrids. Two reciprocal crosses ('FAW1430' × 'Oh43' and 'CML333' × 'NC358') showed the least FAW injury. Eleven arthropod predators [i.e., six coleopterans, three hemipterans, earwigs (dermapterans), and spiders (or arachnids)] were also recorded; the two most common predators were the pink spotted ladybeetle, Coleomegilla maculata, and the insidious flower (or minute pirate) bug, Orius spp. Predator abundance was not correlated to FAW injury but varied greatly between 2013 and 2014. Principal component analysis demonstrated that, when compared with FAW resistant (or Bt-transgenic) checks ('DKC69-71', 'DKC67-88', and 'P31P42'), five pairs of the reciprocal crosses had moderate FAW resistance, whereas a pair of reciprocal crosses ('NC350' × 'NC358' and NC358 × NC350) showed the same FAW susceptibility as the non-Bt susceptible check 'DKC69-72'. Both parents contributed similarly to FAW resistance, or no maternal/cytoplasmic effect was detected in the experimental hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]