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In eukaryotes, the ribosomal small subunit (40S) is composed of 18S rRNA and 33 ribosomal proteins. 18S rRNA has a special secondary structure and is an indispensable part of the translation process. Herein, a special sequence located in mammalian 18S rRNA named Poly(G)7box, which is composed of seven guanines, was found. Poly(G)7 can form a special and stable secondary structure by binding to the translation elongation factor subunit eEF1D and the ribosomal protein RPL32. Poly(G)7box was transfected into cells, and the translation efficiency of cells was inhibited. We believe that Poly(G)7box is an important translation-related functional element located on mammalian 18S rRNA, meanwhile the Poly(G)7 located on mRNA 5’ and 3’ box does not affect mRNA translation.

Abstract Background Leaf-associated microbes play an important role in plant development and response to exogenous stress. Insect herbivores are known to alter the phyllosphere microbiome. However, whether the host plant’s defense against insects is related to the phyllosphere microbiome remains mostly elusive. Here, we investigated bacterial communities in the phyllosphere and endosphere of eight wheat cultivars with differing aphid resistance, grown in the same farmland. Results The bacterial community in both the phyllosphere and endosphere showed significant differences among most wheat cultivars. The phyllosphere was connected to more complex and stable microbial networks than the endosphere in most wheat cultivars. Moreover, the genera Pantoea, Massilia, and Pseudomonas were found to play a major role in shaping the microbial community in the wheat phyllosphere. Additionally, wheat plants showed phenotype-specific associations with the genera Massilia and Pseudomonas. The abundance of the genus Exiguobacterium in the phyllosphere exhibited a significant negative correlation with the aphid hazard grade in the wheat plants. Conclusion Communities of leaf-associated microbes in wheat plants were mainly driven by the host genotype. Members of the genus Exiguobacterium may have adverse effects on wheat aphids. Our findings provide new clues supporting the development of aphid control strategies based on phyllosphere microbiome engineering.

Abstract Background Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) is the most serious pathological type of non-obstructive azoospermia. Recently, several genes related to SCOS have been identified, including FANCM, TEX14, NR5A1, NANOS2, PLK4, WNK3, and FANCA, but they cannot fully explain the pathogenesis of SCOS. This study attempted to explain spermatogenesis dysfunction in SCOS through testicular tissue RNA sequencing and to provide new targets for SCOS diagnosis and therapy. Methods We analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on RNA sequencing of nine patients with SCOS and three patients with obstructive azoospermia and normal spermatogenesis. We further explored the identified genes using ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Results In total, 9406 DEGs were expressed (Log2|FC|≥ 1; adjusted P value

In the context of global climate change and ecological restoration projects, significant changes have been observed in the fractional vegetation cover (FVC) in the Yellow River basin. The increased vegetation growth accelerates water consumption, exacerbating drought and water scarcity issues, thereby heightening regional water resource shortage risks. This study targets the Yellow River basin in China, employing a pixel-based model to convert NDVI into FVC datasets. We establish a pixel-wise mathematical model for annual runoff and environmental factors based on residual analysis and methods like multiple linear regression. Using climate model data from CMIP6 as independent variables, in conjunction with the statistical model, we elucidate the spatiotemporal characteristics of annual runoff in the Yellow River basin under future climate scenarios. Our results indicate that, under four different climate scenarios, the average annual runoff in the Yellow River basin is projected to increase. The increases are quantified as 0.008 mm/a, 0.065 mm/a, 0.25 mm/a, and 0.24 mm/a for SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585 scenarios, respectively. From 2022 to 2040, the spatial distribution of the runoff change rates under the SSP245 and SSP370 scenarios show an increasing trend in upstream areas such as the Qinhe and Longmen regions, with rates ranging from 6.00 to 8.61 mm/a. During the period from 2041 to 2060, all four climate scenarios indicate minimal changes in the runoff depth in the northern part of the Yellow River basin. From 2061 to 2080, under the SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios, the spatial distribution of the runoff shows significant increases in the river source area and a decreasing trend in the middle reaches, with rates ranging from 4.52 to 11.39 mm/a. For the period from 2081 to 2100, the runoff change rates vary significantly under the four climate scenarios. These findings provide a detailed understanding of how future climate scenarios could impact water resource distribution in the Yellow River basin, offering critical insights for regional water management and policy making to mitigate potential water scarcity challenges.

China’s Yellow River Basin (YRB) is sensitive to climate change due to its delicate ecosystem and complex geography. Water scarcity, soil erosion, and desertification are major challenges. To mitigate the YRB’s ecological difficulties, climate change must be predicted. Based on the analysis of the evolution features of hydro-meteorological elements, the CMIP6 climate model dataset with Delta downscaling and the Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) is utilized to quantitatively explore the future variations in precipitation and temperature in the YRB. The following results are drawn: The spatial resolution of the CMIP6 climate model is less than 0.5° × 0.5° (i.e., about 55 km × 55 km), which is improved to 1 km × 1 km by the downscaling of Delta and has outstanding applicability to precipitation and temperature in the YRB. The most accurate models for monthly mean temperature are CESM2-WACCM, NorESM2-LM, and ACCESS-CM2, and for precipitation are ACCESS-ESM1-5, CESM2-WACCM, and IPSL-CM6A-LR. Between 2023 and 2100, annual precipitation increases by 6.89, 5.31, 7.02, and 10.18 mm/10a under the ssp126, ssp245, ssp370, and ssp585 climate scenarios, respectively, with considerable variability in precipitation in the YRB. The annual temperature shows a significant upward trend, and the change rates under the different climate scenarios are, respectively, 0.1 °C/10a, 0.3 °C/10a, 0.5 °C/10a, and 0.7 °C/10a. The increase is positively correlated with emission intensity. Based on the EOF analysis, temperature and precipitation mainly exhibit a consistent regional trend from 2023 to 2100, with the primary modal EOF1 of precipitation for each scenario exhibiting a clear spatial distribution in the southeast–northwest.

Abstract Catchment floods are more challenging due to intensive urbanization and climate change. Enlightened by the Low Impact Development (LID), China initiated the Sponge City Program (SCP) to transform Urban Flood Management (UFM) to be more environmentally friendly in 2013. The China National Government (CNG) has subsidized municipal SCP facilities to enhance urban flood resilience while delivering multiple co‐benefits for urban ecosystems and social well‐being. Recent floods at Schleiden (Germany), Arizona State (USA), and Zhengzhou (China) in 2021 reflected the necessity of Catchment Flood Management (CFM) to cover the whole catchment scale. The SCP, designed to handle small‐scale urban pluvial floods, has brought concerns when facing larger‐scale fluvial floods after the Zhengzhou 2021 flood. Indeed, catchment‐scale Natural Flood Management (NFM) can manage fluvial floods while improving flood adaptations sustainably from upstream to downstream reaches. This research develops a new framework named the Sponge Catchment Management Plan (SCMP), including structural and Nonstructural elements. On the structural side, the SCMP framework integrates NFM with the SCP and Grey Engineering (GE) for reducing the fluvial flood discharge peaks in the whole‐catchment scale. On the nonstructural side, the SCMP encourages collaborative governance, revising technical standards, and improving “bottom‐up” participation. This research used Semi‐Structured Interviews (SSIs) and a Focus Group Approach (FGA) to explore 62 professional and Nonprofessional stakeholders’ perspectives on the SCMP framework. Some professional respondents did not know much about the NFM and were worried about the effectiveness of this practice. But most interviewees supported the SCMP pilot work and shared the co‐benefits from the NFM. This case study at the SW China, Guiyang, could be a lesson to encourage other Chinese cities further implement SCP to improve catchment‐scale flood resilience.

Field populations of insect pests are affected by sub-lethal doses of insecticides, leading to hormesis. Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide widely used to control various sucking insect pests, including aphids. In this study, the effects of sub-lethal concentrations of imidacloprid on the life table traits of the rose-grain aphid Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) were evaluated on parental and first filial generations. The results showed that sub-lethal concentrations of imidacloprid significantly reduced the fecundity, adult longevity, and reproductive period of M. dirhodum in parental generation (F0). However, the imidacloprid-induced hormetic effects on development and reproduction were detected in the F1 generation. These hormetic effects were indicated by significantly higher adult longevity, fecundity, survival rate, intrinsic and finite rates of increase, and net reproductive rate of first filial generation (F1) of M. dirhodum. Our finding indicated that the application of sub-lethal concentrations of imidacloprid inhibited parental generation (F0), but it significantly stimulated the population growth of filial generation (F1) in the M. dirhodum. The results support the inclusion of insecticides in integrated pest management programs for managing wheat aphids.

Abstract Climate change and rapid urbanization have increased pressure on drainage systems, posing new challenges to preventing and controlling urban waterlogging. In 2013, China proposed the Sponge City, a strategic measure for urban waterlogging control. This study quantifies the effects of stormwater management measures in runoff reduction for different levels of rainfall and conducts a one‐dimensional visual analysis of urban waterlogging risks. At the same time, the best cost‐effective scheme is determined based on life‐cycle cost, analytic hierarchy process, and regret decision theory. The results showed stormwater management measures could realize the function of runoff control and waterlogging prevention, especially under low precipitation. However, these measures were still not enough to eliminate waterlogging risk. Combined measures have stronger runoff control capabilities than single measures. Considering economic, environmental, and operational impacts comprehensively, the combined measures of bio‐retention (BR), permeable pavement (PP), and green roof (GR) were determined as the best cost‐effective scheme because of the lowest regret value. The proposed method is helpful to provide reference and decision‐making basis for the construction of sponge cities in the future.

Abstract Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the most common aphid pests of winter cereals. To facilitate accurate gene expression analyses with qRT-PCR assays, the expression stability of candidate reference genes under specific experimental conditions must be verified before they can be used to normalize target gene expression levels. In this study, 10 candidate reference genes in M. dirhodum were analyzed by qRT-PCR under various experimental conditions. Their expression stability was evaluated with delta Ct, BestKeeper, geNorm, and NormFinder methods, and the final stability ranking was determined with RefFinder. The results indicate that the most appropriate sets of internal controls were SDHB and RPL8 across geographic population; RPL8, Actin, and GAPDH across developmental stage; SDHB and NADH across body part; RPL8 and Actin across wing dimorphism and temperature; RPL4 and EF1A across starvation stress; AK and RPL4 across insecticide treatments; RPL8 and NADH across antibiotic treatments; RPL8, RPL4, Actin, and NADH across all samples. The results of this study provide useful insights for establishing a standardized qRT-PCR procedure for M. dirhodum and may be relevant for identifying appropriate reference genes for molecular analyses of related insects.

Beta-cypermethrin is one of the most widely used pyrethroid insecticides. However, its continuous and extensive use developed pests’ resistance to beta-cypermethrin. To identify candidate genes for potential resistance phenotypes and facilitate more targeted studies, we screened out a wide range of resistance-related genes by comparing multiple transcripts before and after the induction of multiple agents. In this study, transcriptomes were compared to elucidate the mechanisms and genetic basis of potential resistance between Rhopalosiphum padi (R. padi) sensitive (SS) and resistant (Beta-R) strains to beta-cypermethrin (resistance ratio: 4588.48). These two strains of aphids were treated with a spray solution of lethal beta-cypermethrin concentration (i.e., LC50). To obtain diverse transcripts, we obtained 17,985,440–25,478,353 clean data from different transcript groups, of which 17,183 genes were annotated. Subsequently, these transcripts were divided into multiple groups for comparison purposes to obtain more comprehensive genes related to resistance. There were 178 to 2856 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in these transcript groups. The DEGs, including the enriched ones, were classified according to the GO and KEGG Pathway databases. Besides, some drug-resistant DEGs were related to cuticle proteins and detoxification metabolic processes. Among them, 17 genes related to cuticle protein were upregulated and 20 were downregulated, 11 genes related to P450 were upregulated and 25 were downregulated, 7 genes related to UGT were upregulated and 15 were downregulated, 2 genes related to ABC transporter were upregulated and 4 were downregulated, 2 genes related to trypsin were upregulated and 1 were downregulated. Finally, qRT-PCR by DEGs confirmed the observed trend in the RNA sequencing expression profile, and most of the results were consistent between qRT-PCR and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The results of this study are highly significant in understanding the resistance phenomenon in R. padi and other similar wheat aphids, establishing the valuable basis for further research in the complex mechanism of R. padi resistance to beta-cypermethrin.

Sulfoxaflor belongs to a new class of insecticides that is effective against many sap-feeding pests. In this study on Sitobion miscanthi (Takahashi) (i.e., the predominant wheat pest), a highly sulfoxaflor-resistant (SulR) population was obtained from a field. Its resistance to the other seven insecticides and its biological fitness were analyzed using a leaf-dip method and a two-sex life table approach, respectively. Compared with the relatively susceptible (SS) population, the SulR population was highly resistant to sulfoxaflor, with a relative insecticide resistance ratio (RR) of 199.8 and was moderately resistant to beta-cypermethrin (RR = 14.5) and bifenthrin (RR = 42.1) but exhibited low resistance to chlorpyrifos (RR = 5.7). Additionally, the SulR population had a relative fitness of 0.73, with a significantly prolonged developmental period as well as a lower survival rate and poorer reproductive performance than the SS population. In conclusion, our results suggest that S. miscanthi populations that are highly resistant to sulfoxaflor exist in the field. The possibility that insects may develop multi-resistance between sulfoxaflor and pyrethroids is a concern. Furthermore, the high sulfoxaflor resistance of S. miscanthi was accompanied by a considerable fitness cost. The study data may be useful for improving the rational use of insecticides and for exploring novel insecticide resistance mechanisms.

Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important cosmopolitan pest in cereal crops. Reference genes can significantly affect qRT-PCR results. Therefore, selecting appropriate reference genes is a key prerequisite for qRT-PCR analyses. This study was conducted to identify suitable qRT-PCR reference genes in R. padi. We systematically analyzed the expression profiles of 11 commonly used reference genes. The ΔCt method, the BestKeeper, NormFinder, geNorm algorithms, and the RefFinder online tool were used to evaluate the suitability of these genes under diverse experimental conditions. The data indicated that the most appropriate sets of reference genes were β-actin and GAPDH (for developmental stages), AK and TATA (for populations), RPS18 and RPL13 (for tissues), TATA and GAPDH (for wing dimorphism), EF-1α and RPS6 (for antibiotic treatments), GAPDH and β-actin (for insecticide treatments), GAPDH, TATA, RPS18 (for starvation-induced stress), TATA, RPS6, and AK (for temperatures), and TATA and GAPDH (for all conditions). Our study findings, which revealed the reference genes suitable for various experimental conditions, will facilitate the standardization of qRT-PCR programs, while also improving the accuracy of qRT-PCR analyses, with implications for future research on R. padi gene functions.

Metasurfaces supply a planar approach for flexible wavefront manipulation, thus facilitating the integration and minimization of optical elements, especially in the terahertz (THz) range. High efficient THz metadevices are highly pursued at present. Here, we propose a bilayer design to improve the efficiency of metadevice. Two silicon pillar arrays with distinguishing geometries are integrated on single silicon substrate. On one side, elliptical silicon pillars, with geometry optimized for the target frequency, are spatially orientated to realize the desired Pancharatnam-Berry phase. On the other side, uniform circular silicon pillars are set to suppress the reflection. With this design, versatile metadevices such as lens, lens array, polarization fork grating, Bessel vortex generator, and Airy beam generator are demonstrated. Maximum efficiency up to 95% for the target frequency and excellent design flexibility are verified. It provides a practical strategy for the generation of compact and high-efficiency THz metadevices, which suit for high-performance THz imaging and communication apparatuses.

Sitobion avenae (Fabricius), Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus), Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), and Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are important pests of wheat and other cereals worldwide. In this study, the susceptibilities of four wheat aphid species to seven insecticides were assessed. Furthermore, the activities of carboxylesterase (CarE), glutathione S-transferase (GSTs), and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450s) were determined in imidacloprid treated and untreated aphids. The results showed that the susceptibilities of four wheat aphid species to tested insecticides are different and M. dirhodum has shown higher tolerance to most insecticides. Relatively higher CarE and GST activities were observed in M. dirhodum, and P450s activities increased significantly in response to imidacloprid treatment. Moreover, susceptibility to imidacloprid were increased by the oxidase inhibitor piperonyl butoxide in M. dirhodum (20-fold). The results we have obtained imply that P450s may play an important role in imidacloprid metabolic process in M. dirhodum. We suggest that a highly species-specific approach is essential for managing M. dirhodum.

Sulfoxaflor belongs to a new class of insecticides which are effective against many sap-feeding pests. Sitobion miscanthi, Rhopalosiphum padi, and Metopolophium dirhodum are the predominant pests coexisting on wheat plants. It is unknown whether these aphid species have developed resistance to sulfoxaflor. Here, the susceptibilities of three wheat aphid species from different regions of China to sulfoxaflor were evaluated. The results showed that two S. miscanthi, one R. padi, and two M. dirhodum field populations were highly resistant to sulfoxaflor. Additionally, 13 S. miscanthi, 9 R. padi, and 4 M. dirhodum field populations were moderately resistant to sulfoxaflor. Analysis of differences in toxicity showed that the susceptibility levels of R. padi in 9 of 20 regions, M. dirhodum in 5 of 9 regions, and M. dirhodum in 3 of 9 regions to sulfoxaflor were greater than those of S. miscanthi, S. miscanthi, and R. padi in the same regions, respectively. Thus, each wheat aphid species has field populations that are highly sulfoxaflor resistant. The R. padi and M. dirhodum populations were more susceptible to sulfoxaflor than those of S. miscanthi. These findings provide new insights into insecticide resistance development and rational sulfoxaflor use.

Flood management is a complex issue in Chinese cities that exhibit high populations and have undergone rapid urbanization. Urban flood management (UFM) approaches can be used to mitigate urban flood risk. To address urban issues of poor water quality and urban surface flooding, the Sponge City Program (SCP) was initiated in 2013 in China. The SCP aims to provide an opportunity for Chinese cities to improve their current UFM practices. This study looks at Guiyang (a pilot sponge city located in SW China) as a case study to identify the challenges and opportunities of UFM in China. Guiyang is a valley city surrounded by a hilly landscape. Using interview records and flood data, we illustrate that the primary type of flood in Guiyang is fluvial rather than surface water flooding. In Guiyang, the current function and targets of the SCP have yet to engage with the catchment level flood management, instead mainly focusing on the site-specific context (i.e., community level). Catchment flood management planning (CFMP) and natural flood management (NFM) both address this problem and may be a more suitable approach to manage flood discharge from the upper and middle catchments in Guiyang. In addition, it is suggested that a mixed option combining “hard” infrastructure (e.g., reservoirs and floodwalls) with “soft” flood management measures (e.g., improving people awareness and participation) may improve urban flood resilience in Chinese cities.

Insect pests are primarily controlled by insecticides. However, the sensitivity decreases and insecticide resistance is problematic for the effective management of agriculturally important insects, including Metopolophium dirhodum, which is an aphid that commonly feeds on cereals. The insecticide sensitivity status and potential resistance of M. dirhodum field populations remain relatively unknown. In this study, the susceptibility of 19 M. dirhodum populations from seven provinces in Northern China to neonicotinoids, pyrethroids, organophosphates, and a macrolide (abamectin) was determined in 2017–2019. The results indicated that two populations were highly resistant to thiamethoxam, with a relative resistance ratio (RLR) of 134.03 and 103.03, whereas one population was highly resistant to beta-cypermethrin (RLR of 121.42). On the basis of the RLR, the tested M. dirhodum populations ranging from susceptible to showing moderate levels of resistance to imidacloprid (RLR of 1.50 to 57.29), omethoate (RLR of 1.07 to 18.73), and abamectin (RLR of 1.10 to 25.89), but they were ranging from susceptible to showing tolerance or low levels of resistance to bifenthrin (RLR of 1.14 to 6.02) and chlorpyrifos (RLR of 1.11 to 7.59). Furthermore, a pair-wise correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between the median lethal concentrations (LC50) for beta-cypermethrin and thiamethoxam, reflecting the cross-resistance between these two insecticides. The data obtained in our study provide timely information about aphid insecticide sensitivity, which may be used to delay the evolution of M. dirhodum insecticide resistance in Northern China.

Academic studies of the relationship between religion and pandemics have been emerging since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many of these studies have been conducted in Euro-American contexts, with little attention paid to non-Western cases. This article provides a local case study from China, the earliest epicenter of the pandemic. The study focused on a Catholic community in rural China, Little Rome, through the lens of lived religion, exploring the relationship between religion and the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants in our ethnographic study indicated that the Church plays an essential role in responding to the pandemic. In contrast to conventional studies of lived religion, in this ethnographic study on Catholicism in China, we contend that while the study of the lived experience of individuals is central to the lived-religion approach, more attention needs to be paid to the role of religious institutions such as the church, which mediate relations between individuals, society, and other social institutions. This article also argues that investigating different places and cultures can provide rich data for understanding the dynamic and diverse relationship between religion and the pandemic.

To maintain the sustainable utilization of water resources and reduce soil erosion in the Loess Plateau, the Chinese government has adopted a number of environmental restoration strategies since 1999, including the Grain for Green Project (GFGP) and the Natural Forest Conservation Program; these large projects greatly alter the regional water cycle. Detecting runoff changes and quantitatively assessing the contribution of anthropogenic activities (including land use/cover change (LUCC) and water diversion) and climate change (including potential evaporation and precipitation) are imperative for implementing sustainable management strategies. Using observed records from 15 hydrological stations and 85 national meteorological stations from 1980 to 2013, the decomposition method, based on the Budyko hypothesis, is used to quantify the impact of climate variation and anthropogenic interference on annual runoff for the 12 catchments in the Loess Plateau. The results show the following: (1) the observed annual runoff exhibited a negative trend in all 12 catchments (significant in eight catchments) with a range of −1.94 to −0.16 mm·year−1 and exhibited a substantial difference before and after 1999; (2) the sensitivity of runoff to vegetation change, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration increased in most catchments after 1999, indicating that great challenges and uncertainties might be introduced to regional water resource availability; and (3) the anthropogenic interference, particularly LUCC caused by forest strategies, has become the main contribution to runoff change. We suggest that more attention should be given to water resource availability and that the hydrologic consequences of revegetation should be taken into account in future management.

The increasingly shortened development cycle of smart vehicles has led to a qualitative shift in the nature of automotive products. Growing spatial design of vehicle interiors can effectively satisfy users' personalisation preferences and increase their willingness to buy, as well as mitigating the environmental pollution caused by the problem of rapid replacement. Considering the subjectivity and uncertainty of users' emotional needs, this study adopts the FAHP method to comprehensively analyse and rank the SET series of factors, then combines the grey correlation method with the correlation analysis of the areas related to the interior space of the automobile, constructs the sample of the interior space of the automobile and extracts the kansei words of the space sample. Intentional vocabulary mean scores were calculated to factor analyses through kansei engineering, next the fuzzy QFD quality house was built to make affective semantic design associations and derive design weights, which are then used to guide the design and ultimately realise the design of a dynamic automotive interaction scenario. The results of the study show that the integration of different theories can reduce the uncertainties in accessing users' emotional needs. At the same time, it can provide systematic guidance for the interaction design of a growable automobile in terms of multiple dimensions of interior space connectivity, spatial layout, and perceptual experience, as well as provide valuable suggestions for the subsequent development of interior spaces.

A spatial light modulator is demonstrated based on Fabry-Perot nanocavity resonances, enabling micrometer-sized pixels and efficient full phase control at multiple wavelengths simultaneously, across the visible spectrum (including RGB colors).