Enhanced Osseointegration of Hierarchically Structured Ti Implant with Electrically Bioactive SnO₂-TiO₂ Bilayered Surface

The poor osseointegration of Ti implant significantly compromise its application in load-bearing bone repair and replacement. Electrically bioactive coating inspirited from heterojunction on Ti implant can benefit osseointegration but cannot avoid the stress shielding effect between bone and implant. To resolve this conflict, hierarchically structured Ti implant with electrically bioactive SnO2–TiO2 bilayered surface has been developed to enhance osseointegration. Benefiting from the electric cue offered by the built-in electrical field of SnO2–TiO2 heterojunction and the topographic cue provided by the hierarchical surface structure to bone regeneration, the osteoblastic function of basic multicellular units around the implant is significantly improved. Because the individual TiO2 or SnO2 coating with uniform surface exhibits no electrical bioactivity, the effects of electric and topographic cues to osseointegration have been decoupled via the analysis of in vivo performance for the placed Ti implant with different surfaces. The developed Ti implant shows significantly improved osseointegration with excellent bone–implant contact, improved mineralization of extracellular matrix, and increased push-out force. These results suggest that the synergistic strategy of combing electrical bioactivity with hierarchical surface structure provides a new platform for developing advanced endosseous implants

Genome Sequencing of the Sweetpotato Whitefly \u3cem\u3eBemisia tabaci\u3c/em\u3e MED/Q

The sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a highly destructive agricultural and ornamental crop pest. It damages host plants through both phloem feeding and vectoring plant pathogens. Introductions of B. tabaci are difficult to quarantine and eradicate because of its high reproductive rates, broad host plant range, and insecticide resistance. A total of 791 Gb of raw DNA sequence from whole genome shotgun sequencing, and 13 BAC pooling libraries were generated by Illumina sequencing using different combinations of mate-pair and pair-end libraries. Assembly gave a final genome with a scaffold N50 of 437 kb, and a total length of 658 Mb. Annotation of repetitive elements and coding regions resulted in 265.0 Mb TEs (40.3%) and 20 786 protein-coding genes with putative gene family expansions, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on orthologs across 14 arthropod taxa suggested that MED/Q is clustered into a hemipteran clade containing A. pisum and is a sister lineage to a clade containing both R. prolixus and N. lugens. Genome completeness, as estimated using the CEGMA and Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs pipelines, reached 96% and 79%. These MED/Q genomic resources lay a foundation for future \u27pan-genomic\u27 comparisons of invasive vs. noninvasive, invasive vs. invasive, and native vs. exotic Bemisia, which, in return, will open up new avenues of investigation into whitefly biology, evolution, and management

Diverse Applications of Nanomedicine

The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic. \ua9 2017 American Chemical Society

A new species of Rhopalopsole (Plecoptera, Leuctridae) from Hainan Province, China

Hainan Province is an island in the south of China and belongs to the Oriental Region. It has a unique geographical location and superior climatic conditions, providing a good living environment for Leuctridae insects. However, the species richness of the stonefly family Leuctridae in Hainan is low. Two species in total have been recorded, Rhopalopsole bawanglinga Li, Li & Yang, 2023 and Rhopalopsole hainana Li & Yang, 2010.A new species of Leuctridae (Plecoptera) from Wuzhi Mountains, Hainan Province of south China, Rhopalopsole wuzhishana sp. nov. is described and illustrated. We summarised the Leuctridae in Hainan Province and provide supplemental description and colour plates of Rhopalopsole hainana Li & Yang, 2010

Description of a new species of Metabemisia Takahashi, 1963 from China (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae)

A new whitefly species, Metabemisia leguminosa sp. n., collected from an undetermined leguminous herb is described from Wuzhishan Mountain, Hainan Island, China. The puparium of the new species differs from that of all other Metabemisia species by the presence of 4–5 rows of very small distinct papillae along the margin, the absence of the first abdominal seta, and the indistinct thoracic tracheal pores. An identification key to the worldwide species of Metabemisia is provided

Mechanical and Tribological Behavior of Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) under Dry Sliding Conditions

In the current investigation, a vertically continuous casting technique was used to produce a ductile iron pipe. The ductile iron was austempered, and the tribological behavior of austempered ductile iron (ADI) was examined under various service conditions. The finding demonstrated that ADI’s tribological behaviors were significantly affected by normal loads and sliding speeds. Spheroidal graphite was preferential to be transferred from the matrix to the tribosurface in ADI under high normal loads, and high sliding speed accelerated the formation of the graphite lubricating layer on the tribosurface. Consequently, ADI’s friction coefficient dropped with the increase in normal load and sliding speed. When compared with the friction coefficient, the wear rate of ADI displayed a similar tendency in that it increased with an increase in normal load and reduced with an increase in sliding speed. The worn surface indicated that adhesive wear at low sliding speeds and abrasive wear at high sliding speeds were the primary wear mechanisms for ADI

A new species of Nemoura (Plecoptera, Nemouridae) and supplementary description of Amphinemura cordiformis from the Nanling Mountains of southern China

Two species of Nemouridae are described and illustrated from the Nanling Mountains of southern China, including a new species, Nemoura biplatta sp. nov. from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and a new regional record species, Amphinemura cordiformis Li & Yang, 2006 from Hunan Province. The morphological characteristics of the new species are compared to related taxa and the new images with supplementary description of A. cordiformis are also provided

A new species of Haploperla from China (Plecoptera, Chloroperlidae)

A new species of the genus Haploperla, H. triangulata sp. n., is described and illustrated from specimens collected in Qinghai province, China. Haploperla triangulata is characterized by the epiproct mostly sclerotized and hairless, sub-triangular in dorsal view and blunt at tip; and by the aedeagus with two median elliptical lobes ventrally. The new species is compared with its most similar congeners, and diagnostic characters are presented

A new species of Neoperla from China, with a redescription of the female of N. mnong Stark, 1987 (Plecoptera, Perlidae)

A new species of the Neoperla clymene group (Plecoptera, Perlidae), N. chebalinga sp. n. from Guangdong Province of southern China is described, illustrated, and compared with related taxa. The new species is characterized by the slender aedeagal tube, strongly sclerotized dorsally, and weakly sclerotized ventrally with an upcurved, medial, finger-like membranous lobe. Additionally the aedeagal sac gradually tapers to a blunt apex with a dorsoapical patch of spines. A supplementary description of the female of N. mnong Stark, 1987 from Guangdong Province, China is also given

A new species of Rhopalopsole (Plecoptera, Leuctridae) from Hainan Province, China

Hainan Province is an island in the south of China and belongs to the Oriental Region. It has a unique geographical location and superior climatic conditions, providing a good living environment for Leuctridae insects. However, the species richness of the stonefly family Leuctridae in Hainan is low. Two species in total have been recorded, Rhopalopsole bawanglinga Li, Li & Yang, 2023 and Rhopalopsole hainana Li & Yang, 2010.A new species of Leuctridae (Plecoptera) from Wuzhi Mountains, Hainan Province of south China, Rhopalopsole wuzhishana sp. nov. is described and illustrated. We summarised the Leuctridae in Hainan Province and provide supplemental description and colour plates of Rhopalopsole hainana Li & Yang, 2010