Xing Ping Hu | Auburn University (original) (raw)
Papers by Xing Ping Hu
Journal of Economic Entomology
The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, is a peridomestic nuisance pest in the southeas... more The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, is a peridomestic nuisance pest in the southeastern United States. Blattella asahinai is the closest relative to Blattella germanica (L.), the German cockroach, one of the most prolific and widespread domestic pests. Because these two species live in different habitats, they are expected to have differential development patterns reflecting environmental adaptations. Development of B. asahinai and B. germanica cockroach nymphs were observed at six constant temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 °C. At 10 °C and 15 °C, all nymphs died in the first instar, but B. germanica nymphs survived longer (10 °C: 12.9 d; 15 °C: 42.9 d) than B. asahinai nymphs (10 °C 8.2 d; 15 °C 18.4 d) at both temperatures. At 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C, B. asahinai consistently had more instars and longer stadia than B. germanica. At 35 °C, only B. germanica was able to complete nymphal development; cannibalism among B. asahinai nymphs during molting was often observe...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine / American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2015
The route of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in horses remains undetermined, but tra... more The route of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in horses remains undetermined, but transmission by insects is suspected. To investigate house flies (Musca domestica L.) as vectors of C. pseudotuberculosis transmission in horses. Eight healthy, adult ponies. Randomized, controlled, blinded prospective study. Ten wounds were created in the pectoral region where cages for flies were attached. Three ponies were directly inoculated with C. pseudotuberculosis. Four ponies were exposed for 24 hours to 20 hours C. pseudotuberculosis-inoculated flies. One negative control pony was exposed to noninoculated flies. Ponies were examined daily for swelling, heat, pain, and drainage at the inoculation site. Blood was collected weekly for CBC and biochemical analysis, and twice weekly for synergistic hemolysis inhibition titers. Clinical signs of local infection and positive cultures were observed in 7/7 exposed ponies and were absent in the negative control. In exposed ponies, peak sero...
Fresh and dry tissues (leaves, stems, flowers and roots) of two Lantana camara cultivars and the ... more Fresh and dry tissues (leaves, stems, flowers and roots) of two Lantana camara cultivars and the soil from where the plants were growing were tested to determine their anti-termitic activities against Reticulitermes flavipes in 3-wk laboratory bioassays. Barriers incorporating 25% (w/w) chipped tissues, fresh and dry, in soil significantly reduced termite tunneling activity. The repellent effect was greater in fresh tissues than the corresponding oven-dry tissues and in cultivar Mozellethan cultivar New Gold. Leaves displayed greater repellence than flowers and stems, and roots were the weakest.No-choice bioassay of oven-dry aerial parts showed significant reduction in termite survival, vigor, body weight, body water content, and consumption.The soil in which Lantana had been growing exhibited no anti-termitic activity.
Journal of Economic Entomology, 2019
Toxicity profiles of four aliphatic (α-pinene, cyclononanone, limonene, nerolidol), four aromatic... more Toxicity profiles of four aliphatic (α-pinene, cyclononanone, limonene, nerolidol), four aromatic (β-thujaplicin, carvacrol, eugenol, tropolone) essential oil components (EOCs), and permethrin were investigated against three strains of German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). The strains include a susceptible strain (S), and two multi-resistant strains – strains D and E. Also, a synergism bioassay, using piperonyl butoxide (PBO) was conducted. The most toxic EOCs were aromatic EOCs carvacrol, eugenol, and tropolone, followed by aliphatic EOC limonene; all had LD50 values of <0.7 mg/µl. Four of the EOCs were equally toxic against all the strains, with carvacrol being the most toxic, followed by eugenol, tropolone, and α–pinene. The other four EOCs were more toxic against strain S than against the two resistant strains. Permethrin was significantly more toxic to strain S (LD50 = 0.056 µg/µl) compared with the resistant strains (D = 2.138 µg/µl, E = 1.730 µg/µl). Toxicity of alip...
Pest Control Technology, 2009
This study investigated the effects of food deprivation on survival, cannibalism, body weight, an... more This study investigated the effects of food deprivation on survival, cannibalism, body weight, and hindgut symbiotic protist communities in Eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Termite groups in natural worker and soldier ratio were tested in Petri dishes that were half filled with sand, with or without a food source, under laboratory conditions for 40 days. Starvation resulted in significantly higher mortality than groups with access to food. Compared to controls, the surviving workers showed little weight loss and exhibited little or no reduction in aliveness. Close examination indicated that the surviving workers primarily lived by cannibalizing nest- mates. When the experiment was terminated at 40 days, the surviving workers were dissected to count the symbiotic protists inhabiting their hindguts. Among the 10 identified protists, starvation eliminated 3 species (Trichonympha agilis, Pyrsonympha vertens, and P. major ), significantly reduced the popul...
Journal of Insect Behavior, 2006
Journal of Economic Entomology
Cockroach management relies heavily on the use of conventional insecticides in urban settings, wh... more Cockroach management relies heavily on the use of conventional insecticides in urban settings, which no longer provide the anticipated level of control. Knowledge of cockroach endosymbionts, like Wolbachia, might provide novel avenues for control. Therefore, we screened 16 cockroach species belonging to 3 families (Ectobiidae, Blattidae, and Blaberidae) for the presence of Wolbachia. We mapped the evolution of Wolbachia-cockroach relationships based on maximum likelihood phylogeny and phylogenetic species clustering on a multi-loci sequence dataset (i.e., coxA, virD4, hcpA, and gatB) of Wolbachia genes. We confirmed the previous report of Wolbachia in 1 Ectobiid species; Supella longipalpa (Fab.), and detected the presence of Wolbachia in 2 Ectobiid species; Balta notulata (Stål) and Pseudomops septentrionalis Hebard, and 1 Blaberid species; Gromphadorhina portentosa (Schaum). All cockroach-associated Wolbachia herein detected were clustered with the ancestor of F clade Wolbachia of...
Environmental Entomology, 2015
Prewinter copulation, sperm storage, and oocyte development in overwintering adult Megacopta crib... more Prewinter copulation, sperm storage, and oocyte development in overwintering adult Megacopta cribraria (F.) was examined in Alabama (Lee Co.). Microscopic examinations of the spermathecae and ovaries were made in females and of the testes in males that were collected approximately weekly from September 2013 through March 2014. The results indicated that approximately 15% of females mated before entering winter dormancy and sperm was stored in their spermatheca for up to seven months, oocytes in mated overwintering females proceeded to postblastoderm stage before the onset of spring feeding and mating in March, all of the overwintering males had sperm in their testes, and the ratio of females gradually increased in populations during overwintering. This study indicates that both males and females are capable of reproductive dormancy. The biological significance of these life cycle aspects is discussed from the viewpoints of invasiveness and adaptation.
Control residual effectiveness, with diazinon-treated spheres intermediate. Spheres treated with ... more Control residual effectiveness, with diazinon-treated spheres intermediate. Spheres treated with formulated avermectin at 1.0% A.I. (Agrimek) performed only slightly better than phloxine B-treated spheres, which completely lost effectiveness after exposure to rainfall. Spheres treated with Merit 75% WP (formulated imidacloprid) at 1.5% A.I. showed equal or better residual efficacy in killing apple maggot flies (>80% mortality, shorter lethal duration of feeding) over a 12 weeks exposure period than spheres treated with Digon at 1.0% A.I. after both types were retreated with sucrose. Our results indicate that imidacloprid is a promising safe substitute for dimethoate as a fly killing agent on lure-kill spheres. A wettable powder formulation of imidacloprid (Merit) proved better than a flowable formulation (Provado) in terms of residual efficacy.
Two omnivorous species of mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae), Scapteriscus vicinus Scudde... more Two omnivorous species of mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae), Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder and S. borellii Giglio-Tos, are introduced subterranean pests that cause damage to turfgrass by feeding and tunneling in the southeastern United States. Unlike strict herbivores, the impact of omnivorous pests on host plants can vary according to the availability of plant and animal prey. After a series of greenhouse experiments investigating the influence of earthworm (Eisenia fetida Savigny) prey on hybrid bermudagrass by adult S. vicinus and S. borellii, it was shown that alternative prey, when present, may result in a negative impact on turfgrass roots from foraging omnivorous mole crickets. In laboratory experiments, the feeding preference of both mole cricket species was determined using choice and no-choice tests. In choice tests, S. borellii preferred an animal diet and plant diets were preferred by S. vicinus supporting the previous studies on gut contents. Additionally, further investigation about the impact of diet on survival and nymphal development provided insight into the relative benefits of each dietary choice on these omnivores. Overall, S. borellii provisioned with animal diet had less mortality, greater body mass, and faster development compared to the ones fed on plant diet. Even though S. vicinus is primarily a herbivorous species, nymphs fed on animal diet gained more weight and developed faster than the ones fed on plants. This work suggests that S. vicinus and S. borellii have the capability of nutrient regulation and adaptability on various diets, and that an animal diet benefits both species in terms of survival and nymphal development. iii Acknowledgments I owe my deepest gratitude to my major professor, Dr. David Held, for his enthusiasm, encouragement, timely advice and numerous opportunities that he provided over two years. Without his rousing insight and endless patience, this thesis would never be accomplished. I feel very honored and pleased to have such a great advisor in my academic life. I am highly grateful to my co-advisor, Dr. Xing Ping Hu, who offered me a great opportunity to accomplish this study, and provided me helpful suggestion and endless support. I also would like to thank Dr. Kathy Flanders, my committee member, who was always available and gave me useful references. A special thanks to Dr. Seung Cheon Hong who was always willing to provide technical assistance and very helpful comments on statistical analysis. Also, thanks to David Bailey, Shane Parker, Chase Brown, Anthony Bowden, Murphey Coy, Dunya Djuranovic, and Edzard van Santen for their technical assistance. I also feel thankful to have the rest of my lab members for their support and friendship. Thanks to the colleagues in the Phytobacteriology Laboratory and Soil Testing Laboratory for providing me instruments and assistance. Moreover, I would like to give my sincere thanks to all the people in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and my friends for their support. This thesis would not have been possible without mole crickets and turfgrass sampling sites. Jim Harris at the Auburn University Turfgrass Research Unit was always welcoming for harvesting turfgrass as experimental material. The crew at Grand National Golf Course, Great iv Southern Golf Club, Shell Landing Golf Club, Gulf Hills Golf Club, Mr. Turf Sod Farm, and Shoal Creek Country Club were always welcoming and cooperative during this research. Also, thanks to the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation for financial support for this study. Finally, I would never succeed without the unflagging love and moral support from the best parents in the world, Mr. Sheng Jie Xu and Mrs. Min Zhu. I am forever grateful to their understanding and encouragement during the day when I went through a hard time.
Environmental Entomology, 2020
Water loss rate, percentage total body water content (%TBW), cuticular permeability (CP), and des... more Water loss rate, percentage total body water content (%TBW), cuticular permeability (CP), and desiccation tolerance were investigated in adult and immature stages of the invasive kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), a serious soybean pest and an urban nuisance. Adults and all five nymphal instars were weighed prior to and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 24 h after desiccated at 30 ± 1°C and 0–2% RH. Both % initial mass and %TBW loss increased linearly with time of desiccation. Rates of loss ranged from approximately 1–7%/h. Mortality occurred at 10 h after desiccation. Desiccation tolerance (%TBW lost at death) ranged between 25.6% for first-generation adult females and 75% for first-generation fifth-instar nymphs. First-generation first-instar nymphs had significantly greater %TBW (88.9%) than the other generations and instars, whereas second-generation fifth instars had the lowest %TBW (62.4%). The CP value of first-generation adult females (12.3 ± 1.6 µg cm−1 h−1 m...
Oncotarget, Jan 27, 2017
Long-term exposure to arsenic has been linked to tumorigenesis in different organs and tissues, s... more Long-term exposure to arsenic has been linked to tumorigenesis in different organs and tissues, such as skin; however, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this present study, we integrated "omics" including microRNAome, proteomics and metabolomics to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms. Compared with non-malignant human keratinocytes (HaCaT), twenty-six miRNAs were significantly altered in arsenic-induced transformed cells. Among these miRNAs, the differential expression of six miRNAs was confirmed using Q-RT-PCR, representing potential oxidative stress genes. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (MS) were performed to identify the differential expression of proteins in arsenic-induced transformed cells, and twelve proteins were significantly changed. Several proteins were associated with oxidative stress and carcinogenesis including heat shock protein beta-1 (HSPB1), peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX2). Using ultra-performance liquid c...
Oncotarget, 2015
CD147/basigin, a transmembrane protein, is a member of the immunoglobulin super family. Accumulat... more CD147/basigin, a transmembrane protein, is a member of the immunoglobulin super family. Accumulating evidence has revealed the role of CD147 in the development and progression of various cancers, including malignant melanoma (MM). MM is a malignancy of pigment-producing cells that causes the greatest number of skin cancer-related deaths worldwide. CD147 is overexpressed in MM and plays an important role in cell viability, apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, probably by mediating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production, glycolysis, and multi-drug resistance (MDR). As a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inducer, CD147 could also promote surrounding fibroblasts to secrete abundant MMPs to further stimulate tumor cell invasion. Targeting CD147 has been shown to suppress MM in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the therapeutic potential of CD147 silencing in MM treatment. In this review article, we discuss CD147 and its biological roles, regulatory mechanisms, and potential application as a molecular target for MM.
Dong wu xue yan jiu = Zoological research / "Dong wu xue yan jiu" bian ji wei yuan hui bian ji, Jan 18, 2014
Non-human primates (NHPs) are phylogenetically close to humans, with many similarities in terms o... more Non-human primates (NHPs) are phylogenetically close to humans, with many similarities in terms of physiology, anatomy, immunology, as well as neurology, all of which make them excellent experimental models for biomedical research. Compared with developed countries in America and Europe, China has relatively rich primate resources and has continually aimed to develop NHPs resources. Currently, China is a leading producer and a major supplier of NHPs on the international market. However, there are some deficiencies in feeding and management that have hampered China's growth in NHP research and materials. Nonetheless, China has recently established a number of primate animal models for human diseases and achieved marked scientific progress on infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, reproductive diseases, neurological diseases, and ophthalmic diseases, etc. Advances in these fields via NHP models will undoubtedly further promote the development of China...
Materials Today: Proceedings, 2014
Magnesium alloys are newly promising biomaterials with potential application of human bone replac... more Magnesium alloys are newly promising biomaterials with potential application of human bone replacement. However, there is a drawback due to their high corrosion rates. In this study, AZ31 magnesium alloys were coated using microarc oxidation (MAO) process. Two oxidation durations, 1 minute and 5 minutes, were used. The samples were immersed in the simulated body fluid (SBF) for up to seven days. Then the electrochemical behaviors of the two samples were comparatively investigated. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments were used. The results show that the 5-minute MAO coated sample had a better corrosion resistance than the 1-minute MAO coated sample. The study shows processing parameters, e.g., oxidation time, can be used to design an optimized MAO-coated magnesium alloy with controlled corrosion rates.
Applied Mechanics and Materials, 2013
The wind tunnel measurement and numerical simulation of a 50% scaled sedan model surface pressure... more The wind tunnel measurement and numerical simulation of a 50% scaled sedan model surface pressure distribution were made in order to provide fundamental data for improving the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation accuracy of the aerodynamic noise related flow field around automobiles. The pressure measurement positions of the wind tunnel experiment were on the side window and the door. The wind tunnel test section speed was 30m/s at 0° yawing angle. As for the CFD simulation, the wind tunnel shape computational domain and four settings of the near wall computational mesh were made. Both the k-ω SST and the Realizable k-ε turbulence models were chosen. And three value ranges of the near wall computational mesh’s dimensionless wall distance (y+) were realized. Compared with the experimental data, the pressure coefficient (CP) simulation results showed good agreement with the measurement at the re-attaching region on the side window and the attaching region on the door. But th...
Journal of Entomological Science, 2013
Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae) was first discovered in North Amer... more Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae) was first discovered in North America in 9 counties in northeastern Georgia (USA) in October 2009. By the end of 2012, surveys conducted in Georgia and neighboring states confirmed that the insect had spread into 383 additional counties in the southeastern U.S., including the states of Alabama,
International Journal of Insect Science
This study provides empirical evidence that disturbing mound immediately before application, as o... more This study provides empirical evidence that disturbing mound immediately before application, as opposed to label recommendation, did not reduce foraging activity of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, except for about 10-min delay in foraging. Despite the delayed foraging, there was no significant difference in the amount of baits foraged between disturbed and undisturbed colonies. Eventually, >96% of the baits were foraged, with the maximum removal occurred by 2 and 3 h, respectively, in summer and spring trial. The fastest and great amount of bait removal 1 h post-treatment occurred to baits placed on mound, followed by 0.18–0.3-m from mound base, and the slowest 1.08–1.2-m from mound base. All treatment gave 100% control 1 mo later, regardless of the season, without colony relocation or new colony invasion in the test plots.
Journal of Economic Entomology
The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, is a peridomestic nuisance pest in the southeas... more The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, is a peridomestic nuisance pest in the southeastern United States. Blattella asahinai is the closest relative to Blattella germanica (L.), the German cockroach, one of the most prolific and widespread domestic pests. Because these two species live in different habitats, they are expected to have differential development patterns reflecting environmental adaptations. Development of B. asahinai and B. germanica cockroach nymphs were observed at six constant temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 °C. At 10 °C and 15 °C, all nymphs died in the first instar, but B. germanica nymphs survived longer (10 °C: 12.9 d; 15 °C: 42.9 d) than B. asahinai nymphs (10 °C 8.2 d; 15 °C 18.4 d) at both temperatures. At 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C, B. asahinai consistently had more instars and longer stadia than B. germanica. At 35 °C, only B. germanica was able to complete nymphal development; cannibalism among B. asahinai nymphs during molting was often observe...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine / American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2015
The route of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in horses remains undetermined, but tra... more The route of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in horses remains undetermined, but transmission by insects is suspected. To investigate house flies (Musca domestica L.) as vectors of C. pseudotuberculosis transmission in horses. Eight healthy, adult ponies. Randomized, controlled, blinded prospective study. Ten wounds were created in the pectoral region where cages for flies were attached. Three ponies were directly inoculated with C. pseudotuberculosis. Four ponies were exposed for 24 hours to 20 hours C. pseudotuberculosis-inoculated flies. One negative control pony was exposed to noninoculated flies. Ponies were examined daily for swelling, heat, pain, and drainage at the inoculation site. Blood was collected weekly for CBC and biochemical analysis, and twice weekly for synergistic hemolysis inhibition titers. Clinical signs of local infection and positive cultures were observed in 7/7 exposed ponies and were absent in the negative control. In exposed ponies, peak sero...
Fresh and dry tissues (leaves, stems, flowers and roots) of two Lantana camara cultivars and the ... more Fresh and dry tissues (leaves, stems, flowers and roots) of two Lantana camara cultivars and the soil from where the plants were growing were tested to determine their anti-termitic activities against Reticulitermes flavipes in 3-wk laboratory bioassays. Barriers incorporating 25% (w/w) chipped tissues, fresh and dry, in soil significantly reduced termite tunneling activity. The repellent effect was greater in fresh tissues than the corresponding oven-dry tissues and in cultivar Mozellethan cultivar New Gold. Leaves displayed greater repellence than flowers and stems, and roots were the weakest.No-choice bioassay of oven-dry aerial parts showed significant reduction in termite survival, vigor, body weight, body water content, and consumption.The soil in which Lantana had been growing exhibited no anti-termitic activity.
Journal of Economic Entomology, 2019
Toxicity profiles of four aliphatic (α-pinene, cyclononanone, limonene, nerolidol), four aromatic... more Toxicity profiles of four aliphatic (α-pinene, cyclononanone, limonene, nerolidol), four aromatic (β-thujaplicin, carvacrol, eugenol, tropolone) essential oil components (EOCs), and permethrin were investigated against three strains of German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). The strains include a susceptible strain (S), and two multi-resistant strains – strains D and E. Also, a synergism bioassay, using piperonyl butoxide (PBO) was conducted. The most toxic EOCs were aromatic EOCs carvacrol, eugenol, and tropolone, followed by aliphatic EOC limonene; all had LD50 values of <0.7 mg/µl. Four of the EOCs were equally toxic against all the strains, with carvacrol being the most toxic, followed by eugenol, tropolone, and α–pinene. The other four EOCs were more toxic against strain S than against the two resistant strains. Permethrin was significantly more toxic to strain S (LD50 = 0.056 µg/µl) compared with the resistant strains (D = 2.138 µg/µl, E = 1.730 µg/µl). Toxicity of alip...
Pest Control Technology, 2009
This study investigated the effects of food deprivation on survival, cannibalism, body weight, an... more This study investigated the effects of food deprivation on survival, cannibalism, body weight, and hindgut symbiotic protist communities in Eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Termite groups in natural worker and soldier ratio were tested in Petri dishes that were half filled with sand, with or without a food source, under laboratory conditions for 40 days. Starvation resulted in significantly higher mortality than groups with access to food. Compared to controls, the surviving workers showed little weight loss and exhibited little or no reduction in aliveness. Close examination indicated that the surviving workers primarily lived by cannibalizing nest- mates. When the experiment was terminated at 40 days, the surviving workers were dissected to count the symbiotic protists inhabiting their hindguts. Among the 10 identified protists, starvation eliminated 3 species (Trichonympha agilis, Pyrsonympha vertens, and P. major ), significantly reduced the popul...
Journal of Insect Behavior, 2006
Journal of Economic Entomology
Cockroach management relies heavily on the use of conventional insecticides in urban settings, wh... more Cockroach management relies heavily on the use of conventional insecticides in urban settings, which no longer provide the anticipated level of control. Knowledge of cockroach endosymbionts, like Wolbachia, might provide novel avenues for control. Therefore, we screened 16 cockroach species belonging to 3 families (Ectobiidae, Blattidae, and Blaberidae) for the presence of Wolbachia. We mapped the evolution of Wolbachia-cockroach relationships based on maximum likelihood phylogeny and phylogenetic species clustering on a multi-loci sequence dataset (i.e., coxA, virD4, hcpA, and gatB) of Wolbachia genes. We confirmed the previous report of Wolbachia in 1 Ectobiid species; Supella longipalpa (Fab.), and detected the presence of Wolbachia in 2 Ectobiid species; Balta notulata (Stål) and Pseudomops septentrionalis Hebard, and 1 Blaberid species; Gromphadorhina portentosa (Schaum). All cockroach-associated Wolbachia herein detected were clustered with the ancestor of F clade Wolbachia of...
Environmental Entomology, 2015
Prewinter copulation, sperm storage, and oocyte development in overwintering adult Megacopta crib... more Prewinter copulation, sperm storage, and oocyte development in overwintering adult Megacopta cribraria (F.) was examined in Alabama (Lee Co.). Microscopic examinations of the spermathecae and ovaries were made in females and of the testes in males that were collected approximately weekly from September 2013 through March 2014. The results indicated that approximately 15% of females mated before entering winter dormancy and sperm was stored in their spermatheca for up to seven months, oocytes in mated overwintering females proceeded to postblastoderm stage before the onset of spring feeding and mating in March, all of the overwintering males had sperm in their testes, and the ratio of females gradually increased in populations during overwintering. This study indicates that both males and females are capable of reproductive dormancy. The biological significance of these life cycle aspects is discussed from the viewpoints of invasiveness and adaptation.
Control residual effectiveness, with diazinon-treated spheres intermediate. Spheres treated with ... more Control residual effectiveness, with diazinon-treated spheres intermediate. Spheres treated with formulated avermectin at 1.0% A.I. (Agrimek) performed only slightly better than phloxine B-treated spheres, which completely lost effectiveness after exposure to rainfall. Spheres treated with Merit 75% WP (formulated imidacloprid) at 1.5% A.I. showed equal or better residual efficacy in killing apple maggot flies (>80% mortality, shorter lethal duration of feeding) over a 12 weeks exposure period than spheres treated with Digon at 1.0% A.I. after both types were retreated with sucrose. Our results indicate that imidacloprid is a promising safe substitute for dimethoate as a fly killing agent on lure-kill spheres. A wettable powder formulation of imidacloprid (Merit) proved better than a flowable formulation (Provado) in terms of residual efficacy.
Two omnivorous species of mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae), Scapteriscus vicinus Scudde... more Two omnivorous species of mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae), Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder and S. borellii Giglio-Tos, are introduced subterranean pests that cause damage to turfgrass by feeding and tunneling in the southeastern United States. Unlike strict herbivores, the impact of omnivorous pests on host plants can vary according to the availability of plant and animal prey. After a series of greenhouse experiments investigating the influence of earthworm (Eisenia fetida Savigny) prey on hybrid bermudagrass by adult S. vicinus and S. borellii, it was shown that alternative prey, when present, may result in a negative impact on turfgrass roots from foraging omnivorous mole crickets. In laboratory experiments, the feeding preference of both mole cricket species was determined using choice and no-choice tests. In choice tests, S. borellii preferred an animal diet and plant diets were preferred by S. vicinus supporting the previous studies on gut contents. Additionally, further investigation about the impact of diet on survival and nymphal development provided insight into the relative benefits of each dietary choice on these omnivores. Overall, S. borellii provisioned with animal diet had less mortality, greater body mass, and faster development compared to the ones fed on plant diet. Even though S. vicinus is primarily a herbivorous species, nymphs fed on animal diet gained more weight and developed faster than the ones fed on plants. This work suggests that S. vicinus and S. borellii have the capability of nutrient regulation and adaptability on various diets, and that an animal diet benefits both species in terms of survival and nymphal development. iii Acknowledgments I owe my deepest gratitude to my major professor, Dr. David Held, for his enthusiasm, encouragement, timely advice and numerous opportunities that he provided over two years. Without his rousing insight and endless patience, this thesis would never be accomplished. I feel very honored and pleased to have such a great advisor in my academic life. I am highly grateful to my co-advisor, Dr. Xing Ping Hu, who offered me a great opportunity to accomplish this study, and provided me helpful suggestion and endless support. I also would like to thank Dr. Kathy Flanders, my committee member, who was always available and gave me useful references. A special thanks to Dr. Seung Cheon Hong who was always willing to provide technical assistance and very helpful comments on statistical analysis. Also, thanks to David Bailey, Shane Parker, Chase Brown, Anthony Bowden, Murphey Coy, Dunya Djuranovic, and Edzard van Santen for their technical assistance. I also feel thankful to have the rest of my lab members for their support and friendship. Thanks to the colleagues in the Phytobacteriology Laboratory and Soil Testing Laboratory for providing me instruments and assistance. Moreover, I would like to give my sincere thanks to all the people in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and my friends for their support. This thesis would not have been possible without mole crickets and turfgrass sampling sites. Jim Harris at the Auburn University Turfgrass Research Unit was always welcoming for harvesting turfgrass as experimental material. The crew at Grand National Golf Course, Great iv Southern Golf Club, Shell Landing Golf Club, Gulf Hills Golf Club, Mr. Turf Sod Farm, and Shoal Creek Country Club were always welcoming and cooperative during this research. Also, thanks to the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation for financial support for this study. Finally, I would never succeed without the unflagging love and moral support from the best parents in the world, Mr. Sheng Jie Xu and Mrs. Min Zhu. I am forever grateful to their understanding and encouragement during the day when I went through a hard time.
Environmental Entomology, 2020
Water loss rate, percentage total body water content (%TBW), cuticular permeability (CP), and des... more Water loss rate, percentage total body water content (%TBW), cuticular permeability (CP), and desiccation tolerance were investigated in adult and immature stages of the invasive kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), a serious soybean pest and an urban nuisance. Adults and all five nymphal instars were weighed prior to and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 24 h after desiccated at 30 ± 1°C and 0–2% RH. Both % initial mass and %TBW loss increased linearly with time of desiccation. Rates of loss ranged from approximately 1–7%/h. Mortality occurred at 10 h after desiccation. Desiccation tolerance (%TBW lost at death) ranged between 25.6% for first-generation adult females and 75% for first-generation fifth-instar nymphs. First-generation first-instar nymphs had significantly greater %TBW (88.9%) than the other generations and instars, whereas second-generation fifth instars had the lowest %TBW (62.4%). The CP value of first-generation adult females (12.3 ± 1.6 µg cm−1 h−1 m...
Oncotarget, Jan 27, 2017
Long-term exposure to arsenic has been linked to tumorigenesis in different organs and tissues, s... more Long-term exposure to arsenic has been linked to tumorigenesis in different organs and tissues, such as skin; however, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this present study, we integrated "omics" including microRNAome, proteomics and metabolomics to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms. Compared with non-malignant human keratinocytes (HaCaT), twenty-six miRNAs were significantly altered in arsenic-induced transformed cells. Among these miRNAs, the differential expression of six miRNAs was confirmed using Q-RT-PCR, representing potential oxidative stress genes. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (MS) were performed to identify the differential expression of proteins in arsenic-induced transformed cells, and twelve proteins were significantly changed. Several proteins were associated with oxidative stress and carcinogenesis including heat shock protein beta-1 (HSPB1), peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX2). Using ultra-performance liquid c...
Oncotarget, 2015
CD147/basigin, a transmembrane protein, is a member of the immunoglobulin super family. Accumulat... more CD147/basigin, a transmembrane protein, is a member of the immunoglobulin super family. Accumulating evidence has revealed the role of CD147 in the development and progression of various cancers, including malignant melanoma (MM). MM is a malignancy of pigment-producing cells that causes the greatest number of skin cancer-related deaths worldwide. CD147 is overexpressed in MM and plays an important role in cell viability, apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, probably by mediating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production, glycolysis, and multi-drug resistance (MDR). As a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inducer, CD147 could also promote surrounding fibroblasts to secrete abundant MMPs to further stimulate tumor cell invasion. Targeting CD147 has been shown to suppress MM in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the therapeutic potential of CD147 silencing in MM treatment. In this review article, we discuss CD147 and its biological roles, regulatory mechanisms, and potential application as a molecular target for MM.
Dong wu xue yan jiu = Zoological research / "Dong wu xue yan jiu" bian ji wei yuan hui bian ji, Jan 18, 2014
Non-human primates (NHPs) are phylogenetically close to humans, with many similarities in terms o... more Non-human primates (NHPs) are phylogenetically close to humans, with many similarities in terms of physiology, anatomy, immunology, as well as neurology, all of which make them excellent experimental models for biomedical research. Compared with developed countries in America and Europe, China has relatively rich primate resources and has continually aimed to develop NHPs resources. Currently, China is a leading producer and a major supplier of NHPs on the international market. However, there are some deficiencies in feeding and management that have hampered China's growth in NHP research and materials. Nonetheless, China has recently established a number of primate animal models for human diseases and achieved marked scientific progress on infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, reproductive diseases, neurological diseases, and ophthalmic diseases, etc. Advances in these fields via NHP models will undoubtedly further promote the development of China...
Materials Today: Proceedings, 2014
Magnesium alloys are newly promising biomaterials with potential application of human bone replac... more Magnesium alloys are newly promising biomaterials with potential application of human bone replacement. However, there is a drawback due to their high corrosion rates. In this study, AZ31 magnesium alloys were coated using microarc oxidation (MAO) process. Two oxidation durations, 1 minute and 5 minutes, were used. The samples were immersed in the simulated body fluid (SBF) for up to seven days. Then the electrochemical behaviors of the two samples were comparatively investigated. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments were used. The results show that the 5-minute MAO coated sample had a better corrosion resistance than the 1-minute MAO coated sample. The study shows processing parameters, e.g., oxidation time, can be used to design an optimized MAO-coated magnesium alloy with controlled corrosion rates.
Applied Mechanics and Materials, 2013
The wind tunnel measurement and numerical simulation of a 50% scaled sedan model surface pressure... more The wind tunnel measurement and numerical simulation of a 50% scaled sedan model surface pressure distribution were made in order to provide fundamental data for improving the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation accuracy of the aerodynamic noise related flow field around automobiles. The pressure measurement positions of the wind tunnel experiment were on the side window and the door. The wind tunnel test section speed was 30m/s at 0° yawing angle. As for the CFD simulation, the wind tunnel shape computational domain and four settings of the near wall computational mesh were made. Both the k-ω SST and the Realizable k-ε turbulence models were chosen. And three value ranges of the near wall computational mesh’s dimensionless wall distance (y+) were realized. Compared with the experimental data, the pressure coefficient (CP) simulation results showed good agreement with the measurement at the re-attaching region on the side window and the attaching region on the door. But th...
Journal of Entomological Science, 2013
Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae) was first discovered in North Amer... more Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae) was first discovered in North America in 9 counties in northeastern Georgia (USA) in October 2009. By the end of 2012, surveys conducted in Georgia and neighboring states confirmed that the insect had spread into 383 additional counties in the southeastern U.S., including the states of Alabama,
International Journal of Insect Science
This study provides empirical evidence that disturbing mound immediately before application, as o... more This study provides empirical evidence that disturbing mound immediately before application, as opposed to label recommendation, did not reduce foraging activity of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, except for about 10-min delay in foraging. Despite the delayed foraging, there was no significant difference in the amount of baits foraged between disturbed and undisturbed colonies. Eventually, >96% of the baits were foraged, with the maximum removal occurred by 2 and 3 h, respectively, in summer and spring trial. The fastest and great amount of bait removal 1 h post-treatment occurred to baits placed on mound, followed by 0.18–0.3-m from mound base, and the slowest 1.08–1.2-m from mound base. All treatment gave 100% control 1 mo later, regardless of the season, without colony relocation or new colony invasion in the test plots.