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Insecticide resistance poses many challenges in insect pest control, particularly in the control of destructive pests such as red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). In recent years, beta-cypermethrin and fipronil have been extensively used to manage invasive ants, but their effects on resistance development in S. invicta are still unknown. To investigate resistance development, S. invicta was collected from populations in five different cities in Guangdong, China. The results showed 105.71- and 2.98-fold higher resistance against fipronil and beta-cypermethrin, respectively, in the Guangzhou population. The enzymatic activities of acetylcholinesterase, carboxylases, and glutathione S-transferases significantly increased with increasing beta-cypermethrin and fipronil concentrations. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 117 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the BC-ck vs. BC-30 treatments (39 upregulated and 78 downregulated), 109 DEGs in F-ck vs. F-30 (33 upregulated and 76 downregulated), and 499 DEGs in BC-30 vs. F-30 (312 upregulated and 187 downregulated). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that DEGs associated with insecticide resistance were significantly enriched in metabolic pathways, the AMPK signaling pathway, the insulin signaling pathway, carbon metabolism, peroxisomes, fatty acid metabolism, drug metabolism enzymes and the metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450. Furthermore, we found that DEGs important for insecticide detoxification pathways were differentially regulated under both insecticide treatments in S. invicta. Comprehensive transcriptomic data confirmed that detoxification enzymes play a significant role in insecticide detoxification and resistance development in S. invicta in Guangdong Province. Numerous identified insecticide-related genes, GO terms, and KEGG pathways indicated the resistance of S. invicta workers to both insecticides. Importantly, this transcriptome profile variability serves as a starting point for future research on insecticide risk evaluation and the molecular mechanism of insecticide detoxification in invasive red imported fire ants.

This study investigated the effects of dietary protein to energy (P/E) ratios on the nutrients and minerals digestibility of Labeo rohita fingerlings. Twelve experiment diets containing four protein levels (24, 26, 28, and 30 %) at three dietary energy levels (2400, 2700, and 3000 kcal/kg) with P/E ratios from 80.00 to 125.00 mg / kcal were evaluated. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of seventeen fish averaging 6.5±0.6 g (mean±SD) for 10 wk. The chromic oxide in the diets was added as an additional inert marker to determine the digestibility of nutrients. The results from present study were demonstrated that the dietary P/E ratio significantly affects digestibility of protein, lipid and gross energy. In addition, the interactions of protein and energy significantly (p < 0.05) affected the digestibility of crude proteins, lipids, gross energy however, no significant (p > 0.05) effect was observed in digestibility of dry matter and ash. The increasing dietary P / E ratio significantly increased the digestibility of Na, Ca, P, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Fe. The diet with P / E ratio of 86.67 mg / kcal showed higher digestibility of dry matter (69.38±1.06), crude protein (88.18±1.59), lipid (93.43±0.22) and gross energy (86.50±0.57) while lower digestibility was observed in D12 (dietary protein 30% and dietary energy 3000 kcal/kg) with P/E ratio 100.00 mg / kcal. In conclusion, P/E ratio of 86.67 mg digestible protein / kcal digestible energy shows the maximum digestibility of nutrients and minerals in Labeo rohita fingerlings.

| Environmental pollutants are considered harmful not only to humans but to flora and fauna. Fluoride present in the soil, water or even in the atmosphere may adversely affect plants and ultimately cause serious negative consequences on the development, growth and maturity of crops. In this regard, this study was conducted to examine the possible health effect of fluoride pollution in the form of sodium fluoride on the growth and physiological parameters of cotton plant. The cotton plants were grown in the pots. Six different concentrations of fluoride (3mg/L to 15mg/L) along with water as control were used periodically. At both harvests, maximum growth and physiological functions were recorded at 0mg/L treatment while, reduction was recorded at 15mg/L.