Systematics and evolutionary dynamics of insect-fern interactions in the specialized fern-spore feeding Cuprininae (Lepidoptera, Stathmopodidae).

Fern-spore-feeding (FSF) is rare and found in only four families of Lepidoptera. Stathmopodidae is the most speciose family that contains FSF species, and its subfamily Cuprininae exclusively specializes on FSF. However, three species of Stathmopodinae also specialize on FSF. To better understand the evolutionary history of FSF and, more generally, the significance of specialization on a peculiar host, a phylogenetic and taxonomic revision for this group is necessary. We reconstructed the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny, including one mitochondrial and four nuclear genes, of Stathmopodidae to date, including 137 samples representing 62 species, with a particular focus on the FSF subfamily, Cuprininae, including 33 species (41% of named species) from 6 of the 7 Cuprininae genera. Species from two other subfamilies, Stathmopodinae and Atkinsoniinae, were also included. We found that FSF evolved only once in Stathmopodidae and that the previous hypothesis of multiple origins of FSF was misled by inadequate taxonomy. Moreover, we showed that (1) speciation/extinction rates do not differ significantly between FSF and non-FSF groups and that (2) oligophage is the ancestral character state in Cuprininae. We further revealed that a faster rate of accumulating specialists over time, and thus a higher number of specialists, was achieved by a higher transition rate from oligophagages to specialists compared to the transition rate in the opposite direction. We finish by describing three new genera, Trigonodagen. nov., Petalagen. nov., and Pediformisgen. nov., and revalidating five genera: Cuprina, Calicotis, Thylacosceles, Actinoscelis, Thylacosceloides in Cuprininae, and we provide an updated taxonomic key to genera and a revised global checklist of Cuprininae.

C1orf194 deficiency leads to incomplete early embryonic lethality and dominant intermediate Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in a knockout mouse model.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy and shows clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Mutations in C1orf194 encoding a Ca2+ regulator in neurons and Schwann cells have been reported previously by us to cause CMT disease. In here, we further investigated the function and pathogenic mechanism of C1or194 by generating C1orf194 knockout (KO) mice. Homozygous mutants of C1orf194 mice exhibited incomplete embryonic lethality, characterized by differentiation abnormalities and stillbirth on embryonic days 7.5-15.5. Heterozygous and surviving homozygous C1orf194 KO mice developed motor and sensory defects at the age of 4 months. Electrophysiologic recordings showed decreased compound muscle action potential and motor nerve conduction velocity in the sciatic nerve of C1orf194-deficient mice as a pathologic feature of dominant intermediate-type CMT. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed demyelination and axonal atrophy in the sciatic nerve as well as swelling and loss of mitochondrial matrix and other abnormalities in axons and Schwann cells. A histopathologic examination showed a loss of motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord and muscle atrophy. Shorter internodal length between nodes of Ranvier and Schmidt-Lanterman incisures was detected in the sciatic nerve of affected animals. These results indicate that C1orf194 KO mice can serve as an animal model of CMT with a severe dominant intermediate CMT phenotype that can be used to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the disease and evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic strategies.

Development and Applications of a Pressurized Water-Filled Impedance Tube.

In this study, a pressurized, water-filled impedance tube (WFIT) was developed to measure the reflection coefficients of sound-absorbing materials under various hydrostatic pressures. The developed WFIT was calibrated using a two-microphone, three-parameter calibration method (3PCM). The accuracy and repeatability of the measured reflection coefficients for the water-air interface in the WFIT were determined by comparing these coefficients with corresponding theoretical reflection coefficients. The WFIT was then used to measure the acoustic reflection coefficient of a porous rubber specimen on three dates, and the corresponding measurement results exhibited satisfactory repeatability. The aforementioned impedance tube was also used to measure the reflection coefficient of a porous rubber specimen under a hydrostatic pressure of 4 Patm three times on the same day, and one time each on three days, using the same experimental setup and measurement procedure. The results obtained in the aforementioned tests also exhibited satisfactory repeatability. Finally, the WFIT was used to measure the reflection coefficients of porous rubber specimens with various thicknesses under different hydrostatic pressures. The results of this study indicate that the developed WFIT calibrated with the 3PCM can achieve suitable repeatability in the measurement of the reflection coefficients of sound-absorbing materials under various hydrostatic pressures.

Underwater Sound Source Localization Based on Passive Time-Reversal Mirror and Ray Theory.

This study investigates the performance of a passive time-reversal mirror (TRM) combined with acoustic ray theory in localizing underwater sound sources with high frequencies (3-7 kHz). The TRM was installed on a floating buoy and comprised four hydrophones. The ray-tracing code BELLHOP was used to determine the transfer function between a sound source and a field point. The transfer function in the frequency domain obtained from BELLHOP was transformed into the time domain. The pressure field was then obtained by taking the convolution of the transfer function in the time domain with the time-reversed signals that were received by the hydrophones in the TRM. The location with the maximum pressure value was designated as the location of the source. The performance of the proposed methodology for source localization was tested in a towing tank and in the ocean. The aforementioned tests revealed that even when the distances between a source and the TRM were up to 1600 m, the distance deviations between estimated and actual source locations were mostly less than 2 m. Errors originated mainly from inaccurate depth estimation, and the literature indicates that they can be reduced by increasing the number of TRM elements and their apertures.

Anti-miR33 therapy improved hepatopancreatic lipid and immune metabolism disorders in grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella.

Lipid metabolism disorders are found ubiquitously in farmed fish and occur as a result of excessive fat accumulation. Previous studies have found that miR-33 is involved in lipid metabolism; however, its role in fish lipid metabolism is unclear. We sought to clarify this relationship in grass carp in vivo and in vitro. Our findings revealed the length of miR-33 to be 65 bp. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that grass carp miR-33 was most closely related to fish miR-33 (Siganus canaliculatus). Hepatocytes transfected with miR-33 mimic displayed markedly raised TG content (P < 0.05) as well as increased levels of lipid synthesis-related transcription factors (P < 0.05). Compared with blank and saline groups, total serum cholesterol, AST, and LDL levels were suppressed in groups treated with the miR-33 antagomir (P < 0.05). Moreover, the expression levels of PPARγ and SREBP-1c mRNA were significantly decreased in contrast to those found in the control group (P < 0.05). Similar findings were noted in the expression of immune-related proinflammatory molecules (TNFα, IL-1ß, IL-6, and NF-κB), which also demonstrated decreased levels (P < 0.05). Conversely, high expressions of anti-inflammatory factors (TGF-ß1 and IL-10) were noted (P < 0.05). This investigation strongly supports the role of miR-33 in hepatopancreas-based lipid metabolism and immunity. miR-33 may have been highly conserved in early vertebrates in order to facilitate liver-specific metabolic and immunomodulatory functions. Our findings provide a basis for further investigations exploring the mechanisms surrounding fish lipid metabolism and may aid in preventing and treating immunocompromised fish as well as fish with fatty hepatopancreas, and other metabolic diseases.

An in vitro investigation of telocytes-educated macrophages: morphology, heterocellular junctions, apoptosis and invasion analysis.

BACKGROUND: Telocytes (TCs), a recently discovered novel type of interstitial cells, were also found in a wide variety of human and mammalian reproductive organs/tissues, including uterus, oviduct and placenta. Previously, we demonstrated that TCs-conditioned media was capable of activating peritoneal macrophages (pMACs) through paracrine effects. This study investigates the hypothesis that direct interaction of TCs with pMACs will also play a significant role in immunoregulation of pMACs. METHODS: TCs and pMACs were derived from the uterus and intraperitoneal cavity of female BALB/c mice, respectively. TCs were identified by immunofluorescence and then co-cultured directly with pMACs for 24 h without added cytokines, to observe the in vitro biological behavior of pMACs. We used histochemical staining to study morphology and mitochondrial metabolism of pMACs, scanning electron microscopy to study heterocellular junctions, flow cytometry to investigate mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and apoptosis, and transwell chambers to study invasion ability. Student-t test was used accordingly. RESULTS: Presently, TCs with typical structure and immunophenotype of double CD-34-positive/vimentin-positive were successfully isolated. pMACs co-cultured with TCs showed obviously morphological activation, with enhanced energy metabolism (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, direct physical cell-to-cell interaction promoted the development of heterocellular junctions between TCs and pMACs. Furthermore, TCs treatment markedly reduced the depletion of ΔΨm in co-cultured pMACs (all P < 0.05), and inhibited their apoptosis (P < 0.05). Functionally, pMACs co-cultured with TCs showed enhanced invasion ability (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Direct physical cell-to-cell interaction promoted the development of heterocellular junctions between TCs and pMACs, presumably responsible for the observed novel efficient way of pMACs activation via mitochondrial signaling pathway. TCs-educated pMACs might be a promising way to restore the defective immunosurveillance in endometriosis (EMs), led to the enhanced treatment efficacy of EMs in a simple and clinically feasible fashion.

The Latest Advancements in Selective Neck Dissection for Early Stage Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OPINION STATEMENT: The management of cervical lymph node metastasis remains a crucial component of the treatment of head and neck cancers. However, the proper management of clinical N 0 cases with early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains undefined. In the advent of minimally invasive techniques in the 1980s, these techniques have gained popularity among numerous surgeons in all fields of surgery. Although there are no randomized controlled trial data comparing the outcomes of minimally invasive techniques (endoscopically assisted selective neck dissection (SND), robot-assisted SND) with conventional techniques, encouraging evidence from several studies suggests that both endoscopically assisted SND and robot-assisted SND are safe, minimally invasive techniques with achieved short-term oncologic outcomes and can reach a better cosmetic outcome than conventional SND. In this review, we also compare the indications, surgical approaches, and relative advantages and disadvantages of conventional SND, endoscopically assisted SND, and robot-assisted SND to provide surgeons with a means to better consider these techniques for the treatment of early-stage OSCC.

Telocytes damage in endometriosis-affected rat oviduct and potential impact on fertility.

Women with endometriosis (EMs) have unexplained infertility. The recently identified telocytes (TCs) might participate in the maintenance of structural and functional integrity of oviduct tissue, but so far the involvement of TCs in EMs-affected oviduct tissue and potential impact on fertility capacity remain unknown. By an integrated technique of haematoxylin and eosin staining, in situ immunohistochemistry and double-labelled immunofluorescence staining and electron microscopy approach, TCs were studied in the autotransplantation Sprague-Dawley rat model of EMs-affected oviduct tissue and in sham control, respectively, together with determination of iNOS, COX-2, LPO and estradiol. TCs were found in perivascular connective tissue and smooth muscle bundles in sham oviduct, with typical ultrastructural features (a slender piriform/spindle/triangular cell body, and one or more extremely long prolongations, emerged from cell bodies and extend to various directions), and specific immunophenotype of CD34-positive/vimentin-positive/c-kit-negative. However, in EMs-affected oviduct tissue (grade III), extensive ultrastructural damage (degeneration, discontinue, dissolution and destruction), significant decrease or loss of TCs and interstitial fibrosis were observed, together with elevated level of iNOS, COX-2, LPO and estradiol, thus suggestive of inflammation and ischaemia-induced TCs damage. Based on TCs distribution and intercellular connections, we proposed that such damage might be involved in structural and functional abnormalities of oviduct, such as attenuated intercellular signalling and oviduct contractility, impaired immunoregulation and stem cell-mediated tissue repair, 3-D interstitial architectural derangement and tissue fibrosis. Therefore, TCs damage might provide a new explanation and potential target for EMs-induced tubal damage and fertility disorders.

In vitro morphology, viability and cytokine secretion of uterine telocyte-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Telocytes (TCs), a distinct interstitial cell population, have been identified in the uterus, oviduct and placenta, with multiple proposed potential biological functions. Their unique structure allows them to form intercellular junctions with various immunocytes, both in normal and diseased tissues, suggesting a potential functional relationship with the local immune response. It has been hypothesized that through direct heterocellular junctions or indirect paracrine effects, TCs influence the activity of local immunocytes that are involved in the inflammatory process and in immune-mediated reproductive abnormalities. However, no reliable cytological evidence for this hypothesis is currently available. In this study, we cultured primary murine uterine TCs and collected TC conditioned media (TCM). Mouse peritoneal macrophages (pMACs) were co-cultured for 48 hrs with TCM or with DMEM/F12 or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as negative and positive controls, respectively. Normal uterine TCs with a typical structure and a CD-34-positive/vimentin-positive/c-kit-negative immunophenotype were observed during culture. Morphologically, TCM-treated pMACs displayed an obvious activation/immunoresponse, in contrast to over-stimulation and cell death after LPS treatment and no sign of activation in the presence of DMEM/F12. Accordingly, a cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay indicated significant activation of pMACs by TCM and LPS compared to DMEM/F12, thus supporting the marked morphological differences among these groups of cells. Furthermore, within a panel of macrophage-derived cytokines/enzymes, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and inducible nitric oxide synthase were significantly elevated in TCM-treated pMACs; tumour necrosis factor α, IL1-R1, and IL-10 were slightly, but significantly, up-regulated; and no changes were observed for transforming growth factor-ß1, IL-1ß, IL-23α and IL-18. Our results indicate that TCs are not simply innocent bystanders but are rather functional players in the activation of pMACs; they trigger and maintain the immune response, likely through indirect paracrine effects. Thus, we provide preliminary in vitro evidence of immunoregulatory and immunosurveillance roles for TCs.

Ultrastructure damage of oviduct telocytes in rat model of acute salpingitis.

Acute salpingitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease which causes severe damage to a subset of classically described cells lining in oviduct wall and contributes to interstitial fibrosis and fertility problems. Telocytes (TCs), a newly discovered peculiar type of stromal cells, have been identified in many organs, including oviduct, with proposed multiple potential bio-functions. However, with recent increasing reports regarding TCs alterations in disease-affected tissues, there is still lack of evidence about TCs involvement in AS-affected oviduct tissues and potential pathophysiological roles. We presently identified normal TCs by their characteristic ultrastructural features and immunophenotype. However, in AS-affected oviduct tissues, TCs displayed multiple ultrastructural damage both in cellular body and prolongations, with obvious loss of TCs and development of tissue fibrosis. Furthermore, TCs lose their interstitial 3-D network connected by homocellular or heterocellular junctions between TCs and adjacent cells. And especially, TCs connected to the activated immunocytes (mononuclear cells, eosinophils) and affected local immune state (repression or activation). Meanwhile, massive neutrophils infiltration and overproduced Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS), COX-2, suggested mechanism of inflammatory-induced TCs damage. Consequently, TCs damage might contribute to AS-induced structural and reproductive functional abnormalities of oviduct, probably via: (i) substances, energy and functional insufficiency, presumably, e.g. TC-specific genetic material profiles, ion channels, cytoskeletal elements, Tps dynamics, etc., (ii) impaired TCs-mediated multicellular signalling, such as homeostasis/angiogenesis, tissue repair/regeneration, neurotransmission, (iii) derangement of 3-D network and impaired mechanical support for TCs-mediated multicellular signals within the stromal compartment, consequently induced interstitial fibrosis, (iv) involvement in local inflammatory process/ immunoregulation and possibly immune-mediated early pregnancy failure.

Analysis of HGF, MACC1, C-met and apoptosis-related genes in cervical carcinoma mice.

To understand the underlying pharmacological basis and the molecular mechanism of Taxol in therapy of cervical carcinoma (CC) disease, we need to explore the effect of Taxol on CC-related genes and pro-apoptosis and anti-apoptosis genes expression. Immunohistochemistry, western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were applied to examine postive expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3, HGF, MACC1, Caspase-3 and C-met proteins and MACC1 mRNA expression in tumour of CC mice. Results showed that treatment of Taxol could increase the inhibition rate of tumour growth, positive expression levels of Caspase-3, Bax and decrease positive expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax, expression levels of HGF, MACC1 and C-met proteins and MACC1 mRNA in tumour tissue of CC mice. It can be concluded that inhibitory activity of Taxol against tumour growth in CC mice is closely associated with its modulating positive expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, expression of HGF, MACC1, Caspase-3 and C-met proteins and MACC1 mRNA in tumour of CC mice. In conclusion, HGF, MACC1 and C-met genes involve into malignant cervical tumors occurrence, development and prognosis, and might become potential molecular target therapy site of cervical cancer. Taxol intervention may serve as a multi-targeted CC therapeutic capable of inducing selective cancer cell death.

Genetic analyses of ancient tea trees provide insights into the breeding history and dissemination of Chinese Assam tea (Camellia sinensis var. assamica).

Chinese Assam tea (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) is an important tea crop with a long history of cultivation in Yunnan, China. Despite its potential value as a genetic resource, its genetic diversity and domestication/breeding history remain unclear. To address this issue, we genotyped 469 ancient tea plant trees representing 26 C. sinensis var. assamica populations, plus two of its wild relatives (six and three populations of C. taliensis and C. crassicolumna, respectively) using 16 nuclear microsatellite loci. Results showed that Chinese Assam tea has a relatively high, but comparatively lower gene diversity (HS = 0.638) than the wild relative C. crassicolumna (HS = 0.658). Clustering in STRUCTURE indicated that Chinese Assam tea and its two wild relatives formed distinct genetic groups, with considerable interspecific introgression. The Chinese Assam tea accessions clustered into three gene pools, corresponding well with their geographic distribution. However, NewHybrids analysis indicated that 68.48% of ancient Chinese Assam tea plants from Xishuangbanna were genetic intermediates between the Puer and Lincang gene pools. In addition, 10% of the ancient Chinese Assam tea individuals were found to be hybrids between Chinese Assam tea and C. taliensis. Our results suggest that Chinese Assam tea was domesticated separately in three gene pools (Puer, Lincang and Xishuangbanna) in the Mekong River valley and that the hybrids were subsequently selected during the domestication process. Although the domestication history of Chinese Assam tea in southwestern Yunnan remains complex, our results will help to identify valuable genetic resources that may be useful in future tea breeding programs.

Laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy guided by indocyanine green fluorescence: A cranial-dorsal approach.

BACKGROUND: Advancements in laparoscopic technology and a deeper understanding of intrahepatic anatomy have led to the establishment of more precise laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) techniques. The indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence navigation technique has emerged as the most effective method for identifying hepatic regions, potentially overcoming the limitations of LH. While laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy (LLH) is a standardized procedure, there is a need for innovative strategies to enhance its outcomes. AIM: To investigate a standardized cranial-dorsal strategy for LLH, focusing on important anatomical markers, surgical skills, and ICG staining methods. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients who underwent ICG fluorescence-guided LLH at Qujing Second People's Hospital between January 2019 and February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The cranial-dorsal approach was performed which involves dissecting the left hepatic vein cephalad, isolating the Arantius ligament , exposing the middle hepatic vein, and dissecting the parenchyma from the dorsal to the foot in order to complete the anatomical LLH. The surgical methods, as well as intra- and post-surgical data, were recorded and analyzed. Our hospital's Medical Ethics Committee approved this study (Ethical review: 2022-019-01). RESULTS: Intraoperative blood loss during LLH was 335.68 ± 99.869 mL and the rates of transfusion and conversion to laparotomy were 13.5% and 0%, respectively. The overall incidence of complications throughout the follow-up (median of 18 months; range 1-36 months) was 21.6%. No mortality or severe complications (level IV) were reported. CONCLUSION: LLH has the potential to become a novel, standardized approach that can effectively, safely, and simply expose the middle hepatic vein and meet the requirements of precision surgery.

Environmental DNA-based biodiversity profiling along the Houdong River in north-eastern Taiwan.

Background: This paper describes two datasets: species occurrences, which were determined by environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and their associated DNA sequences, originating from a research project which was carried out along the Houdong River (), Jiaoxi Township, Yilan, Taiwan. The Houdong River begins at an elevation of 860 m and flows for approximately 9 km before it empties into the Pacific Ocean. Meandering through mountains, hills, plains and alluvial valleys, this short river system is representative of the fluvial systems in Taiwan. The primary objective of this study was to determine eukaryotic species occurrences in the riverine ecosystem through the use of the eDNA analysis. The second goal was, based on the current dataset, to establish a metabarcoding eDNA data template that will be useful and replicable for all users, particularly the Taiwan community. The species occurrence data are accessible at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) portal and its associated DNA sequences have been deposited in the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) at EMBL-EBI, respectively. A total of 12 water samples from the study yielded an average of 1.5 million reads. The subsequent species identification from the collected samples resulted in the classification of 432 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) out of a total of 2,734. Furthermore, a total of 1,356 occurrences with taxon matches in GBIF were documented (excluding 4,941 incertae sedis, accessed 05-12-2023). These data will be of substantial importance for future species and habitat monitoring within the short river, such as assessment of biodiversity patterns across different elevations, zonations and time periods and its correlation to water quality, land uses and anthropogenic activities. Further, these datasets will be of importance for regional ecological studies, in particular the freshwater ecosystem and its status in the current global change scenarios. New information: The datasets are the first species diversity description of the Houdong River system using either eDNA or traditional monitoring processes.

Immunohistochemical alterations of cajal-like type of tubal interstitial cells in women with endometriosis and tubal ectopic pregnancy.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to observe alterations of pacemaker cells termed cajal-like type of tubal interstitial cells (t-ICC) in oviduct from early-stage EMs and tEP, discuss underlying mechanisms and potential role in tubal factor infertility (TFI). METHODS: Ten patients with early-stage EMs, 10 with unruptured tEP and 10 control subjects were included in this retrospective comparative study, received adnexectomy (salpingectomy) and/or hysterectomy. Paraffin-embedded full-thickness isthmic segment of oviduct specimens received immunohistochemistry with c-kit/CD117 antibody. Network distribution and area density of cells with features of t-ICC were analyzed. RESULTS: t-ICC was detected mainly in lamina propria and smooth muscle layers. t-ICC lost its network integrity, became less densely stained, sparse and almost invisible with relatively very rare connections in EMs and tEP, apparently differing in morphology of t-ICC from control, which demonstrated rich t-ICC immunostaining and intact network. Further quantitative analysis showed the area density of t-ICC decreased significantly in early-stage EMs and tEP compared with the control (73.9 ± 8.8 vs. 156 ± 18.3 mm(2); and 76 ± 7.4 vs. 156 ± 18.3 mm(2); both P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We revealed that t-ICC underwent certain degree of cell damage, suggested that decreased expression of t-ICC network may be involved in early development of EMs and tEP, and might serve as an explanation for TFI in these patients.

Rediscovering a species not seen for a hundred years, Stathmopodatacita (Meyrick, 1913) (Lepidoptera, Stathmopodidae), with its unusual fern-spore-feeding life history.

Background: Despite being the second largest group of vascular plants, ferns are scarcely reported being fed by insects when compared to angiosperms. Within these fern-feeding insects, lepidopterans are poorly represented and are restricted only to specific groups in this speciose order. The consumers specialising on fern spores are even scarcer in the order, with the majority being consumers of vegetative structures. Amongst the fern-spore-feeding Lepidoptera, Stathmopodidae is the family with the highest species diversity, even with a subfamily, Cyprininae Sinev, 2015, specialising on fern spores. However, fern-spore-feeding habit is not restricted to this subfamily. To understand the evolution of fern-spore-feeding within this family and to increase our knowledge of insect-fern evolution, detailed studies on fern-spore feeding stathmopodids are essential. New information: The present study rediscovered a rare, fern-spore-feeding, stathmopodid micro-moth, Stathmopodatacita (Meyrick, 1913), which has not been formally recorded or identified for more than 100 years. We documented the life history of this species and identified several species of Pyrrosia (Polypodiaceae, Platycerioideae) as host for the moth's larvae. A re-description of the fern-feeding moth is also provided as the original description is obscure in terms of character diagnosis.

Alien species revises systematic status: integrative species delimitation of two similar taxa of Symbrenthia Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae).

Introduction of organisms to new range may impose detrimental effects on local organisms, especially when closely related species are involved. Species delimitation employing an integrative taxonomy approach may provide a quick assessment for the species status between taxa of interest, and to infer ecological competition and/or introgression that may be associated with the introduction. A nymphalid butterfly, Symbrenthia lilaea lunica, was recently introduced to Taiwan, where a closely related local taxon, S. l. formosanus, can be found. We employed multiple species delimitation methods to study the species status between the two taxa, and the results revealed that they can be recognized as two distinct species, revised to S. l. lilaea (syn. nov.) and S. formosanus (stat. rev.) respectively. We further performed a niche modeling approach to investigate the ecological interaction between the two species. The taxonomic status of the two taxa, now elevated to species, has been revised and conservation facing rapid expansion of the introduced species discussed.

The Newly Recorded Fern-spore Feeding Moths in the Genus Calicotis, Meyrick 1889 (Lepidoptera: Stathmopodidae) from Taiwan, with Notes on Life History of Three Species.

Three newly recorded species of the genus Calicotis, Meyrick 1889 are reported from Taiwan: C. attiei (Guillermet, 2011), C. rotundinidus Terada, 2016, and C. exclamationis Terada, 2016. C. biserraticola Terada, 2016 is treated as a junior subjective synonym for C. attiei based on both morphological and molecular data. The life history of these three species is presented as well as the first observation of fern-feeding stathmopodid eggs in the world.

Combination of transcriptional biomarkers and clinical parameters for early prediction of sepsis indued acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: As a common yet intractable complication of severe sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is closely associated with poor clinical outcomes and elevated medical expenses. The aim of the current study is to generate a model combining transcriptional biomarkers and clinical parameters to alarm the development of ARDS in septic patients. Methods: Gene expression profile (GSE66890) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and clinical data were extracted. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from whole blood leukocytes were identified between patients with sepsis alone and septic patients who develop ARDS. ARDS prediction model was constructed using backward stepwise regression and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Meanwhile, a nomogram based on this model was established, with subsequent internal validation. Results: A total of 57 severe septic patients were enrolled in this study, and 28 (49.1%) developed ARDS. Based on the differential expression analysis, six DEGs (BPI, OLFM4, LCN2, CD24, MMP8 and MME) were screened. According to the outcome prediction model, six valuable risk factors (direct lung injury, shock, tumor, BPI, MME and MMP8) were incorporated into a nomogram, which was used to predict the onset of ARDS in septic patients. The calibration curves of the nomogram showed good consistency between the probabilities and observed values. The decision curve analysis also revealed the potential clinical usefulness of the nomogram. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) for the prediction of ARDS occurrence in septic patients by the nomogram was 0.86 (95% CI = 0.767-0.952). A sensitivity analysis showed that the AUROC for the prediction of ARDS development in septic patients without direct lung injury was 0.967 (95% CI = 0.896-1.0). Conclusions: The nomogram based on transcriptional biomarkers and clinical parameters showed a good performance for the prediction of ARDS occurrence in septic patients.

Identification of the major photodegradant in metronidazole by LC-PDA-MS and its reveal in compendial methods.

Metronidazole in aqueous solution is sensitive to light and UV irradiation, leading to the formation of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyl-l,2,4-oxadiazole-3-carboxamide. This is revealed here by liquid chromatography with tandem photo diode array detection and mass spectrometry (LC-PDA-MS) and further verified by comparison with the corresponding reference substance and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). However, in current compendial tests for related substances/organic impurities of metronidazole, the above photolytic degradant could not be detected. Thus, when photodegradation of metronidazole occurs, it could not be demonstrated. In our study, an improved LC method was developed and validated, which includes a detection at a wavelength of 230 nm and optimization of mobile phase composition thereby a better separation was obtained.