Sex pheromone communication in an insect parasitoid, Campoletis chlorideae Uchida.

Sex pheromones are pivotal for insect reproduction. However, the mechanism of sex pheromone communication remains enigmatic in hymenopteran parasitoids. Here we have identified the sex pheromone and elucidated the olfactory basis of sex pheromone communication in Campoletis chlorideae (Ichneumonidae), a solitary larval endoparasitoid of over 30 lepidopteran pests. Using coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection, we identified two female-derived pheromone components, tetradecanal (14:Ald) and 2-heptadecanone (2-Hep) (1:4.6), eliciting strong antennal responses from males but weak responses from females. We observed that males but not females were attracted to both single components and the blend. The hexane-washed female cadavers failed to arouse males, and replenishing 14:Ald and 2-Hep could partially restore the sexual attraction of males. We further expressed six C. chlorideae male-biased odorant receptors in Drosophila T1 neurons and found that CchlOR18 and CchlOR47 were selectively tuned to 14:Ald and 2-Hep, respectively. To verify the biological significance of this data, we knocked down CchlOR18 and CchlOR47 individually or together in vivo and show that the attraction of C. chlorideae to their respective ligands was abolished. Moreover, the parasitoids defective in either of the receptors were less likely to court and copulate. Finally, we show that the sex pheromone and (Z)-jasmone, a potent female attractant, can synergistically affect behaviors of virgin males and virgin females and ultimately increase the parasitic efficiency of C. chlorideae. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of sex pheromone communication in C. chlorideae that may permit manipulation of parasitoid behavior for pest control.

Comparing the efficacy and complications of unilateral biportal endoscopic fusion versus minimally invasive fusion for lumbar degenerative diseases: a systematic review and mate-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) has been gradually applied in clinical practice. UBE has two channels, with good visual field and operating space, and has achieved good results in the treatment of lumbar spine diseases. Some scholars combine UBE with vertebral body fusion to replace traditional open fusion surgery and minimally invasive fusion surgery. The efficacy of biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (BE-TLIF) is still controversial. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, BE-TLIF and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) are compared in the efficacy and complications of lumbar degenerative diseases. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were used to search literatures related to BE-TLIF before January 2023, to identify relevant studies, and systematically review all literatures. Evaluation indicators mainly include operation time, hospital stay, estimated blood loss, visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Macnab. RESULTS: A total of 9 studies were included in this study; a total of 637 patients were collected, and 710 vertebral bodies were treated. Nine studies showed that there was no significant difference in VAS score, ODI, fusion rate, and complication rate between BE-TLIF and MI-TLIF at the final follow-up after surgery. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that BE-TLIF is a safe and effective surgical approach. BE-TLIF surgery has similar good efficacy to MI-TLIF in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. And compared with MI-TLIF, it has the advantages of early postoperative relief of low-back pain, shorter hospital stay, and faster functional recovery. However, high-quality prospective studies are needed to validate this conclusion.

The Genetic Basis of Gene Expression Divergence in Antennae of Two Closely Related Moth Species, Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa assulta.

The closely related species Helicoverpa armigera (H. armigera) and Helicoverpa assulta (H. assulta) have different host plant ranges and share two principal components of sex pheromones but with reversed ratios. The antennae are the main olfactory organ of insects and play a crucial role in host plant selection and mate seeking. However, the genetic basis for gene expression divergence in the antennae of the two species is unclear. We performed an allele-specific expression (ASE) analysis in the antennal transcriptomes of the two species and their F1 hybrids, examining the connection between gene expression divergence and phenotypic differences. The results show that the proportion of genes classified as all cis was higher than that of all trans in males and reversed in females. The contribution of regulatory patterns to gene expression divergence in males was less than that in females, which explained the functional differentiation of male and female antennae. Among the five groups of F1 hybrids, the fertile males from the cross of H. armigera female and H. assulta male had the lowest proportion of misexpressed genes, and the inferred regulatory patterns were more accurate. By using this group of F1 hybrids, we discovered that cis-related regulations play a crucial role in gene expression divergence of sex pheromone perception-related proteins. These results are helpful for understanding how specific changes in the gene expression of olfactory-related genes can contribute to rapid evolutionary changes in important olfactory traits in closely related moths.

microRNA-29a regulates liver tumor-initiating cells expansion via Bcl-2 pathway.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) participate in tumorigenesis, progression, recurrence and drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, few miRNAs have been identified and entered clinical practice. Herein, we report that miR-29a is downregulated in tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) and has an important function in liver T-ICs. Functional studies revealed that miR-29a knockdown promotes liver T-ICs self-renewal and tumorigenesis. Conversely, a forced miR-29a expression inhibits liver T-ICs self-renewal and tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, we find that miR-29a downregulates Bcl-2 via binding its mRNA 3'UTR in liver T-ICs. The correlation between miR-29a and Bcl-2 is validated in human HCC tissues. Furthermore, the miR-29a expression determines the responses of hepatoma cells to sorafenib treatment. Analysis of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) further demonstrated that the miR-29a high patients are more sensitive to sorafenib treatment. In conclusion, our findings revealed the crucial role of the miR-29a in liver T-ICs expansion and sorafenib response, rendering miR-29a as an optimal target for the prevention and intervention of HCC.

MiR-942-3p Promotes the Proliferation and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Targeting MBL2.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a subgroup of small noncoding RNAs, play critical roles in tumor growth and metastasis. Accumulating evidence shows that the dysregulation of miRNAs is associated with the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanism by which miR-942-3p contributes to HCC remains undocumented. The association between miR-942-3p expression and the clinicopathological characteristics in HCC patients was analyzed by The Cancer Genome Atlas data set. The targets of miR-942-3p were identified by bioinformatic analysis and dual luciferase report assay. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Transwell assays were performed to assess the functional role of miR-942-3p in HCC cells. Consequently, we found that miR-942-3p expression level was elevated in HCC tissues and cell lines as compared with the normal tissues and was associated with the pathological stage and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, acting as an independent prognostic factor of poor survival in patients with HCC. Ectopic expression of miR-942-3p enhanced the proliferation and invasive potential of HCC cells, but inhibition of miR-942-3p expression had the opposite effects. Mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) was further identified as a direct target of miR-942-3p and possessed a negative correlation with miR-942-3p expression and unfavorable survival in patients with HCC. Restoration of MBL2 inhibited the progression of HCC cells and attenuated the tumor-promoting effects induced by miR-942-3p. In conclusion, miR-942-3p may act as an oncogenic factor in HCC cells by targeting MBL2 and provide a potential marker for patients with HCC.

Lethal and sublethal effects of cyantraniliprole on Helicoverpa assulta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Cyantraniliprole is a novel anthranilic diamide insecticide registered for the control of many sucking and chewing insect pests including the oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta (Guenée), which is an important lepidopteran pest of tobacco in China. This study determined the lethal and sublethal effects of cyantraniliprole on a treated parental generation and on an untreated offspring generation of H. assulta. Cyantraniliprole was incorporated in the diet of 3rd-instar larvae of the parental generation. Cyantraniliprole was highly toxic to the parental generation: after a 72-h feeding period, the LC50 was 0.176mg/L. Cyantraniliprole tended to increase the developmental time of parental larvae, and the LC30 significantly reduced the pupation rate and the pupal weight. Cyantraniliprole also significantly decreased the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and finite rate of increase (λ), and increased the doubling time (Dt). Treatment of the parental generation with the LC30 decreased the pupal weight and adult fecundity, and increased adult deformity in the parental and offspring generations. Cyantraniliprole did not significantly affect the pupal period, the percentage of females, or adult longevity in either generation. These results suggest that both the lethal and sublethal effects of cyantraniliprole might suppress H. assulta population growth by reducing the insect's survival, development, and reproduction.

Cryptic Species Identification and Composition of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Complex in Henan Province, China.

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a cryptic species complex, causing significant crop losses in China during the last decade. Although knowledge of cryptic species composition and dynamics within B. tabaci complex is critical for developing sustainable pest management strategies, limited information is available on this pest in the Henan province of China. A systematic survey of the cryptic species composition and distribution of B. tabaci complex in different locations of Henan province was conducted in 2012. The results of RAPD-PCR and the gene for the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit-1 (mtCOI) based phylogenetic relationships established using Bayesian method indicated there were four known cryptic species MEAM1, MED, Asia II 3, Asia II 9 and a new cryptic species named China 6 in Henan province. In the survey, the invasive cryptic species MED and MEAM1 were found to be predominant with wide spread distribution across the surveyed regions. On the contrary, the indigenous B. tabaci cryptic species including Asia II 3, Asia II 9 and China 6 remained with low prevalence in some surveyed regions. Cryptic species MEAM1 and MED have not completely displaced the native B. tabaci in Henan province. This current study for the first time unifies our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of B. tabaci across Henan province of China.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: pathogenesis and models.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a complex disease characterized by a massive accumulation of lipids in the liver, with a continuous progression of simple steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome; it is a severe public health risk and is currently the most common liver disease of the world. In addition to the fatty infiltration of the liver in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients, the field of liver transplantation faces similar obstacles. NAFLD and NASH primarily involve lipotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. However, the precise mechanisms and treatments remain unclear. Therapeutic approaches encompass exercise, weight control, as well as treatments targeting antioxidants and anti-inflammatory pathways. The role of animal models in research has become crucial as a key tool to explore the molecular mechanisms and potential treatments for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Here, we summarized the current understanding of the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and discussed animal models commonly used in recent years.

A ghost moth olfactory prototype of the lepidopteran sex communication.

Sex role differentiation is a widespread phenomenon. Sex pheromones are often associated with sex roles and convey sex-specific information. In Lepidoptera, females release sex pheromones to attract males, which evolve sophisticated olfactory structures to relay pheromone signals. However, in some primitive moths, sex role differentiation becomes diverged. Here, we introduce the chromosome-level genome assembly from ancestral Himalaya ghost moths, revealing a unique olfactory evolution pattern and sex role parity among Lepidoptera. These olfactory structures of the ghost moths are characterized by a dense population of trichoid sensilla, both larger male and female antennal entry parts of brains, compared to the evolutionary later Lepidoptera. Furthermore, a unique tandem of 34 odorant receptor 19 homologs in Thitarodes xiaojinensis (TxiaOr19) has been identified, which presents overlapped motifs with pheromone receptors (PRs). Interestingly, the expanded TxiaOr19 was predicted to have unconventional tuning patterns compared to canonical PRs, with nonsexual dimorphic olfactory neuropils discovered, which contributes to the observed equal sex roles in Thitarodes adults. Additionally, transposable element activity bursts have provided traceable loci landscapes where parallel diversifications occurred between TxiaOr19 and PRs, indicating that the Or19 homolog expansions were diversified to PRs during evolution and thus established the classic sex roles in higher moths. This study elucidates an olfactory prototype of intermediate sex communication from Himalaya ghost moths.

A mouthpart transcriptome for Spodoptera frugiperda adults: identification of candidate chemoreceptors and investigation of expression patterns.

Moth mouthparts, consisting of labial palps and proboscis, not only are the feeding device but also are chemosensory organs for the detection of chemical signals from surrounding environment. Up to now, the chemosensory systems in the mouthpart of moths are largely unknown. Here, we performed systematic analyses of the mouthpart transcriptome of adult Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a notorious pest that spreads worldwide. A total of 48 chemoreceptors, including 29 odorant receptors (ORs), 9 gustatory receptors (GRs), and 10 ionotropic receptors (IRs), were annotated. Further phylogenetic analyses with these genes and homologs from other insect species determined that specific genes, including ORco, carbon dioxide receptors, pheromone receptor, IR co-receptors, and sugar receptors, were transcribed in the mouthpart of S. frugiperda adults. Subsequently, expression profiling in different chemosensory tissues demonstrated that the annotated ORs and IRs were mainly expressed in S. frugiperda antennae, but one IR was also highly expressed in the mouthparts. In comparison, SfruGRs were mainly expressed in the mouthparts, but 3 GRs were also highly expressed in the antennae or the legs. Further comparison of the mouthpart-biased chemoreceptors using RT-qPCR revealed that the expression of these genes varied significantly between labial palps and proboscises. This study provides the first large-scale description of chemoreceptors in the mouthpart of adult S. frugiperda and provides a foundation for further functional studies of chemoreceptors in the mouthpart of S. frugiperda as well as of other moth species.

Antennal transcriptome analysis of odorant-binding proteins and characterization of GOBP2 in the variegated cutworm Peridroma saucia.

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are expressed at extremely high concentrations in the chemo-sensilla lymph of insects and have long been thought to be crucial for delivering the semiochemicals to the odorant receptors. They are represented by multiple classes: general odorant-binding proteins (GOBP1 and GOBP2) and pheromone-binding proteins. In the current study, we identified a total of 35 OBPs in the antennal transcriptome of Peridroma saucia, a worldwide pest that causes serious damage to various crops. A gene expression value (TPM, transcripts per million) analysis revealed that seven OBPs (PsauPBP1/2/3, PsauGOBP1/2, PsauOBP6, and PsauOBP8) were highly abundant in the antennae. Next, we focused on the expression and functional characterization of PsauGOBP2. Real-time quantitative-PCR analysis demonstrated that PsauGOBP2 was predominantly expressed in the antennae of both sexes. Fluorescence binding assays showed that the recombinant PsauGOBP2 strongly binds to the female sex pheromone components Z11-16: Ac (Ki = 4.2 µM) and Z9-14: Ac (Ki = 4.9 µM) and binds moderately (6 µM ≤ Ki ≤ 13 µM) to the host plant volatiles phenylethyl acetate, ß-myrcene, and dodecanol. Further 3D structural modeling and molecular docking revealed that several crucial amino acid residues are involved in ligand binding. The results not only increase our understanding of the olfactory system of P. saucia but also provide insights into the function of PsauGOBP2 that has implications for developing sustainable approaches for P. saucia management.

Identification and expression analysis of chemosensory receptors in the tarsi of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith).

Chemosensation of tarsi provides moths with the ability to detect chemical signals which are important for food recognition. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the chemosensory roles of tarsi are still unknown. The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda is a serious moth pest that can damage many plants worldwide. In the current study, we conducted transcriptome sequencing with total RNA extracted from S. frugiperda tarsi. Through sequence assembly and gene annotation, 23 odorant receptors 10 gustatory receptors and 10 inotropic receptors (IRs) were identified. Further phylogenetic analysis with these genes and homologs from other insect species indicated specific genes, including ORco, carbon dioxide receptors, fructose receptor, IR co-receptors, and sugar receptors were expressed in the tarsi of S. frugiperda. Expression profiling with RT-qPCR in different tissues of adult S. frugiperda showed that most annotated SfruORs and SfruIRs were mainly expressed in the antennae, and most SfruGRs were mainly expressed in the proboscises. However, SfruOR30, SfruGR9, SfruIR60a, SfruIR64a, SfruIR75d, and SfruIR76b were also highly enriched in the tarsi of S. frugiperda. Especially SfruGR9, the putative fructose receptor, was predominantly expressed in the tarsi, and with its levels significantly higher in the female tarsi than in the male ones. Moreover, SfruIR60a was also found to be expressed with higher levels in the tarsi than in other tissues. This study not only improves our insight into the tarsal chemoreception systems of S. frugiperda but also provides useful information for further functional studies of chemosensory receptors in S. frugiperda tarsi.

Expression, affinity, and binding mode analysis of antennal-binding protein X in the variegated cutworm Peridroma saucia (Hübner).

The variegated cutworm Peridroma saucia (Hübner) is a worldwide pest that causes serious damage to many crops. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are small soluble proteins involved in the first step of odorant reception. In moths, antennal-binding protein Xs (ABPXs) represent a main subfamily of classic OBPs. However, their functions remain unclear. Here, we cloned the ABPX gene from the antennae of P. saucia. RT-qPCR and western-blot analyses showed that PsauABPX is antenna-predominant and male-biased. Further temporal expression investigation indicated that the expression of PsauABPX started 1 day before eclosion and reached the highest 3 days after eclosion. Next, fluorescence binding assays revealed that recombinant PsauABPX had high binding affinities with P. saucia female sex pheromone components Z11-16: Ac and Z9-14: Ac. Then, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and site-directed mutagenesis were employed to identify key amino acid residues involved in the binding of PsauABPX to Z11-16: Ac and Z9-14: Ac. The results demonstrated that Val-32, Gln-107 and Tyr-114 are essential for the binding to both sex pheromones. This study not only give us insight into the function and binding mechanism of ABPXs in moths, but could also be used to explore novel strategies to control P. saucia.

[Selection of upper instrumented vertebra for long-segment fixation in adult degenerative scoliosis].

Objective: To review the research progress of upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) selection strategy for long-segment fixation (LSF) in adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS). Methods: The relevant domestic and foreign literature in recent years was reviewed, and the selection strategy of sagittal and coronal UIV for LSF in ADS patients, the relationship between UIV selection and proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and proximal junctional failure (PJF), the impact of minimally invasive spine surgery on the selection strategy of UIV were summarized. Results: LSF can restore the biomechanical balance of the spine and reconstruct the physiological curve of the spine for ADS patients. LSF should be selected for ADS patients with severe scoliosis, vertebral rotation, and severe sagittal imbalance. For patients with poor general condition, UIV can choose the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae to reduce the operation time and intraoperative bleeding, which is conducive to early mobilization and reduce complications; for patients with good general condition, the upper thoracic vertebrae can be considered if necessary, in order to achieve satisfactory long-term effectiveness. However, the lower thoracic vertebra (T 9、10) should be selected as much as possible to reduce postoperative complications such as PJK and PJF. In recent years, a new reference marker, the first coronal reverse vertebra was proposed, to guide the selection of UIV. But a large-sample multicenter randomized controlled study is needed to further verify its reliability. Studies have shown that different races and different living habits would lead to different parameters of the spine and pelvis, which would affect the selection of UIV. Minimally invasive surgeries have achieved satisfactory results in the treatment of ADS, but the UIV selection strategy in specific applications needs to be further studied. Conclusion: The selection strategy of UIV in LSF has not yet been unified. The selection of UIV in the sagittal plane of the upper thoracic spine, the lower thoracic spine, or the thoracolumbar spine should comprehensively consider the biomechanical balance of the spine and the general condition of the patient, as well as the relationship between the upper horizontal vertebra, the upper neutral vertebra, and the upper end vertebra on the coronal plane.

Application and modification of bone cement in vertebroplasty: A literature review.

Vertebral compression fractures are more common in the elderly, particularly in postmenopausal women. Most of these people are accompanied by osteoporosis, which can easily lead to spinal deformities and fractures. Once a fracture occurs, the patient would have severe pain response, limited spinal movement, and need to stay in bed for a long time, resulting in a significant decrease in their quality of life. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is a minimally invasive spinal surgery that injects bone cement into the diseased vertebrae for therapeutic purposes. It can quickly relieve pain and stabilize the spine. It is widely used in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures and is currently an ideal treatment method. There are many materials of bone cement used in clinical treatment, and each material has unique characteristics. Many scholars would modify the bone cement according to the advantages and disadvantages to make it more suitable for clinical use. In this review, we discuss the clinical application and modification of bone cement.

A variable neighborhood search for the last-mile delivery problem during major infectious disease outbreak.

During major infectious disease outbreak, such as COVID-19, the goods and parcels supply and distribution for the isolated personnel has become a key issue worthy of attention. In this study, we propose a delivery problem that arises in the last-mile delivery during major infectious disease outbreak. The problem is to construct a Hamiltonian tour over a subset of candidate parking nodes, and each customer is assigned to the nearest parking node on the tour to pick up goods or parcels. The aim is to minimize the total cost, including the routing, allocation, and parking costs. We propose three models to formulate the problem, which are node-based, flow-based and bilevel programing formulations. Moreover, we develop a variable neighborhood search algorithm based on the ideas from the bilevel programing formulations to solve the problem. Finally, the proposed algorithm is tested on a set of randomly generated instances, and the results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Inducible downregulation of miR-93 feedback promotes innate responses against RNA virus by amplifying interferon signaling.

Type I interferons (IFN) and their downstream effector signaling pathways play critical roles in the innate antiviral response. The underlying mechanisms that regulate IFN production and their effector signaling, especially by microRNAs, are well understood. We found that the expression of miR-93 was significantly downregulated by RNA virus infection in innate cells. miR-93 expression was also downregulated in influenza virus-infected patients. Furthermore, we showed that JAK1 is targeted by miR-93 to inhibit type I IFN's antiviral activity. Functionally, antagomir of miR-93 markedly reduced influenza virus replication in mice in vivo and prevented their death. Therefore, hosts recognize the invading RNA virus infection and activate RIG-I/JNK pathways to decrease miR-93 expression. The reduction of miR-93 feedback enhances the antiviral innate immune response by activating the IFN-JAK-STAT effectors type I, indicating miR-93 as a possible therapeutic target for infection with RNA viruses.

Identification and Characterization of Chemosensory Receptors in the Pheromone Gland-Ovipositor of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith).

Chemoreception by moth ovipositors has long been suggested, but underlying molecular mechanisms are mostly unknown. To reveal such chemosensory systems in the current study, we sequenced and assembled the pheromone gland-ovipositor (PG-OV) transcriptome of females of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, a pest of many crops. We annotated a total of 26 candidate chemosensory receptor genes, including 12 odorant receptors (ORs), 4 gustatory receptors (GRs), and 10 ionotropic receptors (IRs). The relatedness of these chemosensory receptors with those from other insect species was predicted by phylogenetic analyses, and specific genes, including pheromone receptors, ORco, CO2 receptors, sugar receptors, and IR co-receptors, were reported. Although real-time quantitative-PCR analyses of annotated genes revealed that OR and IR genes were mainly expressed in S. frugiperda antennae, two ORs and two IRs expressed in antennae were also highly expressed in the PG-OV. Similarly, GR genes were mainly expressed in the proboscis, but two were also highly expressed in the PG-OV. Our study provides the first large-scale description of chemosensory receptors in the PG-OV of S. frugiperda and provides a foundation for exploring the chemoreception mechanisms of PG-OV in S. frugiperda and in other moth species.

Influence of Three-Dimensional Visual Reconstruction Technology Combined with Virtual Surgical Planning of CTA Images on Precise Resection of Liver Cancer in Hepatobiliary Surgery.

Hepatobiliary malignancies, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and biliary tract cancers, namely, gallbladder carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, are linked to a high rate of morbidity and mortality, depending on the phase of the disease. The intricate hepatobiliary anatomy and the need for accurate peroperative management, especially in patients with advanced liver disease, make these tumors difficult to treat. Surgical resection is a notable therapy for hepatobiliary cancers. Unnecessary or excessive liver excision influences patient rehabilitation, normal liver function, and postoperative complications. Hepatobiliary operations must therefore include accurate liver removal. The present advancements in imaging technology are aimed at improving the diagnostic efficacy of liver injury even more. Three-dimensional visual reconstruction is becoming more important in the diagnosis as well as treatment of a variety of disorders. In this paper, we proposed a novel three-dimensional visual reconstruction technology using enhanced nonuniform rational basis spline (ENURBS) combined with virtual surgical planning of Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) images for precise liver cancer resection. The purpose of this project is to rebuild 2D CTA scan images of liver cancer into a 3D reconstructed model for efficient visualization and diagnosis of liver cancer and to prepare an effective preoperative surgical plan for precise liver excision based on a 3D recreated liver model. This method's performance is compared to that of 2D planning in terms of accuracy and time taken to complete the plan. It is concluded that our proposed technique outperforms the planning technique based on 2D images.

Candidate chemosensory receptors in the antennae and maxillae of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) larvae.

Although most of the damage caused by lepidopteran insects to plants is caused by the larval stage, chemosensory systems have been investigated much more frequently for lepidopteran adults than for larvae. The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous and worldwide pest. To understand the larval chemosensory system in S. frugiperda, we sequenced and assembled the antennae and maxillae transcriptome of larvae in the sixth instar (larval a-m) using the Illumina platform. A total of 30 putative chemosensory receptor genes were identified, and these receptors included 11 odorant receptors (ORs), 4 gustatory receptors (GRs), and 15 ionotropic receptors/ionotropic glutamate receptors (IRs/iGluRs). Phylogeny tests with the candidate receptors and homologs from other insect species revealed some specific genes, including a fructose receptor, a pheromone receptor, IR co-receptors, CO2 receptors, and the OR co-receptor. Comparison of the expression of annotated genes between S. frugiperda adults and larvae (larval a-m) using RT-qPCR showed that most of the annotated OR and GR genes were predominantly expressed in the adult stage, but that 2 ORs and 1 GR were highly expressed in both the adult antennae and the larval a-m. Although most of the tested IR/iGluR genes were mainly expressed in adult antennae, transcripts of 3 iGluRs were significantly more abundant in the larval a-m than in the adult antennae of both sexes. Comparison of the expression levels of larval a-m expressed chemosensory receptors among the first, fourth, and sixth instars revealed that the expression of some of the genes varied significantly among different larval stages. These results increase our understanding of the chemosensory systems of S. frugiperda larvae and provide a basis for future functional studies aimed at the development of novel strategies to manage this pest.