Identification of candidate chemosensory genes in Bactrocera cucurbitae based on antennal transcriptome analysis.

The melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Tephritidae: Diptera), is an invasive pest that poses a significant threat to agriculture in Africa and other regions. Flies are known to use their olfactory systems to recognise environmental chemical cues. However, the molecular components of the chemosensory system of B. cucurbitae are poorly characterised. To address this knowledge gap, we have used next-generation sequencing to analyse the antenna transcriptomes of sexually immature B. cucurbitae adults. The results have identified 160 potential chemosensory genes, including 35 odourant-binding proteins (OBPs), one chemosensory protein (CSP), three sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), 70 odourant receptors (ORs), 30 ionotropic receptors (IRs), and 21 gustatory receptors (GRs). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to validate the results by assessing the expression profiles of 25 ORs and 15 OBPs. Notably, high expression levels for BcucOBP5/9/10/18/21/23/26 were observed in both the female and male antennae. Furthermore, BcucOROrco/6/7/9/13/15/25/27/28/42/62 exhibited biased expression in the male antennae, whereas BcucOR55 showed biased expression in the female antennae. This comprehensive investigation provides valuable insights into insect olfaction at the molecular level and will, thus, help to facilitate the development of enhanced pest management strategies in the future.

Electroantennographic and Behavioral Responses of the Melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), to Volatile Compounds of Ridge Gourd, Luffa acutangular L.

The melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), is a major invasive pest, widely distributed in the Asia-Pacific region and some parts of Africa. Melon fly attractants could improve the effectiveness of current pest management measures. Previous studies have shown that some host fruits are attractive to melon flies but few have investigated the chemical compounds responsible for their attraction. In this study, we aimed to identify the volatile compounds from Luffa acutangula L that attract Z. cucurbitae. In headspace trapping, chemical profiling identified 19 compounds from ridge gourds, with 1-pentadecene being the major component. EAG results revealed that seven compounds elicited antennal responses in Z. cucurbitae, and significant differences in antennal responses between male and female Z. cucurbitae adults were recorded to p-xylene, alpha-pinene, and 1-octadecene. Behavioral experiments demonstrated that the EAG-active compounds methyl isovalerate and methyl myristate had either attractive or repellent effects on Z. cucurbitae at different concentrations, and 1-octadecene attracted Z. cucurbitae. Our findings provide a theoretical basis producing repellents or attractants for effective Integrated Pest Management of Z. cucurbitae.

Risk factors and timing of complication presentation following primary hypospadias repair in adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk factors for postoperative complications in adolescents who undergo primary hypospadias repair and determine the time required for complication detection. METHODS: Our study included patients classified as Tanner stages three to five who underwent primary hypospadias repairs at our hospital from January 2015 to August 2022. The patients' baseline information, clinical characteristics, postoperative complications, and time to complication detection were collected. Cox regression analysis, ROC curves, Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, and the Mann-Whitney U test were used. RESULTS: The study comprised 143 patients, with a median age of 12.58 years. Postoperative complications were experienced by 66 patients. The length of the urethral defect was identified as an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. The ROC curve analysis identified 3 cm as the optimal cutoff value for the length of the urethral defect. The median time to complication detection was 30.5 days (IQR 23 to 209.25). 89.4% of the complications were identified within the first year. Patients with a urethral defect of <3 cm experienced a significantly longer time for the detection of urethral fistula compared to those with a urethral defect of ≥3 cm (p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that adolescents with a urethral defect ≥3 cm have a higher risk of postoperative complications. Although most complications were identified within the first year, conducting long-term follow-ups for adolescents is recommended to identify potential subsequent complications that may arise from persistent urethral alterations.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of an agricultural pest Zeugodacus tau (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The fruit fly Zeugodacus tau (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major pest of melons and other cucurbits in Southeast Asia. In this study, we used Illumina, Nanopore, and Hi-C sequencing technologies to assemble a reference genome of Z. tau at the chromosomal level. The assembled genome was 421.79 Mb and consisted of six chromosomes (one X-chromosome + five autosomes). The contig N50 was 4.23 Mb. We identified 20,922 protein-coding genes, of which 17,251 (82.45%) were functionally annotated. Additionally, we found 247 rRNAs, 435 tRNAs, 67 small nuclear RNAs, and 829 small RNAs in the genome. Repetitive elements accounted for 55.30 Mb (13.15%) of the genome. This high-quality genome assembly is valuable for evolutionary and genetic studies of Z. tau and its relative species.

Efficacy of Body Wash and Povidone-Iodine in Skin Preparation in Reducing Surgical Site Infections After Hypospadias Repair Among Adolescents: A Prospective Cohort Study With Retrospective Controls.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) that occur after hypospadias repair frequently result in incision healing complications, especially during puberty. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of twice-daily pre-operative skin preparation using body wash and povidone-iodine within 48 hours before hypospadias repair with regard to infection rates in adolescents. Patients and Methods: Prospective recruitment included patients in Tanner stages 3 to 5 undergoing hypospadias repair from January 2015 to January 2021. The experimental group comprised patients who performed twice-daily skin preparation with body wash and povidone-iodine within 48 hours before surgery. Surgeons selected either 0.5% or 5% povidone-iodine for skin preparation. The control group comprised a retrospective cohort of hypospadias repair conducted in the preceding five years, where patients performed pre-surgery evening showers using a body wash. Complications were collected over a six-month follow-up period. Results: The study included 90 patients in the 0.5% povidone-iodine group, 92 patients in the 5% povidone-iodine group, and 84 patients in the control group. Differences were observed among the groups in terms of SSI (p = 0.030) and urethral fistula (p = 0.019). In post hoc tests, only the 5% povidone-iodine group demonstrated a diminished incidence of SSI (p = 0.009) and urethral fistula (p = 0.005) in comparison to the control group. Conclusions: Using body wash and 5% povidone-iodine for skin preparation was associated with a reduction in the incidence of SSI and urethral fistula following hypospadias repair in adolescents and may be considered to improve outcomes.

Lower alanine aminotransferase levels are associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in nonalcoholic fatty liver patients.

BACKGROUND: Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are often considered a marker to evaluate liver disease and its severity. AIM: To investigate the association between ALT levels and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III) from 1988 to 1994 and NHANES-III-related mortality data from 2019 onward were used to obtain the necessary data for the study. NAFLD was defined as hepatic steatosis, as diagnosed by ultrasound, with no other liver diseases. ALT levels were categorized into four groups according to the different recommended upper limits of normal (ULN) in men and women: < 0.5 ULN, 0.5-1 ULN, 1-2 ULN, and ≥ 2 ULN. The hazard ratios for all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the odds ratio of NAFLD correlated positively with increased serum ALT levels. In patients with NAFLD, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were the highest when ALT was < 0.5 ULN, yet cancer-related mortality was the highest when ALT was ≥ 2 ULN. The same results could be found in both men and women. Univariate analysis showed that severe NAFLD with normal ALT levels had the highest all-cause and cause-specific mortality, but the difference was not statistically significant after adjustment for age and multivariate factors. CONCLUSION: The risk of NAFLD was positively correlated with ALT level, but all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were the highest when ALT was < 0.5 ULN. Regardless of the severity of NAFLD, normal or lower ALT levels were associated with higher mortality than elevated ALT levels. Clinicians should be aware that high ALT levels indicate liver injury, but low ALT levels are associated with a higher risk of death.

Radiomics model based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography to predict early recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after radical resection.

BACKGROUND: Radical resection remains an effective strategy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, the postoperative early recurrence (recurrence within 2 years) rate is still high. AIM: To develop a radiomics model based on preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) to evaluate early recurrence in HCC patients with a single tumour. METHODS: We enrolled a total of 402 HCC patients from two centres who were diagnosed with a single tumour and underwent radical resection. First, the features from the portal venous and arterial phases of CECT were extracted based on the region of interest, and the early recurrence-related radiomics features were selected via the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator proportional hazards model (LASSO Cox) to determine radiomics scores for each patient. Then, the clinicopathologic data were combined to develop a model to predict early recurrence by Cox regression. Finally, we evaluated the prediction performance of this model by multiple methods. RESULTS: A total of 1915 radiomics features were extracted from CECT images, and 31 of them were used to determine the radiomics scores, which showed a significant difference between the early recurrence and nonearly recurrence groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that radiomics scores and serum alpha-fetoprotein were independent indicators, and they were used to develop a combined model to predict early recurrence. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for the training and validation cohorts were 0.77 and 0.74, respectively, while the C-indices were 0.712 and 0.674, respectively. The calibration curves and decision curve analysis showed satisfactory accuracy and clinical utilities. Kaplan-Meier curves based on recurrence-free survival and overall survival showed significant differences. CONCLUSION: The preoperative radiomics model was shown to be effective for predicting early recurrence among HCC patients with a single tumour.

A grading system for evaluation of bladder trabeculation.

PURPOSE: To establish a parameter-based grading system for evaluating bladder trabeculation (BT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on children diagnosed with posterior urethral valve (PUV) or neurogenic bladder (NB) who underwent voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), urodynamic testing, and urological ultrasonography between January 2016 and October 2022. Cases involving urologic surgery, secondary bladder pathology, and an interval of more than 12 months between examinations were excluded. A parameter named Bladder Dispersion (BD) was calculated through fluoroscopic images, and the grading system was developed as follows: BD < 40 (Grade 0), 40 ≤ BD < 60 (Grade 1), 60 ≤ BD < 90 (Grade 2), BD ≥ 90 (Grade 3). Grades 0-1 were classified as low-risk group, while grades 2-3 were classified as high-risk group. Analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Chi-square test were performed to compare urodynamic results and complications across different grades and groups. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients were eligible to participate, which included 46 boys (62.2%) and 28 girls (37.8%), the mean age was 75.18 ± 48.39 months. Among them, 11 (14.9%) were PUV, 50 (67.6%) were NB, and 13 (17.5%) were PUV and NB. Significant differences were observed in maximum detrusor pressure, post-void residual urine ratio, and compliance among grades 0-3. Severe hydronephrosis and histories of urinary tract infection were more prevalent in the high-risk group. CONCLUSION: A reliable grading system with objective standards was proposed which could aid in the assessment of BT severity.

Parental smoking and risk of hypospadias: An updated meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Inconsistent relationships have been shown between cigarette smoking and hypospadias in offspring. The purpose of this study was to summarize epidemiological evidence to evaluate the relationship between parental smoking and the risk of hypospadias. Methods: Up until October 2022, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for qualified research. The summary RRs and 95% CIs were calculated using either a fixed-effects or a random-effects model. There were subgroup analyses undertaken to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. Results: 44 studies with 16,637,830 participants were included in our meta-analysis. Overall, maternal active smoking [risk ratio (RR) = 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90-0.99; P < 0.01] was significantly associated with the risk of hypospadias. And neither paternal smoking (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.86-1.15) nor maternal passive smoking (RR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.60-1.23) was associated with the risk of hypospadias. Conclusion: Our study discovered an association between maternal active smoking and a decreased risk of hypospadias, which may be due to the effect of smoking on androgen. However, as numerous studies have proved that cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of overall birth abnormalities in offspring, quitting cigarettes before pregnancy positively influences the health of offspring and should be advocated worldwide. Systematic review registration: [www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero], identifier [CRD42022319378].

Characterization and Functional Analysis of OcomOBP7 in Ophraella communa Lesage.

The olfactory system plays a key role in various insect behaviors, and odorant-binding proteins participate in the first step of the olfactory process. Ophraella communa Lesage is an oligophagous phytophagous insect that is a specific biological control agent for Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. The leaf beetle must identify and locate A. artemisiifolia through olfaction; however, its odorant-binding protein (OBP) function has not yet been reported. In this study, OcomOBP7 was cloned, and its tissue expression profile and binding ability were analyzed using RT-qPCR and fluorescence binding assays, respectively. Sequence analysis demonstrated that OcomOBP7 belongs to the classical OBP family. The RT-qPCR results showed that OcomOBP7 was specifically expressed in the antennae, indicating that OcomOBP7 may be involved in chemical communication. The fluorescence binding assay showed that OcomOBP7 has an extensive binding ability to alkenes. The electroantennography experiments showed that O. communa antennal response to α-pinene and ocimene decreased significantly after interference because the two odors specifically bound to OcomOBP7. In summary, α-pinene and ocimene are odorant ligands corresponding to OcomOBP7, indicating that OcomOBP7 is involved in the chemical recognition of A. artemisiifolia. Our study lays a theoretical foundation for research into O. communa attractants, which is helpful for the better biological control of A. artemisiifolia by O. communa.

An Ideal Hallmark Closest to Complete Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients: High-sensitivity Quantitative HBsAg Loss.

In the era of antiviral therapy, the main goal of treatment has shifted from the persistent inhibition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication to the pursuit of serological clearance of HBs surface antigen (HBsAg). Based on the life cycle of HBV, HBsAg originates from covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and integrated HBV DNA, thus reflecting their transcriptional activity. Complete HBsAg loss may mean elimination or persistent inactivity of the HBV genome including cccDNA and integrated HBV DNA. HBsAg loss improves the recovery of abnormal immune function, which in turn, may further promote the clearance of residual viruses. Combined with functional cure and the great improvement of clinical outcomes, the continuous seroclearance of high-sensitivity quantitative HBsAg may represent the complete cure of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). For many other risk factors besides HBV itself, patients with HBsAg loss still need regular monitoring. In this review, we summarized the evolution of CHB treatment, the origin of serum HBsAg, the pattern of HBsAg seroclearance, and the effect of HBsAg loss on immune function and disease outcomes. In addition, we discuss the significance of high-sensitivity HBsAg detection and its possibility as a surrogate of complete cure.

Incomplete response to ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cholangitis: criteria, epidemiology, and possible mechanisms.

INTRODUCTION: As a common autoimmune disease with the characteristic of early complication, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) leads to an increasing number of mortalities among people with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) waiting for liver transplantation. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the only approved first-line medicine for PBC, and a good response to treatment could acquire an ideal prognosis. Patients with poor UDCA response usually have more adverse outcomes and worse survival, therefore, the management of this group become a major consideration. AREAS COVERED: Due to the complexity of race and environment for PBC, different criteria for UDCA response exhibit various predictive performances. Factors affecting UDCA response conditions include gender, age, ethnicity, serum indicators, auto-antibodies, and autoimmune comorbidities, while no agreement has been reached. In this review, we mainly focus on cellular senescence, immune-mediated damage, and vitamin D deficiency as possible mechanisms for UDCA non-responders. EXPERT OPINION: The pathogenesis of PBC has yet to be clarified. Immunology-related mechanisms and therapy targets ought to be the main effort made for further study. Irrespective of the response condition, UDCA is recommended for routine administration in all PBC patients without contraindication. Ongoing clinical trials of second-line and additional therapy exhibit promising prospects.

Novel index for the prediction of significant liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients in China.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive, practical, and convenient means of detection for the prediction of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in China are greatly needed. AIM: To develop a precise noninvasive test to stage liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. METHODS: With liver biopsy as the gold standard, we established a new index, [alkaline phosphatase (U/L) + gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (U/L)/platelet (109/L) (AGPR)], to predict liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. In addition, we compared the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of AGPR, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio, aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index, and FIB-4 and evaluated the accuracy of these routine laboratory indices in predicting liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. RESULTS: Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between AGPR and liver fibrosis stage (P < 0.001). In the training cohort, the AUROC of AGPR was 0.83 (95%CI: 0.78-0.87) for predicting fibrosis (≥ F2), 0.84 (95%CI: 0.79-0.88) for predicting extensive fibrosis (≥ F3), and 0.87 (95%CI: 0.83-0.91) for predicting cirrhosis (F4). In the validation cohort, the AUROCs of AGPR to predict ≥ F2, ≥ F3 and F4 were 0.83 (95%CI: 0.77-0.88), 0.83 (95%CI: 0.77-0.89), and 0.84 (95%CI: 0.78-0.89), respectively. CONCLUSION: The AGPR index should become a new, simple, accurate, and noninvasive marker to predict liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Scanning Electron Microscopic Analysis of Antennal Sensilla and Tissue-Expression Profiles of Chemosensory Protein Genes in Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Ophraella communa is an efficient biocontrol agent used against the invasive weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia. It is an herbivorous insect that feeds on specific plants; the olfactory functions of this insects plays an important role in their search for host plants. There are no reports on O. communa sensilla types, morphology, or chemosensory protein (CSP) genes. In this study, we observed the external structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in adult O. communa antennae by scanning electron microscopy; moreover, we cloned 11 CSPs (CSP1-CSP11) and elucidated their tissue-expression profiles using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Six types of sensilla were identified: sensilla trichodea (including two subtypes), sensilla chaetica, sensilla basiconica (including two subtypes), sensilla styloconica, sensilla coeloconica, and Böhm bristles. Both male and female antennae had all six types of sensilla, and no sexual dimorphism was noted in sensillar types or distribution. We also found that the expression levels of CSP2, CSP3, CSP4, CSP6, and CSP7 in male and female antennae were higher than those in other tissues, which suggests that these five CSPs may be related to olfactory function in O. communa. Ultimately, our results lay the foundation for interpreting the olfactory functions of adult O. communa.

Computational fluid dynamics modeling approaches to assess lower urinary tract hydraulic dynamics in posterior urethral valve before and after endoscopic valve ablation: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used successfully in cardiovascular system research to analyze the physiological processes inside vessels. We evaluated the hydraulic information of urine through the lower urinary tract in a patient with posterior urethral valve (PUV) before and after valve ablation by CFD. METHODS: A set of models of the lower urinary tract were developed based on geometrical data obtained by cystoscopy and voiding cystourethrography. Simulated assumptions and conditions were applied according to prior studies and urodynamic results. We used Fluent CFD 19.0 (Ansys Inc., USA) to compute the velocity and pressure of the fluid regions. The simplification of Bernoulli's formula was applied afterward to calculate the hydraulic energy of different positions. RESULTS: The urine flow rates of the NORMALst, the PUVst, and the POSTst at 5000 Pa were 18.08 ml/s, 11.14 ml/s, and 12.16 ml/s, respectively. Precipitous pressure change was observed around the valve in the PUVst, and the abnormal change was concentrated in the dilated urethra in the POSTst. Major energy dissipations were generated around the valve and the dilated urethra in the PUVst. The energy loss that occurred in the dilated urethra did not improve after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are probably indicative of the hydrodynamics changes in the dilated urethra in PUV and need to be confirmed through more improved CFD models in the future. CFD may revolutionize pediatric urologists' perception in the management of urinary disease.

Interferon Gamma-Inducible Protein 16 of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells May Sense Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Regulate the Antiviral Immunity.

Interferon gamma-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) is a DNA sensor protein, which triggers interferon-beta (IFN-ß) production. However, the role of IFI16 in the innate immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains controversial. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum specimens were collected from 20 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) receiving Peg-IFN-α2b therapy. IFI16 mRNA/protein of PBMCs and serum IFI16 at baseline and changes during Peg-IFN-α2b treatment were detected. The interaction between IFI16 and HBV DNA in the PBMCs was analyzed using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Leukemic T cell line CEM-C7 and HBV-replicating HepG2.2.15 cells were used to test the effects of interferon treatment and HBV replication on IFI16 expression. Compared with healthy controls, lower levels of IFI16 mRNA but more significant expression of IFI16 protein with heterogeneous degradation were detected in PBMCs of CHB patients. Early changes in IFI16 mRNA, but not IFNB mRNA of PBMCs or serum IFI16, were correlated to HBeAg seroconversion of Peg-IFN-α2b therapy. An interaction between IFI16 and HBV DNA was detected in the PBMCs. In the cultured HepG2.2.15 and CEM-C7 cells, interferons resulted in the translocalization of IFI16 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and inhibited IFI16 degradation. IFI16 of PBMCs may play a role in sensing HBV infection, and early change in IFI16 mRNA of PBMCs is valuable to predict HBeAg seroconversion in Peg-IFN-α2b treatment. The influences on IFI16 degradation and subcellular location may present a molecular mechanism of antiviral activity of interferon.

Neoantigen vaccine: An emerging immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Tumor-specific neoantigens, which are expressed on tumor cells, can induce an effective antitumor cytotoxic T-cell response and mediate tumor regression. Among tumor immunotherapies, neoantigen vaccines are in early human clinical trials and have demonstrated substantial efficiency. Compared with more neoantigens in melanoma, the paucity and inefficient identification of effective neoantigens in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain enormous challenges in effectively treating this malignancy. In this review, we highlight the current development of HCC neoantigens in its generation, screening, and identification. We also discuss the possibility that there are more effective neoantigens in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC than in non-HBV-related HCC. In addition, since HCC is an immunosuppressive tumor, strategies that reverse immunosuppression and enhance the immune response should be considered for the practical exploitation of HCC neoantigens. In summary, this review offers some strategies to solve existing problems in HCC neoantigen research and provide further insights for immunotherapy.

[Soil-epikarst structures and their hydrological characteristics on dolomite slopes in karst region of southwest China]. / 西南喀斯特白云岩坡地土壤-表层岩溶带结构及水文特征.

Epikarst is the core area of karst critical zone, with important hydrologic regulation and storage function. However, the effects of karst development degree on hydrologic characteristics of epikasrt is still unclear. We used geophysical exploration and hydrogeological techniques, combined with the dynamic monitoring of moisture and water levels, to quantify the karst development degrees and their hydrologic characteristics on slope lands. We analyzed the responses of soil-epikarst systems to rainfall. Results showed that geophysical exploration technology could be well applied to the detection of surface-subsurface structures in the karst areas. The average thickness of soil and surface karst zone on the slope was less than 0.63 m and 2.60 m, respectively. The slopes of strong-karstification characterized by high apparent resistivity, well-developed joint fractures, and strong permeability (0.73 m·d-1). Such a result indicated that epikarst could regulate precipitation. The responses of soil moisture had a larger rainfall threshold (>20.50 mm·d-1) and the water level was determined by rainfall amount. In contrast, the slope with weak-karstification had low apparent resistivity and weak permeability (0.07 m·d-1). Moisture and water level were sensitive to rainfall. Karst channels were developed locally at 240-300 cm with a permeability coefficient of up to 432 mm·d-1. Obvious preferential flow was observed in extreme rainfall events on this slope, which could induce flood disaster in the adjacent depression. Our results would provide scientific basis for further research on water resources regulation, management, and eco-hydrology in karst areas of southwest China.

Analysis of the social and clinical factors affecting the age of children when receiving surgery for hypospadias: a retrospective study of 1611 cases in a single center.

We aimed to explore the associations between the age at which children undergo surgery for hypospadias and a range of social and clinical factors in a single center. Our aim was to promote the early surgical treatment of children with hypospadias. For a 6-year period, social and clinical data were collected from all children undergoing surgery to repair hypospadias in Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing, China), located in southwest of China. We analyzed the correlations between age at surgery and a range of social and clinical factors. A total of 1611 eligible cases were recruited, with a mean age of 54.3 months and a median age of 42 months: 234 cases (14.5%) were classified into a "timely operation" group, 419 (26.0%) cases into a "subtimely operation" group, and 958 (59.5%) cases into a "delayed operation" group. According to multivariate regression analyses, the higher the regional economic level, the closer the urethral opening to the perineum, and the higher the educational level of the guardians was, the younger the children were when they underwent the initial surgery for hypospadias; this was also the case for families without other children. Our subgroup analysis showed that the primary educational level of the guardians was a risk factor for subtimely surgery in their children (odds ratio [OR] = 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-2.15, P < 0.05). A lower regional economic level (OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.26-2.78, P < 0.01), a lower educational level of the guardians (OR = 3.84, 95% CI: 2.31-6.41, P < 0.01), and an anterior-segment urethral opening (OR1 [vs middle hypospadias] = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.42-3.03; OR2 [vs posterior hypospadias] = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.75-3.95; P < 0.01) were all risk factors for delayed surgery in children.

Effects of Temperature on Growth and Development of the Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Homoptera: Delphacidae).

The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), is one of the most serious and destructive pests of rice in Asia. Climate warming in tropical regions and extreme-high- or low-temperature events may become limiting factors affecting the survival and distribution of N. lugens. The effects of continuous high temperature (CHT), discontinuous high temperature (DHT), and abnormal low temperature in summer (ALT) on the growth and development of N. lugens were studied under lab conditions. High temperatures and ALT decreased the survival rate of nymphs (in fourth-instar nymphs, CHT, DHT, ALT, and control survival was 46.67% ± 1.67, 31.67% ± 1.67, 48.33% ± 4.41, and 60.00% ± 2.89, respectively, P < 0.05). ALT also prolonged the development of N. lugens nymphs (in fourth-instar nymphs, ALT and control survival was 6.09 ± 0.193 d and 5.39 ± 0.082 d, respectively, P < 0.05). In fifth-instar nymphs, CHT (2.36 ± 0.064 d, P < 0.05) and DHT (2.34 ± 0.048 d, P < 0.05) had little influence on nymphal development compared with the control (2.25 ± 0.012 d, P < 0.05). The three temperature treatments (CHT, DHT, and ALT) decreased the number of eggs produced (61.33 ± 0.067, 62.67 ± 0.882, and 34.00 ± 0.577, respectively, P < 0.05) compared with the control (68.00 ± 1.000, P < 0.05). The female sex ratio decreased after nymphs were subjected to CHT (65.82% ± 0.771, P < 0.05, in fifth-instar nymphs) and ALT (76.01% ± 1.362, P < 0.05) compared with the control (81.63% ± 1.007, P < 0.05). Adults in CHT (25.30 ± 0.182, P < 0.05) and DHT (14.64 ± 0.238, P < 0.05) consumed significantly more food than the control (11.54 ± 0.181, P < 0.05), but adults in ALT (6.54 ± 0.196, P < 0.05) fed significantly less than the control (11.54 ± 0.181, P < 0.05). Hatching rates of eggs under the three temperature treatments (CHT, DHT, and ALT were 69.57% ± 0.215, 71.29% ± 0.529, and 43.13% ± 0.508, respectively, and were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the control (78.95% ± 1.000, P < 0.05). These experiments revealed that extreme temperatures can influence the growth and development of N. lugens and may affect its distribution. As such, N. lugens remains a serious pest of rice.