Early evolution of Anamorphidae (Coleoptera: Coccinelloidea): the oldest known anamorphid beetles from Upper Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar and the first report of potential glandular pores in the family.

In order to place newly discovered fossil taxa (Palaeosymbius gen. nov. with P. groehni and P. mesozoicus spp. nov.) from the mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar, we investigated the relations of extant and extinct lineages of the coccinellid group of Coccinelloidea with emphasis on the family Anamorphidae. We assembled a taxonomic sampling of 34 taxa, including 15 genera and 19 species of Anamorphidae, the most comprehensive sampling of Anamorphidae at the generic level in a phylogenetic analysis. A morphological dataset of 47 characters was built as well as a molecular alignment of 7140 bp including fragments of eight genes (12S, 16S, 18S, 28S, COI, COII, H3 and CAD). Five anamorphid and one endomychid species were sequenced for the first time and added to the dataset. We performed parsimony-based analysis of the morphological dataset and Bayesian inference analysis of the combined matrix (morphological plus molecular data). Our results confirm that Palaeosymbius belongs to Anamorphidae and represents the oldest known member of this family so far. Among Anamorphidae, Symbiotes (with extant and known Eocene species) was recovered as the most probable closest relative of Palaeosymbius. Our morphological studies additionally revealed the presence of probable glandular openings in the anterolateral corners of the pronotal margins in Asymbius sp. and Anamorphus sp., representing the first report of secretory openings in the family Anamorphidae. Similar openings are found in other cucujiform beetles such as Cryptophagidae and Boganiidae with possible defensive purposes.

Heterologous expression of taxane genes confers resistance to fall armyworm in Nicotiana benthamiana.

KEY MESSAGE: Taxadiene synthase, taxadiene-5α-hydroxylase, and taxane 13α-hydroxylase genes were introduced into Nicotiana benthamiana, and the improved resistance to lepidoptera pest fall armyworm was reported. Fall armyworm (FAW) is a serious agricultural pest. Genetic engineering techniques have been used to create pest-resistant plant varieties for reducing pest damage. Paclitaxel is a diterpenoid natural metabolite with antineoplastic effects in medicine. However, the effects of taxanes on the growth and development of lepidoptera pests, such as the FAW, are unknown. Here, selected paclitaxel precursor biosynthesis pathway genes, taxadiene synthase, taxane 5α-hydroxylase, and taxane 13α-hydroxylase, were engineered in the heterologous host Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Bioassay experiments showed that the transgenic N. benthamiana plants displayed improved resistance to FAW infestation, with degeneration of gut tissues and induced expression of apoptosis-related genes. Cytotoxicity experiment showed that the paclitaxel precursor, 10-deacetylbaccatin III, is cytotoxic to Sf9 cells, causing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and disorder of the cytoskeleton. Metabolome analysis showed that heterologous expression of taxane genes in N. benthamiana affected the digestive system, steroid hormone and purine metabolism pathways of FAW larvae. In summary, this study provides a candidate approach for FAW control.

An enigmatic Cretaceous beetle with possible affinity to Erotylidae (Coleoptera: Cucujiformia).

The morphology of beetles of the recently defined superfamilies Erotyloidea, Nitiduloidea and Cucujoidea is varied. Determining the systematic positions of Mesozoic fossils within these groups can often be challenging. Here we describe and illustrate a puzzling cucujiform beetle, Isocryptophilus exilipunctus Li & Cai gen. & sp. nov., based on an individual from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. While we cannot definitively pinpoint the exact phylogenetic position of Isocryptophilus, its possible affinity to Erotylidae is discussed in light of our phylogenetic analyses. A broader-sampled morphological matrix, coupled with a robust molecular phylogeny of these groups, will be promising for clarifying the systematic placement of the fossil.

Phylogenomics of weevils revisited: data curation and modelling compositional heterogeneity.

Weevils represent one of the most prolific radiations of beetles and the most diverse group of herbivores on land. The phylogeny of weevils (Curculionoidea) has received extensive attention, and a largely satisfactory framework for their interfamilial relationships has been established. However, a recent phylogenomic study of Curculionoidea based on anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE) data yielded an abnormal placement for the family Belidae (strongly supported as sister to Nemonychidae + Anthribidae). Here we reanalyse the genome-scale AHE data for Curculionoidea using various models of molecular evolution and data filtering methods to mitigate anticipated systematic errors and reduce compositional heterogeneity. When analysed with the infinite mixture model CAT-GTR or using appropriately filtered datasets, Belidae are always recovered as sister to the clade (Attelabidae, (Caridae, (Brentidae, Curculionidae))), which is congruent with studies based on morphology and other sources of molecular data. Although the relationships of the 'higher Curculionidae' remain challenging to resolve, we provide a consistent and robust backbone phylogeny of weevils. Our extensive analyses emphasize the significance of data curation and modelling across-site compositional heterogeneity in phylogenomic studies.

Dexmedetomidine as an anesthetic adjunct is associated with reduced complications and cardiac intensive care unit length of stay after heart valve surgery.

BACKGROUND: We sought to explore the relationship between dexmedetomidine as an anesthetic adjuvant in cardiac surgery and postoperative complications and length of stay (LOS) in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients aged 18 years and older who underwent heart valve surgery between October 2020 and June 2022. The primary endpoint of the study was major postoperative complications (cardiac arrest, atrial fibrillation, myocardial injury/infarction, heart failure) and the secondary endpoint was prolonged CICU LOS (defined as LOS > 90th percentile). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for variables that were significant in the univariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 856 patients entered our study. The 283 patients who experienced the primary and secondary endpoints were included in the adverse outcomes group, and the remaining 573 were included in the prognostic control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age > 60 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-2.31; p < 0.01), cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) > 180 min (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.03-2.55; p = 0.04) and postoperative mechanical ventilation time > 10 h (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.35-2.52; p < 0.01) were independent risk factors for major postoperative complications; Age > 60 years (OR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.65-6.20; p < 0.01), preoperative NYHA class 4 (OR, 4.03; 95% CI, 1.74-9.33; p < 0.01), diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.22-5.41; p = 0.01), Intraoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusion > 650 ml (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.13-3.66; p = 0.02), Intraoperative bleeding > 1200 ml (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.42-5.12; p < 0.01) were independent risk factors for prolonged CICU length of stay. Intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine as an anesthetic adjunct was a protective factor for major complications (odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-0.74; p < 0.01) and prolonged CICU stay. (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.73; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing heart valve surgery, age, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, and duration of mechanical ventilation are associated with major postoperative complication. Age, preoperative NYHA classification 4, diabetes mellitus, intraoperative bleeding, and RBC transfusion are associated with increased CICU length of stay. Intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine may improve such clinical outcomes.

Botrytis cinerea BcCDI1 protein triggers both plant cell death and immune response.

Cell death-inducing proteins (CDIPs) play important roles in the infection of Botrytis cinerea, a broad host-range necrotrophic phytopathogen. Here, we show that the secreted protein BcCDI1 (Cell Death Inducing 1) can cause necrosis in tobacco leaves and at the same time elicit plant defense. The transcription of Bccdi1 was induced at the infection stage. Deletion or overexpression of Bccdi1 resulted in no notable change in disease lesion on bean, tobacco, and Arabidopsis leaves, indicating that Bccdi1 has no effect on the final outcome of B. cinerea infection. Furthermore, the plant receptor-like kinases BAK1 and SOBIR1 are required to transduce the cell death-promoting signal induced by BcCDI1. These findings suggest that BcCDI1 is possibly recognized by plant receptors and then induces plant cell death.

Kekveus brevisulcatus sp. nov., a new featherwing beetle from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae).

Ptiliidae (featherwing beetles) is a group of minute staphylinoid beetles with a scarce fossil record. Here a second member of the Mesozoic genus Kekveus Yamamoto et al. is reported from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, with detailed morphology obtained through confocal microscopy. Kekveus brevisulcatus Li, Yamamoto, Newton & Cai sp. nov. shares with K. jason Yamamoto et al. the unpaired medial pronotal fovea and narrowly separated transverse metacoxae, but can be separated from the latter based on its less elongate body, shorter pronotal foveae, and much weaker transverse depression on the head. Our phylogenetic analyses support the discheramocephalin affinity of Kekveus, although its relationship with other members of Discheramocephalini cannot be confidently resolved.

The impact of Danmaku-based and synchronous peer feedback on L2 oral performance: A mixed-method investigation.

Advancement of research in education has propelled the augmentation of theoretical and practical knowledge in learning-oriented feedback. In recent years, the channels, modes, and orientations of feedback became manifold. Copious empirical evidence from the body of literature supported the strength of feedback in enhancing learning outcomes and promoting the motivation of learners. However, compared to the popularity in implementation and fruitfulness of findings in other educational domains, the application of state-of-the-art technology-enhanced feedback in fostering students' L2 oral abilities remain few and far between. To address the knowledge gap, the present study endeavored to investigate the effect of Danmaku-based and synchronous peer feedback on L2 oral performance and the acceptance thereof among students. Adopting a mixed-method design, the study recruited 74 (n = 74) undergraduate English majors from a Chinese university for a 16-week 2x2 experiment. The collected data were analyzed through statistical and thematic analysis respectively. The findings revealed that Danmaku-based and synchronous peer feed-back was impactful on students' performance in L2 oral production. Furthermore, the impacts of peer feedback on subdomains of L2 competence were statistically analyzed. Regarding students' perceptions, the incorporation of peer feedback was generally favored by participants who were satisfied and motivated in the learning process but lacked confidence in their assessment literacy. Furthermore, students expressed their agreement with the benefit of reflective learning and the subsequent enrichment in knowledge and horizon. The research was significant for its conceptual and practical contribution for follow-up researchers and educators in L2 education and learning-oriented feedback.

Fabricating biodegradable calcium phosphate/calcium sulfate cement reinforced with cellulose: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Osteoporosis is a growing public health concern worldwide. To avoid extra surgeries, developing biodegradable bone cement is critical for the treatment of osteoporosis. Herein, we designed calcium phosphate/calcium sulfate cement reinforced with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC/OPC). It presents an appropriate physicochemical performance for clinical handling. Meanwhile, CMC/OPC bone cement promotes osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Results of the immune response in vitro and in vivo confirmed that increasing the cellulose content triggered macrophage switching into the M2 phenotype and CMC/OPC exhibited significant anti-inflammation. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo degradation demonstrated that cellulose tailors the degradation rate of composite bone cement, which achieved a linear degradation process and could degrade by more than 90% for 12 weeks. In summary, the composite bone cement CMC/OPC is a promising candidate for bone repair applications.

CK2 promotes jasmonic acid signaling response by phosphorylating MYC2 in Arabidopsis.

Jasmonic acid (JA) signaling plays a pivotal role in plant development and defense. MYC2 is a master transcription factor in JA signaling, and was found to be phosphorylated and negatively regulated by MAP kinase and receptor-like kinase. However, the kinases that positively regulate MYC2 through phosphorylation and promote MYC2-mediated activation of JA response have not been identified. Here, we identified CK2 as a kinase that phosphorylates MYC2 and thus regulates the JA signaling. CK2 holoenzyme can interact with MYC2 using its regulatory subunits and phosphorylate MYC2 at multiple sites with its catalytic subunits. Inhibition of CK2 activity in a dominant-negative plant line, CK2mut, repressed JA response. On the other hand, increasing CK2 activity by overexpression of CKB4, a regulatory subunit gene of CK2, enhanced JA response in a MYC2-dependent manner. Substitution of the Ser and Thr residues at phosphorylation sites of MYC2 by CK2 with Ala impaired MYC2 function in activating JA response. Further investigations evidenced that CK2 facilitated the JA-induced increase of MYC2 binding to the promoters of JA-responsive genes in vivo. Our study demonstrated that CK2 plays a positive role in JA signaling, and reveals a previously undiscovered mechanism that regulates MYC2 function.

A new species of Burmalestes Tomaszewska & lipiski from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Coleoptera: Endomychidae).

The second species of the extinct genus Burmalestes Tomaszewska & lipiski, B. jingruoyaae Li & Cai sp. nov., is reported from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar. The new species shares characters with both Burmalestes (antennomere 5 elongate and procoxae subcontiguous) and Cretaparamecus Tomaszewska et al. (protibiae toothed and pronotum without basolateral sulci), providing valuable information on the morphological variability of this group.

Online informal learning community for interpreter training amid COVID-19: A pilot evaluation.

Sudden shifts towards online education since the outbreak of Covid-19 propelled the unprepared changes in teaching and learning over the world. The impact of transferring Interpreter training from face-to-face instruction and practices to a fully online environment was viewed differently. Issues such as relatively inferior engagement in learning and dissatisfied performance in competence building were highlighted and compounded by the concern of academic burnout and learning stress caused by the abiding pandemic. To curb the unsatisfactory situation, alternative learning methods and innovative pedagogical approaches were advocated. The present study was a pioneering effort to integrate informal learning into remote interpreter training by developing and implementing an online informal learning communities for undergraduate interpreting trainees in a Chinese university. The researcher recruited 36 students (n = 36) from the institution as participants in the 1.5-year piloting project. The findings of the research revealed the impact of informal learning in supplementing formal education by engaging involved students. Student-centered learning supported by collaborative and experiential activities in an informal environment was well-received for its ability to galvanize student's engagement and academic achievements. The perceptions from participants revealed preference and expectation from students for expanded roles of trainers in interpreter training.

Antibacterial efficacy evaluation and mechanism probe of small lysine chalcone peptide mimics.

Bacterial resistance is a growing threat to public health and a significant barrier to anti-infective treatment. Consequently, the development of novel antibacterial strategies to address this issue is critical. Herein, we developed a series of chalcone-alkyl-lysine compounds by mimicking the chemical structure and antibacterial properties of cationic antimicrobial peptides. Most of the compounds showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Compound 6d displayed potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), with MICs of 1-4 µg/mL. In addition, 6d exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against clinical MRSA and NDM-positive isolates, bactericidal properties, low resistance frequency. The mechanism studies revealed that compound 6d destroys bacterial cell membranes by interacting with phosphatidylglycerol (PG), causing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the leakage of nucleic acids, resulting in bacterial death. Furthermore, compound 6d did not exhibit any observable toxicity in HeLa and HEK293 cells at 8 × MIC. As a result, the findings suggest that compound 6d has potential therapeutic effects against bacterial infections and could be a promising drug candidate for future research.

New species of Vetuprostomis from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Prostomidae).

Two new species of the prostomid genus Vetuprostomis Engel Grimaldi (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Prostomidae), V. angularis Li Cai sp. nov. and V. gaoi Li Cai sp. nov., are described from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Vetuprostomis is suggested to be more closely related to extant Dryocora Pascoe distributed in Australia and New Zealand, rather than the widespread genus Prostomis Latreille. A key to prostomid genera, as well as species in genus Vetuprostomis, is provided.

Revisiting the Raractocetus Fossils from Mesozoic and Cenozoic Amber Deposits (Coleoptera: Lymexylidae).

The fossils once assigned to Raractocetus Kurosawa from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic amber deposits differ from extant Raractocetus in the longer elytra, the more strongly projecting metacoxae, and the hind wing with vein 2A forked. Thus, these fossils should be removed from Raractocetus. Cretoquadratus engeli Chen from Kachin amber appears to be conspecific with R. fossilis Yamamoto. As a result, R. fossilis and R. extinctus Yamamoto from Kachin amber, R. balticus Yamamoto from Baltic amber, and R. sverlilo Nazarenko, Perkovsky & Yamamoto from Rovno amber are transferred to Cretoquadratus Chen, as C. fossilis (Yamamoto) comb. nov., C. extinctus (Yamamoto) comb. nov., C. balticus (Yamamoto) comb. nov., and C. sverlilo (Nazarenko, Perkovsky & Yamamoto) comb. nov., and C. engeli syn. nov. is suggested to be a junior synonym of C. fossilis.

A new marsh beetle from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Scirtidae).

As one of the earliest-diverging lineage of the megadiverse beetle suborder Polyphaga, marsh beetles (Scirtidae) are crucial for reconstructing the ancestor of all polyphagan beetles and the ecomorphological underpinnings of their remarkable evolutionary success. The phylogeny of marsh beetles has nonetheless remained challenging to infer, not least because of their fragmentary Mesozoic fossil record. Here we describe a new scirtid beetle genus and species, Varcalium lawrencei gen. et sp. nov., preserving internal tissue, from Albian-Cenomanian Kachin amber (ca 99 Ma), representing the second member of this family known from the deposit. Based on a formal morphological phylogenetic analysis, Varcalium is recovered within the crown-group of Scirtinae, forming a clade with other genera that possess subocular carinae. The finding suggests that the crown-group of Scirtinae has already diversified by the mid-Cretaceous.

Teaching data science to undergraduate translation trainees: Pilot evaluation of a task-based course.

The advancement in technology has changed the workflow and the role of human translator in recent years. The impact from the trend of technology-mediated translation prompted the ratification of technology literacy as a major competence for modern translators. Consequently, teaching of translation technology including but not limited to Computer-aided Translation (CAT) and Machine Translation (MT) became part of comprehensive curricula for translation training programs. However, in many institutions, the teaching of translation technology was haunted by issues such as: narrow scope of curriculum design, outdated technologies, and unbalance between theories and practices in teaching. The study was the pilot evaluation of a tailored course to foster translation trainees' knowledge and abilities of data science. The course was designed to be a fundamental step toward sophisticated translation technologies. During the pilot evaluation of the 8-week course, 85 students (n = 85) were recruited as participants. The study adopted a mix-method design by employing a survey to investigate student's level of satisfaction toward the course and focus group discussion to understand students' attitudes and perceptions of key aspects of the course. By interpreting the results from statistical analysis of the survey (5.39/7) and thematic analysis of the focus group discussion, the course of data science for translators was well received among participants. The evaluation project manifested the feasibility and effectiveness of a translator-oriented data science course.