Phylogenomic data exploration with increased sampling provides new insights into the higher-level relationships of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera).

A robust and stable phylogenetic framework is a fundamental goal of evolutionary biology. As the third largest insect order in the world following Coleoptera and Diptera, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) play a central role in almost every terrestrial ecosystem as indicators of environmental change and serve as important models for biologists exploring questions related to ecology and evolutionary biology. However, for such a charismatic insect group, the higher-level phylogenetic relationships among its superfamilies are still poorly resolved. Compared to earlier phylogenomic studies, we increased taxon sampling among Lepidoptera (37 superfamilies and 68 families containing 263 taxa) and acquired a series of large amino-acid datasets from 69,680 to 400,330 for phylogenomic reconstructions. Using these datasets, we explored the effect of different taxon sampling with significant increases in the number of included genes on tree topology by considering a series of systematic errors using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. Moreover, we also tested the effectiveness in topology robustness among the three ML-based models. The results showed that taxon sampling is an important determinant in tree robustness of accurate lepidopteran phylogenetic estimation. Long-branch attraction (LBA) caused by site-wise heterogeneity is a significant source of bias giving rise to unstable positions of ditrysian groups in phylogenomic reconstruction. Phylogenetic inference showed the most comprehensive framework to reveal the relationships among lepidopteran superfamilies, and presented some newly relationships with strong supports (Papilionoidea was sister to Gelechioidea and Immoidea was sister to Galacticoidea, respectively), but limited by taxon sampling, the relationships within the species-rich and relatively rapid radiation Ditrysia and especially Apoditrysia remain poorly resolved, which need to increase taxon sampling for further phylogenomic reconstruction. The present study demonstrates that taxon sampling is an important determinant for an accurate lepidopteran tree of life and provides some essential insights for future lepidopteran phylogenomic studies.

First record of the family Neopseustidae from Yunnan, China with description of a new species (Lepidoptera, Neopseustidae).

The family Neopseustidae is reported from Yunnan Province, Southwest China, for the first time, with a new species, N. gaoligongensis Huang & Chen, sp. n., described from Mt. Gaoligong, West Yunnan, based on molecular and morphological evidence. The new species was found to belong to the N. bicornuta species-group and is closely related to N. fanjingshana Yang, 1988, but can be distinguished from it by the differences in morphology and a 3.2% COI distance. Adults and genitalia of the new species and N. fanjingshana are illustrated, and the molecular phylogeny based on COI barcoding of the genus Neopseustis is also updated.

A new species of the genus Ivela Swinhoe (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Lymantriinae) from Guangdong, China.

Ivelayini sp. nov., is described from Guangdong, China based on morphological characters and molecular data. Adults, including genitalia and wing venation, and pupa are illustrated and compared to those of similar species. A key to Chinese Ivela species is provided. Assignment of the new species to Ivela Swinhoe is based primarily on a molecular phylogenetic analysis and is corroborated by morphology. Life histories of I.yini and Dendrophlepssemihyalina Hampson are discussed.

Notes on the genus Neopseustis Meyrick with description of a new species from China (Lepidoptera: Neopseustidae).

A new species, Neopseustis rectagnatha Liao, Chen Huang sp. nov., is described from the Nanling Mountains, China. The photos of the adults, male and female genitalia, and abdominal special structures are presented. The new species is similar to N. meyricki Hering, 1925 and N. sinensis Davis, 1975, but it can be distinguished easily by characters in the male genitalia as the straight gnathos and the lateroposterior process of anellus h-type bifurcated. Key to males of all species of Neopseustis Meyrick, 1909 and some biological information are also given. Molecular analysis based on COI sequences is used to infer the relationship of the new species within Neopseustis.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Neoris haraldi Schawerda (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).

As an important insect pest on desert vegetation, Neoris haraldi has already brought great damage on Populus euphratica that was a key plant in the desert areas. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of N. haraldi has been sequenced with 15,383 bp in length. The mitogenome has a base composition of A (39.4%), T (40.3%), C (12.4%), and G (7.9%), and consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and an A + T-rich region. The phylogenetic relationships among the saturniid species were (Neoris haraldi+ ((Attacus atlas+ (Samia cynthia + (Samia canningi + Samia ricini))) + ((Eriogyna pyretorum + Saturnia boisduvalii) + ((Actias artemis + Actias selene) + (Antheraea assama+ (Antheraea frithi + (Antheraea pernyi Antheraea yamamai))))))), which was supported by a high bootstrap value of 100% and a posterior probability of 1.00.

Mesenchymal stem cells promote pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells invasion by transforming growth factor-ß1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be ideal delivery vehicles for antitumor biological agents in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA). While the role of MSCs in tumor growth is elusive. Inflammation is an important feature of PA. In this study, we reported that MSCs pre-stimulated with the combination of TNF-α and IFN-γ promote PA cells invasion. The invasion of PA cell lines were evaluate by wound healing assay and transwell assay in vitro and liver metastasis in nude mice. We observed MSCs pre-stimulated with the combination of TNF-α and IFN-γ promoted PA cells invasion in vitro and in vivo. Consistent with MSCs promoting PA cells invasion, PA cells were found undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We demonstrated that MSCs pre-stimulated with both of TNF-α and IFN-γ provoked expression transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1). MSCs promoting EMT-mediated PA cells invasion could be reversed by short interfering RNA of TGF-ß1. Our results suggest that MSCs could promote PA cells invasion in inflammation microenvironment and should be cautious as delivery vehicles in molecular target therapy.

[Determination of 22 inorganic elements in different parts of Lantana camara by ICP-OES].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contents of 22 inorganic elements in different parts of Lantana camara by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). METHODS: HNO3-H2O2 digested system was used to completely decompose the organic compounds effectually by microwave digestion. The 22 inorganic elements such as K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Na, Zn, Mn and Cr were determined by ICP-OES under set up working conditions. RESULTS: The contents of K, Ca and Mg were the most in different parts of Lantana camara; The contents of K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Sr and Cu in the leaf were more those that in the root and branch; The contents of Fe, Na, Cr and Ni in the root were more than those in the leaf and branch; The contents of Mn, Zn, Sr and Cu in the branch were more than those in the root and the leaf; The contents of Pb and Cd were higher than the national standard and Cr had high content in different parts of Lantana camara. CONCLUSION: The determination method is quick, easy and accurate with high sensitivity, which can determine the contents of 22 inorganic elements accurately in different parts of Lantana camara.

[Determination of 22 inorganic elements in different parts of Lantana camara by ICP-OES].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contents of 22 inorganic elements in different parts of Lantana camara by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). METHODS: HNO3-H2 02 digested system was used to completely decomposed the organic compounds effectually by microwave digestion. 22 inorganic elements such as K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Na, Zn, Mn and Cr were determined by ICP-OES under set up working conditions. RESULTS: The contents of K, Ca and Mg were the most in different parts of Lantana camrnara; The contents of K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Sr and Cu in the leaves of Lantana camara were more than that in the root and the branch. The contents of Fe and Na in the root of Lantana camara were more than that in the leaves and the branch. The contents of Pb and Cd were higher than the national standard and Cr had high content in different parts of Lantana camara. CONCLUSION: The determination method is quick, easy and accurate with high sensitivity,which can determine the contents of 22 inorganic elements accurately in different parts of Lantana camara.