Chromosome-level Genome Assembly of Theretra japonica (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).

Theretra japonica is an important pollinator and agricultural pest in the family Sphingidae with a wide range of host plants. High-quality genomic resources facilitate investigations into behavioral ecology, morphological and physiological adaptations, and the evolution of genomic architecture. However, chromosome-level genome of T. japonica is still lacking. Here we sequenced and assembled the high-quality genome of T. japonica by combining PacBio long reads, Illumina short reads, and Hi-C data. The genome was contained in 95 scaffolds with an accumulated length of 409.55 Mb (BUSCO calculated a genome completeness of 99.2%). The 29 pseudochromosomes had a combined length of 403.77 Mb, with a mapping rate of 98.59%. The genomic characterisation of T. japonica will contribute to further studies for Sphingidae and Lepidoptera.

Revision of the Genus Rhagastis Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from China, Based on Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses.

Here, the taxonomy of the genus Rhagastis Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae, Macroglossinae, Macroglossini) from China is revised based on differences in wing morphology, male and female genitalia, and the phylogenetic relationship of the DNA barcodes. Subspecies of Rhagastis albomarginatus (Rothschild, 1894) and R. castor (Walker, 1856) are treated as "good" species, namely Rhagastis dichroae Mell, 1922 stat. nov.; R. everetti Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 stat. nov.; R. aurifera (Butler, 1875) stat. rev.; R. chinensis Mell, 1922 stat. nov.; R. formosana Clark, 1925 stat. nov.; and R. jordani Oberthür, 1904 stat. rev. The distribution maps, biological notes, and ecological records of the genus Rhagastis Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 from China are given, and a species inventory of genus Rhagastis in the world is also included.

Unconstrained Piezoelectric Vascular Electronics for Wireless Monitoring of Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Health.

The patient-centered healthcare requires timely disease diagnosis and prognostic assessment, calling for individualized physiological monitoring. To assess the postoperative hemodynamic status of patients, implantable blood flow monitoring devices are highly expected to deliver real time, long-term, sensitive, and reliable hemodynamic signals, which can accurately reflect multiple physiological conditions. Herein, an implantable and unconstrained vascular electronic system based on a piezoelectric sensor immobilized is presented by a "growable" sheath around continuously growing arterial vessels for real-timely and wirelessly monitoring of hemodynamics. The piezoelectric sensor made of circumferentially aligned polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibers around pulsating artery can sensitively perceive mechanical signals, and the growable sheath bioinspired by the structure and function of leaf sheath has elasticity and conformal shape adaptive to the dynamically growing arterial vessels to avoid growth constriction. With this integrated and smart design, long-term, wireless, and sensitive monitoring of hemodynamics are achieved and demonstrated in rats and rabbits. It provides a simple and versatile strategy for designing implantable sensors in a less invasive way.

The life history of Hayesiana triopus (Westwood, 1847), with taxonomic notes on both present and former species of the genus Hayesiana Fletcher, 1982 (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).

The two species previously included in the genus Hayesiana Fletcher, 1982 were studied. The life history of the sole currently included species, Hayesiana triopus (Westwood, 1847) is illustrated in colour for the first time. Field records of Hayesiana triopus and Dahira farintaenia (Zhu & Wang, 1997) (previously Hayesiana farintaenia) are given, with the first description of the female genitalia of the latter. The diagnostic features and DNA barcoding data of Hayesiana triopus and Dahira farintaenia are also discussed.

Self-Driven Electrical Stimulation-Promoted Cancer Catalytic Therapy and Chemotherapy Based on an Implantable Nanofibrous Patch.

The efficacy of cancer catalytic therapy is still hindered by the inefficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, we report a self-driven electrical stimulation-promoted cancer catalytic therapy and chemotherapy by integrating a human-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with an implantable and biodegradable nanofibrous patch. The gelatin/polycaprolactone nanofibrous patch incorporates doxorubicin (DOX) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), in which the peroxidase (POD)-like activity of g-C3N4 to produce hydroxyl radical (•OH) can be distinctly enhanced by the self-driven electrical stimulation for 4.12-fold, and simultaneously DOX can be released to synergize the therapy, especially under a weakly acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) condition. The in vitro and in vivo experimental results on a mouse breast cancer model demonstrate superior tumor suppression outcome. The self-powered electrical stimulation-enhanced catalytic therapy and chemotherapy via multifunctional nanofibrous patches proposes a new complementary strategy for the catalytic therapy of solid tumors.

Cradle for the newborn Monochamus saltuarius: Microbial associates to ward off entomopathogens and disarm plant defense.

The Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus saltuarius, as a beetle vector of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pine wood nematode), is an economically important forest pest in Eurasia. To feed on the phloem and xylem of conifers, M. saltuarius needs to overcome various stress factors, including coping with entomopathogenic bacteria and also various plant secondary compounds (PSCs). As an important adaptation strategy to colonize host trees, M. saltuarius deposit eggs in oviposition pits to shield their progeny. These pits harbor bacterial communities that are involved in the host adaptation of M. saltuarius to the conifers. However, the composition, origin, and functions of these oviposition pit bacteria are rarely understood. In this study, we investigated the bacterial community associated with M. saltuarius oviposition pits and their ability to degrade PSCs. Results showed that the bacterial community structure of M. saltuarius oviposition pits significantly differed from that of uninfected phloem. Also, the oviposition pit bacteria were predicted to be enriched in PSC degradation pathways. The microbial community also harbored a lethal strain of Serratia, which was significantly inhibited. Meanwhile, metatranscriptome analysis indicated that genes involved in PSCs degradation were expressed complementarily among the microbial communities of oviposition pits and secretions. In vitro degradation showed that bacteria cultured from oviposition pits degraded more monoterpenes and flavonoids than bacteria cultured from uninfected phloem isolates. Disinfection of oviposition pits increased the mortality of newly hatched larvae and resulted in a significant decrease in body weight in the early stages. Overall, our results reveal that M. saltuarius construct oviposition pits that harbor a diverse microbial community, with stronger PSCs degradation abilities and a low abundance of entomopathogenic bacteria, resulting in the increased fitness of newly hatched larvae.

Flexible iontronics based on 2D nanofluidic material.

Iontronics focuses on the interactions between electrons and ions, playing essential roles in most processes across physics, chemistry and life science. Osmotic power source as an example of iontronics, could transform ion gradient into electrical energy, however, it generates low power, sensitive to humidity and can't operate under freezing point. Herein, based on 2D nanofluidic graphene oxide material, we demonstrate an ultrathin (∼10 µm) osmotic power source with voltage of 1.5 V, volumetric specific energy density of 6 mWh cm-3 and power density of 28 mW cm-3, achieving the highest values so far. Coupled with triboelectric nanogenerator, it could form a self-charged conformable triboiontronic device. Furthermore, the 3D aerogel scales up areal power density up to 1.3 mW cm-2 purely from ion gradient based on nanoconfined enhancement from graphene oxide that can operate under -40 °C and overcome humidity limitations, enabling to power the future implantable electronics in human-machine interface.

Review of the genus Lemaireia Nssig amp; Holloway, 1988 from China, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).

A new species of the genus Lemaireia Nssig Holloway, 1988 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Saturniinae: Saturniini), L. daparo sp. n., is described from evergreen broad-leaf forests in Panzhihua (Sichuan), Qujing (Yunnan) and Dali (Yunnan) of China. The new species resembles L. luteopeplus aureopeplus Nssig Holloway, 1988 and L. hainana Nssig Wang, 2006 from China, but can be easily separated from them by the male genitalia. In addition, the genus Lemaireia is reported here for the first time from Sichuan Province, and now its distribution range reached the northeastern extreme point. The habitus, diagnostic characters and distribution map of the three species of the genus Lemaireia from China are provided. A list of all Lemaireia species presently known worldwide is also given.

The first record of the monospecific genus Rhinopalpa (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from China.

BACKGROUND: The family Nymphalidae is the largest group of butterflies with high species richeness. Rhinopalpapolynice (Cramer, [1779]), a forest species, was discovered in the mid-stream of the Yuanjiang-Red River Valley of Yunnan Province for the first time, which represents the first record of the genus Rhinopalpa in China. NEW INFORMATION: The species R. polynice (Cramer, [1779]) is the first record of the genus Rhinopalpa from China. The specimen was collected in the mid-stream of the Yuanjiang-Red River Valley of Yunnan Province. The female genitalia are described for the first time.

New records of two lycaenid butterfly species (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in China, with the description of a new subspecies.

BACKGROUND: The family Lycaenidae is the second-largest group of butterflies which contains about one third of the known species of Papilionoidea. The genera Tajuria Moore, [1881] and Drupadia Moore, 1884 are both mainly found in the Oriental and Australian realms. In a very recent expedition to south-west China in Xishuangbanna (Yunnan Province), specimens of T. sekii Saito, 2005 and D. scaeva (Hewitson, 1869) were collected for the first time, a new subspecies of the former: T. sekii sisyphus ssp. nov., is described and illustrated and the latter species comprises the first record of the genus Drupadia in China. NEW INFORMATION: A new subspecies of T. sekii Saito, 2005, T. sekii sisyphus ssp. nov., is described and illustrated. The species T. sekii Saito, 2005 and D. scaeva (Hewitson, 1869) are first recorded in China and the latter comprises the first record of the genus Drupadia in China. Relevant details are presented for the species.

Review of the genus Eurypteryx C. Felder R. Felder, 1874 from China, with a first description of the male E. dianae (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).

The two species of the genus Eurypteryx C. Felder R. Felder, 1874 known from China, E. bhaga and E. dianae (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae, Macroglossinae, Macroglossini) were examined and compared with E. geoffreyi from Thailand. The male E. dianae is described for the first time based on a single specimen from an evergreen broad-leaf forest in Maolan Nature Reserve, Libo, Guizhou, China. The diagnostic features and a distribution map of the species of Eurypteryx in China are provided. A list of all Eurypteryx species presently known worldwide is also given.

A new species of the genus Dahira Moore (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) fromSichuan, China.

A new species of hawkmoth, Dahira sichuanica sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae, Macroglossinae, Macroglossini), is described based on a single male from an evergreen broad-leaf forest in Dafengding Nature Reserve, Leshan, Sichuan, China. The habitus and diagnostic features of the new species are described and illustrated. A list of all Dahira species presently known from China and the distribution map of the new species are also given.

Three new species of the Stenus cephalotes group fom Zhejiang, East China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae).

Three new species of the Stenus cephalotes group from Zhejiang, East China are described: S. qingliangfengus Tang Jiang, sp. n., S. communicatus Tang Jiang, sp. n. and S. fengyangshanus Tang Jiang, sp. n. The diagnostic characters of the new species are illustrated and a key to species of the group from Zhejiang is provided.

Wet-Chemical Synthesis of Hollow Red-Phosphorus Nanospheres with Porous Shells as Anodes for High-Performance Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Large-volume-expansion-induced material pulverization severely limits the electrochemical performance of red phosphorous (P) for energy-storage applications. Hollow nanospheres with porous shells are recognized as an ideal structure to resolve these issues. However, a chemical synthetic approach for preparing nanostructured red P is always of great challenge and hollow nanosphere structures of red P have not yet been fabricated. Herein, a wet solvothermal method to successfully fabricate hollow P nanospheres (HPNs) with porous shells via a gas-bubble-directed formation mechanism is developed. More importantly, due to the merits of the porous and hollow structures, these HPNs reveal the highest capacities (based on the weight of electrode materials) of 1285.7 mA h g-1 for lithium-ion batteries and 1364.7 mA h g-1 for sodium-ion batteries at 0.2 C, and excellent long-cycling performance.

Solvothermal synthesis of a silicon hierarchical structure composed of 20 nm Si nanoparticles coated with carbon for high performance Li-ion battery anodes.

A silicon hierarchical structure composed of 20 nm Si nanoparticles (Si-20) is synthesized using a solvothermal method. After coating with a carbon layer by pyrolysis of acetylene gas, the fabricated Si-20@C composites exhibit a superior cycling performance with 915.8 mA h g(-1) at 3.6 A g(-1) over 500 cycles and a high rate performance with 746.2 mA h g(-1) at 10.8 A g(-1).