Effects of bagasse as a carbon source on biofloc formation, water quality, and microbial community structure in shrimp culture system.

As a widely available, low-cost agricultural byproduct, bagasse is a potential solid carbon source and provides microbial attachment as a biofilm carrier. In this study, the effects of bagasse as a carbon source on biofloc formation, water quality, microbial community structure, and nitrogen conversion in a shrimp culture system were explored, and the performance of bagasse bioflocs was assessed. No bagasse was added to the control group (CK), and three bagasse addition groups were set up, with the floc content of the water maintained at 5 mL/L (BF5 group), 10 mL/L (BF10 group), and 15 mL/L (BF15 group). The results showed that bagasse bioflocs formed in the fourth week when bagasse was placed in the culture water, and the surface of bagasse was covered with thick biofilm at that time. The DOC content of the BF15 group was significantly greater than that of the CK group, from 30.31 to 105.06% (P < 0.05), and the DOC increased with increasing bagasse biofloc content. The BF group rapidly converted TAN to NO2--N and then to NO3--N because the accumulation of nitrite nitrogen in the BF15 group occurred 1 week earlier than in the other groups; at the 8th week, the nitrite nitrogen conversion rate of each BF group was close to 100%, which was significantly greater than that of the CK group (P < 0.05). The relative abundances of genes encoding microbial glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate synthase increased in the bagasse biofloc groups (P < 0.05). The relative abundances of genes from Rhodobacterales and Hyphomicrobiales in each group were greater, but bagasse bioflocs increased the proportion of Hyphomicrobiale. In summary, adding bagasse to the shrimp culture system can form a biofloc system, resulting in the formation of a rich bacterial biofilm on its surface. Bagasse addition not only affects the composition of microbial communities but also accelerates the nitrification process in water. As a result, ammonia and nitrite are converted into nitrate, which is essential for maintaining the stability of the ecosystem balance in aquaculture water.

Bioremediation potential of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria as an intensive shrimp aquaculture pond polyculture condidate.

Polyculture practices are important for achieving sustainable aquaculture development. Recently, hard clams polyculture in intensive shrimp ponds has been encouraged because bivalves can consume excess nutrients in aquaculture systems and sequester carbon. To evaluate the bioremediation potential of hard clams polyculture in intensive shrimp ponds, this study built an assessment model based on individual growth models and estimated the potential for nitrogen and phosphorus removal as well as CO2 fixation by hard clams. Firstly, key parameters required for model construction were obtained through field surveys and physiological experiments. Subsequently, an individual growth model for the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria was developed based on the Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory. Fitting of the growth data indicated that the model accurately replicated the growth patterns of hard clams, with relative root mean square errors of 9.87 % for shell length and 5.02 % for dry tissue weight. Finally, the assessment model for the bioremediation potential of hard clams demonstrated that, over 110 days in the intensive shrimp mariculture pond, the net removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by hard clams were 3.68 kg ha-1 and 0.81 kg ha-1, respectively, and CO2 fixation was 507.00 kg ha-1. These findings suggested that the DEB model is an effective tool for evaluating bivalve ecological remediation potential and can aid in selecting species for sustainable polyculture.

Responses and correlation among ER stress, Ca2+ homeostasis, and fatty acid metabolism in Penaeus vannamei under ammonia stress.

The role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, Ca2+ homeostasis, and fatty acid metabolism in the environmental adaptation of aquatic animals is significant, but further confirmation of the relationship between these factors is needed. This study aimed to investigate the responses and correlations among ER stress, Ca2+ homeostasis, and fatty acid metabolism in Penaeus vannamei under ammonia stress. A total of 640 P. vannamei weighing 3.0 ± 0.4 g were selected and exposed to different total ammonia concentrations (0 mg/L for the control group and 3.80, 7.60, and 11.40 mg/L for the stress groups). The experiment involved a 96 h ammonia stress period to assess indicators related to ER stress, Ca2+ homeostasis, and fatty acid metabolism. The experimental results revealed that after 12 h, exposure to ammonia induced the ER stress response in the hepatopancreas of the shrimp. The groups exposed to concentrations of 3.8 mg/L and 7.6 mg/L exhibited an increase in ER Ca2+ efflux, a decrease in influx, an elevation in mitochondrial Ca2+ influx, an enhanced energy demand within the organism, and substantial consumption of triglycerides. The 11.3 mg/L group exhibited a significant enhancement in fatty acid metabolism. At 24 h, the ER stress response induced by ammonia in the shrimp exhibited a gradual recovery. In the 7.6 mg/L and 11.3 mg/L groups, the ER Ca2+ influx and efflux exhibited significant enhancements, while the mitochondrial Ca2+ influx decreased and the organism's energy demand increased. Moreover, there was a substantial enhancement in fatty acid metabolism. At 48 h, the ER stress response disappeared in each stress group, ER Ca2+ efflux was reduced, triglycerides were consumed, and the body's energy homeostasis was basically restored. At 96 h, a stress response reoccurred in the ER in each stress group, resulting in increased influx of Ca2+ into the ER, augmented energy demand within the organism, and notable enhancement in fatty acid metabolism. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the NH3-N content in the hepatopancreas and the expression of ER stress-related genes, as well as between ER Ca2+ influx/efflux and energy homeostasis/fatty acid metabolism. The findings indicate that the stress induced by ammonia triggers an ER stress response in P. vannamei, resulting in ER Ca2+ efflux and mitochondrial Ca2+ influx, which, in turn, enhances fatty acid metabolism to generate additional energy for adaptation in stressful environments. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the environmental adaptability of P. vannamei in the context of Ca2+ homeostasis.

Combined Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis of the Protein Composition of the Brochosomes of the Leafhopper Nephotettix cincticeps.

Brochosomes, unique coatings on the integuments of Cicadellidae, are synthesized in specialized glandular sections of Malpighian tubules. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the protein composition of brochosomes. In this study, we conducted transcriptomic and proteomic profiling to characterize the brochosome protein composition in the rice green leafhopper Nephotettix cincticeps. Brochosomes were collected from the forewings of leafhoppers using ultrasonic treatment, allowing for more effective brochosome collection and shaking treatment, resulting in purer brochosomes. Transcriptome sequencing analysis identified 106 genes specifically expressed in the Malpighian tubules; combined with proteomic data, we identified 22 candidate brochosome proteins. These proteins were classified into 12 brochosomins (BSM) and 10 brochosome-associated proteins (BSAP) based on previous research. Conserved motif analysis and functional predictions unveiled unique motifs in each BSM, while BSAP appeared to play a crucial role in BSM folding and pathogen resistance. Comparative analysis of other Hemiptera species demonstrated that all BSM and some BSAP are specific to the Cicadellidae family. Our findings could contribute to understanding the mechanism of brochosome synthesis, its function, and evolutionary genesis.

Insights into Brochosome Distribution, Synthesis, and Novel Rapid-Release Mechanism in Maiestas dorsalis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).

The leafhopper family Cicadellidae, comprising over 22,000 species, exhibits a unique behavior of anointing their bodies with excretions containing brochosomes. Brochosomes are synthesized in the distal segment of the Malpighian tubules and serve various functions, including hydrophobic protection and defense against pathogens and predators. In this study, we investigated the distribution, synthesis, and release mechanisms of brochosomes in the rice pest leafhopper Maiestas dorsalis. Using SEM and TEM, we observed brochosomes' consistent coverage on the integument throughout the insect's life cycle. Moreover, we identified four distinct developmental stages of brochosome synthesis within the distal segment of the Malpighian tubules, originating from the Golgi region. Most importantly, our research revealed a novel and highly efficient release mechanism involving the fusion of brochosome-containing vesicles, leading to a rapid and substantial release of brochosomes into the tubule lumen after molting. These findings shed light on the intricate processes of brochosome synthesis and release in leafhoppers, offering valuable insights into their functional significance and ecological role in these fascinating insects.

Distribution, Vertical Transmission, and Cooperative Mechanisms of Obligate Symbiotic Bacteria in the Leafhopper Maiestas dorsalis (Hemiptera, Cicadellidea).

Many insects rely on ancient symbiotic bacterial associations for essential nutrition. Auchenorrhyncha commonly harbor two obligate symbionts: Sulcia (Bacteroidetes) and a proteobacterial partner that supplies essential amino acids lacking in their plant-sap diets. In this study focusing on Maiestas dorsalis, we investigated the distribution and vertical transmission of two obligate symbiotic bacteria, Sulcia and Nasuia, within the leafhopper. Sulcia primarily inhabits the external region of the bacteriome, while Nasuia is restricted to the internal region. Both symbionts progressively infiltrate the ovary through the epithelial plug, ultimately reaching the developing primary oocyte. Furthermore, co-phylogenetic analysis suggests a close correlation between the evolution of Auchenorrhyncha insects and the presence of their obligate symbiotic bacteria. Genomic analysis further unveiled the extreme genome reduction of the obligate symbiotic bacteria, with Sulcia retaining genes involved in basic cellular processes and limited energy synthesis, while Nasuia exhibited further gene loss in replication, transcription, translation, and energy synthesis. However, both symbionts retained the genes for synthesizing the essential amino acids required by the host insect. Our study highlights the coevolutionary dynamics between Sulcia, proteobacterial partners, and their insect hosts, shedding light on the intricate nutritional interactions and evolutionary adaptations in Auchenorrhyncha insects.

Diversity and Dynamics of Bacterial Communities in the Digestive and Excretory Systems across the Life Cycle of Leafhopper, Recilia dorsalis.

Recilia dorsalis is a notorious rice pest that harbors numerous symbiotic microorganisms. However, the structure and dynamics of bacterial communities in various tissues of R. dorsalis throughout its life cycle remain unclear. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the bacterial communities in the digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems of R. dorsalis at different developmental stages. The results showed that the initial microbiota in R. dorsalis mostly originated from vertical transmission via the ovaries. After the second-instar nymphs, the diversity of bacterial communities in the salivary gland and Malpighian tubules gradually decreased, while the midgut remained stable. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that the structure of bacterial communities in R. dorsalis was primarily influenced by the developmental stage, with minimal variation in bacterial species among different tissues but significant variation in bacterial abundance. Tistrella was the most abundant bacterial genus in most developmental stages, followed by Pantoea. The core bacterial community in R. dorsalis continuously enriched throughout development and contributed primarily to food digestion and nutrient supply. Overall, our study enriches our knowledge of the bacterial community associated with R. dorsalis and provides clues for developing potential biological control technologies against this rice pest.

A Novel Nitrogen-Fixing Bacterium Raoultella electrica Isolated from the Midgut of the Leafhopper Recilia dorsalis.

Nitrogen is a crucial element for the growth and development of insects, but herbivorous insects often suffer from nitrogen nutrition deficiencies in their diets. Some symbiotic microorganisms can provide insect hosts with nitrogen nutrition through nitrogen fixation. Extensive research has clearly demonstrated the process of nitrogen fixation by symbiotic microorganisms in termites, while evidence supporting the occurrence and significance of nitrogen fixation in the diets of the Hemiptera is less conclusive. In this study, we isolated a strain of R. electrica from the digestive tract of a leafhopper, R. dorsalis, and found that it had nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Fluorescence in situ hybridization results showed that it was located in the gut of the leafhopper. Genome sequencing revealed that R. electrica possessed all the genes required for nitrogen fixation. We further evaluated the growth rate of R. electrica in nitrogen-containing and nitrogen-free media and measured its nitrogenase activity through an acetylene reduction assay. The findings of these studies could shed light on how gut microbes contribute to our understanding of nitrogen fixation.

An Efficient Model-Compressed EEGNet Accelerator for Generalized Brain-Computer Interfaces With Near Sensor Intelligence.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is promising in interacting with machines through electroencephalogram (EEG) signal. The compact end-to-end neural network model for generalized BCIs, EEGNet, has been implemented in hardware to get near sensor intelligence, but without enough efficiency. To utilize EEGNet in low-power wearable device for long-term use, this paper proposes an efficient EEGNet inference accelerator. Firstly, the EEGNet model is compressed by embedded channel selection, normalization merging, and product quantization. The customized accelerator based on the compressed model is then designed. The multilayer convolutions are achieved by reusing multiplying-accumulators and processing elements (PEs) to minimize area of logic circuits, and the weights and intermediate results are quantized to minimize memory sizes. The PEs are clock-gated to save power. Experimental results in FPGA on three datasets show the good generalizing ability of the proposed design across three BCI diagrams, which only consumes 3.31% area and 1.35% power compared to the one-to-one parallel design. The speedup factors of 1.4, 3.5, and 3.7 are achieved by embedded channel selection with negligible loss of accuracy (-0.80%). The presented accelerator is also synthesized in 65 nm CMOS low power (LP) process and consumes 0.23M gates, 24.4 ms/inference, 0.267 mJ/inference, which is 87.22% more efficient than the implementation of EEGNet in a RISC-V MCU realized in 40 nm CMOS LP process in terms of area, and 20.77% more efficient in terms of energy efficiency on BCIC-IV-2a dataset.

A Dynamic Energy Budget Model for Kuruma Shrimp Penaeus japonicus: Parameterization and Application in Integrated Marine Pond Aquaculture.

Individual growth models can form the basis of population dynamics assessment and ecosystem model construction. In order to provide a basic module for an ecosystem model of an integrated marine aquaculture pond, an individual growth model was constructed for kuruma shrimp (Penaeus japonicus) based on dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory. The model was first parameterized based on a covariation method using the Add-my-Pet (AmP) procedure. The parametric estimation model underestimated the ultimate abdominal length for female shrimp, and the predicted values of other zero-variate parameters were generally consistent with observed values. The relative errors of the predicted and observed values of the univariate data set within three geographical regions showed acceptable goodness of fit. Parameter estimation achieved an overall goodness of fit with a mean relative error of 0.048 and a symmetric mean squared error of 0.066. A DEB model was constructed using the estimated parameters, and the goodness-of-fit indicators (R square, mean bias and absolute and relative root mean square error) showed that the model was able to reproduce the growth of kuruma shrimp in terms of total length and wet weight with high accuracy. The results provide data to support the subsequent development of integrated aquaculture management at the ecosystem level.

Roles of Bacterial Symbionts in Transmission of Plant Virus by Hemipteran Vectors.

The majority of plant viruses are transmitted by hemipteran insects. Bacterial symbionts in hemipteran hosts have a significant impact on the host life, physiology and ecology. Recently, the involvement of bacterial symbionts in hemipteran vector-virus and vector-plant interactions has been documented. Thus, the exploitation and manipulation of bacterial symbionts have great potential for plant viral disease control. Herein, we review the studies performed on the impact of symbiotic bacteria on plant virus transmission, including insect-bacterial symbiont associations, the role of these bacterial symbionts in viral acquisition, stability and release during viral circulation in insect bodies, and in viral vertical transmission. Besides, we prospect further studies aimed to understand tripartite interactions of the virus-symbiotic microorganisms-insect vector.

The Costs and Benefits of Two Secondary Symbionts in a Whitefly Host Shape Their Differential Prevalence in the Field.

Insects commonly harbor maternally inherited intracellular symbionts in nature, and the microbial partners often exert influence on host reproduction and fitness to promote their prevalence. Here, we investigated composition of symbionts and their biological effects in the invasive Bemisia tabaci MED species of a whitefly complex. Our field surveys revealed that populations of the MED whitefly, in addition to the primary symbiont Portiera, mainly contain two secondary symbionts Hamiltonella, which is nearly fixed in the host populations, and Cardinium with infection frequencies ranging from 0 to 86%. We isolated and established Cardinium-positive and Cardinium-free whitefly lines with a similar nuclear genetic background from a field population, and compared performance of the two whitefly lines. The infection of Cardinium incurred significant fitness costs on the MED whitefly, including reduction of fecundity and egg viability as well as delay in development. We then selectively removed Hamiltonella from the Cardinium-free whitefly line and compared performance of two whitefly lines, one harboring both Portiera and Hamiltonella and the other harboring only Portiera. While depletion of Hamiltonella had little or only marginal effects on the fecundity, developmental rate, and offspring survival, the Hamiltonella-free whitefly line produced very few female offspring, often reducing the progeny female ratio from about 50% to less than 1%. Our findings indicate that the varying costs and benefits of the association between these two symbionts and the MED whitefly may play an important role in shaping their differential prevalence in the field.

The Gut Microbiota of the Insect Infraorder Pentatomomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) for the Light of Ecology and Evolution.

The stinkbugs of the infraorder Pentatomomorpha are a group of important plant sap-feeding insects, which host diverse microorganisms. Some are located in their complex morphological midgut compartments, while some within the specialized bacteriomes of insect hosts. This perpetuation of symbioses through host generations is reinforced via the diverse routes of vertical transmission or environmental acquisition of the symbionts. These symbiotic partners, reside either through the extracellular associations in midgut or intracellular associations in specialized cells, not only have contributed nutritional benefits to the insect hosts but also shaped their ecological and evolutionary basis. The stinkbugs and gut microbe symbioses present a valuable model that provides insights into symbiotic interactions between agricultural insects and microorganisms and may become potential agents for insect pest management.

The value of dynamic monitoring of procalcitonin in the early identification of pathogens and prognosis of bloodstream infections in the ICU.

BACKGROUND: To explore the value of dynamic monitoring of procalcitonin (PCT) for early identification of pathogens and prognosis of bloodstream infections (BSI) in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 84 patients with positive blood cultures. Patients were divided into the survival group and death group according to prognosis. Dynamic changes of PCT before and after treatment in the two groups were compared, as well as the relationship between such changes and prognosis. RESULTS: Among the 84 patients with bloodstream infections, 41 cases of Gram-negative (G-) bacteria, 40 cases of Gram-positive (G+) bacteria, and 3 cases of fungi were detected. PCT value in the G- bacteria group was significantly higher than that in the G+ bacteria group and fungus group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). PCT values on the first day of the G- bacteria group and the non-G- bacteria group were analyzed by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. When the threshold value was 3.84 ng/mL, the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve for predicting G- bacteria bloodstream infection were 61%, 92.5%, and 0.841, respectively. The Kruskal-Wallis test (K-W test) was performed on PCT levels of each G- bacteria on the first day of bloodstream infection, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Logistic binary regression analysis showed that the reduction rate of PCT after 5 days of treatment was an independent protective factor for patient survival. ROC curves showed that the sensitivity and specificity for predicting patient survival were 88% and 68.7%, respectively, when the PCT reduction rate (PCT(D1-D5)/D1) reached 36.02% or more. CONCLUSIONS: PCT can be used as an adjunctive method to quickly diagnose pathogenic microorganisms of bloodstream infections, and the anti-infection treatment scheme has certain guiding value. The dynamic changes in PCT have a certain role in predicting the therapeutic effect and prognosis of anti-infection treatment.

New insights into the transovarial transmission of the symbiont Rickettsia in whiteflies.

Endosymbiont transmission via eggs to future host generations has been recognized as the main strategy for its persistence in insect hosts; however, the mechanisms for transmission have yet to be elucidated. Here, we describe the dynamic locations of Rickettsia in the ovarioles and eggs during oogenesis and embryogenesis in a globally significant pest whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Field populations of the whitefly have a high prevalence of Rickettsia, and in all Rickettsia-infected individuals, the bacterium distributes in the body cavity of the host, especially in the midgut, fat body, hemocytes, hemolymph, and near bacteriocytes. The distribution of Rickettsia was subjected to dynamic changes in the ovary during oogenesis, and our ultrastructural observations indicated that the bacteria infect host ovarioles during early developmental stages via two routes: (i) invasion of the tropharium by endocytosis and then transmission into vitellarium via nutritive cord and (ii) entry into vitellarium by hijacking bacteriocyte translocation. Most of the Rickettsia are degraded in the oocyte cytoplasm in late-stage oogenesis. However, a few reside beneath the vitelline envelope of mature eggs, spread into the embryo, and proliferate during embryogenesis to sustain high-fidelity transmission to the next generation. Our findings provide novel insights into the maternal transmission underpinning the persistence and spread of insect symbionts.

[Analysis of the changes of inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with critical coronavirus disease 2019 undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the changes of inflammatory cytokine levels and prognosis of patients with critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. The clinical date of critical COVID-19 patients undergoing IMV who were hospitalized in Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from February 4th to March 25th in 2020 were collected. At the same time, the inflammatory cytokine levels including interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) at 48 hours before IMV and 48 hours after IMV of all the patients, as well as the 48 hours after weaning or right before death were recorded. Multivariate unconditional Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the independent risk factors of death during hospitalization. RESULTS: Among the 43 patients, 13 patients improved and 30 died. Compared with the survival group, the patients in the non-survival group were older (years old: 67.6±7.3 vs. 58.5±11.9, P < 0.05), with higher rates of hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease (53.3% vs. 15.4%, 63.3% vs. 23.1%, 26.7% vs. 0%, all P < 0.05), and the time from onset to admission to hospital, admission to ICU and IMV were longer (days: it was 9.17±5.00 vs. 5.07±2.49, 17.10±7.11 vs. 12.23±5.05, and 17.90±7.46 vs. 12.61±5.60, respectively, all P < 0.05). The IL-6 and TNF-α levels on 48 hours after IMV in the non-survival patients increased significantly as compared with those before 48 hours and the surviving patients. Especially, the IL-6 levels increased significantly as compared with those at 48 hours after IMV and 48 hours after weaning in the surviving patients [ng/L: 800.00 (194.25, 2 000.00) vs. 22.03 (6.66, 28.21), 3 204.00 (1 264.88, 5 000.00) vs. 5.00 (3.98, 12.27), both P < 0.01]. The IL-10 level before death in the non-survival patients increased significantly as compared with that at 48 hours after weaning in the surviving patients [ng/L: 55.89 (26.07, 100.14) vs. 3.53 (2.76, 12.36), P < 0.05]. There were no significant differences in the levels of IL-2 and IL-4 between the two groups at every time point. The variables of age, basic diseases, the IL-6 level after IMV were included in the multivariate unconditional Logistic regression analysis, which showed that age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.821, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.695-0.968], hypertension (OR = 0.027, 95%CI was 0.002-0.378), diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.054, 95%CI was 0.005-0.611), coronary heart disease (OR = 0.042, 95%CI was 0.002-0.968) and the IL-6 level after IMV (OR = 0.902, 95%CI was 0.819-0.994) were independent risk factors for death during hospitalization in patients with critical COVID-19 undergoing IMV (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of inflammatory cytokine including IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α increased significantly with aggravation in critical COVID-19 patients undergoing IMV, especially IL-6. IL-6 was an independent risk factor for death of critical COVID-19 patients undergoing IMV.

The analysis of differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules based on ultrasound reports.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer is a common endocrine tumor, the incidence of which is increasing each year. Early diagnosis and treatment can effectively prevent thyroid cancer. This article uses Chinese's ultrasound reports to determine the value of early diagnosis. METHODS: The clinical data center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University was screened for patients diagnosed with a thyroid nodule, who had undergone a thyroid function test, ultrasound records and pathological assessment. A total of 811 patients with a total of 1,290 pathologically confirmed nodules (506 benign and 784 malignant) were enrolled. Logistic regression was used to analyze the variables that significantly affected malignant nodules. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound thyroid imaging-reporting and data system (TI-RADS) classification results for benign and malignant tumors were calculated. RESULTS: The age of the patients had a very significant difference in the classification of benign and malignant nodules (P<0.001), and the marital status was significantly different (P<0.05). Gender and medical insurance had no significant effect (P>0.05). Thyroglobulin (TG), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3) had significant effects (P=0.003) on the incidence of malignant nodules in patients, while thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) had no significant effect (P>0.05). Ultrasound analysis showed a Youden's index of 78.97%, a positive predictive value of 93.20%, and a negative predicted value of 84.10% at the most excellent classification effect. The sensitivity was 89.0%, the specificity was 89.9%; much greater than the classification model based on the thyroid function test (sensitivity =80.6%, specificity =55.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study verifies the effectiveness of using TI-RADS classification for diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and explores the use of new analysis methods for clinical data. To reduce dependence on the doctors, ultrasound image data and clinical phenotypic data can be further used to assist clinical decision making.

A newly recorded Rickettsia of the Torix group is a recent intruder and an endosymbiont in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.

The bacterium Rickettsia is found widely in phytophagous insects and often exerts profound effects on the phenotype and fitness of its hosts. Here, we decrypt a new, independent, phylogenetically ancient Torix Rickettsia endosymbiont found constantly in a laboratory line of an economically important insect Asia II 7, a putative species of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly complex (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and occasionally in field whitefly populations. This new Rickettsia distributes throughout the body of its whitefly host. Genetically, compared to Rickettsia_bellii_MEAM1 found earlier in whiteflies, the new Rickettsia species has more gene families and pathways, which may be important factors in shaping specific symbiotic relationships. We propose the name 'Candidatus Rickettsia_Torix_Bemisia_tabaci (RiTBt)' for this new endosymbiont associated with whiteflies. Comparative genomic analyses indicate that RiTBi may be a relatively recent intruder in whiteflies given its low abundance in the field and relatively larger genome compared to Rickettsia_bellii_MEAM1.

The inherited bacterial symbiont Hamiltonella influences the sex ratio of an insect host.

In many intracellular symbioses, the microbial symbionts provide nutrients advantageous to the host. However, the function of Hamiltonella defensa, a symbiotic bacterium localized in specialized host cells (bacteriocytes) of a whitefly Bemisia tabaci, is uncertain. We eliminate this bacterium from its whitefly host by two alternative methods: heat treatment and antibiotics. The sex ratio of the host progeny and subsequent generations of Hamiltonella-free females was skewed from 1 : 1 (male : female) to an excess of males, often exceeding a ratio of 20 : 1. B. tabaci is haplodiploid, with diploid females derived from fertilized eggs and haploid males from unfertilized eggs. The Hamiltonella status of the insect did not affect copulation frequency or sperm reserve in the spermathecae, indicating that the male-biased sex ratio is unlikely due to the limitation of sperm but likely to be associated with events subsequent to sperm transfer to the female insects, such as failure in fertilization. The host reproductive response to Hamiltonella elimination is consistent with two alternative processes: adaptive shift in sex allocation by females and a constitutive compensatory response of the insect to Hamiltonella-mediated manipulation. Our findings suggest that a bacteriocyte symbiont influences the reproductive output of female progeny in a haplodiploid insect.

Comparative study of the key enzymes and biochemical substances involved in the energy metabolism of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, with different ammonia-N tolerances.

Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (9.38 ±â€¯0.17 cm, 10.08 ±â€¯0.35 g), with different ammonia-N tolerances were exposed to NH3 (1.61 mg/L) for 192 h, and the levels of key enzymes and biochemical substances involved in energy metabolism were compared to assess the role of the regulation of energy metabolism on the shrimp's adaptation to ammonia-N stress. Higher ammonia-N tolerance in the shrimp (Tolerance group) was achieved through nutritional fortification, whereas shrimp that were not nutritionally fortified comprised the Control group. The mortality rates in the Control and Tolerance groups at the end of the period of ammonia-N stress exposure were 64.44% and 40.00%, respectively. Within 1 h of exposure to ammonia-N stress, the glucose concentration in both groups declined rapidly, and no significant difference was detected between the two groups. In general, the triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in the Control group were higher than those in the Tolerance group, and accumulations and/or fluctuations in these metabolites to varying degrees were observed. The Tolerance group presented higher phosphofructokinase (PFK) and pyruvate kinase (PK) activity compared with the Control group from 1 to 48 h of exposure to ammonia-N stress, whereas the opposite result was observed from 96 to 192 h. Similarly, during exposure to ammonia-N stress, the Tolerance group showed higher and lower lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity than the Control group from 1 to 24 h and from 48 to 92 h, respectively. In addition, compared with the Control group, the shrimp in the Tolerance group exhibited higher succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, especially from 48 to 192 h of exposure to ammonia-N stress. The results of this study suggest that anaerobic carbohydrate (in the early stage) and aerobic metabolism (in the late stage) plays an important role in the shrimp's response to ammonia-N stress. In addition, maintenance of the normal operation of lipid metabolism is equally important for improving the tolerance of L. vannamei to ammonia-N stress.