Ant-eating spiders from Xizang, China (Araneae, Zodariidae).

Six species of the ant-eating spider of the family Zodariidae are described from Xizang, China, including five new species: Asceuachayusp. nov. (♀), A.dawaisp. nov. (♂♀), Mallinellamigusp. nov. (♂), M.mеdogsp. nov. (♂♀), and M.yadongsp. nov. (♂♀). The female of Cydrelalinzhiensis (Hu, 2001) is described here for the first time. Descriptions and photographs of all the species are provided.

A new species and a new provincial record of the genus Acidota Stephens from China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Omaliinae).

New taxonomic and faunistic data for two species of the genus Acidota Stephens, 1829 from China are provided. A new species from Xizang (Linzhi) is described and illustrated: A.dawai Peng & Chen, sp. nov. Additional data (including photographs of the habitus and the type labels) on the type specimens of taxa described from Japan (A.crenatajaponica Watanabe, 1990) and Taiwan (A.montana Smetana, 1993 and A.nivicola Smetana, 1993) are given. A key to Chinese species of Acidota is given. Acidotacrenata (Fabricius, 1792) is recorded from Heilongjiang for the first time.

Intrinsic Strain-Mediated Ultrathin Ceria Nanoantioxidant.

Metal oxide nanozymes have emerged as the most efficient and promising candidates to mimic antioxidant enzymes for treatment of oxidative stress-mediated pathophysiological disorders, but the current effectiveness is unsatisfactory due to insufficient catalytic performance. Here, we report for the first time an intrinsic strain-mediated ultrathin ceria nanoantioxidant. Surface strain in ceria with variable thicknesses and coordinatively unsaturated Ce sites was investigated by theoretical calculation analysis and then was validated by preparing ∼1.2 nm ultrathin nanoplates with ∼3.0% tensile strain in plane/∼10.0% tensile strain out of plane. Compared with nanocubes, surface strain in ultrathin nanoplates could enhance the covalency of the Ce-O bond, leading to increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic activity by ∼2.6-fold (1533 U/mg, in close proximity to that of natural SOD) and total antioxidant activity by ∼2.5-fold. As a proof of concept, intrinsic strain-mediated ultrathin ceria nanoplates could boost antioxidation for improved ischemic stroke treatment in vivo, significantly better than edaravone, a commonly used clinical drug.

Probing Two Driven Double Quantum Dots Strongly Coupled to a Cavity.

We experimentally and theoretically study a driven hybrid circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) system beyond the dispersive coupling regime. Treating the cavity as part of the driven system, we develop a theory applicable to such strongly coupled and to multiqubit systems. The fringes measured for a single driven double quantum dot (DQD)-cavity setting and the enlarged splittings of the hybrid Floquet states in the presence of a second DQD are well reproduced with our model. This opens a path to study Floquet states of multiqubit systems with arbitrarily strong coupling and reveals a new perspective for understanding strongly driven hybrid systems.

Collective Microwave Response for Multiple Gate-Defined Double Quantum Dots.

We fabricate and characterize a hybrid quantum device that consists of five gate-defined double quantum dots (DQDs) and a high-impedance NbTiN transmission resonator. The controllable interactions between DQDs and the resonator are spectroscopically explored by measuring the microwave transmission through the resonator in the detuning parameter space. Utilizing the high tunability of the system parameters and the high cooperativity (Ctotal > 17.6) interaction between the qubit ensemble and the resonator, we tune the charge-photon coupling and observe the collective microwave response changing from linear to nonlinear. Our results present the maximum number of DQDs coupled to a resonator and manifest a potential platform for scaling up qubits and studying collective quantum effects in semiconductor-superconductor hybrid cavity quantum electrodynamics systems.

Baseline white matter function predicts short-term treatment response in first-episode schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The detection and characterization of functional activities in the gray matter of schizophrenia (SZ) have been widely explored. However, the relationship between resting-state functional signals in the white matter of first-episode SZ and short-term treatment response remains unclear. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with first-episode SZ and 44 matched healthy controls were recruited in this study. Patients were classified as nonresponders and responders based on response to antipsychotic medication during a single hospitalization. The fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity (FC) of white matter were calculated. The relationships between functional changes and clinical features were analyzed. In addition, voxel-based morphometry was performed to analyze the white matter volume. RESULTS: One-way analysis of variance showed significant differences of fALFF and ReHo in the left posterior thalamic radiation and left cingulum (hippocampus) in the patient group, and the areas were regarded as seeds. The FC was calculated between seeds and other white matter networks. Compared with responders, nonresponders showed significantly increased FC between the left cingulum (hippocampus) and left posterior thalamic radiation, splenium of corpus callosum, and left tapetum, and were associated with the changes of clinical assessment. However, there was no difference in white matter volume between groups. CONCLUSION: Our work provides a novel insight that psycho-neuroimaging-based white matter function holds promise for influencing the clinical diagnosis and treatment of SZ.

Cu-In-S/ZnS:Gd3+ quantum dots with isolated fluorescent and paramagnetic modules for dual-modality imaging in vivo.

Gd3+-doped quantum dots (QDs) have been widely used as small-sized bifunctional contrast agents for fluorescence/magnetic resonance (FL/MR) dual-modality imaging. However, Gd3+ doping will always compromise the FL of host QDs. Therefore, balancing the Gd3+ doping and the optical properties of QDs is crucial for constructing high-performance bifunctional nanoprobes. Additionally, most paramagnetic QDs are synthesized in the organic phase and need to be transferred to the aqueous phase for bioimaging. Herein, ingeniously designed shell-doped Cu-In-S/ZnS:Gd3+ QDs have been prepared in the aqueous phase. It has been demonstrated that isolating paramagnetic Gd3+ from fluorescent Cu-In-S core via doping Gd3+ into ZnS shell not only avoided the decrease of FL quantum yield (QY), but also ensured the water accessibility of paramagnetic Gd3+ ions, by which the FL QY and r1 relaxivity of Cu-In-S/ZnS:Gd3+ QDs achieved as much as 15.6% and 15.33 mM-1·s-1, respectively. These high-performance QDs with excellent stability, low biotoxicity, and good tumor permeability were successfully applied for in vivo tumor FL/MR dual-modality imaging, and have shown significant potential in the precision detection and diagnosis of diseases.

[Accumulation Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil-Crop System Based on Soil Parent Material Zoning].

This study used both the element occurrence form analysis and the chronic health risk assessment method to investigate the accumulation characteristics of heavy metals in the soil-crop system and the health risk assessment of agricultural products in northeastern Yunnan, which is a typical area of Southwest China where heavy metals are enriched in soil. Based on the study of 1137 groups of agricultural products and corresponding root soils, the results showed that the soil cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the lead-zinc ore concentration area were higher than the risk-intervention values of the "Soil Environmental Quality Risk control standard for soil contamination of agricultural land" (GB 15618-2018), whereas the soil Cd in the other parent material areas was within the screening-intervention buffer zone, and Pb was below the minimum risk-screening value. According to the National Food Safety Standard of China (GB 2762-2017), the heavy metal Cd in potatoes and soybeans in the area seriously exceeded the standard, the heavy metal Pb in tartary buckwheat and walnut exceeded the limit value, and the exceeding rate of heavy metal Cd in crops from these parent material areas showed: clastic rock>basalt>lead-zinc ore>carbonate ≈ Quaternary sedimentary>sand (mud) rock. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's assessment method for the chronic health risk of heavy metal intake by humans, the grains and potatoes, staple foods, and fruits had low chronic health risks of heavy metal intake. Agricultural products from the parent material area of clastic rock, sand (mud) rock, Quaternary sedimentary, and lead-zinc ore concentration showed health risks; with the change in soil physical and chemical properties and the increase in the types of edible crops, the risk will gradually increase. Based on this research, it is urgent to carry out real-time monitoring of agricultural products in the area.

Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Agalope Walker from mainland China, with descriptions of four new species (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae, Chalcosiinae).

New information of the genus Agalope Walker, 1854 from mainland China is presented. Three new species of the Agalope pica species-group are described: A. haoi S.-Y. Huang sp. n. from Weixi County, Yunnan, A. chayuensis S.-Y. Huang Pan sp. n. from Chayu County, Southeastern Xizang and A. owadai S.-Y. Huang sp. n. from Bomi and Jiali Counties, Southeastern and Eastern Xizang. The little-known Agalope aurelia Oberthr, 1923 and A. lucia Oberthr, 1923 were rediscovered, with the male of the latter reported for the first time. Based on the newly discovered male, Agalope lucia is found to be a close relative of A. dejeani, hence it is excluded from the A. pica species-group and transferred to the A. bieti species-group. A new species of the Agalope hyalina species-group is also described: A. jianqingi S.-Y. Huang sp. n. from Pianma, Western Yunnan. Adults and genitalia of the aforementioned and related taxa are illustrated. An updated checklist of the genus is also provided.

Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Barsine Walker, 1854 from Xizang, China with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini).

New information of the genus Barsine Walker, 1854 from Xizang Autonomous Prefecture, China is provided. A new species related to Barsine defecta Walker, 1854, B. gratissima (de Joannis, 1930), B. germana (Rothschild, 1913) and B. kirata Volynkin N. Singh, 2020 is described from Chayu County of Southeastern Xizang: Barsine mahakala S.-Y. Huang Volynkin sp. n. Barsine germana (Rothschild, 1913) and B. atypicobarsine N. Singh, Kirti Joshi, 2016 are newly recorded from China, with the female of the latter described and illustrated for the first time. Adults and genitalia of the aforementioned taxa are illustrated.

Processuridia, a new genus for two new species from China and Indochina (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini).

A new Nudariina genus, Processuridia S.-Y. Huang Volynkin gen. n. is erected for two new species described herein: Processuridia thangka S.-Y. Huang Volynkin sp. n. from southeastern Xizang, southwestern China and P. oreas Volynkin S.-Y. Huang sp. n. from southeastern Yunnan, southwestern China and Mt. Fansipan, northern Vietnam, with P. thangka sp. n. as the type species of the genus. Based on molecular phylogenetic analysis, the new genus is found to be sister to the clade (Asuridia Hampson + Disasuridia Fang), but it can be easily distinguished from both genera by the unique wing pattern and genitalia features. Adults and genitalia of the aforementioned taxa are illustrated.

Differentiation of Neoplastic and Non-neoplastic Intracranial Enhancement Lesions Using Three-Dimensional Pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling.

Background and Purpose: It is sometimes difficult to effectively distinguish non-neoplastic from neoplastic intracranial enhancement lesions using conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of three-dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (3D-pCASL) to differentiate non-neoplastic from neoplastic enhancement lesions intracranially. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included thirty-five patients with high-grade gliomas (HGG), twelve patients with brain metastasis, and fifteen non-neoplastic patients who underwent conventional, contrast enhancement and 3D-pCASL imaging at 3.0-T MR; all lesions were significantly enhanced. Quantitative parameters including cerebral blood flow (CBF) and relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were compared between neoplastic and non-neoplastic using Student's t-test. In addition, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was measured to assess the differentiation diagnostic performance of each parameter. Results: The non-neoplastic group demonstrated significantly lower rCBF values of lesions and perilesional edema compared with the neoplastic group. For the ROC analysis, both relative cerebral blood flow of lesion (rCBF-L) and relative cerebral blood flow of perilesional edema (rCBF-PE) had good diagnostic performance for discriminating non-neoplastic from neoplastic lesions, with an AUC of 0.994 and 0.846, respectively. Conclusion: 3D-pCASL may contribute to differentiation of non-neoplastic from neoplastic lesions.

Thalamus Radiomics-Based Disease Identification and Prediction of Early Treatment Response for Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests structural and functional disruptions of the thalamus in schizophrenia, but whether thalamus abnormalities are able to be used for disease identification and prediction of early treatment response in schizophrenia remains to be determined. This study aims at developing and validating a method of disease identification and prediction of treatment response by multi-dimensional thalamic features derived from magnetic resonance imaging in schizophrenia patients using radiomics approaches. METHODS: A total of 390 subjects, including patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls, participated in this study, among which 109 out of 191 patients had clinical characteristics of early outcome (61 responders and 48 non-responders). Thalamus-based radiomics features were extracted and selected. The diagnostic and predictive capacity of multi-dimensional thalamic features was evaluated using radiomics approach. RESULTS: Using radiomics features, the classifier accurately discriminated patients from healthy controls, with an accuracy of 68%. The features were further confirmed in prediction and random forest of treatment response, with an accuracy of 75%. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates a radiomics approach by multiple thalamic features to identify schizophrenia and predict early treatment response. Thalamus-based classification could be promising to apply in schizophrenia definition and treatment selection.

Dissimilarity in sensory attributes, shelf life and spoilage bacterial and fungal microbiota of industrial-scale wet starch noodles induced by different preservatives and temperature.

Shelf life, storage stability and microbial growth of wet starch noodles during storage were investigated, and spoilage microbiota was also analyzed to further reveal the decisive factor shaping the microbial community. Sensory analysis and microbiological results indicated that starch noodles treated with sodium dehydroacetate and stored at 4 °C could effectively delay the moldy decay and extend the shelf-life to 50 days, as compared to control and other treatments. In wet starch noodles, molds were found to have a higher spoilage potential than bacteria and yeasts. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that preservatives, rather than temperature, could cause the significant difference (PERMANOVA p = 0.001) of spoilage bacterial community among samples and sodium dehydroacetate could markedly reduce the bacterial diversity. ITS rDNA sequencing results demonstrated that temperature was the decisive factor in shaping fungal spoilage microbiota (Mantel test r = 0.413, p = 0.002). Besides, Spearman correlation analysis illustrated that the abundance of some microorganisms such as Pseudomonas, Aspergillus and Penicillium were found to be significantly correlated with pH or temperature. These findings provide guiding information in the selection of preservatives and environmental condition for this high-moisture starch noodles.

Neuroimaging-based brain-age prediction of first-episode schizophrenia and the alteration of brain age after early medication.

BACKGROUND: Neuroimaging- and machine-learning-based brain-age prediction of schizophrenia is well established. However, the diagnostic significance and the effect of early medication on first-episode schizophrenia remains unclear. AIMS: To explore whether predicted brain age can be used as a biomarker for schizophrenia diagnosis, and the relationship between clinical characteristics and brain-predicted age difference (PAD), and the effects of early medication on predicted brain age. METHOD: The predicted model was built on 523 diffusion tensor imaging magnetic resonance imaging scans from healthy controls. First, the brain-PAD of 60 patients with first-episode schizophrenia, 60 healthy controls and 21 follow-up patients from the principal data-set and 40 pairs of individuals in the replication data-set were calculated. Next, the brain-PAD between groups were compared and the correlations between brain-PAD and clinical measurements were analysed. RESULTS: The patients showed a significant increase in brain-PAD compared with healthy controls. After early medication, the brain-PAD of patients decreased significantly compared with baseline (P < 0.001). The fractional anisotropy value of 31/33 white matter tract features, which related to the brain-PAD scores, had significantly statistical differences before and after measurements (P < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). Correlation analysis showed that the age gap was negatively associated with the positive score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale in the principal data-set (r = -0.326, P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The brain age of patients with first-episode schizophrenia may be older than their chronological age. Early medication holds promise for improving the patient's brain ageing. Neuroimaging-based brain-age prediction can provide novel insights into the understanding of schizophrenia.

LncRNA LINC00210 regulated radiosensitivity of osteosarcoma cells via miR-342-3p/GFRA1 axis.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy is an effective strategy for preventing cancer metastasis, including osteosarcoma. However, cancer radioresistance limits the efficiency of radiotherapy. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the mechanism of osteosarcoma radioresistance. METHODS: The osteosarcoma tissues and adjacent healthy tissues were collected from 53 osteosarcoma patients. The expression of LINC00210, miR-342-3p, and GFRA1 mRNA were determined using qRT-PCR. Cell viability, cell apoptosis, and cell surviving fraction were determined by MTT assay, flow cytometry, and colony formation assay, respectively. Western blot was performed to detect the protein levels. Luciferase assay was conducted to verify the relationship between LINC00210, miR-342-3p, and GFRA1. RESULTS: LINC00210 and GFRA1 were up-regulated, and miR-342-3p was down-regulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cells. The expression of LINC00210 in osteosarcoma was negatively related to miR-342-3p expression and positively associated with GFRA1. Besides, there was a negative correlation between LINC00210 and GFRA1 expression in osteosarcoma. Also, LINC00210 and GFRA1 were up-regulated, and miR-342-3p was down-regulated in osteosarcoma cells exposed to 4 Gy irradiation treatment. Furthermore, either LINC00210 knockdown or miR-342-3p overexpression enhanced the radiosensitivity of osteosarcoma cells. Moreover, LINC00210 increased GFRA1 expression via sponging miR-342-3p. Additionally, LINC00210 knockdown improved the radiosensitivity of osteosarcoma cells by regulating GFRA1 expression via sponging miR-342-3p. CONCLUSION: LINC00210 modulated the radiosensitivity of osteosarcoma cells via the miR-342-3p/GFRA1 axis, making LINC00210 a novel target for improving radiotherapy efficiency in osteosarcoma.

Carrier-Free Immobilization of Rutin Degrading Enzyme Extracted From Fusarium spp.

In this study, a strain with rutin degrading enzyme (RDE) activity was screened from moldy tartary buckwheat and subsequently identified as Fusarium spp. The structure and enzyme characteristics of CLEA-RDE formed by immobilization via cross-linking were then investigated. Further, the optimal catalysis conditions of CLEA-RDE in natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) serving as hydrolysis solvents were also investigated. The results of SEM and spectrum indicated that CLEA-RDE became more stable than free-RDE due to the cross-linking. Interestingly, CLEA-RDE showed a wider range of pH adaptation and higher tolerance to low temperatures (20 - 30°C) and hydrophobic environments. The results of orthogonal experiments revealed that the optimal condition for rutin hydrolysis was under pH 5.0 and 40oC with the degradation rate of 10.65 mg min-1 L-1. The preparation of CLEA-RDE without a carrier-based immobilization method reduces the loss of enzyme activity, improves the stability of the enzyme and can be applied to the investigation of immobilization of various enzymes, thus providing a referred idea for the improvement of catalysts in industrial production.

LncRNA TDRG1 Promotes Proliferation, Invasion and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transformation of Osteosarcoma Through PI3K/AKT Signal Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of long non-coding TDRG1 on proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Altogether 87 cases of osteosarcoma tissues and adjacent tissues were collected, and osteosarcoma cells and osteoblasts were purchased. The expression of LncRNA TDRG1 in tissues and cells was detected by RT-PCR. Si-NC, si-TDRG1, and Sh-TDRG1 were transfected into osteosarcoma cells. L740Y-P (activator of PI3K/AKT pathway) and LY294002 (inhibitor of PI3k/AKT pathway) were used to interfere with PI3k/Akt signaling pathway in osteosarcoma cells. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of TDRG1 in osteosarcoma tissues and cells. WB was used to detect the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, N-cadherin, E-Cadherin, vimentin, Bax, Caspase-3, and Bcl-2 in cells. CCK-8, Transwell and cell scratch tests were used to detect cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. RESULTS: TDRG1 was highly expressed in osteosarcoma, and the levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT were also up-regulated. Cell experiments showed that inhibiting the expression of TDRG1 could inhibit the proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT of osteosarcoma cells, promote the apoptosis of cells, and up-regulating the expression of TDRG1 could promote the proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT of osteosarcoma cells and inhibit the apoptosis of cells. The 740Y-P intervention could reverse the inhibition of Si-TDRG1 on osteosarcoma cell proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT and the promotion of cell apoptosis. LY294002 intervention could reverse the promotion of Sh-TDRG1 on osteosarcoma cell proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT and the inhibition of cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: TDRG1 is highly expressed in osteosarcoma tissue. Silencing the expression of osteosarcoma can inhibit the proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT of osteosarcoma cells by inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which may be a new target for diagnosis and treatment of osteosarcoma.

Primary mediastinal ependymoma: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Ependymomas are neuroepithelial tumors that typically occur in the central nervous system. Ependymomas arising in the mediastinum are exceedingly rare, with only approximately 9 isolated cases reported in the literature to date. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 35-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with complaints of progressive back pain for 3 months. Physical examination revealed decreased breathing sounds and tenderness. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a soft tissue mass with heterogeneous enhancement in the right posterior mediastinum. DIAGNOSES: The diagnosis of primary mediastinal ependymomas (PMEs) was confirmed by postoperative histopathologic examination. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: The patient underwent surgical resection of the tumor and experienced local recurrence with neck metastasis 2 years postoperatively. She underwent reoperation for the recurrent tumors and received postoperative radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Two years later, the patient is doing well, with no evidence of tumor progression or recurrence. LESSONS: Since PMEs are exceedingly rare, treatment options are limited. Surgical resection seems to be the mainstay of treatment. Further evidence-based studies are required to prove the benefit of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of PMEs.

Studies on the local structures for the trigonal Ni3+ centers in cathode materials LiAly Co1-y O2 (y = 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 0.8).

The local angular distortions Δθ are theoretically studied for the various Ni3+ centers in LiAly Co1-y O2 at different Al concentrations (y = 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 0.8) based on the perturbation calculations of electron paramagnetic resonance g factors for a trigonally distorted octahedral 3d7 cluster with low spin (S = 1/2). Due to the Jahn-Teller effect, the [NiO6 ]9- clusters are found to experience the local angular distortions (Δθ ≈ 5°-9°) along the C3 axis. The variation trend of Δθ with y is in accordance with that of anisotropy (Δg = g||  - g⊥ ). As the substitutions can weaken bond strengths between transition metal and oxygen and the structural stability plays an important role in cathode performances, detailed investigations on the structural properties of the cathode materials LiAly Co1-y O2 can be practically helpful to understand the performances of these materials. The oxy-redox properties of LiAly Co1-y O2 systems are comprehensible in the framework of Ni3+ /Ni4+ couples, and the trigonally compressed octahedral [NiO6 ]9- clusters are applicable to the clarification of the electrochemical properties of lithium nickel oxide batteries. It appears that LiAl0.8 Co0.2 O2 with the largest Al concentration may correspond to the smallest distortion among the mixing systems.