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An accurate assessment of species diversity is a cornerstone of biology and conservation. The lynx spiders (Araneae: Oxyopidae) represent one of the most diverse and widespread cursorial spider groups, however their species richness in Asia is highly underestimated. In this study, we revised species diversity with extensive taxon sampling in Taiwan and explored species boundaries based on morphological traits and genetic data using a two-step approach of molecular species delimitation. Firstly, we employed a single COI dataset and applied two genetic distance-based methods: ABGD and ASAP, and two topology-based methods: GMYC and bPTP. Secondly, we further analyzed the lineages that were not consistently delimited, and incorporated H3 to the dataset for a coalescent-based analysis using BPP. A total of eight morphological species were recognized, including five new species, Hamataliwa cordivulva sp. nov., Hamat. leporauris sp. nov., Tapponia auriola sp. nov., T. parva sp. nov. and T. rarobulbus sp. nov., and three newly recorded species, Hamadruas hieroglyphica (Thorell, 1887), Hamat. foveata Tang & Li, 2012 and Peucetia latikae Tikader, 1970. All eight morphological species exhibited reciprocally monophyletic lineages. The results of molecular-based delimitation analyses suggested a variety of species hypotheses that did not fully correspond to the eight morphological species. We found that Hamat. cordivulva sp. nov. and Hamat. foveata showed shallow genetic differentiation in the COI, but they were unequivocally distinguishable according to their genitalia. In contrast, T. parva sp. nov. represented a deep divergent lineage, while differences of genitalia were not detected. This study highlights the need to comprehensively employ multiple evidence and methods to delineate species boundaries and the values of diagnostic morphological characters for taxonomic studies in lynx spiders., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Lo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Because of the lack of contact and spacer doping techniques for two-dimensional (2D) transistors, most high-performance 2D devices have been produced with nontypical structures that contain electrical gating in the contact regions. In the present study, we used chloroauric acid (HAuCl 4 ) as a strong p -dopant for WSe 2 monolayers used in transistors. The HAuCl 4 -doped devices exhibited a record-low contact resistance of 0.7 kΩ·μm under a doping concentration of 1.76 × 10 13 cm -2 . In addition, an extrinsic carrier diffusion phenomenon was discovered in the HAuCl 4 -WSe 2 system. With a suitably designed spacer length for doping, a normally off, high-performance underlap top-gate device can be produced without the application of additional gating in the contact and spacer regions.

Objective: Traditional Chinese medicine Polygonum cuspidatum (PC) has significant effects on reducing pain. In this study, we investigated the analgesic effects of the alcohol extract of PC on three types of inflammatory pain and explored its mechanism., Methods: Potential targets for the analgesic effects of the main active components of PC alcohol extract were screened by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Three different inflammatory pain mouse models (acetic acid twisting, formalin foot swelling, and xylene ear swelling) were used to study the analgesic effects of PC. The expression of latent signaling pathways in L 4-6 spinal cord tissues in formalin foot swelling mice was evaluated using real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR), Western blot (WB), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses., Results: Network pharmacology analysis shows that PC analgesic mechanism is related to the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. The five main active components of PC have good docking ability with JNK and p38. PC alcohol extract significantly reduced the pain behavior and alleviated inflammatory reactions in three mouse models, inhibited the mRNA and protein phosphorylation levels of JNK, ERK, p38, and CREB in spinal cord tissues., Conclusion: PC alcohol extract can inhibit inflammation and alleviate pain, which is related to its inhibition of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in spinal cord. Thus, PC alcohol extract is a promising candidate for pain treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing of interest., (© 2023 Lan et al.)

Hogna Simon, 1885 is one of the most diverse genera of wolf spiders, with species that are almost exclusively ground-dwellers. A recent discovery of a tree-hole-living species in Taiwan was therefore surprising. Here, we describe Hogna arborea sp. nov. using a combination of morphological and molecular taxonomic evidence. We also discuss the arboreal lifestyle of this new species and emphasize the need for more detailed ecological research to assess its conservation status.

Higher-level classifications often must account for monotypic taxa representing depauperate evolutionary lineages and lacking synapomorphies of their better-known, well-defined sister clades. In a ranked (Linnean) or unranked (phylogenetic) classification system, discovering such a depauperate taxon does not necessarily invalidate the rank classification of sister clades. Named higher taxa must be monophyletic to be phylogenetically valid. Ranked taxa above the species level should also maximize information content, diagnosability, and utility (e.g., in biodiversity conservation). In spider classification, families are the highest rank that is systematically catalogued, and incertae sedis is not allowed. Consequently, it is important that family-level taxa be well defined and informative. We revisit the classification problem of Orbipurae, an unranked suprafamilial clade containing the spider families Nephilidae, Phonognathidae, and Araneidae sensu stricto. We argue that, to maximize diagnosability, information content, conservation utility, and practical taxonomic considerations, this "splitting" scheme is superior to its recently proposed alternative, which lumps these families together as Araneidae sensu lato. We propose to redefine Araneidae and recognize a monogeneric spider family, Paraplectanoididae fam. nov. to accommodate the depauperate lineage Paraplectanoides. We present new subgenomic data to stabilize Orbipurae topology which also supports our proposed family-level classification. Our example from spiders demonstrates why classifications must be able to accommodate depauperate evolutionary lineages, for example, Paraplectanoides. Finally, although clade age should not be a criterion to determine rank, other things being equal, comparable ages of similarly ranked taxa do benefit comparative biology. [Classification, family rank, phylogenomics, systematics, monophyly, spider phylogeny.]., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Systematic Biologists.)

A novel croconic acid-bisindole dye CR-630 with a morpholine ring showed good water-solubility and obvious lysosome-targeting. The protonation of the nitrogen atom in the indole and lysosome-targeting of morpholine ring let it exhibit stronger pH-responsive NIR/PA imaging and photothermal effect in the lysosome acidic microenvironment (pH 4.0-5.5) than in the tumor acidic microenvironment. In the animal study, compound CR-630 could NIRF/PA image in the tumor tissues in 1.5-2.0 h, effectively inhibit the growth of the tumor, and even ablate the tumor at the drug dose of 1 mg/kg. It also demonstrated good biosafety. This study gives a new idea to develop water-solubility organic dyes with lysosome targeting, stronger pH-responsive NIRF/PA imaging and PTT for breast cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Because of the intrinsic low carrier density of monolayer two-dimensional (2D) materials, doping is crucial for the performance of underlap top-gated 2D devices. However, wet etching of a high- k (dielectric constant) dielectric layer is difficult to implement without causing performance deterioration on the devices; therefore, finding a suitable spacer doping technique for 2D devices is indispensable. In this study, we developed a remote doping (RD) method in which defective SiO x can remotely dope the underlying high- k capped 2D regions without directly contacting these materials. This method achieved a doping density as high as 1.4 × 10 13 cm -2 without reducing the mobility of the doped materials; after 1 month, the doping concentration remained as high as 1.2 × 10 13 cm -2 . Defective SiO x can be used to dope most popular 2D transition-metal dichalcogenides. The low- k properties of SiO x render it ideal for spacer doping, which is very attractive from the perspective of circuit operation. In our experiments, MoS 2 and WS 2 underlap top-gate devices exhibited 10× and 200× increases in their on-currents, respectively, after being doped with SiO x . These results indicate that SiO x doping can be conducted to manufacture high-performance 2D devices.

Background . Robotic systems can overcome some limitations of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (L-TME), thus improving the quality of the surgery. So far, many studies have reported the technical feasibility and short-term oncological results of robotic total mesorectal excision (R-TME) in treating rectal cancer (RC); however, only a few evaluated the survival and long-term oncological outcomes. The following study compared the medium-term oncological data, 3-year overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) of L-TME and R-TME in patients with rectal cancer. Methods . In this retrospective study, records of patients (patients with stage I-III rectal cancer) who underwent surgery (127 cases of L-TME and 148 cases of R-TME) at the Gansu Provincial Hospital between June 2016 and March 2018 were included in the analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis evaluated the 3-year OS and DFS for all patients treated with curative intent. Results . The conversion rate was significantly higher, and the postoperative hospital stay was significantly longer in the L-TME group than in the R-TME group (all P <.05). Major complications were significantly lower in the robotic group (P<.05). The 3-year DFS rate (for all stages) was 74.8% for L-TME and 85.8% for R-TME ( P = .021). For disease stage III, the 3-year DFS and OS were significantly higher in the R-TME group ( P <.05). Conclusion . R-TME can achieve better oncological outcomes and is more beneficial for RC patients compared with L-TME, especially for those with stage III rectal cancers. Nevertheless, further randomized controlled trials and a longer follow-up period are needed to confirm these findings.

Mass media plays an important role in the construction and circulation of risk perception associated with animals. Widely feared groups such as spiders frequently end up in the spotlight of traditional and social media. We compiled an expert-curated global database on the online newspaper coverage of human-spider encounters over the past ten years (2010-2020). This database includes information about the location of each human-spider encounter reported in the news article and a quantitative characterisation of the content-location, presence of photographs of spiders and bites, number and type of errors, consultation of experts, and a subjective assessment of sensationalism. In total, we collected 5348 unique news articles from 81 countries in 40 languages. The database refers to 211 identified and unidentified spider species and 2644 unique human-spider encounters (1121 bites and 147 as deadly bites). To facilitate data reuse, we explain the main caveats that need to be made when analysing this database and discuss research ideas and questions that can be explored with it., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Understanding the water state in Nafion is not only crucial for operating a proton-exchange membrane (PEM)-based fuel cell, but also intimately related to the elucidation of the proton transport mechanism in a PEM. Although many studies have been published on this subject, some controversies and ambiguities remain unresolved. In this work, we design three different types of Nafion samples by substituting protons with lithium or sodium cations. We also pay special attention to the preparation of samples for carrying out broad-range variable temperature solid state NMR experiments so that no membrane dehydration occurs during the long experimental time at low temperatures. With these precautions and improvements, clear and largely straightforward information could be obtained to ensure minimal ambiguity and complexity in the interpretation of the experimental data. Our results show that about 40-60% of water remains unfrozen at -70 °C, depending on the type of the substituting cation. Both the 1 H and 2 H spectral and relaxation results indicate that water freezing starts from the center of the nanopores inside Nafion and increases gradually as the temperature decreases. The protons remain dissociated with sulfonate groups even at the lowest temperature we reached (-70 °C), whereas both lithium and sodium are associated with sulfonate groups at most temperatures below 0 °C. The experimental data also suggest that besides frozen and unfrozen water, there is broad distribution of water state and dynamics in Nafion as the temperature is lowered from above zero down to -70 °C. The effect of the size of the substituting cation significantly affects the properties of supercooled water by modifying the cation-water interaction and impeding the rotation of sulfonate groups. These novel results not only help us in establishing a better understanding of the water state in Nafion and its performance as a proton exchange mebrane, but also provide insights into water freezing, antifreeze and supercooling in other nanoscopic environments.

Molecular imaging based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) requires a contrast agent with high relaxivity and specificity. Much effort has been devoted to this goal over the past decades. In this work, we continue this endeavor by synthesizing an MRI contrast agent that can penetrate the cellular membrane and bind with specific proteins. It was characterized with one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, NMR micro-imaging, and mass spectroscopy. The target specificity has been further confirmed by both molecular dynamics simulation and micro-imaging on a living biological system. It is one of the largest of peptide-based bioactivated MRI contrast agents, and its relaxivity enhancement factor is among the highest of MRI contrast agents hitherto published. We envision interesting applications and extension of this smart MRI contrast agent with bio-specificity and high contrast for molecular imaging.

This study revised the spider genus Oxyopes Latreille, 1804 in Taiwan and delineated the species boundaries based on morphological and molecular characters. A total of seven Oxyopes spiders were recognized, including two newly described species, O. hasta sp. nov. and O. taiwanensis sp. nov. Oxyopes fujianicus Song Zhu 1993 from Yilan County, Nantou County, and Kaohsuing City, and O. striagatus Song 1999 from New Taipei City, Taichung City, Nantou County, and Kaohsiung City were recorded for the first time in Taiwan. An identification key and a distributional map of Taiwanese Oxyopes species were provided. Partial COI sequences were obtained for molecular phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenies, and DNA barcoding gap analysis supported morphologically defined species. However, molecular species delimitation based on Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), PID (Liberal), and generalized mixed Yule coalescent (GMYC) were incongruent in species assignment. The results showed that the interspecific genetic divergence between O. sertatus and O. taiwanensis was relatively low (1.28 ± 0.43%), and the intraspecific genetic divergence of O. striagatus was relatively high (1.69 ± 0.35%). Ecological data, additional samples and genetic loci are required to further examine the level of reproductive isolation and patterns of population genetic structure in Taiwanese Oxyopes.

Background: The field of physician health is gaining increasing attention; however, most research and interventions have concentrated on factors such as job stress, mental health, and substance abuse. The risks of major cancers in physicians remain unclear. We used a propensity score-matched analysis to investigate the risk of cancer in physicians relative to the general population who had no healthcare-related professional background., Methods: Data were obtained from the National Health Insurance system in Taiwan. The physician cohort contained 29,713 physicians, and each physician was propensity score-matched with a person from the general population., Results: The physicians demonstrated a 0.90-fold lower risk of all-cancers (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.83 - 0.96) when compared with the general population. Female physicians had a higher risk of cancer than male physicians (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.28 - 1.96). Physicians had higher risks of prostate (HR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.00 - 1.59) and thyroid cancers (HR = 3.16; 95% CI = 1.69 - 5.90) when compared with the general population., Conclusion: Physicians have lower rates of overall cancer risk than the general population. Female physicians have higher cancer risks than male physicians. Male physicians have higher risks of thyroid and prostate cancer relative to the general population., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Yang et al. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)

Instances of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) provide the context for rigorous tests of biological rules of size evolution, such as Cope's rule (phyletic size increase), Rensch's rule (allometric patterns of male and female size), as well as male and female body size optima. In certain spider groups, such as the golden orbweavers (Nephilidae), extreme female-biased SSD (eSSD, female:male body length $\ge$2) is the norm. Nephilid genera construct webs of exaggerated proportions, which can be aerial, arboricolous, or intermediate (hybrid). First, we established the backbone phylogeny of Nephilidae using 367 anchored hybrid enrichment markers, then combined these data with classical markers for a reference species-level phylogeny. Second, we used the phylogeny to test Cope and Rensch's rules, sex specific size optima, and the coevolution of web size, type, and features with female and male body size and their ratio, SSD. Male, but not female, size increases significantly over time, and refutes Cope's rule. Allometric analyses reject the converse, Rensch's rule. Male and female body sizes are uncorrelated. Female size evolution is random, but males evolve toward an optimum size (3.2-4.9 mm). Overall, female body size correlates positively with absolute web size. However, intermediate sized females build the largest webs (of the hybrid type), giant female Nephila and Trichonephila build smaller webs (of the aerial type), and the smallest females build the smallest webs (of the arboricolous type). We propose taxonomic changes based on the criteria of clade age, monophyly and exclusivity, classification information content, and diagnosability. Spider families, as currently defined, tend to be between 37 million years old and 98 million years old, and Nephilidae is estimated at 133 Ma (97-146), thus deserving family status. We, therefore, resurrect the family Nephilidae Simon 1894 that contains Clitaetra Simon 1889, the Cretaceous GeratonephilaPoinar and Buckley (2012), Herennia Thorell 1877, IndoetraKuntner 2006, new rank, Nephila Leach 1815, Nephilengys L. Koch 1872, Nephilingis Kuntner 2013, Palaeonephila Wunderlich 2004 from Tertiary Baltic amber, and TrichonephilaDahl 1911, new rank. We propose the new clade Orbipurae to contain Araneidae Clerck 1757, Phonognathidae Simon 1894, new rank, and Nephilidae. Nephilid female gigantism is a phylogenetically ancient phenotype (over 100 Ma), as is eSSD, though their magnitudes vary by lineage., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Systematic Biologists.)

Blood stasis syndrome is the pre-state of thrombotic disease. The model of blood stasis syndrome in rats was induced by sleep deprivation to study on effects of blood stasis syndrome on platelet activation. The weight, the color of tongue and hemorheology for the blood stasis syndrome of Chinese medicine were measured after modeling. The release of platelet granules and platelet activation factors in plasma were detected by ELISA kit related indicators to provide experimental basis for platelet function evaluation and related drug effects in syndrome research. The results showed that the weight of the model group rats was significantly lower than that of the normal group ( P <0.01). The tongue showed a dark purple blood stasis pattern, and the R, G and B values of the tongue surface in model group were significantly lower than those of the normal group ( P <0.01). The hemorheological parameters including high shear, middle shear and low shear viscosity in whole blood were significantly higher than those in the normal group ( P <0.01). But plasma viscosity did not change significantly. The release levels of platelet α particles (GMP-140, β -TG, PF4) and dense particles (ADP, 5-HT) were significantly higher than those in the normal group ( P <0.01). The levels of TXB₂ and 6-keto-PGF₁α in plasma were significantly higher than those in the normal group ( P <0.01). The ratios of TXB₂ and 6-keto-PGF₂α were also significantly higher than those in the normal group ( P <0.01). The levels of PAF in plasma in model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group ( P <0.01). It was concluded that platelet functions could be changed induced by sleep deprivationin rats with blood stasis syndrome, and there might be inflammation and endothelial cell dysfunction., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

As a basic syndrome of Chinese medicine, the study of characteristic syndrome spectrum of Qi deficiency syndrome is of great significance for the standardization of clinical diagnosis and modern material basis research. Suitable operators and algorithms were chosen to dig out the relationship between diseases, syndromes, symptoms, detection indicators and etiologist from the literature of Chinese clinical and basic research by literature mining method of frequency statistics, association rules and complex network analysis. Moreover, the information system of Institute of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences was taken as the tools of data mining. The objective was to study the characteristic spectrum of Qi deficiency syndrome and to explore the characteristics of Qi deficiency syndrome. The results showed that the syndrome of fatigue, dietary were the main factors. The main pathogenesis of coronary heart disease, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and stroke the disease were Qi deficiency. The clinical features of Qi deficiency syndrome were fatigue, shortness of breath and pale tongue. The biological indicators of Qi deficiency related were blood lipids, ECG, blood rheology, inflammatory reaction, NO, ET and NF-κB signalling pathway. The Qi deficiency syndrome on the level of syndrome spectrum was studied by the method of literature mining, which would provide reliable characteristic guidance data for the research on the substantial basis of Qi deficiency, the research on standard of diagnosis, establishment of syndrome model, the study on combination of disease and syndrome and the mechanism of prescriptions., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

Based on the theory of "overexertion leading to Qi consumption", this study aimed to compare the intervention factors of nervous and physical fatigue to establish a rat model of Qi deficiency syndrome, moreover, the systematic evaluationsystem was necessary with the standard of syndrome diagnosis of Qi deficiency. According to the clinical-mimetic principle the Qi deficiency syndrome animal model is established by the factors of sleep deprivation(SD) and exhaustive swimming(ES). Rats were randomly divided into four groups, normal group, SD group, ES group and compound group (exhaustion swimming complex sleep deprivation). The method of ES was force rats to swim until the exhaustion with 5% of weight, and the SD method by using multi-platform sleep deprivation of water environment randomly 14-16 h daily, and the complex set by using of two methods was combined. The movement distance, average speed, activity time and numbers into the central area were detected by open field test, swimming exhaustion time was detected by swimming exhaustion method, the cardiac function (LVEF, CO, FS, LVDd) was detected by echocardiography, tongue imaging analysis and pulsedistention as the index of tongue and pulse diagnosis, the content of ATP and ADP in serum was detected by ELISA, the blood coagulation indexes for blood stasis syndrome as the additional. These results indicated that independent activity, body weight and exercise capacity were decreased significantly, the neurological function injured significantly, heart function was decreased significantly, the tongue surface color was pale white, and the pulse distention was decreased significantly. The content of ATP decreased significantly and the ADP increased significantly. By the method of four-diagnostic evaluation system to compare the factors of SD and ES, the Qi deficiency syndrome animalmodel could be successfully established by sleep deprivation method., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

Chinese medicine Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHW) is widely used in treating cerebral infarction combined with Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome, but the pharmacological basis is still not clear. This study aims to uncover the biological basis of BYHW therapy for cerebral infarction combined with Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome using label-free proteomic technology. Using Qi deficiency and blood stasis rat cerebral infarction model as the research object, the protein expression of rat brain tissue was compared among the sham operation group, the model group and the drug group. Quantitative analysis of the 3 groups of tissue samples detected 3 959, 3 996 and 4 055 proteins in the sham operation group, the model group and the drug group, respectively. Take model group as the control group, 391 proteins were identified to be upregulated or downregulated for more than 2 folds. Biological analysis and functional enrichment of the differentially expressed proteins revealed that BYHW may treat cerebral infarction combined with Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome through energy metabolism, nervous system and several signal pathways. This study preliminarily revealed the pharmacological mechanism of BYHW at the protein level, and provided a molecular basis for clinical treatment and traditional Chinese medicine research on cerebral infarction combined with Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

The comparison on evaluating blood stasis syndrome in sleep deprived rats was carried out by using R, G, B image analysis of Tongue and palm as well as auricle, palm surface laser Doppler flow perfusion. The experiment was performed by means of a small platform on the water environment for sleep deprivation. The rats were weekly weighed at fixed time, and their macroscopic signs were observed; and their tongue and palm images of the control and model group were respectively collected by the SLR camera at the 2nd, 4th and 6th week. Then the color saturation analysis was performed by means of proofreading with the standard colorimetric card. At the same time, the laser dopper flowmetry was used to analyze the perfusion of auricle and foot flow in rats. It turned out that there was no significant difference in the R,G,B value of the tongue and palm in rats between normal group and model group at the first stage(at the 2nd week), so were the perfusion of auricle and foot flow in rats. But at the second stage (at the 4th week), the R value of tongue in model group rats was obviously lower than that in normal group( P <0.01), and the other value (G,B) of tongue in module rats had a decease tendency, but there was no statistical significance. However, the perfusion of left and right auricle flow in model group rats were dramatically decreased as compared with the normal group( P <0.01); there was still no significant difference in the perfusion of the palm between two groups. It was found that R,G,B value in model group had a lower trend as compared with the control group of the tongue and palm images at the third stage (at the 6th week), but no statistically significant difference. The perfusion of left and right auricle flow in model group was constantly decreased as compared with the normal group( P <0.01).Right and left foot blood flow was lower than the normal group, but no statistically significant difference. We can safely conclude that the results of the R, G, B values of the tongue in rats could objectively reflect the characteristics of the rats with blood stasis syndrome, which were consistent with the diagnosis of clinical tongue image. As a method of microcirculation evaluation, the surface laser doppler perfusion of auricle can exhibit the characteristics of blood stasis in model rats, but also was more objective and reproducible. Therefore, the combination of R, G, B value of tongue as well as auricle laser doppler blood flow is more beneficial to the objective evaluation of index in the later study of traditional Chinese medicine blood stasis syndrome model., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

Contrast enhancement agents are often employed in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for clinical diagnosis and biomedical research. However, the current theory on MRI contrast generation does not consider the ubiquitous presence of macromolecular crowders in biological systems, which poses the risk of inaccurate data interpretation and misdiagnosis. To address this issue, herein the macromolecular crowding effects on MRI contrast agent are investigated with the 1 H relaxation rate of water in aqueous solutions of Dotarem with different concentrations of macromolecules. Two representative macromolecular crowder systems are used: polyethylene glycol (with no specific secondary structure) and bovine serum albumin (with compact secondary and tertiary structures). The water 1 H relaxation rates in various solutions are measured in a fixed magnetic field and in variable magnetic fields. The results show significant crowding effects for both crowders. The relaxation rate is proportional to the concentration of the MRI contrast agent but shows conspicuous superlinearity with respect to the concentration of the crowder. The size of polyethylene glycol does not affect the relaxivity of water in Dotarem solutions. The above effects are verified with T 1 - and T 2 -weighted NMR microimages. These results highlight the importance of the effect of macromolecular crowding on the MRI contrast agent and are valuable for understanding the mechanism of MRI contrast agents and designing new-generation MRI contrast agents.

This study aimed to observe the general state and changes in pathophysiological indexes of multiple cerebral infarction rat model with Qi-deficienty and Blood-stasis syndrome. Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups(with 30 in each group): the normal group, the sham group, the model group and the Yiqi Huoxue recipe group. Rats in the model group and Yiqi Huoxue group were provided with interruptable sleep deprivation for 7 days before the multiple cerebral infarction operation, and followed by another 4 weeks of sleep deprivation; rats in the Yiqi Huoxue group were intragastrically administrated with drug at a dose of 26 g·kg⁻¹, once a day for 4 weeks. The general state was observed, and the pathophysiological indexes were measured at 48 h, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after administration. The results showed that rats in the normal group and the sham group represented a good general state and behaviors, with a normal morphological structure of brain tissues; rats in the model group featured yellow fur, depression, accidie, loose stools and movement disorder, with obvious brain histomorphological damage, which became aggravated with the increase of modeling time; rats in the Yiqi Huoxue group showed release in the general state and above indexes. Compared with the sham group at three time points, rats in the model group showed decrease in body weight, exhaustive swimming time and RGB value of tongue surface image, and increase in whole blood viscosity of the shear rate under 5, 60 and 150 S⁻¹, reduction in cerebral cortex Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase activity and contents of 5-HT, rise in TXB2 levels and decline in 6-keto-PGF1a in serum( P <0.05, P <0.01). Compared with the model group, rats in the Yiqi Huoxue group showed alleviations in the above indexes at 2 w and 4 w( P <0.05, P <0.01). The results showed that the characterization and pathophysiological indexes in the multiple cerebral infarction rat model with Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome were deteriorated; Yiqi Huoxue recipe could significantly alliviate the abnormal conditions, which suggested of the model was stable and reliable and the pathophysiologic evolutionary mechanism might be related to energy metabolism dysfunction, vasoactive substance abnormality and changes in neurotransmitters., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

Phosphorus metabolism and circulation are essential bio-physicochemical processes during development of a plant and have been extensively studied and known to be affected by temperature, humidity, lighting, hormones etc. However, a quantitative description of how various phosphorous species evolve over time has not been reported. In this work, a combined 31 P liquid and solid state NMR spectroscopic methodology is employed, supported by a new extraction scheme and data analysis method, to carry out a quantitative investigation of phosphorous circulation in germinating sesame seeds in dark and under illumination with and without adding a growth hormone. The spectra show that only slight changes occur for phosphorous metabolism at the initial stage but a rapid change takes place between 48-96 hours after germination is started. The metabolism is found to be temperature dependent and affected by illumination and hormone. However, neither illumination nor hormone affects the final residual concentration of phytin. Moreover, phytin does not flow out of cotyledon and the phosphorous flowing to other parts of the plant is always in the inorganic form. The overall evolution profile of phytate consumption is found to be a Gaussian decaying function. These findings can be explained with a dynamic model on phytin conversion.

While molting occurs in the development of many animals, especially arthropods, post-maturity molting (PMM, organisms continue to molt after sexual maturity) has received little attention. The mechanism of molting has been studied intensively; however, the mechanism of PMM remains unknown although it is suggested to be crucial for the development of body size. In this study, we investigated factors that potentially induce PMM in the golden orb-web spider Nephila pilipes , which has the greatest degree of sexual dimorphism among terrestrial animals. We manipulated the mating history and the nutrient consumption of the females to examine whether they affect PMM. The results showed that female spiders under low nutrition were more likely to molt as adults, and mating had no significant influence on the occurrence of PMM. Moreover, spiders that underwent PMM lived longer than those that did not and their body sizes were significantly increased. Therefore, we concluded that nutritional condition rather than mating history affect PMM., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a common mechanism for some heart disease like cardiac X syndrome and no-reflow phenomenon after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI). With the development of medical imageology, CMD has received increased attention. Animal model of CMD is indispensable tool for the research of pathogenesis and treatment evaluation, therefor choose an appropriate animal model is the first issue to carry out CMD research. Experimental and clinical studies have shown unique effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in CMD therapy. Clarifying of the TCM therapeutic effect mechanisms and seeking an optimal solution of combination of traditional Chinese and western medicine will be the focus of future research. This paper reviewed the establishment and evaluation of CMD animal model, as well as the intervention study of TCM on CMD. The article aims to provide reference for the basic research of CMD and the TCM experimental study on CMD., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

During the past two decades, cytokines have emerged as key molecules to modulate innate and adaptive immunity and mediate anti-tumor activity. Although multiple cytokine types are implicated for such anti-tumor activity in several cancer types, it remains largely unknown in breast cancer. In this study, cytokines that are prior known for antitumor activity in different cancer types were examined against breast cancer using a 4T1 cells based xenograft-model. Our results showed Interleukin-12 (IL-12) (500ng/mouse) significantly suppressed the growth of tumors, while other cytokines showed minimal suppression. Subsequent molecular analysis by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry confirmed the CD8 + cells infiltration and Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production by them in tumor environment. In addition, we observed that IFN-γ production by activated CD8 + cells directly induced apoptosis in tumor cells, which together indicate that IL-12 causes CD8 + cells to infiltrate and secrete IFN-γ in tumor environment, which induce apoptosis in them and causes tumor growth suppression. Furthermore, we showed that lower dosage of IL-12 and chemotherapy drug tamoxifen combinations enhanced the tumor suppression as opposed to single treatments, and thereby propose an alternate option for high dosage associated effects for both drug and cytokine treatments., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Genital diversity may arise through sexual conflict over polyandry, where male genital features function to manipulate female mating frequency against her interest. Correlated genital evolution across animal groups is consistent with this view, but a link between genital complexity and mating rates remains to be established. In sexually size dimorphic spiders, golden orbweaving spiders (Nephilidae) males mutilate their genitals to form genital plugs, but these plugs do not always prevent female polyandry. In a comparative framework, we test whether male and female genital complexity coevolve, and how these morphologies, as well as sexual cannibalism, relate to the evolution of mating systems., Results: Using a combination of comparative tests, we show that male genital complexity negatively correlates with female mating rates, and that levels of sexual cannibalism negatively correlate with male mating rates. We also confirm a positive correlation between male and female genital complexity. The macroevolutionary trajectory is consistent with a repeated evolution from polyandry to monandry coinciding with the evolution towards more complex male genitals., Conclusions: These results are consistent with the predictions from sexual conflict theory, although sexual conflict may not be the only mechanism responsible for the evolution of genital complexity and mating systems. Nevertheless, our comparative evidence suggests that in golden orbweavers, male genital complexity limits female mating rates, and sexual cannibalism by females coincides with monogyny.

The Caribbean islands harbor rich biodiversity with high levels of single island endemism. Stretches of ocean between islands represent significant barriers to gene-flow. Yet some native species are widespread, indicating dispersal across oceans, even in wingless organisms like spiders. Argiope argentata (Fabricius, 1775) is a large, charismatic, and widespread species of orb-weaving spider ranging from the United States to Argentina and is well known to balloon. Here we explore the phylogeography of Argiope argentata in the Caribbean as a part of the multi-lineage CarBio project, through mtDNA haplotype and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses. The history of the Argiope argentata lineage in the Caribbean goes back 3-5 million years and is characterized by multiple dispersal events and isolation-by-distance. We find a highly genetically distinct lineage on Cuba which we describe as Argiope butchko sp. n. While the argentata lineage seems to readily balloon shorter distances, stretches of ocean still act as filters for among-island gene-flow as evidenced by distinct haplotypes on the more isolated islands, high F ST values, and strong correlation between intraspecific (but not interspecific) genetic and geographic distances. The new species described here is clearly genetically diagnosable, but morphologically cryptic, at least with reference to the genitalia that typically diagnose spider species. Our results are consistent with the intermediate dispersal model suggesting that good dispersers, such as our study species, limit the effect of oceanic barriers and thus diversification and endemism.

Background: In most animal groups, it is unclear how body size variation relates to genital size differences between the sexes. While most morphological features tend to scale with total somatic size, this does not necessarily hold for genitalia because divergent evolution in somatic size between the sexes would cause genital size mismatches. Theory predicts that the interplay of female-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) and sexual genital size dimorphism (SGD) should adhere to the 'positive genital divergence', the 'constant genital divergence', or the 'negative genital divergence' model, but these models remain largely untested. We test their validity in the spider family Nephilidae known for the highest degrees of SSD among terrestrial animals., Results: Through comparative analyses of sex-specific somatic and genital sizes, we first demonstrate that 99 of the 351 pairs of traits are phylogenetically correlated. Through factor analyses we then group these traits for MCMCglmm analyses that test broader correlation patterns, and these reveal significant correlations in 10 out of the 36 pairwise comparisons. Both types of analyses agree that female somatic and internal genital sizes evolve independently. While sizes of non-intromittent male genital parts coevolve with male body size, the size of the intromittent male genital parts is independent of the male somatic size. Instead, male intromittent genital size coevolves with female (external and, in part, internal) genital size. All analyses also agree that SGD and SSD evolve independently., Conclusions: Internal dimensions of female genitalia evolve independently of female body size in nephilid spiders, and similarly, male intromittent genital size evolves independently of the male body size. The size of the male intromittent organ (the embolus) and the sizes of female internal and external genital components thus seem to respond to selection against genital size mismatches. In accord with these interpretations, we reject the validity of the existing theoretical models of genital and somatic size dimorphism in spiders.

The use of unique DNA sequences as a method for taxonomic identification is no longer fundamentally controversial, even though debate continues on the best markers, methods, and technology to use. Although both existing databanks such as GenBank and BOLD, as well as reference taxonomies, are imperfect, in best case scenarios "barcodes" (whether single or multiple, organelle or nuclear, loci) clearly are an increasingly fast and inexpensive method of identification, especially as compared to manual identification of unknowns by increasingly rare expert taxonomists. Because most species on Earth are undescribed, a complete reference database at the species level is impractical in the near term. The question therefore arises whether unidentified species can, using DNA barcodes, be accurately assigned to more inclusive groups such as genera and families-taxonomic ranks of putatively monophyletic groups for which the global inventory is more complete and stable. We used a carefully chosen test library of CO1 sequences from 49 families, 313 genera, and 816 species of spiders to assess the accuracy of genus and family-level assignment. We used BLAST queries of each sequence against the entire library and got the top ten hits. The percent sequence identity was reported from these hits (PIdent, range 75-100%). Accurate assignment of higher taxa (PIdent above which errors totaled less than 5%) occurred for genera at PIdent values >95 and families at PIdent values ≥ 91, suggesting these as heuristic thresholds for accurate generic and familial identifications in spiders. Accuracy of identification increases with numbers of species/genus and genera/family in the library; above five genera per family and fifteen species per genus all higher taxon assignments were correct. We propose that using percent sequence identity between conventional barcode sequences may be a feasible and reasonably accurate method to identify animals to family/genus. However, the quality of the underlying database impacts accuracy of results; many outliers in our dataset could be attributed to taxonomic and/or sequencing errors in BOLD and GenBank. It seems that an accurate and complete reference library of families and genera of life could provide accurate higher level taxonomic identifications cheaply and accessibly, within years rather than decades.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C6SC00100A.].

In this study, we revealed a new approach for the development of new triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) materials with highly efficient deep-blue fluorescence via the incorporation of a styrylpyrene core and an electron-donating group. The resulting deep-blue emitters (PCzSP, DFASP, and DPASP) exhibit intramolecular charge transfer emissions with remarkably high emission quantum yields. The electroluminescent devices based on these three fluorophores as dopants using CBP as a host exhibit very high device efficiencies; in particular, the DPASP-doped device reveals an extremely high EQE of 12%, reaching the limit of a TTA-based device. The EL characteristics of DPASP-doped CBP-based devices at various doping concentrations (0-5%) suggest that the dopant DPASP is responsible for the TTA-type delayed fluorescence in the device; no delayed fluorescence was observed for the device using CBP as the host emitter. Moreover, when using DMPPP with ambipolar characteristics as the host, the deep-blue DPASP-doped device also gives outstanding performance with an EQE of nearly 11% with an extremely small efficiency roll-off, which was ascribed to the excellent charge balance in the emitting layer of the EL device. The TTA process of the SP-based dopants accounts significantly for the superior efficiencies of the EL devices.

Several clades of spiders whose females evolved giant sizes are known for extreme sexual behaviors such as sexual cannibalism, opportunistic mating, mate-binding, genital mutilation, plugging, and emasculation. However, these behaviors have only been tested in a handful of size dimorphic spiders. Here, we bring another lineage into the picture by reporting on sexual behavior of Darwin's bark spider, Caerostris darwini. This sexually size dimorphic Madagascan species is known for extreme web gigantism and for producing the world's toughest biomaterial. Our field and laboratory study uncovers a rich sexual repertoire that predictably involves cannibalism, genital mutilation, male preference for teneral females, and emasculation. Surprisingly, C. darwini males engage in oral sexual encounters, rarely reported outside mammals. Irrespective of female's age or mating status males salivate onto female genitalia pre-, during, and post-copulation. While its adaptive significance is elusive, oral sexual contact in spiders may signal male quality or reduce sperm competition.

The efficacy not only is summarized by clinical effect of Chinese herbal compound on theory of traditional Chinese medicine, but also is manifested to clinical effect by interaction of many intricate chemical substances. The efficacy of Chinese herbal compound is current research focus in field of traditional Chinese medicine. By currently knowing in different aspects which included the progression in efficacy of Chinese herbal compound, symptomatic efficacy of Chinese herbal compound, the relationship between the efficacy and pharmacologic effect of Chinese herbal compound, the efficacy related pharmacodynamic substance and the evaluation of efficacy, it had been summarized mainly problems and methods in research and development process of the efficacy of Chinese herbal compound in this paper. Paper also elucidated problems that need to pay attention in research of efficacy in order to provide references for clinical and experimental studies of efficacy in Chinese herbal compound, boost research and development level of new traditional Chinese drug and facilitate modernization of traditional Chinese medicines., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

Tongmai granule (TM) is composed of Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(Danshen) and Chuanxiong Rhizoma(Chuanxiong). It has been used to treat ischemic cardio-cerebrovascular diseases for decades. For the purpose of elucidating its pharmacodynamic material foundation, the absorption and pharmacokinetic property of TM were investigated in acute myocardial ischemic model beagles. All serum samples were extracted before analysis with ethyl acetate after being acidified by hydrochloric acid. Under negative ESI detection mode, the chromatographic separation was carried out with monolithic C₁₈ column for gradient elution. A simultaneous quantitative analysis was made on 15 polyphenols, including 8 from Gegen, 5 from Danshen and 2 from Chuanxiong, in 8.5 min. The validation result demonstrated the specificity, accuracy and precision of the method in line with the bioanalysis requirements. After TM solution was administrated to acute myocardial ischemic model beagles through duodenum injection, serum samples were collected after 6 h. The quantitative detection proved the prompt absorption of TM, all of the components were detectable in the blood samples 5 min later, and reached peak respectively at 0.18-3.83 h after administration. The components presented large variabilities. The most components were exposed in serum with puerarin and salvianic acid A, followed by 3'-methoxypuerarin, mirificin, and 3'-hydroxypuerarin. The study proves puerarin and salvianic acid A are dominating active components of TM in acute myocardial ischemic model beagles., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

Mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor has shown promotive effect on neural cells in rodents, including neural proliferation, differentiation, survival, and synaptic formation. Conversely, the precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) has been emerging as a differing protein against its mature form, for its critical role in aging process and neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we investigated the role of proBDNF in neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of aged mice and examined the changes in mice learning and memory functions. The results showed that the newborn cells in the hippocampus revealed a significant decline in proBDNF-treated group compared with bovine serum albumin group, but an elevated level in anti-proBDNF group. During the maturation period, no significant change was observed in the proportions of phenotype of the newborn cells among the three groups. In water maze, proBDNF-treated mice had poorer scores in place navigation test and probe test, compared with those from any other group. Thus, we conclude that proBDNF attenuates neurogenesis in the hippocampus and induces the deficits in learning and memory functions of aged mice.

A series of 3d-4f heterobinuclear complexes were constructed by employing the 2,2'-bipy (2,2'-bipy=2,2'-bipyridine) ligand and corresponding metal ions (M(II)/Ln(III), M=Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II); Ln(III)=Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III) and Tb(III)). Elemental analyses, IR, UV-vis-NIR spectra, PXRD and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveal that complexes 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12 are isomorphous, respectively. The zero-dimensional structures are further connected to 2D or 3D supramolecular network structures via extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Luminescence studies for the heterobinuclear complexes containing Sm(III), Eu(III) and Tb(III) reveal that the chromophoric composed of Zn(II)/L may efficiently sensitize the luminescence of the rare earth cations which acts as an antenna, whereas the existence of Cu(II) leads to the quenching of the luminescence of Ln(III) ions., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A series of uranyl-organic frameworks (UOFs), {[(UO2)2(H2TTHA)(H2O)]·4,4'-bipy·2H2O}n (1), {[(UO2)3(TTHA)(H2O)3]}n (2), and {[(UO2)5(TTHA) (HTTHA)(H2O)3]·H3O}n (3), have been obtained by the hydrothermal reaction of uranyl acetate with a flexible hexapodal ligand (1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine hexaacetic acid, H6TTHA). These compounds exhibited three distinct 3D self-assembly architectures as a function of pH by single-crystal structural analysis, although the used ligand was the same in each reaction. Surprisingly, all of the coordination modes of the H6TTHA ligand in this work are first discovered. Furthermore, the photoluminescent results showed that these compounds displayed high-sensitivity luminescent sensing functions for nitrobenzene. Additionally, the surface photovoltage spectroscopy and electric-field-induced surface photovoltage spectroscopy showed that compounds 1-3 could behave as p-type semiconductors.

Living fossils are lineages that have retained plesiomorphic traits through long time periods. It is expected that such lineages have both originated and diversified long ago. Such expectations have recently been challenged in some textbook examples of living fossils, notably in extant cycads and coelacanths. Using a phylogenetic approach, we tested the patterns of the origin and diversification of liphistiid spiders, a clade of spiders considered to be living fossils due to their retention of arachnid plesiomorphies and their exclusive grouping in Mesothelae, an ancient clade sister to all modern spiders. Facilitated by original sampling throughout their Asian range, we here provide the phylogenetic framework necessary for reconstructing liphistiid biogeographic history. All phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of Liphistiidae and of eight genera. As the fossil evidence supports a Carboniferous Euramerican origin of Mesothelae, our dating analyses postulate a long eastward over-land dispersal towards the Asian origin of Liphistiidae during the Palaeogene (39-58 Ma). Contrary to expectations, diversification within extant liphistiid genera is relatively recent, in the Neogene and Late Palaeogene (4-24 Ma). While no over-water dispersal events are needed to explain their evolutionary history, the history of liphistiid spiders has the potential to play prominently in vicariant biogeographic studies., (© 2015 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.)

Inflammatory response is an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Cardiac fibroblasts play a crucial role in cardiac inflammation and might become a potential therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases. Kaempferol, a flavonoid commonly existing in many edible fruits, vegetables, and Chinese herbs, is well known to possess anti-inflammatory property and thus has a therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. To date, the effect of kaempferol on cardiac fibroblasts inflammation is unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of kaempferol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus ATP-induced cardiac fibroblasts and explored the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that kaempferol at concentrations of 12.5 and 25 μg/mL significantly suppressed the release of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18 and inhibited activation of NF-κB and Akt in LPS plus ATP-induced cardiac fibroblasts. These findings suggest that kaempferol attenuates cardiac fibroblast inflammation through suppression of activation of NF-κB and Akt.

Objective: To analyze the features of orbital fracture and to discuss its forensic expertise points., Methods: One hundred and thirty cases of simple orbital fracture from 2010 to 2012 collected from one public security bureau were retrospectively analyzed such as age, gender, tools, position and morphology of the fracture, periorbital and orbital compound injury and the follow-up results after 6 months., Results: In the 130 cases, the wounded were mainly young men and hit by fist. The fracture of simple medial orbital wall accounted for up to 81.5% in all cases. In the periorbital and orbital compound injury, laceration and contusion of eyelid and ethmoidal cellules and maxillary sinus always occurred. After 6 months follow-up, there were 30 cases of comminuted fracture remained enophthalmos compared with the uninjured side., Conclusion: It is inappropriate to judge the fracture of simple medial orbital wall as minor injury. We should judge the degree of simple orbital fracture after the injury is stable. Detailed ophthalmology inspection is necessary for forensic expertise of simple orbital fracture.

Objective: The objective of this study was to use high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging to predict the presence of smear-positive active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in elderly (at least 65 years of age) and non-elderly patients (18-65 years of age)., Methods: Patients with active pulmonary infections seen from November 2010 through December 2011 received HRCT chest imaging, sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli and sputum cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Smear-positive PTB was defined as at least one positive sputum smear and a positive culture for M. tuberculosis. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the HRCT predictors of smear-positive active PTB, and a prediction score was developed on the basis of receiver operating characteristic curve analysis., Results: Of 1,255 patients included, 139 were diagnosed with smear-positive active PTB. According to ROC curve analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, false positive rates and false negative rates were 98.6 %, 95.8 %, 78.5 %, 99.8 %, 4.2 % and 1.4 %, respectively, for diagnosing smear-positive active PTB in elderly patients, and 100.0 %, 96.9 %, 76.5 %, 100.0 %, 3.1 % and 0.0 %, respectively, for non-elderly patients., Conclusions: HRCT can assist in the early diagnosis of the most infectious active PTB, thereby preventing transmission and minimizing unnecessary immediate respiratory isolation., Key Points: • HRCT can assist in the early diagnosis of the infectious active PTB • HRCT imaging is useful to predict the presence of smear-positive active PTB • Predictions from the HRCT imaging are valid even before sputum smear or culture results.

Sexual dimorphism describes substantial differences between male and female phenotypes. In spiders, sexual dimorphism research almost exclusively focuses on size, and recent studies have recovered steady evolutionary size increases in females, and independent evolutionary size changes in males. Their discordance is due to negative allometric size patterns caused by different selection pressures on male and female sizes (converse Rensch's rule). Here, we investigated macroevolutionary patterns of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in Argiopinae, a global lineage of orb-weaving spiders with varying degrees of SSD. We devised a Bayesian and maximum-likelihood molecular species-level phylogeny, and then used it to reconstruct sex-specific size evolution, to examine general hypotheses and different models of size evolution, to test for sexual size coevolution, and to examine allometric patterns of SSD. Our results, revealing ancestral moderate sizes and SSD, failed to reject the Brownian motion model, which suggests a nondirectional size evolution. Contrary to predictions, male and female sizes were phylogenetically correlated, and SSD evolution was isometric. We interpret these results to question the classical explanations of female-biased SSD via fecundity, gravity, and differential mortality. In argiopines, SSD evolution may be driven by these or additional selection mechanisms, but perhaps at different phylogenetic scales., (© 2014 The Author(s). Evolution © 2014 The Society for the Study of Evolution.)

Objective: To analyze and summarize changes of syndrome-related biological indices in acute lacuna encephalon infarction patients of upper hyperactivity of Gan yang syndrome (UHGYS), thus providing objective evidence for syndrome typing and disease identification., Methods: Recruited were 50 patients at Department of Encephalopathy, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, who were in line with diagnostic criteria of UHGYS as the experimental group in this study. Another 40 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group from May 2010 to July 2012. Blood routines (including WBC, RBC, Hb, NEUT%, and LY%), hepatic and renal functions tests (including ALT, AST, TBIL, TP, ALB, Cr, and BUN) were performed by automatic whole blood analyzer and colorimetric technique. The levels of fasting blood glucose, HbAlc, blood lipids (including TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C), and coagulation functions (including AT-III, PT, PTA, INR, TT, APTT, and FBG, reaction time), renin, angiotensin II, hs-CRP, and Hcy were also measured. The thyroid functions (including FT3, FT4, T3, T4, and TSH) were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6 and IL-1 in serum were measured by ELISA and radioimmunoassay respectively., Results: Compared with the control group, RBC, LY%, ALT, TP, ALB, HDL-C, AT-III activities, contents of PTA and FT4 obviously decreased, TBIL, BUN, Glu, HbAlc, TSH, hs-CRP, renin, Ang II, TNF-alpha, IL-1 and IL-6 significantly increased in the experimental group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01)., Conclusion: The pathological process of acute lacuna encephalon infarction patients of UHGYS was closely correlated with thyroid functions, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, the extrinsic and intrinsic coagulation systems, as well as inflammation reaction.

We determined the prevalence of asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and cardiovascular risk factors in Taiwan. Ambulatory participants (n = 1915) without symptoms of PAD were enrolled (mean age of 61.2 years). The ankle-brachial index (ABI) was used to detect the PAD (ABI < 0.90). The overall prevalence of asymptomatic PAD was 5.4% (2.8% in the younger participants [<65 years of age, n = 1021] and 8.4% in the elderly participants [≥65 years of age, n = 894]). Younger participants with asymptomatic PAD had a significantly higher rate of hypertension (55.2% vs 30%) and obesity (31% vs 13.3%) than those without asymptomatic PAD (P < .05). Elderly participants with asymptomatic PAD had a significantly higher rate of diabetes mellitus (36% vs 21.2%) and hypertension (69.3% vs 55.4%) than those without asymptomatic PAD (P < .05). Asymptomatic PAD is prevalent among elderly Taiwanese individuals. Overall, age was the strongest risk factor for the development of asymptomatic PAD.

This study evaluated the use of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) to predict the presence of culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in adult patients with pulmonary lesions in the emergency department (ED). The study included a derivation phase and validation phase with a total of 8,245 patients with pulmonary disease. There were 132 patients with culture-positive PTB in the derivation phase and 147 patients with culture-positive PTB in the validation phase. Imaging evaluation of pulmonary lesions included morphology and segmental distribution. The post-test probability ratios between both phases in three prevalence areas were analyzed. In the derivation phase, a multivariate analysis model identified cavitation, consolidation, and clusters/nodules in right or left upper lobe (except anterior segment) and consolidation of the superior segment of the right or left lower lobe as independent positive factors for culture-positive PTB, while consolidation of the right or left lower lobe (except superior segment) were independent negative factors. An ideal cutoff point based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was obtained at a score of 1. The sensitivity, specificity, positivity predictive value, and negative predictive value from derivation phase were 98.5% (130/132), 99.7% (3997/4008), 92.2% (130/141), and 99.9% (3997/3999). Based on the predicted positive likelihood ratio value of 328.33 in derivation phase, the post-test probability was observed to be 91.5% in the derivation phase, 92.5% in the validation phase, 94.5% in a high TB prevalence area, 91.0% in a moderate prevalence area, and 76.8% in moderate-to-low prevalence area. Our model using HRCT, which is feasible to perform in the ED, can promptly diagnose culture-positive PTB in moderate and moderate-to-low prevalence areas.

Objective: To evaluate that the effect of formula of removing both phlegm and blood stasis in improving cardiac function of Chinese mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome., Method: Totally 36 Chinese mini-swine were randomly divided to six groups: the normal control group, the model group, the Danlou tablet group, and Tanyu Tonzhi Fang(TYTZ) groups with doses of 2. 0, 1. 0 and 0. 5 g kg-1, with six in each group. Except for the normal control group, all of other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 2 weeks. Interventional balloons are adopted to injure their left anterior descending artery endothelium. After the operation, they were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare the coronary heart disease model of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome. After the operation, they were administered with drugs for 8 weeks. The changes in the myocardial ischemia were observed. The changes in the cardiac function and structure were detected by cardiac ultrasound and noninvasive hemodynamic method., Result: Compared with the normal control group, the model group showed significant increase in myocardial ischemia and SVR and obvious decrease in CO, SV and LCW in noninvasive hemodynamic parameters (P <0.05 or P <0.01). The ultrasonic cardiogram indicated notable decrease in IVSd, LVPWs, EF and FS, and remarkable increase in LVIDs (P<0. 05 orP<0.01). Compared with the model group, TYTZ could reduce the myocardial ischemia, strengthen cardiac function, and improve the abnormal cardiac structure and function induced by ischemia (P <0. 05 or P <0. 01)., Conclusion: TYTZ shows a significant effect in improving cardiac function of Chinese mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome. The clinical cardiac function detection method could be adopted to correctly evaluate the changes in the post-myocardial ischemia cardiac function, and narrow the gap between clinical application and basic experimental studies.