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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common digestive tract malignancies and inflammation and gut microbiota are well-known key factors to influence CRC development. Akkermansia mucinipila is an important gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that can degrade mucin in gut. Previous studies suggested that A. muciniphila may affect inflammation and cell proliferation, but the relationship between A. muciniphila and CRC is not clarified. Here C57BL/6 mice were administrated with A. muciniphila or PBS and then treated with azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) to induce CRC. The mice receiving A. muciniphila administration had more serious weight loss, shorter colon length and more intestinal tumors than those receiving PBS administration after AOM/DSS treatment. More colon damage and less goblet cells were also observed in A. muciniphila treated mice. Furthermore, A. muciniphila administration induced more Ki67+ proliferating cells, higher PCNA expression and elevated gene expression of proliferation-associated molecules including Snrpd1, Dbf4 or S100A9. At early stage of CRC development, in comparison with controls, the mice receiving A. muciniphila administration also had more body weight loss and shorter colon length, as well as higher gene expression of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the in vitro experimental results showed that the co-culture of colon epithelial cells with A. muciniphila enhanced the cell proliferation and gene expression of proliferation-associated molecules. Therefore, A. mucinipila may promote the formation of CRC in mice through increasing the early level of inflammation and the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells.

STING1 (stimulator of interferon response cGAMP interactor 1) plays an essential role in immune responses for virus inhibition via inducing the production of type I interferon, inflammatory factors and macroautophagy/autophagy. In this study, we found that STING1 activation could induce not only canonical autophagy but also non-canonical autophagy (NCA) which is independent of the ULK1 or BECN1 complexes to form MAP1LC3/LC3-positive structures. Whether STING1-induced NCA has similar characters and physiological functions to canonical autophagy is totally unknown. Different from canonical autophagy, NCA could increase single-membrane structures and failed to degrade long-lived proteins, and could be strongly suppressed by interrupting vacuolar-type H+-translocating ATPase (V-ATPase) activity. Importantly, STING1-induced NCA could effectively inhibit DNA virus HSV-1 in cell model. Moreover, STING1[1-340], a STING1 mutant lacking immunity and inflammatory response due to deletion of the tail end of STING1, could degrade virus through NCA alone, suggesting that the antiviral effect of activated STING1 could be separately mediated by inherent immunity, canonical autophagy, and NCA. In addition, the translocation and dimerization of STING1 do not rely on its immunity function and autophagy pathway. Similar to canonical autophagy, LC3-positive structures of NCA induced by STING1 could finally fuse with lysosomes, and the degradation of HSV-1 could be reverted by inhibition of lysosome function, suggesting that the elimination of DNA virus via NCA still requires the lysosome pathway. Collectively, we proved that besides its classical immunity function and canonical autophagy pathway, STING1-induced NCA is also an efficient antiviral pathway for the host cell.

The inhomogeneities, the so‐called changepoints, inevitably occur in the precipitable water vapor (PWV) time series derived from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS‐PWV). Currently, the two predominant types of homogenization methods, that is, absolute and relative methods, are limited in the poor performance and dependency on reference time series. In this study, a new absolute approach named adaptive absolute homogenization test (AAHT) by combining Seasonal‐Trend decomposition based on LOESS (STL) and Penalized Maximal F‐test to account for the red noise (PMFred) is proposed. The performance of the new approach was validated using Monte Carlo simulations. Results showed the success rate and false alarm rate were better than 74.9% and 12.2%; the detection accuracy of the changepoint epochs and the offset magnitudes were 8.0 days and 0.153 mm. AAHT was also applied to homogenizing the real GNSS‐PWV time series over 91 International GNSS Service stations, from which 63 time series were identified as inhomogeneous containing 126 changepoints. Based on a comparison with the PWV time series from the fifth‐generation European center for medium‐range weather forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis (ERA5), 43 changepoints were connected to climatic drivers, leaving 83 artificial changepoints at 48 stations. The offset magnitudes at these artificial changepoints were estimated and corrected in the inhomogeneous time series. The long‐term trends of those homogenized time series were compared with that of the PWV time series derived from ERA5 data sets (ERA‐PWV) and the correlation coefficient between the two sets of trends was 0.75, which was significantly larger than 0.23 before homogenization.

Background RNA sensors represent the most important pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to defend against RNA pathogens, such as RNA viruses. Recent studies revealed their critical roles in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, more recent evidences indicated that RNA sensors mediate the development of colitis or colorectal cancer (CRC). However, a systematic understanding of RNA sensors in CRC is still lacking, especially the expression patterns in CRC. Methods Here, we analyzed RNA sensor expression, clinical significance, and possible mechanisms in CRC by combining bioinformatic analysis and the analysis on pre-cancerous animal model and clinical tissue samples. Results We found that most of the members of RNA sensors, including RNA-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLR3, TLR7, and TLR8) and RIG-I-like receptors (MDA5 and RIG-I), were down-regulated in CRC, while the expression of DDX21 were up-regulated in human CRC. In addition, we also analyzed the correlation between gene expression and cancer stages. We found that the expression of RNA-sensing TLRs, RIG-I, and DDX21 in CRC were associated with cancer stages. Finally, in order to explore the possible mechanisms, the correlation between RNA sensors and the main downstream signaling molecules were analyzed. A positive correlation was observed in TLR7/8 and MyD88, RIG-I/MDA5 and LGP2, while a negative correlation was observed in RIG-I/MDA5 and MAVS. Conclusions This study reveals the potential values of RNA-sensing genes including TLRs, RIG-I and DDX21 as biomarkers of CRC formation, progression and therapy.

BackgroundThe variable domain of camelid heavy-chain antibodies (VHH) is increasingly being adapted to detect small molecules in various matrices. The insecticide carbaryl is widely used in agriculture while its residues have posed a threat to food safety and human health.ResultsVHHs specific for carbaryl were generated from an alpaca immunized with the hapten CBR1 coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the VHH C1 and the coating antigen CBR2-BSA was developed for the detection of carbaryl in cereals. This assay, using an optimized assay buffer (pH6.5) containing 10% methanol and 0.8% NaCl, has a half-maximum signal inhibition concentration of 5.4ng mL-1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3ng mL-1 for carbaryl, and shows low cross reactivity (≤0.8%) with other tested carbamates. The LOD of carbaryl using the VHH-based ELISA was 36 ng g-1 in rice and maize and 72 ng g-1 in wheat. Recoveries of carbaryl in spiked rice, maize and wheat samples were in the range of 81-106%, 96-106% and 83-113%, respectively. Relative standard deviations of repeatability and intra-laboratory reproducibility were in the range of 0.8-9.2% and 2.9-9.7%, respectively.ConclusionThe VHH-based ELISA was highly effective in detecting carbaryl in cereal samples after simple sample extraction and dilution. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Triazophos is mainly used in Asian and African countries for the control of insects in agricultural production. Camelid variable domains of heavy-chain antibodies (VHHs) show great promise in monitoring environmental chemicals such as pesticides. To improve the rate of success in the generation of VHHs against triazophos, genes specifically encoding VHH fragments from the unique allotype IgG3a of an immunized Camelus bactrianus were amplified by using a pair of novel primers and introduced to construct a diverse VHH library. Five out of seven isolated positive clones, including the VHH T1 with the highest affinity to triazophos, were derived from the allotype IgG3a. A one-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using VHH T1 genetically fused with alkaline phosphatase (AP) had a half-maximum inhibition concentration of 6.6ng/mL for triazophos. This assay showed negligible cross-reactivity with a list of important organophosphate pesticides (

Megarthrusheise Zhang, Cuccodoro, Chen & Liu sp. nov. (Figs 1���40) Type material. Holotype, male, in cSch ��� CHINA, Qinghai province, Yunning si [lamasery], 2890 m, 36��45.6���N, 102��10.6���E, 1���2.VII.2005, J. H��jek, D. Kr��l & J. R��žička leg. [Ch 10]; individually under stones and logs, in excrements and on vegetation in coniferous forest ���. Paratypes: same data as holotype, 8 males and 5 females in cSch, 4 males and 2 females in MHNG, and 2 males and 2 females in SWUC; ��� CHINA, Qinghai province, Yunning Si [lamasery], 2890 m, 36��45.6���N, 102��10.6���E, 1���16.VII.2005, J. H��jek, D. Kr��l & J. R��žička leg. [Ch 10 & 19], baited pitfall traps (fish meat) withethylene glycol, wet coniferous forest, close valley above the village, M. Sch��lke ���, 6 males and 6 females in cSch, and 2 males and 2 females in MHNG; ��� CHINA, Qinghai prov., [CH11-16], road from Honggu to Men Yuan, 37��08���46������N, 102��14���58.7������E, 2473 m, river valley, forest edge, semi-open pasture, sifted from mushrooms, 3.VII.2011, leg. M. Sch��lke ���, 4 males and 3 females in cSch, and 1 male and 1 female in MHNG; ��� CHINA, Qinghai prov., [CH11- 09e], Daban Shan, 62 km NNW Honggu creek valley, Picea, Populus, Betula forest, 36��51���5���28������N, 102��36���34��������� 37���07������E, 2236���2350 m, creek valley, litter, dead wood & moss sifted, 10.VII.2011, leg. M. Sch��lke ���, 1 male in cSch; ��� CHINA [26], N-Sichuan, N Songpan, 33��15���26������N, 103��46���03������E, 2700 m, spruce forest with birch, 12.VIII. 2012, V. Assing ���, 1 female in cAss; ��� CHINA, W Sichuan. Kangding, 2800 m. 30��04N, 101��58E, 21.VII.1998, A. Smetana [C88]���, 1 malein MHNG; ��� CHINA, Sichuan province, Kangding (formerly Tatsienlu), 2900 m. 2.VII.1996, 30��03N, 102��02E, A. Smetana [C48]���, 2 males in MHNG; ��� CHINA, W. Sichuan province, Wassuland. Bzk. Sankiangkou, Coll. H. Becker ���, 1 female in SWUC; ��� CHINA, Gansu province, DAGCANGLHAMO (lamaseri) env., 34��04.6���N, 102��37.7E, 3644 m, J. H��jek, D. Kr��l & J. R��žička leg. [Ch6], in Marmota himalayana burrow on excrement of carnivore, alpine meadow with shrubs, on upper margin of coniferous forest, M. Sch��lke ���, 6 males in cSch; ��� CHINA, Gansu prov., [CH11-27], Lenglong Ling Mts., 60 km NNW Honggu, Jin Sha Gorge, mixed forest (Picea, Populus, Betula), 36��51���56.9������N, 102��38���55.3������E, litter, moss, mushrooms sifted, 12.VII.2011, leg. M. Sch��lke ���, 5 males and 5 females in cSch, and 2 males and 2 females in MHNG; ��� CHINA, Gansu province, Lazikou valley, 1946 m. 34��06.9���N, 103��53.7���E (GPS), 26���27.VI.2005. J. H��jek, D. Kr��l & J. Růžička leg., [Ch7] baited pitfalltraps (fish meat + cheese) withethylene glycol, mixedforest (Quercus, Pinus) onbankof the river ���, 1 male in cSch; ��� CHINA, Gansu province, Yonghai cca 20km. SW Yuzhong 2700���2800 m, 9.VIII.1994. A. Smetana [C34]���, 5 males and 5 females in MHNG, and 1 male and 1 female in SWUC; ��� CHINA, SW Gansu province, road YuZhong-Lanzhou/ Aganzhen SW of Yonghai, 2800 m. 8���9.VIII.1994, K.W. Anton ���, 1 malein MHNG; ��� CHINA, Gansu province, Xinglong Shan, cca 70km S Lanzhou, 2225���2380 m, 7.VIII.1994. A. Smetana [C32]���, 2 females in MHNG; ��� CHINA, Gansu province, 120 km. S Lanzhou Guanghe Xian Mai Jia. 2300 m, 8.VII.1994. A. Smetana [C3]���, 7 males and 2 females in MHNG, and 2 males and 1 female in SWUC; ��� CHINA, Shaanxi Daba Shan mtn. Range Npass 22 km NW Zhenping, 32��01���N, 109��21���E, 2850 m, 14. VII. 2001, A. Smetana [C10]���, 1 malein NMPC; ��� CHINA, Shanxi. Wutaishan, leaf litter. 4.���5.VI.1993. G. de Rougemont ���, 6 males and 6 females in MHNG, 1 male and 1 female in SWUC; ��� CHINA, Beijing, Xizolong men, Leaf litter. 28.���29.VI.1993. G. de Rougemont.��� 4 males MHNG and 2 males in SWUC; ��� CHINA, Beijing, Xizolong men, Leaf litter. 23.���25.VI.1993. G. de Rougemont.��� 1 female in MHNG. Description. Habitus as in Figs 1���3. Combined length of head, pronotum and elytra = 1.5���1.7 mm; maximal pronotal width = 0.8���0.9 mm. Body predominantly dark brown, with head and abdomen blackish, and appendages markedly paler. Dorsal pubescence fairly uniform, slightly shorter on abdomen, consisting of setae almost straight, recumbent; pubescence on frons sexually dimorphic, with medial setae directed backward; metaventral setae shorter than proventral setae; pubescence on abdominal tergites IV���VII parallel; sternites IV���VII each with two posteromedial macrosetae; sternites VI���VII with pubescence slightly denser posteromedially. Frons and vertex finely granulate; pronotum and elytra granulo-fossulate; prohypomeron almost smooth; metaventrite smooth in front metacoxae, coarsely punctate elsewhere. Frons above clypeus forming blunt ridge, the latter not carinate; mesal portion of disc slightly arcuate in lateral view; U���shaped frontal impression shallow. Temples slightly expanded just behind eyes, then abruptly narrowed, finely granulate. Occipital ridge indistinct. Antenna (Figs 6, 29) with scape fairly conical, not compressed; antennomere 11 ovoid, slightly compressed; pubescence markedly denser on antennomeres 5���11. Maxillary palpus with palpomere 3 about 1.5 timesas long as palpomere 2. Pronotum (Fig. 26) shallowlydepressed along posteriorportion of lateral edges; medial groove shallow, weakly convex in frontal view, almost straight in lateral view; hypomeron lacking transverse ridge. Scutellum triangle, with anterior margin rounded. Elytral disc shallowly depressed along lateral edge, without notable relief. Male. Frontoclypeal area, protarsomere 5, metaventrite, and abdominal sternites IV���VI unmodified. Pubescence on posterior portion of frons only slightly converging (Fig. 31). Protibia incrassate (Fig. 30). Protarsomere 1 possessing ventral patch of modified adhesive setae. Metatarsomere 1 approximately 1.5 times shorter than combined length of metatarsomeres 2���4. Peg-like setae absent from protrochanter, protibia, profemur and mesofemur (Figs 13���14); arranged in a row on mesotrochanter (Fig. 14); grouped in a field on mesotibia (Figs 10���11); metatrochanter with 2���3 peg-like setae (Figs 17���19); metafemur with upto 2 peg-like setae (Figs 17���19); arranged in 2 rows on metatibia (Figs 15���16). Abdominal tergite VIII as in Figs 12, 21; sternite VIII as in Fig. 20; hemitergite IX as in Fig 9. Aedeagus as in Figs 4���5, 7���8. Female. Pubescence on posterior portion of frons strongly converging (Fig. 32). Abdominal tergite VIII forming apical projection (Figs 27���28); sternite VIII as in Fig. 25. Genitalia as in Figs 22���24; dorsal part of genital segment (Fig. 24) forming 2 sclerotized arcuate sclerites; gonocoxal plate without dorsal or ventral medial ridges. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. Megarthrus heise sp. nov. and M. nitidulus are the only members of the genus to have a blackish body in combination with an adventral projection on the male metatibia. They share in common many other features, notably very similar genitalia, and therefore the new species was previously confused with M. nitidulus (Shen et al 2008). However, the males of M. heise have the metatibial peg-like setae restricted to its apical half except a single peg-like seta near apex of the adventral projection (Figs 15���16), while in M. nitidulus a loose row of 3 peg-like setae extend adventrally on metatibia to its adventral projection (Cuccodoro and L��bl 1997: Fig. 22d). In addition, the ventral outline of the aedeagal ventral wall in lateral view is sinuate in M. heise (Figs 4���5), while it is concave in M. nitidulus (Cuccodoro and L��bl 1997: Fig. 22b). Females of these two species can be distinguished by the shape of the dorsobasal margin of the gonocoxal plate���extended anterad and arcuate in M. heise (Figs 22���23) while straight in M. nitidulus (Cuccodoro and L��bl 1997: Figs 23 a���b)���and of their pair of dorsal genital sclerites���arcuate in M. heise (Fig. 24) while semicircular in M. nitidulus (Cuccodoro and L��bl 1997: Fig. 23c). Distribution and natural history. Megarthrus heise sp. nov. is distributed in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi provinces and Beijing of China, at elevations ranging from 1946 to 2900 m a.s.l. It was collected in coniferous or mixed forest (Betula, Picea, Pinus, Populus, Quercus), in creek valley, semi-open pasture, and alpine meadow, from samples of sifted leaf litter, mushrooms, mosses, dead wood, excrements of carnivores, at sight under stones and logs, or using baited pitfall traps (fish meat + cheese) with ethylene glycol. Etymology. The name of the new species means black in Chinese, with reference to its coloration. Noun in apposition. Note on teratological abdominal tergite VII. One male paratype of M. heise sp. nov. collected together with the holotype has a malformation of the penultimate visible abdominal tergite (i.e. tergite VII), in which the latter is entirely divided transversely in a tergite VII and a tergite VII��� (Figs 33, 34). That teratological specimen was well sclerotized and caught at sight, indicating that the malformation was non-lethal and apparently had little impact on its fitness. It is the first time, such an anormality is documented in the genus. No attempt was made to investigate this malformation further by dissection or clearing of the specimen, which is deposited in MHNG. Note on phoresy of Acari by Megarthrus. Seven paratypes of the new species collected together with the holotype appeared to bear 1 ��m long translucent structures attached to their body. According to us these structures are anal pedicels of deutonymphs of phoretic mites of Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) (Bajerlein & Błoszyk 2004, Halliday 2015). Such pedicels were found on specimens of both sexes of M. heise. The species of mite involved has apparently no particular preferences for attaching to a particular body part, as similar pedicels were located on the pronotum (Fig. 38), on the elytra (Figs 37, 39), on the abdomen (Fig. 37) and even on the eyes (Figs 35���36), with one specimen bearing up to 7 pedicels on the elytra (5) and abdomen (2) (Fig. 37). This observation, which is the first report of evidence of phoresy of mites by Megarthrus, indicates that members of M. heise are mobile enough to be used by phoretic mites as dispersal vectors, suggesting that the species particularly appreciates ephemeral microhabitats usually also suitable for the development of Uropodina mites, in particular excrements of mammals., Published as part of Zhang, Shan, Cuccodoro, Giulio, Chen, Li & Liu, Zhiping, 2021, Megarthrus of China. Part 3. Comments on the occurrence of Megarthrus nitidulus Kraatz, 1857 in China, and description of a new species, with notes on teratology and phoretic acari in the genus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae), pp. 554-564 in Zootaxa 4920 (4) on pages 555-562, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4920.4.6, http://zenodo.org/record/4491252, {"references":["Shen, S. J., Zhao, M. J. & Li, L. Z. (2008) Two new records of genus Megarthrus from China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Proteininae). Journal of Shanghai Normal University (Natural Sciences), 37 (2), 178 - 181.","Cuccodoro, G. & Lobl, I. (1997) Revision of the Palaearctic rove-beetles of the genus Megarthrus Curtis (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae). Journal of Natural History, 31, 1347 - 1415. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222939700770761","Bajerlein, D. & Bloszyk, J. (2004) Phoresy of Uropoda orbicularis (Acari: Mesostigmata) by beetles (Coleoptera) associated with cattle dung in Poland. European. Journal of Entomology, 101, 185 - 188. https: // doi. org / 10.14411 / eje. 2004.022","Halliday, R. B. (2015) Catalogue of genera and their type species in the mite Suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata). Zootaxa, 3972 (2), 101 - 147. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3972.2.1"]}

Megarthrusheise Zhang, Cuccodoro, Chen & Liu sp. nov. (Figs 1–40) Type material. Holotype, male, in cSch “ CHINA, Qinghai province, Yunning si [lamasery], 2890 m, 36°45.6’N, 102°10.6’E, 1–2.VII.2005, J. Hájek, D. Král & J. Rüžička leg. [Ch 10]; individually under stones and logs, in excrements and on vegetation in coniferous forest ”. Paratypes: same data as holotype, 8 males and 5 females in cSch, 4 males and 2 females in MHNG, and 2 males and 2 females in SWUC; “ CHINA, Qinghai province, Yunning Si [lamasery], 2890 m, 36°45.6’N, 102°10.6’E, 1–16.VII.2005, J. Hájek, D. Král & J. Rüžička leg. [Ch 10 & 19], baited pitfall traps (fish meat) withethylene glycol, wet coniferous forest, close valley above the village, M. Schülke ”, 6 males and 6 females in cSch, and 2 males and 2 females in MHNG; “ CHINA, Qinghai prov., [CH11-16], road from Honggu to Men Yuan, 37°08’46’’N, 102°14’58.7’’E, 2473 m, river valley, forest edge, semi-open pasture, sifted from mushrooms, 3.VII.2011, leg. M. Schülke ”, 4 males and 3 females in cSch, and 1 male and 1 female in MHNG; “ CHINA, Qinghai prov., [CH11- 09e], Daban Shan, 62 km NNW Honggu creek valley, Picea, Populus, Betula forest, 36°51’5–28’’N, 102°36’34’’– 37’07’’E, 2236–2350 m, creek valley, litter, dead wood & moss sifted, 10.VII.2011, leg. M. Schülke ”, 1 male in cSch; “ CHINA [26], N-Sichuan, N Songpan, 33°15’26’’N, 103°46’03’’E, 2700 m, spruce forest with birch, 12.VIII. 2012, V. Assing ”, 1 female in cAss; “ CHINA, W Sichuan. Kangding, 2800 m. 30°04N, 101°58E, 21.VII.1998, A. Smetana [C88]”, 1 malein MHNG; “ CHINA, Sichuan province, Kangding (formerly Tatsienlu), 2900 m. 2.VII.1996, 30°03N, 102°02E, A. Smetana [C48]”, 2 males in MHNG; “ CHINA, W. Sichuan province, Wassuland. Bzk. Sankiangkou, Coll. H. Becker ”, 1 female in SWUC; “ CHINA, Gansu province, DAGCANGLHAMO (lamaseri) env., 34°04.6’N, 102°37.7E, 3644 m, J. Hájek, D. Král & J. Rüžička leg. [Ch6], in Marmota himalayana burrow on excrement of carnivore, alpine meadow with shrubs, on upper margin of coniferous forest, M. Schülke ”, 6 males in cSch; “ CHINA, Gansu prov., [CH11-27], Lenglong Ling Mts., 60 km NNW Honggu, Jin Sha Gorge, mixed forest (Picea, Populus, Betula), 36°51’56.9’’N, 102°38’55.3’’E, litter, moss, mushrooms sifted, 12.VII.2011, leg. M. Schülke ”, 5 males and 5 females in cSch, and 2 males and 2 females in MHNG; “ CHINA, Gansu province, Lazikou valley, 1946 m. 34°06.9′N, 103°53.7′E (GPS), 26–27.VI.2005. J. Hájek, D. Král & J. Růžička leg., [Ch7] baited pitfalltraps (fish meat + cheese) withethylene glycol, mixedforest (Quercus, Pinus) onbankof the river ”, 1 male in cSch; “ CHINA, Gansu province, Yonghai cca 20km. SW Yuzhong 2700–2800 m, 9.VIII.1994. A. Smetana [C34]”, 5 males and 5 females in MHNG, and 1 male and 1 female in SWUC; “ CHINA, SW Gansu province, road YuZhong-Lanzhou/ Aganzhen SW of Yonghai, 2800 m. 8–9.VIII.1994, K.W. Anton ”, 1 malein MHNG; “ CHINA, Gansu province, Xinglong Shan, cca 70km S Lanzhou, 2225–2380 m, 7.VIII.1994. A. Smetana [C32]”, 2 females in MHNG; “ CHINA, Gansu province, 120 km. S Lanzhou Guanghe Xian Mai Jia. 2300 m, 8.VII.1994. A. Smetana [C3]”, 7 males and 2 females in MHNG, and 2 males and 1 female in SWUC; “ CHINA, Shaanxi Daba Shan mtn. Range Npass 22 km NW Zhenping, 32°01’N, 109°21’E, 2850 m, 14. VII. 2001, A. Smetana [C10]”, 1 malein NMPC; “ CHINA, Shanxi. Wutaishan, leaf litter. 4.–5.VI.1993. G. de Rougemont ”, 6 males and 6 females in MHNG, 1 male and 1 female in SWUC; “ CHINA, Beijing, Xizolong men, Leaf litter. 28.–29.VI.1993. G. de Rougemont.” 4 males MHNG and 2 males in SWUC; “ CHINA, Beijing, Xizolong men, Leaf litter. 23.–25.VI.1993. G. de Rougemont.” 1 female in MHNG. Description. Habitus as in Figs 1–3. Combined length of head, pronotum and elytra = 1.5–1.7 mm; maximal pronotal width = 0.8–0.9 mm. Body predominantly dark brown, with head and abdomen blackish, and appendages markedly paler. Dorsal pubescence fairly uniform, slightly shorter on abdomen, consisting of setae almost straight, recumbent; pubescence on frons sexually dimorphic, with medial setae directed backward; metaventral setae shorter than proventral setae; pubescence on abdominal tergites IV–VII parallel; sternites IV–VII each with two posteromedial macrosetae; sternites VI–VII with pubescence slightly denser posteromedially. Frons and vertex finely granulate; pronotum and elytra granulo-fossulate; prohypomeron almost smooth; metaventrite smooth in front metacoxae, coarsely punctate elsewhere. Frons above clypeus forming blunt ridge, the latter not carinate; mesal portion of disc slightly arcuate in lateral view; U–shaped frontal impression shallow. Temples slightly expanded just behind eyes, then abruptly narrowed, finely granulate. Occipital ridge indistinct. Antenna (Figs 6, 29) with scape fairly conical, not compressed; antennomere 11 ovoid, slightly compressed; pubescence markedly denser on antennomeres 5–11. Maxillary palpus with palpomere 3 about 1.5 timesas long as palpomere 2. Pronotum (Fig. 26) shallowlydepressed along posteriorportion of lateral edges; medial groove shallow, weakly convex in frontal view, almost straight in lateral view; hypomeron lacking transverse ridge. Scutellum triangle, with anterior margin rounded. Elytral disc shallowly depressed along lateral edge, without notable relief. Male. Frontoclypeal area, protarsomere 5, metaventrite, and abdominal sternites IV–VI unmodified. Pubescence on posterior portion of frons only slightly converging (Fig. 31). Protibia incrassate (Fig. 30). Protarsomere 1 possessing ventral patch of modified adhesive setae. Metatarsomere 1 approximately 1.5 times shorter than combined length of metatarsomeres 2–4. Peg-like setae absent from protrochanter, protibia, profemur and mesofemur (Figs 13–14); arranged in a row on mesotrochanter (Fig. 14); grouped in a field on mesotibia (Figs 10–11); metatrochanter with 2–3 peg-like setae (Figs 17–19); metafemur with upto 2 peg-like setae (Figs 17–19); arranged in 2 rows on metatibia (Figs 15–16). Abdominal tergite VIII as in Figs 12, 21; sternite VIII as in Fig. 20; hemitergite IX as in Fig 9. Aedeagus as in Figs 4–5, 7–8. Female. Pubescence on posterior portion of frons strongly converging (Fig. 32). Abdominal tergite VIII forming apical projection (Figs 27–28); sternite VIII as in Fig. 25. Genitalia as in Figs 22–24; dorsal part of genital segment (Fig. 24) forming 2 sclerotized arcuate sclerites; gonocoxal plate without dorsal or ventral medial ridges. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. Megarthrus heise sp. nov. and M. nitidulus are the only members of the genus to have a blackish body in combination with an adventral projection on the male metatibia. They share in common many other features, notably very similar genitalia, and therefore the new species was previously confused with M. nitidulus (Shen et al 2008). However, the males of M. heise have the metatibial peg-like setae restricted to its apical half except a single peg-like seta near apex of the adventral projection (Figs 15–16), while in M. nitidulus a loose row of 3 peg-like setae extend adventrally on metatibia to its adventral projection (Cuccodoro and Löbl 1997: Fig. 22d). In addition, the ventral outline of the aedeagal ventral wall in lateral view is sinuate in M. heise (Figs 4–5), while it is concave in M. nitidulus (Cuccodoro and Löbl 1997: Fig. 22b). Females of these two species can be distinguished by the shape of the dorsobasal margin of the gonocoxal plate—extended anterad and arcuate in M. heise (Figs 22–23) while straight in M. nitidulus (Cuccodoro and Löbl 1997: Figs 23 a–b)—and of their pair of dorsal genital sclerites—arcuate in M. heise (Fig. 24) while semicircular in M. nitidulus (Cuccodoro and Löbl 1997: Fig. 23c). Distribution and natural history. Megarthrus heise sp. nov. is distributed in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi provinces and Beijing of China, at elevations ranging from 1946 to 2900 m a.s.l. It was collected in coniferous or mixed forest (Betula, Picea, Pinus, Populus, Quercus), in creek valley, semi-open pasture, and alpine meadow, from samples of sifted leaf litter, mushrooms, mosses, dead wood, excrements of carnivores, at sight under stones and logs, or using baited pitfall traps (fish meat + cheese) with ethylene glycol. Etymology. The name of the new species means black in Chinese, with reference to its coloration. Noun in apposition. Note on teratological abdominal tergite VII. One male paratype of M. heise sp. nov. collected together with the holotype has a malformation of the penultimate visible abdominal tergite (i.e. tergite VII), in which the latter is entirely divided transversely in a tergite VII and a tergite VII’ (Figs 33, 34). That teratological specimen was well sclerotized and caught at sight, indicating that the malformation was non-lethal and apparently had little impact on its fitness. It is the first time, such an anormality is documented in the genus. No attempt was made to investigate this malformation further by dissection or clearing of the specimen, which is deposited in MHNG. Note on phoresy of Acari by Megarthrus. Seven paratypes of the new species collected together with the holotype appeared to bear 1 μm long translucent structures attached to their body. According to us these structures are anal pedicels of deutonymphs of phoretic mites of Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) (Bajerlein & Błoszyk 2004, Halliday 2015). Such pedicels were found on specimens of both sexes of M. heise. The species of mite involved has apparently no particular preferences for attaching to a particular body part, as similar pedicels were located on the pronotum (Fig. 38), on the elytra (Figs 37, 39), on the abdomen (Fig. 37) and even on the eyes (Figs 35–36), with one specimen bearing up to 7 pedicels on the elytra (5) and abdomen (2) (Fig. 37). This observation, which is the first report of evidence of phoresy of mites by Megarthrus, indicates that members of M. heise are mobile enough to be used by phoretic mites as dispersal vectors, suggesting that the species particularly appreciates ephemeral microhabitats usually also suitable for the development of Uropodina mites, in particular excrements of mammals.

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Shannon analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing results from gut microbiota of siblings of WT and Dock2−/− mice. Shannon index in alpha diversity analysis of microbial community was shown. A represented the siblings of WT mice before cage division, B represented the siblings of Dock2−/− mice before cage division, C represented siblings of WT mice at 6 weeks after cage division, and D represented the siblings of Dock2−/− mice at 6 weeks after cage division. Figure S2. Shannon analysis of 16S rRNA gene Sequencing results from WT and Dock2−/− mouse gut microbiota before and after cohousing. Shannon index in alpha diversity analysis of microbial community was shown. CB-W represented WT mice before cohousing, CB-K represented Dock2−/− mice before cohousing, CA-W represented WT mice at 4 weeks after cohousing, and CA-K represented Dock2−/− mice after cohousing. Figure S3. chao1 analysis of 16S rRNA Sequencing results from WT and Dock2−/− gut microbiota before and after transfer to WT mice. Chao1 index in alpha diversity analysis of microbial community was shown. AB represented mice before streptomycin treatment; FB-W represented WT mice before transfer, after which they were transferred with WT gut microbiota; FB-K represented for WT mice before transfer, after which they were transferred with Dock2−/− mouse gut microbiota. FA-W represented WT mice which received WT mouse microbiota; FA-K represented WT mice which received Dock2−/− mouse microbiota.

Megarthrus budai Liu and Cuccodoro, sp. nov. (Figs 8-9, 12-39) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 836693E2-8AB5-4D0C-99A7-F61FAE36CD25 Type material. Holotype, male ��� China: Sichuan, Emei Shan, N29��33���00������ E103��21���38������, 28.v.2011, 1639m, sift08, V. Grebennikov ���(MHNG). Paratypes: same data as holotype, 1 male in SWUC and 3 females, in MHNG; ��� China, Sichuan, Emei Shan, N29��33���04������ E103��21���19������, 25.v.2011, 1729m, sift05, V. Grebennikov ���, 1 male and 5 females in MHNG and 1 female in SWUC. Description. Habitus as in Figs 14-16. Combined length of head, pronotum, and elytra 1.7-1.9 mm; maximal pronotal width 0.9-1.1 mm. Body predominantly chestnut brown, with head darker and appendages slightly paler, and lateral portions of pronotum markedly paler. Dorsal pubescence fairly uniform, but denser on basal portion of elytra; pubescence on frons converging, with medial setae directed backward; metaventral setae shorter than proventral setae, becoming longer anteriorly; pubescence on abdominal tergites IV-VII parallel; sternites IV-VII with few longer setae posteromedially, but apparently lacking macrosetae. Frons and vertex finely granulate; pronotum and elytra granulo-fossulate; prohypomeron almost smooth (Fig. 9); metaventrite coarsely punctate laterally, almost smooth in middle. Frons above clypeus forming sharp ridge, the latter very finely carinate; mesal portion of disc weakly convex in lateral view, evenly; U-shaped frontal impression shallow. Temples slightly expanded just behind eyes, then abruptly narrowed, almost smooth. Occipital ridge indistinct. Antenna (Fig. 32) with scape fairly conical, not compressed; short and dense pubescence present only on antennomeres 5-11; antennomere 11 rather ovoid, slightly compressed. Pronotum as in Fig. 8; hypomera lacking transverse ridge (Fig. 9). Scutellum with anterior margin rounded. Elytral disc without notable relief. Male. Frontoclypeal area, protarsomere 5, metaventrite, and abdominal sternites IV-VI unmodified. Protarsomere 1 possessing ventral patch of modified adhesive setae (Figs 12-13). Metatarsomere 1 about 1.3 times as long as combined length of metatarsomeres 2-4. Peg-like setae absent from protrochanter, metatrochanter, femur, and protibia; arranged in a row on mesotrochanter (Fig. 19); grouped in a field on mesotibiae (Figs 23-24) and metatibiae (Figs 25-26). Metaventrite markedly swollen in middle. Abdominal tergite VIII as in Figs 20, 22; sternite VIII as in Fig. 17; hemitergites IX as in Fig. 29; sternite IX without subbasal medial protuberance. Aedeagus as in Figs 27-28, 30-31. Female. Abdominal tergite VIII (Figs 37-38) forming a medioapical projection; sternite VIII as in Fig. 36. Genitalia as in Figs 33-35. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. In the Palaearctic and Oriental regions Megarthrus budai is easily distinguished from its congeners by its deplanate pronotum in combination with the absence of a hypomeral ridge, the presence of short and dense pubescence only on the antennomeres 5-11, and the scape fairly conical and not compressed. Its sexual characters are also diagnostic. The new species possesses a ventral patch of modified adhesive setae on the male protarsomere (Figs 12-13), a feature uniquely shared in the genus by all the members of the M. depressus supergroup (Cuccodoro 2011). However, neither the shape of its aedeagus nor the male modifications of the legs resemble any of the species currently included in this main lineage of Megarthrus, and thus its affinities remain unclear. Distribution and natural history. Megarthrus budai sp. nov. is endemic to Mount Emei of Sichuan province in China (Fig. 39), where it was collected from sifted litter, at elevations ranging from approximately 1600 to 1750 m a.s.l. Etymology. The new species is named after the tenth-century Buddhist monk Budai, famous for his representations with a laughing face and round stomach, with reference to the swollen metaventrite of the males of this species. Name in apposition., Published as part of Liu, Zhiping & Cuccodoro, Giulio, 2020, Megarthrus of China. Part 2. Megarthrus basicornis Fauvel, 1904 with description of a new species from Mount Emei (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae), pp. 124-134 in Zootaxa 4895 (1) on pages 130-134, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4895.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/4321565, {"references":["Cuccodoro, G. (2011) Megarthrus of Taiwan, with notes on phylogenetic relationships within the genus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae). Studies and reports, Taxonomical Series, 7 (1 - 2), 25 - 92."]}

Megarthrus basicornis Fauvel, 1904 (Figs 1-7, 10-11, 39) Megarthrus basicornis Fauvel, 1904: 87; Cuccodoro, 2003: 366 (redescription). Diagnosis. For detailed morphology see Cuccodoro (2003). Habitus as in Figs 1-3. Combined length of head, pronotum, and elytra 1.6-1.7 mm; maximal pronotal width = 0.8-0.9 mm. Body uniformly dark brown, with appendages slightly paler; antennomeres 1-4 paler than antennomeres 5-11. Dorsal pubescence uniform; pubescence on frons converging, with medial setae directed backward; metaventral setae shorter than proventral setae, fairly uniform; antenna with short and dense pubescence present only on antennomeres 5-11; abdominal pubescence converging on tergites IV-V; each sternite bearing a pair of long posteromedial setae. Frons above clypeus forming sharp ridge, the latter not carinate; temples abruptly narrowed just behind eyes, almost smooth; occipital ridge indistinct; pronotum (Fig. 6) only slightly larger than elytra at base; prohypomeron punctate, lacking transverse ridge (Fig. 7); elytron abruptly narrowed basally. Male. Frontoclypeal area, protarsomere 5, metasternum and abdominal sternites IV-VI unmodified. Protarsomere 1 without ventral patch of modified adhesive setae (Figs 10-11). Mesofemur about as long as metafemur. Mesotibia about as long as metatibia. Peg-like setae absent from protibia, metatrochanter and metafemur, and arranged in a single row on mesotrochanter, mesotibia, and metatibia. Aedeagus as in Figs 4-5. Female. Abdominal tergite VIII without medioapical projection. Additional material examined (2 specimens). ��� China, Yunnan, Dali Bai Aut. Pref., Wuliang Shan, 9km SW Weishan, 25��10���15.5������N, 100��14���21.8������E, 2480m, scrub with (oak, alder, pine), litter & mushrooms sifted, 14.IX.2009, leg., M. Sch��lke [CH09-51]���, 1 male in cSch; ��� China, Yunnan, Gaoligong Shan, pass SW Baoshan, 4.-6.VI.2006, Jeni�����, 1 male in NMPC. Distribution and natural history. The species was known so far only from in India (Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and West Bengal) and Nepal (Mid-Western, Western, and Central Regions) (Fauvel 1904, Cuccodoro 2003), and it is reported here for the first time from China (Yunnan Province) (Fig 39). It occurs at elevations ranging from 1750 to 2950 m a.s.l., mainly in samples of forest leaf litter with decaying wood and fungi. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. Megarthrus basicornis may be easily distinguished from the other Megarthrus species known so far to occur in China by its uniformly dark brown body color, in combination with the elytra abruptly narrowed basally, and the abdominal pubescence converging on tergites IV-V. Its sexual characters are also diagnostic. This species is particularly notable because on the one hand it possesses many features found elsewhere in the genus almost exclusively in members of the M. depressus supergroup of species, such as the proventral pubescence longer than the metaventral pubescence and the presence of a pair of long posteromedial setae on each abdominal sternite in combination with the absence of a prohypomeral ridge, but on the other hand it lacks a ventral patch of modified adhesive setae on the male first protarsomere (Figs 10-11), which is the only character uniquely shared by all the members of this supergroup of species. The presence of a tuft of long setae at base of the aedeagal dorsal valve is unique within the genus., Published as part of Liu, Zhiping & Cuccodoro, Giulio, 2020, Megarthrus of China. Part 2. Megarthrus basicornis Fauvel, 1904 with description of a new species from Mount Emei (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae), pp. 124-134 in Zootaxa 4895 (1) on pages 126-128, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4895.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/4321565, {"references":["Fauvel, A. (1904) Staphylinides exotiques nouveaux, 2. Revue d'entomologie, 23, 76 - 112.","Cuccodoro, G. (2003) A revision of Megarthrus Curtis of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Proteininae). In: Cuccodoro, G. & Leschen, R. A. B. (Eds.), Systematics of Coleoptera: Papers celebrating the retirement of Ivan Lobl. Memoirs on Entomology. Vol. 17. International, Gainesville, pp. 359 - 455."]}

In this work, a series of Biotin-substituted B-nor-cholesteryl benzimidazole compounds were synthesized. The antiproliferative activities of these compounds were evaluated in vitro using a series of human cancer cell lines, including HeLa (cervical cancer), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer), T-47D (thymus gland cancer), MCF-7 (human breast cancer) and HEK293T (normal renal epithelial) cells. These compounds displayed distinct antiproliferative activities against the currently tested cancer cells. The apoptotic properties induced by compound 6d were further investigated. Our results showed that compound 6d could induce the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells, blocking the cell growth in S-phase. Western blotting analyses revealed that compound 6d can induce cell apoptosis via the mitochondria-dependent pathway.

We aim to explore the relationship between early-onset diabetes and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with microalbuminuria. A total of 461 T2DM patients with microalbuminuria were enrolled. Subjects were defined as early-onset or late-onset based on the age at which they were diagnosed with diabetes (

Megarthrus chujiao Liu and Cuccodoro, sp. nov. (Figs. 3���29) Type material. Holotype, male ��� China: N-Sichuan [CH12-26], 70km N Songpan, road S 301, above Gan lake, 33��15���26������N, 103��46���03������E, 2700m, spruce forest with birch, litter, mushroom, moss, and dead wood sifted, 12.VIII.2012, M. Sch��lke ��� (cSch). Paratypes: same data as holotype, 6 males, in cSch, MHNG and SWUC; ��� China [26]���N-Sichuan, N Songpan, 33��15���26������N, 103��46���03������E, 2700m, spruce forest with birch, 12.viii.2012, V. Assing���, 2 males in cAss and MHNG; ��� China, W-Sichuan (13) Daxue Shan, Hailuogou Glacier Park, Camp 1, 2100m, 29��36���00������N, 102��03���35������E, 27.��� 31.05.1997, M. Sch��lke ���, 1 male and 1 female, in MHNG and cSch; ��� China: Sichuan, Gongga Shan, above Camp 2 [29��57��� N, 102��00��� E], 2850m, 26.VII.1994, A. Smetana, [C25]���, 1 male, in MHNG; ��� China: Yunnan: [CH07-28], Nujiang Lisu Aut. Pref., Gaoligong Shan, side valley 19km NW Liuku, 25��59���02������N, 98��42���23������E, 2730m, devast, prim, forest, litter sifted, 9.VI.2007, A. P��tz ���, 4 males, in MHNG and cP��t. Description. Habitus as in Figs. 3���4. Combined length of head, pronotum and elytra 1.8���2.1 mm; maximal pronotal width= 0.9���1.1 mm. Body and appendages predominantly rust brown, with head darker. Pubescence on frons convergent, with medial setae directed backward; metaventral setae slightly shorter than proventral setae, becoming longer anteriorly; pubescence on abdominal tergites IV���VII convergent; that on sternites IV���VII with few longer setae posteromedially, but apparently lacking macrosetae. Frons and vertex finely granulate; pronotum and elytra granulo-fossulate; prohypomera almost smooth; metaventrite coarsely punctate laterally, almost smooth in middle. Frons above clypeus forming sharp ridge, the latter not carinate; mesal portion of disc weakly convex in lateral view, evenly; U-shaped frontal impression shallow. Temples abruptly narrowed just behind eyes, almost smooth. Occipital ridge indistinct. Antenna (Fig. 25) with scape rather conical, not compressed; short and dense pubescence present only on antennomeres 5���11; antennomere 11 evenly expanded on basal two-thirds and apically rounded, slightly compressed. Pronotum (Fig. 27) with hypomera lacking transverse ridge. Scutellum with anterior margin rounded. Elytral disc without notable relief. Male. Frontoclypeal area, protarsomeres 5, metaventrite and abdominal sternites 4���6 unmodified. Protarsomeres 1 possessing ventral patch of modified adhesive setae. Metatarsomere 1 about 1.3 times as long as combined length of metatarsomeres 2���4. Peg-like setae absent from protrochanters, metatrochanters and metafemora; arranged disjunctly in 1���2 rows on protibiae (Figs. 16���17); grouped in a field on mesotrochanters (Figs. 12���13); arranged in two rows on mesotibiae (Figs. 18���19); arranged a in single row on metatibiae, the latter prolonged apically by cluster of long setae (Fig. 20). Abdominal tergite VIII as in Figs. 7, 10; sternite VIII as in Fig. 11; hemitergites IX as in Fig. 15; sternite IX without subbasal medial protuberance. Aedeagus as in Figs. 5���6, 8���9. Female. Abdominal tergite VIII (Figs. 28���29) without medioapical projection; sternite VIII as in Fig. 26. Genitalia (Figs. 22���24) with membranose dorsal part of genital segment slightly sclerotized in middle and dark yellow; gonocoxal plate without dorsal or ventral medial ridges. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. Megarthrus chujiao and M. antennalis (Figs. 1���2) are the only members of the genus to have the metatibia prolonged apically by a cluster of long seta in the male. They are also the only Oriental Megarthrus to possess protibial peg-like setae in the male. These two species can be easily distinguished by males having the shape of the aedeagal ventral wall evenly narrowed toward apex in M. chujiao while it is abruptly narrowed at base in M. antennalis, and in females by the presence in M. chujiao of a pigmented weakly sclerotized mediobasal area on the dorsal part of genital segment (Fig. 24), which is absent in M. antennalis (see Cuccodoro 2003: Fig. 7e). Distribution and natural history. Megarthrus chujiao is endemic to the Hengduan Mountains of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in China, where it was collected in spruce-birch forests, from sifted leaf litter, mushroom, moss and dead wood, at elevations ranging from 2100 to 2850 m a.s.l. Etymology. The name of the new species means antenna in Chinese., Published as part of Liu, Zhiping & Cuccodoro, Giulio, 2020, Megarthrus of China. Part 1. Description of a new species resembling M. antennalis Cameron, 1941 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae), pp. 269-276 in Zootaxa 4750 (2) on pages 270-275, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4750.2.10, http://zenodo.org/record/3707291, {"references":["Cuccodoro, G. (2003) A revision of Megarthrus Curtis of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Proteininae). In: Cuccodoro, G. & Leschen, R. A. B. (Eds.), Systematics of Coleoptera: Papers celebrating the retirement of Ivan Lobl. Memoirs on Entomology, International, Gainesville, 17, pp. 359 - 455."]}

This study evaluates the possibility of a cascade failure by developing a coupled breach-modeling platform based on one-dimensional flow modeling of the river channel, flood propagation, regulation process of reservoir fluctuation, overtopping with breaching, and wave damping downstream. A hyperbolic model of the DB-IWHR was embedded into the platform to simulate the dam breaching process. Five breach models and software were used to calculate the Tangjiashan barrier lake breaching. The results of a sensitivity study were then compared with the measured data. The peak flow and the time of occurrence were confirmed to be predictable with a reasonable accuracy if the input values were within ranges appropriate for the model. The approach was applied to a case involving two layout planning schemes for a cascade of rock-filled dams under extreme operating conditions. The probability of the failure of a key control cascade downstream caused by a continuous cascade breach upstream was simulated. Moreover, measures to prevent the transmission of risk by advance warnings were investigated. The proposed methodology and the discharge capacity measures provide guidelines to assess the risk to a cascade of dams under extreme operating conditions and offer support for the design criteria of unusual discharge structures for very large dams.

In situ measurement of the ice thickness and water depth distributions in a river, canal, or lake is one of the most important means of measuring and responding to an ice flood. In view of the shortcomings of the use of single-frequency ground penetrating radar (GPR) for simultaneous measurement of ice thickness and water depth, a double-frequency GPR with 100 and 1500 MHz antennas was developed in the present study. To avoid interference between the two antennas with different frequencies, there is a 15-ms time-sharing operation. Similarity analysis of neighboring GPR signals was used to obtain the accuracy value of two-way travel time. The proposed GPR system also enables the real-time determination of the longitude and latitude coordinates of the measurement site using a real-time kinematic (RTK) system. The system measured the ice thickness and water depth at 97 and 99 sites, respectively, in the Mohe section of the Heilongjiang River, and the Togtoh, Inner Mongolia section of the Yellow River; both in China. Comparison of the measurements to those obtained by traditional drill-hole methods, yielded a mean value of absolute errors of 0.12 m and 0.04 m for water depth and ice thickness, respectively. The system was further used to measure the distribution of the ice thickness and water depth over a distance of 0.5 km in the Longdao Wharf section of the Heilongjiang River, and over a distance of 67 km in the Mohe section of the river,between the entrance of the Luogu River and Beiji village. The measurement results indicate that the developed double-frequency GPR is suitable for in situ measurement of ice thickness and water depth in rivers during ice periods.

A piano key weir (PKW) is a new type of labyrinth weir that increases the unit discharge at the unregulated spillway inlet of the weir. It is considered to be an important structure in water supply and drainage systems. However, its complex geometry makes it difficult to achieve an optimal hydraulic design, and only a few design equations and criteria are available. This study investigates the discharge capacity of a PKW and evaluates the characteristics of its discharge using various sources of experimental data from a database. First, previously proposed discharge capacity formulas are summarized and analyzed. Then, a new formula that integrates the existing test data with the results of dimensional analysis and multiparameter optimization is proposed. The weir characteristics are evaluated using the proposed formula and a mathematical model. The results show that both the proposed formula and numerical model are promising approaches to evaluate the discharge capacity of an A-type PKW and can guide its design.

A two-dimensional water quality numerical model has been developed to analyse the influence of adsorption boundary on the variation of water pollutant degradation. The characteristic finite element method is adopted to solve the discrete pollutant concentration equations, so the time-monotonicity of concentration is ensured in the convection-dominated flow field with various adsorption conditions. The second-order Runge–Kutta method is adopted to track the upstream concentration source points along the streamline, so the precision of the calculated pollutant concentration is improved even under the streamline sharp-bending condition. The flow roughness and pollutant degradation coefficient are formulated by elements according to the actual situation, so the model can quantitatively analyse the effect of various ecological restoration schemes on purification capacity in water areas. The adaptability and robustness of the model were verified by a typical engineering case, where the calculated results coincide with the measured data.

Mobile underwater wireless sensor networks (MUWSNs) play an important role in monitoring the marine environment. Many existing research works have engaged on the deployment optimization. Typical examples include rebuilding the network by moving sensors or healing coverage holes using mobile sensors. However, they didn’t make full use of dynamic characteristics of mobile sensors. This paper focuses on the scheduling problem of MUWSNs that consist of a small number of mobile sensors and a large number of fixed ones. To solve the problem, we take mobile sensors as cluster heads to formulate the problem as a multi-objective dynamic scheduling model of fixed sensors as mobile ones move. Then, a dynamic multi-objective cooperative coevolutionary optimization algorithm is developed through decomposing decision variables, designing a strategy to respond environmental changes, and a collaborative strategy for generating an approximate Pareto-optimal set. The feasibility of the proposed optimization model and the effectiveness of its solving algorithm is empirically demonstrated.

Background: The modification of steroidal structure is commonly used to change the biological activity of steroids in medicinal chemistry. Some steroids containing heterocycles exhibit distinct cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines and have been receiving wide attention over the years by medicinal chemists for drug discovery. Methods: Using pregnenolone and stigmasterol as starting materials, via different chemical reaction, two series of heterosteroids with side chain of 20- and 22-hydrazone aromatic cycles or heterocycles in their structures were synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR and HRMS. The antiproliferative activity of the compounds in vitro was evaluated against human HT-29, HeLa, Bel 7404 and SGC 7901 cancer cells by MTT assays. Results: The steroidal compounds with side chain of 20-hydrazone aromatic cycles or heterocycles exhibited distinct cytotoxicity. However, analogues with the side chain of 22-hydrazone resulted in a dramatic decrease of the cytotoxicity. The result of Annexin V assay showed that the 20-hydrazone compounds were potent apoptotic inducers against these carcinoma cells. Conclusion: Steroidal compounds with the side-chain of 20-hydrazone aromatic heterocycles exhibit distinct antiproliferative activity in vitro. However, the compounds with the side-chain of 22-hydrazone aromatic heterocycle decreased the cytotoxicity of the compounds.

The microstrip patch antenna sensor is a novel sensor used for structural health monitoring which can measure a metal structure’s crack defects in a wireless manner. However, it is difficult to identify the reflected signal from the signal of an antenna sensor. The radio-frequency identification (RFID) antenna sensor, which combines RFID technology and the microstrip patch antenna sensor, can solve the measurement problems that are difficult to the conventional wireless testing technologies. In this study, a dual-chip RFID antenna sensor was designed. The influence of the wireless testing method on the monitoring results of crack defects was investigated by tests, including the wireless tests of resonant frequency and the crack sensitivity tests. The tests results revealed that the antenna sensor had good wireless testing performance with regard to the metal structure’s crack defects. Additionally, the maximum of wireless identification distance reached 1.96 m.

Using cholesterol as a starting material, two novel steroidal thiadiazole derivatives possessing a structure of A-homo lactam and a B-nor steroidal skeleton were designed and synthesized by six steps of reactions, and their antiproliferative activities were assayed against various cancer cell lines. The result shows that compound 7b displays an excellent selective inhibition to A-549 (human lung carcinoma) cancer cell lines with an IC50 value of 8.0 μM.

A new digital1 copyright works management system for protection, trading and distribution based on DOSA (Data Ownership Security Architecture) can overcome the defects of existing systems. DOSA is an architecture for data protection and application by using digital certification authentication and public key infrastructure. To realize the digital copyright works management needs three steps: a) the determination of rights and the protection of the digital copyright works through the author's public key encryption and registration; b) the trading and distribution of the digital copyright works through the data ownership authorization; and c) the tracing and finding the sources of digital copyright works through the processes of authorization records.

In engineering welding structures, crack defects easily occur due to various materials and joint forms. In this paper, to ensure structural safety, a microstrip antenna sensor line array was designed and analyzed for monitoring of weld cracks. The crack monitoring sensitivity of the antenna sensor is defined as the amount of antenna frequency shift for 1 mm of crack length growth. The patch size was determined to be 100  60 mm, which was based on the influence of patch size on sensor monitoring sensitivity. The distance of array elements was determined by the experiments of array element distance and crack propagation. The line array of microstrip antenna sensor was fabricated, and the experiment of weld crack identification was performed. The signals of each array element were distinguished according to the principle of delay line. The experimental results show that the sensor array can accurately identify the weld crack location according to the shift of resonant frequency. And the crack monitoring sensitivity of the sensor array reaches about 5 MHz/mm.

A new shaft spillway composed of an inlet structure that includes inlet swirling-flow-generating piers, an annular weir, a vertical shaft, and an outlet structure is presented. Major factor...

This article presents a stochastic splash model for analysing the artificial rainfall caused by flood discharge splash in large hydropower stations. In this model, the splash phenomenon is considered as a random process, the flight paths of the splashed droplets are tracked by solving the particle motion equations, and the volume of each droplet is accumulated into a grid on the ground corresponding to its landing coordinates. A neural network was employed to compute the wind velocity vectors and the ground elevations to control the droplet motion and flight time. Thus, the model can account for the influence of the wind field and natural terrain on the rainfall distribution. An indoor splash experiment and field measurements were conducted to compare the measured data with the numerical results, and they showed satisfactory agreement.

During the weld defect detection, the heat transfer characteristics are closely related to the material properties of welded structure. Based on the electromagnetic induction infrared thermography technology, the heat transfer Characteristics of the welded material are studied with the changing temperature. By using the finite element analysis software COMSOL, the eddy current density and temperature distributions and the law of thermal diffusion were analyzed which provide a reference for the study of heat transfer characteristics of weld defects. The internal temperature dynamic changes of the weld with surface crack or near-surface crack were also discussed. The appropriate time to observe and the key defect location on the steel obtained from the heat conduction process can be applied to the development of heat transfer characteristic analysis for steel weld and weld defects detection.

Steroidal compounds exhibit particular physiological activities. In this paper, some steroidal thiosemicarbazones platinum (Pt(II)) complexes were synthesized by the condensation of steroidal ketones with thiosemicarbazide using estrone, chenodeoxycholic acid, and 7-deoxycholic acid as starting materials and complexation of steroidal thiosesemicarbazones with Pt(II). The complexes were characterized by IR, NMR, and MS, and their antiproliferative activities were evaluated. The results showed that some steroidal thiosemicarbazones platinum (Pt(II)) complexes displayed moderate cytotoxicity to HeLa and Bel-7404 cells. Thereinto, complex6showed an excellent inhibited selectivity to HeLa cells with an IC50value of 9.2 μM and SI value of 21.7. At the same time, all compounds were almost inactive to HEK293T (normal kidney epithelial cells). The information obtained from the studies may be useful for the design of novel chemotherapeutic drugs.

The molecular mechanisms underlying vascular inflammation and associated inflammatory vascular diseases are not well defined. Here we show that endothelial intracellular adenosine and its key regulator adenosine kinase (ADK) play important roles in vascular inflammation. Pro-inflammatory stimuli lead to endothelial inflammation by increasing endothelial ADK expression, reducing the level of intracellular adenosine in endothelial cells, and activating the transmethylation pathway through increasing the association of ADK with S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) hydrolase (SAHH). Increasing intracellular adenosine by genetic ADK knockdown or exogenous adenosine reduces activation of the transmethylation pathway and attenuates the endothelial inflammatory response. In addition, loss of endothelial ADK in mice leads to reduced atherosclerosis and affords protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury of the cerebral cortex. Taken together, these results demonstrate that intracellular adenosine, which is controlled by the key molecular regulator ADK, influences endothelial inflammation and vascular inflammatory diseases.The molecular mechanisms underlying vascular inflammation are unclear. Here the authors show that pro-inflammatory stimuli lead to endothelial inflammation by increasing adenosine kinase expression, and that its knockdown in endothelial cells inhibits atherosclerosis and cerebral ischemic injury in mice.

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy that is capable of both high-speed imaging and rapid spectroscopy will be advantageous for detailed chemical analysis of heterogeneous biological specimens. We have developed a system based on spectral focusing SRS technology with the integration of a rapid scanning optical delay line, which allows continuous tuning of SRS spectra by scanning a galvo mirror. We demonstrate SRS spectral measurements of dimethyl sulfoxide solution at low concentrations and multi-color imaging of rice pollens and HeLa cells with line-by-line delay tuning to reduce motion artifacts, as well as fast acquisition of SRS spectra at specific regions of interest.

The GPS precise satellite clock bias produced by IGS analysis centers is widely used; the time resolution is 5 s, 30 s, 5 min, and 15 min, respectively. However, the determination of the reasonable time resolution is lacking in theoretical and experimental research. On one hand, high time resolution can improve the data accuracy and reliability of post-processing applications. On the other hand, it could lead to a large quantity of data. Thus, both the accuracy and data quantity should be comprehensively considered. Firstly, this paper analyzed the variation of the precise satellite clock bias in detail using the epoch-differenced method and interval fitting method. Secondly, the periodicity of the 5-s GPS precise satellite clock bias was analyzed using spectrum analysis. Non-negative matrix factorization was then employed to extract the intrinsic feature dimension and determine the time resolution of the precise GPS satellite clock bias. Finally, it was suggested that the best time resolution is one minute. The results can also be used as reference for the BDS precise satellite clock bias.

Key to the species of Megarthrus from southern India and Sri Lanka 1 Body predominantly rust brown or chestnut brown; elytra unicolored; antennomeres 9 and 10 strongly asymmetrical (fig. 63); frons with lateral outlines oblique to apex broadly rounded, or subtruncate. Male: protarsomeres 5 with conspicuous adventral apophysis; mesotibiae markedly arcuate (fig. 56) (rufomarginatus -complex)....................................... 2 - Body predominantly yellow brown; elytra bicoloured; antennomeres 9 and 10 symmetrical; frons with lateral outlines markedly concave to apex truncate. Male: protarsomeres 5 without adventral apophysis; mesotibiae fairly straight (fig. 20) (bimaculatus -complex)................................................................................. 3 2 Body chestnut brown, except legs and antennae paler; antennae unicoloured. Male: aedeagus (figs 66–68) with sclerotized dorsal valve longer than half the distance from its posterior edge to the aedeagal tip; internal sac with a very large subbasal sclerite; abdominal sternite V with medial area slightly swollen and bearing a short transverse ridge. Female: valvifers in dorsal view gradually tapering, with lateral outline gently convex (fig. 71); dorsal outline of valvifers almost straight (fig. 72); genital tergites with a medial macula cordiform (fig. 70)........................... Megarthrus rufomarginatus (fig. 2) - Body rust brown, concolorous with legs and antennae, except antennomeres 11 markedly paler than the others. Male: aedeagus (figs 48–51) with sclerotized dorsal valve not longer than half the distance from its posterior edge to the aedeagal tip; internal sac with a subbasal group of strong spines; abdominal sternite V with medial area slightly swollen and bearing a short transverse ridge. Female: valvifers in dorsal view evenly tapering, with lateral outline almost straight (fig. 58); dorsal outline of valvifers angulate subapically (fig. 59); genital tergites with a medial macula oval (fig. 60)..... Megarthrus lanka (fig. 1) 3 Male: aedeagus with ventral wall subapically right angled, apical portion conspicuously projecting ventrally (figs 32, 33). Female: valvifers each with a dorsal apophysis locate at level of dorsobasal margin (fig. 41) … Megarthrus nilgiriensis (fig. 5) - Male: aedeagus with ventral wall subapically not right angled. Female: valvifers each with a dorsal apophysis located near midlength (figs 12, 24)................................................................................ 4 4 Male: aedeagus with ventral outline of ventral wall sinuate to tip truncate (figs 16, 17). Female: lateral outline of middle portion of valvifers converging (fig. 23); female: genital tergites with two transverse subbasal sclerites (fig. 25)......................................................................................... Megarthrus narendrani (fig. 4) - Male: aedeagus with ventral outline of ventral wall arcuate to tip blunt (figs 7, 8). Female: lateral outline of middle portion of valvifers parallel (fig. 11); female: genital tergites without subbasal sclerites (fig. 3)....... Megarthrus bimaculatus (fig. 3)

Megarthrus bimaculatus Fauvel (figs 3, 6��� 14) Megarthrus bimaculatus Fauvel: 1904, 87; Cuccodoro 2003, 367, figs 10���11 (redescription). Type locality: Ceylon. Holotype female (ISNB). Specimens examined. 33: SRI LANKA: " Ceylon, 22.iii. 1882 | I.R.Sc. N. B. # 17.479 " (ISNB, holotype female). Additional specimens, 32: Central: Hakgala, 1700���1800m, 28.i. 1970, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 30 a [sifting in ravine, NE slope] (MHNG, 1 male and 1 female); same data, but 1800m # 30 c [sifting in primary forest above Botanical Garden] (MHNG, 1 male); Hanguranketa, 750m, 27.i. 1970, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 28 [sifting bark and Polypores on old log] (MHNG, 2 males and 2 females]; Madulkele, c. 1000m, 27.i. 1964, leg. Mussard (MHNG, 1 male); above Mululla, 750m, 4.ii. 1970, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 45 [sifting in forest above Mululla] (MHNG, 1 female); Nuwara Eliya, 1950m, 29.i. 1970, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 33 [sifting in forest at inferior forest edge, at foot of Pidurutalagala] (MHNG, 1 female); same data, but 15.ii. 1970, # 69 (MHNG, 1 male); Pidurutalagala, 2200m, 29.i. 1970, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 32 [sifting in forest, on SW slope] (MHNG, 1 female); above Talatuoya, 850���1000m, 27.i. 1970, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 27 a [sifting in remnants of forest] (MHNG, 1 female); Uva: Haputale, 1350m, 23.i. 1970, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 19 [sifting forest leaf litter in ravine] (MHNG, 12 males and 7 females). Diagnosis. Body (fig. 3) predominantly yellow brown, with broad transverse subapical dark spot on each elytron; combined length of head, pronotum and elytra = 1.50���1.70 mm; maximal pronotal width = 0.80���0.90 mm; lateral outlines of frons markedly concave to apex truncate; occipital ridge well marked, with anterolateral portions sinuate, extended from lower eye margins dorsally to nearly third of neck width, then sharply recurved posteroventrally back to upper level of eyes, posterolateral portions connected dorsally with irregular transverse ridge; antennae with short and dense pubescence present only on antennomeres 8���11; antennomeres 9���10 symmetrical. Male: carina of anterior frontal edge raised, occasionally sinuate; protarsomeres 1 without tenent setae; protarsomeres 5 without flat apophysis; metatibiae slightly curved subapically, with adventral row of peg-like setae on slightly less than apical half; mesotrochanters with 1-3 peg-like setae; abdominal sternites IV���V unmodified; abdominal sternite VIII with well delimited discoidal hyaline medial impression; aedeagus as in figs 6���9. Female: anterior frontal edge slightly carinate, evenly; abdominal tergite VIII as in figs 13, 14); valvifers fused dorsally on entire length, each with dorsal apophysis projecting posteriorly near mid length (figs 11, 12); dorsal part of genital segment as in fig. 10. Distribution and natural history. The species is restricted to Sri Lanka (Central and Uva Provinces), where specimens were collected in forest leaf litter at elevations ranging from 750 to 2200 m a.s.l. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. Megarthrus bimaculatus, M. lanka sp. n., M. narendrani sp. n., M. nilgiriensis sp. n., M. rufomarginatus, M. sumatrensis Cameron and M. vastus Wendeler are the only members of the genus with short and dense pubescence restricted to the antennomeres 8 to 11. These species also uniquely share the presence of externally recurved posterolateral branches of the occipital ridge. These species also notably have in common female valvifers fused dorsally on entire length, and the presence in male of a well delimited discoidal hyaline medial impression on the abdominal sternite VIII. Among them only M. bimaculatus, M. narendrani sp. n. and M. nilgiriensis sp. n. have bicoloured elytra and dorsally projecting apophysis on female valvifers. These three species can be easily distinguished by the shape of their aedeagus and valvifers (see comparisons and diagnostic notes under M. narendrani sp. n.)., Published as part of Cuccodoro, Giulio & Liu, Zhiping, 2016, Megarthrus of southern India and Sri Lanka, with notes on their phylogenetic and biogeographical relationships (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae), pp. 530-544 in Zootaxa 4097 (4) on pages 531-533, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4097.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/259066, {"references":["Fauvel, A. (1904) Staphylinides exotiques nouveaux, 2. Revue d'entomologie, 23, 76 - 112.","Cuccodoro, G (2003) A revision of Megarthrus Curtis of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Proteininae). In: Cucodoro, G. & Leschen, R. A. B. (Eds.), Systematics of Coleoptera: Papers celebrating the retirement of Ivan Lobl. Memoirs on Entomology, International, Gainesville, 17, pp. 359 - 455."]}

Megarthrus lanka sp. nov. (figs 1, 48��� 65) Specimens examined. 41: Holotype, male: SRI LANKA: Central: " Ceylan, Central, s/Talatuoya [above Talatuoya], 850���1000m, 27.i. 1970, Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 27 a [sifting leaf litter in relictual forest]" (MHNG; accession number MHNG ENTO 00008938); Paratypes, 40: same data as holotype (MHNG, 6 males and 2 females); Dickoya, 20km WSW Nuwara Eliya, Gesiebt [sifted] 28.iii. 1973, leg. Benick (MHNG, 1 female; ZMHB, 1 male and 1 female); Hanguranketa, 750m, 27.i. 1970, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 28 [ex forest leaf litter] (MHNG, 16 males and 8 females]; above Mululla, 750m, 4.ii. 1970, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 45 [sifting forest leaf litter] (MHNG, 1 male and 3 females); Kandy, 14.i. 1964, leg. Mussard (MHNG, 1 male). Description. Habitus as in fig. 1. Combined length of head, pronotum and elytra = 1.65���1.85 mm; maximal pronotal width = 0.90���1.05 mm. Body and appendages uniformly rust brown, except antennomeres 11 yellowish. Dorsal pubescence fairly uniform, sparser on elytral disc; frontal pubescence parallel, medial setae directed backward; elytral and pronotal setae slightly arcuate, recumbent; metaventral setae becoming denser anteriorly, slightly longer than prosternal setae; pubescence on abdominal tergites IV���VI parallel, uniform; that on sternites IV���VII becoming slightly longer posteromedially, lacking subapical macrosetae. Surface of frons and vertex oblongogranulate; pronotum granulofossulate; anterior portion of prohypomera almost smooth; elytra punctate, coarsely; metaventrite coarsely punctate laterally, smooth medially and posteriorly. Frons above clypeus forming sharp ridge, the latter slightly carinate, evenly or slightly higher laterally than in middle, with lateral outlines oblique to anterior portion broadly rounded, or subtruncate; mesal portion of disc weakly convex in lateral view, evenly; entire U-shaped frontal impression shallow. Eyes almost hemispherical, with highest point slightly above level of vertex; supraocular margins sinuate in dorsal view. Temples almost smooth; in dorsal view abruptly angled just behind eyes, then weakly convex. Occipital ridge well marked, darkened; anterolateral portions sinuate, extended from lower eye margins dorsally to nearly third of neck width, then sharply recurved posteroventrally back to upper level of eyes; posterolateral portions connected dorsally with irregular transverse ridge. Antenna (fig. 63) without patches of sensilla; scape gradually expanded, conical, not flattened and without longitudinal riges; pedicel cylindrical, without longitudinal ridge; short and dense pubescence present on antennomeres 8���11; antennomeres 9���10 strongly asymmetrical. Maxillary palpi with palpomere 4 about 2 times as long as palpomere 3, the latter subcylindrical. Pronotum (fig. 61) with centre moderately convex in frontal view; disc shallowly depressed along lateral portions of anterior and posterior margins, and along lateral edges, the latter slightly raised anteriorly; medial groove very shallow, weakly arcuate in lateral view; hypomera without discal pit, at level of junction with posterior prosternal margin with short ridge, the latter arcuate outward, anterior portion not reaching half of hypomeral width and posterior portion not reaching middle of hypomeron. Proventrite with shallow posteromedial ridge. Protrochanters without longitudinal ridge. Scutellum with anterior margin of disc straight and lateral margins oblique to broadly convex apex. Elytra with disc evenly convex, without notable relief except humeral callus obsolete and moderate depression along anterior portion of lateral edge; lateral edge arcuate in dorsal view, markedly carinate, with anterior portion shallowly serrate, broadly, serration fading posteriorly; sutural margin slightly arcuate in lateral view; posterior margin arcuate toward obtuse inner apical angle. Metaventrite without foveiform impressions in front of metacoxae. Mesofemora as long as metafemora and longer than mesotibiae, with subbasal oblique ridge; metatibiae as long as metafemora and longer than mesotibiae. Male. Protarsomeres 1 lacking tenent setae. Protarsomeres 5 with adventral projecting flat apophysis. Metatarsomeres 1 shorter than metatarsomeres 2���4 combined. Peg-like setae arranged in single row on mesotibiae (fig. 56) and in double row on mesotrochanters (fig. 57). Abdominal sternite IV with medial area markedly swollen, with short transverse medial ridge; tergite VIII as in figs 53���54; sternite VIII as in fig 52; hemitergites IX (fig. 55) with lateral lobe reduced; sternite IX without subbasal medial protuberance. Aedeagus as in figs 48���51. Female. Medial area of abdominal sternite IV flat. Abdominal tergite VIII as in figs 64���65; sternite VIII as in fig. 62. Genital segment as in figs 58���60; gonocoxal plate without dorsal and ventral medial ridges. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. Megarthrus lanka sp. n. is very similar to the southern Indian M. rufomarginatus. These two species are so far the only members of the genus to possess strongly asymmetrical antennomeres nine and ten. They also uniquely share the presence on the fifth protarsomere of a flat adventral projecting apophysis in male. Megarthrus lanka is however uniformly rust brown except apical antennomere yellow, instead of chestnut brown with paler and uniformly coloured appendages for M. rufomarginatus, and the elytral punctation of the latter species is also slightly finer and denser. The shape of the aedeagus and the conformation of its internal sac are diagnostic. Distribution and natural history. The species is known only from the Central Province of Sri Lanka, where it was collected in forest leaf litter at elevations ranging from 750 to 1000 m.a.s.l. Etymology. The specific epithet is based on the name of the island, treated as a Latin singular noun in apposition, nominative case., Published as part of Cuccodoro, Giulio & Liu, Zhiping, 2016, Megarthrus of southern India and Sri Lanka, with notes on their phylogenetic and biogeographical relationships (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae), pp. 530-544 in Zootaxa 4097 (4) on pages 539-541, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4097.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/259066

Megarthrus narendrani sp. nov. (figs 4, 15��� 30) Specimens examined. 85: Holotype, male: INDIA: Tamil Nadu: "Madras, Palni H. [Hills], au dessus de [above] Kodaidanal, 2200m, 12. xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 23 [sifting in degraded forest with Rhododendron]" (MHNG; accession number MHNG ENTO 00008936). Paratypes, 62: same data as holotype (MHNG, 22 males and 15 females); Palni Hills 16km. E. Kodaikanal, 1400m, 15.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 28 [sifting in forest] (MHNG, 2 females); Palni Hills 23km. E. Kodaikanal, 1200m, 16.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 29 [sifting in forest, near river] (MHNG, 2 males and 1 female); Palni Hills, Kodaikanal, 2100m, 11.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 22 [sifting in forest above town] (MHNG, 1 male and 2 females); Anaimalai Hills, Valparai, 1100m, 20.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 39 [sifting in forest with coffee trees] (MHNG, 1 male and 2 females); Anaimalai Hills, 18km N. Valparai, 1250m, 18.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 35 [sifting in forest] (MHNG, 1 male); Chambaganoor, leg. Donkier (FMNH, 1 female); Kerala: Palni Hills, 30km E Munnar, 77 �� 16 ���E 10 ��08N, 1900m, 24.xi. 1972, leg. Boukal & Kejval # 4 (MHNG, 1 female; NHMW, 4 females); Cardamon Hills, Muttapatti near Munnar. 1700m, 24.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 48 [sifting in forest, at foot of group of arboreal ferns] (MHNG, 1 male and 3 females); Cardamon Hills, Kumily, 1000m, 6.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 12 b [sifting logs and trunks of dead trees] (MHNG, 1 female); Cardamon Hills, [pass 13 km NE of] Munnar, 1900m, 26.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 51 sifting logs and trunks of dead trees] (MHNG, 1 male and 2 females). Additional specimens, 22 (all entirely black due to too long storage in inappropriate preservation fluid before dry mounting): Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal, 700���1000m, 17.i. 1972, leg. R. Mussard (MHNG, 1 male); same data, but 1800m, 8.i. 1972, (MHNG, 9 males and 6 females); same data, but 2200m, 10.i. 1972 (MHNG, 4 males and 2 females). Description. Habitus as in fig. 4. Combined length of head, pronotum and elytra = 1.60���1.85 mm; maximal pronotal width = 0.80 ���1.00 mm. Body and appendages predominantly yellow brown, except darker thoracic ventrites and, occasionally, also abdomen; elytra each with broad blackish transverse subapical spot. Dorsal pubescence fairly uniform, sparser on elytral disc; frontal pubescence parallel, medial setae directed backward; elytral and pronotal setae slightly arcuate, recumbent; metaventral setae becoming longer and denser anteriorly, slightly longer than prosternal setae; pubescence on abdominal tergites IV���VI parallel, uniform; that on sternites IV���VII becoming slightly longer posteromedially, lacking subapical macrosetae. Surface of frons and vertex oblongogranulate; pronotum granulofossulate; anterior portion of prohypomera almost smooth; elytra punctate, coarsely; metaventrite coarsely punctate laterally, smooth medially and posteriorly. Frons above clypeus forming sharp ridge, the latter carinate; lateral outlines markedly concave to apex truncate; mesal portion of disc weakly convex in lateral view, evenly; entire U-shaped frontal impression shallow. Eyes almost hemispherical, with highest point slightly above level of vertex; supraocular margins sinuate in dorsal view. Temples almost smooth; in dorsal view abruptly angled just behind eyes, then weakly convex. Occipital ridge well marked, darkened; anterolateral portions sinuate, extended from lower eye margins dorsally to nearly third of neck width, then recurved posteroventrally back to upper level of eyes; posterolateral portions connected dorsally with irregular transverse ridge. Antenna (fig. 28) without patches of sensilla; scape gradually expanded, conical, not flattened and without longitudinal ridges; pedicel cylindrical, without longitudinal ridge; short and dense pubescence present on antennomeres 8���11; antennomeres 9���10 symmetrical. Maxillary palpi with palpomere 4 about twice as long as palpomere 3, the latter subcylindrical. Pronotum (fig. 26) with centre moderately convex in frontal view; disc shallowly depressed along lateral portions of anterior and posterior margins, and deeply depressed along lateral edges, the latter markedly raised anteriorly; medial groove very shallow, weakly arcuate in lateral view; hypomera without discal pit, at level of junction with posterior prosternal margin with short ridge, the latter arcuate outward, anterior portion not reaching half of hypomeral width and posterior portion not reaching middle of hypomeron. Proventrite with shallow posteromedial ridge. Protrochanters without longitudinal ridge. Scutellum with anterior margin of disc straight and lateral margins oblique to broadly convex apex. Elytra with disc evenly convex, without notable relief except humeral callus obsolete and moderate depression along anterior portion of lateral edge; lateral edge arcuate in dorsal view, markedly carinate, with anterior portion markedly serrate, broadly, serration fading posteriorly; sutural margin slightly arcuate in lateral view; posterior margin arcuate toward obtuse inner apical angle. Metaventrite without foveiform impressions in front of metacoxae. Mesofemora as long as metafemora and longer than mesotibiae, with subbasal oblique ridge; metatibia as long as metafemora and longer than mesotibiae. Male. Anterior frontal margin conspicuously carinate, carina sinuate. Protarsomeres 1 lacking tenent setae. Metatarsomeres 1 shorter than metatarsomeres 2���4 combined. Mesofemora and mesotrochanters as in fig. 22. Peglike setae arranged in a single row on mesotibiae (fig. 21); mesotrochanters with 1���3 peg-like setae. Abdominal sternites IV���VI unmodified; tergite VIII with apex as in figs 20; sternite VIII as in fig. 19; hemitergites IX with lateral lobe reduced, similar to that in fig. 55; sternite IX without subbasal medial protuberance. Aedeagus as in figs 15���18. Female. Anterior frontal margin slightly carinate, evenly. Abdominal tergite VIII as in figs 29, 30; sternite VIII as in fig. 27. Genital segment as in figs 23���25; gonocoxal plate without dorsal and ventral medial ridges. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. Megarthrus narendrani sp. n. shares most characters with M. bimaculatus and M. nilgiriensis sp. n. (see comparisons and diagnostic notes under M. bimaculatus), however the conformation of their genitalia are diagnostic. In one hand this new species resembles M. nilgiriensis sp. n. with regard to the ventral outline of the aedeagal ventral wall sinuate in male and the presence of two transverse subbasal sclerites in female genital tergites, but M. narendrani sp. n. has the aedeagal tip truncate (while not in M. nilgiriensis sp. n.) and the female valvifers each with a dorsal apophysis locate near their midlength (instead of at level of basal margin in M. nilgiriensis sp. n.). In the other hand M. narendrani sp. n. share with M. bimaculatus sp. n. the dorsal apophysis of female valvifers located near their midlength, but the latter species has the lateral outlines of the middle portion of the valvifers parallel instead of converging and its female genital tergites also lack subbasal sclerites. Distribution and natural history. The species occurs in the far South of the Western Ghats (Palni, Anaimalai, and Cardamon Hills), where it was collected mainly sifting forest leaf litter at elevations ranging from 700 to 2200 m a.s.l. Etymology. The species is named in honour of the Keralan hymenopterist Thekke Kuruppathe Narendran (1944 ���2013)., Published as part of Cuccodoro, Giulio & Liu, Zhiping, 2016, Megarthrus of southern India and Sri Lanka, with notes on their phylogenetic and biogeographical relationships (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae), pp. 530-544 in Zootaxa 4097 (4) on pages 534-537, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4097.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/259066

Megarthrus rufomarginatus Cameron (figs 66���74) Megarthrus rufomarginatus Cameron: 1913, 525; Cuccodoro 2003, 388, figs 35���36 (redescription). Type locality: Nilgiri Hills. Lectotype male (BMNH). Specimens examined. 49: INDIA: Tamil Nadu: "H. L. Andrewes, Nilgiri Hills | M. rufomarginatus Cam. [manuscript] | Type " (lectotype male, BMNH); "Nilgiris, S India [manuscript]" (paralectotypes: BMNH, 5 females; DEI, 1 female; FMNH, 2 female); Anaimalai Hills, 10 km N Valparai, 1250m, 18.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 35 [sifting in forest] (MHNG, 1 male and 1 female); same data, but Valparai, 1100m, 20.xi. 1972 [sifting in forest with coffee trees] (BMNH, 2 males and 1 female; MHNG, 2 males and 1 female); Kerala: Cardamom Hills, 5 km SW Kumily, 1000m, 6.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 11 [sifting forest leaf litter] (BMNH, 1 female); Cardamom Hills, 10 km SW Kumily, Vallakadavu, 77 ��07���E 09�� 31 ���N, 1000m, 24.xii. 1993, leg. Boukal & Kejval (MHNG, 1 male and 1 female; NHMW, 2 males and 2 females); Cardamom Hills, Pambanar��� Peermade, 950m, 9.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard # 18 [sifting in forest, near river] (BMNH, 2 males and 1 female; MHNG, 3 males and 2 females); Nelliampathi Hills, Kaikatty, 900m, 30.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 58 [sifting forest leaf litter, near stream] (BMNH, 2 males; MHNG, 6 males and 6 females); Thekkady, Peryar W.L.S., 2.ix. 1989, leg. Riedel (MHNG, 1 female; SMNS, 1 male and 1 female). Diagnosis. Body (fig. 2) predominantly chestnut brown, with lateral pronotal margins, legs and antennae slightly paler, the latter unicolored; combined length of head, pronotum and elytra = 1.40���1.65 mm; maximal pronotal width = 0.80���0.95 mm; occipital ridge well marked, with anterolateral portions sinuate, extended from lower eye margins dorsally to nearly third of neck width, then sharply recurved posterolaterally back to upper level of eyes, posterolateral portions connected dorsally with irregular transverse ridge; antennae with short and dense pubescence present only on antennomeres 8���11; antennomeres 9���10 strongly asymmetrical similar to that in fig. 63. Male: frontal margin unmodified; protarsomeres 1 without tenent setae; protarsomeres 5 with adventral projecting flat apophysis; metatibiae markedly curved, apical half with adventral row of peg-like setae; mesotrochanters with two rows of peg-like setae; abdominal sternites IV and V each with medial area swollen and bearing short transverse ridge, swollen area on sternite IV higher than that on sternite V; abdominal sternite VIII with well delimited discoidal hyaline medial impression; aedeagus as in figs 66���69. Female. Tergite VIII as in figs 73���74; valvifers fused dorsally on entire length (figs 71���72); dorsal part of genital segment as in fig. 70. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. The sexual dimorphism of sternites IV and V has been overlooked by Cuccodoro (2003). See comparisons and diagnostic notes under M. bimaculatus and M. lanka sp. nov. Distribution and Natural History. The species has been collected so far only in Tamil Nadu (Nilgiri and Anaimalai Hills) and Kerala (Cardamom and Nelliampathi Hills), where it was found in forest leaf litter at elevations ranging from 900 to 1100 m.a.s.l. The specimens recorded by Cameron (1928) from �� Fort de Kock, Sumatra �� belong to a different, still unnamed species (Cuccodoro 2003)., Published as part of Cuccodoro, Giulio & Liu, Zhiping, 2016, Megarthrus of southern India and Sri Lanka, with notes on their phylogenetic and biogeographical relationships (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae), pp. 530-544 in Zootaxa 4097 (4) on pages 541-543, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4097.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/259066, {"references":["Cameron, M. (1913) Descriptions of new species of Staphylinidae from India. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London, 1913, 525 - 544.","Cuccodoro, G (2003) A revision of Megarthrus Curtis of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Proteininae). In: Cucodoro, G. & Leschen, R. A. B. (Eds.), Systematics of Coleoptera: Papers celebrating the retirement of Ivan Lobl. Memoirs on Entomology, International, Gainesville, 17, pp. 359 - 455.","Cameron, M. (1928) Fauna sumatrensis. (Beitrag Nr. 54). Staphylinidae (Col.). Entomologische Mitteilungen, 17, 91 - 110."]}

Megarthrus lanka sp. nov. (figs 1, 48– 65) Specimens examined. 41: Holotype, male: SRI LANKA: Central: " Ceylan, Central, s/Talatuoya [above Talatuoya], 850–1000m, 27.i. 1970, Besuchet, Löbl & Mussard, # 27 a [sifting leaf litter in relictual forest]" (MHNG; accession number MHNG ENTO 00008938); Paratypes, 40: same data as holotype (MHNG, 6 males and 2 females); Dickoya, 20km WSW Nuwara Eliya, Gesiebt [sifted] 28.iii. 1973, leg. Benick (MHNG, 1 female; ZMHB, 1 male and 1 female); Hanguranketa, 750m, 27.i. 1970, leg. Besuchet, Löbl & Mussard, # 28 [ex forest leaf litter] (MHNG, 16 males and 8 females]; above Mululla, 750m, 4.ii. 1970, leg. Besuchet, Löbl & Mussard # 45 [sifting forest leaf litter] (MHNG, 1 male and 3 females); Kandy, 14.i. 1964, leg. Mussard (MHNG, 1 male). Description. Habitus as in fig. 1. Combined length of head, pronotum and elytra = 1.65–1.85 mm; maximal pronotal width = 0.90–1.05 mm. Body and appendages uniformly rust brown, except antennomeres 11 yellowish. Dorsal pubescence fairly uniform, sparser on elytral disc; frontal pubescence parallel, medial setae directed backward; elytral and pronotal setae slightly arcuate, recumbent; metaventral setae becoming denser anteriorly, slightly longer than prosternal setae; pubescence on abdominal tergites IV–VI parallel, uniform; that on sternites IV–VII becoming slightly longer posteromedially, lacking subapical macrosetae. Surface of frons and vertex oblongogranulate; pronotum granulofossulate; anterior portion of prohypomera almost smooth; elytra punctate, coarsely; metaventrite coarsely punctate laterally, smooth medially and posteriorly. Frons above clypeus forming sharp ridge, the latter slightly carinate, evenly or slightly higher laterally than in middle, with lateral outlines oblique to anterior portion broadly rounded, or subtruncate; mesal portion of disc weakly convex in lateral view, evenly; entire U-shaped frontal impression shallow. Eyes almost hemispherical, with highest point slightly above level of vertex; supraocular margins sinuate in dorsal view. Temples almost smooth; in dorsal view abruptly angled just behind eyes, then weakly convex. Occipital ridge well marked, darkened; anterolateral portions sinuate, extended from lower eye margins dorsally to nearly third of neck width, then sharply recurved posteroventrally back to upper level of eyes; posterolateral portions connected dorsally with irregular transverse ridge. Antenna (fig. 63) without patches of sensilla; scape gradually expanded, conical, not flattened and without longitudinal riges; pedicel cylindrical, without longitudinal ridge; short and dense pubescence present on antennomeres 8–11; antennomeres 9–10 strongly asymmetrical. Maxillary palpi with palpomere 4 about 2 times as long as palpomere 3, the latter subcylindrical. Pronotum (fig. 61) with centre moderately convex in frontal view; disc shallowly depressed along lateral portions of anterior and posterior margins, and along lateral edges, the latter slightly raised anteriorly; medial groove very shallow, weakly arcuate in lateral view; hypomera without discal pit, at level of junction with posterior prosternal margin with short ridge, the latter arcuate outward, anterior portion not reaching half of hypomeral width and posterior portion not reaching middle of hypomeron. Proventrite with shallow posteromedial ridge. Protrochanters without longitudinal ridge. Scutellum with anterior margin of disc straight and lateral margins oblique to broadly convex apex. Elytra with disc evenly convex, without notable relief except humeral callus obsolete and moderate depression along anterior portion of lateral edge; lateral edge arcuate in dorsal view, markedly carinate, with anterior portion shallowly serrate, broadly, serration fading posteriorly; sutural margin slightly arcuate in lateral view; posterior margin arcuate toward obtuse inner apical angle. Metaventrite without foveiform impressions in front of metacoxae. Mesofemora as long as metafemora and longer than mesotibiae, with subbasal oblique ridge; metatibiae as long as metafemora and longer than mesotibiae. Male. Protarsomeres 1 lacking tenent setae. Protarsomeres 5 with adventral projecting flat apophysis. Metatarsomeres 1 shorter than metatarsomeres 2–4 combined. Peg-like setae arranged in single row on mesotibiae (fig. 56) and in double row on mesotrochanters (fig. 57). Abdominal sternite IV with medial area markedly swollen, with short transverse medial ridge; tergite VIII as in figs 53–54; sternite VIII as in fig 52; hemitergites IX (fig. 55) with lateral lobe reduced; sternite IX without subbasal medial protuberance. Aedeagus as in figs 48–51. Female. Medial area of abdominal sternite IV flat. Abdominal tergite VIII as in figs 64–65; sternite VIII as in fig. 62. Genital segment as in figs 58–60; gonocoxal plate without dorsal and ventral medial ridges. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. Megarthrus lanka sp. n. is very similar to the southern Indian M. rufomarginatus. These two species are so far the only members of the genus to possess strongly asymmetrical antennomeres nine and ten. They also uniquely share the presence on the fifth protarsomere of a flat adventral projecting apophysis in male. Megarthrus lanka is however uniformly rust brown except apical antennomere yellow, instead of chestnut brown with paler and uniformly coloured appendages for M. rufomarginatus, and the elytral punctation of the latter species is also slightly finer and denser. The shape of the aedeagus and the conformation of its internal sac are diagnostic. Distribution and natural history. The species is known only from the Central Province of Sri Lanka, where it was collected in forest leaf litter at elevations ranging from 750 to 1000 m.a.s.l. Etymology. The specific epithet is based on the name of the island, treated as a Latin singular noun in apposition, nominative case.

Key to the species of Megarthrus from southern India and Sri Lanka 1 Body predominantly rust brown or chestnut brown; elytra unicolored; antennomeres 9 and 10 strongly asymmetrical (fig. 63); frons with lateral outlines oblique to apex broadly rounded, or subtruncate. Male: protarsomeres 5 with conspicuous adventral apophysis; mesotibiae markedly arcuate (fig. 56) (rufomarginatus -complex)....................................... 2 - Body predominantly yellow brown; elytra bicoloured; antennomeres 9 and 10 symmetrical; frons with lateral outlines markedly concave to apex truncate. Male: protarsomeres 5 without adventral apophysis; mesotibiae fairly straight (fig. 20) (bimaculatus -complex)................................................................................. 3 2 Body chestnut brown, except legs and antennae paler; antennae unicoloured. Male: aedeagus (figs 66���68) with sclerotized dorsal valve longer than half the distance from its posterior edge to the aedeagal tip; internal sac with a very large subbasal sclerite; abdominal sternite V with medial area slightly swollen and bearing a short transverse ridge. Female: valvifers in dorsal view gradually tapering, with lateral outline gently convex (fig. 71); dorsal outline of valvifers almost straight (fig. 72); genital tergites with a medial macula cordiform (fig. 70)........................... Megarthrus rufomarginatus (fig. 2) - Body rust brown, concolorous with legs and antennae, except antennomeres 11 markedly paler than the others. Male: aedeagus (figs 48���51) with sclerotized dorsal valve not longer than half the distance from its posterior edge to the aedeagal tip; internal sac with a subbasal group of strong spines; abdominal sternite V with medial area slightly swollen and bearing a short transverse ridge. Female: valvifers in dorsal view evenly tapering, with lateral outline almost straight (fig. 58); dorsal outline of valvifers angulate subapically (fig. 59); genital tergites with a medial macula oval (fig. 60)..... Megarthrus lanka (fig. 1) 3 Male: aedeagus with ventral wall subapically right angled, apical portion conspicuously projecting ventrally (figs 32, 33). Female: valvifers each with a dorsal apophysis locate at level of dorsobasal margin (fig. 41) ��� Megarthrus nilgiriensis (fig. 5) - Male: aedeagus with ventral wall subapically not right angled. Female: valvifers each with a dorsal apophysis located near midlength (figs 12, 24)................................................................................ 4 4 Male: aedeagus with ventral outline of ventral wall sinuate to tip truncate (figs 16, 17). Female: lateral outline of middle portion of valvifers converging (fig. 23); female: genital tergites with two transverse subbasal sclerites (fig. 25)......................................................................................... Megarthrus narendrani (fig. 4) - Male: aedeagus with ventral outline of ventral wall arcuate to tip blunt (figs 7, 8). Female: lateral outline of middle portion of valvifers parallel (fig. 11); female: genital tergites without subbasal sclerites (fig. 3)....... Megarthrus bimaculatus (fig. 3), Published as part of Cuccodoro, Giulio & Liu, Zhiping, 2016, Megarthrus of southern India and Sri Lanka, with notes on their phylogenetic and biogeographical relationships (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae), pp. 530-544 in Zootaxa 4097 (4) on page 531, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4097.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/259066

Megarthrus nilgiriensis sp. nov. (figs 5, 31��� 47) Specimens examined. 15: Holotype, male: INDIA: Tamil Nadu: " India, Madras, Nilgiri, Ootacamund. 2150��� 2200m, 21.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 41 b+a [sifting leaf litter in remnant of primary forest and under bush in small ravine] (MHNG; accession number MHNG ENTO 00008937); Paratypes, 17: same data as holotype (MHNG, 5 males and 5 females); Nilgiri, Coonoor. 1600m, 22.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 43 [sifing in forest above town] (MHNG, 1 male and 1 female); Nilgiri, 7km. E. Coonoor. 1350m, 19.xi. 1972, leg. Besuchet, L��bl & Mussard, # 38 [sifing in forest] (MHNG, 2 males and 2 females); Nilgiri Hills, 5 km E Kundah, Vallakadavu, 78 �� 40 ���E 11 �� 18 ���N, 1900m, 23.i. 1999, leg. Boukal, # 80 (NHMW, 1 male and 1 female). Description. Similar to M. narendrani, from which it differs as follows: Habitus as in fig. 5; combined length of head, pronotum and elytra = 1.65���1.85 mm; maximal pronotal width = 0.90���1.05 mm; body and appendages yellowish, except darker thoracic ventrites, and elytra each with broad blackish transverse subapical spot; antennae as in fig. 45; pronotum as in fig. 43. Male. Anterior frontal margin conspicuously carinate, carina sinuate. Abdominal sternites IV���VI unmodified. Protarsomeres 1 lacking tenent setae. Mesofemora (fig. 39) about as long as metafemora. Mesotibiae (fig. 38) slightly longer than metatibiae. Metatarsomeres 1 shorter than metatarsomeres 2���4 combined. Peg-like setae arranged in a single row on mesotibiae; mesotrochanters (fig. 39) with 1���3 peg-like setae. Abdominal tergite VIII as in figs 36���37; sternite VIII as in fig. 35; hemitergites IX similar to that in fig. 55, with lateral lobe reduced. Aedeagus as in figs 31���34. Female. Anterior frontal margin slightly carinate, evenly. Abdominal tergite VIII as in figs 46���47; sternite VIII as in fig. 44. Genital segment as in figs 40���42; gonocoxal plate without dorsal and ventral medial ridges. Comparisons and diagnostic notes. See comparisons and diagnostic notes under M. bimaculatus and M. narendrani sp. n. Distribution and natural history. The species is apparently restricted to the Nilgiri Hills, where it was collected mainly by sifting forest leaf litter at elevations ranging from 1350 to 2200 m a.s.l. Etymology. The species is named after the Nilgiri Hills, where it occurs., Published as part of Cuccodoro, Giulio & Liu, Zhiping, 2016, Megarthrus of southern India and Sri Lanka, with notes on their phylogenetic and biogeographical relationships (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae), pp. 530-544 in Zootaxa 4097 (4) on pages 537-539, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4097.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/259066

Cuccodoro, Giulio, Liu, Zhiping (2016): Megarthrus of southern India and Sri Lanka, with notes on their phylogenetic and biogeographical relationships (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Proteininae). Zootaxa 4097 (4): 530-544, DOI: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4097.4.5

Twenty-five phages that selectively bind to a monoclonal antibody (Mab) 1H2 specific to 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE47) in the absence or presence of BDE47 have been selected from phage-display libraries containing cyclic 7-mer, linear 7-mer, and linear 12-mer randomized peptides. Competitive and noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for BDE47 were developed by using a clone C7-1 specific to the BDE47-free Mab 1H2 and a clone XC7-8 specific to the BDE47-bound Mab 1H2, respectively. The half-maximum signal inhibition concentration (IC50) of the competitive phage ELISA and the half-maximum signal enhancement concentration (EC50) of the noncompetitive phage ELISA for BDE47 were 6.8 ng mL(-1) and 4.2 ng mL(-1), respectively. The noncompetitive phage ELISA showed higher cross-reactivity with BDE28, BDE99, and BDE100 than the competitive one, ranging between 1.3 and 6.5 % versus 0.3 and 0.8 %. Recoveries of the competitive and the noncompetitive phage ELISAs for BDE47 in sewage sludge and fillet samples were 96-124 % and 97-120 %, respectively. The results of the two types of phage ELISAs for BDE47 in the real-world samples agreed well with a gas chromatography/electron capture detector-ion trap mass spectrometer method.

The hydraulic characteristics and cavitation erosion near the converse curvature section in the high-head and large discharge spillway tunnel have been important issues of concern to the hydropower project. In this paper, the evolutions of hydraulic elements such as pressure, flow velocity, wall shear stress, etc. in the converse curvature section are analyzed and the impacts of bottom aerator on hydraulic characteristics are discussed, with the commercial software FLUENT6.3 as a platform and combining the k-ɛ model and VOF method. The flow pattern in the converse curvature section of spillway tunnel is given by the three-dimensional numerical simulation. It indicates that the pressure changes rapidly with great pressure gradient from the beginning to the end of the curve. It also shows that the shear stress on side wall just downstream the end of the converse curvature curve is still increasing; the aeration cavity formed downstream the bottom aerator may cause the side wall pressure decreased to worsen the cavitation characteristics near the side wall. By means of the physical model experiment, the three-dimensional aerator composed of side wall baffling aerator and bottom aerator is studied, the baffling aerator suitable for the water flow conditions with water depth of 6.0 to 8.0 m and flow velocity of 35 to 50 m/s is proposed.

The core-shell structure's synthesis process by one-step hydrothermal method has remarkable peculiarities, such as simple procedures and short production cycles. In order to get the precursor with the core-shell structure, it's important to study the technological parameters. In this paper, the pH value,the concentration of AlCl3,the mass ratio of core and shell, the hydrothermal temperature and time were detailed discussed. In order to get well-coated core-shell material, the technological parameters were the pH value = 8.5-9.8, the concentration of AlCl3 0.040-0.050 g/ml, Al2O3:TiO2 = 10%-28.5%, the hydrothermal temperature 200 and the hydrothermal time 3 hours.

Purpose: to explore and discuss the effects of PAD Class Teaching Model on nursing students who are expected to enter undergraduate schools from junior colleges. Method: Randomly select 112 students from two classes (2016) who are expected to enter undergraduate schools from junior colleges in a medical school in Pingdingshan, and divide them into a control group and an experimental group using a method of cluster randomization. In the teaching process of “Nursing Psychology”, the control group and the experimental group respectively adopted the traditional teaching mode and the PAD class teaching mode. After the implementation of one semester, compare the nursing students’ learning attitudes change before and after the implementation. Results: The scores of the nursing students in the experimental group at the three latitudes of learning interests, learning habits, and professional cognition were significantly higher than those of the control group, and the differences have statistical significance (P

It is essential to implement a development strategy of "looking abroad" for Chinese-foreign cooperation in higher education and for us to realize a scientific concept for development, deepen and diversify market access, and improve the quality and benefits of higher education in China. We can learn from developed nations' experience in cross-border education, go beyond previously known limits for education cooperation, bring the strategy of "looking abroad" into a theoretical perspective, and establish a legal framework for Chinese-foreign cooperation in higher education. To achieve such goals, we should devise favorable policies for the implementation of the strategy, increase efforts to establish internationalized courses, and refine internal management and operational systems for institutions, teaching assessment systems, and degree certification systems for international cooperation in higher education.

The appropriate importation and effective utilization of superior-quality foreign higher education resources are crucial to enhance the level and quality of school administration cooperation with foreign partners because it can not only make up for the shortage in domestic education resources and push forward China's higher education reform but also help to make China's higher education institutes more competitive globally. To achieve such goals, we should formulate more relevant laws and regulations, strengthen efforts for certification of foreign institutes, exert a government role in guiding and instructing such cooperation, and establish a well-functioning mechanism for supervision, management, and quality assurance.

This article experimentally investigated the pressure and cavitation characteristics of high velocity flow over a surface irregularity with and without aeration in a non-circulating water tunnel system. The surface irregularity is a cylindrical protrusion made of stainless steel of 6 mm diameter and 2 mm height. Pressures with and without aeration were measured with MPX400D pressure transducers and real-timely acquired by a SINOCERA YE6263 data acquisition system. Variations in flow regimes with and without aeration were observed. Pressure profiles and their variations with air concentration upper and lower cylindrical protrusion on the invert and obvert walls were determined. Variations of cavitation number with air concentration lower cylindrical protrusion were analyzed. Also, cavitation numbers in the presence and absence of aeration were compared.

A new method is proposed for strapdown attitude-independent magnetometer calibration, which is based on the comparison of previous approaches. The calibration estimates the scale factors, nonorthogonality, and constant bias. The unique contribution of this presentation is the derivation of nonorthogonality model, which is different from the models in the published references and is derived from the view of spatial analytical geometry. Two mathematical models were proposed and only one model is verified to suitable for practical calibration, the other is too complicated to calculate the compensation parameters. These models and calibration methods are written in the sensor frame, furthermore the estimation methods are verified using MATLAB, the simulation results show that this model and estimation method can be applied to other platforms.

The calculation of heat exchange on water surface plays an important role in thermal discharge simulation. A laboratory thermal discharge flume experiment under specified artificial meteorological conditions was conducted to investigate the thermal impact process in receiving water, which was also modeled using both the Hydrodynamic Module and ECO Lab Module of MIKE3 Flow Model FM 2009 (MIKE3FM), respectively. The results indicate that the amount of heat exchange on water surface calculated by real time heat flux method and comprehensive heat transfer coefficient method is quite different. The heat flux method can reflect the heat accumulation process of environment water under the real-time meteorological conditions, while the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient doesn't embody the real physical process of heat exchange, and it is generally applied to the power plant siting and planning stage under design conditions.