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Coral-clustered CoNi 5 S 8 -Ni 2 P-FeP 2 three-phase heterostructure, which is anchored on nickel foam surface by a two-step gas-phase sulfurization/phosphorization strategy as free-standing multifunctional electrocatalysts, exhibits excellent HER/OER/UOR properties and shows great potential in water electrolysis applications. [Display omitted] Rational designing efficient transition metal-based multifunctional electrocatalysts is highly desirable for improving the efficiency of hydrogen production from water cracking. Herein, a self-supported three-phase heterostructure electrocatalyst of nickel–cobalt sulfide/nickel phosphide/iron phosphide (CoNi 5 S 8 -Ni 2 P-FeP 2) was prepared by a two-step gas-phase sulfurization/phosphorization strategy. The heterostructure in CoNi 5 S 8 -Ni 2 P-FeP 2 provides a favorable interfacial environment for electron transfer and synergistic interaction of multiphase active components, while the introduced electronegative P/S not only serves as a carrier for proton capture in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process but also promotes the metal-electron outflow, which in turn accelerates the generation of high-valent Ni3+ species to enhance the catalytic activity of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR). As expected, CoNi 5 S 8 -Ni 2 P-FeP 2 reveals excellent multifunctional electrocatalytic properties. An overpotential of 35/215 mV is required to reach 10 mA cm−2 for HER/OER. More encouragingly, a current of 100 mA cm−2 requires only 1.36 V for UOR with CoNi 5 S 8 -Ni 2 P-FeP 2 as anode, which is much lower as compared to the OER (1.50 V). Besides, a two-electrode water/urea electrolyzer assembled based on CoNi 5 S 8 -Ni 2 P-FeP 2 has a voltage of only 1.59/1.48 V when the system reaches 50 mA cm−2. This work provides a new idea for the design of energy-efficient water/urea-assisted water-splitting multifunctional catalysts with multi-component heterostructure synergistic interface engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We outline the taxonomic studies on parasitoid wasps in China for the first time. [•] We provide a brief history of the studies of parasitoid wasps in China. [•] We list the people, institutions and taxonomic groups involved in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The novel dynamic testing system is developed and the parameter identification. • The optimal 180° large angle crisscross by entangled wire mesh is determined. • Two fabrication technologies are introduced associated with vibration capability. • Vibration reliability characterization of annular periodic metal rubber is studied. This paper aims to investigate the vibration reliability characterization and damping performance of annular periodic metal rubber subjected to cyclic dynamic loading. A typical annular or ring-shaped metal rubber benchmark, which leads to a particularly pronounced looseness or damage characteristics along the non-molding direction after cyclic dynamic loading, was introduced. For the fabrication of the studied metal rubber, entangled wire mesh and woven wire mesh were adopted to analyze and optimize the micro-structure associated with the vibration damping capability. The experimental dynamic testing system was developed as well as the corresponding parameter identification. The geometric coefficient in terms of cross-section distortion was proposed to assess the vibration reliability after cyclic dynamic loading. The effects of density and wire diameter on the damping performance of annular metal rubber in the non-molding direction were examined and analyzed in detailed. The results indicate that the 180° large angle crisscross by entangled wire mesh is a relatively optimal fabrication solution for the studied benchmark. The interrelationship of wire diameter and density on key damping capabilities such as energy dissipation, dynamic average stiffness and loss factor should be evident. Some preliminary results of the optimal process parameters are obtained and provide an alternative method for the design of periodic metal rubber damper in terms of individual application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Apoidea represent a large and common superfamily of the Hymenoptera including the bees and sphecid wasps. A robust phylogenetic tree is essential to understanding the diversity, taxonomy and evolution of the Apoidea. In this study, features of apoid mitochondrial genomes were used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships. Twelve apoid mitochondrial genomes were newly sequenced, representing six families and nine subfamilies. Gene rearrangement events have occurred in all apoid mitochondrial genomes sequenced to date. Sphecid wasps have both tRNA and protein-coding gene rearrangements in 5 of 8 species. In bees, the only rearranged genes are tRNAs; long-tongued bees (Apidae + Megachilidae) are characterized by movement of trnA to the trnI-trnQ-trnM tRNA cluster. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial gene sequences support the known paraphyly of sphecid wasps, with bees nested within this clade. The Ampulicidae is sister to the remaining Apoidea. Crabronidae is paraphyletic, split into Crabronidae s.s. and Philanthidae, with the latter group a sister clade to bees. The monophyletic bees are either classified into two clades, long-tongued bees (Apidae + Megachilidae) and short-tongued bees (Andrenidae + Halictidae + Colletidae + Melitidae), or three groups with the Melitidae sister to the other bees. Our study showed that both gene sequences and arrangements provide information on the phylogeny of apoid families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin 17 (IL-17) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiac interstitial fibrosis. In this study, we explored the role of interleukin-17 in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy and the underlying mechanisms. The level of IL-17 increased in both the serum and cardiac tissue of diabetic mice. Knockout of IL-17 improved cardiac function of diabetic mice induced by streptozotocin (STZ), and significantly alleviated interstitial fibrosis as manifested by reduced collagen mRNA expression and collagen deposition evaluated by Masson's staining. High glucose treatment induced collagen production were abolished in cultured IL-17 knockout cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). The levels of long noncoding RNA-AK081284 were increased in the CFs treated with high glucose or IL-17. Knockout of IL-17 abrogated high glucose induced upregulation of AK081284. Overexpression of AK081284 in cultured CFs promoted the production of collagen and TGFβ1. Both high glucose and IL-17 induced collagen and TGFβ1 production were mitigated by the application of the siRNA for AK081284. In summary, deletion of IL-17 is able to mitigate myocardial fibrosis and improve cardiac function of diabetic mice. The IL-17/AK081284/TGFβ1 signaling pathway mediates high glucose induced collagen production. This study indicates the therapeutic potential of IL-17 inhibition on diabetic cardiomyopathy disease associated with fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing response that arises from various aetiologies. Flavonoid compounds have been proved of their anti-liver fibrosis effects. This study aimed to elucidate the protective effect and mechanism of flavonoid compound GL-V9 on CCl 4 -induced and DDC-induced liver fibrosis. Treatment with GL-V9 alleviated hepatic injury and exhibited a dramatic protection effect of liver fibrosis. Further experiments found that GL-V9 treatment inhibited extracellular matrix (ECM) expression. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a central driver of fibrosis. GL-V9 could inhibit the activation of HSCs through directly binding to TGFβRI, subsequently inhibit TGF-β/Smad pathway. In conclusion, this study proved that GL-V9 executed a protective effect on liver fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β/Smad pathway. Llustration of GL-V9 in the regulation of liver fibrosis. [Display omitted] • GL-V9 attenuates liver fibrosis induced by CCl 4 and DDC. • GL-V9 attenuates liver fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β/Smad pathway. • L-V9 inhibits TGF-β/Smad pathway by binding to TGFβRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neoneuromus ignobilis is an archaic holometabolous aquatic predatory insect. However, a lack of genomic resources hinders the use of whole genome sequencing to explore their genetic basis and molecular mechanisms for adaptive evolution. Here, we provided a high-contiguity, chromosome-level genome assembly of N. ignobilis using high coverage Nanopore and PacBio reads with the Hi-C technique. The final assembly is 480.67 MB in size, containing 12 telomere-ended pseudochromosomes with only 17 gaps. We compared 42 hexapod species genomes including six independent lineages comprising 11 aquatic insects, and found convergent expansions of long wavelength-sensitive and blue-sensitive opsins, thermal stress response TRP channels, and sulfotransferases in aquatic insects, which may be related to their aquatic adaptation. We also detected strong nonrandom signals of convergent amino acid substitutions in aquatic insects. Collectively, our comparative genomic analysis revealed the evidence of molecular convergences in aquatic insects during both gene family evolution and convergent amino acid substitutions. • We provided a high-contiguity, chromosome-level genome assembly for an archaic holometabolous aquatic predatory insect, the Oriental dobsonfly Neoneuromus ignobilis. • Long wavelength-sensitive and blue-sensitive opsins, thermal stress response TRP channels, and sulfotransferases were convergently expanded in aquatic insects. • Aquatic insects of distantly related clades show strong signals of nonrandom amino acid convergence. • We identified 62 significant convergent profile change sites in Megaloptera and Trichoptera. The genes harbored these sites were enriched in endoplasmic reticulum proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Two representative mitochondrial genomes from Bethylidae and Mutillidae of Hymenoptera were sequenced. [•] Protein-coding gene rearrangement is evolutionarily independent in Hymenoptera but might be conserved within Chalcidoidea. [•] Phylogenetic relationships among major lineages of Hymenoptera was reconstructed using complete mitochondrial genomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] More than 1100 species of natural enemies recorded in China have been summarized. [•] Biological characteristics of some dominant natural enemies have been well reviewed. [•] Various biocontrol measures combined with other IPM approaches have been reviewed. [•] The future researches and policy implementation of tea pests are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Here we completed the whole genome sequence of Cotesia vestalis bracovirus (CvBV) by deep sequencing and compared the genome features of CvBV to those of other polydnaviruses (PDVs). The genome is 540,215 base pairs divided into 35 genomic segments that range from 2.6 to 39.2kb. Comparison of CvBV with other PDVs shows that more segments are found, including new segments that have no corresponding segments in other phylogenetically related PDVs, which suggests that there might be still more segments not being sequenced in the present known PDVs. We identified eight gene families and five genes in CvBV, including new genes which were first found in PDVs. Strikingly, we identified a putative helicase protein displaying similarity to human Pif1 helicase, which has never been reported for other PDVs. This finding will bring new insights in research of these special viruses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Titanium dioxide (TiO 2) is widely used as a pigment, additive in food, and personal care. The properties and applications of titanium dioxide vary with crystal structure. In this study, in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction was used to examine the effect of silicon doping on the phase-transition kinetics of titanium dioxide. Transformation from anatase to rutile titanium dioxide was observed in real time; the Rietveld method was used to calculate the rutile content. The first-order kinetic and Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kohnogorov models were compared; the latter was in better agreement with the data. The experimental results showed that the crystal growth process was controlled by the growth of the interface. The phase-transition temperatures for samples with 0%, 5%, and 7.5% silicon were 600, 620, and 630 ​°C, respectively; the activation energies were 212.3, 228.0, and 293.9 ​kJ/mol, respectively. This increase in phase transition temperature and activation energy indicates that doping with silicon inhibits the transformation of anatase to rutile titanium dioxide. When in-situ XRD is done, the relative content of rutile was calculated by Rietveld method. The calculation results are listed in Table. The relative content of rutile recorded in the tables is plotted in Figure. Then, phase transition kinetics of different silicon doping titanium dioxide fitted by JMAK model. [Display omitted] • Transitions between different forms of TiO 2 are of great practical importance. • We use X-ray diffraction to observe the anatase/rutile transition in real time. • We repeat the experiment with different levels of Si doping. • Si doping inhibits the phase transition. • We are able to model the kinetics of the transition using the Avrami equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In hymenopteran parasitoids devoid of symbiotic viruses, venom proteins appear to play a major role in host immune suppression and host regulation. Not much is known about the active components of venom proteins in these parasitoids, especially those that have the functions involved in the suppression of host cellular immunity. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a venom protein Vn.11 with 24.1kDa in size from Pteromalus puparum, a pupa-specific endoparasitoid of Pieris rapae. The Vn.11 venom protein is isolated with the combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation and anion exchange chromatography, and its purity is verified using SDS–PAGE analysis. Like crude venom, the Vn.11 venom protein significantly inhibits the spreading behavior and encapsulation ability of host hemocytes in vitro. It is suggested that this protein is an actual component of P. puparum crude venom as host cellular-immune suppressive factor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cotesia vestalis (Haliday) is an endoparasitoid of Plutella xylostella (L.) larvae and injects a polydnavirus (CvBV) into its host during oviposition. In this report we describe the characterization of a gene (CvBV805) and its products. CvBV805 is located on the segment S8 of CvBV genome; it has a size of 909 bp and encodes a predicted protein of 125 amino acids. This protein contains an ankyrin repeat domain with a high degree of similarity with IκB-like genes. Gene transcripts were detected in extracts of the host as early as 2 h post-parasitization (p.p.) and continued to be detected through 24 h. Tissue-specific expression patterns showed that CvBV805 might be involved in early host immunosuppression. CvBV805 was detected in parasitized hosts at 12 h p.p. and in rBac-eGFP-CvBV805-infected Tn-5B1-4 cells at 72 h.p.i. by using western blots analysis. The size of the protein expressed in the host hemocytes and infected Tn-5B1-4 cells was 17 kDa and 56 kDa (including eGFP), respectively, which nearly corresponded with the predicted molecular weight (14.31 kDa) of CvBV805, suggesting that the protein did not undergo extensive post-translational modification. The protein was confirmed to be present within the nuclear region in hemocytes of the parasitized P. xylostella larvae at 48 h p.p. using confocal laser scanning microscopy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cancer elicited inflammation is the main environmental cause leading to carcinogenesis and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Roles of the inflammatory biomarker in predicting the clinical efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and prognosis of naive patients with advanced NSCLC need to be determined, and the best inflammatory predicted biomarker remains unknown. A total of 178 eligible advanced NSCLC patients (124 and 54 cases within discovery and validation cohorts, respectively) who received first-line EGFR-TKI between July of 2014 and October of 2020 were enrolled in the present study. We detected circulating immune cell counting, albumin (Alb), pre-albumin (pAlb), ALP, AST, LDH, GGT, HDL-c, and fibrinogen (Fib) concentrations, and calculated 22 inflammatory ratios and scores. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the impact of these ratios and scores on objective response and disease control rate (ORR and DCR) as well as progression-free survival (PFS) in these patients. Twenty-five percentage and 24.07% of NSCLC patients were observed objective response to the treatment of first-line EGFR-TKI in discovery and validation cohort, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression showed that high PLR, NPS, SII, SIS, mSIS, GLR and FPR as well as low PNI were significantly associated with poor PFS in discovery cohort. However, only high SII and FPR were found to be associated with unsatisfactory outcome in validation cohort. Time-dependent areas under ROC of FPR were 0.702 (0.517–0.888) in discovery cohort, and 0.767 (0.613–0.921) in validation cohort, which were extremely higher than the other biomarkers. The patients with FPR-SII combined score 2 harbored worse prognosis compared to the combined score 0 in discovery (p log-rank = 0.003, adjusted HR = 2.888, 95%CI = 1.500–5.560) and validation cohort (p log-rank = 0.001, adjusted HR = 3.769, 95%CI = 1.676–8.478) as well as overall population (p log-rank < 0.001, adjusted HR = 3.109, 95%CI = 1.878–5.147), and its time-dependent AUCs were 0.747 (0.594–0.900) and 0.815 (0.688–0.942) in the two cohorts, respectively, which were significantly higher than the single biomarker in the two cohorts. The patients with high FPR and FPR-SII score harbored worse DCR than the low patients in the two cohorts and overall population, respectively. Moreover, the similar poor survival was observed in advanced high-FPR NSCLC patients with different treatment options, however, the survival of low-FPR patients with treatment of single TKI, radiotherapy or chemotherapy or radio-chemotherapy combined TKI was good compared to the high-FPR patients with radio-chemotherapy combined TKI, and the survival differences were observed between TKI (p log-rank < 0.001) or radiotherapy combined TKI (p log-rank = 0.014) treated low-FPR patients and the high FPR patients. Additionally, FPR-SII combined score could monitor the progression of the disease in real-time, and the median month of the positive score appearance was significantly earlier than CT/MRI detection (p < 0.001 for 3 months vs. 13 months). High-grade cancer elicited inflammation could attenuates response and outcome in tyrosine kinase inhibitor naive patients with advanced NSCLC. FPR-SII combined score was the best inflammatory biomarker to monitor and predict the progression of advanced NSCLC patients with treatment of TKI. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Twenty-three mitochondrial genomes were sequenced from Aculeata. • Gene arrangement of mitochondrial genomes in Aculeata was analyzed. • Phylogenetic relationships within Aculeata were reconstructed. The stinging wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) include diverse groups such as vespid wasps, ants and bees. Phylogenetic relationships among major lineages of stinging wasps have been inferred from molecular and morphological data. However, the genomic features of the mitochondrial genomes and their phylogenetic utility remain to be explored. In this study, we determined 23 mitochondrial genomes from the Aculeata. Four Mutillidae species showed relatively low A + T content compared to other species of the Aculeata (69.7%–77.4%). Eleven out of 44 species, mainly from the Chrysididae and the Pompilidae, showed reversals of GC skews. Gene rearrangements occurred across the species. Patterns of tRNA rearrangement were conserved in some groups, including the Chrysididae, Bethylidae, Pompilidae, Scolioidea and Vespoidea. Rearrangement of protein-coding genes were found in 12 out of 44 species of the Aculeata, including all four species from the Chrysididae, both species from the Bethylidae, one species from the Dryinidae, all three Scolioidea species and two Apoidea species. Phylogenetic inference showed a long branch in species with unusual genomic features, such as in the Mutillidae and Bethylidae. By excluding these species, we found paraphyly of the Chrysidoidea and a sister group relationship between the Formicoidea and Vespoidea. These results improve our understanding of the evolution of mitochondrial genomes in the Aculeata and, in general, the evolution across this subclade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]