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Abstract Background Rabies is an incessant public health threat in China. The Ministry of Health implemented the Central Payment for Rabies Prevention and Control Project to assist with rabies prevention and control in a few representative provinces in 2006. Methods Data on human rabies cases reported by the National Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System and national surveillance sites from 2006 to 2022 were collected, and statistical and multivariate analyses were then used to assess the effectiveness of current prevention and control efforts. Results During 2006–2022, a total of 2025 human rabies cases were collected by the national surveillance sites, with incidence rates far above the national average, but the incidence rate was consistent with the national trend. Human rabies cases demonstrated a dual peak distribution in terms of exposure and onset dates, with the peak exposure dates falling mostly in the spring and summer and the peak onset dates occurring mostly in the summer and autumn. Three danger categories are shown by the geographical distribution: high, medium and low. Dogs had a high infection rate (86.93%), with own domesticated dogs accounting for the majority of infections. The rates of post-exposure prophylaxis are not constant. The median incubation period was 71 days. Conclusions Various measures and policies implemented by the government have played a key role in reducing the incidence of rabies. To effectively prevent and control the resurgence of epidemics and halt the spread of the virus among host animals, it is imperative to prioritize and implement a robust dog management system, accelerate research and development of animal vaccines and improve the level of post-exposure prophylaxis.

BackgroundDepression is a primary cause of illness and disability among teenagers, and the incidence of depression and the number of untreated young people have increased in recent years. Effective intervention for those youths could decrease the disease burden and suicide or self-harm risk during preadolescence and adolescence.ObjectiveTo verify the short efficacy of the systemic couple group therapy (SCGT) on youths’ depression changes and families with depressed adolescents.MethodsThe study was a self-control trial; only within-group changes were evaluated. Participants were couples with a depressed child who was resistant to psychotherapy; they were recruited non-randomly through convenient sampling. The paired-sample t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare differences before and after interventions. The effect sizes were also estimated using Cohen’s d. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to examine associations between changes.ResultsA downward trend was seen in depressive symptoms after treatment, and Cohen’s d was 0.33 (p = 0.258). The adolescents perceived fewer interparental conflicts, and the effect sizes were medium for perceived conflict frequency (0.66, p = 0.043), conflict intensity (0.73, p = 0.028), conflict solutions (0.75, p = 0.025), coping efficacy (0.68, p = 0.038), and perceived threat (0.57, p = 0.072). For parents, global communication quality, constructive communication patterns, and subjective marital satisfaction significantly improved after interventions, with large effect sizes (1.11, 0.85, and 1.03, respectively; all p < 0.001). Other destructive communication patterns such as demand/withdraw (p = 0.003) and mutual avoidance (p = 0.018) and communication strategies like verbal aggression (p = 0.012), stonewalling (p = 0.002), avoidance–capitulation (p = 0.036), and child involvement (p = 0.001) also reduced, with medium effect sizes (0.69, 0.52, 0.55, 0.71, 0.46, and 0.79, respectively). Meanwhile, the associations between depression changes and changes in interparental conflicts (p < 0.001) and marital satisfaction (p = 0.001) were significant.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe SCGT offers the possibility for the treatment of families with depressed children who are unwilling to seek treatment. Helping parents improve communication and marital quality may have benefits on children’s depressive symptoms.

Abstract Ventilation door are commonly found in tunnels and other underground engineering ventilation structures, disaster periods using its explosion isolation, explosion relief, wind regulation characteristics for disaster prevention and mitigation is of great significance. This paper numerically simulates the propagation characteristics of the gas explosion shock wave in the nearby tunnel when the ventilation door are opened at different degrees, and analyzes the influence mechanism of the opening degree on the change law of the shock wave overpressure distribution in the nearby tunnel. The results show that the shock wave forms a strong turbulence area (high pressure area) on both sides in front of the ventilation door, and the area range and the overpressure value decrease with the increase of the opening degree; the ventilation door reduce the intensity of the shock wave, so that the overpressure behind the ventilation door decreases, and the smaller the opening degree, the lower the overpressure behind the ventilation door. The secondary explosion formed shock wave and the ventilation door reflected shock wave meet to form a stronger shock wave, which leads to different opening degrees of ventilation door, its before, after the roadway and after the bifurcation of the main roadway in the measured points of the overpressure change curve is different, the main difference is that the peak overpressure for the first wave or the second wave peak. The peak overpressure in the tunnel before and after the ventilation door decreases and increases respectively with the increase of the opening length, and the overall decay of the peak overpressure at 5 m and 10 m before the ventilation door is 49.56% and 4.04% respectively and only has an effect on the peak overpressure in main tunnel within 20 m from the bifurcation.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disease in the central nervous system and is the primary cause of dementia. It is clinically characterized by the memory impairment, aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, visuospatial and executive dysfunction, behavioral changes, and so on. Incidence of this disease was bound up with age, genetic factors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular dysfunction, and other basic diseases, but the exact etiology has not been clarified. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous non-coding RNAs that were involved in the regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression. miRNAs have been extensively studied as noninvasive potential biomarkers for disease due to their relative stability in bodily fluids. In addition, they play a significant role in the physiological and pathological processes of various neurological disorders, including stroke, AD, and Parkinson’s disease. MiR-155, as an important pro-inflammatory mediator of neuroinflammation, was reported to participate in the progression of β-amyloid peptide and tau via regulating immunity and inflammation. In this review, we put emphasis on the effects of miR-155 on AD and explore the underlying biological mechanisms which could provide a novel approach for diagnosis and treatment of AD.

The accurate prediction of soybean yield is of great significance for agricultural production, monitoring and early warning. Although previous studies have used machine learning algorithms to predict soybean yield based on meteorological data, it is not clear how different models can be used to effectively separate soybean meteorological yield from soybean yield in various regions. In addition, comprehensively integrating the advantages of various machine learning algorithms to improve the prediction accuracy through ensemble learning algorithms has not been studied in depth. This study used and analyzed various daily meteorological data and soybean yield data from 173 county-level administrative regions and meteorological stations in two principal soybean planting areas in China (Northeast China and the Huang–Huai region), covering 34 years. Three effective machine learning algorithms (K-nearest neighbor, random forest, and support vector regression) were adopted as the base-models to establish a high-precision and highly-reliable soybean meteorological yield prediction model based on the stacking ensemble learning framework. The model’s generalizability was further improved through 5-fold cross-validation, and the model was optimized by principal component analysis and hyperparametric optimization. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by using the five-year sliding prediction and four regression indicators of the 173 counties, which showed that the stacking model has higher accuracy and stronger robustness. The 5-year sliding estimations of soybean yield based on the stacking model in 173 counties showed that the prediction effect can reflect the spatiotemporal distribution of soybean yield in detail, and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was less than 5%. The stacking prediction model of soybean meteorological yield provides a new approach for accurately predicting soybean yield.

Gastrodia elata Blume, a fully mycoheterotrophic perennial plant of the family Orchidaceae, is a traditional Chinese herb with medicinal and edible value. Interestingly, G. elata requires symbiotic relationships with Mycena and Armillaria strains for seed germination and plant growth, respectively. However, there is no comprehensive summary of the symbiotic mechanism between fungi and G. elata. Here, the colonization and digestion of hyphae, the bidirectional exchange of nutrients, the adaptation of fungi and G. elata to symbiosis, and the role of microorganisms and secondary metabolites in the symbiotic relationship between fungi and G. elata are summarized. We comprehensively and deeply analyzed the mechanism of symbiosis between G. elata and fungi from three perspectives: morphology, nutrition, and molecules. The aim of this review was to enrich the understanding of the mutualistic symbiosis mechanisms between plants and fungi and lay a theoretical foundation for the ecological cultivation of G. elata.

Abstract Background Natural killer (NK) cells play a major role in body’s fighting against various types of cancers. Their infiltration in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of gastric cancer (GC) are significantly decreased, which has been reported as a robust prognostic marker. However, the causes leading to NK cells loss in GC TME remains poorly understood. Methods We constructed a non-contact co-culturing system and humanized xenograft tumor mice model to detect the influence of GC microenvironment on NK-92 or primary human NK cells viability by flow cytometry. Then through using the specific inhibitors for different types of cell death and examining the surrogate markers, we confirmed ferroptosis in NK cells. Inspired by the accidental discoveries, we constructed a NK-92 cell strain with high expression of GPX4 and treated the humanized xenograft tumor mice model with the NK-92 cells. Results We found L-KYN, mainly generated through indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) from GC cells, impaired NK cells viability in TME. Further analysis revealed L-KYN induced ferroptosis in NK cells via an AHR-independent way. Moreover, we found NK cells with higher GPX4 expression showed resistance to L-KYN induced ferroptosis. Based on this, we generated GPX4 over-expressed NK-92 cells, and found these cells showed therapeutic potential towards GC. Conclusions Our study revealed a novel mechanism to explain the decline of NK cell number in GC TME. Notably, we also developed a potential immunotherapy strategy, which might be beneficial in clinical treatment in the future.

To investigate the effect of active immunisation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on the reproductive function in male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, 24 42-day-old rats were randomly assigned to treatment with GnRH6-MAP, GnRH-OVA, a surgical castration group, and a blank control group. Each rat in the treatment groups was intramuscularly injected at 6, 8, and 10 weeks of age. The serum concentrations of testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), and anti-GnRH antibodies were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The results showed that active immunisation with recombinant GnRH6-MBP and GnRH-OVA significantly increased the serum levels of anti-GnRH antibodies and reduced the serum concentrations of testosterone compared to the black control. Eight weeks after immunisation, the rats’ testes were surgically removed for morphological evaluation, showing atrophy of the convoluted vasculature, relative emptying of the lumen, and insignificant differentiation of spermatogonial cells, which were increased in weight and volume compared with the blank control group. These findings indicated that active immunisation with GnRH can lead to testicular atrophy and reduce gonadal hormone concentrations, suggesting that GnRH is a highly effective immunogen.

Abstract Many previous studies have shown the potential antipruritic effect of acupuncture. This paper reviews the antipruritic mechanisms of acupuncture according to these aspects: sample characteristics, detail of intervention, and effects evaluation. The majority of research on acupuncture’s antipruritic effect has focused on primary afferents of the peripheral mechanism. Relatively few studies, however, have addressed the central mechanisms. Combination the latest research achievements of chronic itch, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord may represent the first molecule identified that is dedicated to mediating the itch response and may provide an important therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic pruritic conditions. Therefore, GRPR may be a new target for acupuncture to relieve itch in the future and provide new ideas for acupuncture intervention in the mechanisms of the spinal level of the “itch-scratch vicious cycle” of chronic itch.

Our previous study suggested that hypomethylation of perforin promoter of CD4 + T cells might be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune emphysema of rats. Whether transfer of this kind of cells hypomethylated in vitro into naive immunocompetent rats also results in emphysema is unknown yet. To test the hypothesis above, thirty Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: a model group (n = 10), a normal control group (n = 10) and a sham operation group (n = 10). In the model group, spleen-derived CD4 + T cells of normal rats were treated with 5-azacytidine (5-Aza), complete Freund’s adjuvant and Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), then transferred into naive immunocompetent rats. The normal control group was injected with CD4 + T lymphocytes from spleens of normal rats and the same amount of adjuvant and PBS as above. In sham operation group, normal rats were injected intraperitoneally with complete Freund’s adjuvant and PBS. Histopathological evaluations (mean linear Intercept (MLI) and mean alveolar numbers (MAN)), anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)), the apoptotic index (AI) of alveolar septal cells and the methylation levels of perforin promoter of CD4 + T cells were investigated. The levels of the methylation above and MAN were lower in the model group than in the control and the sham operation group, while the AECA in serum and BALF, VEGF, MLI and the AI were greater (all p

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–plasma membrane (PM) contact sites/junctions play important roles in cell physiology including signal transduction, ion and lipid transfer, and membrane dynamics. However, little is known about the dynamic regulation and functional roles of ER–PM junctions in neurons. Using a split green fluorescent protein-based membrane contact probe, we find that the density of ER–PM contact sites changes dynamically in the dendrites of hippocampal neurons undergoing long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP). We show that the Ca 2 ± -sensing membrane tethering protein Extended Synaptotagmin 1 (E-Syt1) mediates the formation of ER–PM contact sites during LTP. We also show that E-Syt1 is required for neuronal activity-dependent surface expression of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid-type glutamate receptors. These findings implicate ER–PM junctions in the regulation of neurotransmitter receptor trafficking and synaptic plasticity.

The diversity of prokaryotic communities in soil is shaped by both biotic and abiotic factors. However, little is known about the major factors shaping soil prokaryotic communities at a large scale in agroecosystems. To this end, we undertook a study to investigate the impact of maize production cropping systems, soil properties and geographic location (latitude and longitude) on soil prokaryotic communities using metagenomic techniques, across four distinct maize production regions in China. Across all study sites, the dominant prokaryotes in soil were Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed that prokaryotic communities clustered into the respective maize cropping systems in which they resided. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil properties especially pH, geographic location and cropping system jointly determined the diversity of the prokaryotic communities. The functional genes of soil prokaryotes from these samples were chiefly influenced by latitude, soil pH and cropping system, as revealed by RDA analysis. The abundance of genes in some metabolic pathways, such as genes involved in microbe–microbe interactions, degradation of aromatic compounds, carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes and microbial metabolism were markedly different across the four maize production regions. Our study indicated that the combination of soil pH, cropping system and geographic location significantly influenced the prokaryotic community and the functional genes of these microbes. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the composition and function of the soil prokaryotic community across large-scale production systems such as maize.

β-Ga2O3, with excellent bandgap, breakdown field, and thermal stability properties, is considered to be one of the most promising candidates for power devices including field-effect transistors (FETs) and for other applications such as Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) and solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors. Ohmic contact is one of the key steps in the β-Ga2O3 device fabrication process for power applications. Ohmic contact techniques have been developed in recent years, and they are summarized in this review. First, the basic theory of metal–semiconductor contact is introduced. After that, the representative literature related to Ohmic contact with β-Ga2O3 is summarized and analyzed, including the electrical properties, interface microstructure, Ohmic contact formation mechanism, and contact reliability. In addition, the promising alternative schemes, including novel annealing techniques and Au-free contact materials, which are compatible with the CMOS process, are discussed. This review will help our theoretical understanding of Ohmic contact in β-Ga2O3 devices as well as the development trends of Ohmic contact schemes.

Gastric cancer (GC), a malignant tumor of digestive tract, is characterized by a high death rate. Thus, it is of particular importance to clarify the mechanisms of GC and gain new molecular targets for the sake of preventing and treating GC. It was reported that long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) are prognostic factors to cancer. Ferroptosis refers to a process of programmed cell death dependent on iron. This study sets out to investigate the expression and function of ferroptosis-related lncRNA (FRlncRNA) in GC. TCGA datasets offered RNA-seq data for 375 GC patients and clinical data for 443 GC patients. Based on Pearson’s correlation analysis, we studied their expression and identified the FRlncRNAs. Differentially expressed prognosis related to FRlncRNA were determined with the help of the Wilcoxon test and univariate Cox regression analysis. To evaluate the accuracy of the prognostic capacity, researchers used the Kaplan-Meier technique, as well as univariate and multivariate Cox regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve studies. We also carried out the real-time PCR and CCK8 assays to examine the expression and function of FRlncRNA. In this study, we identified 50 ferroptosis-related DEGs which were involved in tumor progression. In addition, we identified 33 survival-related FRlncRNAs. Among them, lncRNA associated with SART3 regulation of splicing(LASTR) was confirmed to be highly expressed in GC specimens compared to non-tumor specimens in this cohort. Survival assays illuminated that the high LASTR expression predicted a shorter overall survival and progression-free survival of GC patients. Based on multivariate Cox regression analyses, it was confirmed that the GC had a worse chance of surviving the disease overall if their tumors expressed LASTR, which was an independent prognostic indication. Then, Loss-of-function tests showed that knocking down LASTR had a significant effect on reducing the proliferation of GC cells. Finally, we found that the expression of LASTR was negatively associated with CD8 T cells, T cells, Th17 cells, and T helper cells. Overall, our findings identified a novel survival-related FRlncRNA, LASTR which possibly can serve as a novel prognostic biomarker predicting response to cancer immunotherapy and therapeutic target for GC patients.

Summary: Phosphoinositides (PIPs) are low-abundant membrane lipids with critically important functions in cellular physiology. To investigate their subcellular distribution in neurons, we optimized protocols for immunofluorescence staining of intracellular or plasma membrane PIPs with commercially available antibodies. Here, we describe the preparation and transfection of primary mouse hippocampal neurons in dissociated culture, followed by immunofluorescence staining and quantitative analysis of PIP signals. In addition, we expand the application of the protocol to proteins located at the cytoplasmic leaflet of cellular membranes.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Guo et al. (2022). : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

BackgroundInfertility is a common health problem affecting couples of childbearing age. The proposal of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) solves the problem of infertility to a certain extent. However, the average success rate of IVF-ET is still low. Some studies conclude that transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) could improve pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing IVF-ET, however, there is a lack of comprehensive synthesis and evaluation of existing evidence.ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether TEAS is effective and safe to improve the pregnancy outcomes for women undergoing IVF-ET.MethodsEight online databases were searched from inception to 19 November 2021. In addition, four clinical trial registries were also searched, relevant references were screened, and experts were consulted for possible eligible studies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that included patients with infertility who underwent IVF and used TEAS as the main adjuvant treatment vs. non-TEAS or mock intervention controls were included. The clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) was considered the primary outcome. High-quality embryo rate (HQER), live birth rate (LBR), biochemical pregnancy rate (BPR), ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR), early miscarriage rate (EMR), birth defects rate (BDR), and adverse events related to interventions were regarded as secondary outcomes. The selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and data synthesis were conducted by two independent researchers using Endnote software V.9.1 and Stata 16.0 software. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to evaluate the evidence quality of each outcome.ResultsThere were 19 RCTs involving 5,330 participants included. The results of meta-analyses showed that TEAS can improve CPR [RR = 1.42, 95% CI (1.31, 1.54)], HQER [RR = 1.09, 95% CI (1.05, 1.14)], and BPR [RR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.22, 1.71)] of women underwent IVF-ET with low quality of evidence, and improve LBR [RR = 1.42, 95% CI (1.19, 1.69)] with moderate quality of evidence. There was no significant difference in EMR [RR = 1.08, 95% CI (0.80, 1.45)] and BDR [RR = 0.93, 95% CI (0.13, 6.54)] with very low and moderate quality of evidence, respectively. A cumulative meta-analysis showed that the effective value of TEAS vs. controls was relatively stable in 2018 [RR = 1.52, 95% CI (1.35, 1.71)]. In addition, no serious adverse events associated with TEAS were reported.ConclusionOur findings suggest that TEAS may be an effective and safe adjuvant treatment for women undergoing IVF-ET to improve pregnancy outcomes. However, the current evidence quality is considered to be limited, and more high-quality RCTs are needed for further verification in the future.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021238871, identifier: CRD42021238871.

Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) is the main monomeric component extracted from the dried roots and rhizomes of Panax notoginseng, and exerts pharmacological action against myocardial infarction (MI). Owing to the differences in compound distribution, absorption, and metabolism in vivo, exploring a more effective drug delivery system with a high therapeutic targeting effect is crucial. In the early stages of MI, CD11b-expressing monocytes and neutrophils accumulate at infarct sites. Thus, we designed a mesoporous silica nanoparticle-conjugated CD11b antibody with loaded NGR1 (MSN-NGR1-CD11b antibody), which allowed NGR1 precise targeted delivery to the heart in a noninvasively manner. By increasing targeting to the injured myocardium, intravenous injection of MSN-NGR1-CD11b antibody nanoparticle in MI mice improved cardiac function and angiogenesis, reduced cell apoptosis, and regulate macrophage phenotype and inflammatory factors and chemokines. In order to further explore the mechanism of NGR1 protecting myocardium, cell oxidative stress model and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model were established. NGR1 protected H9C2 cells and primary cardiomyocytes against oxidative injury induced by H2O2 and OGD treatment. Further network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses suggested that the AKT, MAPK and Hippo signaling pathways were involved in the regulation of NGR1 in myocardial protection. Indeed, NGR1 could elevate the levels of p-Akt and p-ERK, and promote the nuclear translocation of YAP. Furthermore, LY294002 (AKT inhibitor), U0126 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) and Verteporfin (YAP inhibitor) administration in H9C2 cells indicated the involvement of AKT, MAPK and Hippo signaling pathways in NGR1 effects. Meanwhile, MSN-NGR1-CD11b antibody nanoparticles enhanced the activation of AKT and MAPK signaling pathways and the nuclear translocation of YAP at the infarcted site. Our research demonstrated that MSN-NGR1-CD11b antibody nanoparticle injection after MI enhanced the targeting of NGR1 to the infarcted myocardium and improved cardiac function. More importantly, our pioneering research provides a new strategy for targeting drug delivery systems to the ischemic niche.

Abstract The strength of biodiversity–biomass production relationships increases with increasing environmental stress and time. However, we know little about the effects of abiotic (e.g., climate) and biotic (e.g., species pool and community composition) factors on this trend. Whether variation in biomass production is best explained by phylogenetic diversity metrics or traditional measures of species richness also remains elusive. We compiled estimates of community composition and biomass production for tree species in 111 permanent quadrats spanning three natural forests (tropical, subtropical, and temperate) in China. Based on ~10 years of data, we compared temperature, rainfall, species pool size, and community composition in each forest each year. We estimated species richness and phylogenetic diversity in each quadrat each year; the latter metric was based on the sum of branch lengths of a phylogeny that connects species in each quadrat each year. Using generalized linear mixed‐effect models, we found that top‐ranked models included the interaction between forest and biodiversity and the interaction between forest and year for both biodiversity metrics. Variation in biomass production was best explained by phylogenetic diversity; biomass production generally increased with phylogenetic diversity, and the relationship was stronger in subtropical and temperate forests. Increasing species pool size, temperature, and rainfall and decreasing inter‐quadrat dissimilarity range shifted the relationship between biomass production and phylogenetic diversity from positive to neutral. When considered alone, species pool size had the strongest influence on biomass production, while species pool size, rainfall, and their interaction with phylogenetic diversity constituted the top‐ranked model. Our study highlights the importance of species pool size and rainfall on the relationship between phylogenetic diversity and biomass production in natural forest ecosystems.

Background: Hua-Feng-Dan is a patent Chinese medicine for stroke recovery and various diseases. This study used GC-MS to profile its ingredients and RNA-Seq to analyze the induced adaptive response in the liver.Methods: Hua-Feng-Dan was subjected to steam distillation and solvent extraction, followed by GC-MS analysis. Mice were orally administered Hua-Feng-Dan and its “Guide drug” Yaomu for 7 days. Liver pathology was examined, and total RNA isolated for RNA-Seq, followed by bioinformatic analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).Results: Forty-four volatile and fifty liposoluble components in Hua-Feng-Dan were profiled and analyzed by the NIST library and their concentrations quantified. The major components (>1%) in volatile (5) and liposoluble (10) were highlighted. Hua-Feng-Dan and Yaomu at hepatoprotective doses did not produce liver toxicity as evidenced by histopathology and serum enzyme activities. GO Enrichment revealed that Hua-Feng-Dan affected lipid homeostasis, protein folding, and cell adhesion. KEGG showed activated cholesterol metabolism, bile secretion, and PPAR signaling pathways. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by DESeq2 with p < 0.05 compared to controls. Hua-Feng-Dan produced more DEGs than Yaomu. qPCR on selected genes largely verified RNA-Seq results. Ingenuity Pathways Analysis of the upstream regulator revealed activation of MAPK and adaptive responses by Hua-Feng-Dan, and Yaomu was less effective. Hua-Feng-Dan-induced DEGs were highly correlated with the Gene Expression Omnibus database of chemical-induced adaptive transcriptome changes in the liver.Conclusion: GC-MS primarily profiled volatile and liposoluble components in Hua-Feng-Dan. Hua-Feng-Dan at the hepatoprotective dose did not produce liver pathological changes but induced metabolic and signaling pathway activations. The effects of Hua-Feng-Dan on liver transcriptome changes point toward induced adaptive responses to program the liver to produce hepatoprotective effects.

Abstract. Background. Intensive therapy with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has been reported to improve the outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, real-world study on the effect of intensive therapy on RA sustained remission is still lacking. This study aimed to investigate the outcome of sustained intensive DMARD therapy (SUIT) for RA in a real-world 5-year consecutive cohort. Methods. Based on a consecutive cohort of 610 out-patients with RA, remission of RA was assessed in 541 patients from 2012 to 2017, by dividing into SUIT, non-SUIT, and intermittent SUIT (Int-SUIT) groups. Changes in the disease activity scores were evaluated by 28-joint disease activity score based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), 28-joint disease activity score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), and clinical deep remission criteria (CliDR). Cumulative remission rates between different groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and predictive factors of sustained remission were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results. The remission rates of the SUIT group decreased from 12.0% (65/541) to 5.6% (20/359) based on DAS28-ESR, from 14.0% (76/541) to 7.2% (26/359) based on DAS28-CRP, and from 8.5% (46/541) to 3.1% (11/359) based on CliDR, respectively, with a gradually decreasing trend during the 5 years. The SUIT regimen led to a significantly higher cumulative remission rate than non-SUIT regimen based on DAS28-ESR (39.7% vs. 19.5%, P = 0.001), DAS28-CRP (42.0% vs. 19.6%, P = 0.001), and CliDR (24.5% vs. 8.7%, P = 0.001). The cumulative remission rates of patients treated with SUIT regimen were significantly higher than those treated with Int-SUIT regimen based on DAS28-ESR (39.7% vs. 25.7%, P = 0.043) and CliDR (24.5% vs. 14.2%, P = 0.047), but there was no significant difference between the two groups based on DAS28-CRP (42.0% vs. 27.4%, P = 0.066). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the use of SUIT regimen was an independent favorable predictor according to different remission definitions (for DAS28-ESR: odds ratio [OR], 2.215, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.271–3.861, P = 0.005; for DAS28-CRP: OR, 1.520, 95% CI: 1.345–1.783, P = 0.002; for CliDR: OR, 1.525, 95% CI: 1.314–1.875, P = 0.013). Conclusion. Sustained intensive treatment of RA is an optimal strategy in daily practice and will lead to an increased remission rate.

Abstract Background China still suffers heavily from rabies, although reported human cases continue to decrease year over year. There are far fewer laboratory-confirmed human cases than clinically diagnosed cases, which is a big problem that needs to be addressed. In this report, we summarize analyses of all specimens from human cases tested in our laboratory over the past 15 years, in order to promote laboratory diagnosis of rabies. Methods From 2005 to 2019, a total of 271 samples from 164 suspected rabies cases were collected from local hospitals by the local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in China. Saliva, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum (blood) and urine were collected for ante-mortem diagnosis, and brain tissue, neck skin tissue and cornea were collected for post-mortem diagnosis. All of the specimens were tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and brain tissues were also tested using fluorescent antibody test (FAT). The number of positive test results obtained using different fluids or tissues, and at different stages of the disease, were compared using a chi-square test and a more effective sampling program is recommended. Results As the national reference laboratory for rabies surveillance in China, our laboratory has tested 271 samples from 164 suspected rabies cases collected by local CDCs since 2005. We found that saliva gave the highest number of positive test results (32%), compared with CSF and other fluids. We also found that serum or blood specimens collected in the last 3 days of life can test positive by RT-PCR. Conclusions Serum or blood samples collected in the last 3 days of a patient’s life can be used to measure viral RNA, which means that serum samples, as well as saliva and CSF, can be used to detect viral RNA for anti-mortem diagnosis of rabies. Because of our findings, we have modified our “National Surveillance Project for Human Rabies”, by adding the collection and testing of serum samples from the end of the survival period. This will improve our national surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of human rabies.

Objective: To clarify the effects of escitalopram on sleep EEG power in patients with Major depressive disorder (MDD).Method: Polysomnography (PSG) was detected overnight, and blood samples were collected at 4 h intervals over 24 h from 13 male healthy controls and 13 male MDD patients before and after treatment with escitalopram for 8 weeks. The outcome measures included plasma melatonin levels, sleep architecture, and the sleep EEG power ratio.Results: Compared with healthy controls, MDD patients presented abnormalities in the diurnal rhythm of melatonin secretion, including peak phase delayed 3 h and a decrease in plasma melatonin levels at night and an increase at daytime, accompanied by sleep disturbances, a decrease in low-frequency bands and an increase in high-frequency bands, and the dominant right-side brain activity. Several of these abnormalities (abnormalities in the diurnal rhythm of melatonin secretion, partial sleep architecture parameters) persisted for at least the 8-week testing period.Conclusions: Eight weeks of treatment with escitalopram significantly improved subjective sleep perception and depressive symptoms of patients with MDD, and partially improved objective sleep parameters, while the improvement of circadian rhythm of melatonin was limited.

Abstract. Background:. Clinical remission is the treatment target in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to investigate clinical remission and related factors in a large cohort of patients with RA. Methods:. This study composed of 342 patients with RA. Data were collected by face-to-face interview of 1049 patients with RA who visited the Department of Rheumatology of three teaching hospitals from September 2015 to May 2016. The patients with RA were clinically assessed by rheumatologists and a four-page questionnaire was completed on site. Subsequently, patients fulfilled remission criteria were further analyzed. The practicability of different definitions of remission of RA was rated by a panel of rheumatologists. Sustained intensive disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment was defined as a combination treatment with two or more DMARDs for at least 6 months. Results:. In this cohort of 342 patients with RA, the proportions of patients achieving remission were 38.0%, 29.5%, 24.9%, 21.1%, 19.0%, 18.1%, and 17.0%, based on criteria of disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) using CRP (DAS28-CRP), DAS28 using ESR (DAS28-ESR), routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID-3), Boolean, simplified disease activity index (SDAI), clinical disease activity index, and the newly described clinical deep remission (CliDR), respectively. Boolean and CliDR are the best in practicability scored by rheumatologists (7.5 and 8.0, respectively). Compared with the non-sustained intensive group, sustained intensive treatment with DMARDs yielded higher remission rates of 25.6%, 23.8%, and 21.3% in patients with RA based on Boolean (χ2 = 3.937, P = 0.047), SDAI (χ2 = 4.666, P = 0.031), and CliDR criteria (χ2 = 4.297, P = 0.038). The most commonly prescribed conventional synthesized DMARDs (csDMARDs) in patients with RA was leflunomide, followed by methotrexate, and hydroxychloroquine. Compared with the non-remission group, patients achieving remission had a longer median duration of DMARDs (45.0 [22.8–72.3] months, Z = −2.295, P = 0.022). Conclusions:. The findings in this study indicated that clinical deep remission is achievable in patients with RA. Sustained intensive DMARD treatment is needed to achieve a better outcome in RA.

Genetic diversity and comprehensive performance are the basis for the discovery and efficient use of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) core collections. In this study, 386 proso millet core collections were used as materials to observe inflorescence color, leaf phase, inflorescence density, axis shape, branched spike length, panicle type, trichome, measured area of the top3 leaves, and chlorophyll content of the top3 leaves at filling stage. These core collections were also used to record growth period, plant height, diameter of main stem, plant tiller number, branch number, panicle length, panicle number per plant, and panicle weight per plant at the maturation stage. Starch, fat, protein, and yellow pigment contents in the grain and 1000-seed weight were also measured after harvest. Then, quantitative traits were used for diversity analysis and comprehensive evaluation of each collection. Correlations between all traits were also analyzed. Results showed that among the 8 quality traits, the Shannon index (H′) of hull color was the highest (1.588) followed by the H′ of inflorescence density (0.984). However, inflorescence color and axis shape were lower. The H′ of 16 quantitative traits were significantly higher than the quality traits with the following traits having the highest indices: fat content (2.092), 1000-seed weight (2.073), top3 leaves area (2.070), main stem diameter (2.056), and plant height (2.052). Furthermore, all other traits had a diversity higher than 1.900. After a comprehensive evaluation of phenotypic traits, plant height, diameter of main stem, plant tiller number, leaf area of top3 leaves, and 1000-seed weight were the biggest contributors to the principal components. Six high-fat and high-protein cultivars, including Nuoshu, A75-2, Zhiduoaosizhi, Panlonghuangmi, Xiaobaishu, and Xiaohongshu were also screened. Correlations between the quantitative traits were significant, including the correlation between quality traits and quantitative traits. In conclusion, the core collections can be used as basis for discriminating among proso millet cultivars based on related traits and for further studies on millet with rich genetic diversity, good representation, and significant collection between traits.

Abstract Background The aberrant expression of myotubularin-related protein 2 (MTMR2) has been found in some cancers, but little is known about the roles and clinical relevance. The present study aimed to investigate the roles and clinical relevance of MTMR2 as well as the underlying mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC). Methods MTMR2 expression was examined in 295 GC samples by using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The correlation between MTMR2 expression and clinicopathological features and outcomes of the patients was analyzed. The roles of MTMR2 in regulating the invasive and metastatic capabilities of GC cells were observed using gain-and loss-of-function assays both in vitro and in vivo. The pathways involved in MTMR2-regulating invasion and metastasis were selected and identified by using mRNA expression profiling. Functions and underlying mechanisms of MTMR2-mediated invasion and metastasis were further investigated in a series of in vitro studies. Results MTMR2 was highly expressed in human GC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues and its expression levels were significantly correlated with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage. Patients with MTMR2high had significantly shorter lifespan than those with MTMR2low. Cox regression analysis showed that MTMR2 was an independent prognostic indicator for GC patients. Knockdown of MTMR2 significantly reduced migratory and invasive capabilities in vitro and metastases in vivo in GC cells, while overexpressing MTMR2 achieved the opposite results. MTMR2 knockdown and overexpression markedly inhibited and promoted the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), respectively. MTMR2 mediated EMT through the IFNγ/STAT1/IRF1 pathway to promote GC invasion and metastasis. Phosphorylation of STAT1 and IRF1 was increased by MTMR2 knockdown and decreased by MTMR2 overexpression accompanying with ZEB1 down-regulation and up-regulation, respectively. Silencing IRF1 upregulated ZEB1, which induced EMT and consequently enhanced invasion and metastasis in GC cells. Conclusions Our findings suggest that MTMR2 is an important promoter in GC invasion and metastasis by inactivating IFNγ/STAT1 signaling and may act as a new prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target for GC.

To study the effects of the three deformation instability modes of gas drainage borehole on gas drainage, the deformation instability mechanism of soft coal seams is analyzed, three deformation instability modes are proposed for soft coal seams, namely, complete holes, collapse holes, and plug holes, and a solid-fluid coupling model incorporating dynamic change of borehole suction pressure is established. The results of the study show the following. (1) When there is no borehole deformation (i.e., complete borehole), the suction pressure loss of drainage system in the borehole is very small, whose effect on gas drainage can be neglected. (2) In case of borehole collapse, the suction pressure loss is big at the collapse segment, and the total suction pressure loss of the drainage system in the borehole is bigger than that in the complete hole. However, it is smaller than the suction pressure of the drainage system and exerts limited effect on gas drainage. As the borehole collapse deteriorates, the effective drainage section of the borehole becomes smaller, while the suction pressure loss in the borehole increases continuously; thus, the gas drainage effect continuously worsens. (3) In case of plug hole, a continuous medium forms between the plug segment coal body and the surrounding coal seam, the plug segment drainage pressure turns into coal-bed gas pressure, and effective drainage length of the borehole shortens, seriously affecting the gas drainage effect. The study carries important theoretical guiding significance for improving gas drainage effect and effectively preventing gas disasters.

Veratrum oxysepalum Turcz. is a medicinal plant belonging to Melanthiaceae occurring in Northeast China. However, there are still limited genomic resources available for genus Veratrum. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of V. oxysepalum was determined and analyzed in this study. The complete cp genome was 153,705 bp. That contains a large single copy (LSC) region of 83,384 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 17,607 bp, which were separated by a pair of 26,358 bp inverted repeat regions (IRs). A total of 135 genes were annotated, including 83 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs. Phylogenetic analysis using total chloroplast genome sequence of 21 species revealed that V. oxysepalum was closely relates to V. patulum of Veratrum with 100% bootstrap value.

To explore the mechanical failure and permeability characteristics of porous gas-bearing coal under triaxial stress, the triaxial compression experiment was carried out for porous and conventional gas-bearing coal samples based on the triaxial creep-seepage experiment system and sound emission signal acquisition system. Acoustic emission testing was carried out at the same time of loading failure. The experimental results showed that (1) under fixed gas pressure but changing confining pressure, the porous gas-bearing coal sample had higher peak strength and elastic modulus but lower peak strain; under changing gas pressure but fixed confining pressure, the porous gas-bearing coal sample had lower peak strength and peak strain but higher elastic modulus. When either confining pressure or gas pressure was changed, the mechanical properties of the two kinds of gas-bearing coal samples showed a good consistency, but the mechanical parameters differed greatly, with the peak strength, peak strain, and elastic modulus of porous coal samples are reduced by 1/4, 2/3, and 3/4, respectively. (2) When either the confining pressure or gas pressure was changed, the permeability of the porous gas-bearing coal sample was larger than that of the conventional gas-bearing coal sample. However, the change rules of permeability characteristics of the two were basically the same, except that there was a large difference in permeability value that the porous gas-bearing coal sample increases nearly twice as much as that of the conventional gas-bearing coal sample. (3) In the whole stress-strain process, the acoustic emission characteristics of the porous gas-bearing coal sample differed significantly from those of the conventional gas-bearing coal sample. The maximum ringdown count of the porous gas-bearing coal sample can be reduced by one-third at most, the maximum energy can be reduced by nearly half at most, and the maximum amplitude changes little with only 1–3 dB reduction. The research results have important guiding significance for the prediction of failure and instability of coal tunnel and the development of relevant protective techniques.

Abstract Adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 (AEBP1) is a transcriptional repressor that plays a critical role in regulating adipogenesis. Recent studies have indicated that AEBP1 might function as a candidate oncogene and is overexpressed in several human malignancies. However, the role of AEBP1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the expression pattern, prognostic significance and biological function of AEBP1 in human gastric cancer and to explore the underlying mechanism. We found that both the mRNA and protein levels of AEBP1 were significantly increased in human GC tissues. Elevated AEBP1 expression was significantly correlated with poor overall survival in patients with both early-stage (Tumor, Node, Metastases (TNM) TNM I and II) and late-stage (TNM III and IV) GC. Silencing AEBP1 markedly suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of GC cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that knockdown of AEBP1 in GC cells led to inhibition of the NF-κB pathway by hampering the degradation of IκBα. Thus, AEBP1 might be served as a promising prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target in human GC.

Abstract Background Insect-borne diseases could induce severe symptoms in human and clinical signs in animals, such as febrility, erythra, arthralgia and hemorrhagic fever, and cause significant economic losses and pose public health threat all over the world. The significant advantages of Luminex xMAP technology are high-throughput, high parallel and automation. This study aimed to establish a liquid bead array based on Luminex xMAP technology that was able to simultaneously detect multiple insect-borne pathogens. Methods Specific probes and primers to detect the nucleic acid of 10 insect-borne pathogens were designed. Probes were coupled with fluorescent carboxylated microspheres. The parameters of the system were optimized, including ratio of forward/reverse primers (1:2), hybridization temperature (50 °C) and duration (30 min) and quantity of PCR product (2 μl). The sensitivity and specificity of the system were also evaluated. Moreover mixed nucleic acid of 10 insect-borne pathogens, including Bluetongue virus, Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus of deer, Coxiella burnetii, African swine fever virus, West Nile fever virus, Borrelia burgdorferi, vesicular stomatitis virus, Rift Valley fever virus, Ebola virus and Schmalenberg’s disease virus, and 3000 clinical samples were tested for practicability. Results The optimized detection system showed high sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. Each probe showed specific fluorescence signal intensity without any cross-hybridization for the other insect-borne pathogens tested, which included dengue virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever virus, spotted fever group rickettsiae, ehrlichiae and chikungunya virus. The limit of detection was 10 copies of target gene. Insect-borne pathogens were successfully detected among the 3000 clinical samples, and the results were consistent with those obtained using gold-standard assays or commercial nucleic acid detection kits. Conclusions This optimized liquid array detection system was high-throughput and highly specific and sensitive in screening of the insect-borne pathogens. It was promising in detection of these pathogens for molecular epidemiological studies.

In order to reduce the cost of manufacturing and service for the Cloud 3D printing (C3DP) manufacturing grid, to solve the problem of resources optimization deployment for no-need preference under circumstance of cloud manufacturing, consider the interests of enterprises which need Cloud 3D printing resources and cloud platform operators, together with QoS and flexibility of both sides in the process of Cloud 3D printing resources configuration service, a task-service network node matching method based on Multi-Objective optimization model in dynamic hyper-network environment is built for resource allocation. This model represents interests of the above-mentioned two parties. In addition, the model examples are solved by modifying Mathematical algorithm of Node Matching and Evolutionary Solutions. Results prove that the model and the algorithm are feasible, effective and stable.

Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are phase-I metabolic enzymes playing important roles in drug metabolism, dietary chemicals and endogenous molecules. Age is a key factor influencing P450s expression. Thus, age-related changes of CYP 1–4 families and bile acid homeostasis-related CYPs, the corresponding nuclear receptors and a few phase-II genes were examined. Livers from male Sprague-Dawley rats at fetus (−2 d), neonates (1, 7, and 14 d), weanling (21 d), puberty (28 and 35 d), adulthood (60 and 180 d), and aging (540 and 800 d) were collected and subjected to qPCR analysis. Liver proteins from 14, 28, 60, 180, 540 and 800 days of age were also extracted for selected protein analysis by western blot. In general, there were three patterns of their expression: Some of the drug-metabolizing enzymes and related nuclear receptors were low in fetal and neonatal stage, increased with liver maturation and decreased quickly at aging (AhR, Cyp1a1, Cyp2b1, Cyp2b2, Cyp3a1, Cyp3a2, Ugt1a2); the majority of P450s (Cyp1a2, Cyp2c6, Cyp2c11, Cyp2d2, Cyp2e1, CAR, PXR, FXR, Cyp7a1, Cyp7b1. Cyp8b1, Cyp27a1, Ugt1a1, Sult1a1, Sult1a2) maintained relatively high levels throughout the adulthood, and decreased at 800 days of age; and some had an early peak between 7 and 14 days (CAR, PXR, PPARα, Cyp4a1, Ugt1a2). The protein expression of CYP1A2, CYP2B1, CYP2E1, CYP3A1, CYP4A1, and CYP7A1 corresponded the trend of mRNA changes. In summary, this study characterized three expression patterns of 16 CYPs, five nuclear receptors, and four phase-II genes during development and aging in rat liver, adding to our understanding of age-related CYP expression changes and age-related disorders.

Covered smut, which is caused by Ustilago hordei (Pers.) Lagerh., is one of the most damaging diseases of highland barley (Hordeum vulgare Linn. var. nudum Hook. f) in Tibetan areas of China. To understand the molecular diversity of U. hordei, a total of 27 isolates, which were collected from highland barley plants from Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai, and Gansu provinces/autonomous region, were analyzed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Among the 100 RAPD primers used, 24 primers exhibited polymorphism. A total of 111 fragments were amplified, of which 103 were polymorphic with a polymorphic rate of 92.79%. The average observed number of alleles (Na), effective number of alleles (Ne), Nei's genetic diversity (H), Shannon's information index (I) and polymorphism information content (PIC) value in the RAPD markers were 1.9279, 1.5016, 0.2974, 0.4503 and 0.6428, respectively. For the SSR markers, 40 of the 111 primer pairs exhibited polymorphism and provided a total of 119 bands, of which 109 were polymorphic and accounted for 91.60% of the total bands. The Na, Ne, H, I and PIC values of the SSR markers were 1.9160, 1.4639, 0.2757, 0.4211 and 0.4340, respectively. The similarity coefficients ranged from 0.4957 to 0.9261 with an average of 0.7028 among all the 27 isolates used. The dendrogram, which was developed based on the RAPD and SSR combined marker dataset showed that the 27 U. hordei isolates were divided into 3 clusters at similarity coefficient of 0.7314. We determined that RAPD and SSR markers can be successfully used to assess the genetic variation among U. hordei isolates. The RAPD markers revealed higher levels of genetic polymorphism than did the SSR markers in this study. There existed a moderate genetic difference among isolates. The molecular variation and differentiation was somewhat associated with geographical origin but not for all of the isolates.

Endophilin A1 is a member of the N-BAR domain-containing endophilin A protein family that is involved in membrane dynamics and trafficking. At the presynaptic terminal, endophilin As participate in synaptic vesicle recycling and autophagosome formation. By gene knockout studies, here we report that postsynaptic endophilin A1 functions in synaptic plasticity. Ablation of endophilin A1 in the hippocampal CA1 region of mature mouse brain impairs long-term spatial and contextual fear memory. Its loss in CA1 neurons postsynaptic of the Schaffer collateral pathway causes impairment in their AMPA-type glutamate receptor-mediated synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation. In KO neurons, defects in the structural and functional plasticity of dendritic spines can be rescued by overexpression of endophilin A1 but not A2 or A3. Further, endophilin A1 promotes actin polymerization in dendritic spines during synaptic potentiation. These findings reveal a physiological role of endophilin A1 distinct from that of other endophilin As at the postsynaptic site.

Antennal sensory units in nymphs and adults of the spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae), an economically important plant pest, are studied with scanning electron microscopy. Sensilla trichodea / chaetica type recognition is based on their external morphology and ratio of their size to diameter. The flagellum Bourgoin's organ is a complex sensory unit with 2-3 internal sensilla coeloconica. During nymphal stages, the sensory surface available for a chemoreceptive function particularly increases with the number and size of sensilla placodea on the antennal pedicel. From first to fourth instar and to adult males and females, plate organ sensory surface is estimated to increase respectively by 33x, 68x and 125x (= 2.72 mm2 and 5.02 mm2 respectively for males and females). The most important increase (5x) occurs between second and third instar. In parallel, a distinctive pair of plate organs on the flagellum decreases in size from first to third instar, and disappears. Sexual dimorphism occurs in sensilla placodea in adults. Diversity, disparity and evolution of nymphal sensilla, and their sexual dimorphism in adults are discussed in the context of the species and planthopper behaviour.

SNX6 is a ubiquitously expressed PX-BAR protein that plays important roles in retromer-mediated retrograde vesicular transport from endosomes. Here we report that CNS-specific Snx6 knockout mice exhibit deficits in spatial learning and memory, accompanied with loss of spines from distal dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells. SNX6 interacts with Homer1b/c, a postsynaptic scaffold protein crucial for the synaptic distribution of other postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins and structural integrity of dendritic spines. We show that SNX6 functions independently of retromer to regulate distribution of Homer1b/c in the dendritic shaft. We also find that Homer1b/c translocates from shaft to spines by protein diffusion, which does not require SNX6. Ablation of SNX6 causes reduced distribution of Homer1b/c in distal dendrites, decrease in surface levels of AMPAR and impaired AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission. These findings reveal a physiological role of SNX6 in CNS excitatory neurons.

Eukaryotic cells extend a variety of surface protrusions to direct cell motility. Formation of protrusions is mediated by coordinated actions between the plasma membrane and the underlying actin cytoskeleton. Here, we found that the single calponin homology (CH) domain-containing protein CHDP-1 induces the formation of cell protrusions in C. elegans. CHDP-1 is anchored to the cortex through its amphipathic helix. CHDP-1 associates through its CH domain with the small GTPase Rac1/CED-10, which is a key regulator of the actin cytoskeleton. CHDP-1 preferentially binds to the GTP-bound active form of the CED-10 protein and preserves the membrane localization of GTP-CED-10. Hence, by coupling membrane expansion to Rac1-mediated actin dynamics, CHDP-1 promotes the formation of cellular protrusions in vivo.