[Analysis on the exposure level and geographic distribution trend of toxicological indicators in rural drinking water, Shandong Province, in 2015]

Objective: To analyze the exposure level and the geographical distribution trend of toxicological indicators of rural drinking water in Shandong Province. Methods: The drawing method was used to randomly select no less than 60% villages and towns from 137 counties (cities, districts) of 17 cities in Shandong Province in 2015, and then 1-3 rural centralized water supply units were selected according to the circumstance of rural centralized water supply units in each village and town. In total, 735 villages and towns, 1 473 rural centralized water supply units were selected, and 1 473 water samples were collected. The water treatment process, water supply population and other circumstances of the rural centralized water supply units were investigated, the water quality was monitored, the content of toxicological indicators of drinking water in different areas was compared, and the trend surface isogram of excessive toxicological indicators was drawn. Results: The qualified rate of toxicological indicators in 1 473 water samples was 83.64% (n=1 232). The main toxicological indicators that affected the qualified rate of toxicological indicators of drinking water in rural areas in Shandong Province were nitrate and fluoride. The excessive rate of fluoride was 5.70% (n=84) and the exposed population was 1 736 709 (4.22%). The excessive rate of nitrate (as nitrogen) was 12.29% (n=181) and the exposed population was 1 393 612 (3.39%). The P(5)0 content of fluoride in the eastern, middle and western regions was 0.24, 0.29 and 0.59 mg/L, respective;which was higher in the western region than in the east and the middle regions (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the eastern and the middle regions (P>0.05). The P(50) content of nitrate (as nitrogen) in the eastern, middle and western regions was 8.00, 7.48, and 2.00 mg/L, which was higher in the eastern and middle regions than in the west region (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between the eastern and the middle regions (P>0.05). The trend surface isogram of nitrate and fluoride content showed that the content of nitrate (as nitrogen) in rural drinking water in the eastern region was significantly higher than that in the western region, especially there was a high peak area in the northeastern region, and this high content distribution extended diagonally to the central region, while the other regions were in a relatively low range. The content of fluoride in rural drinking water in the western region was significantly higher than that in the eastern region, and there were high peaks in the southwest and northwest regions, and the other regions were in a relatively low range. Conclusion: The high exposed toxicological indicators in rural drinking water in Shandong Province were nitrate (as nitrogen) and fluoride, and their distribution showed obvious geographical distribution trend.

Qingryllus jiguanshanensis sp. n. from Sichuan, China, the second species of Qingryllus (Orthoptera, Gryllidae)

A second species of Qingryllus Chen & Zheng is described and illustrated, Q.jiguanshanensissp. n., from Sichuan, China. This new species is similar to Q.striofemorus Chen & Zheng, 1995, but differs from the latter by the posterior margin of pronotum being distinctly widened, the veins of tegmina yellowish-white only on lateral side of dorsal area, and the epiphallus distinctly widened posteriorly. A distribution map of the species of this genus and habitus photographs of the new species are presented.

Notes on the genus <i>Larnaca</i> Walker, 1869 (Orthoptera: Gryllacridinae) from China

Walker (1869) proposed the genus Larnaca with type species Larnaca fasciata Walker, 1869. Karny (1937) gave the characters of the genus and listed 8 species. Gorochov (2003) subdivided the genus into two subgenera: Larnaca and Paralarnaca, and their type species are Larnaca (Larnaca) fasciata Walker, 1869 (Malesia) and Larnaca (Paralarnaca) johni (Griffini, 1911) (Malesia) respectively, and described 2 new species, i.e. Larnaca (Larnaca) vietnamensis Gorochov, 2003 (type locality: Vietnam) and Larnaca (Larnaca) phetchaburi Gorochov, 2003 (type locality: Thailand). Bian et al. (2015) firstly reported Larnaca Walker, 1869 from China, and described 1 new species, i.e. Larnaca (Larnaca) emarginata Bian, Guo & Shi, 2015. So far, the genus Larnaca includes 13 species.

Towards a higher-level Ensifera phylogeny inferred from mitogenome sequences

Although mitogenomes are useful tools for inferring evolutionary history, only a few representative ones can be used for most Ensifera lineages. Thirty-two ensiferan mitogenomes were determined using ABI Sanger sequencing and standard primer walking of 2-3 overlapping Long-PCR fragments, or Illumina® HiSeq2000 for "shotgun" sequenced long-PCR-amplified mitochondrial or total genomic DNA. Six patterns of gene arrangements, including the novel trnR-trnS^AGN-trnA-trnN-trnG-nad3 in Lipotactes tripyrga (Lipotactinae), were identified from 59 ensiferan mitogenomes. The results suggest that trnM-trnI-trnQ and trnA-trnR-trnE-trnS^AGN-trnN-trnF rearrangements might be a shared derived character in Pseudophyllinae and Gryllidae, respectively. We found base composition biases in our dataset, which potentially complicate the inference of higher-level ensiferan phylogeny. Site-heterogeneous Bayesian inference (BI) and site-homogeneous maximum likelihood (ML) analyses recovered all ensiferan superfamilies as monophyletic. The site-homogeneous BI analysis failed to recover the monophyly of Stenopelmatoidea. As Schizodactyloidea was only represented by Comicus campestris, its monophyly could not be tested. In the Triassic/Jurassic boundary, Ensifera diverged into grylloid and non-grylloid clades. All analyses confirmed Grylloidea and Gryllotalpoidea as sister groups. Site-heterogeneous BI analysis found Schizodactyloidea as the most basal lineage and sister to the clade formed by Grylloidea and Gryllotalpoidea, but the site-homogeneous analyses placed it basally to the non-grylloid clade and recovered a sister relationship between Tettigonioidea and (Hagloidea, Rhaphidophoroidea, Stenopelmatoidea), although this clade had a low support. The site-heterogeneous BI analysis found Tettigonioidea and Hagloidea were sister groups (posterior probability (PP)=0.99), Stenopelmatoidea was sister to (Tettigonioidea, Hagloidea) (PP>0.91), and Rhaphidophoroidea was basal to the non-grylloid clade. At a lower level, all analyses divided Tettigonioidea into Phaneropteridae and Tettigoniidae.

Comments on the genus <i>Zalarnaca</i> Gorochov, 2005 (Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae: Gryllacridinae) with two new combinations and two new synonyms

Two new combinations of the genus Zalarnaca Gorochov, 2005 are reported and illustrated, i.e. Zalarnaca (Glolarnaca) sinica (Li, Liu & Li, 2016) com. nov.; Zalarnaca (Glolarnaca) hainanica (Li, Liu & Li, 2016) com. nov. Also two synonyms are confirmed: Prosopogryllacris chinensis Li, Liu & Li, 2016 synonymized with Eugryllacris elongata Bian & Shi, 2016, and Prosopogryllacris incisa Li, Liu & Li, 2016 synonymized with Eugryllacris longifissa Bian & Shi, 2016. All material examined is deposited in the Museum of Hebei University.

Puerarin prevents inflammation and apoptosis in the neurocytes of a murine Parkinson's disease model

The aim of this study was to investigate Parkinson's disease (PD) using a murine model of PD. Specifically, we aimed to explore the mechanism by which puerarin prevents inflammation and apoptosis in neurocytes. Eighty healthy male C57/BL6 mice were randomly selected and divided into four groups (N = 20 each): control group; PD group; PD+puerarin group; and puerarin group. At the end of the treatment period, the animals' brains were removed after perfusion and decollation. The protein expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the murine brains were assessed by immunohistochemistry and the protein expression levels of TH, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cleaved Caspase-3, and Bax in the substantia nigra and corpus striatum of the animals were assessed by western blotting. The spontaneous activity of the PD mice was found to be significantly higher after puerarin treatment and the distance traveled by mice in an open field assessment was 1700 cm further in puerarin-treated PD mice than in PD mice. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting analyses indicated that the expression of TH was significantly higher (2.63-fold) in puerarin-treated PD mice than in untreated PD mice and that the expression of GFAP in PD mice was significantly reduced (~45%) by puerarin treatment. These findings lead us to conclude that puerarin significantly alleviates 1-methyl-4-phenyl- 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced injury in dopaminergic neurons. Puerarin mediates anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities and plays a neuroprotective role.

First Jurassic grasshopper (Insecta, Caelifera) from China

Orthoptera is divided into two suborders, the Ensifera (katydids, crickets and mole crickets) and the Caelifera (grasshoppers and pygmy mole crickets). The earliest definitive caeliferans are those found in the Triassic (Bethoux & Ross 2005). The extinct caeliferan families, such as Locustopsidae and Locustavidae, may prove to be stem groups to some of the modern superfamilies (Grimaldi & Engel 2005). Locustopsidae is known from the Late Triassic or Early Jurassic to Late Cretaceous, consisting of two subfamilies (Gorochov et al. 2006). They are recorded from Europe, England, Russia, central Asia, China, Egypt, North America, Brazil and Australia. Up to now, Late Mesozoic fossil deposits of China has been reported plenty taxa of orthopterids, e.g. ensiferans, phasmatodeans, grylloblattids (Cui et al. 2012; Gu et al. 2010; Gu et al. 2012a; Gu et al. 2012b; Ren et al. 2012; Wang et al. 2014); but, with few caeliferans records, only four species, Pseudoacrida costata Lin 1982, Mesolocustopsis sinica Hong 1990, Tachacris stenosis Lin 1977 and T. turgis Lin 1980, were reported from the Early Cretaceous of Ningxia, Shandong, Yunnan and Zhejiang of China.

A revision of the subgenus Xizicus (Paraxizicus) Liu, 2004 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae)

The paper reviews the subgenus Xizicus (Paraxizicus) Liu, 2004, and describes one new species, i.e. Xizicus (Paraxizicus) furcistylus sp. nov. A key to the species and the distribution data are provided, as well as illustrations of important morphological characters of Xizicus (Paraxizicus) biprocerus (Shi & Zhang,1996) and Xizicus (Paraxizicus) anisocercus Liu, 2004 are given.

Post-translational modifications as key regulators of TNF-induced necroptosis

Necroptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death that is independent of caspase activity. Different stimuli can trigger necroptosis. At present, the most informative studies about necroptosis derive from the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-triggered system. The initiation of TNF-induced necroptosis requires the kinase activity of receptor-interacting protein 1 and 3 (RIP1 and RIP3). Evidence now reveals that the ability of RIP1 and RIP3 to modulate this key cellular event is tightly controlled by post-translational modifications, including ubiquitination, phosphorylation, caspase 8-mediated cleavage and GlcNAcylation. These regulatory events coordinately determine whether a cell will survive or die by apoptosis or necroptosis. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the study of post-translational modifications during TNF-induced necroptosis and discuss how these modifications regulate the complex and delicate control of programmed necrosis.

Review of the genus Pteranabropsis Gorochov, 1988 (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae: Anabropsinae) with description of two new species from China

This paper describes two new species of the genus Pteranabropsis Gorochov, 1988 (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae: Anabropsinae) from China, i.e. Pteranabropsis crenatis Song, Bian & Shi sp. nov. and Pteranabropsis incisa Song, Bian & Shi sp. nov. Meanwhile, the photos of important morphological features and a distribution map of the genus Pteranabropsis Gorochov, 1988 are provided. Also, a key to the species of Pteranabropsis is provided. The examined specimens are deposited in the Museum of Hebei University.

Notes on the genus Homogryllacris Liu, 2007 (Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae: Gryllacridinae) with description of two new species from China

Two new species of the genus Homogryllacris Liu, 2007 are described and illustrated, i.e. Homogryllacris brevipenna sp. nov. (type locality: Yunnan), Homogryllacris curvicauda sp. nov. (type locality: Guangxi). A key to the species, additional bionomics and a distribution map for the genus Homogryllacris are provided. All material examined is deposited in the Museum of Hebei University.

Comparison of the expression of human equilibrative nucleotide transporter 1 (hENT1) and ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 (RRM1) genes in seven non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines

We investigated the variability in the expression of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) and ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 (RRM1) in non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines. hENT1 and RRM1 mRNA expression levels in natural killer (NK) cells and seven non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines (YTS, SNK-6, Jeko-1, ly-1, Raji, Karpas, and Jurket) were studied using reverse-transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and the results were compared using the Student t-test. mRNA expression of hENT1 was detectable in YTS, SNK-6, Jeko-1, ly-1, Raji, Karpas, Jurket, and NK cells, which revealed variability in gene expression. There were significant differences in the mRNA expression values of hENT1 (P = 0.021) and RRM1 (P = 0.002) compared to those in NK cells. mRNA expression of both hENT1 and RRM1 was closely associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell proliferation. Differential expression analysis of hENT1 and RRM1 in non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines may provide novel drug leads for precision medicine.

Contribution to the Chinese subfamily Rhaphidophorinae Walker, 1869 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae; Rhaphidophorinae): New additions to the genera Eurhaphidophora and Stonychophora

A key to the genera of Rhaphidophorinae is present. One new species of Eurhaphidophora, E. truncata Bian & Shi sp. nov., and the female sex of E. visibilis Gorochov, 2010 are described from China. Meanwhile, Stonychophora is recorded for the first time in the Chinese fauna and a new species viz., Stonychophora hainanensis, is described from Hainan. The voucher material is deposited in the Museum of Hebei University.

Comments on the status of Xiphidiopsis quadrinotata Bey-Bienko, 1971 and related species with one new genus and species (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae)

Based on the collections of the Museum of Hebei University, the paper comments Xiphidiopsis quadrinotata Bey-Bienko, 1971 status and reinstates Xizicus (Axizicus) xizangensis Jiao & Shi, 2013 as a valid species. Meanwhile, Alloteratura (Meconemopsis) Karny, 1924 is redefined and one new genus of Meconematinae, Nigrimacula Shi, Bian & Zhou gen. nov., mainly distributed in South China, is erected. The new genus includes three previously known species: Xiphidiopsis quadrinotata Bey-Bienko, 1971, Xizicus (Axizicus) xizangensis Jiao & Shi, 2013 and Meconemopsis paraquadrinotata Wang, Liu & Li, 2015 and one new species, Nigrimacula binotata Shi, Bian & Zhou sp. nov. The male of Xiphidiopsis quadrinotata Bey-Bienko, 1971 and female of Xizicus (Axizicus) xizangensis Jiao & Shi, 2013 are described for the first time. A key to the species based on the morphology and a distribution map are included.

Involved-field irradiation in definitive chemoradiotherapy for T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

OBJECTIVES

Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (ccrt) is currently a therapeutic option for locally advanced esophageal cancer. However, clinical practice differs with respect to the target volume for irradiation. The purpose of the present study was to analyze failure patterns and survival, and to determine the feasibility of using involved-field irradiation (ifi) with concurrent chemotherapy for T4 squamous cell carcinoma (scc) of the esophagus.

METHODS

Between January 2003 and January 2013, 56 patients with clinical T4M0 scc of the esophagus received ccrt using ifi. The radiation field included the primary tumour and clinically involved lymph nodes. Target volumes and sites of failure were analyzed, as were treatment-related toxicity and survival time.

RESULTS

In this 56-patient cohort, 13 patients (23.2%) achieved a complete response, and 21 (37.5%) achieved a partial response, for a total response rate of 60.7%. The major toxicities experienced were leucocytopenia and esophagitis, with 14 patients (25.0%) experiencing grade 3 toxicities. At a median follow-up of 34 months, 48 patients (85.7%) had experienced failure: 39 (69.6%) in-field, 7 (12.5%) elective nodal, and 19 (33.9%) distant. Only 1 patient (1.8%) experienced isolated elective nodal failure. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 39.3%, 21.4%, and 12.5% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with T4M0 scc of the esophagus, definitive ccrt using ifi resulted in an acceptable rate of isolated elective nodal failure and an overall survival comparable to that achieved with elective nodal irradiation. A limited radiation therapy target volume, including only clinically involved lesions, would therefore be a feasible choice for this patient subgroup.

[Clinical significance of the preoperative neutrophil lymphocyte ratio in the evaluation of the prognosis of laryngeal carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of preoperative neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on the prognosis of patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

METHODS

Clinical data of 202 patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated from January 2004 to October 2009 were retrospective analyzed to determine the optimal critical value of NLR. To study whether NLR is an independent factor affecting the recurrence and 5-year survival rate of patients with laryngeal cancer after surgery, single factor and multivariate analyses were performed. The factors included age, gender, T stage, pathological differentiation, lymph node metastasis, primary tumor site and NLR value. The relationship between NLR and cervical lymph node metastasis was analyzed.

RESULTS

The optimal critical value of NLR was 2.85, by which cases were divided into high NLR group (NLR≥2.85) and low NLR group (NLR<2.85). Single factor and multivariate analyses indicated that T staging, lymph node metastasis, primary tumor location, and NLR were the independent factors affecting the recurrence of laryngeal carcinoma. T stage and lymph node metastasis were the independent factors affecting 5-year survival rate of laryngeal carcinoma. The increase of NLR value increased the rate of cervical lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative NLR level influences the recurrence and cervical lymph node metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma and can be considered a prognosis factor of laryngeal cancer.

A new addition to the subfamily Anabropsinae (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae) from China

The paper describes one very interesting genus and species, Brevipenna Shi & Bian gen. nov. and B. falcata Shi & Bian sp. nov.. The genus shares similar characters with macropterous genus Pteranabropsis Gorochov, 1988 and apterous or subapterous genus Apteranabropsis Gorochov, 1988 in following: distributed in Asia, presence both tympana, male ninth abdominal tergite with 1 pair of lobes, which continue with the paired hooks of tenth abdominal tergite, and paraproct specialized with 2 long sclerotized processes. The tegmina and hind wings are short, and right and left ones overlapped. Therefore, we conclude the new genus may be intermediate state between the Pteranabropsis and Apteranabropsis. Perhaps, future study will suggest the three genera be combined. All the material is deposited in the Museum of Hebei University.

Review of the genus Eugryllacris Karny, 1937 (Orthoptera: Gryllacridinae) <br />from China

The Chinese species of Eugryllacris are reviewed. One new combination and six new species from China are described: Eugryllacris cylindrigera (Karny, 1926) com. nov., Eugryllacris bifoliata Bian & Shi sp. nov., Eugryllacris elongata Bian & Shi sp. nov., Eugryllacris fanjingshanensis Bian & Shi sp. nov., Eugryllacris lobulis Bian & Shi sp. nov., Eugryllacris longifissa Bian & Shi sp. nov. and Eugryllacris xiei Bian & Shi sp. nov.. A key to the species of Eugryllacris from China and a distribution map are presented. This paper is based on the material from the collection of the Museum of Hebei University.

Overexpression of ZWF1 and POS5 improves carotenoid biosynthesis in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing exogenous carotenogenic genes can synthesize carotenoids. NADPH is a key cofactor for carotenoid biosynthesis, while glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Zwf1) and an NADH kinase (Pos5) are the two main NADPH-supplying sources in S. cerevisiae. Here, the effect of ZWF1 and POS5 overexpression on carotenoid yield in recombinant S. cerevisiae was explored. The initial carotenogenic strain Sc-EYBIH+I which expressed crtE, crtYB, crtI, cHMG1 and another copy of crtI could synthesize 1·35 ± 0·13 mg l(-1) of lycopene and 0·32 ± 0·02 mg l(-1) of β-carotene. When ZWF1 was overexpressed (Sc-EYBIZH+I), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity increased by 103-fold, the transcription level of crtE and crtI increased significantly, the lycopene and β-carotene yield increased to 2·29 ± 0·06 and 0·38 ± 0·02 mg l(-1) respectively. When POS5 was overexpressed (Sc-EYBIPH+I), NAD kinase activity increased by 5·5-fold, the transcription level of crtE, crtYB and crtI increased obviously, the lycopene and β-carotene yield increased to 2·50 ± 0·11 and 0·53 ± 0·03 mg l(-1) respectively. Therefore, improvement of NADPH supply contributed to carotenoids biosynthesis in S. cerevisiae and overexpression of POS5 was more effective than overexpression of ZWF1. This study provides a new strategy for enhancing carotenoid biosynthesis.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

NADPH is a key cofactor for carotenoid biosynthesis. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Zwf1) and an NADH kinase (Pos5) are effective NADPH-supplying sources in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When ZWF1 and POS5 were overexpressed in a carotenoid-producing S. cerevisiae strain individually, the total yield of lycopene and β-carotene increased by 59·9% and 81·4%, respectively, and the final product β-carotene yield increased by 18·8% and 65·6% respectively. This suggests the improvement of NADPH supply as a useful strategy for carotenoids biosynthesis.

The validity of Kirchhoff theory for scattering of elastic waves from rough surfaces

The Kirchhoff approximation (KA) for elastic wave scattering from two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) rough surfaces is critically examined using finite-element (FE) simulations capable of extracting highly accurate data while retaining a fine-scale rough surface. The FE approach efficiently couples a time domain FE solver with a boundary integration method to compute the scattered signals from specific realizations of rough surfaces. Multiple random rough surfaces whose profiles have Gaussian statistics are studied by both Kirchhoff and FE models and the results are compared; Monte Carlo simulations are used to assess the comparison statistically. The comparison focuses on the averaged peak amplitude of the scattered signals, as it is an important characteristic measured in experiments. Comparisons, in both two dimensions and three dimensions, determine the accuracy of Kirchhoff theory in terms of an empirically estimated parameter σ 2 /λ 0 ( σ is the RMS value, and λ 0 is the correlation length, of the roughness), being considered accurate when this is less than some upper bound c , ( σ 2 /λ 0 < c ). The incidence and scattering angles also play important roles in the validity of the Kirchhoff theory and it is found that for modest incidence angles of less than 30°, the accuracy of the KA is improved even when σ 2 /λ 0 > c . In addition, the evaluation results are compared using 3D isotropic rough surfaces and 2D surfaces with the same surface parameters.