Is Crowsoniella relicta really a cucujiform beetle?

Crowsoniella relicta Pace, one of the most obscure and cryptic beetle taxa, was recently transferred from Archostemata to the polyphagan series Cucujiformia. We discuss the arguments in favour of this hypothesis. The placement of the species is evaluated with a cladistic approach and two different morphological data sets: one aiming mainly to clarify the relationships of extinct and extant archostematans, and one aimed at resolving species‐level phylogeny for the suborder. The results suggest clearly that a position of Crowsoniella within a polyphagan subgroup is very unlikely, and that a placement in Archostemata is justified and should be maintained. Due to the serious lack of anatomical information, non‐destructive µ‐CT scanning of enigmatic taxa like Crowsoniella Pace and Sikhotealinia Lafer should have high priority.     

Facial expression (mood) recognition from facial images using committee neural networks

Background  

Facial expressions are important in facilitating human communication and interactions. Also, they are used as an important tool in behavioural studies and in medical rehabilitation. Facial image based mood detection techniques may provide a fast and practical approach for non-invasive mood detection. The purpose of the present study was to develop an intelligent system for facial image based expression classification using committee neural networks.     

Concise synthesis of (±)-litseaones A and B

A concise synthesis of litseaones A and B, which were isolated from the stem barks of Litsea rubescens and L. pedunculata, is described in this study. Litseaone A was synthesized in just three steps from a known phloroglucinol derivative. The direct conversion of litseaone A into litseaone B was also achieved.     

中国黄蚜小蜂属一新记录种及其蛹的个体发育

记述了中国黄蚜小蜂属一新记录种—桑氏黄蚜小蜂 Aphytis sankarani Rosen et DeBach，描述了桑氏黄蚜小蜂的形态特征，观察了蛹的个体发育，并提供了重要鉴别特征的照片。     

Novel bibenzyl derivatives and ent-cuparene-type sesquiterpenoids from Radula species

Four novel prenyl bibenzyls, perrottetin A–D were isolated from the liverwort Radula perrottetii together with a new sesquiterpene phenol, ent-2, 3-dihydroxycuparene and a prenyl dihydrochalcone, and their structures were determined by spectral methods and chemical transformations. Further investigation of the French species R. complanata resulted in the isolation of four new bibenzyls, 3, 4′-dimethoxybibenzyl, 3,5-dihydroxy-4-(2, 3-epoxy-3-methylbutyl)bibenzyl, radulanin H and radulanolide. R. buccinifera was chemically close to R. complanata. The composition of bibenzyls found in R. perrottetii and R. oyamensis were different from that of the other Radula species referred to in the section Radula. Some prenyl bibenzyls showed antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus aureus (20 μg/ml). The allergenic activity of R. complanata is due to (+)-frullanolide from the liverwort Frullania dilatata which is intermingled in R. complanata.     

Comparison of the effects of bile acids and GSH on the fluorescence of bound 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate and the enzymatic activity of cationic and neutral human hepatic GSH S-transferases

Three cationic (C1, C2, A1) and a neutral (N1) glutathione (GSH) S-transferase were purified to homogeneity from human liver, as we have previously reported. GSH had no effect on the fluorescence of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) bound by transferase C1 and N1, but markedly enhanced the fluorescence with C2 and A1 without changing the affinity for ANS. This effect of GSH was saturable and with C2 was intermediate between A1 and C1. Bile acids inhibited the fluorescence of ANS bound to C1 and C2. GSH in the presence of bile acids further decreased the fluorescence of ANS bound to C1 and increased the fluorescence with C2. Transferase A1 showed decreased fluorescence in the presence of lithocholic acid and increased fluorescence in the presence of cholic acid; both changes were reversed by GSH. Transferase N1 showed increased fluorescence of bound ANS in the presence of various bile acids and this effect was diminished in the presence of GSH. Enzyme activity of the transferase was inhibited by bile acids with the exception of transferase A1. All the proteins bound lithocholic acid. The inhibition of C1 and N1 was greater at pH 6.5 than 7.4 and the order of addition of substrates and inhibitor made no difference.     

窄带成像内镜、染色内镜及常规内镜模式诊断结直肠增生性病变的应用价值比较研究

目的:探讨窄带成像内镜(NBI)、染色内镜及常规内镜模式鉴别诊断非肿瘤性、肿瘤性结直肠增生性病变的应用价值。方法:选择2017年2月至2019年3月西安市中心医院消化科收治的结直肠增生性病变患者,均行NBI、染色内镜、常规内镜检查。比较三种模式图像清晰度以及鉴别诊断非肿瘤性、肿瘤性结直肠增生性病变的效能。结果:NBI、染色内镜模式图像质量评分分布优于常规内镜(P<0.05),NBI图像质量评分分布优于染色内镜模式(P<0.05)。以病理结果为准,常规内镜结直肠增生性病变检出率73.13%,NBI 91.04%,染色内镜96.26%,NBI、染色内镜结直肠增生性病变检出率高于常规内镜(P<0.05),NBI、染色内镜比较无统计学差异(P>0.05)。NBI模式下检测NBI分型与病理组织学结果一致性较好(kappa值=0.801,P<0.05)。NBI、染色内镜诊断肿瘤性结直肠增生性病变的灵敏度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值、准确度均明显高于常规内镜,染色内镜、NBI、常规内镜诊断肿瘤性结直肠增生性病变的曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.844(95%CI:0.812~0.956)、0.921(95%CI:0.860~0.982)、0.750(95%CI:0.651~0.848)。结论:NBI、染色内镜在鉴别非肿瘤性和肿瘤性结直肠增生性病变方面效能相似,均优于常规内镜,NBI分型与病理组织学结果一致性高,更适合结直肠增生性病变的鉴别诊断。