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Background For muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), no tissue biomarkers are available for clinical use to predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Objective To investigate how molecular subtypes impact pathological response and survival in patients receiving preoperative cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Design, setting, and participants Classification of a retrospective cohort of 149 patients was performed by tumor transcriptomic profiling and immunostaining. A cohort treated with radical cystectomy alone and public data sets were used for comparison and external validation. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Complete pathological response in the cystectomy specimen (ypT0N0) and survival were compared in predefined molecular subtypes. Differential gene expression and chemotherapy response were explored beyond molecular subtypes. Results and limitations Patients with genomically unstable (GU) and urothelial-like (Uro) tumors had higher proportions of complete pathological response (16/31 [52%] and 17/54 [31%]), versus five out of 24 (21%) with the basal/squamous (Ba/Sq) subtype following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy. Molecular subtype was independently associated with improved survival for patients with GU tumors (hazard ratio [HR] 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11–0.79) and UroC tumors (HR 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14–0.94) compared with Ba/Sq tumors, adjusting for clinical stage. In addition, expression of the gene coding for osteopontin (SPP1) showed a subtype-dependent effect on chemotherapy response. Conclusions Urothelial cancer of the luminal-like (GU and Uro) subtypes is more responsive to cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A second-generation of subtype-specific biomarkers, for example, SPP1, may be a way forward to develop a more precision-based treatment approach for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in MIBC. Patient summary This study shows that tumor classification by gene expression profiling and molecular subtyping can identify patients who are more likely to benefit from chemotherapy before radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Together with other markers for response, molecular subtypes could have a role in selective administration of such chemotherapy.

Both the canonical Wnt and androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathways are important for prostate organogenesis and homeostasis. How they crosstalk to regulate prostate stem cell behaviors remains unclear. Here, we show in lineage-tracing mouse models that although Wnt is essential for basal stem cell multipotency, ectopic Wnt activity promotes basal cell over-proliferation and squamous phenotypes, which are counteracted by elevated levels of androgen. In prostate basal cell organoids, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) antagonizes R-spondin-stimulated growth in a concentration-dependent manner. DHT down-regulates the expressions of a Wnt reporter and target genes, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses identify Wnt signaling as a key altered pathway. Mechanistically, DHT enhances AR and β-catenin protein binding, and CUT&RUN analyses reveal that ectopic AR sequesters β-catenin away from its Wnt-related cistrome. Our results suggest that an intermediate level of Wnt activity in prostate basal stem cells, achieved via AR-β-catenin interaction, is essential for normal prostate homeostasis.

The benefits of the newer antidiabetic agents available for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain indisputable, but many patients will require insulin therapy in the disease course. Given the limited access to newer antidiabetic agents, insulin remains a standard treatment modality in T2DM in South Africa. Early, multifactorial intervention remains ideal, but glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol values remain above target in many countries. Barriers to achieving glucose control in South Africa include the healthcare provider’s being unfamiliar with the practicalities of insulin administration, initiation and titration. This article highlights these gaps and offers pragmatic solutions to overcome them.

The significant heterogeneity in clinical outcomes among patients with bladder cancer has highlighted the existence of different biological subtypes of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Meanwhile, immune checkpoint proteins and their interference with tumor-related immune-evasive strategies has led to the development of several immunotherapeutic drugs targeting programmed death-1 (PD-1) or programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). However, the lack of any known biomarker that could predict responses to immunotherapy has led to a more agnostic therapeutic approach. Here, we present a study conducted in 77 bladder cancer (BC) patients (n = 77), ranging from stages pTa to pT2. Tumor specimens were resected via transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and consistuted of 24 low-grade (LG) and 53 high-grade (HG) tumors. Patients’ tumors were then categorized into molecular subtypes, via immunohistochemistry (CK5/6 and GATA3). Furthermore, all tumor specimens were stained with anti-PD-L1 and demonstrated significant correlations with basal immunophenotype, stage pT2 and HG tumors. As such, we attempted to stratify patients into groups of likely-responders and likely-not-responders to immunotherapy with anti-PD-L1, based on their molecular phenotype. Finally, in acknowledging the fact that there is a universal lack of biomarkers associated with predicting BC response to immunotherapeutic drugs, we tested all tumors for deficiency of mismatch repair proteins (MMR).

The bladder is a target organ for inorganic arsenic, a carcinogen and common environmental contaminant found in soil and water. Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the most common type of bladder cancer (BC) that develops into papillary or non-papillary tumors. Papillary tumors are mostly non-muscle invasive (NMIUC), easier treated, and have a better prognosis. Urothelial carcinoma can be molecularly sub-typed as luminal or basal, with papillary tumors generally falling into the luminal category and basal tumors exclusively forming muscle invasive urothelial carcinomas (MIUC). It is unclear why some UCs develop more aggressive basal phenotypes. We hypothesized that chronic arsenic exposure of a papillary luminal bladder cancer would lead to the development of basal characteristics and increase in invasiveness. We treated the human papillary bladder cancer cell line RT4 with 1 µM arsenite (As3+) for twenty passages. Throughout the study, key luminal and basal gene/protein markers in the exposed cells were evaluated and at passage twenty, the cells were injected into athymic mice to evaluate tumor histology and measure protein markers using immunohistochemistry. Our data indicates that chronic As3+- treatment altered cellular morphology and decreased several luminal markers in cell culture. The histology of the tumors generated from the As3+-exposed cells was similar to the parent (non-treated) however, they appeared to be more invasive in the liver and displayed elevated levels of some basal markers. Our study demonstrates that chronic As3+ exposure is able to convert a non-invasive papillary bladder cancer to an invasive form that acquires some basal characteristics.

Pathway Analyses of Apoptosis and Autophagy processes in Breast Cancer

The adult Drosophila midgut epithelium is derived from a group of stem cells called adult midgut precursors (AMPs) that are specified during the migration of the endoderm in early embryogenesis. AMPs are maintained and expanded in AMP nests that lie on the basal side of the larval midgut throughout the larval development. During metamorphosis, the larval midgut undergoes histolysis and programmed cell death, while the central cells in the AMP nests form the future adult midgut and the peripheral cells form the transient pupal midgut. Here we review what is known about how cells polarise in the embryonic, larval, pupal and adult midgut, and discuss the open questions about the mechanisms that control the changes in cell arrangements, cell shape and cell polarity during midgut development.

The diversity of two subfamilies of cuckoo wasps in northeastern Brazil is reviewed. Four new species are described and illustrated:Amisega boyiLucena,sp. nov.,A. sertanejaLucena,sp. nov., andDuckeia duduiLucena,sp. nov.(Amiseginae), andCleptidea nordestinaLucena,sp. nov.(Cleptinae). These new species ofAmisegaandDuckeiarepresent the first records of both genera in the core zone of the Caatinga dry region, and they seem to be endemic to this portion of the region. The other twoAmisegaspecies previously recorded in northeastern Brazil are restricted to ecotone habitats between Caatinga and Atlantic forest.Cleptidea nordestinaLucena,sp. nov.(Cleptinae) is the most septentrional record for thefasciataspecies group in South America. With the present contribution, the total recorded diversity of Amiseginae and Cleptinae in northeastern Brazil is represented by the following species:A. boyiLucena,sp. nov.,A. flavipesKimsey, 1987,A. sertanejaLucena,sp. nov.,A. similisKimsey, 1987, andD. duduiLucena,sp. nov.(Amiseginae), andC. nordestinaLucena,sp. nov.(Cleptinae).

Red dot basal cell carcinoma is a distinctive clinical subtype of basal cell carcinoma. It has been reported in eight individuals with a male to female ratio of 1:1; and the patients’ ages ranged from 50 to 74 years. All patients had prior history of actinic keratoses and basal cell carcinoma. In addition, some patients also had prior squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and/or dysplastic nevus. The tumor was usually of recent onset, asymptomatic, and on sun-exposed skin. It was most commonly located on the nose (five patients); other sites were the upper lip, the mid back, or thigh—each in one patient. The red dot basal cell carcinoma was solitary and small—usually 4 mm or less in diameter. It typically presented as a red macule or papule; however, it sometimes appeared as a flesh-colored or pink to light-red papule with a bright-red central area. Microscopic features showed basaloid tumor cells (arranged as either nodular aggregates or superficial buds or both). In the central portion of the lesion, there was a proliferation of erythrocyte-containing vascular spaces between the epidermis and the neoplasm. The basal cell carcinoma pathology subtype was either nodular and superficial (three patients), nodular (two patients), or superficial (one patient). The clinical differential diagnosis of red dot basal cell carcinoma included not only benign vascular lesions (such as hemangioma and telangiectasia) but also inflammatory conditions and adnexal tumors. Other basaloid cell neoplasms were in the pathologic differential diagnosis. The pathogenesis of red dot basal cell carcinoma is similar to that of other basal cell carcinoma clinical subtypes. Mohs surgery is the treatment of choice for red dot basal cell carcinomas. Red dot basal cell carcinoma has two categories of biologic behavior based on the ratio of the postoperative wound size as compared with the size of the preoperative tumor: nonaggressive (for which the ratio was 5:1 or less for three patients) and aggressive (for which the ratio was greater than 12:1 for three patients). There was no recurrence of the red dot basal cell carcinoma after treatment. In conclusion, the incidence of red dot basal cell carcinoma—a unique morphologic variant of basal cell carcinoma—may be higher than suggested by the number of reported patients with this basal cell carcinoma subtype.

Two new species of Coniopterygidae , Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) tenuisetosa sp. nov., and Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) serrata sp. nov., are described from China. Both species differ from congeners in characters of the male genitalia. Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) alticola Sziraki, 2002, is recorded from China for the first time. A key to species of the genus Coniopteryx from China is presented.

Rhodnius Stål, 1859 is the second largest genus of Triatominae after Triatoma Laporte, 1832, and includes several important Chagas vectors. Genitalia in Reduviidae are frequently used for species identification, but the current use of terminology for it is inconsistent in Triatominae. Here, Rhodnius mickisp. nov., is described from Bolivia and considered as belonging to the pictipes group based on its morphological characters and distribution. Detailed documentation of the genitalia of Rhodnius mickisp. nov. is provided with emphasis on its everted phallus, especially the endosomal sclerites, which are potentially useful as species-level diagnostic features in Rhodnius. To further verify the validity of this species, the head shapes and wing venation patterns of five species in Rhodnius are compared with morphometric analysis. After reviewing taxonomic and comparative morphology papers of assassin bugs, a vocabulary with a terminology of morphological characters, especially of external male genitalic characters, is assembled with the preferred terms and the synonyms listed. Establishing a consistent terminological framework will greatly facilitate future research on the homology of these structures across Triatominae and will ultimately contribute to our understanding of the evolution of these groups.

Two new species, L. minerus Liu & Yan, sp. nov. and L. subtilus Liu & Yan, sp. nov. are described and illustrated as adult males. Limnophyes minimus (Meigen, 1818) is assigned as a senior synonym of L. minerus Tokunaga, 1940. A key to males of Limnophyes from China is presented.

The Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) damone (Eversmann, 1841) species complex comprises from 5 to 8 species distributed in southeastern Europe and southern Siberia. Here we used chromosomal and DNA-barcode markers in order to test the taxonomic hypotheses previously suggested for this complex. We revealed that all taxa within this group demonstrate chromosomal stasis and share the same or very similar haploid chromosome number (n = 66 or n = 67). This finding is unexpected since the karyotypes are known to be very diverse and species-specific within the other taxa of the subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, 1822. Analysis of the mitochondrial gene COI revealed six diverged clusters of individuals within the complex. Each cluster has a specific geographic distribution and is characterized by distinct morphological features in the wing pattern. The clusters mostly (but not always) correlate with traditionally recognized species. As a result of our study, we describe a new subspecies P. (A.) iphigenides zarmitanussubsp. nov. from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and show that the taxon originally described as Lycaena kindermanni var. melania Staudinger, 1886 represents a subspecies P. (A.) iphigenides melanius (Staudinger, 1886). Polyommatus (A.) samusi Korb, 2017 (syn. nov.) and P. (A.) melanius komarovi Korb, 2017 (syn. nov.) are considered here as junior subjective synonyms of P. (A.) iphigenides iphigenides (Staudinger, 1886).

This study seeks to determine the effect of N fertilization method on ratoon lowland rice performance, to choose a fertilization method that provides high ratooned yield, and to assess its profitability adopting N fertilization method. The experiment lays out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications and five N fertilization methods as treatments. Method of N application significantly affected the number of days to heading and maturity, plant height, leaf area index (LAI), number of productive tillers hill-1, panicle length and weight, number of filled and unfilled grains panicle-1. This method compensates cost of production of growing ratoon crop than those of the main crop. In fact, the highest profit (PhP25,564.80) was obtained in ratooned plants, which received 60 kg ha-1 N basal + 30 kg ha-1 N topdress application (T3) due to higher grain yield. Thereby, this is an appropriate option that provides high productivity and income for the ratoon growers.

The large and distinctive chalcidoid wasp Leptoomus janzeni Gibson, 2008, originally described from late Eocene Baltic amber, is newly recorded from coeval Rovno amber (Ukraine) based on a single well-preserved female specimen. Only 66 species of Rovno hymenopterans (49%) are also known from Baltic amber. High resolution photomicrographs and measurements of the specimen are given. Some character states of the new specimen, such as a green metallic coloration, a bare and flat prepectus, location and number of multiporous plate sensillae on the flagellum, sclerotized spur vein of the hind wing, and two metatibial spur are reported in this species for the first time.

Unkanodes (Kwonianella) malamjabbensissp. nov. (Hemiptera, Delphacidae) is described and illustrated and U. latespinosa (Dlabola, 1957) is newly recorded from Malamjabbah, Swat, Pakistan. These two species represent the first records of the genus Unkanodes Fennah, 1956 from Pakistan. A key to the world’s species of the genus Unkanodes is provided.

In this paper, four species of the genus Diduga Moore, [1887] from China (Chongqing and Guangdong) and Malaysia (Borneo, Sabah) are described as new to science, namely D. simianshanasp. nov., D. chebalingasp. nov., D. chewisp. nov., and D. hollowayisp. nov. Adults of these species are illustrated in color, and images of the male and female genitalia are provided. A distribution map of the new species is provided, together with an updated checklist of all species of Diduga.

The Palaearctic species of the digger wasps genus Hoplisoides Gribodo, 1884 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae) are reviewed, and a key to both sexes is given. Two new species are described and illustrated: Hoplisoides flavescens Mokrousov, sp. nov. (Azerbaijan) and H. leleji Mokrousov, sp. nov. (Turkmenistan). New synonymy is proposed for Hoplisoides craverii (A. Costa), 1867 = Gorytes merceti de Beaumont, 1950, syn. nov.Hoplisoides distinguendus (Yasumatsu, 1939), stat. resurr. is reinstated to full specific level. An updated checklist of the ten species of Hoplisoides so far known from Palaearctic region is provided.

A brief review of the proctotrupoid genus Vanhornia Crawford is given. A new species, Vanhornia yuriisp. nov. from Primorskiy Territory, Russia, is described and illustrated. Photographic illustrations of Vanhornia eucnemidarum Crawford, 1909 (specimens from USA), V. leileri Hedqvist, 1976 (specimens from the Russian Far East) and V. quizhouensis (He & Chu, 1990) (holotype) are given. An identification key to all known species of Vanhornia is provided.

A juvenile specimen of a mermithid (Nematoda) was found parasitizing a third instar nymph of Triatoma sordida from Mato Grosso, Brazil. This is the first record of mermithid parasitism in a triatomine species. The Mermithidae represents a family of nematodes that are specialized insect parasites. Entomonematodes are one of the highly influential agents regulating the population dynamics of insects. This report introduces the opportunity to think about mermithids as a possible candidate for use as triatomine biological control.

Rhadinoscelidia lixasp. nov. is described from Thailand. It is the fifth species of the genus and second species from Thailand. A biological note on the species with its associated ants is provided.

A new species, Cheiloneurus nankingensissp. nov., from Eastern China is described. It is similar to C. arabiacus Hayat but distinct from it in a number of morphological characters. It is a hyperparasitoid with the encyrtid wasp Aenasius arizonensis Girault, 1915 as the primary host and the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, 1898 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) as the secondary host. A key to all seven species of Cheiloneurus known from China is presented.

Idiococcobius Hayat, syn. nov., is synonymised with Coccobius Ratzeburg, based on morphological and molecular data from a new species of Coccobius from Malaysian Borneo. The new species is sufficiently similar morphologically to the type species of Idiococcobius to place it unambiguously within that genus, but molecular data from the new species, and a reassessment of the morphology of Idiococcobius, indicate synonymy of the two genera. Idiococcobius encarsoides Hayat is therefore transferred to Coccobius; resulting in the new combination: Coccobius encarsoides (Hayat), comb. nov.Coccobius islandicus Geng & Polaszek, sp. nov, is described from morphology and DNA sequence data.

Phoretic copulation, a form of phoresy in which a male physically transports a female by flight and/or foot from their initial site of contact before mating, is newly recorded in the Nearctic velvet antSphaeropthalma pensylvanica(Lepeletier, 1845) (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Further, this is the first record of the behavior in the species-rich subfamily Sphaeropthalminae. A description of theS. pensylvanicamating observation and photographs are provided. All published observations of copulation events in Mutillidae are critically reviewed in the context of mating strategy, and new terminology is proposed for the mating strategies currently known to occur in the family.

Trioza turougueisp. nov., a new species of jumping plant lice (Hemiptera, Triozidae) from Taiwan, is described and illustrated based on adults and immatures. The latter induce pea-shaped galls on the stems of Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kaneh. (Lauraceae). The gall phenology of the new species is described. A list of species of Triozidae associated with Cinnamomum in the Old World is provided. The following nomenclatorial acts are proposed: Trioza inflata Li, 1992 = Trioza xiangicamphorae Li, 1992, syn. nov.; Siphonaleyrodes formosanus Takahashi, 1932, stat. rev., is removed from synonymy with Trioza cinnamomi (Boselli, 1931).

Halyomorpha halys is a severe invasive Asian pest worldwide and classical biological control is foreseen as the most promising control method. Egg parasitoids appear to be the most important natural enemies of this pest, especially the Asian hymenopteran Trissolcus japonicus. In the invaded areas, only a few egg parasitoid species have been able to adopt H. halys as a host. Anastatus bifasciatus is the most common native egg parasitoid of H. halys in Europe, but reaches only low levels of parasitization, while several other native species are only occasionally found. Recently, adventive populations have been found both in the USA and in Europe of T. japonicus, and in Italy of a second Asian species, Trissolcus mitsukurii. Species identification based on morphological traits by specialists or by molecular analysis is a crucial step in the management of biological control programs. The ability to identify the genus or species within a narrow guild of egg parasitoids based on adult emergence holes and meconium features can be a simple and useful method to support management efforts. We present here detailed descriptions of the meconium of the most frequent parasitoid species attacking H. halys in Europe and the characteristics of their emergence holes of the adult wasps.

A new species, Sarcophaga (Pandelleisca) mersinensissp. nov.is described from the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The male terminalia are documented with line drawings, photographs and scanning electron microscope images. The species is compared with the two most similar species, Sarcophaga (Pandelleisca) baudeti (Lehrer) and Sarcophaga (Pandelleisca) theodori (Lehrer), both known from Israel. A key is provided to the western Palaearctic species ofPandelleiscaRohdendorf.

We sequenced multiple genes from the enigmatic genera Bhagadatta Moore, 1898, Kumothales Overlaet, 1940 and Harmilla Aurivillius, 1892 (Nymphalidae, Limenitidinae) and analysed them together with a large published dataset. We find that Bhagadatta is sister to the genera Cymothoe Hübner, 1819+Harma Doubleday, 1848, and that Kumothales is sister to these three. Harmilla is nested within the genus Euriphene Boisduval, 1847. We thus transfer Kumothales and Bhagadatta to the tribe Cymothoini, and we synonymise Harmillasyn. nov. with Euriphene.

Two new species of Taraxippus Moxey, 1971 are described and illustrated: T. samaraesp. nov. from Costa Rica and Panama and T. perezgelabertisp. nov. from the Dominican Republic. Both sexes and the previously unknown eggs are described. The genus is recorded from Central America for the first time. A distribution map and a discussion of the distributional pattern of Taraxippus are provided.

This study presents new data on the lacewing fauna of Saudi Arabia based on field work performed between 2014 and 2019. Sixty-one lacewing species from 37 genera and seven Neuroptera families were documented. Additionally, two species belonging to Dielocroce and Pseudomallada were identified only to genus level. Three of the identified species are new records to Saudi Arabia (Aspoeckiella gallagheri Hölzel, 2004, Bankisus maculosus Hölzel, 1983, and Nemoleon secundus Hölzel, 2002). Another three species are new to the fauna of the Arabian Peninsula (Mantispa aphavexelte Aspöck & Aspöck, 1994, Omoleon jeanneli Navás, 1936, and Stylascalaphus krueperi van der Weele, 1909). The first reports of eight species are provided after their original description from Saudi Arabia; namely, Creoleon ultimus Hölzel, 983, Cueta amseli Hölzel, 1982, Cu. asirica Hölzel, 1982, Distoleon asiricus Hölzel, 1983, Geyria pallida Hölzel, 1983, Neuroleon delicatus Hölzel, 1983, N. virgineus Hölzel, 1983 and Solter buettikeri Hölzel, 1982 Zoogeographically, most lacewing species documented in the Arabian Peninsula are endemic (26.2%), followed by Afro-syroeremic (23.0%), Afrotropical (18.0%), and Afro-syro-iranoeremic (14.8%) species. Palaearctic species (4.9%) had the lowest contribution.

At present, there are 31 species of Rhaphium Meigen recorded in China. In this paper, two species from Qinghai Province of China are described as new to science: Rhaphium huzhuensesp. nov., Rhaphium minhensesp. nov. A key to the Chinese species of Rhaphium is provided.

The morphological similarities between five new large Argentinomyia species and Talahua fervida Fluke are characterized and presented. Six new species of Argentinomyia (10–12 mm long) are described: Argentinomyia andina Montoya & Wolff, sp. nov. (Colombia), Argentinomyia choachi Montoya, sp. nov. (Colombia), Argentinomyia quimbaya Montoya & Wolff, sp. nov. (Colombia), Argentinomyia huitepecensis Montoya, sp. nov. (México), Argentinomyia puntarena Montoya, sp. nov. (Costa Rica), and Argentinomyia talamanca Thompson, sp. nov. (Costa Rica). The genus Talahua Fluke is re-diagnosed and, Talahua fervida redescribed. A taxonomic key and a comparison of diagnostic characters are presented. Photographs of head, abdominal and wing maculae patterns, as well as illustrations of male genitalia are provided for species identification.

Aethiopomyia Malloch (Diptera, Muscidae) is a small genus with occurrence restricted to the Afrotropical region. Only five species are currently known in this genus: A. patersoni Zumpt, 1969, A. williamsi Snyder, 1951, A. arguta (Karsch, 1879), A. steini Curran, 1935, and A. gigas (Stein, 1906). All Aethiopomyia species are large, reaching up to 15 mm, as in A. patersoni and the most visible differences among them are based in the color pattern of the body. The species are mostly yellow, with a broad scutum and abdomen, males and females are dichoptic, the anepimeron is haired and they have stubby spines on the upper side of the palpi. Phylogenetically, Aethiopomyia, together with two other genera restricted to the Afrotropical region, Alluaudinella Giglio-Tos and Ochromusca Malloch, appear to form a monophyletic group, defined by the presence of the remarkably short stubby spines on the upper side of the palpi. Four species deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin (Germany) were analyzed; three of them are types. Diagnosis for all species, colored illustrations, male dissections and illustrations and a key to separate them are presented herein.

We submitted first results of the DNA studies of the Central Asiatic owlet moths of the genus Euchalcia. Standard cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene fragments were sequenced for DNA barcoding of six specimens belonging to Euchalcia herrichi and Euchalcia gyulai. We compared the received sequences between discussed species and with two European Euchalcia species (E. variabilis and E. consona). We found no variability within the COI sequences of the samples collected in the same locality (Alai Mts., Kyrgyzstan), whereas the difference in COI sequences between two populations (Ketmen Mts., Kazakhstan and Alai Mts., Kyrgyzstan) was 0.005.

We report the karyotype, some aspects of spermatogenesis, and ovarian trophocytes ploidy in three aquatic bug species:Ilyocoris cimicoides(Linnaeus, 1758),Notonecta glaucaLinnaeus, 1758, andDiplonychus rusticusFabricius, 1871 from previously unexplored regions – South Europe (Bulgaria) and Southeast Asia (Vietnam). Our results add considerable support for the published karyotype data for these species. InI. cimicoides, we observed achiasmate male meiosis – the first report of achiasmy for the family Naucoridae. More comprehensive cytogenetic studies in other species of the Naucoridae are required to elucidate the role of achiasmy as a character in the systematics of the family.Our observations on the association between phases of spermatogenesis and developmental stages inI. cimicoidesandN. glaucadiffer from the previously published data. In these species, we assume that the spermatogenesis phases are not strongly associated with certain developmental stages. For further cytogenetic studies (on the Balkan Peninsula), we recommend July as the most appropriate month for collection ofI. cimicoidesandN. glauca.In the ovaries of both species, we studied the level of ploidy in metaphase and interphase trophocytes. InI. cimicoides, diploid and tetraploid metaphase trophocytes were found. Heteropycnotic elements, observed in interphase trophocytes of this species, represented the X chromosomes. It allowed us to determine the trophocytes ploidy at interphase (2n was repeated up to 16 times). The situation withN. glaucawas different. The metaphase trophocytes were diploid and we were not able to determine the ploidy of interphase trophocytes since such conspicuous heteropycnotic elements were not found. The scarce data available suggest a tendency for a low level of trophocyte ploidy in the basal infraorders (Nepomorpha and Gerromorpha) and for a high level in the more advanced Pentatomomorpha. Data about this character in species from other infraorders are needed to confirm that tendency.

Urothelial cancer (UC) is a common malignancy and its development is associated with arsenic exposure. Around 25% of diagnosed UC cases are muscle invasive (MIUC) and are frequently associated with squamous differentiation. These patients commonly develop cisplatin (CIS) resistance and have poor prognosis. SOX2 expression is correlated to reduced overall and disease-free survival in UC. SOX2 drives malignant stemness and proliferation in UC cells and is associated with development of CIS resistance. Using quantitative proteomics, we identified that SOX2 was overexpressed in three arsenite (As3+)-transformed UROtsa cell lines. We hypothesized that inhibition of SOX2 would reduce stemness and increase sensitivity to CIS in the As3+-transformed cells. Pevonedistat (PVD) is a neddylation inhibitor and is a potent inhibitor of SOX2. We treated non-transformed parent and As3+-transformed cells with PVD, CIS, or in combination and monitored cell growth, sphere forming abilities, apoptosis, and gene/protein expression. PVD treatment alone caused morphological changes, reduced cell growth, attenuated sphere formation, induced apoptosis, and elevated the expression of terminal differentiation markers. However, the combined treatment of PVD with CIS significantly elevated the expression of terminal differentiation markers and eventually led to more cell death than either solo treatment. Aside from a reduced proliferation rate, these effects were not seen in the parent. Further research is needed to explore the potential use of PVD with CIS as a differentiation therapy or alternative treatment for MIUC tumors that may have become resistant to CIS.

IoT-based insulin pumps are used to deliver precise quantities of insulin to diabetic patients to regulate blood glucose levels. Generally, these levels correspond to the dietary patterns observed at time intervals that vary between patients. However, any misrepresentation in insulin levels may lead to fatal consequences. As a result, most IoT-based insulin pumps are rejected due to the possibility of external threats, which include software and hardware attacks. However, IoT-based insulin pumps are extremely useful in real-time patient monitoring, and for controlled insulin delivery to the patient based on their current glucose level. We propose a blockchain-based method to protect against the above-mentioned attacks. The system creates a patient-specific private blockchain wherein the dosage information is added as a new block by obtaining the approval of the doctor, chief doctor, nurse, and caretaker of the patient who are authorized blockchain miners. Secondly, it securely transfers prescription data, such as dosage quantity and time of delivery, to the IoT insulin pump, which ensures the dosage information is not modified during transit before insulin administration to the patient. The proposed approach uses a state-behavior-based solution that detects anomalies in the behavior of the insulin pump via temporal data analysis and immutable ledger verification, which are designed to eliminate fatal dosages in case of anomalies. The system is designed to work within binary outcome conditions, i.e., it verifies and delivers dosage or halts. There is no middle ground that an attacker can exploit, resulting in accountability for the system.

Seborrheic keratosis is an epithelial-derived benign neoplasm, which presents as a solitary tumor or multiple lesions. It is an acquired skin tumor that is frequently observed in older individuals. Benign neoplasms, as well as premalignant or malignant tumors, can mimic the clinical appearance of a seborrheic keratosis. A man presented with a chronic lesion on his abdomen that had changed in the color and size. The suspected diagnosis was a seborrheic keratosis. However, the microscopic evaluation of a biopsy tissue specimen established a diagnosis of a pigmented squamous cell carcinoma in situ. In addition to squamous cell carcinoma in situ and squamous cell carcinoma, other malignant tumors, premalignant lesions, and benign lesions can mimic a seborrheic keratosis. If a patient presents with a presumptive seborrheic keratosis that has changed in appearance and for which malignancy is also suspected, a biopsy may be helpful for diagnostic clarification to either confirm that the lesion is indeed a seborrheic keratosis or to establish the diagnosis of the lesion that mimics a seborrheic keratosis.

The larval morphology and life history of the weevil parasitoidEutrichosoma mirabileAshmead (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae) are described, and the phylogenetic placement of the subfamily Eutrichosomatinae within Chalcidoidea is determined using larval morphological characters. A description ofEutrichosoma burskisp. nov.and key to the species ofEutrichosomaare provided.

A new species of the genusDiplolepisGeoffroy,Diplolepis abeiPujade-Villar & Wangsp. nov.is described on host plantRosa sertataRolfe ×R. rugosaThunb. from China with an integrative approach based on molecular and morphological data. Diagnosis, distribution and biology of the new species are included and illustrated. This species is the first known rose gall-inducer of economic importance. A review of Eastern Palearctic species ofDiplolepisis given and a key to the Chinese fauna is presented.

The leafhopper genusOpsiusFieber, 1866 is revised for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Seven species are treated, including three that previously were reported by Dlabola (1979),O. pallasi(Lethierry, 1874),O. tigripes(Lethierry, 1876), andO. versicolor(Distant, 1908).Opsius heydeni(Lethierry, 1876),O. richteriDlabola 1960, andO. scutellaris(Lethierry, 1874) are reported for the first time from the Kingdom. A new species,O. wilsoniEl-Sonbati,sp. nov.is described from the southwestern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A key to the species ofOpsiusof the Kingdom is also provided.

The pompilid genus Balboana Banks, 1944 is preoccupied by Uvarov, 1939. A new replacement name, Braunilla Wasbauer and Kimsey is proposed and a species checklist included.

Taxonomy of the paper wasps of the subgenus Gyrostoma of the polistine genusPolistesfrom Vietnam is treated, with a key to all the five species occurring in Vietnam, including one described herein as new to science under the namePolistes longussp. nov.Nests ofP. gigasandP. longussp. nov.are also described.

Objective: To study and to compare the basal and postprandial intermediary metabolism of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) both at sea level (SL) as well as at high altitude (HA). Methodology: a total of 33 normal dwellers and 33 DM2 patients of SL(Lima, 150 meters above sea level- masl-) and 30 normal dwellers and 28 DM2 patients of HA(Cusco, 3,395 masl), of both genders, 40 to 70 years old were included. Body mass index (BMI) and abdominal circunference (AC) were measured. Glucose (G), total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDL), triglycerides (Tg), insulin (I) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were measured in blood at fasting, Cholesterol VLDL,LDL, NOHDL and HOMA coefficient were calculated; thereafter and during 6 hours after ingestion of a standardized mixed meal containing 730 Kcal G, I, Tg and NEFA were measured in blood. Statistical calculations were done by means of SPSS.v 23 program. Results: SLdiabetics had higher BMI, AC, G, Tg and HOMA values than normal dwellers. HA diabetics had higher weight, BMI, AC, G, Tg, VLDL and HOMA values than normal HA dwellers. HAdiabetics presented higher Tg and NEFAconcentrations than SLdiabetics. Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus impairs the basal and postprandial intermediary metabolism both at SL as well as at HA. At HA Tg and NEFA alterations were more marked. Objetivo: Describir y comparar el metabolismo basal y postprandial de pacientes con Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 (DM2), tanto de nivel del mar (NM) como de altura (ALT). Metodología: Se ha estudiado a 33 normales y 33 con DM2 de NM (Lima, 150 msnm) y a 30 normales y 28 con DM2 de ALT (Cusco, 3395 msnm), de ambos géneros, de 40 a 70 años de edad. Se tomaron medidas antropométricas y en condiciones basales determinaciones de glucosa (G), colesterol total (CT), HDL, triglicéridos (Tg), ácidos grasos no esterificados (AGNE) e insulina (I). Se calculó el colesterol VLDL, LDL, NoHDL y el coeficiente HOMA. Luego de administrarles un desayuno mixto con 730 Kcal., se midió la G, Tg, I y AGNE durante 06 horas. Los cálculos estadísticos mediante el programa SPSS v. 23. Resultados: Los diabéticos de NM tuvieron el IMC, CA, G, Tg y HOMA más altos que sus controles. Los diabéticos de altura tuvieron cifras más altas de peso, IMC, CA, G, Tg, VLDLy HOMAque sus controles. Durante el período postprandial los diabéticos de NM tuvieron concentraciones más altas de G, Tg y AGNE que sus controles; los diabéticos de altura tuvieron G y Tg más altos que sus controles. Los diabéticos de altura tuvieron concentraciones más altas de Tg y AGNE que los diabéticos de NM. Conclusiones: La DM2 altera el metabolismo intermediario tanto basal como postprandial, tanto a nivel del mar como altura. En la altura el trastorno de Tg y AGNE es mayor.

While analyzing DNA barcodes of all the Korean and some East Asian tephritid species in conjunction with the barcode sequences available from BOLD Systems (www.boldsystems.org), the large and taxonomically enigmatic genus Campiglossa was recovered as a monophyletic clade, together with the genera Dioxyna and Homoeotricha, which are here synonymized for that reason. Ten major lineages are also recognized within the Campiglossa clade: producta group, loewiana group, sororcula group, irrorata group, achyrophori group, difficilis group, luxorientis group, magniceps group, arisanica group, and misella group. Here, more detailed taxonomic accounts are provided for the misella group, including four DNA analysis-recovered members: C. coei, C. misella, C. paramelaenasp. nov., and C. melaena. A single morphological synapomorphy is proposed for this species group: the presence of a large mid-anterior dark wing marking in males with associated structural modification (more apically positioned crossvein R-M than in females). Based on the morphological characteristics, two presumptive members that are only known from male specimens are further recognized: C. pishanica and C. propria from China. A full description of C. paramelaenasp. nov., and a redescription of C. coei, for which only males were previously known, are provided. For all the included species, a taxonomic key, diagnoses, and photographs to aid their accurate identification are given. Finally, C. favillacea is synonymized with C. coei and C. roscida with C. misella, and C. coei and C. pishanica resurrected from the synonymy of C. misella.

A part of Japanese species of the genus Thiotricha Meyrick, 1886 are reviewed. Three species described by Omelko (1984) in the genus Cnaphostola Meyrick, 1918 are placed in combination with Thiotricha; Thiotricha biformis, T. angustellacomb. nov. and T. venustaliscomb. nov. These species are redescribed, and two new species, T. elaeocarpiella Kyaw, Yagi & Hirowatari, sp. nov. and T. flavitermina Kyaw, Yagi & Hirowatari, sp. nov. are described based on external morphological characters of adults and genitalia of males and females. Thiotricha chujaensis (Park, 2016), comb. nov. described in Cnaphostola from Korea, is newly recorded in Japan feeding on Mallotus japonica (Euphorbiaceae). One of the new species, T. elaeocarpiellasp. nov. has been associated with two different plants, Elaeocarpus zollingeri (Elaeocarpaceae) and Rhaphiolepis indica (Rosaceae). This paper presents the first comprehensive description of the morphology, pupal morphology and biology of species previously treated in the genus Cnaphostola and their relatives in Japan.

Rhynchotermes armatussp. nov. is described from soldiers and workers collected in the Magdalena River Valley of Colombia. Both castes of this new termite are superficially similar to R. perarmatus (Snyder) but the former are smaller, head capsules yellowish instead of reddish, and among additional characters, the soldier has narrower mandibles and marginal teeth.

Bumble bees (Bombusspp.) are a widespread corbiculate lineage (Apinae: Corbiculata: Bombini), mostly found among temperate and alpine ecosystems. Approximately 260 species have been recognized and grouped recently into a simplified system of 15 subgenera. Most of the species are nest-building and primitively eusocial. Species ofBombushave been more intensely studied than any other lineages of bees with the exception of the honey bees. However, most bumble bee fossils are poorly described and documented, making their placement relative to otherBombusuncertain. A large portion of the known and presumed bumble bee fossils were re-examined in an attempt to better understand their affinities with extant Bombini. The taxonomic affinities of fossil specimens were re-assessed based on morphological features and previous descriptions, and for 13 specimens based on geometric morphometrics of forewing shape. None of the specimens coming from Eocene and Oligocene deposits were assigned within the contemporary shape space of any subgenus ofBombus. It is shown thatCalyptapis florissantensisCockerell, 1906 (Eocene-Oligocene boundary, Florissant shale, Colorado, USA) andOligobombus cuspidatusAntropov, 2014 (Late Eocene, Bembridge Marls) likely belong to stem-group Bombini.Bombus anacolusZhang, 1994,B. dilectusZhang, 1994,B. luianusZhang, 1990 (Middle Miocene, Shanwang Formation), as well asB. vetustusRasnitsyn & Michener, 1991 (Miocene, Botchi Formation) are considered as species inquirenda. In the Miocene, affinities of fossils with derived subgenera ofBombuss. l. increased, and some are included in the shape space of contemporary subgenera:Cullumanobombus(i.e.,B. pristinusUnger, 1867,B. randeckensisWappler & Engel, 2012, andB. trophoniusProkop, Dehon, Michez & Engel, 2017),Melanobombus(i.e.,B. cerdanyensisDehon, De Meulemeester & Engel, 2014), andMendacibombus(i.e.,B. beskonakensis(Nel & Petrulevičius, 2003), new combination), agreeing with previous estimates of diversification.

Proterosceliopsis was erected by Ortega-Blanco et al. (2014) in their treatment of scelionid genera in Cretaceous amber from Álava, Spain. The generic description appears to have been based on specimens in which only the dorsal aspects of the mesosoma and metasoma were visible, as characters of the mesopleuron, metapleuron, lateral pronotum, and ventral metasoma were not mentioned. We here provide a comprehensive description of the genus that includes characters from throughout the body and we reinterpret some of the characters presented by Ortega-Blanco et al. (2014). Our analysis of Proterosceliopsis in the context of extant and fossil platygastroids places this group as a lineage well outside of the current families. We here designate Proterosceliopsis as the type genus of a new family, Proterosceliopsidae Talamas, Johnson, Shih & Ren, fam. nov., and describe five new species: Proterosceliopsis ambulata Talamas, Shih & Ren, sp. nov., P. nigon Talamas, Shih & Ren, sp. nov., P. plurima Talamas, Shih & Ren, sp. nov., P. torquata Talamas, Shih & Ren, sp. nov., and P. wingerathi Talamas, Shih & Ren, sp. nov. We provide a key to all presently known species in the genus. The oldest known specimen of Platygastridae s.s., in Burmese amber, is presented and compared to Proterosceliopsidaefam. nov.

The genus Ceraeochrysa Adams is widely distributed in the New World, from southeastern Canada to Argentina, with 15 out of 61 previously known species recorded in Mexico. In this paper, Ceraeochrysa tacanensissp. nov. is described and illustrated from Volcán Tacaná, Chiapas, and an identification key to Ceraeochrysa species present in Mexico is provided. The new species is similar to others with swollen and darkened posterior branches of the cubital vein, and it can be separated from these other species by an elongate gonapsis extending from the base of the gonosaccus; the gonapsis is slightly upturned, terminating in a rounded apex with dorsal microteeth. Females of the new species have non-distinctive genitalia morphology. However, they can be associated with males of the species by body color pattern, synchrony, and sympatry.