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Meniscus is a wedge-shaped fibrocartilaginous tissue, playing important roles in maintaining joint stability and function. Meniscus injuries are difficult to heal and frequently progress into structural breakdown, which then leads to osteoarthritis. Regeneration of heterogeneous tissue engineering meniscus (TEM) continues to be a scientific and translational challenge. The morphology, tissue architecture, mechanical strength, and functional applications of the cultivated TEMs have not been able to meet clinical needs, which may due to the negligent attention on the importance of microenvironment

A magnetic GO-based imprinted adsorbent exhibited a high adsorption capacity, good removal rate and good reusability for Ni(ii) adsorption.

Background: Therapeutic resistance is a frequent problem of cancer treatment and a leading cause of mortality in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Recent insight into the mechanisms that confer multidrug resistance has elucidated that the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) assists cancer cells in escaping therapeutic stress caused by toxic chemotherapy. Therefore, it is necessary to develop ABCG2 inhibitors. Objective: In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of KU55933 on ABCG2 in CRC. Methods: The cytotoxicity assay and drug accumulation assay were used to examine the inhibitory effect of KU55933 on ABCG2. The protein expressions were detected by Western blot assay. The docking assay was performed to predict the binding site and intermolecular interactions between KU55933 and ABCG2. Results: KU55933 was more potent than the known ABCG2 inhibitor fumitremorgin C to enhance the sensitivity of mitoxantrone and doxorubicin and the intracellular accumulation of mitoxantrone, doxorubicin and rhodamine 123 inside CRC cells with ABCG2 overexpression. Moreover, KU55933 did not affect the protein level of ABCG2. Furthermore, the docking data showed that KU55933 was tightly located in the drug-binding pocket of ABCG2. Conclusion: KU55933 can potently inhibit the activity of ABCG2 in CRC.

Peripheral focused ultrasound stimulation (pFUS) has gained increasing attention in the past few decades, because it can be delivered to peripheral nerves, neural endings, or sub-organs. With different stimulation parameters, ultrasound stimulation could induce different modulation effects. Depending on the transmission medium, pFUS can be classified as body-coupled US stimulation, commonly used for therapeutics or neuromodulation, or as an air-coupled contactless US haptic system, which provides sensory inputs and allows distinct human-computer interaction paradigms. Despite growing interest in pFUS, the underlying working mechanisms remain only partially understood, and many applications are still in their infancy. This review focused on existing applications, working mechanisms, the latest progress, and future directions of pFUS. In terms of therapeutics, large-sample randomized clinical trials in humans are needed to translate these state of art techniques into treatments for specific diseases. The airborne US for human-computer interaction is still in its preliminary stage, but further efforts in task-oriented US applications might provide a promising interaction tool soon.

miR-124 targets the androgen receptor (AR) transcript, acting as a tumor suppressor to broadly limit the growth of prostate cancer. In this study, we unraveled the mechanisms through which miR-124 acts in this setting. miR-124 inhibited proliferation of prostate cancer cells in vitro and sensitized them to inhibitors of androgen receptor signaling. Notably, miR-124 could restore the apoptotic response of cells resistant to enzalutamide, a drug approved for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. We used xenograft models to examine the effects of miR-124 in vivo when complexed with polyethylenimine-derived nanoparticles. Intravenous delivery of miR-124 was sufficient to inhibit tumor growth and to increase tumor cell apoptosis in combination with enzalutamide. Mechanistic investigations revealed that miR-124 directly downregulated AR splice variants AR-V4 and V7 along with EZH2 and Src, oncogenic targets that have been reported to contribute to prostate cancer progression and treatment resistance. Taken together, our results offer a preclinical rationale to evaluate miR-124 for cancer treatment. Cancer Res; 75(24); 5309–17. ©2015 AACR.

Legend for Supplementary Figures S1-S5.

Description of additional methods and procedures used in the study. Also includes Supplementary Reference.

Immunostaining of AR-V7 in CWR22 xenografts.

Supplementary Figure 1 from Interleukin-17 Receptor-Like Gene Is a Novel Antiapoptotic Gene Highly Expressed in Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer

Immunostaining of AR-V7 in miR-124-treated 22Rv1-EnzR cells.

Objective: In this study, we compared the enhancement of blood vessels and liver parenchyma on enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the upper abdomen with two concentrations of contrast media (400 and 300 mg I/mL) based on similar iodine delivery rate (IDR) of 0.88 and 0.9 g I/s and iodine load of 450 mg I/kg.Methods: We randomly assigned 160 patients into two groups: iomeprol 400 mg I/mL (A group) and iohexol 300 mg I/mL (B group). The CT attenuation values of the main anatomical structures in the two groups with different scanning phases were measured and the image quality of the two groups was analyzed and compared. The peak pressure and local discomfort (including fever and pain) during contrast medium injection were recorded.Results: The mean attenuation value of the abdominal aorta was 313.6 ± 29.6 in the A group and 322.4 ± 30.1 in the B group during the late arterial phase (p = 0.8). Meanwhile, the mean enhancement values of the portal vein were 176.2 ± 19.3 and 165.9 ± 24.5 in the A and B groups, respectively, during the portal venous phase (p = 0.6). The mean CT values of liver parenchyma were 117.1 ± 15.3 and 108.8 ± 18.7 in the A and B groups, respectively, during the portal venous phase (p = 0.9). There was no statistical difference in image quality, peak injection pressure (psi), and local discomfort between the two groups (p > 0.05).Conclusion: When a similar IDR and the same iodine load are used, CT images with different concentrations of contrast media have the same subjective and objective quality, and can meet the diagnostic needs.

Supplementary Table 1 from Interleukin-17 Receptor-Like Gene Is a Novel Antiapoptotic Gene Highly Expressed in Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer

We have recently identified a new gene, interleukin-17 receptor-like (IL-17RL), which is expressed in normal prostate and prostate cancer. This investigation is focused on the role of IL-17RL in prostate cancer. We found that IL-17RL was expressed at significantly higher levels in several androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines (PC3, DU145, cds1, cds2, and cds3) and tumors compared with the androgen-dependent cell lines (LNCaP and MLC-SV40) and tumors. In an in vivo model of human prostate tumor growth in nude mice (CWR22 xenograft model), IL-17RL expression in tumors was induced by androgen deprivation. The relapsed androgen-independent tumors expressed higher levels of IL-17RL compared with the androgen-dependent tumors. Overexpression of IL-17RL in tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)–sensitive LNCaP cells inhibited TNFα-induced apoptosis by blocking activation of caspase-3 downstream to caspase-2 and caspase-8. Reciprocally, knocking down IL-17RL expression by small interfering RNA induced apoptosis in all the prostate cancer cell lines studied. Taken together, these results show that IL-17RL is a novel antiapoptotic gene, which may confer partially the property of androgen-independent growth of prostate cancer by promoting cell survival. Thus, IL-17RL is a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of prostate cancer. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(1): 175-83)

Function assay of AR variant's constitutive activity in yeast.

The combination treatment with miR-124 and bicalutamide (Bic) significantly inhibited proliferation of C4-2B prostate cancer cells.

Three hitherto undescribed Stemona alkaloids, named stemajapines A–C (1–3), along with six known alkaloids (4–9), were isolated and identified from the roots of Stemona japonica (Blume) Miq. (Stemonaceae). Their structures were established by the analysis of the mass data, NMR spectra, and computational chemistry. Stemjapines A and B were degraded maistemonines without spiro-lactone ring and skeletal methyl from maistemonine. Concurrence of alkaloids 1 and 2 revealed an undescribed way to form diverse Stemona alkaloids. Bioassay results disclosed the anti-inflammatory natural constituents stemjapines A and C with IC50 values of 19.7 and 13.8 µM, respectively, compared to positive control dexamethasone with 11.7 µM. The findings may point out a new direction of Stemona alkaloids inaddition to its traditional antitussive and insecticide activities.

Copper-based halide perovskites have shown great potential in lighting and photodetection due to their excellent photoelectric properties, good stability and lead-free nature. However, as an important piece of copper-based perovskites, the synthesis and application of RbCu2I3 have never been reported. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of high-quality RbCu2I3 microwires (MWs) by a fast-cooling hot saturated solution method. The prepared MWs exhibit an orthorhombic structure with a smooth surface. Optical measurements show the RbCu2I3 MWs have a sharp ultraviolet absorption edge with 3.63 eV optical band gap and ultra-large stokes shift (300 nm) in photoluminescence. The subsequent photodetector based on a single RbCu2I3 MW shows excellent ultraviolet detection performance. Under the 340 nm illumination, the device shows a specific detectivity of 5.0 × 109 Jones and a responsivity of 380 mA·W−1. The synthesis method and physical properties of RbCu2I3 could be a guide to the future optoelectronic application of the new material.

Bipolarithizole A (1) is a phenylthiazole-sativene sesquiterpenoid hybrid isolated from the fungus Bipolaris eleusines. It shows anti-pathogenic fungi activity against Rhizoctonia solani with an MIC value of 16 μg mL−1.

The basilar artery has the most perioperative complications in stenting compared to the other intracranial arteries. We aim to study whether the procedural safety in stenting for basilar stenosis has improved. This study was a single-arm, non-randomized trial that included historically controlled patients for comparison. Between January 2012 and March 2019, 147 consecutive patients with symptomatic basilar stenoses receiving elective stenting treatment were included in current basilar artery stenting (BAS) group. The prospectively collected and registered 120 patients by the same interventional team from September 2001 to November 2011 were set as historical BAS group for control. A total of 267 individuals were included in this study, with a mean age of 59.5 ± 8.1 years. The proportion of patients with lesion length15 mm was 26.5% (39/147) in the current BAS group versus 4.2% (5/120) in the historical BAS group. We found significant differences between these 2 groups in Mori A (17.7% vs 42.5%) and Mori C patients (42.9% vs 13.3%). The proportion of patients receiving preoperative high-resolution magnetic resonance (HRMRI) evaluation was 83.0% (122/147) in the current BAS group versus 20.8% (25/120) in the historical group (P .05). Balloon-expendable stent (BES) (n = 1), Wingspan (n = 34), and Enterprise (n = 112) stents were placed in the current BAS group. In contrast, only balloon-expendable stent (BES) (n = 48) and Wingspan (n = 72) were deployed in the historical BAS group. The incidence of the safety endpoint (SE) was 4.1% (involving 6 patients) in the current BAS group versus 11.7% (involving 14 patients) in the historical BAS group (P .05). In multivariate analysis, no risk factor was associated with the occurrence of the safety endpoint (SE). When BAS cases operated by the surgical team accumulated to 120 to 150, the incidence of complications decreased significantly. This is the largest sample size study to discuss the safety of BAS. The significantly decreased incidence of complications indicates that the improving technical measures and the accumulation of operation experience are necessary.

Four new leucine-derived cytochalasans, possessing a 5,6,5,8-ring (1) and a 5,6,11-ring core (2-4), were isolated from a cultivated endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. strain WH2D4 (Xylariaceae). This fungus was isolated from leaves of the neotropical tree species Palicourea elata (Sw.) Borhidi (Rubiaceae) collected in Costa Rica. The chemical structures were determined by employing IR, MS as well as 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. The stereochemistry at C-15 of compound 4 was determined by quantum calculations. The isolated compounds did not affect germination and growth of Trichoderma reesei and the opportunistic human fungal pathogen T. longibrachiatum.

There is a previously neglected influence of geochemical conditions on plant phytochemistry. In particular, high concentrations of dissolved salts can affect their biosynthesis of natural products. Detoxification is most likely an important aspect for the plant, but additional natural products can also give it an expanded range of bioactivities. During the phytochemical analysis a

Pseudopoda uncata Yang & Zhang sp. nov. (Figs 4–6) Type material. Holotype: ♂, CHINA : Yunnan Province: Mengjiao Township, Cangyuan County (23°16.38′N, 99°11.21′E, 1769 m), 11 May 2021, Z.Z. Yang & Z.M. Li (MHBU). Paratypes: 1♂, 5♀, with same data as for holotype (1♀ in MHBU, 1♂ 4♀ in DUIER); 2♂, 1♀, with same data as for holotype except: 23 May 2017, Z.Z. Yang (DUIER). Etymology. The specific name is a Latin adjective—derived from uncus (=hook), referring to the shape of embolus in ventral view. Diagnosis. According to the morphology of genital organs (for details see Jäger 2001), P. uncata sp. nov. belongs to the diversipunctata species-group, which, up to now, was comprised of six species: P. confusa, P. diversipunctata, P. intermedia, P. lutea, P. marsupia and P. serrata. Both sexes of this new species are most similar to P. confusa Jäger, Pathoumthong and Vedel, 2006 (see Jäger et al. 2006: 220, figs 1–13, 29–32) in: embolus hook-shaped in ventral view, with similar arising point and length; U-shaped median septum; spherical structures of internal duct system. It can be distinguished from the latter species by the following combination of characters: 1. Embolus tip inversely U-shaped in ventral view (embolus bent at right angles in P. confusa); 2. Finger-like dRTA longer than in P. confusa; 3. Median septum narrower than in P. confusa; 4. First windings of internal duct system close to each other (far away from each other in P. confusa). Females of this new species also resemble those of P. lutea (Thorell, 1895) (see Jäger 2002: 57, figs 184–185) by: anterior and median margins of lateral lobes goblet-shaped, internal duct system with distinct lateral loops visible through cuticle in ventral view as oval patches on anterior part of epigyne. It can be distinguished from the latter species by the following combination of characters: 1. Anterior margin trilobate (Figs 5D, 6D; bilobate in P. lutea); 2. Loops of internal duct system bending laterally (Figs 5E, 6E; loops bending medially in P. lutea). Description. Male: Total length 9.39–9.46 (n=4). Holotype total length 9.46: prosoma 4.63 long, 4.36 wide; opisthosoma 4.97 long, 3.10 wide. Two eye rows slightly recurved. Eyes diameters and interdistances: AME 0.23, ALE 0.33, PME 0.24, PLE 0.30, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.35. MOA 0.73 long, anterior width 0.59, posterior width 0.76. Clypeus height 0.31. Chelicerae furnished with 3 promarginal teeth and 4 retromarginal teeth, and some denticles between them. Leg measurements: I 23.03 (6.10, 1.97, 5.90, 6.62, 2.44), II 25.38 (7.57, 2.60, 5.95, 6.92, 2.34), III 18.77 (6.60, 1.74, 3.71, 5.03, 1.69), IV 15.44 (6.60, 1.22, 3.05, 2.08, 2.09). Leg formula: 2134. Leg spination: palp 131, 101, 2121; femur I 323, II–III 313, IV 323; patella I–III 101, IV 100; tibia I 4314, II 3124, III 3213, IV 2323; metatarsus I–III 2222, IV 3333. Palp as in diagnosis (Figs 5A–C, 6A–C). Cymbium slender, with distinct retrolateral bulge; subdistal tibia with a retrolaterad hump; RTA arising proximally to medially from tibia, vRTA obviously broader than dRTA; tegulum oval, upper part of tegulum with upfold; retrolateral part of spermophore almost straight, and running submarginally in tegulum; embolus arising from tegulum at 10 to 11 o’clock position; terminal embolus with groove (visible in retrolateral view); subapical part of embolus with two small teeth; conductor arising from tegulum at 1 o’clock position, slender, bent medially and then directed prolaterally. Coloration in ethanol (Figs 4A, B): Carapace yellowish, with some dark spots, two lateral bands inconspicuous, margin with gray black patterns. Cervical groove and radial furrow obvious. Fovea dark brown. Each eye surrounded with circular black patch. Chelicerae, labium, gnathocoxae and sternum yellowish. Legs yellowish, with small spots and slightly larger spine patches. Dorsal abdomen with lots of black dots; venter yellowish, with black patches. Female: Total length 8.97–9.91 (n=6). One paratype: total length 8.97; prosoma 4.12 long, 4.09 wide; opisthosoma 4.86 long, 3.59 wide. Eyes diameters and interdistances: AME 0.21, ALE 0.27, PME 0.22, PLE 0.27; AME–AME 0.18, AME–ALE 0.15, PME–PME 0.28, PME–PLE 0.41. MOA 0.67 long, anterior width 0.56, posterior width 0.70. Clypeus height 0.09. Leg measurements: I 17.64 (4.97, 2.13, 4.72, 4.18, 1.64), II 19.10 (5.92, 2.22, 4.94, 4.37, 1.65), III 13.81 (4.09, 1.84, 3.80, 2.55, 1.53), IV 15.51 (4.76, 1.59, 3.36, 3.64, 2.16). Leg formula: 2143. Leg spination: palp 131, 101, 2121, 2112; femur I–IV 323; patella I–IV 101; tibia I 3423, II 3323, III 3213, IV 3323; metatarsus I–III 2222, IV 3433. Epigyne as in diagnosis (Figs 5 D-E, 6D-E). Epigynal field wider than long, with trilobate anterior margin, anterior bands absent; lateral lobes longer than wide, anterior margin of lateral lobes converged on the central axis, anterior and median margins of lateral lobes goblet-shaped; posterior incision of lateral lobes indistinct, near the meeting point of lateral lobes; laterad loops of internal duct system appearing as oval dark patches in ventral view. Coloration in ethanol: Color and markings of body as in male, but generally lighter (Figs 4C, D). Distribution. China (Yunnan Province)., Published as part of Yang, Zi-Zhong, Wu, Ya-Ying, Li, Zhi-Min & Zhang, Bao-Shi, 2022, Two new species of the genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 and first description of the male of Pseudopoda physematosa (Araneae, Sparassidae) from Yunnan Province China, pp. 347-360 in Zootaxa 5188 (4) on pages 352-354, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5188.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7095600, {"references":["Jager, P. (2001) Diversitat der Riesenkrabbenspinnen im Himalaya. Uber eine Radiation zweier Gattungen in den Schneetropen (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae). Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 232, 1 - 136.","Jager, P., Pathoumthong, B. & Vedel, V. (2006) First record of the genus Pseudopoda Jager 2000 in Laos with description of new species (Arachnida, Araneae, Sparassidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica, 86, 219 - 228.","Thorell, T. (1895) Descriptive catalogue of the spiders of Burma, based upon the collection made by Eugene W. Oates and preserved in the British Museum, Taylor and Francis, London, 406 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 17492","Jager, P. (2002) Heteropodinae: transfers and synonymies (Arachnida: Araneae: Sparassidae). Acta Arachnologica, 51, 33 - 61. https: // doi. org / 10.2476 / asjaa. 51.33"]}

Pseudopoda mingshengi Yang & Zhang sp. nov. (Figs 1–3) Type material. Holotype: ♂, CHINA: Yunnan Province: Mengjiao Township (23°16.38′N, 99°11.21′E, 1769 m), Cangyuan County, 23 May 2017, Z.Z. Yang & C.G. Li (MHBU) Paratypes: 4♀, with same data as for holotype (1♀ in MHBU, 3♀ in DUIER). Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to the late Prof. Dr Ming-Sheng Zhu for his efforts on arachnological studies in China; nomen in genitive case. Diagnosis. Males of this new species resemble those of P. contraria Jäger and Vedel, 2007 (see Jäger & Vedel 2007: 31, figs 114–116) in the embolus with a huge prolateral projection, and a broad apical tip of the embolic projection. It can be distinguished from the latter by the following combination of characters: 1. Apical part of embolus very broad (Figs 2B–C, 3B–C; thinner in P. contraria); 2. Embolic projection trapezoid-shaped in ventral view (Figs 2B, 3B; square-shaped in P. contraria); 3. Top of embolic projection with teeth (Figs 2B, 3B; absent in P. contraria). Females of this new species resemble those of P. pingu Jäger, 2015 (see Jäger 2015: 336, figs 21–23) by the lateral windings projecting anteriorly above the median septum and the longitudinally sclerotised internal duct system. It can be distinguished from the latter by the following combination of characters: 1. lateral lobes touching each other (Figs 2D, 3D; distinctly separated in P. pingu); 2. the first winding of internal duct system obviously wide (Figs 2E, 3E; moderately wide in P. pingu). Description. Male (holotype): Total length 10.83: prosoma 5.61 long, 5.24 wide; opisthosoma 5.24 long, 3.42 wide. AER slightly recurved, PER straight. Eyes diameters and interdistances: AME 0.21, ALE 0.45, PME 0.37, PLE 0.42, AME–AME 0.27, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.46. MOA 1.03 long, anterior width 0.64, posterior width 1.03. Clypeus height 0.26. Chelicerae brown, with 3 promarginal teeth and 4 retromarginal teeth, and some denticles between them. Sternum with dark setae. Legs yellowish brown, with small spots and slightly larger spine patches, metatarsus of leg with dense scopula. Leg measurements: I 23.47 (6.75, 2.80, 5.34, 6.24, 2.34), II 26.04 (7.61, 2.79, 6.62, 6.57, 2.45), III 20.12 (6.49, 2.40, 5.22, 4.36, 1.65), IV 21.18 (6.43, 2.15, 6.01, 4.52, 2.07). Leg formula: 2143. Leg spination: palp 131, 101, 2121; femur I–III 323, IV 321; patella I–IV 101; tibia I–IV 3223; metatarsus I–II 2112, III–IV 2222. Palp as in diagnosis (Figs 2A–C, 3A–C). Cymbium slender; RTA arising proximally to medially from tibia, dRTA long and distally sharp, vRTA indistinct; spermophor running submarginally at retromargin of tegulum, turning into an S-shaped duct at promargin of tegulum to the base of embolus; embolus arising from tegulum at 9 o’clock position, very broadened in its middle part; embolic projection flat and very large, pointing prolaterally, embolic projection distally with two triangular teeth; conductor arising from tegulum at 12 o’clock position, slender, bent ventrad. Coloration in ethanol: Carapace yellowish brown, bearing some small spots. Cervical groove and radial furrow obvious. Longitudinal fovea dark brown. Ocular area darker. Each eye surrounded with circular black patch. Labium, gnathocoxae and sternum yellowish brown, the posterior part of labium dark brown. Legs yellowish brown, with small spots and slightly larger spine patches, metatarsus darker. Dorsal opisthosoma gray black dorsally, with white lateral patterns and a big dark triangular median pattern, the posterior part whitish; venter gray black (Figs 1A–B). Female: Total length 13.65–13.71 (n=4). One paratype: Total length 13.71; prosoma 6.25 long, 5.78 wide; opisthosoma 7.47 long, 5.00 wide. Eyes diameters and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.44, PME 0.33, PLE 0.42, AME–AME 0.27, AME–ALE 0.11, PME–PME 0.38, PME–PLE 0.54. MOA 1.11 long, anterior width 0.77, posterior width 1.07. Clypeus height 0.50. Leg measurements: I 21.81 (6.27, 2.93, 5.98, 5.11, 1.52), II 23.63 (6.56, 3.43, 6.13, 5.51, 2.00), III 18.74 (5.47, 2.68, 4.57, 4.06, 1.96), IV 21.21 (6.48, 2.52, 5.22, 4.41, 2.58). Leg formula: 2143. Leg spination: palp 131, 101, 2121, 2112; femur I–II 323, III 332, IV 331; patella I–IV 001; tibia I–IV 3223; metatarsus I–II 2112, III–IV 2222. Epigyne as in diagnosis (Figs 2D–E, 3D–E). Epigynal field wider than long, with slightly trilobate anterior margin, anterior bands short, indistinct; lateral lobes longer than wide, slightly converged on the central axis; anterior margins of lateral lobes heart - shaped; loops of internal duct system bending laterally, the posterior parts hidden behind lateral lobes; the anterior margin of longitudinally sclerotised parts beyond copulatory opening. Coloration in ethanol: Color and markings of carapace as in male. Dorsal opisthosoma dark brown dorsally, with some irregular patches laterally and a distinct white transversal patch in the posterior part; venter brown, with small and irregular patches (Figs 1C–D). Distribution. China (Yunnan). Note. The species P. mingshengi cannot be allocated to any of the nine known species groups according to morphological features. Males share the broad prolateral embolic projection with several species, e.g., P. daxing Zhao and Li, 2018 in Jiang et al. 2018, P. digitata Jäger and Vedel, 2007 and P. contraria, but females of this new species are completely different.

Pseudopoda uncata Yang & Zhang sp. nov. (Figs 4–6) Type material. Holotype: ♂, CHINA : Yunnan Province: Mengjiao Township, Cangyuan County (23°16.38′N, 99°11.21′E, 1769 m), 11 May 2021, Z.Z. Yang & Z.M. Li (MHBU). Paratypes: 1♂, 5♀, with same data as for holotype (1♀ in MHBU, 1♂ 4♀ in DUIER); 2♂, 1♀, with same data as for holotype except: 23 May 2017, Z.Z. Yang (DUIER). Etymology. The specific name is a Latin adjective—derived from uncus (=hook), referring to the shape of embolus in ventral view. Diagnosis. According to the morphology of genital organs (for details see Jäger 2001), P. uncata sp. nov. belongs to the diversipunctata species-group, which, up to now, was comprised of six species: P. confusa, P. diversipunctata, P. intermedia, P. lutea, P. marsupia and P. serrata. Both sexes of this new species are most similar to P. confusa Jäger, Pathoumthong and Vedel, 2006 (see Jäger et al. 2006: 220, figs 1–13, 29–32) in: embolus hook-shaped in ventral view, with similar arising point and length; U-shaped median septum; spherical structures of internal duct system. It can be distinguished from the latter species by the following combination of characters: 1. Embolus tip inversely U-shaped in ventral view (embolus bent at right angles in P. confusa); 2. Finger-like dRTA longer than in P. confusa; 3. Median septum narrower than in P. confusa; 4. First windings of internal duct system close to each other (far away from each other in P. confusa). Females of this new species also resemble those of P. lutea (Thorell, 1895) (see Jäger 2002: 57, figs 184–185) by: anterior and median margins of lateral lobes goblet-shaped, internal duct system with distinct lateral loops visible through cuticle in ventral view as oval patches on anterior part of epigyne. It can be distinguished from the latter species by the following combination of characters: 1. Anterior margin trilobate (Figs 5D, 6D; bilobate in P. lutea); 2. Loops of internal duct system bending laterally (Figs 5E, 6E; loops bending medially in P. lutea). Description. Male: Total length 9.39–9.46 (n=4). Holotype total length 9.46: prosoma 4.63 long, 4.36 wide; opisthosoma 4.97 long, 3.10 wide. Two eye rows slightly recurved. Eyes diameters and interdistances: AME 0.23, ALE 0.33, PME 0.24, PLE 0.30, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.35. MOA 0.73 long, anterior width 0.59, posterior width 0.76. Clypeus height 0.31. Chelicerae furnished with 3 promarginal teeth and 4 retromarginal teeth, and some denticles between them. Leg measurements: I 23.03 (6.10, 1.97, 5.90, 6.62, 2.44), II 25.38 (7.57, 2.60, 5.95, 6.92, 2.34), III 18.77 (6.60, 1.74, 3.71, 5.03, 1.69), IV 15.44 (6.60, 1.22, 3.05, 2.08, 2.09). Leg formula: 2134. Leg spination: palp 131, 101, 2121; femur I 323, II–III 313, IV 323; patella I–III 101, IV 100; tibia I 4314, II 3124, III 3213, IV 2323; metatarsus I–III 2222, IV 3333. Palp as in diagnosis (Figs 5A–C, 6A–C). Cymbium slender, with distinct retrolateral bulge; subdistal tibia with a retrolaterad hump; RTA arising proximally to medially from tibia, vRTA obviously broader than dRTA; tegulum oval, upper part of tegulum with upfold; retrolateral part of spermophore almost straight, and running submarginally in tegulum; embolus arising from tegulum at 10 to 11 o’clock position; terminal embolus with groove (visible in retrolateral view); subapical part of embolus with two small teeth; conductor arising from tegulum at 1 o’clock position, slender, bent medially and then directed prolaterally. Coloration in ethanol (Figs 4A, B): Carapace yellowish, with some dark spots, two lateral bands inconspicuous, margin with gray black patterns. Cervical groove and radial furrow obvious. Fovea dark brown. Each eye surrounded with circular black patch. Chelicerae, labium, gnathocoxae and sternum yellowish. Legs yellowish, with small spots and slightly larger spine patches. Dorsal abdomen with lots of black dots; venter yellowish, with black patches. Female: Total length 8.97–9.91 (n=6). One paratype: total length 8.97; prosoma 4.12 long, 4.09 wide; opisthosoma 4.86 long, 3.59 wide. Eyes diameters and interdistances: AME 0.21, ALE 0.27, PME 0.22, PLE 0.27; AME–AME 0.18, AME–ALE 0.15, PME–PME 0.28, PME–PLE 0.41. MOA 0.67 long, anterior width 0.56, posterior width 0.70. Clypeus height 0.09. Leg measurements: I 17.64 (4.97, 2.13, 4.72, 4.18, 1.64), II 19.10 (5.92, 2.22, 4.94, 4.37, 1.65), III 13.81 (4.09, 1.84, 3.80, 2.55, 1.53), IV 15.51 (4.76, 1.59, 3.36, 3.64, 2.16). Leg formula: 2143. Leg spination: palp 131, 101, 2121, 2112; femur I–IV 323; patella I–IV 101; tibia I 3423, II 3323, III 3213, IV 3323; metatarsus I–III 2222, IV 3433. Epigyne as in diagnosis (Figs 5 D-E, 6D-E). Epigynal field wider than long, with trilobate anterior margin, anterior bands absent; lateral lobes longer than wide, anterior margin of lateral lobes converged on the central axis, anterior and median margins of lateral lobes goblet-shaped; posterior incision of lateral lobes indistinct, near the meeting point of lateral lobes; laterad loops of internal duct system appearing as oval dark patches in ventral view. Coloration in ethanol: Color and markings of body as in male, but generally lighter (Figs 4C, D). Distribution. China (Yunnan Province).

Pseudopoda physematosa Zhang, Jäger and Liu, 2019 (Figs 7–9) Material examined. CHINA: Yunnan Province: 7♂, Jizu Mountain (25°57.47′N, 100°57.40′E, 2406 m), Binchuan County, Dali Bai Autonomous prefecture, 2 June 2021, Z.Z. Yang (1♂ in MHBU, 6♂ in DUIER); 4♂, 5♀, with same data as above except: 29 April 2021, L.J. Ding (DUIER). Diagnosis (male). The males of P. physematosa share characters of the P. signata -group (Zhang et al. 2019): short outgrowth on tegulum, embolus arising point in 7-9 o´clock position, and similar shape of the short vRTA. However, the embolus in P. physematosa is thinner and dRTA is shorter than those in other members of the P. signata -group. The males of P. physematosa also resemble those of P. shuqiangi Jäger and Vedel, 2007 (see Jäger & Vedel 2007: 21, figs 73–78) by: the shape of short RTA in retrolateral view; apical embolus filiform, and running three quarter of an oval. It can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: 1. Tip of dRTA sharp (Figs 8B, 9B; blunt in P. shuqiangi); 2. RTA arising in an acute angle from tibia (Figs 8B, 9B; almost right angle in the latter species); 3. Prolateral tegulum distally with a blunt hump (Figs 8A–B, 9A–B; absent in the latter species). Description. Male: Total length 7.20 – 7.24 (n=11). One male: total length 7.22: prosoma 3.79 long, 3.39 wide; opisthosoma 3.47 long, 2.08 wide. Two eye rows slight recurved. Eyes diameters and interdistances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.27, PME 0.24, PLE 0.27; AME–AME 0.18, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.25, PME–PLE 0.37. MOA 0.62 long, anterior width 0.47, posterior width 0.65. Clypeus height 0.12. Chelicerae yellowish, with 3 promarginal teeth and 4 retromarginal teeth, and some denticles between them. Leg measurements: I 12.95 (4.01, 1.29, 2.89, 3.41, 1.35), II 13.82 (4.60, 1.29, 3.11, 3.65, 1.17), III 11.79 (3.95, 1.00, 2.67, 3.19, 0.98), IV 12.33 (3.85, 0.89, 2.22, 4.12, 1.25). Leg formula: 2143. Leg spination: palp 131, 101, 2121; femur I–III 323, IV 331; patella I–IV 001; tibia I–IV 3223; metatarsus I–II 2222, III 2313, IV 3333. Male palp as in diagnosis (Figs 8A–C, 9A–C). Cymbium with distinct retrolateral bulge; RTA arising basally from tibia, dRTA short, horn shaped in ventral view, vRTA broad, shovel-shaped; tegulum with hump, prolateral tegular outgrowth blunt, near the base of the conductor; spermophor and running submarginally in tegulum, slightly S-shaped prolaterally; embolus long, arising from 9 o’clock position on tegulum, basal half of embolus slightly broad; conductor arising from tegulum at 11 o’clock position, slender, bent distally and directed prolaterally. Coloration in ethanol: Carapace yellowish, with dark spots and two lateral bands, margin with thin dash lines and gray black patterns. Cervical groove and radial furrow obvious. Longitudinal fovea dark brown. Each eye surrounded with circular black patch. Labium, gnathocoxae and sternum yellowish. Margin of sternum with some spots. Legs yellowish with spine patches and many spots. Dorsal opisthosoma yellowish with a wide black median belt, anterior half with black lateral patches; venter yellowish, with black patches (Fig. 7A, B). Diagnosis and Description of female see Zhang et al. (2019). Distribution. China (Yunnan Province). Notes. Among the specimens collected in Yunnan, males and females were captured together, and both sexes had the same color pattern of carapaces. This sample and the type material of P. physematosa were collected from similar places. According to the photos of holotype in Zhang et al. (2019), the females were identified as P. physematosa (Figs 8D–E, 9D–E). The males can reasonably be expected to be conspecific with P. physematosa., Published as part of Yang, Zi-Zhong, Wu, Ya-Ying, Li, Zhi-Min & Zhang, Bao-Shi, 2022, Two new species of the genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 and first description of the male of Pseudopoda physematosa (Araneae, Sparassidae) from Yunnan Province China, pp. 347-360 in Zootaxa 5188 (4) on pages 355-359, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5188.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7095600, {"references":["Zhang, H., Jager, P. & Liu, J. (2019) Establishing a new species group of Pseudopoda Jager, 2000 with the description of two new species (Araneae, Sparassidae). ZooKeys, 879, 1 - 115. https: // doi. org / 10.3897 / zookeys. 879.35110","Jager, P. & Vedel, V. (2007) Sparassidae of China 4. The genus Pseudopoda (Araneae: Sparassidae) in Yunnan Province. Zootaxa, 1623, 1 - 38. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 1623.1.1"]}

Pseudopoda mingshengi Yang & Zhang sp. nov. (Figs 1–3) Type material. Holotype: ♂, CHINA: Yunnan Province: Mengjiao Township (23°16.38′N, 99°11.21′E, 1769 m), Cangyuan County, 23 May 2017, Z.Z. Yang & C.G. Li (MHBU) Paratypes: 4♀, with same data as for holotype (1♀ in MHBU, 3♀ in DUIER). Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to the late Prof. Dr Ming-Sheng Zhu for his efforts on arachnological studies in China; nomen in genitive case. Diagnosis. Males of this new species resemble those of P. contraria Jäger and Vedel, 2007 (see Jäger & Vedel 2007: 31, figs 114–116) in the embolus with a huge prolateral projection, and a broad apical tip of the embolic projection. It can be distinguished from the latter by the following combination of characters: 1. Apical part of embolus very broad (Figs 2B–C, 3B–C; thinner in P. contraria); 2. Embolic projection trapezoid-shaped in ventral view (Figs 2B, 3B; square-shaped in P. contraria); 3. Top of embolic projection with teeth (Figs 2B, 3B; absent in P. contraria). Females of this new species resemble those of P. pingu Jäger, 2015 (see Jäger 2015: 336, figs 21–23) by the lateral windings projecting anteriorly above the median septum and the longitudinally sclerotised internal duct system. It can be distinguished from the latter by the following combination of characters: 1. lateral lobes touching each other (Figs 2D, 3D; distinctly separated in P. pingu); 2. the first winding of internal duct system obviously wide (Figs 2E, 3E; moderately wide in P. pingu). Description. Male (holotype): Total length 10.83: prosoma 5.61 long, 5.24 wide; opisthosoma 5.24 long, 3.42 wide. AER slightly recurved, PER straight. Eyes diameters and interdistances: AME 0.21, ALE 0.45, PME 0.37, PLE 0.42, AME–AME 0.27, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.46. MOA 1.03 long, anterior width 0.64, posterior width 1.03. Clypeus height 0.26. Chelicerae brown, with 3 promarginal teeth and 4 retromarginal teeth, and some denticles between them. Sternum with dark setae. Legs yellowish brown, with small spots and slightly larger spine patches, metatarsus of leg with dense scopula. Leg measurements: I 23.47 (6.75, 2.80, 5.34, 6.24, 2.34), II 26.04 (7.61, 2.79, 6.62, 6.57, 2.45), III 20.12 (6.49, 2.40, 5.22, 4.36, 1.65), IV 21.18 (6.43, 2.15, 6.01, 4.52, 2.07). Leg formula: 2143. Leg spination: palp 131, 101, 2121; femur I–III 323, IV 321; patella I–IV 101; tibia I–IV 3223; metatarsus I–II 2112, III–IV 2222. Palp as in diagnosis (Figs 2A–C, 3A–C). Cymbium slender; RTA arising proximally to medially from tibia, dRTA long and distally sharp, vRTA indistinct; spermophor running submarginally at retromargin of tegulum, turning into an S-shaped duct at promargin of tegulum to the base of embolus; embolus arising from tegulum at 9 o’clock position, very broadened in its middle part; embolic projection flat and very large, pointing prolaterally, embolic projection distally with two triangular teeth; conductor arising from tegulum at 12 o’clock position, slender, bent ventrad. Coloration in ethanol: Carapace yellowish brown, bearing some small spots. Cervical groove and radial furrow obvious. Longitudinal fovea dark brown. Ocular area darker. Each eye surrounded with circular black patch. Labium, gnathocoxae and sternum yellowish brown, the posterior part of labium dark brown. Legs yellowish brown, with small spots and slightly larger spine patches, metatarsus darker. Dorsal opisthosoma gray black dorsally, with white lateral patterns and a big dark triangular median pattern, the posterior part whitish; venter gray black (Figs 1A–B). Female: Total length 13.65–13.71 (n=4). One paratype: Total length 13.71; prosoma 6.25 long, 5.78 wide; opisthosoma 7.47 long, 5.00 wide. Eyes diameters and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.44, PME 0.33, PLE 0.42, AME–AME 0.27, AME–ALE 0.11, PME–PME 0.38, PME–PLE 0.54. MOA 1.11 long, anterior width 0.77, posterior width 1.07. Clypeus height 0.50. Leg measurements: I 21.81 (6.27, 2.93, 5.98, 5.11, 1.52), II 23.63 (6.56, 3.43, 6.13, 5.51, 2.00), III 18.74 (5.47, 2.68, 4.57, 4.06, 1.96), IV 21.21 (6.48, 2.52, 5.22, 4.41, 2.58). Leg formula: 2143. Leg spination: palp 131, 101, 2121, 2112; femur I–II 323, III 332, IV 331; patella I–IV 001; tibia I–IV 3223; metatarsus I–II 2112, III–IV 2222. Epigyne as in diagnosis (Figs 2D–E, 3D–E). Epigynal field wider than long, with slightly trilobate anterior margin, anterior bands short, indistinct; lateral lobes longer than wide, slightly converged on the central axis; anterior margins of lateral lobes heart - shaped; loops of internal duct system bending laterally, the posterior parts hidden behind lateral lobes; the anterior margin of longitudinally sclerotised parts beyond copulatory opening. Coloration in ethanol: Color and markings of carapace as in male. Dorsal opisthosoma dark brown dorsally, with some irregular patches laterally and a distinct white transversal patch in the posterior part; venter brown, with small and irregular patches (Figs 1C–D). Distribution. China (Yunnan). Note. The species P. mingshengi cannot be allocated to any of the nine known species groups according to morphological features. Males share the broad prolateral embolic projection with several species, e.g., P. daxing Zhao and Li, 2018 in Jiang et al. 2018, P. digitata Jäger and Vedel, 2007 and P. contraria, but females of this new species are completely different., Published as part of Yang, Zi-Zhong, Wu, Ya-Ying, Li, Zhi-Min & Zhang, Bao-Shi, 2022, Two new species of the genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 and first description of the male of Pseudopoda physematosa (Araneae, Sparassidae) from Yunnan Province China, pp. 347-360 in Zootaxa 5188 (4) on pages 348-351, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5188.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7095600, {"references":["Jager, P. & Vedel, V. (2007) Sparassidae of China 4. The genus Pseudopoda (Araneae: Sparassidae) in Yunnan Province. Zootaxa, 1623, 1 - 38. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 1623.1.1","Jager, P. (2015) Conductor-less and vertically niched: new species of the genus Pseudopoda (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae) from Myanmar. Arachnology, 16, 333 - 350. https: // doi. org / 10.13156 / arac. 2015.16.9.333","Jiang, T. Y., Zhao, Q. Y. & Li, S. Q. (2018) Sixteen new species of the genus Pseudopoda Jager, 2000 from China, Myanmar, and Thailand (Sparassidae, Heteropodinae). ZooKeys, 791, 107 - 161. https: // doi. org / 10.3897 / zookeys. 791.28137"]}

Yang, Zi-Zhong, Wu, Ya-Ying, Li, Zhi-Min, Zhang, Bao-Shi (2022): Two new species of the genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 and first description of the male of Pseudopoda physematosa (Araneae, Sparassidae) from Yunnan Province China. Zootaxa 5188 (4): 347-360, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5188.4.3

Backgrounds Hyperlactatemia is a common metabolic disorder after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Epinephrine use has been identified as a potential cause of increased lactate levels after cardiac surgery. Stress can lead to an increase in catecholamines, mainly epinephrine, in the body. Exogenous epinephrine causes hyperlactatemia, whereas endogenous epinephrine released by stress may have the same effect. Opioids are the most effective anesthetics to suppress the stress response in the body. The authors sought to provide evidence through a retrospective data analysis that helps investigate the relationship between intraoperative opioid dosage and postoperative lactic acidosis after cardiac surgery. Methods The clinical data of 215 patients who underwent valvular heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass from July 2016 to July 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Blood lactate levels were measured at 0.1 h, 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h after surgery. Patients with continuous increases in lactate levels and lactate levels exceeding 5 mmol/L at two or more time points were included in the lactic acidosis group, whereas the other patients were included in the control group. First, univariate correlation analysis was used to identify parameters that were significantly different between the two groups, and then multivariate regression analysis was conducted to elucidate the independent risk factors for lactic acidosis. Fifty-one pairs of patients were screened by propensity score matching analysis (PSM). Then, lactic acid levels at four time points in both groups were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Results he EF (heart ejection fraction) (OR = 0.94, P = 0.003), aortic occlusion time (OR = 10.17, P P = 0.01) of sufentanil was an independent risk factor for lactic acidosis after valvular heart surgery. The patients were further divided into two groups with the mean sufentanil infusion rate as the reference point. The data were filtered with PSM (Propensity Score Matching). Lactic acid values in both groups peaked at 4 h after surgery and then declined. The rate of lactic acid decline was significantly faster in the group with a higher sufentanil dosage than in the lower group. The difference was statistically significant (P P Conclusion The inadequate intraoperative infusion rate of sufentanil is an independent risk factor for lactic acidosis after heart valve surgery. The possibility of lactic acidosis caused by this factor after cardiac surgery should be considered, which is helpful for postoperative patient management.

A total of eleven new dimeric chromanones, paecilins F-P (2–12), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Xylaria curta E10, along with four known analogs (1, 13–15). Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by extensive experimental spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and equivalent circulating density (ECD) calculations. In addition, the structure of paecilin A, which was reported to be a symmetric C8-C8′ dimeric pattern, was revised by analysis of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 showed antifungal activity against the human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 16 μg/mL, and Compounds 8 and 10 showed antibacterial activity against the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli with the same minimum inhibitory concentration of 16 μg/mL.

Objective. Transcatheter closure of congenital ventricular septal defects under echocardiography guidance could avoid potential radiation damage from fluoroscopy probes. However, mini-surgical incision, transesophageal echocardiography combined with tracheal intubation, and limited artery access further complicate the procedure. Therefore, we aimed to describe our preliminary experiences in percutaneous VSD closure via the femoral vein only under transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) guidance. Methods. Between December 2018 and November 2021, 19 patients underwent transcatheter VSD closure via femoral vein alone under the guidance of TTE in our hospital. The morphology, location, diameter of VSD, and procedural outcomes were thoroughly reviewed. Symmetric, asymmetric, or eccentric occlusion device was chosen for closure based on the VSD characteristics. Results. There were 16 perimembranous VSD and 3 intracristal VSD patients in this cohort. The range of diameter of the VSD was from 3.8 to 7.4 mm. Fifteen symmetrical occluders were implanted in 13 perimembranous and 2 intracristal VSD patients. Two eccentric occluders were implanted in 1 perimembranous and 1 intracristal VSD patient since the rim to the aortic valve distance was Conclusions. Transcatheter perimembranous and intracristal VSD closure via femoral vein alone under the TTE guidance is feasible and safe in eligible patients. The new type of multipurpose specialized catheter will facilitate this procedure.

To address the problems of low accuracy of existing deep learning-based micro-expression recognition models, numerous network parameters, and the difficulty of mobile deployment of micro-expression recognition models, this paper proposes DCBAM-EfficientNet, a micro-expression recognition model that uses the lightweight network EfficientNet as the backbone network and incorporates the attention module. The network can guarantee the accuracy of micro-expression recognition with relatively few network parameters. The attention mechanism allows the more expressive micro-expression features to be highlighted, and the CBAM attention is improved into a DCBAM model, where the large convolution kernel in the spatial attention module of CBAM is replaced by a dilated convolution with the same receptive field, reducing the network parameters while better preserving the spatial features of the image. The integration of the DCBAM model into the main structure of EfficientNet enables better integration of contextual information. Data enhancement is used to process the micro-expression dataset to decrease the occurrence of overfitting and improve the generalization ability of the model. The results demonstrate that the optimized model DCBAM-EfficientNet can effectively promote the recognition accuracy of micro-expressions, significantly reduce the quantity and volume of model parameters, and provide a reference for the deployment of mobile micro-expression recognition models.

A total of eleven new dimeric chromanones, paecilins F-P (

Eight undescribed phenylpropanoid-dihydrochalcone hybrids, namely (+)- and (-)-malahupin A, (+)- and (-)-malahupin B, (±)-malahupin C, malahupinosides A and B, 7‴-epi-malahupinoside B, together with two known compounds, phloretin and phlorizin, were isolated from the leaves of the folk medicinal plant Malus hupehensis. Their structures were elucidated by extensive NMR and MS spectroscopic methods, chiral-phase analysis, and ECD calculations. Compounds (+)-malahupin B and malahupinoside B showed weak inhibition activities against the nitric oxide production in liposaccharide-induced murine RAW264.7 macrophages with IC

Four new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes, boeremialanes A-D (

To explore the impacts of time delay on nonlinear dynamics of consensus models, we incorporate time-varying delay into a two-agent system to study its long-time behaviors. By the classical 3/2 stability theory, we establish a sufficient condition for the system to experience unconditional consensus. Numerical examples show the effectiveness of the proposed protocols and present possible Hopf bifurcations when the time delay changes.

A symmetric monoterpenoid indole alkaloid trimer, bousangustine A, is reported for the first time, as well as the dimeric alkaloids bousangustines B and C; these were isolated from the trunks of Bousigonia angustifolia. The structures, which feature a symmetric 6/9/5/6 ring system, were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Their absolute configurations were determined via X-ray crystal diffraction, as well as computational chemistry. They can be constructed through Friedel–Crafts and free radical reactions, respectively. These compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity against tumor cells.

Illite is a widely distributed clay mineral with huge reserves in Earth’s crust, but its effect on heavy oil biodegradation is rarely reported. This study made an investigation of the interactions between illite and a Pseudomonas stutzeri-heavy oil complex (PstHO). Results showed that, although illite exerted a negative effect on P. stutzeri degrading heavy oil by inhibiting the biodegradation of 64 saturated hydrocarbons (SHs) and 50 aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs), it selectively stimulated the biodegradation of 45 AHs with a specific structure, and its biogenic kaolinization at room temperature (35 °C) and pressure (1 atm) was observed in PstHO for the first time. The finding points out for the first time that, in PstHO, illite may change the quasi-sequential of AHs biodegradation of heavy oil, as well as its kaolinization without clay intermediate.