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The electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), which is a result of destructive interference between different excitation paths in a three-energy-level atomic medium, makes opaque probe light transparent over a range of frequencies. As this EIT effect is usually accompanied with strong dispersion, it has potential applications such as slow light propagation, optical buffering, nonlinear optics, optical sensing, etc. However, for conventional quantum EIT effect which requires stable gas lasers and low temperature environment, the implementation of EIT in chip-scale applications is severely hampered by the scathing experimental requirements. Recently, the EIT-like effect in metamaterials, which are constructed by designing the artificial subwavelength functional elements and arranging the spatial sequences, attracts tremendous attention because of its advantages, such as room temperature manipulability, large bandwidth, and small sizes. In addition, the high-quality factor(Q) value obtained by EIT-like effect has great significance in designing the metamaterial-based devices. In this paper, we design an EIT-like metamaterial with such a structure. The unit cell of the proposed metamaterial is constructed by two asymmetric silicon blocks embedded on a silicon dioxide substrate. Meanwhile, we analyze its optical properties and EIT-like effects by using three-dimension (3D) FDTD method. Based on the coupled Lorentz model, the EIT-like effect of the designed metamaterial is investigated. Then, by employing the electric field distribution on the surface of the metamaterial, and combining with the three-level atomic system, the mechanism of the EIT-like effect is analyzed in detail. We find that the EIT-like effect in the proposed metamaterial has high Q value (Q ≈ 8616) and the high transmission (T = 96%). By changing the length of the silicon block to destroy the asymmetry of the metamaterial structure, an active tuning EIT-like effect is realized. Furthermore, the metamaterial structure has the advantages of low loss, easy preparation, and active-controllability. This study represents an innovative approach to designing the EIT-like metamaterial, which is expected to be useful for designing active tunable slow-light devices and highly sensitive optical sensors.

A carefully performed phytochemical investigation of the roots of Stemona mairei (Stemonaceae) led to the discovery of six so far undescribed dihydrostilbene dimers maistilbene A–F and four monomers maistilbene G–J. This is the first report of stilbenoids of this plant species and the first report of dimeric dihydrostilbenes from this plant family. The absolute configuration of these compounds was determined by a combination of Mo2(AcO)4-induced ECD spectra and quantum chemical calculation of NMR chemical shift, ECD and spin-spin coupling constants. Maistilbene G could increase the glucose consumption in L6 myotubes, disclosing a new hypoglycemic candidate.

Naringenin (NR), a flavonoid abundant in citrus fruits has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. The present study aimed to investigate the protective of naringenin in rats after spinal cord injury (SCI) and the underlying mechanisms associated with neuroinflammation. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to laminectomy at T9-T11 and compression with a vascular clip. The spinal cords spanning the injury site about 0.8cm were collected for testing. There were five groups (n=7 in each group): (a) Control group; (b) sham group group; (c) SCI+saline; (d) SCI+NR (50mg/kg, p.o.) group and (e) SCI+NR (100mg/kg, p.o.) group. Different doses of NR (50mg/kg, p.o. and 100mg/kg, p.o.) or saline were administered once daily for 11 consecutive days, from 3days prior to surgery to 7days after surgery. The expression level of miR-223, NLRP3 and IL-1β were measured by RT- qPCR. The accumulation of neutrophils at the site of compression, as evaluated by measuring the tissue myeloperoxidase activity, significantly increased with time following the compression, peaking at 24h post compression. The expression of miR-223 was significant elevated in (b). However, spinal cord myeloperoxidase activity and the expression of miR-223 did not increase in sham-operated animals. NR significantly inhibited a SCI-induced activation of neutrophils through repressed miR-223 in group (d) and (e). There was a better effect in group (e) than group (d). miR-223 is thought to act as a fine-tuner of granulocyte production and the inflammatory response. Our findings suggested that repeated administration of naringenin (100mg/kg, p.o) may provide the protective effect of the spinal cord injury in rats, possibly through inhibiting neuroinflammation.

Application of fractional calculus representations, shortly termed as fractional constitute relations becomes an effective and powerful technique to characterize the rheological behavior of viscoelastic materials. Research on fractional oscillators provides a novel approach to deal with viscoelastically damped structures. This paper firstly investigates the memory effects or historical effects on dynamical responses of fractional oscillators via numerical simulations. Then the stability of initialization response is proved based on the unit impulse response function and the Lyapunov stability theorem for fractional differential equations. The main conclusion in this paper is that the stability of initialization responses of fractional oscillators is irrelevant to initial conditions or prehistory.

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.

AIM: To comparatively analyze the application of laser confocal microscopy and corneal smear in the diagnosis of fungal keratitis. METHODS: Totally 77 patients(77 eyes)diagnosed as fungal keratitis were selected. Laser confocal microscopy and corneal smear examination were performed to observe the characteristics of the images, and the detection rate of fungus were compared between the two methods. RESULTS: Of the 77 patients, 66 eyes(86%)were positive and 11 eyes were negative detected by laser confocal microscopy; 51 eyes(66%)were positive and 26 eyes were negative detected by corneal smear examination, the difference was statistically significant compared between two group(PCONCLUSION: Laser corneal confocal microscopy is relatively safe and sensitive. If combined the application of laser corneal confocal microscopy and corneal smear examination in clinical, the diagnosis rate of fungal keratitis may be improved.

This study fabricated the integral-structure flexible inter/intra-ply hybrid composites, composed of HRBP cushioning layer and inter/intra-ply hybrid laminates surface-reinforcements through needle-punching and thermal-treating. Effects of the factors, including HRBP/CHP blending ratio, needle punching frequency and laminating sequence, on the compression, puncture resistance and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of flexible inter/intra-ply hybrid composites were investigated. An integral memory model on the compressive loading of non-woven structure was designed based on Poisson distribution, on which the numerical analysis was based to predict the compressive resistance and hysteresis loss. The support factor was greater than 8.2, and the highest value was recorded at a fiber blending ratio of 7H/3C and needle-punching frequency of 100 S/minute. The predicted compression energy loss was in good agreement with the actual value. The puncture resistance was enhanced with an increase in HRBP fiber blending ratio and a decrease in needle-punching frequency. With an electromagnetic wave frequency ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 GHz, the hybrid composites had excellent electromagnetic shielding effect. The EMI SE of the hybrid composites exhibited similar curve in different wave band when needle-punching frequency was enhanced. The hybrid composites with a cushioning center-ply and double hybrid-laminates cover-plies exhibited the highest EMI SE.

In this study, we fabricated para-aramid flexible angle-ply-laminated hybrid composites based on weft-knitted reinforcements. Here, four kinds of weft-knitted reinforcements with rib, interlock, punto di roma, and two-thread fleecy were prepared using para-aramid spun yarn. They were then compounded with silicone rubber and waterborne polyurethane–acrylate using the coating method. The layers were angle-plied to produce stab-resistant, weft-knitting-reinforced, flexible laminated hybrid composites. Tensile and tearing strengths of the para-aramid-knitted reinforcements were investigated. Relevant response analyses were chosen to evaluate the influence of three independent variables, including weft-knitted structures, matrix types, and ply orientations. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the composites were dependent on weft-knitted structures and matrix types. The fabric with high strength and the degree in approximate isotropy of stress in all composites was most suited for the reinforcement of the flexible stab-resistant composite. The optimum design with the best stab-resistant property was punto di roma/waterborne polyurethane–acrylate with a ply orientation angle of [0°/0°/0°/0°]. The interlaminar adhesion of flexible stab-resistant composite based on waterborne polyurethane–acrylate can be improved by increasing the surface roughness of fabric structure or modifying its surface.

Three new species of the genus Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826, from China, are described as Zodarionapertumsp. n. (♂♀, from Xinjiang), Z.planumsp. n. (♂, from Shaanxi), and Z.ovatumsp. n. (♂♀, from Yunnan).

Methanogenic crude oil degradation is a significant process in subsurface environments and degradation of crude oil n-alkanes has been well documented. However, little is known about the biodegradability of the resulting heavy oil. In this study, a methanogenic consortium enriched from Shengli oilfield generated 1.3–1.9 mmol CH4/g of heavy oil at a rate of 2.9–8.8 μmol CH4/g of oil/day. Four SARA fractions (saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes) of oils experienced a loss in linear aliphatic structures. n-Alkylcyclohexanes, methyl-n-alkylcyclohexanes, n-alkyldecalins, n-alkylbenzenes, n-alkyltoluenes and n-alkylxylenes with alkyl side chains longer than 14 carbons were degraded over 50% compared to the undegraded oil. In addition, the extent of degradation of these hydrocarbons increased with increasing carbon length. Correspondingly, n-fatty acids and naphthenic acids with 1–3 naphthenic rings accumulated over time. 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that aceticlastic Methanosarcina and Methanothrix dominated in the archaeal domain, and bacterial members related to Dehalococcoidia and Soehngenia were consistently present in the successive transfer cultures. However, neither assA/masD-like genes nor alkyl-substituted succinate metabolites were detected, indicating an alternative degradation pathway, rather than addition to fumarate. This study provides novel insights into methanogenic degradation of long-chain alkyl substituted hydrocarbons in heavy oil, which also extends our understanding of anaerobic degradation of crude oil in subsurface sedimentary environments.

Genus Asceua Thorell, 1887 Type species: Asceua elegans Thorell, 1887, Published as part of Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2018, Two new species of the spider Family Zodariidae from Laos, pp. 285-300 in Zootaxa 4459 (2) on page 286, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4459.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/1458618

Two new Zodariidae species, collected from the natural forest of Pakse City, Champasak Province, Laos, are described as Asceua adunca sp. nov. (male, female) and Mallinella renaria sp. nov. (male, female). Asceua torquata (Simon, 1909) and A. piperata Ono, 2004 are newly recorded from Laos, and the male of A. piperata is described and illustrated for the first time.

Mallinella renaria sp. nov. (Figs 9–11) Type material. Holotype male (Z-Laos-11-64), LAOS, Champasak Province: Pakse City, Tad Etu (N 15°11', E 106°06'), 22 Nov. 2011, Z.Z. Gao leg. P aratypes: 8 female (Z-Laos-11-65-Z-Laos-11-72), same data as holotype. Diagnosis. According to Dankittipakul et al. 2012, this species should belong to the cryptocera species-group by the following characters: the dorsal opisthosoma with lanceolate dorsal scutum in the male and a pair of anterior reniform patches (Figs 9A, C) and the RTA with two apophyses (Figs 10B, D, 11B). The new species can be distinguished from other species of the cryptocera -group by the relatively broad embolus with subterminal process, the shorter median apophysis and the epigyne with almost quadrangular plate (Figs 10A–C, E, F, 11A–E). Etymology. The specific name is from Latin word “ renarius ”, in reference to the reniform patches of dorsal opisthosoma; adjective. Description. Male (holotype): Total length 5.66: prosoma 3.00 long, 2.18 wide; opisthosoma 2.48 long, 1.88 wide. Habitus as in Figs 9A, B. Carapace longer than wide, dark brown, tegument smooth and shiny. Clypeus 0.27 high, dark brown. Anterior eye row almost straight and posterior eye row strongly procurved in dorsal view. Each eye ringed with black. Eye diameters: AME 0.20, ALE 0.16, PME 0.14, PLE 0.09. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.21, ALE–ALE 0.88, AME–PME 0.06, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.28, PLE–PLE 1.03, ALE–PLE 0.04. MOA 0.40 long, front width 0.41, back width 0.37. Chilum represented by a single sclerite. Chelicerae dark brown, without teeth on margins of fang furrows, terminal part with row of black setae; fangs short. Endites brown with apices paler and furnished with dense black scopula. Labium triangular, 0.41 long, 0.48 wide, dark brown. Sternum 1.26 long, 1.24 wide, orange-brown with lateral margin darker, with sparse black setae, lateral margin with inter- and intra-coxal triangles. Legs brown, coxae yelllow, femur darker. Leg measurements: leg?6.90 (1.34 + 0.71 + 1.81 + 1.82 + 1.22),? 6.08 (1.54 + 0.73 + 1.63 + 1.59 + 0.59),? 5.10 (0.95 + 0.84 + 1.36 + 1.73 + 0.58),? 8.10 (1.38 + 0.79 + 2.04 + 2.49 + 1.40). Leg formula: 4123. Opisthosoma oval, longer than wide, covered with black short hair, with wide and lanceolate dorsal scutum, with four pairs of white anterior patches, followed posteriorly by two transversal median bands; lateral part with white patches; anterior part of venter slightly sclerotized, yellow, median and posterior part pale with some black and white patches. Spinnerets (Fig 9B) yellow brown, ringed with blackish patches, with row of thin spines in front of spinnerets. Male palp (Figs 10A–D, 11A–D): Tibia with meso-retrolateral side moderately elevated; RTA with two elongated, conical extensions, the dorsal one smaller; cymbium slightly curved, without terminal spine; median apophysis with apico-prolateral sharp protrusion directed mesad, with short and blunt apical process directed anteriad and with end of baso-retrolateral fold blunt, directed mesad; apex of conductor irregularly rolled; embolus originating posteriorly at 270°, with oval base and apically with rounded subterminal process. Female. One of the specimens (Z-Laos-11-65) measured: Total length 6.29: prosoma 3.08 long, 2.06 wide; opisthosoma 2.95 long, 2.23 wide. Habitus as in Figs 9C, D. Clypeal height 0.26. Eye diameters: AME 0.12, ALE 0.08, PME 0.07, PLE 0.11. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.19, ALE–ALE 0.79, AME–PME 0.21, PME–PME 0.15, PME–PLE 0.31, PLE–PLE 0.98, ALE–PLE 0.05, MOA 0.40 long, front width 0.36, back width 0.32. Labium 0.41 long, 0.51 wide. Sternum 0.28 long, 0.27 wide. Leg measurements: I 5.78 (1.19 + 0.78 + 1.31 + 1.40 + 1.10), II 5.29 (1.37 + 0.75 + 1.25 + 1.14 + 0.78), III 4.72 (1.05 + 0.64 + 1.18 + 1.07 + 0.78), IV 7.71 (1.40 + 0.87 + 1.62 + 2.25 + 1.57). Leg formula: 4123. Opisthosoma without dorsal scutum. Color as in male. Female genitalia (Figs 10E, F, 11E, F): Epigynal plate rectangular, anterior margin with shallow median incision, posterior margin straight. Spermathecae tubular, apex rounded and broad; copulatory ducts simple; slender fertilization ducts invisible in dorsal view. Distribution. Laos (Champasak).

Genus Mallinella Strand, 1906 Type species: Mallinella maculata Strand, 1906, Published as part of Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2018, Two new species of the spider Family Zodariidae from Laos, pp. 285-300 in Zootaxa 4459 (2) on page 294, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4459.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/1458618

Asceua torquata (Simon, 1909) (Figs 7–8) Storena torquata Simon, 1909: 79. Asceua torquata: Ono, 2004: 68, f. 6-7; Zhang, Zhang & Jia, 2012: 66, f. 12-18. Material examined. LAOS, Champasak Province: 3 males (Z-Laos-11-31 - Z-Laos-11-33) and 1 female (Z-Laos- 11-34), Tad Etu (N 15°11', E 106°06'), Pakse City, 18 Nov. 2011, Z.Z. Gao leg. Diagnosis. Asceua torquata can be distinguished from other Asceua species by the wide retrolateral prong of tibial apophysis, the dorsal pattern on the opisthosoma and the details of genitalia (Figs 7A–D, 8A–E). Description. See Ono (2004) and Zhang et al. (2012) Distribution. Laos (Champasak), China, Vietnam., Published as part of Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2018, Two new species of the spider Family Zodariidae from Laos, pp. 285-300 in Zootaxa 4459 (2) on page 294, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4459.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/1458618

Asceua adunca sp. nov. (Figs 1���3) Type material. Holotype male (Z-Laos-11-21), LAOS, Champasak Province: Pakse City, Tad Etu (N 15��11', E 106��06'), 17 Nov. 2011, Z.Z. Gao leg. Paratypes: 3 males (Z-Laos-11-22 - Z-Laos-11-24) and 6 females (Z-Laos- 11-25 - Z-Laos-11-30), same data as holotype; 2 males (Z-Laos-11-60,Z-Laos-11-61) and 2 females (Z-Laos-11- 62, Z-Laos-11-63), Pakse City, Tad Etu (N 15��11', E 106��06'), 21 Nov. 2011, Z.Z. Gao leg. Diagnosis. The males of Asceua adunca sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Asceua species by the combination of the following characters: membranous conductor long and parallel to the terminal part of embolus, the median apophysis with a very long and thin hook-like extension; the shape of tegulum, the RTA bifurcate (Figs 2A���C, 3A���C). Asceua adunca sp. nov. resembles to Asceua quadrimaculata Zhang, Zhang & Jia, 2012 by the shape of tegulum and the RTA bifurcate, two small epigynal copulatory openings and a small central epigynal pocket, but it differs from the latter by the hook-like extension of the median apophysis, the two distant copulatory openings and the smaller spermathecae (Figs 2D, E, 3D, E). Etymology. The specific name is from Latin word ��� adunca ���, in reference to the hook-like extension of the median apophysis; adjective. Description. Male (holotype): Total length 2.03: prosoma 1.07 long, 0.73 wide; opisthosoma 0.82 long, 0.70 wide. Carapace (Fig. 1A) longer than wide, brown, median part with faint black patch in front of black fovea, margins black, thorax elevated, tegument smooth and shiny. Clypeus 0.24 high, brown. Anterior eye row slightly procurved, posterior eye row strongly procurved in dorsal view. Each eye ringed with black. Eye diameters: AME 0.08, ALE 0.08, PME 0.07, PLE 0.09. Eye interdistances: AME���AME 0.02, AME���ALE 0.08, ALE���ALE 0.30, AME���PME 0.07, PME���PME 0.08, PME���PLE 0.08, PLE���PLE 0.41, ALE���PLE 0.07. MOQ 0.22 long, anterior width 0.18, posterior width 0.21. Chilum poorly defined. Mouthpart (Fig. 1B): chelicerae brown, with two anterior and one posterior teeth on margins of fang furrows, terminal part with row of black scopulae, fangs short; endites brown, apices paler and provided with dense black scopula; labium triangular, 0.16 long, 0.15 wide, brown, median part with semi-orbicular dark band. Sternum (Fig. 1B) 0.51 long, 0.50 wide, brown, lateral margin dark, provided with sparse black setae, its lateral margin with inter- and intra-coxal triangles. Legs (Figs 1A, B) yellow-brown, each femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus with some black patches at extremities. Leg measurements: leg?3.10 (0.86 + 0.53 + 0.50 + 0.76 + 0.45),? 2.42 (0.67 + 0.29 + 0.44 + 0.65 + 0.37),? 1.63 (0.63 + 0.17 + 0.21 + 0.38 + 0.24),? 3.19 (0.89 + 0.18 + 0.57 + 1.05 + 0.50). Leg formula: 4123. Opisthosoma (Figs 1A, B) oval, longer than wide, covered with black short hair. Dorsum of opisthosoma slightly sclerotized, dark brown, with three pairs of lighter brown patches, posterior one connected by narrow transversal median light band; anterior part of venter yellow. Spinnerets (Fig. 1B) yellow pale, laterally with two blackish patches. Male palp (Figs 2A���C, 3A���C): Median apophysis wide and strong, retrolaterally with long and thin hook-like extension; palpal tibia with strong ventral and retrolateral blunt process, retrolateral tibial apophysis wide, triangular and dorsal tibial apophysis finger-shaped. Cymbium with terminal spine and with pro- and retrolateral folds not reaching tip. Female. One of the specimens (Z-Laos-11-25) measured: Total length 2.74: prosoma 1.14 long, 0.85 wide; opisthosoma 1.61 long, 1.26 wide. Carapace brown. Clypeal height 0.20. Eye diameters: AME 0.07, ALE 0.06, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08. Eye interdistances: AME���AME 0.03, AME���ALE 0.04, ALE���ALE 0.35, AME���PME 0.16, PME���PME 0.10, PME���PLE 0.09, PLE���PLE 0.47, ALE���PLE 0.14. MOQ 0.31 long, front width 0.19, back width 0.23. Mouthpart (Fig. 1D): labium 0.19 long, 0.25 wide. Sternum 0.55 long, 0.57 wide. Leg measurements: I 2.67 (0.63 + 0.23+ 0.65 + 0.68 + 0.48), II 2.22 (0.55 + 0.25 + 0.54 + 0.57 + 0.31), III 2.60 (0.60 + 0.30 + 0.58 + 0.71 + 0.41), IV 3.70 (0.78 + 0.29 + 0.88 + 1.16 + 0.59). Leg formula: 4132. Dorsum of opisthosoma black, without dorsal scutum, with two pairs of white anterior patches, followed posteriorly by four transversal median bands; venter yellowish-white. Other color as in male (Figs 1C, D). Female genitalia (Figs 2D, E, 3D, E) with central epigynal pocket, copulatory openings situated in posterior part of epigyne; long and winding copulatory ducts visible through integument; spermathecae small and oval, situated posteriorly and well separated. Distribution. Laos (Champasak)., Published as part of Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2018, Two new species of the spider Family Zodariidae from Laos, pp. 285-300 in Zootaxa 4459 (2) on pages 286-290, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4459.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/1458618

Asceua piperata Ono, 2004 (Figs 4���6) Asceua piperata Ono, 2004: 68, f. 1-5. Material examined. LAOS, Champasak Province: 1 male (Z-Laos-11-40) and 2 females (Z-Laos-11-41, Z-Laos- 11-42), Pakse City, Tad Etu (N 15��11', E 106��06'), 20 Nov. 2011, Z.Z. Gao leg. Diagnosis. Asceua piperata Ono, 2004 resembles to A. wallacei Bosmans & Hillyard, 1990 with the roughly triangular base of the embolus, the very long embolus following dorso-prolateral curvature of cymbium, the spherical and adjoining spermathecae and anteromedian epigynal pocket. However, it can be distinguished from the latter by the thin and bifurcate retrolateral tibial apophysis, the tip of cymbium without pointed lateral process, the tip of conductor not bifurcate and the course of the internal copulatory ducts (Figs 4E, 5A���E, 6A���E). Description. Male (Z-Laos-11-40): Total length 2.92: prosoma 1.55 long, 1.23 wide; opisthosoma 1.29 long, 1.03 wide. Carapace (Fig 4A) longer than wide, brown, thorax elevated, tegument smooth and shiny, median part with V-shaped black patch in front of black fovea. Clypeus 0.50 high, brown. Anterior eye row slightly procurved and posterior eye row strongly procurved in dorsal view. Each eye ringed with black. Eye diameters: AME 0.12, ALE 0.04, PME 0.11, PLE 0.10. Eye interdistances: AME���AME 0.07, AME���ALE 0.04, ALE���ALE 0.50, AME��� PME 0.06, PME���PME 0.11, PME���PLE 0.13, PLE���PLE 0.65, ALE���PLE 0.06. MOQ 0.29 long, anterior width 0.29, posterior width 0.31. Chilum single sclerite, triangular. Mouthpart (Fig 4B): chelicerae brown, with two anterior and one posterior teeth on margins of fang furrows, terminal part armed with row of black scopula; fangs short; endites brown, apices pale, furnished with dense black scopula; labium triangular, 0.25 long, 0.31 wide, brown. Sternum (Fig 4B) 0.69 long, 0.74 wide, brown, with sparse black setae, lateral margin with intracoxal triangles. Legs yellow, coxae whitish, each femur, patella, metatarsus with black patches at extremities, each tibia with black patches at base and extremities. Leg measurements:? 5.54 (1.40 + 0.35 + 1.31 + 1.79 + 0.69),? 4.30 (1.10 + 0.38 + 1.00 + 1.24 + 0.58),? 4.45 (1.11 + 0.48 + 1.04 + 1.26 + 0.56),? 6.09 (1.31 + 0.38 + 1.76 + 1.77 + 0.87). Leg formula: 4132. Opisthosoma (Figs 4A, B) oval, longer than wide, covered with grey short hair, with small rectangular dorsal scutum. Dorsum of opisthosoma black, with two pairs of anterior white patches, followed by two transversal median bands; anterior part of venter yellow, posterior part white and with some black patches. Spinnerets (Fig 4B) yellow brown, laterally with blackish patches. Male palp (Figs 4E, 5A���C, 6A���C): tibia with wide dorsal apophysis and bifurcate retrolateral apophysis, with large concavity between them, fitting by posterior, globose cymbial projection; tegulum with thin sharp posterior hook; conductor wide and semi-circular; embolus long, thread-like, at first following dorso-prolateral curvature of cymbium on mesal side of palp, then turning to lateral side of palp and following dorsal margin of conductor; cymbium tareperd apically, without terminal spine, with deep, sinuous pro-and lateral folds not reaching tip. Female. One of the specimens (Z-Laos-11-41) measured: Total length 3.06: prosoma 1.44 long, 1.04 wide; opisthosoma 1.38 long, 1.16 wide. Clypeal height 0.49. Eye diameters: AME 0.07, ALE 0.04, PME 0.11, PLE 0.13. Eye interdistances: AME���AME 0.07, AME���ALE 0.05, ALE���ALE 0.42, AME���PME 0.10, PME���PME 0.13, PME���PLE 0.12, PLE���PLE 0.61, ALE���PLE 0.03. MOQ 0.28 long, front width 0.25, back width 0.30. Labium 0.19 long, 0.28 wide. Sternum 0.61 long, 0.66 wide. Leg measurements: I 3.42 (0.91 + 0.37 + 0.72 + 0.92 + 0.50), II 3.10 (0.76 + 0.31 + 0.71 + 0.87 + 0.45), III 3.18 (0.85 + 0.31+ 0.75 + 0.81 + 0.46), IV 4.45 (1.13 + 0.37 + 1.03 + 1.36 + 0.56). Leg formula: 4132. Dorsum of opisthosoma without dorsal scutum and with two pairs of white anterior patches, followed by three transversal median bands (Fig 4C); venter white. Spinnerets (Fig 4D) yellow brown, ringed with blackish patches. Other color as in male (Figs 4C���D). Female genitalia (Figs 5D���E, 6D���E): copulatory openings situated in anterior part of epigyne, median part with short central epigynal pocket; long and winding copulatory ducts visible through integument; adjoining spermathecae big and spherical, situated posteriorly. Distribution. Laos (Champasak), Vietnam., Published as part of Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2018, Two new species of the spider Family Zodariidae from Laos, pp. 285-300 in Zootaxa 4459 (2) on pages 290-294, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4459.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/1458618

The purpose of this article was to study the effect of permeable pavements on runoff pollution control and its possible influence on groundwater quality in the area with high groundwater level. Three experimental permeable parking lots and one impermeable parking lot were built in urban Shanghai in order to monitor their quality of influent and effluent water under actual precipitation conditions, in order to investigate the performance of pollutant control effects and to evaluate the possibility of the pollution of groundwater. The results showed that all the three facilities could effectively remove TP, TSS, COD, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb and OG, but imposed poor removal efficiency on TN. Obvious release of NO

Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide, serves as a key player in the regulation of reproduction across vertebrates, acting on the brain and pituitary to modulate reproductive physiology and behavior. However, little information is available in teleosts regarding the intracellular signal transduction pathway in response to GnIH. To this end, we first cloned the gene of LPXRFa (the piscine ortholog of GnIH) receptor in the half-smooth tongue sole ( Cynoglossus semilaevis ), a representative species of the order Pleuronectiformes. The full-length cDNA of LPXRFa receptor was 2201 bp in size with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1365 bp that encoded 454 amino acids. Tissue distribution showed that LPXRFa receptor transcripts could be detected at high levels in the brain, to a lesser extent in the pituitary, and at low levels in the ovary and other peripheral tissues. In vitro functional analysis revealed that putative tongue sole LPXRFa-1 and LPXRFa-2 peptides significantly stimulated serum responsive element-dependent luciferase (SRE-luc) activity in COS-7 cells transfected with the novel receptor, and these stimulatory effects were evidently reduced by two inhibitors of the PLC/PKC pathway. In addition, neither LPXRFa-1 nor LPXRFa-2 altered the cAMP-responsive element (CRE)-luc activity, but only LPXRFa-2 could markedly decrease forskolin-induced CRE-luc activity in COS-7 cells expressing its cognate receptor. Taken together, our results encompass the first study reporting the existence of LPXRFa receptor in the order Pleuronectiformes and provide novel evidence of differential activation of signaling pathways by LPXRFa peptides in fish.

Fractional calculus is viewed as a novel and powerful tool to describe the stress and strain relations in viscoelastic materials. Consequently, the motions of engineering structures incorporated with viscoelastic dampers can be described by fractional-order differential equations. To deal with the fractional differential equations, initialization for fractional derivatives and integrals is considered to be a fundamental and unavoidable problem. However, this issue has been an open problem for a long time and controversy persists. The initialization function approach and the infinite state approach are two effective ways in initialization for fractional derivatives and integrals. By comparing the above two methods, this technical brief presents equivalence and unification of the Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals and the diffusive representation. First, the equivalence is proved in zero initialization case where both of the initialization function and the distributed initial condition are zero. Then, by means of initialized fractional integration, equivalence and unification in the case of arbitrary initialization are addressed. Connections between the initialization function and the distributed initial condition are derived. Besides, the infinite dimensional distributed initial condition is determined by means of input function during historic period.

Flexible radar-absorbing materials have great application significance in stealth technology. In this paper, a novel radar-absorbing material based on ferromagnetic nickel micron-fibers with 38–40mm length and 10–12 mm diameter was successfully prepared through bundle-fiber drawing and electrochemical treatment. The characterization of morphology, chemical composition, magnetic and mechanical properties, including tensile strength, bending rigidity and friction, of the prepared ferromagnetic nickel micron-fiber is investigated. The results showed that compared with conventional radar absorbers, ferromagnetic nickel micron-fibers have many advantages in theirappearance and magnetic performance. The total ferromagnetic metal fraction of Ni and Fe was above 90%. Irregular cross-section and large aspect ratio of 3800 of the fiber enabled the magnetic hysteresis loss and absorbing performance to be increased obviously. Its saturation magnetization Ms was 116 emu/g with coercivity Hc of 5.8103A/m, initial permeability of 2036 H/m and Curie temperature of 996 K, confirming the fiber performed a relatively strong magnetic absorbing effect and high temperature stability. The tensile and friction properties of ferromagnetic nickel micron-fiber were also analyzed to evaluate the spinnability.

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus) is one of the most popular ornamental flowers and one of the top five cut flowers worldwide. In this study, we presented the complete chloroplast genome of it using BGISEQ-500 sequencing. Its chloroplast genome is 151,898 bp in size, containing a large single copy region (83,518 bp) and a small single copy region (18,244 bp), and a pair of IR regions (25,068 bp). The chloroplast genome contains 113 unique genes, including 80 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. Phylogenetic maximum likelihood analysis based on chloroplast genomes of Gerbera and other 17 plant species indicated that the relationship between Gerbera and other plant species of family Compositae is not very close and its relationship with Atractylodes lancea is the closest.

The complete mitochondrial genomic sequence of Yellowtail Kingfish Seriola aureovittata was determined in this study. The circular mitogenome contains 16,609 bp, encoding 37 typical animal mitochon...