Preoperative functional MRI localization of language areas in Chinese patients with brain tumors Validation with intraoperative electrocortical mapping

Ten Chinese patients with brain tumors involving language regions were selected. Preoperative functional MRI was performed to locate Broca＇s or Wernicke＇s area, and the cortex that was essential for language function was determined by electrocortical mapping. A site-by-site comparison between functional MRI and electrocortical mapping was performed with the aid of a neuronavigation device. Results showed that the sensitivity and specificity of preoperative functional MRI were 80.0% and 85.0% in Broca＇s area and 66.6% and 85.2% in Wemicke＇s area, respectively. These experimental findings indicate that functional MRI is an accurate, reliable technique with which to identify the location of Wernicke＇s area or Broca＇s area in patients with brain tumors.

Clinical efficacy of comprehensive therapy based on traditional Chinese medicine patterns on patients with pneumoconiosis: a pilot double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled study

Effective therapy options for pneumoconiosis are lacking.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)presents a favorable prospect in the treatment of pneumoconiosis.A pilot study on TCM syndrome differentiation can evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of TCM and lay a foundation for further clinical research.A double-blind,randomized,and placebo-controlled trial was conducted for 24 weeks,in which 96 patients with pneumoconiosis were randomly divided into the control and treatment groups.Symptomatic treatment was conducted for the two groups.The treatment group was treated with TCM syndrome differentiation,and the control group was treated with placebo.The primary outcomes were the six-minute walking distance(6MWD)and the St.George Respiratory Questionnaire(SGRQ)score.The secondary outcomes were the modified British Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale(mMRC),Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test(CAT),Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS),and pulmonary function.Only 83 patients from the 96 patients with pneumoconiosis finished the study.For the primary outcome,compared with the control groups,the treatment group showed a significantly increased 6MWD(407.90 m vs.499.51 m;95%confidence interval(CI)47.25 to 135.97;P<0.001)and improved SGRQ total score(44.48 vs.25.67;95%CI 27.87 to 9.74;P<0.001).The treatment group also significantly improved compared with the control group on mMRC score(1.4 vs.0.74;95%CI 1.08 to 0.23;P=0.003),CAT score(18.40 vs.14.65;95%CI 7.07 to 0.43;P=0.027),and the total symptom score(7.90 vs.5.14;95%CI 4.40 to 1.12;P<0.001).No serious adverse events occurred.This study showed that TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment had a favorable impact on the exercise endurance and quality of life of patients with pneumoconiosis.

Positioning taxonomic research for the future

Why do taxonomists matter? The work of taxonomists is often understated if not completely misunderstood. Without taxonomists, organisms cannot be accurately identified, neither can these organisms be given universally accepted names, and reliably positioned in the phylogenetic tree of life. Thanks to the work of taxonomists over the last 269 years since Carl Linnaeus established the binomial system, we can now measure the health and wealth of our biodiversity in a refined, science-based inventory prescribed by stringent nomenclatural rules.

Review of the genus Latuspina (Hymenoptera Cynipidae), with descriptions of two new species and their host galls

The East Palaearctic genus Latuspina Monzen is reviewed. Four species are recognized： L. acutissima Wang, Pujade-Villar ＆ Guo, sp. nov., L. shaanxinensis Wang, Pujade-Villar ＆ Guo, sp. nov., L. stirps （Monzen） and L. manmiaoyangae Melika ＆ Tang. An illustrated key to Latuspina species and host information are provided.

A joint call for actions to advance taxonomy in China

Taxonomy plays an important role in understanding the origin, evolution, and ecological functionality of biodiversity. There are large number of unknown species yet to be described by taxonomists, which together with their ecosystem services cannot be effectively protected prior to description. Despite this, taxonomy has been increasingly underrated insufficient funds and permanent positions to retain young talents. Further, the impact factordriven evaluation systems in China exacerbate this downward trend, so alternative evaluation metrics are urgently necessary. When the current generation of outstanding taxonomists retires,there will be too few remaining taxonomists left to train the next generation. In light of these challenges, all co-authors worked together on this paper to analyze the current situation of taxonomy and put out a joint call for immediate actions to advance taxonomy in China.

Transcription-wide impact by RESCUE-induced off-target single-nucleotide variants in mammalian cells

RNA base editing is a promising tool in precise molecular therapy. Currently, there are two widely used RNA base editors, REPAIRand RESCUE. REPAIR only facilitates A-to-I conversions, while RESCUE performs both A-to-I and C-to-U conversions. Thus, RESCUEcan generate twice the number of mutations compared to REPAIR. However, transcription-wide impact due to RESCUE-induced offtarget single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) is not fully appreciated. Therefore, to determine the off-target effects of RESCUE-mediatedediting, we employed transcription-wide sequencing on cells edited by RESCUE. The SNVs showed different off-target effects onmRNA, circRNA, lncRNA, and miRNA expression patterns and their interacting networks. Our results illustrate the transcriptionwide impact of RESCUE-induced off-target SNVs and highlight the need for careful characterization of the off-target impact by thisediting platform.

FLOWERING PLANTS AND ENTOMOPHAGOUS ARTHROPODS IN THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE: A PRACTISE-ORIENTED SUMMARY OF A COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP

There is a growing demand for high-quality agricultural products and morecountries have adopted landscape management by sowing flowering plants inagricultural fields as an important branch of conservation biological control.However, there has been less concern over the interactions and trade-offsbetween floral plants and entomophagous arthropods. This paper reviewprogress in pollen/nectar feeding habits of entomophagous insects includingparasitoids and predators which are important natural enemies of crop pestsin agricultural fields. Factors that influence the preference of different guilds of natural enemies are reviewed to guide the selection of flowering plants inconservation biological control practices. Most studies find that floralresources have positive effects on both biological traits of natural enemies andtheir abundance and diversity, and this is believed to contribute greatly to pestcontrol. Furthermore, the potential impacts of floral resources on crop yieldsare also discussed with an emphasis on a guild of entomophagous insects thatprovides both pest control and pollination services.