Non-invasive assessment of intracranial wall shear stress using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging in combination with computational fluid dynamics technique

In vivo studies on association between wall shear stress (WSS) and intracranial plaque are deficient. Based on the three-dimensional T1-weighted high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (3DT1 HR-MRI) data of patients with low-grade stenotic (<50%) atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery (MCA) and subjects with normal MCA, we built a three-dimensional reconstructed WSS model by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. Three-dimensional registration of the CFD model to the HR-MRI was performed with projections based on the resolution and thickness of the images. The relationships between the WSS at each side of the vessel wall and plaque location were analyzed. A total of 94 MCA plaques from 43 patients and 50 normal MCAs were analyzed. In the normal MCAs, WSS was lower at the ventral-inferior wall than at the dorsal-superior wall (proximal segment, p < 0.001; middle segment, p < 0.001) and lower at the inner wall than at the outer wall of the MCA curve (p < 0.001). In atherosclerotic MCAs, similar low WSS regions were observed where plaques developed. The WSS ratio of the ventral-inferior wall to the dorsal-superior wall in atherosclerotic MCAs was lower than that in normal MCAs (p = 0.002). The WSSinner-outer ratio in atherosclerotic MCAs was lower than that in normal MCAs (p = 0.002). Low WSS was associated with MCA atherosclerosis formation and occurred mainly at the ventral-inferior wall, which was anatomically opposite the orifices of penetrating arteries, and at the inner wall of the MCA curve. Overall, the results were well consistent with the low WSS theory in atherosclerosis formation. The reconstructed WSS model is a promising novel method for assessing an individualized vascular profile once validated by further studies

Dynamics of Oxygen-Independent Photocleavage of Blebbistatin as a One-Photon Blue or Two-Photon Near-Infrared Light-Gated Hydroxyl Radical Photocage

Development of versatile, chemically tunable photocages for photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) represents an excellent opportunity to address the technical drawbacks of conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT) whose oxygen-dependent nature renders it inadequate in certain therapy contexts such as hypoxic tumors. As an alternative to PDT, oxygen free mechanisms to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) by visible light cleavable photocages are in demand. Here, we report the detailed mechanisms by which the small molecule blebbistatin acts as a one-photon blue light-gated or two-photon near-infrared light-gated photocage to directly release a hydroxyl radical (•OH) in the absence of oxygen. By using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and chemoselective ROS fluorescent probes, we analyze the dynamics and fate of blebbistatin during photolysis under blue light. Water-dependent photochemistry reveals a critical process of water-assisted protonation and excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) that drives the formation of short-lived intermediates, which surprisingly culminates in the release of •OH but not superoxide or singlet oxygen from blebbistatin. CASPT2//CASSCF calculations confirm that hydrogen bonding between water and blebbistatin underpins this process. We further determine that blue light enables blebbistatin to induce mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, an attribute conducive to PACT development. Our work demonstrates blebbistatin as a controllable photocage for •OH generation and provides insight into the potential development of novel PACT agents

Haploperla choui sp. n. (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae), a remarkable new stonefly from Qinling Mountains of China

Li, Weihai, Yao, Gang, Qin, Xuefeng (2013): Haploperla choui sp. n. (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae), a remarkable new stonefly from Qinling Mountains of China. Zootaxa 3640 (4): 550-556, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3640.4.

First record and one new species of Cerconychia Klapálek, 1913 (Plecoptera: Styloperlidae) from Shaanxi Province of the Northwest China

Mo, Raorao, Yao, Gang, Wang, Guoquan, Li, Weihai (2019): First record and one new species of Cerconychia Klapálek, 1913 (Plecoptera: Styloperlidae) from Shaanxi Province of the Northwest China. Zootaxa 4624 (3): 424-430, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4624.3.1

FIGURE 1 in Two new species of the genus Sweltsa (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae) from China

FIGURE 1. Sweltsa dilatata sp. nov., male (holotype). a: head and pronotum, dorsal view. b: wings.Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Zhang, Yao, Wang, Bingli, Li, Wenliang &amp; Li, Weihai, 2023, Two new species of the genus Sweltsa (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae) from China, pp. 137-145 in Zootaxa 5360 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on page 138, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5360.1.8, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10146563"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/10146563&lt;/a&gt

Two new synonyms of Rhopalopsole basinigra Yang & Yang, 1995 (Plecoptera: Leuctridae) with taxonomic notes on Rhopalopsole tianmuana Sivec & Harper, 2008

Luo, Jun, Yao, Gang, Wang, Mingju, Li, Weihai (2022): Two new synonyms of Rhopalopsole basinigra Yang & Yang, 1995 (Plecoptera: Leuctridae) with taxonomic notes on Rhopalopsole tianmuana Sivec & Harper, 2008. Zootaxa 5188 (3): 290-296, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5188.3.

FIGURE 3 in Two new species of the genus Sweltsa (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae) from China

FIGURE 3. Sweltsa dilatata sp. nov., female. a: head and pronotum, dorsal view. b: terminalia, ventral view. c: subgenital plate, ventral view. d: subgenital plate, lateral view.Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Zhang, Yao, Wang, Bingli, Li, Wenliang &amp; Li, Weihai, 2023, Two new species of the genus Sweltsa (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae) from China, pp. 137-145 in Zootaxa 5360 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on page 140, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5360.1.8, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10146563"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/10146563&lt;/a&gt

FIGURE 2 in Two new species of the genus Sweltsa (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae) from China

FIGURE 2. Sweltsa dilatata sp. nov., male (holotype). a: terminalia, dorsal view. b: terminalia, lateral view (slightly oblique). c: epiproct, dorsal view. d: epiproct, lateral view. e: terminalia, ventral view.Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Zhang, Yao, Wang, Bingli, Li, Wenliang &amp; Li, Weihai, 2023, Two new species of the genus Sweltsa (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae) from China, pp. 137-145 in Zootaxa 5360 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on page 139, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5360.1.8, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10146563"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/10146563&lt;/a&gt

FIGURE 7 in Two new species of the genus Sweltsa (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae) from China

FIGURE 7. Sweltsa dilatata sp. nov., male (paratype). a: terminalia, dorsal view. b: apex of epiproct, dorsal view. c: epiproct, lateral view (slightly oblique). d: apex of epiproct, lateral view.Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Zhang, Yao, Wang, Bingli, Li, Wenliang &amp; Li, Weihai, 2023, Two new species of the genus Sweltsa (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae) from China, pp. 137-145 in Zootaxa 5360 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on page 144, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5360.1.8, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10146563"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/10146563&lt;/a&gt