Main Characteristics Research Articles

Gender Matters. Sex-related Differences in Immunotherapy Outcome in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Emerging evidence identified sex as a variable regulating immune system functions and modulating response to immunotherapy in cancer patients. This retrospective study analysed sex-related differences in immunotherapy outcomes in a real-world population of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). e retrospectively investigated clinical data of 99 patients with advanced NSCLC and treated with single-agent nivolumab and pembrolizumab at Medical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence (Italy), between April 2014 to August 2019. Main clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes were analysed. Our study showed that the efficacy of ICI treatment differed according to gender. A trend for better median progression-free survival (mPFS) was reported in males (mPFS 5.0 months, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 4.0-11.0) than females (mPFS 4.5 months, 95% CI 2.0-9.0) (p=0.133), while no significant difference for overall survival (OS) between the two sex groups was observed (p=0.622). In the nivolumab cohort, we showed a statistically significant difference for a longer PFS in men compared to women (log-rank p=0.054), HR for PFS in females versus males was 1.81 (95% CI 0.97- 3.37, p=0.062). Disease control rate (DCR) was achieved in 55.7% and 45.7% of men and women, respectively, while disease progression was registered in 44.3% of males and 54.3% of females (p=0.386). Gender is a variable that should be taken into account in the choice of immunotherapy. Future prospective randomized trials testing tailored sex-based immunotherapy strategies are required to validate our findings before integrating into clinical practice.

Unusual fusion gene rearrangements in patients with nodular fasciitis: a study of rare and novel USP6 fusion partners with a review of the literature

AimsThis retrospective non-randomised study aims to identify new and rare fusion partners with USP6 in the setting of nodular fasciitis. It has been proven, that nodular fasciitis can harbour different...

A High Step-Up Resonant Converter Based on Current-Fed Voltage Multiplier Technique

An extendable non-isolated resonant dc-dc converter based on current-fed voltage multiplier (VM) technique is proposed in this paper for high step-up applications. These VM cells capacitors participate in a resonant network; therefore, no additional elements are required to provide a resonant tank circuit to realize soft switching conditions for power switches. Zero voltage switching (ZVS) and zero current switching (ZCS) conditions are realized here for switches and diodes, respectively. Consequently, MOSFETs dominant switching losses and the diodes reverse recovery problems are well overcome. Furthermore, the input source current waveform is continuous. Also, using the VM cells reduces the power devices voltage stresses. Accordingly, low voltage rating devices can be used, which reduce conduction losses and cost, and improve the converter efficiency. Also, by using more VM cells, the proposed converter can be used for high-voltage applications, without using extremely high duty cycle values to regulate the output voltage. The operation principles, steady-state analysis, design guidelines, and main characteristics of the proposed converter are given here, in detail. Finally, an 800 W prototype converter, with 80–100V input voltage and 2 kV output voltage, has been implemented to validate the given analyses, simulation results, as well as to show the proposed converter main advantages.

Numerical Investigation of a Hydrogen–Air Flame for NOx Prediction

Abstract Sustainable aviation fuels are a major candidate to reduce pollutant emissions in future aeronautical engines. Recently, the use of hydrogen as a fuel has gained a high interest partly because its combustion is free from carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and produces few pollutants, mainly nitrogen oxides (NOx). Over the last decades, efforts on numerical methods for combustion simulation in aero-engines have largely been focused on kerosene-air combustion. However, the current transition may have a significant impact on the computational methodologies for combustor design. Hydrogen defines novel modeling issues and challenges the current state of art on numerical methodologies. The current study presents a numerical investigation of a hydrogen–air burner using large-eddy simulations (LES) with a focus on NOx prediction. The considered configuration is a two-staged combustor, similar to the well-known RQL (Rich-Quench-Lean) technology, supplied by a single coaxial injector characterized experimentally. Two combustion models are investigated: (i) tabulated chemistry based on premixed flamelets (ii) transported chemistry description by using a 21-species chemical scheme. Numerical results are compared with experimental data (NOx concentrations, temperature distributions, pressure losses). A focus on model predictions is carried out. Results show a good agreement to predict the main flow characteristics and the premixed flame position over different operating points and geometries for both frameworks. In contrast, NOx emissions are more sensitive: while the overall trend is well captured, the quantification is more scattered. Finally, an in-depth analysis is proposed to link NOx production with the nonpremixed flame size.

François Gros (1925-2022)

François Gros, a biologist by training, began his research at the Institut Pasteur. In 1961, he discovered the molecular nature of the proposed intermediary between the gene and the protein, a so-called messenger RNA (mRNA), and determined its main characteristics. The author of numerous books, François Gros has helped shape and enlightened the birth of molecular biology and the development of related biotechnologies since the 1970s. He was Professor at the Collège de France and Permanent Secretary of the French Academy of Sciences. Within the Academy, he initiated the creation of a committee for developing countries (COPED). François Gros was a humanist driven by moral rigour and an unfailing sense of commitment.

Global prevalence, mortality, and main characteristics of HIV-associated pneumocystosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-associated pneumocystosis (HAP) is poorly described on a worldwide scale. We searched related databases between January 2000 and December 2022 for studies reporting HAP. Meta-analysis was performed using StatsDirect (version 2.7.9) and STATA (version 17) according to the random-effects model for DerSimonian and Laird method and metan and metaprop commands, respectively. Twenty-nine studies with 38554 HIV-positive, 79893 HIV-negative, and 4044 HAP populations were included. The pooled prevalence of HAP was 35.4% (95% CI 23.8 to 47.9). In contrast, the pooled prevalence of PCP among HIV-negative patients was 10.16% (95% CI 2 to 25.3). HIV-positive patients are almost 12 times more susceptible to PCP than the HIV-negative population (OR: 11.710; 95% CI: 5.420 to 25.297). The mortality among HAP patients was 52% higher than non-PCP patients (OR 1.522; 95% CI 0.959 to 2.416). HIV-positive men had a 7% higher chance rate for PCP than women (OR 1.073; 95% CI 0.674 to 1.706). Prophylactic (OR: 6.191; 95% CI: 0.945 to 40.545) and antiretroviral therapy (OR 3.356; 95% CI 0.785 to 14.349) were used in HAP patients six and three times more than HIV-positive PCP-negatives, respectively. The control and management strategies should revise and updated by health policy-makers on a worldwide scale. Finally, for better management and understanding of the epidemiology and characteristics of this coinfection, designing further studies is recommended.

Transversus abdominis plane block as a component of anesthesia in kidney transplantation

Aim. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the transversus abdominis plane block in kidney transplantation from deceased donor.Material and methods. The first stage included a retrospective comparative analysis of the results using the transversus abdominis plane block in renal transplantation. Group I (n=30) included patients who underwent transversus abdominis plane block after kidney transplantation; in comparative group II (n=58) the TAP-block wasn’t performed. We assessed the daily requirement for trimeperidine on the first day after kidney transplantation. The second stage was a prospective randomized placebo-controlled study. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups with respect to whether the transversus abdominis plane block was provided with an active drug, or placebo was used; so the sodium chloride 0.9% was injected into the transversus abdominis plane in the intermuscular fascial plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscle in patients of Group III (n=31), and a local anesthetic was injected in patients of Group IV (n=34).) The daily requirements for trimeperidine, tramadol were assessed as well as the pain severity according to visual analogue scale at 1, 6, 12, 24 hours after surgery, the incidence of adverse events in the gastrointestinal tract; and several laboratory parameters (cortisol, interleukin-1, interleukin-6) related to pain syndrome were analyzed.Results. As a result of pseudorandomization, 17 cases were included in each of two retrospective stage, which were comparable in terms of patients' main characteristics (p>0.05). The daily requirement for trimeperidine in the transversus abdominis plane block group (Group I) was lower than in the comparison group with a trend toward statistical significance (p=0.07). The median daily dose of trimeperidine in Group III (placebo control) was 59.5 mg (interquartile range: 51.5–72.0), which was higher than in Group IV (45.5 mg; interquartile range: 38.5–62.0) (p=0.039). The postoperative pain severety assessed by visual analogue scale was also statistically significantly higher in group III at the timepoint of 12 hours after surgery, making 4.0 points (interquartile range: 2.5–5.0) versus 1.5 points (interquartile range: 0.5–2.5) in group VI (p=0.015). There were no differences between the groups in pain severity at 1, 6, and 24 hours after surgery. The daily requirement for tramadol was also statistically significantly higher in Group III, amounting to 50 mg (interquartile range: 0–100) versus 0 (interquartile range: 0–55 mg) in the active drug Group IV (p=0.045).Conclusion. Our study showed that the use of the transversus abdominis plain block was safe and effective, yielding encouraging results, which demonstrated a clinically significant reduction in the need for opioid analgesics and in the incidence of adverse events in the postoperative period after transversus abdominis plane block which contributes to the early activation of patients. Therefore, further studies are needed to improve the package of multimodal perioperative analgesia after kidney transplantation.

Основные технологические свойства заменителей сычужного фермента

The quality of the finished cheese depends on the process of obtaining a milk clot under the action of a milk-converting enzyme. Most types of cheeses can be produced using the full range of dairy coagulants available on the market. However, without taking into account their technological features, enterprises save pennies on the cost of enzymes and lose rubles on the quality of products. The main technological characteristics of rennet enzyme substitutes (proteolytic activity, sensitivity to Ca2+ ions, pH, temperature stability), important for regulating the coagulation process during cheese production, are investigated. Practical recommendations on the use of milk-clotting enzyme preparations are given.

Does erectile dysfunction predict cardiovascular risk? A cross-sectional study of clinical characteristics in patients with erectile dysfunction combined with coronary heart disease.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual dysfunction in men who are unable to consistently obtain and maintain sufficient penile erection to accomplish a satisfactory sexual life. ED is currently considered to be a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but few studies have observed the association between ED and clinical features of coronary heart disease (CHD). An investigation of the association between ED and clinical characteristics of CHD was carried out using a cross-sectional study design. This cross-sectional single-center study was conducted in the Department of Cardiology and included 248 patients. Associations between patients' general information, underlying disease information, coronary heart disease information, and ED severity were statistically and analytically analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software. Patients with comparable clinical characteristics were grouped together using K-means clustering. Finally, ordered logistic regression analysis was performed for general and underlying disease information. In the comparison of general data, age, education, and weekly exercise were associated with the distribution of ED severity. In the comparison of underlying disease information, the number of underlying diseases, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, anxiety state, and depressive state were associated with the distribution of ED severity. In the comparison of CHD information, the degree of ED severity was associated with CHD subtypes, lesion sites, number of stenoses, degree of stenosis, and interventional interventions. The time from ED to CHD onset was associated with the subtypes of CHD and the number of stenoses. We clustered the main characteristics of low-risk and high-risk patients and ordered logistic regression analysis found that BMI, smoking, alcoholism, number of underlying diseases, diabetes, anxiety state, and depression state were all risk factors for CHD severity (P < 0.05); the higher the value of the above factors, the more severe the degree of CHD. Age was a protective factor for CHD severity; the younger the patient, the lower the likelihood of myocardial infarction. ED severity and the time from ED to CHD onset may be predictive of coronary heart disease severity. Reducing smoking and alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy body weight, and regular physical activity are important in preventing CVD in ED patients.

Culturable Microorganisms of Aerosols Sampled during Aircraft Sounding of the Atmosphere over the Russian Arctic Seas

Atmospheric sounding using the Tu-134 Optik aircraft-laboratory was conducted in September 2020 over the seas of the Russian sector of the Arctic Ocean, namely the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi and Bering seas. Unique samples of atmospheric aerosols at altitudes from 200 and up to 10,000 m were taken, including samples for the identification of cultivated microorganisms and their genetic analysis. Data on the concentration and diversity of bacteria and fungi isolated from 24 samples of atmospheric aerosols are presented; the main phenotypic and genomic characteristics were obtained for 152 bacterial cultures; and taxonomic belonging was determined. The concentration of cultured microorganisms detected in aerosols of different locations was similar, averaging 5.5 × 103 CFU/m3. No dependence of the number of isolated microorganisms on the height and location of aerosol sampling was observed. The presence of pathogenic and condto shitionally pathogenic bacteria, including those referred to in the genera Staphylococcus, Kocuria, Rothia, Comamonas, Brevundimonas, Acinetobacter, and others, as well as fungi represented by the widely spread genera Aureobasidium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Penicillium, capable of causing infectious and allergic diseases were present in most analyzed samples. Obtained data reveal the necessity of systematic studies of atmospheric microbiota composition to combat emerging population diseases.

РАЗРАБОТКА МЕРОПРИЯТИЙ ПО СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЮ МАР-КЕТИНГОВОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЯ

The article discusses the issues of improving the marketing activities of an enterprise as a necessary condition for ensuring the stable functioning of the or-ganization in the conditions of economic sanctions. Based on an analysis of the in-ternal and external environment, the strengths and weaknesses of AQUA-GROUP LLC, Salsk, Rostov region, engaged in the trade of auto chemical products for car washes, were identified, and opportunities and threats from the market were identi-fied. The main characteristics of the market for autochemical products in the Rus-sian Federation are highlighted. The structure of the industry has been studied, an analysis of competitors, suppliers and consumers of the auto chemicals market has been carried out. A strategy has been developed and measures for its implementa-tion have been planned, aimed at improving marketing activities, including search-ing for new suppliers in the context of import substitution, expanding the market of potential customers by entering new formats of trading platforms. An analysis of the most popular marketplaces was carried out, the principles of their operation, tariffs for delivery and storage of products were studied. A cargo transportation scheme for AQUA-GROUP LLC has been developed at the 1st and 2nd stages of developing sales on marketplaces. The additional profit received by entering the trading platforms of the Ozon and Yandex Market marketplaces was calculated.

New Speed Control Scheme for a Three-Phase Induction Machines - (3~IM) Based on Sine Duty Cycle Modulation (SDCM)

This paper proposes a new control scheme for three-phase induction machines based on the sinusoidal duty cycle modulation control strategy combined with V/f control. This technique allows efficient open-loop control of inverter switches. The proposed diagram shows the main characteristics:1 0.1   ,0 50 ,Hzf 21.44 ,base KHzf  2 ,12ref V Vu  . In addition, it guarantees optimum operation of the inverter with the torque and speed parameters of the three-phase induction machine complying with current requirements:10rC Nmmax 6,5A/50Hz/ THD=1,2%

The Media Characteristics and Subject Boundaries of Metaverse Art

ABSTRACT Digitization is the primary form of Metaverse art, making the Metaverse digitally re-enable the unfolding of art. First, as a digital art form, non-fungible token (NFT) art acts as a media technology object for digital subjects to seek an identity. It opens the potential to reflect on image ontology and image copies. Second, the development of Metaverse art is closely related to its media characteristics. The exploration of the attributes of Metaverse media can be divided into two approaches. One approach is to examine the characteristics of Metaverse media from the perspective of media archaeology and its association with cinema and games. The second approach lies in elucidating the temporal mechanism of modernity rooted in Metaverse media and rethinking the prominence and intervention of an “algorithmic timeline” in real time. Finally, the mediating properties of digital image ontology and the Metaverse’s temporal and spatiotemporal folding correspond to the two main characteristics of immersion and interactivity in a virtual space, which not only reflects the generation of an “external subject” but also triggers a crisis in the identification of the subject with the mirror image.

Astrocytic phagocytosis in the medial prefrontal cortex jeopardises postoperative memory consolidation in mice.

Memory impairment is one of the main characteristics of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. It remains elusive how postoperative pathological changes of the brain link to the memory impairment. The clinical setting of perioperation was mimicked via partial hepatectomy under sevoflurane anaesthesia together with preoperative restraint stress (Hep-Sev-stress) in mice. Memory changes were assessed with fear conditioning. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-dorsal hippocampus connectivity was evaluated with injecting neurotracer 28 days before surgery. Astrocytic activation was limited via injecting AAV-GFAP-hM4Di-eGFP into the mPFC. Astrocytic and microglial phagocytosis of synapses were visualised with co-labelling hippocampal neuronal axon terminals with PSD-95 and S100β or Iba1. Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress status were also detected. Hep-Sev-stress impaired the memory consolidation (mean [standard error], 49.91 [2.55]% vs. 35.40 [3.97]% in the contextual memory, p = 0.007; 40.72 [2.78]% vs. 27.77 [2.22]% in cued memory, p = 0.002) and the cued memory retrieval (39.00 [3.08]% vs. 24.11 [2.06]%, p = 0.001) in mice when compared with these in the naïve controls. Hep-Sev-stress damaged the connectivity from the dorsal hippocampus to mPFC but not from the mPFC to the dorsal hippocampus and increased the astrocytic but not microglial phagocytosis of hippocampal neuronal axon terminals in the mPFC. The intervention also induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the dorsal hippocampus and the mPFC in a regional-dependent manner. Limiting astrocyte activation in the mPFC alleviated memory consolidation impairment induced by Hep-Sev-stress. Postoperative memory consolidation was impaired due to astrocytic phagocytosis-induced connectivity injury from the dorsal hippocampus to the medial prefrontal cortex.

The contribution of historical agricultural practices and forms of life activity to the formation of modern rural society and their role in this process

The pattern of changes in forms of life activity in rural areas, due to the formation of a new way of life and collective employment, has been identified. Factors influencing this process have been studied. Basic agricultural practices as a set of techniques and methods aimed at obtaining agricultural products, through which the essence of the relationship of man to the land and animals are expressed by type in crop and livestock production, are systematized. Their content and main characteristics are revealed, improvement factors in order to increase the volume of agricultural production are identified.

Modeling the mechanical behaviour of fibre reinforced sands

ABSTRACT The mechanical behaviour of Fibre-reinforced sands (FRS) has been extensively studied, presenting improved mechanical properties compared to unreinforced soils. Many models have been developed to predict its general stress-strain behaviour. However, the use of double-phase models in FRS is still incipient. Double-phase models are advantageous because they can simulate the whole FRS and the behaviour of its individual components, soil skeleton and reinforcement. This paper uses a modified model for Municipal Solid Waste to reproduce the FRS mechanical response. Introducing a new hardening parameter and a dilatant zone allowed the model to reproduce FRS dilatancy. The model’s variables are easily understood, allowing the reproduction of the mechanical behaviour of FRS formed by sands with void ratios ranging from 0.610 to 0.917 and mean grain size from 0.29 to 0.83 mm. The fibres’ lengths varied from 12.5 to 51 mm. The results of triaxial and hollow cylinder torsional tests under different stress paths had their main characteristics (peak strength, post-peak behaviour, dilatancy and reinforcement effectiveness) well captured by the model. Predicted and experimental FRS’s deviator stress usually differ by less than 15% and the model performance is equivalent or superior to other available models, even requiring fewer input parameters.

An analysis of the contents of the young-onset dementia helpline: profiles of clients who consulted the helpline themselves.

Young-onset dementia (YOD) community care requires personalised approaches. Yet, the specific details of YOD consultations are unclear. This study explored how initial consultations correlate with client profiles. Data from regional YOD helplines were used to analyze the main characteristics of people living with YOD or who had concerns about the possibility of YOD (n = 132). Among several categorical variables, the following were used for analysis: age group, sex, type of living arrangement, employment status, presence of dementia, and content of the consultation. To identify groups of items that frequently occur together, strongly connected rules were identified using association rule analysis with the a priori algorithm. To focus on the characteristics of clients, rules related to client characteristics were extracted based on the type of consultation. A total of 51 rules were identified for the consultations. These rules fell into two categories: (1) consultations for medical matters, which mainly involved employed individuals with undiagnosed dementia, and (2) other consultations on daily life or work, which mainly involved individuals diagnosed with dementia and were characterised by the influence of sex. These rules indicate the importance of medical involvement in confirming the diagnosis and specific individualised care following diagnosis for people living with YOD. Clients with or without a dementia diagnosis were consulted differently in the YOD helplines. Before receiving a diagnosis, medical matters were the main theme of consultations, whereas after receiving a diagnosis, adjustments to daily life or work were the main themes. The results of this study suggest that the needs of people living with YOD and the services they require may vary depending on their backgrounds.

Hydrogen as Fuel for ICEs: State of Art and Technological Challenges

The climate change, as the main consequence of the polluting emissions due to anthropic activities, is nowadays a well-known threat to human health as well as for the environment safety. Several plans and strategies have been announced by the governments to detach from fossil fuel-based energy and gradually reduce the carbon footprint of their economies. In this scenario, the road transport sector is turning out to be the main “technological gym” to test and improve new powertrain solutions to achieve as soon as possible the goal of the net-zero carbon emissions, at least in the tank-to-wheel (TTW) context. In view of this, the hydrogen as fuel is gaining ever more attention from the scientific community, both as the middle-term solution to achieve the abovementioned goal and as a prominent future energy carrier. In this review, the performance and main characteristics of the hydrogen-internal combustion engines (H2-ICEs) are discussed based on the most recent studies available in literature. A comprehensive overview of various topics is offered, from the production stage to the combustion anomalies, mixture formation strategies, and the challenge of reducing the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions under high load conditions.

THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL INNOVATIONS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETY

The article is devoted to the study of the concept of social innovations and their essential role in the development of modern society. The author analyzes the key aspects of social innovations, defines their essence and main characteristics. The article highlights various areas of application of social innovations, ranging from social entrepreneurship to technological solutions that contribute to solving social problems. Special attention is paid to the impact of social innovations on social change and sustainable development. The authors present examples of successful implementation of social innovations in various countries, emphasizing their importance for the formation of a more equitable and efficient society. The scientific article makes a valuable contribution to understanding the role of social innovation in modern socio-economic dynamics and provides practical recommendations for the development and support of social innovation initiatives.

First report of the maize cyst nematode Heterodera zeae in Sichuan Province of Southwest China.

Maize is the largest crop planted in China. Nine species of cyst nematodes have been reported to affect maize production. Heterodera zeae, H. avenae and Punctodera chalcoensis can cause significant maize yield losses annually (Luc et al. 2005). In 1971, the maize cyst nematode H. zeae was first detected in Rajasthan, India (Koshy et al. 1971). Subsequently, it has been reported in many other countries such as the United States, Greece, Pakistan, and Egypt. In China, H. zeae was first identified in the maize fields of Laibin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Wu et al., 2017). Cui et al. (2020) identified H. zeae in a maize field of Yuzhou City, Henan Province of Central China in 2018. From 2018 to 2022, a survey of cyst-forming nematodes was conducted in Southwest China. Fifteen soil samples of about 500 g each were collected from Luding County, Ganzi Prefecture of Sichuan Province. No major aboveground symptoms were shown on maize, but a few females were observed on the roots of maize in one field. The cysts and second-stage juveniles (J2s) were collected from each soil sample using Cobb's screening gravity method. A total of 8.50±2.0 cysts per 100 ml of soil on the average were observed in the field. A thin subcrystalline layer was discernible only in young cysts. Morphological and molecular studies of cysts and J2s indicated that the nematodes were identified to be H. zeae in a maize-field. Morphologically, the cysts were in a lemon shape, light brown or pearly white in color. The vulval cone was prominent. Fenestra ambifenestrate, and semifenestra were separated by a fairly wide vulval bridge, fenestral length and width were variable, and the cyst wall was shown in a zigzag pattern. The J2s' body was in a vermiform, tapering at both ends, with a hyaline tail. Stylet was strongly developed with round or slightly anteriorly directed knobs. Morphological measurements of the cysts (n = 9) determined that the mean body length was 417.2 μm (403.6 to 439.4 μm), body width was 429.7 μm (397.6 to 456.9μm); length-width ratio was 1.4 (0.75 to 3); fenestra length was 525.3 μm (498.5 to 570.7 μm); and the mean semifenestra width was 458.6 μm (403.6 to 546.3 μm). Morphometric measurements of second-stage juveniles (n = 20) showed a body length of 419.7μm (355.8 to 492.5 μm); a stylet length of 20.8 μm (19.51 to 23.3μm); a tail length of 41.5 μm (20 to 49.4 μm); and a hyaline tail length of 20.7 μm (16.6 to 24 μm). The main morphological characteristics and measured values were basically consistent with those described by Cui et al. (2022), and all of which were similar to those of H. zeae. Amplification of DNA from random single cysts (n = 5) was conducted using the protocol described by Cui et al. (2022). The rDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) was amplified and sequenced using a pair of universal primers TW81 (5'-GTTTCCGTAGGTGAA CCTGC-3') and AB28 (5'-ATATGCTTAAGTTCAGCGGGT-3'). The ITS sequences were deposited at GenBank with the accession number OR811029.1. Alignments of sequences showed an identity of 98% with H. zeae sequences from China (OP692769.2, MW785772.1) and the USA (GU145616.1), which were confirmed using a pair of species-specific primers HzF1 (5'-GGGGAGGTGAATGTGGG-3') and HzR1 (5'-CCTTTGGCAATCGGTGA-3') of H. zeae with a targeted PCR fragment of 393 bp (Cui et al. 2022). Pathogenicity was conducted and confirmed by infection and reproduction on maize. Seeds (cv. Zhengda 619) were sown in three pots that contained 150 ml of a sterile soil mixture (loamy soil: sand=1:1), and 5 cysts (103 eggs/cyst on the average) were inoculated in each pot at 25/30°C, under a 12-h dark/12-h light condition (Cui et al. 2023). Fifteen days after sowing, third- and fourth-stage juveniles were observed in the rootstained with acid fuchsin, and a total of 32 cysts per maize plant on the average were collected at 40 days after sowing. The new cysts' morphological and molecular characteristics were identical to the cysts from the original soil samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of H. zeae as a pathogen on maize in Sichuan Province, Southwest China. Our findings will be useful for management and further research of maize cyst nematodes.