Transition of intracranial aneurysmal wall enhancement from high to low wall shear stress mediation with size increase: A hemodynamic study based on 7T magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Wall shear stress (WSS) has been proved to be related to the formation, development and rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be caused by inflammation and have confirmed its relationship with low WSS. High WSS can also result in inflammation but the research of its correlation with AWE is lack because of the focus on large aneurysms limited by 3T MRI in most previous studies.This study aimed to assess the potential association between high or low WSS and AWE in different aneuryms. Especially the relationship between high WSS and AWE in small aneurysm. Methods: Forty-three unruptured intracranial aneurysms in 42 patients were prospectively included for analysis. 7.0 T MRI was used for imaging. Aneurysm size was measured on three-dimensional time-of-flight (TOF) images. Aneurysm-to-pituitary stalk contrast ratio (CRstalk) was calculated on post-contrast black-blood T1-weighted fast spin echo sequence images. Hemodynamics were assessed by four-dimensional flow MRI. Results: The small aneurysms group had more positive WSS-CRstalk correlation coefficient distribution (dome: 78.6 %, p = 0.009; body: 50.0 %, p = 0.025), and large group had more negative coefficient distribution (dome: 44.8 %, p = 0.001; body: 69.0 %, p = 0.002). Aneurysm size was positively correlated with the significant OSI-CRstalk correlation coefficient at the dome (p = 0.012) and body (p = 0.010) but negatively correlated with the significant WSS-CRstalk correlation coefficient at the dome (p < 0.001) and body (p = 0.017). Conclusion: AWE can be mediated by both high and low WSS, and translate from high WSS- to low WSS-mediated pathways as size increase. Additionally, AWE may serve as an indicator of the stage of aneurysm development via different correlations with hemodynamic factors.

Dynamics of green macroalgal micro-propagules and the influencing factors in the southern Yellow Sea, China.

Micro-propagules (banks of microscopic forms) play important roles in the expansion of green tides, which are spreading on eutrophic coasts worldwide. In particular, large-scale green tides (Yellow Sea Green Tide, YSGTs) have persisted in the Yellow Sea for over 15 years, but the dynamics and functions of micro-propagules in their development remain unclear. In the present study, year-round field surveys were conducted to identify the reservoirs and investigate the persistence mechanisms and associated biotic and abiotic factors driving the temporal and spatial variations of micro-propagules. Micro-propagules in the southern Yellow Sea (SYS) showed evident spatial heterogeneity in terms of seasonal patterns and major influencing factors. Offshore of the SYS, the micro-propagule population underwent ephemeral expansion along with a large-scale bloom of floating Ulva algae in late spring and early summer. The Subei Shoal, particularly the sediments in the central raft region, had the highest micro-propagule abundance (MA) and was a major reservoir. The pronounced seasonal variation of MA in the Subei Shoal was primarily associated with the attached Ulva algae on Neopyropia aquaculture rafts. Vast aquaculture rafts provided essential substrates for micro-propagules to complete their life cycle and replenish the seed bank, thereby sustaining persistent YSGTs. It implied that habitat modification has pronounced ecological impacts on this intertidal muddy flat. The unique environmental conditions (enriched nutrients, esp. nitrate, favourable seawater temperatures in spring, and strong tidal mixing) facilitated the abundance, seasonal variation and recruitment of micro-propagules in the Subei Shoal. Given the current mitigation measures implemented in the raft region, further research is required to monitor and investigate the physiological and ecological responses of micro-propagule populations to the complex hydrobiological, geochemical, and physical matrices.

Variations of arterial compliance and vascular resistance due to plaque or infarct in a single vascular territory of the middle cerebral artery.

Background: Arterial compliance (AC) and vascular resistance (VR) are crucial for the regulation capacity of the vascular system. However, alterations of these features and hemodynamics due to atherosclerosis in a single intracranial artery territory have not been extensively investigated. Thus this study aimed to examine the AC, VR, and hemodynamic variations due to plaque and infarction in the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Methods: Patients with symptomatic MCA atherosclerosis were recruited. Both sides of the MCA were assessed and then classified according to the following scheme: group 0, without plaque; group 1, with plaque but without infarct; group 2, with plaque and infarct in the supplying territories. Data on AC, VR, blood flow, and pulsatility index (PI) were obtained based on 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the Windkessel model. Results: A total of 63 patients were recruited. After 17 MCAs were excluded (occlusion, n=6; poor image quality, n=11), datasets on 109 MCAs were finally collected and classified into group 0 (n=39), group 1 (n=40), and group 2 (n=30). From groups 0 to 2, there was a decrease in AC (0.0060±0.0031 vs. 0.0052±0.0029 vs. 0.0026±0.0020 mL/mmHg) and an increase in VR [28.65±16.11 vs. 42.59±27.53 vs. 63.21±40.37 mmHg/(mL/s)]. Compared to group 1, group 2 had significantly decreased AC (0.0052±0.0029 vs. 0.0026±0.0020 mL/mmHg; P=0.003) and increased VR [42.59±27.53 vs. 63.21±40.37 mmHg/(mL/s); P=0.021]. From group 0 to group 2, there was a decrease in blood flow (179.29±73.57 vs. 125.11±59.04 vs. 92.05±48.79 mL/min; P<0.001). The PI varied significantly among the 3 groups (0.86±0.20 vs. 1.12±0.50 vs. 0.79±0.16; P<0.001), with group 1 having the highest PI. Conclusions: With the occurrence of plaque and infarct, AC and blood flow progressively decrease while VR increases. The PI was the highest in the group with plaque and without infarct. Assessments of vascular function and hemodynamics in a single artery territory can clarify comprehensive alterations in the cerebral vascular system (CVS).

Real-time observation of stationary and pulsating noise-like vector pulses in a fiber laser.

Rapid progress in real-time measurement technology has uncovered varieties of transient pulse dynamics. Here, we report the vector nature of noise-like pulse (NLP) in a passive fiber laser based on the nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) as the polarization independent saturable absorber. After achieving the basic operation regime of NLP, various types of vector pulses, namely, the polarization locked noise-like vector pulse (PLNLVP), the group velocity locked noise-like vector pulse (GVLNLVP), and the transitional state of combined characteristics of GVLNLVP and polarization rotation noise-like vector pulse (PRNLVP) are also obtained in the cavity. Besides, by utilizing the Dispersive Fourier transform (DFT) technique, the spectral evolution and the energy vibration of pulsating PLNLVP, GVLNLVP, and the transitional state of combined characteristics of GVLNLVP and PRNLVP are also analyzed in real time. Particularly, the coexisting pulsation vector state of NLP and soliton is also captured. All these findings will help to complement our understanding of noise-like vector pulses (NLVPs) in a fiber laser.

Interannual variations of Sargassum blooms in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea during 2017-2021.

Golden tide, caused by Sargassum horneri, is becoming another periodic and trans-regional harmful macroalgal bloom in the Yellow Sea (YS) and East China Sea (ECS) other than the green tide. In this study, we employed high-resolution remote sensing, field validations, and population genetics to investigate the spatiotemporal development pattern of Sargassum blooms during the years 2017 to 2021 and explore the potential environmental factors that influence them. Sporadic floating Sargassum rafts could be detected in the middle or northern YS during autumn and the distribution area then occurred sequentially along the Chinese and/or western Korean coastlines. The floating biomass amplified significantly in early spring, reached its maximum in two to three months with an evident northward expansion, and then declined rapidly in May or June. The scale of the spring bloom was much larger than the winter one in terms of coverage, suggesting an additional local source in ECS. The blooms were mostly confined to waters with a sea surface temperature range of 10-16℃, while the drifting pathways were consistent with the prevailing wind trajectory and surface currents. The floating S. horneri populations exhibited a homogenous and conservative genetic structure among years. Our findings underscore the year-round cycle of golden tides, the impact of physical hydrological environments on the drifting and blooming of pelagic S. horneri, and provide insights for monitoring and forecasting this emerging marine ecological disaster.

Accelerated partial separable model using dimension-reduced optimization technique for ultra-fast cardiac MRI.

Objective.Imaging dynamic objects with high temporal resolution is challenging in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The partial separable (PS) model was proposed to improve imaging quality by reducing the degrees of freedom of the inverse problem. However, the PS model still suffers from a long acquisition time and an even longer reconstruction time. The main objective of this study is to accelerate the PS model, shorten the time required for acquisition and reconstruction, and maintain good image quality simultaneously.Approach.We proposed to fully exploit the dimension-reduction property of the PS model, which means implementing the optimization algorithm in subspace. We optimized the data consistency term and used a Tikhonov regularization term based on the Frobenius norm of temporal difference. The proposed dimension-reduced optimization technique was validated in free-running cardiac MRI. We have performed both retrospective experiments on a public dataset and prospective experiments onin vivodata. The proposed method was compared with four competing algorithms based on the PS model and two non-PS model methods.Main results.The proposed method has robust performance against a shortened acquisition time or suboptimal hyper-parameter settings, and achieves superior image quality over all other competing algorithms. The proposed method is 20-fold faster than the widely accepted PS+sparse method, enabling image reconstruction to be finished in just a few seconds.Significance.The accelerated PS model has the potential to save a great deal of time in clinical dynamic MRI examinations and is promising for real-time MRI applications.

The drifting and spreading mechanism of floating Ulva mass in the waterways of Subei shoal, the Yellow Sea of China - Application for abating the world's largest green tides.

The large-scale green tides have been prevailing in the Yellow Sea over a decade. Prevention and control techniques in the source region (Subei Shoal) are urgently needed to minimize its adverse ecological and social impacts. Drifting and spreading mechanism of Ulva mass was investigated in the Subei Shoal in order to develop the early containment measures. The multidisciplinary surveys suggested twelve major waterways transporting the initial Ulva mass which was closely related to the basin topology and water circulation in the shoal. The epiphytic algal mass from the northern and eastern raft regions contributed 82.7 % of the initial floating biomass, and moved out in 4-6 days with an average drifting velocity of 0.28 m s-1. Accordingly, two series of algae-blocking lines were proposed to remove floating mass from the shoal. And the primary field trial in 2018 confirmed the feasibility of this strategy to abate the green tides.

Inflow Angle Impacts Morphology, Hemodynamics, and Inflammation of Side-wall Intracranial Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysm inflow angle has been shown to be associated with hemodynamic changes by computational fluid dynamics. However, these studies were based on single aneurysm model and were limited to side-wall aneurysms. PURPOSE: To investigate the association between inflow angle and morphology, hemodynamic, and inflammation of intracranial side-wall and bifurcation aneurysms. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: A total of 62 patients (aged 58.34 ± 12.39, 44 female) with 59 unruptured side-wall aneurysms and 17 unruptured bifurcation aneurysms were included. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A 3.0 T; 3D fast field echo sequence (TOF-MRA); free-breathing, 3D radio-frequency-spoiled, multi-shot turbo field echo sequence (4D-flow MRI); 3D black-blood T1-weighted volumetric turbo spin echo acquisition sequence (T1 -VISTA) ASSESSMENT: Two neuroradiologists assessed the inflow angle and size for intracranial aneurysms in 3D space with TOF-MRA images. The average and maximum inflow velocity (Vavg-IA , Vmax-IA ), blood flow (Flowavg-IA , Flowmax-IA ), and average wall shear stress (WSSavg-IA ) for aneurysms were assessed from 4D-flow MRI in regions of interest drawn by two neuroradiologists. The aneurysmal wall enhancement (AWE) grades between precontrast and postcontrast T1 -VISTA images were evaluated by three neuroradiologists. STATISTICAL TESTS: Kruskal-Wallis H test, χ2 test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, scatter plots and regression lines, multivariate logistic regression analysis (partial correlation r) were performed. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The WSSavg-IA (0.52 ± 0.34 vs. 0.27 ± 0.22) and AWE grades (1.38 ± 1.04 vs. 2.02 ± 0.68) between the two inflow angle subgroups of side-wall aneurysms were significantly different. The aneurysm size (rs  = 0.31), WSSavg-IA (rs  = -0.45), and AWE grades (rs  = 0.45) were significantly correlated with inflow angle in side-wall aneurysms. While in bifurcation aneurysms, there were no significant associations between inflow angle and size (P = 0.901), Vavg-IA (P = 0.699), Vmax-IA (P = 0.482), Flowavg-IA (P = 0.550), Flowmax-IA (P = 0.689), WSSavg-IA (P = 0.573), and AWE grades (P = 0.872). DATA CONCLUSION: A larger aneurysm size, a lower WSS and a higher AWE grade were correlated with a larger inflow angle in side-wall aneurysms. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Modified no-touch technique for radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula increases primary patency and decreases juxta-anastomotic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Low primary patency rate is a major problem of radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula (RC-AVF) creation. Radial artery deviation and reimplantation (RADAR) is associated with low juxta-anastomotic stenosis rate. However, inflow artery stenosis is prominent with RADAR. To further reduce injury to veins and arteries during operation, a modified no-touch technique (MNTT) was used to create RC-AVF. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively maintained database of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD)s undergoing RC-AVF creation for hemodialysis using either the MNTT between January 2021 and January 2022 (MNTT group) or conventional surgical procedure ( end-to-side vein-to-artery anastomosis) between October 2016 and October 2017 (Control group). Patients who chose to undergo RC-AVF surgery underwent standardized preoperative mapping and postoperative fistula evaluations using duplex ultrasound. Additionally, 4D flow MRI data were used to visualize and quantify the hemodynamics of one RC-AVF by MNTT. Outcomes included primary patency, juxta-anastomotic stenosis, and maturation rates. RESULTS: Forty patients underwent RC-AVFs by MNTT, compared to 60 patients in the control group. The MNTT group had a higher primary unassisted patency rate than the control group (p = 0.038). Juxta-anastomotic stenosis (all on the cephalic vein) occurred in 4 (10%) patients who underwent MNTT. RC-AVF maturation rates after 3 months were not different between both groups (maturation rate: 90% and 81.7% in the MNTT and control groups, respectively, p = 0.253). COX regression showed that both conventional AVF surgery (p = 0.031) and smaller cephalic vein diameter (p = 0.034) were associated with higher odds of RC-AVF failure. The AVF flow within the proximal vein remained helical during cardiac cycle. The distribution of wall shear stress (WSS) and oscillatory shear index (OSI) differed from that of conventional surgical AVF. CONCLUSION: RC-AVF by MNTT increases primary patency rate and decreases juxta-anastomotic stenosis rate. The improvement in hemodynamics may be one of the important reasons for the better patency rate of in the RC-AVF by MNTT group.

Distribution and regional variation of wall shear stress in the curved middle cerebral artery using four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: To investigate the distribution and regional variation of wall shear stress (WSS) in the curved middle cerebral artery (MCA) in healthy individuals using four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A total of 44 healthy participants (18 males; mean ages: 27.16±5.69 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. The WSS parameters of mean, minimum, and maximum values, the coefficient of variation of time-averaged WSS (TAWSSCV), and the maximum values of the oscillatory shear index (OSI) were calculated and compared in the curved proximal (M1) segments. Three cross-sectional planes were selected: the location perpendicular to the beginning of the long axis of the curved M1 segment of the MCA (proximal section), the most curved M1 location (curved M1 section), and the location before the insular (M2) segment bifurcation (distal section). The WSS and OSI parameters of the proximal, curved, and distal sections of the curved M1 segment were compared, including the inner and outer curvatures of the curved M1 section. Results: Of the curved M1 segments, the curved M1 section had significantly lower minimum TAWSS values than the proximal (P=0.031) and distal sections (P=0.002), and the curved M1 section had significantly higher maximum OSI values than the distal section (P=0.001). The TAWSSCV values at the curved M1 section were significantly higher than the proximal (P=0.001) and distal sections (P<0.001). At the curved M1 section, the inner curvature showed a significantly lower minimum TAWSS (P=0.013) and higher maximum OSI values (P=0.002) than the outer curvature. Conclusions: There are distribution variation of WSS and OSI parameters at the curved M1 section of the curved MCA, and the inner curvature of the curved M1 section has the lowest WSS and highest OSI distribution. The local hemodynamic features of the curved MCA may be related to the predilection for atherosclerotic plaque development.

Aneurysmal wall enhancement and hemodynamics: pixel-level correlation between spatial distribution.

Background: Inflammation and hemodynamics are interrelated risk factors for intracranial aneurysm rupture. This study aimed to identify the relationship between these risk factors from an individual-patient perspective using biomarkers of aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) derived from high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) and hemodynamic parameters by four-dimensional flow MRI (4D-flow MRI). Methods: A total of 29 patients with 29 unruptured intracranial aneurysms larger than 4 mm were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. A total of 24 aneurysms had AWE and 5 did not have AWE. A three-dimensional (3D) vessel model of each individual aneurysm was generated with 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D TOF-MRA). Quantification of AWE was sampled with HR-MRI. Time-averaged wall shear stress (WSS) and oscillatory shear index (OSI) were calculated from the 4D-flow MRI. The correlation between spatial distribution of AWE and hemodynamic parameters measured at pixel-level was evaluated for each aneurysm. Results: In aneurysms with AWE, the spatial distribution of WSS was negatively correlated with AWE in 100% (24/24) of aneurysms, though 2 had an absolute value of the correlation coefficient <0.1. The OSI was positively correlated with AWE in 91.7% (22/24) of aneurysms; the other 2 aneurysms showed a negative correlation with AWE. In aneurysms with no AWE, there was no correlation between WSS (100%, 5/5), OSI (80%, 4/5), and wall inflammation. Conclusions: The spatial distribution of WSS was negatively correlated with AWE in aneurysms with AWE, and OSI was positively correlated with AWE in most aneurysms with AWE. While aneurysms that did not contain AWE showed no correlation between hemodynamics and wall inflammation.

Quantification of aneurysm wall enhancement in intracranial fusiform aneurysms and related predictors based on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging: a validation study.

Background: Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) has emerged as a new imaging biomarker of intracranial aneurysm instability. Objective: To determine a standard method of AWE quantification for predicting fusiform intracranial aneurysms (FIAs) stability by comparing the sensitivity of each parameter in identifying symptomatic FIAs. The predictors of AWE and FIA types were also identified. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive fusiform aneurysm patients who underwent HR-MRI from two centers. The aneurysm-to-pituitary stalk contrast ratio (CRstalk), aneurysm enhancement ratio, and aneurysm enhancement index were extracted, and their sensitivities in discriminating aneurysm symptoms were compared using the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Morphological parameters of fusiform aneurysm were extracted based on 3D vessel model. Uni- and multivariate analyses of related predictors for AWE, CRstalk, and FIA types were performed, respectively. Results: Overall, 117 patients (mean age, 53.3 ± 11.7 years; male, 75.2%) with 117 FIAs underwent HR-MRI were included. CRstalk with the maximum signal intensity (CRstalk-max) had the highest sensitivity in identifying symptomatic FIAs with an area under the curve value (0.697) and a cut-off value of 0.90. The independent predictors of AWE were aneurysm symptoms [(odds ratio) OR = 3.754, p = 0.003], aspirin use (OR = 0.248, p = 0.037), and the maximum diameter of the cross-section (OR = 1.171, p = 0.043). The independent predictors of CRstalk-max were aneurysm symptoms (OR = 1.289, p = 0.003) and posterior circulation aneurysm (OR = 1.314, p = 0.001). Transitional-type showed higher rates of hypertension and mural thrombus over both dolichoectatic- and fusiform-type FIAs. Conclusion: CRstalk-max may be the most reliable parameter to quantify AWE to distinguish symptomatic FIAs. It also has the potential to identify unstable FIAs. Several factors contribute to the complex pathophysiology of FIAs and need further validation in a larger cohort.

Blood flow and perfusion lateralization in border zone infarct using 4D flow and arterial spin labeling.

PURPOSE: Hemodynamics may play an important role in border zone infarct (BZI), but macroscopic and microscopic hemodynamics of BZI still remain unclear. This study aims to investigate arterial flow and tissue perfusion differences between BZI and non-BZI in patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarcts. METHODS: Subacute ischemic stroke patients with unilateral infarcts at MCA territory were included. Imaging protocols included 4D flow, ASL (arterial spin labeling), and routine clinical brain MRI scan. A total of 56 patients (56.1 ± 11.9 years, 39 male) were included and divided as BZI (n = 26) and non-BZI (n = 30). BZI was further subdivided as cortical BZI (CBZI, n = 9), internal BZI (IBZI, n = 11), and mixed BZI (n = 6). Average blood flow (Flowavg), regional average cerebral blood flow (CBFavg) were compared between infarct and contralateral sides to test hemodynamic lateralization. Flow-index and CBF-index (infarct sides/contralateral sides) were compared between groups and subgroups. RESULTS: Flowavg and CBFavg showed significant lateralization in both BZI and non-BZI as well as CBZI and IBZI. Flow-index (0.51 ± 0.37 vs. 0.87 ± 0.36, p < 0.01) and CBF-index (0.70 ± 0.21 vs. 0.90 ± 0.19, p < 0.01) were significantly different between BZI and non-BZI but were not significantly different between CBZI and IBZI. CONCLUSION: In summary, hemodynamic lateralization can occur in subacute stroke patients with BZI and non-BZI and the one that occurs in BZI tends to be more severe in view of arterial flow and tissue perfusion.

Increased aneurysm wall permeability colocalized with low wall shear stress in unruptured saccular intracranial aneurysm.

Aneurysm wall permeability has recently emerged as an in vivo marker of aneurysm wall remodeling. We sought to study the spatial relationship between hemodynamic forces derived from 4D-flow MRI and aneurysm wall permeability by DCE-MRI in a region-based analysis of unruptured saccular intracranial aneurysms (IAs). We performed 4D-flow MRI and DCE-MRI on patients with unruptured IAs of ≥ 5 mm to measure hemodynamic parameters, including wall shear stress (WSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), WSS temporal (WSSGt) and spatial (WSSGs) gradient, and aneurysm wall permeability (Ktrans) in different sectors of aneurysm wall defined by evenly distributed radial lines emitted from the aneurysm center. The spatial association between Ktrans and hemodynamic parameters measured at the sector level was evaluated. Thirty-one patients were scanned. Ktrans not only varied between aneurysms but also demonstrated spatial heterogeneity within an aneurysm. Among all 159 sectors, higher Ktrans was associated with lower WSS, which was seen in both Spearman's correlation analysis (rho = - 0.18, p = 0.025) and linear regression analysis using generalized estimating equation to account for correlations between multiple sectors of the same aneurysm (regression coefficient = - 0.33, p = 0.006). Aneurysm wall permeability by DCE-MRI was shown to be spatially heterogenous in unruptured saccular IAs and associated with local WSS by 4D-flow MRI.

In Situ Observation of the Tensile Deformation and Fracture Behavior of Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe Alloy with Different Microstructures.

The plastic deformation processes and fracture behavior of a Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe alloy with bimodal and lamellar microstructures were studied by room-temperature tensile tests with in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations. The results indicate that a bimodal microstructure has a lower strength but higher ductility than a lamellar microstructure. For the bimodal microstructure, parallel, deep slip bands (SBs) are first noticed in the primary α (αp) phase lying at an angle of about 45° to the direction of the applied tension, while they are first observed in the coarse lath α (αL) phase or its interface at grain boundaries (GBs) for the lamellar microstructure. The ß matrix undergoes larger plastic deformation than the αL phase in the bimodal microstructure before fracture. Microcracks are prone to nucleate at the αp/ß interface and interconnect, finally causing the fracture of the bimodal microstructure. The plastic deformation is mainly restricted to within the coarse αL phase at GBs, which promotes the formation of microcracks and the intergranular fracture of the lamellar microstructure.

Harmful macroalgal blooms (HMBs) in China's coastal water: Green and golden tides.

Harmful macroalgal blooms (HMBs) have been increasing along China's coasts, causing significant social impacts and economic losses. Besides extensive eutrophication sustaining coastal seaweed tides, the stimuli and dynamics of macroalgal blooms in China are quite complex and require comprehensive studies. This review summarizes the distinct genesis, development and drifting patterns of three HMBs that have persistently occurred in China's coastal waters during recent years: transregional green tides of drifting Ulva prolifera in the Yellow Sea (YS), local green tides of multiple suspended seaweeds in the Bohai Sea and large-scale golden tides of pelagic Sargassum horneri in the YS and East China Sea. While specific containment measures have been developed and implemented to effectively suppress large-scale green tides in the YS, the origin and blooming mechanism of golden tides remain unclear due to lack of field research. With the broad occurrence of HMBs and their increased accumulation on beaches and coastal waters, it is necessary to investigate the blooming mechanism and ecological impacts of these HMBs, especially with the growing stresses of climate change and anthropogenic disturbances.

Contribution of the offshore detached Changjiang (Yangtze River) Diluted Water to the formation of hypoxia in summer.

The Changjiang (Yangtze River) Diluted Water (CDW) plume substantially impacts the biogeochemical processes off the estuary and its adjacent area, resulting in considerable environmental and ecological effects. Based on survey data in the northeastern area off the Changjiang Estuary (CE) obtained in the summers of 2008 and 2013, the hypoxia induced by the offshore detached CDW plume and the associated controlling mechanisms were investigated. The results show that the offshore transport of the CDW plume caused a dispersed low-salinity area in the northeastern area off the CE during summer, in sharp contrast with the surrounding high-salinity and high-density waters. There was a hypoxic area with low-pH (i.e., acidification) near the 40-m isobath in bottom waters in the northeastern area off the CE, and its position generally corresponded to the surface offshore CDW plume. In the area affected by the offshore low-salinity water, the surface patch-like phytoplankton bloom and the organic debris produced in situ were the material drivers of the bottom oxygen consumption and led to the corresponding relationship between the bottom hypoxic zone and the high chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) area at the surface. We consider that the local stratification caused by the offshore low-salinity water and the stable environment within the detached CDW plume constituted the external dynamic conditions for maintaining the bottom hypoxia. Our results demonstrate that the offshore detached CDW plume in the northeastern area off the CE may contribute to the formation of a local hypoxic center with low pH. This study would provide basis for understanding of the physical-biogeochemical processes and environmental responses in the offshore areas of the CDW plume.

An anomalous bi-macroalgal bloom caused by Ulva and Sargassum seaweeds during spring to summer of 2017 in the western Yellow Sea, China.

An unprecedented bi-macroalgal bloom caused by Ulva prolifera and Sargassum horneri occurred from spring to summer of 2017 in the western Yellow Sea (YS) of China, where annual large-scale green tides have prevailed for a decade. The distinct genesis and blooming dynamics of the two seaweed species were detected and described. Unlike the consistent raft-origin of the floating Ulva biomass, the massive pelagic S. horneri was derived from multiple sources (residual seaweeds from the previous winter bloom and those drifting from offshore water in the south). The scale of the green tide in 2017 was found smaller than the previous four years. We then discussed a number of hypotheses attributing to this reduction, including reduced epiphytic green algae from aquaculture rafts and the influences of the massive pelagic S. horneri. However, further research is needed to identify the origin of the pelagic S. horneri in the western YS and any affiliations with the benthic populations, and to elucidate the interactions of this species with the annual green tides and the ensuing consequences.

A density-watershed algorithm (DWA) method for robust, accurate and automatic classification of dual-fluorescence and four-cluster droplet digital PCR data.

Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a single-molecule amplification technology with broad applications in precision medicine and clinical diagnosis. Dual-fluorescence and four-cluster ddPCR (two/four-ddPCR) assay is an effective way to quantify copy numbers. Currently, two/four-ddPCR data are usually classified with manual thresholds. For clinical applications, automatic and accurate methods are required to avoid subjectivity in diagnosis. Although there are some automatic classification algorithms, their accuracy and robustness still need to be improved to meet the needs of clinical diagnosis. Therefore, a new method is in high demand to automatically classify two/four-ddPCR data in an accurate and robust way. Here, a novel density-watershed algorithm (DWA) method was developed for the accurate, automatic and unsupervised classification of two/four-ddPCR data. First, data gridding was applied to a scatter plot of the fluorescence signal intensity to calculate data densities. Based on the data densities, the watershed algorithm was used to divide the gridded scatter plot into isolated regions automatically. Next, an optimal cluster pattern was determined based on these isolated regions, and excess regions were merged. Finally, the two/four-ddPCR data were classified based on the merged regions, and DNA template copy numbers were calculated accordingly. Using the DWA method for the quantification of both wild types and mutants of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) L858R and T790M, the classification results were highly consistent with expectations, and significantly better than commonly-used automatic algorithms for now. The computed template copy numbers scaled proportionally to the relative concentration of input templates (r2 > 0.998) in four orders of magnitude with a good reproducibility, and achieved a limit of detection over 40 times lower than the commonly-used automatic algorithms. Furthermore, the DWA method was validated on 254 clinical DNA samples derived from frozen tissues, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues and peripheral blood. In most cases, the DWA method derived accurate and valid classification results. This highly effective DWA method may be widely used for automatically classifying two/four-ddPCR data, and it will greatly promote the application of ddPCR in clinical diagnosis.

Buoyancy potential of dominant green macroalgal species in the Yellow Sea's green tides, China.

Large-scale green tides caused by Ulva prolifera, occurred for 12 consecutive years in the Yellow Sea of China. To resolve the abrupt shift in species composition between attached and floating macroalgal assemblages, field experiments were conducted from May to July 2017 to quantify the net buoyancy force and compare the floating potential of the common green macroalgae from the red algal seaweed Pyropia yezoensis rafts. At the same time, U. prolifera from different sampling locations were tested to study variable buoyancy of this species and the associated influencing factors. Our results illustrated a stronger positive buoyant force and a proportionally greater buoyancy capacity of U. prolifera, compared to the other co-occurring species. Buoyancy is a dynamic trait and is closely correlated with light intensity, morphology and physiological status. The positive buoyancy of U. prolifera is an important factor that helps explain its predominance in the Yellow Sea's large-scale green tides.