Compact freeform-surface-based Offner imaging spectrometer with both a long-slit and broadband.

Current imaging spectrometers with conventional optical elements face major challenges in achieving a large field of view (FOV), broadband and compact structure simultaneously. In this paper, a compact freeform-surface-based Offner imaging spectrometer with both a long-slit and a broadband (CISLS) is proposed. To keep a long slit and an anastigmatic imaging, the slit off-axis amount of the initial system is within a specific range theoretically. While to achieve a compact structure, the slit off-axis amount should be away from the specific range and as small as possible. Based on the vector aberration theory and the analytical study, Zernike polynomial terms Z5 and Z6 introduce the astigmatism independent of FOV. They are utilized to well balance the astigmatism when the slit off-axis amount is away from the specific range, helping a miniaturization of the system. Other Zernike polynomial terms below the eighth order introduce the astigmatism related to FOV. They contribute to balancing the astigmatism that produced with the increasing of the FOV, thus achieving a wide FOV. The design results show that the proposed CISLS with a high spectral resolution of 2.7 nm achieves a long slit of 30 mm in length but a small size of only 60 mm × 64 mm × 90 mm in volume under a broadband from 400 nm to 1000 nm.

Compact multi-spectral-resolution Wynne-Offner imaging spectrometer with a long slit.

Current imaging spectrometers are developed towards a large field of view (FOV) as well as high resolution to obtain more spatial and spectral information. However, imaging spectrometers with a large FOV and high resolution produce a huge image data cube, which increases the difficulty of spectral data acquisition and processing. In practical applications, it is more reasonable and helpful to identify different targets within a large FOV with different spectral resolutions. In this paper, a compact multi-spectral-resolution Wynne-Offner imaging spectrometer with a long slit is proposed by introducing a special diffraction grating with multi-groove densities at different areas. With the increasing of the groove density and the slit length, the astigmatism of the Wynne-Offner imaging spectrometer increases sharply. Therefore, the relationships between the astigmatism and both the groove density and slit length are studied. Moreover, a holographic grating is introduced. The holographic aberrations produced are utilized to balance the residual astigmatism of the imaging spectrometer. The design results show that the system is only 60m m×115m m×103m m in volume but achieves both a long slit of 20 mm in length and a waveband from 400 nm to 760 nm with three kinds of spectral resolutions of 2 nm, 1 nm, and 0.5 nm. The designed compact multi-spectral-resolution Wynne-Offner imaging spectrometer can be widely applied in the fields of crop classification and pest detection, which require both a large FOV and multiple spectral resolutions.

Vascular plant communities and biocrusts act as controlling factors in mitigating soil erosion on the Great Wall in a semi-humid area of Northwestern China.

The Great Wall, a World Heritage Site and a vertical wall habitat, is under threat of soil erosion. The role of vascular plants and biocrust in controlling soil erosion has attracted attention, yet our knowledge of the underlying mechanism is limited, and there is a lack of systematic strategies for erosion prevention and control. In this study, we quantified the vascular plant community functional composition (including species diversity, functional diversity, and community-weighted mean), biocrust coverage, and soil erosion levels associated with seven different zones (lower, middle, and upper zones on East and West faces, plus wall crest) of the Great Wall. We then employed a combination of linear regression analysis, random forest model, and structural equation model to evaluate the individual and combined effects, as well as the direction and relative importance of these factors in reducing soil erosion. The results indicated that the vascular plant species richness, species diversity, functional richness, community-weighted mean, and moss crust coverage decreased significantly from the crest to the lower zone of the Great Wall (P < 0.05), and were negatively correlated with the soil erosion area and depth on both sides of the Great Wall (P < 0.05). This suggests that higher zones on the wall favored the colonization and growth of biocrusts and vascular plants and that biocrusts and vascular plants reduced soil erosion on the wall. Based on these findings, we propose a "restoration framework" for managing soil erosion on walls, based on biocrust and vascular plant communities (namely target species selection, plant community construction, biocrust inoculation, and maintenance of community stability), which aims to address the urgent need for more effective soil erosion prevention and control strategies on the Great Wall and provide practical methods that practitioners can utilize.

Inhibitor of P-glycoprotein-mediated drug transport by curcumin in broiler chickens.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of curcumin in the regulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and its influence on the pharmacokinetics of P-gp substrates. SAMPLE: 39 broiler chicken and chicken embryonic primary hepatocytes. METHODS: Chicken embryonic primary hepatocytes were treated with curcumin, after which cell viability, P-gp expression, and transport were assessed. Broiler chickens were pretreated with curcumin, after which P-gp expression and the pharmacokinetic behavior of orally administered sulfadiazine (a substrate of P-gp) were measured. RESULTS: The preliminary results showed that the viability of chicken embryonic primary hepatocytes was enhanced by pretreatment with 40, 60, and 100 µM curcumin. Curcumin inhibits the expression and transport of P-gp. In vivo experiments showed that curcumin decreased the expression of P-gp in the broiler chicken liver, kidney, and small intestine. Pretreatment with curcumin changed the pharmacokinetic behavior of orally administered sulfadiazine by increasing the area under the curve (47.36 vs 70.35 h·mg/L, P < .01) and peak concentration (10.1 vs 14.53 µg/mL, P < .01). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Curcumin inhibited the expression and efflux of chicken P-gp, thereby improving the oral bioavailability of P-gp substrate drugs. These findings provide a rationale for exploiting herbal-drug interactions in veterinary practice to improve the absorption of drugs.

Gene Expression of Abcc2 and Its Regulation by Chicken Xenobiotic Receptor.

Membrane transporter multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2/Abcc2) exhibits high pharmaco-toxicological relevance because it exports multiple cytotoxic compounds from cells. However, no detailed information about the gene expression and regulation of MRP2 in chickens is yet available. Here, we sought to investigate the expression distribution of Abcc2 in different tissues of chicken and then determine whether Abcc2 expression is induced by chicken xenobiotic receptor (CXR). The bioinformatics analyses showed that MRP2 transporters have three transmembrane structural domains (MSDs) and two highly conserved nucleotide structural domains (NBDs), and a close evolutionary relationship with turkeys. Tissue distribution analysis indicated that Abcc2 was highly expressed in the liver, kidney, duodenum, and jejunum. When exposed to metyrapone (an agonist of CXR) and ketoconazole (an antagonist of CXR), Abcc2 expression was upregulated and downregulated correspondingly. We further confirmed that Abcc2 gene regulation is dependent on CXR, by overexpressing and interfering with CXR, respectively. We also demonstrated the induction of Abcc2 expression and the activity of ivermectin, with CXR being a likely mediator. Animal experiments demonstrated that metyrapone and ivermectin induced Abcc2 in the liver, kidney, and duodenum of chickens. Together, our study identified the gene expression of Abcc2 and its regulation by CXR in chickens, which may provide novel targets for the reasonable usage of veterinary drugs.

Exploring the role of TESOL and digital technology in attitudinal change and sustainable learning for students of higher education.

PURPOSE: This study explores the potential of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) in encouraging attitudinal change and long-term learning and how digital technology might influence this process. The significance of the study lies in its insights to educators and policymakers to enhance language education quality and promote sustainable learning in higher education. Using a socio-cultural theoretical framework, the study presents a novel perspective on integrating digital technology into language education for improved learning outcomes. Additionally, the findings can facilitate the development of inventive teaching methods incorporating digital technology, resulting in better language education outcomes in higher education. METHODOLOGY: The population comprised faculty members of Chinese universities. Data was collected through a standardized questionnaire from 307 respondents and analyzed using Mplus. FINDINGS: The findings can be incorporated into language instruction rules to enhance language acquisition and advance intercultural understanding. Based on the study's findings, researchers can conduct additional research on applying digital technology in language instruction and investigate its potential to support long-term learning and attitude development. As they work to create successful techniques for encouraging sustainable learning habits and good attitudes toward language acquisition, TESOL practitioners, educators, policymakers, and researchers will be impacted by the findings. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The findings can help TESOL practitioners create efficient teaching methods that encourage long-term learning habits and favorable attitudes toward language learning. Language teachers can use the results to improve their instruction methods and their effects on student learning. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Social and cultural theory supports this study's model. The approach helps in defining and measuring the TESOL, sustainable Learning. The study further established the moderating role of digital technology and the mediating part of Improved self-efficacy and self-regulated Learning.

Integrative analysis revealed the role of glucagon-like peptide-2 in improving experimental colitis in mice by inhibiting inflammatory pathways, regulating glucose metabolism, and modulating gut microbiota.

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by recurrent and remitting inflammation of the mucosa of the colon and rectum, the incidence of which is on the rise. Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is a newly discovered neurotrophic factor, but its efficacy and mechanism of action in UC remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effects and potential targets of GLP-2 on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC in mice through integrative analysis. Methods: The effects of GLP-2 on UC were assessed by calculating the disease activity index, colonic mucosal damage index, and pathological histological scores. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of GLP-2, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3). The 16SrRNA gene was used to detect changes in gut microbiota in mouse colonic tissues, and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) blood glucose levels were used to analyze the differences in flora. Results: The results showed that GLP-2 could reduce the inflammation of UC mice, which may be achieved by inhibiting the potential targets of NF-κB, and Janus kinase (JAK)/STAT3 inflammatory pathways, regulating sugar metabolism, increasing dominant species, and improving microbial diversity. Discussion: This study provides new insight into the potential of GLP-2 for achieving more ideal UC treatment goals in future.

Slo1 deficiency impaired skeletal muscle regeneration and slow-twitch fibre formation.

BACKGROUND: It has been observed that Slo1 knockout mice have reduced motor function, and people with certain Slo1 mutations have movement problems, but there is no answer whether the movement disorder is caused by the loss of Slo1 in the nervous system, or skeletal muscle, or both. Here, to ascertain in which tissues Slo1 functions to regulate motor function and offer deeper insight in treating related movement disorder, we generated skeletal muscle-specific Slo1 knockout mice, studied the functional changes in Slo1-deficient skeletal muscle and explored the underlying mechanism. METHODS: We used skeletal muscle-specific Slo1 knockout mice (Myf5-Cre; Slo1flox/flox mice, called CKO) as in vivo models to examine the role of Slo1 in muscle growth and muscle regeneration. The forelimb grip strength test was used to assess skeletal muscle function and treadmill exhaustion test was used to test whole-body endurance. Mouse primary myoblasts derived from CKO (myoblast/CKO) mice were used to extend the findings to in vitro effects on myoblast differentiation and fusion. Quantitative real-time PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence approaches were used to analyse Slo1 expression during myoblast differentiation and muscle regeneration. To investigate the involvement of genes in the regulation of muscle dysfunction induced by Slo1 deletion, RNA-seq analysis was performed in primary myoblasts. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry were used to identify the protein interacting with Slo1. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to identify whether Slo1 deletion affects NFAT activity. RESULTS: We found that the body weight and size of CKO mice were not significantly different from those of Slo1flox/flox mice (called WT). Deficiency of Slo1 in muscles leads to reduced endurance (~30% reduction, P < 0.05) and strength (~30% reduction, P < 0.001). Although there was no difference in the general morphology of the muscles, electron microscopy revealed a considerable reduction in the content of mitochondria in the soleus muscle (~40% reduction, P < 0.01). We found that Slo1 was expressed mainly on the cell membrane and showed higher expression in slow-twitch fibres. Slo1 protein expression is progressively reduced during muscle postnatal development and regeneration after injury, and the expression is strongly reduced during myoblast differentiation. Slo1 deletion impaired myoblast differentiation and slow-twitch fibre formation. Mechanistically, RNA-seq analysis showed that Slo1 influences the expression of genes related to myogenic differentiation and slow-twitch fibre formation. Slo1 interacts with FAK to influence myogenic differentiation, and Slo1 deletion diminishes NFAT activity. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal that Slo1 deficiency impaired skeletal muscle regeneration and slow-twitch fibre formation.

The inhibitory effect of KIAA1456 on the proliferation and metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer through SSX1 and AKT signaling pathway.

Background: KIAA1456 is effective in the inhibition of tumorigenesis. We previously confirmed that KIAA1456 inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). In the current study, the specific molecular mechanisms and clinical significance of KIAA1456 underlying the repression of EOC were investigated. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the protein expression of KIAA1456 and SSX1 in EOC and normal ovarian tissues. The relationship of KIAA1456 and SSX1 with overall survival of patients with EOC was analysed with Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank tests. KIAA1456 was overexpressed and silenced in HO8910PM cells with lentivirus. Anticancer activities of KIAA1456 was tested by CCK8, plate clone formation assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay. Xenograft tumour models were used to investigate the effects of KIAA1456 on tumour growth in vivo. Bioinformatics analyses of microarray profiling indicated that SSX1 and the PI3K/AKT were differentially expressed in KIAA1456-overexpressing and control cells. The downstream factors of PI3K/AKT that are related to cell growth and apoptosis. Results: KIAA1456 expression was lower in EOC than in normal ovarian tissues. Its expression negatively correlated with pathological grade. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that KIAA1456 negatively correlated with SSX1 expression. The overexpression of KIAA1456 in HO8910PM cells inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion and promoted apoptosis. The silencing of KIAA1456 resulted in the opposite behaviour. A xenograft tumour experiment showed that KIAA1456 overexpression inhibited tumour growth in vivo. The overexpression of KIAA1456 inhibited SSX1 and AKT phosphorylation in HO8910PM cells, causing the inactivation of the AKT pathway and eventually reducing the expression of PCNA, CyclinD1, MMP9 and Bcl2. The silencing of KIAA1456 resulted in the opposite behaviour. SSX1 overexpression could partially reverse the KIAA1456-induced biological effect. Conclusion: KIAA1456 may serve as a tumour suppressor via the inactivation of SSX1 and the AKT pathway, providing a promising therapeutic target for EOC.

Ab initio studies on graphyne (GY) for the detection of rare bases in DNA.

Graphyne (GY) and functionalized GY have become cutting-edge research materials for the scientific community. In the present work, the adsorption of rare bases -cytosine (Cyt), 5-methylcytosine (5-meCyt), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmCyt), 5-formoxylcytosine (5-fCyt), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5-caCyt) on pristine, B- and N-doped γ-GY was investigated by the first-principles density functional method; methods were designed to distinguish these rare bases by the translocation time and sensitivity. Initially, the stability of pristine, B- and N-doped γ-GY was ascertained by the cohesion energy, and the electronic properties were also analyzed by the energy gap and density of state (DOS). When adsorbing over pristine γ-GY, the translocation times of rare bases were 1.34 × 101, 4.71 × 101, 1.19 × 104, 3.77 × 10-1 and 1.93 × 101 s, respectively. The sensitivities were 2.19%, 0.88%, 0.22%, 2.41%, and 0.88%, respectively, which indicates that they were not clearly separated. By doping the impurity atom, the electronic properties can be fine-tuned to change their selectivity. When adsorbing on the B-doped γ-GY, these rare bases showed sensitivities of 24.69%, 27.20%, 43.32%, 29.97%, and 32.24%, respectively. The rare bases showed sensitivities of 10.15%, 9.02%, 17.29%, 0.38%, and 3.76%, respectively, when adsorbing over the N-doped γ-GY, which greatly increases selectivities for recognization. Thus, these results indicate that pristine and doped γ-GY, as the electrical sensing material, can be used to detect rare bases.

An outbreak of tuberculosis in endangered northern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leonina) and milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus) from a zoo in China.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a zoonotic disease that affects humans and domesticated and wild animals. Animals in zoos are potentially an important source of TB for humans; however they are often neglected in routine disease surveillance programs. This investigation reports an outbreak of TB in milu deer and northern pig-tailed macaques in a zoo in Wuhan, China, which highlighted the need for improved prevention and control of TB in China. METHODS: Between 24 November and 9 December 2020 two milu deer and a northern pig-tailed macaque that were displaying signs of wasting died. Post-mortem, histopathological diagnosis and acid fast staining were used for the dead animals. Multiple PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) was performed to identify the bacterial in both milu deer and northern pig-tailed macaque. The serum antibody iELISA for MTBC was then performed for all the surviving milu deer and northern pig-tailed macaques. Six seropositive milu deer and a seropositive northern pig-tailed macaque were subsequently euthanised and, along with two other dead milu deer, necropsied. DNA from these tissue samples was extracted and detected MTBC using PCR and Real-time PCR. Subsequently bacterial isolation was used to confirm the infection. RESULTS: The lungs of the dead animals displayed gross and histological TB-like lesions and changes, and red staining bacilli were detected in smears of the lesions by microscopy after acid fast staining. Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) was detected in the two milu deer and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) in the northern pig-tailed macaque using multiple PCR for MTBC. 35.3% surviving milu deer and 50% surviving northern pig-tailed macaques MTBC serologically positive. Six of the euthanised milu deer were also positive on a DNA test for M. bovis and the euthanised northern pig-tailed macaque was positive to M. tb. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of tuberculosis in the endangered species, milu deer and northern pig-tailed macaques, in China, and warrants urgent attention by researchers and conservation authorities. These cases highlight the need for expanding surveillance for MTBC to zoos in China.

In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagent Evaluation of Commercially Available Cardiac Troponin I Assay Kits Using H/D Exchange Mass Spectrometry for Antibody-Epitope Mapping.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is the biomarker of choice and considered a gold standard for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. However, the quantitative results of cTnI assay kits from different manufacturers are not comparable. Based on the H/D exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) workflow, we developed an in-vitro diagnostic reagent antibody evaluation strategy to analyze the interactions of epitopes and antibody cocktails─(R195, F12, S13) and (D1, D2, pAb2). The HDX results indicate that the quantitative result bias of the different reagents originates from the ability of antibodies to recognize various cTnI complex forms, such as free cTnI, hydrolyzed cTnI, and cTnI combined with cTnT or TnC as binary or ternary complexes (cTnIC, cTnTIC), in blood based on different epitopes. The data obtained from the peptide HDX of interest after treatment with various antibody cocktails clearly indicated epitope specificity. The consistency of quantitative results can be improved by a thorough investigation into the epitopes recognized by the antibodies of various diagnostic kits, which will lead to the standardization of cTnI diagnosis.

Correlation between decreased plasma miR-29a and vascular endothelial injury induced by hyperlipidemia.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for vascular endothelial injury and atherosclerosis leading to cardiovascular diseases. Early diagnosis of vascular endothelial injury is important for the prevention and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate sensitive circulating microRNA (miRNA) as a potential diagnostic biomarker of vascular endothelial injury in a hyperlipidemic rat model. METHODS: The miRNA expression profile was detected by miRNA microarray. The hyperlipidemic rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of vitamin D3 combined with a high-fat diet. Plasma miRNA levels were measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the types of highly expressed miRNAs between human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). A total of 10 highly expressed miRNAs in endothelial cells were selected as candidate miRNAs, including miR-21, miR-126, let-7a, miR-23a, miR-221, miR-125b, miR-26a, miR-29a, miR-16, and miR-100. The plasma levels of let-7a, miR-126, miR-21, and miR-26a were significantly elevated in hyperlipidemic rats at 30 and 50 days after modeling, while the plasma level of miR-29a was significantly decreased. No significant change was found in the plasma levels of miR-125b, miR-23a, miR-221, miR-100, and miR-16. Interestingly, a significant reduction in plasma miR-29 level was detected as early as 20 days after modeling, which was earlier than for soluble intercellular adhesion molecule­1 (sICAM-1). CONCLUSION: The plasma levels of endothelial cell-enriched miRNAs were correlated with vascular endothelial injury induced by hyperlipidemia. miR-29a might serve as a potential early diagnostic biomarker of endothelial injury-related diseases.

Features of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy-diagnosed fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a common type among all the interstitial lung diseases, and transbronchial lung cryobiopsy is an alternative diagnostic technique for interstitial lung diseases. In this study, we describe the clinical and pathological features of fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis diagnosed with transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC). METHODS: A total of 46 diffused parenchyma lung disease (DPLD) patients received TBLC were included in this study. Medical records including medical history spirometry examinations, 6-min walk test (6MWT) results, high resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) scans, BAL, and histopathology were collected. Results of HRCT and histopathology were compared and classified, especially. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were diagnosed with fibrotic HP, the mean age of whom was 56.3 ± 12.1 years, and 62.5% of them were male. Three of the 16 patients had been misdiagnosed as tuberculosis and received antituberculosis medications, five patients had been diagnosed as unclassifiable pulmonary fibrosis, and five patients had been diagnosed as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Thirteen (81.3%) patients had a normal lymphocyte count in BAL. The pathological features of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) were detected in 11 (68.8%) of the cases, poor defined granulomatous was detected in nine (56.3%) of the cases, and bronchiolocentric fibrosis was detected in two (12.5%) of the 16 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis should be included in differential diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis. Pathological characteristics of fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis could be demonstrated from cryobiopsy lung tissue. TBLC is recommended as an alternative diagnostic technique, which may improve the specificity of hypersensitivity pneumonia detection, and UIP is the most frequent pathological finding.

Mapping Chinese annual gross primary productivity with eddy covariance measurements and machine learning.

Annual gross primary productivity (AGPP) is the basis for grain production and terrestrial carbon sequestration. Mapping regional AGPP from site measurements provides methodological support for analysing AGPP spatiotemporal variations thereby ensures regional food security and mitigates climate change. Based on 641 site-year eddy covariance measuring AGPP from China, we built an AGPP mapping scheme based on its formation and selected the optimal mapping way, which was conducted through analysing the predicting performances of divergent mapping tools, variable combinations, and mapping approaches in predicting observed AGPP variations. The reasonability of the selected optimal scheme was confirmed by assessing the consistency between its generating AGPP and previous products in spatiotemporal variations and total amount. Random forest regression tree explained 85 % of observed AGPP variations, outperforming other machine learning algorithms and classical statistical methods. Variable combinations containing climate, soil, and biological factors showed superior performance to other variable combinations. Mapping AGPP through predicting AGPP per leaf area (PAGPP) explained 86 % of AGPP variations, which was superior to other approaches. The optimal scheme was thus using a random forest regression tree, combining climate, soil, and biological variables, and predicting PAGPP. The optimal scheme generating AGPP of Chinese terrestrial ecosystems decreased from southeast to northwest, which was highly consistent with previous products. The interannual trend and interannual variation of our generating AGPP showed a decreasing trend from east to west and from southeast to northwest, respectively, which was consistent with data-oriented products. The mean total amount of generated AGPP was 7.03 ± 0.45 PgC yr-1 falling into the range of previous works. Considering the consistency between the generated AGPP and previous products, our optimal mapping way was suitable for mapping AGPP from site measurements. Our results provided a methodological support for mapping regional AGPP and other fluxes.

Case report: Recurrent lung infections following treatment with pralsetinib for an elderly patient with RET-fusion positive NSCLC.

Patients with RET fusions represent 1-2% of all cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the majority of whom are younger, and are extremely rare in the elderly. As a selective RET inhibitor, pralsetinib has been shown to be efficacious and well-tolerated in patients with RET-fusion NSCLC. Nevertheless, there are currently insufficient data available for assessing the activity and safety of pralsetinib in elderly patients with NSCLC. Herein, we report an 81-year-old NSCLC patient with KIF5B-RET fusion, who achieved stable disease for more than 9 months at a low-dose of pralsetinib as second-line therapy. Of particular note, during pralsetinb therapy, his clinical course was complicated by cryptococcal pneumonia and staphylococcus aureus lung abscess. Our study demonstrates that pralsetinib is an effective therapeutic option that provides survival benefits for elderly NSCLC patients harboring RET fusion. However, during pralsetinb therapy, treating physicians should maintain particular vigilance for the increased risk of infection, especially in elderly patients.

Fecal microbiota transplantation improves intestinal inflammation in mice with ulcerative colitis by modulating intestinal flora composition and down-regulating NF-kB signaling pathway.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine. It is characterized with recurrent. The pathogenesis is mainly associated with environmental factors, genetic susceptibility, dysbiosis of the intestinal flora and autoimmunity. The role of intestinal flora disorders in the pathogenesis and progression of UC is becoming increasingly prominent. More and more studies have confirmed that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) could reshape the composition of UC intestinal flora and it is expected to be a new strategy for UC treatment. In this study, we used 2% Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 7 days to induce acute colitis model in mice, and interfere with FMT and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). ELISA and immunohistochemistry were applied to detect the concentration and expression of NF-κB p65, STAT3 and IL-6. 16SrRNA high-throughput sequencing was performed to explore the composition of intestinal flora. The aim was to study the treatment effect of FMT on UC mice and explore its potential mechanism by observing the changes of intestinal flora composition and diversity, and its relationship with NF-κB p65, STAT3 and IL-6 expression. We conclude that FMT could improve intestinal flora disorder in mice with ulcerative colitis, regulate NF-κB signaling pathway, and significantly reduce intestinal inflammation in UC mice.

Differential Influences of Wind-Blown Sand Burial on Bacterial and Fungal Communities Inhabiting Biological Soil Crusts in a Temperate Desert, China.

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are an integration of external photoautotrophs and internal heterotrophic communities. Sand burial is a ubiquitous disturbance that affects the biodiversity and ecological function of BSCs, but little is known about the influence of sand burial on microbial communities in arid sandy deserts. Here, based on a long-term field experiment and utilizing high-throughput sequencing, we assessed the influence of sand burial on bacterial and fungal communities inhabiting two typical successional stages of BSCs (cyanobacterial crusts for early successional stage and mixed crusts for late successional stage) at the three-sand buried depth (0, 0.5, and 10 mm) in the Tengger Desert, Northern China. We found that the diversity, abundance, and composition of the bacterial and fungal communities were all altered by the sand burial treatment. Different indicator taxa were identified in unburied and buried (shallow and deep) BSCs. Changes in soil properties caused by sand burial have been suggested as a possible cause of changes in the bacterial and fungal community composition in BSCs.

Prenatal diagnosis of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection using 2D and HDlive flow combined with spatiotemporal image correlation.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to examine the application value of two-dimensional (2D) and high-definition live (HDlive) flow combined with spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) in diagnosing fetal total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). METHODS: Seventeen cases of fetal TAPVC were diagnosed using 2D and HDlive Flow combined with STIC. These cases were then retrospectively analyzed to examine the value of using 2D and HDlive Flow combined with STIC in the diagnosis of TAPVC. RESULTS: 2D and HDlive Flow combined with STIC detected 13 cases of supracardiac TAPVC (two isolated cases, seven cases with right atrial isomerism (RAI), four cases with other complex malformations), one case of isolated intra-cardiac TAPVC, and three cases of cardiac TAPVC (two isolated cases and one case with complex congenital heart anomaly). Small left atrium (LA), the absence of PVs drainage into the LA and the increased retroatrial distance between LA and the descending aorta (DAo) were significant signs that should raise the suspicion of fetal TAPVC. HDlive Flow combined with STIC can dynamically display the TAPVC which may assit the prenatal diagnosis of TAPVC. CONCLUSION: 2D and HDlive Flow combined with STIC can assit the diagnosis of fetal TAPVC abnormalities and has important clinical value.