Comparison of surgical effect in active and inactive Dysthyroid Optic Neuropathy after Endoscopic Transnasal Medial Orbital Decompression.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the changes in orbital soft tissue volume and visual function after endoscopic transnasal medial orbital decompression in patients with active and inactive dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). METHODS: This prospective, cohort study recruited 112 patients (112 eyes) with DON who were divided into an active and inactive DON group (56 eyes each) by clinical activity scores. All patients underwent endoscopic transnasal medial orbital decompression. The pre- and post-operative orbital soft tissue volumes were measured with high-resolution computed tomography (CT) using Mimics software. Visual function, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual field (VF), and visual evoked potential (VEP), was recorded before and after surgery. RESULTS: Preoperatively, compared with the inactive DON group, the active DON group had greater extraocular muscle volume (EMV) and EMV/orbital volume (OV) ratio, but worse BCVA, VF, and exophthalmos. Postoperatively, although the EMV slightly increased, with the enlarged medial rectus muscle contributing dramatically, the EMV/OV ratio decreased in patients with DON. Besides, visual function including BCVA, VF, VEP and exophthalmos was also improved in both groups after surgery. There were no significant differences in postoperative OV; EMV; EMV/OV ratio; and the BCVA, VF, and VEP parameters between both groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with DON who did not respond well to steroids, regardless of disease activity, may benefit from orbital decompression via the decrease in the proportion of EMV in OV, especially patients with active DON, who showed more improved visual function than patients with inactive DON.

Surgical Outcomes of Standardized Endoscopical Deep Medial Orbital Decompression in Dysthyroid Optic Neuropathy.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to standardize the endoscopic deep medial orbital decompression surgery for better relief of optic nerve compression in dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). METHODS: A total of 128 eyes from patients received the standardized endoscopic deep medial orbital decompression surgery were recruited in this study. The efficacy of the procedure was assessed at a 1-month follow-up by the best-corrected visual acuity (VA), visual field (VF), and visual evoked potential (VEP). Clinical data were collected to explore the factors that affected visual recovery. Oxygen saturation of retinal blood vessels, retinal thickness, and vessel density were measured to demonstrate the potential recovery mechanisms. RESULTS: After surgery, the ratio of extraocular muscle volume in the orbital apex to orbital apex volume significantly decreased from 44.32 ± 22.31% to 36.82 ± 12.02% (p < 0.001). 96.87% of eyes' final VA improved; average VA improved from 0.93 ± 0.73 to 0.50 ± 0.60 at 1 week (p < 0.001) and 0.40 ± 0.53 at 1 month (p < 0.001). Postoperatively, VF and VEP also improved, the oxygen saturation of retinal arteries increased, and the retinal thickness was reduced. Preoperative VA, visual impairment duration, and clinical activity score evaluation were associated with visual recovery. CONCLUSION: In this study, we standardized the endoscopic deep medial orbital decompression, of which key point was to relieve pressure in the orbital apex and achieved satisfactory visual recovery in DON patients.

Geochemical distributions of natural radionuclides in surface soils and sediments impacted by lead-zinc mining activity.

This study investigated the distribution features of uranium-238 (238U), radium-226 (226Ra), thorium-232 (232Th), and potassium-40 (40K) and evaluated the associated environmental radiological hazards of the topsoil and river sediments in the Jinding lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) mine catchment from Southwest China. The activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K ranged from 24.0 ± 2.29-60.3 ± 5.26 Bq.kg-1, from 32.5 ± 3.95-69.8 ± 3.39 Bq.kg-1, from 15.3 ± 2.24-58.3 ± 4.92 Bq.kg-1, and from 203 ± 10.2-1140 ± 27.4 Bq.kg-1, respectively. The highest activity concentrations for all these radionuclides were primarily found in the mining areas and decreased with increasing distance from the mining sites. The radiological hazard indices, including radium equivalent activity, absorbed gamma dose rate in the air, outdoor annual effective dose equivalent, annual gonadal dose equivalent, and excess lifetime cancer, revealed that the highest values were observed in the mining area and downstream, specifically in the vicinity of the ore body. These elevated values exceeded the global mean value but remained below the threshold value, suggesting that routine protection measures for Pb-Zn miners during production activities are sufficient. The correlation analysis and cluster analysis revealed strong associations between radionuclides such as 238U, 226Ra, and 232Th, indicating a common source of these radionuclides. The activity ratios of 226Ra/238U, 226Ra/232Th, and 238U/40K varied with distance, suggesting the influence of geological processes and lithological composition on their transport and accumulation. In the mining catchment areas, the variations in these activity ratios increased indicated the impact of limestone material dilution on the levels of 232Th, 40K, and 238U in the upstream region. Moreover, the presence of sulfide minerals in the mining soils contributed to the enrichment of 226Ra and the removal of 238U caused those activity ratios decreased in the mining areas. Therefore, in the Jinding PbZn deposit, the patterns of mining activities and surface runoff processes in the catchment area favored the accumulation of 232Th and 226Ra over 40K and 238U. This study provides the first case study on the geochemical distributions of natural radionuclides in a typical Mississippi Valley-type PbZn mining area and offers fundamental information on radionuclide migration and baseline radiometric data for PbZn deposits worldwide.

Trace elements accumulation over a century in sediment cores from a tectonic lake on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau: Source identification and risk assessment.

A record of trace elements in lake sediment can help in assessing the impact of anthropogenic activities on aquatic environments. In the present work, the trace elements profiles (Cu, Cr, Pb, Zn, As, and Cd) were determined in four sediment cores (QH01, QH02, QH07, and Z04) collected in 2012 and 2014 from Lake Qinghai to reconstruct the history of anthropogenic activity in the watershed and to evaluate the pollution status and eco-environmental risks of a typical Third Pole lake environment over the past century. The concentrations of Cu, Cr, Pb, Zn, As, and Cd in these studies ranged between 19.4 and 34.2 µg g-1, 35.6-53.6 µg g-1, 3.10-26.8 µg g-1, 56.4-93.5 µg g-1, 6.20-15.3 µg g-1, and 0.086-0.572 µg g-1, respectively. Statistical analyses indicated that the Pb, Zn, and Cd contents combination of coal, gasoline burning, and agricultural activities in the Lake Qinghai catchment and larger-scale atmospheric inputs during the past 60 years. The enrichment factors for Pb, Zn, and Cd in the sediments of Lake Qinghai are considered to be related to the region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and national socioeconomic development. Enrich factor of Cd values was higher than 3.5 and maximum values of the geo-accumulation index of Pb and Cd were observed in the top layer of the sediment (0-2 cm), indicating moderate contamination. The RI values suggest that the risks to the ecological environment of Lake Qinghai are increasing since the 1950s. The results of this study illustrate that Lake Qinghai is still experiencing high trace elements pollution pressure due to the rapid environmental changes caused by anthropogenic activities on the remote and isolated Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Significant winter CO2 uptake by saline lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Direct measuring of CO2  flux remains challenging for global lakes. The traditional sampling and gas transfer models used to estimate lake CO2  fluxes are variable and uncertain, and ice-covered periods are often excluded from the annual carbon budget. Here, the first longtime (2013-2017) direct measurement of CO2  flux by eddy covariance system over the largest saline lake (Qinghai lake) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) revealed that ice-covered period draws large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere (-0.87 ± 0.38 g C m-2 d-1 ), a value more than twice the CO2  flux rate during the ice-free period (-0.41 ± 0.35 g C m-2 d-1 ). The total CO2 uptake by all saline lakes on the QTP was estimated to -10.28 ± 1.65 Tg C yr-1 , an equivalent to approximately one third of the net terrestrial ecosystems carbon sink in QTP. Our results indicate large sink for CO2 in winter is controlled by both seasonal hydrochemistry processes and lake ice absorption in saline lakes. This research also demonstrates decreasing CO2 uptake from the atmosphere by saline lakes on the QTP, which may turn carbon sinks to carbon sources with future warming.

A novel signal amplification strategy based on the use of copper nanoclusters for ratiometric fluorimetric determination of o-phenylenediamine.

Copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) were synthesized starting from glutathione and copper(II) nitrate. They show blue fluorescence peaking at 432 nm when excited at 334 nm. In the presence of o-phenylenediamine (OPD), the blue fluorescence is decreased, but a yellow fluorescence appears with a peak at 557 nm. UV-visible absorptiometry, fluorometry and fluorescence lifetime measurements were used to show that OPD is oxidized by the small fraction of copper(II) ions present in the CuNCs to form the oxidized form of o-phenylenediamine (oxOPD) which displays weak yellow fluorescence, while the blue fluorescence decreases. The ratio of fluorescences at 557 and 432 nm increases linearly in the 0.15 to 110 µg·L-1 OPD concentration range, and the detection limit is 93 ng·L-1. Compared to the method based on the use of dissolved Cu(II), the employment of CuNCs reduces the detection limit by a factor of 40. The method was applied to the determination of OPD in spiked environmental water and industrial wastewater samples. Recoveries ranged from 96.8 to 100.3%. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a ratiometric fluorometric method for detection of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) based on copper nanoclusters (CuNCs). OPD is oxidized by Cu2+ present in CuNCs to form the oxidized form of o-phenylenediamine (oxOPD). FRET occurred between oxOPD and CuNCs, and the F557/F432 value is amplified.

Historical changes in the major and trace elements in the sedimentary records of Lake Qinghai, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: implications for anthropogenic activities.

Sediment sequences in Lake Qinghai spanning the past 100 years were explored to assess the effects of changes in local land desertification, dust input and agriculture on sediment deposition in different parts of Lake Qinghai. Three short sediment cores (QH01, QH02, QH07) were collected from the main lake and one sediment core (Z04) from a sublake (Lake Gahai) of Lake Qinghai, China, during 2012 and 2013. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Al, Rb, Ti, Ca, and Sr were analysed to determine the effects of historical and regional anthropogenic activities in the Lake Qinghai catchment from 1910 to 2010. The elemental concentrations in the sediment cores ranged from 1.85 to 2.79% for Fe, 397 to 608 µg/g for Mn, 3.04 to 5.64% for Al, 13.5 to 19.7 µg/g for Rb, 0.171 to 0.268% for Ti, 9.43 to 13.9% for Ca, 652 to 1020 µg/g for Sr, and 0.049 to 0.075% for P. Good correlations were found between the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Al, and Rb, and the Ti/Al ratios in the sediments suggest that these elements share a similar source. The enrichment factors (EFs) of Ti [EF(Ti)] and P [EF(P)] in each core were utilized to reflect variations in anthropogenic activities from 1950 to 2010. EF(Ti) ranged from 1 to 1.17 in QH01 and QH02, reflecting the variation of land desertification areas in the Buha River catchment from 1950 to 2010. The EF(Ti) showed positive linear correlations with the variation in cropland area in Gangcha County, suggesting that agricultural activity in the Quanji River and Shaliu River catchments was enhanced from 1950 to 2010. The sediment records showed similar biogeochemical changes in most lakes and bays in China, indicating that the intensity of changes in anthropogenic activities was caused by national policy enforcement from the 1950s to 2010. EF(Ti) can serve as a tracer for anthropogenic activities in Lake Qinghai, with the anthropogenic activities in different parts of the Lake Qinghai catchment represented in the homologous sediments from parts of Lake Qinghai over the past 100 years. The variation of EF(P) increased from 1 to 1.55 from deep layer to upper layer in all sediment cores, reflecting the increased fertilizer input and tourism activity from 1980 to 2010, a period during which the lake was evolved into a eutrophic lake.

Neural correlates of three cognitive processes involved in theory of mind and discourse comprehension.

Neuroimaging studies have found that theory of mind (ToM) and discourse comprehension involve similar brain regions. These brain regions may be associated with three cognitive components that are necessarily or frequently involved in ToM and discourse comprehension, including social concept representation and retrieval, domain-general semantic integration, and domain-specific integration of social semantic contents. Using fMRI, we investigated the neural correlates of these three cognitive components by exploring how discourse topic (social/nonsocial) and discourse processing period (ending/beginning) modulate brain activation in a discourse comprehension (and also ToM) task. Different sets of brain areas showed sensitivity to discourse topic, discourse processing period, and the interaction between them, respectively. The most novel finding was that the right temporoparietal junction and middle temporal gyrus showed sensitivity to discourse processing period only during social discourse comprehension, indicating that they selectively contribute to domain-specific semantic integration. Our finding indicates how different domains of semantic information are processed and integrated in the brain and provides new insights into the neural correlates of ToM and discourse comprehension.

Differentiating drought legacy effects on vegetation growth over the temperate Northern Hemisphere.

In view of future changes in climate, it is important to better understand how different plant functional groups (PFGs) respond to warmer and drier conditions, particularly in temperate regions where an increase in both the frequency and severity of drought is expected. The patterns and mechanisms of immediate and delayed impacts of extreme drought on vegetation growth remain poorly quantified. Using satellite measurements of vegetation greenness, in-situ tree-ring records, eddy-covariance CO2 and water flux measurements, and meta-analyses of source water of plant use among PFGs, we show that drought legacy effects on vegetation growth differ markedly between forests, shrubs and grass across diverse bioclimatic conditions over the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Deep-rooted forests exhibit a drought legacy response with reduced growth during up to 4 years after an extreme drought, whereas shrubs and grass have drought legacy effects of approximately 2 years and 1 year, respectively. Statistical analyses partly attribute the differences in drought legacy effects among PFGs to plant eco-hydrological properties (related to traits), including plant water use and hydraulic responses. These results can be used to improve the representation of drought response of different PFGs in land surface models, and assess their biogeochemical and biophysical feedbacks in response to a warmer and drier climate.

The white matter structural network underlying human tool use and tool understanding.

The ability to recognize, create, and use complex tools is a milestone in human evolution. Widely distributed brain regions in parietal, frontal, and temporal cortices have been implicated in using and understanding tools, but the roles of their anatomical connections in supporting tool use and tool conceptual behaviors are unclear. Using deterministic fiber tracking in healthy participants, we first examined how 14 cortical regions that are consistently activated by tool processing are connected by white matter (WM) tracts. The relationship between the integrity of each of the 33 obtained tracts and tool processing deficits across 86 brain-damaged patients was investigated. WM tract integrity was measured with both lesion percentage (structural imaging) and mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values (diffusion imaging). Behavioral abilities were assessed by a tool use task, a range of conceptual tasks, and control tasks. We found that three left hemisphere tracts connecting frontoparietal and intrafrontal areas overlapping with left superior longitudinal fasciculus are crucial for tool use such that larger lesion and lower mean FA values on these tracts were associated with more severe tool use deficits. These tracts and five additional left hemisphere tracts connecting frontal and temporal/parietal regions, mainly overlapping with left superior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior frontooccipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus, and anterior thalamic radiation, are crucial for tool concept processing. Largely consistent results were also obtained using voxel-based symptom mapping analyses. Our results revealed the WM structural networks that support the use and conceptual understanding of tools, providing evidence for the anatomical skeleton of the tool knowledge network.

Shape similarities and differences in the skulls of scavenging raptors.

Feeding adaptations are a conspicuous feature of avian evolution. Bill and cranial shape as well as the jaw muscles are closely related to diet choice and feeding behaviors. Diurnal raptors of Falconiformes exhibit a wide range of foraging behaviors and prey preferences, and are assigned to seven dietary groups in this study. Skulls of 156 species are compared from the dorsal, lateral and ventral views, by using geometric morphometric techniques with those landmarks capturing as much information as possible on the overall shape of cranium, bill, orbits, nostrils and attachment area for different jaw muscles. The morphometric data showed that the skull shape of scavengers differ significantly from other raptors, primarily because of different feeding adaptations. As a result of convergent evolution, different scavengers share generalized common morphology, possessing relatively slender and lower skulls, longer bills, smaller and more sideward orbits, and more caudally positioned quadrates. Significant phylogenetic signals suggested that phylogeny also played important role in shape variation within scavengers. New World vultures can be distinguished by their large nostrils, narrow crania and small orbits; Caracaras typically show large palatines, crania and orbits, as well as short, deep and sharp bill.

White matter structural connectivity underlying semantic processing: evidence from brain damaged patients.

Widely distributed brain regions in temporal, parietal and frontal cortex have been found to be involved in semantic processing, but the anatomical connections supporting the semantic system are not well understood. In a group of 76 right-handed brain-damaged patients, we tested the relationship between the integrity of major white matter tracts and the presence of semantic deficits. The integrity of white matter tracts was measured by percentage of lesion voxels obtained in structural imaging and mean fractional anisotropy values obtained in diffusion tensor imaging. Semantic deficits were assessed by jointly considering the performance on three semantic tasks that vary in the modalities of input (visual and auditory stimuli) and output (oral naming and associative judgement). We found that the lesion volume and fractional anisotropy value of the left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, left anterior thalamic radiation, and left uncinate fasciculus significantly correlated with severity of impairment in all three semantic tasks. These associations remained significant even when we controlled for a wide range of potential confounding variables, including overall cognitive state, whole lesion volume, or type of brain damage. The effects of these three white matter tracts could not be explained by potential involvement of relevant grey matter, and were (relatively) specific to object semantic processing, as no correlation with performance on non-object semantic control tasks (oral repetition and number processing tasks) was observed. These results underscore the causal role of left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, left anterior thalamic radiation, and left uncinate fasciculus in semantic processing, providing direct evidence for (part of) the anatomical skeleton of the semantic network.

Obeticholic acid attenuates the intestinal barrier disruption in a rat model of short bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) features nutrients malabsorption and impaired intestinal barrier. Patients with SBS are prone to sepsis, intestinal flora dysbiosis and intestinal failure associated liver disease. Protecting intestinal barrier and preventing complications are potential strategies for SBS treatment. This study aims to investigate the effects of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, obeticholic acid (OCA), have on intestinal barrier and ecological environment in SBS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Through testing the small intestine and serum samples of patients with SBS, impaired intestinal barrier was verified, as evidenced by reduced expressions of intestinal tight junction proteins (TJPs), increased levels of apoptosis and epithelial cell damage. The intestinal expressions of FXR and related downstream molecules were decreased in SBS patients. Then, global FXR activator OCA was used to further dissect the potential role of the FXR in a rat model of SBS. Low expressions of FXR-related molecules were observed on the small intestine of SBS rats, along with increased proinflammatory factors and damaged barrier function. Furthermore, SBS rats possessed significantly decreased body weight and elevated death rate. Supplementation with OCA mitigated the damaged intestinal barrier and increased proinflammatory factors in SBS rats, accompanied by activated FXR-related molecules. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the regulatory role of OCA on gut microbiota in SBS rats was witnessed. LPS stimulation to Caco-2 cells induced apoptosis and overexpression of proinflammatory factors in vitro. OCA incubation of LPS-pretreated Caco-2 cells activated FXR-related molecules, increased the expressions of TJPs, ameliorated apoptosis and inhibited overexpression of proinflammatory factors. CONCLUSIONS: OCA supplementation could effectively ameliorate the intestinal barrier disruption and inhibit overexpression of proinflammatory factors in a rat model of SBS and LPS-pretreated Caco-2 cells. As a selective activator of FXR, OCA might realize its protective function through FXR activation.

Structural characterization of a distinct fucan sulfate from Pattalus mollis through an oligosaccharide mapping approach.

The elucidation of the precise structure of fucan sulfate is essential for understanding the structure-activity relationship and promoting potential biomedical applications. In this work, the structure of a distinct fucan sulfate fraction V (PmFS in Ref 15 and FSV in Ref 16 → PFV) from Pattalus mollis was investigated using an oligosaccharide mapping approach. Six size-homogeneous fractions were purified from the mild acid hydrolyzed PFV and identified as fucitols, disaccharides and trisaccharides by 1D/2D NMR and MS analysis. Significantly, the sulfation pattern, glycosidic linkages, and sequences of all the oligosaccharides were unambiguously identified. The common 2-desulfation of the reducing end residue of the oligosaccharides was observed. Overall, the backbone of PFV was composed of L-Fuc2S (major) and L-Fuc3S (minor) linked by α1,4 glycosidic bonds. Importantly, the branches contain both monosaccharide and disaccharide linked to the backbone by α1,3 glycosidic linkages. Thus, the tentative structure of natural PFV was shown to be {-(R-α1,3)-L-Fuc2S-α1,4-(L-Fuc2S/3S-α1,4)x-}n, where R is L-Fuc(2S)4S-α1,3/4-L-Fuc4S(0S)- or L-Fuc(2S)4S-. Our results provide insight into the heterogeneous structure of the fucan sulfate found in sea cucumbers. Additionally, PFV and its fractions showed strong anticoagulant and anti-iXase activities, which may be related to the distinct structure of PFV.

Geochemical Distribution and Environmental Risks of Radionuclides in Soils and Sediments Runoff of a Uranium Mining Area in South China.

Uranium mining activities have contributed to the distribution and uptake of radionuclides, which have increased the active concentrations of natural radionuclides in environmental media, causing elevated human health risks. The present study aims to assess the spatial distribution characteristics of natural radionuclides in the surface soils and river sediments of the typical granite uranium mining area in South China, as well as investigate the geochemical features of natural radionuclides in the soil and sediments to understand their migration processes. The activity concentrations for 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K ranged from 17-3925 Bq/kg, 50-1180 Bq/kg, 29-459 Bq/kg, and 240-1890 Bq/kg, respectively. The open-pit mining areas and tailings pond locations exhibited the highest concentrations of activity for all these radionuclides. This distribution points to an elevated potential health risk due to radiological exposure in these specific areas. Additionally, the values of radium equivalent activity (Raeq) and annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) in those areas were higher than the limits recommended by ICRP (2021). 238U and 226Ra have a significant correlation (0.724), and the cluster analysis was showing a statistically meaningful cluster below 5 indicated that they have similar behavior during parent rock weathering and watershed erosion, and the distribution of 232Th and 40K were influenced by the addition of rock types. The activity ratios of 226Ra/238U, 226Ra/232Th, 238U/40K, and 226Ra/40K variation indicated that 40K more mobile than 226Ra and 238U, U(VI) was reduced to U(IV) by organic matter in the downstream area and re-entered into the sediment during the sediment surface runoff in the small watershed of the uranium ore open-pit mining area. Therefore, it is necessary to further seal up and repair the tailings landfill area.

Heterogeneous Expression Patterns of the Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Members in Retinoblastoma Unveil Its Clinical Significance.

Purpose: To explore the expression patterns and clinical significance of minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex members in retinoblastoma (RB). Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing datasets from five normal retina, six intraocular, and five extraocular RB samples were integrated to characterize the expression patterns of MCM complex members at the single-cell level. Western blot and quantitative PCR were used to detect the expression of MCM complex members in RB cell lines. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to validate the expression of MCM complex members in RB patient samples and a RB mouse model. Results: The expression of MCM2-7 is increased in RB tissue, with MCM2/3/7 showing particularly higher levels in extraocular RB. MCM3/7 are abundantly detected in cell types associated with oncogenesis. Both mRNA and protein levels of MCM3/4/6/7 are increased in RB cell lines. Immunohistochemistry further confirmed the elevated expression of MCM3 in extraocular RB, with MCM6 being the most abundantly expressed MCM in RB. Conclusions: The distinct MCM expression patterns across various RB cell types suggest diverse functional roles, offering valuable insights for targeted therapeutic strategies. The upregulation of MCM3, MCM4, MCM6, and MCM7 in RB, with a specific emphasis on MCM6 as a notable marker, highlights their potential significance.

Single-cell transcriptomics enable the characterization of local extension in retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most prevalent ocular tumor of childhood, and its extraocular invasion significantly increases the risk of metastasis. Nevertheless, a single-cell characterization of RB local extension has been lacking. Here, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing on four RB samples (two from intraocular and two from extraocular RB patients), and integrate public datasets of five normal retina samples, four intraocular samples, and three extraocular RB samples to characterize RB local extension at the single-cell level. A total of 128,454 qualified cells are obtained in nine major cell types. Copy number variation inference reveals chromosome 6p amplification in cells derived from extraocular RB samples. In cellular heterogeneity analysis, we identified 10, 8, and 7 cell subpopulations in cone precursor like cells, retinoma like cells, and MKI67+ photoreceptorness decreased (MKI67+ PhrD) cells, respectively. A high expression level of SOX4 was detected in cells from extraocular samples, especially in MKI67+ PhrD cells, which was verified in additional clinical RB samples. These results suggest that SOX4 might drive RB local extension. Our study presents a single-cell transcriptomic landscape of intraocular and extraocular RB samples, improving our understanding of RB local extension at the single-cell resolution and providing potential therapeutic targets for RB patients.

Simulation of Soil Temperature under Plateau Zokor's (Eospalax baileyi) Disturbance in the Qinghai Lake Watershed, Northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The soil temperature is a key factor affecting the fragile terrestrial ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and has been remarkably altered by the soil mammal's disturbance. This study first analyzed the soil temperature variation in grassland, mound, and bald patch under the disturbance of plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) from October 2018 to July 2020 in the Qinghai Lake watershed. Then, the SHAW (simultaneous heat and water) model was used to simulate the soil temperature change of three land surface types, and the sensitivity of soil temperature to environmental parameters before and after the disturbance was explored. The results showed the following: (1) The daily range of soil temperature was mound > bald patch > grassland, which became smaller as the depth increased, due to the co-influence of vegetation coverage and soil bulk density. There was an obvious hysteresis of soil heat transfer for grassland, as compared with mound and bald patch, especially at 5 and 15 cm depths. (2) The SHAW model was applicable for the simulation of soil temperature under the plateau zokor's disturbance, especially during the growing season, and had better simulation accuracy for deep soil. (3) Air-entry potential and pore-size distribution index obviously affected soil temperature change, because of the change in root system and soil pores under the plateau zokor's disturbance. With the evolution of disturbance process, the response of soil temperature to the leaf area index weakened gradually, owing to the different duration of disturbance and restoration. In general, the plateau zokor's disturbance alters the soil properties and vegetation characteristics, and further, distinctly affects heat transfer and soil temperature.

Growing-season carbon budget of alpine meadow ecosystem in the Qinghai Lake Basin: a continued carbon sink through this century according to the Biome-BGC model.

BACKGROUND: The alpine meadow is one of the most important ecosystems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), and critically sensitive to climate change and human activities. Thus, it is crucial to precisely reveal the current state and predict future trends in the carbon budget of the alpine meadow ecosystem. The objective of this study was to explore the applicability of the Biome-BGC model (BBGC) in the Qinghai Lake Basin (QLB), identify the key parameters affecting the variation of net ecosystem exchange (NEE), and further predict the future trends in carbon budget in the QLB. RESULTS: The alpine meadow mainly acted as carbon sink during the growing season. For the eco-physiological factors, the YEL (Yearday to end litterfall), YSNG (Yearday to start new growth), CLEC (Canopy light extinction coefficient), FRC:LC (New fine root C: new leaf C), SLA (Canopy average specific leaf area), C:Nleaf (C:N of leaves), and FLNR (Fraction of leaf N in Rubisco) were confirmed to be the top seven parameters affecting carbon budget of the alpine meadow. For the meteorological factors, the sensitivity of NEE to precipitation was greater than that to vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and it was greater to radiation than to air temperature. Moreover, the combined effect of two different meteorological factors on NEE was higher than the individual effect of each one. In the future, warming and wetting would enhance the carbon sink capacity of the alpine meadow during the growing season, but extreme warming (over 3.84 ℃) would reduce NEE (about 2.9%) in the SSP5-8.5 scenario. CONCLUSION: Overall, the alpine meadow ecosystem in the QLB generally performs as a carbon sink at present and in the future. It is of great significance for the achievement of the goal of carbon neutrality and the management of alpine ecosystems.

Potential Sources, Pollution, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Surface Soils on the North-Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau.

Due to increased levels of human activity, various pollutants are frequently detected on the Tibetan Plateau, where the environment is extremely fragile and sensitive. Therefore, this study investigated the sources, pollution, and ecological risks of soil potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in different landscape areas within the Qaidam Basin in the northeastern part of the Qinghai−Tibet Plateau. The contents of seven PTEs (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Cr, and Ni) in 32 topsoil samples (0−2 cm) were analyzed in different regions of the Qaidam Basin. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 10.4−29.9 mg/kg, 0.08−4.45 mg/kg, 19−66 mg/kg, 8.2−40 mg/kg, 11.7−30.8 mg/kg, 11.1−31.2 mg/kg, and 32−213 mg/kg, respectively. The correlation between Pb and Cd in unpopulated areas was 0.896 (p < 0.01). The correlations among Pb, Cd, and Zn in agricultural areas, among As, Cd, Cr, and Zn in saline lake areas, and among As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in residential areas were all greater than 0.65 (p < 0.05). The principal component analysis results showed that Pb and Cd in unpopulated areas, Pb, Cd, and Zn in agricultural areas, As, Cd, Cr, Zn, and Pb in saline lake areas, and As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in residential areas were affected by human activities (significant factor >0.70). Based on the geological accumulation index and single-factor pollution index results, the maximum Cd values were found to be 4.93 and 45.88, respectively; Cd was thus the most serious PTE pollutant. The comprehensive pollution index of Nemero showed that moderately and severely polluted areas accounted for 18.89% and 18.46% of the total area, respectively. The results of the potential risk index showed that very strong and strong ecological risk points together accounted for 18.8% of the total points. The spatial variations in PTE pollution and the potential ecological risk index had similar patterns; both increased from the unpopulated areas in the northeastern Qaidam Basin to Golmud city in the south-western Qaidam Basin. These results indicate that human activities negatively impacted the soil ecological environment in the Qaidam Basin during the rapid development of the economy and urbanization and that these negative impacts tended to spread to unpopulated areas. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize the significant impacts of human activities on environmental quality and formulate preventive measures to reduce PTE pollution in the Qinghai−Tibet Plateau.