Dependence of evolution of Cyanobacteria superiority on temperature and nutrient use efficiency in a meso-eutrophic plateau lake.

Algal blooms in lakes have been a challenging environmental issue globally under the dual influence of human activity and climate change. Considerable progress has been made in the study of phytoplankton dynamics in lakes; The long-term in situ evolution of dominant bloom-forming cyanobacteria in meso-eutrophic plateau lakes, however, lacks systematic research. Here, the monthly parameters from 12 sampling sites during the period of 1997-2022 were utilized to investigate the underlying mechanisms driving the superiority of bloom-forming cyanobacteria in Erhai, a representative meso-eutrophic plateau lake. The findings indicate that global warming will intensify the risk of cynaobacteria blooms, prolong Microcystis blooms in autumn to winter or even into the following year, and increase the superiority of filamentous Planktothrix and Cylindrospermum in summer and autumn. High RUETN (1.52 Biomass/TN, 0.95-3.04 times higher than other species) under N limitation (TN < 0.5 mg/L, TN/TP < 22.6) in the meso-eutrophic Lake Erhai facilitates the superiority of Dolichospermum. High RUETP (43.8 Biomass/TP, 2.1-10.2 times higher than others) in TP of 0.03-0.05 mg/L promotes the superiority of Planktothrix and Cylindrospermum. We provided a novel insight into the formation of Planktothrix and Cylindrospermum superiority in meso-eutrophic plateau lake with low TP (0.005-0.07 mg/L), which is mainly influenced by warming, high RUETP and their vertical migration characteristics. Therefore, we posit that although the obvious improvement of lake water quality is not directly proportional to the control efficacy of cyanobacterial blooms, the evolutionary shift in cyanobacteria population structure from Microcystis, which thrives under high nitrogen and phosphorus conditions, to filamentous cyanobacteria adapted to low nitrogen and phosphorus levels may serve as a significant indicator of water quality amelioration. Therefore, we suggest that the risk of filamentous cyanobacteria blooms in the meso-eutrophic plateau lake should be given attention, particularly in light of improving water quality and global warming, to ensure drinking water safety.

Hand skeletal features of children and adolescents with different growth statuses and periods.

Background: The hand skeletal features of children and adolescents at different growth statuses and development periods, and the correlation between these skeletal features and hand asymmetric force are currently unclear. Thus, this study sought to investigate the hand skeletal features of children and adolescents at different growth statuses and at different periods of development, and the correlation between these skeletal features and asymmetric force in hands. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on subjects aged 4-20 years with good growth status (group A) or short stature (group B). Additional subjects aged 4-20, 21-40, and >40 years were enrolled in groups C, D, and E, respectively. All the subjects underwent left-hand posteroanterior X-ray radiography. Brachymesophalangia-V (BMP-V), conical epiphysis, epiphysis/metaphysis symmetry of the proximal phalanx (ESP), and the angle of the metacarpal-phalangeal axis were analyzed. Results: Of the 654 children and teenagers aged 4-20 years (median: 11 years) enrolled in the study, 432 were allocated to group A, of whom 237 (54.9%) were male and 195 (45.1%) were female, and 222 matched cases were allocated to group B, of whom 112 (50.5%) were male and 110 (49.5%) were female. The first to third ESPs were significantly (P<0.05) greater in group A than in group B, while the first to third angles of the metacarpal-phalangeal axis were significantly (P<0.05) smaller in group A than in group B. The correlation analysis revealed a highly significant (P<0.01) negative correlation between the ESP and angle of the metacarpal-phalangeal axis (r=-0.948, -0.926, -0.940, -0.885, and -0.848, respectively). The incidence of BMP-V was 15.4% in all patients, while that of conical epiphysis was 19.5%. The incidence of BMP-V and conical epiphysis was significantly (P<0.05) smaller in group A than in group B (11.1% vs. 23.8% for BMP-V and 16.6% vs. 25.2% for conical epiphysis, respectively). Additionally, 216 subjects were enrolled in group C (108 male and 108 female), 185 subjects were enrolled in in group D (93 male and 92 female), and 176 subjects were enrolled in in group E (104 male and 72 female). The second to fifth ESPs in group C were significantly (P<0.05) smaller than those in both groups D and E, while the second to fifth angles of the metacarpal-phalangeal axis were significantly (P<0.05) larger in group C than in both groups D and E. A BMP-V was present in 35 (16.2%) patients in group C, 8 (4.3%) in group D, and 2 (1.1%) in group E, and the difference among the three groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: The epiphyseal symmetry of the proximal phalanges is poor in short stature children and adolescents, and the angle between the metacarpal and phalangeal axes is larger in children and adolescents with short stature than those with normal height and good growth status. A negative correlation was found between the epiphyseal symmetry of the proximal phalanges and asymmetrical stress.

Copper isotope evidence for sulfide fractionation and lower crustal foundering in making continental crust.

The continental crust is strongly depleted in copper compared with its building blocks-primary arc magmas-and this depletion is intrinsically associated with continental crust formation. However, the process by which Cu removal occurs remains enigmatic. Here we show, using Cu isotopes, that subduction-zone processes and mantle melting produce limited fractionation of Cu isotopes in arc magmas, and, instead, the heterogeneous Cu isotopic compositions of lower crustal rocks, which negatively correlate with Cu contents, suggest segregation or accumulation of isotopically light sulfides during intracrustal differentiation of arc magmas. This is supported by the extremely light Cu isotopic compositions of lower crustal mafic cumulates and heavy Cu isotopic compositions of differentiated magmas in thick continental arcs. Intracrustal differentiation of mantle-derived magmas and subsequent foundering of sulfide-rich mafic cumulates preferentially removes isotopically light Cu, leaving a Cu-depleted and isotopically heavy continental crust.

Morphology and deformity of the shoulder and pelvis in the entire spine radiographs of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: To investigate the deformity and asymmetry of the shoulder and pelvis in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 223 AIS patients with a right thoracic curve or left thoracolumbar/lumbar curve who underwent spine radiographs at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between November 2020 and December 2021. The following parameters were measured: Cobb angle, clavicular angle, glenoid obliquity angle, acromioclavicular joint deviation, femoral neck-shaft projection angle, iliac obliquity angle, acetabular obliquity angle, coronal trunk deviation distance, and spinal deformity deviation distance. The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test were used for inter-group comparisons, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for intra-group left and right sides comparisons. Results: Shoulder and pelvic imbalances were found in 134 and 120 patients, respectively, and there were 87, 109, and 27 cases of mild, moderate, and severe scoliosis, respectively. Compared with mild scoliosis patients, the difference in the acromioclavicular joint offset on bilateral sides was significantly increased in moderate and severe scoliosis [11.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.09-0.14 for mild, 0.13-0.17 for moderate, and 0.15-0.27 for severe scoliosis, P=0.004], and the difference in the femoral neck-shaft projection angle on bilateral sides was significantly enhanced with scoliosis aggravation (14.14, 95% CI: 2.34-3.41 for mild, 3.00-3.94 for moderate, and 3.57-6.43 for severe scoliosis, P=0.001). The acromioclavicular joint offset was significantly larger on the left than that on the right in patients with a thoracic curve or double curves (thoracic curve -2.75, 95% CI: 0.57-0.69 for the left and 0.50-0.63 for the right, P=0.006; double curve -3.27, 95% CI: 0.60-0.77 for the left and 0.48-0.65 for the right, P=0.001). The femoral neck-shaft projection angle was significantly larger on the left than right in patients with a thoracic curve (-4.46, 95% CI: 133.78-136.20 for the left and 131.62-134.01 for the right, P<0.001), but larger on the right than left in patients with thoracolumbar/lumbar curve (thoracolumbar -2.98, 95% CI: 133.75-136.70 for the left and 135.13-137.82 for the right, P=0.003; lumbar -3.24, 131.97-134.56 for the left and 133.76-136.26 for the right, P=0.001). Conclusions: In AIS patients, shoulder imbalance has a greater impact on coronal balance and spinal scoliosis above the lumbar segment, whereas pelvic imbalance has a greater impact on sagittal balance and spinal scoliosis below the thoracic segment.

[Clinical therapeutic strategies of refracture after bone transport for tibial bone defect].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical therapeutic strategies of refracture after Ilizarov bone transport technique in the treatment of tibial bone defect. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 19 patients with infected tibial bone defect treated by Ilizarov bone transport technique and then refracture from August 2010 to January 2020, including 18 males and 1 female with an average age of (37.7±13.0) years old ranging from 15 to 66 years old. Cause of injury invlved falling injury in 4 cases, crashing injury 1 case, crushing injury in 1 case and without obvious injury history in 13 cases. The ipsilateral distal femoral fracture in 2 cases occurred before the external fixator of tibia was removed, and the other 17 cases had a minimum of 1 day and a maximum of 30 months after the external fixator had been removed. The site of refracture was at regenerative zone in 8 cases, at docking site in 9 cases, at ipsilateral femoral shaft in 2 cases. According to the modified Simpson classification proposed by the author, the refracture was classified. The treatment of refracture include plaster splint, traction or external fixation. Bone healing and function were evaluated according to the standards of the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov(ASAMI). RESULTS: All patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 9 to 17 months with an average of (12.3±3.2) months. According to the modified Simpson classification, there were 3 cases of type Ⅰa, 1 case of type Ⅰb, 3 cases of type Ⅰc, 1 case of type Ⅱ, 9 cases of type Ⅲ and 2 cases of type Ⅴ. All the refractures healed without infection or malunion. The fracture healing time of conservative treatment for 6 cases were 3, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2 months fespectively;and the healing time of fracture treated by surgery for 13 cases was 2 to 6 months, with an average of(4.4±1.4) months. According to ASAMI evaluation criteria, bony results showed all patients obtained excellent results, and functional results showed 6 patients got excellent results, 13 good beacause of ankle or knee stiffness. CONCLUSION: The modified Simpson classification could contain most clinical types of refracture after bone transport, and the external fixation is a simple and effective method for refracture.

Intramedullary Well-differentiated Osteosarcoma: Imaging and Pathologic Findings in 17 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Intramedullary well-differentiated osteosarcoma (IMWDOS) is rare and may easily be misdiagnosed. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at investigating the clinical, imaging, and pathological features of IMWDOS for correct diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with IMWDOS were enrolled, and their clinical, imaging, and pathological data were analyzed. RESULTS: Total 13 males and 4 females aged 19-55 years (mean 36. 1) were selected. The lesion was located at long bones in 16 patients and the second region of the acetabulum in one patient. Except for three patients with limited areas of lesions, all the other patients had a wide distribution of tumor, and the lesion in long bones involved the metaphysis area with possible extension towards the diaphysis. In imaging, the lesion usually had an unclear boundary with the destruction of bone cortex, uneven thickness of the bone cortex, thick and coarse trabecula in the lesion, but few periosteal reactions and soft tissue masses. The lesion was histologically composed of spindle cells with slight atypia. Follow-up was performed 2-101 months (mean 31.9m) in 14 cases, 10 years in one case, and 26 years in the remaining two. At follow-up, 12 patients (12/17 or 70.6%) who had a complete resection, including amputation (n=2), wide excision (n=8), and endoprosthetic replacement (n=2), showed no recurrence or metastasis. Among five patients who underwent curettage, three (3/17 or 17.6%) had recurrent lesions, leading to death in two of them, and the third one died during post-operation chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Intramedullary well-differentiated osteosarcoma tends to occur at the metaphysis of long bones, especially at the distal femur. Histological, clinical, and imaging findings lack specific characteristics and should be examined collectively to reach a correct diagnosis. The prognosis of patients with complete lesion resection is good, while incomplete lesion curettage or resection will lead to recurrence and transformation into a highly malignant tumor.

[Long-term Changes and Drivers of Ecological Security in Shahe Reservoir, China].

Monthly datasets of ecological indicators from 2010 to 2020 in Shahe Reservoir, Tianmuhu, China, were examined to reveal the long-term variations in water ecological security and its driving factors. The results of Secchi disk depth(SD) measurements revealed significantly spatial variation(P<0.05) within the reservoir. The highest SD was recorded in the downstream-linked reservoir, and the lowest SD was recorded in the upstream tributaries. In contrast, the values of other water ecological indicators were higher in the upstream tributaries than in the transition region and the downstream-linked reservoir area. In summer and autumn, the SD was low, while the concentrations of total phosphorous(TP), chlorophyll a(Chl-a), the permanganate index, and cyanobacterial biomass(BMc) were high. During the thermal stratification period from May to September, the concentrations of 2-methylisoborneol(MIB) and Chl-a were highest at a depth of 4 m, while diatom biomass(BMb) and BMc reached their maximum at depths of 2 m and 0.5 m, respectively. Therefore, spatial and temporal variations should be fully considered when evaluating aquatic ecological security. Focusing on spring and summer, when the risk of water ecological security was high, Chl-a combined with SD and MIB along with their correlation with other water quality indexes, was used to evaluate and optimize the ecological security of Shahe Reservoir. The evaluation results showed that the aquatic ecological security of the reservoir was excellent over the last 10 years; however, annual fluctuations have been large and the evaluation scores were spatially variable. While seasonal sampling strategies focusing on three layers depths are economical and reliable for lake regions with thermal stratification, our results indicate that tailored monitoring may be required to determine the aquatic ecological security of lakes and reservoirs. In Shahe Reservoir, the decrease in the SD and the increase in MIB caused by high TP and algal blooms were the most important drivers of ecological service function in the reservoir. Furthermore, hydrometeorological factors may also play important roles in the aquatic ecological security of reservoirs.

Radiographic analysis of adult ankle fractures using combined Danis-Weber and Lauge-Hansen classification systems.

This study was to analyze ankle fractures for determining the epidemiology, types, distribution, possible mechanisms and diagnosis precision. Between January 2013 and December 2017, all Chinese patients older than 16 years of age with ankle fractures excluding old ankle fractures and pathological fractures in a tertiary care hospital were analyzed by using the Danis-Weber and Lauge-Hansen classification systems. Among 3952 patients with ankle fractures, 1225 fractures (31%) were Danis-Weber type A, 1640 (42%) were type B, 751 (19%) were type C, and 336 (9%) were perpendicular compression fracture. There were 1949 fractures on the left side and 2003 on the right with no significant difference (P > 0.05). Male patients between 16 and 50 years of age and women over 50 years had a higher incidence of ankle fractures accounting for 38.4% (1517/3952) and 22.2% (800/3952), respectively. Posterior malleolar fractures, fibular fractures above the inferior tibiofibular joint and Tillaux fractures were easily missed in the diagnosis, with 38 fractures (0.96%) being missed in the diagnosis. In conclusion, young and middle-aged men and older women have a higher incidence of ankle fractures, and use of the Lauge-Hansen and Danis-Weber classification systems can better help assessing the varied and complex ankle fractures, predicting the injuries, increasing diagnostic precision and decreasing misdiagnosis rate.

Binding and detoxification of chlorpyrifos by lactic acid bacteria on rice straw silage fermentation.

This investigation examined the reduction of pesticide residues on straw inoculated with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) during ensiling. Lactobacillus casei WYS3 was isolated from rice straw that contained pesticide residues. Non-sterilized rice straw, which was inoculated with L. casei WYS3, showed increased removal of chlorpyrifos after ensiling, compared with rice straw that was not inoculated with L. casei WYS3 or sterilized rice straw. In pure culture, these strains can bind chlorpyrifos as indicated by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Viable L. casei WYS3 was shown to bind 33.3-42% of exogenously added chlorpyrifos. These results are similar to those of acid-treated cells but less than those of heat-treated cells, which were found to bind 32.0% and 77.2% of the added chlorpyrifos respectively. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis determined that L. casei WYS3 detoxified chlorpyrifos via P-O-C cleavage. Real-time polymerized chain reaction analysis determined that organophosphorus hydrolase gene expression tripled after the addition of chlorpyrifos to LAB cultures, compared with the control group (without chlorpyrifos). This paper highlights the potential use of LAB starter cultures for the detoxification and removal of chlorpyrifos residues in the environment.

The Expression of HMGB1 in Bone Marrow MSCs Is Upregulated by Hypoxia with Regulatory Effects on the Apoptosis and Adhesion.

Background and Aims. Hypoxia regulates the survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) but the mechanism is unclear. In hypoxia, the level of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) was increased in many cells which may be involved in the regulation of cell biology. The aim is to determine whether hypoxia affects the expression of HMGB1 in bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) and to investigate the role of HMGB1 in the apoptosis and adhesion. Methods. BM-MSCs were exposed to hypoxia (1% O2) and normoxia (20% O2) and the expression of HMGB1 was measured by RT-PCR and western blotting. The apoptosis and adhesion of BM-MSCs were evaluated after interfered by different concentrations of HMGB1. Results. Expression of HMGB1 in BM-MSCs showed a significant upregulation in hypoxia when compared to those in normoxia. The adhesion of BM-MSCs was increased by HMGB1 in a concentration-dependent manner; the apoptosis effect of HMGB1 depended on its concentrations: HMGB1 at low concentration (50 ng/mL) promoted the apoptosis of BM-MSCs while HMGB1 at high concentration (≥100 ng/mL) reduced this apoptosis. Conclusions. Hypoxia enhanced the expression of HMGB1 in BM-MSCs with influences on apoptosis and adhesion and this could have a significant effect on the regenerative potential of MSC-based strategies.

Management of traumatic hemipelvectomy: an institutional experience on four consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The incidence of traumatic hemipelvectomy is rare, but it is a devastating injury. Recently, an increasing number of patients with traumatic hemipelvectomy are admitted to trauma centers alive due to improvements of the pre-hospital care. Successful management requires prompt recognition of the nature of this injury and meticulous surgical technique. We present our successful experiences on four cases of traumatic hemipelvectomy in the past nine years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four cases with traumatic hemipelvectomy were admited to our hospital from June 21, 2002 to September 3, 2011. All injuries occurred due to vehicle accident and all patients were in a state of severe hypotension, with two of them having anal lacerations. These four cases were treated immediately with resuscitation, control of hemorrhage, early amputation, repeated debridement and closure of the wounds. An angiographic embolization was given to control hemorrhage in two of the cases preoperatively. One case underwent fecal diversion. Wound infection occurred in all of cases which was successfully controlled by repeated debridements, effective anti-biotic regimen, split-thickness skin grafts. RESULTS: All four cases were saved successfully with well-healed wounds during follow up from 1 to 7 years. They were able to walk by themself using crutches. CONCLUSION: Adhering to the surgery principles of damage control including appropriate resuscitation, hemorrhage control, coagulopathy correction and multiple debridements and closure of the wounds in reasonable period of time can save the life of cases suffering from severe pelvic ring injury.