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The radial ultrasonic rolling electrochemical micromachining (RUR-EMM) combined rolling electrochemical micromachining (R-EMM) and ultrasonic vibration was studied in this paper. The fundamental understanding of the machining process especially the interaction between multiphysics in the interelectrode gap (IEG) was investigated and discussed by the finite element method. The multiphysics coupling model including flow field model, Joule heating model, material dissolution model and vibration model was built. 3D multiphysics simulation based on micro dimples process in RUR-EMM and R-EMM was proposed. Simulation results showed that the electrolyte flowed into and out IEG periodically, gas bubbles were easy to squeeze out and the gas void fraction deceased about 16% to 54%, the maximum current density increased by 1.36 times in RUR-EMM than in R-EMM in one vibration period of time. And application of the ultrasonic vibration increased the electrolyte temperature about 1.3–4.4% in IEG. Verification experiments of the micro dimple process denoted better corrosion consistency of array dimples in RUR-EMM, there was no island at the micro dimple bottom which always formed in R-EMM, and an aggregated deviation of less than 8.7% for the micro dimple depth and 4% for the material removal amount between theory and experiment was obtained.

Purpose Heterogeneity is found in the tumor microenvironment among different pathological types of tumors. Radionuclide-labeled fibroblast-activation-protein inhibitor (FAPI), as an important tracer for non-invasive imaging of the tumor microenvironment, can be used to evaluate the expression of FAP in cancer-associated fibroblasts, macrophages, and tumor cells. Our aim was to explore the ability of [18F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) to distinguish different types of lung cancer by evaluating the uptake of this tracer in primary and metastatic lesions. Methods We prospectively enrolled 61 patients with histopathologically proven primary lung cancer with metastases. PET/CT scanning was performed before any antitumor therapy and 1 h after injection of 235.10 ± 3.89 MBq of [18F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04. Maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax) were calculated for comparison among primary and metastatic lesions. Immunohistochemical staining for FAP was performed on tumor specimens. Results Sixty-one patients with adenocarcinoma (ADC, n = 30), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, n = 17), and small cell lung cancer (SCLC, n = 14) were enrolled in this study, and 61 primary tumors and 199 metastases were evaluated. No difference in [18F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 uptake was observed among primary ADC, SCC, and SCLC tumors (P = 0.198). Additionally, no difference in uptake was found between primary and metastatic lesions of lung cancer with the same pathological type (P > 0.05). However, uptake did differ among metastases of differing pathological types (P max of metastatic lymph nodes was highest for SCC, followed by ADC and then SCLC (P max of bone metastases also was highest for SCC, followed by ADC and SCLC (P max of metastases in other organs was higher in SCC cases than in ADC cases but did not differ between SCC and SCLC or ADC and SCLC. Bone metastases exhibited higher uptake than those of lymph nodes and other organs in SCC and ADC (P r = 0.439, P = 0.012) and surgical specimens (r = 0.938, P = 0.005). Conclusion [18F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging revealed differences in FAP expression in metastases of lung cancer, with the highest expression specifically in bone metastases, and thus, may be valuable for distinguishing different pathological types of lung cancer.

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis), a critically endangered species, is the only cetacean species in the Yangtze River following the functional extinction of baiji (Lipotes vexillifer). To inform conservation actions, two important questions need to be addressed: what is the threshold value of survival rate, and what is the threshold value of population size? We calculate the instantaneous rate of population increase ( r¯ ) for the Yangtze finless porpoise for various combinations of the calf and the non-calf survival rates. We also test the probability of extinction for different minimum carrying capacities for 100 and 500 years using a stable population model. The threshold value of the non-calf survival rate is never lower than 0.869, but current estimates from field data have been far below this threshold. Our model based on extinction probability and carrying capacity suggests that the threshold for the population size to persist 100 years required 113 animals, and 472 animals are required to persist 500 years. Therefore, we recommend establishing an ex situ reserve network to guarantee the minimum 100-year carrying capacity. To ensure the long-term population viability, we suggest establishing two in situ reserve zones in two lakes and their surrounding reserves to meet a minimum 500-year carrying capacity. In addition, measures to avoid further habitat fragmentation should be priority.

Using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, we compared fish diversity in two distinct water bodies within the Yangtze River Basin with known populations of the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis; YFP): the Tian-e-Zhou Reserve and Poyang Lake. We aimed to create a fish surveying tool for use in the Yangtze River Basin, while also gaining a better understanding of the prey distribution and diversity within two of the remaining strongholds of YFP. 16S rRNA universal primers were developed to amplify fish eDNA. After high-throughput sequencing and stringent data filtering, we identified a total of 75 fish species (6 orders, 9 families, 57 genera) across seasons and regions. Nine of the 75 fish species were among the 28 known YFP prey species, three of which were detected in all water samples. Our eDNA metabarcoding identified many species that had been previously captured using traditional netting practices, but also numerous species not previously collected in these water bodies. Fish diversity was higher in Poyang Lake than in Tian-e-Zhou Reserve, as well as higher in the spring than in summer. These methods provide a broadly applicable tool to quantify fish diversity and distributions throughout the Yangtze River Basin, and to inform conservation strategies of YFP.

The mammalian intestinal microbiome is critical for host health and disease resistance. However, the cetacean intestinal microbiota remains relatively unexplored. By using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed intestinal bacterial samples from an Indo-pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) stranded near the Pearl River Estuary in China. The samples included 3 anatomical regions (foregut, midgut, and rectum) and 2 anatomical locations (content and mucus). Our analyses revealed that the dolphin intestinal bacteria contained 139 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), dominated at the phyla level by Firmicutes (47.05% in the content; 94.77% in the mucus), followed by Bacteroidetes (23.63% in the content; 1.58% in the mucus) and Gammaproteobacteria (14.82% in the content; 2.05% in the mucus). The intestinal bacteria had a small core community (15 OTUs, accounting for 99.74% of the reads), some of which could be potentially pathogenic to both human and dolphins. As an alternative to sampling the dolphin intestinal bacteria, fecal sampling could be used. Additionally, function potentials such as, xenobiotics biodegradation, beta-lactam resistance, and human disease-related pathways, were detected in the dolphin intestinal bacteria. These findings provide the first baseline knowledge of the intestinal microbiome of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, which may offer new insights into cetacean conservation by using microbial surveillance.

Background The study investigated the predictive value of tumor angiogenesis observed by 18F-ALF-NOTA-PRGD2 II (denoted as 18F-Alfatide II) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) before concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for treatment response and survival among patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC). Methods Patients with unresectable stage IIIA or IIIB NSCLC (AJCC Cancer Staging 7th Edition) who received CCRT were included in this prospective study. All patients had undergone 18F-Alfatide PET/CT scanning before CCRT, and analyzed parameters included maximum uptake values (SUVmax) of primary tumor (SUVP) and metastatic lymph nodes (SUVLN) and mean uptake value of blood pool (SUVblood). Tumor-to-background ratios (TBRs) and changes in tumor diameter before and after CCRT (ΔD) were calculated. The ratios of SUVP to SUVblood, SUVLN to SUVblood, and SUVP to SUVLN were denoted as TBRP, TBRLN, and T/LN. Short-term treatment response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Results Of 38 enrolled patients, 28 completed CCRT. SUVP, SUVLN, TBRP, TBRLN and T/LN showed significant correlation with PFS (all P P was negatively correlated with OS (P = 0.005). SUVP and TBRP were higher in non-responders than in responders (6.55 ± 2.74 vs. 4.61 ± 1.94, P = 0.039; 10.49 ± 7.58 vs. 7.73 ± 6.09, P = 0.023). ΔD was significantly greater in responders (2.78 ± 1.37) than in non-responders (-0.16 ± 1.33, P P (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.764, P = 0.018), with a cutoff value of 6.52, as the only parameter significantly predictive of the response to CCRT, with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values of 71.43%, 78.57%, and 75.00%, respectively. ROC curve analysis also identified SUVP (AUC = 0.942, P P (AUC = 0.895, P = 0.001, cutoff value 4.95) as predictive of OS with high sensitivity (84.21%, 93.75%), specificity (100.00%, 66.67%), and accuracy (89.29%, 82.14%). Conclusions Evaluation of tumor angiogenesis by 18F-Alfatide II at baseline may be useful in predicting the short-term response to CCRT as well as PFS and OS in patients with LA-NSCLC.

The aim of this study was to culture pathogenic bacteria from the blowhole, lung, stomach and fecal samples of a neonatal crucially endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) that died 27 days after birth. Bacteria were inoculated and representative isolates were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. A total of three Clostridium perfringens type C strains from the fecal samples were isolated. Toxin genes, including cpa, cpb and cpb2, were detected by PCR amplification, while the etx, iap and cpe genes were absent. Biofilm formation of the three strains was examined. Only one strain was able to form a biofilm. In addition, isolates showed strong resistance against the antibiotics amikacin (3/3), erythromycin (1/3), gentamicin (3/3), streptomycin (3/3), and trimethoprim (3/3), while sensitivity to ampicillin (3/3), bacitracin (3/3), erythromycin (2/3), penicillin G (3/3), and tetracycline (3/3). The results suggested C. perfringens type C could have contributed to the death of this neonatal porpoise.

This is a culture-dependent study with the objective of pure culturing and characterizing pathogenic bacteria from the blowhole, lung, stomach and fecal samples of a neonatal crucially endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) that died 27 days after birth. Bacteria were inoculated using a swab onto blood and MacConkey agar plates and representative isolates were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. A total of three Clostridium perfringens type C strains from the fecal samples were isolated. Toxin genes, including cpa, cpb and cpb2, were detected by PCR amplification, whereas the etx, iap and cpe genes were not detected. Biofilm formation of the three strains was then examined. Only one strain was capable of biofilm formation. In addition, isolates showed strong resistance against the antibiotics amikacin (3/3), erythromycin (1/3), gentamicin (3/3), streptomycin (3/3), and trimethoprim (3/3), while sensitivity to ampicillin (3/3), bacitracin (3/3), erythromycin (2/3), penicillin G (3/3), and tetracycline (3/3). The results suggested C. perfringens type C could have contributed to the death of this neonatal porpoise.

The stratification of blubber fatty acids (FAs) is a widely used strategy in marine mammals and can be influenced by many factors, including their diet, environmental temperature, and physiological status. There are 3 distinct finless porpoise species/subspecies in Chinese coastal and inland waters in a wide range from 20°N to 40°N. The biochemical stratification of the blubbers of finless porpoises in different regions may provide valuable information for understanding their environmental adaptations. The FA compositions of 4 geographic populations of finless porpoise (FP) collected from the Bohai Gulf, East China Sea, South China Sea, and Yangtze River were therefore analyzed and compared. The blubber FA compositions of finless porpoises were dominated by ΣMUFAs, followed by ΣSFAs and ΣPUFAs, and were generally consistent with those of other cetaceans. The blubber of finless porpoises was significantly stratified with increasing levels of ΣMUFAs and decreasing levels of ΣSFAs and ΣPUFAs from the inner to the outer layers. The 3 marine populations shared more similarities in their FA compositions and stratifications compared to the freshwater porpoises, particularly regarding the PUFAs in the inner layers, which might have been mainly influenced by the diet compositions of marine and freshwater porpoises. Contrary to what was expected, in the 3 marine populations, the SFA and MUFA levels showed opposite correlations (negative and positive, respectively) with habitat temperatures, possibly indicating an adaptation mechanism in finless porpoises characterized by a trade-off between the insulation and fluidity properties of the blubber through the adjustment of the compositions and gradients of MUFAs and SFAs across the blubber depth in response to environmental temperature/latitude changes.

Significance Divergent lineages can respond to common environmental factors through convergent processes involving shared genomic components or pathways, but the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we provide genomic resources and insights into the evolution of mammalian lineages adapting to aquatic life. Our data suggest convergent evolution, for example, in association with thermoregulation through genes associated with a surface heat barrier (NFIA) and internal heat exchange (SEMA3E). Combined with the support of previous reports showing that the UCP1 locus has been lost in many marine mammals independently, our results suggest that the thermostatic strategy of marine mammals shifted from enhancing heat production to limiting heat loss., The ancestors of marine mammals once roamed the land and independently committed to an aquatic lifestyle. These macroevolutionary transitions have intrigued scientists for centuries. Here, we generated high-quality genome assemblies of 17 marine mammals (11 cetaceans and six pinnipeds), including eight assemblies at the chromosome level. Incorporating previously published data, we reconstructed the marine mammal phylogeny and population histories and identified numerous idiosyncratic and convergent genomic variations that possibly contributed to the transition from land to water in marine mammal lineages. Genes associated with the formation of blubber (NFIA), vascular development (SEMA3E), and heat production by brown adipose tissue (UCP1) had unique changes that may contribute to marine mammal thermoregulation. We also observed many lineage-specific changes in the marine mammals, including genes associated with deep diving and navigation. Our study advances understanding of the timing, pattern, and molecular changes associated with the evolution of mammalian lineages adapting to aquatic life.

Purpose Radionuclide-labeled fibroblast-activation-protein inhibitor 04 (FAPI-04) as a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging tracer can reveal the localized expression of fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a cell-surface serine protease that is highly upregulated in more than 90% of epithelial carcinomas. In this study, we quantified the 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 uptake on PET/computed tomography (CT) imaging in different pathological types of lung cancer and metastatic tumors. Methods We prospectively enrolled 61 patients with histopathologically proven primary lung cancer with metastases.PET/CT scanning was performed before any antitumor therapy and 1hour after injection of 235.10 ± 3.89 MBq of 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04. Maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax) were calculated for comparison among primary and metastatic lesions. Results Sixty-one patients with adenocarcinoma (ADC, n = 30), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, n = 17), and small cell lung cancer (SCLC, n = 14) were enrolled in this study, and 61 primary tumors and 199 metastases were evaluated. No difference in18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 uptake was observed among primary ADC, SCC, and SCLC tumors (P = 0.198).Additionally, no difference in uptake was found between primary and metastatic lesions of lung cancer with the same pathological type (P > 0.05).However, uptake did differ among metastases of differing pathological type (P max of metastatic lymph nodes was highest for SCC, followed by ADC and then SCLC (P max of bone metastases also was highest for SCC, followed by ADC and SCLC (P max of metastases in other organs was higher in SCC cases than in ADC cases, but did not differ between SCC and SCLC or ADC and SCLC. Bone metastases exhibited higher uptake than those of lymph nodes and other organs in SCC and ADC (P 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging revealed differences in FAP expression in metastases of lung cancer, with the highest expression specifically in bone metastases, and thus, may be valuable for distinguishing different pathological types of lung cancer.

Hypoxia is important in the biology of glioma in humans. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with a hypoxia tracer offers a noninvasive method to differentiate individual tumor biology and potentially modify treatment for patients with malignancies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether hypoxia, as measured by fluorine-18 fluoroerythronitroimidazole (18F-FETNIM) PET/CT, was associated with tumor grade, overall survival (OS), and immunohistochemical features related to hypoxia, proliferation, angiogenesis, and the invasion of gliomas. Twenty-five patients with gliomas in whom gross maximal resection could be safely attempted were analyzed. All patients underwent 18F-FETNIM PET/CT studies before surgery. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was obtained from the PET images of tumor tissues. Tumor specimens were stereotactically obtained for the immunohistochemical staining of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), Ki-67, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). A correlation between the SUVmax and glioma grade was found (r = 0.881, P

Our understanding about how environmental and biological variables may influence circulating thyroid and adrenal hormones in free-ranging cetaceans is limited. As such, we used liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry to determine concentrations of circulating cortisol and thyroid hormones (THs; tT3, tT4) in 132 Yangtze finless porpoises (YFPs) located in Poyang Lake, (PL, n = 92) and Tian-E-Zhou Oxbow reserve (TZO, n = 40). For overall hormone comparisons, animals were partitioned by age [juvenile and adult (male and non-pregnant, non-lactating female)], sex, season (winter or spring) and geographical location. Geographically, during winter, circulating THs were significantly higher in the PL versus TZO population. Seasonally, within PL, THs were significantly higher in the winter versus spring season. Animals were further binned into groups as follows: juvenile male (JM) and juvenile female (JF), adult male (AM), non-pregnant adult female, pregnant female and non-pregnant lactating female. Intra-group comparisons between locations showed a significant increase in JM THs at PL. Significant increases in THs during winter compared to spring were detected between JM and JF groups. Mean comparisons of cortisol within and between locations for each group identified a significant increase for TZO AM versus TZO pregnant female and JM and JF. Seasonally, in PL, only JF has significantly higher cortisol in winter versus spring. Finally, we established reference values of THs and cortisol for YFPs in different geographical locations. These references are important baselines from which the effects of environmental and biological variables on THs and cortisol may be evaluated.

Background:Tumor angiogenesis plays a key role in tumor growth, development, and metastasis, so the exploratory study of tumor neovascularization imaging is one of the potential methods to predict survival. This study aims to examine the predictive capacity of 18F-ALF-NOTA-PRGD2 II (denoted 18F-Alfatide II) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) before antitumor therapy (ATR) in patients with lung cancer.Results The median follow-up was 31 (1.3~57.0) months. Among the patients, 6 were lost to follow-up. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 40.0 (3.50~57.0) months and 21.30 (2.0~56.0) months, respectively. The maximum uptake values (SUVmax) of the metastatic lymph nodes (SUVLN) and tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging were significant predictors of PFS and OS (all PLN and 0.96 for the TNM stage (PLN and TNM stage cutoff values were 2.50 and II, and their sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative prediction were 77.42%, 80.0% and 82.76% and 74.07%; and 87.10%, 60.0% and 72.97% and 78.95%, respectively. Patients with a lower SUVLN and early stage had a longer PFS and OS (all PConclusions For lung cancer, low SUVLN and an early TNM stage (≤stage II) as assessed before ATR by 18F-alfatide II PET/CT represents a favorable subgroup with increased PFS and OS.

Bacterial pathogens are a major threat to both humans and animals worldwide. It is crucial to understand the mechanisms of various disease processes at the molecular level. Shewanella species are widespread in the environment and some are considered as emerging opportunistic human and marine mammal pathogens. In this study, putative virulence factors on the genome of Shewanella indica BW, a bacterium isolated from the Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni), were determined. Additionally, for comparative purposes, putative virulence factors from two other S. indica and ten S. algae strains were also determined using the Pathosystems Resource Integration Center (PATRIC) pipeline. We confirmed the presence of previously reported virulence factors and we are proposing several new candidate virulence factors. Interestingly, the putative virulence factors were very similar between the two species with the exception of microbial collagenase which was present in all S. algae genomes, but absent in all S. indica genomes.

The purpose of this study was to culture and characterise bacteria from an intact abscess on the skin of a dead Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) which stranded in the northern Beibu Gulf, China. To grow bacteria, samples from the abscess were added to blood agar. After incubation, yellowish mucous colonies were visualized. The bacterium was firstly recognised as Shewanella algae by the VITEK® 2 System. However, by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing the bacterium was finally identified as S. indica. To characterise the bacterium, antibiotic susceptibility and virulence factors, such as hemolysis and biofilm formation were investigated. The bacterium is capable of β-hemolysis and biofilm formation and it is also sensitive to several different classes of antibiotics, such as β-lactams, quinolones, and aminoglycosides. To date there have been no reports of this bacterium causing infections in humans or animals. However, in this study we described the first case of S. indica isolated from an intact abscess on the back of a Bryde's whale.

Purpose To evaluate the capability of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) to predict the clinical response of metastatic lymph node (mLN) to definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) and guide personalized radiation dose in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. Patients and methods One hundred and forty-three mLNs from 59 patients with ESCC treated with dCRT and who had undergone a pretreatment 18F-FDG-PET/CT scan were included in the study. All defined mLNs were contoured by nuclear medicine radiologists. Response was evaluated by contrast-enhanced computed tomography and 18F-FDG-PET/CT. Results Sixty-nine mLNs showed complete response (CR), and 74 mLNs showed non-complete response. The 143 mLNs were divided into 4 groups (Groups 1-4) based on the quartiles of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax-G1, SUVmax-G2, SUVmax-G3, and SUVmax-G4) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV-G1, MTV-G2, MTV-G3, and MTV-G4). The CR rate of SUVmax-G2 was significantly higher than the other 3 groups. The escalated radiation dose improved the CR rate of lymph nodes in SUVmax-G3 (55 Gy) and SUVmax-G4 (61 Gy). The lowest CR rate was found in MTV-G4 (the group with the largest MTV). The escalated radiation dose (59.7 Gy) improved the CR rate of lymph node in MTV-Groups 3 and 4. Conclusion Pretreatment metabolic parameters can predict the response of mLNs to dCRT for patients with ESCC. The parameters could also be used to guide personalized dose to mLNs.

To assess a novel radiotracer aluminum [18F]fluoride-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-triacetic acid-pegylated dimeric RGD ([18F]ALF-NOTA-PRGD2, denoted as [18F]Alfatide) for positron emission tomography (PET)/X-ray computed tomography (CT) and explore the relationships between clinicopathological characteristics and maximum standard uptake values in primary (SUVP) and metastatic lymph nodes (SUVLN) of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), as verified by pathologic examination and compared with those obtained with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]DG) PET. We prospectively enrolled patients with newly diagnosed ESCC who agreed to undergo [18F]Alfatide PET/CT or [18F]FDG PET/CT scans before surgery at Shandong Cancer Hospital from May 2011 to July 2017. SUVs and the pathological tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) stages of primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) were measured and confirmed pathologically. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for integrin αvβ3 was performed on tumor samples (both primary tumors and metastatic LNs) collected from nine patients. Of 61 patients who underwent PET/CT scans, 46 then underwent curative surgery and were included in our analysis (n = 21 for [18F]Alfatide PET/CT and n = 25 for [18F]FDG PET/CT). No significant differences in the SUVP on [18F]Alfatide PET/CT or [18F]FDG PET/CT were observed among the cohorts according to gender, pathological stage, T stage, status of LNs, and differentiation (all P > 0.05). The SUVLN differed significantly between the pathological stages and status of LNs both on [18F]Alfatide PET/CT (P = 0.03, 0.003) and [18F]FDG PET/CT (P = 0.001. 0.05). The quantitated expression levels of αvβ3 in primary tumors and metastatic LNs were 1.67 ± 1.12 and 3.42 ± 2.93, respectively (P = 0.031). Our results suggest that SUVLN is influenced by pathological stage, LN status, and differentiation. SUVLN may therefore serve as a new parameter for risk stratification of with ESCC patients. Moreover, [18F]Alfatide PET can provide complementary molecular information about ESCC metastasis.

To explore a representative hypoxic parameter to predict the treatment response and prognosis for [18F]fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) positron emission tomography (PET)/X-ray computed tomography (CT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Twenty-nine patients with NSCLC underwent FMISO-PET scans before chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax) in the tumor, normal lung, aortic arch, and vertical ridge muscle were measured, and the tumor-to-lung (T/L) ratios, tumor-to-blood (T/B) ratios, ands tumor-to-muscle (T/M) ratios were calculated and analyzed. Fractional hypoxic volume (FHV) was expressed as percentage of hypoxic volume. SUVmax, T/L ratio, T/B ratio, and FHV were all significantly different between the responders and the non-responders (SUVmax, 2.07 ± 0.53 vs. 2.61 ± 0.69, P = 0.026; T/L ratio, 3.16 ± 0.85 vs. 4.09 ± 1.46, P = 0.047; T/B ratio, 1.27 ± 0.20 vs. 1.48 ± 0.32, P = 0.042; 38.92 ± 18.47 vs. 52.91 ± 11.29 %, P = 0.020). However, the T/M ratio was not significantly different between the two populations (1.46 ± 0.31 vs. 1.67 ± 0.33, P = 0.098). The correlation ratio between hypoxic parameters and treatment responses ranged from high to low as FHV (r = 0.412); SUVmax (r = 0.400); T/L ratio (r = 0.379), P

Shanghai Grand Opera House, which is under construction in Shanghai, China, includes two relatively large opera halls, which are named as the large opera hall and the middle opera hall. Below the stages of these two opera halls are two deep stage pits where the mechanical equipment will be arranged after construction, therefore, the structure of these stage pits is designed to be basically hollow with only a small amount of floor slabs on the edges. For the most sections of the stage pits, the depth is 16m, and the arrangement of horizontal supports and lattice columns in the stage pits during the construction period is extremely complicated. To prevent the outer walls of the stage pits from leaking and further guarantee the quality of the structure, the unilateral support formwork, which is composed of multiple steel components as load bearing members, is applied to construct the 16m outer wall of the stage pits. In this paper, first, the specific working principle of the unilateral support formwork and numerical analysis of its construction steps are introduced. Then focus on explaining that through establishing detailed digital 3D models of the complex stage pits during construction period, the practical construction sequence and construction technologies are designed and formulated, meanwhile, the on-site staff can also be guided directly through digital 3D models, which guarantee the visualization of the complex technology and the convenience of on-site construction as well. The construction of the deep stage pits is currently in progress, and part of the outer wall has already been constructed successfully. The cost of the technology is certainly more than common construction methods, but it is still acceptable since most of the formwork members can be recycled and re-use, while the advantages are obvious. Finally, the main characteristics of the construction technology of the unilateral support formwork for 16m-high concrete outer wall is summarized and discussed, which can provide a reference for the construction of similar structures.

Parasitic disease is among the major causes of health problems in marine mammals. However, little information on parasitic species composition and infection levels in finless porpoises (Neophocaena spp.) is available. In this study, we report the first systematic survey on parasitic infections in the East Asian finless porpoise N. asiaeorientalis sunameri (EAFP) living off the Chinese Yellow/Bohai Sea coast. Using both morphological and molecular methods, 5 parasitic helminths were identified: Campula oblonga in the liver and pancreas; Synthesium seymouri in the pyloric stomach and duodenum ampulla; Anisakis pegreffii in the forestomach, main stomach, and esophagus; Halocercus sp. in the lungs; and Crassicauda magna in the mammary glands and muscle. Among these helminths, C. oblonga (80.7%), S. seymouri (80.7%), A. pegreffii (80.7%), and Halocercus sp. (77.4%) were the most prevalent, whereas C. magna (6.5%) were only observed in 2 EAFP individuals. All juvenile and adult EAFPs were parasitized by at least 3 parasites species (C. oblonga, S. seymouri, and A. pegreffii), whereas in neonates, only Halocercus sp. were detected. We observed no significant difference in parasite prevalence between males and females. In addition, A. pegreffii and C. magna represented new infection records in Neophocaena. A pathological examination associated with parasitic lesions in EAFPs showed damage or destruction of cells or tissues to some extent. This study represents the first systematic survey on parasitic infections in EAFPs, providing important and valuable parasitological information for the research and conservation of this coastal marine mammal.

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) is the world's only freshwater porpoise and is endemic to the Yangtze River. However, it is now Critically Endangered, with its long-term survival very uncertain due to escalating anthropogenic pressure. Recent census data indicate an accelerating rate of decline, meaning that the time remaining in which to save this endemic porpoise may be shorter than previously anticipated. In this study, we used VORTEX models to project population trends and estimate the time to extinction (TE) for wild Yangtze finless porpoise populations in the Yangtze River, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake, and for the “semi-natural” porpoise population in the Tian'e-Zhou oxbow reserve, using the most recent available baseline population data. The median predicted TE was 25–33 years in the Yangtze River and 37–49 years overall in the wild at the current rate of decline. However, the actual TE is very likely to be shorter than this estimate. For the Tian'e-Zhou population, the VORTEX model predicted a provisional increase in the number of porpoises, but a high extinction risk with increasing inbreeding depression. These findings highlight the very narrow time window within which effective conservation measures need to be undertaken. We address the need to establish a network of “reintroduction refuges” to preserve as many porpoise individuals as possible through coordinated translocations. Actions to restore the movement of porpoises between the main Yangtze channel and its appended lakes, reduction of mortality rates in lake habitats, and restoration of ecosystem function in the Yangtze River should also be implemented with a catchment-wide perspective.

Scientists increasingly rely on protected areas to assist in biodiversity conservation, yet the efficacy of these areas is rarely systematically assessed, often because of underfunding. Still, adaptive management strategies to maximize conservation success often rely on understanding the temporal and spatial dynamism of populations therein. Examination of environmental DNA (eDNA) is a time and cost-effective way to monitor species' distribution, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) provides information on organismal abundance. To date, however, such techniques remain underused for population assessments in protected areas. We determined eDNA concentration of the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) to describe its occurrence, range, and use of the Tian e-Zhou National Nature Reserve in Hubei, China, across seasons and hydrological depths. Despite the observation that total eDNA concentrations were highest in surface waters in summer, finless porpoise eDNA concentrations were significantly higher in deeper waters than in surface waters in summer. During the breeding season (spring), eDNA signals were site specific and restricted to the core area of the reserve. However, postbreeding eDNA concentrations were widespread across the reserve, encompassing sites previously thought to be unfrequented by the species. Our results suggest spatiotemporal idiosyncrasies in site, depth, and seasonal use of the reserve and a propensity for postbreeding population dispersal. With eDNA and qPCR we were able to assess an entire population's use of a protected area. Illuminating nuances in habitat use via eDNA could be valuable to set pragmatic conservation goals for this, and other, species.

// Bingjie Fan 1 , Pingping Fan 1, 2, 3 , Li Kong 1, 2, 3 , Xindong Sun 1, 2, 3 , Shuqiang Zhao 1, 2, 4 , Xiaorong Sun 1, 2, 4 , Zheng Fu 1, 2, 4 , Jinsong Zheng 1, 2, 4 , Li Ma 1, 2, 4 , Shijiang Wang 1, 2, 3 , Man Hu 1, 2, 3 and Jinming Yu 1, 2, 3 1 Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China 2 Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China 3 Departments of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, China 4 Departments of Nuclear Medicine, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, China Correspondence to: Man Hu, email: hu5770@sina.com Jinming Yu, email: sdyujinming@163.com Keywords: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, radiotherapy, FDG PET/CT, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, local failure Received: October 15, 2016 Accepted: January 04, 2017 Published: February 22, 2017 ABSTRACT Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients are at risk for local failure (LF) following treatment. Predicting tumor regions at high risk for local failure before radiotherapy may increase treatment efficacy by permitting an escalated radiation dose specifically to those regions critical for tumor control. Forty-one patients with non-resectable locally advanced ESCC underwent 18 F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) imaging before concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). After CCRT, a second (failure) FDG PET/CT was performed in cases of relapse. Failure FDG PET/CT scans were fused to pre-treatment scans to identify tumor regions at high risk for LF. Within a median follow-up time of 26 months, 20 patients (48.8%) had LF. In 19 patients, the failure occurred within a pre-treatment high FDG uptake region; the failure occurred outside these regions in only one patient. Pre-treatment metabolic tumor volume (MTV) was independently associated with LF ( P

// Jianling Bi 1 , Bo Hu 1 , Jing Wang 1 , Xing Liu 1 , Jinsong Zheng 1 , Ding Wang 1 and Wuhan Xiao 1, 2 1 The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China 2 State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China Correspondence to: Wuhan Xiao, email: w-xiao@ihb.ac.cn Ding Wang, email: wangd@ihb.ac.cn Keywords: beluga whale, cetaceans, hypoxia, HIF-2α, VHL Received: October 09, 2016 Accepted: January 09, 2017 Published: February 02, 2017 ABSTRACT Aquatic mammals, such as cetaceans experience various depths, with accordingly diverse oxygenation, thus, cetaceans have developed adaptations for hypoxia, but mechanisms underlying this tolerance to low oxygen are unclear. Here we analyzed VHL and HIF-2α, in the hypoxia signaling pathway. Variations in VHL are greater than HIF-2α between cetaceans and terrestrial mammals, and beluga whale VHL (BW-VHL) promotes HIF-2α degradation under hypoxia. BW-VHL catalyzes BW-HIF-2α to form K48-linked poly-ubiquitin chains mainly at the lysine 429 of BW-HIF-2α (K429) and induces BW-HIF-2α for proteasomal degradation. W100 within BW-VHL is a key site for BW-VHL functionally and BW-VHL enhances transcriptional activity of BW-HIF-2α under hypoxia. Our data therefore reveal that BW-VHL has a unique function that may contribute to hypoxic adaptation.

Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis), inhabiting the Yangtze River, are an endangered species in China. They are threatened by various kinds of pollutants, among which persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are of special concern due to their toxicities, high persistency and bioaccumulation potential. To better understand the POP contamination status of Yangtze finless porpoises, an investigation of stranded porpoises along the Yangtze River and adjacent two major lakes in the Yangtze River basin was conducted; the concentrations of four groups of legacy POPs, i.e., hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), were determined in the blubber samples. The mean concentrations of ΣHCHs (the sum of all congeners/isomers), ΣDDTs, ΣPBDEs and ΣPCBs, were 1670 ± 4210, 28,800 ± 52,300, 141 ± 174, and 1020 ± 1070 ng/g lipid weight, respectively; the high DDTs/PCBs ratio reflected a strong influence of agricultural pollution in the Yangtze River basin, and the high α/γ ratio of HCH isomers indicated the usage of lindane in the corresponding areas; the predominance of low-brominated congeners of PBDEs may be related to congruent patterns in the related environmental matrices. A hazard quotient risk assessment revealed that DDTs could pose a relatively high risk to Yangtze finless porpoises compared with the risks posed by the other POPs.

Hypoxia is important in the biology of glioma in humans. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with a hypoxia tracer offers a noninvasive method to differentiate individual tumor biology and potentially modify treatment for patients with malignancies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether hypoxia, as measured by fluorine-18 fluoroerythronitroimidazole (Twenty-five patients with gliomas in whom gross maximal resection could be safely attempted were analyzed. All patients underwentA correlation between the SUVmax and glioma grade was found (r = 0.881, P 0.001). The SUVmax was significantly correlated with the expression of HIF-1α, Ki-67, VEGF, and MMP-9 (r = 0.820, 0.747, 0.606, and 0.727; all P 0.001). Patients with a high SUVmax had significantly worse 3-year OS than those with a low SUVmax (24.4% vs. 82.1%, P = 0.003).

Plesiomonas shigelloides is a Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium which has been isolated from humans, animals and the environment. It has been associated with diarrhoeal disease in humans and various epizootic diseases in animals. In this study P. shigelloides strains were isolated from the faecal material of a captive Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis; YFP) living in semi-natural conditions in China. Plesiomonas shigelloides strain EE2 was subjected to whole genome sequencing. The draft genome was then compared to the genome sequences of ten other P. shigelloides isolates using the Pathosystems Resource Integration Center pipeline. In addition to several virulence factors which have been previously reported, we are proposing new candidate virulence factors such as a repeats-in-toxin protein, lysophospholipase, a twin-arginine translocation system and the type VI secretion effector Phospholipase A1.