Deeper Depths Research Articles

An Efficient Strategy for Constructing Fluorescent Nanoprobes for Prolonged and Accurate Tumor Imaging.

Activatable near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes possess advantages of high selectivity, sensitivity, and deep imaging depth, holding great potential in the early diagnosis and prognosis assessment of tumors. However, small-molecule fluorescent probes are largely limited due to the rapid diffusion and metabolic clearance of activated fluorophores in vivo. Herein, we propose an efficient and reproducible novel strategy to construct activatable fluorescent nanoprobes through bioorthogonal reactions and the strong gold-sulfur (Au-S) interactions to achieve an enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, thereby achieving prolonged and high-contrast tumor imaging in vivo. To demonstrate the merits of this strategy, we prepared an activatable nanoprobe, hCy-ALP@AuNP, for imaging alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in vivo, whose nanoscale properties facilitate accumulation and long-term retention in tumor lesions. Tumor-overexpressed ALP significantly increased the fluorescence signal of hCy-ALP@AuNP in the NIR region. More importantly, compared with the small-molecule probe hCy-ALP-N3, the nanoprobe hCy-ALP@AuNP significantly improved the distribution and retention time in the tumor, thus improving the imaging window and accuracy. Therefore, this nanoprobe platform has great potential in the efficient construction of biomarker-responsive fluorescent nanoprobes to realize precise tumor diagnosis in vivo.

Elevated methane flux in a tropical peatland post-fire is linked to depth-dependent changes in peat microbiome assembly

Fires in tropical peatlands extend to depth, transforming them from carbon sinks into methane sources and severely limit forest recovery. Peat microbiomes influence carbon transformations and forest recovery, yet our understanding of microbiome shifts post-fire is currently limited. Our previous study highlighted altered relationships between the peat surface, water table, aboveground vegetation, and methane flux after fire in a tropical peatland. Here, we link these changes to post-fire shifts in peat microbiome composition and assembly processes across depth. We report kingdom-specific and depth-dependent shifts in alpha diversity post-fire, with large differences at deeper depths. Conversely, we found shifts in microbiome composition across all depths. Compositional shifts extended to functional groups involved in methane turnover, with methanogens enriched and methanotrophs depleted at mid and deeper depths. Finally, we show that community shifts at deeper depths result from homogeneous selection associated with post-fire changes in hydrology and aboveground vegetation. Collectively, our findings provide a biological basis for previously reported methane fluxes after fire and offer new insights into depth-dependent shifts in microbiome assembly processes, which ultimately underlie ecosystem function predictability and ecosystem recovery.

Detectability analysis of very low frequency earthquakes: methods and application in Nankai using F-net and DONET broad-band seismometers

SUMMARY For a more quantitative discussion of slow earthquake activity, we evaluated the detectable limits of very low frequency earthquakes (VLFEs), which are seismic slow earthquakes observed in very low-frequency (< 0.05 Hz) bands in the Nankai subduction zone. We performed numerical simulations using a local 3-D model and used the observed noise level of permanent broad-band seismometers. First, we investigated the effects of the source-time functions on the maximum amplitudes of the VLFE signals at a certain station. The maximum amplitudes of the VLFE signals were controlled by the VLFE moment rate. The detectable limit of VLFEs at each source location can be defined as the lowest moment rate of detectable VLFEs, which radiate signals larger than the noise levels of any component at ≥ 3 stations. For inland seismometers only, the detectable limits of VLFEs at deep (30–40 km) and shallow (≤ 10 km) depths were 1012–1012.3 and 1012.7 N·m s−1, respectively. Due to the geometrical spreading of VLFE signals and large noise levels in horizontal components, offshore seismometers improved the detectability of shallow VLFEs in regions where seismometers were densely deployed. Based on our detectability and published catalogues, shallow slow earthquakes are less active south-southwest off the Kii Peninsula, where geodetic studies expect mechanical coupling.

Metachronous remnant gastric cancer after proximal gastrectomy.

260 Background: Proximal gastrectomy is frequently selected for early gastric cancer located at the upper third of the stomach. Annual postoperative endoscopy is considered to be useful for the early detection of metachronous remnant gastric cancer (MRGC). Despite that, we sometimes have also encountered cases that are not suitable for endoscopic resection (ER). The aim of this study is to identify the risk factors for the patients who developed MRGC after proximal gastrectomy, received annual endoscopy, but are not eligible for ER (non-ER). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 191 patients who had received annual endoscopic surveillance after undergoing PG for cT1 gastric cancer at NCCH between 2006-2015. MRGCs were categorized into two groups: ER group and non-ER group. The remnant stomach was defined as three locations: pseudo-fornix (PF), corpus and antrum. Results: The median observation period was 73 (range 12-168) months. MRGC was observed in 29 cases with 32 lesions. ER was eligible for 20 lesions (ER group, 62.5%), but 12 were not (non-ER group, 37.5%). We compared the characteristics between of ER group and non-ER group in terms of sex, age (>65 years), interval from the initial surgery (>60months), the location (PF vs non-PF), and cross-sectional circumference (posterior wall vs. others). In both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, only the location at PF was identified as a risk factor for non-ER group (OR 25.0, 95% CI: 1.8–339, p = 0.015). Among 12 lesions of the non-ER group, the location of PF was found in 6 (50%) lesions. As compared with MRGC at the non-PF, that at the PF (n = 6) was characterized by younger patients (57.5 (range 37-69) years vs. 69 (56-77) years), larger size (36 (7-57) mm vs. 9 (9-24) mm), deeper depth (MP or deeper; 5/6 vs. 0/6), more frequent undifferentiated-type histology (4/6 vs. 0/6) and frequent nodal metastasis (3/6 vs. 0/6). The interval to detect MRGC appears to be longer in the PF (78 (31-96) months than that of the non-PF (60 (31-96) months), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.86). Then, we examined the visibility and the mucosal normality of the area developing MRGC in the annual follow-up endoscopy one year before the detection of MRGC (n =32). In 25 lesions at the non-PF, the visibility and the mucosal normality was secured in 21 (84%). while 5 PF lesions were difficult to observe (71.4%, p = 0.01) due to food residues in 4 (57%, p = 0.047) and insufficient expansion of the gastric mucosa in 4 (57%, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Detection of the MRGC at the PF at an early stage is crucial and challenging. With annual follow-up endoscopy, complete clearance and adequately extending the gastric mucosa could lead to the early detection of MRGC at the PF.

Size Modulation of Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles for Improved NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging and Photothermal Therapy.

Near-infrared-II fluorescence imaging (NIR-II FI) has become a powerful imaging technique for disease diagnosis owing to its superiorities, including high sensitivity, high spatial resolution, deep imaging depth, and low background interference. Despite the widespread application of conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) for NIR-II FI, most of the developed CPNs have quite low NIR-II fluorescence quantum yields based on the energy gap law, which makes high-sensitivity and high-resolution imaging toward deep lesions still a huge challenge. This work proposes a nanoengineering strategy to modulate the size of CPNs aimed at optimizing their NIR-II fluorescence performance for improved NIR-II phototheranostics. By adjusting the initial concentration of the synthesized conjugated polymer, a series of CPNs with different particle sizes are successfully prepared via a nanoprecipitation approach. Results show that the NIR-II fluorescence brightness of CPNs gradually amplifies with decreasing particle size, and the optimal CPNs, NP0.2, demonstrate up to a 2.05-fold fluorescence enhancement compared with the counterpart nanoparticles. With the merits of reliable biocompatibility, high photostability, and efficient light-heat conversion, the optimal NP0.2 has been successfully employed for NIR-II FI-guided photothermal therapy both in vitro and in vivo. Our work highlights an effective strategy of nanoengineering to improve the NIR-II performance of CPNs, advancing the development of NIR-II FI in life sciences.

Red light intensity modulation, temperature sensing and bioimaging of NaLuF4:Er3+/Tm3+/Yb3+ microcrystals under 1532 nm laser excitation

This paper reports on microcrystals with deep tissue penetration depth, strong red light emission, and thermometric function. The red light emission of NaLuF4:20 % Er3+/1 % Tm3+/10 % Yb3+ microcrystals is exceptionally strong, thanks to the introduction of Tm3+ and Yb3+ ions energy capture centers. In bioimaging, the 1532 nm laser exhibits deeper imaging depth due to weak photon scattering and autofluorescence. Furthermore, red light emission has the greatest tissue penetration depth in the visible region. The luminescence intensity and tissue penetration depth of both the excitation and emission light make them suitable for deep tissue imaging. We investigated temperature sensing performance of NaLuF4:20 % Er3+/1 % Tm3+/10 % Yb3+ microcrystals, and found that the maximum relative sensitivity of LIR (I521/I540) reaches 0.92 %K−1. The microcrystals NaLuF4:20 % Er3+/1 % Tm3+/10 % Yb3+ are anticipated to have application in deep tissue imaging and temperature sensing.

Response of Evapotranspiration, Photosynthetic Characteristics and Yield of Soybeans to Groundwater Depth

To clarify the physiological mechanism of different groundwater depths affecting soybean evapotranspiration, photosynthetic characteristics and yield, a field experiment with four groundwater depth levels (1 m (D1), 2 m (D2), 3 m (D3) and 4 m (D4)) was conducted through the groundwater simulation system in 2021 and 2022. In this study, a quantitative analysis was conducted on the groundwater recharge and irrigation water demand and evapotranspiration (ET) of soybean fields with different treatments, and the effects of different treatments on soybean leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll content index (SPAD), intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (IPAR), photosynthetic gas exchange parameters, dry matter accumulation (DMA) and yield were explored. The results showed the following: (1) Groundwater depth affected soybean ET and the source of ET. With the increase in groundwater depth, groundwater recharge and its contribution to ET gradually decreased, but the amount of irrigation required gradually increased, resulting in the ET as D1 > D4 > D2 > D3. (2) Soybean LAI, SPAD and IPAR were significantly affected by the different groundwater depths, of which the D1 treatment always maintained the maximum, followed by the D4 treatment, and the D3 treatment was the minimum. The photosynthetic gas exchange parameters under different treatments changed synergistically, showing significant differences in the flowering and podding stages, notably D1 > D4 > D2 > D3. Soybean DMA and yield first decreased and then increased with the increase in groundwater depth, and the average DMA and yield under the D1 treatment increased by 27.71%, 46.80% and 22.82% and 20.29%, 29.91% and 12.83% in the two years, respectively, compared to the D2, D3 and D4 treatments. (3) The structural equation model demonstrated that the groundwater depth indirectly affected the growth of soybean leaf area by affecting groundwater recharge, which in turn regulated soybean ET and photosynthetic capacity and ultimately affected DMA and yield. The above results showed that in the case of shallow groundwater depth (D1), the largest groundwater recharge promoted the growth of soybean leaf area and chlorophyll synthesis and increased the absorption and utilization of solar radiation. And it improved the leaf stomata conditions, accelerated the gas exchange between the plant and atmosphere, enhanced the photosynthetic production capacity and ET and achieved maximum DMA and yield. Soybean leaf growth and photosynthesis diminish with the increase in groundwater depth. In the case of deep groundwater depth (D4), the maximum irrigation improved the growth and photosynthetic performance of soybean leaves, which was favorable to ET, and ultimately led to increases in DMA and yield.

Simulation of deuterium pellet ablation and deposition in the EAST tokamak with HPI2 code

Pellet injection is a primary method for fueling the plasma in magnetic confinement devices. For that goal the knowledges of pellet ablation and deposition profiles are critical. In the present study, the pellet fueling code HPI2 was used to predict the ablation and deposition profiles of deuterium pellets injected into a typical H-mode discharge on the EAST tokamak. Pellet ablation and deposition profiles were evaluated for various pellet injection locations, with the aim at optimizing the pellet injection to obtain a deep fueling depth. In this study, we investigate the effect of the injection angle on the deposition depth of the pellet at different velocities and sizes. The ablation and deposition of the injected pellet are mainly studied at each injection position for three different injection angles: 0°, 45°, and 60°. The pellet injection on the high field side (HFS) can achieve a more ideal deposition depth than on the low field side (LFS). Among these angles, horizontal injection on the middle plane is relatively better on either the HFS or the LFS. When the injection location is 0.468 m below the middle plane on the HFS or 0.40 m above the middle plane of the LFS, it can achieve a similar deposition depth to the one of its corresponding side. When the pre-cooling effect is taken into account, the deposition depth is predicted to increase only slightly when the pellet is launched from the HFS. The findings of this study will serve as a reference for the update of pellet injection systems for the EAST tokamak.

Methane-hydrogen-rich fluid migration may trigger seismic failure in subduction zones at forearc depths

Metamorphic fluids, faults, and shear zones are carriers of carbon from the deep Earth to shallower reservoirs. Some of these fluids are reduced and transport energy sources, like H2 and light hydrocarbons. Mechanisms and pathways capable of transporting these deep energy sources towards shallower reservoirs remain unidentified. Here we present geological evidence of failure of mechanically strong rocks due to the accumulation of CH4-H2-rich fluids at deep forearc depths, which ultimately reached supralithostatic pore fluid pressure. These fluids originated from adjacent reduction of carbonates by H2-rich fluids during serpentinization at eclogite-to-blueschist-facies conditions. Thermodynamic modeling predicts that the production and accumulation of CH4-H2-rich aqueous fluids can produce fluid overpressure more easily than carbon-poor and CO2-rich aqueous fluids. This study provides evidence for the migration of deep Earth energy sources along tectonic discontinuities, and suggests causal relationships with brittle failure of hard rock types that may trigger seismic activity at forearc depths.

Deepwater 3D Measurements with a Novel Sensor System

A novel 3D sensor system for underwater application is presented, primarily designed to carry out inspections on industrial facilities such as piping systems, offshore wind farm foundations, anchor chains, and other structures at deep depths of up to 1000 m. The 3D sensor system enables high-resolution 3D capture at a measuring volume of approximately 1 m3, as well as the simultaneous capture of color data using active stereo scanning with structured lighting, producing highly accurate and detailed 3D images for close-range inspection. Furthermore, the system uses visual inertial odometry to map the seafloor and create a rough 3D overall model of the environment via Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). For this reason, the system is also suitable for geological, biological, or archaeological applications in underwater areas. This article describes the overall system and data processing, as well as initial results regarding the measurement accuracy and applicability from tests of the sensor system in a water basin and offshore with a Remotely Operating Vehicle (ROV) in the Baltic Sea.

Rupture Pattern of the 2015 Alor Earthquake Sequence, Indonesia

Abstract A sequence of earthquakes occurred on Alor Island, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia, beginning in November 2015 with the mainshock (Mw 6.2) on 4 November 2015. We calculate the centroid moment tensor (CMT) solutions for nine of the earthquakes with Mw≥3.9, which occurred between November 2015 and March 2016 using records from a temporary array of 30 broadband instruments in eastern Indonesia and Timor Leste (YS network). Our CMT results reveal an interesting pattern of ruptures in this order: (a) three foreshocks of Mw 4–5.3 all with strike-slip mechanisms that occurred with a centroid depth of ∼13 km in the three days prior to the mainshock, (b) the mainshock on 4 November 2015, with Mw 6.2 that occurred with a deeper centroid (∼25 km) and a strike-slip mechanism similar to the foreshocks, (c) followed by five aftershocks with Mw>3.9 at depth ∼3–15km. We further determine the fault plane and rupture direction of the mainshock and the largest foreshock (Mw 5.3) by relocating the hypocenter and examining its geometrical location with respect to the centroid. We find that the fault plane strikes 97°±9° from north and that the fault ruptures westward. We propose that the rupture of this sequence of events initiated at depth ∼10 km, propagating westward and triggering the mainshock to rupture at a deeper depth (within lower crust) on a similar faulting system. The aftershocks migrate back to shallower depths and occur mainly at depth <10 km.

Development of NIR-II small animal living fluorescence imaging system

Fluorescence imaging technology can dynamically monitor gene and cell changing in live animals in real-time, with advantages such as high sensitivity, high resolution, and non-invasion. In recent years, it has been widely used in tumor research, gene expression research, drug development research, etc. The imaging wavelength of traditional fluorescence imaging technology falls in the visible and near-infrared-I region. Due to the absorption and scattering effects of light propagation in biological tissues, and the inherent fluorescence of biological tissues, traditional fluorescence imaging techniques still have significant limitations in penetration depth and image signal-to-noise ratio. In this work, a highly integrated near-infrared-II (NIR-II, 900—1880 nm) small animal living fluorescence imaging system is developed by taking the advantages of NIR-II fluorescence imaging technology, such as low absorption, low scattering, and deep penetration depth in biological tissues. And a method of enhancing and correcting fluorescence image is proposed to optimize fluorescence images. In this work, the biological tissue simulation experiments and live animal experiments are conducted to test the performance and imaging effect of the system. The experimental results show that the system has the advantages of deep penetration depth, high signal-to-noise ratio, and high sensitivity. Combined with commercial indocyanine green reagents and aggregation-induced emission dyes, this system can monitor the distribution of blood vessels in real time and continuously monitor deep tissues and organs in mice, and conduct the dynamically monitoring research in living mice in a conscious state. This helps to promote tumor research and drug development research in the field of biomedical imaging to enter a new stage.

Highly active fish in low oxygen environments: vertical movements and behavioural responses of bigeye and yellowfin tunas to oxygen minimum zones in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Oxygen minimum zones in the open ocean are predicted to significantly increase in volume over the coming decades as a result of anthropogenic climatic warming. The resulting reduction in dissolved oxygen (DO) in the pelagic realm is likely to have detrimental impacts on water-breathing organisms, particularly those with higher metabolic rates, such as billfish, tunas, and sharks. However, little is known about how free-living fish respond to low DO environments, and therefore, the effect increasing OMZs will have cannot be predicted reliably. Here, we compare the responses of two active predators (bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus and yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares) to DO at depth throughout the eastern Pacific Ocean. Using time-series data from 267 tagged tunas (59,910 days) and 3D maps of modelled DO, we find that yellowfin tuna respond to low DO at depth by spending more time in shallower, more oxygenated waters. By contrast, bigeye tuna, which forage at deeper depths well below the thermocline, show fewer changes in their use of the water column. However, we find that bigeye tuna increased the frequency of brief upward vertical excursions they performed by four times when DO at depth was lower, but with no concomitant significant difference in temperature, suggesting that this behaviour is driven in part by the need to re-oxygenate following time spent in hypoxic waters. These findings suggest that increasing OMZs will impact the behaviour of these commercially important species, and it is therefore likely that other water-breathing predators with higher metabolic rates will face similar pressures. A more comprehensive understanding of the effect of shoaling OMZs on pelagic fish vertical habitat use, which may increase their vulnerability to surface fisheries, will be important to obtain if these effects are to be mitigated by future management actions.

Spawning behaviour of lake whitefish in Lake Huron revealed by fine-scale acoustic telemetry and Indigenous ecological knowledge

Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) are ecologically, economically, and culturally significant across their range, yet little is documented about the species’ spawning behaviour. Here, we used a VEMCO Positioning System (VPS) and the local ecological knowledge of Saugeen Ojibway Nation in a Two-Eyed Seeing approach to characterize sex-specific movement patterns of lake whitefish at a spawning shoal in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron (Ontario, Canada). In fall 2020, 50 lake whitefish were tagged with acoustic transmitters and 28 of those fish were detected during the deployment of the VPS between 15 October 2021 and 18 January 2022. Occupancy of lake whitefish on the VPS followed a bell-shaped pattern, with an increase, plateau that lasted ∼1 week, and subsequent decrease in activity over a 48-day period demarcating the 2021 spawning season. Apart from 2 resident females, males appeared in the area first. Both sexes moved into shallower lake depths at night and deeper depths during the day. Females moved 18.0% faster than males during the day whereas males moved 39.5% faster than females at night. Depths occupied became shallower over time until the peak activity phase, followed by a transition back to deeper waters. Both sexes used a variety of habitats over the spawning season, including the main spawning shoal, sandy substrates, and steep slopes. These insights on the habitat usage and spawning phenology of lake whitefish provided through our Two-Eyed Seeing approach can help inform stewardship initiatives aimed at increasing recruitment of depleted populations of this important species.

Sex and season influence behaviour and physiology of lake trout following angling.

Catch-and-release angling exposes fish to challenges that may result in sub-lethal effects or mortality. Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) undergo high rates of release because of size-based harvest regulations or voluntary angler behaviour. Here, we examine short-term impairment in lake trout angled during the summer (n = 74) and fall spawning period (n = 33) to inform best practices for angling. Immediately following capture or 0.5h post-capture, fish underwent reflex and barotrauma assessments, and a small blood sample was collected. Fish were also fitted with an externally mounted biologger equipped with depth, temperature and tri-axial acceleration sensors, that was tethered to allow retrieval of the logger after 14min. In the summer, reflex impairment and barotrauma at 0 and 0.5h were significantly correlated. Loss of orientation and bloating were the most observed indicators. Larger fish and those captured at increased depth had higher barotrauma scores, while prolonged fight times decreased the barotrauma score regardless of sampling time. Plasma cortisol, lactate and glucose increased 0.5h after capture, and extracellular and intracellular pH decreased, all signs that angling was inducing a metabolic response. However, no relationships were found between blood indices and mortality (18.9%). The time required to reach maximum depth after release was longer for fish with increased air exposure but shorter for those with longer fight times. During the fall, fish displayed no mortality or reflex impairment. Anal prolapse was the most observed indicator of barotrauma but only observed in females. Blood indices were most altered 0.5h after capture, with increased cortisol values for fish that were female, particularly large or captured at deeper depth. Locomotor activity was highest for males and increased with depth. Together, our findings suggest that the effects of catch-and-release angling may be dependent on several factors, including sex, season and angling depth.

Evaluation of Canopy Temperature Based Crop Water Stress Index for Deficit Irrigation Management of Sugar Beet in Semi-Arid Climate

Highlights Sugar beet irrigation scheduling was based on daily average crop water stress index between 13:00 and 16:00 hours. Three crop water stress index thresholds, 0.2, 0.35, and 0.55, were evaluated for irrigation scheduling. Season evapotranspiration decreased and soil water extraction increased as crop water stress threshold increased. There was no significant difference in root or sucrose yield between full irrigation and 0.2 crop water stress index, while seasonal irrigation depths were reduced from133 to 185 mm. Abstract. Sugar beet is an economically important crop in the semi-arid Intermountain Western U.S., with seasonal water use ranging from 500 to 900 mm. Sugar beet is a deep-rooted crop (1.5-2 m) in unrestricted soil profiles that can utilize stored soil water to reduce seasonal irrigation requirements. Effective use of stored soil water below 0.6 m requires precise irrigation scheduling and knowledge of soil water availability below 0.6 m, which is usually unknown due to the labor and expense of soil water monitoring at deeper depths and uncertainty in effective rooting depth and soil water holding capacity. Deficit irrigation (DI) management of sugar beet using a thermal-based crop water stress index (CWSI) has the potential to overcome soil water monitoring limitations and facilitate the utilization of stored soil water to reduce seasonal irrigation requirements. The objective of the research summarized in this paper was to implement and evaluate the effect of automated DI scheduling of sugar beet using three daily average CWSI thresholds (0.2, 0.35, and 0.55) on seasonal irrigation requirement, crop evapotranspiration, seasonal soil water depletion, root yield, estimated recoverable sugar (ERS) yield, and water use efficiency compared to full irrigation. There were no significant differences in root and ERS yield between full irrigation and 0.2 CWSI DI treatment, while seasonal ET was significantly decreased, seasonal soil water extraction was significantly increased, and seasonal irrigation depths were reduced from 133 to 185 mm. Root and ERS yield water production functions were curvilinear with a downward concave. Root and ERS yield water use efficiencies were constant or increased slightly for crop evapotranspiration reductions up to 85% of full irrigation evapotranspiration. The results indicate that irrigating when the average daily CWSI sugar beet exceeds 0.2 is an effective means for mild deficit irrigation scheduling to reduce seasonal irrigation requirements with no significant effect on root and ERS yield. Keywords: Crop water stress index, Evapotranspiration, Irrigation, Irrigation scheduling, Root yield, Sucrose yield, Sugar beet.

Prospective Observation Study for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Incidence of and Risk Factors for Postoperative Neogenesis of Bullae.

Details of the neogenesis of bullae (NOB), which causes recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) following bullectomy, have not been reported and risk factors for NOB remain unclear. We aimed to clarify the details of NOB. We conducted a prospective study using three computed tomography (CT) examinations performed 6, 12, and 24 months after bullectomy to identify the incidence of and risk factors for NOB. We enrolled 50 patients who underwent bullectomy for PSP. After excluding 11 patients who canceled the postoperative CT examination at 6 months after bullectomy, only 39 patients were analyzed. The incidence of NOB at 6, 12, and 24 months after bullectomy was 38.5%, 55.2%, and 71.2%, respectively. The rate of NOB in the operated lung was almost 2 times higher than that in the contralateral nonoperative lung. Male sex, multiple bullae on preoperative CT, long stapling line (≥7 cm), deep stapling depth (≥1.5 cm), and heavier resected sample (≥5 g) were suggested to be risk factors for NOB. We recognized a high incidence of postoperative NOB in PSP patients. Bullectomy itself seems to promote NOB. Postoperative NOB occurs frequently, especially in patients who require a large-volume lung resection with a long staple line.

A Precise Analysis of the Behavior of Pit Side Tunnels Caused by Deep Excavation

As urbanization gathers pace, projects involving adjacent subway tunnels are increasing, thereby amplifying the need for robust tunnel protection measures. Currently, there exists a notable lack of precise analyses on the three‐dimensional (3D) deformation laws and mechanisms of tunnels affected by adjacent deep excavation. Moreover, the influence patterns of retaining wall stiffness and deep excavation depth on the 3D deformation of pit‐side tunnels remain unclear. The purpose of this research is to bridge the existing disparity by adopting the hypoplastic model, which effectively captures soil stiffness that is dependent on soil state, strain, and stress path, even at small strains, as well as soil strength, based on reported centrifuge model tests. This approach facilitates a comprehensive, precise numerical analysis of the interaction between deep excavation and preexisting tunnels located outside the retaining wall. The analysis sheds light on the deformation mechanisms and trends of pit‐side tunnels not solely confined to the longitudinal axis but extending to the transverse plane as well, while systematically examining the influence of varying excavation depths and retaining wall stiffness on key tunnel parameters, including longitudinal deformation, diameter changes, bending strains, and soil pressure distributions around the tunnels. The study reveals that if the tunnel situated outside the retaining structure lies beneath the foundation pit’s base, deep excavation only slightly deforms the tunnel. However, when the tunnel outside the retaining structure is positioned above the pit’s base, its deformation progressively intensifies with deeper excavation, but the growth rate has a decreasing trend. An enhancement in the stiffness of the retaining wall results in a notable decrease in the deformation exhibited by the adjacent tunnels. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex responses of pit‐side tunnels to excavation activities, ultimately facilitating the design and construction of safer and more resilient urban subway infrastructure.

The application of ultrasound for skin and appendage regeneration: A comprehensive review

<p>Ultrasound, an exogenous physical stimulus, has important application prospects in the field of regenerative medicine, especially in skin regeneration, due to its safety, controllability, and deep penetration depth. This review examines the potential of ultrasound therapy in promoting skin regeneration by exploring its effects on skin cells, mechanisms of action in regeneration, and responsive materials. With its deep tissue penetration and excellent biocompatibility, ultrasound presents an attractive option for enhancing wound healing and skin regeneration. By discussing current challenges and future prospects, this review offers insights to guide the development of innovative ultrasound-based approaches for clinical wound treatment.</p>

A photoswitchable CENP-E inhibitor with single blue-green light to control chromosome positioning in mitotic cells.

Reversibly photoswitchable chemical tools have aided in the development of novel approaches in the biomedical field. The visible region of light should be ideal for the biological application of this approach because of its low phototoxicity and deep penetration depth compared to ultraviolet light. Herein, we report a photoswitchable centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E) inhibitor, which is controllable with low-energy blue-green light (around 500 nm) illumination. This photoswitchable tool enabled us to control CENP-E-driven chromosome movements and positioning at subcellular resolutions with low phototoxic effects. This study can contribute to the development of a unique technique for chromosome engineering.