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This case study uses qualitative data generated over three years to explore how a Chinese expert teacher constructs her personal practical theory (PPT) about teaching. The data analysis showed that the teacher successfully constructed a personally relevant, institutionally expected, and socio-culturally embedded PPT that manifested her teaching beliefs. The teacher constructed the PPT through five essential and interrelated steps: (a) identifying effective teaching practice; (b) crystalising a core concept from effective teaching; (c) proposing theoretical tenets around the core concept; (d) configuring the theoretical tenets into a preliminary PPT; (e) refining the PPT in relevant communities. The theory construction experience deepened the teacher's understanding of teaching and enhanced her confidence in engaging with educational theories and university-based scholars. However, the teacher's lack of knowledge about educational theories and hands-on tools for theory construction posed significant challenges to the teacher. This study generates new empirical evidence and conceptual insights into teacher theory construction, enriching international discussions on the theory-practice gap in education. The research findings also suggest practical implications for frontline teachers, facilitating their engagement with theories to close the theory-practice divide in their situated contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The communication between dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) and primary motor cortex (M1) is important for visuomotor adaptation, but it is unclear how this relationship changes with advancing age. The present study recruited 21 young and 23 older participants for two experimental sessions during which intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) or sham was applied over PMd. We assessed the effects of PMd iTBS on M1 excitability using motor evoked potentials (MEP) recorded from right first dorsal interosseous when single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied with posterior-anterior (PA) or anterior-posterior (AP) currents; and adaptation by quantifying error recorded during a visuomotor adaptation task (VAT). PMd iTBS potentiated PA (P < 0.0001) and AP (P < 0.0001) MEP amplitude in both young and older adults. PMd iTBS increased error in young adults during adaptation (P = 0.026), but had no effect in older adults (P = 0.388). Although PMd iTBS potentiated M1 excitability in both young and older adults, the intervention attenuated visuomotor adaptation specifically in young adults. • The functional role of dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) is altered with advancing age. • PMd theta burst stimulation (TBS) attenuates visuomotor adaptation in young adults. • PMd TBS does not modulate visuomotor adaptation in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational scholars have argued for fair pedagogical practices in response to the learning needs of diverse students. While pedagogical fairness has been widely advocated, few studies have systematically assessed its impact on student learning, and even fewer have examined pedagogical fairness from a school organisational perspective. To narrow this gap in research, the current study develops an expansive conceptualisation of pedagogical fairness as an integral part of organisational culture, which varies by school. Our data, gathered from 7,746 immigrant-background students attending 563 schools in six East Asian societies, were analysed based on a hierarchical linear model explaining their academic performance as a function of pedagogical fairness in terms of both teacher practice and school culture. The results suggest that fair pedagogy can effectively help immigrant children succeed in school. It is particularly notable that pedagogical unfairness embedded in school culture is negatively associated with the academic performance of immigrant children, even after controlling for unfair pedagogical practices exercised by individual teachers. These findings suggest that implementing fair pedagogy is not simply the responsibility of individual teachers; it is also the responsibility of school leaders, as they are in the position to substantially influence the school as an organisational whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human body communication technology with human biological tissue as a communication medium provides a new way for wireless communication. However, the current research on human body communication technology is limited to single body communication. This paper expands the application of human body communication technology through the study of two-person handshake communication. First, the impedance and size of the transmitter and receiver were discussed to reduce the influence of the transmitter and receiver on path loss. Then, the effects of palm contact areas on path loss was analyzed in the ultra-wide band (UWB) high and human body communication (HBC) low bands. Finally, the safety of human communication technology was evaluated based on whether the local maximum specific absorption rate (SAR) reached the international limit. In this paper, the path loss was calculated at different communication distances with the optimal parameters of the transmitter and receiver. Under the same communication distance, with the decrease in the contact area of two people's palms, the path loss of UWB and HBC bands gradually decreases. By comparing SAR values in different frequency bands, it was found that communication through the human body is safe, and the SAR in HBC is smaller than that in UWB. Furthermore, it is less affected by changes in the palm contact area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) research suggests that the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) influences neuroplasticity within the primary motor cortex (M1) through indirect (I) wave interneuronal circuits. However, it is unclear how the influence of PMd on the plasticity of M1 I‐waves changes with advancing age. This study therefore investigated the neuroplastic effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) to M1 early and late I‐wave circuits when preceded by iTBS (PMd iTBS‐M1 iTBS) or sham stimulation (PMd sham‐M1 iTBS) to PMd in 15 young and 16 older adults. M1 excitability was assessed with motor evoked potentials (MEP) recorded from the right first dorsal interosseous using posterior–anterior (PA) and anterior–posterior (AP) current TMS at standard stimulation intensities (PA1mV, AP1mV) and reduced stimulation intensities (PA0.5mV, early I‐waves; AP0.5mV, late I‐waves). PMd iTBS‐M1 iTBS lowered the expected facilitation of PA0.5mV (to M1 iTBS) in young and older adults (P = 0.009), whereas the intervention had no effect on AP0.5mV facilitation in either group (P = 0.305). The modulation of PA0.5mV following PMd iTBS‐M1 iTBS may reflect a specific influence of PMd on different I‐wave circuits that are involved in M1 plasticity within young and older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of rare-earth (RE) monosilicates can be regulated by solid solution engineering based on the mixture rule. The combination and number of RE principals are critical factors for better performances. In the present study, four single-phase equimolar multicomponent RE-monosilicate solid solutions including (Dy 1/3 Er 1/3 Yb 1/3) 2 SiO 5 , (Ho 1/3 Er 1/3 Yb 1/3) 2 SiO 5 , (Y 1/4 Er 1/4 Tm 1/4 Lu 1/4) 2 SiO 5 and (Dy 1/4 Er 1/4 Tm 1/4 Yb 1/4) 2 SiO 5 were synthesized by solid-state reaction and hot-pressing method. The microstructures, thermal and mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance to high-temperature water vapor were systematically investigated. Compared to the single-principal and ternary RE-monosilicates, the quaternary RE-monosilicates exhibited lower thermal conductivity of 1.32 Wm−1K−1 at 400 °C, matched thermal expansion coefficients (3.3 × 10−6/oC ∼ 5.8 × 10−6/oC from 200 °C to 1000 °C) with SiC, and much lower weight loss during water vapor corrosion. The results indicate that the increase of the RE element number can promote the grain growth, lower the thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient, and enhance corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective SIRT1, an NAD+-dependent deacetylase, is upregulated in CD4+ T cells from SLE patients and MRL/lpr lupus-like mice. This study aimed to explore the role of SIRT1 in follicular helper T (Tfh) cell expansion and its potential value as a therapeutic target for SLE. Methods Frequencies of CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+ Tfh cells in peripheral blood from SLE patients and their expression of SIRT1 and B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL-6) were determined with flow cytometry. Naïve CD4+ T cells were transfected with SIRT1 -expressing lentivirus and small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting SIRT1 , respectively, and then cultured under Tfh-polarizing conditions to study the impact of SIRT1 on Tfh cell differentiation. This impact was also evaluated in both CD4+ T cells and naïve CD4+ T cells by treatment with SIRT1 inhibitors (EX527 and nicotinamide) in vitro. MRL/lpr mice and pristane-induced lupus mice were treated with continuous daily intake of nicotinamide, and their lupus phenotypes (including skin rash, arthritis, proteinuria and serum anti-dsDNA autoantibodies) were compared with those of controls. Results Expression of SIRT1 was elevated in Tfh cells from SLE patients and was positively correlated with Tfh cell frequencies. SIRT1 expression gradually increased during Tfh cell differentiation. Overexpression of SIRT1 by lentiviral vectors significantly promoted Tfh cell differentiation/proliferation. Reciprocally, suppressing expression of SIRT1 by siRNA and inhibiting SIRT1 activity by EX-527 or nicotinamide hindered Tfh cell expansion. Continuous daily intake of nicotinamide alleviated lupus-like phenotypes and decreased serum CXCL13 in the two mouse models. Conclusion SIRT1 overexpression contributed to the expansion of Tfh cells in SLE and may serve as a potential target for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersion tests with 5 wt.% Na2SO4 solution were carried out to investigate the deterioration of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel in a sulfate environment. C-S-H gels with different Ca/(Si + Al) molar ratios were used for comparison. Particular attention was paid to the changes in element composition and Si-O-Si chain structure of the C-S-H gel. The results show that the C-S-H gels with a low Ca/(Si + Al) ratio (0.8–1.0) and appropriate Si-O-Si chain length (14.8) presented better stability in a severe sulfate environment. The C-S-H gels with a higher Ca/(Si + Al) ratio (>2.0) were more sensitive to the attack of sulfate ions. Calcium ions dissolved rapidly during the immersion process, causing the loss of cohesive strength of the C-S-H gel, and then decomposed into fine particles. The C-S-H gel with a lower Ca/(Si + Al) ratio (about 1.1) rarely leached out calcium ions and maintained good micromorphology. The 29Si MAS-NMR results indicate that the Si-O-Si chains with too short or too long chain lengths will break and recombine under the attack of sulfate ions. The Si-O-Si chains with an appropriate chain length (14.8) maintained the stability of the structure of the C-S-H gel in a sulfate environment. These changes are closely related to the asymmetric layered structure of amorphous C-S-H gel. Partial calcium ions between the layers of the main chain structure of Si-O-Si are easily taken away by sulfate ions, leading to the structural instability of the C-S-H gel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endo‐microscopy is crucial for real‐time 3D visualization of internal tissues and subcellular structures. Conventional methods rely on axial movement of optical components for precise focus adjustment, limiting miniaturization and complicating procedures. Meta‐device, composed of artificial nanostructures, is an emerging optical flat device that can freely manipulate the phase and amplitude of light. Here, an intelligent fluorescence endo‐microscope is developed based on varifocal meta‐lens and deep learning (DL). The breakthrough enables in vivo 3D imaging of mouse brains, where varifocal meta‐lens focal length adjusts through relative rotation angle. The system offers key advantages such as invariant magnification, a large field‐of‐view, and optical sectioning at a maximum focal length tuning range of ≈2 mm with 3 µm lateral resolution. Using a DL network, image acquisition time and system complexity are significantly reduced, and in vivo high‐resolution brain images of detailed vessels and surrounding perivascular space are clearly observed within 0.1 s (≈50 times faster). The approach will benefit various surgical procedures, such as gastrointestinal biopsies, neural imaging, brain surgery, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA modifications affect fundamental biological processes and diseases and are a research hotspot. Several micro-RNAs (miRNAs) exhibit genetic variant-targeted RNA modifications that can greatly alter their biofunctions and influence their effect on cancer. Therefore, the potential role of these miRNAs in cancer can be implicated in new prevention and treatment strategies. In this study, we determined whether RMvar-related miRNAs were closely associated with tumorigenesis and identified cancer-specific signatures based on these miRNAs with variants targeting RNA modifications using an optimized machine learning workflow. An effective machine learning workflow, combining least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analyses, recursive feature elimination, and nine types of machine learning algorithms, was used to screen candidate miRNAs from 504 serum RMvar-related miRNAs and construct a diagnostic signature for cancer detection based on 43,047 clinical samples (with an area under the curve value of 0.998, specificity of 93.1%, and sensitivity of 99.3% in the validation cohort). This signature demonstrated a satisfactory diagnostic performance for certain cancers and different conditions, including distinguishing early-stage tumors. Our study revealed the close relationship between RMvar-related miRNAs and tumors and proposed an effective cancer screening tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochromic luminescent materials (TLMs) with spectral responsiveness to thermal stimuli have received broad attention due to the forefront applications in temperature visualization and sensing technologies. Herein, a phase diagram‐driven strategy for designing TLMs in Cs–Cd–Br ternary system is presented. The room temperature stable Cs7Cd3Br13 crystal is first obtained by utilizing a facile hydrothermal method, and the self‐trapped exciton (STE) luminescence is improved by breaking local symmetry via Mg2+ doping. Then thermochromic luminescence is further realized in Mn2+ co‐doped Cs7Cd3Br13 on the basis of reversible structural transition to metastable Cs2CdBr4 under thermal stimuli. The emission color change from bright yellow to green benefits from the variation of crystal fields around Mn2+, which can be switched by heating and cooling circulations. Finally, the resulting material is used as a demo to visualize the temperature of a homemade high‐frequency induction heating sintering platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a major public health concern that significantly increases the risk of fractures. The aim of this study was to develop a Machine Learning based predictive model to screen individuals at high risk of osteoporosis based on chronic disease data, thus facilitating early detection and personalized management. A total of 10,000 complete patient records of primary healthcare data in the German Disease Analyzer database (IMS HEALTH) were included, of which 1293 diagnosed with osteoporosis and 8707 without the condition. The demographic characteristics and chronic disease data, including age, gender, lipid disorder, cancer, COPD, hypertension, heart failure, CHD, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and stroke were collected from electronic health records. Ten different machine learning algorithms were employed to construct the predictive mode. The performance of the model was further validated and the relative importance of features in the model was analyzed. Out of the ten machine learning algorithms, the Stacker model based on Logistic Regression, AdaBoost Classifier, and Gradient Boosting Classifier demonstrated superior performance. The Stacker model demonstrated excellent performance through ten-fold cross-validation on the training set and ROC curve analysis on the test set. The confusion matrix, lift curve and calibration curves indicated that the Stacker model had optimal clinical utility. Further analysis on feature importance highlighted age, gender, lipid metabolism disorders, cancer, and COPD as the top five influential variables. In this study, a predictive model for osteoporosis based on chronic disease data was developed using machine learning. The model shows great potential in early detection and risk stratification of osteoporosis, ultimately facilitating personalized prevention and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batteries are one of the most crucial energy storage devices today, and battery-energy management technology has an extremely significant impact on the performance and lifespan of batteries. The traditional design approach for battery-energy management platforms often neglects considerations for charging and discharging scenarios. Additionally, functional modules are designed independently, leading to incompatibility issues between hardware and control units, thereby limiting the system's performance. To address these challenges and enhance system coordination, this paper proposes a systematic design and implementation method for a battery-energy comprehensive management platform applied in charging and swapping scenarios. The method consists of four parts: hardware design, a dynamic load charging-balance control strategy, a composite micro-source hierarchical coordination control strategy, and a system emergency-response and protection strategy. The proposed method has been successfully applied to a design and has been used to build a battery-energy comprehensive management platform. Finally, through experiments, it has been demonstrated that this system can achieve energy scheduling, battery-energy balance, mode switching, and fault protection in a stable and reliable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we extend the finite distortion problem from bounded domains in ℝ2 to closed genus-zero surfaces in ℝ3 by a stereographic projection. Then, we derive a theoretical foundation for spherical equiareal parameterization between a simply connected closed surface M and a unit sphere 핊2 by minimizing the total area distortion energy on ℂ. After the minimizer of the total area distortion energy is determined, it is combined with an initial conformal map to determine the equiareal map between the extended planes. From the inverse stereographic projection, we derive the equiareal map between M and 핊2. The total area distortion energy is rewritten into the sum of Dirichlet energies associated with the southern and northern hemispheres and is decreased by alternatingly solving the corresponding Laplacian equations. Based on this foundational theory, we develop a modified stretch energy minimization function for the computation of spherical equiareal parameterization between M and 핊2. In addition, under relatively mild conditions, we verify that our proposed algorithm has asymptotic R-linear convergence or forms a quasi-periodic solution. Numerical experiments on various benchmarks validate that the assumptions for convergence always hold and indicate the efficiency, reliability, and robustness of the developed modified stretch energy minimization function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral cancer represents a global health burden, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Photodynamic and photothermal therapies using indocyanine green (ICG) have shown promise due to their distinctive near-infrared (NIR) light absorption characteristics and FDA-approved safety profiles. This study develops ICG-loaded liposomes (Lipo-ICGs) to further explore their potential in oral cancer treatments. We synthesized and characterized the Lipo-ICGs, conducted in vitro cell culture experiments to assess cellular uptake and photodynamic/photothermal effects, and performed in vivo animal studies to evaluate their therapeutic efficacy. Quantitative cell apoptosis and gene expression variation were further characterized using flow cytometry and RNA sequencing, respectively. Lipo-ICGs demonstrated a uniform molecular weight distribution among particles. The in vitro studies showed a successful internalization of Lipo-ICGs into the cells and a significant photodynamic treatment effect. The in vivo studies confirmed the efficient delivery of Lipo-ICGs to tumor sites and successful tumor growth inhibition following photodynamic therapy. Moreover, light exposure induced a time-sensitive photothermal effect, facilitating the further release of ICG, and enhancing the treatment efficacy. RNA sequencing data showed significant changes in gene expression patterns upon Lipo-ICG treatment, suggesting the activation of apoptosis and ferroptosis pathways. The findings demonstrate the potential of Lipo-ICGs as a therapeutic tool for oral cancer management, potentially extending to other cancer types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an entropy-weighted local intensity clustering-based model for segmenting intensity inhomogeneous images caused by the bias field. The variational model minimizes an energy functional consisting of a regularization term of the total length of object boundaries and a data-fitting term partitioning the image. Specifically, the total length is approximated by the convolution of the heat kernel with the characteristic functions of the segmented regions of interest. The data-fitting term is derived from the multiplicative bias field resulting in a local intensity clustering property and further weighted by the local entropy. One of the most advantageous features of the proposed model is that it can simultaneously segment the image and estimate the bias field for intensity inhomogeneity correction. Moreover, a simple and efficient iterative convolution-thresholding scheme can be applied to realize the model, exhibiting the energy-decaying property. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to validate the superior performance of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the distribution pattern of V1+2d in the left superior pulmonary vein and its clinical significance. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using three‐dimensional computed tomographic bronchography and angiography (3D‐CTBA) data from 500 lung cancer patients. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the incidence and drainage patterns of the three sub‐branches of V1+2d, namely V1+2d1, V1+2d2 and V1+2d3. Furthermore, clinical data from 10 patients' lesions involving V1+2d were reviewed to illustrate the impact of adjacency to V1+2d on the surgical approach. Results: The incidences of V1+2d1, V1+2d2 and V1+2d3 were 100%, 76.4% and 100% respectively. The relative interlobar distribution sizes of B3a and B1+2c and the left upper division (LUD) vein type influenced the incidence of V1+2d2 (p < 0.05; p < 0.001). V1+2d2 predominantly occurred in B3a = B1+2c and B1+2c > B3a patterns. V1+2d2 was entirely absent in the B3a > B1+2c pattern. V1+2d2 exhibited a higher incidence in both the central vein (CV) type and the noncentral vein (NCV) type when compared to the semi‐central vein (SCV) type (100% vs. 100% vs. 64.8%). The most prevalent venous drainage pattern was the three sub‐branches of V1+2d constituting a major trunk to drain (41.2%). All 10 cases with lesions involving V1+2d successfully underwent sublobar resection with no complications, and the surgical margin was ≥2 cm. Conclusions: The three sub‐branches of V1+2d exhibit a high incidence with diverse distribution patterns, yet a discernible pattern exists. For inter‐ or multi‐intersegmental nodules involving V1+2d, combined segmentectomy and subsegmentectomy or combined subsegmentectomy can ensure the safe margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally triggered spatial symmetry breaking in traditional ferroelectrics has been extensively studied for manipulation of the ferroelectricity. However, photoinduced molecular orbital breaking, which is promising for optical control of ferroelectric polarization, has been rarely explored. Herein, for the first time, we synthesized a homochiral fulgide organic ferroelectric crystal (E)‐(R)‐3‐methyl‐3‐cyclohexylidene‐4‐(diphenylmethylene)dihydro‐2,5‐furandione (1), which exhibits both ferroelectricity and photoisomerization. Significantly, 1 shows a photoinduced reversible change in its molecular orbitals from the 3 π molecular orbitals in the open‐ring isomer to 2 π and 1 σ molecular orbitals in the closed‐ring isomer, which enables reversible ferroelectric domain switching by optical manipulation. To our knowledge, this is the first report revealing the manipulation of ferroelectric polarization in homochiral ferroelectric crystal by photoinduced breaking of molecular orbitals. This finding sheds light on the exploration of molecular orbital breaking in ferroelectrics for optical manipulation of ferroelectricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally triggered spatial symmetry breaking in traditional ferroelectrics has been extensively studied for manipulation of the ferroelectricity. However, photoinduced molecular orbital breaking, which is promising for optical control of ferroelectric polarization, has been rarely explored. Herein, for the first time, we synthesized a homochiral fulgide organic ferroelectric crystal (E)‐(R)‐3‐methyl‐3‐cyclohexylidene‐4‐(diphenylmethylene)dihydro‐2,5‐furandione (1), which exhibits both ferroelectricity and photoisomerization. Significantly, 1 shows a photoinduced reversible change in its molecular orbitals from the 3 π molecular orbitals in the open‐ring isomer to 2 π and 1 σ molecular orbitals in the closed‐ring isomer, which enables reversible ferroelectric domain switching by optical manipulation. To our knowledge, this is the first report revealing the manipulation of ferroelectric polarization in homochiral ferroelectric crystal by photoinduced breaking of molecular orbitals. This finding sheds light on the exploration of molecular orbital breaking in ferroelectrics for optical manipulation of ferroelectricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been a gradual increase in the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ischemic diseases, particularly as comorbidities. Yet, the mechanisms underlying these diseases remain unclear. Ferroptosis has emerged as a potential contributor to cardio-cerebral ischemic processes. Therefore, this study investigated the shared biological mechanisms between the two processes, as well as the role of ferroptosis genes in cardio-cerebral ischemic damage, by constructing co-expression modules for myocardial ischemia (MI) and ischemic stroke (IS) and a network of protein–protein interactions, mRNA-miRNA, mRNA-transcription factors (TFs), mRNA-RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and mRNA-drug interactions. Results: The study identified seven key genes, specifically ACSL1, TLR4, ADIPOR1, G0S2, PDK4, HP, PTGS2, and subjected them to functional enrichment analysis during ischemia. The predicted miRNAs were found to interact with 35 hub genes, and interactions were observed between 11 hub genes and 30 TF transcription factors. Additionally, 10 RBPs corresponding to 16 hub genes and 163 molecular compounds corresponding to 30 hub genes were identified. This study also clarified the levels of immune infiltration between MI and IS and different subtypes. Finally, we identified four hub genes, including TLR4, by using a diagnostic model constructed by Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis; ADIPOR1, G0S2, and HP were shown to have diagnostic value for the co-pathogenesis of MI and cerebral ischemia by both validation test data and RT-qPCR assay. Conclusions: To the best our knowledge, this study is the first to utilize multiple algorithms to comprehensively analyze the biological processes of MI and IS from various perspectives. The four hub genes, TLR4, ADIPOR1, G0S2, and HP, have proven valuable in offering insights for the investigation of shared injury pathways in cardio-cerebral injuries. Therefore, these genes may serve as diagnostic markers for cardio-cerebral ischemic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexor hallucis longus (FHL) transfer is an effective surgery in treating insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT). However, limited data exist regarding the post-surgery changes in the transferred FHL. The study aimed to compare the sequential changes and hypertrophy of FHL after isolated FHL transfer (FHLT). We retrospectively enrolled patients who underwent isolated FHLT for insertional Achilles pathology from 2015 to 2020 and divided them into two groups based on whether reattachment of the residue Achilles stump to the FHL was performed or not. We recorded demographic characteristics, MRI parameters, and functional outcome. We also analyzed the correlation between the collected data and FHL hypertrophy. Results revealed no significant differences in most MRI parameters of FHL and functional outcomes between the groups. However, the fat distribution within the FHL showed significant reduction and notable 20.2% hypertrophy after FHLT. Interestingly, the hypertrophy of the FHL was significantly more pronounced in the non-reattached group. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between the follow-up period and FHL hypertrophy. In conclusion, the FHL demonstrated significant enlargement over time following FHLT. The compensatory hypertrophy of the transferred FHL was particularly evident and the cumulative incidences of FHL enlargement over time were higher in the non-reattached groupcompared to reattached group. However, both reattachment and non-reattachment of Achilles stump on FHL transfer for insertional Achilles tendinopathy carried similar postoperative functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of surgical resection in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) was not recognized until recently. However, prognostic factors for surgically treated PCNSL remain unclear. In the present study, we aimed to identify and compare the prognostic value of comorbidity indices and immunohistochemical markers in patients with surgically and non-surgically treated PCNSL. This retrospective single-center study analyzed patients who underwent either surgical resection or stereotactic biopsy for newly diagnosed PCNSL between January 2012 and December 2021. Clinical demographics, comorbidity indices, and immunohistochemical markers were analyzed. We included 23 and 18 patients who underwent stereotactic biopsy and surgical resection, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was 11.05 months. Using multivariate Cox regression, we identified pretreatment prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (p = 0.009), positive BCL2 staining (p = 0.026), and infratentorial involvement (p = 0.004) as independent prognostic factors of OS. Predictors of progression-free survival (PFS) included PNI (p = 0.040), infratentorial involvement (p = 0.021), and surgical resection for PCNSL (p = 0.048). Subgroup analyses revealed that positive BCL2 (p = 0.048) and PD-L1 (p = 0.037) staining were associated with worse OS in the biopsy group. PNI and infratentorial involvement could significantly impact both OS and PFS in patients with PCNSL. Surgical resection could predict favorable PFS but not OS. Moreover, BCL2 and PD-L1 expression can be employed as prognostic markers in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most lethal cancer, with a 5-year survival rate of only 11%. Surgery is the only potential cure for PDAC, but approximately 85% of patients present with unresectable tumors at diagnosis. The difficulty in early detection is attributed to the fact that early PDACs cause few or nonspecific symptoms and are frequently obscure or even invisible in imaging studies such as computed tomography (CT). This review aims to briefly summarize the status of screening/surveillance for PDAC and elaborate on the potential windows of opportunity for early detection through PDAC-induced paraneoplastic phenomena and artificial intelligence (AI)-augmented image analysis. Data Sources: Relevant studies and review articles were searched in PubMed. Study Selection: Studies and articles on human subjects were selected. Results: Surveillance for high-risk individuals with imaging-based tools (endoscopic ultrasound and magnetic resonance image) is now advocated, whereas screening for asymptomatic general populations is not warranted at present. Paraneoplastic syndromes, including pancreatic cancer-associated diabetes and cachexia, are prevalent in PDAC patients and may provide windows of opportunity for early detection. S100A9 and galectin-3 are novel PDAC-derived factors mediating pancreatic cancer-associated diabetes and have shown promise in facilitating the early detection of PDAC. Novel computer-aided detection tools based on AI technologies, including deep learning and radiomic analysis with machine learning, have achieved accurate detection and might supplement human interpretation to improve the sensitivity for early PDAC on CT images. Conclusion: Novel blood-based biomarkers and AI-augmented image analysis may be complementary and hold promise for the early detection of PDAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity among children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The causes of pediatric CKD differ from those in adults, as congenital anomalies in the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are the leading causes in childhood. Identifying ideal markers of CVD risk early is crucial for CKD children to improve their care. Previously, we screened differentially expressed proteins in CKD children with or without blood pressure (BP) abnormalities and identified pregnancy zone protein (PZP). In 106 children and adolescents with CKD stages G1–G4, we analyzed plasma PZP concentration. The associations between PZP and ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) profile, parameters of cardiac and carotid ultrasounds, indices of arterial stiffness, and nitric oxide (NO) parameters were determined. We observed that PZP positively correlated with arterial stiffness indices, beta index, and pulse wave velocity in CAKUT. CKD children with abnormalities in ABPM and night dipping displayed a higher PZP concentration than those without. Additionally, the PZP level was positively correlated with NO bioavailability. In conclusion, our results suggest PZP has differential influences on cardiovascular risk in CAKUT and non-CAKUT children. Identification of this relationship is novel in the pediatric CKD literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repetitive paired‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at indirect (I)‐wave periodicity (iTMS) can increase plasticity in primary motor cortex (M1). Both TMS coil orientation and muscle activation can influence I‐wave activity, but it remains unclear how these factors influence M1 plasticity with iTMS. We therefore investigated the influence of TMS coil orientation and muscle activation on the response to iTMS. Thirty‐two young adults (24.2 ± 4.8 years) participated in three experiments. Each experiment included two sessions using a modified iTMS intervention with either a posterior–anterior orientation (PA) or anterior–posterior (AP) coil orientation over M1. Stimulation was applied in resting (Experiments 1 and 3) or active muscle (Experiments 2 and 3). Effects of iTMS on M1 excitability were assessed by recording motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and short‐interval intracortical facilitation (SICF) with PA and AP orientations in both resting (all experiments) and active (Experiment 2) muscle. For the resting intervention, MEPs were greater after AP iTMS (Experiment 1, P =.046), whereas SICF was comparable between interventions (all P >.10). For the active intervention, responses did not vary between PA and AP iTMS (Experiment 2, all P >.14), and muscle activation reduced the effect of AP iTMS during the intervention (Experiment 3, P =.002). Coil orientation influenced the MEP response after iTMS, and muscle activation reduced the response during iTMS. While this suggests that AP iTMS may be beneficial in producing a neuroplastic modulation of I‐wave circuits in resting muscle, further exploration of factors such as dosing is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcal infection is usually diagnosed in immunocompromised individuals and those with meningeal involvement, accounting for most cryptococcosis. Cryptococcemia indicates a poor prognosis and prolongs the course of treatment. We use the scoring systems to predict the mortality risk of cryptococcal fungemia. This was a single hospital-based retrospective study on patients diagnosed with cryptococcal fungemia confirmed by at least one blood culture collected from the emergency department covering January 2012 and December 2020 from electronic medical records in the Taichung Veterans General Hospital. We enrolled 42 patients, including 28 (66.7%) males and 14 (33.3%) females with a mean age of 63.0 ± 19.7 years. The hospital stay ranged from 1 to 170 days (a mean stay of 44.4 days), and the overall mortality rate was 64.3% (27/42). In univariate analysis, the AUC of ROC for MEWS, RAPS, qSOFA, MEWS plus GCS, REMS, NEWS, and MEDS showed 0.833, 0.842, 0.848, 0.846, 0.846, 0.878, and 0.905. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, all scoring systems, older age, lactate, MAP, and DBP, indicated significant differences between survivor and non-survivor groups. Our results show that all scoring systems could apply in predicting the outcome of patients with cryptococcal fungemia, and the MEDS displays the best performance. We recommend a further large-scale prospective study for patients with cryptococcal fungemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are considered to be a promising material for the fabrication of soft grippers because of their large and reversible deformations, an LCE gripper with suitable compressibility and omnidirectionality has not yet been developed. To overcome these obstacles, this study utilizes salt template method to fabricate a rod‐like LCE foam as gripper. The thickness of the compressible foam can be reduced by up to 77%, temporarily maintaining the deformation and enabling the gripper to pass through slits. The foam was aligned along the long axis and the length of the foam exhibits reversible thermal responsiveness and contract up to 57% along its alignment. Additionally, when the foam approaches a heat source, the generated temperature gradient results in a contraction gradient owing to the low thermal conductivity of the LCE foam. This in turn causes the foam to reversibly bend with a bending angle up to 93° and follow the movement of a heat source omnidirectionally. The developed gripper successfully grasps, moves, and releases hot objects in a cold and safe place, demonstrating its potential for emergency disposal. Thus, LCE foams can be considered suitable materials for novel gripper design and construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), most of the patients expressed a reluctance to undergo postoperative rehabilitation at a rehabilitation clinic. Therefore, in this scenario it was necessary to reshape the crucial role of postoperative rehabilitation of these patients. We conducted a telerehabilitation program based on an artificial intelligence brace (AI brace) which can monitor the progress of rehabilitation through an app and an internet server. Our hypothesis was that home-based telerehabilitation might provide clinical outcomes comparable to face-to-face, hospital-based rehabilitation programs in terms of effectiveness. Methods: A retrospective cohort study enrolled patients who received anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) between January and September 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: the tele-AI group received telerehabilitation with an AI brace while the FTF group had face-to-face, hospital-based rehabilitation. Clinical knee functional scores and Tegner Activity Scale (TAS) were assessed and analyzed until 12 months after the operation. Results: The tele-AI group had higher IKDC scores at 3 months (p = 0.0443) and 6 months (p = 0.0052) after surgery and higher KOOS scores at 1 month (p = 0.0365) and 6 months (p = 0.0375) after surgery. However, no significant difference between the two groups was detected at the end of the follow-up. The tele-AI group had higher TAS than FTF group after 1 year. Conclusions: Telerehabilitation after ACLR seems to provide a superior short-term outcome compared to hospital-based rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has demonstrated weakened connectivity between dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) and motor cortex (M1) with age. While this alteration is probably mediated by changes in the communication between the two regions, the effect of age on the influence of PMd on specific indirect (I) wave circuits within M1 remains unclear. The present study therefore investigated the influence of PMd on early and late I‐wave excitability in M1 of young and older adults. Twenty‐two young (mean ± SD, 22.9 ± 2.9 years) and 20 older (66.6 ± 4.2 years) adults participated in two experimental sessions involving either intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) or sham stimulation over PMd. Changes within M1 following the intervention were assessed with motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded from the right first dorsal interosseous muscle. We applied posterior–anterior (PA) and anterior–posterior (AP) current single‐pulse TMS to assess corticospinal excitability (PA1mV; AP1mV; PA0.5mV, early; AP0.5mV, late), and paired‐pulse TMS short intracortical facilitation for I‐wave excitability (PA SICF, early; AP SICF, late). Although PMd iTBS potentiated PA1mV and AP1mV MEPs in both age groups (both P < 0.05), the time course of this effect was delayed for AP1mV in older adults (P = 0.001). Furthermore, while AP0.5mV, PA SICF and AP SICF were potentiated in both groups (all P < 0.05), potentiation of PA0.5mV was only apparent in young adults (P < 0.0001). While PMd influences early and late I‐wave excitability in young adults, direct PMd modulation of the early circuits is specifically reduced in older adults. Key points: Interneuronal circuits responsible for late I‐waves within primary motor cortex (M1) mediate projections from dorsal premotor cortex (PMd), but this communication probably changes with advancing age.We investigated the effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) to PMd on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures of M1 excitability in young and older adults.We found that PMd iTBS facilitated M1 excitability assessed with posterior–anterior (PA, early I‐waves) and anterior–posterior (AP, late I‐waves) current TMS in young adults, with a stronger effect for AP TMS.M1 excitability assessed with AP TMS also increased in older adults following PMd iTBS, but there was no facilitation for PA TMS responses.We conclude that changes in M1 excitability following PMd iTBS are specifically reduced for the early I‐waves in older adults, which could be a potential target for interventions that enhance cortical excitability in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two high‐entropy carbides, including stoichiometric (Zr,Ti,Nb,Ta,Hf)C and nonstoichiometric (Zr,Ti,Nb,Ta,Hf)C0.8, were prepared from monocarbides and ZrH2. Their sinterability, microstructures, mechanical properties, thermophysical properties, and oxidation behaviors were systematically compared. With the introduction of carbon vacancy, the sintering temperature was lowered up to 300°C, Vickers hardness was almost unaffected, whereas the strength decreased significantly generally due to the decrease of covalent bonds. The thermal conductivity shows a 50% decrease for nonstoichiometry high‐entropy carbide, which is a major consequence of the lower electrical conductivity. The oxidation resistance in high temperature water vapor was not sensitive to carbon stoichiometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti‐interferon‐gamma autoantibody (AIGA) is a rare adult‐onset immunodeficiency disease that increases the risk of occult infection. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections represent a diverse group of species and subspecies, and mixed infections with two or more NTM species have been reported. However, there is no consensus on the optimal antibiotics or immune modulator treatments for mixed NTM infections in AIGA patients. Here, we present the case of a 40‐year‐old female who initially presented with suspected lung cancer with obstructive pneumonitis. Tissue samples obtained through bronchoscopy, endoscopy, and bone marrow biopsy revealed disseminated mycobacterium infection. PCR‐based testing confirmed a mixed pulmonary infection with Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium smegmatis, as well as M. kansasii bacteremia. The patient received 12 months of anti‐NTM medications for M. kansasii, and the symptoms improved. Additionally, the images showed resolution after 6 months, even without the need for immune modulator treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electricity spot market plays a significant role in promoting the self-improvement of the overall resource utilization efficiency of the power system and advancing energy conservation and emission reduction. This paper analyzes and compares the potential impacts of spot market operations on system planning, considering the differences between planning methods in traditional and spot market environments through theoretical analysis and model comparison. Furthermore, we conduct research and analysis on grid planning methods under the spot market environment with the goal of maximizing social benefits. Unlike the pricing approach based on historical price data in traditional market simulation processes, a data-driven approach that combines experimental economics and machine learning is proposed, specifically using mixed empirical learning to simulate unit bidding strategies in market transactions. A simulation model for electricity spot market trading is constructed to analyze the performance of the planning results in the spot market environment. The case study results indicate that the proposed planning methods can enable the grid to operate well in the spot market environment, maintain relatively stable nodal prices, and ensure the integration of a high proportion of clean energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer cachexia, occurring in ~ 80% pancreatic cancer (PC) patients overall, is a paraneoplastic syndrome mediated by cancer-induced systemic inflammation and characterized by weight loss and skeletal muscle wasting. Identifying clinically relevant PC-derived pro-inflammatory factors with cachexigenic potential may provide novel insights and therapeutic strategies. Methods: Pro-inflammatory factors with cachexigenic potential in PC were identified by bioinformatic analysis. The abilities of selected candidate factors in inducing skeletal muscle atrophy were investigated. Expression levels of candidate factors in tumors and sera was compared between PC patients with and without cachexia. Associations between serum levels of the candidates and weight loss were assessed in PC patients. Results: S100A8, S100A9, and S100A8/A9 were identified and shown to induce C2C12 myotube atrophy. Tumors of PC patients with cachexia had markedly elevated expression of S100A8 (P = 0.003) and S100A9 (P < 0.001). PC patients with cachexia had significantly higher serum levels of S100A8, S100A9 and S100A8/A9. Serum levels of these factors positively correlated with percentage of weight loss [correlation coefficient: S100A8: 0.33 (P < 0.001); S100A9: 0.30 (P < 0.001); S100A8/A9: 0.24 (P = 0.004)] and independently predicted the occurrence of cachexia [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) per 1ng/ml increase: S100A8 1.11 (1.02–1.21), P = 0.014; S100A9 1.10 (1.04–1.16), P = 0.001; per 1 µg/ml increase: S100A8/A9 1.04 (1.01–1.06), P = 0.009]. Conclusions: Atrophic effects of S100A8, S100A9, and S100A8/A9 indicated them as potential pathogenic factors of PC-induced cachexia. In addition, the correlation with the degree of weight loss and prediction of cachexia in PC patients implicated their potential utility in the diagnosis of PC-induced cachexia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employ Nafion‐mixed carbon dots (CDs) and low‐cost screen‐printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) as foundation matrices for the fabrication of electrochemical biosensors. The NH2 and COOH functional groups present on the SPCE surface after Nafion/CDs deposition allow for pyrophosphate ions (PPis) collection. Using Fe(CN)63− as the electrochemical mediator, the SPCE‐Nafion/CDs are applied to the detection of aqueous PPi by square wave voltammetry. Between 50 and 1 μM, a linear connection is established between the square wave voltammetry current and the PPi concentration. The limit of detection is determined to be 1.01 μM, and recoveries of 113% (±1.9%) and 108% (±3.9%) are achieved for human urine samples spiked with 6 and 3 μM of PPi, respectively. Furthermore, this PPi assay is suitable for the usage of complicated urine matrices without the inclusion of heavy metals. We anticipate that this unique approach will be beneficial for PPi level monitoring in urine during therapeutic treatments of illnesses and malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a mutual hemodynamic and pathophysiological basis between the heart and brain. Glutamate (GLU) signaling plays an important role in the process of myocardial ischemia (MI) and ischemic stroke (IS). To further explore the common protective mechanism after cardiac and cerebral ischemic injuries, the relationship between GLU receptor-related genes and MI and IS were analyzed. Results: A total of 25 crosstalk genes were identified, which were mainly enriched in the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, and other signaling pathways. Protein-protein interaction analysis suggested that the top six genes with the most interactions with shared genes were IL6, TLR4, IL1B, SRC, TLR2, and CCL2. Immune infiltration analysis suggested that immune cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells and monocytes were highly expressed in the MI and IS data. Memory B cells and Th17 cells were expressed at low levels in the MI and IS data; molecular interaction network construction suggested that genes such as JUN, FOS, and PPARA were shared genes and transcription factors; FCGR2A was a shared gene of MI and IS as well as an immune gene. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression analysis identified nine hub genes: IL1B, FOS, JUN, FCGR2A, IL6, AKT1, DRD4, GLUD2, and SRC. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the area under the curve of these hub genes was > 65% in MI and IS for all seven genes except IL6 and DRD4. Furthermore, clinical blood samples and cellular models showed that the expression of relevant hub genes was consistent with the bioinformatics analysis. Conclusions: In this study, we found that the GLU receptor-related genes IL1B, FOS, JUN, FCGR2A, and SRC were expressed in MI and IS with the same trend, which can be used to predict the occurrence of cardiac and cerebral ischemic diseases and provide reliable biomarkers to further explore the co-protective mechanism after cardiac and cerebral ischemic injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level set method is a widely used tool for solving reachability and invariance problems. However, some shortcomings, such as large amount of storage space consumption and the difficulty of constructing terminal conditions for solving the Hamilton–Jacobi partial differential equation, limit the application of the level set method in some problems, especially those with irregular target sets. This paper proposes a method that can effectively avoid the above tricky issues and thus has better generality. In the proposed method, the reachable or invariant sets with different time horizons are characterised by some non-zero sublevel sets of a value function. This value function is not obtained by solving a viscosity solution of the partial differential equation but by recursion and interpolation approximation. At the end of this paper, some examples are taken to illustrate the accuracy and generality of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper (Cu) exists in a variety of forms in different aquatic environments, and affects their bioavailability. In this study we provide a systematic review on toxicity of Cu which focuses on identifying evidence in the mechanisms of Cu toxicity, and apply an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) analysis to identify multiple potential mechanisms and their interactions of Cu toxicity to fish. This analysis process included the mechanisms of behavior toxicant, oxidative toxicant, ion regulation disruption toxicity, as well as endocrine disruption toxicity. It was found that at low levels of Cu exposure, swimming, avoid predators, locating prey and other sensory functions will be impaired, and the organism will suffer from metabolic alkalosis and respiratory acidosis following the inhibition of the carbonic anhydrase active. The main pathway of acute toxicity of Cu to fish is the inhibition of the Na+/K+-ATPase enzyme, and lead to reduced intracellular sodium absorption, as well as Cu-induced increased cell permeability, in turn resulting in increased sodium ion loss, leading to cardiovascular collapse and respiratory insufficiency. The endocrine disruption toxicity of Cu to fish caused growth inhibition and reproductive reduction. In addition, there are several key pathways of Cu toxicity that are affected by hardness (e.g., Ca2+) and intracellular DOC concentrations, including inhibiting Cu-induction, improving branchial gas exchange, altering membrane transport functions, decreasing Na+ loss, and increasing Na+ uptake. The results of the AOP analysis will provide a robust framework for future directed research on the mechanisms of Cu toxicity. : [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergency room (ER) digital bedside card is a simple and important invention. It can be directly connected to the hospital information system to display important patient information in real time, reduce the workload of ER staff, improve their satisfaction, and provide useful information for patients and their families. We conducted a prospective study of ER staff using questionnaires and conducted Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare before and after ER digital bedside card implementation in the Tamsui MacKay Memorial Hospital. Sixty participants of the ER staff joined the study before and after digital card implementation. After the ER digital bedside card was set up, the number of round trips from the nursing station to the ER bedside and the number of common questions asked by patients and their family members were significantly reduced. The cards reduced the response time for frequently asked questions by patients and their family members and significantly improved the satisfaction of ER staff. Our study showed that ER digital bedside cards reduced the workload of ER staff, provided patients and their families with useful information, and greatly improved ER staff satisfaction. This marks an important milestone in the future development of smart ER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing electric-field integral inversion methods have limited field application conditions, and they are difficult to arrange electric-field measurement points on high-span overhead lines. This paper proposes a non-intrusive voltage measurement method for overhead transmission lines based on the near-end electric-field integration method. First, the electric-field distribution under 10 kV lines is calculated by finite element simulation software. The electric-field distribution of the plumb line and the discrete integral node below the wire are analyzed. Then, based on traditional electric-field integration, a line-voltage-inversion measurement method based on near-end electric-field integration is proposed. In addition, a voltage-monitoring system based on near-end electric-field integration is constructed. Next, the numerical integration types, the number of integration nodes, and the scale coefficient of the near-end region of the inversion algorithm are optimized with the electric-field simulation data. Finally, to verify the voltage-inversion method proposed in this paper, a test platform for overhead-line voltage is constructed using a MEMS electric-field sensor. The results indicate that the voltage-inversion error is 5.75%. The research results will provide theoretical guidance for non-intrusive voltage-inversion measurement of overhead lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the outcomes of the modified radial tongue-shaped flap following stepwise surgery release for treating Benson type I camptodactyly of the 5th digit. A retrospective analysis involving patients with Benson type I camptodactyly of the 5th digit was performed. A total of 8 patients with 12 affected digits were included. Extent of surgical release depended on the degree of soft tissue contracture. Skin release, subcutaneous fascial release, and flexor digitorum superficialis tenotomy were performed in all 12 digits, sliding volar plate release in 2 digits, and intrinsic tendon transfer in 1 digit. The mean total passive motion of proximal interphalangeal joint significantly increased from 32.5° ± 16° to 86.3° ± 20.4°, while mean total active motion significantly increased from 22° ± 10.5° to 73.8° ± 27.5° (P < 0.05). Treatment outcomes were excellent in 6 patients, good in 3, moderate in 2, and poor in 1. Scar hyperplasia occurred in 1 patient. The radial tongue-shaped flap allowed for full coverage of the volar skin defect, and was considered aesthetically favorable. In addition, the stepwise surgical approach not only achieved good curative effects, but also allowed for individualization of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Waste bio-oil was proposed as additive for promoting SNCR denitrification efficiency. • The effects of temperature, bio-oil components and fly ash were investigated. • The efficiency and temperature window increased by 21% and 25% respectively. • Acetic acid was more effective than phenol and furfural as additive. • The fly ash could promote urea oxidation and reduce denitrification efficiency. Pyrolysis polygeneration has been proven to be effective in solid waste recycling, while cleaner production is hindered by nitrogen oxide emissions and waste oil utilization. In this study, waste bio-oil was proposed as additive for promoting urea-based selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) denitrification efficiency to establish bio-oil reusing process and the influence of waste bio-oil on promoting SNCR denitrification were investigated. Then the effects of temperature, bio-oil components and fly ash on SNCR denitrification characteristics were explored. The results illustrated that 5 wt% bio-oil additives would widen the optimum denitrification temperature window by 24.8 % (from 210.25 to 262.43 °C), reduce the reduction temperature by 62.11 °C (from 944.04 to 881.93 °C), and increase the denitrification efficiency by 21 %. Among the main components in waste bio-oil, acetic acid was more effective than phenol and furfural in promoting SNCR denitrification under 900 °C, a large amount of OH was produced to promote the reduction of NH 3 and HNCO. In addition, the existence of fly ash could promote urea oxidation and reduce denitrification efficiency because of the catalytic effect of CaO and Fe 2 O 3 on urea oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone has multiple functions in animals, such as supporting the body for mobility. The zebrafish skeleton is composed of craniofacial and axial skeletons. It shares a physiological curvature and consists of a similar number of vertebrae as humans. Bone degeneration and malformations have been widely studied in zebrafish as human disease models. High‐resolution imaging and different bone properties such as density and volume can be obtained using micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT). This study aimed to understand the possible changes in the structure and bone mineral density (BMD) of the vertebrae and craniofacial skeleton with age (4, 12 and 24 months post fertilisation [mpf]) in zebrafish. Our data showed that the BMD in the vertebrae and specific craniofacial skeleton (mandibular arch, ceratohyal and ethmoid plate) of 12 and 24 mpf fish were higher than that of the 4 mpf fish. In addition, we found the age‐dependent increase in BMD was not ubiquitously observed in facial bones, and such differences were not correlated with bone type. In summary, such additional information on the craniofacial skeleton could help in understanding bone development throughout the lifespan of zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chuifeng Cave is one of the typical representatives of the Gigantopithecus-bearing mammalian assemblages in southern China. The Chuifeng mammalian assemblage, including 92 Gigantopithecus blacki teeth fossils, is important to construct the biochronological and paleobiogeographic framework for the Pleistocene mammalian assemblage in mainland Southeast Asia. Except for the G. blacki teeth fossils, the left 721 identified mammalian fossils have never been described in detail until now. Here, we present taxonomic descriptions of the rest mammalian fossils from Chuifeng Cave. The Chuifeng mammalian assemblage consists at least of 28 large mammal taxa, including the Neogene relict species, Sinomastodon sp. and Hippopotamodon ultimus, and the species for their first appearances in the Pleistocene, Hystrix magna, Stegodon huananensis, Ailuropoda microta, Rhinoceros fusuiensis, Tapirus sanyuanensis, Sus peii, Sus xiaozhu, Cervus fenqii and Megalovis guangxiensis. Comparisons to already-dated early Pleistocene mammalian assemblages in southern China indicate that the age of this assemblage is around 1.9 Ma, which is consistent with the ESR/U-series and paleomagnetic dating results. The occurrences of Equus in the Chuifeng, Liucheng Gigantopithecus, Longgudong and Longgupo sites imply that G. blacki may survive in an open woodland environment with grasslands nearby in the middle and north parts of southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the associations between overall lifestyles and HRQoL, as well as the variations in age, sex, education level, and income. Methods: A total of 23,402 participants from the Henan rural cohort were included. The healthy lifestyle score (HLS) consists of five lifestyle factors: smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, diet, and body mass index. HRQoL was assessed by the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. The general linear model and Tobit regression model were utilized to assess the associations of HLS with visual analogue score (VAS) and utility index. Results: Compared with participants with an HLS of 0–2, the corresponding regression coefficients (β) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of participants with an HLS of 3, 4, and 5 for VAS score were 1.09 (0.59, 1.59), 1.92 (1.38, 2.46), and 2.60 (1.83, 3.37); the corresponding β and 95% CI for utility index were 0.02 (0.01, 0.03), 0.05 (0.03, 0.06), and 0.06 (0.04, 0.07). Notably, these positive associations were greater among the elderly, female, and those with lower education level and average monthly income (p for interaction < 0.05). For instance, the corresponding β and 95% CI of individuals with an HLS of 5 for utility index in average monthly income < 500 RMB, 500–999 RMB, and ≥ 1000 RMB groups were 0.08 (0.05, 0.11), 0.06 (0.03, 0.09), and 0.02 (− 0.00, 0.05). Conclusion: Engaging in healthier lifestyle habits was associated with a higher level of HRQoL, especially in the elderly, females, and those with low education level and average monthly income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu-Ag composite pastes consisting of carboxylate-capped Ag nanoparticles, spray-pyrolyzed Ag submicron particles, and copper formate were developed in this study for low-temperature low-pressure bonding. The joints between the Cu, Ni/Au, and Ag finished substrates can be well formed at temperatures as low as 160 °C under a load pressure of 1.6 MPa. The joints with Cu substrates possess 18.0 MPa bonding strength, while those with Ag surface finish could be enhanced to 23.3 MPa. When subject to sintering under 10 MPa at 160 °C, the electrical resistivity of the sintered structure on metal-coated polymeric substrates was around 11~17 μΩ-cm and did not differ too much when subjected to harsh reliability tests such as mechanical bending and thermal cycling tests, as well as electrical current stressing. This low-temperature, low-pressure nanocomposite paste shows great potential as interconnect materials for microelectronics or flexible device assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to improve the bonding strength of polymers to metals has been one of the challenges in joining fields. It is generally assumed that laser transmission joining is better than laser conduction joining (LCJ) for transparent polymers, and few studies have been focused on LCJ. However, by introducing beam oscillation, an excellent result was obtained in the LCJ of transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to 304 stainless steel. The interface defects of thermal decomposition and bubbles could be eliminated or reduced more efficiently in oscillating laser conduction joining (O-LCJ) rather than transmission joining. Correspondingly, the tensile shear force of joint O-LCJ could be increased by 23.8%, and the plasticity characterized by tensile displacement could be increased by seven times. The improvement mechanism was attributed to two factors by calculating the interface energy distribution and analyzing the force state at the interface. One is the homogenization of interface energy distribution caused by beam oscillation, which decreases the degradation and destruction of polymer macromolecular chains induced by high temperature. The other is the formation of interface bi-directional forces that both inhibit the porosity formation and intensify the chemical reactions. The results bring new insights and provide a new pathway to improve the joining performances of dissimilar polymers to metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes fossils recovered from Ganxian Cave in 2008 and 2018 by the Natural History Museum and Anthropology Museum of Guangxi. The cave sedimentary fill yielded rich mammalian fossils consisting mainly of isolated teeth of medium- to large-sized mammals (Primates, Proboscidea, Perissodactyla, Carnivora, Rodentia, Artiodactyla) of typical ‘Ailuropoda-Stegodon’ fauna, (e.g. Stegodon orientalis, Ailuropoda baconi, Pongo weidenreichi, Tapirus sinensis, Megatapirus augustus, Crocuta ultima), and more numerous extant species belonging to 28 taxa in total. The biochronological age of the fauna agreed with the age estimates obtained using Uranium–series and coupled ESR/U-series dating. Collectively, these results indicate a Ganxian fossil age range of 168.9 ± 2.4 ka to 362 ± 78 ka and establish Ganxian Cave as one of the most precisely dated Middle Pleistocene fossil sites in southern China. Comparison of Ganxian fauna with Pleistocene fossil records of the well-documented faunas of southern China and southeast Asia indicates that the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) probably first appeared in Ganxian Cave. Paleoenvironmental reconstruction-based analysis of the large mammalian fossil assemblage from Ganxian Cave indicates that during the late Middle Pleistocene, the habitat consisted mainly of forests with some open areas and the climate was warm and humid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robots with linear motion provide high accuracy and repeatability for industrial automation but may perform lower precision and stability when working long hours because of mechanical vibrations and thermal deformation caused by internal motors and ball screws. Structural health monitoring (SHM) can identify the discrepancy and avoid unexpected downtime costs, but electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the motor lowers the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of conventional wired sensors and may invalidate the feedback controller. This study presents an SHM system based on optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, which provide accurate time-deformation relations and frequency spectrum results. The SHM-FBG system contributes to preventative maintenance and compares the dynamic signal of six selected points on a linear robot. The experiments also consider the boundary condition of (a) with spring loading and (b) without spring loading. Short message services (SMS) based on the long-term evolution (LTE) cellular network have converted the linear robot into an internet of things (IoT) device. The SHM-FBG system is designed to provide long-term observation of the electro-mechanical system and will send a short message to the administrator if mechanical vibrations or thermal deformations exceed predefined limits and detect acoustic emission of components before systematic failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Prevent oversmoothness for variational autoencoders to avoid posterior collapse. • Incorrect value and oversimplified model for data variance leads to oversmoothness. • Modified variational autoencoder with generalized parametrizations is proposed. • Adaptive smoothness regularization with the aid of maximum likelihood estimation. • Improved generation quality while maintaining interpolation capability. Variational autoencoders (VAEs) often suffer from posterior collapse, which is a phenomenon in which the learned latent space becomes uninformative. This is often related to the hyperparameter resembling the data variance. It can be shown that an inappropriate choice of this hyperparameter causes the oversmoothness in the linearly approximated case and can be empirically verified for the general cases. Moreover, determining such appropriate choice becomes infeasible if the data variance is non-uniform or conditional. Therefore, we propose VAE extensions with generalized parameterizations of the data variance and incorporate maximum likelihood estimation into the objective function to adaptively regularize the decoder smoothness. The images generated from proposed VAE extensions show improved Fréchet inception distance (FID) on MNIST and CelebA datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]