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The focusing modified Korteweg-de Vries (mKdV) equation with multiple high-order poles under the nonzero boundary conditions is first investigated via developing a Riemann-Hilbert (RH) approach. We begin with the asymptotic property, symmetry and analyticity of the Jost solutions, and successfully construct the RH problem of the focusing mKdV equation. We solve the RH problem when 1/S11(k) has a single high-order pole and multiple high-order poles. Furthermore, we derive the soliton solutions of the focusing mKdV equation which corresponding with a single high-order pole and multiple high-order poles, respectively. Finally, the dynamics of one- and two-soliton solutions are graphically discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epilepsy, as a chronic noncommunicable disease with recurrent seizures, may be a marker of deterioration or alteration in other underlying neurological diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of epilepsy with brain function, other common brain disorders, and their underlying mechanisms. Methods: The study was based on clinical diagnostic and test data from 426,527 participants in the UK Biobank, of whom 3,251 were diagnosed with epilepsy at baseline. Multiple linear and Cox regression models were used to explore the association between epilepsy, brain function, and other brain disorders. Results: This study demonstrated consistent deleterious effects of epilepsy on cognitive and motor function and mental health. The risk of neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders was significantly elevated in the epilepsy population during the 17-year follow-up period, according to the longitudinal analysis. We also identified several brain regions associated with epilepsy, including the pallidum, hippocampus, and precentral regions. Mediation analyses revealed mediating effects of peripheral markers and proteins (e.g., GGT, HDL, ACE2, and GDF15), suggesting that liver function and lipid metabolism may be involved in the development of other brain disorders in individuals with epilepsy. Conclusions: Our study provides robust evidence of the association between epilepsy and poor brain health, underscoring the importance of early intervention for epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune‐mediated disorder characterized by immune regulation disorders and abnormal keratinocyte proliferation. Deucravacitinib (Deu), a selective oral Tyrosine Kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, shows promise in treating psoriasis but may cause systemic side effects and fail to address persistent localized thickened lesions. Herein, a self‐locking microneedle (MN) patch with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) inner ring loaded with Deu is developed, designed to penetrate the transdermal barriers and dissolve rapidly, downregulating the IL‐23/IL‐17 pathway and serve as the first line of defense against the spread of skin‐originated inflammation. Additionally, Calcipotriol (Cal), a vitamin D derivative, is incorporated into a methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA) backing layer and outer ring that mimics occlusive administration, maintaining localized skin surface retention for prolonged anti‐proliferative therapy. The Deu@Cal MN demonstrates satisfactory adhesiveness due to swelling‐mediated mechanical interlocking via the outer ring, ensuring targeted drug release at lesion site. Besides its effectiveness in alleviating both skin inflammation and proliferation, it inhibits the differentiation of Th17 cells in the spleen, suggesting potential to reduce systemic inflammation. These findings offer a new therapeutic approach for treating psoriasis and other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural dance fosters social cohesion, emotional well-being, creative thinking, and cultural identity by conveying cultural values and social meanings. However, systematic comparative research on cross-cultural and indigenous cultural dance education remains limited. This study, adopting a global perspective, examines the current applications, core issues, and educational strategies in this field. Through a systematic literature review and grounded theory approach, the research scrutinizes studies conducted from 2010 to 2024. The results show that intercultural research primarily focuses on multicultural exchange, cultural integration of immigrant groups, and cultural acceptance among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, highlighting the influence of intercultural adaptability and globalization. In contrast, indigenous cultural research emphasizes local culture and educational systems, with a particular focus on local cultural identity and educational reform. While both types of research reach a consensus on the importance of cultural transmission, diversity in teaching strategies, and the critical role of educators, significant differences remain in cultural identity and the design of educational content. Future research could concentrate on virtual dance education, innovation in indigenous cultures, the exploration of dance education's role in mental health, and the deep integration of artificial intelligence into dance pedagogy. Furthermore, consideration of the potential impact of globalization and technological advancement on cultural identity and educational models will foster theoretical innovation and practical development in dance education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iris luojiensis Z.Y. Wang, H.W. Huang and R. Li sp. nov. from southwest China is described and illustrated. This species occurs on shrub slopes in mountainous regions of southwest China. Iris luojiensis is morphologically similar to Iris japonica Thunb., Iris calcicola Z. C. Lu, Z.P. Huang and Yan Liu and Iris wattii Baker, but easily distinguished from them by its bluish‐violet flowers, 3–6 flowering‐stem branches, leaf size, particularly the upper leaves, and by only having two to three (seldom one) flowers per bract. A phylogenetic analysis based on the complete plastid genome supports the separation of I. luojiensis from other morphologically related species. According to morphological and molecular evidence, I. luojiensis can be placed in the I. sect. Lophiris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulating the immune microenvironment to establish sustained positive feedback within immune pathways represents a promising avenue for the treatment of autoimmunity. However, the precise and efficient delivery of therapeutic systems to the subcutaneous basal layer to modulate immune disorders is a major challenge in the treatment of autoimmune psoriasis. In this project, we introduce a dual-functional microneedle (DF-MN) designed to combine MNs with multiple release kinetics and immunotherapy, the programmed treatment is achieved through segmented design of the MN structure, realizing the unification of rapid and long-lasting treatment of autoimmune psoriasis. In vivo imaging results showed that GelMA@M-CSF showed fluorescent signals after 5 days of delivery to subcutaneous tissues, whereas HA@IL-13 showed minimal fluorescent signals after 2 days. The multistage release behavior of MNs and the diffusion mechanism of drugs were explained at the molecular level, in combination with coarse-grained molecular dynamics. Additionally, DF-MN can successfully induce macrophage reprogramming in vitro and ameliorate overall symptoms in a psoriasis mice model, suggesting that it has the potential to be an effective strategy for the treatment of psoriasis and portends to be a transformative platform for the treatment of other autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor-associated macrophages of the M2 phenotype promote cancer initiation and progression. Importantly, M2 macrophage-derived exosomes play key roles in the malignancy of cancer cells. Here, we report that circTMCO3 is upregulated in ovarian cancer patients, and its high expression indicates poor survival. M2-derived exosomes promote proliferation, migration, and invasion in ovarian cancer, but these effects are abolished by knockdown of circTMCO3. Furthermore, circTMCO3 functions as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-515-5p to reduce its abundance, thus upregulating ITGA8 in ovarian cancer. miR-515-5p inhibits ovarian cancer malignancy via directly downregulating ITGA8. The decreased oncogenic activity of circTMCO3-silencing exosomes is reversed by miR-515-5p knockdown or ITGA8 overexpression. Exosomal circTMCO3 promotes ovarian cancer progression in nude mice. Thus, M2 macrophage-derived exosomes promote malignancy by delivering circTMCO3 and targeting the miR-515-5p/ITGA8 axis in ovarian cancer. Our findings not only provide mechanistic insights into ovarian cancer progression, but also suggest potential therapeutic targets. This study shows that M2 macrophage-derived exosomes promote malignancy in ovarian cancer cells by delivering circTMCO3 and targeting the miR-515-5p/ITGA8 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The pathological features of immune‐mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) are dominated by the infiltration of macrophages. We aimed to perform a histopathologic semiquantitative analysis to investigate the relationship between macrophage markers and prognosis. Methods: Semiquantitative analysis of histologic features was performed in 62 samples of IMNM. Independent risk factors were identified through univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Cluster analysis was performed using the partitioning around the medoids (PAM) method. Decision tree modeling was utilized to efficiently determine cluster labels for IMNM patients. The validity of the developmental cohort was assessed by accuracy in comparison with the validation cohort. Results: The most enriched groups in patients with IMNM were macrophages expressing CD206 and CD163. In the multivariate logistic regression model, the high density of CD163+ macrophages in perimysial connective tissue increased the risk of unfavorable prognosis (p = 0.025, OR = 1.463, 95% CI: 1.049–2.041). In cluster analysis, patients in Cluster 1, with lower CD163+ macrophage density and inflammatory burden, had a more favorable prognosis. Conversely, patients in Cluster 3, which were enriched for CD163+ macrophages in the perimysial connective tissue, had the most severe clinical features and the worst prognosis. Correlations were found between the density of CD163+ macrophages in connective tissue and symptom duration (R2 = 0.166, p < 0.001), dysphagia (p = 0.004), cardiac involvement (p = 0.021), CK (R2 = 0.067, p = 0.042), CRP (R2 = 0.117, p < 0.001), and ESR (R2 = 0.171, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The density of CD163+ macrophages in perimysial connective tissue may serve as a potential marker for the prediction of IMNM prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc finger-homeodomain transcription factors (ZF-HDs) are pivotal in regulating plant growth, development, and diverse stress responses. In this study, we found 8 ZF-HD genes in barley genome. Theses eight HvZF-HD genes were located on five chromosomes, and classified into ZHD and MIF subfamily. The collinearity, gene structure, conserved motif, and cis-elements of HvZF-HD genes were also analyzed. Real-time PCR results suggested that the expression of HvZF-HD4, HvZF-HD6, HvZF-HD7 and HvZF-HD8 were up-regulated after hormones (ABA, GA3 and MeJA) or PEG treatments, especially HvZF-HD6 was significantly induced. These results provide useful information of ZF-HD genes to future study aimed at barley breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the aramid fiber was modified with polyamic acid (PAA) and glycidyl polyhedral sesquioxane (POSS) by supercritical CO2 assisted solution impregnation method, and then aramid fiber/carbon black/styrene-butadiene rubber composites (AF/CB/SBR=2/50/100) were prepared by modified aramid fiber. The effects of modified aramid fibers on the processing performance of composites were tested and the effects of two surface grafting agents on the performance of AF/CB/SBR composites were investigated. The results showed that the crosslinking density of the composites increased significantly after the modification of POSS and PAA with supercritical CO2, which delayed the vulcanization process and increased the positive vulcanization time. The tensile strength and 100% constant elongation of the composites modified by supercritical CO2-assisted POSS increased by 10.77% and 19.58%, respectively, while the tensile strength and 100% constant elongation of the composites modified by supercritical CO2-assisted PAA increased by 15.13% and 25.77%, respectively. Correspondingly, after the modification of POSS and PAA assisted by supercritical CO2, the interface slip energy values were 5.76 and 6.94, increasing by 17.6% and 41.6%, respectively. In comparison, the aramid fiber modified by macromolecule PAA grafting is more favorable to the improvement of the comprehensive properties of rubber composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice effective panicle is a major trait for grain yield and is affected by both the genetic tiller numbers and the early tillering vigor (ETV) traits to survive environmental adversities. The mechanism behind tiller bud formation has been well described, while the genes and the molecular mechanism underlying rice-regulating ETV traits are unclear. In this study, the candidate genes in regulating ETV traits have been sought by quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and bulk-segregation analysis by resequencing method (BSA-seq) conjoint analysis using rice backcross inbred line (BIL) populations, which were cultivated as late-season rice of double-cropping rice systems. By QTL mapping, seven QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, and 9, with the logarithm of the odds (LOD) values ranging from 3.52 to 7.57 and explained 3.23% to 12.98% of the observed phenotypic variance. By BSA-seq analysis, seven QTLs on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 9 were identified using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and insertions/deletions (InDel) index algorithm and Euclidean distance (ED) algorithm. The overlapping QTL resulting from QTL mapping and BSA-seq analysis was shown in a 1.39 Mb interval on chromosome 4. In the overlap interval, six genes, including the functional unknown genes Os04g0455650, Os04g0470901, Os04g0500600, and ethylene-insensitive 3 (Os04g0456900), sialyltransferase family domain containing protein (Os04g0506800), and ATOZI1 (Os04g0497300), showed the differential expression between ETV rice lines and late tillering vigor (LTV) rice lines and have a missense base mutation in the genomic DNA sequences of the parents. We speculate that the six genes are the candidate genes regulating the ETV trait in rice, which provides a research basis for revealing the molecular mechanism behind the ETV traits in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐invasive optical examination plays a crucial role in various aspects of dermatology, such as diagnosis, management and research. Multiphoton microscopy uses a unique submicron technology to stimulate autofluorescence (AF), allowing for the observation of cellular structure, assessment of redox status and quantification of collagen fibres. This advanced imaging technique offers dermatologists novel insights into the skin's structure, positioning it as a promising 'stethoscope' for future development in the field. This review provides an overview of multiphoton microscopy's principles, technology and application in studying normal skin, tumour and inflammatory diseases, as well as collagen‐related and pigmentary diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The available evidence on selenium supplementation in the treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) was inconclusive. This research serves to assess the effects of selenium supplementation in the treatment of AIT. Methods: Online databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 10 June 2022. The AMSTAR-2 tool was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. The information on the randomized controlled trials of the included studies was extracted and synthesized. The GRADE system was used to assess the certainty of evidence. Results: A total of 6 systematic reviews with 75 RCTs were included. Only one study was rated as high quality. The meta-analysis showed that in the levothyroxine (LT4)-treated population, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) levels decreased significantly in the selenium group at 3 months (SMD = −0.53, 95% CI: [−0.89, −0.17], p < 0.05, very low certainty) and 6 months (SMD = −1.95, 95% CI: [−3.17, −0.74], p < 0.05, very low certainty) and that thyroglobulin antibody (Tg-Ab) levels were not decreased. In the non-LT4-treated population, TPO-Ab levels decreased significantly in the selenium group at 3 and 6 months and did not decrease at 12 months. Tg-Ab levels decreased significantly in the selenium group at 3 and 6 months and did not decrease at 12 months. The adverse effects reported in the selenium group were not significantly different from those in the control group, and the certainty of evidence was low. Conclusion: Although selenium supplementation might reduce TPO-Ab levels at 3 and 6 months and Tg-Ab levels at 3 and 6 months in the non-LT4-treated population, this was based on a low certainty of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ileo amino acid digestion rate is an important index to evaluate amino acid digestion rate, using ileal amino acid digestibility to improve poultry feedstuff database is of great significance. The article summarizes evaluation system of amino acid utilization rate of poultry feedstock, including enzymolysis in vitro and in vivo methods such as growth test, fecal collection method, ileal amino acid digestibility, compared the research of multiple linear regression equation and artificial neural network in establishing dynamic prediction model of amino acid utilization rate of poultry. The multiple linear regression method is one of the tools for establishing dynamic prediction models, which can efficiently and quickly estimate amino acid utilization rate of feedstuff and provide reference for scientific formulation of poultry feedstuff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The correlations between genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with comprehensive brain regions at a regional scale are still not well understood. We aim to explore whether these associations vary across different age stages. Methods: This study used large existing genome-wide association datasets to calculate polygenic risk score (PRS) for AD in two populations from the UK Biobank (N ~ 23 000) and Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N ~ 4660) who had multimodal macrostructural and microstructural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metrics. We used linear mixed-effect models to assess the strength of the association between AD PRS and multiple MRI metrics of regional brain structures at different stages of life. Results: Compared to those with lower PRSs, adolescents with higher PRSs had thinner cortex in the caudal anterior cingulate and supramarginal. In the middle-aged and elderly population, AD PRS had correlations with regional structure shrink primarily located in the cingulate, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, and striatum, whereas the brain expansion was concentrated near the occipital lobe. Furthermore, both adults and adolescents with higher PRSs exhibited widespread white matter microstructural changes, indicated by decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) or increased mean diffusivity (MD). Conclusions: In conclusion, our results suggest genetic loading for AD may influence brain structures in a highly dynamic manner, with dramatically different patterns at different ages. This age-specific change is consistent with the classical pattern of brain impairment observed in AD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Noninvasive skin examination evolved rapidly in recent years, with multiphoton microscopy (MPM) and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) being used to image in‐vivo skin at high resolution. The aim of this study is to compare the imaging clarity between the two techniques and measure the thickness of the epidermis in different body sites. We also measured the degree of skin aging with noninvasive tools. Methods: Fifty‐six volunteers were evaluated and measured at three different body sites, including the cheek, volar forearm, and back. We used RCM and MPM to evaluate the clarity of each skin layer, including stratum corneum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, dermo‐epidermal junction, and dermis. We measured epidermal thickness (ET) at the three body sites in individuals of different ages and genders. We assessed skin aging by the second harmonic to autofluorescence aging index of dermis (SAAID), and multiple linear regression was used to analyze the factors affecting SAAID. Results: MPM had advantages in observation of stratum granulosum, collagen fiber, and elastic fiber (p < 0.001), but RCM provided better observation in dermo‐epidermal junction layer (p < 0.001). The epidermis was thicker in the cheek area than the volar forearm and back in both RCM and MPM detection, and the average ET measured by MPM was lower than RCM. ET varied among the three body sites with significant differences (p < 0.05). ET was significantly lower at almost all sites in individuals above 40y (p < 0.05). SAAID decreased with age, and more rapidly in women. Cheeks have lower SAAID scores than other body sites. Conclusion: MPM and RCM provide noninvasive methods for imaging skin and each method has its own advantages. Epidermal thickness and SAAID correlated with age, gender, and different body sites. MPM could also assess the degree of skin aging, which could guide the clinical treatment of patients with diffferent ages and genders in the above body sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial poverty alleviation is one of the most important aspects of targeted poverty alleviation. Identifying the mechanism influencing the spatial differentiation of the benefits of industrial poverty alleviation plays an essential role in optimising an industrial layout for poverty alleviation, consolidating poverty alleviation achievements, and revitalising rural industries. This study examined the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of the benefits of industrial poverty alleviation at the village level using the household data collected from Jiangjin District, Chongqing, China. The results show that the benefits of industrial poverty alleviation presented obvious spatial differentiation in the villages with the overall performance being high in the north and low in the south and decreasing from the south of the county to the north and south. Spatially, there was a significant positively correlated agglomeration effect. High‐value agglomeration areas were concentrated in the north with the characteristics of 'one centre and two subcentres'. However, low‐value and outlier agglomeration effects were not obvious, presenting sporadic distribution. Seven major factors affect industrial poverty alleviation in Jiangjin District, including average altitude and land transfer rate. The interaction between any two of the seven factors has a more significant impact than that of a single factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Apolipoprotein A‐1 (ApoA‐1), the major apolipoprotein of high‐density lipoprotein, plays anti‐atherogenic role in cardiovascular diseases and exerts anti‐inflammation effect in various inflammatory and infectious diseases. However, the role and mechanism of ApoA‐1 in hepatic ischaemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury is unknown. Methods: In this study, we measured ApoA‐1 expression in human liver grafts after transplantation. Mice partial hepatic I/R injury model was made in ApoA‐1 knockout mice, ApoA‐1 mimetic peptide D‐4F treatment mice and corresponding control mice to examine the effect of ApoA‐1 on liver damage, inflammation response and cell death. Primary hepatocytes and macrophages were isolated for in vitro study. Results: The results showed that ApoA‐1 expression was down‐regulated in human liver grafts after transplantation and mice livers subjected to hepatic I/R injury. ApoA‐1 deficiency aggravated liver damage and inflammation response induced by hepatic I/R injury. Interestingly, we found that ApoA‐1 deficiency increased pyroptosis instead of apoptosis during acute phase of hepatic I/R injury, which mainly occurred in macrophages rather than hepatocytes. The inhibition of pyroptosis compensated for the adverse impact of ApoA‐1 deficiency. Furthermore, the up‐regulated pyroptosis process was testified to be mediated by ApoA‐1 through TLR4–NF‐κB pathway and TLR4 inhibition significantly improved hepatic I/R injury. In addition, we confirmed that D‐4F ameliorated hepatic I/R injury. Conclusions: Our study has identified the protective role of ApoA‐1 in hepatic I/R injury through inhibiting pyroptosis in macrophages via TLR4–NF‐κB pathway. The effect of ApoA‐1 may provide a novel therapeutic approach for hepatic I/R injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle size strongly influences the shear strength of granular materials. However, previous studies of the particle size effect have focused mainly on the macroscopic behavior of granular materials, neglecting the associated micro-mechanism. In this study, the effect of particle size on the shear strength of uncrushable granular materials in biaxial testing is investigated using the discrete element method (DEM). First, a comprehensive calibration against experimental results is conducted to obtain the DEM parameters for two types of quartz sand. Then, a series of biaxial tests are simulated on sands with parallel particle size distributions to investigate the effect of particle size on macro- and microscopic behaviors. Finally, by adopting the rolling resistance method and the clump method, irregular-shaped particles are simulated to investigate how the particle size effect will be influenced by the particle shape. Simulation results demonstrate that (1) the peak shear strength increases with particle size, whereas the residual shear strength is independent of particle size; (2) the thickness of the shear band increases with the particle size, but its ratio decreases with particle size; (3) the particle size effect can be explained by the increase of friction utilization ratio with particle size; and (4) the particle size effect is more significant in granular materials that consist of particles with higher angularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) as noninvasive tools are gaining increasing importance in the diagnosis of inflammatory skin disorders. The purpose of our study was to calculate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy and RCM in common inflammatory skin diseases. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical, dermoscopic, and RCM images of psoriasis and lichen planuscases from March 2018 to February 2021 in China‐Japan Friendship Hospital. There were 10 experts evaluated dermoscopic and RCM images independently. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predict value, and negative predictive value for each and all investigators were calculated. The diagnostic accuracy was also measured by the area under the curve (AUC) for the Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) Curves. Results: We collected 82 psoriasis and 47 lichen planus cases. Dermoscopy was more sensitive than RCM in the diagnosis of psoriasis, and overall diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy was also higher than RCM measured by AUC (0.879 vs. 0.835, p = 0.0001). For lichen planus, RCM had higher sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall diagnostic accuracy than dermoscopy (AUC 0.916 vs. 0.813, p<0.0001). Conclusion: Dermoscopy and RCM play a significant role in assisting the diagnosis of psoriasis and lichens planus. These two noninvasive diagnostic tools have their own advantages and disadvantages for the evaluation of different inflammatory skin diseases, and they can be combined in clinical practice to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of inflammatory skin diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Superficial basal cell carcinoma (SBCC) is the rare subtype of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). BCC occurs in exposed areas such as the head and face, SCBB prone to form in trunk. Due to the manifestation of erythema and desquamation, it is prone to misdiagnosed as Bowen's disease in clinica. Materials and methods: A 68‐year‐old female presented with coin‐sized erythema located on the lower abdomen for 5 years. Histopathological examination was performed, and results informed the diagnosis of SBCC. Lesions were detected by dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and multiphoton microscopy (MPM). Results: Dermoscopy revealed yellow–red background with more dendritic and linear proliferating vessels and more blue‐gray nonaggregated dots structures. RCM displayed streaming of stratum spinosum, tortuous dilated vessels, highlighted inflammatory cells, and medium refraction round and oval tumor cell masses. MPM showed epidermal cells in polar arrangement, increased cell spacing, disorganized stratum granulosum and elastic fibers are gathered in clusters. Conclusion: We described a case of SBCC detected by dermoscopy, RCM and MPM. Noninvasive imaging features may provide a potentially tools in recognition and differentiation of SBCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effect of particle size on the shear strength of granular materials is important for geotechnical design and construction. However, previous studies show contradicting results on the relationship between particle size and shear strength. Additionally, the effect of particle breakage on this relationship has not been fully revealed. In this study, a series of biaxial tests have been simulated with the discrete element method to explore the particle-size effect of sand considering the role of particle breakage. The sand specimens have parallel particle-size distributions. The sequential breakage model has been used to simulate particle breakage, which is a combination of replacement and cluster methods. The main conclusions of this study are: (1) the relationship of peak shear strength and particle size depends on the crushability of particles and relative density of specimens; (2) the particle size and crushability have a very slight effect on the residual shear strength; and (3) at the microscale, the relationship between shear strength and particle size is positively related to the friction utilization ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ∂ ̄ -dressing method is developed to study the three-component coupled Hirota (tcCH) equations. We first start from a ∂ ̄ -problem and construct a new spectral problem. Based on the recursive operator, we successfully derive the tcCH hierarchy associated with the given spectral problem. In addition, the soliton solutions of the tcCH equations are first obtained via determining the spectral transform matrix in the ∂ ̄ -problem. Finally, one-, two-, and three-soliton solutions are analyzed to discuss the dynamic phenomena of the tcCH equations. It is remarked that the interaction between solitons depends on whether the characteristic lines intersect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the Riemann–Hilbert (RH) method to study the Kundu-type nonlinear Schrödinger (Kundu–NLS) equation with a zero boundary condition in the case where the scattering coefficient has distinct arbitrary-order poles. We perform a spectral analysis of the Lax pair and consider the asymptotic property, symmetry, and analyticity of the Jost solution. Based on these results, we formulate the RH problem whose solution allows solving the considered Kundu–NLS equation. In addition, using graphic analysis, we study the characteristics of soliton solutions of some particular cases of the problem with distinct arbitrary-order poles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the Riemann–Hilbert (RH) method to study the Kundu-type nonlinear Schrödinger (Kundu–NLS) equation with a zero boundary condition in the case where the scattering coefficient has distinct arbitrary-order poles. We perform a spectral analysis of the Lax pair and consider the asymptotic property, symmetry, and analyticity of the Jost solution. Based on these results, we formulate the RH problem whose solution allows solving the considered Kundu–NLS equation. In addition, using graphic analysis, we study the characteristics of soliton solutions of some particular cases of the problem with distinct arbitrary-order poles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Aggressive behaviour is widely exhibited by animals to acquire important resources and usually shows a dangerous or nondangerous pattern. Dangerous fighting patterns are usually characterized by fights ending with contestants being severely injured or killed. Resource value is an important nonstrategic factor influencing fighting behaviour. Studies of many species addressing nondangerous fighting behaviour have shown that when resource values change, organisms usually adjust their fighting behaviour accordingly. Only a few species show dangerous fighting patterns. Thus, few relevant studies have addressed how variation in resource value affects aggression with a dangerous fighting pattern. 2. Here, an egg parasitoid wasp, Anastatus disparis, which exhibits a dangerous fighting pattern to acquire mating opportunities, was used as an experimental model to study the adjustment of fighting behaviour resulting from a change in resource value. 3. Our results show that the female properties of body size and age affect their objective resource value and that males increased their fighting intensity for relatively large and young females. However, male mating status in A. disparis may not influence the subjective value of mate resources, and fighting intensity did not significantly differ between mated and virgin males. In addition, the number of times a male had previously mated had no significant effect. These results suggest that mating opportunities are important for both virgin and mated males, resulting in neither of them showing any adjustment in fighting for mating opportunities. 4. Generally, A. disparis males with extreme fighting patterns adjust their fighting behaviour according to the variation in resource value, which avoids the meaningless costs of injury and death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel silica nanosheet coating was fabricated on a titanium (Ti) fiber substrate by electrophoretic deposition followed by annealing. Prior to the electrophoretic deposition, titania nanowire arrays were grown in-situ on the titanium wires by a hydrothermal process in alkaline solution and used as the active support for the subsequent deposition of the silica coatings. After annealing at 550 °C, the homogeneous silica nanosheets were formed on the titania nanowires coated titanium fiber. The fabricated fiber has controllable preparation reproducibility and long recycling stability. The extraction performance of the resulting coating was investigated using typical aromatic compounds as model analytes coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection. Excellent extraction selectivity and capability were demonstrated for the ultraviolet filters. Under the optimized extraction conditions for the analytes, good linearity was achieved across the concentration range from 0.02 to 400 μg·L−1 with correlation coefficients above 0.999 and limits of detection from 0.004 to 0.059 μg·L−1. Relative standard deviations below 7.3% were obtained for the determination of ultraviolet filters with the single fiber. The developed method was applied to the selective enrichment and sensitive determination of the target ultraviolet filters in real water samples with relative recoveries from 83.6% to 104%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nemaline myopathy (NEM) is a congenital myopathy that typically presents with proximal muscle weakness and hypotonia. To date, 13 genes have been associated with NEM. The Kelch repeat and BTB domain‐containing protein 13 (KBTBD13) gene (KBTBD13)‐related NEM is a rarely reported condition, and not a single case has been reported in Asia. Here, we report the case of a mother and daughter in China with NEM caused by a mutation (c.1222C>T) in KBTBD13. Their shared clinical phenotype is symmetrical muscle weakness in the arms and legs with childhood onset. Muscle magnetic resonance imaging showed the unique replacement mode of muscle with fibro‐fatty tissue. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of fibers containing rod‐shaped structures in the cytoplasm or under the sarcolemma. DNA sequencing analysis detected a heterozygous mutation (c.1222C>T) in KBTBD13 in this family. A founder effect for the variant may exist in the Low Countries of Belgium and the Netherlands, and the mutation may be a hotspot mutation in Europe, as it has not been reported in Asia. Our case study expands the spectrum of KBTBD13‐related NEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearing titanium particle‐induced osteoclastogenesis, accompanied by peri‐implant osteolysis, is the main cause of long‐term failure of hip prosthesis. Currently, medications used for the prevention and treatment of peri‐implant osteolysis show serious side effects. Therefore, development for more effective new drugs with less side effects is extremely urgent. Vaccarin is a natural flavonoid extracted from Vaccaria segetalis, with various biological functions, including antioxidantory, anti‐inflammatory, and promotion of angiogenesis. However, the putative role of vaccarin in the inhibition of titanium particle‐induced osteolysis has not been reported. In this study, it was indicated that vaccarin could effectively inhibit RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis, fusion of F‐actin rings, bone resorption, and expression of osteoclast marker genes in a dose‐dependent manner in vitro. Moreover, vaccarin could also inhibit RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis via the inhibition of NF‐κB and MAPK (p38, ERK, and JNK) signaling pathways, and inhibit the transcription of downstream transcription factors, such as c‐Fos and NFATc1. Consistent with in vitro results, this in vivo study showed that vaccarin exhibited an inhibitory effect on titanium particle‐induced osteolysis by antiosteoclastogenesis. In conclusion, vaccarin could be a promising agent for preventing and treating peri‐implant osteolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical performance and failure mechanism of a retard-bonded (RB) type prestressed concrete (PC) girder in different curing periods are investigated through four-point loading experiments. Six RB-type PC girder specimens with three RB prestressed tendons (PTs) along the longitudinal direction were fabricated. The measurements include the following: the retard-bonded agent ages versus the load-carrying capacity of the girder, the deflection of girder, the strain distribution at key cross sections through the girder, the pressure at PT tensile and anchoring ends, crack distribution, and so on. The experimental results indicate that when stretching the PT within proper tensile period, the retarder curing ages have less impact on the cracking load and a greater impact on the ultimate bending strength; the ultimate bending strength of the RB-type PC girder increased with increased retarder curing. Nonetheless, stretching the PT after excessive retarder curing (after the retarder had solidified completely), the cracks in the PC girder's pure bending segment are wider and less numerous, the ultimate bending strength of the girder is lower, and its ductility is poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centimeter-scale WS2 ultrathin films were synthesized on sapphire substrates, and they showed highly oriented crystallographic growth along the c axis. Afterwards, the as-grown samples were systematically characterized using various detection methods. Reliable values of the roughness layer thickness and the film thickness were extracted using both atomic force microscopy (AFM) and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), and identified using Raman spectroscopy as well. The expansion and tensile strain along the [001] direction were discovered using X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. Accurate dielectric functions of WS2 films were derived from the point-by-point fitting results. The critical points (CPs) of WS2, which have not been reported so far, are precisely extracted from the standard critical point (SCP) model. Their origins are uniquely assigned to different interband electronic transitions in the Brillouin zone, including some novel optical structures above 3 eV, which were not investigated in earlier studies. In this work, it is found that dielectric functions are thickness-dependent, while CPs have an opposite nature, and their intrinsic mechanisms are revealed. The as-obtained results can be expected to help people develop more extensive applications of WS2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The band gap and defect features of ultrathin ZrO2 films with varying thicknesses have been investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry through the point-by-point data inversion method. The ε2-sprectra in the 3–6 eV range are extracted based on an optical model consisting of a Si substrate/effective ZrO2 film/air ambient structure where the effective ZrO2 film is a combination of interfacial layers and ZrO2. Evident widening of the band gap with a reducing size is observed when the effective ZrO2 films are below a critical thickness, somewhere between 8.80 nm and 17.13 nm. This is due to quantum-confinement and amorphous effects. Moreover, the sub-band-gap defects at interfacial layers and in bulk ZrO2 are identified and present strong thickness dependence as well. The interfacial defects at 3.26, 4.13, 4.43, and 4.77 eV mainly exist below the critical thickness and exhibit a significant suppression with increasing film thickness. The bulk defects at 4.15 eV and 4.46 eV dominate in ZrO2 films once they are over the critical thickness. The evolution of the band gap and defects is closely related to variance in the electronic structure of amorphous ZrO2. Our results may be helpful in understanding controversial problems concerning the size effect on ultrathin high-k oxide films and exploring the further miniaturization of electronic devices based on them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dielectric functions of direct-current-sputtered wedge-shaped ultrathin titanium (Ti) film on K9 glass were investigated in this paper. The wedge-shaped Ti thin film was deposited under the identical conditions with continuously varied thickness. Atomic force microscope revealed that the thin film surface was very smooth with the surface roughness of about 0.5 nm. The dielectric functions of the wedge-shaped films in the wavelength range of 300-1200 nm were obtained by a focused-beam ellipsometer with the beam size on the sample about 200 μm. Results show that ε, the real part of the dielectric function, is negative almost in the whole spectrum region, proving that the film at the measured area is continuous and shows metallic behavior. On the other hand, ε decreases with the increase in the film thickness, while ε, the imaginary part of the dielectric function, has the opposite variation tendency. The changing of ε with film thickness is due to the reduced electron-electron interactions and enhanced metallic behavior. While for ε, it gets larger with the increase in the film thickness, which is mainly owing to the decrease in the tensile stress in the film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BiFeO (BFO) thin film was deposited by pulsed-laser deposition on SrRuO (SRO)-buffered (111) SrTiO (STO) substrate. X-ray diffraction pattern reveals a well-grown epitaxial BFO thin film. Atomic force microscopy study indicates that the BFO film is rather dense with a smooth surface. The ellipsometric spectra of the STO substrate, the SRO buffer layer, and the BFO thin film were measured, respectively, in the photon energy range 1.55 to 5.40 eV. Following the dielectric functions of STO and SRO, the ones of BFO described by the Lorentz model are received by fitting the spectra data to a five-medium optical model consisting of a semi-infinite STO substrate/SRO layer/BFO film/surface roughness/air ambient structure. The thickness and the optical constants of the BFO film are obtained. Then a direct bandgap is calculated at 2.68 eV, which is believed to be influenced by near-bandgap transitions. Compared to BFO films on other substrates, the dependence of the bandgap for the BFO thin film on in-plane compressive strain from epitaxial structure is received. Moreover, the bandgap and the transition revealed by the Lorentz model also provide a ground for the assessment of the bandgap for BFO single crystals. PACS codes:: 78.67.-n, 78.20.-e, 07.60.Fs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO thin films of different thickness were prepared by the Electron Beam Evaporation (EBE) method on crystal silicon. A variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometer (VASE) was used to determine the optical constants and thickness of the investigated films in the spectral range from 300 to 800 nm at incident angles of 60°, 70°, and 75°, respectively. The whole spectra have been fitted by Forouhi-Bloomer (FB) model, whose best-fit parameters reveal that both electron lifetime and band gap of TiO thin film have positive correlation to the film thickness. The refractive indices of TiO thin film increase monotonically with an increase in film thickness in the investigated spectral range. The refractive index spectra of TiO thin films have maxima at around 320 nm and the maxima exhibit a marginally blue-shift from 327.9 to 310.0 nm with an increase in film thickness. The evolution of structural disorder in the TiO thin film growth can be used to explain these phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium oxide (TiO2) thin films were prepared by electron-beam evaporation (EBE) method on crystal silicon, and were thermally treated by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) were used to analyze the crystal structure, band gap, and optical constants evolution of the investigated films. The strongest diffraction peaks in XRD patterns were found to shift to higher 2 θ angle with an increase of film thickness. The lattice spacing decreases and the average grain size increases, indicating the improvement of crystal quality by increasing film thickness. The band gap from well-fitted Forouhi-Bloomer (FB) dispersion model in VASE decreases with an increase of thickness, and one-dimensional quantum confinement effect and disorder effect have been introduced to explain this relation. The refractive indices of TiO2 thin film decrease monotonically with an increase in film thickness in the spectral range from 230 to 800 nm, which can be attributed to the contribution of compressive stress effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has led to great advances in understanding the causes of Mendelian and complex neurological diseases. Owing to the complexity of genetic diseases, the genetic factors contributing to many rare and common neurological diseases remain poorly understood. Selecting the correct genetic test based on cost-effectiveness, coverage area, and sequencing range can improve diagnosis, treatments, and prevention. Whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing are suitable methods for finding new mutations, and gene panels are suitable for exploring the roles of specific genes in neurogenetic diseases. Here, we provide an overview of the classifications, applications, advantages, and limitations of NGS in research on neurological diseases. We further provide examples of NGS-based explorations and insights of the genetic causes of neurogenetic diseases, including Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, spinocerebellar ataxias, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. In addition, we focus on issues related to NGS-based analyses, including interpretations of variants of uncertain significance, de novo mutations, congenital genetic diseases with complex phenotypes, and single-molecule real-time approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of network technology, concerns pertaining to the enhancement of security and protection against violations of digital images have become critical over the past decade. In this paper, an image copy detection scheme based on the Inception convolutional neural network (CNN) model in deep learning is proposed. The image dataset is transferred by a number of image processing manipulations and the feature values in images are automatically extracted for learning and detecting the suspected unauthorized digital images. The experimental results show that the proposed scheme takes on an extraordinary role in the process of detecting duplicated images with rotation, scaling, and other content manipulations. Moreover, the mechanism of detecting duplicate images via a convolutional neural network model with different combinations of original images and manipulated images can improve the accuracy and efficiency of image copy detection compared with existing schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to examine the risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3 among adults with ASK from unilateral nephrectomy.Methods: We retrospectively collected data from adult patients with ASK between January, 2009 and January, 2019, identified from a tertiary hospital in China. The clinical data were compared between patients who developed CKD stage 3 and those who did not develop CKD stage 3 during follow-up.Results: In total, 172 patients with ASK (110 men; median 58.0 years) were enrolled, with a median follow-up duration of 5.0 years. During follow-up, 91 (52.9%) and 24 (14.0%) patients developed CKD stage 3 and end-stage renal disease, respectively. Multiple regression analyses showed that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.076, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.039-1.115, p < 0.001), diabetes (OR 4.401, 95% CI 1.693-11.44, p = 0.002), hyperuricemia (OR 2.733, 95% CI 1.104-6.764, p = 0.03), a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (OR 5.583, 95% CI 1.884-18.068, p = 0.002), and ASK due to renal tuberculosis (OR 8.816, 95% CI 2.92-26.62, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for developing CKD stage 3 among patients with ASK.Conclusions: Regular follow-up of renal function is needed among adult patients with ASK. Optimal management of diabetes, hyperuricemia, and CVD may reduce their risk of CKD stage 3, especially among those that undergo unilateral nephrectomy for renal tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeromonas species are common pathogens of fish and some of them can opportunistically cause infectious diseases in humans. The overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of bacterial drug-resistance. To date, only 51 complete genome sequences of Aeromonas phages are available in GenBank. Here, we report the isolation of nine Aeromonas phages from a plateau lake in China. The protein cluster, dot plot and ANI analyses were performed on all 60 currently sequenced Aeromonas phage genomes and classified into nine clusters and thirteen singletons. Among the nine isolated phages, the DNA-packaging strategy of cluster 2L372D (including 2L372D, 2L372X, 4L372D, 4L372XY) is unknown, while the other five phages use the headful (P22/Sf6) DNA-packaging strategy. Notably, the isolated phages with larger genomes conservatively encode auxiliary metabolism genes, DNA replication and metabolism genes, while in smaller phage genomes, recombination-related genes were conserved. Finally, we propose a new classification scheme for Aeromonas phages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electron-beam evaporation method was devoted to fabricate anatase-phase TiO2 thin films on silicon substrate. The optical constants of the thin films determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry in the spectral range from 300 to 800 nm were studied in a temperature range from 293 to 533 K. The refractive indices decrease apparently with increasing temperature, and the thermal expansion and electron–phonon interaction can be introduced to elucidate this phenomenon. The absorption edge in extinction coefficient spectra shows a redshift at elevated temperature, which is attributed to thermally driven band gap shrinkage and electron lifetime loss of optical electron transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]