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Palmprint recognition is a technology that uses the unique composite texture information of the palm surface for automatic identification. In this chapter, first, the main research contents of touchless palmprint recognition are introduced. Second, the establishment of the CUHKSZ large-scale touchless palmprint dataset will be described in detail. Third, parameter optimization experiments are conducted on the CUHKSZ dataset to observe the scientific problems caused by the increase in data scale. Fourth, the experiment comparing the EER of the most used touchless palmprint recognition algorithms on the large-scale dataset will be performed to provide baselines for future research. Finally, the recognition performances of the three most widely used biometric modals, including palmprint, face, and fingerprint, will be compared on the CUHKSZ dataset, which can demonstrate the advantages of touchless palmprint recognition. In the end of this chapter, future research directions will be put forward.

Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder affecting more than 70 million people worldwide. Despite numerous efforts on new antiepileptic drugs, approximately one-third of epilepsy patients suffer from uncontrolled seizures. It leads to serious psychosocial consequences, cognitive problems, and decreased quality of life. Objective: Our previous studies have shown that N. incisum root extract (NRE) can improve cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice. In addition, our research shows that AD and epilepsy have pathological mechanisms overlapping. Therefore, we tried to investigate whether NRE can ameliorate the seizures of epileptic mice in this study. Methods: NRE-treated mice group was given an oral administration with 1 g/kg/d for 7 days. On the 8th day, mice were exposed to PTZ (i.p. injection) to induce epilepsy. Then the cognitive tests of mice in the water maze were carried out, and the biochemical indexes and pathological tests were carried out after the mice were sacrificed. Results: SOD level in the NRE group was significantly higher than that in the PTZ group, while MDA, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels were decreased. The cognitive ability of NRE-treated mice was significantly improved compared with the PTZ group. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results showed that the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus and cortex of NRE mice were inhibited. Conclutions: This study suggests that NRE can alleviate epilepsy and improve cognitive function in mice with epilepsy, and its mechanism may be through reducing inflammation and enhancing antioxidant defense.

This work investigates asymptotic homogenization method (AHM) for axially graded beams that are mapped from periodic ones. The unit cell problems, the homogenized constitutive and governing equations are first established theoretically. Then a novel FE formulation of unit cell problems and effective stiffness, distinct from that of the periodic beams, is derived and resolved for solid elements. Besides, to improve analysis efficiency, an updated concise formulation is acquired for shell elements with proper handle of in-plane rotational DOFs, and a MATLAB code is presented to show implementation details. At last, four numerical examples show the correctness of the proposed method.

Xiaoxue Zi,1,&ast; Yang Peng,2,&ast; Yiran Zang,1 Shiying Chen,2 Mengshi Li,3 Kena Yu,1 Xu Liang,1 Peng Jin,1 Deyun Wang,4 Li Shi1 1Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Department of Respiratory Pathology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Otolaryngology, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Peng Jin, Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Avenue, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 531 85875317, Fax +86 531 88962544, Email jinpeng0215@126.comObjective: The mechanisms underlying the antrochoanal polyps (ACPs) remained unclear. We aimed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) profile, the cilia-related genes expression levels and the morphological characteristics of ciliated cells in patients with ACPs.Methods: We obtained ACPs biopsy samples from 28 patients and uncinate process from 27 healthy controls. Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence staining, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and scanning electron microscopy were performed.Results: 3739 DEGs were detected between ACPs and controls, and Gene Ontology analysis on these DEGs implicated cilium assembly, cilium motility, cilia component, cilia function, inflammatory response and immune system process were included in ACPs pathogenesis. Gene set enrichment analysis implicated sets of genes regulated in processes associated with cilium organization, cilium morphogenesis, cilium movement, axoneme assembly, axonemal dynein complex assembly and cell projection assembly. The expression levels of cilia-related genes (FOXJ1, DNAI1, DNAH9, RSPH1, RSPH9 and RSPH4A) were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Fold change > 2, P< 0.05) and FOXJ1 was positive correlated with DNAI1, DNAH9, RSPH4, RSPH1, RSPH9, DNAH5, DNALI1 in ACPs (all P < 0.05). Based on our semi-quantitative scoring system, median scores of α-Tubulin, DNAI1 and RSPH4A were significantly higher in ACPs than in controls. In addition, loss of ciliated cells and a shorter cilia pattern were further confirmed by immunofluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy in ACPs.Conclusion: The aberrant expression of cilia-related genes and ciliary structural impairment are an important pathological phenomenon in ACPs, and our findings may provide novel insights into understanding the mysterious mechanisms underlying ACPs.Keywords: antrochoanal polyps, ciliary abnormalities, transcriptome RNA sequencing, uncinate process

In this paper, a Pythagorean-Hodograph (PH) curve-based pick-and-place operation trajectory planning method for Delta parallel robots is proposed, which realizes the flexible control of pick-and-place operations to meet the requirements of various practical scenarios. First, according to the geometric relationship of pick-and-place operation path, different pick-and-place operations are classified. Then trajectory planning is carried out for different situations, respectively, and in each case, the different polynomial motion laws adopted by the linear motion segment and the curved motion segment are solved. Trajectory optimization is performed with the motion period as optimization objective. The proposed method is easier to implement, and at the same time satisfies the safety, optimization, mobility, and stability of the robot; that is, the proposed method realizes obstacle avoidance, optimal time, flexible control of the robot trajectory, and stable motion. Simulations and experiments verify the effectiveness of the method proposed in this paper. The proposed method can not only realize the fast, accurate, and safe operation in intelligent manufacturing fields such as rapid classification, palletizing, grasping, warehousing, etc., but its research route can also provide a reference for trajectory planning of intelligent vehicles in logistics system.

Herein, a series of Cu–N–C-type catalysts was prepared and characterized by high-temperature annealing of CuIItetrephenylporphyrin (CuIITPP)-coated reduced graphene oxide (rGO).

Novel electron-deficient low-symmetry perhalogenated azaanalogues of subphthalocyanine, [Cl2F8N2subPc] and [Cl4F4N4subPc], were prepared by mixed co-cyclotrimerization of tetrafluorophthalonitrile and 5,6-dichloropyrazine-3,4-dicarbonitrile in p-xylene in the presence of BCl3. They were characterized by MALDI mass-spectrometry, UV-VIS, IR, [Formula: see text]C, and [Formula: see text]F NMR spectroscopy, and the molecular structure of [Cl2F8N2subPc] was established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The spectral-luminescence and redox properties of [Cl2F8N2subPc] and [Cl4F4N4subPc] as well as peculiarities of their electronic structure are compared with the corresponding symmetrically substituted compounds - perfluorosubphthalocyanine, [F[Formula: see text]subPc], and hexachlorotripyrazinosubporphyrazine, [Cl6N6subPc]. Consecutive substitution of one and two tetrafluorobenzene fragments by dichloropyrazine units leads to stabilization of the frontier [Formula: see text]-molecular orbitals and widening of the HOMO–LUMO gap. As a result, electron-affinity of the macrocycle is increased and the first reduction potentials are increasingly shifted in the less negative region from -0.43 V for [F[Formula: see text]subPc] to -0.31 V for [Cl2F8N2subPc], -0.19 V for [Cl4F4N4subPc], and the maxima of the Q-band is shifted hypsochromically from 573 nm to 565 and 553 nm, respectively. Preliminary photoelectrical measurements indicate that novel compounds can be used as acceptor materials in non-fullerene photovoltaic cells.

C16H12ClFO5, monclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 14.7536(6) Å, b = 7.8281(3) Å, c = 14.0501(7) Å, β = 111.174 ( 5 ) ° $111.174(5){}^{\circ}$ , V = 1513.13(12) Å3, Z = 4, R gt (F) = 0.0367, wR ref (F 2) = 0.0865, T = 296(2) K.

Emerging data have demonstrated that low-grade inflammation in osteoarthritis, a long-held degenerative disease. The inflamed synovium produces various cytokines that induce cartilage destruction and joint pain. A previous study showed that teriparatide, an FDA approved anti-osteoporotic drug, may enhance cartilage repair. Our study focuses on its role in OA synovitis.Primary mouse articular chondrocytes were used to determine the most potent cytokines involved in OA inflammation and cartilage destruction. A destabilization of the medial meniscus mouse model was established to investigate the effect of teriparatide in OA, particularly, on synovial inflammation and cartilage degradation.In vitro experiments showed that TNF-α was the most potent inducer of cartilage matrix-degrading enzymes, and that teriparatide antagonized the TNF-α of effect. Consistently, articular cartilage samples from TNF-α transgenic mice contained more MMP-13 positive chondrocytes than those from wild type mice. In addition, more type II collagen was cleaved in human OA cartilage than in normal cartilage samples.Teriparatide can prevent synovitis and cartilage degradation by suppressing TNF-α mediated MMP-13 overexpression. Together with its chondroregenerative capability, teriparatide may be the first effective disease modifying osteoarthritis drug.

Nanopore sensing is blooming due to its label-free and high sensitivity features. As a novel nanopore, a droplet is formed at the orifice of a dual-nanopipette, which allows for the translocation of analytes through the two channels at a relatively low speed and the promotion of signal-to-noise ratio. However, nanopore sensing based on the principle of current blockage requires the pore size to be comparable to that of the single entity, which poses a huge challenge for the direct detection of small molecules. In this work, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) modified with sulfhydryl poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-SH) or aptamers were detected successfully. The size difference of Au NPs and the interaction between Au NPs and dual-nanopipettes could be distinguished sensitively. Furthermore, Au NPs modified with designed aptamers will produce different blocking current after capturing the corresponding small molecules (e.g., dopamine and serotonin). Even non-electroactive ions, such as potassium ions, can also be detected, which is difficult to sense based on redox reactions, and further illustrates that the change of surface properties of nanoparticles is responsible for the detection. This work expands the application of nanopipette sensing for Au NPs and provides a universal platform for the small-molecule detection, which has the potential application in biosensing.

By virtue of high theoretical capacity and appropriate lithiation potential, phosphorus is considered as a prospective next-generation anode material for lithium-ion batteries. However, there are some problems hampering its practical application, such as low ionic conductivity and serious volume expansion. Herein, we demonstrated an in situ preoxidation strategy to build a oxidation function layer at phosphorus particle. The oxide layer not only acted as a protective layer to prolong the storage time of phosphorus anode in air but also carbonized

Inference of permeability distribution in an enhanced geothermal reservoir is crucial for the sustainable management of geothermal energy. However, interpreting the uneven permeability distribution in a deep geothermal reservoir remains a challenging task because in practice there often are merely one or two wells available for hydrogeophysical tests. Considering that the induced seismicity data are widely captured during reservoir stimulation in enhanced geothermal systems, a framework of tracer test data inversion with the constraint of induced seismic data is developed for permeability imaging. Hydraulic diffusivity, representing the prior estimation of permeability, is inferred from the occurrence time of seismic events. This is followed by the determination of a petrophysical model, which relates hydraulic diffusivity to permeability, by tracer test data inversion based on the Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. Implementation of the seismicity-constraint tracer data inversion algorithm in the Habanero enhanced geothermal system, Australia, demonstrates that our inversion model allows uneven permeability estimation at field scale in shorter burn-in period and lower uncertainty than the traditional inversion model without seismicity constraint. Using the estimated permeability in the hydrothermal model enables accurate prediction of thermal performance in a 150 day trial-production test. Results indicate that this algorithm can reliably characterize the spatial distribution of permeability in deep enhanced reservoirs, based on the tracer test via doublet wells.

[C10H11N2 +, PF6 −], triclinic, P 1 ‾ $P\overline{1}$ (no. 2), a = 8.9854(3) Å, b = 9.1004(3) Å, c = 9.2312(3) Å, α = 66.667(3)°, β = 74.875(3)°, γ = 74.024(3)°, V = 656.40(4) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt (F) = 0.0513, wRref (F 2) = 0.1515, T = 296(2) K.

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is very complex, and there are many hypotheses. Therefore, the development of a multi-target-directed-ligand may be an effective therapeutic strategy. Our previous study showed that notopterol (a natural product from

Aiming at the shortcomings of traditional bilateral filtering in suppressing speckle noise in SAR ship images, especially strong speckle noise and loss of image edge details, it proposes an improved bilateral filtering algorithm based on fast adaptive threshold and variable window in this paper. The algorithm was used to suppress speckle noise in SAR ship images. The traditional bilateral filtering cannot effectively filter out the strong speckle noise, but the SAR image has strong speckle noise because of the defects of its imaging principle. To solve these problems, an image sample truncation method based on fast adaptive truncation statistical characteristics is designed to adjust the photometric similarity weight characteristics to realize the adaptive adjustment of spatial standard deviation and gray standard deviation. After the local reference window is modified and truncated according to the local characteristics of the image, the adjusted combined similarity weight value greatly reduces the impact of strong speckle noise on the image. It is smoothed into speckle signal with strong impulse noise. In the traditional bilateral filtering, in order to enhance the effect of smoothing noise, it is necessary to specify a large value of geometric diffusion factor and gray similarity diffusion factor, resulting in the loss of image details. Based on the variable window size filtering method, when the extended local reference window is in the case of nonuniform edge, its window can be enlarged to make the speckle noise stronger. When an extended window contains details such as edges and textures, its size is not expanded to maintain image detail. This method can further smooth the speckle noise in the uniform region while preserving the edge details of the image. Finally, the adaptive truncated sample is used as the input of the bilateral filter. The image sample truncation method based on fast adaptive threshold can effectively eliminate the strong speckle noise information that affects the photometric similarity and weight accuracy of the image. The method based on variable window can greatly enhance the smoothness of the edge area of the image. The experimental results show that improved adaptive bilateral filtering algorithm improves the speckle noise removal ability by 16.06% compared with the traditional bilateral filtering algorithm in the speckle noise suppression of the SAR ship image, and the preservation performance of the image edge after filtering is improved by 5.41%. Compared with the original image, the filtered image has a 1.2% improvement in structural similarity. The algorithm can effectively suppress speckle noise and has a good ability to retain edge and texture information of the SAR ship image, which has strong practicability.

In our previous study, bisphenol S (BPS) was detected unexpectedly and at high levels in meat samples from 2016 and 2020 Canadian total diet study (TDS). In this study, samples of meat and meat products from 2008-2015 and 2017-2019 TDS were also analysed to investigate the consistency of BPS occurrence in meat and identify possible trends and provide some information on the potential sources for BPS in meat. BPS was detected again with the highest levels observed in samples of fresh pork (105 ng/g) and veal cutlets (140 ng/g) from the 2008 TDS. This indicates that the occurrence of BPS in meat is not a recent phenomenon but rather an existing one since 2008 or even earlier. BPS concentrations in meat samples from the 2008 to 2020 TDS varied significantly, e.g. 1.2-118 ng/g in roast beef, 1.8-140 ng/g in veal cutlets, but no trend was observed. The lack of trend for BPS over the period of 13 years (2008-2020) does not support the speculation that BPS is being used to replace BPA in food packaging, and sources other than food packaging may be possible and should be investigated for BPS.

The NUFER (Nutrient Flow in food chains, Environment and Resources) model has been used to reliably quantify nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) emissions from agriculture land to water bodies. However, factors impacting agricultural N and P emissions at the island scale have rarely been studied due to the lack of high-resolution spatialization tools, which are critical for exploring mitigation options. Here, a high-resolution NUFER model was constructed based on geology, meteorology, land-use data, statistical data, and field investigation. The spatial characteristics of N and P emissions in Hainan Island, China, were quantified, and the driving forces were analyzed. We also explored effective measures to reduce emissions by 2035 using scenario analysis. Overall, 98 Gg N from agriculture entered water bodies in 2018, of which crop system contributed 70%; 15 Gg P entered water bodies, of which, animal system contributed 78%. Nitrate (NO

IntroductionPerilla oil is a natural vegetable oil rich in alpha-linolenic acid extracted from Perilla seeds. Fish oil is a commonly used animal fat containing a large amount of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Soybean oil is a commonly used vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid. This study aimed to determine whether perilla, fish, or soybean oil can be used as a lipid source in the diet of the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus).MethodsThree isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were created by adding 3.0% each of soybean oil (SO), fish oil (FO), and perilla seed oil (PSO). Eight adolescent giant salamanders were fed in rectangular tanks for 98 days with a total of 96 giant salamanders (mean body weight = 75.20g) and were fed an experimental diet until satiation.Results and DiscussionThe viscerosomatic index and crude lipid content of muscle were found to be considerably lower and the muscle crude protein was substantially higher in the PSO group than in the other groups (PA. davidianus muscle tissue (PA. davidianus with respect to growth performance. On the other hand, perilla oil can enhance crude protein content of muscle, increase Immunoglobulin M(IgM) content and Alkaline phosphatase(AKP) enzyme activity, promote lipid metabolism, and maintain the health of the liver and intestine in A. davidianus.

ObjectiveWe aimed to examine the prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Luoyang, China, identify related risk factors, inform clinical practices, and establish standardized anti-tubercular treatment regimens.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of high-resolution melting curve (HRM) data from 17,773 cases (2,748 of which were positive) between June 2019 and May 2022 to assess the prevalence of MDR-TB and to identify its associated risk factors.ResultsBetween June 2019 and May 2022, out of the 17,773 HRM results, 2,748 were HRM-positive, and 312 were MDR-TB cases. The detection rates for HRM-positive and MDR-TB were 17.0 and 12.1% for males, and 12.4 and 8.2% for females, respectively. The MDR-TB detection rate was higher in the urban areas (14.6%) than in the rural areas (10.6%) and more common among individuals under 51 years of age (14.1%) than those over 50 years of age (9.3%). Notably, the rate of detecting MDR-TB was 18.3% higher in new male patients than in new female patients, which was at 10.6%, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Moreover, the rate of MDR detection in females who had received anti-tuberculosis treatment (21.3%) was higher than that in males (16.9%). In the multivariate model that considered the results of the sputum smear and detection time, MDR-TB was positively correlated with a history of tuberculosis (TB) treatment, being male, being younger than 51 years, and living in urban areas.ConclusionLocal TB infections are complex and diverse; therefore, more comprehensive monitoring methods are needed to curb the spread of MDR-TB.

Introduction: Kidney cancer is one of the most common and lethal urological malignancies. Discovering a biomarker that can predict prognosis and potential drug treatment sensitivity is necessary for managing patients with kidney cancer. SUMOylation is a type of posttranslational modification that could impact many tumor-related pathways through the mediation of SUMOylation substrates. In addition, enzymes that participate in the process of SUMOylation can also influence tumorigenesis and development.Methods: We analyzed the clinical and molecular data which were obtanied from three databases, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), and ArrayExpress.Results: Through analysis of differentially expressed RNA based on the total TCGA-KIRC cohort, it was found that 29 SUMOylation genes were abnormally expressed, of which 17 genes were upregulated and 12 genes were downregulated in kidney cancer tissues. A SUMOylation risk model was built based on the discovery TCGA cohort and then validated successfully in the validation TCGA cohort, total TCGA cohort, CPTAC cohort, and E-TMAB-1980 cohort. Furthermore, the SUMOylation risk score was analyzed as an independent risk factor in all five cohorts, and a nomogram was constructed. Tumor tissues in different SUMOylation risk groups showed different immune statuses and varying sensitivity to the targeted drug treatment.Discussion: In conclusion, we examined the RNA expression status of SUMOylation genes in kidney cancer tissues and developed and validated a prognostic model for predicting kidney cancer outcomes using three databases and five cohorts. Furthermore, the SUMOylation model can serve as a biomarker for selecting appropriate therapeutic drugs for kidney cancer patients based on their RNA expression.

Nanjing Yunjin, a highly representative Chinese silk weaving handicraft, was included in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. However, due to modern silk weaving technology advancements, aesthetic style evolution, and inadequate public recognition of Yunjin culture, the art faces a decline in market recognition and practitioners, posing a risk to its preservation. Addressing this issue necessitates product innovation, efficient knowledge storage, management, and utilization, and enhancing public cultural identity for Yunjin. Following the government’s “productive conservation” concept for intangible cultural heritage (ICH) projects in the handicraft category, this study uses Yunjin video resources as the primary data source. It constructs a domain knowledge graph (DKG) using an ontological approach to effectively and systematically preserve Yunjin knowledge. Furthermore, the study leverages Neo4j network topology to reveal intricate and diverse relationships within Yunjin knowledge, uncovering rich cultural connotations. Lastly, Cypher is employed for semantic queries, graph visualization, and domain expert evaluation. Evaluation results indicate that the constructed Yunjin DKG meets quality standards, supporting the development of products that align with market aesthetics while preserving Yunjin’s intrinsic cultural values. This approach fosters a complementary relationship between economic benefits and ICH. Additionally, the Yunjin DKG application presents a technical path for knowledge interconnection, integration, and discovery within ICH projects in the handicraft category.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to identify prognostic factors in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with HFpEF, with a particular focus on the role of FT3 levels.Research Design and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 992 patients with HFpEF who were admitted to our two medical centers between 2009 and 2019. We collected demographic and clinical data, including FT3 levels, and conducted univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, KM survival curve analysis, and RSC curve analysis to identify prognostic factors and evaluate the non-linear predictive value of FT3.ResultsWe found that age, atrial fibrillation, and NT-proBNP levels were all significant prognostic factors in patients with heart failure. Additionally, FT3 levels were a significant independent predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiac transplantation. Patients with lower FT3 levels had worse long-term prognoses, and the critical value of FT3 was 2.885.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that FT3 levels are an important prognostic factor in patients with heart failure and should be considered when evaluating patient outcomes. Clinicians should monitor FT3 levels and consider interventions to maintain or improve thyroid function in patients with heart failure.Article HighlightsFT3 levels are a significant independent predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiac transplantation in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with HFpEFPatients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy combined with HFpEF have a poorer long-term prognosis with lower FT3 levels, with a critical FT3 value of 2.885Age, atrial fibrillation, and NT-proBNP levels were also significant prognostic factors in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with HFpEFClinicians should monitor FT3 levels and consider interventions to maintain or improve thyroid function in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with HFpEF.

Charge (ion and electron)-transfer reactions at a liquid/liquid interface are critical processes in many important biological and chemical systems. An ion-transfer (IT) process is usually very fast, making it difficult to accurately measure its kinetic parameters. Nano-liquid/liquid interfaces supported at nanopipettes are advantageous approaches to study the kinetics of such ultrafast IT processes due to their high mass transport rate. However, correct measurements of IT kinetic parameters at nanointerfaces supported at nanopipettes are inhibited by a lack of knowledge of the nanometer-sized interface geometry, influence of the electric double layer, wall charge polarity, etc. Herein, we propose a new electrochemical characterization equation for nanopipettes and make a suggestion on the shape of a nano-water/1,2-dichloroethane (nano-W/DCE) interface based on the characterization and calculation results. A theoretical model based on the Poisson-Nernst-Planck equation was applied to systematically study how the electric double layer influences the IT process of cations (TMA

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common inflammatory disease affecting the peripheral and axial skeleton. History of psoriasis (PSO), either personal or family history, is an important factor in the diagnosis of PsA. We investigated the association between history of PSO and clinical characteristics of PsA.PsA patients were consecutive recruited from 2019 to 2020. These patients were subjected to clinical, biochemical, and radiographic examinations, and disease activity was evaluated. Continuous and categorical variables analyses were presented.All registered patients (296 cases) met the classification criteria of PsA. They were divided into three groups based on the history of psoriasis (PSO), as: (1) 145 patients with PSO themselves (pPsA); (2) 96 patients with family history of PSO (fPsA); (3) 55 patients with family history and coexisting PSO themselves (fPsA/PSO). Compared to fPsA/PSO, the levels of CRP, ESR, uric acid, DAPSA, BASDAI, ASDAS, and BASFI were lower in fPsA, but similar to pPsA. The severity of sacroiliitis tended to be more severe in fPsA/PSO than fPsA (OROur study demonstrates that currently existing cutaneous lesions in patients themselves are correlated with disease activity and severity of axial joint damage, whereas family history does not have an evident impact on the disease activity of PsA.

Zeyu Wang,1,&ast; Yonghe Zhou,2,3,&ast; Pengzhi Yu,2,3 Yonggang Liu,3,4 Mei Mei,5 Zhuo Bian,2 Wei Shao,2 Jinxia Lv,2 Xin Li,2 Wei Lu,1,3,6 Liang Xu3,6 1Department of Hepatobiliary Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of China; 2Ultrasound department, Tianjin Second People’s Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, People’s Republic of China; 3Tianjin Research Institute of Liver Diseases, Tianjin, 300192, People’s Republic of China; 4Pathology Department, Tianjin Second People’s Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Haihe Hospital, Tianjin, 300350, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Hepatology, Tianjin Second People’s Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wei Lu; Liang Xu, Email luwei1966@126.com; xuyangliang2004@sina.comBackground: At present, there is a lack of cheap, effective and convenient detection methods for hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis, especially in the developing area.Aim: To evaluate the non-invasive methods for the significant and advanced fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients in basic hospitals and to assess their diagnostic utility.Methods: The study included 436 consecutive naive HBV individuals who had their livers biopsied. They were examined in one week using aspartate aminotransferase-to-aspartate aminotransferase ratio (AAR), age-platelet index (API), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), Forns, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-platelet ratio (GPR), S-index and transient elastography (TE). Scheuer scoring system was used to determine the histologic fibrosis grades (S0–S4). The diagnostic effectiveness was assessed using AUROCs and the DeLong test, both of which were based on statistical comparisons.Results: For both substantial (≧S2) and advanced (≧S3) fibrosis phases, TE had good diagnostic performance in determining the hepatic fibrosis. Similar diagnostic performance was shown with Forns and S-index when it came to detecting fibrosis stages lower than S3. One model’s diagnostic value was not significantly improved by combining serum models. Correlation coefficients between clinical features and fibrosis phases were greatest for Forns (r = 0.397), S-index (r = 0.382) and TE (r = 0.535) when compared to other variables.Conclusion: This investigation showed that Forns and S-index may be helpful strategies for detecting advanced fibrosis in HBV patients admitted to community hospitals.Keywords: hepatitis B virus, non-invasive, basic hospital, transient elastography, Forns, S-index