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The strip‐like bulge is a storm‐time conjugate ionospheric plasma density enhancement, constituted by the plasmaspheric H+/He+, that extends widely (over 150° in longitude) in the zonal dimension but occupies only 1°–5° in latitude. Based on in‐situ measurements of 11 low earth orbit satellites, this study statistically investigates the bulge structures of geomagnetic storms driven by 136 interplanetary coronal mass ejections during 2000–2021. The statistical results show that the strip‐like bulges are observed at the end of the storm main phase and can persist for more than 60 hr. The spatial and temporal coverage of the strip‐like bulge varies from storm to storm. However, the bulges do exhibit occurrence preferences: stronger storms (for the ICME‐driven) during solar minimum periods, the Asian‐Pacific sector (with eastward magnetic declination), and the nightside of the dawn‐dusk terminator. A quiet time density enhancement called mid‐latitude enhancement could be recognized as a precursor of the strip‐like bulge. The evolution features of the plasmapause height exhibit similarities with the strip‐like bulge, indicating a field‐aligned downward and cross‐L inward intrusion of the plasmaspheric ions. The local net ion drifts partly support this scenario with downward/inward being the most dominant but not unique pattern, the other diverse net ion drift configurations exist but their impact on the strip‐like bulges remains unclear. Plain Language Summary: A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth's magnetic field when energy from the solar wind is effectively injected into the space environment surrounding Earth. During a storm, the ionosphere from 80 to 1,000 km is affected, and a sharp increase in ionospheric ion density with a narrow latitudinal range could be observed at low‐mid latitudes. The main ions constituting the sharp increase are H+/He+, which are the primary ions in the plasmasphere. We called this increase the "bulge." Toward a better understanding of the principal nature as well as the formation mechanisms of the structure, we extracted a number of samples snapshotted by many satellites to conduct a statistical investigation. It is found that the bulges prefer to appear in the Asian‐Pacific region, at 18:00‐06:00 LT, during strong storms, and under solar minimum conditions. Before their appearance, a smoother density peak structure is often observed, which could be recognized as the precursor. We suggested a substantial transfer of ions from higher to lower altitudes and the storm‐induced disturbance neutral wind, causing the smoother density peak structure to evolve into the bulge. Key Points: Occurrence of bulge has no strict limitation but shows some dependences on longitude, storm intensity, local time, and solar activityMidlatitude extra density peak could be recognized as a precursor of the strip‐like bulgeIon drift within the flux tube of the bulges is mainly in the field‐aligned downward/cross‐L inward pattern [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Abdominal wall morbidity occurs with increased frequency following flap harvest in the obese abdomen. Its impact on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in breast reconstruction has been poorly characterized. Methods A retrospective review of obese patients undergoing abdominal-based free autologous breast reconstruction was conducted over 15 years. Patient operative characteristics were recorded and outcomes were analyzed. PROs were assessed using the BREAST-Q abdominal survey. Results In total, 75 women (108 flaps) with the mean body mass index (BMI) of 33.2 were included. Flaps included deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (24%), muscle-sparing (43%), and free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps (f-TRAM; 33%). World Health Organization (WHO) obesity class, BMI, and flap type did not affect flap failure (1%) or complication rates. Hernia developed in 7%; all necessitated repair. Eight percent developed abdominal bulge; one was repaired. Hernia formation was associated with increased patient age (p < 0.05). Bulge formation occurred more often in f-TRAM donor sites (p = 0.005). BMI, WHO class, flap type, and mesh use were not related to hernia or bulge occurrence in either univariate or multivariate analysis. The survey response rate was 63%. Abdominal Physical Well-Being (proxy for abdominal wall function) and Satisfaction with Abdomen (patient-perceived cosmesis) were similar across flap types, age, and WHO classification groups. Patients with postoperative bulge reported higher abdominal physical well-being scores, regardless of flap type (p < 0.01). Bulge was correlated with lower satisfaction (p < 0.05). Conclusion The incidence of abdominal wall morbidity following abdominal free-tissue transfer for breast reconstruction was acceptably low in our population of obese patients. Hernia was a clinically significant complication, warranting surgical repair. Bulge was primarily a cosmetic concern and did not detract from patient-reported abdominal wall function. Age may represent an independent risk factor for hernia formation in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene on a stainless steel substrate will appear as localized bulges, and these bulges will lead to large fluctuations in friction force, which is the key to influencing the lubrication efficiency of graphene. Here, the effect of normal load on the nanofriction behavior of the bulged graphene on a stainless steel substrate is investigated. In the normal load study interval from 20 to 110 nN, an increment of 10 nN of normal load can increase friction force the more the normal load increases, and the two are not linearly correlated. The friction force in the graphene bulge region consists of two parts: the first part originates from the interaction of the graphene material itself in contact with the tip, and the second part originates from the resistance due to the pile-up of graphene deformation in front of the tip. The nonlinear correlation between the normal load and friction force is mainly related to the pile-up effect of bulged graphene. In addition, the friction force increase due to the graphene bulge region needs to go through a process, which is divided into two stages. The first stage is the increase in friction force due to the tip starting to contact the bulged graphene and the contact area increasing. The second stage is the increase in friction force due to the graphene regulating its configuration and repeatedly interacting with the tip. The normal load is linearly related to the first stage but not linearly related to the second stage. The nonlinear correlation between the normal load and friction force is mainly related to the second stage of friction force rise. Therefore, the change of normal load affects the stacking effect and the ability to regulate the configuration of bulged graphene, which leads to a nonlinear increase of friction force. This contributes to the application of graphene for nanolubrication of stainless-steel components in MEMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, based on the OLED display module, this study firstly and systematically carries out the lamination from the material characteristics of SCF, flatness of the lamination interface, aspects of process parameters and so on. The mechanism of the bulge of SCF is revealed by analyzing the micro‐topography of the bulging interface after the reliability test. The results show that the bulge mainly occurs between the EMBO and the BF, and the root cause is that the EMBO is not activated. Further analysis shows that in the process of lamination, the dislocation of the interface occurs due to the force, which leads to the incomplete lamination of the EMBO and the BF, and then micro‐bubbles are generated at the interface, finally the residual micro‐bubbles are expanded by heat, and it causes bulge in the reliability test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) free flap is the gold standard procedure for autologous breast reconstruction. Although breast-related complications have been well described, donor-site complications and contributing patient risk factors are poorly understood. We examined a multi-institutional, prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing DIEP free flap breast reconstruction between 2015 and 2020. We evaluated patient demographics, operative details, and abdominal donor-site complications. Logistic regression modeling was used to predict donor-site outcomes based on patient characteristics. A total of 661 patients were identified who underwent DIEP free flap breast reconstruction across multiple institutions. Using logistic regression modeling, we found that body mass index (BMI) was an independent risk factor for umbilical complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.11, confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.18, p = 0.001), seroma (OR 1.07, CI 1.01–1.13, p = 0.003), wound dehiscence (OR 1.10, CI 1.06–1.15, p = 0.001), and surgical site infection (OR 1.10, CI 1.05–1.15, p = 0.001) following DIEP free flap breast reconstruction. Further, immediate reconstruction decreases the risk of abdominal bulge formation (OR 0.22, CI 0.108–0.429, p = 0.001). Perforator selection was not associated with abdominal morbidity in our study population. Higher BMI is associated with increased abdominal donor-site complications following DIEP free flap breast reconstruction. Efforts to lower preoperative BMI may help decrease donor-site complications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parastomal hernias are a common consequence of stoma surgery and can occur in up to 50% of patients. They are mangaged either conservatively, through support hosiery, or surgically. A patient feasibility study called the Hernia Active Living Trial (HALT) was designed to examine if a clinical pilates-based exercise programme offers an alternative approach to managing a parastomal hernia or bulge. Method: Adults with an ileostomy or colostomy who perceived they had a bulge around their stoma were included in the study. The intervention included up to 12 online sessions of an exercise booklet and videos with an exercise specialist. Interviews were conducted to explore participants' experiences of the intervention. The interview data were analysed systematically and thematically. Participants were also asked to complete patient diaries every week. Results: Twelve of the 13 participants who completed the intervention agreed to be interviewed. Following analysis, three main themes emerged including managing a hernia/bulge, benefits and barriers. Participants talked about the benefits of this programme including: reduction of the size of their hernia, increased abdominal control, body confidence and posture, as well as increased physical activity levels. The barriers described were generally overcome allowing participants to engage in what was perceived to be a positive and potentially life-changing experience. Conclusions: A clinical pilates-based exercise programme for people with a parastomal hernia can bring both direct and indirect improvements to a patient's hernia management, sense of wellbeing and day-to-day life. Individuals with a hernia should be informed about the need for, and value of, exercise to strengthen core muscles, as part of their non-surgical options for self-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annular fissures are common findings on MR studies of the lumbar spine but have not been specifically examined in the thoracic spine. We sought to review the prevalence and stability of MRI imaging features of thoracic annular fissures and the association of thoracic AFs with intervertebral degenerative disk changes. We surveyed 10 years of MRI studies in which patients had one or more repeated examinations of the thoracic spine. For every annular fissure, we recorded its imaging features on all pulse sequences and the evolution of those imaging findings across all time periods. We reviewed 210 patients and discovered that 66 (31.4%) had at least one thoracic annular fissure. The presence of annular fissures was positively correlated with older age and male gender. The initial annular fissure was always hyperintense on T2WI and annular fissures remained hyperintense on T2WI over time in all cases but showed less hyperintensity in 23.9% (n = 39/163) and more hyperintensity in 4.9% (n = 8/163). The rate of concomitant disk bulges was 85.8% (n = 140/163). Of the 71 annular fissures in which gadolinium-enhanced studies were performed, 20 (28.1%) showed enhancement and 14/20 (70%) annular fissures showed persistent enhancement over time (mean follow-up = 39.6 ± 44.1 months). Thoracic annular fissures rarely resolve, remain hyperintense on T2WI, and, if they enhance, that enhancement generally persists. • The thoracic annular fissures were always hyperintense on T2WI over time in all thoracic intervertebral disks. • The size of the thoracic annular fissures remained stable in 73.6% disks overtime. • The rate of concomitant disk bulges was 85.8% among all intervertebral disks with annular fissures. • The patients with concomitant disk bulges and thoracic annular fissures were older than those without disk bulges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abdominal donor site morbidity after autologous breast reconstruction is common and often underreported. This work aims to compare prospectively collected technical details of the procedure and patient factors and their impact on the development of symptomatic and asymptomatic abdominal bulges (ASB and SB). A review of patients undergoing abdominal-based autologous breast reconstruction from May 2012 to October 2017 by two surgeons at a single institution was performed. Demographics, prior medical and surgical history, intraoperative data, and postoperative course were collected. Primary outcomes of interest were ASB or SB and wound healing complications. Overall, 196 free flaps from 117 patients were included. The average follow-up was 1.9 ± 1.7 years. Thirteen (11.1%) patients developed ASB, and 13 (11.1%) patients developed SB. Patients with BMI ≥ 30, bilateral ms-TRAM reconstruction, and an onlay type of abdominal closure were 2×, 2.3×, and 8.1× more likely to develop a bulge, respectively (p = 0.017, p = 0.010, p = 0.049). Every one-point increase in BMI above 30 increased the odds of developing a bulge by 10.8%. Prior abdominal surgery increased the risk of SB by 7-fold (p = 0.017). The size of the harvested muscle, use of mesh, or nerve preservation did not affect the rate of bulge development. High BMI, bilateral ms-TRAM, onlay type of abdominal closure, and prior abdominal surgery increase the risk of ASB and SB development to varying degrees, while several other operative variables did not seem to make a difference. Breast reconstruction patients can use this information for preoperative counseling and intraoperative decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High strength and highly reflective metal sheets are widely applied in industry; industrial requirements for defect detection are extremely demanding, particularly in the aviation and automotive industries. Classifying and recognizing surface defects on steel plate surfaces is highly challenging. Currently, defect detection is still inspected visually by personnel. However, given the high temperatures at inspection sites and the high risks in the operating environments, machine vision inspection systems are expected to replace manual inspection processes eventually. Therefore, this study developed an automated defect detection system that reduces the high reflectivity of examined objects. The light sources emitted light rays to the rays diffused and reflected multiple times inside the hemispherical cover to produce uniform illumination. Subsequently, image processing was conducted to highlight defect features on the stainless-steel plates. Relatively favorable light source positions were identified, which reduced the difficulty of class identification, the omission rate in defect detection to be decreased, and frequently encountered reflection problems in the automated optical inspection of metallic products to be overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niche for stem cells profoundly influences their maintenance and fate during tissue homeostasis and pathological disorders; however, the underlying mechanisms and tissue‐specific features remain poorly understood. Here, it is reported that fatty acid desaturation catabolized by stearoyl‐coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) regulates hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and hair growth by maintaining the bulge, niche for HFSCs. Scd1 deletion in mice results in abnormal hair growth, an effect exerted directly on keratin K14+ keratinocytes rather than on HFSCs. Mechanistically, Scd1 deficiency impairs the level of integrin α6β4 complex and thus the assembly of hemidesmosomes (HDs). The disruption of HDs allows the aberrant activation of focal adhesion kinase and PI3K in K14+ keratinocytes and subsequently their differentiation and proliferation. The overgrowth of basal keratinocytes results in downward extension of the outer root sheath and interruption of bulge formation. Then, inhibition of PI3K signaling in Scd1−/− mice normalizes the bulge, HFSCs, and hair growth. Additionally, supplementation of oleic acid to Scd1−/− mice reestablishes HDs and the homeostasis of bulge niche, and restores hair growth. Thus, SCD1 is critical in regulating hair growth through stabilizing HDs in basal keratinocytes and thus sustaining bulge for HFSC residence and periodic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Niche for stem cells profoundly influences their maintenance and fate during tissue homeostasis and pathological disorders; however, the underlying mechanisms and tissue‐specific features remain poorly understood. Here, it is reported that fatty acid desaturation catabolized by stearoyl‐coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) regulates hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and hair growth by maintaining the bulge, niche for HFSCs. Scd1 deletion in mice results in abnormal hair growth, an effect exerted directly on keratin K14+ keratinocytes rather than on HFSCs. Mechanistically, Scd1 deficiency impairs the level of integrin α6β4 complex and thus the assembly of hemidesmosomes (HDs). The disruption of HDs allows the aberrant activation of focal adhesion kinase and PI3K in K14+ keratinocytes and subsequently their differentiation and proliferation. The overgrowth of basal keratinocytes results in downward extension of the outer root sheath and interruption of bulge formation. Then, inhibition of PI3K signaling in Scd1−/− mice normalizes the bulge, HFSCs, and hair growth. Additionally, supplementation of oleic acid to Scd1−/− mice reestablishes HDs and the homeostasis of bulge niche, and restores hair growth. Thus, SCD1 is critical in regulating hair growth through stabilizing HDs in basal keratinocytes and thus sustaining bulge for HFSC residence and periodic activity.

Creep-associated changes in disc bulging and axial strains are essential for the research and development of mechano-bionic biomaterials and have been assessed in various ways in ex vivo creep studies. Nonetheless, the reported methods for measurement were limited by location inaccuracy, a lack of synchronousness, and destructiveness. To this end, this study focuses on the accurate, synchronous, and noninvasive assessment of bugling and strains using the 3D digital image correlation (3D-DIC) system and the impact of creep on them. After a preload of 30 min, the porcine cervical discs were loaded with different loads for 4 h of creep. Axial strains and lateral bulging of three locations on the discs were synchronously measured. The three-parameter solid model and the newly proposed horizontal asymptote model were used to fit the acquired data. The results showed that the load application reduced disc strains by 6.39% under 300 N, 11.28% under 400 N, and 12.59% under 500 N. Meanwhile, the largest protrusion occurred in the middle of discs with a bugling of 1.50 mm, 1.67 mm, and 1.87 mm. Comparison of the peer results showed that the 3D-DIC system could be used in ex vivo biomechanical studies with reliability and had potential in the assessment of the mechanical behavior of novel biomaterials. The phenomenon of the largest middle protrusion enlightened further the strength of spinal implants in this area. The mathematical characterizations of bulging and strains under different loads yielded various model parameters, which are prerequisites for developing implanted biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With no doubts, bulging in delayed coke drums is one of the most common thermo-mechanical damage to that component linked to their design, fabrication, and normal operation. Coke drums are exposed to several cycles of thermal stresses which will initiate cracks, especially in the welds because of low-cycle fatigue. The bulging is affecting the integrity of the delayed coke drum. If left without repair in the long run, it would subsequently form many cracks on both the internal and external surfaces of the bulges. Therefore, and as recognized by many operators in the last ten years to limit the growth and the progression of bulges, the most common repair method used has been automated, weld overlay using consistent parameters. The first outcome of this paper illustrates the impact of overlay repair on bulge growth during normal cycles. On the other hand, some operators decided to shorten the operation cycle after introducing the repair to exceed the production rate. The second outcome of this paper is discussing the impact of this decision on coke drum integrity and how the overlay weld repair withstands the bulge growing during short cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New RNA-binding small-molecule scaffolds are needed to unleash the pharmacological potential of RNA targets. Here we have applied a pharmacophore-based virtual screening approach, seldom used in the RNA recognition field, to identify novel conformational inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site. The conformational effect of the screening hits was assessed with a fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay, and the affinity, specificity, and binding site of the ligands were determined using a combination of fluorescence intensity and NMR spectroscopy experiments. The results indicate that this strategy can be successfully applied to discover RNA conformational inhibitors bearing substantially less positive charge than the reference ligands. This methodology can potentially be accommodated to other RNA motifs of pharmacological interest, facilitating the discovery of novel RNA-targeted molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: MicroRNAs are ~23 nt, highly conserved non-coding RNA molecules involved in the regulation of target gene expression. Most of the microRNA-target prediction algorithms rely heavily on seed rules and evolutionary conservation. However, such strategies suffer from missing the non-canonical target sites. The aim of this study is to identify the general features of non-canonical targets and their interactions with microRNAs. We found that the bulge-targets were preferentially associated with the microRNAs containing CG dinucleotides in their seed region. This finding indicates that non-canonical targets could be rich due to high mutation frequency of CG within the target mRNAs. Multi-step validation, which included evolutionary, overexpression, correlation, and CLASH data analysis, supports the interactome between the microRNAs with CG dinucleotides in the seed region and their bugle targets. Thus, a major novelty of this work is the identification of a sequence motif, CG dinucleotides, in the seed region of microRNAs, is strongly correlated to bulge targeting patterns. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous ~23 nt RNAs which regulate message RNA (mRNA) targets mainly through perfect pairing with their seed region (positions 2–7). Several instances of UTR sequence with an additional nucleotide that might form a bulge within the pairing region, can also be recognized by miRNA as their target (bugle-target). But the prevalence of such imperfect base pairings in human and their roles in the evolution are incompletely understood. We found that human miRNAs with the CG dinucleotides (CG dimer) in their seed region have a significant low mutation rate than their putative binding sites in mRNA targets. Interspecific comparation shows that these miRNAs had very few conservative targets with the perfect seed-pairing, while potentially having a subclass of bulge-targets. Compared with the canonical target (perfect seed-pairing), these bulge-targets had a lower negative correlation with the miRNA expression, and either were down-regulated in the miRNA overexpression experiment or up-regulated in the miRNA knock-down experiment. Our results show that the bulge-targets are widespread in the miRNAs with CG dinucleotide within their seed regions, which could in part explain the rare conserved targets of these miRNAs based on seed rule. Incorporating these bulge-targets, together with conservation information, could more accurately predict the entire targets of these miRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the size effect was one of the most important subjects in the field of micro-forming. To investigate the stress of the thin sheet in the bulging test with the second order size effect, a constitutive equation considering the strain gradient hardening was proposed. Based on the equation, the stress of the thin sheet during the bulging test was calculated by the finite element method. The bulging tests with various thicknesses of brass sheets and radiuses of punching balls were performed to verify the proposed equation. The results showed that the constitutive equation could capture the stress variations, while the simulation using the constitutive equation from the conventional theory of plasticity showed the results with large deviation from those of the experiment. It was found that the stress was sensitive to the thickness of the sheet and the radius of the punching ball in bulging test of thin brass sheet. The bulging of the thin brass sheet with a thickness below ten times of its material intrinsic length would cause the generation of the geometrically necessary dislocations, which induced the strain gradient hardening. Besides that, the decrement of the punching ball radius would also increase the inhomogeneous deformation and enhance the strain gradient hardening during the thin sheet bulging process. The strain gradient hardening during the thin sheet bulging test was related to the strain of the sheet. The hardening effect of the strain gradient was obvious when the strain was small. The strain gradient hardening should be considered in the thin sheet bulging test with the second order size effect.

Objective: To compare patient‐reported outcome measures in patients with and without abdominal wall complications after open partial nephrectomy (OPN) via flank incision. Patients and Methods: Patient‐reported outcome measures were collected in 2017 from all patients operated on with OPN via flank incision between 2004 and 2016 in Västerbotten County, Sweden. Patients were mailed the ventral hernia pain questionnaire (VHPQ) and an abdominal wall asymmetry (AWA) questionnaire to evaluate postoperative AWA, attributed to bulge or incisional hernia. Demographic and follow‐up data were retrieved from patient records. Results: A total of 198 patients were eligible for the study, and 146 questionnaires were returned (74%). Forty‐five patients (31%) reported postoperative AWA and 27 (18%) reported ongoing pain. Three patients who reported AWA had a known incisional hernia. Pain and abdominal wall stiffness were more common in patients with AWA than in those without (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). Of the 45 patients with AWA, 25 (56%) reported this as being negative cosmetically and 16 (36%) as negative regarding activities. Patients that reported AWA were younger and had a higher body mass index at surgery (P = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: Abdominal wall asymmetry is a common sequel of flank incision for OPN and is associated with a higher incidence of chronic pain and abdominal stiffness compared to absence of postoperative AWA. Some patients reported that the effect on daily activities and the cosmetic effect caused by AWA had a negative impact on their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes abdominal weakness, hernia, and bulge following deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction. Abdominal wall morbidities are categorized, and an algorithm for management is provided. A retrospective review of 644 patients who underwent abdominal based flap breast reconstruction between 2009 and 2018 and met selection criteria was performed. Bulge and hernia were evaluated on exam and then by imaging and/or operative exploration. The incidence of abdominal weakness was evaluated by BREAST-Q™ data. Risk factors were analyzed. Of the 644 patients, 23 (3.6%) had a clinically significant bulge or hernia on exam postoperatively. Developing an abdominal wound postoperatively and sacrificing nerves both correlated with an increased incidence of bulge or hernia (p < 0.05). The use of lateral row perforators, keeping the umbilicus, higher BMI, and the use of biological mesh in the initial abdominal wall repair trended toward an increased incidence of bulge or hernia; however, these data were not statistically significant. Seven percent of patients who answered the BREAST-Q™ reported abdominal weakness. Patients in the umbilicus sacrificing cohort had an increased incidence of weakness (p < 0.05). Abdominal wounds, nerve sacrificing procedures and obesity correlated with an increased incidence of weakness; these data were not statistically significant. A classification and algorithm for treatment of functional abdominal wall morbidity after DIEP flap is provided. Abdominal wall morbidity is classified as: type 1 – abdominal weakness; type 2 – smaller, unilateral abdominal bulge; and type 3 – true abdominal hernia or large bilateral bulge. An algorithm of treatment is presented, which includes physical therapy and surgical repair recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creep-associated changes in disc bulging and axial strains are essential for the research and development of mechano-bionic biomaterials and have been assessed in various ways in ex vivo creep studies. Nonetheless, the reported methods for measurement were limited by location inaccuracy, a lack of synchronousness, and destructiveness. To this end, this study focuses on the accurate, synchronous, and noninvasive assessment of bugling and strains using the 3D digital image correlation (3D-DIC) system and the impact of creep on them. After a preload of 30 min, the porcine cervical discs were loaded with different loads for 4 h of creep. Axial strains and lateral bulging of three locations on the discs were synchronously measured. The three-parameter solid model and the newly proposed horizontal asymptote model were used to fit the acquired data. The results showed that the load application reduced disc strains by 6.39% under 300 N, 11.28% under 400 N, and 12.59% under 500 N. Meanwhile, the largest protrusion occurred in the middle of discs with a bugling of 1.50 mm, 1.67 mm, and 1.87 mm. Comparison of the peer results showed that the 3D-DIC system could be used in ex vivo biomechanical studies with reliability and had potential in the assessment of the mechanical behavior of novel biomaterials. The phenomenon of the largest middle protrusion enlightened further the strength of spinal implants in this area. The mathematical characterizations of bulging and strains under different loads yielded various model parameters, which are prerequisites for developing implanted biomaterials.

Finite element modelling of the spinal unit is a promising preclinical tool to assess the biomechanical outcome of emerging interventions. Currently, most models are calibrated and validated against range of motion and rarely directly against soft-tissue deformation. The aim of this contribution was to develop an in vitro methodology to measure disc bulge and assess the ability of different specimen-specific modelling approaches to predict disc bulge. Bovine bone-disc-bone sections (N = 6) were prepared with 40 glass markers on the intervertebral disc surface. These were initially magnetic resonance (MR)-imaged and then sequentially imaged using peripheral-qCT under axial compression of 1 mm increments. Specimen-specific finite-element models were developed from the CT data, using three different methods to represent the nucleus pulposus geometry with and without complementary use of the MR images. Both calibrated specimen-specific and averaged compressive material properties for the disc tissues were investigated. A successful methodology was developed to quantify the disc bulge in vitro, enabling observation of surface displacement on qCT. From the finite element model results, no clear advantage was found in using geometrical information from the MR images in terms of the models’ ability to predict stiffness or disc bulge for bovine intervertebral disc.

Dimensional analysis is performed as a method to evaluate the characteristics of superplastic forming processes. The analysis is focused on the forming time results from superplastic free bulge tests so that an estimator for the forming time is obtained based on dimensionless parameters. The dimensional analysis is performed by applying the normalisation to the dynamic equations and their corresponding boundary conditions, from which five dimensionless parameters are obtained. Particular conditions of the tests allow to reduce the parameters to two. This preliminary study of the applicability of the dimensional analysis on superplastic forming processes will guide for further steps in which this technique may help during the initial stages of the process layout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globular clusters are among the oldest objects in the Galaxy, thus their researchers are key to understanding the processes of evolution and formation that the galaxy has experienced in early stages. Spectroscopic studies allow us to carry out detailed analysis on the chemical composition of globular clusters. The aim of our research is to perform a detailed analysis of chemical abundances to a sample of stars of the bulge globular cluster NGC 6553, in order to determine chemical patterns that allow us to appreciate the phenomenon of Multiple Population in one of the most metal-rich Globular Clusters in the Galaxy. This analysis is being carried out with data obtained by FLAMES/GIRAFFE spectrograph, VVV survey and DR2 of Gaia mission. We analysed 20 red horizontal branch stars, being the first extensive spectroscopic abundance analysis for this cluster and measured 8 chemical elements (O, Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Cr, and Ni), deriving a mean iron content of [Fe/H] = −0.10 ± 0.01 and a mean of [α/Fe] = 0.21 ± 0.02, considering Mg, Si, Ca, and Ti (errors on the mean). We found a significant spread in the content of Na but a small or negligible in O. We did not find an intrinsic variation in the content of α and iron-peak elements, showing a good agreement with the trend of the bulge field stars, suggesting a similar origin and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the geomagnetic storm on September 8–9, 2017, shoulder‐like structures were persistently captured in the lower‐mid latitudes at multiple local times, by Swarm and DMSP satellite observations. A more telling terminology of such shoulder‐like structure called strip‐like bulge is proposed in this study, due to its global presence that spanning over 150° in longitude but only over 1°–5° in latitude. The strip‐like bulges can be categorized into sharp and blunt types depending on the sharpness of the density peaks. The blunt type was short‐lived and appeared earlier than the sharp type in the afternoon‐sunset sector. The sharp type was long‐lived and appeared at all the observed local times. Both two types of strip‐like bulges were dominated by the ion composition of the H+/He+, rather than O+. This is the first evidence that the plasmaspheric particles are involved in forming the ionospheric structure at such low latitude. Moreover, the equatorward movement of the bulges shared the same trends with the earthward movement of the plasmapause. These two types of strip‐like bulges showed different longitudinal dependencies controlled by the magnetic declination. We suggest that the combined effects from the plasmaspheric downwelling and disturbance neutral wind were responsible for the appearance of the strip‐like bulges. Plain Language Summary: In the lower‐mid latitude ionosphere, shoulder‐like plasma density structures are occasionally snapshotted by satellite passes or regional TEC maps during geomagnetic storms. Such ionospheric structures can cause positioning errors for GNSS applications. Previous fragmentary investigations recognize shoulder‐like structures mainly as a regional phenomenon. This study portrays a new global picture of a shoulder‐like structure and finds it more suitable to be termed as strip‐like bulges. The zonal extent of the bulge is beyond 150° in longitude. Some distinctive occurrence features are further revealed, implying the combined formation mechanisms involving plasmaspheric downwelling and disturbed neutral winds. Key Points: Strip‐like plasma density bulges with wide zonal extent exist in lower‐mid latitudes ionosphere during the storm investigatedDominance of H+/He+ indicates that plasmaspheric particles were involved in forming the bulges at such low latitudeDistinctive longitudinal dependences of the bulges on the magnetic declination suggest the effects of neutral winds [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the significant advances in regenerative medicine, wound healing has remained a challenging clinical problem. Skin is the largest human organ with many vital functions; therefore, any damage to its normal structure should be treated as soon as possible. Easy access to skin stem cells has created a lot of excitement in therapeutic applications. “Cell therapy” is considered a novel method in regenerative medicine, especially when conventional treatments fail. Candidate cell populations for therapeutic applications include embryonic, induced pluripotent, adult mesenchymal, and hair follicle stem cells. It is possible to differentiate stem cells separated from the bulge area of hair follicle into neurons, melanocytes, keratinocytes, glia and smooth muscle cells that are negative for the keratinocyte marker kr15. This review discusses the plasticity of skin stem cells, especially stem cells located in the hair follicle and their involvement in wound healing, gene expression profile in wound healing, hair follicle stem cells, and their surrounding epidermis. Moreover, the ability of hair follicle stem cells for treating wounds and regenerative medicine is going to be discussed. Eventually we suggest the hair follicle as an ideal source of stem cells for cell therapy and regenerative medicine because they are abundant with easy access and great differentiation ability.

New RNA-binding small-molecule scaffolds are needed to unleash the pharmacological potential of RNA targets. Here we have applied a pharmacophore-based virtual screening approach, seldom used in the RNA recognition field, to identify novel conformational inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site. The conformational effect of the screening hits was assessed with a fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay, and the affinity, specificity, and binding site of the ligands were determined using a combination of fluorescence intensity and NMR spectroscopy experiments. The results indicate that this strategy can be successfully applied to discover RNA conformational inhibitors bearing substantially less positive charge than the reference ligands. This methodology can potentially be accommodated to other RNA motifs of pharmacological interest, facilitating the discovery of novel RNA-targeted molecules.

Advances on the circulation in the Changjiang Estuary and adjacent East China Sea (ECS) and Yellow Sea (YS) coastal waters in the recent decades (2000–2020) are synthesized in this review. The circulation over the complicated bathymetry in the region is locally driven by winds, tides, as well as riverine discharge, and is remotely influenced by shelf currents between the 50 and 100-m isobaths through the cross-shelf exchanges. The interchange of the momentum and the freshwater pathway inside the Changjiang Estuary are jointly determined by tides and seasonally varying discharge and winds over the shelf. The buoyant waters are trapped inside the bulge that forms and expands over the shelf to the west of the 30-m isobath in the vicinity of Hangzhou Bay and the Changjiang Estuary. These buoyant waters are exported offshore by the shelf current, tidal mixing, and variations of wind patterns, forming the Changjiang River plume, which shows notable seasonality due to the reversal of both winds and shelf currents in the ECS and YS. Extensive spatial irregularities in the form of freshwater patches are present along its pathway to the Tsushima Strait in summer and to the Taiwan Strait in winter, respectively. Tides and the bathymetry irregularity have recently been found to play critical roles in determining the cross-shelf exchanges of water mass and momentum along the pathway of the ECS coastal current, and along this pathway, a year-round upslope intrusion of shelf waters appears in both summer and winter. Tides also play an important role in altering the expansion of the Changjiang River plume, cross-shelf extrusion of waters, and variation in the Yellow Sea Coastal Current over the shallow Subei Shoal.

Multipotent bulge stem cells (SCs) fuel the hair follicle (HF) cyclic growth during adult skin homeostasis, but their intrinsic molecular heterogeneity is not well understood. These hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) engage in bouts of self‐renewal, migration and differentiation during the hair cycle. Here, we perform high‐resolution single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) of HFSCs sorted as CD34+/K14‐H2BGFP+ from mouse skin at mid‐anagen, the self‐renewal stage. We dissect the transcriptomic profiles and unravel population‐specific transcriptional heterogeneity. Unsupervised clustering reveals five major HFSC populations, which distinguished by known markers associated with both the bulge and the outer root sheath (ORS) underneath. These populations include quiescent bulge, ORS cellular states and proliferative cells. Lineage trajectory analysis predicted the prospective differentiation path of these cellular states and their corresponding self‐renewing subpopulations. The bulge population itself can be further sub‐divided into distinct subpopulations that can be mapped to the upper, mid and lower bulge regions, and present a decreasing quiescence score. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed new markers and suggested potentially distinct functions of the ORS and bulge subpopulations. This included communications between the upper bulge subpopulation and sensory nerves and between the upper ORS and skin vasculature, as well as enrichment of a bulge subset in cell migratory functions. The lower ORS enriched genes may potentially enable nutrients passing from the surrounding fat and vasculature cells towards the proliferating hair matrix cells. Thus, we provide a comprehensive account of HFSC molecular heterogeneity during their self‐renewing stage, which enables future HF functional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical instability in a pre-tensioned finite hyperelastic tube subjected to a slowly increasing internal pressure produces a spatially localized bulge at a critical pressure. This instability is studied in controlled experiments on inflated latex rubber tubes, from the perspective of buckling observed in aneurysms and their rupture risk. The fate of the bulge under continued inflation is governed by the end-conditions and the initial tension in the tube. In a tube with one end fixed and a weight attached to the other freely moving end, the bulge propagates axially at low initial tension, growing in length, and the tube relaxes by extension without buckling. Rupture occurs when the tension is high. By contrast, the bulge formed in an initially stretched tube held fixed at both its ends can buckle or rupture, depending on the amount of initial tension. Experiments are reported for different initial tensions and boundary conditions (BCs). Failure maps in the stretch parameter space and in stretch–tension space are constructed by extending existing theories for bulge formation and buckling analyses to the experimentally relevant BCs. Failure maps deduced from the theory are compared against experiments, and the underlying assumptions are critically assessed. Experiments reveal that buckling provides an alternative route to relieve the stress built up during inflation. Hence, buckling, when it occurs, can be a protective fail-safe mechanism against the rupture of a bulge in an inflated elastic tube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous ~23 nt RNAs which regulate message RNA (mRNA) targets mainly through perfect pairing with their seed region (positions 2–7). Several instances of UTR sequence with an additional nucleotide that might form a bulge within the pairing region, can also be recognized by miRNA as their target (bugle-target). But the prevalence of such imperfect base pairings in human and their roles in the evolution are incompletely understood. We found that human miRNAs with the CG dinucleotides (CG dimer) in their seed region have a significant low mutation rate than their putative binding sites in mRNA targets. Interspecific comparation shows that these miRNAs had very few conservative targets with the perfect seed-pairing, while potentially having a subclass of bulge-targets. Compared with the canonical target (perfect seed-pairing), these bulge-targets had a lower negative correlation with the miRNA expression, and either were down-regulated in the miRNA overexpression experiment or up-regulated in the miRNA knock-down experiment. Our results show that the bulge-targets are widespread in the miRNAs with CG dinucleotide within their seed regions, which could in part explain the rare conserved targets of these miRNAs based on seed rule. Incorporating these bulge-targets, together with conservation information, could more accurately predict the entire targets of these miRNAs.

In this article, the electromagnetic forming (EMF) of Al–Cu two-layer sheet has been simulated and the effect of layer lay-up and layers thickness on dome height and formability of this sheet has been investigated. In dynamic conditions, the limit of dome height increased by considering the strain rate in the hydraulic bulge test equations. Even by considering the strain rate in the hydraulic bulge test, the dome height prediction is not in agreement with simulation results in EMF at the same pressure. Unlike the hydraulic bulge test, the pressure distribution in the electromagnetic sheet forming is not uniform. Also, the sheet is moved away from the pressure source during forming. The differences in electrical conductivity of layers lead to the induction of a higher eddy current in Cu. So, the magnetic pressure in Cu–Al lay-up is 19% higher than Al–Cu lay-up in the same discharge voltage. The Cu–Al lay-up has a 15% greater dome height in comparison to Al–Cu lay-up in the same discharge voltage because of higher magnetic pressure. However, the J-C damage and the probability of fracture increased in Cu–Al lay-up due to higher strain in the outer layer (Al). In the same magnetic pressure for both layer lay-ups, the Al–Cu lay-up has a higher dome height before necking and a lower J-C damage of about 30% because of higher formability of the outer layer (Cu). The Al–Cu lay-up with 0.5-mm initial thickness for both layers was ideal for better formability in this research. There is a 5% difference between the simulation and the experimental results for the dome height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) in the bulge are a multipotent adult stem cell population. They can periodically give rise to new HFs and even regenerate the epidermis and sebaceous glands during wound healing. An increasing number of biomarkers have been used to isolate, label, and trace HFSCs in recent years. Considering more detailed data from single-cell transcriptomics technology, we mainly focus on the important HFSC molecular markers and their regulatory roles in this review., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Different phenomenological, empirical, and micromechanical constitutive models have been proposed to describe the behavior of incompressible isotropic hyper-elastic materials. Among these models, very few have accounted for the thermal aging effect on the model constants and parameters. This article introduces a new empirical constitutive hyper-elastic model for thermally aged hyper-elastic materials. The model named "the weight function based (WFB) model" considers the effect of aging temperature and time on its parameters. The WFB model formulation can facilitate fatigue analysis and lifetime prediction of rubber-like materials under aging conditions. The WFB model in this article defines all rubber-like material properties, such as fracture stretch, strength, and stiffness, by predicting the full stress–strain curve at any aging time and temperature. The WFB model was tested on natural rubber for uniaxial and biaxial loading conditions. More than 100 specimens were aged and tested uniaxially under various temperatures and aging times to extract the stress–strain behavior. The temperatures used in the test ranged from 76.7°C to 115.5°C, and the aging time ranged from 0 to 600 hours (hrs). A classical bulge test experiment was generated to extract the biaxial natural rubber material behavior. An ABAQUS finite element analysis model was created to simulate and verify the generated biaxial stress–strain curve. The proposed model represents the aging effect on the tested natural rubber under uniaxial and biaxial loading conditions with an acceptable error margin of less than 10% compared to experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced forming technologies have been evolving at a rapid pace with the products applicability in the industrial fields of aerospace and automobile especially for the materials like aluminum and titanium alloys (light weight) and ultra-high strength steels. Innovative forming methods like hydroforming (tube and sheet) have been proposed for industries throughout the world. The ever-increasing needs of the automotive industry have made hydroforming technology an impetus one for the development and innovations. In this paper, the review on various developments towards lightweight materials for different applications is presented. The influencing process parameters considering the different characteristics of the tube and sheet hydroforming process have also been presented. General ideas and mechanical improvements in sheet and tube hydroforming are given late innovative work exercises. This review will help researchers and industrialists about the history, state of the art in hydroforming technologies of the lightweight materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TC/BC interface morphology in APS TBC is one of the important factors leading to crack propagation and coating failure. Long cracks are found near the bulge on the TC/BC interface. In this study, the TBC model with the bulge on the interface is developed to explore the influence of the bulge on the coating failure. Dynamic TGO growth and crack propagation are considered in the model. The effects of the bulge on the stress state and crack propagation in the ceramic layer are examined. Moreover, the effects of the distribution and number of bulges are also investigated. The results show that the bulge on the interface results in the redistribution of local stress. The early cracking of the ceramic layer occurs near the top of the bulge. One bulge near the peak or valley of the interface leads to a coating life reduction of about 75% compared with that without a bulge. The increase in the number of bulges further decreases the coating life, which is independent of the bulge location. The results in this work indicate that a smooth TC/BC interface obtained by some possible surface treatments may be an optional scenario for improving coating life.

Finite element method is used to study the formations of the penetration jet, the bulge, and the burr in the designed reusable perforating gun. The attached layer of the soft metal on the perforator is studied for the controlling of the bulge height on the casing of the reusable perforating gun. Results indicate that the shaped charge jet is initially formed in the center of the shaped charge liner and then the material of the liner is driven to the centerline of the liner by the detonation wave. The attachment of the soft metal layer to the cartridge of the perforator can be beneficial to control the bulge height. The design on the blind holes on the casing can affect the burr height formed by the collision between the jet and the casing. With the increase in the liner angle, the penetration width on the cement wall of the wellbore is increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No preoperative risk assessment tool is available to predict postoperative bulge formation after abdomen-based breast reconstruction. The authors evaluated the association between clinical variables and morphometric measurements on preoperative computed tomographic (CT) angiography and postoperative abdominal wall morbidity. The authors evaluated all cases of postoperative bulge/hernia and normal controls in patients who underwent preoperative CT angiography and abdomen-based microsurgical breast reconstruction between July 2009 and January 2018. CT-based abdominal wall profiles, including abdominal wall protrusion, abdominopelvic cavity cross-sectional area (CSA), and abdominopelvic cavity-to-total body CSA ratio, were obtained and analyzed. A novel risk stratification scoring system to stratify the risk of bulge/hernia was developed. Among 463 patients who underwent abdomen-based breast reconstruction, 23 were diagnosed as having a bulge/hernia. Age (OR 2.912; 95% CI 1.157–7.333), lateral row perforator (OR 5.065; 95% CI 1.834–13.986), and abdominal wall protrusion (OR 3.687; 95% CI 1.494–9.100) were significant risk factors associated with postoperative bulge/hernia in the multivariate analysis. Using the risk stratification scoring system, the incidence rates of postoperative bulge/hernia were 1.7%, 4.8%, and 19.0% for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients, respectively (p<0.001). Age, lateral row perforator, and abdominal wall protrusion were significantly associated with postoperative bulge/hernia formation after abdomen-based microsurgical breast reconstruction. The authors' risk score based on the three variables may help predict and minimize donor-site morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), defined as the sensation of a vaginal bulge, and associated risk factors in women over 18 years of age who lift light (≤15 kg), moderate (16–50 kg), and heavy (>50 kg) weights for exercise, and those who do not lift weights for exercise. Methods: Women completed an online survey about risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunctions, physical activity history, and pelvic floor symptoms. A question about a vaginal bulge sensation from the validated Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) was used to indicate symptoms of POP. Relationships between symptoms of POP and possible risk factors were assessed through logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 3,934 survey participants, the total prevalence of POP symptoms was 14.4% (n = 566). Category of weight lifted, age, vaginal parity, history of constipation or hemorrhoids, and family history of POP were significantly associated with symptoms. Physically active women lifting weights ≤15 kg were more likely to report symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse than women lifting weights greater than 50 kg (59.7% vs 15.2%; adjusted odds ratio 2.1; 95% confidence interval 1.7–3.4). There was no relationship between POP symptoms and body mass index, forceps delivery, cesarean section, hysterectomy, or menopausal status. Conclusion: Physically active women who lift heavy weights for exercise do not have an increased prevalence of POP symptoms. Advice on the contribution of heavy weight lifting as part of a physical activity regime to the pathophysiology of POP requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new results on the Galactic bar/bulge transverse velocity structure using Gaia and the VISTA Variables in Via Lactea (VVV) survey. Gaia is complemented in high extinction regions by the multi-epoch infrared VVV observations for which derived relative proper motions can be tied to Gaia's absolute frame. We extract kinematic maps (both 2D and 3D) of the Galactic bar/bulge, from which we measure the pattern speed of the bar using a novel technique. We focus on the evidence of an X-shaped bulge from the kinematic maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we present a detailed chemical analysis of seven red giant members of NGC 6553 using high-resolution spectroscopy from VLT FLAMES. We obtained the stellar parameters (T eff, Log(g), v t, [Fe/H]) of these stars from the spectra, and we measured the chemical abundance for 20 elements, including light elements, iron-peak elements, α-elements, and neutron-capture elements. The metallicities in our sample stars are consistent with a homogeneous distribution. We found a mean of [Fe/H] = −0.14 ± 0.07 dex, in agreement with other studies. Using the α-elements Mg, Si, Ca, and Ti, we obtain the mean of [α/Fe] = 0.11 ± 0.05. We found a vertical relation between Na and O, characterized by a significant spread in Na and an almost non-existent spread in O. In fact, Na and Al are the only two light elements with a large intrinsic spread, which demonstrates the presence of multiple populations (MPs). An intrinsic spread in Mg is not detected in this study. The α, iron-peak, and neutron-capture elements show good agreement with the trend of the bulge field stars, indicating similar origin and evolution, in concordance with our previous studies for two other bulge globular clusters (NGC 6440 and NGC 6528). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]