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The nail apparatus is the largest and most complex skin appendage. Defects in this unit can result in significant functional insufficiency and cosmetic disfigurement. Common nail deformities include split nail, short nail, onycholysis, nail malalignment, hooked nail, and absent nail. Currently, surgical repair is the primary treatment for such deformities. Based on the etiological and anatomical classifications, one or more appropriate operations can be selected to repair nail unit deformities. These include autologous fat grafting, longitudinal cicatrectomy, Z-plasties, nail bed elongation, split-thickness sterile matrix grafting, volar V-Y advanced flap reconstruction, sterile matrix particle grafting, germinal matrix flaps, and germinal matrix grafting. This review discusses the fundamental classification of nail unit deformities, common reconstructive surgical techniques, and their features.

Ischemic stroke is the major form of stroke and is accentuated by multiple comorbidities. It has been previously shown that different microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate separate aspects of ischemic stroke. Differential miRNA expression analysis in cerebrospinal fluid of stroke patients had revealed upregulation of miR-124-3p, miR-9-3p, miR-9-5p, and miR-128-3p. However, whether the overexpression is correlative or causative was not known. Here, using an in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) neuronal cell model, we saw OGD/R-induced injury was associated with significant upregulation of the aforementioned four miRNAs. Target gene prediction using in situ algorithms and gene set enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of FOXO and Relaxin signaling pathways and regulatory processes associated with endothelial cell migration, which are all known to associate with apoptotic pathways. In situ protein-protein interaction network analysis confirmed the findings of gene set enrichment analysis. TUNEL analysis showed that OGD/R-induced injury resulted in significant apoptosis, which was significantly inhibited in neuronal cells pretransfected with inhibitors of either miR-9-5p or miR-128-3p. Further testing in an in vivo middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model of ischemic stroke showed that inhibiting miR-9-5p or miR-128-3p significantly decreases MCAO-induced infraction volume and inhibited apoptotic response as revealed by decreased cleaved Caspase-3 protein expression in immunohistochemical analysis. Combined inhibition of miR-9-5p and miR-128-3p resulted in a synergistic decrease in cell death and infraction volume in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Cumulatively, our results provide critical knowledge about the mechanism by which elevated miR-9-5p and miR-128-3p causes brain damage in ischemic stroke and provides evidence of them being attractive therapeutic targets.

Although the ovine spine is a useful research model for intervertebral disc pathology and vertebral surgery, there is little peer-reviewed information regarding the MRI anatomy of the ovine spine. To describe the lumbar spine MRI anatomy, 10 lumbar segments of cadaver ewes were imaged by 1.5-Tesla MR. Sagittal and transverse sequences were performed in T1 and T2 weighting (T1W, T2W), and the images were compared to gross anatomic sagittal and transverse sections performed through frozen spines. MRI was able to define most anatomic structures of the ovine spine in a similar way as can be imaged in humans. In both T1W and T2W, the signals of ovine IVDs were similar to those observed in humans. Salient anatomic features were identified: (1) a 2- to 3-mm linear zone of hypersignal was noticed on both extremities of the vertebral body parallel to the vertebral plates in sagittal planes; (2) the tendon of the crura of the diaphragm appeared as a hypointense circular structure between hypaxial muscles and the aorta and caudal vena cava; (3) dorsal and ventral longitudinal ligaments and ligamentum flavum were poorly imaged; (4) no ilio-lumbar ligament was present; (5) the spinal cord ended between S1-S2 level, and the peripheral white matter and central grey matter were easily distinguished on T1W and T2W images. This study provides useful reference images to researchers working with ovine models.

The origins of Kam-Sui speaking Chadong and Mulam people have been controversial subjects in ethnic history studies and other related fields. Here, we studied Y chromosome (40 informative single nucleotide polymorphisms and 17 short tandem repeats in a non-recombining region) and mtDNA (hypervariable segment I and coding region single nucleotide polymorphisms) diversities in 50 Chadong and 93 Mulam individuals. The Y chromosome and mtDNA haplogroup components and network analyses indicated that both Chadong and Mulam originated from the admixture between surrounding populations and the indigenous Kam-Sui populations. The newly found Chadong is more closely related to Mulam than to Maonan, especially in the maternal lineages.

To improve the treatment of helminthiasis, filariasis, and colorectal cancer, albendazole-associated chitosan nanoparticles (ABZ-CS-NPs) were prepared using the emulsion crosslinking volatile technique with contained sodium tripolyphosphate as the crosslinking agent and Poloxamer 188 as the auxiliary solvent. The structural characteristics of the NPs were determined using X-ray diffraction to analyze the interaction between CS and the drug. The NPs were then evaluated in terms of their physicochemical characteristics, drug release behavior, in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters, and biodistribution in animal studies. ABZ-loaded NPs with a uniformly spherical particle sizes (157.8 ± 2.82 nm) showed efficient drug loading, encapsulated efficiency, and high physical stability. The drug release from ABZ-CS-NPs was extended over several periods. Kinetic models were then fitted to determine the release mechanisms. ABZ and its metabolite albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSX) were analyzed in rats with mebendazole as the internal standard using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Compared with the ABZ suspension groups, the relative bioavailability values of ABZ and ABZSX were 146.05 and 222.15%, respectively. In addition, the plasma concentration versus time curve is consistent with that of the two compartment models in the plasma concentration versus time curve. The results indicate that the ABZ-loaded NPs are promising novel ABZ candidates for passive diffusion in the treatment of hydatid cysts in the liver via oral administration.

Nano-ZnO powder was synthesized by the plasma vapor-phase reaction (PVPR) process. Most of the ZnO particles obtained are rod-like, with diameters of between 20 and 100 nm. ZnO-based varistors were fabricated by using the synthesized nano-ZnO powder and commercial French process submicrometer ZnO powder, respectively. The sintering activity of the samples prepared with the nano-ZnO powder is higher, but there is only a little difference between the mean grain sizes of the samples sintered at the same temperature. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics in the low-current region are similar. However, when subjected to surge currents, the residual voltage ratio of the samples prepared using the PVPR ZnO powder is much lower. Comparative analysis of the dielectric property and the grain-boundary barrier height reveals that the donor concentration of the ZnO crystal grains in the sample prepared using the PVPR ZnO powder is higher than that prepared using French process ZnO powder. A higher donor concentration gives rise to a higher grain conductivity, a higher nonlinear coefficient in the high-current region and a better protection level in applications.

Geometric structures, electronic properties, and stabilities of small Zrn and Zr (n = 2–10) clusters have been investigated using density functional theory with effective core potential LanL2DZ basis set. For both neutral and charged systems, several isomers and different multiplicities were studied to determine the lowest energy structures. Many most stable states with high symmetry were found for small Zrn clusters. The most stable structures and symmetries of Zr clusters are the same as the neutral ones except n = 4 and 7. We found that the clusters with n > 3 possess highly compact structures. The clusters are inclined to form the caged-liked geometry containing pentagonal structures for n > 8, which is in favor of energy. From the formation energy and second-order energy difference, we obtained that 2-, 5-, 7-atoms of neutral and 4-, 7-atoms cationic clusters are the magic numbers. Furthermore, the highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps display that the Zr3, Zr6, Zr, and Zr are more stable in chemical stability. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011

A silver-mediated decarboxylative C–S cross-coupling reaction of aliphatic carboxylic acid is described. This reaction occurs smoothly under mild conditions and shows good tolerance of functional groups. It provides an alternative approach for the synthesis of alkyl aryl sulfides.

The biodegradation of poly(butylene succi- nate) (PBS) was studied under controlled composting con- ditions. The ultimate biodegradation percentage revealed that the powder-formed sample showing the best biode- gradability may be ascribed to the largest specific surface. The biodegradation process of PBS under controlled com- posting conditions exhibited three phases. The biodegrada- tion in the first phase was slow, got accelerated in the second phase, and showed a leveling-off in the third phase. The degradation of PBS film after composting was further char- acterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Four strains were iso- lated from the compost and identified as Aspergillus versi- color, Penicillium, Bacillus, and Thermopolyspora. Their de- grading abilities to PBS powder in liquid medium were different. Among them, Aspergillus versicolor was the best PBS-degrading microorganism. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 2273-2278, 2005

This article explores the relationship between nations' level of economic development and the influence of adolescents' social backgrounds on their academic achievement. Using data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the authors found that the positive effect of higher parents' education on middleschool students' mathematics test scores is remarkably consistent among the 34 nations examined. In contrast, the relative advantage of living in a traditional family for mathematics achievement varies systematically between nations, being significantly greater in those with stronger economies. Although the influence of socioeconomic status on educational stratification does not appear to change, the deepening academic disadvantage of living with only one natural parent in more developed nations may result from marginalization of families in these societies. Key Words: academic achievement; cross-national studies; family structure; parents' education; social background. During the past 25 years, many sociologists and policy makers became concerned with the relatively poor academic performance of American school children, which has been partially attributed to an increasing number of nontraditional famdies (Astone & McLanahan, 1991; McLanahan & Sandefur, 1994). The assumption is that children living with only one parent, or a stepparent, lack access to social and economic resources vital for academic achievement and success in school. The rising numbers of children living with single parents in other Western nations has increased international interest in the relationship between family structure and children's academic success (Cochran, Larner, Riley, Gunnarsson, & Henderson, 1993; Pong, 1996). However, most studies of family structure are limited to only a few nations and do not explore the impact of economic development, culture, or public policy on the relative disadvantage of living in a nontraditional family. In contrast, comparative education research has a long tradition of exploring cross-national differences in the effect of children's socioeconomic background on their academic achievement and educational attainment. One continuing debate concerns the impact of economic development on the association between parents' socioeconomic status and their children's academic success (Baker, Goesling, & LeTendre, in press; Blossfeld & Shavit, 1993; Heyneman, 1980; Simmons & Alexander, 1978). These arguments revolve around whether increasing economic and human resources in a nation alters the role of families, particularly the importance of social and motivational support for children, in educational stratification. If economic development influences the process of intergenerational transfer of socioeconomic status, then it may also affect the relative disadvantage of living in a nontraditional family. The analyses in this article explore variation in the relationships between two aspects of adolescents' social backgrounds: (a) their parents' education, and (b) family structure, as well as mathematics achievement across 34 nations participating in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Using information from over 200,000 middle-school students (modal age is 13 years old), we examine the extent to which performance on the TIMSS mathematics test is related to these two indicators of adolescents' social backgrounds after taking into account their academic ability and orientation toward schooling. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) is used to determine the extent to which variations in the effects of parents' education and family structure on mathematics achievement are related to national levels of economic development. SOCIAL BACKGROUND AND MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT In the quarter of a century between 1972 and 1997, the percentage of 6- to 12-year-olds living with only their mothers doubled from 12% to 24% in the United States (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 1999). …

The intramolecular hydroalkylation of ynoates (I) and (VI) leads to formation of cyclic enol ethers which are reduced to 2,5-substituted tetrahydrofurans and 2,6-substituted tetrahydropyrans.