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New results are presented on a high-statistics measurement of Collins and Sivers asymmetries of charged hadrons produced in deep inelastic scattering of muons on a transversely polarized ^{6}LiD target. The data were taken in 2022 with the COMPASS spectrometer using the 160 GeV muon beam at CERN, statistically balancing the existing data on transversely polarized proton targets. The first results from about two-thirds of the new data have total uncertainties smaller by up to a factor of three compared to the previous deuteron measurements. Using all the COMPASS proton and deuteron results, both the transversity and the Sivers distribution functions of the u and d quark, as well as the tensor charge in the measured x range are extracted. In particular, the accuracy of the d quark results is significantly improved.

Full-endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (FELIF) is a critical yet challenging procedure. However, extensive analyses of discectomy and cartilage endplate preparation techniques are limited. This can be attributed to the lack of universal protocols owing to diverse surgical practices and equipment preferences. Therefore, this narrative review presents a comprehensive overview of discectomy and cartilage endplate preparation techniques in FELIF. A literature search of the PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases in December 2023 retrieved 490 studies, of which 53 met the predefined inclusion criteria, and 1373 patients were included in the analyses. Spinal endoscopic disc and cartilage endplate removal can be categorized into 2 main types: removal under direct endoscopic visualization and removal under radiographic guidance with the protection of a working sheath following the endoscope's removal. Removal under direct visualization ensures the safety and precision of the procedure. Radiographic guidance can enhance the efficiency of the removal process. Specially designed instruments can be utilized through the narrow working channels of spinal endoscopes for the scraping surgery. Moreover, many traditional spinal endoscopic instruments, through specific techniques and manipulations, can also aid in cartilage removal. The approaches and techniques vary significantly among physicians, but overall, these instruments and techniques aim to achieve a safe and efficient disc-scraping outcome. Thus, this review may offer a comprehensive guidance to surgeons in selecting the most efficient practices for FELIF. Uniform procedural protocols are needed to ensure broader adoption and standardized practice., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The COMPASS Collaboration performed measurements of the Drell-Yan process in 2015 and 2018 using a 190  GeV/c π^{-} beam impinging on a transversely polarized ammonia target. Combining the data of both years, we present final results on the amplitudes of five azimuthal modulations, which correspond to transverse-spin-dependent azimuthal asymmetries (TSAs) in the dimuon production cross section. Three of them probe the nucleon leading-twist Sivers, transversity, and pretzelosity transverse-momentum dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions (PDFs). The other two are induced by subleading effects. These TSAs provide unique new inputs for the study of the nucleon TMD PDFs and their universality properties. In particular, the Sivers TSA observed in this measurement is consistent with the fundamental QCD prediction of a sign change of naive time-reversal-odd TMD PDFs when comparing the Drell-Yan process with deep inelastic scattering. Also, within the context of model predictions, the observed transversity TSA is consistent with the expectation of a sign change for the Boer-Mulders function.

Purpose: Community Eye Clinics (CEC) increase accessibility of specialist ophthalmic services in the community, reducing demand for tertiary eye services. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of CEC on first-visit referrals from Hougang Polyclinic (HOU) to Tan Tock Seng Hospital Ophthalmology Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC)., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on first-visit referrals from Hougang Polyclinic (HOU) to Tan Tock Seng Hospital Ophthalmology Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC) over a similar 3-months period before and after the introduction of CEC in August 2018 (1 January to 31 March in 2018 and 2019, respectively). Data pertaining to patients' presenting complaints, referral reasons, final diagnoses, follow-up plans, and need for ophthalmic intervention were obtained., Results: We included 978 patients in our study. There was a 27.5% reduction in the number of first-visit referrals seen at SOC after the establishment of CEC. Patients were more likely to be referred on to sub-specialty eye clinics (10.8% vs. 12.9%, p = p  = .304) and receive more ophthalmic interventions (15% vs. 16.3%, p  = .066) than prior to CEC., Conclusion: The CEC provides greater accessibility to eye care within the community. Optometrists are upskilled to manage patients with stable eye conditions, whilst eye specialists can provide timely care to the SOC for patients with more severe eye conditions.

Background : This study investigates the efficacy of the Cervical Endoscopic Unilateral Laminoforaminotomy for Bilateral Decompression (CE-ULFBD) technique in treating cervical myeloradiculopathy, primarily caused by degenerative spondylosis. Traditionally managed through multisegmental anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or laminoplasty combined with foraminotomy, this condition has recently experienced a promising shift towards minimally invasive approaches, particularly endoscopic spinal decompression. While empirical evidence is still emerging, these techniques show potential for effective treatment. Method : The objective was to evaluate the outcomes of CE-ULFBD in achieving single or multilevel bilateral foraminal and central decompression, emphasizing the reduction of injury to posterior cervical muscles and the associated postoperative neck soreness common in conventional procedures. This paper delineates the surgical procedures involved in CE-ULFBD and presents the clinical outcomes of nine patients diagnosed with myeloradiculopathy due to severe cervical stenosis. Result : Assessments were conducted using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for neck and arm pain and the Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (mJOA) for the activity measurement of daily living. Results indicated a considerable decrease in pain levels according to the VAS, coupled with significant improvements in functional capacities as measured by the mJOA scale. Additionally, no major postoperative complications were noted during the follow-up period. Conclusion : The study concludes that CE-ULFBD is a safe and effective approach for the treatment of cervical myeloradiculopathy resulting from severe cervical stenosis, offering a viable and less invasive alternative to traditional decompressive surgeries.

Purpose: Full-endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (FELIF) is a new-generation treatment for spondylolisthesis. However, owing to their unique characteristics, the two main endoscopic fusion trajectories, the trans-Kambin and posterolateral approaches, have important limitations. Herein, we aimed to introduce a new technique called Kambin Torpedo FELIF (KT-FELIF)., Methods: The KT-FELIF technique is based on the trans-Kambin approach. It additionally completes ipsilateral total facetectomy and contralateral direct decompression. Thus, this novel technique combines the advantages of the trans-Kambin and posterolateral approaches., Results: We reported on the indications and technical steps of KT-FELIF and provided intraoperative and animated videos to clarify the procedure. Short-term follow-up based on 3-month postoperative computed tomography and plain films images taken at least 3 months after surgery showed adequate bony decompression, a large bone graft contact area, and good intervertebral trabecular bone growth without radiolucent lines between the graft, cage, and end plate. The clinical results, such as ipsilateral and contralateral visual analog scale and Oswestry disability index values, gradually improved at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. No complications were observed., Conclusions: KT-FELIF is a promising FELIF technique for achieving bilateral direct decompression through a unilateral approach while accomplishing thorough discectomy and endplate preparation., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Angular stable locking plates have shown good clinical results in treating proximal humeral fractures, but complications are not uncommon. This study reported a rare case of catastrophic failure of a titanium locking plate. A retrieval analysis of the implants was performed using an optic microscope and a scanning electron microscope., Case Presentation: A 69-year-old male reported a right proximal humeral fracture at the surgical neck and was treated by open reduction and internal fixation with a locking plate system. Ninety-six days after surgery, the patient came to clinic for acute local pain over the shoulder without any trauma. The radiographs showed a complete breakage of the implant accompanying displaced fracture. Revision surgery was performed to restabilize the fracture with a longer locking plate. The follow-up radiographs at 9 months showed complete union of the bone fracture., Conclusions: From the retrieval analysis, repetitive torsion loads on the vulnerable area of the implant are assumed to cause this catastrophic event. It is recommended that adequate activity restriction, such as reaching, be undertaken to avoid this rare complication. Current study also provides contributive information for the modification of plate design and pre-operative planning for device configuration to improve the success rate of locking plate fixation., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The COMPASS Collaboration experiment recently discovered a new isovector resonancelike signal with axial-vector quantum numbers, the a_{1}(1420), decaying to f_{0}(980)π. With a mass too close to and a width smaller than the axial-vector ground state a_{1}(1260), it was immediately interpreted as a new light exotic meson, similar to the X, Y, Z states in the hidden-charm sector. We show that a resonancelike signal fully matching the experimental data is produced by the decay of the a_{1}(1260) resonance into K^{*}(→Kπ)K[over ¯] and subsequent rescattering through a triangle singularity into the coupled f_{0}(980)π channel. The amplitude for this process is calculated using a new approach based on dispersion relations. The triangle-singularity model is fitted to the partial-wave data of the COMPASS experiment. Despite having fewer parameters, this fit shows a slightly better quality than the one using a resonance hypothesis and thus eliminates the need for an additional resonance in order to describe the data. We thereby demonstrate for the first time in the light-meson sector that a resonancelike structure in the experimental data can be described by rescattering through a triangle singularity, providing evidence for a genuine three-body effect.

Objective: To assess the perceptions of caregivers towards oral healthcare services received by elders in Malaysian nursing homes and to identify challenges and suggestions for improvement., Background: Caregivers play an important role in the oral health care of elders in nursing homes., Methods: This study employed a qualitative approach using the nominal group technique (NGT) to obtain caregivers' feedback in nursing homes in Malaysia. Data were manually transcribed, summarised into keywords/key phrases, and ranked using weighted scores., Results: In total, 36 caregivers (21 from government and 15 from private nursing homes) participated in the NGT sessions. Overall, caregivers were satisfied with the low treatment cost, the quality of treatment, and the availability of dental visits to nursing homes. Caregivers were dissatisfied with the frequency of dental visits, long waiting times at government dental clinics, and inadequate denture hygiene education for elders in nursing homes. The challenges faced by caregivers were elders' poor oral health knowledge and attitude and lack of elders' trust of caregivers to look after their oral health. Suggestions for improvement were to increase the frequency of dental visits to nursing homes, provide oral health education to elders and caregivers, and give treatment priority to elders at dental clinics., Conclusion: Despite being satisfied with the basic oral healthcare services received by elders in Malaysian nursing homes, caregivers raised some issues that required further attention. Suggestions for improvement include policy changes in nursing home dental visits and treatment priority for elders at government dental clinics., (© 2020 Gerodontology Association and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Adhesion between coatings and substrates is an important parameter determining the integrity and reliability of film/substrate systems. In this paper, a new and more refined theory for characterizing adhesion between elastic coatings and rigid substrates is developed based on a previously proposed pressurized blister method. A compressed air driven by liquid potential energy is applied to the suspended circular coating film through a circular hole in the substrate, forcing the suspended film to bulge, and then to debond slowly from the edge of the hole as the air pressure intensifies, and finally to form a blister with a certain circular delamination area. The problem from the initially flat coating to the stable blistering film under a prescribed pressure is simplified as a problem of axisymmetric deformation of peripherally fixed and transversely uniformly loaded circular membranes. The adhesion strength depends on the delamination area and is quantified in terms of the energy released on per unit delamination area, the so-called energy release rate. In the present work, the problem of axisymmetric deformation is reformulated with out-of-plane and in-plane equilibrium equations and geometric equations, simultaneously improved, and a new closed-form solution is presented, resulting in the new and more refined adhesion characterization theory.

Increasing evidence has suggested that hepatic lipid accumulation is associated with hepatic insulin resistance; however, the underlying mechanism is yet to be determined. It was demonstrated that the levels of microRNA‑215 (miR‑215) expression in the liver of rats fed a high‑fat diet were significantly increased compared with rats on a control diet. Additionally, it was revealed via luciferase assays and western blotting that miR‑215 targets rapamycin‑insensitive companion of mammalian target of rapamycin (Rictor), an important protein in the hepatic insulin signalling pathway. Following overexpression of miR‑215 in the H4IIE rat hepatocarcinoma cell line, it was reported that the intracellular insulin signalling pathway was inhibited; conversely, inhibition of miR‑215 expression induced this pathway. Furthermore, it was demonstrated via reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis that free fatty acids promoted the expression of miR‑215. The present study provided a novel mechanistic insight into the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver and hepatic insulin resistance.

Now diabetes is growing to be a health problems globally. However, its specific pathogenesis still needs further exploration. Here we showed that miR-15b was upregulated in the palmitate-induced HepG2 cells and livers of hyperglycemic mice. At the same time, we confirmed that the insulin receptor was a direct target of miR-15b. Then we found that the manipulation of miR-15b expression level could affect the insulin signaling pathway of HepG2 cells and the inhibition of miR-15b in liver of ob/ob mice can improve insulin sensitivity of mice. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that palmitate could upregulate the expression of miR-15b by activating PPARα. Our findings established PPARα-responsive miR-15b as a critical regulator of hepatic insulin signaling, thus serving as a new potential therapeutic target for diabetes.

In this study, we obtained an electroelastic solution for functionally graded piezoelectric circular plates under the action of combined mechanical loads which include the uniformly distributed loads on the upper surface of the plate and the radial force and bending moment at the periphery of the plate. All electroelastic materials parameters are assumed to vary according to the same gradient function along the thickness direction. The influence of different functionally graded parameters on the elastic displacement and elastic stress, as well as the electric displacement and electric potential, was discussed by a numerical example. The solution presented in this study is not only applicable to the case of combined loads, but also to the case of a single mechanical load. In addition, this solution reflects the influence of the function gradient on the pure piezoelectric plate, which is helpful to the refined analysis and optimization design of similar structures.

In this study, based on the pressure blister test technique, a theoretical study on the synchronous characterization of surface and interfacial mechanical properties of thin-film/substrate systems with residual stress was presented, where the problem of axisymmetric deformation of a blistering film with initial stress was analytically solved and its closed-form solution was presented. The expressions to determine Poisson's ratios, Young's modulus, and residual stress of surface thin films were derived; the work done by the applied external load and the elastic energy stored in the blistering thin film were analyzed in detail and their expressions were derived; and the interfacial adhesion energy released per unit delamination area of thin-film/substrate (i.e., energy release rate) was finally presented. The synchronous characterization technique presented here has theoretically made a big step forward, due to the consideration for the residual stress in surface thin films.

The effect of nanotopographies on cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and/or apoptosis have been studied over the last two decades. However, the effect of nanotopography on gene transfection of adhered cells is far from understood. One key phenomenon of using nanotopography is mimicry of native cell morphology in vitro such as in alignment of skeletal myoblasts on nanogrooves. The formation of focal adhesions, the cytoskeleton, and the morphology of cell nuclei are altered by underlying nanogrooves, but the role of these changes in gene transfection are not well understood. In this study, C2C12 skeletal myoblasts were transfected using polyethylenimine (PEI)/DNA complexes on nanogrooved patterns of two groove widths (400 and 800 nm) at three depths (50 nm and 400 or 500 nm). The results showed that the deep nanogrooved surfaces (i.e., 400/400 and 800/500) induced formation of aligned, parallel F-actin and elongated nucleus morphology. Gene transfection was also reduced on the deep nanogrooved surfaces. Disruption of F-actin organization using Cytochalasin D (Cyto-D) restored the nuclear morphology accompanied by higher transfection efficiency, demonstrating that the reduction in gene expression on deep nanogrooves was due to cytoskeletal stretching and nucleus elongation. Spatiotemporal images of fluorescent-labeled PEI/DNA complexes showed that endocytosis of PEI/DNA complexes was retarded and DNA trafficking into the cell nucleus was reduced. This study demonstrates for the first time the important role of cytoskeletal organization and nuclear morphology in PEI-mediated gene transfection to skeletal myoblasts using nanogrooved patterns. These findings are informative for in vitro studies and could potentially be useful in in vivo intramuscular (IM) administration.

The first measurement of transverse-spin-dependent azimuthal asymmetries in the pion-induced Drell-Yan (DY) process is reported. We use the CERN SPS 190  GeV/c π^{-} beam and a transversely polarized ammonia target. Three azimuthal asymmetries giving access to different transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions (PDFs) are extracted using dimuon events with invariant mass between 4.3  GeV/c^{2} and 8.5  GeV/c^{2}. Within the experimental uncertainties, the observed sign of the Sivers asymmetry is found to be consistent with the fundamental prediction of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) that the Sivers TMD PDFs extracted from DY have a sign opposite to the one extracted from semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering (SIDIS) data. We present two other asymmetries originating from the pion Boer-Mulders TMD PDFs convoluted with either the nucleon transversity or pretzelosity TMD PDFs. A recent COMPASS SIDIS measurement was obtained at a hard scale comparable to that of these DY results. This opens the way for possible tests of fundamental QCD universality predictions.

Aim: To compare and analyze the effects of obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Chinese subjects., Methods: In 2008, a population of 4847 subjects was randomly sampled from 17 medical units for enrollment in this cohort study. Baseline information was obtained via a questionnaire on general information, physical examination (height, weight, and blood pressure), laboratory tests (triglycerides, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid, and creatinine), B-mode ultrasound, and ECG screening. The incidence of T2DM after four years of follow-up was calculated. Numeric variable data was tested for normality, with the data expressed as mean ± SD. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to calculate the cumulative incidence. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the relative risk (RR) of different body mass index (BMI) levels and NAFLD on T2DM, as well as analyzing the RR adjusted for age, sex, blood pressure, lipids, transaminases, uric acid, and creatinine., Results: A total of 4736 (97.71%) subjects completed 4-year follow-up, with a median follow-up time of 3.85 years, totaling 17223 person-years. 380 subjects were diagnosed with T2DM, with a cumulative incidence of 8.0%. The cumulative incidence of T2DM in the NAFLD and control groups was 17.4% vs 4.1% (P < 0.001), respectively, while the incidence in overweight and obese subjects was 11.0% vs 15.8% (P < 0.001), respectively. The incidence of T2DM increased with an increase in baseline BMI. Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of T2DM in the NAFLD group (RR = 4.492, 95%CI: 3.640-5.542) after adjustment for age, sex, blood pressure, lipids, ALT, uric acid, and creatinine was 3.367 (2.367-4.266), while the value (RR, 95%CI) in overweight and obese subjects after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, lipids and other factors was 1.274 (0.997-1.629) and 1.554 (1.140-2.091), respectively. Stratification of three BMI levels (BMI < 24 kg/m(2), 24 kg/m(2) ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m(2), BMI ≥ 28 kg/m(2)) showed that the risk of T2DM in the NAFLD group was significantly higher than that in the control group (RR = 3.860, 4.049 and 3.823, respectively)., Conclusion: Compared with BMI, NAFLD could be better at forecasting the risk of T2DM in Chinese subjects, and may be a high risk factor for T2DM, independent of overweight/obesity.

In the premise of fulfilling the application requirement, the adjustment of spectral resolution can improve efficiency of data acquisition, data processing and data saving. So, by adjusting the spectral resolution, the performance of spectrometer can be improved, and its application range can be extended. To avoid the problems of the fixed spectral resolution of classical Fourier transform spectrometer, a novel type of spatial modulation Fourier transform spectrometer with adjustable spectral resolution is proposed in this paper. The principle of the novel spectrometer and its interferometer is described. The general expressions of the optical path difference and the lateral shear are induced by a ray tracing procedure. The equivalent model of the novel interferometer is analyzed. Meanwhile, the principle of the adjustment of spectral resolution is analyzed. The result shows that the novel spectrometer has the merits of adjustable spectral resolution, high stability, easy assemblage and adjustment etc. This theoretical study will provide the theoretical basis for the design of the spectrometer with adjustable spectral resolution and expand the application range of Fourier transform spectrometer.

Hippophae rhamnoides is one of the most representative economy crops for its wide uses of biological diversity and abundance of resource. As the key healthy food development and ecology protection, H. rhamnoides has been developed widely. Meanwhile, the development of H. rhamnoides has obtained great achievements. Nowadays, H. rhamnoides is still a necessary economy crop, while it has great influence on ecology protection. This paper discussed the phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical application and product development, and propounded some suggestions for future research and economy development to get comprehensive benefit of H. rhamnoides and to serve for well-off society.

Objective: To explore the effect of microRNA (miRNA)-mediated p65 gene knockdown on the proliferation and apoptosis of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells., Methods: p65-targeted miRNA plasmid was constructed and transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells via lipofectamine(TM)2000. The expression of p65 gene in the transfected cells at the mRNA and protein levels were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry (FCM), respectively. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blotting in the transfected cells., Results: Compared with the negative control group, the expressions of p65 mRNA and protein in p65miRNA-trasnfected cells were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). MTT assay showed significantly lowered viability of MDA-MB-231 cells after the transfection (P<0.05). FCM showed an increased cell apoptosis rate in p65miRNA group compared with that in the negative control group (P<0.05). Caspase-3 and PARP were both cleaved into their active forms and the expression of these active forms was increased in p65miRNA group., Conclusion: The miRNA targeting p65 gene can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells, and p65 gene might become a new target in gene therapy for human breast cancer.

Objective: Asthma is considered as a typical psychosomatic disease. This study aimed to investigate the temperament of asthmatic children and risk factors for asthma., Methods: Temperamental type and dimensionality were investigated by Carry Temperament Scale in 106 children with asthma. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the risk factors for the development of asthma. One hundred and six age and sex-matched normal children served as controls., Results: There were significant differences in the adaptability, mood value and attention persistence of temperament between asthmatic patients and normal controls. Higher proportion of inter-high difficult temperamental type (17.0% vs 5.7%) and lower proportion of easy temperamental type (16.0% vs 29.2%) were found in children with asthma when compared with controls (P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that the frequency of cold between 3 and 7 years old, allergic history, idiosyncratic physique, parental history of asthma, house decoration and mood value and attention persistence of temperament were risk factors for the development of asthma., Conclusions: There were differences in the temperamental type and dimensionality between asthmatic children and normal controls. Children with inter-high difficult temperament and suffered from the above risk factors showed a higher risk for developing asthma.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical feasibility and safety of percutaneous screw fixation in the management of vertically unstable pelvic fractures., Methods: Forty S1 CT films of orthopedic patients aged 18 - 73, were analyzed so as to provide the best screw entrance point and angle for screw entrance. The data thus obtained were used on 14 patients with unequivocally vertical unstable pelvic fractures, 11 cases being of Tile C(1) type, 2 of C(2) type, and 1 of C type, 9 males and 5 females, aged 19 to 68. All the patients received heavy traction to reduce displacement before the surgery. Percutaneous pelvic screw fixation of the disrupted pelvic ring was performed when the patients were in the supine position, and then fixation of sacroiliac joint was performed when the patients were in the prone position., Results: S1 CT scanning showed an average distance from the standard screw entrance point to the backbone of 10.78 cm (9.80 - 12.00 cm), and a standard screw entrance angle of 61.24 degrees (52.18 - 68.20 degrees). Anatomic reduction was achieved in all 14 patients. One patient had neurological deficit due to the screw penetrating into 1/2 of the intervertebral foramen, but the side-effect was released when the screw was removed 21 days after operation. A 6-24 months postoperative follow-up revealed that all the patients had recovered from fracture and resumed their previous work., Conclusion: With advantages including simple procedures, better bony stability, minimal invasion of compromised soft tissue and limited blood loss, percutaneous screw fixation is a practical technique which can be widely used to treat vertical unstable pelvic fracture.