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Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), or diffuse pulmonary lung disease, are a subset of lung diseases that primarily affect lung alveoli and the space around interstitial tissue and bronchioles. It clinically manifests as progressive dyspnea, and patients often exhibit a varied decrease in pulmonary diffusion function. Recently, variants in telomere biology-related genes have been identified as genetic lesions of ILDs. Here, we enrolled 82 patients with interstitial pneumonia from 2017 to 2021 in our hospital to explore the candidate gene mutations of these patients via whole-exome sequencing. After data filtering, a novel heterozygous mutation (NM_025099: p.Gly131Arg) of CTC1 was identified in two affected family members. As a component of CST (CTC1-STN1-TEN1) complex, CTC1 is responsible for maintaining telomeric structure integrity and has also been identified as a candidate gene for IPF, a special kind of chronic ILD with insidious onset. Simultaneously, real-time PCR revealed that two affected family members presented with short telomere lengths, which further confirmed the effect of the mutation in the CTC1 gene. Our study not only expanded the mutation spectrum of CTC1 and provided epidemiological data on ILDs caused by CTC1 mutations but also further confirmed the relationship between heterozygous mutations in CTC1 and ILDs, which may further contribute to understanding the mechanisms underlying ILDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an arithmetic optimization algorithm that integrates the sine-cosine strategy to address the problems of low solution accuracy, slow convergence speed, and easy fall into local optima in arithmetic optimization algorithms. The algorithm adaptively adjusts the math optimizer acceleration (MOA) accelerator function based on the change information of individual fitness, balancing the global exploration and local exploitation abilities of the algorithm. The improved sine-cosine algorithm is introduced into the local development stage of the algorithm, increasing the population diversity in the later iterations, avoiding the algorithm from falling into local optima, and effectively improving the solution accuracy and convergence speed of the algorithm. Simulation experiments on 14 benchmark test functions show that the improved algorithm has significant improvements in solution accuracy, convergence speed, and robustness. Finally, the improved algorithm is applied to the optimization of support vector machine (SVM) parameters, and a student knowledge level prediction model is established, which further verifies the practicality and superiority of the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With suitable assumptions, uniqueness of nontrivial nonnegative solution is established for the following nonlinear integral equation φ (x) = ∫ D E (x , y) G (y , φ (y)) d y. This result is applied to branching diffusion processes with absorbing boundary. In particular, a question existing in the study by Pazy and Rabinowitz [A nonlinear integral equation with applications to neutron transport theory. Arch Ration Mech Anal. 1969;32:226-246] is solved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridges are critical links in a transportation network that are susceptible to seismic actions, their vulnerability assessment is essential for seismic risk assessment and mitigation. In order to explore the damage probability of long span prestressed concrete continuous rigid frame bridge in the event of earthquake, this study took the Longxi Jialing River Bridge as an example and presents seismic vulnerability assessment based on the incremental dynamic analysis method. Taking the curvature of the pier's most unfavorable section as the damage index, the seismic vulnerability curve of the pier was established with peak acceleration(PGA) as the independent variable and the probability of the structure exceeding a specific damage state as the dependent variable. Results demonstrate that under the action of a near-field earthquake, when PGA =0.5 g, the failure probabilities of slight damage is 0.02926, the failure probabilities of moderate damage is 0.01823, and the failure probabilities of severe damage is 0.00075. When PGA = 1.0 g, the failure probabilities of slight damage is 0.672 and 0.597 for moderate damage, 0.20109 for severe damage, and 0.00484 for complete damage. Under the action of a far-field earthquake, when PGA = 0.5 g, the failure probability of slight damage is 0.00194, and the failure probability of moderate damage is 0.00101 along the span direction. When PGA = 1.0 g, the failure probability of slight damage is 0.04358, 0.02802 for moderate damage, and 0.00138 for serious damage along the span direction. The complete damage of the bridge hardly occurs. With the increase of intensity of an earthquake, the failure probability of the pier gradually increases. After entering the moderate damage stage, the pier has relatively good ductility. This study provides a good reference for the seismic design of similar bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) virus swept the world in December 2019, it brought widespread side-effects. While there is no specific treatment for COVID-19, individuals and collectives often respond rapidly to develop a routine, making the prevention and control of COVID-19 normalized and institutionalized and creating vaccines successfully in a short time. However, this situation also exposed a spectrum of problems triggered by lockdown, isolation, and vaccinations. Herein, we analyze the prevention management of COVID-19 from epidemic psychology in order to provide a new sight for overcoming the psychological problems of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A case of "closed-door" collapse is discussed, including the collapse phenomenon and collapse causes. • A new understanding, based on on-site surveys and monitoring, has been obtained: the "closed-door" collapse is a type of destruction that only occurs when both the surrounding rock and the support structure fail simultaneously. • The mechanism of the "closed-door" collapse was analyzed from the perspective of the surrounding rock and support. • The treatment method and prevention principles for the "closed-door" collapse were proposed. The prevention of "closed door" collapse is crucial for tunnel construction safety and progress assurance. To address the challenge of preventing "closed door" collapse, a study was conducted based on a case of tunnel collapse. This tunnel passes through sections of fractured rock with groundwater development. The main research methods are on-site monitoring and mechanical model calculations. The research findings indicate that weak fractured rock, groundwater, initial support quality issues, long trailing distances, and extensive excavation footage all contributed to the "closed door" collapse. On-site monitoring in the fractured rock section showed the tunnel deformation is high sensitivity to construction disturbances. Even without disturbances, tunnel deformation gradually increases. This contributes about 20% of the total deformation, worsening surrounding rock damage and loosening. Additionally, the initial support exhibits cantilever arch mechanical response characteristics due to excavation of the surrounding rock on one side of its lower part. The mechanical model calculation has verified that under a cantilever arch state, the initial support lacks the bearing capacity to withstand loose load. The continuous deformation of the surrounding rock damages the collapsed body, generating loose load. Excavation of the surrounding rock beneath the initial support arch foot changed the structure from a fixed arch to a cantilever arch, ultimately leading to the joint failure of the surrounding rock-support structure system. This is the mechanism behind the collapse. By combining the convergence confinement method, the influence mechanism of factors such as excavation footage and trailing distance on the "closed door" collapse was further elucidated. Finally, according to the stability evaluation of the collapsed cavity, a strategy of "supporting first and then grouting" is adopted for collapse treatment. Drawing from the understanding of the "closed door" collapse mechanism, the following principles for collapse prevention are proposed: "small excavation footage, ensuring the quality of initial support, short trailing distance, quick support, frequent measurement." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidermal cysts are benign cysts most commonly found in the head, neck and trunk. An epidermal cyst of the knee is an unusual complication developed after total knee arthroplasty. Here, we present a case of an 83-year-old man with a palpable mass in the left knee located beneath the scar, 3 years after total knee arthroplasty. The patient underwent complete surgical excision of the mass. Histological analysis revealed an epidermoid cyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance dielectric polymer composites have received increasing attention due to their important applications in the field of energy storage. The rational structural design of hybrid fillers can lead to a balance between high dielectric constant and insulation in composites. In this work, novel hybrid fillers were fabricated by in situ synthesizing one-dimensional polypyrrole nanowires (PPynws) on the two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), which integrated the good ion polarization ability of PPynws and the high insulation and adjustable band gap of MoS2. Compared with the binary poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/MoS2 composites, the PVDF/MoS2-PPynws composites exhibited remarkably improved dielectric constant and breakdown strength, while the dielectric loss was still maintained at a low level. An optimal ternary composite with 1 wt% MoS2-PPynws showed a high dielectric constant (15@1kHz), suppressed dielectric loss (0.027@1kHz), and high breakdown strength (422.1 MV/m). PPynws inducing strong interfacial polarization and the highly insulated MoS2 nanosheets extending the breakdown path mainly contributed to the synchronously enhanced dielectric constant and breakdown strength. This intriguing synthesis method of PVDF/MoS2-PPynws nanocomposite will open up new opportunities for fabricating nanostructured polymer composites to produce high dielectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-precision three-dimensional (3D) measurement techniques commonly perform 3D point cloud data stitching using pasted marked points. However, pasted marked points exhibit a high degree of randomness and are susceptible to mismatching due to their structural similarity. Therefore, this paper presents a robust method for multi-view 3D data stitching based on pasted marked points (RMSM). First, potential matched marked point pairs (MMPP) are identified according to spatial feature invariance constraints, and a matching strength calculation model is established to find the fiducial point pairs. Then, a quick public MMPP searching algorithm using the congruent triangle search method is proposed. Thus, the problem of mismatching caused by structurally similar marked points can be eliminated, and robust stitching of 3D data from different views can be achieved. In simulation and measurement experiments, the RMSM demonstrates superior accuracy compared to alternative methods and holds promise for application in various multi-view 3D data stitching methodologies. • A robust method is proposed for multi-view 3D data stitching based on pasted marked points (RMSM). • A matching strength calculation model is established to find the fiducial point pairs. • A quick public MMPP searching algorithm using the congruent triangle search method is proposed. • The RMSM achieves a higher accuracy and outperforms other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, early childhood education for sustainability has increasingly attracted worldwide attention. Early childhood teachers' leadership and environmental attitudes are significant in supporting children's nature play, which is associated with sustainability to a large extent. This article emphasizes teacher environmental leadership and its impacts on the environmental attitudes of early childhood teachers through a quantitative study. A total of 832 valid responses are collected through an online survey. According to the outcomes, there are five validated perspectives in teacher environmental leadership. Still, the perspective of environmental stewardship should be updated with more content relevant to environmental utilization in the next step. Job satisfaction, closely related to teacher environmental leadership, is a significant moderator on the association between teacher environmental leadership and their environmental attitudes. The moderation model implies that the priority is to highlight their environmental attitudes toward utilization and provide support to achieve high levels of environmental leadership and job satisfaction constantly. Kindergarten principals play a key role in initiating this process, which suggests that cultural factors should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mixing precursors of g-C 3 N 4 in a deep eutectic system enables the formation of a homogeneous liquid. • Through the formation of DESys, the g-C 3 N 4 with unique structure enhances photochemical activity. • The obtained g-C 3 N 4 demonstrated superior photocatalytic activity in degrading ciprofloxacin. Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) has emerged as a promising semiconductor for visible-light photocatalysis owing to its favorable electronic band structures and stability. However, conventional GCN materials face challenges such as limited light absorption and specific surface area. The choice of precursors significantly influences GCN properties. Mixing different precursors, such as urea and ammonium thiocyanate, in a deep eutectic system (DESys) enables the formation of a homogeneous liquid and the synthesis of GCN with unique structures, enhancing photochemical activity. Through adjustments to the DESys composition and synthesis conditions, the synthesis of GCN-DESys has been optimized, with the optimal conditions being a mixture of ammonium thiocyanate and urea at a ratio of 1:4, heated at 550 °C for 3 h. Characterization of GCN-DESys revealed a mixed layered and velvety structure, forming a heterojunction distinct from traditional GCN. With a degradation mechanism investigation, GCN-DESys demonstrated superior photocatalytic activity in degrading ciprofloxacin under visible light, outperforming traditional GCNs. GCN-DESys, synthesized through the new approach, shows outstanding photocatalytic performance owing to its unique structure and enhanced charge separation. Mechanism analysis revealed the pivotal involvement of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide radicals (·O 2 –) in the photocatalytic degradation process. The formation of these radicals on the surface of the GCN-DESys contributes to the efficient degradation of ciprofloxacin. This study contributes to understanding the preparation of advanced photocatalytic materials through the formation of DESys-based liquid mixture, highlighting the potential of GCN-DESys as an efficient solution for pollutant degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The results of meta-analysis by Zhou et al. need to be scrutinized. • Several studies were incorrectly included in their meta-analysis. • They missed a retrospective cohort study with a large sample size. • There are obvious errors in the collected data. • The impact of racial differences should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a versatile Chinese herb, Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst (G. lucidum) has been applied to treat multiple diseases in clinics and improve the quality of life of patients. Among all of its extracts, the main bioactive components are G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs), which possess many therapeutic effects, such as antitumor, immunoregulatory, anti-oxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and antifungal effects and neuroprotection activities. This review briefly summarized the recent studies of the pharmacological rationales of GLPs and their underlying molecular signaling transmission mechanisms in treating diseases. Until now, the clear mechanisms of GLPs for treating diseases have not been reported. In this review, we used the keywords of "Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides" and "tumor" to search in PubMed (years of 1992–2020), then screened and obtained 160 targets of antitumor activities in the literatures. The network pharmacology and mechanism framework were employed in this study as powerful approaches to systematically analyze the complicated potential antitumor mechanisms and targets of GLPs in cancer. We then found that there are 69 targets and 21 network pathways in "Pathways in cancer". Besides, we summarized the effects of GLPs and the models and methods used in the research of GLPs. In conclusion, GLPs have been studied extensively, but more in-depth research is still needed to determine the exact mechanisms and pathways. Therefore, this review might provide new insights into the vital targets and pathways for researchers to study the pharmacological mechanisms of GLPs for the treatment of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Arsenic (As3+) is a carcinogen with considerable environmental and occupational relevancy. Its mechanism of action and methods of prevention remain to be investigated. Previous studies have demonstrated that ROS is responsible for As3+-induced cell transformation, which is considered as the first stage of As3+ carcinogenesis. The NF-E2 p45-related factor-2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway regulates the cellular antioxidant response, and activation of Nrf2 has recently been shown to limit oxidative damage following exposure to As3+ Methods and results: In this study, molecular docking was used to virtually screen natural antioxidant chemical databases and identify molecules that interact with the ligand-binding site of Keap1 (PDB code 4L7B). The cell-based assays and molecular docking findings revealed that curcumin has the best inhibitory activity against Keap1-4L7B. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) results indicated that curcumin is a potent Keap1 Kelch domain-dependent Nrf2 activator that stabilizes Nrf2 by hindering its ubiquitination. The increased activation of Nrf2 and its target antioxidant genes by curcumin could significantly decrease As3+-generated ROS. Moreover, curcumin induced autophagy in As3+-treated BEAS-2B via inducing autophagy by the formation of a p62/LC-3 complex and increasing autophagic flux by promoting transcription factor EB (TFEB) and lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) expression. Knockdown of Nrf2 abolished curcumin-induced autophagy and downregulated ROS. Further studies showed that inhibition of autophagosome and lysosome fusion with bafilomycin a1 (BafA1) could block curcumin and prevented As3+-induced cell transformation. These results demonstrated that curcumin prevents As3+-induced cell transformation by inducing autophagy via the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway in BEAS-2B cells. However, overexpression of Keap-1 showed a constitutively high level of Nrf2 in As3+-transformed BEAS-2B cells (AsT) is Keap1-independent regulation. Overexpression of Nrf2 in AsT demonstrated that curcumin increased ROS levels and induced cell apoptosis via the downregulation of Nrf2. Further studies showed that curcumin decreased the Nrf2 level in AsT by activating GSK-3β to inhibit the activation of PI3K/AKT. Co-IP assay results showed that curcumin promoted the interaction of Nrf2 with the GSK-3β/β-TrCP axis and ubiquitin. Moreover, the inhibition of GSK-3β reversed Nrf2 expression in curcumin-treated AsT, indicating that the decrease in Nrf2 is due to activation of the GSK-3β/β-TrCP ubiquitination pathway. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo results showed that curcumin induced cell apoptosis, and had anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumorigenesis effects as a result of activating the GSK-3β/β-TrCP ubiquitination pathway and subsequent decrease in Nrf2. Conclusions: Taken together, in the first stage, curcumin activated Nrf2, decreased ROS, and induced autophagy in normal cells to prevent As3+-induced cell transformation. In the second stage, curcumin promoted ROS and apoptosis and inhibited angiogenesis via inhibition of constitutive expression of Nrf2 in AsT to prevent tumorigenesis. Our results suggest that antioxidant natural compounds such as curcumin can be evaluated as potential candidates for complementary therapies in the treatment of As3+-induced carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well-known that Prof. Tu Youyou won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015 due to the research on artemisinin treating malaria, and this can be regarded as the milestone of modernization of Traditional medicine. This first Nobel Prize in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has aroused profound impetus in the investigation of TCM and attracted global attention to the ancient books of TCM. Three new medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 derived from Chinese Classical Formula (经典名方, CCF) have been approved in 2021 due to their effectiveness for the treatment of COVID-19. This article introduced the research background of CCF pharmaceutical preparation (CCFPP), explained the ideas for the modernization of CCF and analyzed related issues involved in the development process of CCFPP, including the origin of medicinal materials, processing methods, dosages and the preparation process of CCF Material Reference. The strategy for industrialization was proposed in terms of the evaluation of the pharmaceutical properties, industrialization considerations, and clinical positioning of CCFPP. The key contents and requirements for the development CCFPP were also summarized according to the recently published registration guidance by the Center for Drug Evaluation in China. In addition, the safety issues of CCFPP were described, including the discussion on the non-clinical safety evaluation and analyzation on the international registration of Traditional herbal medicines. This article is aimed to provide references for enterprises, researchers, and relevant personnel of government departments that are engaged in the development of CCF to speed up the developing process of CCFPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods Results Conclusion Aesthetics medicine, a controversial branch of clinical medicine known for its high degree of commercialization, faces numerous conflicts, particularly in some developing countries. The global aesthetics medicine industry requires enhancements of its legal and supervision framework and risk management systems.This paper aimed to provide a comprehensive visual analysis of academic achievements related to regulatory and legal issues in the field of aesthetic medicine and to identify its development trends and research hotspots.The Web of Science Core Collection was employed to retrieve relevant studies, resulting in a total of 602 research articles after selection. Utilizing bibliometric methods and CiteSpace, this study analyzed the primary countries, institutions, authors, journals, hotspots, frontiers, and trends in this domain.The findings indicated rapid increases in the number of published papers. The United States emerged as the leading contributor with 131 research papers and the highest intermediate centrality. Eleven keyword clusters were identified, with “adolescence” and “office‐based surgery” being the most recent topics. We also analyzed the trends and frontiers of legal research in medical aesthetics.The importance of informed consent has been increasingly emphasized, and research in the field of medical aesthetics has been gradually expanding beyond individual cosmetic procedures. The management system has become more comprehensive, moreover, guidelines and medical laws have been continually published, with research shifting toward a holistic perspective that encompasses patients, medical aesthetic providers, and regulatory authorities in the study of medical aesthetics regulation and legislation. This paper also proposes some innovative directions for future research and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MCM3AP-AS1 is a recently characterized lncRNA playing an oncogenic role in several cancers. However, its role in lung cancer remains unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the functions of MCM3AP-AS1 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and the possible underlying mechanisms.Methods: MCM3AP-AS1 and ROCK1 levels in SCLC patients were analyzed by qPCR. RNA pull-down and luciferase assays were performed to analyze the interaction between MCM3AP-AS1 and miR-148a. ROCK1 mRNA and protein levels were detected by qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Cell invasion and migration were analyzed by Transwell assays.Results: MCM3AP-AS1 was upregulated in patients with SCLC, and a high MCM3AP-AS1 level was accompanied by a low survival rate. The binding of MCM3AP-AS1 to miR-148a predicted by bioinformatics analysis was verified by RNA pull-down and luciferase assays. However, MCM3AP-AS1 and miR-148a did not affect each other's expression. ROCK1 was upregulated in SCLC tissues and positively correlated with MCM3AP-AS1. In SCLC cells, MCM3AP-AS1 overexpression increased ROCK1 and promoted cancer cell invasion and migration, while miR-148a overexpression showed the opposite effects and attenuated the effects of MCM3AP-AS1 overexpression on ROCK1 expression and cell behaviors.Conclusions: MCM3AP-AS1 sponges miR-148a, thereby increasing SCLC cell invasion and migration via upregulating ROCK1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are the main active ingredients of Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen, which are used as traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years and have various clinical effects, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and cardiovascular protection. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex gastrointestinal inflammatory disease that cannot be cured completely nowadays. The anti-inflammatory and protective effects of PNS were analyzed in vitro and in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. PNS inhibited the release of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α) , interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in Pam3CSK4-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. In the animal study, compared with DSS-induced mice, PNS reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF- α , IL-6, and MCP-1) in the colon tissues. Furthermore, PNS treatment led to a remarkable reduction in the activation of the inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase α / β (IKK α / β) , I κ B α and p65 induced by DSS. On the other hand, PNS inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Taken together, our results suggested that PNS conferred profound protection for colitis mice through the downregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF- κ B signaling pathways, which were associated with reducing inflammatory responses, alleviating tissue damage, and maintaining of intestinal integrity and functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A telemetry system based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) was constructed to simultaneously collect locomotor activity and physiological signals of small animal cohorts for circadian rhythm experiments; it consists of miniature transmitters and mobile phone with customized App. The continuous sampling signals obtained from the 3-axis acceleration and temperature sensors in the transmitters are sent to the mobile phone in real-time through Internet of Things (IoT) for temporary storage and then imported into the computer for summary and rhythm analysis by the general open-source mathematical software. Unlike expensive and complicated commercial telemetry systems with industrial wireless standards, no special data receivers and software are needed. In our validation experiment, six rats were divided into two groups under natural dark and light-dark cycles. For two consecutive weeks, the transmitter mounted on the head of the rat-recorded locomotor activity, skin temperature, and ambient temperature of each rat at a frequency of 6 Hz. After processing with Local Weighted Regression Scatter Smoothing (LOWESS) and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) filtering, single cosinor and multi-components cosinor were then used to assess and characterize the circadian rhythm. The results showed that the rhythm values of the two groups of rats coincided with the corresponding light-dark cycle, and that the system was robust to data loss and error from BLE communication failures. Therefore, the proposed system provides a light-weight framework for long-term circadian rhythm monitoring in free-moving rodents to further simplify and promote experimental chronobiology animal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genuine Chinese medicinal (GCM), also known as Dao-di Herbs, is a synonym for high quality Chinese medicinal materials, which has been established in thousands of years of clinical practice and is a comprehensive standard for evaluating the quality of Chinese medicinal materials. The newest data from the Fourth National Survey of Chinese Medicinal Resources showed that Sichuan Province has 7290 types of Chinese medicine and 86 GCM, both ranking highly in China. The characteristics like diverse species, wide distribution, higher yield, and good quality are considered as advantages of geo-herbals grown in Sichuan. Resources guarantee and high-quality development of those medicine materials make a difference in local Chinese medicine quality promotion and Chinese medicine industry and technology development to serve the public's needs, assist targeted poverty alleviation, and strengthen ecological protection. This review aims to outline significant progress in the recent ten years regarding regionalization, germplasm resources, and quality evaluation around the quality assurance of GCM in Sichuan, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problem of the corona discharge trigger electric filed threshold at different shapes of a metal tip, through the theoretical analysis of the electric field distribution near the surface of the conical tip and the ellipsoidal tip, and the laboratory simulation experiment, reached the following conclusion. The relationship between the value of corona current amplitude, the frequency and the tip's radius of curvature is obtained; the corona discharge electric field threshold is relatively fixed and between 6.9382 kV/cm and 8.2824 kV/cm. The above relationship has a certain reference value in practical application and computer simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke and its risk factors epidemiological survey can help identify individuals at higher risk and therefore promote stroke prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to estimate the current prevalence of stroke and high risk stroke population, and evaluate stroke associated risk factors in southwestern China.Methods: This was a multi-center, cross sectional survey in southwestern China from May 2015 to September 2015. The eight communities were selected at random, and 17,413 residents aged ≥40 years volunteered to participate in this survey. Data were collected through face-to-face survey using a structured questionnaire. Five hundred twenty-one participants with incomplete questionnaires on stroke history or risk factors records were excluded.Results: A total of 16,892 people included in analysis. The overall prevalence of stroke was 3.1% (95% CI 2.6-3.9%), 17.1% of participants were the high risk stroke population. After full adjustments, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, overweight, lack of exercise and family history of stroke were significantly associated with overall stroke and ischemic stroke. The largest contributor was hypertension (population-attributable risk 23.6%), followed by dyslipidemia, physical inactivity, family history of stroke, diabetes, and overweight. However, only hypertension (OR = 3.66, 95% CI 1.82-8.23) was significantly associated with hemorrhagic stroke.Conclusions: The prevalence of stroke and high risk stroke population was high among adults aged ≥40 years in southwestern China. Hypertension, dyslipidemia and lack of exercise were stronger contributors for stroke, these findings suggest that individual-level and population-level interventions for these leading risk factors are necessary to prevent stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) reconstruction is the Achilles' heel of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). However, only a few studies have focused on the performance of this difficult procedure laparoscopically.Methods: We present a safe and feasible technique of duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy for LPD, named Bing's anastomosis. Our study included 238 cases of LPDs that underwent Bing's anastomosis. Data on the demographic characteristics, operative outcomes (total operative time, PJ duration, and estimated blood loss), and postoperative results (length of hospital stay, recovery of bowel function, and rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality) of the cases were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed.Results: Only one patient (0.4%) in our series required conversion to open surgery as a result of uncontrolled bleeding from the superior mesenteric artery. The average operative time was 358 min (220 min to 495 min). The mean duration for PJ was 23 min (19 min to 33 min). The mean estimated blood loss was 112 ml (50 ml to 800 ml). The overall incidence of pancreatic fistula was 21.4% and included 42 cases (17.6%) of biochemical leak, eight cases (3.4%) of Grade B, and one case (0.4%) of Grade C pancreatic fistulas. The 90-day mortality was 0.4%.Conclusions: Bing's anastomosis is a safe, reliable, and rapid PJ technique for LPD that is associated with favorable outcomes and a low risk of pancreatic fistula. However, its safety and feasibility should be verified by performing prospective randomized controlled trials at different institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We study the following displacement problem in nonlinear elastostatics − I + ∇ u ∇ 2 u = λ f (u) in Ω , c u = 0 on ∂ Ω. We obtain some global and local bifurcation results, which are related to an open problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We study the global structure of admissible solutions for the following k -Hessian equation S k D 2 u = λ k f (− u). By bifurcation and topological methods, we determine the interval of λ for the existence of admissible solution for this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss a fractional p -Laplacian problem. Under suitable assumptions on nonlinearity and weight, the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions are obtained via variational method. Moreover, the global maximum point of the solution concentrates at a local minimum point of the weight function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric dielectric materials show great values in various modern electronic devices. However, breaking the paradox between dielectric constant (ε r) and breakdown strength (E b) is still a great challenge for achieving the dielectric composites with high energy storage. In this paper, ultrasmall molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) nanodots with a size of ∼5 nm are prepared by gradient centrifugation, and the effect of nanodots on dielectric response is investigated via a comparative study with MoS 2 nanoflakes. It is demonstrated that, both MoS 2 nanodots and nanoflakes can induce poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to generate more polar β-phases. Moreover, within composites, the presence of MoS 2 nanodots contributes to a greater degree of freedom for the polymer molecular chains at interface, which is responsible for the low loss. In addition, the unique quantum effect of nanodots brings higher E b to the composites, finally realizing the promotion of ε r and E b simultaneously. However, due to the relatively compact interface between the MoS 2 nanoflakes and the polymer molecular chains, the molecular chains are harder able to respond to changes in the electric field, resulting in a limited ε r and an unsatisfactory dielectric loss (tan δ). Among them, the composite filled with 0.05 wt% MoS 2 nanodots achieves a highest discharge energy density (U d) of 5.4 J/cm3, lowest tan δ of 0.015@103 Hz and the most considerable E b of 510 MV/m. This work provides theoretical guidance for the preparation of high-performance dielectric composites. [Display omitted] • MoS 2 nanodots with a size of ∼2 nm were prepared by gradient centrifugation. • The dependence of dielectric responses of composites on the size of MoS 2 was studied. • Due to the Coulomb-blockade effect of nanodots, the E b of blend was enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a class of high-performance forward error correction codes, turbo codes, which can approach the channel capacity, could become a candidate of the coding methods in future terrestrial broadcasting (TB) systems. Among all the demands of future TB system, high throughput and low latency are two basic requirements that need to be met. Parallel turbo decoding is a very effective method to reduce the latency and improve the throughput in the decoding stage. In this paper, a parallel turbo decoder is designed and implemented in field-programmable gate array (FPGA). A reverse address generator is proposed to reduce the complexity of interleaver and also the iteration time. A practical method of modulo operation is realized in FPGA which can save computing resources compared with using division operation. The latency of parallel turbo decoder after implementation can be as low as 23.2 us at a clock rate of 250 MHz and the throughput can reach up to 6.92 Gbps. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Automated, precise single particle manipulation in the microscale is in great demand and is one of the great challenges in biomedical and biochemical engineering. Automatic micromanipulation has also become a microrobotics challenge. Following this challenge, control technology is integrated with dielectrophoresis (DEP)-based micromanipulation technology in this paper to construct automatic DEP-based micromanipulation systems. DEP micromanipulation systems with electrodes of quadrupole polynomial geometry are developed as controllable microactuators. A semianalytical modelling method is proposed to formulate the analytical models of the DEP manipulation systems, which manifests that the DEP manipulation systems are non-affine non-linear systems. Then, taking the parameter uncertainties, unmodelled dynamics and external disturbances into account, an adaptive law combined with a dynamic sliding mode controller is designed for two-dimensional trajectory tracking control of a DEP micromanipulation system. The closed-loop system is proved stable in the presence of bounded lumped uncertainty based on the Lyapunov theorem. Finally, simulation results show the validity of the proposed control design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creep-age forming (CAF) is one of the effective techniques to fabricate extra-large integral airframe panels due to its good forming ability. However, few experimental researches have been conducted on stiffened panel with complex structures under creep-aging condition. In this work, a 1096 × 792-mm stiffened panel with typical structure features, such as stiffeners, the base plate with variable thickness, and the opening, has been formed on the tool of variable curvature at 165 °C for 10 h. Springback of the stiffened panel in static loading process is 91.1%, while it decreases to 82.3% after 10-h creep aging, which shows that plastic and creep deformation play an equivalent role in restraining the springback of the panel. Deformation of the stiffened panel concentrates around the opening with thicker plate and larger curvature, while little deformation occurs in the base plate with varied thickness or stiffeners. It indicates that the size, orientation, and position of the structure features all have significant impact on final shape of the stiffened panel. The accuracy of the corresponding finite element (FE) simulation has been verified by the fact that the proportion of the area, where the gap between the simulated and the experimental part is less than 0.6 mm, accounts for more than 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable touch sensors, which can convert force or pressure signals into quantitative electronic signals, have emerged as essential smart sensing devices and play an important role in various cutting-edge fields, including wearable health monitoring, soft robots, electronic skin, artificial prosthetics, AR/VR, and the Internet of Things. Flexible touch sensors have made significant advancements, while the construction of novel touch sensors by mimicking the unique properties of biological materials and biogenetic structures always remains a hot research topic and significant technological pathway. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the research status of wearable touch sensors constructed by imitating the material and structural characteristics in nature and summarizes the scientific challenges and development tendencies of this aspect. First, the research status for constructing flexible touch sensors based on biomimetic materials is summarized, including hydrogel materials, self-healing materials, and other bio-inspired or biomimetic materials with extraordinary properties. Then, the design and fabrication of flexible touch sensors based on bionic structures for performance enhancement are fully discussed. These bionic structures include special structures in plants, special structures in insects/animals, and special structures in the human body. Moreover, a summary of the current issues and future prospects for developing wearable sensors based on bio-inspired materials and structures is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate rare or small probability events in the context of large deviations of the stochastic Camassa–Holm equation. By the weak convergence approach and regularization, we get large deviations of the regularized equation. Then, by stochastic equations exponentially equivalent to the corresponding laws, we get large deviations of the stochastic Camassa–Holm equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive multi-input multioutput (MIMO) is believed to be an effective technique for future terrestrial broadcasting systems. Reciprocity calibration is one of the major practical challenges for massive MIMO systems operating in time-division duplexing mode. A new closed-loop reciprocity calibration method is investigated in this paper which can support online calibration with a higher accuracy compared to the existing methods. In the first part of the proposed method, an optimized relative calibration is introduced using the same structure of traditional relative calibration, but with less impaired hardware in the reference radio chain. In the second part, a test device (TD)-based calibration is proposed which makes online calibration possible. An experiment setup is built for the measurement of the base station hardware impairments and TD-based calibration implementation. Simulation results and the error vector magnitude of UE received signal after calibration show that the performance of our proposed method is improved significantly compared to the existing relative calibration methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litchi (Litchi chinensisSonnnerat, Sapindaceae), known as Chinese Cherry, is a subtropical fruit tree originating from southern China. Litchi seed extracts have diverse pharmacological effects, including anticancer. However, its anticancer effects and mechanisms on prostate cancer have not been determined. In this study, we used n-butyl alcohol extract of Litchi seed (NLS) to treat prostate cancer PC3, DU145, RM1 and C4-2B cells. NLS induced a significant decrease in cell viability and clonogenic growth in a dose-dependent manner. NLS induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle G1/S phase arrest by inactivating Akt signaling pathway, which were associated with activation of mitochondrial caspase-dependent apoptotic cascades, up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p21 and p27, and inhibition of correlated cyclin/CDK network. In addition, NLS treatment significantly decreased cell migration and invasion via phenotypic inversion of EMT, correlated with increased expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin, and decreased expression of vimentin and snail, which is partially attributed to inhibiting Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Finally, PC3 xenograft nude mice treated with NLS in vivo showed a significant decrease in tumor size without toxicity. These findings suggest that NLS has potential for development into a safe and potent alternative therapy for prostate cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large rigid-body automatic docking is a crucial but tough task in aerospace assembly. Traditional large rigid-body spacecraft assembly is achieved manually, which is limited by high labor-intensity, low assembly quality, and long assembly cycle. This study proposes the monocular vision pose determination-based large rigid-body automatic docking method (MVPDLD) in which targets with circular feature points are attached to the surfaces of both mobile and fixed rigid-bodies; Thus, the proposed monocular vision system can track the relative pose between them. The measured relative pose is converted into kinematic parameters for a lightweight five-degree-of-freedom pose adjustment mechanism (5-DOFPAM), which can be guided via monocular vision pose determination to adjust the mobile rigid-body's pose and achieve accurate docking. The MVPDLD method was validated on real datasets. MVPDLD's accuracy is similar to traditional methods but achieves accurate docking much quicker. It can replace traditional manual methods for the automatic docking of large rigid-bodies. • Monocular vision-based method to achieve efficient automatic docking. • Accurate, efficient large rigid-body automatic docking method. • Eliminate human limitations in large rigid-body docking tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, a great challenge in fabricating dielectric polymer composites lies in how to simultaneously achieve high dielectric constant (ε ′)and breakdown strength (E b). In this paper, silicon oxide (SiO 2) nanospheres were internally incorporated into molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) flowers using one-step hydrothermal process. The MoS 2 @SiO 2 hybrids were utilized as fillers in dielectric polymer matrix using solution casting, and the effect of hybrids on dielectric performance was investigated systematically. An optimal composite with 1 wt% MoS 2 @SiO 2 hybrids shows an improved ε ′ of 10.8@1 kHz and high E b of 486.8 MV/m. The improved dielectric capabilities of polymer composites are ascribed to the improvement of interfacial polarization by MoS 2 flower and the suppression of carrier transportation and the charge capture by SiO 2. This work broadens the avenue to optimize performance of polymer dielectrics for capacitive energy storage applications by tailoring the interior architectures of hybrid fillers. [Display omitted] • MoS 2 @SiO 2 composite with gradient band structure was fabricated. • Several carrier traps were constructed inside the composite to inhibit the generation of leakage current. • The composites showed high breakdown strength and energy storage properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction mechanism of triazolyl substituted tetrahydrobenzofuran derivatives (compound 1 (N, N-Dipropyl-1-(2-phenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzofuran-4-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-methanamine) and 2 (1-(2-Phenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzofuran-4-yl)-4-(morpholin-4-ylmethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole)) with H,K-ATPase at different pH were studied by induced-fit docking, QM/MM optimization and MM/GBSA binding free energy calculations of two forms (neutral and protonated form) of compounds. The inhibition activity of compound 1 is measured and almost unchanged at different pH, while the activity of compound 2 increases significantly with pH value decreased. This phenomenon could be explained by their protonated form percentages and the calculated binding free energies of protonated and neutral mixture of compounds at different pH. The binding free energy of protonated form is higher than that of neutral form of compound, and the protonated form could be a powerful inhibitor of H,K-ATPase. By the decomposed energy comparisons of residues in binding sites, Asp137 should be the key binding site to protonated form of compound because of the hydrogen bond and electrostatic interactions. These calculation results could help for further rational design of novel H,K-ATPase inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the concentrations of pepsin and pepsinogen within the middle ear cavity and determine whether pepsin and pepsinogen affect the prognosis of children with otitis media with effusion (OME). Methods All middle-ear lavage fluid from patients with OME undergoing myringotomy (M subgroup) or tympanostomy tube insertion (T subgroup) was collected and pepsin and pepsinogen were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. After close follow-up over 2 years, the effects of pepsin and pepsinogen on the prognosis of the patients with OME in the M and T subgroups were analyzed. Results The average pepsin and pepsinogen concentrations were significantly lower in the M subgroup ( n = 54; 24.38 ± 16.10 mg/mL and 286.49 ± 91.95 mg/mL, respectively) than in the T subgroup ( n = 55; 45.56 ± 16.60 mg/mL and 664.92 ± 107.06 mg/mL; t = 2.484, P = 0.018 and t = 2.670, P = 0.011, respectively). In the M subgroup, the average time to tympanic membrane healing and tympanic pressure restoration to normal was much longer in pepsin(+) patients (17.0 ± 2.0 days and 26.0 ± 2.5 days, respectively) than in pepsin(−) patients (14.0 ± 1.1 days and 22.0 ± 1.0 days; t = 3.871, P = 0.001 and t = 5.734, P = 0.000, respectively), and the hearing level of pepsin(+) patients with OME ascended to 13.08 ± 1.19 dB, which was much lower than that of pepsin(−) patients (18.29 ± 1.27 dB; t = 11.001, P = 0.000). In the T subgroup, the complication rate including otorrhea and myringosclerosis was much higher in patients with high pepsin concentrations than in those with low pepsin concentrations ( P < 0.05). Finally, in both subgroups, the recurrence rates of OME in pepsin(+) or patients with high pepsin concentrations (34.6% [9/26] and 28.6% [10/35]) were significantly higher than those in pepsin(−) or low pepsin concentrations (10.7% [3/28] and 5.0% [1/20]; χ 2 = 4.456, P = 0.035 and χ 2 = 4.420, P = 0.036). However, pepsinogen had no significant effect on OME prognosis or recurrence. Conclusion Pepsin but not pepsinogen could postpone tympanic membrane healing and pressure restoration in children with OME undergoing myringotomy and increase the incidence of recurrence and complications including otorrhea and myringosclerosis for those undergoing tympanostomy tube insertion. Therefore, pepsin could be considered a poor prognostic factor for OME, further emphasizing the important role of pepsin in OME pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a gamut of disorders that are characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation, including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), which often leads to mucosal ulceration and progressive loss of intestinal function. The etiopathogenesis of IBD has not been completely clarified, although multiple factors involving genetic modifications, host immune dysfunction, intestinal dysbiosis and environmental effects have been implicated. Currently, pharmacotherapies including both non-targeted and targeted biological agents are widely used for the clinical treatment of IBD. In addition, novel therapeutic approaches that target the intestinal microorganisms, such as fecal microbiota transplantation, antibiotics, probiotics and microbial metabolite inhibitors, are also under development. However, these treatments are either accompanied by side effects or cannot achieve complete clinical remission when used alone. The efficacy and safety of drugs are currently a clinical challenge. Thus, advanced drug delivery systems are needed for targeted delivery of drugs to the inflammatory sites and avoid absorption by healthy tissues. In this review, we have summarized the latest research on the pathogenesis of IBD and the emerging pharmacotherapies, and discussed potential therapeutic targets for innovative therapies. [Display omitted] • The pathogenesis of IBD is briefly reviewed from a therapeutic perspective. • Therapeutic targets are specifically summarized to highlight the therapeutic progression against the IBD. • Therapeutic targets based emerging pharmacotherapies are intensively analyzed to improve future management of IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) are highly safe and active drugs targeting H+,K+-ATPase to cure acid-related gastric diseases. In this study, we for the first time investigate the interaction mechanism between the protonated form of P-CABs and human H+,K+-ATPase using homology modeling, molecular docking, molecular dynamics and binding free energy calculation methods. The results explain why P-CABs have higher activities with higher pKa values or at lower pH. With positive charge, the protonated forms of P-CABs have more competitive advantage to block potassium ion into luminal channel and to bind with H+,K+-ATPase via electrostatic interactions. The binding affinity of the protonated form is more favorable than that of the neutral P-CABs. In particular, Asp139 should be a very important binding site for the protonated form of P-CABs through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. These findings could promote the rational design of novel P-CABs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel‐concrete composite box girders offer notable advantages such as high stiffness, excellent torsional performance, and light self‐weight, making them prevalent in large‐span bridges, particularly in cable‐stayed configurations. However, a persistent challenge arises from the shear lag effect in the concrete slab within the flanges induced by shearing interactions between the webs and flanges. Limited attention has been devoted to investigating the experimental and theoretical aspects of shear lag in long‐span cable‐stayed bridges with twin box‐shaped composite girders. This research addresses this gap by designing a segmental scale twin box‐shaped composite model specimen to simulate the cable spacing of the main girder in a cable‐stayed bridge, specifically targeting the shear‐lag effect. The study successfully captures the non‐uniform distribution of cross‐sectional strain in the top concrete slab. Subsequently, analytical strain solutions for the composite girder under mid‐span concentrated load and axial load are derived using the energy variation method. The theoretical model's applicability is then calibrated against experimental results. The investigation extends to the in‐situ testing of the Chibi Yangtze River Bridge, the world's largest steel‐concrete composite girder cable‐stayed bridge, boasting a main span of up to 720 m. An established finite element (FE) analysis model for the Chibi Yangtze River Bridge simulates the transverse stress distribution under typical construction conditions of CC6. Comparative analyses between the simulated results, calculated values from elementary beam theory, and the theoretical model against field‐measured values reveal that the FE model provides a more accurate estimation of the shear lag effect in the concrete slab. Notably, the FE model effectively reflects the bridge's characteristics and serves as a baseline for subsequent studies. This comprehensive investigation contributes significantly to the understanding and analysis of shear lag phenomena in twin box composite girders of cable‐stayed bridges. The integration of experimental, analytical, and construction site validations establishes robust tools for engineering design and the construction of safe and serviceable cable‐stayed bridges. The research augments knowledge regarding shear lag behavior and underscores the necessity to appropriately consider its effects in bridge analysis and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Microbial spoilage of wine can lead to significant economic loss. At present sulfur dioxide is the main additive to juice/must/wine to prevent and control microbial spoilage. As an alternative, or complement to SO2, high power ultrasonics (HPU) may be used to control microbes. Several wine spoilage yeasts and bacteria were treated with HPU in saline (0.9% w/v NaCl), juice and red wine to assess their susceptibility to HPU. Significant killing was seen across several yeasts and bacteria commonly associated with winemaking and wine spoilage. In general the viability of yeast was more affected than that of bacteria. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effect of brown-rot decay on the chemical composition and crystallinity of Masson pine was studied by exposing it to Wolfiporia cocos (Schwein.) Ryvarden and Gilbn. for durations of up to 15weeks in the field. The holocellulose content, α-cellulose content, and wood crystallinity decreased slowly in the initial stage, followed by a significant reduction during the late stage. Pentosans did not have a significant reduction until 15-week decay, indicating that pentosans were degraded much more slowly than the cellulose. Strong correlations between the holocellulose and lignin content and alkali solubility, wood crystallinity, and IR band height ratio indicated that different wood properties affected each other during the degradation process. The results indicated that the slight degradation of amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose formed the entrance points for W. cocos to attack crystalline cellulose, and led to the serious degradation of the cell wall. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study on the cytotoxic activity (against KB cells) of 19 hederagenin diglycosides was performed by using spatial and electronic descriptors based on support vector regression (SVR) techniques. The predictive power of the models was verified with the leave one out cross validation (LOOCV) test and independent test methods. For the LOOCV test, the cross validation squared correlation coefficient Q value for optimal SVR model was 0.8827. Compared with stepwise multiple linear regression (MLR) and back propagation artificial neural network (BPANN) models, the SVR model was the most powerful with a square of predictive correlation coefficient $${R_{pred}^2}$$ of 0.7285 for the test set, which indicates that the SVR model has better substantially predictive ability and be a useful and powerful tool to construct the QSAR model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper considers a singular -point dynamic eigenvalue problem on time scales : We allow to be singular at and . By constructing the Green’s function and studying its positivity, eigenvalue intervals in which there exist positive solutions of the above problem are obtained by making use of the fixed point index theory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using global bifurcation theory, we obtain the existence of solutions with specified numbers of simple generalized zeros for the nonlinear eigenvalue problem on time scales where is a given constant. In addition, we argue that our existence theorem is a generalization of a previous result which shows the existence of at least one positive solution for the above problem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Let T be a time scale. Let f:[0,σ(1)]×R2→R be continuous. We study the existence of solutions for the nonlinear two-point boundary value problems on time scalex▵▵(t)=f(t,x(t),x▵(t)), t∈[0,1]x(0)=0, x▵(σ(1))=0.We do not need any growth restrictions on f. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]