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Background: Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (CHP) is a rare panniculitis associated with systemic features characterized by the infiltration of subcutaneous adipose tissue by benign-appearing T lymphocytes and phagocytic histiocytes, mimicking hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL). Purpose: To establish the clinicopathological features and response to treatment of CHP and evaluate the prognosis of patients and guide therapy based on the current state of knowledge. Material and Methods: Clinical, laboratory, histopathological, and outcome data of 12 patients with CHP were retrospectively collected between 2009 and 2022. Results: All the patients presented with plaques or nodules, mostly located in the lower extremities (11/12). Fewer cases involved systemic symptoms (9/12) and laboratory abnormalities (6/12), and none were positive for serum Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-DNA. Histopathological examination revealed mixed septal and lobular inflammatory infiltration of histiocytes and lymphocytes. Large or atypical lymphocytes were rarely present (2/12). In some patients, varying proportions of plasma cells, neutrophils, and eosinophils were observed. The extent of histocytophagy was mild (9/12), moderate (2/12), and severe (1/12). HLH was not observed in any of our cases, none of which were fatal. Conclusion: The uniqueness of our study lies in the presence of neutrophil-rich dermal and subcutaneous infiltrates, associated with connective tissue disorders (CTD) and streptococcal infections. Our study reveals that EBV-negative CHP tends to a better prognosis than previously research, filling the gap in the much-needed details of CHP in the Chinese population. Moreover, CHP may present as a reactive process in combined primary diseases; further studies are required to validate these findings. Plain Language Summary: Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (CHP) is a rare panniculitis associated with systemic features characterized by the infiltration of subcutaneous adipose tissue by benign-appearing T lymphocytes and phagocytic histiocytes, also may be present in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma. The presence of neutrophil-rich dermal and subcutaneous infiltrates, associated with connective tissue disorders and streptococcal infections. In addition, EBV-negative CHP has a better prognosis than previously thought and provides knowledge of its prognosis in the Chinese population. With changes in the disease pedigree supported by the development of medical technology, CHP may present as a reactive process of a combined primary disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solidifying shield muck with calcium carbide slag and fly ash as curing agents was proposed as a highly efficient method for reusing waste shield muck. The compaction test, unconfined compression test, and dry–wet cycle test were used to evaluate the compressive strength, water immersion stability, and durability of the cured soil. The stress–strain curve and microscopic test were employed to analyze the compression damage law, mineral composition, and microscopic morphology of the cured soil, and to analyze the mechanism of calcium carbide slag–fly ash-cured shield muck. It was found that calcium carbide slag–fly ash can significantly improve the compressive strength of shield muck, and the strength of cured soil increases and then decreases with an increase in calcium carbide slag and fly ash and increases with curing age. The strength was highest when the content of calcium carbide slag and fly ash was 10% and 15%, respectively. Dry–wet cycle tests showed that the specimens had good water immersion stability and durability, and the stress–strain curve of the specimen changed from strain hardening to strain softening after dry–wet cycles. The internal particles of the cured soil were mainly cemented and filled with C-(A)-S-H colloid and calcium alumina (AFt), which both support the pores between the soil and form a skeleton structure to enhance the strength of the soil and lend it good mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the impressive progresses in terahertz (THz) sources and detection, there is still a big challenge for high performance active optoelectronic THz devices such as THz modulators. All‐optically controlled THz modulators with large modulation depth (MD) and wide modulation bandwidth are of great importance for the THz technology. Herein, a MoTe2/Si van der Waals (vdWs) heterostructure is rationally designed as all‐optical THz modulator by taking advantage of their similar band alignment and easy integration with Si complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS). The MoTe2/Si modulator presents an ultrasensitive THz modulation performance with a MD of 99.9% under a low illumination power of 300 mW at 1064 nm. This is a record MD for TMDCs‐based all‐optically controlled THz modulators to date. Moreover, the MoTe2/Si modulator exhibits broadband modulation performance with a wide frequency range from 0.3 to 2.0 THz. The high modulation performance under low illumination power is beneficial for practical application with low energy consumption and easy heat dissipation, which is advantageous to modulator chip. This work validates a facile protocol for fabricating high performance THz modulators and paves the way for their practical applications in THz technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High quality and large size nonlinear optical LiInS2 (LIS) crystals were successfully grown by the optimized seeded Bridgman method. And the optical properties and carrier dynamics of LIS in the THz range were investigated by THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) in the temperature range of 20–300 K for the first time. The refractive index and absorption coefficients present obvious temperature dependent behavior. A distinct absorption peak was observed at around 1.68 THz, which can be attributed to the vibration of In–S bonds revealed by Raman spectroscopy analysis. And the carrier concentration, mobility and scattering rate also show obvious temperature dependent behavior. These results will provide further understanding of the optical properties of LIS crystals and a perspective for future applications of LIS crystals in THz technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mid-infrared (MIR) coherent light generated by nonlinear optical (NLO) materials is crucial for military and civilian applications. Among the MIR optical crystal family, the LiInSe2 (LISe) single crystal is a promising candidate due to its remarkable physical properties. Herein, a high-quality LISe crystal with the largest diameter of 31 mm was successfully grown by the Bridgman growth method using an oriented seed. The crystalline quality and optical homogeneity of LISe were demonstrated by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), Laue diffraction, and optical interferometry measurements, respectively. Additionally, a complete survey of the transmittance spectra, absorption coefficients, and refractive indices was systematically performed. Furthermore, we found that the absorption coefficients of LISe at 1.064 μm can be obviously decreased after thermal annealing under LISe atmospheric conditions. More generally, our results will contribute significantly to the practical applications of LISe in the MIR technology field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an environmentally friendly and chemically robust crystal, LiInSe2 (LISe) exhibits promising optoelectronic properties. Here, an ultrasensitive metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) structured photodetector based on a high-quality LISe crystal was systemically investigated. Remarkably, the LISe based photodetectors exhibit an outstanding photosensitivity with a high on/off current ratio (6.80 × 104), fast photoresponse (trise = 180 μs and tdecay = 200 μs), and high detectivity (2.16 × 1012 Jones). This work may lay the foundation and ignite future research interest on chalcogenide crystals in photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. is a traditional Chinese medicine that has many medical applications, including wound healing and anti-oxidation. Some traditional Chinese Medicine doctors have found that it has therapeutic effects for external use in the repigmentation of vitiligo and post-inflammatory hypopigmentation. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of madecassoside, a major bioactive component of C. asiatica , on oxidative stress in human melanocytes and its possible mechanism of action., Results: In H2O2-induced oxidative conditions, madecassoside inhibited melanocyte dendrite retraction, improved MMP and reduced the accumulation of [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. Observations by TEM showed that madecassoside attenuated the damage of mitochondria in human melanocytes caused by oxidative stress. Furthermore, autophagy activation was demonstrated by AO staining and an increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratio., Materials and Methods: Normal human melanocytes were treated with 0.01 mM H2O2 and varying concentrations of madecassoside (0, 10, 50, 100 μg/mL). Subsequently, the retraction velocity of melanocyte dendrites was assessed. Determination of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ΔΨm) was performed by flow cytometry and intracellular calcium ([Ca 2+ ]i) level were measured. Alterations of mitochondrial ultrastructure were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Acridine orange (AO) staining was used to measure autophagy. The LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, an indicator of autophagosome formation, was analyzed by western blot., Conclusions: These results demonstrate the antioxidative effect of madecassoside on human melanocytes subjected to oxidative damage via the activation of autophagy. Moreover, madecassoside could be a promising treatment for vitiligo mainly caused by oxidative stress., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.