Practice patterns among ophthalmic surgeons in treating concomitant oculoplastic conditions in preoperative period:A questionnaire-based study

BACKGROUND Addressing oculoplastic conditions in the preoperative period ensures both the safety and functional success of any ophthalmic procedure.Some oculoplastic conditions,like nasolacrimal duct obstruction,have been extensively studied,whereas others,like eyelid malposition and thyroid eye disease,have received minimal or no research.AIM To investigate the current practice patterns among ophthalmologists while treating concomitant oculoplastic conditions before any subspecialty ophthalmic intervention.METHODS A cross-sectional survey was disseminated among ophthalmologists all over India.The survey included questions related to pre-operative evaluation,anaesthetic and surgical techniques preferred,post-operative care,the use of adjunctive therapies,and patient follow-up patterns.RESULTS A total of 180 ophthalmologists responded to the survey.Most practitioners(89%)felt that the ROPLAS test was sufficient during pre-operative evaluation before any subspecialty surgery was advised.The most common surgical techniques employed were lacrimal drainage procedures(Dacryocystorhinostomy)(63.3%),eyelid malposition repair(36.9%),and ptosis repair(58.7%).Post-operatively,47.7%of respondents emphasized that at least a 4-week gap should be maintained after lacrimal drainage procedures and eyelid surgeries.Sixty-seven percent of ophthalmologists felt that topical anaesthetic procedures should be preferred while performing ocular surgeries in thyroid eye disease patients.CONCLUSION Approximately 50%of ophthalmologists handle prevalent oculoplastic issues themselves,seeking the expertise of an oculoplastic surgeon under particular conditions.Many ophthalmologists still favor using ROPLAS as a preliminary screening method before proceeding with cataract surgery.Eyelid conditions and thyroid eye disease are not as commonly addressed before subspecialty procedures compared to issues like nasolacrimal duct obstruction and periocular infections.

A challenge to the concept of slip-lines in extrusion tectonics

Wide-open V-shaped conjugate strike-slip faults in Asia are typically related to extrusion tectonics. However, the tectonic model based on the slip-line theory of plasticity has some critical problems associated with it. The conjugate sets of slip-lines in plane deformation, according to the theory of plasticity should be normal to each another but, in reality, the angles between the conjugate strike-slip faults, which are regarded as slip-lines in extrusion tectonics in the eastern Mediterranean, Tibet-middle Asia, China and the Indochina Peninsular regions, are always more than 90° （on average -110°） in the direction of contraction. Another problem is that the slip-line theory fails to explain how, in some cases, e.g., in the Anatolian area in the eastern Mediterranean, the extrusion rate is much higher than the indent rate. The two major problems are easy to solve in terms of the Maximum-Effective-Moment （MEM） Criterion that predicts that orientations of the shear zones are theoretically at an angle of 54.7° and practically at angles of 55°± 10° with the σ1- or contractional direction. The orientations of the strike-slip faults that accommodate extrusion tectonics are, therefore, fundamentally controlled by the MEM Criterion. When extrusion is along the MEM-orientations, the extruding rate is normally higher than the indenting rate.

Rolling Force and Rolling Moment in Spline Cold Rolling Using Slip-line Field Method

Rolling force and rolling moment are prime process parameter of external spline cold rolling. However, the precise theoretical formulae of rolling force and rolling moment are still very fewer, and the determination of them depends on experience. In the present study, the mathematical models of rolling force and rolling moment are established based on stress field theory of slip-line. And the isotropic hardening is used to improve the yield criterion. Based on MATLAB program language environment, calculation program is developed according to mathematical models established. The rolling force and rolling moment could be predicted quickly via the calculation program, and then the reliability of the models is validated by FEM. Within the range of module of spline m=0.5-1.5 mm, pressure angle of reference circle α=30.0°-45.0°, and number of spline teeth Z=19-54, the rolling force and rolling moment in rolling process （finishing rolling is excluded） are researched by means of virtualizing orthogonal experiment design. The results of the present study indicate that： the influences of module and number of spline teeth on the maximum rolling force and rolling moment in the process are remarkable; in the case of pressure angle of reference circle is little, module of spline is great, and number of spline teeth is little, the peak value of rolling force in rolling process may appear in the midst of the process; the peak value of rolling moment in rolling process appears in the midst of the process, and then oscillator weaken to a stable value. The results of the present study may provide guidelines for the determination of power of the motor and the design of hydraulic system of special machine, and provide basis for the farther researches on the precise forming process of external spline cold rolling.

Construction of improved rigid blocks failure mechanism for ultimate bearing capacity calculation based on slip-line field theory

Based on the slip-line field theory, a two-dimensional slip failure mechanism with mesh-like rigid block system was constructed to analyze the ultimate bearing capacity problems of rough foundation within the framework of the upper bound limit analysis theorem. In the velocity discontinuities in transition area, the velocity changes in radial and tangent directions are allowed. The objective functions of the stability problems of geotechnical structures are obtained by equating the work rate of external force to internal dissipation along the velocity discontinuities, and then the objective functions are transformed as an upper-bound mathematic optimization model. The upper bound solutions for the objective functions are obtained by use of the nonlinear sequential quadratic programming and interior point method. From the numerical results and comparative analysis, it can be seen that the method presented in this work gives better calculation results than existing upper bound methods and can be used to establish the more accurate plastic collapse load for the ultimate bearing capacity of rough foundation.

A Slip-Line Method for Calculating Extrusion Force of Steel Helmet with Cold Extrusion Moulding

This paper presents the elastic and plastic deformation of the steel helmet with coldextrusion moulding. The plastic streamline of the plastic mould-making process for ellipse thinplate is described. The distribution of slip-line is established based on the plastic streamline. Theextrusion force of plastic moulding of the steel helmet is calculated by using of slip-line method.Furthermore, an applied example is given.

Slip-line field solution for ultimate bearing capacity of a pipeline on clayey soils

A slip-line field solution is presented for the ultimate bearing capacity of the pipeline on a purely-cohesive clay soil, taking into account the circular configuration of the pipe, the pipe embedment, and the pipe-soil interfacial cohesion. The derived bearing capacity factors for a smooth rigid pipe limit to those for the conventional rectangular strip footing while the pipe embedment approaches zero. Parametric studies indicate that, the pipe-soil interfacial properties have much influence on the bearing capacity for the pipe foundation on clayedy soils.

Corrigendum to“Migration pattern of a population of Barn Swallows(Hirundo rustica)breeding in East Asian tropical region”[Avian Res.15(2024)100192]

The authors regret that the caption of Fig.4 should be replaced as below.

Clinical manifestation,lifestyle,and treatment patterns of chronic erosive gastritis:A multicenter real-world study in China

BACKGROUND Although chronic erosive gastritis(CEG)is common,its clinical characteristics have not been fully elucidated.The lack of consensus regarding its treatment has resulted in varied treatment regimens.AIM To explore the clinical characteristics,treatment patterns,and short-term outcomes in CEG patients in China.METHODS We recruited patients with chronic non-atrophic or mild-to-moderate atrophic gastritis with erosion based on endoscopy and pathology.Patients and treating physicians completed a questionnaire regarding history,endoscopic findings,and treatment plans as well as a follow-up questionnaire to investigate changes in symptoms after 4 wk of treatment.RESULTS Three thousand five hundred sixty-three patients from 42 centers across 24 cities in China were included.Epigastric pain(68.0%),abdominal distension(62.6%),and postprandial fullness(47.5%)were the most common presenting symptoms.Gastritis was classified as chronic non-atrophic in 69.9%of patients.Among those with erosive lesions,72.1%of patients had lesions in the antrum,51.0%had multiple lesions,and 67.3%had superficial flat lesions.In patients with epigastric pain,the combination of a mucosal protective agent(MPA)and proton pump inhibitor was more effective.For those with postprandial fullness,acid regurgitation,early satiety,or nausea,a MPA appeared more promising.CONCLUSION CEG is a multifactorial disease which is common in Asian patients and has non-specific symptoms.Gastroscopy may play a major role in its detection and diagnosis.Treatment should be individualized based on symptom profile.

Plant-based dietary patterns and risk of esophageal cancer:A prospective cohort study spanning 17 years

Objective: Plant-based diets have multiple health benefits for cancers;however, little is known about the association between plant-based dietary patterns and esophageal cancer(EC).This study presents an investigation of the prospective associations among three predefined indices of plant-based dietary patterns and the risk of EC.Methods: We performed endoscopic screening for 15,709 participants aged 40-69 years from two high-risk areas of China from January 2005 to December 2009 and followed the cohort until December 31, 2022. The overall plant-based diet index(PDI), healthful plant-based diet index(h PDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet index(u PDI), were calculated using survey responses to assess dietary patterns. We applied Cox proportional hazard regression to estimate the multivariable hazard ratios(HRs) and 95% confidence intervals(95% CIs) of EC across 3plant-based diet indices and further stratified the analysis by subgroups.Results: The final study sample included 15,184 participants in the cohort. During a follow-up of 219,365person-years, 176 patients with EC were identified. When the highest quartile was compared with the lowest quartile, the pooled multivariable-adjusted HR of EC was 0.50(95% CI, 0.32-0.77) for h PDI. In addition, the HR per 10-point increase in the h PDI score was 0.42(95% CI, 0.27-0.66) for ECs. Conversely, u PDI was positively associated with the risk of EC, and the HR was 1.80(95% CI, 1.16-2.82). The HR per 10-point increase in the u PDI score was 1.90(95% CI, 1.26-2.88) for ECs. The associations between these scores and the risk of EC were consistent in most subgroups. These results remained robust in sensitivity analyses.Conclusions: A healthy plant-based dietary pattern was associated with a reduced risk of EC. Emphasizing the healthiness and quality of plant-based diets may be important for preventing the development of EC.

Surface Patterning of Metal Zinc Electrode with an In‑Region Zincophilic Interface for High‑Rate and Long‑Cycle‑Life Zinc Metal Anode

The undesirable dendrite growth induced by non-planar zinc(Zn)deposition and low Coulombic efficiency resulting from severe side reactions have been long-standing challenges for metallic Zn anodes and substantially impede the practical application of rechargeable aqueous Zn metal batteries(ZMBs).Herein,we present a strategy for achieving a high-rate and long-cycle-life Zn metal anode by patterning Zn foil surfaces and endowing a Zn-Indium(Zn-In)interface in the microchannels.The accumulation of electrons in the microchannel and the zincophilicity of the Zn-In interface promote preferential heteroepitaxial Zn deposition in the microchannel region and enhance the tolerance of the electrode at high current densities.Meanwhile,electron aggregation accelerates the dissolution of non-(002)plane Zn atoms on the array surface,thereby directing the subsequent homoepitaxial Zn deposition on the array surface.Consequently,the planar dendrite-free Zn deposition and long-term cycling stability are achieved(5,050 h at 10.0 mA cm^(−2) and 27,000 cycles at 20.0 mA cm^(−2)).Furthermore,a Zn/I_(2) full cell assembled by pairing with such an anode can maintain good stability for 3,500 cycles at 5.0 C,demonstrating the application potential of the as-prepared ZnIn anode for high-performance aqueous ZMBs.

Slip-Line Field Theory of Transversely Isotropic Body

A slip-line field theory of transversely isotropic body is proposed in the presentpaper in order to deal with problems in geology and geotechniques.The Goldenblat-Kopnov failure criterion is employed.The parameters in it are treated as functions of tempperature It is applicable to transverse isotropic media in non-uniform temperaturefield.The basic equtions of plastic deformation are developed while the associated ru-les of flow are derived.By means of characteristic line theory,slip-line slope formulasand laws of variation of stress and velocity along slip lines are obtained,The indenta-tion on semi-infinite media is calculated.The theory developed in this paper may be simplified into many classical theories such as Mises,Hill,and Coulomb ones,This complicated theory may be applied to geotechniques,geological structures,petroleumindustry,mining engineering,etc.

Extreme Meteorological Drought Events over China(1951-2022):Migration Patterns,Diversity of Temperature Extremes,and Decadal Variations

Recently,extreme meteorological droughts have affected China,causing terrible socioeconomic impacts.Despite previous research on the spatiotemporal characteristics and mechanisms of drought,two crucial issues remain seldom explored.First,an event-oriented drought chronology with detailed spatiotemporal evolutions is urgently required.Second,the complex migration patterns and diversity of synchronous temperature extremes need to be quantitatively investigated.Accordingly,the main achievements of our investigation are as follows.We produced an event-oriented set of extreme meteorological droughts over China through the application of a newly developed 3D DBSCAN-based detection method(deposited on https://doi.org/10.25452/figshare.plus.25512334),which was verified with a historical atlas and monographs on a case-by-case basis.In addition,distinctive migration patterns(i.e.,stationary/propagation types)are identified and ranked,considering the differences in latitudinal zones and coastal/inland locations.We also analyze the diversity of synchronous temperature extremes(e.g.,hotness and coldness).Notably,an increasing trend in hot droughts occurred over China since the late 1990s,predominantly appearing to the south of 30°N and north of 40°N.All drought events and synchronous temperature extremes are ranked using a comprehensive magnitude index,with the 2022 summer-autumn Yangtze River hot drought being the hottest.Furthermore,Liang-Kleeman information flow-based causality analysis emphasizes key areas where the PDO and AMO influenced decadal variations in coverages of droughts and temperature extremes.We believe that the achievements in this study may offer new insights into sequential mechanism exploration and prediction-related issues.

Acute effect of foot strike patterns on in vivo tibiotalar and subtalar joint kinematics during barefoot running

Background:Foot kinematics,such as excessive eversion and malalignment of the hindfoot,are believed to be associated with running-related injuries.The maj ority of studies to date show that different foot strike patterns influence these specific foot and ankle kinematics.However,technical deficiencies in traditional motion capture approaches limit knowledge of in vivo joint kinematics with respect to rearfoot and forefoot strike patterns(RFS and FFS,respectively).This study uses a high-speed dual fluoroscopic imaging system(DFIS)to determine the effects of different foot strike patterns on 3D in vivo tibiotalar and subtalar joints kinematics.Methods:Fifteen healthy male recreational runners underwent foot computed tomography scanning for the construction of 3-dimensional models.A high-speed DFIS(100 Hz)was used to collect 6 degrees of freedom kinematics for participants’tibiotalar and subtalar joints when they adopted RFS and FFS in barefoot condition.Results:Compared with RFS,FFS exhibited greater internal rotation at 0%-20%of the stance phase in the tibiotalar joint.The peak internal rotation angle of the tibiotalar joint under FFS was greater than under RFS(p<0.001,Cohen’s d=0.92).RFS showed more dorsiflexion at 0%-20%of the stance phase in the tibiotalar joint than FFS.RFS also presented a larger anterior translation(p<0.001,Cohen’s d=1.28)in the subtalar joint at i nitial contact than FFS.Conclusion:Running with acute barefoot FFS increases the internal rotation of the tibiotalar joint in the early stance.The use of high-speed DFIS to quantify the movement of the tibiotalar and subtalar joint was critical to revealing the effects of RF S and FFS during running.

Surface crack evolution patterns in freeze-thaw damage of fissured rock bodies

To explore the effects of freeze‒thaw cycles on the mechanical properties and crack evolution of fissured sandstone,biaxial compression experiments were carried out on sandstone subjected to freeze‒thaw cycles to characterize the changes in the physical and mechanical properties of fissured sandstone caused by freeze‒thaw cycles.The crack evolution and crack change process on the surface of the fissured sandstone were recorded and analysed in detail via digital image technology(DIC).Numerical simulation was used to reveal the expansion process and damage mode of fine-scale cracks under the action of freeze‒thaw cycles,and the simulation results were compared and analysed with the experimental data to verify the reliability of the numerical model.The results show that the mass loss,porosity,peak stress and elastic modulus all increase with increasing number of freeze‒thaw cycles.With an increase in the number of freeze‒thaw cycles,a substantial change in displacement occurs around the prefabricated cracks,and a stress concentration appears at the crack tip.As new cracks continue to sprout at the tips of the prefabricated cracks until the microcracks gradually penetrate into the main cracks,the displacement cloud becomes obviously discontinuous,and the contours of the displacement field in the crack fracture damage area simply intersect with the prefabricated cracks to form an obvious fracture.The damage patterns of the fractured sandstone after freeze‒thaw cycles clearly differ,forming a symmetrical"L"-shaped damage pattern at zero freeze‒thaw cycles,a symmetrical"V"-shaped damage pattern at 10 freeze‒thaw cycles,and a"V"-shaped damage pattern at 20 freeze‒thaw cycles.After 20 freeze‒thaw cycles,a"V"-shaped destruction pattern and"L"-shaped destruction pattern are formed;after 30 freeze‒thaw cycles,an"N"-shaped destruction pattern is formed.This shows that the failure mode of fractured sandstone gradually becomes more complicated with an increasing number of freeze‒thaw cycles.The effects of freeze‒thaw cycles on the direction and rate of crack propagation are revealed through a temperature‒load coupled model,which provides an important reference for an in-depth understanding of the freeze‒thaw failure mechanisms of fractured rock masses.

Venous Doppler flow patterns,venous congestion,heart disease and renal dysfunction:A complex liaison

The World Journal of Cardiology published an article written by Kuwahara et al that we take the pleasure to comment on.We focused our attention on venous congestion.In intensive care settings,it is now widely accepted that venous congestion is an important clinical feature worthy of investigation.Evaluating venous Doppler profile abnormalities at multiple sites could suggest adequate treatment and monitor its efficacy.Renal dysfunction could trigger or worsen fluid overload in heart disease,and cardio-renal syndrome is a well-characterized spectrum of disorders describing the complex interactions between heart and kidney diseases.Fluid overload and venous congestion,including renal venous hypertension,are major determinants of acute and chronic renal dysfunction arising in heart disease.Organ congestion from venous hypertension could be involved in the development of organ injury in several clinical situations,such as critical diseases,congestive heart failure,and chronic kidney disease.Ultrasonography and abnormal Doppler flow patterns diagnose clinically significant systemic venous congestion.Cardiologists and nephrologists might use this valuable,noninvasive,bedside diagnostic tool to establish fluid status and guide clinical choices.

Pedestrian flow through exit:Study focused on evacuation pattern

Experiments are conducted on the evacuation rate of pedestrians through exits with queued evacuation pattern and random evacuation pattern. The experimental results show that the flow rate of pedestrians is larger with the random evacuation pattern than with the queued evacuation pattern. Therefore, the exit width calculated based on the minimum evacuation clear width for every 100 persons, which is on the assumption that the pedestrians pass through the exit in one queue or several queues, is conservative. The number of people crossing the exit simultaneously is greater in the random evacuation experiments than in the queued evacuation experiments, and the time interval between the front row and rear row of people is shortened in large-exit conditions when pedestrians evacuate randomly. The difference between the flow rate with a queued evacuation pattern and the flow rate with a random evacuation pattern is related to the surplus width of the exit, which is greater than the total width of all accommodated people streams. Two dimensionless quantities are defined to explore this relationship. It is found that the difference in flow rate between the two evacuation patterns is stable at a low level when the surplus width of the exit is no more than 45% of the width of a single pedestrian stream. There is a great difference between the flow rate with the queued evacuation pattern and the flow rate with the random evacuation pattern in a scenario with a larger surplus width of the exit. Meanwhile, the pedestrians crowd extraordinarily at the exit in these conditions as well, since the number of pedestrians who want to evacuate through exit simultaneously greatly exceeds the accommodated level. Therefore, the surplus width of exit should be limited especially in the narrow exit condition, and the relationship between the two dimensionless quantities mentioned above could provide the basis to some extent.

A divergent pattern in functional connectivity: a transdiagnostic perspective

Functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)is a popular tool used to investigate not only how the brain responds to specific stimuli during sensorimotor or cognitive tasks,but also brain activity at rest.The physics beyond this approach is based on the analysis of the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal.

Pig Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) Does Not Attach to Boar Sperm;It Affects Only the Velocity Pattern and the Mobility Pattern

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the sperm viability of semen infected with PRRSV viral particles, observing the effect of the Virus on the motility of boar sperm. The work was carried out at the FMVZ-BUAP Genetics and Reproduction Laboratory. 5 stallions were used. Each sample contained 1 × 106 sperm, the PRRS virus strain was ATCC-VR-2332 (0, 102, 104 and 106 copies of RNA/mL in triplicate), it was observed daily at the CASA;Hamilton Thorne®. Cells with MT (P < 0.05) on days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 of evaluation with 201 ± 7.3, 167 ± 10.1, 165 ± 14.6, 134 ± 8.2 and 120 ± 8.8, respectively. The % MP between control and virus concentrations (P ≥ 0.05). The LCV on day 1 and 7 PI at 10X2 and 10X6 (P < 0.05) vs control. In the Correlation Matrix, where it is observed that there is a correlation between VSL and VAP, VSL and VCL, VCL and ALH, VAP with ALH. There is a correlation of VSL and ALH, STR and ALH. In this study there were (P ≤ 0.01) in the VCL, in the concentrations (102) 162.81 ± 10.65 and (106) 177.12 ± 5.77 vs 193.04 ± 4.62 of control. This indicates that altering these parameters would be related to fertility and the PRRS virus affects the LCV. Regarding the VSL, it was observed that the sperm infected with viruses 102, 104 and 106 of 48.00 ± 3.38, 49.88 ± 1.83 and 50.55 ± 2.24 Vs. 56.66 ± 1.68 of control respectively, the control would have greater possibilities of fertilizing the oocyte. In this study, it was found (P ≤ 0.01) in the VAP with 102 of 77.26 ± 5.16, 104 with 83.35 ± 2.41 and 106 with 81.29 ± 3.14 vs the control with 90.56 ± 2.07. Regarding the ALH there is (P < 0.05) a 104 with 8.70 ± .26 and 106 with 9.64 ± 0.23 vs control 8.50 ± 0.27. The presence of different concentrations of PRRSV in boar semen induces changes in different types of sperm motility. Infection of ejaculates with the PRRS virus affects sperm motility on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 post-infections.

A Portfolio Selection Method Based on Pattern Matching with Dual Information of Direction and Distance

Pattern matching method is one of the classic classifications of existing online portfolio selection strategies. This article aims to study the key aspects of this method—measurement of similarity and selection of similarity sets, and proposes a Portfolio Selection Method based on Pattern Matching with Dual Information of Direction and Distance (PMDI). By studying different combination methods of indicators such as Euclidean distance, Chebyshev distance, and correlation coefficient, important information such as direction and distance in stock historical price information is extracted, thereby filtering out the similarity set required for pattern matching based investment portfolio selection algorithms. A large number of experiments conducted on two datasets of real stock markets have shown that PMDI outperforms other algorithms in balancing income and risk. Therefore, it is suitable for the financial environment in the real world.

Study on Epidemiological Profile, Clinical Profile, and Angiographic Patterns in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients in a Tertiary Health Care Center in Haryana

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in India, with coronary artery disease (CAD) accounting for a majority of the deaths. There are few large registries on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) from India. Our aim is to study the clinical and epidemiological profile of ACS PATIENTS presenting to our institute, including their angiographic features. Methods: This hospital-based observational, single tertiary care center, prospective study was conducted on patients admitted in the Department of Cardiology at a tertiary care center in Haryana. The study included 400 patients aged greater than 18 years who were admitted with the diagnosis of ACS, and it was carried out for 1 year. The epidemiological profile, clinical history, risk factors, electrocardiogram findings, and angiographic pattern were studied and analyzed with appropriate statistical tools. Results: The mean age of the study population was 55.12 ± 11.78 years. Male and female ratio was 2.4:1. The majority of the patients came from rural background (80%);24% of the patients were illiterate. Smoking was the most common risk factor (51.5%) in our study population followed by hypertension (40%) and diabetes (28%). Unstable angina was the most common type of ACS, which was found in 68.25% of patients. Premature CAD was found in 27.8% of patients and obstructive CAD was found in 63% of patients. Coronary angiography revealed that 39% had single vessel disease (SVD), 23.5% had double vessel disease (DVD), and 27.5% had triple vessel disease (TVD). LAD was more commonly involved, followed by RCA and LCX. Within the first 24 hours, 67% of patients sought medical assistance and only 38.5% received definitive treatment, suggesting a delay in seeking definitive treatment in our study population. Conclusion: The study suggests that unstable angina is the most common form of ACS in the study population, which is mostly of rural background with significant delay in seeking medical help. Smoking is the most common risk factor in the study population.