Deep Fold Research Articles

Tissue-scale in vitro epithelial wrinkling and wrinkle-to-fold transition

Although epithelial folding is commonly studied using in vivo animal models, such models exhibit critical limitations in terms of real-time observation and independent control of experimental parameters. Here, we develop a tissue-scale in vitro epithelial bilayer folding model that incorporates an epithelium and extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel, thereby emulating various folding structures found in in vivo epithelial tissue. Beyond mere folding, our in vitro model realizes a hierarchical transition in the epithelial bilayer, shifting from periodic wrinkles to a single deep fold under compression. Experimental and theoretical investigations of the in vitro model imply that both the strain-stiffening of epithelium and the poroelasticity of ECM influence the folded structures of epithelial tissue. The proposed in vitro model will aid in investigating the underlying mechanism of tissue-scale in vivo epithelial folding relevant to developmental biology and tissue engineering.

Efficient protein structure archiving using ProteStAr.

The introduction of Deep Minds' Alpha Fold 2 enabled the prediction of protein structures at an unprecedented scale. AlphaFold Protein Structure Database and ESM Metagenomic Atlas contain hundreds of millions of structures stored in CIF and/or PDB formats. When compressed with a general-purpose utility like gzip, this translates to tens of terabytes of data, which hinders the effective use of predicted structures in large-scale analyses. Here, we present ProteStAr, a compressor dedicated to CIF/PDB, as well as supplementary PAE files. Its main contribution is a novel approach to predicting atom coordinates on the basis of the previously analyzed atoms. This allows efficient encoding of the coordinates, the largest component of the protein structure files. The compression is lossless by default, though the lossy mode with a controlled maximum error of coordinates reconstruction is also present. Compared to the competing packages, i.e. BinaryCIF, Foldcomp, PDC, our approach offers a superior compression ratio at established reconstruction accuracy. By the efficient use of threads at both compression and decompression stages, the algorithm takes advantage of the multicore architecture of current central processing units and operates with speeds of about 1 GB/s. The presence of Python and C++ API further increases the usability of the presented method. The source code of ProteStAr is available at https://github.com/refresh-bio/protestar.

The relationship between the tropopause folds and deep convective activities over the Tibetan Plateau

Tropopause folds (TFs) are crucial in the development of certain meteorological events. Using ERA5 reanalysis data from 1979 to 2015 and the “3D-labelling” algorithm for identifying TFs, along with OLR and TRMM precipitation data, this study conducted a composite analysis to explore the relationship between TFs and deep convective activities (DCAs) over Tibetan Plateau (TP) and to investigate the underlying physical mechanisms. The results indicate that TFs have a strong inhibitory effect on DCAs at the locations of folds. Conversely, medium and deep folds significantly enhance DCAs to the northeast of folds, with the degree of enhancement intensifying with the depth of fold. During medium and deep fold occurrences, an increase in specific humidity from the surface to near the tropopause is observed northeast of the folds, coupled with significant lifting of the tropopause east of the deep folds, favoring the initiation and development of DCAs. Positive potential vorticity (PV) anomalies resulting from the downward intrusion of stratospheric air with high PV generate cyclonic circulation in the upper troposphere at the locations of folds. This is complemented by anticyclonic circulations triggered on both sides of medium and deep folds. These circulation anomalies induce upper-level divergence and lower-level convergence, leading to anomalous upward motion northeast of the folds and thereby promoting DCAs. Furthermore, the increased low-level static stability northeast of medium and deep folds aid in accumulating potential instability. The anomalous ascent in this region facilitates the release of this instability, and in conjunction with reduced static stability near the tropopause, enables DCAs to reach higher altitudes.

Molecular Insights Into the Effects of PLLA-SCA on Gene Expression and Collagen Synthesis in Human 3D Skin Models Containing Macrophages.

Injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA-SCA) is used for the correction of shallow to deep nasolabial fold contour deficiencies, cheek wrinkles, and other facial wrinkles. In contrast to hyaluronan (HA) fillers, PLLA-SCA has a biostimulatory effect by activating resident fibroblasts to produce collagen, but the mechanisms are not known in detail at the molecular level. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the molecular effects of PLLA-SCA in a comprehensive in vitro study. Since PLLA-SCA-dependent collagen production in fibroblasts depends on the interaction with macrophages, we generated novel macrophage-containing 3D skin models. According to the clinical application, PLLA-SCA was injected once into the dermal equivalent of the 3D skin model. Histological analysis showed a significant increase in epidermal thickness in these models after 5 and 14 days. Gene expression profiling revealed an upregulation of integrins and laminins (e.g., LAMA3, ITGA6), which are essential components of the dermal-epidermal junction. In addition, we found an upregulation of cytokines and chemokines (TGFB2, CXCL6, IL1B) at day 14 after PLLA-SCA injection. Interestingly, immunohistochemical analyses exhibited a significantly stimulated collagen I production in our models. These effects might be attributed, at least in part, to the upregulation of IL1B and subsequently CXCL6, which stimulates collagen I synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts as we could demonstrate. Taken together, our data provide for the first time molecular insights into the biostimulatory effects of PLLA-SCA on collagen I production in novel human 3D skin models comprising macrophages. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(4):7791.    doi:10.36849/JDD.7791.

Changes in smile index after correction of deep nasolabial fold using a combination of polydioxanone thread and hyaluronic acid filler

Changes in smile index after correction of deep nasolabial fold using a combination of polydioxanone thread and hyaluronic acid filler

Three-Dimensional Fault-Fold Growth Deciphered from Combined Seismic and Geological Data: A Case Study from the Xiongpo Anticline, Longmen Shan Piedmont

The Xiongpo fault-fold belt shows prominent NE, ENE- and ~N–S-trending relief, which resulted from multi-stage upper crustal shortening in the Longmen Shan piedmont during the eastward growth of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Previous studies have determined its 2D structural configurations from seismic profiles and field-based geological cross-sections. Here, we extend this analysis into the entire belt to explore the 3D structural evolution of this complex fault-fold belt and have built a 3D regional fault model. The results reveal along-strike variation of subsurface structural architecture of the Xiongpo fault-fold belt, which is characterized by transformation from a complex superimposition of a deep fault-bend fold beneath a shallow structural wedge in the center segment to a simple shallow fault-bend fold on both ends of the structure, and then to a trishear fault propagation fold on the plunging edges. This structural transformation determines the contrast between the NE-striking relief of the central segment, and the ENE- and ~N-S-striking relief in the two plunging zones. We combine our results with published low-temperature thermochronology and growth strata results to propose a three-stage evolution for the Xiongpo fault-fold belt that closely relates with regional stress field changes, including a NE-striking fault under the NW–SE compression between 40–25 Ma and 15–10 Ma, lateral propagation of the NE-striking fault and initiation of ENE-striking fault by WNW–ESE compression from ~5–2 Ma, ~N–S fault under ~E–W compression until the present. This work enhances our understanding of the stress field changes of eastern Tibet since the Late Eocene. It also can serve as a typical case study deciphering 3D fault-fold growth using seismic and geological imaging, which is helpful to understand 3D structural and landscape evolutions of other complex fault-fold belts worldwide.

Optimal Deep Learning-Based Vocal Fold Disorder Detection and Classification Model on High-Speed Video Endoscopy.

The use of high-speed video-endoscopy (HSV) in the study of phonatory processes linked to speech needs the precise identification of vocal fold boundaries at the time of vibration. The HSV is a unique laryngeal imaging technology that captures intracycle vocal fold vibrations at a higher frame rate without the need for auditory inputs. The HSV is also effective in identifying the vibrational characteristics of the vocal folds with an increased temporal resolution during retained phonation and flowing speech. Clinically significant vocal fold vibratory characteristics in running speech can be retrieved by creating automated algorithms for extracting HSV-based vocal fold vibration data. The best deep learning-based diagnosis and categorization of vocal fold abnormalities is due to the usage of HSV (ODL-VFDDC). The suggested ODL-VFDDC technique starts with temporal segmentation and motion correction to identify vocalized regions from the HSV recording and gathers the position of movable vocal folds across frames. The attributes gathered are fed into the deep belief network (DBN) model. Furthermore, the agricultural fertility algorithm (AFA) is used to optimize the hyperparameter tuning of the DBN model, which improves classification results. In terms of vocal fold disorder classification, the testing results demonstrated that the ODL-VFDDC technique beats the other existing methodologies. The farmland fertility algorithm (FFA) is then used to accurately determine the glottal limits of vibrating vocal folds. The suggested method has successfully tracked the speech fold boundaries across frames with minimum processing cost and high resilience to picture noise. This method gives a way to look at how the vocal folds move during a connected speech that is completely done by itself.

Hyaluronic acid filler injection for deep nasolabial folds: A novel intraoral approach.

Hyaluronic acid filler injection is a minimally invasive procedure for facial rejuvenation that involves injecting filling materials to correct the volume or augment specific areas in the face. Deep nasolabial folds are a common concern in aging people. The simplest way to correct a deep nasolabial fold to rejuvenate the face is to inject Ristow's space with hyaluronic acid fillers. However, conventional injection methods, such as percutaneous injections using a needle, can cause severe complications, such as skin necrosis or blindness due to intravascular injections. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to introduce a safe technique for intraoral filler injections in deep nasolabial folds and review related anatomic features to evaluate the safety of this technique.

Conditions of formation of oil deposits in flysch sediments at the north-western part of the Pre-Carpathian foredeep

The research has shown that in the Inner Zone of the Pre-Carpathian foredeep as a whole and the Boryslav oil field in particular, oil and gas condensate fields are located naturally due to the spread of deep faults within. It is established that oil and gas deposits of fields represent a set of sand lenses within a certain complex of flysch rocks, the increased oil saturation of which is associated with fracture. The obtained results showed that the oil deposits in Boryslav sandstone have a lenticular structure, and the high productivity of wells is associated with the vein form of hydrocarbons in the sand layers. In order to determine the nature of productivity Boryslav sandstone, we modeled a map of integrated oil production from deposits in Boryslav sandstone from Boryslavska deep fold, which shows all the wells that opened this layer. It is established that in the area, which covers only 0.8 of the area of Boryslav sandstone (eastern part of the field), from the wells that exploit it, extracted 15% of the total oil production from the Boryslavske field as a whole. At the same time, the distance between the most productive wells is only 110 m. Also, on the same site between high-performance wells at a distance of only 50-100 m there were also those in which from Boryslav sandstone oil inflows were not received at all. It is characteristic that industrial inflows of oil are received from small intervals (1-2 m) in the cross-section of 20-30 m of a powerful sandy horizon. The intervals of tides could be both in the roof and in the plantar part or in the middle part of the formation. While in some areas and even in the vaulted part of the folds (theoretically the most promising for anticlinal folds) tides are not obtained at all. We believe that for effective exploration of Boryslav oil field it is necessary to change its methodological basis. Namely, exploration wells must be drilled based on the location of wells that gave an industrial influx of oil, placing them gradually at short distances. .

Ortho-surgical management of a Class II division 2 Malocclusion- A case report

A Class II division 2 malocclusion is characterized by retroclination of two or more maxillary incisors, Class II molar relationship and an increased overbite.This article describes a case report of a 17-year-old female patient who was concerned about an irregularly placed tooth. The clinical and radiographic investigations revealed that the patient had Class II skeletal relation, mesoprosopic facial form, deep labiomental fold, average growth pattern and Angle’s Class II div 2 type D malocclusion. Camouflage line of treatment with severe skeletal discrepancy would compromise on facial esthetic. Therefore, Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) with mandibular advancement was performed which resulted in favourable esthetic outcome. Keywords: Class II div 2 malocclusion,Skeletal Class II malocclusion, Mandibular retrognathism, Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy.

High‐Resolution Observations of Turbulence Distributions Across Tropopause Folds

AbstractIn this study, we interpret two vertical turbulence measurements. We acquired these uninterrupted high‐resolution dissipation rate profiles with the balloon‐borne instrument LITOS (Leibniz Institute Turbulence Observations in the Stratosphere) from velocity measurements using a spectral technique. The meteorological situation is characterized using ECMWF’s integrated forecast system (IFS) as breaking Rossby waves showing significant tropospheric jets and a developed tropopause fold. In both cases, dissipation rates in the shear zone above the upper‐tropospheric jet are three orders of magnitude larger than below, reaching severe turbulence strengths (1,000 mW kg−1) in a deep tropopause fold and moderate turbulence strengths in a medium tropopause fold (10 mW kg−1). These turbulent spots are shown to create a tripole shaped pattern of PV modification across the tropopause. Furthermore, tracer‐tracer correlations exhibit mixing of tropospheric and stratospheric air masses in the medium‐fold case. While the strength of turbulence corresponds to the depth of the tropopause fold, its asymmetric vertical distribution is possibly related to the tropopause fold life cycle. The observed asymmetry in the vertical turbulence distribution is consistent across both tropopause folds and in overall agreement with measured Richardson numbers. In the medium‐fold case however, it is neither expected from conceptual models nor from Richardson numbers in the IFS. This calls for further field campaigns to investigate the role of turbulence and its implications for the meteorological understanding as well as for aviation safety.

Structure of the Excretory System of the Plerocercoid Pyramicocephalus phocarum (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea): Proof for the Existence of Independent Terminal Cells

The excretory system ultrastructure and immunocytochemistry have been investigated in the plerocercoid Pyramicocephalus phocarum. It has been shown that P. phocarum has independent terminal cells, cyrtocytes. The entire canal system is a single undivided syncytium, which includes nephridial funnels of the terminal tubules, and peripheral and central canals. The nephridial funnel and cyrtocyte form a filtration complex of the protonephridial type. In the caudal region, several peripheral canals open into a deep fold of the tegument, the urinary bladder. The excretory pores are separated from the tegument by annular septate desmosomes. There are no cell junctions inside the excretory system. The presence of the F-actin ring and the expression of non-synaptic serotonin in the collar area have been detected in cyrtocytes by immunocytochemistry methods.

Too Deep Labio-Mental Fold after Large Advancement Genioplasty: A Proposal for its Effective Correction

Too Deep Labio-Mental Fold after Large Advancement Genioplasty: A Proposal for its Effective Correction

Captain America's Shield Genioplasty.

The chin represents one of the most important determinants of the facial aesthetics. Like many aesthetic parameters, the "ideal" chin has changed in history regarding projection and prominence. From the retrusive profiles of the Renaissance, stronger and more defined mandibular contour are nowadays desired both by masculine and feminine population.This change in the ideal references plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment planning. Various techniques for chin augmentation have been described, using both alloplastic materials and osteotomies.An interesting osteotomy variant, so-called chin shield osteotomy, has been described by Triaca et al to avoid a deep mentolabial fold. The authors describe herein the use of a shield plate, very similar in his form to Captain America's shield, that can at the same time provide bone fixation and soft tissues sustain in the mentolabial fold region, preventing the invasion of the gap between the bone fragments by the connective tissue, as it happens in a guided bone regeneration procedure.

Bonegraft Wrap Technique: Avoiding Accentuated Labiomental Groove After Genioplasty.

This work presents the wrap technique developed by the authors aiming to avoid the occurrence of unaesthetic deep labiomental fold in genioplasty. The technique recommends the use of particulate bone graft that is wrapped on collagen or a Surgicel membrane which is placed over the osteotomized segment of the chin fixated with a prebent 4-hole titanium plate.

Too deep labio-mental fold after large advancement genioplasty: a proposal for its effective correction

Background: When advancement genioplasty exceeds 3–4 mm, an unpleasant fold between lower lip and chin can arise, especially in thin-skinned patients.

Evidence for three Cenozoic phases of upper crustal shortening of the Xiongpo structure in the Longmen Shan fold-and-thrust belt, China: Implications for the eastward growth of the eastern Tibetan Plateau

Cenozoic crustal shortening across the Longmen Shan (LMS) fold-and-thrust belt records the eastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. Although the structural geometries of individual structures in the region have been studied, the kinematics and rates of deformation across these structures remain unclear. In this study, we construct a geological cross section to derive the subsurface structural architecture of the Xiongpo structure in the LMS piedmont using one seismic reflection profile, and data from two boreholes. The structure displays a superimposed deep fault-bend fold and shallow structural wedge with three splay thrust faults. Using two-dimensional kinematic models, based on fault-bend folding algorithm, we reconstruct three episodes of upper crustal shortening, with 7.0 ± 0.3 km of total shortening. Combining with previously published low-temperature thermochronology data, we further estimate that the structure has experienced an average shortening rate of ∼ 0.2 mm/yr since 40–25 Ma. We infer that the structure acted as the deformation front of the LMS fold-and-thrust belt between 40 and 25 Ma and 15–10 Ma driven by the eastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. Finally, we review the shortening rates of other five structures within the LMS piedmont, and find that these six structures (including the Xiongpo structure) individually have undergone an average shortening rate < 0.5 mm/yr on each fault, suggesting that strain is partitioned along several structures within the LMS fold-and-thrust belt. We also show that the southern LMS piedmont has absorbed more upper crustal shortening than the central LMS, ∼0.5–0.7 mm/yr, since ∼2.6 Ma.

Balcony genioplasty: a novel technique for better esthetic results in patients with deep mentolabial fold

BackgroundTo introduce a novel technique for advancement genioplasty helping surgeons to avoid soft tissue difficulties especially in short-faced patients with deep mentolabial fold and everted lower lip.Case presentationIn a trapezius-shaped, osteotomy was performed in the chin region. The mobilized segment was advanced, and the existing gap was grafted using interpositional allograft materials. Each side had been fixated by three-hole plates and two screws. The outcomes revealed no change in lower anterior teeth vitality. The patients did not report any changes of sensation in lower lip and chin either. The measurements indicated no increase in depth of mentolabial fold in patients undergoing this surgical technique. The postoperative evaluation showed a successful esthetic outcome for the patient and the surgeon concurrently.ConclusionBased on our experience, the authors concluded that the Balcony technique is a simple and reliable procedure for patients with a deep mentolabial fold.

Primary Mandibular Deficiency Dentofacial Deformities: Occlusion and Facial Aesthetic Surgical Outcomes

The purpose of the present study was to document the malocclusion and facial dysmorphology in primary mandibular deficiency (PMD) subjects with chronic obstructive nasal breathing before treatment and the outcomes after bimaxillary orthognathic, genioplasty, and intranasal surgery. A retrospective cohort study of PMD subjects undergoing bimaxillary, chin, and intranasal surgery was implemented. The predictor variables were grouped into demographic, anatomic, operative, and longitudinal categories. The primary outcome variables were the initial postoperative occlusion achieved at 5weeks postoperatively (T2) and that maintained long-term more than 2years after surgery (T4). Six occlusion parameters were assessed: overjet, overbite, coincidence of dental midlines, Angle classification, molar vertical, and transverse positions. A second outcome variable was the facial esthetic results. Photographs were analyzed to document 7 facial contour characteristics. Forty subjects met the inclusion criteria. Their age at surgery averaged 32years (range 13 to 63). The study included 25 females (63%). The findings confirmed that the occlusion after initial surgical healing (T2) met the objectives for all parameters in 39 of the 40 patients (98%). Most patients (35 of 40; 88%) achieved and maintained a favorable occlusion for each parameter in the long-term (mean 5years, 3months). Subjects requiring counterclockwise rotation of the maxillomandibular complex were more likely to a have recurrent anterior open bite in the long-term. Facial contour deformities on presentation included weak chin (80%), deep labiomental fold (90%), everted lower lip (100%), short neck-to-chin length (88%), obtuse neck-to-chin angle (85%), weak mandible angles (93%), and "bunching" of the neck soft tissues (85%). Before surgery, 88% of the subjects exhibited a minimum of 5 of the 7 facial deformities. Correction of all 7 facial deformities was confirmed in 86% of the subjects in the long-term. Most PMD subjects achieved and maintained a corrected occlusion in the long-term. In the untreated subjects, a "facial type" was identified. Orthognathic surgery proved effective in correcting the associated facial dysmorphology in most patients.

Wrinkling of thin films on a microstructured substrate

ABSTRACTSurface wrinkling of thin films on substrates offers an effective strategy to create controllable surface patterns of wide application. In this article, both theoretical analysis and numerical simulations are performed to study the surface wrinkling of thin films bonded on a microstructured soft substrate under compression. We consider two typical kinds of substrates that have different mechanical properties. One possesses a periodic array of micropillars, and the other has a period of alternating unbonded—bonded regions at the film—substrate interface. The characteristics of surface wrinkling and postbuckling evolution of films are revealed. It is found that the interfacial microstructures modulate the normal mechanical properties of the substrate and, thus, tailor the buckling behavior of the thin film atop it. Under lateral compression, the film on the substrate shows periodic arrays of micropillars exhibiting sinusoidal wrinkling first, and then with further compression, the wrinkles give way to a deep fold accompanied by Euler buckling of the micropillars and the decay of neighboring wrinkles. For the system with periodic unbonded—bonded regions at the film—substrate interface, wrinkling of the film is characterized by a relative shift in the normal direction. This study offers potential applications in the fabrication of tunable surface morphologies.