Early Appearance Research Articles

Schizophrenic Identity and Other Gender Issues in Finnish Folklore Studies

This article gives an overview of two early female folklorists and one folklore collector from the mid nineteenth to the mid twentieth century. The aim is to reveal the symbolic violence and rejection the three female scholars underwent through the use of the term trivialization. I have chosen Charlotta Europaeus, Helmi Helminen and Elsa Enäjärvi as examples because of their early appearance in the field. These cases illustrate to what extent gender, together with presumptions of the gender roles and scientific norms of the era, affected their scholarly work. Charlotta Europaeus, Helmi Helminen and Elsa Enäjärvi were fascinated by women’s life, female genres and intimate spheres of culture, but in order to succeed they needed male supporters and adaptation of male-dominated methods. Above all, the collecting and scientific work of the early female scholars concretely elucidates the female as dismissed and further, how the suppression of female gender and folklore is embedded in documentation and textualization practices.

Neutropenic ulcers in oncology: terminology, diagnosis, and management.

Neutropenic ulcerations are characterized by mucosal ulcerations which occur in the presence of neutropenia, suggesting a direct link between neutropenia and mucosal ulceration. An oral ulcer can be labeled as "neutropenic" only if the patients have primary (typically congenital) or secondary neutropenia, and neutropenia is the sole causative factor. Oral mucosal ulcers observed in patients undergoing oncologic therapy may also be termed as "neutropenic ulcers", but the pathogenesis of these oral ulcers more likely involves mucosal events related to trauma, microbial factors, and direct cytotoxicity. In cancer patients, the early appearance of oral ulcers is often attributed to oral mucositis which is a condition primarily caused by the direct mucosal cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy. Oral ulcers that develop later during or after active cancer therapy may result from intraoral trauma and typically manifest on non-keratinized areas of the oral mucosa which are more susceptible to mucosal damage. In patients undergoing chemotherapy, factors such as disturbances in mucosal barrier function as well as bone marrow suppression lead to reduced neutrophil count and function, and can contribute to the development of oral ulcers. While the etiology of oral ulcers in cancer therapy receiving patients can vary, it is important to emphasize that the host's response plays a crucial role in the progression and repair process of these lesions.This narrative review presents the etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, and potential management approaches for oral ulcerations in neutropenic patients, with a particular focus on clarifying the usage of the term "neutropenic ulcer" since this term lacks diagnostic specificity and can be misleading in clinical practice regarding the underlying causes and treatment strategies.

Characterization of Spheno-occipital Synchondrosis Fusion From Preadolescents to Young Adults Using Age and Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Index.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion (SOSF) from preadolescents to young adults. A total of 630 Korean subjects (308 men, 322 women; age range, 6-18y) were divided into 26 groups according to sex and age. After 3-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images were reoriented using the Frankfort horizontal (FH) plane, mid-sagittal plane, and frontal plane via ON3D software (3DONS), the cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI) and SOSF stages were identified using 6-stage and 5-stage scoring systems, respectively. The distributions of stage in each group were statistically investigated. Women showed early appearance and a short range of onset (CVMI stage 2, SOSF stage 2), middle (CVMI stage 4, SOSF stage 3 and stage 4), and completion (CVMI stage 6, SOSF stage 5), indicating rapid skeletal maturation compared with men. In both males and females, there were strong positive correlations between age and CVMI stage ( rs =0.902, rs =0.890), between age and SOSF stage ( rs =0.887, rs =0.885), and between CVMI and SOSF stages ( rs =0.955, rs =0.964) (all P <0.001). The mean ages at SOSF stage 3 and stage 4 (12.7~13.9y in males and 11.0~12.5y in females) could be used as indicators of the pubertal growth peak. Regression equations for SOSF stage (y), age (a), and CVMI stage (b) were as follows: y=1.355-(0.133×a)+(0.29007×b)+(0.041×a×b) for males ( r2 =0.9496); y=1.305-(0.158×a)+(0.455×b)+(0.036×a×b) for females ( r2 =0.9606). Ordinal logistic regression analyses with the proportional odds model showed that females had more advanced SOSF stages than males (odds ratio: 1.972; 95% CI: 1.063-3.658, P <0.05). Our findings may provide basic references for CVMI and SOSF from preadolescents to young adults.

The Initial Upper Paleolithic of the Altai: New radiocarbon determinations for the Kara-Bom site

The Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) is one of the most important phases in the recent period of the evolution of humans. During a narrow period in the first half of Marine Isotope Stage 3 laminar industries, accompanied by developed symbolism and specific blade technology, emerged over a vast area, replacing different variants of the Middle Paleolithic. In western Eurasia, the earliest appearance of IUP technology is seen at the Boker Tachtit site, dated ca. 50 ka cal BP. The earliest evidence of IUP industries in the Balkans and Central Europe, linked to the spread of Homo sapiens, has been dated to around 48 ka cal BP. A key area of IUP dispersals are the mountains and piedmont of southern Siberia and eastern Central Asia. One of the reference assemblages here is Kara-Bom, an open-air site in the Siberian Altai. Three major settlement phases are distinguished in the sediment sequence. In this paper, we present the results of new radiocarbon determinations and Bayesian models. We find that the latest phase of the IUP, Upper Paleolithic 1 (‘UP1’) is bracketed between 43 and 35 ka cal BP (at 95.4% probability). The earliest IUP phase, ‘UP2’, begins to accumulate from ca. 49 ka cal BP and ends by ca. 45 ka cal BP. The Middle Paleolithic ‘MP2’ assemblages all fall prior to 50 ka cal BP. We can detect a spatial distribution of dates from the geographic core of the IUP beyond the Altai where it appears around 47–45 ka cal BP. The current distribution of dates suggests a west–east dispersal of the IUP technocomplex along the mountain belts of Central Asia and South Siberia.

Exploring Complexity in Bronze Age Exchange Networks by Revisiting the Bronze Mirrors of Central Asia and China

The ever-growing body of research on trans-Eurasian exchange during the third–first millennium bce continues to improve understanding of mechanisms that facilitated the movement of objects, materials, ideas, and even people. However, whether bronze mirrors in Central Asia and China represent the exchange of technological knowledge or movement of the objects themselves remains unresolved, as researchers require extensive knowledge of huge quantities of data generated during the Soviet Central Asia campaigns of the mid twentieth century. The often confusing, impenetrable excavation reports, combined with required knowledge of Chinese, Russian and English, have caused much confusion about dates and contexts. This article presents and compares data published in Russian and Chinese reports. By clarifying the chronology for mirrors in Central Asia and China, we challenge simplistic theories of object diffusion and spread that persist in studies of trans-Eurasian exchange. We argue that the early second-millennium bce appearance of mirrors in western and northwestern China resulted from different exchange mechanisms specific to each local socio-cultural context. This demonstrates not only the complexity of interactions at the group and individual levels, but also how these factors can be integrated with data-driven analyses to explore the role they played in large-scale Bronze Age exchange networks.

Anemia and Transfusion Dependency Are Important Prognostic Factors for Overall Survival in Patients with Myelofibrosis: Results of a Real-World Analysis of Medicare Patients

Introduction: Anemia is a hallmark feature of myelofibrosis (MF) and causes many patients (pts) to require red blood cell transfusions. Both anemia and transfusion dependency have been associated with decreased survival in pts with MF. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between anemia severity and transfusion dependency on overall survival (OS) among pts with MF in the Medicare population. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the Medicare fee-for-service database to identify pts with a diagnosis of MF between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2020. Study inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient claims for MF (on separate dates &amp;lt;90 days apart; the earliest appearance of MF was set as the MF diagnostic index date [MFDID]); (2) 12 months of continuous enrollment preceding (baseline) and 6 months of continuous enrollment following (follow-up) the MFDID; (3) absence of Janus kinase inhibitor therapy during the 12-month baseline period; (4) absence of polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, or another primary cancer other than basal and squamous cell skin carcinoma during the baseline period; and (5) absence of participation in a clinical trial. Transfusions were assessed over a 180-day landmark period following anemia index date (AID; set to the earliest evidence of anemia, unless it occurred during the 100 days prior to the MFDID, in which the AID was set to the MFDID), and pts were stratified into 3 subcohorts: transfusion independent (TI; no transfusions), transfusion dependent (TD; ≥6 transfusion claims on 6 separate days over any 12-week window), or transfusion requiring (TR; received transfusion claims but did not meet TD criteria). A subset of pts were identified as having anemia based on medical claims from the Medicare fee-for-service database or laboratory test results from the Prognos Biomarker and Laboratory Database ≤100 days before and any time after the MFDID, with severity subcohorts graded based on hemoglobin levels: mild (10 to &amp;lt;12 g/dL), moderate (8 to &amp;lt;10 g/dL), or severe (&amp;lt;8 g/dL) disease. OS from the MFDID was assessed for all pts using Kaplan-Meier analyses, with log-rank tests used to determine statistically significant differences among the transfusion dependency and anemia severity subcohorts. Results: A total of 1749 pts qualified for the transfusion cohorts: 980 were TI, 559 were TR, and 210 were TD. Mean age was 74.8 years, 47.9% were male, and 81.7% were White. Results of Kaplan-Meier analyses showed a median OS of 44.1 months (95% CI, 39.8-48.5 months) for the overall transfusion sample and 62.6 months (95% CI, 57.8-68.2 months) for the TI cohort, 29.0 months (95% CI, 25.9-32.9 months) for the TR cohort, and 22.6 months (95% CI, 20.1-28.1 months) for the TD cohort ( P&amp;lt;.001) (Figure A). A total of 265 pts with corresponding laboratory testing data qualified for the anemia cohorts: 128 were mild, 99 were moderate, and 38 were severe. Mean age was 73.6 years, 47.5% were male, and 79.6% were White. Results of Kaplan-Meier analyses showed a median OS of 64.3 months (95% CI, 56.5-76.9 months) for the overall anemia sample and 89.8 months (95% CI, 72.9 months-not calculable) for the mild cohort, 58.9 months (95% CI, 40.8-69.1 months) for the moderate cohort, and 20.6 months (95% CI, 15.9-49.4 months) for the severe cohort ( P&amp;lt;.001) (Figure B). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that dependency on transfusions, increasing transfusion requirements, and greater anemia severity are each negative prognostic factors for OS among Medicare fee-for-service pts with diagnosed MF. Therapies that reduce transfusion dependency and anemia severity may aid in improving health outcomes and prolong survival in pts with MF. Figure. Kaplan-Meier Curves of Overall Survival in Transfusion (A) and Anemia (B) Subcohorts, Calculated from the Myelofibrosis Diagnostic Index Date

Study of Effect of Aerodynamic Interference on Transonic Flutter Characteristics of Airfoil

Aerodynamic interference occurs when biplane wings are placed close to each other. Investigating aerodynamic interference on the transonic flutter characteristics of these wings is an important issue. A numerical model is configured with the rigid airfoil positioned above the elastic airfoil at different positions to simulate various levels of aerodynamic interference. The flutter characteristics of the elastic airfoil are analyzed using an efficient aeroelastic analysis method based on the reduced order model. The results suggest that when the rigid airfoil is positioned directly above the elastic airfoil the aerodynamic interference accelerates the airflow on the upper surface of the elastic airfoil. This leads to a subsonic dip phenomenon, and the instability mode after the subsonic dip gradually transitions from first order to second order. Furthermore, aerodynamic interference leads to an earlier occurrence of a shock wave on the upper surface of the elastic airfoil, which causes earlier appearances of transonic dip and S-shape flutter boundary. Moreover, the S-shape flutter boundary is widened as a consequence of the interference. Remarkably, the part of the S-shape flutter boundary is solely induced by the first-order mode instability, which is different from the typical alternating instability of the first-order and second-order modes together. When the rigid airfoil is positioned diagonally above the elastic airfoil, aerodynamic interference causes a later occurrence of a shock wave on the upper surface of the elastic airfoil, which leads to later appearances of the transonic dip and S-shape flutter boundary. Additionally, the S-shape flutter boundary is widened.

Early sexual or physical abuse in female and male mood disorder patients

Early abuse has been associated with psychiatric morbidity but comparisons of bipolar (BD) and major depressive (MDD) disorder subjects with versus without early sexual or physical abuse are rare. Patients (n = 684) diagnosed with a DSM-5-TR major mood disorder were evaluated and followed for several years at mood disorder centers to compare details of history and clinical status in participants with versus without early sexual or physical abuse. Early history of sexual (16.2%) or physical abuse (11.9%) was prevalent; 5.15% reported both. Both types of abuse were much more prevalent with BD than MDD. Sexual abuse was associated with younger illness-onset and somewhat younger menarche in females; both abuse-types were associated with familial mood disorders, especially BD. Prospective, long-term illness episode-frequency, depressions or [hypo]manias/year and %-time [hypo]manic all were greater following sexual abuse but morbidity measures did not differ following physical abuse. Prevalence of suicidal behavior ranked: double (48.5%) > physical (32.1%) > sexual (30.3%) abuse, and with BD > MDD (OR = 2.31). Recall bias and not using psychometric instruments to define abuse severity or type may limit interpretation of findings. Early sexual (more than physical) abuse, led to greater morbidity and both abuses were strongly associated with familial mood disorders and greater suicidal risk, especially with double-abuse and BD diagnosis. We support a bilateral relationship between abuse and diagnosis of BD: abuse may facilitate early appearance of BD but also may result from the actions of abusive BD family members.

Cyanobacteriochromes from Gloeobacterales Provide New Insight into the Diversification of Cyanobacterial Photoreceptors

The phytochrome superfamily comprises three groups of photoreceptors sharing a conserved GAF (cGMP-specific phosphodiesterases, cyanobacterial adenylate cyclases, and formate hydrogen lyase transcription activator FhlA) domain that uses a covalently attached linear tetrapyrrole (bilin) chromophore to sense light. Knotted red/far-red phytochromes are widespread in both bacteria and eukaryotes, but cyanobacteria also contain knotless red/far-red phytochromes and cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs). Unlike typical phytochromes, CBCRs require only the GAF domain for bilin binding, chromophore ligation, and full, reversible photoconversion. CBCRs can sense a wide range of wavelengths (ca. 330–750 nm) and can regulate phototaxis, second messenger metabolism, and optimization of the cyanobacterial light-harvesting apparatus. However, the origins of CBCRs are not well understood: we do not know when or why CBCRs evolved, or what selective advantages led to retention of early CBCRs in cyanobacterial genomes. In the current work, we use the increasing availability of genomes and metagenome-assembled-genomes from early-branching cyanobacteria to explore the origins of CBCRs. We reaffirm the earliest branches in CBCR evolution. We also show that early-branching cyanobacteria contain late-branching CBCRs, implicating early appearance of CBCRs during cyanobacterial evolution. Moreover, we show that early-branching CBCRs behave as integrators of light and pH, providing a potential unique function for early CBCRs that led to their retention and subsequent diversification. Our results thus provide new insight into the origins of these diverse cyanobacterial photoreceptors.

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) phenology in relation to topoclimate in Central Macedonia, Greece

Plant phenological behavior is strongly dependent on climate conditions. In the current research, the apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) phenology response to topoclimate conditions, as mainly determined by air temperature, was investigated at two agricultural regions of the Region of Central Macedonia, Greece, Giannitsa Pellas and Rachi Pierias. In this regard, phenological observations were collected in order to evaluate the timing of appearance of the following phenophases: bud burst-green leaf tips (BBCH 53), flower bud visible-still closed (BBCH 55), pink bud stage-flower petals elongating-visible sepals slightly open (BBCH 57), and full flowering at least 50% (BBCH 65). Also, air temperature data were taken from agrometeorological stations which covered the study regions. Results showed that higher maximum and lower minimum air temperatures prevailed during almost the whole year at the plain of Giannitsa than those of Rachi. Earlier appearance of the examined apple phenophases was confirmed at Giannitsa, in comparison to Rachi, increasing the damage risk of vulnerable plant tissues during the bud development and flowering from the late spring frosts. It seems that the maximum and minimum air temperatures of March are decisive for the appearance o BBCH 53, 55 and 57 phenophases while those of April are considered as crucial factors for the onset of BBCH 65. The knowledge of relation between apple tree phenology and topoclimate, in terms of air temperature, may provide valuable information for farmers' decision-making regarding the rational planning of cultivation techniques.

Experimental study on the combustion properties of four common engineered bamboo and wood composites

AbstractEngineered bamboo and wood composites are increasingly utilized in construction due to their eco‐friendly, low‐carbon footprint, and superior mechanical properties. To investigate the effect of heat flux and grain direction on the combustion properties of parallel strand bamboo (PSB), laminated veneer bamboo (LVB), cross‐laminated timber (CLT), and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), a total of 54 specimens in 3 groups were tested through a cone calorimeter. Parameters including the ignition time, heat release rate, mass loss rate, and smoke production rate were investigated. The analytic hierarchy process method was adopted for a multi‐level, qualitative, and quantitative comprehensive fire risk assessment of the corresponding structural materials. The test results reveal that PSB and LVB demonstrated superior performance to the CLT and LVL through the comparison of four combustion characteristics parameters, despite their drawbacks and virtues. The heat flux increases in inverse proportion to the ignition time. As for the heat release rate, the larger peak value is accompanied by an earlier appearance, along with the greater average mass loss rate and the lower smoke rate of engineered bamboo. The peak heat release rate of engineered bamboo composites parallel to the grain is larger than that perpendicular to the grain, whereas other parameters are not significantly influenced by the grain direction. Compared with engineered wood, engineered bamboo composites have the potential to be a safer and more reliable building material in terms of fire risk assessment.Highlights Cone calorimeter was used to analyze the combustion properties of materials. PSB, LVB, CLT, and LVL were studied considering different grain directions. Analytic hierarchy process method was adopted for a fire risk assessment. Engineered bamboo has the potential to be a reliable building material.

Life on the way out of Shuram Excursion: New locality of Ediacaran biota in the Ura Uplift of the southern Siberian Platform

The Ura Uplift section in the Patom Highlands area of Siberia is one of the most complete Neoproterozoic carbonate-siliciclastic succession with excellent chemostratigraphic records (δ13C and 87Sr/86Sr). Present study reveals the first finds of Ediacaran macrofossils within thick siliciclastic/carbonate succession of the Chencha and Zherba formations with well-established negative δ13C anomaly attributed to the Shuram Excursion in this section. The fossils are preserved in glauconitic and quartz sandstone horizons in shallow-marine tide-influenced nearshore environment and share many taphonomic and morphological features with the White Sea- and Nama-type biotas. On the one hand, stratigraphic position of some of fossils within the uppermost Shuram Excursion falls into the time interval ∼573–567 Ma and therefore is correlative to the Avalon-type fossil assemblage. On the other hand, the new fossil assemblage indicates to the earlier appearance of some Nama-type species, such as erniettomorphs, than it was thought. In addition, the new assemblage is characterised by low-diversity metazoan community dominated by microbial textures. It potentially supports the hypothesis that the Ediacaran shallow water fossil assemblages were significantly less species-rich than their deeper water counterparts. The discovery of the oldest macrofossils in South Siberia both opens a new window to understand their palaeoecology and taphonomy, and demonstrates that palaeontological potential of such a vast region has not entirely been realised.

Numerical simulation on diffusion–reaction behavior of concrete under sulfate–chloride coupled attack

The transport of sulfate–chloride salts in concrete is the main cause of its structural deterioration. Traditional numerical simulation assumes that the diffusion coefficients of sulfate ions and chloride ions are both constant leading to large deviations in the predicted results. Based on the mass conservation law, Fick’s second law, and the theory of porous media, a variable coefficient transport model of sulfate–chloride salts in concrete is established in this paper. The model fully reflects the adsorption and desorption of chloride ions in the transport process, the reaction-filling process of sulfate ions and hydration products, as well as the most important porosity and tortuosity affecting ion transport. Results show that the prediction results of the two-dimensional variable coefficient model are consistent with experimental and literature results, with maximum error of 23.49%. The analysis of influencing factors shows that the interaction between sulfate ions and chloride ions does not change the transport law of ions in concrete, but delays the rate of ion corrosion within about 700 days. The ability of chloride ions to be adsorbed decreases by about 20% when sulfate ions are present, and the desorption rate is about 40% to 60%. The tortuosity decreases with the increase of water-binder ratio, and increasing the initial porosity from 5% to 12% leads to an early appearance of cracks by about 1400 days.

Using Goldmann Visual Field Volume to Track Disease Progression in Choroideremia

Choroideremia is an X-linked choroidopathy caused by pathogenic variants in the CHM gene. It is characterized by the early appearance of multiple scotomas in the peripheral visual field that spread and coalesce, usually sparing central vision until late in the disease. These features make quantitative monitoring of visual decline particularly challenging. Here, we describe a novel computational approach to convert Goldmann visual field (GVF) data into quantitative volumetric measurements. With this approach, we analyzed visual field loss in a longitudinal, retrospective cohort of patients with choroideremia. Single-center, retrospective, cohort study. We analyzed data from 238 clinic visits of 56 molecularly-confirmed male patients with choroideremia from 41 families (range, 1-27 visits per patient). Patients had a median follow up of 4 years (range, 0-56 years) with an age range of 5 to 76 years at the time of their visits. Clinical data from molecularly-confirmed patients with choroideremia, including GVF data, were included for analysis. Goldmann visual fieldrecords were traced using a tablet-based application, and the 3-dimensional hill of vision was interpolated for each trace. This procedure allowed quantification of visual field loss from data collected over decades with differing protocols, including different or incomplete isopters. Visual acuity (VA) data were collected and converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution values. A delayed exponential mixed-effects model was used to evaluate the loss of visual field volume over time. Visual acuity and GVF volume. The estimated mean age at disease onset was 12.6 years (standard deviation, 9.1 years; 95% quantile interval, 6.5-36.4 years). The mean field volume loss was 6.8% per year (standard deviation, 4.5%; 95% quantile interval, 1.9%-18.8%) based on exponential modeling. Field volume was more strongly correlated between eyes (r2=0.935) than best-corrected VA (r2=0.285). Volumetric analysis of GVF data enabled quantification of peripheral visual function in patients with choroideremia and evaluation of disease progression. The methods presented here may facilitate the analysis of historical GVF data from patients with inherited retinal disease and other diseases associated with visual field loss. This work informs the creation of appropriate outcome measures in choroideremia therapeutic trials, particularly in trial designs. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Injury-experienced satellite cells retain long-term enhanced regenerative capacity

BackgroundInflammatory memory or trained immunity is a recently described process in immune and non-immune tissue resident cells, whereby previous exposure to inflammation mediators leads to a faster and stronger responses upon secondary challenge. Whether previous muscle injury is associated with altered responses to subsequent injury by satellite cells (SCs), the muscle stem cells, is not known.MethodsWe used a mouse model of repeated muscle injury, in which intramuscular cardiotoxin (CTX) injections were administered 50 days apart in order to allow for full recovery of the injured muscle before the second injury. The effect of prior injury on the phenotype, proliferation and regenerative potential of satellite cells following a second injury was examined in vitro and in vivo by immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR and histological analysis.ResultsWe show that SCs isolated from muscle at 50 days post-injury (injury-experienced SCs (ieSCs)) enter the cell cycle faster and form bigger myotubes when cultured in vitro, compared to control SCs isolated from uninjured contralateral muscle. Injury-experienced SCs were characterized by the activation of the mTORC 1 signaling pathway, suggesting they are poised to activate sooner following a second injury. Consequently, upon second injury, SCs accumulate in greater numbers in muscle at 3 and 10 days after injury. These changes in SC phenotype and behavior were associated with accelerated muscle regeneration, as evidenced by an earlier appearance of bigger fibers and increased number of myonuclei per fiber at day 10 after the second injury.ConclusionsOverall, we show that skeletal muscle injury has a lasting effect on SC function priming them to respond faster to a subsequent injury. The ieSCs have long-term enhanced regenerative properties that contribute to accelerated regeneration following a secondary challenge.

Study of Effectiveness of Curcumin-Chitosan-Aloe Vera Healing Agent with Mupirocin for the Treatment of Aseptic Wounds in Dogs

Background: The study was conducted to evaluate the wound healing potential of nano-based curcumin-chitosan-aloe vera, an indigenously prepared healing agent, for treatment of aseptic surgical wounds in clinical canine cases presented to the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar. Methods: The wounds were assigned into two therapeutic regimens, application of nano-based healing agent and mupirocin to the test and control group respectively as topical therapy along with parenteral antibiotics as per standard operative procedure (SOP). Results were statistically analyzed, using analysis of variance (ANOVA), paired t-test (parametric) and kruskal-wallis one way ANOVA test (non parametric). Result: Chitosan-curcumin-aloevera based healing agent resulted in early reduction of wound exudates and cast formation than control group. Time of appearance and filling of wound bed by granulation tissue was significantly better in test group than control group. Early appearance of epithelium and the percentage of wounds with epithelium were also higher in test group than control group. Histological and histo-chemical findings on day 14 after surgery suggested less inflammatory reaction, more fibroblasts and neo-vascularisation, wider and compact granulation tissue in test group than control group. The values of clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters remained within the normal physiological limits without any significant difference. The average duration taken for complete healing in test and control groups was 9 and 14 days respectively without any sign of infection during the treatment period.

'Through and Through' History: The Management of Gunshot Wounds From the 14th Century to the Present.

Gun violence killed over 46,000 Americans in 2021; almost 120,000 suffered gunshot wounds. This epidemic has attracted national attention and increasing concern from medical and surgical organizations, as evident in this special issue. 'Through and Through History' explores the surgical management of gunshot wounds from their earliest appearance in 14th-century Europe to the present. Interweaving the civilian and military experience, it details not only the evolution of care directly applied to patients but also the social, political, and scientific milieu that shaped decisions made and actions performed both in and out of the operating room. The article describes how surgeons have pushed the boundaries of medicine and science in each era, developing new therapies for their patients, a historical trend that persists today when such care has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives each year.

Changes of optical coherence tomographic hyperreflective foci in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment patients after successful surgery

PurposeTo assess the changes of hyperreflective foci (HRF) in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) patients after successful reattachment surgery. MethodsTwenty-nine macula-off RRD eyes with successful reattachment surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to image macular regions and measure HRF in outer retina and inner retina at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12 months after surgery. The relationships between HRF and photoreceptor layer status, visual outcomes were evaluated. ResultsAfter retinal reattachment, HRF mainly distributed at the location where external limiting membrane (ELM) or inner and outer segment (IS/OS) line was disrupted. The HRF numbers in outer and inner retina were greater in eyes with discontinuous IS/OS line than eyes with continuous IS/OS line (all p<0.05). In the outer retina, HRF increased in the initial three months after retinal reattachment, and then decreased gradually after 3 months (p<0.05). The HRF number in the outer retina at postoperative 0.5 months was associated with favorable visual outcomes at 6 and 12 months (r=-0.487, p =0.025; r=-0.626, p=0.005, respectively), nevertheless, the HRF number at 3 months was correlated with poor visual results at 6 and 12 months (r=0.441, p =0.017; r=0.477, p=0.019, respectively). ConclusionHRF mainly occurred near the site where ELM or IS/OS line was injured after retinal reattachment. In the outer retina, the number of HRF gradually increased in the first 3 months and then gradually decreased. The early appearance of HRF in the outer retina was associated with a good visual prognosis, while the late appearance may suggest a less favorable visual outcome.

Changes in the Carpathian fauna of Malachiinae beetles (Coleoptera, Melyridae) in the context of temperature increase

Over last century in Europe a tendency of change in species ranges has occurred for insects of different taxonomic groups. We analyzed the changes that have taken place in the distribution of some soft-winged beetles (Malachiinae, Melyridae) species in the Carpathian region. The obtained data are based on a study of museum beetles’ collections and the authors’ collected materials. Data comparison relating to species distribution shows that the Carpathian fauna during the second half of the 20th century increased by 12 species. Some species have significantly changed their ranges. Species of Southern European and Mediterranean (Anthomalachius strangulatus, Clanoptilus spinipennis), Central-East European (Apalochrus femoralis, Clanoptilus falcifer) origin spread to the East Carpathian region. And vice versa, some species (e.g. Malachius scutellaris) from Central European and the Carpathian regions have spread beyond their borders of ranges to the East and North. Malachiinae species are anthophilic insects. Their life cycles, flight period, and distribution depend on the phenology of host plants. Acceleration of phenophases of the host plants and intensification of the metamorphosis processes due to increase in air temperature has caused an earlier appearance of soft-winged beetles in recent years and contributed to expansion of the ranges of some species of them. In our opinion, expansion of the species ranges and penetration of new beetle species into the Carpathian region from surrounding areas are related to the climate changes, in particular to warming. This thesis is confirmed by multiyear air temperature data of the Transcarpathian Centre of Hydrometeorology. On a background of increase in regional air temperature by about 0.8 °C an average air temperature in foothills of Ukrainian Carpathians has increased by 1.7 °C during last 50–60 years.

Robust generation of monodisperse droplets using a microfluidic step emulsification device with triangular nozzle

AbstractIn this work, the droplet generation process in the microfluidic step emulsification chip with a triangular nozzle (SE‐T) was investigated in the combination of visualization experiment and numerical simulation, through a comparison with a rectangular nozzle (SE‐R). The flow regimes, including dripping, dripping‐jetting transition, and jetting, were observed in the SE‐T, among which the dripping is the preferred flow regime to generate monodispersed droplet with corresponding C.V. (coefficient of variation) of the droplet size smaller than 1.9%. Compared with the SE‐R, the larger space and expanding structure of the triangular nozzle in the SE‐T enhance the wall wetting effects, which induces earlier appearance and accelerates shrinking of the neck. As a result, the SE‐T exhibits more robust droplet performance under the dripping regime, which produces the droplets with nearly unchanged size and higher monodispersity, especially little related to the variations of surfactant concentrations and dispersed phase flow rates.