Purpose: This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes between ulnar superficialis slip resection (USSR) combined with A1 pulley release and isolated A1 pulley release for trigger finger management, with particular emphasis on patients presenting with proximal interphalangeal joint flexion contracture or persistent triggering. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, with literature searches performed in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus through November 2025. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the ROBINS-I tool.Results: Five retrospective studies involving 454 patients (USSR combined, 185; isolated A1 release, 269) were included in the analysis. Isolated A1 pulley release and combined USSR demonstrated comparable outcomes with respect to functional improvement (qDASH, p=0.52), pain reduction (VAS, p=0.93), and correction of flexion contracture (extension lag angle, p=0.07). Notably, the combined USSR group exhibited superior grip strength recovery (p=0.03), whereas complication rates were similar between the two groups (p=0.14).Conclusion: Although isolated A1 pulley release and combined USSR yielded comparable overall outcomes, the USSR cohorts frequently comprised patients with more severe pathology, suggesting that USSR effectively equalizes prognosis in high-risk presentations. In addition, USSR demonstrated superior functional recovery with respect to grip strength. Therefore, while isolated A1 pulley release remains the standard approach for primary cases, USSR should be actively considered as a definitive intervention for recurrent disease or severe flexion contractures to achieve functional recovery comparable to that of the general population.

Graphene flakes, as two-dimensional materials, can self-assemble under certain conditions and have wide-ranging applications in industries from electronics to biomedicine due to their exceptional mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Recent studies indicate that single graphene flakes can be aligned by an external electric field (EF) in polar solvents like water. However, how their self-assembly behavior is influenced by the EF remains unclear. In this work, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the self-assembly of graphene flakes with different shapes and sizes under various EF conditions: static EF (SEF), alternating EF (AEF), and circularly polarized EF (CPEF). Our results reveal that different EF conditions significantly impact the number of pairwise bindings between flakes and the average size of the aggregates. In the absence of an EF, graphene flakes tend to form globular, round-like structures. When an EF is applied, particularly under SEF, the aggregates adopt a stretched configuration aligned with the field's direction, while AEF has a weaker alignment ability than SEF. Under CPEF, elongated aggregates rotate, following the field with a characteristic lag angle. Furthermore, while aggregates can explore more configurations under CPEF, the two-dimensional free energy landscape indicates that the stretched state is the most stable. This work deepens our understanding of how EFs influence the self-assembly of graphene flakes, potentially guiding future engineering applications for controlling the aggregation of graphene and other discotic molecules.

ABSTRACT High‐precision three‐dimensional poly(caprolactone) (PCL) fibrous scaffolds produced by melt electrowriting (MEW) have gained significant attention in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, the selection of biobased polymers suitable for MEW remains limited, particularly for tuning mechanical properties and degradation rates. This study explores poly(glycolide‐co‐caprolactone) (PGCL) for its rapid degradation while maintaining favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The printability, mechanical characteristics, cytotoxicity, and hydrolytic degradation of PGCL are examined. Successfully fabricated PGCL scaffolds include planar scaffolds with a fiber spacing of 100 µm and a fiber diameter of 6.4 µm, scaffolds with complex patterns, and tubular scaffolds featuring a winding angle of 60° and an inner diameter of 2 mm. Printability is assessed through jet lag angle, Taylor cone area, and fiber diameter during long‐term printing. Mechanical testing reveals a high elongation at break of 1526% for the tubular scaffolds, which preserve morphology after 10 compression cycles at 50% strain. Biological evaluations demonstrate that PGCL scaffolds effectively promote fibroblast adhesion, growth, and proliferation. A 1‐year hydrolytic degradation study proves the fast degradation behavior of PGCL scaffolds. Furthermore, PGCL scaffolds effectively reinforce planar and tubular hydrogels, highlighting their potential as medical devices such as cardiac patches and artificial vascular grafts.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and complication rates after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) with lateralized implant for patients with high-grade fatty infiltration (FI) of posterior rotator cuff including infraspinatus (ISP) and teres minor (TM). From January 2016 to June 2022, 139 patients who underwent primary RTSA with single lateralized implant with at least 2 years of follow-up were reviewed. According to FI of ISP from preoperative MRI, patients were divided into high ISP FI group (n = 88) and low ISP FI group (n = 51). Clinical outcomes and complications were compared between the two groups. A subgroup analysis was done with a high ISP FI group divided into low TM FI group (n = 77) and high TM FI group (n = 11). At final follow-up, there was no significant difference in range of motion of forward elevation (P = 0.282), external rotation (ER; P = 0.467), and Constant score (P = 0.252) between the high ISP FI group and the low ISP FI group. At the final follow-up, patients in the high FI group demonstrated significantly reduced strength in both forward elevation (P = 0.049) and ER (P = 0.007) compared with those in the low FI group. However, the mean improvement in muscle strength from preoperative to postoperative evaluation in forward elevation and ER showed no significant difference between two groups (P = 0.559, 0.675, respectively). Subgroup analysis comparing low TM FI group and high TM FI group in the high ISP FI group showed that there were no notable differences in clinical outcomes between two groups. Bone mineral density, tear size in mediolateral dimension, ISP FI, and ER lag angle were found to be markedly associated with poor ER strength at final follow-up in univariate and multivariate analyses. Lateralized RTSA yielded marked improvements in shoulder motion, including forward elevation and ER, despite severe fatty changes in the ISP and TM. III, Retrospective case-control study.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the dielectric performance at grain boundaries of ZnO film. Design/methodology/approach ZnO thin film was prepared on glass substrate by a simple sol-gel method. The crystal structure of ZnO powders was tested by X-ray diffraction. The thickness of ZnO thin film is tested using by elliptical polarizer. The dielectric performance of ZnO thin film was investigated by electrostatic force microscope (EFM). Findings The results show that there is a significant phase angle lag and enhanced dielectric properties at the grain boundaries (GBs). The coefficient of the quadratic term “a” has an increasing function relationship with the dielectric constant of the sample. The parabolic coefficient “a” at the GBs and grain interiors is 9.02 × 10–3 and 6.25 × 10–3, respectively. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, for the first time, the dielectric performance at grain boundaries of ZnO film. ZnO thin film was investigated by EFM.

Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon material with exceptional mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, has widespread applications in industries ranging from electronics to biomedicine. External electric fields (EFs) have been shown to effectively align graphene flakes, enhancing their performance in coatings, nanocomposites, and anisotropic materials. While molecular dynamics simulations have extensively explored graphene's mechanical and thermal properties, as well as EF-induced alignment mechanisms, the role of solvent effects-particularly the influence of water's directional hydrogen-bonding network under EF-remains underexplored in rigid graphene systems. This work investigates how static EFs (SEFs), alternating EFs (AEFs), and circularly polarized EFs (CPEFs) influence the alignment of graphene flakes with varying sizes and shapes, focusing specifically on solvent-mediated effects. Our results show that the SEF and AEF can align graphene flakes such that their normal vectors point in the direction perpendicular to the EF, while the CPEF orients the flakes so that their normal vectors are perpendicular to the rotational plane of the CPEF. For symmetric flakes, a precessional behavior is observed, while for non-symmetric flakes, the principal axes rotate in sync with the CPEF, exhibiting a lag angle that depends on both the frequency of the CPEF and the aspect ratio of the flake. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of EF-directed alignment in graphene and other rigid discotic molecules, offering valuable insights for applications in nanoelectronics, energy devices, and functional materials.

This paper proposes a theoretical model for the electromagnetic (EM) radiation of magnetoelectric (ME) antennas, considering the eddy current (EC) loss and the quasistatic hysteresis effect. It characterizes the loss characteristics with complex equivalent parameters and innovatively embeds the coupling of classical and anomalous EC losses into the equivalent permeability of the magnetostrictive layer, thus establishing a quantitative link between the EC loss and radiation performance of the ME antennas. The nonlinear quasistatic hysteresis constitutive equation is incorporated into the derived equivalent parameter through the equivalent parameter method. The developed theoretical model of EM radiation is highlighted with a direct comparison with experimental and simulation data that shows their close agreement. The results indicate that the EC loss significantly suppresses the performance of the ME antennas, causing frequency shift, phase angle lag, and performance degradation, while reducing the thickness of the magnetostrictive layer can effectively decrease the internal EC loss of the ME antennas, thus improving their matching and radiation performance. In addition, the influence of the magneto-elastic coupling characteristics and the EC loss effect of the magnetostrictive thin film on the hysteresis behavior is also revealed. The study provides a theoretical foundation for designing the high-performance self-biased ME antennas.

Posttraumatic proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) flexion contracture is a common but difficult problem. Comprehensive literature is sparse, with inconsistent surgical techniques and outcomes. In this study, we describe in detail the volar approach of stepwise release and evaluate the outcomes of using the proximal interphalangeal joint adipofascial flap (PIPJAF) to cover the volar capsule of PIPJ. In this retrospective cohort study spanning over 12 years, we compared 19 patients with PIPJAF and 16 patients without PIPJAF, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months postoperatively. In the PIPJAF group, there was significant improvement in active flexion arc (70.8°, SD 18.6°) at 6 months, and at 6 months and later significantly better extension lag angle (20.8°, SD 19.2°), improvement in extensor lag angle (29.2°, SD 15.3°), and improvement ratio (0.62, SD 0.33) were observed. There is a modest mid-term benefit in using the PIPJAF. We propose integrating the volar approach with PIPJAF in suitable patients with adequate adipofascial tissue on the lateral aspect of the finger. III - retrospective cohort study.

Reciprocating liquid hydrogen pumps are essential equipment for hydrogen refueling stations with liquid hydrogen stored. The valves play a crucial role in facilitating unidirectional flow and the pressurization of liquid hydrogen within the pump. This paper establishes a comprehensive numerical model to simulate the whole working cycle of a reciprocating liquid hydrogen pump. The influence of valve parameters and pump operating conditions on the motion characteristics of valves, including lift, closing lag angle, and impact velocity, is investigated. The results indicate that with the maximum lift of the suction valve at 10 mm and the discharge valve at 5 mm, the closing lag angle is minimal, and the impact velocity of the valve falls within an acceptable range. The optimal rotation speed range is between 200 and 300 rpm, within which both the closing lag angle and impact velocity of valves are minimized. Excessive maximum lift and low rotational speed lead to significant oscillations and high impact velocity in valve movement with the effects being more pronounced in the suction valve. The effects of the subcooling degree of inflow liquid hydrogen on the valve motion are further analyzed. The findings suggest that the subcooling degree of inflow liquid hydrogen helps inhibit the vaporization in the pump operation and ensures the valves work correctly. This work would contribute to pump optimization and valve collision failure analysis in reciprocating liquid hydrogen pumps.

In the production of oil and natural gas, excessive clearance volume is an important factor affecting the normal operation of oil-gas multiphase pump. Currently, little research has been conducted on the effect of clearance volume on the output characteristics of multiphase pump at home and abroad, leading to extremely low efficiency in the field application of multiphase pump. Therefore, this study conducted numerical calculations on the internal flow characteristics and output performance of multiphase pump under different clearance volumes using FLUENT software. Results show that pressure and fluid velocity gradually decrease as the clearance volume increases. Simultaneously, the number and intensity of vortex flow gradually increase, media pressurization speed becomes slower, and the lag angle of the discharge valve opening becomes larger. Moreover, under conditions with a higher gas volume fraction, multiphase pump with larger clearance volumes experiences gas locking. Furthermore, this study provides a theoretical basis for the reasonable design of clearance volume for multiphase pump by drawing a relationship curve between gas volume fraction and clearance volume. These research findings can provide theoretical support for the performance optimization and design improvement of multiphase pumps.

Comparative analysis of length gain provided by five-flap z-plasty and double z-plasty techniques for correction of digital flexion contractures

Magnetic helical miniature robots (MHMRs) exhibit efficient motion performance in low Reynolds number environments, having great promise for biomedical applications like targeted delivery. However, during targeted delivery, the backward propulsion of MHMRs in previous work leads to cargo being released, limiting their degrees of freedom and interference resistance. Furthermore, the basic magnetic field parameter, amplitude, has not been effectively utilized in previous MHMRs. In this letter, we propose a magnetic helical miniature robot with soft magnetic-controlled gripper (MHMR-G), using magnetic field amplitude to functionalize MHMRs for the first time. The velocity of MHMR-G is controlled by magnetic field frequency and the grasping of gripper is controlled by magnetic field amplitude. It is proposed that the lag angle and rotation frequency will adversely affect the grasping of gripper under a rotating magnetic field, but results show that increasing magnetic field amplitude can effectively mitigate these adverse effects. Finally, a manipulation test of cargo transport is performed, demonstrating that the gripper of MHMR-G can effectively confine cargo during propulsion.

Dielectrophoresis affects the surface wettability by applying a non-uniform electric field to dipoles inside dielectric liquid, achieving adjustable droplet contact angle and overcoming the saturation limitation of contact angle caused by the electrowettability effect. However, it is difficult to realize useful three-dimensional tunable optical devices because most of the driving electrodes need to be patterned. In this work, a model of double flexible electrodes simulating planar interdigitated pattern electrodes is proposed based on the dielectrophoresis. Double flexible electrodes, which are wrapped with an insulating dielectric layer and are not conductive to each other are arranged at close intervals and wound along the plane substrate to form a two-dimensional planar line wall. A hydrophobic layer is used to fill the gap and increase the initial contact angle. Ultimately, the “droplet-interdigitated planar line wall” dielectrophoresis driven-droplet model is formed after the dielectric droplets have been deposited on the line wall surface. Firstly, considering the influence of penetration depth and electrode gap area, Young’s equation is theoretically modified to adapt to this model. Then, the finite element algorithm simulation is used to used to comparatively analyze the potential distribution of this model and the planar interdigitated pattern electrode model. The field strength distributions of the electrodes with different wire diameters and insulating layer thickness values are analyzed. It can be found that with the increase of the diameter of the electrode wire and the thickness of the insulating layer, the morphology of the model changes from the tip electrode into the planar electrode, the surface field strength attenuates exponentially and the peak value decreases. This shows that the structure of this electrode in this model is superior to that of the planar electrode. After that, the contact angle of the model is measured experimentally in a range of 58°－90° under 0–250 <i>V</i><sub>rms</sub> voltage, which is in line with the theoretical expectation. At the same time, neither obvious contact angle lag nor saturation is observed in the experiment. Finally, the new electrophoretic driving droplet model constructed in this paper transforms the dielectric electrophoretic driving mode from a two-dimensional planar electrode to a one-dimensional flexible linear electrode. Because of its flexibility and plasticity, it is convenient to form a three-dimensional cavity and can be applied to more complex device structures.

Unlocking the print of poly(L-lactic acid) by melt electrowriting for medical application

The most scientifically accepted theory to justify geomagnetism was presented on November 15, 1919, by Joseph Larmorthat of the geodynamo, which would also justify solar magnetism. But this theory, under no circumstances, justifies all the geomagnetic behaviors already verified experimentally: the generation of magnetism -ability to generate ordered magnetic fields; magnetic decay between axes of rotation and magnetic alignment; erratic decline -the lag angle between the axes is erratic; not antipodes -the poles are not diametrically opposed; reversals -hundreds of magnetic pole reversals have occurred over millions of years; excursionmagnetic axis was temporarily aligned with the equator. Anyway, the origins of geomagnetism, until today, are not sufficiently well explained. Of the various theories already presented over a century ago, none of them meets all the geomagnetic phenomena and behaviors observed over time. The present work will present a new hypothesis to completely justify the generation, maintenance and behavior of geomagnetism, and that will certainly serve to justify, in the same way, the magnetic field existing in other celestial bodies.

Damping performance of hardened cement pastes containing styrene-butyl acrylate polymers with varied glass transition temperature and surface charges

In this work, the aeroelastic stability of an aerial refueling system is investigated. The system is formed by a classical hose and drogue, and the novelty of our work is the inclusion of a grid fin configuration to improve its stability. The unsteady aerodynamic forces on the grid fins are determined using the concept of a unit grid fin (UGF). For each UGF, the unsteady aerodynamic forces are computed using the Doublet-Lattice Method, and the forces on the complete grid fins are calculated using interfering factors obtained from wind tunnel measurements for the steady case. The static equilibrium position of the system influences the linearized perturbed unsteady motion of the ensemble. This effect, together with the phase lag angle introduced to account for the unsteady aerodynamic forces in the hose, makes the flutter computation of the complete system a non-typical one. The results show that, by adding the grid fins, the stability of the refueling system is improved, delaying or annulling flutter occurrence.

During the permanent magnet synchronous motor operation, the inherent back-EMF output voltage harmonics of the permanent magnet synchronous motor shows the high harmonic noise signal, which is not conducive to the high precision control system. The harmonic error compensation method based on feedforward compensation is adopted to solve this problem and improve the system response characteristics and control accuracy. Firstly, in this paper, the torque harmonic error of a 12-pole 18-slot permanent magnet synchronous motor is analyzed and compensated. Then, this paper compensates the lag problem, which caused by the lag phase of the space voltage vector and harmonic lag. Finally, the experimental and observational simulation analysis results show that the method proposed in this paper can effectively suppress the error caused by the signal sampling lag. And the observation accuracy of permanent magnet synchronous motor is significantly improved.

Response of storm surge and M2 tide to typhoon speeds along coastal Zhejiang Province

Driven by a high-speed rotating electric field (E-field), molecular motors with polar groups may performa unidirectional,repetitive, and GHz frequency rotation and thus offer potential applicationsas nanostirrers. To drive the unidirectional rotation of molecularmotors, it is crucial to consider factors of internal charge flow,thermal noise, molecular flexibility, and so forth before selectingan appropriate frequency of a rotating E-field. Herein,we studied two surface-mounted dipolar rotors of a “caltrop-like”molecule and a “sandwich” molecule by using quantum–mechanicalcomputations in combination with torque analyses. We find that therotational trend as indicated by the magnitude and the direction oftorque vectors can sensitively change with the lag angle (α)between the dipolar arm and the E-field. The atomiccharges timely flow within the molecule as the E-fieldrotates, so the lag angle α must be kept in particular intervalsto maintain the rotor’s unidirectional rotation. The thermaleffect can substantially slow down the rotation of the dipolar rotorin the E-field. The flexible dipolar arm shows amore rigid geometry in the E-field with higher rotationspeed. Our work would be useful for designing E-drivenmolecular rotors and for guiding their practical applications in future.