Smooth Appearance Research Articles

Preparation and characterization of a bio-based rigid plastic based on gelatinized starch cross-linked with furfural and formaldehyde

The extensive use and rapid consumption of energy especially with the shortage of oil-derived resources pushed researchers to focus on developing more biomass-based plastics. The current article presents the possibility to undergo polycondensation of gelatinized starch and corn-derived furfural in presence of formaldehyde under acidic conditions to produce a thermoplastic material, starch–furanic resin. The structure of resulting product was studied intensively using solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy. The glass transitions, molecular weight, and thermal stability of the developed material were investigated with techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gel permeation chromatograph (GPC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, the morphological features of the material’s surface were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the related properties of the plastic were characterized by the measurements of Brinell hardness and compression resistance. The plastic shows a smooth appearance without crack and bubbles, and exhibited a glass transition temperature as high as 129 °C and a 12% weight loss temperature of 200 ℃ in nitrogen. All these results support that the condensation reactions between the gelatinized starch and aldehydes were more appropriate under acidic conditions to yield more complicated network structure with better homogeneous microstructure, which revealed superior and comparable results to that of phenol-formaldehyde plastics.

Abstract 5935: Malignant risk assessment of clinical and histological subtypes of lichenoid mucositis with dysplasia

Abstract Introduction: Oral lichen planus (OLP), a common, chronic inflammatory condition, is categorized as potentially malignant by the World Health Organization. However, some hypothesize that only lichenoid lesions with dysplasia (LLD) are at risk of progression to cancer. Others have proposed subtypes of LLD, with differing malignant risks. Objectives: To determine if subtypes of LLD exist, based on clinical and histological features, and to determine the proportion of malignant progression in these subtypes. Methods: A nested case control study was conducted using tissue samples and longitudinal data of patients enrolled in the Oral Cancer Prediction Longitudinal study. Inclusion criteria were a biopsy confirmed diagnosis of lichenoid mucositis with dysplasia, no history of head and neck cancer, at least 5 years of follow-up, and accessible clinical photographs and bio-banked tissue. A chart review was conducted, and photographs reviewed to assess for lesion features characteristic of OLP. Histological sections were examined for lichenoid inflammation, and immunohistochemical staining for collagen IV was used to evaluate the integrity of the basement membrane (BM). Two subtypes of LLD were proposed: 1) a primary lichenoid and secondary dysplastic (L1D2) type defined as a lesion with a reticular and bilateral clinical presentation, subepithelial inflammation, and evidence of BM degeneration, and 2) a primary dysplastic and secondary lichenoid type (D1L2), which may present unilaterally or bilaterally, clinically resemble OLP or leukoplakia, and exhibit subepithelial inflammation with or without evidence of BM degeneration. Association with outcome, which was defined as progression to severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, or squamous cell carcinoma, was tested using Fisher’s Exact test. Results: All progressing cases had a non-homogenous clinical presentation (P=0.005) and were more apt to change (in size, texture, and/or appearance) over time (P=0.002). A reticular, smooth appearance was more common in non-progressing cases (P=0.007, P=0.016, respectively). 30% of cases in the D1L2 subtype progressed to malignancy, compared to none in the L1D2 group, though this finding did not reach statistical significance (P=0.081). Conclusion: LLD with a non-homogenous, non-reticular clinical presentation are at greater risk of progression, and a high proportion of cases exhibiting primary dysplastic features progressed to malignancy, indicating that LLD should be under close clinical follow-up. Citation Format: Iris Lin, Oh Run Kim, Leigha Rock, Lewei Zhang, Miriam Rosin, Martial Guillaud, Denise Laronde. Malignant risk assessment of clinical and histological subtypes of lichenoid mucositis with dysplasia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5935.

Synergistic effect of miR-9 overexpression and electrical induction on differentiation of conjunctiva mesenchymal stem cells into photoreceptor-like cells.

A variety of genes and materials can induce the differentiation of stem cells. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of microRNA-9 (miR-9) overexpression and electrical induction on the photoreceptor differentiation of Conjunctiva Mesenchymal Stem Cells (CJMSCs). In this study, an electroconductive scaffold (silk fibroin polymer (SF) and reduced graphene oxide (rGo) nanoparticles) was fabricated by electrospinning method, and its characteristics such as diameter, graphene distribution, compound, conductivity, and toxicity were evaluated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), FTIR, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and MTT assay. The cells were transduced by a lentiviral vector carrying miR-9, then electrical induction was implied on mir-9-CJMSCs, cultivated on the fabricated scaffold, and the expressions of neural and photoreceptor marker genes were evaluated by RT-qPCR. A uniform, smooth appearance with lower diameter, uniform distribution of rGo nanoparticles across the fibers, and lower resistance were shown in SF-rGo fibrous scaffold. After electrical stimulation, lower and higher expression of neural marker genes and photoreceptor marker genes (Rhodopsin, PKC) were documented, respectively. Finally, we proposed that the combinational approach of miR-9 overexpression and electrical induction leads CJMSCs to photoreceptor-like cells.

The Transformative Journey of Transplantation.

The Transformative Journey of Transplantation Valen Keefer The moisture from the ocean floated effortlessly through the air as it glided over the rocky cliff. The steady stream of mist covered my face and frizzy hair with beaded water droplets. I had been sitting on a bench alone for hours admiring the Northern California coast at a magnificent overlook featuring a bird’s-eye view of the endless sea and campground I called home for the past month. The stunning mountain landscape behind me, the soothing colors of the coastal shrubbery, and the smell of eucalyptus made for a trifecta of surreal beauty. The ocean disappeared from my view and I became engulfed in the precipitation and felt like I was suspended in a cloud. I was soaking in every moment as it was the last day of my solo RV trip. The fog slowly separated and exposed bits and pieces of the ocean again and then a breathtaking rainbow came into sight. Each end appeared to be touching either side of the campground like it was giving it a hug. I was eye-level with the center and highest point of the rainbow, arching above our home on wheels. I stood on the bench with my arms wide open, embracing nature and the gift of life in all its glory. This moment would not have possessed such deep meaning if it wasn’t for the journey that came before it—the transformative journey of transplantation. Some may think of transplantation as a singular event when in reality, it’s a lifelong journey that can start with a diagnosis many years prior. My transplant journey began when I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) at 10-years-old. Being diagnosed with a hereditary disease that has deeply impacted multiple generations of our family and with no known treatment or cure was a lot to carry as a child. My youth was full of love from my parents and filled with illness and the limitations and long-term impacts of growing up with multiple chronic illnesses. My education on PKD was the brutal real-life experiences of enduring it firsthand—with no support groups, resources, or internet to seek answers. I always felt different during a time when you’d do anything to fit in. I couldn’t play sports and had to sit on the sidelines in gym class. I was often in the nurse’s office, hospital, or recovering from a surgery. I hid my scars and unattractive body while changing in gym class. Friendships were really hard. Relationships were even harder. Growing up with chronic illnesses takes away from the fun of dreaming. It’s like that bright future full of endless possibilities is blocked by a huge mountain you know you have to summit first with no supplies, no friends, and no paved path to follow. Complications from PKD followed me from high school right into college, when I spent almost a year in the hospital. Both of my kidneys were removed, I was on dialysis, had pancreatitis, received over 70 blood transfusions, survived an internal bleed, and was in dire need of a lifesaving kidney transplant. At 19-years-old, I was too sick to be placed on the transplant waiting list, but needed a kidney to survive. My parents were living at the Ronald McDonald House, wondering if they would be the next ones to lose their teenage daughter. A close family friend forever changed our lives when she restored my health by selflessly donating her kidney to me. While it was an arduous path to transplantation, in some ways, the journey was just beginning. Fifteen years following my kidney transplant and summiting what I thought was going to be the most challenging mountain of my health journey, I found myself back on death’s doorstep with another battle ahead. I was in need of a second miracle, this time a lifesaving liver transplant. It was PKD again. The bile ducts in my liver were so gnarly that they looked like limbs of an oak tree rather than the desired smooth straw-like appearance. Their malformations led to chronic liver infections and multiple sepsis...

A General 3D Non-Stationary 6G Channel Model With Time-Space Consistency

This paper proposes a novel general sixth-generation (6G) irregular-shaped geometry-based stochastic model (IS-GBSM) for millimeter wave (mmWave) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems. The proposed IS-GBSM can model spherical wavefront propagation, high delay resolution, and three-dimensional (3D) space-time-frequency non-stationarity of channels with time-space consistency, and thus can be applied to integrated communication and sensing systems. To capture the 3D non-stationarity with channel consistency, a new hybrid method combining geometric and parametric methods is developed. Based on the geometric method, i.e., visibility region (VR), the smooth and consistent appearance and disappearance of clusters during array-time evolution are modeled. With the help of the parametric method, a frequency-dependent path gain is introduced, and a visible factor based on uniform continuity theorem and bounded variation function is further proposed to capture the soft cluster power handover during cluster array-time evolution. Key channel statistics of the proposed IS-GBSM are derived and investigated. Simulation results demonstrate that the space-time-frequency non-stationarity is modeled and time-space consistency is captured. Finally, the utility of the proposed IS-GBSM is verified by the excellent agreement between simulation results and measurement.

Evaluating fabric smoothness appearance by a mechanical test system for fabric shape retention

It is still a challenging task to objectively evaluate the fabric smoothness appearance due to the complexity and variety of fabrics. Innovative methods that can accurately quantify the surface smoothness in a practical and repeatable way are desideratum. To address this challenge, we put forward a new mechanical testing method, that is, mechanical test system for fabric shape retention (MTS-FSR). The design details and testing principle of the MTS-FSR were presented. The measured force-displacement curves were fitted and eight characteristic indices related to fabric wrinkling were determined and interpreted by their physical meanings. The repeatability and accuracy of the system were studied to verify the reliability of the method. Moreover, a prediction model for fabric smoothness appearance was established based on decision tree algorithm that was proved superior to other common used learning algorithms (e.g. support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF) and Back-Propagation neural network (BPNN)) based on comparison analysis. The experimental results show that the designed instrument provides a feasible and effective measurement method for the objective evaluation of fabric smoothness appearance with good accuracy and resolution.

Novel Formulation of Fusidic Acid Incorporated into a Myrrh-Oil-Based Nanoemulgel for the Enhancement of Skin Bacterial Infection Treatment.

Fusidic acid (FA) is renowned as an effective bacteriostatic agent obtained from the fungus Fusidium coccineum, used for treating various eye and skin disorders. The objective of the present study was to develop, characterize, and evaluate the antibacterial activity of a novel FA nanoemulgel for topical skin application. Primarily, various fusidic acid nanoemulsion formulations were fabricated using different concentrations of myrrh essential oil, Tween 80 as a surfactant, and Transcutol® P as a co-surfactant. A Box–Behnken design was employed to select the optimized FA nanoemulsion formulation, based on the evaluated particle size and % of in vitro release as dependent variables. The optimized formula was incorporated within a hydrogel to obtain an FA nanoemulgel (FA-NEG) preparation. The formulated FA-NEG was evaluated for its visual appearance, pH, viscosity, and spreadability, compared to its corresponding prepared fusidic acid gel. In vitro release, kinetic study, and ex vivo drug permeation were implemented, followed by formulation stability testing. The FA-NEG exhibited a smooth and homogeneous appearance, pH value (6.61), viscosity (25,265 cP), and spreadability (33.6 mm), which were all good characteristics for appropriate topical application. A total of 59.3% of FA was released from the FA-NEG after 3 h. The ex vivo skin permeability of the FA-NEG was significantly enhanced by 3.10 ± 0.13-fold, showing SSTF of 111.2 ± 4.5 µg/cm2·h when compared to other formulations under investigation (p < 0.05). No irritation was observed upon applying the FA-NEG to animal skin. Eventually, it was revealed that the FA-NEG displayed improved antibacterial activity against a wide variety of bacteria when compared to its corresponding FA gel and marketed cream, indicating the prospective antibacterial effect of myrrh essential oil. In conclusion, the recommended formulation offers a promising antibacterial approach for skin infections.

Rendering discrete participating media using geometrical optics approximation

We consider the scattering of light in participating media composed of sparsely and randomly distributed discrete particles. The particle size is expected to range from the scale of the wavelength to several orders of magnitude greater, resulting in an appearance with distinct graininess as opposed to the smooth appearance of continuous media. One fundamental issue in the physically-based synthesis of such appearance is to determine the necessary optical properties in every local region. Since these properties vary spatially, we resort to geometrical optics approximation (GOA), a highly efficient alternative to rigorous Lorenz—Mie theory, to quantitatively represent the scattering of a single particle. This enables us to quickly compute bulk optical properties for any particle size distribution. We then use a practical Monte Carlo rendering solution to solve energy transfer in the discrete participating media. Our proposed framework is the first to simulate a wide range of discrete participating media with different levels of graininess, converging to the continuous media case as the particle concentration increases.

Synthesis of DC–3074 and Z–1 Silicones Modified Epoxy Resin and Comparison of Salt Spray Resistance

In order to improve the chemical resistance of epoxy resin and its toughness and corrosion resistance, in this paper, silicone modified epoxy resin was prepared with epoxy resin and two kinds of silicones, Dow Corning DC–3074 and Chenguang Z–1, as raw materials and dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) as catalyst. The structure of the modified epoxy resin was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and its performance was tested. The results showed that the epoxy resin modified by DC–3074 had better salt spray resistance compared with the Z–1. Therefore, the DC–3074 was selected as the epoxy resin E–51 modifier. The silicone modified resin was further synthesized with E–51 as the matrix resin, 12.5% DC–3074 silicone as the modifier, and 0.5% DBTDL as the catalyst. The obtained cured coatings showed good performance with the following results: product fineness of 20–25 μm, solid content of more than 95%, surface drying time of 25 min, smooth appearance, hardness of 2 H, adhesion level of 0, and salt spray resistance time of 432 h. The prepared modified epoxy resin coating has good salt spray resistance and good application prospect.

Multi response optimization in the development of anti-pilling and easy care finished rayon from bamboo and bamboo/cotton fabrics using desirability function

The present study discusses the optimization of process parameters of anti- pilling and resin finished rayon from 100% bamboo and 50:50 bamboo/ cotton fabrics used in home textile. Two weave structures, plain and five harness satin were selected. The optimization was carried out using desirability function a statistical technique for multiple response optimization. This was done by software called Design Expert 8.0.1. The five factors namely, Appretan® N 9211 as an anti-pilling agent (a non-ionic acrylate copolymer), Arkofix® NF as crease resistant agent (dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea, DMDHEU), fabric blend ratio, fabric weaves and curing method were analysed using 23 32 mixed level factorial design. The optimum conditions were explored for concentration of Appretan® N 9211, Arkofix® NF and curing methods. The process was evaluated with respect to pilling before and after wash, abrasion resistance, tensile, tear strength, Berger whiteness, yellowness index, dimensional stability, smoothness appearance and colour fastness to light. In order to generate the desirability values, the equal weightage was given to all response variables, but different importance was assigned based on the finish applied and industrial requirements. Four optimized recipes each for rayon from 100% bamboo and of 50:50 bamboo/cotton plain and satin weaves were suggested based on the high value of desirability.

Feasibility of substituting old corrugated carton pulp with thermal alkali and enzyme pretreated semichemical mechanical rice straw pulp

In this study, we separately used a laboratory Hollander beater, a pilot scale 12″ single-disc refiner and an expanded trial with a commercial paper mold mill to investigate the feasibility of using thermal-alkali/enzyme pretreated rice straw semi-chemical mechanical pulp to substitute portions of old corrugated carton board (OCC) pulp in the paper industry. In the laboratory plan, sequential treatments of NaOH at a 5–10% dosage and enzymes at a 0.2–4% dosage were applied to rice straw, followed by beating using a Hollander beater for 1–2 h to complete the rice straw semi-chemical mechanical pulping process. When the NaOH dosage, enzyme dosage and refining time were 10%, 0.2% and 1 h, the best quality rice straw pulp was obtained. Along with the increase in NaOH dosage, the pulp freeness decreased significantly, and the pulp accepted rate increased. Enzymatic treatment enhanced rice straw quality only after NaOH dosage treatment, which then reacted with rice straw to increase the quality of pulp. In the expanded trial, the rice straw semi-chemical mechanical pulp was blended with OCC pulp (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) to form handsheets. Along with an increase in rice straw proportions, the tensile index, burst index, and ring-crush index increased by 109–200%, 13–196%, and 124–187%, respectively. In an online commercial paper mold mill trial, blending rice straw pulp with OCC could successfully make paper-mold egg cartons, with both mill operation and product smoothness appearance being highly acceptable.

Imaging Review of Normal and Abnormal Skeletal Maturation.

The growing skeleton undergoes well-described and predictable normal developmental changes, which may be misinterpreted a as pathologic condition at imaging. Primary and secondary ossification centers (SOCs), which form the diaphysis and the epiphysis of long bones, respectively, are formed by endochondral and intramembranous ossification processes. During skeletal maturation, the SOCs may appear irregular and fragmented, which should not be confused with fractures, osteochondritis dissecans, and osteochondrosis. These normal irregularities are generally symmetric with a smooth, round, and sclerotic appearance, which are aspects that help in the differentiation. The metaphysis, epiphysis, and growth plates or physes are common sites of injuries and normal variants in the pediatric skeleton. The metaphysis contains the newly formed bone from endochondral ossification and is highly vascularized. It is predisposed to easy spread of infections and bone tumors. The physis is the weakest structure of the immature skeleton. Injuries to this location may disrupt endochondral ossification and lead to growth disturbances. Pathologic conditions of the epiphyses may extend into the articular surface and lead to articular damage. At MRI, small and localized foci of bone marrow changes within the epiphysis and metaphysis are also a common finding. These can be related to residual red marrow (especially in the metaphysis of long bones and hindfoot), focal periphyseal edema (associated with the process of physeal closure), and ultimately to a normal ossification process. The authors review the imaging appearance of normal skeletal maturation and discuss common maturation disorders on the basis of developmental stage and location. ©RSNA, 2022.

Facile synthesis of hydrochar-supported catalysts from glucose and its catalytic activity towards the production of functional amines

Since the utilization of abundant biomass to develop advanced materials has become an utmost priority in recent years, we developed two sustainable routes (i.e., the impregnation method and the one-pot synthesis) to prepare the hydrochar-supported catalysts and tested its catalytic performance on the reductive amination. Several techniques, such as TEM, XRD and XPS, were adopted to characterize the structural and catalytic features of samples. Results indicated that the impregnation method favors the formation of outer-sphere surface complexes with porous structure as well as well-distributed metallic nanoparticles, while the one-pot synthesis tends to form the inner-sphere surface complexes with relatively smooth appearance and amorphous metals. This difference explains the better activity of catalysts prepared by the impregnation method which can selectively convert benzaldehyde to benzylamine with an excellent yield of 93.7% under the optimal reaction conditions; in contrast, the catalyst prepared by the one-pot synthesis only exhibits a low selectivity near to zero. Furthermore, the gram-scale test catalyzed by the same catalysts exhibits a similar yield of benzylamine in comparison to its smaller scale, which is comparable to the previously reported heterogeneous noble-based catalysts. More surprisingly, the prepared catalysts can be expediently recycled by a magnetic bar and remain the satisfying catalytic activity after reusing up to five times. In conclusion, these developed catalysts enable the synthesis of functional amines with excellent selectivity and carbon balance, proving cost-effective and sustainable access to the wide application of reductive amination.

Two R2R3-MYB genes cooperatively control trichome development and cuticular wax biosynthesis in Prunus persica.

The fruit surface has an enormous impact on the external appearance and postharvest shelf-life of fruit. Here, we report two functionally redundant genes, PpMYB25 and PpMYB26, involved in regulation of fruit skin texture in peach. PpMYB25 can activate transcription of PpMYB26 and they both induce trichome development and cuticular wax accumulation, resulting in peach fruit with a fuzzy and dull appearance. By contrast, nonfunctional mutation of PpMYB25 caused by an insertional retrotransposon in the last exon in nectarine fails to activate transcription of PpMYB26, resulting in nectarine fruit with a smooth and shiny appearance due to loss of trichome initiation and decreased cuticular wax accumulation. Secondary cell wall biosynthesis in peach fruit pubescence is controlled by a transcriptional regulatory network, including the master regulator PpNAC43 and its downstream MYB transcription factors such as PpMYB42, PpMYB46 and PpMYB83. Our results show that PpMYB25 and PpMYB26 coordinately regulate fruit pubescence and cuticular wax accumulation and their simultaneous perturbation results in the origin of nectarine, which is botanically classified as a subspecies of peach.

Parametric Optimisation of Micro Plasma Welding for Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing by Response Surface Methodology

High deposition rate with minimal heat input is one of the primary emphases in wire arc additive manufacturing. This study aims to determine the optimal input parameters of micro plasma welding for single-layer deposition. The stability of a single layer is crucial as it serves as the foundation relative to the deposition of layers to avoid a discontinuous multi-layer material. The study focuses on wire feeding speed, welding speed, and pulse and their interaction between the input and response variables. Based on the study, the regression equation between the three key parameters and the response using the Box-Behnken Design response surface methodology was proposed. The outcome demonstrates that the op-timized sample deposition produces a smooth surface appearance with no apparent defects.

High internal phase emulsions stabilized solely by sonicated quinoa protein isolate at various pH values and concentrations

In this study, stable high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) constructed solely by sonicated quinoa protein isolate (QPI) at various pH values and protein concentrations (c) were constructed, and differences of HIPE microstructures at these conditions were discussed. HIPEs stabilized by QPI at pH 7.0, 9.0 possessed smaller droplet size (14–24 μm), smoother appearance, and higher physical stability which were caused by polyhedral framework microstructure. However, at acidic conditions, QPI aggregates filled in the gaps between droplets (30–52 μm) instead of adsorbing to oil–water interface, which decreased the stability. The solid-like viscoelasticity of HIPEs were enhanced when the c increased while the increment of pH value had the significant opposite effect (decreased from about G′ 1000 Pa, G″ 280 Pa to G′ 350 Pa, G″ 50 Pa) due to the microstructure difference. This study broadens the commercial applications of quinoa protein in novel food products like fat substitutes.

A Five-Parameter Logistic Model to Predict the Possibility of Misdiagnosis for Improving the Specificity of Lugol Chromoendoscopy in the Diagnosis of Esophageal Neoplastic Lesions.

BackgroundLugol chromoendoscopy (LCE) is a technique that is inexpensive and convenient for screening esophageal neoplastic lesions. However, the specificity of LCE is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk characteristics of lesions related to false-positive results for LCE.MethodsIn this retrospective study, 871 lesions in 773 patients scheduled for LCE in Wuhan Union Hospital and First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University between April 2013 and October 2018 were enrolled. The 871 lesions were used to determine the diagnostic performance of LCE for detecting esophageal neoplastic lesions and were divided into an LCE-positive group (627 lesions) and an LCE-negative group (244 lesions). Six hundred and twenty-seven unstained/understained lesions from 563 patients were used to determine the significant risk factors for misdiagnosis of neoplasms by LCE. Among them, 358 lesions and 269 lesions were classified into the misdiagnosed group and correctly diagnosed group, respectively. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted for suspected esophageal neoplastic lesions during the LCE examination.ResultsThe sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy for LCE were 100%, 40.5%, and 58.9%, respectively. Among 13 characteristics of lesions, lesions with branching vascular network (OR 4.53, 95% CI 2.23–9.21, p < 0.001), smooth lesions (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.38–4.18, p = 0.002) under white light endoscopy (WLE), lesions with a size < 5 mm (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.38–6.78, p = 0.006), ill-demarcated lesions (OR 7.83, 95% CI 4.59–13.37, p < 0.001), and pink color sign (PCS)-negative (OR 4.04, 95% CI 2.38–6.84, p < 0.001) lesions after reaction with iodine solution were independent risk factors for misdiagnosis as neoplastic lesions by LCE.ConclusionLCE has a high sensitivity but limited specificity for screening esophageal neoplastic lesions. For unstained or understained lesions, branching vascular network or smooth appearance under WLE, a size < 5 mm in diameter, ill-demarcated, or PCS-negative lesions after staining are related to the misdiagnosis of esophageal neoplastic lesions by LCE based on logistic regression. The multivariate logistic model may be used to predict the possibility of misdiagnosis and help improve the specificity of LCE in diagnosing esophageal neoplastic lesions.

Rapid and efficient generation of cartilage pellets from mouse induced pluripotent stem cells by transcriptional activation of BMP-4 with shaking culture

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer an unlimited source for cartilage regeneration as they can generate a wide spectrum of cell types. Here, we established a tetracycline (tet) controlled bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) expressing iPSC (iPSC-Tet/BMP-4) line in which transcriptional activation of BMP-4 was associated with enhanced chondrogenesis. Moreover, we developed an efficient and simple approach for directly guiding iPSC-Tet/BMP-4 differentiation into chondrocytes in scaffold-free cartilaginous pellets using a combination of transcriptional activation of BMP-4 and a 3D shaking suspension culture system. In chondrogenic induction medium, shaking culture alone significantly upregulated the chondrogenic markers Sox9, Col2a1, and Aggrecan in iPSCs-Tet/BMP-4 by day 21. Of note, transcriptional activation of BMP-4 by addition of tet (doxycycline) greatly enhanced the expression of these genes. The cartilaginous pellets derived from iPSCs-Tet/BMP-4 showed an oval morphology and white smooth appearance by day 21. After day 21, the cells presented a typical round morphology and the extracellular matrix was stained intensively with Safranin O, alcian blue, and type II collagen. In addition, the homogenous cartilaginous pellets derived from iPSCs-Tet/BMP-4 with 28 days of induction repaired joint osteochondral defects in immunosuppressed rats and integrated well with the adjacent host cartilage. The regenerated cartilage expressed the neomycin resistance gene, indicating that the newly formed cartilage was generated by the transplanted iPSCs-Tet/BMP-4. Thus, our culture system could be a useful tool for further investigation of the mechanism of BMP-4 in regulating iPSC differentiation toward the chondrogenic lineage, and should facilitate research in cartilage development, repair, and osteoarthritis.

Performanse presovanja šava

In garment manufacturing, pressing is one of the latest stages of production. The purpose of the pressing is to achieve a smooth appearance of the shell fabric and flat and smooth seams. A group of woven fabrics with of fiber composition 100% cotton, cotton/Lycra, 100% wool and blended wool/PES for production of men's shirt and tailored garments were tested for seam pressing performance on a FAST 4 press test. The relationship of the seam crease angle after pressing with the fabric fiber composition and fabric weight and end use. The substantial difference between fabric end use and seam pressing performance was analyzed. The fabrics of Wool/PES fabric composition have shown best seam crease performance out of all fabrics for tailored garments. Cotton/Lycra fabrics have shown superior seam pressing performance compared to 100% cotton fabric for men's shirt.

The design, simulation, and adjustment of the Vietnam men’s Ao dai on the CLO3D software

The study presents the results of the design, simulation, and adjustment of middle-aged men’s Ao Dai from 30 to 60 years old in Ho Chi Minh City. This research combines two methods of 2D design on the Gerber software and 3D design on the CLO3D software, of which the main simulated patterns’ material is cotton sateen fabric. An avatar is used to simulate men’s Ao Dai which has the average measurements of the 378 measurement samples. There are three steps to simulate and edit. At first, the patterns are draped on the avatar. The sample does not achieve a smooth, flat fit in the side seam and waist area when they drape on the avatar. After patterns are adjusted at the side seam, finally, these patterns are draped again to meet the standard of smooth and flat appearance on the simulated model’s front, back, and side faces. The study was conducted on one model that has suitable dimensions for Vietnamese men, so there will be additional avatar data in the CLO3D software database. This is very useful for fashion and technique designers in garment businesses.