As one of the key safety problems, the motion performance and touching sea bottom of a FPSO are paid much attention by the ocean oil companies when the FPSO is exposed to survival storms in the shallow-water working a...As one of the key safety problems, the motion performance and touching sea bottom of a FPSO are paid much attention by the ocean oil companies when the FPSO is exposed to survival storms in the shallow-water working areas. In this paper, time-domain numerical simulations are carried out on a 160 kDWT FPSO with a Yoke mooring system moored in the BZ25-1 oilfield with a water depth of 16.7m. The results are compared with those of the corresponding model tests. Good agreement shows that the time-domain simulations can be used to predict the performance of the FPSO in shallow-water reasonably. It is found that the touch of seabed by a fully loaded FPSO occurred few times under survival storm conditions. Therefore, the FPSO should be less loaded than that in the fully loaded condition under the survival storms.展开更多
We investigated the psychological effects of nail treatments on children living in child welfare facilities.We performed a single nail treatment on children living in child welfare facilities.As a result,we found that...We investigated the psychological effects of nail treatments on children living in child welfare facilities.We performed a single nail treatment on children living in child welfare facilities.As a result,we found that feelings of“energy”,“relaxation”,and“comfort”tended to increase more strongly after the treatment than before.Furthermore,these feelings increased even more after the nail treatment.The effects of nail treatments were unrelated to gender or previous nail experience.Furthermore,nail treatments increased communication and interaction with facility staff and other children residing in the facility,promoting self-expression,and,as a result,increasing a sense of accomplishment,acceptance from others,and self-esteem.This suggests that positive emotions persisted even after nail treatments,leading to positive changes in daily life.展开更多
A new separation algorithm based on contour segments and ellipse fitting is proposed to separate the ellipse-like touching grain kernels in digital images.The image is filtered and converted into a binary image first....A new separation algorithm based on contour segments and ellipse fitting is proposed to separate the ellipse-like touching grain kernels in digital images.The image is filtered and converted into a binary image first.Then the contour of touching grain kernels is extracted and divided into contour segments (CS) with the concave points on it.The next step is to merge the contour segments,which is the main contribution of this work.The distance measurement (DM) and deviation error measurement (DEM) are proposed to test whether the contour segments pertain to the same kernel or not.If they pass the measurement and judgment,they are merged as a new segment.Finally with these newly merged contour segments,the ellipses are fitted as the representative ellipses for touching kernels.To verify the proposed algorithm,six different kinds of Korean grains were tested.Experimental results showed that the proposed method is efficient and accurate for the separation of the touching grain kernels.展开更多
Splitting touching cells is important for medi- cal image processing and analysis system. In this paper, a novel strategy is proposed to separate ellipse-like or circle- like touching cells in which different algorith...Splitting touching cells is important for medi- cal image processing and analysis system. In this paper, a novel strategy is proposed to separate ellipse-like or circle- like touching cells in which different algorithms are used ac- cording to the concave-point cases of touching domains. In the strategy, a concave-point extraction and contour segmen- tation methods for cells in series and in parallel are used for the images with distinct concave points, and an improved watershed algorithm with multi-scale gradient and distance transformation is adopted for the images with un-distinct or complex concave points. In order to visualize each whole cell, ellipse fitting is used to process the segments. Experimental results show that, for the cell images with distinct concave points, both of the two algorithms can achieve good separat- ing results, but the concave-point based algorithm is more ef- ficient. However, for the cell images with unobvious or com- plex concave points, the improved watershed based algorithm can give satisfying segmenting results.展开更多
Software-related security aspects are a growing and legitimate concern,especially with 5G data available just at our palms.To conduct research in this field,periodic comparative analysis is needed with the new techniq...Software-related security aspects are a growing and legitimate concern,especially with 5G data available just at our palms.To conduct research in this field,periodic comparative analysis is needed with the new techniques coming up rapidly.The purpose of this study is to review the recent developments in the field of security integration in the software development lifecycle(SDLC)by analyzing the articles published in the last two decades and to propose a way forward.This review follows Kitchenham’s review protocol.The review has been divided into three main stages including planning,execution,and analysis.From the selected 100 articles,it becomes evident that need of a collaborative approach is necessary for addressing critical software security risks(CSSRs)through effective risk management/estimation techniques.Quantifying risks using a numeric scale enables a comprehensive understanding of their severity,facilitating focused resource allocation and mitigation efforts.Through a comprehensive understanding of potential vulnerabilities and proactive mitigation efforts facilitated by protection poker,organizations can prioritize resources effectively to ensure the successful outcome of projects and initiatives in today’s dynamic threat landscape.The review reveals that threat analysis and security testing are needed to develop automated tools for the future.Accurate estimation of effort required to prioritize potential security risks is a big challenge in software security.The accuracy of effort estimation can be further improved by exploring new techniques,particularly those involving deep learning.It is also imperative to validate these effort estimation methods to ensure all potential security threats are addressed.Another challenge is selecting the right model for each specific security threat.To achieve a comprehensive evaluation,researchers should use well-known benchmark checklists.展开更多
Background Tactile and mechanical pain are crucial to our interaction with the environment,yet the underpinning molecular mechanism is still elusive.Endophilin A2(EndoA2)is an evolutionarily conserved protein that is ...Background Tactile and mechanical pain are crucial to our interaction with the environment,yet the underpinning molecular mechanism is still elusive.Endophilin A2(EndoA2)is an evolutionarily conserved protein that is documented in the endocytosis pathway.However,the role of EndoA2 in the regulation of mechanical sensitivity and its underlying mechanisms are currently unclear.Methods Male and female C57BL/6 mice(8–12 weeks)and male cynomolgus monkeys(7–10 years old)were used in our experiments.Nerve injury-,inflammatory-,and chemotherapy-induced pathological pain models were established for this study.Behavioral tests of touch,mechanical pain,heat pain,and cold pain were performed in mice and nonhuman primates.Western blotting,immunostaining,co-immunoprecipitation,proximity ligation and patch-clamp recordings were performed to gain insight into the mechanisms.Results The results showed that EndoA2 was primarily distributed in neurofilament-200-positive(NF200+)medium-to-large diameter dorsal root ganglion(DRG)neurons of mice and humans.Loss of EndoA2 in mouse NF200+DRG neurons selectively impaired the tactile and mechanical allodynia.Furthermore,EndoA2 interacted with the mechanically sensitive ion channel Piezo2 and promoted the membrane trafficking of Piezo2 in DRG neurons.Moreover,as an adaptor protein,EndoA2 also bound to kinesin family member 5B(KIF5B),which was involved in the EndoA2-mediated membrane trafficking process of Piezo2.Loss of EndoA2 in mouse DRG neurons damaged Piezo2-mediated rapidly adapting mechanically activated currents,and re-expression of EndoA2 rescued the MA currents.In addition,interference with EndoA2 also suppressed touch sensitivity and mechanical hypersensitivity in nonhuman primates.Conclusions Our data reveal that the KIF5B/EndoA2/Piezo2 complex is essential for Piezo2 trafficking and for sustaining transmission of touch and mechanical hypersensitivity signals.EndoA2 regulates touch and mechanical allodynia via kinesin-mediated Piezo2 trafficking in sensory neurons.Our findings identify a potential new target for the treatment of mechanical pain.展开更多
An April 2024 report in the journal Science suggests that“smart”or“intelligent”textiles are a step closer to making the leap from the lab to real life[1,2].The study details an innovative fiber that gathers energy...An April 2024 report in the journal Science suggests that“smart”or“intelligent”textiles are a step closer to making the leap from the lab to real life[1,2].The study details an innovative fiber that gathers energy from the environment and uses it to send electrical signals and create light,without the need for batteries or chips.The advance yields textiles that can directly respond to users’touch,opening new avenues for intelligent interaction between people and their environments,in addition to enabling potential medical,industrial,and consumer applications.展开更多
BACKGROUND The impact of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)on liver and spleen stiffness remains unclear,as does the association between preoperative liver and spleen stiffness and prognosis following...BACKGROUND The impact of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)on liver and spleen stiffness remains unclear,as does the association between preoperative liver and spleen stiffness and prognosis following TIPS.AIM To investigate changes in liver and spleen stiffness after TIPS and examines the relationship between these parameters and the prognosis of post-TIPS patients.METHODS A total of 76 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension who underwent TIPS were included.Liver and spleen stiffness was assessed using the sound touch quantify(STQ)value,determined via point shear wave elastography in ultrasound imaging.Cox regression analysis was employed to evaluate the relationship between liver and spleen stiffness and cumulative survival in TIPS patients.RESULTS The liver STQ value demonstrated a marginally decreasing trend over time(P=0.052),while the spleen STQ value showed a significantly decreasing trend(P=0.025).Spleen STQ was positively correlated with portal pressure gradient(PPG)levels(rs=0.327,P=0.025).Cox regression analysis indicated that older age[hazard ratio(HR)=1.063,95%CI:0.997-1.133,P=0.060]and a higher liver STQ value(HR=1.051,95%CI:1.009-1.095,P=0.018)were associated with an increased mortality risk after TIPS.No significant correlation was found between liver or spleen stiffness and overt hepatic encephalopathy post-TIPS.The liver STQ value[area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)=0.724(95%CI:0.563-0.884)]showed superior predictive performance compared to the Child-Pugh score[AUC=0.699(95%CI:0.529-0.870)]and was comparable to the model for end-stage liver disease score[AUC=0.746(95%CI:0.591-0.902)].CONCLUSION Following TIPS,spleen stiffness exhibited a more pronounced change than liver stiffness and was positively associated with PPG.Preoperative liver stiffness serves as a prognostic indicator for survival in patients undergoing TIPS.展开更多
The COVID-19 outbreak was suddenly erupting.In this battlefield,where there is no smoke of gunpowder,Wuhan people help each other and work shoulder to shoulder in unity.Many touching stories are examples in this city ...The COVID-19 outbreak was suddenly erupting.In this battlefield,where there is no smoke of gunpowder,Wuhan people help each other and work shoulder to shoulder in unity.Many touching stories are examples in this city where the novel conoravirus outbreak is the target of the campaign.展开更多
书籍所带给我们的快乐似乎并不止于优美的文字和精彩的内容，但也有人反对过于强调其材料和精美的制作工艺的铺张做法。摸一摸《Form》第203期封面上用绒纸雕刻的“TOUCH THAT THING（摸一摸那个东西）”，就会让你立刻兴奋起来，为此...书籍所带给我们的快乐似乎并不止于优美的文字和精彩的内容，但也有人反对过于强调其材料和精美的制作工艺的铺张做法。摸一摸《Form》第203期封面上用绒纸雕刻的“TOUCH THAT THING（摸一摸那个东西）”，就会让你立刻兴奋起来，为此本期《Design》就要和大家看看还有那些精彩的封面设计令你情不自禁地要去触摸一下。展开更多
Objective:We have developed a baroreceptor-inspired microneedle skin patch for pressure-controlled drug release.Impact Statement:This design is inspired by the skin baroreceptors,which are mechanosensitive elements of...Objective:We have developed a baroreceptor-inspired microneedle skin patch for pressure-controlled drug release.Impact Statement:This design is inspired by the skin baroreceptors,which are mechanosensitive elements of the peripheral nervous system.We adopt the finger touching to trigger the electric stimulation,ensuring a fast-response and user-friendly administration with potentially minimal off-target effects.Introduction:Chronic skin diseases bring about large,recurrent skin damage and often require convenient and timely transdermal treatment.Traditional methods lack spatiotemporal controllable dosage,leaving a risk of skin irritation or drug resistance issues.Methods:The patch consists of drug-containing microneedles and stretchable electrode array.The electrode array,integrated with the piezoconductive switch and flexible battery,provides a mild electric current only at the spot that is pressed.Drugs in microneedles will then flow along the current into the skin tissues.The stretchable feature also provides the mechanical robustness and electric stability of the device on large skin area.Results:This device delivers Cy3 dye in pig skin with spatiotemporally controlled dosage,showing~8 times higher fluorescence intensity than the passive delivery.We also deliver insulin and observe the reduction of the blood glucose level in the mouse model upon pressing.Compared with passive delivery without pressing,the dosage of drugs released by the simulation is 2.83 times higher.Conclusion:This baroreceptor-inspired microneedle skin patch acts as a good example of the biomimicking microneedle device in the precise control of the drug release profile at the spatiotemporal resolution.展开更多
A touch sensor is an essential component in meeting the growing demand for human-machine interfaces.These sensors have been developed in wearable,attachable,and even implantable forms to acquire a wide range of inform...A touch sensor is an essential component in meeting the growing demand for human-machine interfaces.These sensors have been developed in wearable,attachable,and even implantable forms to acquire a wide range of information from humans.To be applied to the human body,sensors are required to be biocompatible and not restrict the natural movement of the body.Ionic materials are a promising candidate for soft touch sensors due to their outstanding properties,which include high stretchability,transparency,ionic conductivity,and biocompatibility.Here,this review discusses the unique features of soft ionic touch point sensors,focusing on the ionic material and its key role in the sensor.The touch sensing mechanisms include piezocapacitive,piezoresistive,surface capacitive,piezoelectric,and triboelectric and triboresistive sensing.This review analyzes the implementation hurdles and future research directions of the soft ionic touch sensors for their transformative potential.展开更多
BACKGROUND Oral implant surgery is an effective procedure for artificial implants in missing tooth areas under local anesthesia.Because patients under local anesthesia are conscious during this procedure,compared with...BACKGROUND Oral implant surgery is an effective procedure for artificial implants in missing tooth areas under local anesthesia.Because patients under local anesthesia are conscious during this procedure,compared with general anesthesia-related operations,they are more likely to experience negative emotions,such as anxiety and tension.These emotional reactions result in shivering and chills in the limbs,leading to poor doctor-patient cooperation and even avoidance of treatment.In traditional Chinese medicine,it is believed that acupoint massage regulates blood and Qi,dredge menstruation,and relieve pain,which is beneficial for patients’emotional adjustment;however,there are few related clinical studies.AIM To observe the changes in anxiety and pain in patients with oral implant after acupoint massage combined with touch therapy.METHODS One hundred patients undergoing oral implantation in our hospital between May 2020 and May 2023 were randomly divided into control and study groups,according to a random number table,with 50 patients in each group.The control group received routine intervention,and the study group received acupoint massage combined with touch on the basis of the control group.Anxiety[assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale(MDAS)],pain severity,blood pressure,heart rate,and satisfaction were compared between the two groups.RESULTS Before intervention,the difference in MDAS score between the two groups was not significant(P>0.05),while after the intervention,the MDAS scores decreased in both groups compared with those before the intervention(P<0.05);the MDAS score of the study group was lower than that of the control group,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The degree of pain in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Before the intervention,there were no significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressures or heart rate between the two groups(P>0.05).The systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate in the intervention group,during and after the intervention,were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The total degree of satisfaction in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Acupoint massage combined with touch better relieves anxiety and pain in patients undergoing dental implant surgery,improving the perioperative comfort of these patients and ensuring safety and a smooth operation.展开更多
A surface variable, density of water-feather touching points （Dp） was proposed in this paper to express surface property of water repellency of contour feather. Tests in 29 species using breast contour feathers indi...A surface variable, density of water-feather touching points （Dp） was proposed in this paper to express surface property of water repellency of contour feather. Tests in 29 species using breast contour feathers indicated that Dp was small in tericolous species, medium in wading and diving species, large in swimming species, with only a few exceptions. This implied that birds achieve appropriate Dp by optimizing the microstructure of feather to meet the requirement of water repellency. Therefore, Dp was a morphological marker linking structure and function of feather in studies of adaptive evolution of birds.展开更多
基金supported by the Development Program of China(863 Program,No.2002AA602011)
文摘As one of the key safety problems, the motion performance and touching sea bottom of a FPSO are paid much attention by the ocean oil companies when the FPSO is exposed to survival storms in the shallow-water working areas. In this paper, time-domain numerical simulations are carried out on a 160 kDWT FPSO with a Yoke mooring system moored in the BZ25-1 oilfield with a water depth of 16.7m. The results are compared with those of the corresponding model tests. Good agreement shows that the time-domain simulations can be used to predict the performance of the FPSO in shallow-water reasonably. It is found that the touch of seabed by a fully loaded FPSO occurred few times under survival storm conditions. Therefore, the FPSO should be less loaded than that in the fully loaded condition under the survival storms.
基金This study received a research grant from the Hoyu Science Foundation in 2023.
文摘We investigated the psychological effects of nail treatments on children living in child welfare facilities.We performed a single nail treatment on children living in child welfare facilities.As a result,we found that feelings of“energy”,“relaxation”,and“comfort”tended to increase more strongly after the treatment than before.Furthermore,these feelings increased even more after the nail treatment.The effects of nail treatments were unrelated to gender or previous nail experience.Furthermore,nail treatments increased communication and interaction with facility staff and other children residing in the facility,promoting self-expression,and,as a result,increasing a sense of accomplishment,acceptance from others,and self-esteem.This suggests that positive emotions persisted even after nail treatments,leading to positive changes in daily life.
基金Project supported by the Grant of the Korean Ministry of Education,Science and Technology under the Regional Core Research Program
文摘A new separation algorithm based on contour segments and ellipse fitting is proposed to separate the ellipse-like touching grain kernels in digital images.The image is filtered and converted into a binary image first.Then the contour of touching grain kernels is extracted and divided into contour segments (CS) with the concave points on it.The next step is to merge the contour segments,which is the main contribution of this work.The distance measurement (DM) and deviation error measurement (DEM) are proposed to test whether the contour segments pertain to the same kernel or not.If they pass the measurement and judgment,they are merged as a new segment.Finally with these newly merged contour segments,the ellipses are fitted as the representative ellipses for touching kernels.To verify the proposed algorithm,six different kinds of Korean grains were tested.Experimental results showed that the proposed method is efficient and accurate for the separation of the touching grain kernels.
文摘Splitting touching cells is important for medi- cal image processing and analysis system. In this paper, a novel strategy is proposed to separate ellipse-like or circle- like touching cells in which different algorithms are used ac- cording to the concave-point cases of touching domains. In the strategy, a concave-point extraction and contour segmen- tation methods for cells in series and in parallel are used for the images with distinct concave points, and an improved watershed algorithm with multi-scale gradient and distance transformation is adopted for the images with un-distinct or complex concave points. In order to visualize each whole cell, ellipse fitting is used to process the segments. Experimental results show that, for the cell images with distinct concave points, both of the two algorithms can achieve good separat- ing results, but the concave-point based algorithm is more ef- ficient. However, for the cell images with unobvious or com- plex concave points, the improved watershed based algorithm can give satisfying segmenting results.
文摘Software-related security aspects are a growing and legitimate concern,especially with 5G data available just at our palms.To conduct research in this field,periodic comparative analysis is needed with the new techniques coming up rapidly.The purpose of this study is to review the recent developments in the field of security integration in the software development lifecycle(SDLC)by analyzing the articles published in the last two decades and to propose a way forward.This review follows Kitchenham’s review protocol.The review has been divided into three main stages including planning,execution,and analysis.From the selected 100 articles,it becomes evident that need of a collaborative approach is necessary for addressing critical software security risks(CSSRs)through effective risk management/estimation techniques.Quantifying risks using a numeric scale enables a comprehensive understanding of their severity,facilitating focused resource allocation and mitigation efforts.Through a comprehensive understanding of potential vulnerabilities and proactive mitigation efforts facilitated by protection poker,organizations can prioritize resources effectively to ensure the successful outcome of projects and initiatives in today’s dynamic threat landscape.The review reveals that threat analysis and security testing are needed to develop automated tools for the future.Accurate estimation of effort required to prioritize potential security risks is a big challenge in software security.The accuracy of effort estimation can be further improved by exploring new techniques,particularly those involving deep learning.It is also imperative to validate these effort estimation methods to ensure all potential security threats are addressed.Another challenge is selecting the right model for each specific security threat.To achieve a comprehensive evaluation,researchers should use well-known benchmark checklists.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(82271241 and 82001172 to XLZ,81801112 to MXX)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2022A1515012389 to MXX,2022A1515012543 to RCL)+2 种基金Young Talent Support Project of Guangzhou Association for Science and Technology(QT20220101169 to XLZ)Excellent Young Talents Project of Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital,Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences(KY012021188 to XLZ)Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou(202201010792 to RCL)。
文摘Background Tactile and mechanical pain are crucial to our interaction with the environment,yet the underpinning molecular mechanism is still elusive.Endophilin A2(EndoA2)is an evolutionarily conserved protein that is documented in the endocytosis pathway.However,the role of EndoA2 in the regulation of mechanical sensitivity and its underlying mechanisms are currently unclear.Methods Male and female C57BL/6 mice(8–12 weeks)and male cynomolgus monkeys(7–10 years old)were used in our experiments.Nerve injury-,inflammatory-,and chemotherapy-induced pathological pain models were established for this study.Behavioral tests of touch,mechanical pain,heat pain,and cold pain were performed in mice and nonhuman primates.Western blotting,immunostaining,co-immunoprecipitation,proximity ligation and patch-clamp recordings were performed to gain insight into the mechanisms.Results The results showed that EndoA2 was primarily distributed in neurofilament-200-positive(NF200+)medium-to-large diameter dorsal root ganglion(DRG)neurons of mice and humans.Loss of EndoA2 in mouse NF200+DRG neurons selectively impaired the tactile and mechanical allodynia.Furthermore,EndoA2 interacted with the mechanically sensitive ion channel Piezo2 and promoted the membrane trafficking of Piezo2 in DRG neurons.Moreover,as an adaptor protein,EndoA2 also bound to kinesin family member 5B(KIF5B),which was involved in the EndoA2-mediated membrane trafficking process of Piezo2.Loss of EndoA2 in mouse DRG neurons damaged Piezo2-mediated rapidly adapting mechanically activated currents,and re-expression of EndoA2 rescued the MA currents.In addition,interference with EndoA2 also suppressed touch sensitivity and mechanical hypersensitivity in nonhuman primates.Conclusions Our data reveal that the KIF5B/EndoA2/Piezo2 complex is essential for Piezo2 trafficking and for sustaining transmission of touch and mechanical hypersensitivity signals.EndoA2 regulates touch and mechanical allodynia via kinesin-mediated Piezo2 trafficking in sensory neurons.Our findings identify a potential new target for the treatment of mechanical pain.
文摘An April 2024 report in the journal Science suggests that“smart”or“intelligent”textiles are a step closer to making the leap from the lab to real life[1,2].The study details an innovative fiber that gathers energy from the environment and uses it to send electrical signals and create light,without the need for batteries or chips.The advance yields textiles that can directly respond to users’touch,opening new avenues for intelligent interaction between people and their environments,in addition to enabling potential medical,industrial,and consumer applications.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82200650Shanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine,No.202204010501004+3 种基金the Precision Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Innovation Base for Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension,No.YDZJSX20231B010the Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province,No.20210302124282 and No.202203021212046the Shanxi Province Higher Education“Billion Project Science and Technology Guidance Project”,No.2C622024120the National Natural Science Foundation of China Supporting Fund,No.Y82200650.
文摘BACKGROUND The impact of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)on liver and spleen stiffness remains unclear,as does the association between preoperative liver and spleen stiffness and prognosis following TIPS.AIM To investigate changes in liver and spleen stiffness after TIPS and examines the relationship between these parameters and the prognosis of post-TIPS patients.METHODS A total of 76 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension who underwent TIPS were included.Liver and spleen stiffness was assessed using the sound touch quantify(STQ)value,determined via point shear wave elastography in ultrasound imaging.Cox regression analysis was employed to evaluate the relationship between liver and spleen stiffness and cumulative survival in TIPS patients.RESULTS The liver STQ value demonstrated a marginally decreasing trend over time(P=0.052),while the spleen STQ value showed a significantly decreasing trend(P=0.025).Spleen STQ was positively correlated with portal pressure gradient(PPG)levels(rs=0.327,P=0.025).Cox regression analysis indicated that older age[hazard ratio(HR)=1.063,95%CI:0.997-1.133,P=0.060]and a higher liver STQ value(HR=1.051,95%CI:1.009-1.095,P=0.018)were associated with an increased mortality risk after TIPS.No significant correlation was found between liver or spleen stiffness and overt hepatic encephalopathy post-TIPS.The liver STQ value[area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)=0.724(95%CI:0.563-0.884)]showed superior predictive performance compared to the Child-Pugh score[AUC=0.699(95%CI:0.529-0.870)]and was comparable to the model for end-stage liver disease score[AUC=0.746(95%CI:0.591-0.902)].CONCLUSION Following TIPS,spleen stiffness exhibited a more pronounced change than liver stiffness and was positively associated with PPG.Preoperative liver stiffness serves as a prognostic indicator for survival in patients undergoing TIPS.
文摘The COVID-19 outbreak was suddenly erupting.In this battlefield,where there is no smoke of gunpowder,Wuhan people help each other and work shoulder to shoulder in unity.Many touching stories are examples in this city where the novel conoravirus outbreak is the target of the campaign.
文摘书籍所带给我们的快乐似乎并不止于优美的文字和精彩的内容，但也有人反对过于强调其材料和精美的制作工艺的铺张做法。摸一摸《Form》第203期封面上用绒纸雕刻的“TOUCH THAT THING（摸一摸那个东西）”，就会让你立刻兴奋起来，为此本期《Design》就要和大家看看还有那些精彩的封面设计令你情不自禁地要去触摸一下。
基金support by General Research Fund(GRF)grant from the Research Grants Council(RGC)of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China(CityU11200820,CityU11100323)the Mainland/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme sponsored by the RGC Hong Kong and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(N_CityU118/20).
文摘Objective:We have developed a baroreceptor-inspired microneedle skin patch for pressure-controlled drug release.Impact Statement:This design is inspired by the skin baroreceptors,which are mechanosensitive elements of the peripheral nervous system.We adopt the finger touching to trigger the electric stimulation,ensuring a fast-response and user-friendly administration with potentially minimal off-target effects.Introduction:Chronic skin diseases bring about large,recurrent skin damage and often require convenient and timely transdermal treatment.Traditional methods lack spatiotemporal controllable dosage,leaving a risk of skin irritation or drug resistance issues.Methods:The patch consists of drug-containing microneedles and stretchable electrode array.The electrode array,integrated with the piezoconductive switch and flexible battery,provides a mild electric current only at the spot that is pressed.Drugs in microneedles will then flow along the current into the skin tissues.The stretchable feature also provides the mechanical robustness and electric stability of the device on large skin area.Results:This device delivers Cy3 dye in pig skin with spatiotemporally controlled dosage,showing~8 times higher fluorescence intensity than the passive delivery.We also deliver insulin and observe the reduction of the blood glucose level in the mouse model upon pressing.Compared with passive delivery without pressing,the dosage of drugs released by the simulation is 2.83 times higher.Conclusion:This baroreceptor-inspired microneedle skin patch acts as a good example of the biomimicking microneedle device in the precise control of the drug release profile at the spatiotemporal resolution.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)(No.2021R1C1C2009703)the Gachon University Research Fund of 2022(GCU-202300890001).
文摘A touch sensor is an essential component in meeting the growing demand for human-machine interfaces.These sensors have been developed in wearable,attachable,and even implantable forms to acquire a wide range of information from humans.To be applied to the human body,sensors are required to be biocompatible and not restrict the natural movement of the body.Ionic materials are a promising candidate for soft touch sensors due to their outstanding properties,which include high stretchability,transparency,ionic conductivity,and biocompatibility.Here,this review discusses the unique features of soft ionic touch point sensors,focusing on the ionic material and its key role in the sensor.The touch sensing mechanisms include piezocapacitive,piezoresistive,surface capacitive,piezoelectric,and triboelectric and triboresistive sensing.This review analyzes the implementation hurdles and future research directions of the soft ionic touch sensors for their transformative potential.
文摘BACKGROUND Oral implant surgery is an effective procedure for artificial implants in missing tooth areas under local anesthesia.Because patients under local anesthesia are conscious during this procedure,compared with general anesthesia-related operations,they are more likely to experience negative emotions,such as anxiety and tension.These emotional reactions result in shivering and chills in the limbs,leading to poor doctor-patient cooperation and even avoidance of treatment.In traditional Chinese medicine,it is believed that acupoint massage regulates blood and Qi,dredge menstruation,and relieve pain,which is beneficial for patients’emotional adjustment;however,there are few related clinical studies.AIM To observe the changes in anxiety and pain in patients with oral implant after acupoint massage combined with touch therapy.METHODS One hundred patients undergoing oral implantation in our hospital between May 2020 and May 2023 were randomly divided into control and study groups,according to a random number table,with 50 patients in each group.The control group received routine intervention,and the study group received acupoint massage combined with touch on the basis of the control group.Anxiety[assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale(MDAS)],pain severity,blood pressure,heart rate,and satisfaction were compared between the two groups.RESULTS Before intervention,the difference in MDAS score between the two groups was not significant(P>0.05),while after the intervention,the MDAS scores decreased in both groups compared with those before the intervention(P<0.05);the MDAS score of the study group was lower than that of the control group,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The degree of pain in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Before the intervention,there were no significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressures or heart rate between the two groups(P>0.05).The systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate in the intervention group,during and after the intervention,were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The total degree of satisfaction in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Acupoint massage combined with touch better relieves anxiety and pain in patients undergoing dental implant surgery,improving the perioperative comfort of these patients and ensuring safety and a smooth operation.
基金This study is supported by Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (QC05072) and Fund for Scientific Research of Northeast Forestry University
文摘A surface variable, density of water-feather touching points （Dp） was proposed in this paper to express surface property of water repellency of contour feather. Tests in 29 species using breast contour feathers indicated that Dp was small in tericolous species, medium in wading and diving species, large in swimming species, with only a few exceptions. This implied that birds achieve appropriate Dp by optimizing the microstructure of feather to meet the requirement of water repellency. Therefore, Dp was a morphological marker linking structure and function of feather in studies of adaptive evolution of birds.
