Cholelithiasis is considered to be the most common biliary pathology. They have been categorized into three types, which are pigment stones, cholesterol stones, and mixed types of stones with varying incidence. The condition may be asymptomatic for significantly long durations and in most cases, the presence of gall stones is an incidental finding. The patients may present with pain in the abdomen in stages of cholecystitis or advanced stages or cases of gall stones causing the obstruction. Gallbladder stones are formed through a very complex procedure with the contribution of numerous factors, where the main initiating step is supposed to be the development of a state wherein there is supersaturation of the bile, which in turn gives rise to accumulation and stasis of the bile and the development of gall stones. One of the factors is said to be the hypothyroid state. Hypothyroidism itself is a significantly common endocrine disorder that affects almost every nucleated cell in the body. There is decreased efficacy of the thyroid gland. The serum T3 and T4 levels might be found on the lower side whereas thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) values are found to be high. In some of the cases, though the T3 and T4 levels are maintained within the normal limits, the TSH shows raised values, which are labeled as subclinical hypothyroidism. The state of hypothyroidism may act upon the amount of bile secretion, the flow of bile into the intestines, cholesterol metabolism, and the action of the sphincter of Oddi. Studies have shown results pointing towards the correlation between these two factors. The basic mechanism behind the correlation between cholelithiasis and hypothyroidism is supposed to be due to the action of the hypothyroid state on the functioning of the sphincter of Oddi. The hypothyroid state is supposed to be decreasing the tendency of the sphincter of Oddi to relax, thus causing stasis of the bile, which over time leads to initiation of supersaturation of the bile and formation of gall stones. Both subclinical hypothyroidism and clinical hypothyroidism are found to be significantly common in patients having cholelithiasis. We, in this review article, have taken into consideration various studies which have been performed regarding this topic worldwide. The studies have been performed on individuals who are already diagnosed with either of these diseases and are then screened for the presence of the other disease included in this study. The degree of correlation varies according to the location of the stones and their sizes. Though various studies show varying results to some extent, overall almost all the studies show significant pieces of evidence of the correlation between cholelithiasis and hypothyroidism. Cholelithiasis is mentioned as the commonly encountered biliary pathology and gall stones can be pigmented, cholesterol, or mixed. The literature has shown that 2.4% of female patients treated for hypothyroidism had cholecystectomy . The derThe hypothyroidism disease itself can either be of hypothyroidism (overt) or subclinical type, in which the serum level of thyroxine is lesser than the expected normal . In caseThe researchers aim to document the correlation between cholelithiasis and hypothyroidism not only in various age groups but also establish a link between subclinical hypothyroidism and cholelithiasis. The process of formation of gall bladder stones is itself a very complex one. There can be numerous factors that can ultimately lead to cholelithiasis in patients having hypothyroidism. The decreased serum thyroxine levels affect the metabolism of cholesterol and that in turn leads to the process of supersaturation. It also affects the filling of the gall bladder, its motility, and contractility of the gall bladder. This in turn leads to the retention of cholesterol in the gall bladder and provokes the nucleation and maturation of the gallbladder stones. The hypothyroid state decreases the secretion of bile, leading to precipitation and formation of the stones. It also decreases the sphincter of Oddi's relaxing tendency, leading to further stasis of the bile as it expresses the thyroid hormone receptors named TR beta 1 and beta 2. A prospective study proved that the subclinical hypothyroidism state also is comparatively more among common bile duct (CBD) stone patients . In 2010Amount of bile secretion and hypothyroidismAn observation accomplished on a hypothyroid-affected person after thyroidectomy confirmed the equal uptake of the radioactive contrast in the biliary tree depicting that it has no remarkable role in the early stages of hypothyroidism. But research accomplished on rats with the assistance of cannulation of the bile duct displayed a huge impact in the prolonged stages of hypothyroidism; for that reason, it's been taken into consideration that there is supposed to be at least some impact of hypothyroidism in the process of secretion of bile in the long term Hypothyroidism affects the flow of bile into the intestinesThere have been significantly variable findings in radioactive studies which might be because of modifications in the composition of the bile and gall bladder motility and the resistance essentially because of modifications in the sphincter of Oddi contractility. The transport time between the hilum and gall bladder is notably extended in hypothyroid cases. Hypothyroidism decreased and hyperthyroidism elevated the flow rate of the bile into the duodenum Hypothyroidism and cholesterol metabolismMost hypothyroid sufferers have raised serum levels of cholesterol and deranged lipid profile which is considered responsive to the treatment of hypothyroidism regardless of concomitant hyperlipidemia. The reduced low-density lipoprotein receptor activity is the risk factor behind the deranged serum levels of cholesterol. Reduced regulation of the hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase enzyme results in reduced cholesterol synthesis. Hypothyroidism causes decreased cholesterol secretion and the treatment of hypothyroidism leads to accelerated cholesterol secretion. The hypercholesterolemia state leads to supersaturation of cholesterol, in turn inflicting decreased motility, contractility, and atypical filling of the gall bladder. This directly contributes to the nucleation and formation of gallbladder stones ,12,17Hypothyroidism and sphincter of OddiThe gastrointestinal tract goes into a hypoactive state in a pre-existing hypothyroid state. Thyrogenic hormones have a direct action on the smooth muscles which tends to relax the smooth muscles. Potassium channel blocker glibenclamide attenuates the thyroid hormone effect on smooth muscles and causes further relaxation Numerous studies -22 have As the process of stone formation in the gall bladder or common bile duct is considerably lengthy, there are very high chances that the process of formation of the stones has already been initiated before even detection of hypothyroidism and initiation of thyroxine supplementations. Thus it has often been stated that both subclinical and clinical hypothyroidism is significantly common in patients having gallbladder or even common bile duct stones. It has also been stated in the literature that findings show significant benefits concerning dyslipidemia, cardiac complications, and neuromuscular symptoms if the patients are treated with thyroxine supplementation, especially in subclinical cases. Despite all these results from various studies, there are still questions about the mechanism behind the association of hypothyroidism and cholelithiasis though a significant correlation has been proved. The thyroid hormone has numerous effects on metabolism and also on cholesterol metabolism, which is frequently observed with the presence of deranged values of lipid profile in this kind of patient. In cases of hypothyroidism when the metabolism of cholesterol has been affected, the level of serum cholesterol rises leading to supersaturation in the bile ,26. The The serum thyroxine-secreting hormone values in cholelithiasis patients have been studied. The patients with gallbladder and CBD stones will have an equal increase in the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism if the absence of T4 affects the cholesterol metabolism and hepatic biliary secretion. In some of the studies, it was observed that CBD stone patients have twice the chance of being diagnosed with hypothyroid as compared to patients with gallbladder stones ,29. ThisIn a randomized prospective study, Mulita et al. also found that a total of 18 out of 316 (5.7%) patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy because of cholelithiasis had hypothyroidism [In summary, research studies suggest that there's a significant association between clinical or subclinical hypothyroidism state and the development of common bile duct stones. Particularly the modifications in the functioning of the sphincter of Oddi underline the association between cholelithiasis and hypothyroidism. Though the prevalence of the stones in the common bile duct in cases of hypothyroidism is more as compared to the ones having isolated gall bladder stones, the correlation of hypothyroidism with gall bladder stones is still significant and needs to be focused upon. There is evidence pointing in the direction of the phenomenon of reduction of bile flow because of the absence or scarcity of thyroid hormone. The thyroid hormone acts on the intranuclear receptors and this has an effect on almost all the nucleated cells in the human body, showing widespread effects. The state of raised thyroid stimulating hormone causes numerous effects, ultimately leading to the precipitation of gallstone disease. There are many studies enlightening the need for screening hypothyroid patients for possible gallbladder stones. Apart from the increased cholesterol concentration and reduced bile flow rate, the pro-relaxant action of thyroid hormones at the sphincter of Oddi plays a critical function in the improvement of the disease. The stone formation in particular initiates during the early untreated phase of the hypothyroid state, which continues to the level of maturation even after the initiation of treatment for hypothyroidism. Cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and dyslipidemia pathologies can be prevented through thyroxine supplementations. Most importantly, at the same time as treating sufferers with common bile duct stones or microlithiasis, clinicians need to preserve in thought the possible synchronous existence of hypothyroidism and for that reason, the thyroid workup needs to be done as a routine practice.


I read with interest the article by DiFrancisco-Donoghue et al., a randomized cross-over trial carried out on healthy subjects and with the aim of reducing post-anaerobic metabolites (blood lactate accumulation), through an osteopathic manual approach for the stimulation of lymphatic circulation . I wouldIn the text we can read that great importance is given to lactic acid; the latter is considered to be one of the most important causes for contractile fatigue of the skeletal muscle and for the onset of delayed muscle soreness (DOMS) . During Lactic acid postpones the onset of peripheral muscle fatigue. During muscle contraction in an intense anaerobic regime, there is an increase in the extracellular potassium concentration, in which increase induces a decrease in the excitability of the sarcolemma , 7. LactAnother reflection concerns the venous/lymphatic return. Osteopathy teaches that the diaphragm is an extraordinarily important area for bodily health . During The diaphragm collects all the lymph from the viscera and abdominal muscles, from the lower limbs and in a small portion collects the parietal pleural lymph from the lower lung lobe . The ent


The PSIC study (Prospective Study of Intensivists and COVID-19) monitored the intensivists working in one of the two COVID-19 hub hospitals in Central Italy over 2 years from April 2020. This study showed how mental health varies in relation to the stressors posed by the different pandemic phases.In 4 surveys corresponding to the 4 pandemic waves, the intensivists were invited to indicate changes in work activity and measure their state of mental health using standardized questionnaires administered via SurveyMonkey.During the pandemic there was a change in occupational stressors that led to insomnia, anxiety, depression, burnout, job dissatisfaction, unhappiness and intention to quit. The predominant stressors in the first wave were fear of unprotected exposure, distrust of safety measures, and compassion fatigue from having to inform relatives of the adverse outcome of treatment. In the second and third waves the workload, the monotony due to always following only one type of patient, the isolation, and the lack of time to meditate were the more relevant factors. The fourth wave added the stress deriving from interacting with anti-vax patientsSpecific prevention strategies have been developed and applied for each of the stress factors identified. Excessive workload and lack of time for meditation originated from lack of staff were remedied with extraordinary temporary hires. The management of compassion fatigue and relations with anti-vax people were addressed with specific policies and training. The monotony and isolation in COVID-19 wards can only be resolved through employee turnover in ordinary departments. Organizational and financial efforts are necessary to protect the health of intensivists during a pandemic.• Monitoring of critical care workers during the pandemic waves indicated the preventive measures necessary to ensure their mental health and quality of care.• Protecting healthcare workers is a priority.


Rape resulting in pregnancy warrants special attention due to the associated psychosocial and physical adversities. There are no guidelines for the management of teenage pregnancies resulting from rape in Sri Lanka.This case series aims to describe the experience of four teenagers who became pregnant as a result of rape in Sri Lanka.This is a case series of 4 pregnant teenagers who became pregnant as a result of rapeThis case series highlight the deficiencies in services in Sri Lanka such as lack of legal framework to terminate pregnancy following rape, delay in legal procedure leading to prolonged institutionalization of pregnant teenager, not giving the teenage mothers the choice of breastfeeding and lack of awareness about the psychological consequences of rape and teenage pregnancy.Formulating a national guideline on managing rape related pregnancy in teenagers in Sri Lanka, with the involvement of all stakeholders is a need of the hour.No significant relationships.


The Research Topic of this Research Topic aims to gather the Proceedings of “Proteine 2022” meeting  organized by the Protein Group of the Italian Society of Biochemistry (SIB). This Research Topic is focused on protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions in order to obtain new relevant knowledge about the discovery, design and the rational development of drugs for the treatment of particular diseases.Iacobucci et al., focuses on the viral glycoprotein Spike S which is involved in the recognition and interaction of viral particles with surface host receptors as well as in the fusion of the viral capsid with the host cell membrane. Authors investigated the Spike S1 subunit interactomes looking for potential additional Spike human receptors that could possibly be involved in other intracellular processes in non-pulmonary systems. Shotgun proteomics approaches were used for protein identification and several bioinformatics approaches were performed for functional data analysis. The proteomic experiments allowed the authors to identify many host protein targets and ascertain the role of the S1 domain in all steps of the interaction between the pathogen and the different host cell lines used in this research. Their data suggest the role of S1 not only in receptor recognition but also in vesicle formation; an interplay between S1 domain and human proteins associated with energetic cell metabolism in almost all analysed cell lines has been highlighted. In the manuscript of Dos Santos et al., Authors showed a strong correlation between enhanced in vivo proteolysis and mortality in patients with septic shock caused by a bacterial infection as well as by COVID-19-induced bacterial superinfection. They used a peptidomic-based approach in order to estimate the magnitude of in vivo proteolysis by assessing the abundance and count of peptides in the plasma sample. The analysis of the circulating proteome and peptidome was reinforced by the quantitation of the proteolytic activity of proteases that are activated during the acute form of the disease in order to obtain more information on the role of proteases in the regulation of the balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis in the systemic intravascular proteolysis observed during acute illness. The correlation between proteolytic activity and protease expression patterns in plasma during bacterial superinfection can provide pathophysiologically and clinically valuable information that could be useful to anticipate the signs of possible coagulation disorders and aid in early diagnosis providing useful devices for a timely therapy.In this Research Topic new important data regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) are presented. The manuscript of This Research Topic also reports data on protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions related to the search for antibacterial drugs and the understanding of key cellular signaling pathways in cell migration.Kabongo et al., deals with the drug discovery related to the enzyme malate:quinone oxidoreductase (MQO), a peripheral membrane protein essential for the survival of several bacteria and parasites such as C. jejuni which is the most common cause of bacterial foodborne diseases worldwide. The increasing incidence and antibiotic resistance of this bacterial infection require the adoption of new strategies in order to counteract the infection spread. The MQO enzyme catalyses the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate and is also involved in the reduction of the quinone pool in the electron transport chain thereby contributing to cellular bioenergetics. For these reasons the enzyme is an attractive drug target as it is not conserved in mammals. Authors optimized the overexpression and purification of MQO from Campylobacter jejuni (CjMQO), conducted an optimization of CjMQO assay conditions with a determination of enzyme steady-state kinetic parameters and reaction mechanism and finally, investigated the inhibition mechanism of two CjMQO inhibitors of plant origin, ferulenol and embelin. These molecules strongly inhibit the CjMQO enzymatic activity as well as the growth of C. jejuni, and hence offer promising perspectives as an antibacterial tool.The manuscript of Vacchini et al. applies a quantitative SILAC-based phosphoproteomic analysis coupled to a systems biology approach with network analysis to investigate the signaling pathways downstream to ACKR2, an atypical chemokine receptor which is structurally uncoupled from G proteins and is unable to activate signaling pathways used by conventional chemokine receptors to promote cell migration. ACKR2 regulates inflammatory and immune responses by shaping chemokine gradients in tissues via scavenging inflammatory chemokines. The analysis was carried out on a HEK293 cell model expressing either ACKR2 or its conventional counterpart CCR5. The model was stimulated with the common agonist CCL3L1 for short (3 min) and long (30 min) durations. As expected, many of the identified proteins are known to participate in conventional signal transduction pathways and in the regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics. However, the analyses revealed unique phosphorylation and network signatures, suggesting roles for ACKR2 other than its scavenger activity providing an unprecedented level of detail in chemokine receptor signaling and identifying potential targets for the regulation of ACKR2 and CCR5 function.Lastly, the paper of In addition to the contributions to the Research Topic, the Congress itself had a good participation offering an overview of the state of the art of Italian research in the field of proteins.Furthermore, we were particularly pleased to see the significant participation of many of the younger generation scientists presenting their work both as posters and in oral communications.


Reconstruction techniques are little studied in the literature due to the limited number of cases and the results are not very reproducible   , 2 . PeThis paper shows the penile arteries collateral circulation and the vascularization of the perineal skin - key points to the success of penile transplantation. The authors show the vascular anastomosis of the 4 cases of penile transplantation in literature in a very beautiful figure.The paper concludes that penile allotransplantation represents a revolutionary technique in the management of penile loss. The inclusion of external pudendal artery anastomoses appears to have prevented any form of penile skin necrosis and anastomosis of the corpora cavernosa appears sufficient for restoration of erectile function independent of the cavernous artery.


The Scottish Burden of Disease (SBoD) Study monitors the contribution of over 100 diseases and injuries to the population health in Scotland, in the context of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Providing robust estimates of burden is the first step in identifying areas of prevention which could have the biggest impact on health; including identification of modifiable risk factors and changes in the underlying risk factor prevalence. Our aim was to estimate DALYs for 2019, to describe the current burden in Scotland and as a baseline for future burden scenarios.The SBoD 2016 study estimated the burden using routine data and patient-level record linkage. For this update, years lived with disability were estimated using 2016 age-sex-deprivation specific rates, assuming no change in disease prevalence from 2016, but taking account of changes to the population structure. Years of life lost were calculated from 2019 observed deaths and the application of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) aspirational life table. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were sourced from the GBD 2019 and risk factor prevalence from the Scottish Health Survey.In 2019 the leading causes of burden were ischaemic heart disease (IHD), Alzheimer's/other dementias, lung cancer, drug-use disorders and cerebrovascular disease, representing over a quarter (27%) of the total DALYs in Scotland. Application of PAFs shows that a proportion of the burden for each of these causes can be attributed to modifiable risk factors.IHD continues to be the leading cause of health burden in Scotland in 2019. However recent years show an increase in burden of social causes and diseases affecting the ageing population. Application of PAFs demonstrate the importance of continuing to monitor both the burden of disease in Scotland and the prevalence of risk factors, to provide robust evidence for planning of local and national services.• The Scottish Burden of Disease continues to monitor the population health landscape of Scotland.• Ischaemic heart disease continues to be the leading cause of burden in Scotland.


Adaptive robotics achieved tremendous progress during the last few years , see Although the first realizations of the idea , 2020 arDeveloping intelligent robots capable of acquiring their skills autonomously in interaction with the environment is one of the most ambitious objectives of science. The challenges which are still open are substantial but appear feasible in light of the progresses achieved in the last years.


According to the different characteristics of patients and cervical lymph node metastasis of oral and oropharyngeal cancer, the marginal mandibular branches of facial nerves were treated by different surgical procedures, and the safety and protective effects of different surgical procedures were investigated.One hundred ninety-seven patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer satisfying the inclusion criteria were selected. According to the different characteristics of patients and cervical metastatic lymph nodes, three different surgical procedures were used to treat the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerve: finding and exposing the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves at the mandibular angles of the platysma flaps, finding and exposing the marginal mandibular branches of facial nerves at the intersections of the distal ends of facial arteries and veins with the mandible, and not exposing the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves. The anatomical position, injury, and complications of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves were observed.P = 0.0184). The best protective effect was to find and expose the mandibular marginal branch of the facial nerve at the mandibular angle of the platysma muscle flap, and the injury rate was only 2.94%.The marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves were found and exposed at the mandibular angles of the platysma flaps in 102 patients; the marginal mandibular branches of facial nerves were found and exposed at the intersections of the distal ends of the facial arteries and veins with the mandibles in 64 patients; the marginal mandibular branches of facial nerves were not exposed in 31 patients; among them, four patients had permanent injury of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves, and temporary injury occurred in seven patients. There were statistically significant differences in the protection of the mandibular marginal branch of the facial nerve among the three different surgical methods (The three different surgical procedures were all safe and effective in treating the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves, the best protective effect was to find and expose the mandibular marginal branch of the facial nerve at the mandibular angle of the platysma muscle flap. Comprehensive cervical lymphadenectomy includes all the lymphoid and adipose tissues that can be dissected in classical radical cervical lymphadenectomy, and whether the internal jugular veins, sternocleidomastoid muscles, and accessory nerves are preserved does not affect whether it is classified as comprehensive . RadicalSurgeries involving the facial nerves have a high risk of iatrogenic injuries. The marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves are extremely special in nature. Once an injury occurs, the complications will be devastating and functions will be lost, which will involve the patient’s facial aesthetics –11, causThe Ethical Committee of the Longgang E.N.T Hospital approved clinical samples for research purposes (NO. 2022–0001), and this study conformed to the principles contained in the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was requested as anonymous specimens and was given by all human participants in this study.The inclusion criteria include ① age > 18 years; ② definitive pathological diagnosis of oral and oropharyngeal cancer requiring cervical lymphadenectomy with submandibular gland resection according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines or the results of multidisciplinary care discussion; ③ no significant invasion of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves before operation; ④ no serious cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, etc.; ⑤Karnofsky score ≥ 80 points; ⑥ an estimated survival of more than one year; ⑦ and patients who voluntarily participated and signed the informed consent form.The exclusion criteria include ① cervical lymphadenectomy for oral and oropharyngeal cancer without the need for submandibular gland resection, ② significant invasion of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves before operation, ③ significant submandibular lesions, ④ a history of surgery or radiotherapy of the neck, ⑤ distant metastasis, and ⑥ unable to tolerate the surgery due to severe comorbidities.From January 2014 to June 2021, 197 patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer, including 131 males and 66 females, aged 29 to 68 years, and with a median age of 54.6 years, were selected from the Head and Neck Department of Shenzhen Otolaryngology Research Institute/Shenzhen Longgang Otolaryngology Hospital, Head and Neck Department of Gannan Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the First Hospital of Qiqihar in Heilongjiang Province, and Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University. There were 78 cases of tongue cancer, 35 cases of gingival cancer, 32 cases of buccal cancer, 28 cases of oral floor cancer, 24 cases of lingual root or oropharyngeal cancer, 16 cases at stage III, 114 cases at stage IVA, and 67 cases at stage IVB  had permanent injury of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves. Among them, one patient  had an injury of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves in whom the nerve was found and exposed at the mandibular angles of the platysma flaps; one patient  had an injury of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves in whom the nerve was found and exposed at the intersections of the distal ends of the facial arteries and veins with the mandible; and two patients  had an injury to the nerve in whom the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves were not exposed.The temporary injury occurred in seven patients . Among them, two patients  had an injury of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves in whom the nerve was found and exposed at the mandibular angles of the platysma flaps; two patients  had an injury of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves in whom the nerve was found and exposed at the intersections of the distal ends of the facial arteries and veins with the mandible; and three patients  had an injury to the nerve in whom the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves were not exposed.χ2 = 7.9875, P = 0.0184). The best protective effect was to find and expose the mandibular marginal branch of the facial nerve at the mandibular angle of the platysma muscle flap, and the injury rate was only 2.94% , suggesting that the mandibular marginal branch of the facial nerve should be dissected as far as possible in the comprehensive neck lymph node dissection for locally advanced oral oropharyngeal carcinoma. The best protection effect was to find and expose the mandibular marginal branch of the facial nerve at the mandibular angle of the platysma muscle flap, and the injury rate was only 2.94%.In our multicenter retrospective study, according to the different characteristics of patients and cervical metastatic lymph nodes, as well as the proficiency of surgeons, we adopted three different surgical procedures to deal with the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves. For patients with larger and more lymph nodes in region Ib, the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves were found and exposed at the mandibular angles of the platysma flaps. For patients with larger and more lymph nodes in region IIa, the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves were found and exposed at the intersections of the distal ends of facial arteries and veins with the mandible. After finding the marginal mandibular branches of facial nerves in these two ways, the facial nerves were completely separated under direct vision, the proximal and distal ends of facial arteries and veins were disconnected, the submandibular glands were resected, and the lymphoid and adipose tissues in region Ib were cleaned. The dissection of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves according to different characteristics of lymph nodes can avoid the inflammation and tissue adhesion caused by lymph nodes and protect the marginal mandibular branches of facial nerves to the greatest extent. For patients without obvious lymph nodes in region Ib or region IIa, the submandibular glands were removed, and the lymphoid and adipose tissues in region Ib were cleaned without exposing the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves, When cleaning the perivascular lymph nodes at the distal end of the facial artery and vein and ligating blood vessels to remove the submandibular gland, special attention should be paid to the position of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve to avoid injury. However, there were statistically significant differences in the protection of the mandibular marginal branch of the facial nerve among three different surgical methods (Among the 197 patients with locally advanced oral and oropharyngeal cancer, the incidence of permanent injury of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves was 2.03% and that of temporary injury was 3.55%. The extremely low incidence of injury of the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves verified our correct choices. We should conduct a sufficient evaluation before the operation, formulate a strict surgical plan, and flexibly choose the measures to protect the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves according to the specific situation of the primary lesion and lymph nodes as well as the surgeon’s proficiency. When the marginal mandibular branches of the sectional nerves are not dissected, the glands should be pulled down slightly with instruments to keep a safe distance from the marginal mandibular branches for resection. When dissecting the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves, we should pay attention to its branches , 25. WitThe best protective effect was to find and expose the mandibular marginal branch of the facial nerve at the mandibular angle of the platysma muscle flap. Finding and exposing the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves at the mandibular angles of the platysma flaps was suitable for those with larger and more lymph nodes in region Ib. Finding and exposing the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves at the intersections of the distal ends of facial arteries and veins with the mandible was suitable for those with larger and more lymph nodes in region IIa. Not exposing the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves was suitable for those without obvious lymph nodes in region Ib or region IIa.In the comprehensive treatment of locally advanced oral and oropharyngeal cancer, individualized and precise treatment is required, and every detail in the treatment should be finely managed. Protecting the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves from injury will play an increasingly important role in the comprehensive treatment of locally advanced oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Intraoperatively, we should choose an appropriate method in exposing the marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerves according to the different characteristics of patients and cervical metastatic lymph nodes as well as the proficiency of surgeons.


The diagnosis of simple schizophrenia remains an unusual and controversial diagnosis today. The presentation of nonspecific symptoms shared by other nosological entities make differential diagnosis a challenge.The main objective of this case report is to review the diagnosis of simple schizophrenia and its differential diagnosis.Case report and literature review. We present the case of a 52-year-old man who was admitted to a medium stay unit for psychosocial rehabilitation with the diagnosis of simple schizophrenia after his debut at 49 years of age with clinical manifestations of progressive self-care abandonment and personality change.Given the psychosocial deterioration observed and lack of response to pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments, the possible diagnoses of dementia praecox and simple schizophrenia were considered. Several individual and family interviews, neuropsychological and projective tests  were performed in order to define the diagnosis. The results revealed age-appropriate cognitive functioning and the absence of data suggestive of an underlying psychotic disorder. On the other hand, it was observed that the patient was able to establish some social relationships and participate in group activities in the medium stay unit. These findings suggest the influence of factors related to the socio-familial environment and cast doubt on the initial diagnostic hypothesis.The diagnosis of simple schizophrenia continues to present itself as a complex diagnosis that requires a careful review of the differential diagnosis.No significant relationships.


The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic forced a change in the functioning of health care systems across the globe, requiring rapid adaptation to new conditions for the safe provision of services within all medical fields. General disruption has also affected the traditional program of a postgraduate training, which has been so far fixed with temporary solutions, but not given a proper evaluation in the times of big expectations and pressures from both patients and healthcare workers.Outbreak of the COVID-19 put psychiatry trainees and Early Career Psychiatrists in an unprecedented position of responsibility for treatment of a variety of comorbidities they had no prior experience with due to closure of specialized hospital departments and limited access to regular diagnostic tools. In addition to changes in clinical practice and deployment to unfamiliar ground, rescheduling of different components of regular training, transferring most of the educational activities to distance learning, limiting professional growth by canceling most courses and conferences only strengthened the feeling of uncertainty caused by constant adjustments of the final examinations’ conditions.The Speciality Training Section of the Polish Psychiatric Association decided to review changes forced by the COVID-19 outbreak in a traditional postgraduate training program in psychiatry.Identified shortcomings pose questions about the necessity of a solid revision of the training in order to cope with more demanding working conditions.Presented recommendations may be the starting point for a discussion on the programs’ evaluation across the entire region.No significant relationships.


Sessile plants must combat many challenging environments and conditions, of which drought poses one of the greatest threats. Despite noteworthy improvements in crop breeding and modern agricultural management practices, drought continues to pose the most serious challenge to agricultural production. The Research Topic (RT) presented herein aimed to address the gaps in our knowledge of how plants can effectively manage drought conditions and what elements are the most critical in this adaptation process.Triticum aestivum L.) is an important cereal crop grown in semi-arid and temperate regions of the world . It supplies 20–30% of calories globally . The positive regulation of nucleoredoxin gene TaNRX1 was found for drought tolerance in transgenic bread wheat plants . Presented results for multi-locus genome-wide association study for grain weight-related traits under rain-fed conditions in wheat can significantly improve our knowledge in this area . The paper published on genome-wide association study can undoubtedly aid in the identification of novel quantitative trait nucleotides for water-soluble carbohydrate accumulation in wheat plants under drought stress . The transcriptomic analysis of wheat plants revealed a hormone-mediated balance occurring during the rehydration process of plants . One of the most exciting and interesting pieces of research was the association mapping study on drought tolerance in exotic Ethiopian durum wheats . In contrast, a global meta-analysis was presented on the environmental impact of drought on the yield and protein content of wheat . All papers presented in the current Research Topic were based on a wide and diverse range of modern technologies, scientific approaches and research ideas aimed toward achieving a better understanding of all aspects of plant responses to drought to increase the overall tolerance of bread wheat varieties.The goal of the presented Research Topic was to show the current level of research and progress in the study of plant adaptation and tolerance to drought in wheat. This has encompassed research from a range of scales, from the whole plant to the molecular level, including gene network studies between tolerant and sensitive plants. A study of dynamic regulatory gene and protein networks was carried out in wheat roots under drought using a comparative transcriptomics approach (DP and YS prepared the manuscript. Y-GH and NG along with DP and YS edited the manuscript. All editors have read and agreed with manuscript.The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.


TO THE EDITOR They were expanded in a 1999 publication  and updated in two publications by Sweeney et al.,,4 in the same Pediatric Section of APTA, reviewing functions, competencies, theoretical structures, emerging literature database and recommendations of evidencebased practices of neonatal physical therapy. These updates reflect the needs of contemporary neonatal physical therapy practice, respected by the authors in the preparation of the First Brazilian Recommendation of Physiotherapy for Sensory-Motor Stimulation for Newborns and Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Historically, the roles and skills required for neonatal physical therapists were developed by the Pediatric Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and were first published in 1989. The physical therapy approach should include evidence-based interventions and focus on care for the baby and his or her family.,4To work in the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU), the physiotherapist needs specific training and refined skills in the evaluation, interpretation and modification of his or her conduct or continuous resequencing of physical therapy procedures aimed at infants with structural, physiological and behavioral vulnerabilities, which predispose them to instability during routine procedures.-11Other relevant international publications also support the evidence-based practice of physical therapy in the neonatal ICU to provide adequate care for developing infants and families in the neonatal ICU on a continuous basis. aims to describe the methods of sensorimotor stimulation and their levels of scientific evidence, and suction is a positive finding described in some of the included studies. The document did not aim to propose or teach physical therapy protocols or any other professional area, and there was no intention to simplify or maximize any intervention or finding, in addition to what was found in the scientific studies included in the recommendation (see inclusion criteria for the study).It is understood that the experts who participated in the development of the document have unquestionable technical and scientific capacity to prepare any document based on scientific evidence in the field of neonatal intensive care. In addition to the questions, the First Brazilian Physical Therapy Recommendation for Sensory-Motor Stimulation for Newborns and Infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care UnitAll authors work in collaboration with speech therapists in routine care in the neonatal ICU and reinforce the esteem of the professional area and colleagues.


The accurate estimation of the mass and center of gravity (CG) position is key to vehicle dynamics modeling. The perturbation of key parameters in vehicle dynamics models can result in a reduction of accurate vehicle control and may even cause serious traffic accidents. A dual robust embedded cubature Kalman filter (RECKF) algorithm, which takes into account unknown measurement noise, is proposed for the joint estimation of mass and CG position. First, the mass parameters are identified based on directly obtained longitudinal forces in the distributed drive electric vehicle tires using the whole vehicle longitudinal dynamics model and the RECKF. Then, the CG is estimated with the RECKF using the mass estimation results and the vertical vehicle model. Finally, different virtual tests show that, compared with the cubature Kalman algorithm, the RECKF reduces the root mean square error of mass and CG by at least 7.4%, and 2.9%, respectively. Traffic accidents cause a large number of casualties every year and precise vehicle motion control can effectively reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents . Active Recursive least squares (RLS) with forgetting factors is a popular methodology employed for mass estimation. Zhang et al.  designedSimilar to mass estimation, the estimation of the CG position is also a hot topic of research. Daniel et al.  proposedThe above approaches mainly estimate the mass and CG position separately and do not regard the influence of unknown measurement noise. In addition, state-of-the-art Kalman filtering algorithms were demonstrated to enhance the accuracy of vehicle state estimations, such as the cubature Kalman filter (CKF) algorithm . TherefoThis paper aims to propose a fusion estimation scheme to achieve the estimation of mass and CG position. Furthermore, we designed a RECKF estimator to reduce the effects of unknown noise on the performance of the estimation. Then we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method through comparative experiments. The remainder of the paper is organized as follows: Considering that the estimation of mass and CG position does not involve the control of four-wheel drive force distribution, the vehicle model is simplified into a longitudinal motion model, and its dynamics model is shown in With a known distributed drive electric vehicle wheel torque and angular speed, the longitudinal tire forces are given byWithout considering the effect of the ramp driving conditions during vehicle driving, the vehicle longitudinal dynamics equations are given byThe meanings of specific vehicle model parameters are shown in The longitudinal force generated on each tire depends on the longitudinal slip and the normal force applied to the tire. In the low slip region, the longitudinal force generated by a single tire is proportional to its longitudinal slip or the linear part of the friction curve of the normal force. For all-wheel drive vehicles, the linear relationship between front and rear wheel slip and longitudinal forces can be expressed aslowed in .In order to perform iterative estimations using discrete measurement signals and the RECKF, we need to transform Equations (1)–(7) into the form of a discrete state space.For mass estimation, As shown in (1)Initialization:E means to perform the mathematical expectation calculation, and The conventional CKF method enhances the accuracy of the state estimation but does not account for the impact of unknown statistical properties of the noise. To further improve the nonlinear fit of the CKF, an embedded CKF is used first for the vehicle state estimation  and thisiϕ are given by.n is the dimension of The embedded cubature sampling points given in .(2)Time prediction:S represents a diagonal matrix, and Singular value decomposition of Evaluate the embedded cubature pointsEvaluate the propagated embedded cubature pointsEvaluate (3)Measurement prediction:Singular value decomposition of Evaluate the embedded cubature pointsCalculate the propagated embedded cubature points of the measurement vectorEvaluate The gain matrix According to the relevant conclusions in the literature , the errTo verify the effectiveness of the RECKF, a co-simulation platform of Carsim and Matlab/Simulink was established to conduct simulation experiments under two different conditions of acceleration and deceleration. The superiority of the RECKF is further verified by comparing it with the traditional CKF algorithm. The vehicle model parameters are listed in The initial vehicle velocity is set to 1 km/h, the throttle opening is 40%, the process noise covariance is known, and the measurement noise is unknown. During the whole estimation process, the vehicle speed and longitudinal acceleration are shown in It can be seen that the vehicle speed varies with the magnitude of acceleration, and the real measurement of the sensor is simulated by adding Gaussian white noise to the acceleration. The longitudinal force curve of the vehicle is shown in The results of the different methods used to estimate the mass are presented in The initial vehicle speed is 80 km/h and the braking operation is applied to the vehicle after 1 s. The process noise covariance statistics are known, and the measurement noise statistics are unknown. The estimated process vehicle speed and longitudinal acceleration are shown in The results of the different methods used to estimate the mass are presented in To further demonstrate the joint estimation effect, the CG position estimation curve under acceleration conditions is shown in In this paper, a novel joint estimation scheme is proposed to achieve the estimation of mass and CG position. This framework contains two RECKF estimators to identify mass and CG respectively, where the RECKF is a new estimator that combines robust filtering and an ECKF to suppress the influence of unknown noise. The experimental results of the virtual tests show that the proposed estimation scheme can achieve a simultaneous estimation of multiple parameters with high estimation accuracy. On the other hand, the RECKF can suppress the influence of unknown noise on the estimation accuracy. The proposed method can be used not only for passenger vehicles but also for commercial vehicles or intelligent vehicles. In our study, the effect of road slope was not considered, and the fusion estimation of mass, CG position, and slope will be carried out in the next step to further improve the identification accuracy of the parameters. Due to limited resources in some of the objective conditions, we have not conducted real vehicle experiments. We will conduct real vehicle experiments in the future when equipment and space are available.


In this paper, we implement an automatic modeling method for narrow vein type ore bodies based on Boolean combination constraints. Different from the direct interpolation approach, we construct the implicit functions of the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces, respectively. And then the combined implicit function is formed to represent the complete ore body model using the Boolean combination constraints. Finally, the complete ore body is obtained by Boolean operation of the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces. To model complex vein surfaces, some modeling rules are developed to allow the geological engineers to specify vein thickness constraints and vein boundary constraints. The method works for narrow vein type ore bodies  which are large in two dimensions and narrow in the third. Taking the implicit function of radial basis functions interpolation as an example, several experiments are carried out by using the real geological sampling data of the mines. The experimental results show that the method is suitable for the modeling of narrow vein type ore bodies. Although most spatial interpolation methods can be applied to implicit modeling, considering the superiority of interpolation extrapolation and performance, the spatial interpolation methods based on kriging  and radial basis functions  are widely used in geological modeling.The implicit modeling methodAt present, for the geological modeling with complex geometry shape features, the modeling effect of the existing implicit modeling methods often cannot satisfy the actual application requirements of mines. One of the most important problems is the lack of constraint rules of implicit modeling for different types of geological bodies. Although the 3D model can be controlled by adding more interpolation constraints, it will greatly affect the automation of the implicit modeling method. In addition, it is often difficult to construct the manual interpolation constraints in three-dimensional space.16. Actually, in some cases, the 2.5D vein modeling is analogous to the coal seam modeling17. However, most of the existing modeling method of narrow vein type surfaces relies on two dimensional methods to estimate the thickness of the model.The interpolation constraints constructed by sparse and uneven geological data are often difficult to represent the complex geological conditions, resulting in the significant difference between the implicit modeling results and the geological realistic expectations. It greatly limits the wide application of the implicit modeling software in actual mines. As a classic example, the modeling and grade estimation of vein type ore bodies with small thickness is an important challenge in practical application. The narrow vein type geological body has the characteristics of thin thickness and layered distribution, which can be regarded as a thin stratified model composed of hanging wall and foot wall surfaces, and its corresponding geological sampling data has obvious sparse and uneven characteristics. As the vein type ore bodies are complex and narrow in one dimension, it is difficult and time consuming to interpolate valid and faithful models by constructing manual interpolation constraints using the traditional interpolation methods19. For the implicit function interpolation, if the hanging wall sampling data and foot wall sampling data are not interpolated separately, the interpolation result will be extremely poor. For the implicit surface reconstruction, considering that the average thickness of vein type ore bodies is generally far less than the surface reconstruction accuracy (the size of the cube). If the classical marching cubes methods22 are used to extract the isosurface directly, the reconstruction result may not recover the realistic geometry shape of the target implicit function. Therefore, in the process of implicit modeling for vein type ore bodies, the specific shape features should be considered to guide both the interpolation and reconstruction processes.In general, the implicit modeling methods control the geometry shape of the model by constructing interpolation constraints. However, for the narrow vein type geological bodies, if the traditional modeling method is used to construct interpolation constraints directly, the interpolation extrapolation result of the model may be quite different from the realistic shape of the model. The small thickness of narrow vein type geological bodies makes it very difficult for both the processes of implicit function interpolation and implicit surface reconstruction25, but the details of relevant researches have not been published for commercial reasons.We try to construct modeling rules based on interpolation constraints to deal with the problems of geological modeling with special geometry shape features. From the perspective of model constraint effect, the interpolation constraints are used to control the local geometry shape features of the model, while the modeling rules are used to control the global geometry shape features of the model. For example, although the thickness of vein type ore bodies is very thin, this type of model can be regarded as the combination of a hanging wall surface (HW surface) and a foot wall surface (FW surface). Therefore, to avoid the potential issues of direct interpolation, a more realistic outcome will be achieved if the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces are interpolated separately and these interpolations are combined to form the vein model. It is worth noting that early researchers proposed that the mature commercial software  has integrated the vein surface modeling method based on the similar idea for a long timeIn this paper, we implement and verify the feasibility of vein surface modeling method based on the Boolean combination constraints, and further analyze and discuss the geological rule constraints in vein surface modeling. The method no longer constructs a single implicit function directly based on the geological sampling data. We construct the implicit function of hanging wall surface and the implicit function of foot wall surface respectively by distinguishing the hanging wall and foot wall sampling data. And then the combined implicit function is formed to represent the complete ore body model using the Boolean combination constraints. Moreover, for the reconstruction of implicit surface, we no longer extract the isosurface for the combined implicit function directly. On the contrary, we reconstruct the hanging wall surface and the foot wall surface using the corresponding implicit functions, respectively. Finally, the complete ore body is obtained by Boolean operation of the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces. The method works for narrow vein type ore bodies  which are large in two dimensions and narrow in the third. Besides the interpolation constraints, some additional modeling rules should be developed to make the interpolated implicit function fits the unknown surface well. In this paper, we construct some modeling rules that allow the geological engineers to specify vein thickness constraints and vein boundary constraints. It is useful to model complex vein surfaces. For example, a minimum thickness can be specified to avoid potential surface mesh cross-overs. Based on the similar idea, more novel modeling rules can be developed to improve the reliability and efficiency of modeling results.19. Among them, the sign of implicit function values represents the internal and external position relationships of the ore body models in the mineralization domain. Without loss of generality, we agree that the function values of the points outside the orebody are positive and the function values of the points inside the orebody are negative. Note that this definition of the sign of function values is different from the convention used by Cowan et al.23.The potential field function According to the above definition, the relationship between the mineralization domain of ore body model and the sign of implicit function Several types of surfaces are defined in the process of modeling vein surfaces, including the hanging wall surface, the foot wall surface and the mean surface. The hanging wall surface (HW surface) is used to represent the surface on the upper side of the vein object, which is always above the mean surface. The foot wall surface (FW surface) is used to represent the surface on the lower side of the vein object, which is always below the mean surface. The hanging wall and foot wall surfaces make up the whole model of vein object. The mean surface is an intermediate surface which is obtained by interpolating the geological sampling data of the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces. It is used as a reference surface of the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces to construct combination constraints.26. In this paper, the basic strategy of automatic modeling method for narrow vein ore bodies is to sample , interpolate (implicit function) and reconstruct (mesh model) the hanging wall surface and the foot wall surface of the vein object, respectively. The method is mainly composed of the following steps, and the overall flow chart is shown in Fig. The basic idea of the vein surface modeling is to combine the hanging wall implicit function and the foot wall implicit function based on Boolean combination constraintsStep 1: According to the geometry shape features of geological sampling data, construct the sampling points of the hanging wall surface and the sampling points of the foot wall surface, respectively.Step 2: The implicit modeling method based on radial basis function interpolation is used to obtain the interpolation constraints of the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces.Step 3: By solving the interpolation equations separately, the hanging wall implicit function and the foot wall implicit function are obtained. The implicit functions will be combined to construct modeling rules satisfying geometry shape features of vein object.Step 4: According to the Boolean combination constraints based on the signed distance field, the vein thickness constraints and the vein boundary constraints can be constructed, so that the geological engineers can adjust the modeling results according to the prior geological rules.Step 5: The implicit surface reconstruction method is used to extract the hanging wall isosurface and the foot wall isosurface, respectively.Step 6: After combining the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces using the polygon Boolean operation method, the complete ore body model is obtained.The combined implicit function The combined implicit function The combined implicit function The combined implicit function The combination constraints of implicit function fields represent the constraints constructed by combining the implicit function fields according to the idea of Boolean combination operations between fields. Based on the idea of signed distance field, the combination of implicit functions can be regarded as the combination of signed distance fields. Taking two signed distance implicit functions To obtain the implicit functions representing the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces, it is necessary to obtain the sampling data of the hanging wall and foot wall. According to the geometry shape features of geological sampling data, extract the hanging wall sampling point set Taking the drillhole data as an example, to extract the sampling points of hanging wall and foot wall respectively, the approximate trend surface should be fitted according to all the sampling points. And then the sampling points are divided into hanging wall and foot wall points roughly according the signed distance values corresponding to the approximate trend surface. The signed distance values of hanging wall points are positive and the signed distance values of foot wall points are negative corresponding to the approximate trend surface, as shown in Fig. Considering the superior extrapolation of the RBF interpolation method, the implicit modeling method based on RBF interpolation is used to convert the geological sampling data into interpolation constraints through the idea of signed distance field. Firstly, the sampling points in HW and FW surfaces28. Obtain the implicit function 32, which will not be repeated here.Solve the interpolation equations composed of the interpolation constraints of the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces respectively using the multilevel domain decomposition methodMean surfaceThe mean surface is a reference surface that fits the medial trend of the hanging wall surface and the foot wall surface. Without loss of generality, we agree that the interior  in the process of reconstruction should be further studied.


Advancements in RNA sequencing technology in past decade have underlined its power for elucidating the brain gene networks responsible for various stressful factors, as well as the pathologies associated with both genetically determined neurodegenerative diseases and those acquired during the lifespan. As these exciting studies have continued to grow in recent years, we present a series of research papers reporting on progress and new findings based on the analysis of brain transcriptional activity. The brain transcriptome is the most evolved among tissues in terms of transcriptome plasticity and responses to various stimuli. In this Special Issue, we address a spectra of studies, including, but not limited to, animal models of social stress response and various brain-disease-related data/models, in which the identification of features in gene transcription profiles aids our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of socially significant disease development.Publicly available databases allow researchers to test hypotheses and uncover additional developmental mechanisms of a variety of neuronal degenerative disorders that are actively studied, but remain poorly understood and undefeated. A group of bioinformaticians from Lomonosov Moscow State University, using RNA sequencing data freely available from the Sequence Read Archive, tested a hypothesis about the role of adenosine-to-inosine mRNA-editing patterns in the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD) . They anELF3 and the interaction between STAT1 and lncRNA ELF3-AS 1 in ASD development.Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental pathology that impedes patients’ cognition, social skills, speech, and communication. In recent years, the prevalence of ASD has been steadily increasing; therefore, the identification of the molecular mechanisms underlying ASD occurrence and development is a socially important task. Since ASD is characterized by high heterogeneity and—accordingly—diverse etiology and clinical manifestations, the molecular mechanisms of its development have not yet been fully studied. Lee et al.  present PRKCG gene encoding protein kinase C gamma (PKCgamma) [Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogeneous group of dominantly inherited ataxias characterized by progressive cerebellar atrophy mainly due to the dysfunction in and loss of Purkinje cells. Szilvia E. Mezey and colleagues used a SCA14 mouse model to investigate Spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA14), which is a rare variant of SCAs caused by missense mutations or deletions in KCgamma) . CompariIt is well known that human lifespans are full of different social conflicts, which can lead to the development of various neurological disorders. An animal model of chronic social confrontation shows that daily agonistic interactions lead male mice to form alternative patterns of social behavior depending on victories and defeats. This model of chronic social confrontation has proven to be an effective experimental approach in elucidating differences in the molecular mechanisms underlying the excitation of the brain neurons in chronically winning mice (winners) and chronically defeated mice (losers) compared with intact controls.This Special Issue presents the results of a comparative analysis of gene expression profiles in the midbrain raphe nuclei (MRNs) of control male mice compared with winners and losers. It is known that MRNs contain a large number of serotonergic neurons associated with the regulation of numerous types of psycho-emotional states and physiological processes. The article by Redina and colleagues focuses on an analysis of the co-expression of DEGs and Tph2-encoding tryptophan hydroxylase 2, the rate-limiting enzyme of the serotonin synthesis pathway . The resAnother article in this Special Issue discusses the contribution of the altered expression profiles of genes encoding the solute carrier (SLC) transporters, which may serve as markers of altered brain metabolic processes and neurotransmitter activities in psychoneurological disorders . The artAs a continuation of these studies, we include a report by the same group of authors on changes in the level of gene expression in the dorsal striatum in aggressive (winners) and aggression-deprived (AD) male mice . EarlierA study on the impact of social stress on brain plasticity is presented by a team of authors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . Using aThis Special Issue presents the results of another experiment by the same group of authors, which aimed to study the impact of proinflammatory challenges caused by maternal immune activation (MIA) and postnatal exposure to drugs of abuse (morphine) on the prefrontal cortex molecular pathways . The ranAnother article in this Special Issue is devoted to the study of transcription profiles in the brain of Takifugu rubripes fish under hypoxia and normoxia to identify pathways involved in regulating brain metabolism under chronic hypoxic stress. The results of the work also provided new insights into the adaptive molecular mechanisms that arise when the brain responds to hypoxic stress .Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the control of many physiological and pathophysiological processes. Differential hypothalamic expression of several lncRNAs was found to be associated with hypertension and the behavior/neurological phenotypes of ISIAH rats; this was characterized as a rat model for a stress-sensitive form of hypertension .In summary, the current Special Issue “Advances of Brain Transcriptomics” uncovers the molecular mechanisms related to transcriptional changes that accompany the development of neurodegenerative diseases or those involved in response to various social or environmental stressors. This knowledge paves the way for the next steps of further research in this field, which will expand the boundaries of our understanding of the processes occurring in the brain under conditions of pathological changes or under the influence of adverse factors.


The blast-induced damage of a high rock slope is directly related to construction safety and the operation performance of the slope. Approaches currently used to measure and predict the blast-induced damage are time-consuming and costly. A Bayesian approach was proposed to predict the blast-induced damage of high rock slopes using vibration and sonic data. The relationship between the blast-induced damage and the natural frequency of the rock mass was firstly developed. Based on the developed relationship, specific procedures of the Bayesian approach were then illustrated. Finally, the proposed approach was used to predict the blast-induced damage of the rock slope at the Baihetan Hydropower Station. The results showed that the damage depth representing the blast-induced damage is proportional to the change in the natural frequency. The first step of the approach is establishing a predictive model by undertaking Bayesian linear regression, and the second step is predicting the damage depth for the next bench blasting by inputting the change rate in the natural frequency into the predictive model. Probabilities of predicted results being below corresponding observations are all above 0.85. The approach can make the best of observations and includes uncertainty in predicted results. Excavation of high rock slopes in many fields, such as transportation, hydraulic and hydropower, and mining engineering, usually involves blasting due to the high efficiency, reliable effectiveness, and low costs of blasting operations ,2,3. DurMeasurement techniques currently used to detect the blast-induced damage of high rock slopes can be naturally divided into two categories, direct measurements and non-direct measurements . As regaThe blast-induced damage correlates well with the peak particle velocity (PPV), and considerable effects have been made on predicting the blast-induced damage by developing a relationship between rock damage and the corresponding PPV , which hUnlike blasting vibration velocities that are easily influenced by external conditions, natural frequencies of rock masses are intrinsic characteristics and relatively simple to obtain without knowing near-field vibration data. Based on commonly recorded blasting vibration data, natural frequencies of rock masses can be extracted by diverse methods, such as Fourier spectra ,38, the In the present study, a Bayesian approach to predict the blast-induced damage of high rock slopes using vibration and sonic data was proposed. A relationship between the blast-induced damage and the natural frequency was firstly developed. The blast-induced damage was obtained through sonic tests and the natural frequency was extracted by picking PSD peaks of blasting vibration monitoring data. Based on the relationship and available vibration and sonic data, a predictive model of the blast-induced damage was established by undertaking a Bayesian linear regression. By inputting the change rate in the natural frequency into the predictive model, the blast-induced damage for the next bench blasting can be predicted. The proposed Bayesian approach was finally adopted in the right bank rock slope at the Baihetan Hydropower Station. The results demonstrated that the proposed approach is feasible and efficient.We can define the change rate in the longitudinal wave velocity of rock masses before and after blasting as:According to construction technical specifications on rock foundation excavating engineering of hydraulic structures, rock masses are considered to be severely damaged when As regards blasting of the cylindrical charge with infinite length in infinite rock masses, the cylindrical blasting source can be treated as a cylindrical cavity with a radius of Assuming that rock masses are homogeneous, isotropic, and linear elastic media, the radial displacement of rock masses at distance K can be written as:Based on Equation (2), the equivalent radial stiffness The mass per unit length Knowing the mass When Though Equation (6) was developed based on several idealized assumptions, the assumptions can be proved valid in the vicinity of the blastholes , where tBased on Equation (7) and available data of Excavation of high rock slopes follows the construction sequence from top to bottom. As the excavation advances, more and more on-site data from sonic tests and the blasting vibration monitoring at lower benches are progressively accumulated. In order to make the best of those accumulated data and update the predictive model in real time as new data are continually added, the Bayesian linear regression that can make full use of the prior knowledge and include the uncertainty of posterior parameters in predicted results  was adopN is the number of data samples, ith element of the input variable ith element of the weight vector For a given dataset Equation (8) can be also written as The relationship between the predicted value For an input dataset In order to avoid overfitting in the maximum-likelihood estimation and control the model complexity, a prior distribution is defined as:According to the Bayesian theorem, the posterior distribution of the weight vector For a given test point If The predicted mean n-th bench blasting are divided into two major steps, namely establishing the predictive model and producing predicted results. For establishing the predictive model, blasting vibration monitoring and sonic test data from the first (n−1) bench blasting operations are firstly collected, among which the former data are used to identify natural frequencies of rock masses and the latter data are used to determine the damage depth. Then, the calculated natural frequencies n-th bench blasting are hence obtained just by inputting the change rate in the natural frequency n-th bench blasting into the predictive model. The above two major steps can be repeatedly conducted as the excavation of rock slopes advances. The procedures of the Bayesian approach have the advantages of introducing the prior information, considering the uncertainty, and improving the estimation as more data are collected.Procedures of the Bayesian approach to predict the blast-induced damage of high rock slopes using vibration and sonic data are illustrated in The Baihetan Hydropower Station lies in an asymmetrical V-shaped canyon which is between Ningnan County in Sichuan Province and Qiaojia County in Yunnan Province, located in the lower course of the Jinsha River, southwest China. The station has a total installed capacity of 16,000 MW and the dam is a double-curvature arch dam with a maximum height of 289 m, as shown in The excavation of the right bank high rock slope in the dam abutment was chose for study in this paper. Each bench height of the studied slope was designed to be 10 m. Blasting parameters used during the excavation of the slope were carefully determined based on a series of on-site experiments, and the detailed blasting parameters are summarized in Sonic tests before and after bench blasting were carried out to acquire the damage depth of each slope bench. The HX-SY04A sonic test system as presented in In cross-hole sonic tests, the longitudinal wave velocity of rock masses is obtained as:In single-hole sonic tests, the longitudinal wave velocity of rock masses is obtained as:In order to guarantee the accuracy of the sonic tests, two groups of sonic test holes with the diameter of 90 mm were bored. According to the Chinese code for blasting safety monitoring of hydropower and water resources engineering and design requirement, all sonic test holes extended about 6 m from the contour surface. Each group of sonic test holes were arranged in form of an equilateral triangle, whose edge lengths in the berm surface and the contour surface are about 1.8 m and 1.0 m, respectively. The typical layout of the sonic test holes before bench blasting is depicted in Typical results of the sonic tests before and after bench blasting are plotted in The blasting vibration monitoring during the bench blasting was implemented to further extract the natural frequencies of rock masses. The TC-4850 blasting vibration monitoring system as shown in Considering the reliability of the recorded vibration data and the safety of the monitoring system, the blasting vibration monitoring system was arranged at the toe of the upper slope bench, as shown in The power spectral density (PSD), which describes how the power of a signal or time series is distributed over the frequency, of the recorded blasting vibration data was used to extract the natural frequencies of rock masses before and after bench blasting. The PSD of a signal Considering a window of According to the previous derivation of the relationship between the damage depth and the natural frequency, the radial motion of rock masses are closely related to the blast- induced damage and hence longitudinal blasting vibration velocities were employed to extract the natural frequencies of rock masses. The typical PSD illustrations of the longitudinal velocities for the monitoring point at EL. 804 m are plotted in It is important to clarify the impact of the lower bench blasting on the damage state of the upper remaining rock masses, because the blasting vibration monitoring system for the current bench blasting was arranged at the toe of the upper slope bench. Therefore, repeated sonic tests of the same remaining rock masses were separately conducted after the adjacent and lower bench blasting. The typical results of the repeated sonic tests and their differences are presented in R of the linear fitting equation calculated through the longitudinal velocities is the largest, which verifies the reliability and superiority of using longitudinal vibration data instead of transverse and vertical vibration data.Data of sonic tests and blasting vibration monitoring were collected from total 19 bench blasting operations, and total 52 sets of data pairs comprising the damage depth and the change in the natural frequency were obtained through the collected data, Equation (1) and Equation (21). The scatter plots shown in As the excavation of high rock slopes advances, more and more on-site data coming from sonic tests and the blasting vibration monitoring were collected, and those increasing data were successively used in the progressive procedures presented in For the first two bench blasting operations, there are total 9 sets of data pairs relating the damage depth to the change rate in the natural frequency, and the corresponding scatter plot and the fitting line derived by the least square (LS) method are both shown in The slope and intercept of the fitting line obtained by LS method were selected as the initial values for the parameters The posterior predictive regression lines marked as Bayesian fits in Since the predictive model of the damage depth was determined through the Bayesian approach, the damage depth for the third bench blasting could be predicted by inputting the change rate in the natural frequency of rock masses for the third bench blasting. The complete procedures of the Bayesian approach to predict the damage depth for the third bench blasting are illustrated in As shown in The proposed Bayesian approach uses only parts of the blasting vibration monitoring and sonic test data that are originally required for controlling the vibration and damage of the remaining rock masses, and no additional data are further required. Developing the predictive model in the Bayesian approach using the natural frequency instead of the PPV helps reduce the measurement work and the prediction deviation, because at least five blasting vibration monitoring points along a line are demanded in exploring the blasting vibration attenuation law that is used to predict the PPV while just one blasting vibration monitoring point at the upper bench toe is enough for extracting the natural frequency of rock masses. By using the Bayesian linear regression, the new blasting vibration monitoring and sonic test data can be added into the input dataset to update the predictive model. Furthermore, the Bayesian predicted result is not the distinct point but a distribution containing some statistical characteristics that describe the damage state more appropriately and scientifically. Further studies will be considered to integrate the statistical characteristics into the current description and codes of the damage and vibration control.Considering the benefits that the natural frequencies of rock masses are intrinsic characteristics and relatively simple to obtain without knowing the near-field vibration data, a relationship between the blast-induced damage and natural frequency of rock masses was firstly developed. The damage depth representing the blast-induced damage is proportional to the change in the natural frequency. The blast-induced damage was obtained through sonic tests and the natural frequencies were extracted by picking PSD peaks of blasting vibration monitoring data. Based on the developed relationship and available vibration and sonic data, a Bayesian approach was then proposed to predict the blast-induced damage of high rock slopes using vibration and sonic data. The procedures of the Bayesian approach are divided into two major steps, namely establishing the predictive model and producing the predicted results. The Bayesian predictive models of the damage depth were firstly developed by undertaking the Bayesian linear regression. There exists uncertainty in the Bayesian estimates that was expressed by the variability of the regression lines of the Bayesian fits. The damage depth for the next bench blasting could be predicted by inputting the change rate in the natural frequency of rock masses to the predictive models. Finally, the Bayesian approach was applied in the Baihetan Hydropower Station, and the probabilities of predicted results being below corresponding observations are all above 0.85. The proposed Bayesian approach that makes the best of numerous monitoring data and includes the uncertainty in the predicted results is practical and efficient. This study focuses on predicting the blast-induced damage of high rock slopes and the presented case study at Baihetan Hydropower Station provides a reference for similar projects.


There have been a few attempts to develop prediction models of splitting tensile strength and reinforcement-concrete bond strength of FAGC , however, no model can be used as a design equation. Therefore, this paper aimed to provide practical prediction models. Using 115 test results for splitting tensile strength and 147 test results for bond strength from experiments and previous literature, considering the effect of size and shape on strength and structural factors on bond strength, this paper developed and verified updated prediction models and the 90% prediction intervals by regression analysis. The models can be used as design equations and applied for estimating the cracking behaviors and calculating the design anchorage length of reinforced FAGC beams. The strength models of PCC (Portland cement concrete) overestimate the splitting tensile strength and reinforcement-concrete bond strength of FAGC, so PCC’s models are not recommended as the design equations.  AntA = entire effective tension area. Zhang’s model :(39)ZhacrS and test/prediction ratios can be predicted by Equation (40), as shown in crS is 1.11, with a standard deviation of 0.17. This indicates that Equation (40) can predict crS of reinforced FAGC beams well.To validate the prediction model, the experimental results on the crack spacing of reinforced FAGC beams were collected from previous literature ,40, as lw can be obtained from the crack spacing, as it is the tensile extension difference between the reinforcement and the concrete within the crack spacing [sσ = stress in the reinforcement at a cracked section, sE = modulus of elasticity of the reinforcement.The crack width  spacing . ConsideBased on Equations (39) and (41), it is concluded that from a qualitative perspective, compared with PCC, the higher bond strength and the lower tensile strength of FAGC leads to the narrower crack width of reinforced concrete beams, which is beneficial to the durability of reinforced concrete beams.This study has established the databases of splitting tensile strength and bond strength of FAGC, developed and verified the prediction models and the corresponding prediction intervals of splitting tensile strength and bond strength of FAGC, and used the strength models to calculate the design anchorage length and estimate the cracking moment, crack spacing and width of reinforced FAGC beams.Compared with the previous strength models of FAGC, the tensile strength model in this study considers the effect of shape and size of tested specimens on strength, and the bond strength model in this study considers the cover to diameter ratio and the diameter to development length ratio. Therefore, the models in this study can be used as the design equations for estimating the tensile strength and reinforcement-concrete bond strength of FAGC.The strength models provide the corresponding 90% prediction intervals. The lower limit of the prediction intervals is the characteristic value of the strength.The splitting tensile strength of FAGC is slightly lower than that of PCC with the same compressive strength, while the scatter of the splitting tensile strength of FAGC is close to that of PCC.The scatter of the bond strength of FAGC is larger than that of PCC. This results in the fact that for the bond strength of FAGC, although the estimated mean value is higher than that of PCC in the same case, the characteristic value may be lower than that of PCC in the case of a small bar spacing.The strength prediction models of PCC cannot be used for FAGC.To ensure adequate anchorage and suitable design anchorage lengths of reinforced FAGC beams, the minimum bar spacing needs to be restricted in the design code for FAGC.Incorporating the models into the prediction models of the cracking behaviors for PCC gives good predictions on the cracking moment and crack spacing of reinforced FAGC beams.Based on this study, the following conclusions are obtained:


The introduction of socially restrictive measures due to COVID-19 forced students to adapt to new living conditions and take active action. As a consequence of limited movement there was a danger of and increased mental health. It can become worrying if the pandemic of mental health and sedentary lifestyles continues, as well as the further risk of worsening of the resulting condition due to COVID-19


Urogenital tuberculosis remains a frequent disease in our country. It is the most common extra-pulmonary location. Prostatic involvement is extremely rare.We report the observation of a prostatic lithiasis complicating a granulomatous prostatitis of tuberculous origin, revealed essentially by obstructive and storage lower urinary tract symptoms. The diagnosis was suspected on imaging and clinical findings and confirmed by histology. Treatment consisted of endoscopic resection of the prostate associated with endoscopic ballistic lithotripsy.Prostatic lithiasis is a rare condition with a poorly elucidated ethiopathogeny. The origin of tuberculosis should be evoked in front of this affection. It is the most frequent extra pulmonary localization. Prostatic involvement is extremely rare as shown by the scarcity of observations published in the literature.We propose to review this pathology in the light of the observation of a prostatic lithiasis complicating a prostatic granulomatosis of tubercular origin revealed by lower urinary tract symptoms.2A 48-year-old men, with a medical history of treated cerebral tuberculosis, presented to our consultation unit with a symptomatology that had been evolving for 3 months, consisting of storage and obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms such as urgency, frequency, nocturia three times/night and poor stream without any notion of hematuria.Clinical examination found a patient in good general condition with an indurated nodule in the tail of the right epididymis. The rectal examination reveals a multinodular prostatic hypertrophy, of hard consistency and irregular contours measuring 50 g. The cytobacteriological analysis of the urine was normal as well as his renal function (the research of Koch bacillus in the urine three days in a row was negative). The PSA value was normal. KUB radiography showed the presence of a bilobed calcification projecting on the prostatic cavity associated with two small centimetric lithiasis projecting on the path of the prostatic urethra . TransabThe patient was operated on after a correct pre anesthetic workup. He had a urethrocystoscopy which showed a pre-bulbar urethral stricture not very tight and unifocal, a prostate swollen by multiple stones (highlighted after endoscopic resection of the prostatic lobes). The treatment consisted of an internal urethrotomy for the urethral stricture, an endoscopic resection of the prostate associated with endoscopic ballistic lithotripsy. The patient had almost complete fragmentation of the large lithiasis fragments in the prostatic compartment. The stones were left in intimate contact with the prostatic capsule. The macroscopic aspect of the stones is in favor of brushite stones. The anatomopathological study of the resection shavings was in favor of prostatic tuberculosis (epithelio-giganto-cellular granuloma without caseous necrosis).The patient was put on antituberculosis treatment for 6 months combining streptomycin, rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide.The evolution was marked by the recurrence of irritative lower urinary tract symptoms. Radiological explorations (Retrograde urethrogram) concluded to a sclerosis of the bladder neck and the patient underwent an endoscopic resection of the bladder neck. After the endoscopic intervention the patient became asymptomatic. One year later, the patient is satisfied with his urination with a correct flow meter curve.3Urogenital tuberculosis is still common in our climate and its incidence is increasing worldwide. It ranks fifth after pulmonary, lymph node, osteoarticular and digestive localization. The prostatic localization is rare. This rarity is underlined by the majority of authors.The transurethral endoscopic approach is simple to perform. It is less invasive and reproducible in case of recurrence. It is more suitable for small and multiple prostatic calculi.4Prostatic lithiasis is a rare pathology of poorly elucidated etiology. The origin of tuberculosis should be evoked in front of this affection in spite of the rarity of the localization of this disease. The treatment consists of endoscopic resection of the prostate generally associated with ballistic lithotripsy.The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.