Serratus anterior muscle free flap is widely used in numerous indicated reconstructions. Only a few studies have dealt with the use of this flap in tongue reconstruction.  We present a case series of 7 patients with carcinoma of the tongue who underwent hemiglossectomy followed by immediate reconstruction with serratus anterior muscle free flap between January 2017 and December 2019 at the University Hospital Brno. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficiency of the reconstruction as well as the donor site morbidity.  There was not a single case of flap failure observed and the donor site healed completely in all cases. The functional outcome  depended on the severity of the primary oncological disease and health status of the patient.  The serratus anterior muscle free flap represents an alternative option for reconstruction of the tongue. Growing incidence of tongue tumours places higher demands on its reconstruction . In ordeThe serratus anterior muscle free flap (SAMFF) provides a thin and pliable muscle tissue, which is easy to harvest and has long vascular pedicle of good calibre. There are only some cases of tongue reconstruction with SAMFF described in the literature despite its advantages.In this case series, we evaluated tongue reconstruction using SAMFF in 7 patients who underwent hemiglossectomy at the University Hospital Brno. The aim of the study was to evaluate safety and efficiency of the reconstruction, functional result of the restored tongue, eventual complications of wound healing, or flap failure and donor site morbidity.We present a case series of 7 patients who underwent hemiglossectomy for various carcinomas of the tongue between January 2017 and December 2019 at the University Hospital Brno. Inclusion criteria were surgical resectability of the tumour and the need of free flap reconstruction. The surgical resection was followed by an immediate reconstruction of the tongue with muscle flap SAMFF in all the patients (no myocutaneous form was performed). The radical tumour resection with or without laryngeal preservation, alongside with deep cervical lymphadenectomy for an advanced stage of invasive tumour, was performed by otolaryngologists, and the immediate reconstruction using SAMFF was performed by plastic surgeons as a one stage procedure. The design of the flap was adapted to the missing volume and shape, and an oval shape was used in all cases. The flap was spread and modelled at the site of the missing tissue to achieve maximum symmetry with the unaffected side of the tongue.There were 5 female and 2 male patients in the series with the average age of 63.8 years (48–82 years). Following parameters were assessed: age, sex, tumour characteristics, histopathological classification, complications in healing, and flap failure . FunctioThere was not a single case of flap loss observed in the postoperative period. There were only minor complications in wound healing in two cases of the reconstructed tongue which were treated conservatively. The healing of the flaps in the oral cavity was not accompanied by any complications despite the exposure of saliva, and a very good aesthetic result was achieved after the resolution of the swelling and the maturation of the tissues. The functional outcome of the reconstructed tongue  dependedFree flap transfer represents a method of choice in tongue reconstruction after hemiglossectomy. Fasciocutaneous and perforator free flaps such as RFFF and ALTFF are the method of choice. Muscle free flaps, such as rectus abdominis muscle free flap , 4, vastSAMFF in general is a highly reliable flap with excellent anatomical characteristics for free flap reconstruction of small and moderate defects. It is easy to harvest and well-suited for head and neck reconstruction.The main disadvantages of this technique include the impossibility to use the two-team approach and donor site morbidity with the loss of the muscle tissue. In our study, we did not observe any problems with the upper extremity function, wound healing, or resulting scar in the postoperative follow-up. The scar was well accepted by the patients. Second, it is not possible to assess directly the flap perfusion of MSAFF by capillary refill, as it can be performed in case of fasciocutaneous or perforator flaps. On the other hand, capillary refill assessment of fasciocutaneous or perforator flaps used on reconstruction of deeply localized defects of tongue base is compromised by perioperative and postoperative swelling. Standard examination of muscle flap is performed by the Doppler probe, which identifies vascular pedicle pulsation. The microsutures are often performed on recipient neck vessels. Therefore, high interference from surrounding vessels prevents detection of vascular pedicle of muscle flap by dopplerometry.The SAMFF represents an alternative option for tongue reconstruction after hemiglossectomy. The main advantage of this flap is muscle-to-muscle connection, natural look of the reconstructed tongue, and easy harvesting of the flap with low donor site morbidity.


The journal retracts the 2022 article cited above.Following publication, concerns were raised regarding the contributions of the authors of the article. Our investigation, conducted in accordance with Frontiers policies, confirmed a serious breach of our authorship policies and of publication ethics; the article is therefore retracted.This retraction was approved by the Chief Editors of Frontiers in Chemistry and the Chief Executive Editor of Frontiers. The authors have not responded to correspondence regarding this retraction.


The journal retracts the 2021 article cited above.Following publication, concerns were raised regarding the contributions of the authors of the article. Our investigation, conducted in accordance with Frontiers policies, confirmed a serious breach of our authorship policies and of publication ethics; the article is therefore retracted.This retraction was approved by the Chief Editors of Frontiers in Oncology and the Chief Executive Editor of Frontiers. The authors do not agree to this retraction.


The dentigerous cyst is a developmental odontogenic asymptomatic cyst, that is associated with the crown of an unerupted or impacted tooth. Early diagnosis is important to avoid any future complications and choose the best treatment option. The purpose of this case report is to describe the management of a dentigerous cyst related to lower second molar in a young female patient using orthodontic traction as a conservative treatment approach. This procedure helps to spare the patient an unnecessary surgical excision procedure and the associated excessive bone removal for a safety margin, stimulates bone healing and promotes the eruption of the cyst-associated tooth. The presence of an impacted, unerupted, embedded tooth, a tooth under development, odontome or a supernumerary tooth, carries the risk of development of one of the most common types of odontogenic cysts; the Dentigerous cyst or follicular cyst . It was The dentigerous cyst surrounds the crown of the unerupted tooth and is attached to its cervical region. It develops from accumulation of fluid between the remnants of the reduced enamel epithelium and the subjacent tooth crown shortly after complete formation of the crown . The natRadiographically, the Dentigerous cyst is usually characterized by a unilocular radiolucent lesion around the unerupted tooth, with a distinct dense periphery of condensed bone . An enlaThe classical treatment decision of the Dentigerous cyst is total enucleation with a safety margin of bone removal, to avoid recurrence together with extraction of the associated impacted tooth . HoweverThis article presents a clinical case with a Dentigerous cyst surrounding the crown of an unerupted lower right second molar that has been treated by orthodontic traction of the unerupted tooth.A fourteen-year-old female presented to our orthodontic clinic with a chief complaint of unpleasant appearance of her teeth. The pre-treatment records including clinical intra-oral and extra-oral examination, photos, panoramic radiograph, lateral cephalometric radiograph, upper and lower impressions were taken. Intraoral examination showed the patient had a full set of erupted permanent teeth up to the first molars in all quadrants. A single cusp tip of the lower left second molar was erupting, while the lower right second molar was unerupted. The patient showed an Angle class I malocclusion with moderate and mild crowding in the upper and lower arches respectively, and anterior deep bite Fig. . ExtraorThe case was referred to the maxillofacial surgeon for consultation. Based on the clinical, radiological and CBCT findings, a diagnosis of dentigerous cyst was concluded.The treatment option recommend by the surgeon was extraction of the associated impacted tooth and the third molar, cyst enucleation and bone removal with a proper safety margin in order to minimize the possibility of recurrence and allow the regeneration of healthy bone.Considering the age of the patient, size of the cyst, the position of the cyst close to the oral mucosa, the dental deep overbite, the possibility of resolution of the cyst with the eruption of the second molar, the approach of enucleation and tooth extraction was considered to be aggressive for the current case. Hence, a more conservative approach for the sake of conservation of the natural permanent tooth was agreed upon with the surgeon. Orthodontic traction which will be accompanied by spontaneous decompression and marsupialization of the cyst will be done. Accordingly, a CBCT was captured Fig. , which cThe treatment strategy depends on surgical exposure of the impacted second molar, bonding orthodontic attachment and orthodontic traction until the cyst lining attached at the cervical margin gets exposed in the oral cavity and blends with the oral mucosa, with no future risk of fluid accumulation and re-formation of the cyst. The critical stage in this procedure is the ability to maintain the decompression and cyst opening exposed in the oral cavity without healing until eruption of a part of the tooth.Orthodontic treatment was initiated on the lower arch, comprising bonding of fixed orthodontic appliance, Roth prescription, 0.018 inch slot Roth brackets, with bonding of a double tube on the lower right first molar to help orthodontic traction of the lower second molar. Levelling and alignment was initiated until an archwire of 0.017 × 0.025 inch stainless steel archwire was reached. Surgical exposure of the second molar and bonding of an orthodontic tube to the exposed part of the buccal surface was done. An initial auxillary archwire 0.012 inch nickel titanium archwire attached between the auxillary tube of the first and second molars is used for occlusal traction of the second molar. In the monthly recall of the patient, the gauge of the wire was increased until the tooth is totally erupted on the oral cavity and an archwire of 0.017 × 0.025 inch stainless steel archwire could be inserted as a main archwire. At this stage, intraoral photographs and a panoramic radiograph were taken Fig. , which sThe threat the dentigerous cyst presents is reverted back to its asymptomatic, incipient, and expanding nature. The early diagnosis is of paramount importance prior to the expression of the aggressive form of the lesion. This aggressive form has the potential to expand the bone of the mandible, with the subsequent displacement of teeth, malocclusion, pain, inferior alveolar nerve paresthesia and root resorption .The intraoral observation of any altered eruption patterns, besides the proper examination of the pre-orthodontic panoramic radiograph to detect the presence of such cyst can be of significant help for early intervention. However, the differential diagnosis should be considered for identification of the Dentigerous cyst. When the follicular space exceeds 3–4 mm, Dentigerous cyst is suspected .The most convenient treatment option for the dentigerous cyst should be chosen to suit the clinical situation. Surgical enucleation is a common modality for treatment of the Dentigerous cyst . It encoThe other treatment option is decompression; which is elected in the currently presented case and in other previously reported cases . It encoIn the current case, the young age of the patient with the strong healing and eruptive power of the teeth, besides the favorable position of the cyst and the vertical impaction of the second molar privileged decompression and orthodontic traction of the embedded second molar. Besides, the preservation of the second molar could have a favorable functional and psychological impact on the patient . This prThe bonding of the impacted second molar on the day of incising the cyst wall and decompression and the early occlusal traction of the second molar gave chance for maintaining the intact and the fast eruption of the impacted tooth. After few months of released pressure on the bone, the panoramic radiograph showed complete disappearance of the cyst, increased radio-opacity of the surrounding bone with the full eruption of the second molar. These same findings were confirmed in the panoramic radiograph taken 3 years after finishing the orthodontic treatment, with no evidence of recurrence Fig. .The chosen treatment option of decompression of the developing dentigerous cyst simultaneously with guided eruption of the associated second molar showed acceptable results with such a case.The post-treatment panoramic radiograph showed complete radiographic healing of the cyst and uneventful eruption of the impacted second molar, which credits the treatment modality elected to save the involved tooth.


When a radar detects marine targets, the radar echo is influenced by the shape, size and dielectric properties of the targets, as well as the sea surface under different sea conditions and the coupling scattering between them. This paper presents a composite backscattering model of the sea surface and conductive and dielectric ships under different sea conditions. The ship scattering is calculated using the equivalent edge electromagnetic current (EEC) theory. The scattering of the sea surface with wedge-like breaking waves is calculated using the capillary wave phase perturbation method combined with the multi-path scattering method. The coupling scattering between ship and sea surface is obtained using the modified four-path model. The results reveal that the backscattering RCS of the dielectric target is significantly reduced compared with the conducting target. Furthermore, the composite backscattering of the sea surface and ship increases significantly in both HH and VV polarizations when considering the effect of breaking waves under high sea conditions at low grazing angles in the upwind direction, especially for HH polarization. This research offers valuable insights into optimizing radar detection of marine targets in varying sea conditions. Composite scattering modeling for sea surfaces and targets is of great significance for monitoring sea environment, identifying and intercepting targets ,2. The dThere have been many studies on sea surface scattering ,4,5. ResPrevious studies were dedicated to analyzing the scattering from mental targets or dielectric targets, but without consideration of the diffracted field for a dielectric wedge. On the other hand, sea-only scattering is not competent to fully describe the couple scattering mechanism between the sea surface and breaking waves under high sea conditions. There have been few studies on the composite scattering of a sea surface with breaking waves and the dielectric target above it under high sea conditions. In this paper, the deterministic distribution of breaking waves on the sea surface under high sea conditions is established, and the scattering of the wedge-like breaking waves and the multiple scattering between the breaking wave and the surrounding sea surface are calculated. The numerical matching technique is introduced to quickly calculate the scattering field of electrically large dielectric targets with wedge structures. Combined with the modified four-path method, the composite scattering characteristics of conducting and dielectric ships under different sea conditions are calculated. The influence of breaking waves and the dielectric property of the target on composite scattering of a sea surface and ship under high sea conditions are analyzed. The results provide valuable insights for improving radar efficiency in detecting sea surface targets.The total field of the conducting target can be obtained by adding a physical optical field and diffraction field, namely GTDEEC=POEEC+PTDEEC. POEEC is calculated according to the integration direction selected by Cui and Wu , and PTDThe total scattering field of the impedance wedge includes the physical optical field and edge diffraction field. When the equivalent edge electromagnetic current is used to solve the edge diffraction field, the incremental length diffraction coefficient The PO diffraction coefficient matrix The PO diffraction coefficient of the lower wedge can be obtained using the diffraction coefficient of the upper wedge with transforming When calculating the diffraction coefficient of the impedance wedge, we use the numerical matching technique to expand the spectrum function of the impedance wedge with oblique incidence and arbitrary wedge angle according to :(3)Se,hEPQfaThe integral term The length of the simulated two-dimensional sea surface in In this paper, the deterministic distribution of breaking waves on the sea surface is obtained by using the whitecap coverage  along with a comparison to SASS-II measured data [2 and a windspeed of 13 m/s, averaging 50 sea surface samples) along with the comparison to measured data [To verify the correctness of the model, we presented the backscatter coefficient of sea surfaces generated using the Monte Carlo method The backscattering RCS of the ship decreases due to the existence of the coated dielectric layer, indicating that radar stealth can be achieved by using coated absorbing materials to reduce the signal intensity of the target.(2)The sea surface scattering dominates for near-vertical incidence, while for small grazing angle incidences, ship scattering is dominant, and the tower scattering peak is visible.(3)Under high sea conditions, it is crucial to consider the impact of the breaking waves on the scattered echo. The mirror scattering decreases, but the incoherent scattering increases with the increase in wind speed due to the roughness of the sea surface. The backscattering RCS of the sea surface  is enhanced due to breaking wave scattering at small grazing angles. As wind speed increases, the scattering enhancement of breaking waves with small grazing angles causes the tower scattering peak to submerge in the sea background.(4)The azimuthal variation of the ship scattering shows several peaks at the angle that is perpendicular to the four sides of the ship. When the scattering of the sea surfaces is taken into consideration, the sea surface scattering results in the disappearance of scattering peaks at the bow and stern. When considering the scattering of the sea surface, the scattering peaks at the bow and stern disappear. Additionally, for high sea conditions, the scattering peaks of the target are completely submerged.To sum up, it is necessary to consider the impact of the breaking waves and the dielectric materiel of the target on the scattered echo. We believe that the model can provide a theoretical basis for radar to detect marine targets with better efficiency.In this paper, a composite scattering model from the sea surface with breaking waves and a conducting and dielectric ship above it is presented. The EEC theory is used to calculate the ship scattering, while the scattering of the sea surface with wedge-like breaking waves is calculated using the capillary wave phase perturbation method and the multi-path scattering model. The coupling scattering between them is obtained using the modified four-path model. Using the proposed model, the RCS results of the conducting and dielectric ships on sea surfaces at low, medium and high wind speeds under different polarizations are simulated numerically. The numerical results show that radar stealth can be achieved in a certain range by using coated absorbing materials to reduce the signal intensity of the target. When the wind speed increases, the composite backscattering from the sea surface and target for both polarizations increases with the consideration of the effect of breaking waves, especially for upwind under high sea conditions and small grazing angle incidence, and the scattering enhancement of HH polarization is more obvious. The tower scattering peak of the conductor ship is visible at low and high wind speeds. However, it is difficult to separate the target from the sea background under high sea conditions due to the scattering weakness of the dielectric target itself, the enhancement of the scattering effect of the sea surface and the spike scattering of the breaking waves.


This is a peer-review report submitted for the paper “In-hospital Mortality and the Predictive Ability of the Modified Early Warning Score in Ghana: Single-Center, Retrospective Study.”This study  is aboutOne of the main concerns about this study is that the sample size is relatively small (N=112) for a national referral hospital in Ghana. Authors should provide more evidence on whether the sample and size were representative of the target population. Relatedly, since the authors state that they recruited practically all medical inpatients hospitalized for a period of more than 2 years (January 2017 to March 2019), it would be good to provide the total recorded number of in-hospital patients for that period.In making the case for the validity of LMEWS, the authors have relied heavily on the afferent arm of clinical deterioration in critically ill patients, while not accounting for the efferent arm of medical response. The afferent arm identifies patients at risk of clinical deterioration and activates the efferent arm if necessary. The efferent arm examines the patients and intervenes in the treatment. The functioning of the efferent arm in the study settings ought to have been discussed in drawing up the conclusion and recommendation of the LMEWS.


These outbreaks serve as a reminder of the difficulties faced in less resourced nations for improvement in regulation and enforcement of quality control procedures in the pharmaceutical industry.With the rise in the number of drug manufacturers, monitoring of drug supply in developing countries is extremely important. These cases represent just the tip of the iceberg because not all children are referred to Tashkent referral centers.An epidemic of severe oligoanuria and altered sensorium has been reported in approximately 120 children from Uzbekistan and adjoining areas of Tajikistan since September 2022. This brief report describes the biochemical and clinical data of 50 patients from two clinical centers from Tashkent, Uzbekistan  and Gambia  linked to the use of these syrups containing toxic levels of DEG or EG.15 Similar outbreaks have occurred in the past and can recur in the future and have been typically associated with the contamination of ingestible pharmaceutical products.14 During the outbreak in Nigeria in 1990, it was found that wholesale distributors substituted DEG for propylene glycol in paracetamol syrups when selling to small pharmaceutical manufacturers to reduce expenses.7 These outbreaks serve as a reminder of the difficulties faced in less resourced nations for improvement in regulation, enforcement, or strict implementation of quality control procedures in the pharmaceutical industry.9 Compromises within the pharmaceutical supply chain lead to a proliferation of substandard and falsified (SF) medications. This emphasizes the necessity to evaluate various perspectives through investigations into the structural, political, economic, and ethical elements that shape the quality and utilization of medical products. There is a need for international expansion of formal training on SF medical products to address systemic inadequacies and emphasize the integration of public health education within pharmaceutical training and strengthen the capacity for pharmacists and physicians together to play a pivotal role in safeguarding public health.810 The intricate interconnection of social and ethical determinants in the issue of SF medicinal products underscores that mere technical interventions are insufficient; instead, it necessitates a comprehensive systemic policy approach enriched and directed by interdisciplinary research across various fields.9Globally, there have been several cases of fatal pediatric AKI linked to the use of cough syrups or acetaminophen and cough syrup combination syrups containing excessive amounts of diethylene glycol (DEG) and EG. Last year, similar cases have been reported in Indonesia (AKI cases in toddlers


Bioactive Soft Materials and Application” is to present the current state of research and development in the field of bioactive soft materials with a perspective focus on material design and their biomedical application.Soft biomaterials represent hydrogels but also a variety of thicker surface coatings based on grafting of hydrophilic macromolecules or their physical assembly by methods like layer-by-layer technique. Soft biomaterials have several advantages that allow uptake and controlled release of bioactive protein-based molecules like growth factors and other kind of drugs. Moreover, soft biomaterials of hydrophilic character allow control of protein adsorption and cell adhesion and interaction which not only can avoid blood coagulation but also tailor immune response or engrafting of the construct to guide tissue regeneration. Another advantage of soft biomaterials is the ability of materials scientists to provide them with stimuli responsive properties that they can react to changes in temperature, pH value, ionic strength and other physical or chemical stimuli to liquefy, control release of drugs or cell interaction depending on the environment. Hence, the aim of the Research Topic “Li et al. shows the synthesis and formulation of temperature- and pH-responsive chitosan hydrogels that are loaded with doxorubicin and liposome-encapsulated curcumin which demonstrates their potential to be applied for the treatment of solid tumors. Another paper from Zhang et al. described the use of thermosensitive Poloxamer 407 hydrogels for the loading of concentrated growth factors (CGFs) which showed a sustained release of growth factors and demonstrated to be good candidates for the repair of segmental bone defects. In addition, a thermo-responsive and injectable hyaluronic acid/nHAp (HA/nHAp) composite hydrogel was developed by Liu et al. with the incorporation of notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) used because of its anti-inflammatory properties to reduce TNF alpha production and thus promote bone regeneration. Moreover, Wang et al. reported the fabrication of soft nanoparticles using konjac glucomannan that are loaded with curcumin which can accomplish colonic localization release and target local inflammatory macrophages, showing their potential to be used as oral delivery vehicles for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.The Research Topic includes several studies on stimuli responsive hydrogels being used as drug delivery platform for biomedical applications. An interesting work from Lin et al. developed a unique freeze-drying system for the fabrication of Haversian system using chitosan/type I collagen composite materials to mimic native bone tissue to enhance bone regeneration. This universal preparation platform based on the directional freezing technology is also expected to be applied for the fabrication of scaffolds with cavities roughly arranged at right angles to each other. In addition, Luo et al. reviewed the latest progress in studying the roles of culture-condition stimulated exosomes or their loaded hydrogels and the differences in terms of origination and function between exosomes and the other kinds of EVs (microvesicles and apoptotic bodies) and mesenchymal stem cell lysates which provided a fundamental understanding on the specific application of different EVs and the future development.An interesting work is about the design of platform for batch fabrication of native tissue mimicking scaffolds. Overall, this Research Topic covers recent advances in designing of bioactive soft materials and their applications for drug delivery and tissue repair. The editors hope that the current Research Topic will contribute to the research and development in the field of soft materials for drug delivery and tissue repair, inspiring future exploration to broad the biomedical applications of bioactive soft materials.


The journal retracts the 2021 article cited above.Following publication, concerns were raised regarding the contributions of the authors of the article. Our investigation, conducted in accordance with Frontiers policies, confirmed a serious breach of our authorship policies and of publication ethics; the article is therefore retracted.This retraction was approved by the Chief Editors of Frontiers in Genetics and the Chief Executive Editor of Frontiers. The authors do not agree to this retraction.


Disruption of cerebral thermal homeostasis accompanies various CNS diseases. Presumably, (neuro)inflammation and the changes of temperature heterogeneity of the cerebral cortex may be interrelated links in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.to study the association between the brain thermal balance indicators, inflammatory markers and clinical features of the disease in patients with schizophrenia during therapy.37 patients aged 16 to 46 years with schizophrenia  were examined. Clinical examination included psychometric assessment using PANSS, HDRS, and YMRS scales. Cortical temperature was determined by microwave radiometry. Temperature heterogeneity was assessed by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient between temperature indicators in 9 symmetrical areas of the cerebral cortex. The activity of the proteolytic system of inflammation (ratio of leukocyte elastase (LE) and α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI) activity) and the level of autoantibodies to S100B and MBP antigens were determined in patients’ blood.Low temperature heterogeneity is related to an increase in the activity of the proteolytic system of inflammation and a good response to therapy in most patients. High temperature heterogeneity is associated with insufficient activity of the proteolytic system of inflammation and the development of autoimmune reactions, which is accompanied by a more severe course of the pathological process and, in most cases, treatment resistance.The association between the features of the thermal balance of the brain and inflammatory markers confirms the hypothesis of their role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Temperature heterogeneity of the brain can serve as a criterion for predicting of therapeutic response in patients with schizophrenia.None Declared


Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) is an important part in the research of modern luminescent materials and photoelectric devices. Usually, chiral molecules or chiral structures are the key factors to induce CPL spontaneous emission. In this study, a scale-effect model based on scalar theory was proposed to better understand the CPL signal of luminescent materials. Besides chiral structures being able to induce CPL, achiral ordered structures can also have a significant influence on CPL signals. These achiral structures are mainly reflected in the particle scale in micro-order or macro-order, i.e. the CPL signal measured under most conditions depends on the scale of the ordered medium, and does not reflect the inherent chirality of the excited state of the luminescent molecule. This kind of influence is difficult to be eliminated by simple and universal strategies in macro-measurement. At the same time, it is found that the measurement entropy of CPL detection may be the key factor to determine the isotropy and anisotropy of the CPL signal. This discovery would bring new opportunities to the research of chiral luminescent materials. This strategy can also greatly reduce the development difficulty of CPL materials and show high application potential in biomedical, photoelectric information and other fields. A scale-effect model based on scalar theory can help understand the CPL signal, and measurement entropy of CPL detection may determine the isotropy and anisotropy of the CPL signal. R). When the anisotropy scale (L) of material particles is greater than or equal to this critical scale, the anisotropic environment has a great influence on the CPL signal. Only when R is affected by the dielectric function of the anisotropic environment of the luminescent materials. The dielectric distribution of luminescent materials depends on the molecular structure and the ordering in the assembly. In addition, we propose a method of artificially introducing anisotropy, such as by introducing a magnetic field and changing the dielectric function distribution—a highly universal strategy for developing CPL spontaneous radiation materials with controllable CPL emission wavelength and signal intensity.The asymmetry of matter has gradually attracted the attention of a wide range of researchers in materials science and chemistry . RecentlThe understanding of CPL by different investigators varies considerably ,21. A meFirst, the influence of the anisotropic environment  on the polarization properties  of electromagnetic waves is not negligible. Therefore, a quantifiable model and an explanation based on previous research  and a fiTo quantitatively determine the influence of the particle scale in uniform anisotropic media on CPL spontaneous radiation, Equation (1) was obtained in nonmagnetic media and transparent media. Please refer to the L is the transmission distance in the medium  and R is the critical scale of the anisotropic environment.where When Combined with the above considerations, some qualitative conclusions can be obtained about the influence of the anisotropic environment on the CPL signal of luminescent materials in the visible band and near-infrared band:When the anisotropic environment has a definite influence on the phase of polarized light arising from Regarding the influence of the polarity  and CPL are the special elliptically polarized light (EPL) with a special phase difference between electric vector ocument}  of CPL aThe influence of the scale effect of the medium on the spontaneous emission of the material needs to consider not only the influence of the anisotropic distribution of the medium on the polarization state of the spontaneous emission, but also the polarization state of the incident excitation light see .121 and P3221) when using the same crystal plane as the incidence direction  film; CPL signals corresponding to the crystal structure could be measured from the film , we developed a highly universal strategy for developing CPL spontaneous radiation materials with controllable CPL emission wavelengths and controllable signals, i.e. artificially introducing anisotropy to influence CPL signals. In this strategy, molecules or aggregate-state luminescent materials , CdSe quantum dots, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) tetraphenyl ethylene (TPE) dyes and perovskite-based luminescent films with different luminescent mechanisms were elected here to prove this strategy. Figure In previous studies, the origin of CPL emission and the chirality of materials were usually discussed as related phenomena. Besides the chiral-induced CPL emission phenomena, we found that the scale effect based on the anisotropy of the medium is found to be another key factor to induce a CPL signal. Additionally, it is easy to conclude that a pair of chiral structures can induce CPL emission using an analysis based on the scale-effect model emanating from scalar theory. Therefore, these findings can also explain the reason why a pair of chiral structures can induce CPL signals with opposite signs and equivalent intensity from another angle. In addition, we found that the measured entropy of materials is the key factor that determines the isotropy or anisotropy of measured CPL signals, rather than the influence of LPL. It is shown here that the influence of the anisotropic environment on the CPL signal is extremely important in the development of CPL luminescent materials. When luminescent materials orderly aggregate, an anisotropic medium environment will be formed. The anisotropic medium environment will change the refractive indices We selected luminescent materials with different luminescence mechanisms, including but not limited to organic dyes that emit fluorescence and phosphorescence light as well as inorganic luminescent materials, for verification of our theory. In addition, we proposed a method of artificially introducing anisotropy, such as introducing a magnetic field and changing the dielectric function distribution, and developed a highly universal strategy for developing CPL spontaneous radiation materials with controllable CPL emission wavelength and signal.This discovery will further expand the application range of CPL luminescent materials. For example, the CPL signal of different wavelengths of dyes in an anisotropic environment can be used to observe the dielectric distribution and anisotropic scale of a microscopic-ordered structure. Furthermore, different cells with different anisotropic scales can be stained and the CPL signals of spontaneous radiation can be observed to quickly determine the size of different cells.Detailed materials and methods are available in the nwad072_Supplemental_FilesClick here for additional data file.


The attainment of accurate motion control for robotic fish inside intricate underwater environments continues to be a substantial obstacle within the realm of underwater robotics. This paper presents a proposed algorithm for trajectory tracking and obstacle avoidance planning in robotic fish, utilizing nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC). This methodology facilitates the implementation of optimization-based control in real-time, utilizing the present state and environmental data to effectively regulate the movements of the robotic fish with a high degree of agility. To begin with, a dynamic model of the robotic fish, incorporating accelerations, is formulated inside the framework of the world coordinate system. The last step involves providing a detailed explanation of the NMPC algorithm and developing obstacle avoidance and objective functions for the fish in water. This will enable the design of an NMPC controller that incorporates control restrictions. In order to assess the efficacy of the proposed approach, a comparative analysis is conducted between the NMPC algorithm and the pure pursuit (PP) algorithm in terms of trajectory tracking. This comparison serves to affirm the accuracy of the NMPC algorithm in effectively tracking trajectories. Moreover, a comparative analysis between the NMPC algorithm and the dynamic window approach (DWA) method in the context of obstacle avoidance planning highlights the superior resilience of the NMPC algorithm in this domain. The proposed strategy, which utilizes NMPC, demonstrates a viable alternative for achieving precise trajectory tracking and efficient obstacle avoidance planning in the context of robotic fish motion control within intricate surroundings. This method exhibits considerable potential for practical implementation and future application. The utilization of ocean and river resources by humans has led to the growing prominence of underwater robots in various applications. Underwater robots are utilized in several sectors, including civil domains such as marine environmental monitoring, maritime search and rescue, seabed resource exploration, and aquatic biology research. Additionally, they find applications in military sectors for reconnaissance activities and the tracking of enemy submarines ,2. ReseaRobotic fish, classified as a subset of underwater robots, possess attributes that align with those of a time-variant, strongly coupled, and multi-input multi-output nonlinear system. Trajectory tracking control and obstacle avoidance planning control have garnered substantial attention from scholars both locally and internationally due to their prospective uses ,4. In thUp to this point, the predominant techniques employed for trajectory tracking of underwater robots consist of traditional proportional integral derivative (PID) control ,6, slidiIn recent years, there has been significant progress in the development of autonomous obstacle avoidance technology in the field of underwater robotics. This has led to an increase in research efforts by both local and international research teams, focusing on the study of autonomous obstacle avoidance planning for underwater robots. In order to guarantee the autonomous ability of underwater robots to avoid obstacles in scenarios including multiple stationary objects, Li introduced a control approach for obstacle avoidance in a spherical underwater robot. This strategy relies on the utilization of an ultrasonic sensor array. This approach considers the kinematic and dynamic models of the robot as well as the properties of ultrasonic sensors . In orde(1)The utilization of nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) in the realm of motion control for nonlinear robotic fish systems. This approach utilizes real-time optimization solutions to boost the adaptability of robotic fish in different surroundings, allowing for accurate trajectory tracking and obstacle navigation. In contrast to conventional trajectory planning techniques that predominantly focus on position and velocity alterations, this methodology incorporates enhanced control over acceleration.(2)The implementation of trajectory planning and optimization algorithms based on acceleration, which enables the achievement of smoother motion for robotic fish and the reduction of excessive inertial forces during movement. Consequently, this approach improves the precision of trajectory monitoring as well as the level of comfort experienced.The conventional control techniques employed in the field of robotic fish frequently depend on PID control or empirical methodologies. However, these methods demonstrate some shortcomings in terms of their performance and ability to withstand challenges in intricate underwater settings. The present work introduces several novel contributions, which are outlined below:The remainder of this paper is organized as follows. In order to accomplish trajectory tracking of the robotic fish, a kinematic model is created to characterize its motion, incorporating variables such as velocity, location, and rotational angles. To achieve a more sophisticated formulation of the kinematic model for the biomimetic robotic fish, it is necessary to build a coordinate system that effectively characterizes the fish’s motion. As depicted in y upward .The coordinates of the fish body’s center of mass in the world coordinate system are as follows: In a similar manner, the matrix that represents the transition of the angular velocity of the fish body’s center of mass from the coordinate system of the carrier to the coordinate system of the world can be expressed as follows.Here, x)=RT(x) .When The iterative formula for the velocity of the fish’s center of mass is as follows.Here, only the planar motion of the robotic fish is taken into consideration. This implies that substituting The kinematic model of the robotic fish pertains to the temporal progression of its motion states, which often includes details such as position, velocity, and orientation. Nevertheless, in order to incorporate the acceleration of the fish, it becomes imperative to transition from the kinematic model to a dynamic model. The dynamic model takes into account not just variations in velocity and position, but also integrates the impact of acceleration on these variables.The dynamic model of the robotic fish exhibits a strong correlation between acceleration and steering angle. The rate of change in acceleration has a direct influence on variations in the steering angle, while modifications in the steering angle, in turn, have a reciprocal effect on both the direction and magnitude of acceleration. The mathematical representation of the relationship between acceleration and steering angle can be expressed as followsThis study enhances the kinematic model by incorporating acceleration, so transforming it into a dynamic model. This modification allows for a more accurate representation of the motion behavior exhibited by the robotic fish. The inclusion of acceleration in the analysis facilitates a more comprehensive comprehension of the dynamic properties shown by the fish. This holds special significance in the context of designing control algorithms and optimizing the motion performance of the fish.For a nonlinear system, consider the following general form of a discrete modelSetting straints .At any arbitrary time, the predictive model of the NMPC system can forecast all state variables of the system from time  horizon .NMPC aims to solve, at each time step, the following constrained finite-horizon optimization problemThe framework flowchart of NMPC control is shown in Here, Finally, the control inputs obtained from the optimized control sequence at time step The obstacle avoidance function entails modifying the penalty function value by considering the discrepancy between the distance of obstacles and the target point. In this case, a greater function value is assigned to a closer distance. An augmentation in the weight coefficient has a tendency to render the planning outcomes more cautious. In scenarios when the robotic fish lacks information regarding obstacles, the weight coefficient will have no impact on the planning results. When encountering substantial measurement or estimation mistakes in the state of the robotic fish, it is possible to utilize higher weight coefficients. Nevertheless, this phenomenon also results in a rise in tracking deviation, as demonstrated in the subsequent analysisThe objective function at the trajectory planning level is to minimize deviations from the global reference path and achieve obstacle avoidance. The act of circumventing hurdles is achieved by implementing penalty functions in the following mannerThe management of motion kinematic trajectory tracking and obstacle avoidance in robotic fish include the manipulation of the fish’s lateral and longitudinal accelerations to regulate its forward and backward velocity, lateral velocity, and yaw rate. This action is undertaken with the purpose of ensuring that the center of mass of the fish follows a specified reference trajectory, resulting in the continuous reduction of the discrepancy between the projected trajectory and the reference trajectory until it reaches zero.NMPC employs a nonlinear model to forecast forthcoming states by considering the present state and a sequence of control inputs inside the control horizon. The process at hand is evidently characterized by an iterative methodology, wherein it is necessary to establish an explicit iteration equation in order to estimate the solution of the differential equation, considering that the control sequence is unknown. In the realm of actual engineering applications, numerical methods that are frequently employed encompass the Euler method and the fourth-order Runge–Kutta algorithm. In this part, the forward Euler approach is utilized to discretize Equation (10) and transform it into a predictive model.Taking into account the maximum hydrostatic pressure that the robotic fish can endure while swimming underwater, the following dynamic constraints are incorporated:The paper presents trajectory tracking and obstacle avoidance simulations as a means to validate the efficacy of the NMPC algorithm in the motion control of the bionic robotic fish. This study aims to evaluate and compare the tracking performance of the NMPC tracking algorithm and the Pure Pursuit (PP) algorithm on S-shaped and cloverleaf trajectories. Furthermore, this study conducts a comparative analysis between the obstacle avoidance method of NMPC and the Dynamic Window Approach (DWA) algorithm, focusing on their respective effectiveness in avoiding obstacles along circular routes. This study employs a comparative analysis to establish the precision of the NMPC algorithm in trajectory tracking and evaluate the efficacy of its obstacle avoidance planning.In a 10 m by 10 m plane, a reference trajectory is set with the starting coordinates  and the ending coordinates . Due to the computational complexity of the algorithm, a point mass model without considering size information is employed for the fish model. The initial state of the fish is denoted as Although both of the aforementioned algorithms are capable of achieving trajectory tracking, it is important to note that their respective tracking effects exhibit notable differences. The PP tracking method has a tendency to diverge from the reference trajectory, particularly when encountering steep curves. In contrast, the NMPC tracking approach does not demonstrate this behavior. In order to offer a more comprehensive analysis of the tracking effects exhibited by the two algorithms, a comparison was undertaken by examining the disparities between the trajectory tracked by each algorithm and the reference trajectory. The findings are displayed in The superiority of the robotic fish’s tracking accuracy under the control of the NMPC algorithm, as compared to the PP algorithm, is clear, leading to reduced errors. The PP tracking algorithm exhibits notable inaccuracies at sample points 69, 211, and 358, wherein the largest tracking error amounts to 0.2046 m. The observed divergence above the acceptable threshold for tracking error is by a magnitude of 204.6%. This deviation may be attributable to abrupt changes in the trajectory occurring at these specific sample locations. In contrast, the trajectory error observed in the NMPC tracking method consistently remains below 0.1 m, while the turning errors converge within the allowed range of error. Upon comparing the error values of the two algorithms, it becomes apparent that the NMPC method demonstrates superior performance in relation to overshoot and settling time when compared to the PP algorithm. The findings of this study provide empirical evidence supporting the superior accuracy and stability of the NMPC algorithm in trajectory tracking when compared to the PP algorithm.The occurrence of trajectory tracking errors may be attributed to the orientation angle of the robotic fish, denoting the angle between the lateral body axis of the fish and the direction of the Earth’s -axis. In the range of sample points 90 to 230, it is seen that the magnitudes of the orientation angles obtained under the PP control approach tend to be greater compared to those obtained using the NMPC method. The occurrence of tracking errors may be observed in Based on In order to enhance the credibility of our control method’s ability to track trajectories in a more intricate setting, subsequent to the successful tracking of the S-shaped curve trajectory, the robotic fish proceeded to navigate the more demanding cloverleaf-shaped trajectory. In contrast to the S-shaped curve, the cloverleaf curve is characterized by pronounced turns and fast fluctuations in speed, necessitating a considerable level of agility and accurate control capabilities from the robotic fish system. The initial state of the fish is denoted as The provided diagram illustrates that both the NMPC and PP tracking methods are capable of achieving trajectory tracking for the cloverleaf curve. However, distinct disparities between the two approaches become apparent when examining the locally magnified image. The tracking approach employed by the PP system exhibits a tendency to execute premature turns in instances where the steering angle exceeds a certain threshold, resulting in suboptimal adherence to the intended curved trajectory. In order to provide a more comprehensive illustration of the tracking impacts of the two techniques, an analysis is conducted to determine the disparities between the tracking trajectory and the reference trajectory. The obtained findings are visually presented in The experimental results demonstrate that by employing the NMPC method as depicted in Based on the analysis of The obstacle avoidance control for the robotic fish, based on the principles of trajectory tracking, is implemented using NMPC. The process entails the identification of recently introduced obstacles and the iterative calculation of both the objective function and the obstacle avoidance function. The aforementioned iterative procedure ultimately accomplishes the objectives of tracking control and obstacle avoidance control along a predetermined trajectory. The PP algorithm does not possess inherent obstacle avoidance functionality. Its primary objective is to guide the robot along a specified course, disregarding the existence of impediments in the surrounding environment. The presence of barriers within the environment can potentially result in collisions when employing the pure PP algorithm. The DWA method has been specifically developed to address the challenges of path planning and obstacle avoidance in the context of mobile robots. The objective of this research is to facilitate the robot’s ability to promptly react, maneuver past barriers, and adhere to the predetermined path in order to achieve the desired outcome within intricate surroundings. Therefore, in the process of validating obstacle avoidance control algorithms, a comparative analysis is conducted between the NMPC obstacle avoidance algorithm and the DWA obstacle avoidance algorithm. The simulation results obtained through the utilization of NMPC and DWA obstacle avoidance algorithms on a predetermined track are depicted in In this context, the initial state of the robotic fish is defined as Based on Upon analysis of In order to evaluate the efficacy of the DWA and NMPC obstacle avoidance techniques in safely maneuvering around obstacles, the distance between the centroid of the robotic fish and the centroids of the obstacles is employed as a metric. The findings are illustrated in By examining Based on the analysis of The exact control of robotic fish motion has long been a challenging task in the realm of underwater robotics, particularly inside complicated underwater settings. In order to tackle this particular difficulty, the present study utilizes a trajectory tracking and obstacle avoidance planning algorithm for autonomous underwater vehicles inspired by NMPC (Nonlinear Model Predictive Control). The method presented in this study aims to enhance control performance by incorporating real-time system status and external environmental information. This approach facilitates the achievement of agile and responsive control for the robotic fish. The initial step involves establishing the dynamic model of the robotic fish within the global coordinate system. Subsequently, the NMPC algorithm is delineated and accompanied by the formulation of obstacle avoidance and objective functions, hence facilitating the development of an NMPC controller that incorporates control restrictions.In order to assess the efficacy of this methodology, the NMPC algorithm and the PP algorithm were employed to achieve trajectory tracking on S-shaped and cloverleaf curves, respectively. The comparison results are shown in Both the NMPC tracking method and the PP tracking method have the capability to accurately follow the reference trajectory. In the case of straight or smooth pathways, both of these approaches provide comparable trajectories and demonstrate efficient control. Nevertheless, disparities in trajectory tracking between the Pure Pursuit (PP) and Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) methods become apparent, particularly while navigating along S-shaped routes. In this scenario, the PP tracking approach exhibits a lower level of precision compared to NMPC. In contrast to the PP tracking approach, NMPC demonstrates superior performance in precisely tracking the reference trajectory on straight roads, as well as ensuring convergence to the reference trajectory on curved paths. The differences between the PP and NMPC tracking systems are apparent within the complex four-leaf clover curve environment. Premature turning may be observed in the trajectory of the PP tracking method at the extremities of the clover leaves, indicating a deviation from the reference path. On the other hand, it can be observed that the NMPC control approach exhibits a high level of precision in achieving convergence towards the desired trajectory at the leaf tips. This finding serves as empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of NMPC in accurately monitoring trajectories.Subsequently, a comparison examination was conducted to assess the obstacle avoidance planning capabilities of the NMPC algorithm and the DWA algorithm. The comparison results are shown in The DWA obstacle avoidance approach satisfies the necessary conditions for ensuring safety. However, it does encounter several challenges, including an excessively large obstacle avoidance radius and a lack of rapid convergence of the avoidance trajectory to the intended path. On the other hand, the obstacle avoidance method using NMPC guarantees that the trajectory for avoiding obstacles stays within a suitable range during the collision avoidance procedure and after the avoidance maneuver is executed. This approach exhibits notable precision and stability. In addition, the obstacle avoidance method employed by NMPC ensures that there is a minimum distance maintained between the center of mass of the fish and the center of mass of the obstruction, which is within a range of 1.5–2 times the radius of the obstacle. This demonstrates the method’s commendable performance in terms of both effectively avoiding collisions and maintaining stability. This study examines the effectiveness of the NMPC algorithm in the context of obstacle avoidance planning, hence assessing its resilience.The utilization of NMPC by the robotic fish in order to achieve trajectory tracking and plan for obstacle avoidance exhibits certain constraints, hence suggesting potential avenues for future enhancements.One of the main challenges associated with NMPC approaches is their high computational cost, as they necessitate the recalculation of control algorithms at each time step. Therefore, in intricate underwater environments, particularly those that necessitate immediate reactions, the substantial computing complexity could potentially undermine real-time efficacy.The effectiveness of NMPC approaches is contingent upon the precision of the system dynamics models. Nevertheless, the dynamics of underwater environments can be impacted by various factors, including water flow and turbulence. The task of guaranteeing the precision of the model presents a formidable challenge, thus impacting the efficacy of NMPC.One limitation of NMPC methods is their inadequate adaptability to complex underwater environments. In situations characterized by extreme conditions or high complexity, these methods may struggle to effectively respond to various scenarios, particularly when faced with unfamiliar obstacles or rapidly changing conditions. Consequently, this can result in a decline in the performance of the NMPC algorithm.Future research endeavors may prioritize the refinement of NMPC algorithms, with a particular emphasis on augmenting computational efficiency, mitigating reliance on model correctness, and optimizing control parameters to effectively accommodate intricate underwater settings.Multi-Model Fusion: The integration of diverse sensor data and distinct control models is employed to raise the flexibility of the system to environmental variations, thus augmenting the system’s robustness.The proposed approach involves the integration of deep learning techniques with adaptive control methods, allowing the robotic fish to autonomously modify control strategies by leveraging learnt environmental patterns. This integration aims to enhance the adaptability of the robotic fish in complicated situations.This study intends to achieve trajectory tracking and obstacle avoidance effects by enhancing the NMPC algorithm and implementing it on the nonlinear system of the robotic fish. Initially, the establishment of the global coordinate system and the body-fixed coordinate system, along with the transformation relationship between the body centroid of the fish and these coordinate systems, was undertaken. A kinematic model incorporating acceleration was formulated based on the provided information. This work presents a comprehensive examination of the NMPC approach, focusing on the formulation of obstacle avoidance functional functions and NMPC objective functions. In continuation of the previous discussion, a NMPC controller was developed, integrating control constraints and system constraints in order to guarantee the precision and stability of motion trajectories. The examination of the simulation outcomes revealed a close correspondence between the tracked trajectory of the centroid of the fish and the reference trajectory. When faced with barriers, the fish demonstrated the ability to successfully navigate around them, subsequently returning to the designated trajectory and ultimately reaching the intended destination. A comparative analysis between the PP tracking algorithm and the NMPC tracking algorithm revealed that the latter exhibited superior precision. In contrast to the DWA obstacle avoidance algorithm, the NMPC algorithm demonstrated superior levels of safety and stability. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the NMPC algorithm exhibited a comparatively higher computing burden and lengthier execution duration. Additional investigation is required to enhance and refine the NMPC algorithm in order to achieve optimal performance in the execution of simulation experiments. The primary objective of this study was to conduct a simulation with a solitary fish. Subsequent research endeavors may encompass exploring the concept of multi-fish formation control in order to attain trajectory tracking capabilities and effectively avoid obstacles.


The degree of success and effectiveness of the child’s socialization largely depends on the timely formation of social emotions, the ability to understand the emotional states of the participants in the interaction and manage their emotions.Studying the features of understanding the emotional states of peers and adults by children of preschool age with disabilities.The study involved 227 children aged 5-7 attending educational institutions: 95 children without developmental disorders; 73 children with severe speech disorders; 9 children with motor disorders; 25 children with visual impairment ; 15 children with hearing impairment ; 10 children with autism spectrum disorder. The “Emotional Faces” method (Semago) and the method of studying the child’s understanding of tasks in situations of interaction (Veraksa) were used.Tasks for the categorization of emotional states cause difficulties in children with speech disorders, since they require a certain mastery of vocabulary for the designation of emotional states. As a result of limited communication in children, there is a lack of understanding of the meaning, causes and motives of the actions of other people, as well as the consequences of their actions, their impact on others.Preschool children with motor disabilities are inferior to peers without developmental disabilities in accurate verbalization of emotional states, manifested in a primitive description of emotions.Visually impaired preschool children do not have sufficiently clear ideas about socially acceptable actions in communication situations, about ways of expressing relationships with peers and adults.Children with hearing impairment better understand the emotional states of their peers than the states of adults, but they do not know how to show their attitude towards their peers. Difficulties in verbalizing emotions are observed.Children with autism spectrum disorder experience significant difficulties in recognizing various situations of interaction, isolating tasks and requirements set by adults in these situations; children practically did not try to depict an emotion, having difficulty in differentiating it.The research confirmed the assumption that children with disabilities have significant difficulties in differentiating similar emotions, they do not accurately determine the emotional state of their peers and people around them. This paper has been supported by the Kazan Federal University Strategic Academic Leadership Program.None Declared


We report the feasibility of using gelatin hydrogel networks as the host for the in situ, environmentally friendly formation of well-dispersed zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and the evaluation of the antibacterial activity of the as-prepared composite hydrogels. The resulting composite hydrogels displayed remarkable biocompatibility and antibacterial activity as compared to those in previous studies, primarily attributed to the uniform distribution of the ZnONPs with sizes smaller than 15 nm within the hydrogel network. In addition, the composite hydrogels exhibited better thermal stability and mechanical properties as well as lower swelling ratios compared to the unloaded counterpart, which could be attributed to the non-covalent interactions between the in situ formed ZnONPs and polypeptide chains. The presence of ZnONPs contributed to the disruption of bacterial cell membranes, the alteration of DNA molecules, and the subsequent release of reactive oxygen species within the bacterial cells. This chain of events culminated in bacterial cell lysis and DNA fragmentation. This research underscores the potential benefits of incorporating antibacterial agents into hydrogels and highlights the significance of preparing antimicrobial agents within gel networks. These findings suggest that ZnONPs composite hydrogels hold great potential for future applications in the field of biomedical engineering.


Armed conflicts, collective situations of adversity, and gross social injustices cause widespread mental suffering in affected populations. In these crises, conflicts break down and traditional community support mechanisms are weakened or destroyed. The loss of trust in others and the lack of hope for change undermine social cohesion at the deepest levels of communities. Therefore, it is important not to overlook the psychosocial impacts of social injustice and violence on the individual and society undermines other efforts to build peaceful societies. Nevertheless, the use of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) approaches to support social cohesion is still very uncommon.The objective of the proposed intervention in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo was to complement the economic recovery activities of the most vulnerable populations with a psychological support approach. This was to ensure more sustainable results in the appropriation of problem management strategies through the strengthening of individual well-being and group support mechanisms.The psychosocial intervention is organized around a community psycho-education to sensitize the populations to mental health issues and to promote the awareness of their possible suffering in order to access a psychological care system. The protocol included five weekly group sessions designed to strengthen participants’ individual and collective psychological resources. Several indicators were measured to assess the impact on social cohesion In eight months of intervention between July 2021 and February 2022, 1024 people were able to participate in the psychological support program. 90% of them showed improvement in psychological well-being, daily functioning and resilience. In addition to these very optimistic results on individual aspects, 65% of the participants increased the level of prosocial behaviour.The psychosocial intervention proposed in an area of permanent conflict and adversity was mainly aimed at improving the well-being of people showing signs of distress to make them better able to complete their economic activity project. The results showed that taking into account the psychosocial dimension, not only reduced distress and allowed people to better project themselves in the future, but also promoted prosocial behavior. All these elements contribute strongly to social cohesion.None Declared


The main objective of this Special Issue is to showcase outstanding papers presenting advanced materials for clothing and textile engineering. Advanced materials have improved the performance of conventional and protective clothing and accelerated the development of e-clothing and smart clothing. The main directions of progress have become visible in recent years and are reflected in the research on and development of new materials and the improvement of their properties. Special treatment methods for textile materials are being developed to improve their use properties as well as textile care. This is of great importance for textile and clothing engineering.This Special Issue brings together several outstanding articles on a wide range of topics, including the impact of textile production and waste on the environment, the properties of yarns and textile materials, and the wearing comfort of textiles and clothing.Environmental pollution is a major problem and a very important research topic. Microplastics have become one of the major environmental hazards. Thus, it is imperative to investigate the main potential sources of microplastic pollution on the environment. Šaravanja et al. gave an overview of washable polyester materials. They stated that the main goals are to produce polyester with optimal structural parameters and to switch to recycled production as much as possible, including the use of the most appropriate agents that protect the structure of polymer while preventing the release of microplastics during washing. Another goal is to optimize the washing and drying processes of synthetic materials .The importance of cleaning is evident in the use of textile materials for protection against electromagnetic radiation, which is suitable for composite structures of garments and for technical and interior applications. The authors evaluated the stability of the materials’ shielding properties against EM radiation after the application of apolar and polar solvents, in synergy with a cyclic process involving the parameters of wet and dry cleaning .The consumption of eco-friendly fibers with a decrease in synthetic fibers, which can reduce pollution generated by the textile industry, was studied in .Nanotechnology, more specifically electrospun nanofibers, has been identified as a potential solution for developing efficient filtration systems. In one study, the electrospinning technique for producing polyamide nanofibers was optimized by varying several parameters, such as polymer concentration, flow rate, and needle diameter. The optimized polyamide nanofibers were combined with polypropylene and polyester microfibers to construct a multilayer and multiscale system with increased filtration efficiency .The comfort of wearing textiles and clothing is the focus of a few papers. Čubrić et al. examined the mechanical properties of polyurethane materials used to construct inflated thermal-expanding insulation chambers that serve as adaptive thermal layers in intelligent clothing, as well as their efficiency in providing thermal protection .An increasing number of companies are developing advanced high-tech sportswear, often with high compression, for professional athletes. Analysis of the effects of sportswear compression on the physiological comfort of athletes is a very important topic .® as core filaments, were investigated in [The moisture vapor permeability and thermal wear comfort of bamboo and Tencel as environmentally friendly fibers, together with fiber core and polypropylene, nylon, and Coolmaxgated in .The flammability of protective clothing systems for firefighters is increasingly being investigated. Hursa Šajatović et al. presented studies on a clothing system for protection against heat and flames using a fire manikin and systematically analyzed the damage caused after testing .® flame-retardant material were investigated in one study. This research focused on the effects of washing conditions on the effluent composition and durability of the flame-retardant material’s properties and the appearance of Proban® cotton fabrics [The effects of washing parameters on the thermal properties and appearance of Proban fabrics .Knezić et al. analyzed the effect of the number of electrically conductive yarns woven into a fabric on the values of electrical resistance. They observed how the direction of action of the elongation force affects the change in electrical resistance of the electrically conductive fabric, taking into account the position of the interwoven electrically conductive yarns .Ielina et al. studied the geometric parameters of a knitted loop. In this paper, a mathematical description of the coordinates of the characteristic points of the loop and an algorithm for calculating the coordinates of the control vertices of the second-order spline, which determine the configuration of the yarn axes in the loop, are presented .Knitted fabrics are subjected to dynamic loading due to body movements during their use. The influence of elastane content on the elastic properties of knitted fabrics under dynamic loading was investigated in .Stockings must be made of high-quality material and provide comfort to wearers. Stockings that were knitted in a plain single jersey pattern and made with the highest percentage of ring, rotor, and air-spun modal or micromodal yarns of the same linear density in full plating with various textured polyamide 6.6 yarns were investigated in .A very interesting area of research is the new approach to the creation process in fashion design that results from the use of thermal camouflage in the design of clothing. In one study, the main variation factors of thermal images were determined by analyzing their color behavior in a daytime and nighttime outdoor environment in the presence and absence of a dressed human body through the use of a thermal imaging camera .Drape is one of the most important characteristics associated with the quality and attractiveness of a garment. Memon et al. investigated how bending stiffness and thickness affect the drapeability of garment leathers. This study also has practical implications as it can help practitioners better understand these elements and select appropriate materials for garment companies and customers .Petrak et al. presented an analysis of the parameters of a polygonal computer model that affect fabric drape simulations. The fabric drape simulations were performed using the 2D/3D CAD system for computer clothing design on a disk model, which corresponded with the real tests using a drape tester; the aim was to perform a correlation analysis between the values of the drape parameters of the simulated fabrics and the realistically measured values for fabrics .Virtual prototyping is a technique in the apparel development process that involves the use of computer-aided design to develop apparel and their virtual prototypes. Virtual simulations of trousers and real-trouser prototypes were compared to investigate their fit and comfort on scanned and kinematic 3D body models, as well as on a real body. By changing the body posture, the real and virtual body circumferences were changed, which affected the fit and comfort of the virtual and real trousers .Bogović et al. described a study on the use of 3D printed knee protectors intended for wheelchair users. The construction of clothing and the 3D modeling of the elements integrated into the garment were interdependent, and the design solutions were found to provide adequate and reusable garments, especially for sensitive target groups such as people with disabilities .The properties of flame-retardant fabrics and the possibility of their finishing in the processes of dyeing and printing were studied. The possibility of reactive printability on protective flame-resistant fabrics varying in the composition of weft threads and weave was studied, and the washfastness of the printed samples was analyzed .Kumpikaitė et al. investigated the distribution of crimp in new jacquard fabric structures combining single- and double-ply weaves and fabric width to provide a method for predicting crimp .The pilling resistance of fashion fabrics is a fundamentally important and common problem when wearing clothes. The aim of one study published in this Special Issue was to evaluate the pilling behavior of linen/silk fabrics with different mechanical and chemical finishes and to determine the influences of the raw materials and the specifics of dyeing and digital printing with different dyes .In another study, the first descriptive bibliometric analysis to study the most influential journals, institutions, and countries in the field of artificial intelligence in the textile industry was conducted. The analysis covered all major areas of artificial intelligence, including data mining and machine learning .Materials has recognized this trend and made possible the publication of this Special Issue. The published articles highlight new trends and address many important issues in the development of advanced materials for textile and clothing engineering. The articles published in this Special Issue show that the field of textile and clothing engineering is experiencing extraordinary development dynamics. We are pleased that the Editorial Office of


The Publisher retracts the cited article.Following publication, concerns were raised regarding the contributions of the authors of the article. Our investigation, conducted in accordance with Frontiers policies, confirmed a serious breach of our authorship policies and of publication ethics; the article is therefore retracted.This retraction was approved by the Chief Editors of Frontiers in Psychiatry and the Chief Executive Editor of Frontiers. The authors have not responded to correspondence regarding this retraction.


The journal retracts the 2022 article cited above.Following publication, concerns were raised regarding the contributions of the authors of the article. Our investigation, conducted in accordance with Frontiers policies, confirmed a serious breach of our authorship policies and of publication ethics; the article is therefore retracted.This retraction was approved by the Chief Editors of Frontiers in Chemistry and the Chief Executive Editor of Frontiers. The authors do not agree to this retraction.


The journal retracts the 2022 article cited above.Following publication, concerns were raised regarding the contributions of the authors of the article. Our investigation, conducted in accordance with Frontiers policies, confirmed a serious breach of our authorship policies and of publication ethics; the article is therefore retracted.This retraction was approved by the Chief Editors of Frontiers in Psychology and the Chief Executive Editor of Frontiers. The authors have not responded to correspondence regarding this retraction.


PF isThe diagnosis of penile fracture is mainly clinical, made from a thorough history and physical exam alone -9. The pIn the present paper the authors studied the further evidence concerning the diagnostic accuracies of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) in the diagnostic assessment of patients with suspected PF and concluded that the results of this study suggest that MRI is more suitable to confirm PF and identify the site of the associated tunica albuginea tear while US is a good tool for ruling out PF.


Glycaemic control is of one the main goals for managing type 2 diabetes. In sub-Saharan Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, studies have reported alarming poor control rates. Patients with poor glycaemic control are exposed to complications leading to high cost of care and deteriorated quality of life. In recent studies by our group, we have demonstrated that poor glycaemic control is high and driven by proximal  and distal  factors in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Financial constraints impacted many aspects of care at multiple levels from the Government to persons living with diabetes. Financial constraints prevented good preparation, organization and access to diabetes care. Difficulties in implementing lifestyle changes, lack of health literacy and limited healthcare support were also contributing to poor glycaemic control. Through a Delphi study, a group of experts reached a consensus on five potential strategies for improving glycaemic control in the Democratic Republic of Congo as follows: changing the healthcare system for better diabetes care extended to other noncommunicable diseases, ensuring consistent financing of the healthcare, augmenting the awareness of diabetes among the general population and the persons living with diabetes, easing the adoption of lifestyle modifications and reducing the burden of undiagnosed diabetes. This paper reflects on the urgent need for an improved management framework for diabetes care in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Specifically, the Government needs to increase the investment in the prevention and treatment of noncommunicable diseases including diabetes. Description of factors driving poor glycaemic control for accurate drafting of interventions in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.Identification of strategies of interventions for improving glycaemic control in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.Description of implications of the research findings for sub-Sahara Africa.The burden of diabetes mellitus is on the increase and this had made it a significant public health problem globally . In 2021Despite its increasing importance, diabetes is not receiving the deserved attention in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including the DRC. Diabetes care experiences several challenges including lack of organization in the health system, insufficient financing for diabetes care and limited information on the diabetes complications and the genetics (Due to inadequate diabetes care, studies have shown that less than one third of the persons with diabetes reached glycaemic targets in sub-Saharan Africa and in the cosmopolitan city of Kinshasa, DRC . The othDue to a lack of practical framework for improving glycaemia control among persons living with diabetes in the DRC, we conducted four sub-studies to explore ways of improving glycaemic control in the DRC. The first sub-study was a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence and factors driving glycaemic control in sub-Saharan Africa (In the DRC, the five main determinants for poor glycaemic control among persons with type 2 diabetes were: financial constraints, lack of affordable healthcare coverage, difficulties in implementing lifestyle changes, lack of health literacy and limited healthcare and social support.Diabetes mellitus is a lifelong and costly disease requiring many life adjustments including financial ones to enable reliable and consistent funding of care . In 2019In the DRC, only a small proportion of the population is covered by health insurance . Most peIn our qualitative exploration of the perspectives of patients (A study in our setting showed that the knowledge of persons with type 2 diabetes was poor (Our study participants reported that they received little support in the management of their type 2 diabetes (Reflecting on the findings of the previous studies of the project, the experts in the Delphi study recommended five strategies for improving glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes: changing the healthcare system for better diabetes care extended to noncommunicable diseases, ensuring consistent financing of the healthcare, augmenting the awareness of diabetes among the general population and the patients, easing the adoption of lifestyle modifications and reducing the burden of undiagnosed diabetes (Achieving better glycaemic control in our environment requires changes in the way the healthcare system operates . CurrentAn effort should be made by the Government to ensure consistent funding of healthcare (It is crucial to ensure that the general public is more aware of diabetes (Lifestyle modifications are the cornerstone of type 2 diabetes management in Africa (Opportunistic screening for diabetes that targets individuals at high risk of the disease such as those with the past history of CVD, family history, obesity, concurrent hypertension and/or other cardiovascular risk factors could therefore identify new cases at early stages of the diseases when complications have not set in. Monitoring the weight gain, assessing the body mass index and measuring the waist circumference for each patient consulting in a primary healthcare facility will contribute to early screening of diabetes. Providing reliable means of laboratory diagnosis as a point of care glycosylated haemoglobin will be important to consider. With prompt lifestyle changes and treatment, early detection could ease the management at diagnosis and delay the occurrence of complications (Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa face similar challenges when it comes to caring for patients with type 2 diabetes. In a broader perspective, improving care of noncommunicable diseases including diabetes requires more involvement from the Government and the society in terms of better financing, health system preparation and prevention. A task force at the regional level could help in monitoring the progress in the diabetes care made by the countries, sharing the information on evidence-based strategies and mobilizing the resources available worldwide .


The current study describes a case of an aberrant cleido-occipital muscle. In particular, this muscle was arising from the middle part of the clavicle, inserted into the medial part of the upper trapezius muscle, and crossed over the supraclavicular nerves with possible compression of them, especially during shoulder abduction. Knowledge of the muscular variability of the posterior cervical triangle is crucial for supraclavicular nerve entrapment syndrome diagnosis and treatment. The appearance of aberrant muscular fascicles may lead to misinterpretation of neck imaging, as well as difficulties during surgical procedures undertaken in the region. The variant musculature of the posterior cervical triangle has been rarely described in the literature as compared to the shoulder region . The preDuring a routine neck dissection of an 82-year-old male formalin-fixed cadaver for educational purposes at the Department of Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy of the School of Medicine of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an aberrant muscle was found in the supraclavicular region. A muscular band was noticed following the removal of the skin and subcutaneous fat of the right posterior cervical triangle, deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. It originated from the middle part of the clavicle, approximately 1.6 cm lateral to the sternocleidomastoid origin, and was inserted into the medial part of the upper trapezius muscle portion, blending with its muscle fibers. This accessory muscle crossed over the supraclavicular nerves’ common trunk and significant nerve compression was supposed to had been happening during shoulder abduction , along with the rest of the superficial cervical plexus branches. As it approaches the clavicle, the common trunk divides into a medial, an intermediate, and a lateral descending branch . EntrapmIn the described case, the aberrant muscle fibers coursed over the supraclavicular nerve common trunk and significant compression was supposed to be noticed during upper limb abduction, leading to a potential supraclavicular entrapment syndrome. Potential compression of the supraclavicular nerves due to an accessory cleido-occipital muscle of the trapezius has been previously reported in the literature . Rahman Awareness of the variant musculature of the posterior cervical triangle is essential for supraclavicular nerve entrapment syndrome diagnosis and treatment. The presence of accessory muscle fibers may lead to misdiagnosis during neck ultrasound and imaging, as well as to difficulties during surgical interventions in this anatomical area.


Now EditorialOffice of Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer has decided to retract it.The editorial office will strengthen checking procedures for the academicpublishing specification to avoid the recurrence of such events in future.Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Lung CancerJune, 2023