Compact mode converter on SOI based on a polygonal subwavelength grating structure.

In this Letter, we design and experimentally demonstrate compact mode converters with a lightning-like and arrow-like polygonal subwavelength grating (SWG) structure on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform, which can convert the TE0 mode to the TE1 and TE2 modes, respectively. The footprints of the proposed TE0-1 and TE0-2 mode converters are only 4.44 × 1.3 and 5.89 × 1.8 µm2, respectively. The experimental results show the mode converters have a low insertion loss (<1 dB) and a broad bandwidth (>50 nm). The measured cross talks of the TE0-1 and TE0-2 mode converters are -7.2 dB and -10.3 dB, respectively. In addition, the proposed mode converters with the SWG structure have the advantage in fabrication, since only a one-step full-etching process is required.

Serum stromal cell-derived factor-1 concentrations are increased and associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children with obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a newly discovered small molecule adipocytokine, and research has shown that it is closely related to the occurrence and development of obesity. However, there are currently few research reports on SDF-1 in childhood obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and this study aims to explore the relationship between SDF-1 and obesity related indicators in obese children. METHODS: Serum SDF-1 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical and biochemical data were collected, such as body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, liver enzymes, cholesterol, and fasting insulin. Children with NAFLD or not were evaluated through Color Doppler Ultrasound. RESULTS: Serum SDF-1 concentrations were significantly higher in obese subjects than in non-obese subjects (P < 0.05), and were elevated in the NAFLD obese subjects than in the non-NAFLD obese subjects (P < 0.05). SDF-1 was positively correlated with BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, body fat percentage (BFP), basal metabolic rate (BMR), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), glutyltranspeptidase (GT), and homoeostasis model of HOMA-IR, independent of their uric acid (UA), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), gender and age. BFP and BMR were associated with the serum SDF-1 concentrations in multivariable linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SDF-1 levels are elevated in obese children and are associated with NAFLD, indicating that SDF-1 may play a role in the development of childhood obesity and metabolic disorders.

Enhancing vehicular emissions monitoring: A GA-GRU-based soft sensors approach for HDDVs.

Vehicle emissions have a serious impact on urban air quality and public health, so environmental authorities around the world have introduced increasingly stringent emission regulations to reduce vehicle exhaust emissions. Nowadays, PEMS (Portable Emission Measurement System) is the most widely used method to measure on-road NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) and PN (Particle Number) emissions from HDDVs (Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles). However, the use of PEMS requires a lot of workforce and resources, making it both costly and time-consuming. This study proposes a neural network based on a combination of GA (Genetic Algorithm) and GRU (Gated Recurrent Unit), which uses CC (Pearson Correlation Coefficient) to determine and simplify OBD (On-board Diagnosis) data. The GA-GRU model is trained under three real driving conditions of HDDVs, divided by vehicle driving parameters, and then embedded as a soft sensor in the OBD system to monitor real-time emissions of NOx and PN within the OBD system. This research addresses the existing research gap in the development of soft sensors specifically designed for NOx and PN emission monitoring. In this study, it is demonstrated that the described soft sensor has excellent R2 values and outperforms other conventional models. This research highlights the ability of the proposed soft sensor to eliminate outliers accurately and promptly while consistently tracking predictions throughout the vehicle's lifetime. This method is a groundbreaking update to the vehicle's OBD system, permanently adding monitoring data to the vehicle's OBD, thus fundamentally improving the vehicle's self-monitoring capabilities.

Clinical efficacy of stromal vascular fraction gel in the treatment of mature striae distensae.

BACKGROUND: Striae Distensae (SD) is a common dermatological lesion. The mechanism of formation is unclear, the prevailing theory is mechanical pulling of the skin and hormonal changes. Traditional SD treatment methods include topical drugs, photoelectric therapy, stripping and others, but each has limitations. Stromal vascular fraction gel (SVF-gel) is a filler physically prepared from granular fat, enriched with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM). A good effect in the treatment of neck lines, wounds, acne, and other aspects. SD formation and treatment goals are comparable to those of neck lines. In this study, SVF-gel filling will be used to treat mature SD, and its effectiveness and safety will be discussed in detail. METHODS: From December 2019 to June 2022, recruit patients who want to treat SD caused by obesity or pregnancy among those who have "autologous fat aspiration" to change their body shape. Preoperatively, the area to be treated for SD was marked, autologous fat aspiration was performed, and the aspirated fat was prepared as SVF-gel and filled into the preoperatively marked SD. All patients had preoperative and postoperative follow-up with planar photographs and VISIA skin analyzer photographs to assess surgical results and safety from subjective and objective perspectives. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients were enrolled, with 31 of them successfully followed up on. The mean Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) score six months after surgery was 1.87 ± 0.03. At six months postoperatively, the overall patient satisfaction rate was 90%. The depth, area, and color of SD improved six months after surgery, and no serious complications occurred in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: SVF-gel is a safe and effective method of improving mature SD and can be used as a clinical treatment option.

A Comprehensive Study on the Association between Plasma NOV/CCN3 Levels and Insulin Resistance in Childhood Obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity is a global health problem that is associated with various metabolic complications, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases. The mechanisms underlying the development of insulin resistance in childhood obesity are not fully understood. Nephroblastoma overexpressed gene (NOV), also known as CCN3, is a member of the CCN family of matricellular proteins that modulate cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, migration, and survival. Previous studies have shown that NOV/CCN3 is involved in glucose metabolism and insulin signaling in various tissues and cell types. However, the role of NOV/CCN3 in childhood obesity and insulin resistance remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between plasma NOV/CCN3 levels and insulin resistance in 58 obese and 43 non-obese children aged 6-12 years. We measured plasma NOV/CCN3 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and assessed insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). We also collected clinical and biochemical data, such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), fasting glucose (FG), fasting insulin (FI), lipid profile, and inflammatory markers. RESULTS: We found that plasma NOV/CCN3 levels were significantly higher in obese children than in non-obese children (p < 0.001) and positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.42, p < 0.001), WC (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), BP (r = 0.35, p < 0.001), FG (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), FI (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), HOMA-IR (r = 0.48, p < 0.001), triglycerides (r = 0.28, p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.26, p < 0.001), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that plasma NOV/CCN3 levels were independently associated with HOMA-IR after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, WC, BP, FG, FI, lipid profile, and CRP (ß = 0.36, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that plasma NOV/CCN3 levels are elevated in childhood obesity and are associated with insulin resistance, indicating that NOV/CCN3 may play a role in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders in obese children.

Analysis of Whole-Genome as a Novel Strategy for Animal Species Identification.

Survival crises stalk many animals, especially endangered and rare animals. Accurate species identification plays a pivotal role in animal resource conservation. In this study, we developed an animal species identification method called Analysis of whole-GEnome (AGE), which identifies species by finding species-specific sequences through bioinformatics analysis of the whole genome and subsequently recognizing these sequences using experimental technologies. To clearly demonstrate the AGE method, Cervus nippon, a well-known endangered species, and a closely related species, Cervus elaphus, were set as model species, without and with published genomes, respectively. By analyzing the whole genomes of C. nippon and C. elaphus, which were obtained through next-generation sequencing and online databases, we built specific sequence databases containing 7,670,140 and 570,981 sequences, respectively. Then, the species specificities of the sequences were confirmed experimentally using Sanger sequencing and the CRISPR-Cas12a system. Moreover, for 11 fresh animal samples and 35 commercially available products, our results were in complete agreement with those of other authoritative identification methods, demonstrating AGE's precision and potential application. Notably, AGE found a mixture in the 35 commercially available products and successfully identified it. This study broadens the horizons of species identification using the whole genome and sheds light on the potential of AGE for conserving animal resources.

Analysis of Whole-Genome for Identification of Seven Penicillium Species with Significant Economic Value.

The Penicillium genus exhibits a broad global distribution and holds substantial economic value in sectors including agriculture, industry, and medicine. Particularly in agriculture, Penicillium species significantly impact plants, causing diseases and contamination that adversely affect crop yields and quality. Timely detection of Penicillium species is crucial for controlling disease and preventing mycotoxins from entering the food chain. To tackle this issue, we implement a novel species identification approach called Analysis of whole GEnome (AGE). Here, we initially applied bioinformatics analysis to construct specific target sequence libraries from the whole genomes of seven Penicillium species with significant economic impact: P. canescens, P. citrinum, P. oxalicum, P. polonicum, P. paneum, P. rubens, and P. roqueforti. We successfully identified seven Penicillium species using the target we screened combined with Sanger sequencing and CRISPR-Cas12a technologies. Notably, based on CRISPR-Cas12a technology, AGE can achieve rapid and accurate identification of genomic DNA samples at a concentration as low as 0.01 ng/µL within 30 min. This method features high sensitivity and portability, making it suitable for on-site detection. This robust molecular approach provides precise fungal species identification with broad implications for agricultural control, industrial production, clinical diagnostics, and food safety.

Disulfiram Improves Fat Graft Retention by Modulating Macrophage Polarization With Inhibition of NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Pyroptosis.

BACKGROUND: Macrophage-mediated inflammatory response in the early post-grafting period restricts fat graft retention. Pyroptosis is a novel type of programmed cell death that extensively participates in inflammatory pathologies. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether macrophage pyroptosis was activated during the inflammatory phase after fat grafting and to investigate the efficacy of a pyroptosis inhibitor, disulfiram (DSF), in fat graft retention. METHODS: We established a C57BL/6 mice fat grafting model and then analyzed macrophage pyroptosis. DSF (50 mg/kg, every other day) was intraperitoneally injected starting 1 hour before fat grafting and continued for 14 days. An in vitro co-culture system was established in which mouse RAW264.7 macrophages were co-cultured with apoptotic adipocytes to further validate the findings of the in vivo studies and to explore the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: Here we reported that macrophage pyroptosis was activated in both fat grafts and in vitro co-culture models. DSF was found to be a potent pyroptosis inhibitor, promoting M2 macrophage polarization. In addition, DSF was demonstrated to enhance vascularization and graft retention. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that pyroptosis plays a crucial role in the inflammatory cascade within fat grafts. DSF, being a clinically available drug, could be translated into a clinically effective drug for improving fat graft survival by inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis, therefore inducing M2 macrophage polarization and promoting neovascularization.

Comparative genomics reveal the convergent evolution of CYP82D and CYP706X members related to flavone biosynthesis in Lamiaceae and Asteraceae.

Distant species producing the same secondary metabolites is an interesting and common phenomenon in nature. A classic example of this is scutellarein whose derivatives have been used clinically for more than 30 years. Scutellarein occurs in significant amounts in species of two different orders, Scutellaria baicalensis and Erigeron breviscapus, which diverged more than 100 million years ago. Here, according to the genome-wide selection and functional identification of 39 CYP450 genes from various angiosperms, we confirmed that only seven Scutellaria-specific CYP82D genes and one Erigeron CYP706X gene could perform the catalytic activity of flavone 6-hydroxylase (F6H), suggesting that the convergent evolution of scutellarein production in these two distant species was caused by two independently evolved CYP450 families. We also identified seven Scutellaria-specific CYP82D genes encoding flavone 8-hydroxylase (F8H). The evolutionary patterns of CYP82 and CYP706 families via kingdom-wide comparative genomics highlighted the evolutionary diversity of CYP82D and the specificity of CYP706X in angiosperms. Multi-collinearity and phylogenetic analysis of CYP82D in Scutellaria confirmed that the function of F6H evolved from F8H. Furthermore, the SbaiCYP82D1A319D , EbreCYP706XR130A , EbreCYP706XF312D and EbreCYP706XA318D mutants can significantly decrease the catalytic activity of F6H, revealing the contribution of crucial F6H amino acids to the scutellarein biosynthesis of distant species. This study provides important insights into the multi-origin evolution of the same secondary metabolite biosynthesis in the plant kingdom.

Study of resonant mode coupling in the transverse-mode-conversion based resonator with an anti-symmetric nanobeam Bragg reflector.

The traveling-wave like Fabry-Perot (F-P) resonators based on transverse-mode-conversion have been extensively studied as on-chip filters. However, the incomplete transverse mode conversion will lead to the coupling between two degenerated resonant modes, which brings additional loss and may further induce the resonance splitting. In this paper, we take the transverse-mode-conversion based resonator with anti-symmetric nanobeam Bragg reflector as an example and study the resonant mode coupling in both the direct-coupled and side-coupled resonators. The coupled mode equations are used to model the incomplete transverse mode conversion of Bragg reflector. The resonant mode coupling can be effectively suppressed by carefully designing the phase shifter length and adding the tapered holes. The insertion loss of less than -1 dB can be achieved in the simulation using the two methods. This work is believed to benefit the design of mode-conversion based resonators with low insertion loss and non-splitting line shape.

NOx emission deterioration in modern heavy-duty diesel vehicles based on long-term real driving measurements.

NOx emissions from diesel vehicles generally deteriorate with increased durability mileage owing to the wear and deterioration of engines and after-treatment systems. Three China-VI heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) were selected for four-phase long-term real driving emission (RDE) tests using the portable emission measurement system (PEMS). After 200,000 km of on-road driving, the maximum NOx emission factor of the test vehicles (387.06 mg/kWh) was found to be significantly lower than the NOx limit of 690 mg/kWh. Under all driving conditions, the NOx conversion efficiency of selected catalytic reduction (SCR) decreased almost linearly as the durability mileage increased. Importantly, the deterioration rate of the NOx conversion efficiency in low-temperature intervals was discernibly higher than that in high-temperature intervals. The NOx conversion efficiency at 200 °C dropped by 16.67-19.82% with higher durability mileage; however, the highest values at 275-400 °C only decreased by 4.11%. Interestingly, the SCR catalyst at 250 °C showed strong NOx conversion efficiency and durability (maximum decline of 2.11%). Overall, the poor de-NOx performance of SCR catalysts at low temperatures significantly challenges the long-term effective control of NOx emissions from HDDVs. Thus, improving the NOx conversion efficiency and durability at low-temperature intervals is the top priority for SCR catalyst optimization; NOx emissions from HDDVs at low velocities and loads should also be monitored by environmental authorities. The linear fitting coefficient for the NOx emission factors of the four-phase RDE tests was 0.90-0.92, indicating that NOx emissions deteriorated linearly with an increase in mileage. Based on the linear fitting results, the NOx emission control of the test vehicles during 700,000 km of on-road driving was highly likely to be qualified. These results can be used by environmental authorities to supervise the NOx emission conformity of in-use HDDVs after validation using other types of vehicles.

Triglyceride-glucose index and short-term functional outcome and in-hospital mortality in patients with ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been demonstrated as an independent marker of ischemic stroke. Whether TyG index predicts short-term outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke remains uncertain. The aim of the study was to investigate the early prognosis value of TyG index in ischemic stroke patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 3216 acute ischemic stroke patients from 22 hospitals were included in this analysis. The TyG index was calculated as ln (fasting triglyceride [mg/dL] × fasting glucose [mg/dL]/2). Logistic regression model was performed to estimate the relationship between TyG index and unfavorable functional outcome of death or disability (modified Rankin Scale score of 4-6) at discharge. Risk reclassification with TyG index to predict unfavorable functional outcome was analyzed. During hospitalization, 748 patients (23.3%) experienced poor functional outcome and 105 patients (3.3%) died from all causes. The multivariable adjusted odds ratios for the highest versus lowest quartile of TyG index was 1.62 (95% CI 1.15-2.29) for unfavorable functional outcome at discharge. The addition of TyG index to the conventional model improved the risk reclassification (net reclassification improvement 10.37%; integrated discrimination improvement 0.27%; both p < 0.05) for poor functional outcome. Moreover, TyG index was associated with an odds ratio (95% CI) of 1.26 (1.02-1.55) for an ordinal shift in mRS score and 2.49 (1.21-5.12) for in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Higher TyG index was associated with higher risk of unfavorable functional outcome at discharge and in-hospital mortality, implicating the significant short-term prognostic effect of TyG index in patients with ischemic stroke.

U-type soft tissue lifting: A new composited technique for reversing lower eyelid and midfacial aging.

BACKGROUND: Facial rejuvenation is becoming more and more popular, particularly among middle-aged persons. There are currently many techniques for improving the aforementioned situations, but each has its drawbacks. Our study aimed to discuss the treatment effect of a composited technique for reversing both lower eyelid and midface aging. METHODS: The patient's face was designed and measured before surgery. During surgery, a traditional lower blepharoplasty incision was made. The layer between the orbital septum and the orbicularis oculi muscle was separated to approximately 4-5 mm below the infraorbital, then the orbital septum and orbicularis retaining ligament were found to be released. A self-made suspension curving needle subconsciously passed through the brim of the superficial cheek fat pad via the "U-type" path and raised them to the proper location. Then sutured them to the infraorbital rim periosteum, as well as the suborbicularis oculi fat (SOOF) and the orbital septum fat. Secured the outside canthus to keep the lower lid position stable. RESULTS: From February 2020 to November 2022, 106 patients underwent the new surgical procedure and were successfully followed up for 20 ± 6.5 months postoperatively. The mean GAIS score was 2.42 ± 0.78, patient satisfaction rate was 95%. All of the Barton grades were decreased. The nasal base level suspension points were elevated to a level of 5 ± 2 mm. 3D measurement data revealed significant improvements. CONCLUSIONS: The composited technique is a safe and effective way to reverse the aging of the lower eyelid and midface.

Application of 3-Dimensional Technology for Evaluating Muscular Type and Muscle-Fat Pad Mixed-Type Nasolabial Folds With Botulinum Toxin-A Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) is used in the treatment of nasolabial folds (NLFs). However, lighting and clinician subjectivity play a major role in evaluating the efficacy of this treatment. OBJECTIVES: By applying 3-dimensional (3D) technology, this study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the effects of BTX-A injection on muscular (M) and muscle-fat pad mixed-type (MF) NLFs. METHODS: BTX-A was injected into bilateral marked points on the NLFs, where the levator labii alaeque nasi, zygomaticus minor, and zygomaticus major pull the skin to form the NLF (2 U at each injection site). Pretreatment and posttreatment 3D facial images were captured with static and laughing expressions. The curvature, width, depth, and lateral fat volume of the NLFs were measured to compare the therapeutic efficacy for type M and MF NLFs. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with type M and 37 with type MF NLFs completed the follow-up data. In these patients, the curvature, width, and depth of the NLF showed a significant reduction at 1 month and gradually recovered at 3 and 6 months after treatment, with more significant improvement when laughing than when static. Variations compared to the pretreatment values of type MF were greater than those of type M at each time point. The lateral fat volume of the type MF NLF was significantly reduced (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: 3D technology can quantitatively evaluate the effects BTX-A injection for treating type M and type MF NLFs. BTX-A is more effective on type MF than on type M NLFs.

The Retention-Rate Improvement of Stromal Vascular Fraction Gel in Prefrontal Filling With Botulinum Toxin-A Injection: A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: As a derivative of adipose tissues, stromal vascular fraction gel has been widely utilized in facial soft tissue filling, but it still does not achieve the expected effect in forehead filling. The reason may be related to the corrugator muscles movements. OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to evaluate the effect of botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) on the retention rate of stromal vascular fraction gel by limiting the corrugator muscles movements and to provide a theoretical basis that short-term inhibition of movement in the affected area could improve the effects of the fat graft. METHODS: From January 2019 to June 2021, patients with stromal vascular fraction gel facial filling (including frontal and temporal parts) were selected. According to whether or not BTX-A treatment was received, patients were divided into injected and the noninjected groups. A questionnaire and the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) were administered to evaluate 2-dimensional photos. The retention rate and curvature were calculated with 3-dimensional images utilizing Artec Studio 13 Professional and MATLAB software. RESULTS: The graft retention, forehead curvature, and GAIS scores were all higher in the injected group than the noninjected group (P < .01). On the questionnaire, the injected group also showed more satisfaction with the treatment effect and were more willing to recommend the treatment to their friends. CONCLUSIONS: BTX-A injection can improve the retention rate of prefrontal stromal vascular fraction gel filling, with higher patient satisfaction and better postoperative effects.

Comparison of Drug-Coated Balloons and Drug-Eluting Stents in Primary Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for ST-Segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The most optimal strategy for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) between drug-eluting stents (DES) and drug-coated balloons (DEB) is still unknown. This meta-analysis aims to compare the short-term outcomes of both methods in patients with STEMI. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library Databases for eligible studies with publication data from 2015 to Jan 2022. Four trials with 360 patients were included. The study was conducted by following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statements. Results: There were no significant differences in major adverse cardiac events between DCB and DES during 6 to 12 months of follow-up (RR 1.38, 95% CI: 0.65 to 2.93; p = 0.41). Similar risks of myocardial infarction (RR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.11 to 2.11, p = 0.33), all causes of death (RR 1.55, 95% CI: 0.32 to 7.62, p = 0.59), and target lesion revascularization (RR 1.29, 95% CI: 0.55 to 3.04, p = 0.55) were observed. The pooled results indicated that DCB was comparable to DES in terms of late lumen loss with a mean difference (MD) of -0.06 mm with significant heterogeneity (95% CI: -0.25 to 0.13, p = 0.54, I 2 = 85%). Subsequent subgroup analysis based on the study design revealed that late lumen loss was significantly lower in the drug-coated balloon group in randomized controlled trials (MD -0.16, 95% CI: -0.26 to -0.05, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Drug-coated balloons were associated with similar risks of MACE compared with drug-eluting stents in the setting of STEMI. However, a larger randomized controlled trial is required to confirm these observations.

Introduction of mutations in plants with prime editing.

The emergence of a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR/Cas) system has had a revolutionary impact on plant biology. However, this system and further developed base editing are limited by their inherent imperfection. Prime editing, a just arrival technology based on CRISPR/Cas, can directly and precisely edit a specified DNA site without double strand breaks and donor DNA by integrating an engineered reverse transcriptase (RT) with a catalytically impaired Cas9 endonuclease and introducing genetic information into prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA). In addition, it has a wider range of editing types than base editing and can install all types of editing theoretically. Prime editing was originally developed in mammalian cells and has recently been applied to plants. Here, we describe the origin of prime editing and compare it with traditional CRISPR/Cas9 and base editing; then, we exemplify it in plants, including strategies and methods. Accordingly, we generate the overall procedures of prime editing to provide instructions for its application. Furthermore, we summarize its improvements in the approach, such as optimizing the length of a primer binding site and RT template, as well as pursuing an optimal nicking site in the unedited sequence. Finally, we discuss the potential impact on domestication and improvement of agricultural crops, sustainable utilization of medicinal plants, cultivation of varieties of horticultural plants, and revelation of the genetic code, in order to offer a reference for the further study and development of prime editing.

Application of Three-Dimensional Technology in Evaluating the Lower Face Lifting by Regional Platysma Injection with Botulinum Toxin-A.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) injection of regional platysma has been utilized in the lower-part elevation and mandibular contour sculpture. However, the relative research, especially in quantitative assessment appears very spare. Our aim is to investigate the efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) technology as a method for regional platysma injection with BTX-A. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2019 to September 2020, patients with mild or moderate degrees of facial sagging on the lower face were recruited to regional platysma BTX-A injection, and 3D scanning and measurement technology was used to evaluate the difference of curved distances and angels. Patients' improvement was assessed by the global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS). RESULTS: A total of 57 patients underwent regional platysma BTX-A injection and 32 patients were followed up successfully. Compared with Pre-operative, postoperative facial reference curves distance and cervico-mental angles had statistical differences (p < 0.05). GAIS suggested that the 3D imaging measurement technology could improve satisfaction. CONCLUSION: 3D technology can evaluate the improvement of the lower face with BTX-A. It provides effective measurement methods and raises satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

China 6 moving average window method for real driving emission evaluation: Challenges, causes, and impacts.

The light-duty moving average window (MAW) method, used for China 6 real driving emission (RDE) calculation, is quite complex with various boundaries. Previous research noticed that the MAW might underestimate the calculation results, while the reasons for this underestimation haven't been studied systematically. With 29 vehicles tested in 10 cities and different boundaries applied for calculation, this study quantitively analyzed the problem, causes, and impacts of the light-duty MAW method. The instantaneous utilization factor (IUF) is proposed for reason analysis. The current MAW method could weaken the supervision of real driving tests as more than 75% of the tests underestimated MAW results, with the largest underestimation being around 100%. The data exclusion could lead to biased MAW results. But without the exclusion, the MAW result couldn't always get an increase due to the IUF and window weighting factor variation. With the extended factors removed, the MAW result bias is significantly reduced. The MAW will lead to a lower IUF of the data at the start/end of the tests, and when the cold-start data is considered, this low utilization must be noticed. The effect from the data exclusion, extended factors, and the window characteristics are closely coupled and they should be taken into consideration simultaneously to consummate the calculation method. The current drift-check progress couldn't effectively monitor the portable emission measurement system (PEMS), especially during the tests. The MAW result might lead to unreasonable emission limits and the emission inventory. Relevant policy based on these results might be implausible.

Effect of Positional Changes on Skin Landmarks in Midface Filling.

BACKGROUND: The design lines for midfacial filling shift upward with a patient's position changes from upright to supine during operation. This will cause the actual filled part to deviate from the target area. OBJECTIVES: This authors aimed to evaluate the effect of positional changes on midfacial landmarks and find the optimal body position for midface filling. METHODS: The process involved the grading and evaluation stages. The midfacial laxity of each sample in the evaluation stage was graded into minimal, moderate, and severe by the system established in the grading stage. Measured through the 3-dimensional images in each grade, the vertical distances from landmarks C, D, and E (representing the region of the tear trough, infraorbital area, and nasolabial fat pad, respectively) to the horizontal line of the inner canthus and depth of nasolabial fold at an angle of 90° were separately compared with those from the other angles (60°, 45°, 30°, and 0°) of the operating table. RESULTS: In the minimal midfacial laxity group, all 3 landmarks significantly moved upward when the angle decreased to 30°. However, landmark E of the moderate and severe and landmark D of the severe midfacial laxity groups both significantly moved upward when the angle decreased to 45°. The depth of the nasolabial fold at a 45° angle was significantly less than that at a 90° angle in the moderate and severe groups. CONCLUSIONS: In midface filling, a patient's body position should be optimally selected according to the midfacial laxity and filling area.