Clinical experience exchange of 3 cases with Fournier’s gangrene

Fournier’s gangrene (FG), also known as necrotizing fasciitis, is a condition that affects the genitalia and perineum, resulting in the rapid development of necrosis and gangrene in infected tissues and potentially spreading to adjacent tissues, including the abdominal wall. It mainly affects males and requires prompt treatment to prevent potentially life-threatening complications. In Case 1, a 64-year-old man with type 2 diabetes was diagnosed with FG due to a scrotal skin injury after scratching his scrotal skin. The patient underwent radical debridement, treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, negative pressure wound treatment, and skin transplantation. In Case 2, a 79-year-old man suffered from a sebaceous cyst of the scrotum that had been scratched for seven days, resulting in black and necrotic skin of the scrotum. He was diagnosed with FG and underwent radical debridement and drainage of pus, followed by anti-infection treatment, negative pressure wound treatment, and skin transplantation. In Case 3, a 48-year-old male injured at the scrotum’s base developed swelling, pain, foul odor and pus discharge and was diagnosed with FG. The patient underwent emergency treatment, including incision and drainage of the scrotum and right lower abdominal wall abscess, as well as wound debridement. Ultimately, all three patients’ scrotal wounds returned to normal, but Case 2 was complicated by blood vessel thrombosis in both lower limbs. Early surgical debridement is a necessary intervention for FG, along with active postoperative anti-infection treatment and measures to prevent the occurrence of complications

A comparative study of stigma and mental health status between patients with erectile dysfunction and patients with erectile dysfunction and diabetes

Recently, although stigma and mental health among patients with diabetes have garnered significant research attention, there are still limited investigations into the stigma and mental health of patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and diabetes. In this study, we aimed to examine the stigma and mental health of patients with ED and diabetes to provide insights for improving the treatment and nursing of patients with ED and diabetes. We selected 82 patients with ED and diabetes and 82 patients with ED. Patients were evaluated using the Basic Information Scale, Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and Social Impact Scale (SIS). Patients with ED and diabetes had higher scores than the national norm in all dimensions of shame (p < 0.05), while patients with ED scored higher than the national norm in the dimensions of social exclusion, economic discrimination and internal shame (p < 0.05). Further, patients with ED and diabetes had higher scores of disease shame regarding social exclusion, internal shame and social isolation dimensions than patients with ED (p < 0.05). The score of interpersonal relationship factors of patients with ED was lower than that of the national norm (p < 0.05), while for patients with ED, the score of interpersonal relationship factors in patients’ SCL-90 was lower (p < 0.05) and the score of psychotic factors was higher than that of the national norm (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between the paranoid factor score in the SCL-90 of patients with ED and diabetes, the social exclusion dimension score, and the total score in the sense of shame (p < 0.05). Both patients with ED and diabetes and patients with ED exhibited abnormally higher rates of SCL-90 scores, indicating the presence of psychological distress and urging the need to strengthen psychological care

Eclipsing Binaries From the CSTAR Project at Dome A, Antarctica

The Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR) has observed an area around the Celestial South Pole at Dome A since 2008. About $20,000$ light curves in the i band were obtained lasting from March to July, 2008. The photometric precision achieves about 4 mmag at i = 7.5 and 20 mmag at i = 12 within a 30 s exposure time. These light curves are analyzed using Lomb--Scargle, Phase Dispersion Minimization, and Box Least Squares methods to search for periodic signals. False positives may appear as a variable signature caused by contaminating stars and the observation mode of CSTAR. Therefore the period and position of each variable candidate are checked to eliminate false positives. Eclipsing binaries are removed by visual inspection, frequency spectrum analysis and locally linear embedding technique. We identify 53 eclipsing binaries in the field of view of CSTAR, containing 24 detached binaries, 8 semi-detached binaries, 18 contact binaries, and 3 ellipsoidal variables. To derive the parameters of these binaries, we use the Eclipsing Binaries via Artificial Intelligence (EBAI) method. The primary and the secondary eclipse timing variations (ETVs) for semi-detached and contact systems are analyzed. Correlated primary and secondary ETVs confirmed by false alarm tests may indicate an unseen perturbing companion. Through ETV analysis, we identify two triple systems (CSTAR J084612.64-883342.9 and CSTAR J220502.55-895206.7). The orbital parameters of the third body in CSTAR J220502.55-895206.7 are derived using a simple dynamical model.Comment: 41 pages, 12 figures; published online in ApJ

Exoplanets in the Antarctic Sky. II. 116 Transiting Exoplanet Candidates Found by AST3-II (CHESPA) within the Southern CVZ of TESS

We report first results from the CHinese Exoplanet Searching Program from Antarctica (CHESPA)-a wide-field high-resolution photometric survey for transiting exoplanets carried out using telescopes of the AST3 (Antarctic Survey Telescopes times 3) project. There are now three telescopes (AST3-I, AST3-II, and CSTAR-II) operating at Dome A-the highest point on the Antarctic Plateau-in a fully automatic and remote mode to exploit the superb observing conditions of the site, and its long and uninterrupted polar nights. The search for transiting exoplanets is one of the key projects for AST3. During the austral winters of 2016 and 2017 we used the AST3-II telescope to survey a set of target fields near the southern ecliptic pole, falling within the continuous viewing zone of the TESS mission. The first data release of the 2016 data, including images, catalogs, and light curves of 26,578 bright stars (7.5 <= m(i) <= 15), was presented in Zhang et al. The best precision, as measured by the rms of the light curves at the optimum magnitude of the survey (m(i) = 10), is around 2 mmag. We detect 222 objects with plausible transit signals from these data, 116 of which are plausible transiting exoplanet candidates according to their stellar properties as given by the TESS Input Catalog, Gaia DR2, and TESS-HERMES spectroscopy. With the first data release from TESS expected in late 2018, this candidate list will be timely for improving the rejection of potential false-positives

Exoplanets in the Antarctic Sky I. The first data release of AST3-II (CHESPA) and new found variables within the southern CVZ of TESS

Located at Dome A, the highest point of the Antarctic plateau, the Chinese Kunlun station is considered to be one of the best ground-based photometric sites because of its extremely cold, dry, and stable atmosphere. A target can be monitored from there for over 40 days without diurnal interruption during a polar winter. This makes Kunlun station a perfect site to search for short-period transiting exoplanets. Since 2008, an observatory has existed at Kunlun station, and three telescopes are working there. Using these telescopes, the AST3 project has been carried out over the last 6 yr with a search for transiting exoplanets as one of its key programs (CHESPA). In the austral winters of 2016 and 2017, a set of target fields in the southern continuous viewing zone (CVZ) of TESS were monitored by the AST3-II telescope. In this paper, we introduce the CHESPA and present the first data release containing photometry of 26,578 bright stars (m(i) <= 15). The best photometric precision at the optimum magnitude for the survey is around 2 mmag. To demonstrate the data quality, we also present a catalog of 221 variables with a brightness variation greater than 5 mmag from the 2016 data. Among these variables, 179 are newly identified periodic variables not listed in the AAVSO database (https://www.aavso.org/), and 67 are listed in the Candidate Target List. These variables will require careful attention to avoid false-positive signals when searching for transiting exoplanets. Dozens of new transiting exoplanet candidates will be released in a subsequent paper

Pensamento cultural e elementos filosóficos do canto e da dança nos filmes indianos

Art is the embodiment of national culture and spirit. Singing and dancing are one of the earliest and richest forms of human art. It is not only the product of experience and emotional experience but also the transcendence of vulgar daily life. As the most distinctive feature of modern Indian films, the art of singing and dancing inherits the traditional Indian aesthetic ideas and religious philosophy in the modern audio-visual environment can be found. It maintains a distinctive national impression in the tide of internationalization. This kind of art form is of great significance to the exploration of the nationality of Chinese singing and dancing art.Yang y Zhang sostienen que el arte es la encarnación de la cultura y el espíritu de una nación. El canto y el baile son dos de las primeras y más ricas formas de arte humano. No son sólo el producto de la experiencia sensible y emocional, sino también la trascendencia de la vida cotidiana. Como característica más distintiva de las películas indias modernas, el arte de cantar y bailar hereda las ideas estéticas y la filosofía religiosa tradicionales de la India que se pueden encontrar en el entorno audiovisual moderno. Mantiene una clara impresión nacional, a raíz de la internacionalización. Yang y Zhang buscan mostrar que este tipo de arte es de gran importancia para explorar la nacionalidad del arte chino de cantar y bailar.Yang e Zhang defendem que a arte é a personificação da cultura e do espírito de uma nação. Cantar e dançar são duas das primeiras e mais ricas formas de arte humana. Não constituem apenas o produto da experiência sensível e emocional, mas também a transcendência da vida cotidiana vulgar. Como a característica mais distintiva dos filmes indianos modernos, a arte de cantar e dançar herda as ideias estéticas tradicionais indianas e a filosofia religiosa pode ser encontrada no ambiente audiovisual moderno. Mantém uma impressão nacional distinta, na onda da internacionalização. Yang e Zhang procuram mostrar que esse tipo de forma de arte é de grande importância para a exploração da nacionalidade da arte chinesa de cantar e dançar

WO₃-LaFeO₃ Nanocomposites for Highly Sensitive Detection of Acetone Vapor at Low Operating Temperatures

The development of a rapid, highly sensitive, and dependable acetone sensor holds significant importance for human health and safety. To enhance the acetone sensing performance of LaFeO3 nanoparticles for practical applications, commercial n-type WO3 nanoparticles were incorporated as additives. They were directly mixed with LaFeO3 nanoparticles produced through a sol-gel method, creating a series of WO3-LFO nanocomposites with varying mass ratios. These nanocomposites were characterized using XRD, SEM, BET, and XPS techniques. Compared to pure LFO nanoparticles, the prepared nanocomposites exhibited larger specific surface areas with enhanced surface reactivity. The introduction of p-n heterojunctions through the mixing process improved the regulation of acetone molecules on internal carrier conduction within nanocomposites. As a result, the nanocomposites demonstrated superior acetone sensing performance in terms of optimal operating temperature, vapor response value, selectivity, and response/recovery speed. Notably, the nanocomposites with a 5wt% addition of WO3 showed the lowest optimal operating temperature (132 °C), the fastest response/recovery speed (28/9 s), and the highest selectivity against ethanol, methanol, and EG. On the other hand, the nanocomposites with a 10wt% addition of WO3 displayed the maximum vapor response value (55.1 to 100 ppm) at an optimal operating temperature of 138 °C, along with relatively good repeatability, stability, and selectivity

Oligomer Formation and Insecticidal Activity of Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa Toxin

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Vip3A proteins are important insecticidal proteins used for control of lepidopteran insects. However, the mode of action of Vip3A toxin is still unclear. In this study, the amino acid residue S164 in Vip3Aa was identified to be critical for the toxicity in Spodoptera litura. Results from substitution mutations of the S164 indicate that the insecticidal activity of Vip3Aa correlated with the formation of a &gt;240 kDa complex of the toxin upon proteolytic activation. The &gt;240 kDa complex was found to be composed of the 19 kDa and the 65 kDa fragments of Vip3Aa. Substitution of the S164 in Vip3Aa protein with Ala or Pro resulted in loss of the &gt;240 kDa complex and loss of toxicity in Spodoptera litura. In contrast, substitution of S164 with Thr did not affect the &gt;240 kDa complex formation, and the toxicity of the mutant was only reduced by 35%. Therefore, the results from this study indicated that formation of the &gt;240 kDa complex correlates with the toxicity of Vip3Aa in insects and the residue S164 is important for the formation of the complex