Search Results (16)

Insulation pull rods used in gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) inevitably contain the micro defects generated during production. The intelligent identification method, which requires large datasets with a balanced distribution of defect types, is regarded as the prevailing way to avoid insulation faults. However, the number of defective pull rods is limited, and the occurrence of different types of defects is highly imbalanced in actual production, leading to poor recognition performance. Thus, this work proposes a data preprocessing method for the insulation pull rod defect feature dataset. In this work, the YOLOv5s algorithm is used to detect defects in insulation pull rod images, creating a dataset with five defect categories. Two preprocessing methods for impurities and bubbles are introduced, including copy–paste within images and bounding box corrections for hair-like impurities. The results show that these two methods can specifically enhance small-sized defect targets while maintaining the detection performance for other types of targets. In contrast, the proposed method integrates copy–paste within images with Mosaic data augmentation and corrects bounding boxes for hair-like impurities significantly improving the model’s performance. Full article

This study proposes a high-frequency Pulse Amplitude-Modulation Temporal-Interference (PAM-TI) current stimulation device, which utilizes two sets of Amplitude-modulated transcranial alternating current stimulation (AM-tACS): one AM frequency at f0 (where f0 = 2 kHz) (source 1) and the other AM frequency at f1 = f0 + $△$f (where f1 = 2.01 kHz) (source 2), to generate a $△$f (where $△$f = 10 Hz) envelope modulated at a fc (where fc = 100 kHz) high carrier frequency. The high carrier frequency reduces body impedance and conserves more stimulation power, allowing it to penetrate the skin and reach the subcutaneous region. The proposed PAM-TI technique elevates the two current sources to a 100 kHz carrier frequency. Instead of the challenges associated with generating high-frequency stimulation currents using an MCU and DAC, the proposed PAM-TI stimulation device achieves this by simply utilizing a pair of complementary pulse-width modulations (PWMs). The push–pull technique is employed to balance the charging currents between the anode and cathode, synchronizing the current timing of Source 1 and Source 2 under the fc modulation condition. To minimize signal attenuation, the PAM circuit is integrated directly into the electrode, ensuring the high-frequency signal is generated close to the body and preventing degradation from long wires. Additionally, a dry pin-type spring-loaded electrode is used to reduce interference caused by hair when placed on the head. The device’s validity and current directionality were verified using a scalp tissue-mimicking phantom composed of agar and saline. Full article

Background: Rapunzel syndrome is a rare and severe form of trichobezoar, characterized by the presence of hair masses in the stomach that often extend into the bowel, resembling the legendary “Rapunzel’s” long hair. Methods: This review examines the clinical, diagnostic, forensic, and post-mortem aspects associated with Rapunzel syndrome, with a focus on cases resulting in mortality or those at high risk of death due to complications. In particular, the review systematically analyzes the existing literature on fatal cases of Rapunzel syndrome, emphasizing insights into risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, autopsy findings, and preventive measures to provide a focused understanding of these critical aspects. Results: The syndrome predominantly affects young females with a history of trichotillomania (hair-pulling) and trichophagia (hair-eating), often associated with underlying psychiatric conditions. Clinically, Rapunzel syndrome presents with non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, vomiting, and malnutrition, which may complicate timely diagnosis. Diagnosis typically involves imaging techniques such as ultrasound, CT scans, and endoscopy, but cases often go unrecognized until complications like intestinal obstruction, perforation, or even fatal outcomes occur. Forensically, Rapunzel syndrome presents unique challenges, as misdiagnosis or delayed intervention can lead to fatalities that may raise questions in medico-legal investigations. Post-mortem investigations, particularly autopsies, have proven instrumental in elucidating rare complications and advancing understanding of the syndrome’s long-term effects. Conclusions: Increased awareness, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive evaluation, including autopsy studies, are essential to improve patient outcomes and reduce the potential for life-threatening complications in this rare yet serious condition. Full article

In recent decades, the debate on consciousness has been conditioned by the idea of bottom-up emergence, which has influenced scientific research and raised a few obstacles to any attempt to bridge the explanatory gap. The analysis and explanation of vision conducted according to the accredited methodologies of scientific research in terms of physical stimuli, objectivity, methods, and explanation has encountered the resistance of subjective experience. Moreover, original Gestalt research into vision has generally been merged with cognitive neuroscience. Experimental phenomenology, building on the legacy of Gestalt psychology, has obtained new results in the fields of amodal contours and color stratifications, light perception, figurality, space, so-called perceptual illusions, and subjective space and time. Notwithstanding the outcomes and the impulse given to neuroscientific analyses, the research carried out around these phenomena has never directly confronted the issue of what it means to be conscious or, in other words, the nature of consciousness as self-referentiality. Research has tended to focus on the percept. Therefore, explaining the non-detachability of parts in subjective experience risks becoming a sort of impossible achievement, similar to that of Baron Munchausen, who succeeds in escaping unharmed from this quicksand by pulling himself out by his hair. This paper addresses how to analyze seeing as an undivided whole by discussing several basic dimensions of phenomenal consciousness on an experimental basis and suggesting an alternative way of escaping this quicksand. This mind-set reversal also sheds light on the organization and dependence relationships between phenomenology, psychophysics, and neuroscience. Full article

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a psychiatric disorder involving chronic, recurrent urges to pull out one’s own hair, arising frequently in childhood and early adolescence. This disorder predominantly affects women and has a high co-morbidity with many other psychiatric conditions. Currently, the etiology is unknown, which makes treating TTM extremely difficult. While the epidemiology and proposed causes will be discussed briefly, the primary purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive, updated summary of the psychological and pharmacological management options for patients diagnosed with TTM, as new clinical trial data for previously studied and novel treatments have become available within the last decade. Of the behavioral interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and habit reversal training (HRT) have demonstrated the greatest improvements in hair-pulling severity, with HRT showing the most efficacy for long-term maintenance of progress. Pharmacological therapies with the most success include Olanzapine, Clomipramine, and N-Acetylcysteine, though larger replication studies are needed. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have yielded inconsistent results in clinical trials, yet they are frequently prescribed for TTM. Naltrexone, Dronabinol, and Inositol are emerging as potential treatments, but the results suggest that additional studies are needed. Future research directions include larger placebo-controlled pharmacological trials, exploring the efficacy of combined behavioral and pharmacological approaches compared to monotherapy, and delving into the potential genetic and neurochemical contributions that may underlie TTM. Full article

(1) Background: The dermatillomania and trichotillomania disorders in this study refer to the subcategory of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs) that are medication-induced. Patients with typical dermatillomania or trichotillomania disorder generally present with other OCD symptoms, although this is not present in the cases of medication-induced skin picking or hair pulling disorders found in the current literature. This paper serves to investigate the prevalence and treatment methods of medication-induced excoriation disorders. (2) Methods: The PubMed database was queried for cases of medication-induced dermatillomania or trichotillomania. The database search resulted in 80 results, 7 of which were full-length case reports in English with acceptable detail on clinical course, yielding nine patients. (3) Results: All patients who discontinued their offending agent had complete resolution of symptoms. Patients who continued their medications saw a resolution of symptoms when treated with an additional medication. Atypical antipsychotics and SSRIs were also noted to have been the offending agent in some cases but a successful treatment in other cases. (4) Conclusion: Patients who discontinued their offending agent or added additional pharmacotherapy for dermatillomania or trichotillomania had the best outcomes. Abnormal serotonin and dopamine levels are thought to be connected to the pathology of this disease. Full article

Fungal folliculitis (including tinea capitis and Majocchi granuloma) has a wide range of clinical presentations, and biopsy may be obtained to distinguish this from other conditions with similar presentations. The study aims to evaluate the proportion of hairs infected in biopsies of fungal folliculitis. Copath records were searched for diagnoses of fungal folliculitis, tinea capitis and Majocchi granuloma between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2020. Confirmed cases were pulled and reviewed by a dermatopathologist to count the total number of hairs on the sample and the total infected. Of 72 included cases, the median number of hair follicles per biopsy was 3 (IQR 1,4), and the median proportion of hairs infected was 54.2% (IQR 33.3%, 100.0%). Nineteen (26.4%) had only one hair included in the biopsy which was also an infected hair (100% of hairs were infected). The percentage of total hair follicles infected differed significantly depending upon location (p = 0.0443), with a smaller percentage of infected hairs in biopsies of tinea capitis. Clinicians should be cautious when using biopsy for diagnosis of fungal folliculitis, specifically, when there are few hairs in the specimen. Failure to capture infected hairs leads to false negative diagnoses. Full article

Biological adhesive systems in both geckoes and climbing plants share similar hierarchical structures, such as the toe-seta-spatula structure in geckoes and the root-rootlet-hair structure in English ivy (Hedera helix). The former operates at a spectrum of length scales that are much smaller than the latter. Consequently, the spatula adhesion in geckoes exhibits a flaw-insensitive behavior, or in other words, the large-scale-bridging characteristics shield the stress singularities at the adhesive contact front. In contrast, adventitious root hairs from commonly seen household climbing plants are of several tens to hundreds of micrometers long, so that the adhesive contact appears to resemble a linear elastic crack and thus would have a very low pulling force for de-adhesion. This apparent contradiction between modeling and observations is resolved in this work by a coupled transport–adhesion mechanism, in which an adhesive layer that carries gluing nanoparticles flows towards the adhesive contact front. This provides an effective way to shield the stress singularity, resulting in a scenario that completely differs from gecko adhesion. Finite element simulations have been conducted to illustrate this proposed mechanism and then compared to available experimental observations in the literature. Full article

Hair thinning is a very common problem in dermatology, affecting both men and women, and can strongly impact the quality of life of subjects. In this view, therapies that aim to reduce the appearance of thinning by delaying, arresting, or reversing the course of hair thinning are highly desirable. A novel nutraceutical product (NS) containing active botanicals, a patented composition comprising rutin and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), zinc, biotin, and ornithine, has been developed to improve hair growth in subjects with hair thinning. Sixty subjects with telogen effluvium-like hair loss were randomized 1:1 in two groups (NS vs. placebo) and treated for three months and evaluated at the baseline visit (T0), and after 15 days (T1) and one (T2), two (T3), and three (T4) months of treatment. Two follow-up visits one month (T5) and two months after the last assumption (T6) were also included in the protocol. Subjects were evaluated for the percentage of hair in the anagen phase, density of hair in the anagen phase (n/cm²), vellus hair (miniaturized, smaller, and thinner hair), and the entity of hair loss in the telogen phase (pull test). NS supplementation produced a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in anagen hair and hair density versus baseline from 15 days (T1) of treatment and this effect was not detectable for placebo. Moreover, a clinically/statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in vellus hair was also reported, suggesting not only a rapid reduction of the process of miniaturization of the hair but also a transformation of vellus hair into terminal hair. The NS treatment also showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in tensile strength till T6 (vs. placebo). A higher percentage of subjects who took the NS noted a reduction in daily hair loss, an increase in brightness, and the presence of stronger hair. No side effects were reported. The present study confirms the clinical efficacy and safety of novel nutraceutical supplements in men and women with hair thinning, acting as a multi-targeted therapeutic approach to hair thinning due to TE-like phenomena. Full article

Background: Trichotillomania (TTM), excoriation disorder, onychophagia, and onychotillomania are categorized as body focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) disorders, causing damage to the skin, hair, and/or nails with clinically significant psychosocial consequences. Currently, there are no standardized treatments for these compulsive, self-induced disorders. Studies on treatment of these disorders using psychotropic drugs (i.e., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants) have shown variable efficacy. Recently, there is a growing interest in N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for treating BFRBs. NAC is a glutamate modulator that has shown promise in successfully reducing the compulsive behaviors in BFRB disorders. This article provides an updated review of the literature on the use of NAC in TTM, excoriation disorder, onychophagia, and onychotillomania. Methods: Relevant articles were searched in the PubMed/MEDLINE database. Results: Twenty-four clinical trials, retrospective cohort studies, and case reports assessing the efficacy of NAC in TTM, excoriation disorder, and onychophagia were included. No studies for onychotillomania were found in our search. Conclusions: Although NAC has proven successful for treatment of BFRB disorders, data is derived from few clinical trials and case reports assessing small numbers of patients. Larger studies with longer durations are needed to fully establish the efficacy of NAC in these disorders. Full article

Epidemiological and phenomenological studies suggest shared underpinnings between multiple addictive behaviors. The present genetic association study was conducted as part of the Psychological and Genetic Factors of Addictions study (n = 3003) and aimed to investigate genetic overlaps between different substance use, addictive, and other compulsive behaviors. Association analyses targeted 32 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, potentially addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other drugs), and potentially addictive or compulsive behaviors (internet use, gaming, social networking site use, gambling, exercise, hair-pulling, and eating). Analyses revealed 29 nominally significant associations, from which, nine survived an FDRbl correction. Four associations were observed between FOXN3 rs759364 and potentially addictive behaviors: rs759364 showed an association with the frequency of alcohol consumption and mean scores of scales assessing internet addiction, gaming disorder, and exercise addiction. Significant associations were found between GDNF rs1549250, rs2973033, CNR1 rs806380, DRD2/ANKK1 rs1800497 variants, and the “lifetime other drugs” variable. These suggested that genetic factors may contribute similarly to specific substance use and addictive behaviors. Specifically, FOXN3 rs759364 and GDNF rs1549250 and rs2973033 may constitute genetic risk factors for multiple addictive behaviors. Due to limitations (e.g., convenience sampling, lack of structured scales for substance use), further studies are needed. Functional correlates and mechanisms underlying these relationships should also be investigated. Full article

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) represents a novel therapy tested and is used more and more frequently in dermatology and cosmetic surgery for a variety of conditions, including androgenic alopecia (AGA), a common condition with a complex pathogenesis involving genetic factors, hormonal status and inflammation. We performed an extensive literature search which retrieved 15 clinical trials concerning the use in AGA of PRP therapy, alone or in combination, in male, female or mixed patient groups. A quantitative statistical meta-analysis of n = 17 trial groups proved significant increases in hair density from 141.9 ± 108.2 to 177.5 ± 129.7 hairs/cm² (mean ± SD) following PRP (p = 0.0004). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis that proved a statistically significant correlation between the number of PRP treatments per month and the percentage change in hair density (r = 0.5, p = 0.03), as well as a negative correlation between the mean age of treatment group and the percentage change in hair density (r = −0.56, p = 0.016). Other factors considered for analysis were the PRP preparation method, amount used per treatment, hair diameter, terminal hairs and pull test. We conclude that PRP represents a valuable and effective therapy for AGA in both males and females if patients are rigorously selected. Full article

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a body-focused repetitive disorder affecting as much as 0.5 to 2% of the population, with women four times more likely to be affected than men. This disorder causes impairment in daily function and significant distress. A potential animal model for this disorder is the inbred C57BL/6J mouse which displays clinical signs and behavioral characteristics similar to those described for people affected by this disorder. Because alcohol-preferring P rats also display similar clinical signs and behavioral characteristics, it was hypothesized that this selectively bred stock could be an additional animal model. In this study, 112 female P rats were recorded on digital media for 15 min after being sprayed with a mist of water and assessed for grooming patterns—oral, manual, and scratching. Significant elevations in scratching and oral grooming behavior were predictive of the future development of skin lesions. These findings suggest that P rats may be an additional model to study TTM, with the advantage of increased genetic variation (i.e., non-inbred) which mirrors the human population. The use of this model may help to identify preventative and therapeutic interventions for humans and other animals with similar body-focused repetitive disorders. Full article

The rapid increase of self-injurious behavior among Korean adolescents, and its reckless spread on social media, has driven the necessity to study this behavior. The present study investigates the characteristics of self-injurious behavior among adolescents in local communities, and the psychological factors affecting such behavior. Questionnaires were administered to 516 sixth graders in elementary school and first to third graders in middle school of both genders, nationwide. They measured the prevalence and characteristics of self-injurious behavior and the relevant psychological factors, such as levels of depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. Furthermore, group differences were assessed for self-injury experience and the characteristics relevant to self-injurious behavior. In addition, this study performs logistic regression to explore the risk factors predicting self-injurious behavior. In all, 166 participants (32.2%) reported self-injury, with a higher rate of self-injury in female students than in male students. Although the study finds high rates of mild forms of self-injury, such as “biting”, “pulling hair,” and “hitting self”, it also finds relatively high reports of more risky methods, such as “cutting or carving”. The logistic regression shows a significant effect of the negative self-image sub-factor of depression (CDI) and oversensitivity and physical and sleep problems sub-factors of anxiety (RCMAS) on self-injurious behavior. The rates of self-injury were higher in female participants than in male ones, and adolescents in local communities reported higher rates of mild forms of self-injury than the moderate/severe forms. The results of this study suggest that early screenings and interventions should be conducted through evaluation of self-image and emotional stability of early adolescents to hinder the risk of self-harm. Full article

Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) are a type of non-coding RNAs, which contain a covalently closed loop structure without 5′ to 3′ free ends. CircRNAs play essential roles in the regeneration of secondary hair follicle (SHF) and cashmere growth in goats. CircRNA-1926 was previously identified in SHF of cashmere goats, but its potential roles are unclear. In this study, we confirmed the expression of circRNA-1926 in SHF bulge of nine cashmere goats with a significantly higher level at anagen than that of telogen. Through the use of both overexpression and siRNA interference, we showed that circRNA-1926 promoted the differentiation of SHF stem cell into hair follicle lineage in cashmere goats which was evaluated via indictor genes Keratin 7 and Keratin 17. Using RNA pull-down, we found that circRNA-1926 bound with miR-148a/b-3p. Additionally, our data indicated that circRNA-1926 promoted the expression of the CDK19 gene. Using dual-luciferase reporter assays, it was revealed that circRNA-1926 positively regulated the CDK19 expression through miR-148a/b-3p. The results from this study demonstrated that circRNA-1926 contributes the differentiation of SHF stem cells into hair follicle lineages in cashmere goats via sponging miR-148a/b-3p to enhance CDK19 expression. Full article