Visible light communication(VLC)is a promising solution to the increasing demands for wireless connectivity.Gallium nitride micro-sized light emitting diodes(micro-LEDs)are strong candidates for VLC due to their high ...Visible light communication(VLC)is a promising solution to the increasing demands for wireless connectivity.Gallium nitride micro-sized light emitting diodes(micro-LEDs)are strong candidates for VLC due to their high bandwidths.Segmented violet micro-LEDs are reported in this work with electrical-to-optical bandwidths up to 655 MHz.An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing-based VLC system with adaptive bit and energy loading is demonstrated,and a data transmission rate of 11.95 Gb/s is achieved with a violet micro-LED,when the nonlinear distortion of the micro-LED is the dominant noise source of the VLC system.A record 7.91 Gb/s data transmission rate is reported below the forward error correction threshold using a single pixel of the segmented array when all the noise sources of the VLC system are present.展开更多
Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation(RFA) is a first?line treatment for very?early?stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), whereas the efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation(MWA) for very?early?stage HCC...Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation(RFA) is a first?line treatment for very?early?stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), whereas the efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation(MWA) for very?early?stage HCC remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify this issue by comparing the safety and efficacy of percutaneous MWA with percutaneous RFA in treating very?early?stage HCC.Methods: Clinical data of 460 patients who were diagnosed with very?early?stage HCC and treated with percutane?ous MWA or RFA between January 2007 and July 2012 at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Mili?tary Medical University, in Shanghai, China were retrospectively analyzed. Of these 460 patients, 159 received RFA, 301 received MWA. Overall survival(OS), recurrence?free survival(RFS), local tumor progression(LTP), complete ablation, and complication occurrence rates were compared between the two groups, and the prognostic factors associated with survival were analyzed.Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the 1?, 3?, or 5?year OS rates(99.3%, 90.4%, and 78.3% for MWA vs. 98.7%, 86.8%, and 73.3% for RFA, respectively; P = 0.331). Furthermore, no signif?icant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the corresponding RFS rates(94.4%, 71.8%, and 46.9% for MWA vs. 89.9%, 67.3%, and 54.9% for RFA, respectively; P ete ablation rates(98.3% vs. 98.1%, P = 0.309), the LTP rates(9.6% vs. 10.1%, P = 0.883), the compl multivariate analysis, LTP, an= 0.860), or the occurrence rates of major complications(0.7% vs. 0.6%, P = 0.691). Bytiviral therapy, and treatment of recurrence were independent risk fac?tors for OS(P < 0.001), and the alpha?fetoprotein level was an independent prognostic factor for RFS(P = 0.002).Conclusions: MWA is as safe and effective as RFA in treating very?early?stage HCC, supporting MWA as a first?line treatment option for this disease.展开更多
Background and Aims:This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of high frame rate contrast-en-hanced ultrasound(H-CEUS)of focal liver lesions(FLLs).Methods:From July 2017 to June 2019,conventional con-tra...Background and Aims:This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of high frame rate contrast-en-hanced ultrasound(H-CEUS)of focal liver lesions(FLLs).Methods:From July 2017 to June 2019,conventional con-trast-enhanced ultrasound(C-CEUS)and H-CEUS were per-formed in 78 patients with 78 nodules.The characteristics of C-CEUS and H-CEUS in malignant and benign groups and the differences between different lesion sizes(1-3 cm,3-5 cm,or>5 cm)of C-CEUS and H-CEUS were examined.The diagnostic performance of C-CEUS and H-CEUS was ana-lyzed.The chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used to assess inter-group differences.The receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to determine the diagnostic performance of C-CEUS and H-CEUS.Results:There were significant differences in the enhancement area,fill-in direc-tion and vascular architecture between C-CEUS and H-CEUS for both benign and malignant lesions(all p=0.000-0.008),but there were no significant differences in washout results(p=0.566 and p=0.684,respectively).For lesions 1-3 cm in size,the enhancement area,fill-in direction,and vascular architecture on C-CEUS and H-CEUS were significantly dif-ferent(all p=0.000),unlike for lesions 3-5 cm or>5 cm in size.For differentiation of malignant from benign FLLs in the 1-3 cm group,H-CEUS showed sensitivity,specific-ity,accuracy,and positive and negative predictive values of 92.86%,95.0%,96.3%,90.48%and 93.75%,respectively,which were higher than those for C-CEUS(75.0%,70.0%,77.78%,66.67%and 72.91%,respectively).Conclusions:H-CEUS provided more vascular information which could help differentiate malignant from benign FLLs,especially for lesions 1-3 cm in size.展开更多
We design a weather-based indemnity index for the insurance against freeze damage to citrus orchards so as to provide technological support for the development of policy-based agriculture. The indices are prepared by ...We design a weather-based indemnity index for the insurance against freeze damage to citrus orchards so as to provide technological support for the development of policy-based agriculture. The indices are prepared by separating a relative meteorological yield from the yield that is dependent on tree age, high-yield and low-yield years, and environmental factors, and then using a risk assessment scheme to determine the percentage yield reduction due to the meteorological hazard. We thus develop a set of indices associated with cold temperature damage with which to construct more severe weather indices in conjunction with the yield percentage decrease. We then combine the insured regional citrus yield index with the insured meteorological counterpart to obtain a weather-based indemnity index for the varying degree of freeze damage to crops. When the freeze damage index （FDI） is greater than -7.0℃ for the coastal belt of Zhejiang Province, China, or greater than -9.0℃ for other regions of Zhejiang, weather-based indemnity index （WBII） is zero, meaning there is no compensation; when the FDI is from -7.0 to -7.9℃ for the coastal belt or from -9.0 to -9.9℃ for other regions, the WBII is 1 with 50% compensation; when the FDI is from -8.0 to -8.9℃ for the coastal belt or from -10.0 to -10.9℃ for other regions, the WBII is 2 with 70% compensation; and when the FDI is less than -9.0℃ for the coastal belt or less than -11.0℃ for other regions, the WBII is 3 with 90% compensation. The weather indemnity indices of insured orchards are developed in the interest of owners, thereby eliminating adverse selection and moral hazard issues and providing timely recompense from the insurer, and resolving the problem of high indemnity cost in agricultural insurance.展开更多
Background: Esophageal cancer is associated with substantial disease burden in China, and data on the economic burden are fundamental for setting priorities in cancer interventions. The medical expenditure for the dia...Background: Esophageal cancer is associated with substantial disease burden in China, and data on the economic burden are fundamental for setting priorities in cancer interventions. The medical expenditure for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in China has not been fully quantified. This study aimed to examine the medical expenditure of Chinese patients with esophageal cancer and the associated trends.Methods: From 2012 to 2014, a hospital-based multicenter retrospective survey was conducted in 37 hospitals in 13 provinces/municipalities across China as a part of the Cancer Screening Program of Urban China. For each esophageal cancer patient diagnosed between 2002 and 2011, clinical information and expense data were extracted by using structured questionnaires. All expense data were reported in Chinese Yuan(CNY; 1 CNY = 0.155 USD) based on the2011 value and inflated using the year-specific health care consumer price index for China.Results: A total of 14,967 esophageal cancer patients were included in the analysis. It was estimated that the overall average expenditure per patient was 38,666 CNY, and an average annual increase of 6.27% was observed from 2002(25,111 CNY) to 2011(46,124 CNY). The average expenditures were 34,460 CNY for stage Ⅰ,39,302 CNY for stage Ⅱ,40,353 CNY for stage Ⅲ, and 37,432 CNY for stage IV diseases(P < 0.01). The expenditure also differed by the therapy type, which was 38,492 CNY for surgery, 27,933 CNY for radiotherapy, and 27,805 CNY for chemotherapy(P < 0.05).Drugs contributed to 45.02% of the overall expenditure.Conclusions: These conservative estimates suggested that medical expenditures for esophageal cancer in China substantially increased in the last 10 years, treatment for early-stage esophageal cancer costs less than that for advanced cases, and spending on drugs continued to account for a considerable proportion of the overall expenditure.展开更多
Recent progress in the research regarding the molecular pathogenesis and management of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is reviewed. In approximately 90% of cases, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylo...Recent progress in the research regarding the molecular pathogenesis and management of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is reviewed. In approximately 90% of cases, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection plays the causative role in the pathogenesis, and H. pylori eradication is nowadays the first-line treatment for this disease, which leads to complete disease remission in 50%-90% of cases. In H. pylori-dependent cases, microbe-generated immune responses, including interaction between B and T cells involving CD40 and CD40L co-stimulatory molecules, are considered to induce the development of MALT lymphoma. In H. pylori-independent cases, activation of the nuclear factor-κB pathway by oncogenic products of specific chromosomal translocations such as t(11;18)/API2-MALT1, or inactivation of tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3 (A20) are considered to contribute to the lymphomagenesis. Recently, a large-scale Japanese multicenter study confirmed that the long-term clinical outcome of gastric MALT lymphoma after H. pylori eradication is excellent. Treatment modalities for patients not responding to H. pylori eradication include a “watch and wait” strategy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, rituximab immunotherapy, and a combination of these. Because of the indolent behavior of MALT lymphoma, second-line treatment should be tailored in consideration of the clinical stage and extent of the disease in each patient.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Pulse wave analysis（PWA） quantifies the phenomenon of pulse waveform propagation in patients with cardiovascular diseases, whereas pulse image analysis（PIA） is a subjective examination in traditional ...BACKGROUND： Pulse wave analysis（PWA） quantifies the phenomenon of pulse waveform propagation in patients with cardiovascular diseases, whereas pulse image analysis（PIA） is a subjective examination in traditional Chinese medicine. OBJECTIVE： This study evaluated the association of PIA with PWA and hemodynamics in patients with hypertension. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS： This observational, cross-sectional study enrolled 45 patients（26 men,（55.2± 10.3） years, systolic blood pressure（155± 28） mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure（93± 17） mm Hg） for assessment of clinical and laboratorial data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Primary outcomes comprised： pattern differentiation based on an automated method; PIA at the radial artery using the ‘simultaneous pressing＇ method for identification of factors such as strength（strong/weak）, depth（superficial/deep）, and speed（fast/moderate/slow）; and PWA at the same artery using a noninvasive system. RESULTS： Significant multivariate main effects were observed for depth（l=0.648, F_（5,29）=3.149, P=0.022, h^2 =0.352）, strength（l=0.608, F_（5,29） =3.736, P=0.010, h^2 =0.392）, and speed（l=0.535, F_（5,29） =5.302, P=0.002, h^2 =0.465）. General effects comprised high values of PWA and blood pressure for superficial, strong, and fast pulse images. A strong pulse was found for pulse pressure ≥ 62.5 mm Hg and systolic blood pressure ≥ 149.5 mm Hg, whereas a superficial pulse was found for heart rate ≥ 58.25 beats/min; a fast pulse was found for heart rate ≥ 69.6 beats/min and pulse wave velocity ≥ 9.185 m/s. CONCLUSION： Associations were explained by La Place＇s law, arterial remodeling in hypertension, alongside the traditional criterion for classifying speed in pulse images. PIA is associated with PWA and hemodynamics in patients with hypertension. Systolic and pulse pressures, heart rate, and pulse wave velocity are quantitative variables that have information to describe the qualitative pul展开更多
Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)have long been associated with a spectrum of disease outcomes in the gastroduodenal system.Heterogeneity in bacterial virulence factors or strains is not enough to explain the divergent di...Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)have long been associated with a spectrum of disease outcomes in the gastroduodenal system.Heterogeneity in bacterial virulence factors or strains is not enough to explain the divergent disease phenotypes manifested by the infection.This review focuses on host genetic factors that are involved during infection and eventually are thought to influence the disease phenotype.We have summarizedthe different host genes that have been investigated for association studies in H.pylori mediated duodenal ulcer or gastric cancer.We discuss that as the bacteria co-evolved with the host;these host gene also show much variation across different ethnic population.We illustrate the allelic distribution of interleukin-1B,across different population which is one of the most popular candidate gene studied with respect to H.pylori infections.Further,we highlight that several polymorphisms in the pathway gene can by itself or collectively affect the acid secretion pathway axis(gastrin:somatostatin)thereby resulting in a spectrum of disease展开更多
Background:Acute myeloid leukemia(AML) with t(8;21) is a heterogeneous disease.Identifying AML patients with t(8;21) who have a poor prognosis despite achieving remission is important for determining the best subseque...Background:Acute myeloid leukemia(AML) with t(8;21) is a heterogeneous disease.Identifying AML patients with t(8;21) who have a poor prognosis despite achieving remission is important for determining the best subsequent therapy.This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Wilm tumor gene-1(WT1) transcript levels and cellular homolog of the viral oncogene v-KIT receptor tyrosine kinase(C-KIT) mutations at diagnosis,and RUNXTRUNX1T1 transcript levels after the second consolidation chemotherapy cycle on outcomes.Methods:Eighty-eight AML patients with t(8;21) who received chemotherapy only or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT) were included.Patients who achieved remission,received two or more cycles of consolidation chemotherapy,and had a positive measureable residual disease(MRD) test result(defined as <3-log reduction in RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcript levels compared to baseline) after 2-8 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy were recommended to receive allo-HSCT.Patients who had a negative MRD test result were recommended to receive further chemotherapy up to only 8 cycles.WT1 transcript levels and C-KIT mutations at diagnosis,and RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcript levels after the second consolidation chemotherapy cycle were tested.Results:Patients who had a C-KIT mutation had significantly lower WTl transcript levels than patients who did not have a C-KIT mutation(6.7%± 10.6%vs.19.5%± 19.9%,P < 0.001).Low WTl transcript levels(<5.0%) but not C-KIT mutation at diagnosis,a positive MRD test result after the second cycle of consolidation chemotherapy,and receiving only chemotherapy were independently associated with high cumulative incidence of relapse in all patients(hazard ratio[HR]= 3.53,2.30,and 11.49;95%confidence interval[CI]1.64-7.62,1.82-7.56,and 4.43-29.82;P = 0.002,0.034,and <0.001,respectively);these conditions were also independently associated with low leukemia-free survival(HR =3.71,2.33,and 5.85;95%CI 1.82-7.56,1.17-4.64,and 2.75-12.44;P < 0.001,0.016,and <0.001,respectively) and overall s展开更多
The intergranular microcracking in polycrystalline Ni-rich cathode particle is led by anisotropic volume change and stress corrosion along grain boundary,accelerating battery performance decay.Herein,we have suggested...The intergranular microcracking in polycrystalline Ni-rich cathode particle is led by anisotropic volume change and stress corrosion along grain boundary,accelerating battery performance decay.Herein,we have suggested a simple but advanced solid-state method that ensures both uniform transition metal distribution and single-crystalline morphology for Ni-rich cathode synthesis without sophisticated coprecipitation.Pelletization-assisted mechanical densification(PAMD)process on solid-state precursor mixture enables the dynamic mass transfer through the increased solid-solid contact area which facilitates the grain growth during sintering process,readily forming micro-sized single-crystalline particle.Furthermore,the improved chemical reactivity by a combination of capillary effect and vacancyassisted diffusion provides homogeneous element distribution within each primary particle.As a result,single-crystalline Ni-rich cathode with PAMD process has eliminated a potential evolution of intergranular cracking,thus achieving superior energy retention capability of 85%over 150 cycles compared to polycrystalline Ni-rich particle even after high-pressure calendering process(corresponding to electrode density of~3.6 g cm^(-3))and high cut-off voltage cycling.This work provides a concrete perspective on developing facile synthetic route of micron-sized single-crystalline Ni-rich cathode materials for high energy density lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).展开更多
Currently,in the automotive industry,joining of the aluminum alloys with the steel is a crucial problem to be solved.Conventional joining techniques including resistance spot and gas metal arc welding are not acceptab...Currently,in the automotive industry,joining of the aluminum alloys with the steel is a crucial problem to be solved.Conventional joining techniques including resistance spot and gas metal arc welding are not acceptable for those applications due to a number of metallurgical problems.The investigation was carried out to develop the hybrid joining process combining the resistance spot welding and brazing.In this study,an attempt was made to apply hybrid process to the joining of dissimilar sheet metals,Al-Mg-Si（6000 series） alloy and low carbon steel sheet.Hybrid process（resistance spot weld/brazing） using filler metal was found to be effective to overcome the incompatibility between aluminum alloy and steel.Although hybrid joining process of Al alloy sheet and steel sheet did not produce acceptable bond strength,it was proved to have reasonable interfacial bond layer if the optimal process condition was applied.展开更多
The Sarcheshmeh copper flotation circuit is producing 5× 10^4 t copper concentrate per month with an averaging grade of 28% Cu in rougher, cleaner and recleaner stages. In recent years, with the increase in the o...The Sarcheshmeh copper flotation circuit is producing 5× 10^4 t copper concentrate per month with an averaging grade of 28% Cu in rougher, cleaner and recleaner stages. In recent years, with the increase in the open pit depth, the content of aluminosilicate minerals increased in plant feed and subsequently in flotation concentrate. It can motivate some problems, such as unwanted consumption of reagents, decreasing of the copper concentrate grade, increasing of Al2O3 and SiO2 in the copper concentrate, and needing a higher temperature in the smelting process. The evaluation of the composite samples related to the most critical working period of the plant shows that quartz, illite, biotite, chlorite, orthoclase, albeit, muscovite, and kaolinite are the major Al2O3 and SiO2 beating minerals that accompany chalcopyrite, chalcocite, and covellite minerals in the plant feed. The severe alteration to clay minerals was a general rule in all thin sections that were prepared from the plant feed. Sieve analysis of the flotation concentrate shows that Al2O3 and SiO2 bearing minerals in the flotation concentrate can be decreased by promoting the size reduction from 53 to 38 μm. Interlocking of the Al2O3 and SiO2 bearing minerals with chalcopyrite and chalcocite is the occurrence mechanism of silicate and aluminosilicate minerals in the flotation concentrate. The dispersed form of interlocking is predominant.展开更多
Laser wakefield acceleration,as an advanced accelerator concept,has attracted great attentions for its ultrahigh acceleration gradient and the capability to produce high brightness electron bunches.The three-dimension...Laser wakefield acceleration,as an advanced accelerator concept,has attracted great attentions for its ultrahigh acceleration gradient and the capability to produce high brightness electron bunches.The three-dimensional(3D)density serves as an evaluation metric for the particle bunch quality and is intrinsically related to the applications of an accelerator.Despite its significance,this parameter has not been experimentally measured in the investigation of laser wakefield acceleration.We report on an electro-optic 3D snapshot of a laser wakefield electron bunch at a position outside the plasma.The 3D shape of the electron bunch was detected by simultaneously performing optical transition radiation imaging and electro-optic sampling.Detailed 3D structures to a few micrometer levels were reconstructed using a genetic algorithm.The electron bunch possessed a transverse size of less than 30 micrometers.The current profile shows a multi-peak structure.The main peak had a duration of<10 fs and a peak current>1 kA.The maximum electron 3D number density was~9×10^(21)m^(-3).This research demonstrates a feasible way of 3D density monitoring on femtosecond kilo-ampere electron bunches,at any position of a beam transport line for relevant applications.展开更多
In this paper, a class of nonlinear singularly perturbed initial boundary value problems for reaction diffusion equations with boundary perturbation are considered under suitable conditions. Firstly, by dint of the re...In this paper, a class of nonlinear singularly perturbed initial boundary value problems for reaction diffusion equations with boundary perturbation are considered under suitable conditions. Firstly, by dint of the regular perturbation method, the outer solution of the original problem is obtained. Secondly, by using the stretched variable and the expansion theory of power series the initial layer of the solution is constructed. And then, by using the theory of differential inequalities, the asymptotic behavior of the solution for the initial boundary value problems is studied. Finally, using some relational inequalities the existence and uniqueness of solution for the original problem and the uniformly valid asymptotic estimation are discussed.展开更多
Background:Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein that mainly regulates erythropoiesis.In patients with chronic renal failure with anemia,darbepoetin alfa can stimulate erythropoiesis,correct anemia,and maintain hemoglobin ...Background:Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein that mainly regulates erythropoiesis.In patients with chronic renal failure with anemia,darbepoetin alfa can stimulate erythropoiesis,correct anemia,and maintain hemoglobin levels.This study was designed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alfa injections as being not inferior to epoetin alfa injections(Recombinant Human Erythropoietin injection,rHuEPO)when maintaining hemoglobin(Hb)levels within the target range(10.0-12.0 g/dL)for the treatment of renal anemia.Methods:Ninety-five patients were enrolled in this study from April 15,2013 to April 10,2014 at 25 sites.In this study,patients(n=95)aged 18-70 years were randomized into a once per week intravenous darbepoetin alfa group(n=56)and a twice or three times per week intravenous epoetin alfa group(n=39)for 28 weeks,who had anemia with hemoglobin levels between 6 g/dL and 10 g/dL due to chronic kidney disease(CKD)and were undergoing hemodialysis or hemofiltration with ESA-naive(erythropoiesis stimulating agent-naive).The primary efficacy profile was the mean Hb level(the non-inferiority margin was-1.0 g/dL,week 21-28);the secondary efficacy profiles were the Hb increase rate(week 0-4),the target Hb achievement cumulative rate and time,the change trends of the Hb levels,and the target Hb maintenance ratio.Adverse events(AEs)were observed and compared,and the efficacy and safety were analyzed between the two treatment groups.Additionally,the frequencies of dose adjustments between the darbepoetin alfa and epoetin alfa groups were compared during the treatment period.SAS?software version 9.2 was used to perform all statistical analyses.Descriptive statistics were used for all efficacy,safety,and demographic variable analyses,including for the primary efficacy indicators.Results:The mean Hb level was 11.3 g/dL in the darbepoetin alfa group and 10.7 g/dL in the epoetin alfa group,respectively;the difference of the lower limits of the 95%confidence intervals(CI)between the two groups was 0.1 g/dL(>-1.0 g/dL展开更多
Eucalyptus species are the native and major plant group in Australian landscapes. Since European settlement, eucalypt trees heavily decline in the tablelands .of New South Wales. Tree recruitment bog down and the land...Eucalyptus species are the native and major plant group in Australian landscapes. Since European settlement, eucalypt trees heavily decline in the tablelands .of New South Wales. Tree recruitment bog down and the landscape ecosystem hardly recovers to the original state. This paper introduces the history of eucalypt trees and native shrubs decline, analyzes reasons of seedling recruitment decrease in this region, such as clearing, grazing, fire, competition from exotic species, dieback, insects, drought and so on, and summarizes the probable conditions of eucalypt tree recruitment, such as suitable conditions of seedling survival, sufficient seed supply, keep from predation, suitable germination conditions, non-grazed environment, mechanical treatment, weed control, fire regime, disease control etc, lending suggests how to preserve and encourage eucalypt trees recruitment in the area.展开更多
Substrates or encapsulants in soft and stretchable formats are key components for transient,bioresorbable electronic systems;however,elastomeric polymers with desired mechanical and biochemical properties are very lim...Substrates or encapsulants in soft and stretchable formats are key components for transient,bioresorbable electronic systems;however,elastomeric polymers with desired mechanical and biochemical properties are very limited compared to nontransient counterparts.Here,we introduce a bioresorbable elastomer,poly(glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone)(PGCL),that contains excellent material properties including high elongation-at-break(<1300%),resilience and toughness,and tunable dissolution behaviors.Exploitation of PGCLs as polymer matrices,in combination with conducing polymers,yields stretchable,conductive composites for degradable interconnects,sensors,and actuators,which can reliably function under external strains.Integration of device components with wireless modules demonstrates elastic,transient electronic suture system with on-demand drug delivery for rapid recovery of postsurgical wounds in soft,time-dynamic tissues.展开更多
基金Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC)(EP/K00042X/1,EP/M506515/1)
文摘Visible light communication(VLC)is a promising solution to the increasing demands for wireless connectivity.Gallium nitride micro-sized light emitting diodes(micro-LEDs)are strong candidates for VLC due to their high bandwidths.Segmented violet micro-LEDs are reported in this work with electrical-to-optical bandwidths up to 655 MHz.An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing-based VLC system with adaptive bit and energy loading is demonstrated,and a data transmission rate of 11.95 Gb/s is achieved with a violet micro-LED,when the nonlinear distortion of the micro-LED is the dominant noise source of the VLC system.A record 7.91 Gb/s data transmission rate is reported below the forward error correction threshold using a single pixel of the segmented array when all the noise sources of the VLC system are present.
文摘Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation(RFA) is a first?line treatment for very?early?stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), whereas the efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation(MWA) for very?early?stage HCC remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify this issue by comparing the safety and efficacy of percutaneous MWA with percutaneous RFA in treating very?early?stage HCC.Methods: Clinical data of 460 patients who were diagnosed with very?early?stage HCC and treated with percutane?ous MWA or RFA between January 2007 and July 2012 at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Mili?tary Medical University, in Shanghai, China were retrospectively analyzed. Of these 460 patients, 159 received RFA, 301 received MWA. Overall survival(OS), recurrence?free survival(RFS), local tumor progression(LTP), complete ablation, and complication occurrence rates were compared between the two groups, and the prognostic factors associated with survival were analyzed.Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the 1?, 3?, or 5?year OS rates(99.3%, 90.4%, and 78.3% for MWA vs. 98.7%, 86.8%, and 73.3% for RFA, respectively; P = 0.331). Furthermore, no signif?icant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the corresponding RFS rates(94.4%, 71.8%, and 46.9% for MWA vs. 89.9%, 67.3%, and 54.9% for RFA, respectively; P ete ablation rates(98.3% vs. 98.1%, P = 0.309), the LTP rates(9.6% vs. 10.1%, P = 0.883), the compl multivariate analysis, LTP, an= 0.860), or the occurrence rates of major complications(0.7% vs. 0.6%, P = 0.691). Bytiviral therapy, and treatment of recurrence were independent risk fac?tors for OS(P < 0.001), and the alpha?fetoprotein level was an independent prognostic factor for RFS(P = 0.002).Conclusions: MWA is as safe and effective as RFA in treating very?early?stage HCC, supporting MWA as a first?line treatment option for this disease.
文摘Background and Aims:This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of high frame rate contrast-en-hanced ultrasound(H-CEUS)of focal liver lesions(FLLs).Methods:From July 2017 to June 2019,conventional con-trast-enhanced ultrasound(C-CEUS)and H-CEUS were per-formed in 78 patients with 78 nodules.The characteristics of C-CEUS and H-CEUS in malignant and benign groups and the differences between different lesion sizes(1-3 cm,3-5 cm,or>5 cm)of C-CEUS and H-CEUS were examined.The diagnostic performance of C-CEUS and H-CEUS was ana-lyzed.The chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used to assess inter-group differences.The receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to determine the diagnostic performance of C-CEUS and H-CEUS.Results:There were significant differences in the enhancement area,fill-in direc-tion and vascular architecture between C-CEUS and H-CEUS for both benign and malignant lesions(all p=0.000-0.008),but there were no significant differences in washout results(p=0.566 and p=0.684,respectively).For lesions 1-3 cm in size,the enhancement area,fill-in direction,and vascular architecture on C-CEUS and H-CEUS were significantly dif-ferent(all p=0.000),unlike for lesions 3-5 cm or>5 cm in size.For differentiation of malignant from benign FLLs in the 1-3 cm group,H-CEUS showed sensitivity,specific-ity,accuracy,and positive and negative predictive values of 92.86%,95.0%,96.3%,90.48%and 93.75%,respectively,which were higher than those for C-CEUS(75.0%,70.0%,77.78%,66.67%and 72.91%,respectively).Conclusions:H-CEUS provided more vascular information which could help differentiate malignant from benign FLLs,especially for lesions 1-3 cm in size.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30370914)the major projects of Zhejiang Province Weather Bureau,China(2006zd005)
文摘We design a weather-based indemnity index for the insurance against freeze damage to citrus orchards so as to provide technological support for the development of policy-based agriculture. The indices are prepared by separating a relative meteorological yield from the yield that is dependent on tree age, high-yield and low-yield years, and environmental factors, and then using a risk assessment scheme to determine the percentage yield reduction due to the meteorological hazard. We thus develop a set of indices associated with cold temperature damage with which to construct more severe weather indices in conjunction with the yield percentage decrease. We then combine the insured regional citrus yield index with the insured meteorological counterpart to obtain a weather-based indemnity index for the varying degree of freeze damage to crops. When the freeze damage index （FDI） is greater than -7.0℃ for the coastal belt of Zhejiang Province, China, or greater than -9.0℃ for other regions of Zhejiang, weather-based indemnity index （WBII） is zero, meaning there is no compensation; when the FDI is from -7.0 to -7.9℃ for the coastal belt or from -9.0 to -9.9℃ for other regions, the WBII is 1 with 50% compensation; when the FDI is from -8.0 to -8.9℃ for the coastal belt or from -10.0 to -10.9℃ for other regions, the WBII is 2 with 70% compensation; and when the FDI is less than -9.0℃ for the coastal belt or less than -11.0℃ for other regions, the WBII is 3 with 90% compensation. The weather indemnity indices of insured orchards are developed in the interest of owners, thereby eliminating adverse selection and moral hazard issues and providing timely recompense from the insurer, and resolving the problem of high indemnity cost in agricultural insurance.
基金supported by the National Health and Family Plan Commission of P. R. China
文摘Background: Esophageal cancer is associated with substantial disease burden in China, and data on the economic burden are fundamental for setting priorities in cancer interventions. The medical expenditure for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in China has not been fully quantified. This study aimed to examine the medical expenditure of Chinese patients with esophageal cancer and the associated trends.Methods: From 2012 to 2014, a hospital-based multicenter retrospective survey was conducted in 37 hospitals in 13 provinces/municipalities across China as a part of the Cancer Screening Program of Urban China. For each esophageal cancer patient diagnosed between 2002 and 2011, clinical information and expense data were extracted by using structured questionnaires. All expense data were reported in Chinese Yuan(CNY; 1 CNY = 0.155 USD) based on the2011 value and inflated using the year-specific health care consumer price index for China.Results: A total of 14,967 esophageal cancer patients were included in the analysis. It was estimated that the overall average expenditure per patient was 38,666 CNY, and an average annual increase of 6.27% was observed from 2002(25,111 CNY) to 2011(46,124 CNY). The average expenditures were 34,460 CNY for stage Ⅰ,39,302 CNY for stage Ⅱ,40,353 CNY for stage Ⅲ, and 37,432 CNY for stage IV diseases(P < 0.01). The expenditure also differed by the therapy type, which was 38,492 CNY for surgery, 27,933 CNY for radiotherapy, and 27,805 CNY for chemotherapy(P < 0.05).Drugs contributed to 45.02% of the overall expenditure.Conclusions: These conservative estimates suggested that medical expenditures for esophageal cancer in China substantially increased in the last 10 years, treatment for early-stage esophageal cancer costs less than that for advanced cases, and spending on drugs continued to account for a considerable proportion of the overall expenditure.
文摘Recent progress in the research regarding the molecular pathogenesis and management of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is reviewed. In approximately 90% of cases, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection plays the causative role in the pathogenesis, and H. pylori eradication is nowadays the first-line treatment for this disease, which leads to complete disease remission in 50%-90% of cases. In H. pylori-dependent cases, microbe-generated immune responses, including interaction between B and T cells involving CD40 and CD40L co-stimulatory molecules, are considered to induce the development of MALT lymphoma. In H. pylori-independent cases, activation of the nuclear factor-κB pathway by oncogenic products of specific chromosomal translocations such as t(11;18)/API2-MALT1, or inactivation of tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3 (A20) are considered to contribute to the lymphomagenesis. Recently, a large-scale Japanese multicenter study confirmed that the long-term clinical outcome of gastric MALT lymphoma after H. pylori eradication is excellent. Treatment modalities for patients not responding to H. pylori eradication include a “watch and wait” strategy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, rituximab immunotherapy, and a combination of these. Because of the indolent behavior of MALT lymphoma, second-line treatment should be tailored in consideration of the clinical stage and extent of the disease in each patient.
基金supported by the grant from the Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de AmparoaPesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro(FAPERJ)
文摘BACKGROUND： Pulse wave analysis（PWA） quantifies the phenomenon of pulse waveform propagation in patients with cardiovascular diseases, whereas pulse image analysis（PIA） is a subjective examination in traditional Chinese medicine. OBJECTIVE： This study evaluated the association of PIA with PWA and hemodynamics in patients with hypertension. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS： This observational, cross-sectional study enrolled 45 patients（26 men,（55.2± 10.3） years, systolic blood pressure（155± 28） mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure（93± 17） mm Hg） for assessment of clinical and laboratorial data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Primary outcomes comprised： pattern differentiation based on an automated method; PIA at the radial artery using the ‘simultaneous pressing＇ method for identification of factors such as strength（strong/weak）, depth（superficial/deep）, and speed（fast/moderate/slow）; and PWA at the same artery using a noninvasive system. RESULTS： Significant multivariate main effects were observed for depth（l=0.648, F_（5,29）=3.149, P=0.022, h^2 =0.352）, strength（l=0.608, F_（5,29） =3.736, P=0.010, h^2 =0.392）, and speed（l=0.535, F_（5,29） =5.302, P=0.002, h^2 =0.465）. General effects comprised high values of PWA and blood pressure for superficial, strong, and fast pulse images. A strong pulse was found for pulse pressure ≥ 62.5 mm Hg and systolic blood pressure ≥ 149.5 mm Hg, whereas a superficial pulse was found for heart rate ≥ 58.25 beats/min; a fast pulse was found for heart rate ≥ 69.6 beats/min and pulse wave velocity ≥ 9.185 m/s. CONCLUSION： Associations were explained by La Place＇s law, arterial remodeling in hypertension, alongside the traditional criterion for classifying speed in pulse images. PIA is associated with PWA and hemodynamics in patients with hypertension. Systolic and pulse pressures, heart rate, and pulse wave velocity are quantitative variables that have information to describe the qualitative pul
文摘Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)have long been associated with a spectrum of disease outcomes in the gastroduodenal system.Heterogeneity in bacterial virulence factors or strains is not enough to explain the divergent disease phenotypes manifested by the infection.This review focuses on host genetic factors that are involved during infection and eventually are thought to influence the disease phenotype.We have summarizedthe different host genes that have been investigated for association studies in H.pylori mediated duodenal ulcer or gastric cancer.We discuss that as the bacteria co-evolved with the host;these host gene also show much variation across different ethnic population.We illustrate the allelic distribution of interleukin-1B,across different population which is one of the most popular candidate gene studied with respect to H.pylori infections.Further,we highlight that several polymorphisms in the pathway gene can by itself or collectively affect the acid secretion pathway axis(gastrin:somatostatin)thereby resulting in a spectrum of disease
基金supported by Grants from the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81230013)the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China(973 Program,2013CB733701)+2 种基金the Nature Science Foundation of China(81170483,81570130 and 81370639)the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission(Z141100000214011)support from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre funding scheme
文摘Background:Acute myeloid leukemia(AML) with t(8;21) is a heterogeneous disease.Identifying AML patients with t(8;21) who have a poor prognosis despite achieving remission is important for determining the best subsequent therapy.This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Wilm tumor gene-1(WT1) transcript levels and cellular homolog of the viral oncogene v-KIT receptor tyrosine kinase(C-KIT) mutations at diagnosis,and RUNXTRUNX1T1 transcript levels after the second consolidation chemotherapy cycle on outcomes.Methods:Eighty-eight AML patients with t(8;21) who received chemotherapy only or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT) were included.Patients who achieved remission,received two or more cycles of consolidation chemotherapy,and had a positive measureable residual disease(MRD) test result(defined as <3-log reduction in RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcript levels compared to baseline) after 2-8 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy were recommended to receive allo-HSCT.Patients who had a negative MRD test result were recommended to receive further chemotherapy up to only 8 cycles.WT1 transcript levels and C-KIT mutations at diagnosis,and RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcript levels after the second consolidation chemotherapy cycle were tested.Results:Patients who had a C-KIT mutation had significantly lower WTl transcript levels than patients who did not have a C-KIT mutation(6.7%± 10.6%vs.19.5%± 19.9%,P < 0.001).Low WTl transcript levels(<5.0%) but not C-KIT mutation at diagnosis,a positive MRD test result after the second cycle of consolidation chemotherapy,and receiving only chemotherapy were independently associated with high cumulative incidence of relapse in all patients(hazard ratio[HR]= 3.53,2.30,and 11.49;95%confidence interval[CI]1.64-7.62,1.82-7.56,and 4.43-29.82;P = 0.002,0.034,and <0.001,respectively);these conditions were also independently associated with low leukemia-free survival(HR =3.71,2.33,and 5.85;95%CI 1.82-7.56,1.17-4.64,and 2.75-12.44;P < 0.001,0.016,and <0.001,respectively) and overall s
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Korea government(MEST)(2021R1A2C1095408)supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by the Ministry of Education(2022R1A6A1A03051158)。
文摘The intergranular microcracking in polycrystalline Ni-rich cathode particle is led by anisotropic volume change and stress corrosion along grain boundary,accelerating battery performance decay.Herein,we have suggested a simple but advanced solid-state method that ensures both uniform transition metal distribution and single-crystalline morphology for Ni-rich cathode synthesis without sophisticated coprecipitation.Pelletization-assisted mechanical densification(PAMD)process on solid-state precursor mixture enables the dynamic mass transfer through the increased solid-solid contact area which facilitates the grain growth during sintering process,readily forming micro-sized single-crystalline particle.Furthermore,the improved chemical reactivity by a combination of capillary effect and vacancyassisted diffusion provides homogeneous element distribution within each primary particle.As a result,single-crystalline Ni-rich cathode with PAMD process has eliminated a potential evolution of intergranular cracking,thus achieving superior energy retention capability of 85%over 150 cycles compared to polycrystalline Ni-rich particle even after high-pressure calendering process(corresponding to electrode density of~3.6 g cm^(-3))and high cut-off voltage cycling.This work provides a concrete perspective on developing facile synthetic route of micron-sized single-crystalline Ni-rich cathode materials for high energy density lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).
文摘Currently,in the automotive industry,joining of the aluminum alloys with the steel is a crucial problem to be solved.Conventional joining techniques including resistance spot and gas metal arc welding are not acceptable for those applications due to a number of metallurgical problems.The investigation was carried out to develop the hybrid joining process combining the resistance spot welding and brazing.In this study,an attempt was made to apply hybrid process to the joining of dissimilar sheet metals,Al-Mg-Si（6000 series） alloy and low carbon steel sheet.Hybrid process（resistance spot weld/brazing） using filler metal was found to be effective to overcome the incompatibility between aluminum alloy and steel.Although hybrid joining process of Al alloy sheet and steel sheet did not produce acceptable bond strength,it was proved to have reasonable interfacial bond layer if the optimal process condition was applied.
文摘The Sarcheshmeh copper flotation circuit is producing 5× 10^4 t copper concentrate per month with an averaging grade of 28% Cu in rougher, cleaner and recleaner stages. In recent years, with the increase in the open pit depth, the content of aluminosilicate minerals increased in plant feed and subsequently in flotation concentrate. It can motivate some problems, such as unwanted consumption of reagents, decreasing of the copper concentrate grade, increasing of Al2O3 and SiO2 in the copper concentrate, and needing a higher temperature in the smelting process. The evaluation of the composite samples related to the most critical working period of the plant shows that quartz, illite, biotite, chlorite, orthoclase, albeit, muscovite, and kaolinite are the major Al2O3 and SiO2 beating minerals that accompany chalcopyrite, chalcocite, and covellite minerals in the plant feed. The severe alteration to clay minerals was a general rule in all thin sections that were prepared from the plant feed. Sieve analysis of the flotation concentrate shows that Al2O3 and SiO2 bearing minerals in the flotation concentrate can be decreased by promoting the size reduction from 53 to 38 μm. Interlocking of the Al2O3 and SiO2 bearing minerals with chalcopyrite and chalcocite is the occurrence mechanism of silicate and aluminosilicate minerals in the flotation concentrate. The dispersed form of interlocking is predominant.
基金Dr.I.Daito,Dr.T.P.Otsuka,and Dr.Y.Sakai.This work was funded by the JST-Mirai Program Grant No.JPMJMI17A1,Japan,JSPS KAKENHI(No.JP21K17998,No.JP23K17152,No.JP22K12665),Japan and the QST President's Strategic Grant(Exploratory Research),Japan.
文摘Laser wakefield acceleration,as an advanced accelerator concept,has attracted great attentions for its ultrahigh acceleration gradient and the capability to produce high brightness electron bunches.The three-dimensional(3D)density serves as an evaluation metric for the particle bunch quality and is intrinsically related to the applications of an accelerator.Despite its significance,this parameter has not been experimentally measured in the investigation of laser wakefield acceleration.We report on an electro-optic 3D snapshot of a laser wakefield electron bunch at a position outside the plasma.The 3D shape of the electron bunch was detected by simultaneously performing optical transition radiation imaging and electro-optic sampling.Detailed 3D structures to a few micrometer levels were reconstructed using a genetic algorithm.The electron bunch possessed a transverse size of less than 30 micrometers.The current profile shows a multi-peak structure.The main peak had a duration of<10 fs and a peak current>1 kA.The maximum electron 3D number density was~9×10^(21)m^(-3).This research demonstrates a feasible way of 3D density monitoring on femtosecond kilo-ampere electron bunches,at any position of a beam transport line for relevant applications.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Nos. 40676016, 10471039）, the National Key Basic Research Special Foundation of China （No. 2004CB418304）, the Key Basic Research Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences （No. KZCX3-SW-221） and in part by EInstitutes of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission （No. E03004）
文摘In this paper, a class of nonlinear singularly perturbed initial boundary value problems for reaction diffusion equations with boundary perturbation are considered under suitable conditions. Firstly, by dint of the regular perturbation method, the outer solution of the original problem is obtained. Secondly, by using the stretched variable and the expansion theory of power series the initial layer of the solution is constructed. And then, by using the theory of differential inequalities, the asymptotic behavior of the solution for the initial boundary value problems is studied. Finally, using some relational inequalities the existence and uniqueness of solution for the original problem and the uniformly valid asymptotic estimation are discussed.
文摘Background:Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein that mainly regulates erythropoiesis.In patients with chronic renal failure with anemia,darbepoetin alfa can stimulate erythropoiesis,correct anemia,and maintain hemoglobin levels.This study was designed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alfa injections as being not inferior to epoetin alfa injections(Recombinant Human Erythropoietin injection,rHuEPO)when maintaining hemoglobin(Hb)levels within the target range(10.0-12.0 g/dL)for the treatment of renal anemia.Methods:Ninety-five patients were enrolled in this study from April 15,2013 to April 10,2014 at 25 sites.In this study,patients(n=95)aged 18-70 years were randomized into a once per week intravenous darbepoetin alfa group(n=56)and a twice or three times per week intravenous epoetin alfa group(n=39)for 28 weeks,who had anemia with hemoglobin levels between 6 g/dL and 10 g/dL due to chronic kidney disease(CKD)and were undergoing hemodialysis or hemofiltration with ESA-naive(erythropoiesis stimulating agent-naive).The primary efficacy profile was the mean Hb level(the non-inferiority margin was-1.0 g/dL,week 21-28);the secondary efficacy profiles were the Hb increase rate(week 0-4),the target Hb achievement cumulative rate and time,the change trends of the Hb levels,and the target Hb maintenance ratio.Adverse events(AEs)were observed and compared,and the efficacy and safety were analyzed between the two treatment groups.Additionally,the frequencies of dose adjustments between the darbepoetin alfa and epoetin alfa groups were compared during the treatment period.SAS?software version 9.2 was used to perform all statistical analyses.Descriptive statistics were used for all efficacy,safety,and demographic variable analyses,including for the primary efficacy indicators.Results:The mean Hb level was 11.3 g/dL in the darbepoetin alfa group and 10.7 g/dL in the epoetin alfa group,respectively;the difference of the lower limits of the 95%confidence intervals(CI)between the two groups was 0.1 g/dL(>-1.0 g/dL
基金This study was supported by CSC (Chinese Scholarship Communi ), CSIRO and Australia-China Council
文摘Eucalyptus species are the native and major plant group in Australian landscapes. Since European settlement, eucalypt trees heavily decline in the tablelands .of New South Wales. Tree recruitment bog down and the landscape ecosystem hardly recovers to the original state. This paper introduces the history of eucalypt trees and native shrubs decline, analyzes reasons of seedling recruitment decrease in this region, such as clearing, grazing, fire, competition from exotic species, dieback, insects, drought and so on, and summarizes the probable conditions of eucalypt tree recruitment, such as suitable conditions of seedling survival, sufficient seed supply, keep from predation, suitable germination conditions, non-grazed environment, mechanical treatment, weed control, fire regime, disease control etc, lending suggests how to preserve and encourage eucalypt trees recruitment in the area.
基金supported by the KIST Institutional Program (Project No.2E32501-23-106)the KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Program+3 种基金the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (the Ministry of Science, ICT, MSIT) (RS-2022-00165524)the development of technologies for electroceuticals of the National Research Foundataion (NRF) funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (RS-2023-00220534)the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), Korea, under the ICT Creative Consilience program (IITP-2023-2020-0-01819) supervised by the IITP (Institute for Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation)Start up Pioneering in Research and Innovation(SPRINT) through the Commercialization Promotion Agency for R&D Outcomes(COMPA) grant funded by the Korea government(Ministry of Science and ICT) (1711198921)
文摘Substrates or encapsulants in soft and stretchable formats are key components for transient,bioresorbable electronic systems;however,elastomeric polymers with desired mechanical and biochemical properties are very limited compared to nontransient counterparts.Here,we introduce a bioresorbable elastomer,poly(glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone)(PGCL),that contains excellent material properties including high elongation-at-break(<1300%),resilience and toughness,and tunable dissolution behaviors.Exploitation of PGCLs as polymer matrices,in combination with conducing polymers,yields stretchable,conductive composites for degradable interconnects,sensors,and actuators,which can reliably function under external strains.Integration of device components with wireless modules demonstrates elastic,transient electronic suture system with on-demand drug delivery for rapid recovery of postsurgical wounds in soft,time-dynamic tissues.
