Development of a MWDC prototype of the CSR external-target experiment

The cooling storage ring(CSR)external-target experiment(CEE)is a spectrometer used in construction to study the properties of nuclear matter in high-baryon density regions at the Heavy-Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou(HIRFL).This study presents the design,simulation,manufacturing,and testing of a half-size prototype of a multi-wire drift chamber(MWDC)for the CEE.First,the performance of the MWDC connected to homemade electronics was simulated.The results demonstrated that an energy resolution of 18.5% for 5.9-keV X-rays and a position resolution of 194μm for protons can be achieved by the current design.Because the size of the largest MWDC reached 176 cm×314 cm,a set of 98 cm×98 cm prototypes was built using the new techniques.The positioning accuracy of the anode wires in this prototype is better than 20μm.After optimization,using commercially available electronics,the prototype can achieved an energy resolution of 19.7%for a^(55)Fe X-ray source.The CEE-MWDC detector and electronics were simultaneously tested.An energy resolution of 22%was achieved for the^(55)Fe source;the track residuals were approximately 330μm for the cosmic rays.The results demonstrate that the current design and techniques meet the requirements of the CEE-MWDC array.

NνDEx-100 conceptual design report

Observing nuclear neutrinoless double beta (0vββ) decay would be a revolutionary result in particle physics.Observing such a decay would prove that the neutrinos are their own antiparticles,help to study the absolute mass of neutrinos,explore the origin of their mass,and may explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry in our universe by lepton number violation.We propose developing a time projection chamber (TPC) using high-pressure ^(82)SeF_(6) gas and Topmetal silicon sensors for readout in the China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL) to search for neutrinoless double beta decay of82Se,called the NvDEx experiment.Besides being located at CJPL with the world’s thickest rock shielding,NvDEx combines the advantages of the high Qββ(2.996 MeV) of82Se and the TPC’s ability to distinguish signal and background events using their different topological characteristics.This makes NvDEx unique,with great potential for low-background and high-sensitivity 0 vββsearches.NvDEx-100,a NvDEx experiment phase with 100 kg of SeF_(6)gas,is being built,with plans to complete installation at CJPL by 2025.This report introduces 0 vββ physics,the NvDEx concept and its advantages,and the schematic design of NvDEx-100,its subsystems,and background and sensitivity estimation.

Prognostic significance of combined preoperative fibrinogen and CA199 in gallbladder cancer patients

AIM To investigate the prognostic value of the combination of preoperative plasma fibrinogen and CA199 in patients with gallbladder carcinoma(GBC).METHODS The clinicopathological data of 154 GBC patients were retrospectively reviewed after surgery. A receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was plotted to verify the optimum cut-off values for plasma fibrinogen and CA199. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with GBC prognosis. based on the HRs calculated via multivariate survival analyses, patients with elevated plasma fibrinogen and CA199 levels were allocated a score of 2.1; those with an elevated plasma fibrinogen level only were allocated a score of 1, those with an elevated CA199 level only were allocated a score of 1.1, and those with neither of these abnormalities were allocated a score of 0.RESULTS ROC curve analysis showed that the optimum cut-off values for preoperative plasma fibrinogen and CA199 were 3.47 g/L and 25.45 U/mL, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that elevated preoperative plasma fibrinogen and CA199 levels were significantly correlated with worse overall survival(OS)(HR = 1.711, 95%CI: 1.114-2.627, P = 0.014, and HR = 1.842, 95%CI: 1.111-3.056, P = 0.018). When we combined these two parameters, the area under the ROC curve increased from 0.735(for preoperative plasma fibrinogen only) and 0.729(for preoperative CA199 only) to 0.765. When this combined variable was added to the multivariate analysis, the combination of plasma fibrinogen and CA199(P < 0.001), resection margin(P < 0.001) and TNM stage(P = 0.010) were independent prognostic factors for GBC.CONCLUSION The combination of plasma fibrinogen and CA199 may serve as a more efficient independent prognostic biomarker for postoperative GBC patients than either parameter alone.

Padua评分预测重症患者静脉血栓栓塞症风险的价值

目的探讨Padua评分对预测重症患者发生静脉血栓栓塞症(VTE)风险的有效性。方法采用病例对照的方法进行回顾性研究,选取华北理工大学附属医院重症医学科(ICU)患者中确诊的78例VTE患者(VTE组)及同时期同科室随机抽取的96例未患VTE患者(非VTE组)。依据Padua评分对两组患者进行评分和危险分层。比较两组评分结果以及危险等级之间的关系,采用多因素Logistic回归模型分析危险因素与VTE发生之间的关系。结果 VTE组Padua评分与非VTE组比较,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),VTE组高于非VTE组,高评分等级组患者发生VTE的风险是低评分等级组的7.66倍。以ICU住院患者的相关因素作为自变量进行Logistic回归分析发现:卧床≥3 d是ICU住院患者发生VTE的最高级别的危险因素。结论 Pauda评分可较好地评估ICU患者VTE发病的危险程度。

Clinical outcomes of lenvatinib plus transarterial chemoembolization with or without programmed death receptor-1 inhibitors in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Programmed death receptor-1(PD-1)inhibitors have been approved as secondline treatment regimen in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),but it is still worth studying whether patients can benefit from PD-1 inhibitors as first-line drugs combined with targeted drugs and locoregional therapy.AIM To estimate the clinical outcome of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors for patients with unresectable HCC(uHCC).METHODS We carried out retrospective research of 65 patients with uHCC who were treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2017 to February 2022.45 patients received the PD-1 inhibitors,lenvatinib,TACE(PD-1-Lenv-T)therapy,and 20 received the lenvatinib,TACE(Lenv-T)therapy.In terms of the dose of lenvatinib,8 mg was given orally for patients weighing less than 60 kg and 12 mg for those weighing more than 60 kg.Of the patients in the PD-1 inhibitor combination group,15 received Toripalimab,14 received Toripalimab,14 received Camrelizumab,4 received Pembrolizumab,9 received Sintilimab,and 2 received Nivolumab,1 with Tislelizumab.According to the investigators’assessment,TACE was performed every 4-6 wk when the patient had good hepatic function(Child-Pugh class A or B)until disease progression occurred.We evaluated the efficacy by the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(mRECIST criteria).We accessd the safety by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events,v 5.0.The key adverse events(AEs)after the initiation of combination therapy were observed.RESULTS Patients with uHCC who received PD-1-Lenv-T therapy(n=45)had a clearly longer overall survival than those who underwent Lenv-T therapy(n=20,26.8 vs 14.0 mo;P=0.027).The median progression-free survival time between the two treatment regimens was also measured{11.7 mo[95%confidence interval(CI):7.7-15.7]in the PD-1-Lenv-T group vs 8.5 mo(95%CI:3.0-13.9)in the Lenv-T group(P=0.028)}.The objective response rates of the PD-1-Lenv-T group and Lenv-T group were 44.4%and 20%(P=0.059)according to the mRECIST criteria,meanwhile the disease control rates were 93.3%and 64.0%(P=0.003),respectively.The type and frequency of AEs showed little distinction between patients received the two treatment regimens.CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the early combination of PD-1 inhibitors has manageable toxicity and hopeful efficacy in patients with uHCC.

Engineering heterostructured Ni@Ni(OH)_(2) core-shell nanomaterials for synergistically enhanced water electrolysis

Heterostructure engineering of electrocatalysts provides a fascinating platform to reasonably manipulate the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials and further improve their catalytic efficiency for water electrolysis.However,it still remains a huge challenge to construct welldesigned core-shell heterostructured catalysts and identify the key role of components for synergistic catalysis.Herein,a melted polymeric salt tactics was innovatively developed to synthesize heterostructured Ni@Ni(OH)_(2) core-shell nanomaterials supported on porous carbon(named Ni@Ni(OH)_(2)/PC),wherein well-defined Ni(OH)_(2)-Ni heterostructure plays a pivotal role in improving electrocatalytic activity for water reduction and oxidation.Besides,the stable porous carbon support functions as a highway for continuous electron transfer between Ni and Ni(OH)_(2),and simultaneously enables the full exposure of accessible active sites.The fabricated Ni@Ni(OH)_(2)/PC exhibits outstanding bifunctional electrocatalytic performance for overall water splitting(η_(10)=1.55 V) with a good long-time stability.This work sheds new light on the design of engineering heterostructure of active bifunctional electrocatalysts for efficient energy conversion system.

FeNi doped porous carbon as an efficient catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

Polymer-derived porous carbon was used as a support of iron and nickel species with an objective to obtain an efficient oxygen reduction reaction(OER)catalyst.The surface features were extensively characterized using X-ray diffraction,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.On FeNi-modified carbon the overpotential for OER was very low(280 mV)and comparable to that on noble metal catalyst IrO_(2).The electrochemical properties have been investigated to reveal the difference between the binary alloy-and single metal-doped carbons.This work demonstrates a significant step for the development of low-cost,environmentally-friendly and highly-efficient OER catalysts.

Prognosis of traumatic spinal cord injury in children:Follow-up of 86 patients

Purpose:The long-term situation of children with spinal cord injury(SCI)was investigated,and suggestions for helping them better return to the society were provided.Methods:SCI patients less than 18 years old hospitalized in Beijing Boai Hospital from January 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Information including motor function,complications,characteristic changes,self-care abilities,school attendance and social participation were collected by telephone interview and electronic questionnaire.All the answers were statistically analyzed.Results:A total of 86 cases were enrolled,77 girls and 9 boys,with a median injury age of 6 years and 2 months.The follow-up time was 3-130 months.The main cause of trauma in these children was sport injury(66.3%),the thoracic spinal cord was involved the most(91.9%),and complete SCIs accounted for the majority(76.7%).In terms of complications,children with complete SCIs were more likely to have urinary incontinence,constipation and characteristic changes(p<0.05);whereas the incomplete SCIs often have spasticity(p<0.05).As to the daily living abilities,children with incomplete lumbar SCIs were more capable to accomplish personal hygiene,transfer,and bathing independently than those with complete injuries,or cervical/thoracic SCIs,respectively(p<0.05).Moreover,children older than 9 years care more able to dress and transfer independently than the youngers(p<0.05).Wheelchair users accounted for 84.9%and more than half of them were able to propel wheelchair independently,and those who move passively in wheelchairs were mostly introverted kids(p<0.05).Almost all(93.8%)children with incomplete injuries were able to walk independently.Most(79.1%)children continued to attending school,and 41.9%participated in interest classes.Unfortunately,67.4%of the children spent less time playing with their peers than before the injury.Conclusion:SCIs impair physical structures and function of children,affect their independence in daily living,and restrict school attendance and social interaction.Comprehensive rehabilitation after injury is a systematic work.Medical staff and caregivers should not only pay attention to neurological function,but also help them improve self-care abilities.It is also important to balance rehabilitation training and school work and social participation.