Wave field structure and power coupling features of blue-core helicon plasma driven by various antenna geometries and frequencies

This paper deals with wave propagation and power coupling in blue-core helicon plasma driven by various antennas and frequencies.It is found that compared to non-blue-core mode,for blue-core mode,the wave can propagate in the core region,and it decays sharply outside the core.The power absorption is lower and steeper in radius for blue-core mode.Regarding the effects of antenna geometry for blue-core mode,it shows that half helix antenna yields the strongest wave field and power absorption,while loop antenna yields the lowest.Moreover,near axis,for antennas with m=+1,the wave field increases with axial distance.In the core region,the wave number approaches to a saturation value at much lower frequency for non-blue-core mode compared to blue-core mode.The total loading resistance is much lower for blue-core mode.These findings are valuable to understanding the physics of blue-core helicon discharge and optimizing the experimental performance of blue-core helicon plasma sources for applications such as space propulsion and material treatment.

Effect of perioperative chemotherapy on resection of isolated pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer:A single center experience

BACKGROUND Numerous studies have assessed surgical resection as a standard treatment option for patients with colorectal cancer(CRC)and resectable pulmonary metastases(PM).However,the role of perioperative chemotherapy after complete resection of isolated PM from patients with CRC patients remains controversial.We hypothesize that perioperative chemotherapy does not provide significant survival benefits for patients undergoing resection of PM from CRC.AIM To determine whether perioperative chemotherapy affects survival after radical resection of isolated PM from CRC.METHODS We retrospectively collected demographic,clinical,and pathologic data on patients who underwent radical surgery for isolated PM from CRC.Cancerspecific survival(CSS)and disease-free survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.Inter-group differences were compared using the log-rank test.For multivariate analysis,Cox regression was utilized when indicated.RESULTS This study included 120 patients with a median age of 61.6 years.The 5-year CSS rate was 78.2%,with 36.7% experiencing recurrence.Surgical resection for isolated PM resulted in a 5-year CSS rate of 50.0% for second metastases.Perioperative chemotherapy(P=0.079)did not enhance survival post-resection.Factors associated with improved survival included fewer metastatic lesions[hazard ratio(HR):2.51,P=0.045],longer disease-free intervals(HR:0.35,P=0.016),and wedge lung resections(HR:0.42,P=0.035).Multiple PM predicted higher recurrence risk(HR:2.22,P=0.022).The log-rank test showed no significant difference in CSS between single and repeated metastasectomy(P=0.92).CONCLUSION Perioperative chemotherapy shows no survival benefit post-PM resection in CRC.Disease-free intervals and fewer metastatic lesions predict better survival.Repeated metastasectomy is warranted for eligible patients.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for isolated resectable colorectal lung metastasis: A retrospective study using inverse probability treatment weighting propensity analysis

BACKGROUND The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy(ACT)for patients with no evidence of disease after pulmonary metastasis resection(PM)from colorectal cancer(CRC)remains controversial.AIM To assess the efficacy of ACT in patients after PM resection for CRC.METHODS This study included 96 patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy for CRC at a single institution between April 2008 and July 2023.The primary end-point was overall survival(OS);secondary endpoints included cancer-specific survival(CSS)and disease-free survival(DFS).An inverse probability of treat-ment-weighting(IPTW)analysis was conducted to address indication bias.Sur-vival outcomes compared using Kaplan-Meier curves,log-rank test,Cox regre-ssion and confirmed by propensity score-matching(PSM).RESULTS With a median follow-up of 27.5 months(range,18.3-50.4 months),the 5-year OS,CSS and DFS were 72.0%,74.4%and 51.3%,respectively.ACT had no significant effect on OS after PM resection from CRC[original cohort:P=0.08;IPTW:P=0.15].No differences were observed for CSS(P=0.12)and DFS(P=0.68)between the ACT and non-ACT groups.Multivariate analysis showed no association of ACT with better survival,while sublobar resection(HR=0.45;95%CI:0.20-1.00,P=0.049)and longer disease-free interval(HR=0.45;95%CI:0.20-0.98,P=0.044)were associated with improved survival.CONCLUSION ACT does not improve survival after PM resection for CRC.Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the optimal ACT regimen and duration.

Kai Xin San ameliorates scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction

Kai Xin San(KXS, containing ginseng, hoelen, polygala, and acorus), a traditional Chinese herbal compound, has been found to regulate cognitive dysfunction; however, its mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, 72 specific-pathogen-free male Kunming mice aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into a vehicle control group, scopolamine group, low-dose KXS group, moderate-dose KXS group, high-dose KXS group, and positive control group. Except for the vehicle control group and scopolamine groups(which received physiological saline), the doses of KXS(0.7, 1.4 and 2.8 g/kg per day) and donepezil(3 mg/kg per day) were gastrointestinally administered once daily for 2 weeks. On day 8 after intragastric treatment, the behavioral tests were carried out. Scopolamine group and intervention groups received scopolamine 3 mg/kg per day through intraperitoneal injection. The effects of KXS on spatial learning and memory, pathological changes of brain tissue, expression of apoptosis factors, oxidative stress injury factors, synapse-associated protein, and cholinergic neurotransmitter were measured. The results confirmed the following.(1) KXS shortened the escape latency and increased residence time in the target quadrant and the number of platform crossings in the Morris water maze.(2) KXS increased the percentage of alternations between the labyrinth arms in the mice of KXS groups in the Y-maze.(3) Nissl and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining revealed that KXS promoted the production of Nissl bodies and inhibited the formation of apoptotic bodies.(4) Western blot assay showed that KXS up-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and inhibited the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax. KXS up-regulated the expression of postsynaptic density 95, synaptophysin, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.(5) KXS increased the level and activity of choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholine, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, and reduced the level and activity of acetyl cholinesterase, reactive oxygen species, and malondialdehyde through acting on the cholinergic system and reducing oxidative stress damage. These results indicate that KXS plays a neuroprotective role and improves cognitive function through reducing apoptosis and oxidative stress, and regulating synapse-associated protein and cholinergic neurotransmitters.

Numerical simulation on fluid flow behavior during 3-dimensional dendrite growth with random preference angle

The flow behavior of three-dimensional(3D)dendrite growth with random preferred angle under natural convection was studied by using the Lattice Boltzmann-Cellular Automata(LB-CA)method with dynamic and static grids.In this model,the temperature field,flow field and solute field calculated by Lattice Boltzmann method(LBM)and dendrite growth calculated by CA method were carried out in static and dynamic grids respectively,and the coupling between LBM and CA was performed by interpolation of calculation parameters between dynamic and static grids.Results show that the asymmetry of solid phase distribution makes the streamline distribution more complex.At the initial stage of multiple dendrites growth,the fluid flow is relatively free.When dendrites grow close to each other,the fluid flow is blocked and can only flow along the gap between dendrites.During the wall equiaxed-columnar-central equiaxed crystals transformation(ECET)process,dense eddy current is formed at the wall equiaxed crystals at first.Then,when the wall equiaxed crystals gradually develop into columnar crystals,the eddy current moves with the solid-liquid interface.When the central equiaxed crystals are formed,the eddy current at the front of the columnar crystals gradually disappears.New eddies appear as the central equiaxed crystal grows.

Prenatal diagnosis of triphalangeal thumb-polysyndactyly syndrome by ultrasonography combined with genetic testing:A case report

BACKGROUND Triphalangeal thumb-polysyndactyly syndrome(TPT-PS)is a rare type of congenital limb deformity,and most studies focus on the genetics.Case reports of the sonographic characteristics of TPT-PS during pregnancy are rare.CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old woman(G3P1)who had pregnancies with TPT-PS fetuses is presented.The possibility of TPT-PS was shown by ultrasound performed at the 19th wk of pregnancy,featuring hands with six metacarpals,an extra digit at the 5th finger side,and an abnormally widened thumb.Whole-exome sequencing was subsequently conducted.The results showed that exons 1-17 of the LMBR1 gene had a heterozygous duplication,with a length of approximately 253 kb.CONCLUSION We suggest prenatal ultrasound examination combined with genetic testing to diagnose TPT-PS accurately and to help clinicians and patients make decisions.

Ultra-broadband absorber based on cascaded nanodisk arrays

An ultra-broadband perfect absorber consisting of cascaded nanodisk arrays is demonstrated by placing insulatormetal-insulator-metal nanodisks on insulator-metal film stacks.The absorber shows over 90% absorption in a wavelength range between 600 nm and 4000 nm under transverse magnetic(TM) polarization,with an average absorptivity of 91.5%and a relative absorption bandwidth of 147.8%.The analysis of the electric field and magnetic field show that the synergy of localized surface plasmons,propagating surface plasmons,and plasmonic resonant cavity modes leads to the ultrabroadband perfect absorption,which accords well with the results of impedance-matched analysis.The influences of structural parameters and different metal materials on absorption performance are discussed.Furthermore,the absorber is polarization-independent,and the absorption remains more than 90% at a wide incident angle up to 400 under TE polarization and TM polarization.The designed ultra-broadband absorber has promising prospects in photoelectric detection and imaging.

Bidirectional visible light absorber based on nanodisk arrays

A perfect bidirectional broadband visible light absorber composed of titanium nitride and tungsten nanodisk arrays is proposed.The average absorption of the absorber exceeds 89%at 400 nm–800 nm when light is normally incident on the front-side.Illumination from the opposite direction(back-side)results in absorption of more than 75%.Through the theoretical analysis of the electric and magnetic fields,the physical mechanism of the broadband perfect absorption is attributed to the synergy of localized surface plasmons,propagating surface plasmons,and plasmonic resonant cavity modes.Furthermore,the absorber also exhibits excellent polarization-independence performance and a high angular tolerance of~30°for both front-and back-side incidence.The designed bidirectional broadband visible light absorber here has wide application prospects in the fields of solar cells and ink-free printing.

Influence of HBcAg in liver cell plasma on expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in liver tissue of low-grade chronic hepatitis B patients

AIM： To study the influence of HBcAg on the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 （TGF-131） in liver tissue of low-grade chronic hepatitis B （CHB） patients. METHODS： The expression of T（3F-β1 and HBcAg in liver samples from 93 low-grade CHB patients was detected by immunohistochemistry and valuated by semi-quantitative scoring. RESULTS： In the 93 low-grade CHB patients, HBcAg was expressed in cell plasma but not in the liver tissue. There was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION： The expression of TGF-β1 is not related with HBcAg expressed as plasma type in the tissues of low-grade CHB patients.

High-Order-Harmonic Generation from a Relativistic Circularly Polarized Laser Interacting with Over-Dense Plasma Grating

The simple surface current model is extended to study the generation of high-order harmonics for a relativistic circularly polarized laser pulse interacting with a plasma grating surface. Both exact relativistic electron dynamics and optical interference of surface periodic structure are considered. It is found that high order harmonics in the specular direction are obviously suppressed whereas the harmonics of the grating periodicity are strongly enhanced and folded into small solid angles with respect to the surface direction. The conversion efficiency of certain harmonics is five orders of magnitude higher than that of the planar target cases. It provides an effective approach to generate a coherent radiation within the so-called ＇water window＇ while maintaining high conversion efficiency and narrow angle spread.

Three-dimensional evaluation of upper anterior alveolar bone dehiscence after incisor retraction and intrusion in adult patients with bimaxillary protrusion malocclusion

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate three-dimensional(3D) dehiscence of upper anterior alveolar bone during incisor retraction and intrusion in adult patients with maximum anchorage.Methods:Twenty adult patients with bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion had the four first premolars extracted.Miniscrews were placed to provide maximum anchorage for upper incisor retraction and intrusion.A computed tomography(CT) scan was performed after placement of the miniscrews and treatment.The 3D reconstructions of pre-and post-CT data were used to assess the dehiscence of upper anterior alveolar bone.Results:The amounts of upper incisor retraction at the edge and apex were(7.64±1.68) and(3.91±2.10) mm,respectively,and(1.34±0.74) mm of upper central incisor intrusion.Upper alveolar bone height losses at labial alveolar ridge crest(LAC) and palatal alveolar ridge crest(PAC) were 0.543 and 2.612 mm,respectively,and the percentages were(6.49±3.54)% and(27.42±9.77)%,respectively.The shape deformations of LAC-labial cortex bending point(LBP) and PAC-palatal cortex bending point(PBP) were(15.37±5.20)° and(6.43±3.27)°,respectively.Conclusions:Thus,for adult patients with bimaxillary protrusion,mechanobiological response of anterior alveolus should be taken into account during incisor retraction and intrusion.Pursuit of maximum anchorage might lead to upper anterior alveolar bone loss.

Establishment of reference mandibular plane for anterior alveolar morphology evaluation using cone beam computed tomography

To propose a method of establishing the reference mandibular plane (MP), which could be reestablished according to the coordinates of the reference points, and then facilitate the assessment of anterior alveolar morphology using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), sixty patients with bimaxillary protrusion were randomly selected and CBCT scans were taken. The CBCT scans were transferred to Materialism's interactive medical image control system 10.01 (MIMICS 10.01), and three dimensional models of the entire jaws were constructed. Reference points determining the reference MP were positioned in the coronal, axial, sagittal windows, and the points were exactly located by recording their coordinates in the interfaces of software. The reference MP provided high intra-observer reliability(Pearson's r 0.992 to 0.999), and inter-observer reliability (intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) 0.996 to 0.999).

Establishment of reference mandibular plane for anterior alveolar morphology evaluation using cone beam computed tomography

To propose a method of establishing the reference mandibular plane(MP),which could be reestablished according to the coordinates of the reference points,and then facilitate the assessment of anterior alveolar morphology using cone beam computed tomography(CBCT),sixty patients with bimaxillary protrusion were randomly selected and CBCT scans were taken.The CBCT scans were transferred to Materialism's interactive medical image control system 10.01(MIMICS 10.01),and three dimensional models of the entire jaws were constructed.Reference points determining the reference MP were positioned in the coronal,axial,sagittal windows,and the points were exactly located by recording their coordinates in the interfaces of software.The reference MP provided high intra-observer reliability(Pearson's r 0.992 to 0.999),and inter-observer reliability(intra-class correlation coefficients(ICCs) 0.996 to 0.999).