Pars plana vitrectomy for retinal detachment using perfluoro-n-octane as intraoperative tamponade:a multicenter,randomized,non-inferiority trial

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of perfluoro-n-octane(PFO)for ophthalmic surgery versus F-Octane as an intraoperative tamponade in pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)in management of retinal detachment.METHODS:This multicenter,prospective,randomized,double-masked,parallel-controlled,non-inferiority trial was conducted in three ophthalmology clinical centers in China.Patients with retinal detachment,who were eligible for PPV were consecutively enrolled.Participants were assigned to PFO for ophthalmic surgery or F-Octane for intraocular tamponade in a 1:1 ratio.Best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA),intraocular pressure(IOP)measurement,and dilated fundus examination were performed preoperatively and at 1,7±1,28±3d postoperatively.The primary outcome was complete retinal reattachment rate at postoperative day one.The non-inferiority margin was set at 9.8%.The secondary outcomes included intraoperative retinal reattachment rate,and mean changes in IOP and BCVA from baseline to 1,7±1,28±3d postoperatively,respectively.Safety analyses were presented for all randomly assigned participates in this study.RESULTS:Totally 124 eligible patients completed the study between Mar.14,2016 and Jun.7,2017.Sixty of them were randomly assigned to the PFO for ophthalmic surgery group,and 64 were assigned to the F-Octane group.Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups.Both groups achieved 100%retinal reattachment at postoperative day one(difference 0,95%CI:-6.21%to 5.75%,P=1).The pre-defined noninferiority criterion was met.No significant difference was observed in intraoperative retinal reattachment rate(difference 1.77%,P=0.61),mean changes in IOP(difference 0.36,-0.09,2.22 mm Hg at 1,7±1,28±3d postoperatively,with all P>0.05)and BCVA(difference 0.04,-0.02,0.06 logMAR at 1,7±1,28±3d postoperatively,all P>0.05)between the two groups.No apparent adverse events related to the utilization of PFO were reported.CONCLUSION:In patients with retinal detachment undergoing PPV,PFO for ophthalmic surgery is non-inferior to F-Octane as an intraocular tamponade,and both are safe and well-tolerated.

Growth, characterization, and Raman spectra of the 1T phases of TiTe_(2), TiSe_(2), and TiS_(2)

High-quality large 1T phase of TiX_(2)(X = Te, Se, and S) single crystals have been grown by chemical vapor transport using iodine as a transport agent. The samples are characterized by compositional and structural analyses, and their properties are investigated by Raman spectroscopy. Several phonon modes have been observed, including the widely reported A_(1g) and E_(8) modes, the rarely reported E_(u) mode(-83 cm^(-1) for TiTe_(2), and -185 cm^(-1)for TiS_(2)), and even the unexpected K mode(-85 cm^(-1)) of TiTe_(2). Most phonons harden with the decrease of temperature, except that the K mode of TiTe_(2) and the E_(u) and “A_(2u)/Sh” modes of TiS_(2) soften with the decrease of temperature. In addition, we also found phonon changes in TiSe_(2) that may be related to charge density wave phase transition. Our results on TiX_(2) phonons will help to understand their charge density wave and superconductivity.

Charge density wave order and electron-boson coupling in ternary superconductor Bi_(2)Rh_(3)Se_(2)

The newly discovered ternary chalcogenide superconductor Bi_(2)Rh_(3)Se_(2) has attracted growing attention,which provides an opportunity to explore the interplay between charge density wave(CDW)order and superconductivity.However,whether the phase transition around 240 K can be attributed to the formation of CDW remains controversial.To help resolve the debate,we study the electronic structure of Bi_(2)Rh_(3)Se_(2) by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy,focusing on the nature of its high-temperature phase transition around 240 K.Our measurements demonstrate that the phase transition at 240 K is a second-order CDW phase transition.Our results reveal(i)a 2×2 CDW order in Bi_(2)Rh_(3)Se_(2),accompanied by the reconstruction of electronic structure,such as band folding,band splitting,and opening of CDW gaps at and away from the Fermi level;(ii)the existence of electron-boson coupling,which is manifested as an apparent kink and peak-dip-hump structure in dispersion.Our observations thus enable us to shed light on the nature of CDW order and superconductivity in Bi_(2)Rh_(3)Se_(2).

Itinerant to relocalized transition of felectrons in the Kondo insulator CeRu_(4)Sn_(6)

The three-dimensional electronic structure and the nature of Ce 4f electrons of the Kondo insulator CeRu_(4)Sn_(6)are investigated by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy,utilizing tunable photon energies.Our results reveal(i)the three-dimensional k-space nature of the Fermi surface,(ii)the localized-to-itinerant transition of f electrons occurs at a much high temperature than the hybridization gap opening temperature,and(iii)the“relocalization”of itinerant f-electrons below 25 K,which could be the precursor to the establishment of magnetic order.

Ultrafast optical spectroscopy evidence of pseudogap and electronphonon coupling in an iron-based superconductor KCa_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)F_(2)

We use ultrafast optical spectroscopy to study the nonequilibrium quasiparticle relaxation dynamics of the iron-based superconductor KCa_(2)Fe_(4)A_(s4)F_(2)with T_(c)= 33.5 K. Our results reveal a possible pseudogap(△_(PG)=(2.4 ± 0.1) me V) below T*≈ 50 K but prior to the opening of a superconducting gap(△SC(0) ≈(4.3 ± 0.1) me V). Measurements under high pump fluence reveal two distinct, coherent phonon oscillations with 1.95 and 5.51 THz frequencies, respectively. The high-frequency A1 g(2) mode corresponds to the c-axis polarized vibrations of Fe As planes with a nominal electron-phonon coupling constant λA1 g(2)= 0.194 ± 0.02.Our findings suggest that the pseudogap is likely a precursor of superconductivity, and the electron-phonon coupling may play an essential role in the superconducting pairing in KCa_(2)Fe_(4)A_(s4)F_(2).

Microstructure and Properties of Fe-Cr-C Hardfacing Alloys Reinforced with TiC-NbC

The hypereutectic Fe-Cr-C hardfacing alloys with different contents of TiB_2 and Nb were prepared by selfshielded flux cored arc welding.The microstructure of a series of hypereutectic Fe-Cr-C hardfacing alloys added with various TiB_2 and Nb contents was investigated by using optical microscopy（OM）,scanning electron microscopy（SEM）and X-ray diffraction（XRD）.In addition,their Rockwell hardness,microhardness and resistance to abrasive wear were tested.The results showed that the microstructure of a series of hypereutectic Fe-Cr-C hardfacing alloys consisted mainly of martensite,austenite,primary M7C3 carbides and eutectic M7C3 carbides.With the addition of TiB_2,a new hard-phase TiC was produced in the hardfacing alloys.And in the alloys added with TiB_2 and Nb,a new hard composite phase TiC-NbC was formed.The microhardness of the matrix was improved by adding TiB_2 and Nb,but the effect on the Rockwell hardness of Fe-Cr-C hardfacing alloys was insignificant.The addition of TiB_2 and Nb can also decrease the size of the primary M7C3 carbides and make the primary M7C3 homogeneous.As a result,the reinforced matrix,the more homogeneous primary M7C3 carbides,and the new hard-phase TiC-NbC all improved the wear resistance of Fe-Cr-C hardfacing alloys.