Bronchial artery embolization for hemoptysis:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:To assess the safety and efficacy of bronchial artery embolization(BAE)for hemoptysis.Methods and materials:Databases with articles published in English,including Pubmed,Embase,Web of science and Chochrane library,were comprehensively searched to get accurate,up-to-date and sufficient literature about BAE for hemoptysis until March 2020.The technical success rates,immediate control rates,recurrence rates,mortality rates,and total complication rates(minor and major complication rates)extracted from the articles were pooled to estimate and assess the efficacy and safety of BAE using random-effect and fixed-effect models.Results:21 articles published between 2008 and 2019,which include a total of 2511 patients,were studied to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BAE.The technical success and immediate control rates are 99.9%(95%CI:99%-100%)and 99.5%(95%CI:97.8%-99.2%),respectively.This study showed hemoptysis recurrence in 23.7%(95%CI:18.5%-28.9%)with a mortality rate of 2%(95%CI:0-3%).Additionally,the assessment of complications revealed a total complication rate of 13.4%(95%CI:7.6-19.2%),in which 0.2%(95%CI:0.2-0.4%)were major complications and 10%(95%CI:4.7-9.6%)were minor complications.Conclusion:BAE is an effective,safe,and feasible procedure with a low complication rate for hemoptysis patients.However,recurrence of hemoptysis is still at high risk after BAE due to different underlying diseases.

Percutaneous microwave ablation combined with simultaneous transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic metastases

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation(MWA)combined with simultaneous transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients with microvascular invasion(MVI)or extrahepatic metastases(EHM).Methods:Between August 2012 and April 2017,101 patients with MVI/EHM of HCC underwent percutaneous MWA combined with simultaneous TACE at our center.The clinical data were collected and analyzed for survival and prognostic factors.Results:The mean follow-up time was 23.6±14.7 months.One patient had grade 3 complications,and the median overall survival was 12.0 months(95%confidence interval 9.7-14.3).Multivariate analysis showed that ChildPugh class,serum alpha-fetoprotein level,and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status were independent factors of survival.Conclusion:Our results suggest that percutaneous MWA combined with simultaneous TACE is a safe and effective treatment for HCC with MVI/EHM.

Comparative study of surface energy and land-surface parameters in different climate zones in Northwest China

Based on observational data of arid,semi-arid and semi-humid areas in Northwest China,the characteristics of surface-wa ter heat transfer and land-surface parameters were compared and analyzed.The results show that the annual mean net radi ation was largest in the semi-humid area,followed by the semi-arid area,and then the arid area:77.72 W/m^2,67.73 W/m^2,and 55.47 W/m^2,respectively.The annual mean sensible heat flux was largest in the arid area,followed by the semi-arid and semi-humid areas,while latent heat flux showed the reverse.The annual mean sensible heat flux in arid,semi-arid,and semi-humid areas was 85.7 W/m^2,37.59 W/m^2,and 27.55 W/m^2,respectively.The annual mean latent heat flux was 0 W/m^2,26.08 W/m^2,and 51.19 W/m2,respectively.The annual mean soil-heat flux at the 5-cm soil layer in arid,semi-arid,and semi-humid areas was 1.00 W/m^2,0.82 W/m^2,and 1.25 W/m^2,respectively.The annual mean surface albedo was larg est in the arid area,followed by the semi-humid area;and the smallest was in the semi-arid area:0.24,0.21,and 0.18,re spectively.The annual mean Bowen ratio in the semi-arid area was about 2.06,and that in semi-humid area was about 0.03.The annual mean soil thermal conductivity in the arid,semi-arid,and semi-humid areas was 0.26 W/(m k),1.15 W/(m k),and 1.20 W/(m k),respectively.

The application and comparison of several flux profile relations in CoLM

This paper discusses the important role that flux profile relations play in momentum flux, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux simulations in CoLM （Common Land Model） and compares the application of three flux profile relation schemes in CoLM by means of the Loess Plateau Land-Atmosphere Interaction Pilot Experiment （LOPEX） of 2005. It reveals that the results simulated by the model barely changed in the original flux profile schemes of the models a^er eliminating the very stable condition and the very unstable condition, and there were only tiny changes in numerical values. This indicates that the corrected terms added to fm（ξm）,fh（ξh） were very tiny and can be ignored under very stable and very unstable circumstances. According to a comparison of the three flux profile relations, the simulation results were basically coherent by using any CoLM： the correlation coefficient of the simulation value and the observed value was 0.89, and this bears on the coherence with the numerical procedures for the flux pro- file relations under unstable circumstances. The simulation results were improved considerably by utilizing the Lobocki flux pro- file schemes, which numerical procedures under unstable circumstances differed significantly fi＇om other three flux profile schemes; in this case the correlation coefficient of the value of simulation and the observed value became 0.95. In the next itera- tion of this study, it will be of great importance for the development of the land surface process model to continue experimenting with the application of some novel flux profile schemes in the land surface process models in typical regions.

Terahertz frequency characterization of anisotropic structure of tourmaline

The absorption coefficient and refractive index of tourmaline in different directions were characterized for the first time using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Results show that the absorption and refractive index of terahertz frequency are related to the structure of tourma- line. Absorption along the optical axis direction is more sensitive than that along the vertical direction. This result indicates that the identification and characterization of crystals as well as minerals can be realized by the terahertz method.

Plasma characteristics of energetic liquid polymer ablated by nanosecond laser pulses

The plasma characteristics of carbon-doped glycidyl azide polymer （GAP） are investigated ablation by nanosecond laser pulses. For the GAP energetic liquid, a specific impulse of 840 s and an ablation efficiency up to 98% are obtained, which can be attributed to the low mass loss owing to the carbon doping. A comparison between the chemical energies shows that the carbon-doped GAP provides better propulsion than pure GAR This indicates that even for an energetic liquid, an efficient approach to enhance the thrust performance is to reduce the splashing. High ablation thrust could be achieved at a low laser fluence and high carbon content.

A prospective cohort study of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples from multiple bodily sites:implications for transmission routes of COVID-19

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic resulting from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has still spread globally. The occurrence of the Delta variant, which is more infectious and spreads faster than earlier forms of the virus that causes COVID-19, makes infection prevention more challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to gain a comprehensive insight into the transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 for curbing the propagation of SARS-CoV-2 in human populations.Methods: We studied a prospective cohort of 576 patients admitted consecutively to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 21 to June 8, 2020. These patients were chosen based on their similar clinical phenotypes or imaging findings. There were 21 (3.6%) laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients (16 severe and 5 mild cases) and 555 non-COVID-19 patients. The antibody response and routes and duration of viral shedding were systematically evaluated in serial clinical specimens. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was also detected in a mouth rinse, urine, and tear samples. This study was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (approval No. 2020-77).Results: SARS-CoV-2 mainly existed in sputum, nasal and throat swabs, and feces samples. Virus latency was longer in sputum and feces samples than in nasopharyngeal samples. IgG antibody response in respiratory samples was related to disease severity. Although droplets and aerosols are the major transmission routes for COVID-19, covert routes of transmission from asymptomatic patients, contaminated surfaces, and wastewater are also of interest.Conclusion: Our findings provide a solid foundation for developing prophylactic measures against SARS-CoV-2.