A 1-bit electronically reconfigurable beam steerable metasurface reflectarray with multiple polarization manipulations

A 1-bit electronically controlled metasurface reflectarray is presented to achieve beam steering with multiple polarization manipulations. A metsurface unit cell loaded by two PIN diodes is designed. By switching the two PIN diodes between ON and OFF states, the isotropic and anisotropic reflections can be flexibly achieved. For either the isotropic reflection or the anisotropic reflection, the two operation states achieve the reflection coefficients with approximately equal magnitude and 180°out of phase, thus giving rise to the isotropic/anisotropic 1-bit metasurface unit cells. With the 1-bit unit cells, a 12-by-12 metasurface reflectarray is optimally designed and fabricated. Under either y-or x-polarized incident wave illumination, the reflectarray can achieve the co-polarized and cross-polarized beam scanning, respectively, with the peak gains of 20.08 d Bi and 17.26 d Bi within the scan range of about ±50°. With the right-handed circular polarization(RHCP) excitation, the left-handed circular polarization(LHCP) radiation with the peak gain of 16.98 d Bic can be achieved within the scan range of ±50°. Good agreement between the experimental results and the simulation results are observed for 2D beam steering and polarization manipulation capabilities.

Many faces of neuronal activity manipulation in Drosophila

Animals exhibit complex responses to external and internal stimuli.The information is computed by interconnected neurons that express numerous ion channels,which modulate the neuronal membrane potential.How can neuronal activity orchestrate complex motor patterns or allow learning from previous experience?To answer such questions,we need the ability not only to record,but also to modulate neuronal activity in both space(e.g.,neuronal subsets)and time.

Application of needle-knife in difficult biliary cannulation for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

BACKGROUND: Getting directly into the common bile duct (CBD) is the most important step for successful therapeutic biliary endoscopy. In 5%-10% of cases, the CBD remains inaccessible, necessitating pre-cut papillotomy or fistulotomy with a needle-knife. The aim of this study was to assess the value of early application of the needle-knife in difficult biliary cannulation for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). METHODS: Patients with failed biliary cannulation after 10 minutes or guide wire entering the pancreatic tube 3 times were randomly divided into group of needle-knife cut and group of persistent cannulation by standard techniques. The cannulation times, success rates and complication rates were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 948 therapeutic biliary ERCP procedures were performed between October 2004 and February 2006. Of 91 patients with difficult biliary cannulation, 43 patients underwent needle-knife cut: the cannulation success rate was 90.7%, the mean cannulation time was 5.6 minutes, and the complication rate was 9.3%. The other 48 patients underwent persistent cannulation by standard techniques: the cannulation success rate was 75%, the mean cannulation time was 10.2 minutes, and the complication rate was 14.6%. Significant differences were observed in cannulation success rate and cannulation time but in complication rate between the two groups.CONCLUSION: The early application of the needle-knife in difficult biliary cannulation is time-saving, safe and effective, with no increase in complication rate.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of transpancreatic septotomy, needle-knife fistulotomy or both based on biliary cannulation unintentional pancreatic access and papillary morphology

Background: Precut sphincterotomy has been widely performed to facilitate selective biliary access when standard cannulation attempts failed during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP). However, scarce data are available on different precut techniques for difficult biliary cannulation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transpancreatic septotomy(TPS), needle-knife fistulotomy(NKF) or both based on the presence of unintentional pancreatic access and papillary morphology. Methods: Between March 2008 and December 2016, 157 consecutive patients undergoing precutting for an inaccessible bile duct during ERCP were identified. Precut techniques were chosen depending on repetitive inadvertent pancreatic cannulation and the papillary morphology. We retrospectively assessed the rates of cannulation success and procedure-related complications among three groups, namely TPS, NKF, and TPS followed by NKF. Results: The baseline characteristics of the three groups were comparable. The overall success rate of biliary cannulation reached 98.1%, including 111 of 113(98.2%) with TPS, 35 of 36(97.2%) with NKF and 8 of 8(100%) with NKF following TPS, without significant difference among groups. The incidences of total complications and post-ERCP pancreatitis were 9.6% and 7.6%, respectively. There was a trend towards less frequent post-ERCP pancreatitis after NKF(0%) compared with 11 cases(9.7%) after TPS and one case(12.5%) after NKF following TPS, but not significantly different( P = 0.07). No severe adverse event occurred during this study period. Conclusions: The choice of precut techniques by the presence of unintended pancreatic access and the papillary morphology brought about a high success rate without increasing risk in difficult biliary cannulation.

Endoscopic treatment for pancreatic diseases:Needle-knife-guided cannulation via the minor papilla

AIM: To determine the efficacy and safety of meticulous cannulation by needle-knife.METHODS: Three needle-knife procedures were used to facilitate cannulation in cases when standard cannulation techniques failed. A total of 104 cannulationsvia the minor papilla attempted in 74 patients at our center between January 2008 and June 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.RESULTS: Standard methods were successful in79 cannulations. Of the 25 cannulations that could not be performed by standard methods, 19 were performed by needle-knife, while 17(89.5%) were successful. Needle-knife use improved the success rate of cannulation [76.0%, 79/104 vs 92.3%,(79 +17)/104; P = 0.001]. When the 6 cases not appropriate for needle-knife cannulation were excluded, the success rate was improved further(80.6%, 79/98 vs98.0%, 96/98; P = 0.000). There were no significant differences in the rates of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography adverse events between the group using standard methods alone and the group using needle-knife after failure of standard methods(4.7% vs 10.5%, P = 0.301).CONCLUSION: The needle-knife procedure may be an alternative method for improving the success rate of cannulation via the minor papilla, particularly when standard cannulation has failed.

Effects of different acupuncture manipulations on protein expression in the parietal cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Objective: To analyze the effects of twirling reinforcing and reducing manipulations on protein expression in parietal cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs), and elucidate the main mechanisms and differences between two manipulations in hypertension treatment.Methods: Rats were randomly divided into the control, model, twirling reinforcing manipulation(TRFM),and twirling reducing manipulation(TRDM) groups. The control and model groups received catch and fixation stimulations once a day for 14 days. The TRFM and TRDM groups were intervened once a day for 20 min for 14 days. On days 0, 2, 6, 10, and 14 after acupuncture, rat systolic blood pressures(SBPs) were measured. Differential protein(DP) expression in the rat parietal cortices was detected. Thereafter, GO functional significance and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed.Results: Compared with the model group, SBP of rats in the TRDM and TRFM groups decreased on days 6 and 10 of acupuncture, respectively(P=.009;P <.001). Moreover, SBP of the TRDM group was significantly lower than that of the TRFM group on days 10 and 14 of acupuncture(P=.015;P=.013).Compared with control group, 601 and 1040 DPs were up-and downregulated, respectively, in the model group. Compared with model group, 44 and 28 up-and downregulated DPs were expressed, respectively,in the TRFM group. Compared with model group, expression of 616 and 427 up-and downregulated DPs,respectively, was found in the TRDM group. After combining the results of GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, five and one pathways were found to be related to the central antihypertensive mechanism of the parietal cortex during twirling reducing and reinforcing manipulations, respectively.Conclusion: TRDM showed a more effective antihypertensive effect on SHRs than TRFM;this antihypertensive effect was related to the regulation of different proteins and their biological functions.

Source-sink relations and responses to sink-source manipulations during grain filling in wheat

The source-sink ratio during grain filling is a critical factor that affects crop yield in wheat,and the main objective of this study was to determine the source-sink relations at both the canopy scale and the individual culm level under two nitrogen(N)levels at the post-jointing stage.Nine widely-used cultivars were chosen for analyzing source-sink relations in southwestern China;and three typical cultivars of different plant types were subjected to artificial manipulation of the grain-filling source-sink ratio to supplement crop growth measurements.A field experiment was conducted over two consecutive seasons under two N rates(N+,150 kg ha^(-1);N-,60 kg ha^(-1)),and three manipulations were imposed after anthesis:control(Ct),removal of flag and penultimate leaves(Lr)and removal of spikelets on one side of each spike(Sr).The results showed that the single grain weights in the three cultivars were significantly decreased by Lr and increased by Sr,which demonstrated that wheat grain yield potential seems more source-limited than sink-limited during grain filling,but the source-sink balance was obviously changed by climatic variations and N deficient environments.Grain yield was highly associated with sink capacity(SICA),grain number,biomass,SPAD values,and leaf area index during grain filling,indicating a higher degree of source limitation with an increase in sink capacity.Therefore,source limitation should be taken into account by breeders when SICA is increased,especially under non-limiting conditions.Chuanmai 104,a half-compact type with a mid-sized spike and a long narrow upper leaf,showed relatively better performance in source-sink relations.Since this cultivar showed the characteristics of a lower reduction in grain weight after Lr,a larger increase after Sr,and a lower reduction in post-anthesis dry matter accumulation,then the greater current photosynthesis during grain filling contributed to the grain after source and sink manipulation.

Manipulations of micro/nanoparticles using gigahertz acoustic streaming tweezers

Contactless acoustic manipulation of micro/nanoscale particles has attracted considerable attention owing to its near independence of the physical and chemical properties of the targets,making it universally applicable to almost all biological systems.Thin-film bulk acoustic wave(BAW)resonators operating at gigahertz(GHz)frequencies have been demonstrated to generate localized high-speed microvortices through acoustic streaming effects.Benefitting from the strong drag forces of the high-speed vortices,BAW-enabled GHz acoustic streaming tweezers(AST)have been applied to the trapping and enrichment of particles ranging in size from micrometers to less than 100 nm.However,the behavior of particles in such 3D microvortex systems is still largely unknown.In this work,the particle behavior(trapping,enrichment,and separation)in GHz AST is studied by theoretical analyses,3D simulations,and microparticle tracking experiments.It is found that the particle motion in the vortices is determined mainly by the balance between the acoustic streaming drag force and the acoustic radiation force.This work can provide basic design principles for AST-based lab-on-a-chip systems for a variety of applications.

A single micro-LED manipulation system based on micro-gripper

Micro-LEDs(μLEDs)have advantages in terms of brightness,power consumption,and response speed.In addition,they can also be used as micro-sensors implanted in the body via flexible electronic skin.One of the key techniques involved in the fabrication ofμLED-based devices is transfer printing.Although numerous methods have been proposed for transfer printing,improving the yield ofμLED arrays is still a formidable task.In this paper,we propose a novel method for improving the yield ofμLED arrays transferred by the stamping method,using an innovative design of piezoelectrically driven asymmetric micro-gripper.Traditional grippers are too large to manipulateμLEDs,and therefore two micro-sized cantilevers are added at the gripper tips.AμLED manipulation system is constructed based on the micro-gripper together with a three-dimensional positioning system.Experimental results using this system show that it can be used successfully to manipulateμLED arrays.

Influence of Sancai and conventional acupuncture manipulations on injured sciatic nerve histomorphology and serum interleukin-6 expression

Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy non-specifically raises the pain threshold, relieves regional muscular tension, improves local blood circulation, accelerates elimination of algogenic substances such as acid metabolites, and promotes neural regeneration and functional rehabilitation. However, the effects of acupuncture are synthetically influenced by multiple factors, which vary with acu-puncture point, intensity, and manipulation. The present study explored the analgesic effects and mechanisms of specific Sancai acupuncture manipulation for sciatica. Results revealed that Sancai acupuncture manipulation significantly reduced inflammatory factor interleukin-6 expression in the blood serum of rats with sciatica, exhibited anti-inflammatory effects and promoted rehabilitation of injured nerves. In addition, Sancai acupuncture manipulation exhibited superior curative effects over conventional acupuncture manipulation.

Triboelectric‘electrostatic tweezers'for manipulating droplets on lubricated slippery surfaces prepared by femtosecond laser processing

The use of‘Electrostatic tweezers'is a promising tool for droplet manipulation,but it faces many limitations in manipulating droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces.Here,we achieve noncontact and multifunctional droplet manipulation on Nepenthes-inspired lubricated slippery surfaces via triboelectric electrostatic tweezers(TETs).The TET manipulation of droplets on a slippery surface has many advantages over electrostatic droplet manipulation on a superhydrophobic surface.The electrostatic field induces the redistribution of the charges inside the neutral droplet,which causes the triboelectric charged rod to drive the droplet to move forward under the electrostatic force.Positively or negatively charged droplets can also be driven by TET based on electrostatic attraction and repulsion.TET enables us to manipulate droplets under diverse conditions,including anti-gravity climb,suspended droplets,corrosive liquids,low-surface-tension liquids(e.g.ethanol with a surface tension of 22.3 mN·m^(-1)),different droplet volumes(from 100 nl to 0.5 ml),passing through narrow slits,sliding over damaged areas,on various solid substrates,and even droplets in an enclosed system.Various droplet-related applications,such as motion guidance,motion switching,droplet-based microreactions,surface cleaning,surface defogging,liquid sorting,and cell labeling,can be easily achieved with TETs.

Pre‑hatch thermal manipulation of embryos and post‑hatch baicalein supplementation mitigated heat stress in broiler chickens

Background High environmental temperatures induce heat stress in broiler chickens,affecting their health and pro-duction performance.Several dietary,managerial,and genetics strategies have been tested with some success in mitigating heat stress(HS)in broilers.Developing novel HS mitigation strategies for sustaining broiler production is critically needed.This study investigated the effects of pre-hatch thermal manipulation(TM)and post-hatch baica-lein supplementation on growth performance and health parameters in heat-stressed broilers.Results Six hundred fertile Cobb 500 eggs were incubated for 21 d.After candling on embryonic day(ED)10,238 eggs were thermally manipulated at 38.5℃ with 55%relative humidity(RH)from ED 12 to 18,then transferred to the hatcher(ED 19 to 21,standard temperature)and 236 eggs were incubated at a controlled temperature(37.5℃)till hatch.After hatch,180-day-old chicks from both groups were raised in 36 pens(n=10 birds/pen,6 replicates per treatment).The treatments were:1)Control,2)TM,3)control heat stress(CHS),4)thermal manipulation heat stress(TMHS),5)control heat stress supplement(CHSS),and 6)thermal manipulation heat stress supplement(TMHSS).All birds were raised under the standard environment for 21 d,followed by chronic heat stress from d 22 to 35(32–33℃ for 8 h)in the CHS,TMHS,CHSS,and TMHSS groups.A thermoneutral(22–24℃)environment was maintained in the Control and TM groups.RH was constant(50%±5%)throughout the trial.All the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA in R and GraphPad software at P<0.05 and are presented as mean±SEM.Heat stress significantly decreased(P<0.05)the final body weight and ADG in CHS and TMHS groups compared to the other groups.Embryonic TM significantly increased(P<0.05)the expression of heat shock protein-related genes(HSP70,HSP90,and HSPH1)and antioxidant-related genes(GPX1 and TXN).TMHS birds showed a significant increment(P<0.05)in total cecal volatile fatty acid(VFA)concentration compared to the CHS birds.The cecal microbial analysis showed significant enrichment(P<0.05)in alpha and beta diversity and Coprococcus in the TMHSS group.Conclusions Pre-hatch TM and post-hatch baicalein supplementation in heat-stressed birds mitigate the detrimental effects of heat stress on chickens’growth performance,upregulate favorable gene expression,increase VFA produc-tion,and promote gut health by increasing beneficial microbial communities.

Clinical Observation of 32 Cases of Scapulohumeral Periarthritis Treated by Manipulations and Acupuncture

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Primary needle-knife fistulotomy for preventing post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis:Importance of the endoscopist’s expertise level

BACKGROUND Needle-knife fistulotomy(NKF)is used as a rescue technique for difficult cannulation.However,the data are limited regarding the use of NKF for primary biliary cannulation,especially when performed by beginners.AIM To assess the effectiveness and safety of primary NKF for biliary cannulation,and the role of the endoscopist’s expertise level(beginner vs expert).METHODS We retrospectively evaluated the records of 542 patients with naïve prominent bulging papilla and no history of pancreatitis,who underwent bile duct cannulation at a tertiary referral center.The patients were categorized according to the endoscopist’s expertise level and the technique used for bile duct cannulation.We assessed the rates of successful cannulation and adverse events.RESULTS The baseline characteristics did not differ between the experienced and lessexperienced endoscopists.The incidence rate of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)pancreatitis(PEP)was significantly affected by the endoscopist’s expertise level in patients who received conventional cannulation with sphincterotomy(8.9%vs 3.4%for beginner vs expert,P=0.039),but not in those who received NKF.In the multivariable analysis,a lower expertise level of the biliary endoscopist(P=0.037)and longer total procedure time(P=0.026)were significant risk factor of PEP in patients who received conventional cannulation with sphincterotomy but only total procedure time(P=0.004)was significant risk factor of PEP in those who received NKF.CONCLUSION Primary NKF was effective and safe in patients with prominent and bulging ampulla,even when performed by less-experienced endoscopist.We need to confirm which level of endoscopist’s experience is needed for primary NKF through prospective randomized study.

Cotton Genome Manipulations:Exploring Smart Tools,Novel Germplasm,and Elite Genes for Super Cotton Design

Plant regeneration is the first step to cotton biotechnology.We screened over 100 genotypes and found two genotypes,YZ-1 and Y668,which are very easy to regenerate.It takes about 5 to 6

Interior-Point Methods Applied to the Predispatch Problem of a Hydroelectric System with Scheduled Line Manipulations

Transmission line manipulations in a power system are necessary for the execution of preventative or corrective main- tenance in a network, thus ensuring the stability of the system. In this study, primal-dual interior-point methods are used to minimize costs and losses in the generation and transmission of the predispatch active power flow in a hydroelectric system with previously scheduled line manipulations for preventative maintenance, over a period of twenty-four hours. The matrix structure of this problem and the modification that it imposes on the system is also broached in this study. From the computational standpoint, the effort required to solve a problem with or without line manipulations is similar, and the reasons for this are also discussed in this study. Computational results sustain our findings.

Flow cytometric investigation on degradation of macro-DNA by common laboratory manipulations

The degree and characteristics of physical degradation of macro-DNA molecules by common laboratory manipulations are reported. With linearized lambda-phage viral DNA as the model DNA, fragmentation of macro-DNA by various indispensable laboratory manipulations were investigated using a high sensitivity flow cytometric setup. Investigated manipulations included pipetting, vortexing, rocking, freeze-thawing, ultrasonication and ultrafiltration. “Exhaustive counting” of the intact lambda DNA molecules following such manipulations enabled a quantitative assessment of the resulting fragmentation, which also revealed the type of degradation reflected in the fragmentation patterns. The use of high sensitivity flow cytometry was especially suited to investigate the degradation of dilute DNA solutions that may not be suitable for analysis using traditional methods. Notable findings of this study included: the boarderline-size of DNA chains in terms of susceptibility to shear stresses by such manipulations;discernable instability of nicked DNAs;shattering-fragmentation of DNAs by freeze-thawing or ultrasonication;effectiveness of some protection media;marked “self-protection effect” of concentrated DNA solutions. These findings support and refine our traditional knowledge on how to maintain the physical integrity of macro-DNA molecules against inevitable laboratory manipulations.

Advances in needle-knife for the treatment of early and middle stage Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head (ONFH) is a refractory disease of orthopedics, and its incidence is gradually increasing. Often due to lack of timely intervention, the femoral head collapses, eventually causing hip pain and difficulty in activities. At present, the treatment of hip preservation after the collapse of osteonecrosis of the femoral head has received everyone's attention, but many hip-preserving measures are controversial in terms of efficacy and indications. Needle-knife therapy is a kind of hip-protection therapy with low risk, small trauma, bleeding, and less and shorter treatments. This article reviews the literatures related to needle-knife therapy for osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and summarizes the clinical treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head based on needle-knife, and prospects for its research.

Eighty Cases of Heel Bone Spikes Treated With Little Needle-Knife

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CLINICAL STUDY ON LASER NEEDLE-KNIFE AND ACUPUNCTURE FOR VERTEBRAL-ARTERY-TYPE CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

Objective To compare the effect of laser needle-knife and acupuncture with medication for vertebral-artery-type cervical spondylosis （CSA）. Methods The 88 outpatients of CSA were divided with single-blind method into Treatment Group （treated by laser needle-knife and acupuncture） with 48 patients in it and Control Group （treated by Intravenous drip of Compound Salvia Miltiorrhiza Injection and oral taking of Flunarizine （Sibelium） with 40 patients in it. Before the treatment, the two groups were without difference statistically. Results In the treatment group, the curative rate was 60.42% and the total effective rate 97.92%. In the control group, the curative rate was 30% and the total effective rate 87.5%. In statistics, P〈0.05, a significant difference existed between the two groups. Conclusion The effect of laser needleknife and acupuncture for CSA is obviously better than that of medication, worth spreading.