Diffuse reduction of spleen density is a novel prognostic marker for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after curative resection

BACKGROUND Diffuse reduction of spleen density(DROSD)is related to cancer prognosis;however,its role in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC)remains unclear.AIM To assess the predictive value of DROSD in the prognosis of ICC after curative resection.METHODS In this multicenter retrospective cohort study,we enrolled patients with ICC who underwent curative hepatectomy between 2012 and 2019.Preoperative spleen density was measured using computed tomography.Overall survival(OS)and recurrence-free survival(RFS)rates were calculated and compared utilizing the Kaplan-Meier method.Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were applied to identify independent factors for OS and RFS.A nomogram was created with independent risk factors to predict prognosis of patients with ICC.RESULTS One hundred and sixty-seven ICC patients were enrolled.Based on the diagnostic cut-off values(spleen density≤45.5 Hounsfield units),55(32.9%)patients had DROSD.Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that patients with DROSD had worse OS and RFS than those without DROSD(P<0.05).Cox regression analysis revealed that DROSD,carcinoembryonic antigen level,carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level,length of hospital stay,lymph node metastasis,and postoperative complications were independent predictors for OS(P<0.05).The nomogram created with these factors was able to predict the prognosis of patients with ICC with good reliability(OS C-index=0.733).The area under the curve for OS was 0.79.CONCLUSION ICC patients with DROSD have worse OS and RFS.The nomogram is a simple and practical method to identify high-risk ICC patients with poor prognosis.

Preparation of Ce_(2)Fe_(17)N_(3-δ)@FePO_(4) composite with excellent microwave absorption performance by reduction-diffusion(R/D)and phosphating processes

Ce_(2)Fe_(17)N_(3-δ)composites have always been focused on electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorbing field because of their high resonance frequency and magnetic loss.However,the issues of preparation cost and impedance mismatching still limit the industrial conversion and practical application of Ce_(2)Fe_(17)N_(3-δ)composites.In this work,the composites of Ce_(2)Fe_(17)N_(3-δ)with a phosphate insulation layer(Ce_(2)Fe_(17)N_(3-δ)@FePO_(4))were prepared by a newly-developed reduction-diffusion(R/D)and phosphating processes using CeO_(2) as raw mate rials,and their microwave absorption properties were investigated.The composite filled with 30 vol%of the Ce_(2)Fe_(17)N_(3-δ)@FePO_(4) has a minimum reflection loss(RL)of-63 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth(EBW,RL<-10 dB)of 3.83 GHz at a thickness of 1.25 mm in the X-band,and the EBW reaches 5 GHz under 0.98 mm in the Ku-band.This study demonstrates that the Ce_(2)Fe_(17)N_(3-δ)@FePO_(4) composite s with low cost and excellent microwave absorption properties have a significant potential for industrial production and practical applications.

Synthesis, magnetic and electromagnetic wave absorption properties of planar anisotrop Y_2Co_(17)@SiO_(2) rare earth soft magnetic composites

Intermetallic complexes of rare-earth and 3d transition metals with core-shell structures are commonly employed as microwave absorbing materials due to their high saturation magnetizations and natural resonance in GHz. Hence, we synthesized Y_2Co_(17)alloy via the co-precipitation reduction-diffusion technique, then coated the Y_2Co_(17)magnetic powders with SiO_(2)to create Y_2Co_(17)@SiO_(2) core-shell structures. The formation of Y_2Co_(17)@SiO_(2)/polyurethane(PU) at various volume fractions and their magnetic, electromagnetic properties were investigated using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and vector network analyzer. The microwave absorption characteristics of Y_2Co_(17)@SiO_(2)/PU were also investigated at various volume fractions. We not only investigate the zero-reflection conditions of the samples with different volume fractions, but also show that every absorber has a strong reflection loss value(RL ≤-65.00 d B) and excellent microwave absorption properties with an average RL of Y_2Co_(17)@SiO_(2)/PU being below-10 d B at 8 GHz–18 GHz under different thicknesses, showing that the enhancement of microwave absorption performance arises from the balance between permeability and permittivity of absorber.

Synthesis mechanism of Sm_2Fe_(17) alloy produced in reduction-diffusion process

Sm2Fe17 alloy was the precursor of Sm2Fe17Nx magnetic materials.Reduction-diffusion(R/D) method was a new preparation process for the Sm2Fe17 alloy,and had been widely employed as a new preparation method for rare earth-transition metal intermetallic compounds.In this text,thermodynamics and kinetics for the synthesis of the Sm2Fe17 alloy by reduction-diffusion(R/D) method in the Ca-Sm2O3-Fe system were analyzed.The related synthesis mechanism of this reaction was investigated in detail by means of scanning electron microscope(SEM).The results showed that the thickness of the Sm2Fe17 alloy layer versus the reaction time could be fit by the parabola law,and its growth model was determined to be:(L0-L)2=43.848 t,the diffusion of Sm into Fe proceeded with the formation of the Sm2Fe17 phase from the very beginning of the reaction,and rich samarium phases,such as SmFe2 and SmFe3,were not formed,and the rate-determining step of the R/D reaction was found to be the peritectic reaction between liquid samarium and solid iron.

Effect of Fe Substitution on Magnetic Properties and Radar Wave Absorption of the Y_(2)Co_(17) Rare Earth Soft Magnetic Alloy

The rapid development of information technology leads a demand for high frequency soft magnetic materials with ex-ceptional radar wave absorption properties.A new magnetic material with superior radar wave absorption is explored in this paper.we explored the preparation of Y_(2)Co_(17)-xFex(x=0.0,1.0,2.0,3.0)alloy powders using yttrium oxide as a raw material by a low-cost and short preparation cycle reduction-diffusion process.The crystal structure,intrinsic magnetic properties,high frequency magnetism and radar wave absorption of Y_(2)Co_(17)-xFex(x=0.0,1.0,2.0,3.0)were investigated.These compounds have a perfect magnetic repair of Y_(2)Co_(17) and enable the improvement of the overall magnetic properties of Y_(2)Co_(17)-xFex(x=0.0,1.0,2.0,3.0)compounds.The Y_(2)Co_(17)-xFex/Polyurethane(PU)(x=0.0,1.0,2.0,3.0)absorbers were divided in detail using the zero-reflection mechanism.The results show that all Y_(2)Co_(17)-xFex/PU(x=0.0,1.0,2.0,3.0)absorbers have excellent absorption performance(reflection loss RL is less than-85 dB);in addition,Y_(2)Co_(15)Fe_(2)/PU absorbers and Y_(2)Co_(14)Fe_(3)/PU absorbers are superior candidates for S-band materials.In particular,the perfectly matched frequency fp of the modulated Y_(2)Co_(14)Fe_(3)/PU absorber is shifted to the L-band(1–2 GHz)where early warning radars are located.The Y_(2)Co_(14)Fe_(3)/PU absorber has an effective absorption bandwidth of 300 MHz(1.5–1.8 GHz)at a thickness of 5.230 mm.It can also absorb the full L-band at-4 dB,which has rarely been reported.

A facile process to optimize performance of regenerated Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets:Chemo-selective dissolution washing

In this work,the recycled Nd-Fe-B powders and regenerated Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets with low impurity content were successfully prepared from Nd-Fe-B magnet sludge via reduction diffusion(RD)method followed by a chemo-selective dissolution washing proc ess.The chemo-selective dissolution effect of various solution(deionized water,dilute acetic acid solution,NH_(4)Cl-methanol solution) was evaluated by impurity content and magnetic properties of the recycled Nd-Fe-B powder.The NH_(4)Cl-methanol solution can selectively remove impurities with minimal damage to the magnetic phase.Besides,the optimal NH_(4)Cl concentration and liquid-to-solid ratio were investigated.As a consequence,the contents of Ca,O,and H after optimal washing process are reduced to 0.07 wt%,0.31 wt% and 0.22 wt%,respectively.Hence,M_(3) Tis increased to 146.72 emu/g,which is 33% higher than that of the initial sludge.Then,the regenerated Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets with properties of B_(r)=11.66 kG,H_(cj)=16.49 kOe,and(BH)_(m)=31.78 MGOe were successfully prepared by mixing with 40 wt% Nd4Fe14B alloy powders.Compared with the corresponding regenerated magnets washed with deionized water,the remanence and coercivity are increased by 18% and 59%,respectively.

Calcium hydride reduced high-quality Nd-Fe-B powder from Nd-Fe-B sintered magnet sludge

The structural and magnetic properties were studied for recycling Nd-Fe-B powders from Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets sludge via reduction diffusion(RD)with calcium hydride(CaH_(2))particles.For comparison,traditional reducing agent calcium granules were applied to prepare recycled Nd-Fe-B powders.Finer particle size and better size distribution as well as lower impurity content are achieved by using CaH_(2)instead of Ca.In detail,the average particle size of the recycled Nd-Fe-B powder is reduced from 4.66 to 3.43μm,and the bimodal distribution disappears.Moreover,the residual calcium content and oxygen content are reduced to about 0.080 wt%and 0.32 wt%.As a consequence,the roomtemperature magnetization of the CaH_(2)-recycled Nd-Fe-B powder is increased to 146.30 emu/g,6.8%and 33%,respectively,higher than that of Ca-reduced powder and the initial sludge.Further analysis indicates that CaH_(2)is able to reduce the sludge at lower tempe rature to fabricate well-dispersed,unifo rm recycled powder with high magnetization arising from a combination factors of its low melting point,low thermodynamic behavior,and the release of hydrogen during the reaction.