An Improved Graphics Processing Unit Acceleration Approach for Three-Dimensional Structural Topology Optimization Using the Element-Free Galerkin Method

We proposed an improved graphics processing unit(GPU)acceleration approach for three-dimensional structural topology optimization using the element-free Galerkin(EFG)method.This method can effectively eliminate the race condition under parallelization.We established a structural topology optimization model by combining the EFG method and the solid isotropic microstructures with penalization model.We explored the GPU parallel algorithm of assembling stiffness matrix,solving discrete equation,analyzing sensitivity,and updating design variables in detail.We also proposed a node pair-wise method for assembling the stiffnessmatrix and a node-wise method for sensitivity analysis to eliminate race conditions during the parallelization.Furthermore,we investigated the effects of the thread block size,the number of degrees of freedom,and the convergence error of preconditioned conjugate gradient(PCG)on GPU computing performance.Finally,the results of the three numerical examples demonstrated the validity of the proposed approach and showed the significant acceleration of structural topology optimization.To save the cost of optimization calculation,we proposed the appropriate thread block size and the convergence error of the PCG method.

The acceleration of a high-charge electron bunch to 10 GeV in a 10-cm nanoparticle-assisted wakefield accelerator

An intense laser pulse focused onto a plasma can excite nonlinear plasma waves.Under appropriate conditions,electrons from the background plasma are trapped in the plasma wave and accelerated to ultra-relativistic velocities.This scheme is called a laser wakefield accelerator.In this work,we present results from a laser wakefield acceleration experiment using a petawatt-class laser to excite the wakefields as well as nanoparticles to assist the injection of electrons into the accelerating phase of the wakefields.We find that a 10-cm-long,nanoparticle-assisted laser wakefield accelerator can generate 340 pC,10±1.86 GeV electron bunches with a 3.4 GeV rms convolved energy spread and a 0.9 mrad rms divergence.It can also produce bunches with lower energies in the 4–6 GeV range.

A theory for three-dimensional response of micropolar plates

Through combined applications of the transfer-matrix method and asymptotic expansion technique,we formulate a theory to predict the three-dimensional response of micropolar plates.No ad hoc assumptions regarding through-thickness assumptions of the field variables are made,and the governing equations are two-dimensional,with the displacements and microrotations of the mid-plane as the unknowns.Once the deformation of the mid-plane is solved,a three-dimensional micropolar elastic field within the plate is generated,which is exact up to the second order except in the boundary region close to the plate edge.As an illustrative example,the bending of a clamped infinitely long plate caused by a uniformly distributed transverse force is analyzed and discussed in detail.

Oxygen tension modulates cell function in an in vitro three-dimensional glioblastoma tumor model

Hypoxia is a typical feature of the tumor microenvironment,one of the most critical factors affecting cell behavior and tumor progression.However,the lack of tumor models able to precisely emulate natural brain tumor tissue has impeded the study of the effects of hypoxia on the progression and growth of tumor cells.This study reports a three-dimensional(3D)brain tumor model obtained by encapsulating U87MG(U87)cells in a hydrogel containing type I collagen.It also documents the effect of various oxygen concentrations(1%,7%,and 21%)in the culture environment on U87 cell morphology,proliferation,viability,cell cycle,apoptosis rate,and migration.Finally,it compares two-dimensional(2D)and 3D cultures.For comparison purposes,cells cultured in flat culture dishes were used as the control(2D model).Cells cultured in the 3D model proliferated more slowly but had a higher apoptosis rate and proportion of cells in the resting phase(G0 phase)/gap I phase(G1 phase)than those cultured in the 2D model.Besides,the two models yielded significantly different cell morphologies.Finally,hypoxia(e.g.,1%O2)affected cell morphology,slowed cell growth,reduced cell viability,and increased the apoptosis rate in the 3D model.These results indicate that the constructed 3D model is effective for investigating the effects of biological and chemical factors on cell morphology and function,and can be more representative of the tumor microenvironment than 2D culture systems.The developed 3D glioblastoma tumor model is equally applicable to other studies in pharmacology and pathology.

Three-dimensional cell-based strategies for liver regeneration

Liver regeneration and the development of effective therapies for liver failure remain formidable challenges in modern medicine.In recent years,the utilization of 3D cell-based strategies has emerged as a promising approach for addressing these urgent clinical requirements.This review provides a thorough analysis of the application of 3D cell-based approaches to liver regeneration and their potential impact on patients with end-stage liver failure.Here,we discuss various 3D culture models that incorporate hepatocytes and stem cells to restore liver function and ameliorate the consequences of liver failure.Furthermore,we explored the challenges in transitioning these innovative strategies from preclinical studies to clinical applications.The collective insights presented herein highlight the significance of 3D cell-based strategies as a transformative paradigm for liver regeneration and improved patient care.

Exhaustive review of acceleration strategies for Monte Carlo simulations in photon transit

Monte Carlo simulation techniques have become the quintessence and a pivotal nexus of inquiry in the realm of simulating photon movement within biological fabrics.Through the stochastic sampling of tissue archetypes delineated by explicit optical characteristics,Monte Carlo simulations possess the theoretical capacity to render unparalleled accuracy in the depiction of exceedingly intricate phenomena.Nonetheless,the quintessential challenge associated with Monte Carlo simulation methodologies resides in their extended computational duration,which significantly impedes the refinement of their precision.Consequently,this discourse is specifically dedicated to exploring innovations in strategies and technologies aimed at expediting Monte Carlo simulations.It delves into the foundational concepts of various acceleration tactics,evaluates these strategies concerning their speed,accuracy,and practicality,and amalgamates a comprehensive overview and critique of acceleration methodologies for Monte Carlo simulations.Ultimately,the discourse envisages prospective trajectories for the employment of Monte Carlo techniques within the domain of tissue optics.

Laboratory observation of electron energy distribution near three-dimensional magnetic nulls

The acceleration of electrons near three-dimensional(3D)magnetic nulls is crucial to the energy conversion mechanism in the 3D magnetic reconnection process.To explore electron acceleration in a 3D magnetic null topology,we constructed a pair of 3D magnetic nulls in the PKU Plasma Test(PPT)device and observed acceleration of electrons near magnetic nulls.This study measured the plasma floating potential and ion density profiles around the 3D magnetic null.The potential wells near nulls may be related to the energy variations of electrons,so we measured the electron distribution functions(EDFs)at different spatial positions.The axial variation of EDF shows that the electrons deviate from the Maxwell distribution near magnetic nulls.With scanning probes that can directionally measure and theoretically analyze based on curve fitting,the variations of EDFs are linked to the changes of plasma potential under 3D magnetic null topology.The kinetic energy of electrons accelerated by the electric field is 6 eV(v_(e)~7v_(Alfvén-e))and the scale of the region where accelerating electrons exist is in the order of serval electron skin depths.

The combined application of stem cells and three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds for the repair of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury is considered one of the most difficult injuries to repair and has one of the worst prognoses for injuries to the nervous system.Following surgery,the poor regenerative capacity of nerve cells and the generation of new scars can make it very difficult for the impaired nervous system to restore its neural functionality.Traditional treatments can only alleviate secondary injuries but cannot fundamentally repair the spinal cord.Consequently,there is a critical need to develop new treatments to promote functional repair after spinal cord injury.Over recent years,there have been seve ral developments in the use of stem cell therapy for the treatment of spinal cord injury.Alongside significant developments in the field of tissue engineering,three-dimensional bioprinting technology has become a hot research topic due to its ability to accurately print complex structures.This led to the loading of three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds which provided precise cell localization.These three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds co uld repair damaged neural circuits and had the potential to repair the damaged spinal cord.In this review,we discuss the mechanisms underlying simple stem cell therapy,the application of different types of stem cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury,and the different manufa cturing methods for three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds.In particular,we focus on the development of three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Characterization of bright betatron radiation generated by direct laser acceleration of electrons in plasma of near critical density

Directed x-rays produced in the interaction of sub-picosecond laser pulses of moderate relativistic intensity with plasma of near-critical density are investigated. Synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation occurs in the process of direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in a relativisticlaser channel when the electrons undergo transverse betatron oscillations in self-generated quasi-static electric and magnetic fields. In anexperiment at the PHELIX laser system, high-current directed beams of DLA electrons with a mean energy ten times higher than the ponderomotive potential and maximum energy up to 100 MeV were measured at 10^(19) W/cm^(2)laser intensity. The spectrum of directed x-raysin the range of 5–60 keV was evaluated using two sets of Ross filters placed at 0°and 10°to the laser pulse propagation axis. The differential x-ray absorption method allowed for absolute measurements of the angular-dependent photon fluence. We report 10^(13) photons/sr withenergies >5 keV measured at 0°to the laser axis and a brilliance of 10^(21) photons s^(−1) mm^(−2) mrad−2(0.1%BW)−1. The angular distributionof the emission has an FWHM of 14°–16°. Thanks to the ultra-high photon fluence, point-like radiation source, and ultra-short emissiontime, DLA-based keV backlighters are promising for various applications in high-energy-density research with kilojoule petawatt-class laserfacilities.

Collisionless shock acceleration of protons in a plasma slab produced in a gas jet by the collision of two laser-driven hydrodynamic shockwaves

We have recently proposed a new technique of plasma tailoring by laser-driven hydrodynamic shockwaves generated on both sides of a gas jet[Marquès et al.,Phys.Plasmas 28,023103(2021)].In a continuation of this numerical work,we study experimentally the influence of the tailoring on proton acceleration driven by a high-intensity picosecond laser in three cases:without tailoring,by tailoring only the entrance side of the picosecond laser,and by tailoring both sides of the gas jet.Without tailoring,the acceleration is transverse to the laser axis,with a low-energy exponential spectrum,produced by Coulomb explosion.When the front side of the gas jet is tailored,a forward acceleration appears,which is significantly enhanced when both the front and back sides of the plasma are tailored.This forward acceleration produces higher-energy protons,with a peaked spectrum,and is in good agreement with the mechanism of collisionless shock acceleration(CSA).The spatiotemporal evolution of the plasma profile is characterized by optical shadowgraphy of a probe beam.The refraction and absorption of this beam are simulated by post-processing 3D hydrodynamic simulations of the plasma tailoring.Comparison with the experimental results allows estimation of the thickness and near-critical density of the plasma slab produced by tailoring both sides of the gas jet.These parameters are in good agreement with those required for CSA.

Optimizing laser coupling,matter heating,and particle acceleration from solids using multiplexed ultraintense lasers

Realizing the full potential of ultrahigh-intensity lasers for particle and radiation generation will require multi-beam arrangements due to technology limitations.Here,we investigate how to optimize their coupling with solid targets.Experimentally,we show that overlapping two intense lasers in a mirror-like configuration onto a solid with a large preplasma can greatly improve the generation of hot electrons at the target front and ion acceleration at the target backside.The underlying mechanisms are analyzed through multidimensional particle-in-cell simulations,revealing that the self-induced magnetic fields driven by the two laser beams at the target front are susceptible to reconnection,which is one possible mechanism to boost electron energization.In addition,the resistive magnetic field generated during the transport of the hot electrons in the target bulk tends to improve their collimation.Our simulations also indicate that such effects can be further enhanced by overlapping more than two laser beams.

Compact ultrafast neutron sources via bulk acceleration of deuteron ions in an optical trap

A scheme for a quasi-monoenergetic high-flux neutron source with femtosecond duration and highly anisotropic angular distribution is proposed.This scheme is based on bulk acceleration of deuteron ions in an optical trap or density grating formed by two counter-propagating laser pulses at an intensity of-10^(16)W~cm^(2)in a near-critical-density plasma.The deuterons are first pre-accelerated to an energy of tens of keV in the ambipolar fields formed in the optical trap.Their energy is boosted to the MeV level by another one or two laser pulses at an intensity of-10^(20)W~cm^(2),enabling fusion reactions to be triggered with high efficiency.In contrast to previously proposed pitcher–catcher configurations,our scheme can provide spatially periodic acceleration structures and effective collisions between deuterons inside the whole target volume.Subsequently,neutrons are generated directly inside the optical trap.Our simulations show that neutron pulses with energy 2–8 MeV,yield 10^(18)–10^(19)n/s,and total number 106–107 in a duration-400 fs can be obtained with a 25μm target.Moreover,the neutron pulses exhibit unique angularly dependent energy spectra and flux distributions,predominantly along the axis of the energy-boosting lasers.Such microsize femtosecond neutron pulses may find many applications,such as high-resolution fast neutron imaging and nuclear physics research.

Human radiological safety assessment for petawatt laser-driven ion acceleration experiments in CLAPA-T

The newly built Compact Laser Plasma Accelerator-Therapy facility at Peking University will deliver 60 J/1 Hz laser pulses with 30 fs duration.Driven by this petawatt laser facility,proton beams with energy up to 200 MeV are expected to be generated for tumor therapy.During high-repetition operation,both prompt radiation and residual radiation may cause safety problems.Therefore,human radiological safety assessment before commissioning is essential.In this paper,we simulate both prompt and residual radiation using the Geant4 and FLUKA Monte Carlo codes with reasonable proton and as-produced electron beam parameters.We find that the prompt radiation can be shielded well by the concrete wall of the experimental hall,but the risk from residual radiation is nonnegligible and necessitates adequate radiation cooling.On the basis of the simulation results,we discuss the constraints imposed by radiation safety considerations on the annual working time,and we propose radiation cooling strategies for different shooting modes.

Ultrahigh-brightness 50 MeV electron beam generation from laser wakefield acceleration in a weakly nonlinear regime

We propose an efficient scheme to produce ultrahigh-brightness tens of MeV electron beams by designing a density-tailored plasma to induce a wakefield in the weakly nonlinear regime with a moderate laser energy of 120 mJ.In this scheme,the second bucket of the wakefield can have a much lower phase velocity at the steep plasma density down-ramp than the first bucket and can be exploited to implement longitudinal electron injection at a lower laser intensity,leading to the generation of bright electron beams with ultralow emittance together with low energy spread.Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are carried out and demonstrate that high-quality electron beams with a peak energy of 50 MeV,ultralow emittance of28 nm rad,energy spread of 1%,charge of 4.4 pC,and short duration less than 5 fs can be obtained within a 1-mm-long tailored plasma density,resulting in an ultrahigh six-dimensional brightness B6D,n of2×1017 A/m2/0.1%.By changing the density parameters,tunable bright electron beams with peak energies ranging from 5 to 70 MeV,a small emittance of B0.1 mm mrad,and a low energy spread at a few-percent level can be obtained.These bright MeV-class electron beams have a variety of potential applications,for example,as ultrafast electron probes for diffraction and imaging,in laboratory astrophysics,in coherent radiation source generation,and as injectors for GeV particle accelerators.

Proton acceleration in plasma turbulence driven by high-energy lepton jets

The interaction of high energy lepton jets composed of electrons and positrons with background electron–proton plasma is investigated numerically based upon particle-in-cell simulation,focusing on the acceleration processes of background protons due to the development of electromagnetic turbulence.Such interaction may be found in the universe when energetic lepton jets propagate in the interstellar media.When such a jet is injected into the background plasma,theWeibel instability is excited quickly,which leads to the development of plasma turbulence into the nonlinear stage.The turbulent electric and magnetic fields accelerate plasma particles via the Fermi II type acceleration,where the maximum energy of both electrons and protons can be accelerated to much higher than that of the incident jet particles.Because of background plasma acceleration,a collisionless electrostatic shock wave is formed,where some pre-accelerated protons are further accelerated when passing through the shock wave front.Dependence of proton acceleration on the beam-plasma density ratio and beam energy is investigated.For a given background plasma density,the maximum proton energy generally increases both with the density and kinetic energy of the injected jet.Moreover,for a homogeneous background plasma,the proton acceleration via both turbulent fields and collisionless shocks is found to be significant.In the case of an inhomogeneous plasma,the proton acceleration in the plasma turbulence is dominant.Our studies illustrate a scenario where protons from background plasma can be accelerated successively by the turbulent fields and collisionless shocks.

Development of a toroidal soft x-ray imaging system and application for investigating three-dimensional plasma on J-TEXT

A toroidal soft x-ray imaging(T-SXRI)system has been developed to investigate threedimensional(3D)plasma physics on J-TEXT.This T-SXRI system consists of three sets of SXR arrays.Two sets are newly developed and located on the vacuum chamber wall at toroidal positionsφof 126.4°and 272.6°,respectively,while one set was established previously atφ=65.50.Each set of SXR arrays consists of three arrays viewing the plasma poloidally,and hence can be used separately to obtain SXR images via the tomographic method.The sawtooth precursor oscillations are measured by T-SXRI,and the corresponding images of perturbative SXR signals are successfully reconstructed at these three toroidal positions,hence providing measurement of the 3D structure of precursor oscillations.The observed 3D structure is consistent with the helical structure of the m/n=1/1 mode.The experimental observation confirms that the T-SXRI system is able to observe 3D structures in the J-TEXT plasma.

Intraoperative application of three-dimensional printed guides in total hip arthroplasty: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Acetabular component positioning in total hip arthroplasty(THA)is of key importance to ensure satisfactory post-operative outcomes and to minimize the risk of complications.The majority of acetabular components are aligned freehand,without the use of navigation methods.Patient specific instruments(PSI)and three-dimensional(3D)printing of THA placement guides are increasingly used in primary THA to ensure optimal positioning.AIM To summarize the literature on 3D printing in THA and how they improve acetabular component alignment.METHODS PubMed was used to identify and access scientific studies reporting on different 3D printing methods used in THA.Eight studies with 236 hips in 228 patients were included.The studies could be divided into two main categories;3D printed models and 3D printed guides.RESULTS 3D printing in THA helped improve preoperative cup size planning and post-operative Harris hip scores between intervention and control groups(P=0.019,P=0.009).Otherwise,outcome measures were heterogeneous and thus difficult to compare.The overarching consensus between the studies is that the use of 3D guidance tools can assist in improving THA cup positioning and reduce the need for revision THA and the associated costs.CONCLUSION The implementation of 3D printing and PSI for primary THA can significantly improve the positioning accuracy of the acetabular cup component and reduce the number of complications caused by malpositioning.

Evaluation of whole-course three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with late-course accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma patients

Objective： The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of whole-course three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy （3DCRT） combined with late-course accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy （LCAFR） on patients with esophageal carcinoma. Methods： one hundred and one patients with esophageal carcinoma were divided into two groups. Observing group （49 cases） were treated by whole-course 3DCRT. Patients in control group （52 cases） were treated by conventional radiotherapy. Clinical efficiencies and radiation toxicities were compared between two groups. Results： The side effects including radiation esophagitis （63.2%） and tracheitis （49.0%） decreased in observing group, but there was no significant difference between two groups （69.2% and 55.7% in controls）. The 1-, 2-and 3-year tumor local control rates and overall survival rates in the observing group were significantly improved compared with the control group, being respectively 87.8%, 75.5%, 63.3% vs 71.2%, 55.8%, 42.3% and 85.7%, 71.4%, 46.7% vs 69.2%, 51.9%, 26.9% （all P 0.05）. Conclusion： The therapeutic effect of whole-course 3DCRT combined with LCAFR for esophageal carcinomas is superior to conventional radiotherapy.

Estimation of speed-related car body acceleration limits with quantile regression

Purpose–This study aimed to facilitate a rapid evaluation of track service status and vehicle ride comfort based on car body acceleration.Consequently,a low-cost,data-driven approach was proposed for analyzing speed-related acceleration limits in metro systems.Design/methodology/approach–A portable sensing terminal was developed to realize easy and efficient detection of car body acceleration.Further,field measurements were performed on a 51.95-km metro line.Data from 272 metro sections were tested as a case study,and a quantile regression method was proposed to fit the control limits of the car body acceleration at different speeds using the measured data.Findings–First,the frequency statistics of the measured data in the speed-acceleration dimension indicated that the car body acceleration was primarily concentrated within the constant speed stage,particularly at speeds of 15.4,18.3,and 20.9 m/s.Second,resampling was performed according to the probability density distribution of car body acceleration for different speed domains to achieve data balance.Finally,combined with the traditional linear relationship between speed and acceleration,the statistical relationships between the speed and car body acceleration under different quantiles were determined.We concluded the lateral/vertical quantiles of 0.8989/0.9895,0.9942/0.997,and 0.9998/0.993 as being excellent,good,and qualified control limits,respectively,for the lateral and vertical acceleration of the car body.In addition,regression lines for the speedrelated acceleration limits at other quantiles(0.5,0.75,2s,and 3s)were obtained.Originality/value–The proposed method is expected to serve as a reference for further studies on speedrelated acceleration limits in rail transit systems.

Computer-assisted three-dimensional individualized extreme liver resection for hepatoblastoma in proximity to the major liver vasculature

BACKGROUND The management of hepatoblastoma(HB)becomes challenging when the tumor remains in close proximity to the major liver vasculature(PMV)even after a full course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC).In such cases,extreme liver resection can be considered a potential option.AIM To explore whether computer-assisted three-dimensional individualized extreme liver resection is safe and feasible for children with HB who still have PMV after a full course of NAC.METHODS We retrospectively collected data from children with HB who underwent surgical resection at our center from June 2013 to June 2023.We then analyzed the detailed clinical and three-dimensional characteristics of children with HB who still had PMV after a full course of NAC.RESULTS Sixty-seven children diagnosed with HB underwent surgical resection.The age at diagnosis was 21.4±18.8 months,and 40 boys and 27 girls were included.Fifty-nine(88.1%)patients had a single tumor,39(58.2%)of which was located in the right lobe of the liver.A total of 47 patients(70.1%)had PRE-TEXT III or IV.Thirty-nine patients(58.2%)underwent delayed resection.After a full course of NAC,16 patients still had close PMV(within 1 cm in two patients,touching in 11 patients,compressing in four patients,and showing tumor thrombus in three patients).There were 6 patients of tumors in the middle lobe of the liver,and four of those patients exhibited liver anatomy variations.These 16 children underwent extreme liver resection after comprehensive preoperative evaluation.Intraoperative procedures were performed according to the preoperative plan,and the operations were successfully performed.Currently,the 3-year event-free survival of 67 children with HB is 88%.Among the 16 children who underwent extreme liver resection,three experienced recurrence,and one died due to multiple metastases.CONCLUSION Extreme liver resection for HB that is still in close PMV after a full course of NAC is both safe and feasible.This approach not only reduces the necessity for liver transplantation but also results in a favorable prognosis.Individualized three-dimensional surgical planning is beneficial for accurate and complete resection of HB,particularly for assessing vascular involvement,remnant liver volume and anatomical variations.