Recent advances in treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein cancer thrombus.

This is a review of current practices and advances in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein cancer thrombus (PVTT). The treatment strategies of HCC with PVTT are non-uniform worldwide. Systemic treatment with molecularly targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as sorafenib, lenflutinib, donafenib, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, sintilimab plus IBI305, regorafenib, pembrolizumab and anti-Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) was recommended by guidelines, but with limited effectiveness for HCC patients with PVTT. More and more studies indicate that aggressive local or locoregional treatments, including liver resection, liver transplantation, radiation therapy, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) benefit for selected HCC patients with PVTT. In recent years, the comprehensive treatment of HCC has advanced greatly. This review aims to provide an insight into the treatment modalities available for HCC patients with PVTT.

Thermoelectric current in a graphene Cooper pair splitter.

Generation of electric voltage in a conductor by applying a temperature gradient is a fundamental phenomenon called the Seebeck effect. This effect and its inverse is widely exploited in diverse applications ranging from thermoelectric power generators to temperature sensing. Recently, a possibility of thermoelectricity arising from the interplay of the non-local Cooper pair splitting and the elastic co-tunneling in the hybrid normal metal-superconductor-normal metal structures was predicted. Here, we report the observation of the non-local Seebeck effect in a graphene-based Cooper pair splitting device comprising two quantum dots connected to an aluminum superconductor and present a theoretical description of this phenomenon. The observed non-local Seebeck effect offers an efficient tool for producing entangled electrons.

Hanbury-Brown and Twiss exchange and non-equilibrium-induced correlations in disordered, four-terminal graphene-ribbon conductor.

We have investigated current-current correlations in a cross-shaped conductor made of graphene. The mean free path of charge carriers is on the order of the ribbon width which leads to a hybrid conductor where there is diffusive transport in the device arms while the central connection region displays near ballistic transport. Our data on auto and cross correlations deviate from the predictions of Landauer-Büttiker theory, and agreement can be obtained only by taking into account contributions from non-thermal electron distributions at the inlets to the semiballistic center, in which the partition noise becomes strongly modified. The experimental results display distinct Hanbury - Brown and Twiss (HBT) exchange correlations, the strength of which is boosted by the non-equilibrium occupation-number fluctuations internal to this hybrid conductor. Our work demonstrates that variation in electron coherence along atomically-thin, two-dimensional conductors has significant implications on their noise and cross correlation properties.

Cooper pair splitting by means of graphene quantum dots.

A split Cooper pair is a natural source for entangled electrons which is a basic ingredient for quantum information in the solid state. We report an experiment on a superconductor-graphene double quantum dot (QD) system, in which we observe Cooper pair splitting (CPS) up to a CPS efficiency of ∼10%. With bias on both QDs, we are able to detect a positive conductance correlation across the two distinctly decoupled QDs. Furthermore, with bias only on one QD, CPS and elastic cotunneling can be distinguished by tuning the energy levels of the QDs to be asymmetric or symmetric with respect to the Fermi level in the superconductor.

Genetic loci mapping associated with maize kernel number per ear based on a recombinant inbred line population grown under different nitrogen regimes.

Kernel number per ear (KNE) is one of the most important yield-related agronomic traits in maize (Zea mays). To clarify its genetic basis, we made a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of KNE in a recombinant inbred line population derived from lines Mo17 and Huangzao4, under two nitrogen (N) regimes. Seven QTLs, on chromosomes 4, 6 and 9, were mapped under the high N regime, which explained phenotypic variation ranging from 5.03 to 15.49%. Under the low N regime, three QTLs were located on chromosomes 6 and 9, which accounted for phenotypic variation ranging from 8.54 to 12.21%. These QTLs had different mapping intervals to their nearest markers, ranging from 0 to 16.5 cM. According to the chromosome positions and genetic effects of these QTLs, only seven QTLs for KNE were identified in our experiment, out of which three were found under both N regimes, on chromosomes 6 (one) and 9 (two); the other four were mapped only under the high N regime, on chromosomes 4 (three) and 6 (one). This information could be useful for developing marker-assisted selection in maize-breeding projects.

Genetic analysis of two new quantitative trait loci for ear weight in maize inbred line Huangzao4.

Ear weight is one of the most important agronomic traits considered necessary in maize (Zea mays L.) breeding projects. To determine its genetic basis, a population consisting of 239 recombinant inbred lines, derived from the cross Mo17 x Huangzao4, was used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for ear weight under two nitrogen regimes. Under a high nitrogen fertilization regime, one QTL was identified in chromosome bin 2.08-2.09, which explained 7.46% of phenotypic variance and an increase in ear weight of about 5.79 g, owing to an additive effect. Under a low nitrogen regime, another QTL was identified in chromosome bin 1.10-1.11; it accounted for 7.11% of phenotypic variance and a decrease of 5.24 g in ear weight, due to an additive effect. Based on comparisons with previous studies, these two QTLs are new loci associated with ear weight in maize. These findings contribute to our knowledge about the genetic basis of ear weight in maize.

Two recessive genes controlling thermophotoperiod-sensitive male sterility in wheat.

Male sterility of wheat-breeding line 337S (Triticum aestivum L.) is sensitive to both short day-length/low temperature and long day-length/high temperature. 337S was crossed with the common wheat variety, Huamai No. 8 and the F1 was highly fertile. The F2 population segregated in a 15:1 ratio for fertility/sterility in 243 individuals under long day-length/high-temperature. The two thermophotoperiod-responsive male sterile genes were mapped to chromosomes 5B and 2B using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers and bulked segregant analysis. Partial linkage maps around the sterility loci of chromosomes 2B and 5B were constructed using the 243 individuals in the F2 population. One gene (wptms1) for male sterility was flanked by the SSR markers Xgwm335 and Xgwm371 at a genetic distance in chromosome 5B of 4.1 and 24.4 cM, respectively. The second gene (wptms2) was mapped between markers Xgwm374 and Xgwm120 at a genetic distance of 6.6 and 20.9 cM, respectively. The closest linked markers Xgwm335 (wptms1) and Xgwm374 (wptms2) explained 53 and 38% of phenotypic variation for the fertility. The SSR markers provide a useful tool to transfer the male sterile genes into elite wheat germplasm.

An improved HPLC analysis of the metabolite furoic acid in the urine of workers occupationally exposed to furfural.

An improved high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the analysis of the metabolite furoic acid in the urine of workers occupationally exposed to furfural is described. The procedure involved an alkaline hydrolysis step followed by solvent extraction using ethyl acetate. HPLC analysis used an acidic acetonitrile/water mobile phase with a C18 column and ultraviolet detection. The overall relative recovery of furoic acid in urine was found to be 98.8% with a relative standard deviation of 9.7%. The limit of quantitation was determined to be 0.01 mmol/L.

How we performed chest wall reconstruction: analysis 31 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To see the results of patients who underwent chest wall resection and reconstruction (CWRR). SETTING AND DESIGN: Retrospective descriptional study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent CWRR at Xingtai People's Hospital in China and B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Nepal. A total of 31 patients were reviewed. Among them, 20 were male and 11 female. The median age was 63 years. The indications for resection were primary chest wall tumor in 21 patients (67.7%), lung cancer with invasion of chest wall 6 (19.4%), recurrence of breast cancer 2(6.3%), radiation necrosis 1(3.2%) and skin cancer 1(3.2%). RESULTS: The mean number of rib resected was 3.6 ribs, which induced a mean defect of 97.1 cm2. Concomitant resection was done in 13 patients, including lung resection 10, partial resection of diaphragm 2, and partial sternectomy 1. Seven patients underwent soft tissue reconstruction (STR) alone and 5 patients skeletal reconstruction (SR) alone. Simultaneous SR and STR were performed in 19 patients. Three patients (9.7%) developed postoperative complications. The median survival period was 22 months. CONCLUSION: Primary chest wall tumor and lung cancer invading chest wall are the most common diseases indicating CWRR. Simultaneous bony and soft tissue reconstruction was reliable for chest wall reconstruction in most cases and prevents postoperative complications.