Creation of memory-memory entanglement in a metropolitan quantum network.

Towards realizing the future quantum internet1,2, a pivotal milestone entails the transition from two-node proof-of-principle experiments conducted in laboratories to comprehensive multi-node set-ups on large scales. Here we report the creation of memory-memory entanglement in a multi-node quantum network over a metropolitan area. We use three independent memory nodes, each of which is equipped with an atomic ensemble quantum memory3 that has telecom conversion, together with a photonic server where detection of a single photon heralds the success of entanglement generation. The memory nodes are maximally separated apart for 12.5 kilometres. We actively stabilize the phase variance owing to fibre links and control lasers. We demonstrate concurrent entanglement generation between any two memory nodes. The memory lifetime is longer than the round-trip communication time. Our work provides a metropolitan-scale testbed for the evaluation and exploration of multi-node quantum network protocols and starts a stage of quantum internet research.

Fast charging of energy-dense lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries with nickel-rich layered oxide cathodes and graphite anodes have reached specific energies of 250-300 Wh kg-1 (refs. 1,2), and it is now possible to build a 90 kWh electric vehicle (EV) pack with a 300-mile cruise range. Unfortunately, using such massive batteries to alleviate range anxiety is ineffective for mainstream EV adoption owing to the limited raw resource supply and prohibitively high cost. Ten-minute fast charging enables downsizing of EV batteries for both affordability and sustainability, without causing range anxiety. However, fast charging of energy-dense batteries (more than 250 Wh kg-1 or higher than 4 mAh cm-2) remains a great challenge3,4. Here we combine a material-agnostic approach based on asymmetric temperature modulation with a thermally stable dual-salt electrolyte to achieve charging of a 265 Wh kg-1 battery to 75% (or 70%) state of charge in 12 (or 11) minutes for more than 900 (or 2,000) cycles. This is equivalent to a half million mile range in which every charge is a fast charge. Further, we build a digital twin of such a battery pack to assess its cooling and safety and demonstrate that thermally modulated 4C charging only requires air convection. This offers a compact and intrinsically safe route to cell-to-pack development. The rapid thermal modulation method to yield highly active electrochemical interfaces only during fast charging has important potential to realize both stability and fast charging of next-generation materials, including anodes like silicon and lithium metal.

Single-cell analysis of isoform switching and transposable element expression during preimplantation embryonic development.

Alternative splicing is an essential regulatory mechanism for development and pathogenesis. Through alternative splicing one gene can encode multiple isoforms and be translated into proteins with different functions. Therefore, this diversity is an important dimension to understand the molecular mechanism governing embryo development. Isoform expression in preimplantation embryos has been extensively investigated, leading to the discovery of new isoforms. However, the dynamics of isoform switching of different types of transcripts throughout the development remains unexplored. Here, using single-cell direct isoform sequencing in over 100 single blastomeres from the mouse oocyte to blastocyst stage, we quantified isoform expression and found that 3-prime partial transcripts lacking stop codons are highly accumulated in oocytes and zygotes. These transcripts are not transcription by-products and might play a role in maternal to zygote transition (MZT) process. Long-read sequencing also enabled us to determine the expression of transposable elements (TEs) at specific loci. In this way, we identified 3,894 TE loci that exhibited dynamic changes along the preimplantation development, likely regulating the expression of adjacent genes. Our work provides novel insights into the transcriptional regulation of early embryo development.

Multiple primary lung cancer: Updates and perspectives.

Management of multiple primary lung cancer (MPLC) remains challenging, partly due to its increasing incidence, especially with the significant rise in cases of multiple lung nodules caused by low-dose computed tomography screening. Moreover, the indefinite pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria, and treatment selection add to the complexity. In recent years, there have been continuous efforts to dissect the molecular characteristics of MPLC and explore new diagnostic approaches as well as treatment modalities, which will be reviewed here, with a focus on newly emerging evidence and future perspectives, hope to provide new insights into the management of MPLC and serve as inspiration for future research related to MPLC.

Regulating Electrolyte Solvation Structures via Diluent-Solvent Interactions for Safe High-Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries.

Local high concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) have been proved to be one of the most promising systems to stabilize both high voltage cathodes and Li metal anode for next-generation batteries. However, the solvation structures and interactions among different species in LHCEs are still convoluted, which bottlenecks the further breakthrough on electrolyte development. Here, it is demonstrated that the hydrogen bonding interaction between diluent and solvent is crucial for the construction of LHCEs and corresponding interphase chemistries. The 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl trifluoromethane sulfonate (TFSF) is selected as diluent with the solvent dimethoxy-ethane (DME) to prepare a non-flammable LHCE for high voltage LMBs. This is first find that the hydrogen bonding interaction between TFSF and DME solvent tailors the electrolyte solvation structures by weakening the coordination of DME molecules to Li+ cations and allows more participation of anions in the first solvation shell, leading to the formation of aggregates (AGGs) clusters which are conducive to generating inorganic solid/cathodic electrolyte interphases (SEI/CEIs). The proposed TFSF based LHCE enables the Li||NCM811 (LiNi0.8 Mn0.1 O2 ) batteries to realize >80% capacity retention with a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% for 230 cycles under aggressive conditions (NCM811 cathode: 3.4 mAh cm-2 , cut-off voltage: 4.4 V, and 20 µm Li foil).

Ginkgetin exhibits antifibrotic effects by inducing hepatic stellate cell apoptosis via STAT1 activation.

Liver fibrosis affects approximately 800 million patients worldwide, with over 2 million deaths each year. Nevertheless, there are no approved medications for treating liver fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the impacts of ginkgetin on liver fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms. The impacts of ginkgetin on liver fibrosis were assessed in mouse models induced by thioacetamide or bile duct ligation. Experiments on human LX-2 cells and primary mouse hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms, which were also validated in the mouse models. Ginkgetin significantly decreased hepatic extracellular matrix deposition and HSC activation in the fibrotic models induced by thioacetamide (TAA) and bile duct ligation (BDL). Beneficial effects also existed in inhibiting hepatic inflammation and improving liver function. In vitro experiments showed that ginkgetin markedly inhibited HSC viability and induced HSC apoptosis dose-dependently. Mechanistic studies revealed that the antifibrotic effects of ginkgetin depend on STAT1 activation, as the effects were abolished in vitro after STAT1 silencing and in vivo after inhibiting STAT1 activation by fludarabine. Moreover, we observed a meaningful cross-talk between HSCs and hepatocytes, in which IL-6, released by ginkgetin-induced apoptotic HSCs, enhanced hepatocyte proliferation by activating STAT3 signaling. Ginkgetin exhibits antifibrotic effects by inducing HSC apoptosis via STAT1 activation and enhances hepatocyte proliferation secondary to HSC apoptosis via the IL-6/STAT3 pathway.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of sodium valproate versus levetiracetam in the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of sodium valproate (VPA) compared to levetiracetam (LEV) in the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). METHODS: In this blind, prospective study, eighty-four sTBI patients who had craniotomy from August 2021 to August 2023 were randomly split into two groups through random number table method: LEV and VPA, each with 42 patients. Both received comprehensive treatment post-craniotomy. LEV group: LEV injection on surgery day, transitioning to LEV tablets from day two. VPA group: VPA injection on surgery day, switching to VPA extended-release tablets from day two. The study compared hospital stay, neurological function, clinical outcomes, seizures, and drug reactions between groups. RESULTS: The length of hospital stay showed no significant difference between the LEV and VPA groups. Both groups demonstrated improved neurological function post-treatment (NIHSS and BI scores), with no significant between-group differences. Clinical outcomes at 3 months post-treatment were similar in both groups. Seizure occurrence within 3 months after treatment showed no significant difference between the LEV (19.05%) and VPA (23.81%) groups. However, the VPA group experienced a significantly higher rate of drug-related adverse reactions (40.48%) compared to the LEV group (21.43%). CONCLUSION: Both VPA and LEV are effective in treating sTBI, showing no significant difference in improving neurological function, daily life abilities, treatment outcomes, and seizure occurrence. However, VPA treatment exhibited a significantly higher incidence of drug-related adverse reactions compared to LEV, indicating that LEV might be a safer option for sTBI treatment.

[Zuogui Pills improve testicular development of offspring rats exposed to prenatal stress via Cx43].

This study aims to reveal the mechanism of prenatal stress in affecting the testicular development of offspring rats and the intervention effects of Zuogui Pills via connexin 43(Cx43). Forty pregnant SD rats were randomized into a blank control group, a mo-del group, a high-dose(18.9 g·kg~(-1)) Zuogui Pills group, a low-dose(9.45 g·kg~(-1)) Zuogui Pills group, and a vitamin E(1.44 mg·kg~(-1)) group. The other groups except the blank control group was subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress for the modeling of prenatal stress. The model was evaluated by sucrose preference test, open field test, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) of the glucocorticoid level. ELISA was employed to measure the thyroxine 4(T4), testosterone(T), and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) levels to assess kidney deficiency. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was employed to evaluate the status of testicular germ cells. An automatic sperm analyzer was used to measure the sperm quality. Immunofluorescence double staining was employed to detect the expression of Cx43 and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor(FSHR) in the testes of offspring rats. The mRNA and protein levels of Cx43, FSHR, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K), and protein kinase B(Akt) were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Prenatal stress induced testicular development disorders in offspring rats. The HE staining results showed that on the day of birth, the model group had reduced seminiferous tubules in the testes, elevated FSH level in the serum, and lowered Cx43 level in the testicular tissue. Male offspring rats of 60 days old had reduced testicular spermatogenic function, decreased sperm quality, elevated FSH level and lowered T level in the serum, and down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of Cx43, FSHR, PI3K, and Akt in the testicular tissue. Zuogui Pills alleviated the abnormal development and dysfunction of testicles in the offspring rats caused by prenatal stress. In summary, Zuogui Pills may weaken the effects of prenatal stress on testicular development and spermatogenic function of offspring rats by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway to regulate Cx43 expression in the testicular tissue.

Stratified Oxygen Vacancies Enhance the Performance of Mesoporous TiO2 Electron Transport Layer in Printable Perovskite Solar Cells.

The low electrical conductivity and the high surface defect density of the TiO2 electron transport layer (ETL) limit the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of corresponding perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, the conductivity and defect modulation of the mesoporous TiO2 (mp-TiO2 ) ETL via oxygen vacancy (OV) management by the reduction and oxidation treatment are reported. Reduction treatment via reducing agent introduces abundant OVs into the TiO2 nanocrystalline particles on the surface and at the subsurface. The following oxidation treatment via hydrogen peroxide removes the surface OVs while remains the subsurface OVs, resulting in stratified OVs. The stratified OVs improve the conductivity of TiO2 ETL by increasing carrier donors and decrease nonradiative centers by reducing surface defects. Such synergy ensures the capability of mp-TiO2 as the well-performed ETL with improved energy level alignment, suppressed interface recombination, enhanced carrier extraction, and transport. As a result, printable hole-conductor-free carbon-based mesoscopic PSCs based on the modulated mp-TiO2 ETL demonstrate a highest reported PCE of 18.96%.

Fabrication of Poly(ε-caprolactone)-embedded Lignin-Chitosan Nanocomposite Porous Scaffolds from Pickering Emulsions.

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-incorporated lignin-chitosan biomass-based nanocomposite porous scaffolds have been effectively prepared by templating oil-in-water Pickering high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). PCL is dissolved in oil and chitosan and lignin nanoparticles originate in water. The continuous phase of the emulsions is gelled by cross-linking of chitosan with genipin and then freeze-dried to obtain porous scaffolds. The resulting scaffolds display interconnected and tunable pore structures. An increase in PCL content increases the mechanical strength and greatly reduces the water absorption capacity of the scaffolds. Scaffolds loaded with the anti-bacterial drug enrofloxacin show a slow drug release profile, adjustable release rate, and favorable long-term anti-bacterial activity. Moreover, Pickering emulsion templates with suitable viscosity are used as 3D printing inks to construct porous scaffolds with personalized geometry. The results imply that the simplicity and versatility of the technique of combining freeze-drying with Pickering HIPE templates is a promising approach to fabricate hydrophobic biopolymer-incorporated biomass-based nanocomposite porous scaffolds for biomedical applications.

Predictors of Improvement of Sarcopenia after Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation in Cirrhotic Patients.

To investigate the risk factors affecting the improvement of sarcopenia after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in cirrhotic patients, this study retrospectively analyzed the data of 111 cirrhotic patients with sarcopenia who underwent TIPS creation. Computed tomography-based measurement of skeletal muscle area was used to calculate skeletal muscle index (SMI) in all patients at baseline and 6 months after TIPS creation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors, which showed a significant increase in 6-month post-TIPS SMI compared with that at baseline in both men and women (for both, P < .001). Pre-TIPS SMI (odds ratio [OR], 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87-0.99; P = .031) and change in portal pressure gradient (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03-1.24; P = .009) were found to be independent risk factors for experiencing substantial improvement in post-TIPS SMI.

Reversion of liver cirrhosis after endovascular treatment in Chinese patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome.

AIMS: To investigate the impact of endovascular (EV) treatment on liver cirrhosis in Chinese patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). METHODS: From September 2011 to March 2022, 97 patients from four hospitals in China who were diagnosed with primary BCS complicated with liver cirrhosis and received EV treatment were retrospectively enrolled in this study for clinical analysis. In addition, liver tissues for basic research were acquired from 25 patients between June 2022 and March 2023, including six with benign liver tumors, 11 with BCS before EV treatment, and eight with EV-treated BCS. Liver cirrhosis was assessed by clinical outcomes, histological studies, and the expression of related genes at the mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: The patients with BCS had better liver function after EV treatment, evidenced by an increased albumin level and reduced total bilirubin, ALT, and AST. The imaging findings suggested an amelioration of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, including increased portal vein velocity (13.52 ± 8.89 cm/s vs. 17.51 ± 6.67 cm/s, p < 0.001) and decreased liver stiffness (30.37 ± 6.39 kPa vs. 23.70 ± 7.99 kPa, p < 0.001), portal vein diameter (14.97 ± 3.42 mm vs. 13.36 ± 2.89 mm, p < 0.001), and spleen volume (870.00 ± 355.61 cm3 vs. 771.36 ± 277.45 cm3 , p < 0.001). Furthermore, histological studies revealed that EV treatment resulted in a restoration of liver architecture with reduced extracellular matrix deposition. Meanwhile, hepatic angiogenesis and inflammation, which have a close relationship with cirrhosis, were also inhibited. In addition, the state of hepatocytes switches from apoptosis to proliferation after EV treatment. CONCLUSIONS: BCS-induced liver cirrhosis could be reversed by EV treatment from macroscopic to microscopic dimensions. Our study may provide further insights into understanding BCS and treating cirrhosis.

Aerobic exercise and vitamin E improve high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in rats by regulating the AMPK pathway and oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a major chronic liver disease. We explored simple and effective ways to improve NAFLD and investigate the mechanism of action. METHODS: NAFLD was induced in 40 rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate the progression and improvement of NAFLD. The treatment-related interventions included aerobic exercise (E) and vitamin E (VE) supplementation. Expression levels of proteins related to fat metabolism were also assessed. The activities of antioxidant enzymes in the liver and serum lipid metabolism were analyzed using biochemical methods. RESULTS: Aerobic exercise and vitamin E effectively improved NAFLD in rats, resulting in decreased hepatic fat accumulation, reduced hepatocyte ballooning, and decreased triglyceride levels. Combination therapy achieved the best effect. Both aerobic exercise and vitamin E activate the AMPK pathway to phosphorylate acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and reduce fatty acid synthesis. The expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) was decreased significantly in the treated groups, particularly in the E + VE + HFD group. The expression of carnitine palmitoyl-transferase 1C (CPT1C) significantly increased in the treated groups, particularly in the E + VE + HFD group. Compared with the control group, reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the E + HFD group were slightly decreased, while that in the VE + HFD group were significantly decreased, with the even greater reduction observed in the E + VE + HFD group. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise and vitamin E supplementation can improve HFD-induced NAFLD in rats by regulating the AMPK pathway and reducing oxidative stress.

Sarcopenia Defined by Psoas Muscle Thickness Predicts Mortality After Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt.

PURPOSE: To assess and compare the value of psoas muscle thickness at the level of the third lumbar (L3) vertebra (TPML) or umbilicus (TPMU) and skeletal muscle index (SMI) for diagnosing sarcopenia and predicting mortality in patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred forty-nine patients undergoing TIPS were included in this retrospective study. The cut-offs of L3-SMI for sarcopenia were 42.0 cm2/m2 in men and 38.0 cm2/m2 in women. The cut-offs for TPML/height and TPMU/height to predict mortality was established using a receiver-operating characteristic analysis. The Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression were used for survival analyses. RESULTS: Compared with TPMU/height, TPML/height was more consistent with L3-SM for the diagnosis of sarcopenia (Kappa coefficient: 0.63 vs. 0.36 in men; 0.61 vs. 0.45 in women). The Cox analysis showed that both TPML/height and TPMU/height were independent risk factors for mortality. The optimal cut-off values of TPML/height and TPMU/height for mortality in men and women were 11.2 mm/m, 9.4 mm/m, 18.4 mm/m, 15.1 mm/m, respectively. There were 119 (47.8%), 87 (34.9%), and 82 (32.9%) patients diagnosed with sarcopenia in the TPMU/height, TPML/height, and L3-SMI models, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the overall survival was significantly lower in the sarcopenia group in all three models. CONCLUSION: TPMU/height and TPML/height have a similar survival prognostic value as L3-SMI. TPML/height has better consistency with L3-SMI in diagnosing sarcopenia and is a more stable alternative to L3-SMI for diagnosing sarcopenia in patients undergoing TIPS.

Escitalopram versus other antidepressive agents for major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Escitalopram is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and one of the most commonly prescribed newer antidepressants (ADs) worldwide. We aimed to explore the efficacy, acceptability and tolerability of escitalopram in comparison with other ADs in the acute-phase treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Clinical Trials.gov were searched from inception to July 10, 2023. Trial databases of drug-approving agencies were hand-searched for published, unpublished and ongoing controlled trials. All randomized controlled trials comparing escitalopram against any other antidepressant for patients with MDD. Responders and remitters to treatment were calculated on an intention-to-treat basis. For dichotomous data, risk ratios (RRs) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Continuous data were analyzed using standardized mean differences (with 95% CI) using the random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 30 studies were included in this meta­analysis, among which sixteen trials compared escitalopram with another SSRI and 14 compared escitalopram with a newer AD. Escitalopram was shown to be significantly more effective than citalopram in achieving acute response (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.50-0.87). Escitalopram was also more effective than citalopram in terms of remission (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.30-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: Escitalopram was superior to other ADs for the acute phase treatment of MDD in terms of efficacy, acceptability and tolerability. However, no significant difference was found between escitalopram and other ADs in early response or follow-up response to treatment of MDD.

Effect of intraoperative anastomotic reinforcement suture on the prevention of anastomotic leakage of double-stapling anastomosis for laparoscopic rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The use of sutures to strengthen the anastomosis after rectal cancer surgery to reduce the possibility of anastomotic leakage has been debated. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the influence of intraoperative anastomotic reinforcing sutures on anastomotic leakage of double-stapling anastomosis for laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases was performed to identify literature examining anastomotic leak as the primary outcome to compare studies of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer using the double-stapling anastomosis technique with or without intraoperative anastomotic reinforcement with sutures. RESULTS: A total of 1122 rectal cancer patients from 5 nonrandomized studies were included in the research. In the combined trial, intraoperative anastomotic reinforcement sutures significantly reduced the incidence of anastomotic leakage in patients who underwent laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.19-0.55; p < 0.0001). With or without intraoperative anastomotic reinforcing sutures, the incidence of postoperative reoperation for anastomotic leak did not differ substantially (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.08-1.21, p = 0.09). Moreover, the surgery was prolonged due to anastomotic reinforcement with sutures (OR, 6.64; 95% CI, - 6.18 to 19.47, p = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative anastomotic reinforcement with sutures may be associated with a lower incidence of anastomotic leakage. The amount of research evidence is limited because most of the studies analyzed did not include patients with factors such as neoadjuvant therapy or prophylactic stomas. Therefore, additional multicenter randomized controlled studies with larger size samples are needed to support the validity of the approach.

Effect of the prism-interprisms three-dimension spatial microstructure on the enamel bond strength.

The prism-interprisms level of the enamel hierarchical microstructure is the largest degree of structural variation and most sophisticated structural adaptation. We studied the effect of the prism-interprisms three-dimension spatial microstructure on the enamel bond strength. We prepared 11 groups of enamel segments: longitudinally sectioned segments with or without a 45-degree bevel (group = 2), horizontally sectioned segments with or without a 45-degree bevel of three regions (the incisal, middle, and cervical) (group = 6), and tangential (labial) sectioned segments of three regions (the incisal, middle, and cervical) (group = 3). The finished surface of each segment was observed by scanning electric microscopy (SEM) before treatment with four self-etch adhesive systems and applied with four corresponding composite resins. Resin-bonded enamel samples were prepared in beams for microtensile bond strength (MTBS) tests. The results were analyzed with a three-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-hoc HSD multiple comparisons procedure. SEM observations revealed complex arrangements of prisms and interprisms. MTBS measurement showed that the longitudinally sectioned group had the lowest value, without significant differences between the groups with or without 45-degree bevel. Combining SEM observations and MTBS measurements, the prism-interprisms microstructure varied with the incisor regions, and different prism-interprisms microstructures allowed diverse sectioned surfaces, which could affect the enamel bonding.

Transmission characteristics of femtosecond laser pulses in a polymer waveguide.

Femtosecond lasers have been widely employed in scientific and industrial applications, including the study of material properties, fabrication of structures on the sub-micrometer scale, surgical and medical treatment, etc. In these applications, the ultrafast laser is implemented either in free space or via an optical fiber-based channel. To investigate the light-matter interaction on a chip-based dimension, laser pulses with extremely high peak power need to be injected into an integrated optical waveguide. This requires the waveguide to be transparent and linear at this power, but also capable of providing a highly efficient and reliable interface for fiber-chip coupling. Contrary to the common belief that polymer materials may suffer from stability issues, we show that a polymer waveguide fabricated under simple and low-cost technology using only commercial materials can indeed transmit femtosecond laser pulses with similar characteristics as low-power continuous-wave laser. The coupling efficiency with a lensed fiber is ∼76% per facet. The pulse broadening effect in the polymer waveguide is also well fitted by the material and waveguide dispersion without nonlinear behavior. This study paves the way for developing a low-cost, highly efficient, polymer-based waveguide platform for the investigation of ultrafast phenomena on a chip.

Thermally resettable laser transmission induced transparency in polymer waveguides at 635†nm.

Laser transmission induced transparency (LTIT) has been observed in a polymer waveguide using commercial perfluorinated acrylate-based materials when a continuous-wave laser at 635 nm is injected. The transmitted optical power increases continuously and follows a non-linear curve with respect to the laser injection time. Loss reduction over 13 dB is observed within 60 min at a moderate laser power of 5 mW. While higher injection power leads to a quicker change of the waveguide transparency, this loss reduction tends to saturate at a level irrelevant to the injection power. Further experiments demonstrate that a laser injection at 635 nm can also slightly improve the transparency at near-infrared wavelengths from 1500 nm to 1600 nm which is also the target wavelength range for this material. The state after a certain laser injection dose of 635 nm proves to be stable and the transmission characteristics of the polymer waveguide can be maintained and will continue after being stored at room temperature over a long period of time. By baking the waveguide at 200 °C for 20 min, the transparency property can be reset and the waveguide will return to the original high-loss state of 635 nm. These unique properties can be attributed to the photo-induced generation and thermally induced recombination of free radicals in the organic material. Our discovery may trigger interesting applications of polymer waveguides in the development of optical memory, clock, and encryption devices, beyond their target applications in optical communication.

Natural History and Influence on Long-term Outcomes of Isolated Type II Endoleak after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: A 10-year Experience at a Single Center.

BACKGROUND: The management of type II endoleaks (T2ELs) remains controversial in current literature. Hence, this study aimed to explore the natural history of isolated type II endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and its influence on long-term outcomes based on a 10-year follow-up at a tertiary medical center. METHODS: From January 2011 to April 2021, consecutive patients who underwent elective EVAR were reviewed. The demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment details, imaging information, in the event of T2ELs, and outcomes were extracted. RESULTS: A total of 287 patients were included for analysis. Isolated T2EL was identified in 79 patients (27.5%), while no endoleak was found in 208 patients (72.5%). The mean age at EVAR was 68.1 ± 8.9 years (range, 41-92 years) and the majority of patients were male (81.5%). The mean follow-up duration was 42.7 months (range, 2-119.7 months). Among the 79 patients with isolated T2ELs, 33 (41.8%, 33/79) were early and 46 (58.2%, 46/79) were late. Spontaneous resolution of T2ELs was identified in 29 patients (36.7%, 29/79). Persistent T2ELs were observed in 50 patients (63.3%, 50/79). No sac growth was seen in 33 patients (66%, 33/50) and these patients were managed conservatively. The remaining 17 patients (34%, 17/50) showed significant sac growth. Six of them declined intervention due to various reasons and the remaining 11 patients underwent interventional embolization for T2ELs. Following the embolization, 2 patients had complete resolution of T2ELs and 9 patients had persistent T2ELs. Among the patients with persistent T2ELs, 2 patients (2/9) still showed progressive sac growth, and one of them died from aneurysm rupture; the remaining 7 patients (7/9) showed no sac growth. Patients with isolated T2ELs had a higher incidence of sac growth than patients without any endoleak (21.5% vs 4.3%, p < 0.001), while no difference was found in overall survival between the two groups. In Cox regression analysis, only higher age was independently associated with worse survival. CONCLUSIONS: Type II Endoleak was significantly associated with aneurysm sac growth and no association with survival was observed.