Floquet Engineering the Exceptional Points in Parity-Time-Symmetric Magnonics.

Magnons serve as a testing ground for fundamental aspects of Hermitian and non-Hermitian wave mechanics and are of high relevance for information technology. This study presents setups for realizing spatiotemporally driven parity-time- (PT) symmetric magnonics based on coupled magnetic waveguides and magnonic crystals. A charge current in a metal layer with strong spin-orbit coupling sandwiched between two insulating magnetic waveguides leads to gain or loss in the magnon amplitude depending on the directions of the magnetization and the charge currents. When gain in one waveguide is balanced by loss in the other waveguide, a PT-symmetric system hosting non-Hermitian degeneracies [or exceptional points (EPs)] is realized. For ac current, multiple EPs appear for a certain gain-loss strength and mark the boundaries between the preserved PT-symmetry and the broken PT-symmetry phases. The number of islands of broken PT-symmetry phases and their extensions is tunable by the frequency and the strength of the spacer current. At EP and beyond, the induced and amplified magnetization oscillations are strong and self-sustained. In particular, these magnetization auto-oscillations in a broken PT-symmetry phase occur at low current densities and do not require further adjustments such as tilt angle between electric polarization and equilibrium magnetization direction in spin-torque oscillators, pointing to a new design of these oscillators and their utilization in computing and sensorics. It is also shown how the periodic gain-loss mechanism allows for the generation of high-frequency spin waves with low-frequency currents. For spatially periodic gain and loss acting on a magnonic crystal, magnon modes approaching each other at the Brillouin-zone boundaries are highly susceptible to PT symmetry, allowing for a wave-vector-resolved experimental realization at very low currents.

A new low-profile anatomic locking plate for fixation of comminuted, displaced greater tuberosity fractures of the proximal humerus.

BACKGROUND: Although various implants exist for the fixation of isolated greater tuberosity fractures, few implants are specifically designed for such fractures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiologic outcomes of open reduction-internal fixation with a low-profile anatomic locking plate for comminuted greater tuberosity fractures of the proximal humerus. METHODS: From November 2012 to February 2018, 24 patients with displaced and comminuted isolated greater tuberosity fractures were treated with the new low-profile anatomic locking plate. To determine clinical outcomes, we evaluated active range of motion; the visual analog scale pain score; the Constant-Murley score; the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; radiographs; and complications. RESULTS: In all cases, a mean follow-up period of 29.3 months (range, 18-48 months) was completed. All patients achieved bone union with a mean healing time of 11.3 weeks (range, 8-16 weeks). The mean Constant-Murley score was 91.1 points (range, 69-100 points), with a rate of good to excellent results of 95.8%. The average Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was 9.9 points (range, 2-25 points), and the mean visual analog scale pain score was 1.1 points (range, 0-4 points). Mean active forward flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation (level) were 157°, 152°, and 40°, and T11, respectively. Postoperatively, 1 patient had persistent shoulder stiffness, and 1 patient had recurrence of shoulder dislocation because of a falling injury during badminton. No serious complications such as subacromial impingement, malunion, nonunion, loss of reduction, or implant failure occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The new low-profile anatomic locking plate was useful for the treatment of comminuted isolated greater tuberosity fractures as it provided reliable stability and satisfactory radiographic and functional results. The described technique is a simple and effective method and provides a new reliable option for the treatment of isolated greater tuberosity fractures.

Influence of Medial Support Screws on the Maintenance of Fracture Reduction after Locked Plating of Proximal Humerus Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Technical aspects of the correct placement of medial support locking screws in the locking plate for proximal humerus fractures remain incompletely understood. This study was to evaluate the clinical relationship between the number of medial support screws and the maintenance of fracture reduction after locked plating of proximal humerus fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 181 patients who had been surgically treated for proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) with a locking plate between September 2007 and June 2013. All cases were then subdivided into one of four groups as follows: 75 patients in the medial cortical support (MCS) group, 26 patients in the medial multiscrew support (MMSS) group, 29 patients in the medial single screw support (MSSS) group, and 51 patients in the no medial support (NMS) group. Clinical and radiographic evaluations included the Constant-Murley score (CM), visual analogue scale (VAS), complications, and revision surgeries. The neck-shaft angle (NSA) was measured in a true anteroposterior radiograph immediately postoperation and at final follow-up. One-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis of measurement data, and Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used for categorical data. RESULTS: The mean postoperative NSAs were 133.46° ± 6.01°, 132.39° ± 7.77°, 135.17° ± 10.15°, and 132.41° ± 7.16° in the MCS, MMSS, MSSS, and NMS groups, respectively, and no significant differences were found (F = 1.02, P = 0.387). In the final follow-up, the NSAs were 132.79° ± 6.02°, 130.19° ± 9.25°, 131.28° ± 12.85°, and 127.35° ± 8.50° in the MCS, MMSS, MSSS, and NMS groups, respectively (F = 4.40, P = 0.008). There were marked differences in the NSA at the final follow-up between the MCS and NMS groups (P = 0.004). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) NSA losses were 0.0° (0.0-1.0)°, 1.3° (0.0-3.1)°, 1.5° (1.0-5.2)°, and 4.0° (1.2-7.1)° in the MCS, MMSS, MSSS, and NMS groups, respectively (H = 60.66, P < 0.001). There were marked differences in NSA loss between the MCS and the other three groups (MCS vs. MMSS, Z = 3.16, P = 0.002; MCS vs. MSSS, Z = 4.78, P < 0.001; and MCS vs. NMS, Z = 7.34, P < 0.001). There was also significantly less NSA loss observed in the MMSS group compared to the NMS group (Z = -3.16, P = 0.002). However, there were no significant differences between the MMSS and MSSS groups (Z = -1.65, P = 0.225) or the MSSS and NMS groups (Z = -1.21, P = 0.099). The average CM scores were 81.35 ± 9.79, 78.04 ± 8.97, 72.76 ± 10.98, and 67.33 ± 12.31 points in the MCS, MMSS, MSSS, and NMS groups, respectively (F = 18.68, P < 0.001). The rates of excellent and good CM scores were 86.67%, 80.77%, 65.52%, and 43.14% in the MCS, MMSS, MSSS, and NMS groups, respectively (χ2 = 29.25, P < 0.001). The median (IQR) VAS scores were 1 (0-2), 1 (0-2), 2 (1-3), and 3 (1-5) points in the MCS, MMSS, MSSS, and NMS groups, respectively (H = 27.80, P < 0.001). Functional recovery was markedly better and VAS values were lower in the MCS and MMSS groups (for CM scores: MCS vs. MSSS, P < 0.001; MCS vs. NMS, P < 0.001; MMSS vs. MSSS, P = 0.031; and MMSS vs. NMS, P < 0.001 and for VAS values: MCS vs. MSSS, Z = 3.31, P = 0.001; MCS vs. NMS, Z = 4.64, P < 0.001; MMSS vs. MSSS, Z = -2.09, P = 0.037; and MMSS vs. NMS, Z = -3.16, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Medial support screws might help enhance mechanical stability and maintain fracture reduction when used to treat PHFs with medial metaphyseal comminution or malreduction.

[Qualitative-Quantitative Analysis of Rice Bran Oil Adulteration Based on Laser Near Infrared Spectroscopy].

The purpose of this study is mainly to have qualitative-quantitative analysis on the adulteration in rice bran oil by near-infrared spectroscopy analytical technology combined with chemo metrics methods. The author configured 189 adulterated oil samples according to the different mass ratios by selecting rice bran oil as base oil and choosing soybean oil, corn oil, colza oil, and waste oil of catering industry as adulterated oil. Then, the spectral data of samples was collected by using near-infrared spectrometer, and it was pre-processed through the following methods, including without processing, Multiplicative Scatter Correction(MSC), Orthogonal Signal Correction(OSC), Standard Normal Variate and Standard Normal Variate transformation DeTrending(SNV_DT). Furthermore, this article extracted characteristic wavelengths of the spectral datum from the pre-processed date by Successive Projections Algorithm(SPA), established qualitatively classified calibration methods of adulterated oil through classification method of Support Vector Machine(SVM), optimized model parameters(C, g) by Mesh Search Algorithm and determined the optimal process condition. In extracting characteristic wavelengths of the spectral datum from pretreatment by Backward interval Partial Least Squares(BiPLS) and SPA, quantitatively classified calibration models of adulterated oil through Partial Least Squares(PLS) and Support Vector Machine Regression(SVR) was established respectively. In the end, the author optimized the combination of model parameters(C, g) by Mesh Search Algorithm and determined the optimal parameter model. According to the analysis, the accuracy of prediction set and calibration set for SVC model reached 95% and 100% respectively. Compared with the prediction of the adulteration oil content of rice bran oil which was established by the PLS model, the SVR model is the better one, although both of them could implement the content prediction. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient R is above 0.99 and the Root Mean Square Error (MSE) is below 5.55 x 10(-4). The results show that the near-infrared spectroscopy technology is effective in qualitative-quantitative analysis on the adulteration of rice bran oil. And the method is applicable to analyze adulteration in other oils.

Gabapentin enhances the morphine anti-nociceptive effect in neuropathic pain via the interleukin-10-heme oxygenase-1 signalling pathway in rats.

In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms by which gabapentin enhances morphine anti-nociceptive effect in neuropathic pain in rats and the interaction between the anti-nociceptive effects of gabapentin on morphine and the interleukin (IL)-10-heme-oxygenase (HO)-1 signal pathway in a rat model of neuropathic pain. The neuropathic pain model was induced via a left L5/6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in rats. The anti-nociceptive effect of gabapentin and IL-10 on morphine was examined over a 7-day period, and the effects of the anti-IL-10 and HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) on gabapentin/morphine co-injection were assessed. Drug administration was given over 7 days, and on day 8, both anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, a stress-induced protein HO-1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured. Gabapentin attenuated morphine tolerance over 7 days of co-administration, and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines but increased IL-10 and HO-1 expression. The effect of gabapentin on morphine was partially blocked using the anti-IL-10 antibody or the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin. Our findings indicated that the anti-nociceptive effects of gabapentin on morphine might be caused by activation of the IL-10-HO-1 signalling pathway, which resulted in the inhibition of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in neuropathic pain in the rat spinal cord.