Dual-energy computed tomography and micro-computed tomography for assessing bone regeneration in a rabbit tibia model.

To gain a more meaningful understanding of bone regeneration, it is essential to select an appropriate assessment method. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) is widely used for bone regeneration because it provides a substantially higher spatial resolution. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) ensure shorter scan time and lower radiation doses during quantitative evaluation. Therefore, in this study, DECT and Micro-CT were used to evaluate bone regeneration. We created 18 defects in the tibial plateau of the rabbits and filled them with porous polyetheretherketone implants to promote bone regeneration. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks, Micro-CT and DECT were used to assess the bone repair in the defect region. In comparison to Micro-CT (152 ± 54 mg/cm3), the calcium density values and hydroxyapatite density values obtained by DECT [DECT(Ca) and DECT(HAP)] consistently achieved lower values (59 ± 25 mg/cm3, 126 ± 53 mg/cm3). In addition, there was a good association between DECT and Micro-CT (R = 0.98; R2 = 0.96; DECT(Ca): y = 0.45x-8.31; DECT(HAP): y = 0.95x-17.60). This study highlights the need to use two different imaging methods, each with its advantages and disadvantages, to better understand the bone regeneration process.

Differences in Vertebral Morphology and bone Mineral Density between Grade 1 Vertebral Fracture and Non-Fractured Participants in the Chinese Population.

PURPOSE: To investigate the difference in vertebral morphology and bone mineral density (BMD) between grade 1 VFs and non-fractured participants in the Chinese population to shed light on the clinical significance of grade 1 VFs from various perspectives. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients who received a chest low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan for health examination and visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan, China, from October 2019 to August 2022. Data were analyzed from March 2023 to July 2023. The main outcome of this study was the difference in morphological parameters and BMD between grade 1 VFs and non-fractured participants. The prevalence of grade 1 VFs in China populations was calculated. The difference in BMD of three fracture types in the Grade 1 group was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 3652 participants (1799 males, 54.85 ± 9.02 years, range, 40-92 years; 1853 females, 56.00 ± 9.08 years, range, 40-93 years) were included. The prevalence of grade 2 and 3 increase with age. The prevalence of grade 1 VFs gradually increases ≤ 50y to 60-69y group, but there is a decrease in the ≥ 70 years male group (6.6%) and a rise in the female group (25.5%). There was no significant statistical difference observed in vertebral shape indices (VSI) and BMD between the Grade 1 group and the no-fractured group aged < 50 years old except the wedge index in male. The biconcavity index did not differ between the non-fractured group and the Grade 1 group in men aged 50-59 years, whereas a significant statistical difference was observed in women. Additionally, the results of BMD were consistent with these findings. For the 40-59 years age group, there were significant differences between the compression deformity group and the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The grade 1 group had higher VSI and lower BMD than the non-fractured group, suggesting an association between the Grade 1 group and osteoporosis in individuals aged over 50 for women and over 60 for men. Different fracture types have significant variations in BMD among middle-aged people. The prevalence of grade 1 VFs exhibits an age-related increase in both genders, with opposite trends observed between older males and females. We suggested VSI can aid physicians in the diagnosis of grade 1 VFs.

Simple transanal total mesorectal resection versus laparoscopic transabdominal total mesorectal resection for the treatment of low rectal cancer: a single-center retrospective case-control study.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of simple TaTNE in the treatment of low rectal cancer compared with laparoscopic transabdominal TME. Methods: We collected patients with low rectal cancer admitted to our hospital between January 2019 and November 2021 who received simple TaTME or laparoscopic transabdominal TME. The main outcome was the integrity of the TME specimen. Secondary outcomes were the number of lymph nodes dissected, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, surgical conversion rate, Specimen resection length, circumferential margin (CRM), and distal resection margin (DRM), complication rate. In addition, the Wexner score and LARS score of fecal incontinence were performed in postoperative follow-up. Results: Pathological tissues were successfully resected in all patients. all circumferential margins of the specimen were negative. Specimen resection length was not statistically significant (9.94 ± 2.85 vs. 8.90 ± 2.49, P > 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in group A (n = 0) was significantly lower than that in group B (n = 3) (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in operation time between group A and group B (296 ± 60.36 vs. 305 ± 58.28, P > 0.05). Among the patients with follow-up time less than 1 year, there was no significant difference in Wexner score and LARS score between group A and group B (P > 0.05). However, in patients who were followed up for more than 1 year, the Wexner score in group A (9.25 ± 2.73) was significantly lower than that in group B (17.36 ± 10.95) and was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: For radical resection of low rectal cancer, Simple TaTME resection may be as safe and effective as laparoscopic transabdominal TME, and the long-term prognosis may be better.

Pore size-mediated macrophage M1 to M2 transition affects osseointegration of 3D-printed PEEK scaffolds.

Increasing evidence indicates that macrophages play an important role in angiogenesis and bone regeneration. Because the phenotypic polarization of macrophage is extremely sensitive to the pore size of materials, poly(ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) scaffolds with pore sizes of 0, 200, and 400 µm were prepared, and the influence of pore size-mediated macrophage polarization on subsequent angiogenesis and osteogenesis was examined. The interaction results of macrophages and scaffolds indicated that macrophages were responsive to the pore size of three-dimensional (3D)-printed PEEK scaffolds, and large pore size scaffolds showed greater potential in inducing M1 to M2 transition of macrophage and enhanced macrophage secretion of high concentrations of osteogenesis-related and angiogenesis-related cytokines. When human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were cultured in the conditioned medium derived from co-culture of macrophages and scaffolds, HUVECs showed good angiogenic responses in terms of cell migration and angiogenic gene expression, while BMSCs showed good osteogenic differentiation effect in in vitro mineralization and osteogenesis-related gene expression. The results of bone defect repair showed that the bone volume/total volume ratio and trabecular thickness of the large pore size PEEK scaffold were significantly higher, and it had better biomechanical properties and achieved a better osseointegration effect. Our data demonstrate that large-pore PEEK scaffolds promote angiogenesis and osteogenic differentiation in vitro and osseointegration in vivo, most likely because scaffolds with larger pore size are able to mediate a higher degree of M1 to M2 transition in macrophages.

Biomolecular 1D Necklace-like Nanostructures Tailoring 2D Janus Interfaces for Controllable 3D Enteric Biomaterials.

Construction of well-ordered two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) assemblies using one-dimensional (1D) units is a hallmark of many biointerfaces such as skin. Mimicking the art of difunctional properties of biointerfaces, which skin exhibits as defense and shelter materials, has inspired the development of smart and responsive biomimetic interfaces. However, programming the long-range ordering of 1D base materials toward vigorous control over 2D and 3D hierarchical structures and material properties remains a daunting challenge. In this study, we put forward construction of 3D enteric biomaterials with a two-strata 2D Janus interface assembled from self-adaptation of 1D protein-polysaccharide nanostructures at an oil-water interface. The biomaterials feature a protein dermis accommodating oil droplets as a reservoir for bioactive compounds and a polysaccharide epidermis protecting them from gastric degradation. Furthermore, the epidermis can be fine-tuned with different thicknesses rendering enteric delivery of a bioactive cargo (coumarin-6) with controllable retention in the intestinal tract from 6 to 24 h. The results highlight a skin-inspired construction of enteric biomaterials by self-adaptation of 1D nanostructures at the oil-water interface toward 2D Janus biointerfaces and 3D microdevices, which can be tailored for intestinal treatments with intentional therapeutic efficacies.

Self-focusing and self-splitting properties of partially coherent temporal pulses propagating in dispersive media.

Based on the coherence theory for non-stationary optical fields, we introduce a new class of partially coherent pulse sources with multi-cosine-Gaussian correlated Schell-model (MCGCSM) and derive the analytic expression for the temporally mutual coherence function (TMCF) of an MCGCSM pulse beam when it propagates through dispersive media. The temporally average intensity (TAI) and the temporal degree of coherence (TDOC) of the MCGCSM pulse beams spreading in dispersive media are investigated numerically, respectively. Our results show that over propagation distance, the evolution of pulse beams is from the primary single beam into multiple subpulses or form flat-topped TAI distributions by controlling source parameters. Moreover, when the chirp coefficient s < 0, the MCGCSM pulse beams through dispersive media will show the characteristics of two self-focusing processes. The reason why there are two self-focusing processes is explained from the perspective of physical meaning. The results in this paper can open the applications of pulse beams in multiple pulse shaping and laser micromachining and material processing.

Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulation of the Sensitive Anchoring Behavior of Smectic Liquid Crystals at Aqueous Phase.

Rational design of thermotropic liquid crystal (LC)-based sensors utilizing different mesophases holds great promise to open up novel detection modalities for various chemical and biological applications. In this context, we present a dissipative particle dynamics study to explore the unique anchoring behavior of nematic and smectic LCs at amphiphile-laden aqueous-LC interface. By increasing the surface coverage of amphiphiles, two distinct anchoring sequences, a continuous planar-tilted-homeotropic transition and a discontinuous planar-to-homeotropic transition, can be observed for the nematic and smectic LCs, respectively. More importantly, the latter occurs at a much lower surface coverage of amphiphiles, demonstrating an outstanding sensitivity for the smectic-based sensors. The dynamics of reorientation further reveals that the formation of homeotropic smectic anchoring is mainly governed by the synchronous growth of smectic layers through the LCs, which is significantly different from the mechanism of interface-to-bulk ordering propagation in nematic anchoring. Furthermore, the smectic LCs have also been proven to possess a potential selectivity in response to a subtle change in the chain rigidity of amphiphiles. These simulation findings are promising and would be valuable for the development of novel smectic-based sensors.

[Birth weights of singleton neonates of 14 Chinese ethnic groups in 11 cities of China]. / 中国11市14ä¸ªæ°‘æ—å•èƒŽå„¿å‡ºç”Ÿä½“é‡ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To develop the birth weight curves of the Chinese Han (26-41 weeks of gestation) and Zhuang (28-41 weeks of gestation) singleton neonates in 11 cities of China, as well as the birth weight means of full-term neonates of 14 Chinese ethnic groups. METHODS: The live singleton neonates who were born in 11 maternal and child health care hospitals from 11 cities of China between January 2017 and December 2020 were classified according to the mother's ethnic group. Birth weight means were calculated for the full-term neonates of each ethnic group. For the Han and Zhuang singleton neonates with a large sample size, the Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) method was used to establish the birth weight percentile curves of the Han and Zhuang singleton neonates with different gestational ages. RESULTS: A total of 105 365 live singleton neonates were included, among whom the Han neonates had the highest number of 84 851 (26-41 weeks of gestation), followed by the Zhuang neonates (12 803 neonates with a gestational age of 28-41 weeks). The neonates of the other Chinese ethnic groups enrolled were live full-term singleton neonates, with a sample size of more than 100 neonates for each ethnic group. The 3rd-97th percentile curves of birth weight were established for the Han singleton neonates with a gestational age of 26-41 weeks and the Zhuang singleton neonates with a gestational age of 28-41 weeks. The birth weight curves of the Han singleton neonates at each gestational age were higher than those of the Zhuang singleton neonates. Birth weight means (3 199-3 499 g) and standard deviations were determined for 14 Chinese ethnic groups, i.e., Li, Mulao, Zhuang, Yao, Dong, Miao, Han, Buyi, Mongolian, Tujia, Yi, Hui, Man, and Korean ethnic groups. The Li ethnic group had the lowest birth weight, followed by the Mulao, Zhuang, Yao, Dong, Miao, Han, Buyi, Mongolian, Tujia, Yi, Hui, Man, and Korean ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: The 3rd-97th percentile curves of birth weight are developed for the Han (26-41 weeks of gestation) and Zhuang (28-41 weeks of gestation) singleton neonates in 11 cities of China, and birth weight means are determined for the full-term neonates of 14 Chinese ethnic groups in 11 cities of China, which provides a reference for evaluating the intrauterine growth of neonates in these ethnic groups.

Deep-learning image reconstruction for image quality evaluation and accurate bone mineral density measurement on quantitative CT: A phantom-patient study.

Background and purpose: To investigate the image quality and accurate bone mineral density (BMD) on quantitative CT (QCT) for osteoporosis screening by deep-learning image reconstruction (DLIR) based on a multi-phantom and patient study. Materials and methods: High-contrast spatial resolution, low-contrast detectability, modulation function test (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and image noise were evaluated for physical image quality on Caphan 500 phantom. Three calcium hydroxyapatite (HA) inserts were used for accurate BMD measurement on European Spine Phantom (ESP). CT images were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-veo 50% (ASiR-V50%), and three levels of DLIR(L/M/H). Subjective evaluation of the image high-contrast spatial resolution and low-contrast detectability were compared visually by qualified radiologists, whilst the statistical difference in the objective evaluation of the image high-contrast spatial resolution and low-contrast detectability, image noise, and relative measurement error were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Cohen's kappa coefficient (k) was performed to determine the interobserver agreement in qualitative evaluation between two radiologists. Results: Overall, for three levels of DLIR, 50% MTF was about 4.50 (lp/cm), better than FBP (4.12 lp/cm) and ASiR-V50% (4.00 lp/cm); the 2 mm low-contrast object was clearly resolved at a 0.5% contrast level, while 3mm at FBP and ASiR-V50%. As the strength level decreased and radiation dose increased, DLIR at three levels showed a higher NPS peak frequency and lower noise level, leading to leftward and rightward shifts, respectively. Measured L1, L2, and L3 were slightly lower than that of nominal HA inserts (44.8, 95.9, 194.9 versus 50.2, 100.6, 199.2mg/cm3) with a relative measurement error of 9.84%, 4.08%, and 2.60%. Coefficients of variance for the L1, L2, and L3 HA inserts were 1.51%, 1.41%, and 1.18%. DLIR-M and DLIR-H scored significantly better than ASiR-V50% in image noise (4.83 ± 0.34, 4.50 ± 0.50 versus 4.17 ± 0.37), image contrast (4.67 ± 0.73, 4.50 ± 0.70 versus 3.80 ± 0.99), small structure visibility (4.83 ± 0.70, 4.17 ± 0.73 versus 3.83 ± 1.05), image sharpness (3.83 ± 1.12, 3.53 ± 0.90 versus 3.27 ± 1.16), and artifacts (3.83 ± 0.90, 3.42 ± 0.37 versus 3.10 ± 0.83). The CT value, image noise, contrast noise ratio, and image artifacts in DLIR-M and DLIR-H outperformed ASiR-V50% and FBP (P<0.001), whilst it showed no statistically significant between DLIR-L and ASiR-V50% (P>0.05). The prevalence of osteoporosis was 74 (24.67%) in women and 49 (11.79%) in men, whilst the osteoporotic vertebral fracture rate was 26 (8.67%) in women and (5.29%) in men. Conclusion: Image quality with DLIR was high-qualified without affecting the accuracy of BMD measurement. It has a potential clinical utility in osteoporosis screening.

Birth weight curves of twin neonates with a gestational age of 25-40 weeks and their regional differences in 11 cities of China: an analysis of 17 256 cases. / 中国11市17 256例胎龄25~40周双胎儿出生体重曲线及地区差异特征.

OBJECTIVES: To develop the birth weight curve of twin neonates with a gestational age of 25-40 weeks, and to investigate the regional differences of the birth weight curve. METHODS: A total of 11 maternal and child health care hospitals with more than 7 000 neonates delivered annually were selected in 11 cities of China (Haikou, Guangzhou, Liuzhou, Guilin, Quanzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Chengdu, Changsha, Ningbo, and Lianyungang), and all live twin neonates delivered in the 11 hospitals from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020 were enrolled for the development of birth weight curves. RESULTS: A total of 17 256 twin neonates with a gestational age of 25-40 weeks from the 11 cities were included in the study. The reference values of the 3rd-97th percentiles of birth weight of twin neonates for the total of the 11 cities and for each of the 11 cities in China were established, and the birth weight percentile curves were drawn. The birth weight curve level of twin neonates in Liuzhou was lower than the average level of the 11 cities; the birth weight curve level of twin neonates in Ningbo was higher than the average level of the 11 cities; the birth weight curve level of twin neonates in Lianyungang was obviously higher than the average level of the 11 cities; the birth weight curve level of twin neonates in other 8 cities was almost the same as the average level of the 11 cities. CONCLUSIONS: The reference values of the 3rd-97th percentiles of birth weight of twin neonates for the total of the 11 cities and for each of the 11 cities are developed, which can be used as a reference for evaluating the intrauterine growth of twin neonates in the region. The level of intrauterine growth of twin neonates in some cities is different from the average level of the 11 cities of China.

Laser Processing of Flexible In-Plane Micro-supercapacitors: Progresses in Advanced Manufacturing of Nanostructured Electrodes.

Flexible in-plane architecture micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) are competitive candidates for on-chip miniature energy storage applications owing to their light weight, small size, high flexibility, as well as the advantages of short charging time, high power density, and long cycle life. However, tedious and time-consuming processes are required for the manufacturing of high-resolution interdigital electrodes using conventional approaches. In contrast, the laser processing technique enables high-efficiency high-precision patterning and advanced manufacturing of nanostructured electrodes. In this review, the recent advances in laser manufacturing and patterning of nanostructured electrodes for applications in flexible in-plane MSCs are comprehensively summarized. Various laser processing techniques for the synthesis, modification, and processing of interdigital electrode materials, including laser pyrolysis, reduction, oxidation, growth, activation, sintering, doping, and ablation, are discussed. In particular, some special features and merits of laser processing techniques are highlighted, including the impacts of laser types and parameters on manufacturing electrodes with desired morphologies/structures and their applications on the formation of high-quality nanoshaped graphene, the selective deposition of nanostructured materials, the controllable nanopore etching and heteroatom doping, and the efficient sintering of nanometal products. Finally, the current challenges and prospects associated with the laser processing of in-plane MSCs are also discussed. This review will provide a useful guidance for the advanced manufacturing of nanostructured electrodes in flexible in-plane energy storage devices and beyond.

[Birth weight curves of singleton neonates with a gestational age of 24-42 weeks and their regional differences in 11 cities of China: an analysis of 93 720 cases]. / 中国11市93 720例胎龄24~42å‘¨å•èƒŽå„¿å‡ºç”Ÿä½“é‡æ›²çº¿åŠå ¶åœ°åŒºå·®å¼‚ç‰¹å¾.

OBJECTIVES: To develop the birth weight curve of singleton neonates with a gestational age of 24-42 weeks, and to investigate the regional differences of the birth weight curve. METHODS: A total of 11 maternal and child health hospitals with more than 7 000 neonates delivered annually were selected in 11 cities of China (Haikou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Liuzhou, Guilin, Quanzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Changsha, Ningbo, and Lianyungang), and all live singleton neonates delivered in the 11 hospitals from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020 were enrolled for the development of birth weight curves. RESULTS: A total of 93 720 singleton neonates with a gestational age of 24-42 weeks from the 11 cities were included in the study. The reference values of the 3rd-97th percentiles of birth weight of singleton neonates for the total of the 11 cities and for each of the 11 cities were established, and the birth weight percentile curves were drawn. The birth weight curve level of singleton neonates in Shenzhen and Quanzhou was almost the same as the average level of the 11 cities; the birth weight curve level of singleton neonates in Haikou, Guangzhou, Guilin, and Liuzhou was slightly lower than the average level of the 11 cities; the birth weight curve level of singleton neonates in Chongqing, Chengdu, and Changsha was slightly higher than the average level of the 11 cities; the birth weight curve level of singleton neonates in Ningbo and Lianyungang was higher than the average level of the 11 cities. The average birth weight curve level of singleton neonates in the 11 cities were very close to that of China Neonatal Cooperation Network in 2011-2014. CONCLUSIONS: The reference values of the 3rd-97th percentiles of birth weight of singleton neonates for the total of the 11 cities and for each of the 11 cities are developed, which can be used as a reference for evaluating the intrauterine growth of singleton neonates in the region. The level of intrauterine growth of neonates in some cities is different from the national level.

Anisotropic Charge Transport Enabling High-Throughput and High-Aspect-Ratio Wet Etching of Silicon Carbide.

Wet etching of silicon carbide typically exhibits poor etching efficiency and low aspect ratio. In this study, an etching structure that exploits anisotropic charge carrier flow to enable high-throughput, external-bias-free wet etching of high-aspect-ratio SiC micro/nano-structures is demonstrated. Specifically, by applying a catalytic metal coating at the bottom surface of a SiC wafer while introducing patterned ultraviolet light illumination from its top surface, spatial charge separation across the wafer is achieved, i.e., photogenerated electrons are channeled to the bottom to participate in the reduction reaction of an oxidant in the etchant solution, while holes flow to the top to trigger oxidation of SiC and subsequent etching. Such design largely suppresses recombination-induced charge losses, and when used in combination with a top metal catalyst mask, the structure yields a remarkable vertical etching rate of 0.737 µm min-1 and an aspect ratio of 3.2, setting new records for wet-etching methods for SiC.

A phase I study of FCN-411, a pan-HER inhibitor, in EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC after progression on EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: There are no approved epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without EGFR T790M mutation after progression on first- or second-generation EGFR-TKIs. METHODS: We conducted this phase I, open-label, multicenter, dose-escalation/dose-expansion study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, antitumor activity, and pharmacokinetics of FCN-411, a TKI targeting EGFR, HER2, and HER4, in patients with EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC whose disease had progressed during treatment of EGFR-TKIs. Adult patients with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations (exon 18/19/20/21) who had progressed on prior EGFR-TKIs were enrolled. In the dose-escalation phase, patients received 4 mg, 8 mg, 12 mg, and 16 mg FCN-411 once daily until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). In the dose-expansion phase, patients received FCN-411 at the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) continuously in 21-day cycles. The primary endpoints were safety, tolerability, MTD, and RP2D. RESULTS: From July 23, 2018 to September 29, 2020, 77 patients were enrolled, including 30 with EGFR T790M mutation in tumor tissues. The cut-off date was February 1, 2021. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. The most common grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events among all patients were diarrhea (8; 10.4%) and dermatitis acneiform (7; 9.1%). Ten of 67 evaluable patients achieved confirmed partial response, with an objective response rate (ORR) of 14.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3-24.0); the ORR was 33.3%, 14.0%, 0, and 25.0% at 4 mg, 8 mg, 12 mg, and 16 mg, respectively. Besides, the ORR in patients without and with EGFR T790M mutation was 20.5% and 7.4%, respectively. Moreover, 39 patients achieved stable disease across all doses, and the disease control rate was 73.1% (95% CI, 60.9-83.2). Median progression-free survival was 4.1 (95% CI, 2.9-5.3) months. Median duration of response and overall survival have not been reached. CONCLUSIONS: FCN-411 was well tolerated and demonstrated preliminary antitumor activity in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC after progression on EGFR-TKIs, especially in those without EGFR T790M mutation. The RP2D was defined as 8 mg once daily. Future studies are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03420079.

A phantom study comparing low-dose CT physical image quality from five different CT scanners.

BACKGROUND: To systematically evaluate the physical image quality of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) on CT scanners from 5 different manufacturers using a phantom model. METHODS: CT images derived from a Catphan 500 phantom were acquired using manufacturer-specific iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms and deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) on CT scanners from 5 different manufacturers and compared using filtered back projection with 2 radiation doses of 0.25 and 0.75 mGy. Image high-contrast spatial resolution and image noise were objectively characterized by modulation transfer function (MTF) and noise power spectrum (NPS). Image high-contrast spatial resolution and image low-contrast detectability were compared directly by visual evaluation. CT number linearity and image uniformity were compared with intergroup differences using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The CT number linearity of 4 insert materials were as follows: acrylic (95% CI: 120.35 to 121.27; P=0.134), low-density polyethylene (95% CI: -98.43 to -97.43; P=0.070), air (95% CI: -996.16 to -994.51; P=0.018), and Teflon (95% CI: 984.40 to 986.87; P=0.883). The image uniformity values of GE Healthcare (95% CI: 3.24 to 3.83; P=0.138), Philips (95% CI: 2.62 to 3.70; P=0.299), Siemens (95% CI: 2.10 to 3.59; P=0.054), Minfound (95% CI: 2.35 to 3.65; P=0.589), and Neusoft (95% CI: 2.63 to 3.37; P=0.900) were evaluated and found to be within ±4 Hounsfield units (HU), with a range of 0.99-2.76 HU for standard deviations. There was no statistically significant difference in CT number linearity and image uniformity across the 5 CT scanners under different radiation doses with IR and DLIR algorithms (P>0.05). The resolution level at 10% MTF was 6.98 line-pairs-per-centimeter (lp/cm) on average, which was similar to the subjective evaluation results (mostly up to 7 lp/cm). DLIR at all 3 levels had the highest 50% MTF values among all reconstruction algorithms. For image low-contrast detectability, the minimum diameter of distinguishable contrast holes reached 4 mm at a 0.5% resolution. Increasing the radiation dose and IR strength reduced the image noise and NPS curve peak frequency while improving image low-contrast detectability. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the image quality of CT scanners from 5 different manufacturers in LDCT is comparable and that the CT number linearity is unbiased and can contribute to accurate bone mineral density quantification.

One-Step Ultraviolet Laser-Induced Fluorine-Doped Graphene Achieving Superhydrophobic Properties and Its Application in Deicing.

Joule heaters based on flexible thin films have attracted a significant amount of attention in both academia and the industry. However, it has been highly challenging to fabricate such heaters. In this study, a one-step laser induction method was proposed to prepare fluorine-doped laser-induced graphene (F-LIG) with stable and superhydrophobic properties by confining a 355 nm ultraviolet laser at the interface between the fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) film and polyimide (PI) film. The superhydrophobic properties of the F-LIG composite films could be attributed to the doping of fluorine elements and the laser-processed microstructures, which could be tuned by laser processing parameters. Based on the processed F-LIG films, Joule deicing heaters were developed and their deicing efficiencies are 7 times higher than that of the undoped LIG-based deicing heater. The method will provide new means and ideas to develop LIG-based flexible devices.

Propagation characteristics of the perfect vortex beam in anisotropic oceanic turbulence.

The propagation model of orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes carried by the perfect vortex (pv) beam through anisotropic oceanic turbulence links is established and the factors influencing the OAM propagation are discussed. The findings show that the self-focusing property of pv beams is beneficial to the propagation of OAM modes: a smaller topological charge, a smaller initial radius, and an optimized half-ring width can alleviate degrading effects of turbulence on the pv beam. Additionally, the pv beam with a longer wavelength is more resistant to turbulent interference. The oceanic conditions with a higher dissipation rate of kinetic energy per unit mass of seawater, larger values of anisotropy and inner-scale factor, a smaller temperature-salinity contribution ratio, or a lower mean-squared temperature dissipation rate can improve the signal mode detection probability. The results are expected to further optimize the design of OAM-based underwater wireless communication systems.

High Voltage Microsupercapacitors Fabricated and Assembled by Laser Carving.

Miniaturized and flexible power resources such as supercapacitors with resistance of high voltage play a critical role as potential energy storage devices for implantable and portable electronics because of their convenience, high power density, and long-term stability. Herein, we propose a novel strategy for the fabrication of high voltage microsupercapacitors (HVMSCs) employing porous laser-induced graphene (from polyimide films with alkalization treatment) followed by laser carving of the polyvinyl alcohol/H3PO4 gel electrolyte to realize a series assembly of supercapacitors and significantly increase the voltage resistance. The results elucidated that HVMSCs (3 mm × 21.15 mm) exhibited excellent capacitive performance including exceptional potential window (10 V), high areal capacitance (244 µF/cm2), acceptable power density (274 µW/cm2) and energy density (3.22 µW h/cm2), good electrochemical stability and flexibility at different bending status (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180°), as well as impressive voltage durability more than 5 V in smaller scale (0.5 mm × 5.5 mm). As such, the HVMSCs have great potential to be integrated with microcircuit modules for the next-generation self-powered systems and storage electronic devices in high voltage applications.

Propagation of orbital angular momentum modes carried by hollow vortex Gaussian beams in anisotropic atmospheric turbulence.

We establish the propagation model of orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes carried by hollow vortex Gaussian (hvG) beams propagating in anisotropic atmospheric turbulence. Effects of light source parameters and atmospheric conditions on the OAM mode propagation performance are investigated in detail. The findings indicate the hvG beam with a smaller OAM quantum number, a larger beam order, or a longer source wavelength has more robust resistance to atmospheric turbulence interference. The waist width of the light source has different influences on the OAM mode propagation at different propagation distances. Atmospheric turbulences with larger values of anisotropy, inner-scale factor, non-Kolmogorov power spectrum index, and altitude are favorable for the OAM mode propagation. These research results are conducive to optimizing the design of light sources and space wireless communication systems with hvG beams.

Evaluation on Short-Term Therapeutic Effect of 2 Porphyrin Photosensitizer-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy for Esophageal Cancer.

PURPOSE: To analyze and study the short-term therapeutic effects and main adverse effects of 2 Porphyrin photosensitizer-mediated photodynamic therapy for esophageal cancer. METHODS: We apply the hematoporphyrin derivative and hematoporphyrin injection produced by different manufacturers at different periods as photosensitizers in therapy of 79 esophageal cancer cases, with the administration dosage of 5 mg/kg and intravenous drip 24 hours before irradiation. We apply the gold vapor laser and semiconductor laser, respectively, as treatment light source, with the power density of 100 to 300 mW/cm2 and energy density of 100 to 300 J/cm2. After treatment for 1 to 4 sessions, we evaluate the short-term therapeutic effects as complete response, partial response, minor response, or no change, and then make comparative study on therapeutic effects and adverse effects. RESULTS: There were 47 patients in hematoporphyrin derivative group, including 3 (6.4%) patients with complete response, 31 (66.0%) patients with partial response, 10 (21.3%) patients with minor response, and 3 (6.4%) patients with no change. The dysphagia score was reduced from 2.53 (1.16) before treatment to 1.32 (1.20; P < .01) after treatment. There were 32 patients in the hematoporphyrin injection group, including 3 (9.4%) patients with complete response, 19 (59.4%) patients with partial response, 6 (18.8%) patients with minor response, and 4 (12.5%) patients with no change. The dysphagia score was reduced from 2.41 (1.13) before treatment to 1.18 (0.99; P < .01) after treatment. The dysphagia scores of 2 groups after treatment were significantly reduced compared to those before treatment. Both groups did not display serious adverse effect. CONCLUSIONS: Two porphyrin photosensitizers in treatment of esophageal cancer at different clinical stages all had good effect with similar therapeutic effect, mild adverse effect, and good tolerance, which implies it is a preferable palliative therapy means.