Preparation and characterization of the antimony telluride hexagonal nanoplates

Qiu-li Yuan,Qiu-lin Nie,De-xuan Huo 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.1

Nanostructured thermoelectric materials are of much interest for improving the thermoelectric figure of merit. In the present work, Sb2Te3 hexagonal nanoplates were successfully fabricated via a facile hydrothermal method. The products were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results show that the typical Sb2Te3 crystal is hexagonal in shape with about 35 nm in thickness and 300 nm in edge length. The mechanism for formation of Sb2Te3 hexagonal nanoplates is primarily discussed. Nanostructured thermoelectric materials are of much interest for improving the thermoelectric figure of merit. In the present work, Sb2Te3 hexagonal nanoplates were successfully fabricated via a facile hydrothermal method. The products were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results show that the typical Sb2Te3 crystal is hexagonal in shape with about 35 nm in thickness and 300 nm in edge length. The mechanism for formation of Sb2Te3 hexagonal nanoplates is primarily discussed.

Pretreatment Serum Amyloid A and C-reactive Protein Comparing with Epstein-Barr Virus DNA as Prognostic Indicators in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Prospective Study

Qiu-Yan Chen,Qing-Nan Tang,Lin-Quan Tang,Wen-Hui Chen,Shan-Shan Guo,Li-Ting Liu,Chao-Feng Li,Yang Li,Yu-Jing Liang,Xue-Song Sun,Ling Guo,Hao-Yuan Mo,Rui Sun,Dong-Hua Luo,Yu-Ying Fan,Yan He,Ming-Yuan C 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.3

Purpose The measuring Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is an important predictor of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study evaluated the predictive value of pretreatment serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) comparing with EBV DNA in patients with NPC. Materials and Methods In an observational study of 419 non-metastatic NPC patients, we prospectively evaluated the prognostic effects of pretreatment SAA, CRP, and EBV DNA on survival. The primary endpoint was progress-free survival (PFS). Results The median level of SAA and CRP was 4.28 mg/L and 1.88 mg/L, respectively. For the high- SAA group (> 4.28 mg/L) versus the low-SAA ( 4.28 mg/L) group and the high-CRP group (> 1.88 mg/L) versus the low-CRP ( 1.88 mg/L) group, the 5-year PFS was 64.5% versus 73.1% (p=0.013) and 65.2% versus 73.3% (p=0.064), respectively. EBV DNA detection showed a superior predictive result, the 5-year PFS in the EBV DNA  1,500 copies/mL group was obviously different than the EBV DNA < 1,500 copies/mL group (62.2% versus 77.8%, p < 0.001). Multifactorial Cox regression analysis confirmed that in the PFS, the independent prognostic factors were including EBV DNA (hazard ratio [HR], 1.788; p=0.009), tumour stage (HR, 1.903; p=0.021), and node stage (HR, 1.498; p=0.049), but the SAA and CRP were not included in the independent prognostic factors. Conclusion The results of SAA and CRP had a certain relationship with the prognosis of NPC, and the prognosis of patients with high level of SAA and CRP were poor. However, the predictive ability of SAA and CRP was lower than that of EBV DNA.

Efficacy and Safety of Laser Surgery and Transurethral Resection of the Prostate for Treating Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: a Network Meta-analysis

Wang, Li,Yu, Qiu-Yan,Liu, Yan,Zhu, Zhen-Li,Huang, Yuan-Wei,Li, Ke Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.9

Background: Traditional meta-analyses or systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been used to compare laser surgeries and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostate hyperplasia (BHP), but they cannot provide a hierarchy regarding efficacy and safety of treatment. Objective: We therefore performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare and create hierarchies for efficacy and safety of TUPR and laser surgeries for BPH. Materials and Methods: We searched for reports of RCTs published up to April 25, 2015. After methodological quality assessment and data extraction, we performed an NMA to compare TURP and laser surgeries for BPH. Results: We ranked the treatments of TURP and laser surgeries for BPH. For IPSS at 6 months, holmium laser resection of the prostate (HoLRP) ranked the first-best and at 12 months, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). For Qmax at 6 and 12 months, HoLEP ranked the first-best; for operative time it was TURP; for cathedral removal time, diode laser enucleation of the prostate (DiLEP) ranked the first-best. Conclusions: Although TURP is considered the gold standard for treating BPH, it is not better in terms of efficacy and safety compared with the laser surgery. Our NMA created hierarchies for the 9 types of surgery in terms of efficacy and safety, which should help clinicians choose the best approach for the individual patient.

Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in microwave ablation treatment of symptomatic focal uterine adenomyosis

Xiao-Long Li,Jia-Xin Li,Song-Yuan Yu,Pei-Li Fan,Yun-Jie Jin,Er-Jiao Xu,Sai-Nan Guan,Er-Ya Deng,Qiu-Yan Li,Zheng-Biao Ji,Jiu-Ling Qi,Hui-Xiong Xu,China Alliance of Multi-Center Clinical Study for Ultra 대한초음파의학회 2024 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.43 No.1

Purpose: This study evaluated the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) treatment of symptomatic focal uterine adenomyosis.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between March 2020 and January 2023, enrolling 52 patients with symptomatic focal uterine adenomyosis who had undergone MWA. All patients were examined with CEUS before and after MWA. The non-perfused volume (NPV) was compared between CEUS and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCEMRI) following ablation. Therapeutic efficacy and safety were evaluated at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Additionally, this study explored the correlations between pre-treatment CEUS features and a volume reduction ratio indicating sufficient ablation, defined as 50% or more at the 3-month follow-up.Results: No significant differences in NPV were noted between CEUS and DCE-MRI immediately after MWA and during follow-up (all P>0.05). At the 3-month follow-up, the median VRRs for the uterus and adenomyosis were 33.2% and 63.9%, respectively. Sufficient ablation was achieved in 69.2% (36/52) of adenomyosis cases, while partial ablation was observed in the remaining 30.8% (16/52). The identification of non-enhancing areas on pre-treatment CEUS was associated with sufficient ablation (P=0.016). At the 12-month follow-up, significant decreases were observed in both the uterine and adenomyosis volumes (all P<0.001). Dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia were significantly alleviated at 12 months, and no major complications were encountered.Conclusion: CEUS can be used to evaluate the ablation zone of focal adenomyosis that has been treated with MWA, similarly to DCE-MRI. The identification of non-enhancing areas on pretreatment CEUS indicates satisfactory treatment outcomes. Purpose: This study evaluated the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) treatment of symptomatic focal uterine adenomyosis. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between March 2020 and January 2023, enrolling 52 patients with symptomatic focal uterine adenomyosis who had undergone MWA. All patients were examined with CEUS before and after MWA. The non-perfused volume (NPV) was compared between CEUS and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE- MRI) following ablation. Therapeutic efficacy and safety were evaluated at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Additionally, this study explored the correlations between pre-treatment CEUS features and a volume reduction ratio indicating sufficient ablation, defined as 50% or more at the 3-month follow-up. Results: No significant differences in NPV were noted between CEUS and DCE-MRI immediately after MWA and during follow-up (all P>0.05). At the 3-month follow-up, the median VRRs for the uterus and adenomyosis were 33.2% and 63.9%, respectively. Sufficient ablation was achieved in 69.2% (36/52) of adenomyosis cases, while partial ablation was observed in the remaining 30.8% (16/52). The identification of non-enhancing areas on pre-treatment CEUS was associated with sufficient ablation (P=0.016). At the 12-month follow-up, significant decreases were observed in both the uterine and adenomyosis volumes (all P<0.001). Dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia were significantly alleviated at 12 months, and no major complications were encountered. Conclusion: CEUS can be used to evaluate the ablation zone of focal adenomyosis that has been treated with MWA, similarly to DCE-MRI. The identification of non-enhancing areas on pre- treatment CEUS indicates satisfactory treatment outcomes.

ADAPTIVE SLIDING MODE CONTROL OF LATERAL STABILITY OF FOUR WHEEL HUB ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Shou-Tao Li,Hui Liu,Di Zhao,Qiu-Yuan Li,Yantao Tian,De-Jun Wang,Ding-Li Yu 한국자동차공학회 2020 International journal of automotive technology Vol.21 No.3

Some physical parameters of a hub motor-driven four-wheel electric vehicle will change when the vehicle turns or maneuvers and the parameter change is caused by the change of the driving conditions. An adaptive sliding mode control is proposed in this paper to maintain the vehicle’s stability by compensating for the change of these parameters. The control parameter being adapted is the converging rate of the system state towards the sliding mode. As the Lyapunov method is used, so both the vehicle stability and adaptive rate convergence are guaranteed. Moreover, the hierarchical control structure is adopted for this vehicle stability control system. The above adaptive sliding model control forms the upper-layer; while the lower-layer control is to distribute the upper torque to the four wheels in an optimal way, subject to several constraints. In addition, the best feasible reference of the yaw rate and the vehicle side slip angle are obtained and used in the control system. The developed method is simulated under the CarSim/MATLAB co-simulation environment to evaluate the system performance. The simulation results are compared with the non-adaptive existing sliding mode control, and show that the proposed method is superior under different conditions.

Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Combined with Interferon-α is Safe and Effective for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Resection

Zuo, Chaohui,Xia, Man,Liu, Jingshi,Qiu, Xiaoxin,Lei, Xiong,Xu, Ruocai,Liu, Hanchun,Li, Jianliang,Li, Yongguo,Li, Qinglong,Xiao, Hua,Hong, Yuan,Wang, Xiaohong,Zhu, Haizhen,Wu, Qunfeng,Burns, Michael,Li Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.1

Objectives: Intrahepatic recurrence is the major cause of death among patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative surgical resection. Several approaches have been reported to decrease the recurrence rate. The objective of our study was to compare the clinical effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with interferon-alpha (IFN-${\alpha}$) therapy on recurrence after hepatic resection in patients with HBV-related HCC with that of TACE chemotherapy alone. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 228 patients who were diagnosed with HBV-related HCC and underwent curative resection between January 2001 to December 2008. The patients were divided into TACE (n = 126) and TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ (n = 102) groups for postoperative chemotherapy. The TACE regimen consisted of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cisplatin (DDP), and the emulsion mixed with mitomycin C (MMC) and lipiodol. The recurrence rates, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and risk of recurrence were evaluated. Results: The clinicopathological parameters and adverse effects were similar between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The median OS for the TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ group (36.3 months) was significantly longer than that of the TACE group (24.5 months, P < 0.05). The 3-and 5-year OS for the TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ group were significantly longer than those of the TACE group (P < 0.05) and the recurrence rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05). The TACE and IFN-${\alpha}$ combination therapy, active hepatitis HBV infection, the number of tumor nodules, microvascular invasion, liver cirrhosis, and the BCLC stage were independent predictors of OS and DFS. Conclusions: The use of the TACE and IFN-${\alpha}$ combination chemotherapy after curative hepatic resection safely and effectively improves OS and decreases recurrence in patients with HBV-related HCC who are at high risk. Our findings can serve as a guide for the selection of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with HBV-related HCC who are at high risk of recurrence.

First Report on Bacterial Heart Rot of Garlic Caused by Pseudomonas fluorescens in China

Li, Bin,Yu, Rong Rong,Yu, Shan Hong,Qiu, Wen,Fang, Yuan,Xie, Guan Lin The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2009 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.25 No.1

An unreported disease of garlic was observed in commercial fields in Jiangsu province, China. The symptoms started as water soaked lesions at the base of the leaves. Later, water-soaked areas developed on stems and spread to the internal tissues, followed by yellowing and necrosis along leaf edges and soft rot of the stems. The causal organism isolated from symptomatic plants was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens based on its biochemical and physiological characteristics and confirmed by the cellular fatty acid composition and Biolog data as well as 168 rRNA gene sequence analysis. The bacterial isolates caused similar symptoms when inoculated onto garlic plants. In addition, leek and shallot were susceptible to the P. fluorescens pathogen. However, the P. fluorescens pathogen failed to cause any symptoms when it was inoculated onto 15 other plants. This is the first report of a bacterial disease of garlic caused by P. fluorescens in China.

Combination of Tumor Volume and Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Improved Prognostic Stratification of Stage II Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in the Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Era: A Large-Scale Cohort Study

Qiu-Yan Chen,Shao-Yan Guo,Lin-Quan Tang,Tong-Yu Lu,Bo-Lin Chen,Qi-Yu Zhong,Meng-Sha Zou,Qing-Nan Tang,Wen-Hui Chen,Shan-Shan Guo,Li-Ting Liu,Yang Li,Ling Guo,Hao-Yuan Mo,Rui Sun,Dong-Hua Luo,Chong Zha 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.3

Purpose Little is known about combination of the circulating Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) DNA and tumor volume in prognosis of stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in the intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era. We conducted this cohort study to evaluate the prognostic values of combining these two factors. Materials and Methods By Kaplan-Meier, we compare the differences of survival curves between 385 patients with different EBV DNA or tumor volume levels, or with the combination of two biomarkers mentioned above. Results Gross tumor volume of cervical lymph nodes (GTVnd, p < 0.001) and total tumor volume (GTVtotal, p < 0.001) were both closely related to pretreatment EBV DNA, while gross tumor volume of nasopharynx (GTVnx, p=0.047) was weakly related to EBV DNA. EBV DNA was significantly correlated with progress-free survival (PFS, p=0.005), locoregional-free survival (LRFS, p=0.039), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, p=0.017), while GTVtotal, regardless of GTVnx and GTVnd, had a significant correlation with PFS and LRFS. The p-values of GTVtotal for PFS and LRFS were 0.008 and 0.001, respectively. According to GTVtotal and pretreatment EBV DNA level, patients were divided into a low-risk group (EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm3; EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal  30 cm3; or EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm3) and a high-risk group (EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal  30 cm3). When patients in the low-risk group were compared with those in the high-risk group, 3-year PFS (p=0.003), LRFS (p=0.010), and DMFS (p=0.031) rates were statistically significant. Conclusion Pretreatment plasma EBV DNA and tumor volume were both closely correlated with prognosis of stage II NPC patients in the IMRT era. Combination of EBV DNA and tumor volume can refine prognosis and indicate for clinical therapy.

Measurement of TOF of fast neutrons with ²³⁸U target

Li, Meng,Guan, Yuanfan,Lu, Chengui,Zhang, Junwei,Yuan, Xiaohua,Duan, Limin,Yang, Herun,Hu, Rongjiang,He, Zhiyong,Wei, Xianglun,Ma, Peng,Gan, Zaiguo,Yang, Chunli,Zhang, Hongbin,Chen, Liang,Qiu, Tianli Korean Nuclear Society 2021 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.53 No.6

We developed a Dual-PPACs detector for fast neutron measurements that consists of two sets of PPAC: conventional PPAC and fission PPAC. A²³⁸U(U₃O₈) coating is placed in the fission PPAC's anode, which is used as the neutrons conversion layer. An experiment was performed to measure neutron time-of-flight (TOF) in which ²⁵²Cf spontaneous fission source was used. An excellent time resolution of 164ps has been observed at 6 mbar in isobutene gas. With the excellent time resolution of Dual-PPACs detector, exact neutron energy can be extracted from the timing measurement. The experimental detection efficiency was 1.9 × 10^-7, consistent with the efficiency of 2.5 × 10^-7 given by a Geant4 simulation. Ultimately, the results show that the Dual-PPACs detector is a suitable candidate for measuring fast neutrons in the future CiADS system.

Extramedullary Plasmacytoma Involving the Bilateral Adrenal Glands on MR Imaging

Yuan Li,Ying-kun Guo,Zhi-gang Yang,En-sen Ma,Peng-qiu Min 대한영상의학회 2007 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.8 No.3

We report here on a 64-year-old woman with extramedullary plasmacytoma involving the bilateral adrenal glands. Primary adrenal extramedullary plasmacytoma is extremely rare and only three cases of extramedullary plasmacytoma in the unilateral adrenal gland have currently been reported on. This case is of interest in that the bilateral adrenals were involved. In this article, we present the MRI findings and we briefly review the relevant literature.