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BACKGROUND To explore the TEM8 expression in patients with lung cancer and its relationship with clinical pathology and prognosis, and to analyze the diagnostic value of TEM8. METHODS A total of 204 patients with lung cancer diagnosed and treated in Zhongmeng Hospital Zhalantun and the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University from March 2013 to February 2016 were enrolled in the study group, and 203 healthy subjects in the control group. qRT-PCR technique was applied to detect the TEM8 expression. Combined with clinical information, the diagnostic value of TEM8 for lung cancer and the correlation of clinical characteristics of TEM8 were analyzed. The 3-year survival curves of patients with low and high TEM8 expressions were compared. RESULTS The expression in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P

Traceability of honey is highly required by consumers and food administration with the consideration of food safety and quality. In this study, a technique named laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to fast trace geographical origins of acacia honey and multi-floral honey. LIBS emissions from elements of Mg, Ca, Na, and K had significant differences among different geographical origins. The clusters of honey from different geographical origins were visualized with principal component analysis. In addition, support vector machine (SVM) and linear discrimination analysis (LDA) were used to quantitively classify the origins. The results indicated that SVM performed better than LDA, and the discriminant results of multi-floral honey were better than acacia honey. The accuracy and mean average precision for multi-floral honey were 99.7% and 99.7%, respectively. This study provided a fast approach for geographical origin classification, and might be helpful for food traceability.

Vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of nanoscale or subwavelength scale semiconductor wires (nanowires) has been proven to be an important and effective approach to producing high-quality, substrate insensitive photonic materials with a flexible and ever-expanding coverage of wavelengths for lasing and other photonic applications. However, the materials and lasing demonstrations have so far been limited to mostly ultraviolet to visible wavelengths, with a few exceptions in the short-wavelength infrared range. A further extension to longer wavelengths (such as mid-infrared, MIR) using narrower band gap semiconductors encounters severe challenges: the ever decreasing radiative efficiency due to the Auger and other nonradiative channels with wavelengths demands extremely high material quality and significantly narrows the material choices. This situation is very unsatisfactory, given many important applications that demand materials and lasers of subwavelength scales for MIR wavelengths in an integrated platform, especially on silicon. Here we report our results on lasing demonstration in MIR (3-4 μm) based on a unique combination of high-quality material growth on a silicon substrate and the choice of an intrinsically strong MIR material in lead sulfide (PbS). Lasing is demonstrated from single wires both on the original silicon substrate and on the sapphire substrates after transferring, with sizes of lasing wires down to below half of the normalized volume (volume of wires divided by the wavelength cubed) and operating temperature up to 180 K. Such subwavelength wire lasers could be important for a wide range of MIR applications on silicon-based integrated photonic platforms, such as chemical and environmental sensing, free-space communications, and many others.

Aim This study was conducted to determine a more accurate imaging method for the diagnosis of cesarean scar diverticulum (CSD) and to identify the parameters of CSD strongly associated with prolonged menstrual bleeding. Methods We enrolled 282 women with a history of cesarean section (CS) who presented with prolonged menstrual bleeding between January 2012 and May 2015. Transvaginal ultrasound, general magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced MRI were used to diagnose CSD. Five parameters were compared among the imaging modalities: length, width, depth and thickness of the remaining muscular layer (TRM) of CSD and the depth/TRM ratio. Correlation between the five parameters and days of menstrual bleeding was performed. Finally, multivariate analysis was used to determine the parameters associated with menstrual bleeding longer than 14 days. Results Contrast-enhanced MRI yielded greater length or width or thinner TRM of CSD compared with MRI and transvaginal ultrasound. CSD size did not significantly differ between women who had undergone one and two CSs. Correlation analysis revealed that CSD (P = 0.038) and TRM (P = 0.003) lengths were significantly associated with days of menstrual bleeding. Longer than 14 days of bleeding was defined by cut-off values of 2.15 mm for TRM and 13.85 mm for length. TRM and number of CSs were strongly associated with menstrual bleeding longer than 14 days. Conclusions CE-MRI is a relatively accurate and efficient imaging method for the diagnosis of CSD. A cut-off value of TRM of 2.15 mm is the most important parameter associated with menstrual bleeding longer than 14 days.

Based on the Fourier transform (FT) of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), the relation between the displacement of the plasmonic field and the spatial frequency of the excitation light is theoretically established. The SPPs&rsquo, field shifts transversally or longitudinally when the spatial frequency components f x or f y are correspondingly changed. The SPPs&rsquo, focus and vortex field can be precisely located at the desired position by choosing the appropriate spatial frequency. Simulation results are in good agreement with the theoretical analyses. Dynamically tailoring the plasmonic field based on the spatial frequency modulation can find potential applications in microparticle manipulation and angular multiplexed SPP focusing and propagation.

We demonstrate a novel top-down approach for fabricating nanowires with unprecedented complexity and optical quality by taking advantage of a nanoscale self-masking effect. We realized vertical arrays of nanowires of 20-40 nm in diameter with 16 segments of complex longitudinal InGaAsP/InP structures. The unprecedented high quality of etched wires is evidenced by the narrowest photoluminescence linewidth ever produced in similar wavelengths, indistinguishable from that of the corresponding wafer. This top-down, mask-free, large scale approach is compatible with the established device fabrication processes and could serve as an important alternative to the bottom-up approach, significantly expanding ranges and varieties of applications of nanowire technology.

Objective This work aims to explore the effects of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR) and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithms in reducing computed tomography (CT) radiation dosages in abdominal imaging. Methods CT scans on a standard male phantom were performed at different tube currents. Images at the different tube currents were reconstructed with the filtered back-projection (FBP), 50% ASiR and MBIR algorithms and compared. The CT value, image noise and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) of the reconstructed abdominal images were measured. Volumetric CT dose indexes (CTDIvol) were recorded. Results At different tube currents, 50% ASiR and MBIR significantly reduced image noise and increased the CNR when compared with FBP. The minimal tube current values required by FBP, 50% ASiR, and MBIR to achieve acceptable image quality using this phantom were 200, 140, and 80 mA, respectively. At the identical image quality, 50% ASiR and MBIR reduced the radiation dose by 35.9% and 59.9% respectively when compared with FBP. Conclusions Advanced iterative reconstruction techniques are able to reduce image noise and increase image CNRs. Compared with FBP, 50% ASiR and MBIR reduced radiation doses by 35.9% and 59.9%, respectively.

We report mid-infrared lasing around 3 μm from a single PbS subwavelength wire, with a cavity volume less than the wavelength cubed at 0.44 λ3. The maximal lasing temperature is 180 K under pulse operation.

Surface states in semiconductor nanowires (NWs) are detrimental to the NW optical and electronic properties and to their light emission-based applications, due to the large surface-to-volume ratio of NWs and the congregation of defects states near surfaces. In this paper, we demonstrated an effective approach to eliminate surface states in InAs NWs of zinc-blende (ZB) and wurtzite (WZ) structures and a dramatic recovery of band edge emission through surface passivation with organic sulfide octadecylthiol (ODT). Microphotoluminescence (PL) measurements were carried out before and after passivation to study the dominant recombination mechanisms and surface state densities of the NWs. For WZ-NWs, we show that the passivation removed the surface states and recovered the band-edge emission, leading to a factor of ∼19 reduction of PL linewidth. For ZB-NWs, the deep surface states were removed and the PL peaks width became as narrow as ∼250 nm with some remaining emission of near band-edge surface states. The passivated NWs showed excellent stability in atmosphere, water, and heat environments. In particular, no observable changes occurred in the PL features from the passivated NWs exposed in air for more than five months.

We report on synthesis of single crystal erbium chloride silicate nanowires, which exhibit superior optical property than erbium silicate, providing a new Si-compatible material for light emission and amplification at1.53 μm wavelength.

We demonstrated a general methodology of growing spatially composition-controlled alloys by combining spatial source reagent gradient with a temperature gradient. Using this dual gradient method, we achieved for the first time a continuous spatial composition grading of single-crystal quaternary Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S(y)Se(1-y) alloy nanowires over the complete band gap range along the length of a substrate. The band gap grading spans between 3.55 eV (ZnS) and 1.75 eV (CdSe) on a single substrate, with the corresponding light emission over the entire visible spectrum. We also showed that the dual gradient method can be extended to achieve alloy composition control in two spatial dimensions. The unique material platform achieved will open a wide range of applications from color engineered display and lighting, full spectrum solar cells, multispectral detectors, or spectrometer on-a-chip to superbroadly tunable nanolasers. The growth methodology can be extended more generally to other alloy systems.

We used an improved cothermal evaporation route for the first time to achieve quaternary semiconductor nanostructured alloys, using an example of Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S(y)Se(1-y) nanobelts. The PL (bandgap) of these as-grown nanostructured alloys can be continuously tunable across the entire visible spectrum through experimentally controlling their compositions. Such widely controlled alloy nanostructures via composition/light emission provide a new material platform for applications in wavelength-tunable lasers, multicolor detectors, full-spectrum solar cells, LEDs, and color displays.

Purpose Craniofacial venous malformations (VMs) are challenging lesions. Treatment is not routinely indicated unless the benefit and loss have been weighed properly. Therefore it is crucial to predict clinical outcome before treatment. This study was performed to retrospectively determine whether pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are predictive of outcome in patients who undergo sclerotherapy for craniofacial VMs. Patients and Methods MRI findings and clinical results of percutaneous sclerotherapy with ethanol and bleomycin A 5 in 69 patients with craniofacial VMs were retrospectively reviewed. Lesions were categorized with MRI based on margins; 51 were limited VMs, and 18 were infiltrating VMs. We performed t test analysis to assess the difference in the number of sclerotherapy sessions between the 2 groups. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate differences in symptom improvement and satisfaction level between the groups. The difference in complication rates was assessed by χ 2 analysis. Results The better response to treatment was among the patients with limited VMs. The number of sclerotherapy sessions was 1.9 ± 1.2 for limited VMs and 3.6 ± 1.5 for infiltrating VMs, with a significant difference between the groups ( P = .0001). The patients with limited VMs were significantly more likely to have better symptom improvement ( P = .0001) and a higher satisfaction level ( P = .0001). The complication rates of the limited and infiltrating VMs were 18.2% (18/99) and 32.8% (21/64), respectively. A significant difference was found between the groups ( P = .033). Conclusions The feature of lesion margin on MRI before sclerotherapy is an important predictor of treatment outcome for craniofacial VMs.

We demonstrate CdSxSe1-xnanowire growth with x changing from 0 to 1 continuously within 1-cm substrate corresponding to 200-nm wavelength variation on a single substrate, providing novel full-spectrum materials for high-efficiency solar cell applications.

We report on the first synthesis and structural characterizations of a new Erbium (Er) compound, the erbium chloride silicate (ECS, Er3Cl(SiO4)2) single crystal in a Si-ECS core-shell nanowire form. The Er-concentration in ECS at 1.6x1022 cm−3 is three orders of magnitude higher than that of the Er-doped materials. Photoluminescence spectra at both low and room temperatures exhibit well separated sharp emission lines in the near infrared region. The new single-crystal erbium-compound nanowires provide a unique Si-compatible material for high-gain light emission in communication wavelength and for many other photonic applications.

We demonstrate lasing in Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) waveguides filled with electrically pumped semiconductor cores, with core width dimensions below the diffraction limit. Furthermore these waveguides propagate a transverse magnetic (TM0) or so called gap plasmon mode [1-4]. Hence we show that losses in sub-wavelength MIM waveguides can be overcome to create small plasmon mode lasers at wavelengths near 1500 nm. We also give results showing room temperature lasing in MIM waveguides, with approximately 310 nm wide semiconductor cores which propagate a transverse electric mode.

The authors report enhanced ultraviolet electroluminescence at room temperature from a diode structure consisting of vertically oriented ZnO nanorod arrays grown on a p-typed silicon substrate. Excitonic emitting peak at wavelength of 385nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 23nm and a defect-related visible emitting peak at the wavelength of 546nm with a FWHM of 124nm are observed from this structure under forward-bias voltage. The intensity ratio of the ultraviolet peak and the visible peak reaches 4.7. The scanning electron microscope, x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive x ray, I-V, and electroluminescence measurements demonstrate that good crystal structure and rectifying diodelike behavior are obtained and defect-related visible light emission is greatly restrained.

Background Visualization of the lymphatic vessels is a challenge in patients with disorders of the lymphatic circulation. In an effort to improve the diagnostic scope of lymphatic imaging, we compared traditional lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) with three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3D MRI). Methods From October 1, 2002, to May 30, 2004, 39 patients (27 males and 12 females) with lower extremity lymphedema and/or skin lymphorrhea in the abdominal wall or the external genitalia underwent LSG and 3D MRI. Patients' ages ranged from 3 to 71 years. Assessment of the imaging studies included the degree and quality of visualization of the malformations of the lymphatic collectors, lymphatic trunks, lymph nodes, and tissue edema. Results In patients with lymphedema, chylous reflux syndrome, or both, LSG depicted the enlarged lymphatics and nodes as a fused band or mass. In 3D MRI, the dilated superficial lymphatic collectors and deep lymphatic trunks, as well as the accumulation of chyle and node enlargements, were clearly visualized. In patients with hypoplasia or aplasia of the lymphatics, LSG usually displayed the pattern of dermal backflow in the form of radiotracer filling of the dermal lymphatics or stagnation of the isotope at the injection point. The images obtained by 3D MRI were able to demonstrate the extent of tissue fluid accumulation and distinguish edema fluid from subcutaneous fat. Conclusions In patients with peripheral and central lymphatic malformations, LSG provided images representative of the function of the lymphatic vessels but failed to give detailed information regarding its anatomy. 3D MRI provided extensive information on the anatomy of the lymph stagnated vasculature as well as on the effects of lymphatic dysfunction on local structures and tissue composition.