116.66-Tb/s WDM transmission over 16 Km field deployed 7-core fiber based on sub-constellations overlap constellation shaping

Constellation shaping (CS) has always been a popular research hotspot in optical communication. Recently, most researchers have focussed on using constellation-shaping technology to improve the system's performance, ignoring the additional penalty it brings to the coherent system. This paper proposes a method of constellation truncation using sub-constellation overlap to perform CS on quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The experimental results show that compared with the traditional probabilistic shaping 16QAM, the proposed scheme can effectively avoid the extra penalty brought by CS and achieve a gain from 0.5 to 1.5 dB in optical signal-to-noise ratio. To practically verify the proposed scheme's performance, 7-core 16 km fiber span is deployed in the field to experimentally perform space division multiplexed coherent transmission. The wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) of 93 carriers was used to achieve coherent transmission at a net rate of 116.66-Tb/s.

A Quadruplex Ultrasensitive Immunoassay for Simultaneous Assessment of Human Reproductive Hormone Proteins in Multiple Biofluid Samples

Reproductive hormones play vital roles in reproductive health and can be used to assess a woman's ovarian function and diagnose diseases associated with reproductive endocrine disorders. As these hormones are important biomarkers for reproductive health monitoring and diagnosis, a rapid, high-throughput, and low-invasive detection and simultaneous assessment of the levels of multiple reproductive hormones has important clinical applications. In this work, a quadruplex ultrasensitive immunoassay was developed for simultaneous assessment of 4 human reproductive hormone proteins (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)) in a variety of human biofluid samples. This assay takes advantage of single-molecule imaging of microwell arrays and capture antibody beads as a reaction interface to construct multiplex bead array immunoassays. The analyte-bound beads can easily be parsed to individual wells and detected via fluorophores, emitting distinct wavelengths associated to the beads. As a result, this proposed quadruplex immunoassay exhibits four good 4-parameter logistic calibration curves ranging from 2.7 to 2000, 1.6 to 1200, 1.8 to 1300, and 0.3 to 220 pg/mL with limits of detection of 0.32, 0.28, 0.14, and 0.02 pg/mL for FSH, LH, PRL, and AMH, respectively. Furthermore, the developed quadruplex immunoassay was used to test clinical venous serum samples where it showed remarkable consistency with clinical test results in methodological comparison and the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. In addition, we successfully applied the ultrasensitive capability of this assay to the simultaneous testing and evaluation of four proteins in fingertip blood as well as urine samples, in which the urinary AMH level (1.42-156 pg/mL) was measured and assessed quantitatively for the first time.

Three birds, one stone: Disinfecting and turning waste medical masks into valuable carbon dots for sodium hydrosulfite and Fe3+ detection enabled by a simple hydrothermal treatment

Disposable medical masks are widely used to prevent respiratory infections due to their ability to block virus particles from entering the human body. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the importance of medical masks, leading to their widespread use around the world. However, a large number of disposable medical masks have been discarded, some carrying viruses, which have posed a grave threat to the environment and people's health, as well as wasting resources. In this study, a simple hydrothermal method was used for the disinfection of waste medical masks under high-temperature conditions as well as for their transformation into high-value-added carbon dots (CDs, a new type of carbon nanomaterial) with blue-emissive fluorescence, without high energy consumption or environmental pollution. Moreover, the mask-derived CDs (m-CDs) could not only be used as fluorescent probes for sensing sodium hydrosulfite (Na₂S₂O₄), which is widely used in the food and textile industries but is seriously harmful to human health, but also be used for detecting Fe³⁺ which is harmful to the environment and human health due to its wide use in industries.

Development and Validation of a Prediction Model for Nd:YAG Laser Capsulotomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 9768 eyes

INTRODUCTION

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the most common complication of cataract surgery. In this study, we develop a model to quantitatively predict the probability of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy for vision-threatening PCO to improve the life quality of postoperative patients.

METHODS

A registry analysis of cataract procedures performed between the years 2010 and 2021. Following the screening of 16,802 patients (25,883 eyes), 9768 patients (eyes) were enrolled. The cohort was randomly divided into two groups: training (n = 6838) and validation (n = 2930). To identify relevant risk factors, univariate, multivariate, and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm Cox regression analysis were employed, and a nomogram was created to demonstrate the prediction result.

RESULTS

At 5 years, the overall cumulative incidence of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy was 12.0% (1169/9768). The following variables were included in the prediction model: sex [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.53, 95% CI 1.32-1.76], age (HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.56-0.88), intraocular lens (IOL) material (HR = 2.65, 95% CI 2.17-3.24), high myopia (HR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.90-2.75), and fibrinogen (HR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.72-0.88). In the validation cohort, the area under the curve (AUC) of 1-, 3-, and 5-year predictions for Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy were 0.702, 0.691, and 0.688, respectively. For a subgroup of patients with high myopia, the protective effect of hydrophobic IOL disappeared (HR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.51-1.12, P = 0.127).

CONCLUSION

This model could predict the probability of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy for vision-threatening PCO after cataract surgery by taking into account factors such as age, gender, IOL material, high myopia, and fibrinogen. Meanwhile, implantation of a hydrophobic IOL in individuals with high myopia did not demonstrate a protective impact against vision-threatening PCO.

Oxidase-like Fe-N/C single atom nanozyme enables sensitive detection of ascorbic acid and acid phosphatase

The development of cost-effective and easy-to-use strategies for the detection of ascorbic acid (AA) and acid phosphatase (ACP) is in high demand but challenging. Thus, we report a novel colorimetric platform based on Fe-N/C single atom nanozyme with efficient oxidase mimicking activity for their highly sensitive detection. The designed Fe-N/C single atom nanozyme can directly oxidize 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to produce a blue oxidation product (oxTMB) in the absence of H₂O₂. In addition, L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate can be hydrolyzed to ascorbic acid in the presence of ACP, which inhibits the oxidation reaction and results in a significant bleaching of the blue color. Based on these phenomena, a novel colorimetric assay with high catalytic activity was developed for the determination of ascorbic acid and acid phosphatase with detection limits of 0.092 μM and 0.048 U/L, respectively. Notably, this strategy was successfully applied to the determination of ACP in human serum samples and evaluate ACP inhibitors, indicating its potential as a valuable tool for clinical diagnosis and research.

DNA methylation meningioma biomarkers: attributes and limitations

Meningioma, one of the most common primary central nervous system tumors, are classified into three grades by the World Health Organization (WHO) based on histopathology. The gold-standard treatment, surgical resection, is hampered by issues such as incomplete resection in some cases and a high recurrence rate. Alongside genetic alterations, DNA methylation, plays a crucial role in progression of meningiomas in the occurrence and development of meningiomas. The epigenetic landscape of meningioma is instrumental in refining tumor classification, identifying robust molecular markers, determining prognosis, guiding treatment selection, and innovating new therapeutic strategies. Existing classifications lack comprehensive accuracy, and effective therapies are limited. Methylated DNA markers, exhibiting differential characteristics across varying meningioma grades, serve as invaluable diagnostic tools. Particularly, combinatorial methylated markers offer insights into meningioma pathogenesis, tissue origin, subtype classification, and clinical outcomes. This review integrates current research to highlight some of the most promising DNA and promoter methylation markers employed in meningioma diagnostics. Despite their promise, the development and application of DNA methylation biomarkers for meningioma diagnosis and treatment are still in their infancy, with only a handful of DNA methylation inhibitors currently clinically employed for meningioma treatment. Future studies are essential to validate these markers and ascertain their clinical utility. Combinatorial methylated DNA markers for meningiomas have broad implications for understanding tumor development and progression, signaling a paradigm shift in therapeutic strategies for meningiomas.

Re-irradiation for local primary-recurrence esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with IMRT/VMAT

PURPOSE

Local primary-recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after definitive treatment has the potential for increasing overall survival with re-irradiation (Re-RT), especially with advanced technique. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicities of Re-RT using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)/volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for local primary-recurrence of ESCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 130 ESCC patients with local primary-recurrence from Xijing hospital between 2008 and 2021 were enrolled and 30 patients underwent IMRT/VMAT based salvage Re-RT. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and after recurrence survival (ARS). The toxicities of 30 patients receiving Re-RT were also assessed.

RESULTS

The median OS and ARS of the 130 recurrent patients were 21 months (1-164 months) and 6 months (1-142 months). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 81.5%, 39.2%, and 23.8%, respectively. Besides, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year ARS rates were 30.0%, 10%, and 6.2%. Multivariate analysis showed that Re-RT ± chemotherapy (p = 0.043) and chemotherapy alone (p < 0.001) and esophageal stents (p = 0.004) were independent prognostic factors for OS. The median OS of 30 patients treated with Re-RT were significantly better than that of 29 patients treated with chemotherapy (34.5 months vs. 22 months, p = 0.030). Among 30 ESCC patients treated with Re-RT, the median OS and ARS were 34.5 months (range 12-163 months) and 6 months (range 1-132 months), respectively. The recurrence-free interval (RFI) (> 12 months) and initial radiation dose (> 60 Gy) were significantly associated with improved OS. Radiation esophagitis (Grade 1-2) occurred in 16 patients and myelosuppression (Grade1-2) occurred in 10 patients. Grade 3 toxicities (radiation esophagitis and myelosuppression) were only 13.3%. There were no grade 4 toxicities.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that IMRT/VMAT-based Re-RT was an effective therapeutic option for ESCC patients with local primary-recurrence compared with chemotherapy alone or without any treatment. Re-RT had improved OS but unfavorable ARS.

Highly sensitive and ratiometric detection of nitrite in food based on upconversion-carbon dots nanosensor

Nitrite (NO₂^-) is extensively found in the daily dietary environment. However, consuming too much NO₂^- can pose serious health risks. Thus, we designed a NO₂^--activated ratiometric upconversion luminescence (UCL) nanosensor which could realize NO₂^- detection via the inner filter effect (IFE) between NO₂^--sensitive carbon dots (CDs) and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). Due to the exceptional optical properties of UCNPs and the remarkable selectivity of CDs, the UCL nanosensor exhibited a good response to NO₂^-. By taking advantage of NIR excitation and ratiometric detection signal, the UCL nanosensor could eliminate the autofluorescence thereby increasing the detection accuracy effectively. Additionally, the UCL nanosensor proved successful in detecting NO₂^- quantitatively in actual samples. The UCL nanosensor provides a simple as well as sensitive sensing strategy for NO₂^- detection and analysis, which is anticipated to extend the utilization of upconversion detection in food safety.

Discrete unified gas-kinetic wave-particle method for flows in all flow regimes

This work proposes a discrete unified gas-kinetic wave-particle (DUGKWP) method for simulation of flows in all flow regimes. Unlike the discrete velocity method (DVM) and the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method which solve the governing equations by either the deterministic method or the stochastic method, the DUGKWP combines the advantages of these two methods. In the DUGKWP, the information of microscopic particles as well as macroscopic flow variables are both evolved. Specifically, the microscopic particles are updated by the free-transport and resampling processes, while the macroscopic flow properties are evolved via solving the macroscopic governing equations of conservation laws with the finite volume method. According to the discrete characteristic solution to the Boltzmann-BGK equation utilized in the DUGKWP, in the highly rarefied flow regime, the motion of microscopic particles greatly determines the fluxes for the macroscopic governing equations. Conversely, for the continuum flow, no microscopic particle exists in the computational domain and the DUGKWP is degraded to the Navier-Stokes solver. Numerical studies validate that the DUGKWP can accurately predict the flow properties in all flow regimes. Furthermore, compared with the deterministic method, the DUGKWP enjoys superior efficiency with less memory consumption for both high-speed rarefied flows and flows close to the continuum regime.

Light-responsive benzobisthiazole as oxidase mimic for rapid determination of glutathione in food and vegetable

Accurate determination of glutathione (GSH) in food and vegetable is significant to instruct the appropriate supplementation of GSH in the human body. Light-responsive enzyme mimics have been widely used in detecting GSH due to controllable temporal and spatial accuracy. However, exploring a potential organic mimic enzyme with excellent catalytic efficiency keeps challenging. Herein, a benzobisthiazole organic oxidase mimic was successfully prepared by a simple and low-cost method. Based on its high light-responsive oxidase-like activity, it was used for high reliable colorimetric determination of GSH in food and vegetable for only 1 min with a large linear range of 0.02-30 μM and a low detection limit of 5.3 nM. This study provides a novel strategy to obtain powerful light-responsive oxidase mimics and holds great potential for rapid and accurate detection of GSH in food and vegetables.

Leptin and melatonin's effects on OVX rodents' bone metabolism

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of leptin and melatonin intervention on bone metabolism in ovariectomize (OVX) rodents, as well as their potential mechanisms of action.

Methods

Prepare an OVX model of osteoporosis in rodents and validate the model by collecting bilateral tibia samples for Micro-CT scanning and histological analysis. A control group of normal size, the OVX group, the OVX+Sema4D (Semaphorin 4D) group, the OVX+Sema4D+Leptin group, the OVX+Sema4D+ Melatonin(MT) group and the OVX+Sema4D+Leptin+ MT group were the experimental groups. Adenovirus vector construction and tibial medullary injection validation were conducted in accordance with the aforementioned experimental groups. Four groups of rats were injected with the Sema4D overexpression adenovirus vector into the tibial medullary cavity, and two groups were injected with the Leptin overexpression adenovirus vector. The repair of osteoporosis was observed using micro-CT and histological analysis. Immunohistochemical detection of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) expression in bone tissue was employed to ascertain the amount of osteoclasts in the upper tibial metaphysis, utilizing TRAP(tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) staining.

Results

Increased levels of BV/TV, Tb.N, BMD, and BMC were seen in the OVX+ Sema4D+Leptin, OVX+ Sema4D+MT, and OVX+ Sema4D+Leptin+ MT groups compared to the OVX group, whereas Tb. Sp levels were lowered. When compared to the Sema4D overexpression group, the trabecular bone structure of the OVX + Sema4D + Leptin, OVX + Sema4D + MT, and OVX + Sema4D + Leptin + MT groups is largely intact, tends to be closer, and the amount of trabecular bone increases. The OVX + Sema4D + Leptin + MT group in particular.The expression of BMP-2 was dramatically upregulated (p<0.05), the number of TRAP-stained osteoclasts was significantly reduced (p<0.05), and BALP(bone-derived alkaline phosphatase) and TRAP-5b(tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b) activities were significantly downregulated (p<0.05).

Conclusion

In rats with osteoporosis, leptin and melatonin can be seen to augment the trabecular microstructure of the bone, augment bone growth, diminish trabecular harm, and mend the bone. The combined effect is more powerful.

Dynamic analysis of PAM-4 IM/DD OAM-based MGDM transmission enabled by mode-group filter approach

Mode-group-division multiplexing (MGDM)-based intensity modulation direct detection (IM/DD) transmission is an attractive approach to increase the capacity for short-reach optical communication. In this Letter, a simple but versatile scheme of mode group (MG) filtering for MGDM IM/DD transmission is proposed. The scheme is applicable to any mode basis in the fiber, and it satisfies the needs of low complexity, low power consumption, and high system performance. By employing the proposed MG filter scheme, a total raw bit rate of a 152-Gb/s multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-free IM/DD co-channel simultaneous transmit and receive system based on two orbital angular momentum (OAM) MGs, each carrying a 38-GBaud four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4) signal, is experimentally demonstrated over a 5-km few-mode fiber (FMF). The bit error ratios (BERs) of the two MGs are below the 7% hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) BER threshold at 3.8×10^-3, using simple feedforward equalization (FFE). Furthermore, the dependability and robustness of such MGDM links are of great significance. Thus, the dynamic evaluation of BER and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for each MG is tested over 210 minutes under different conditions. In the dynamic cases, all the BER results using the proposed scheme can be below 1×10^-3, which further confirms the stability and feasibility of our proposed MGDM transmission scheme.

[Second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning and donor changes in relapsed hematological malignancies after the first allogeneic transplant]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) in patients with hematological malignancies who had relapsed after the first allo-HSCT. Methods: Between April 2018 and June 2021, 44 patients with hematological malignancies (B-ALL 23, T-ALL/T-LBL 4, AML15, and MDS 2) were enrolled and retrospectively examined. Unrelated donors (n=12) or haploidentical donors (n=32) were used. Donors were replaced in all patients for the second allo-HSCT. Hematological and immunological germline predisposition genes and hematopoietic and immune function tests were used to select the best-related donor. Total body irradiation (TBI) /fludarabine (FLU) -based (n=38), busulfan (BU) /FLU-based (n=4), total marrow irradiation (TMI) /FLU-based (n=1), and BU/cladribine-based (n=1) were the RIC regimens used. For graft versus host disease (GVHD) prevention, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, short-term methotrexate, and ATG were used. Eighteen (40.9%) of 44 patients with gene variations for which targeted medications are available underwent post-transplant maintenance therapy. Results: The median age was 25 years old (range: 7-55). The median interval between the first and second HSCT was 19.5 months (range: 6-77). Before the second allo-HSCT, 33 (75%) of the patients were in complete remission (CR), whereas 11 (25%) were not. All patients had long-term engraftment. The grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ GVHD and severe acute GVHD rates were 20.5% and 9.1%, respectively. Chronic GVHD was found in 20.5% of limited patterns and 22.7% of severe patterns. CMV and EBV reactivation rates were 29.5% and 6.8%, respectively. Hemorrhage cystitis occurred in 15.9% of cases, grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ. The 1-yr disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and cumulative recurrence incidence (RI) rates of all patients were 72.5% (95% CI, 54.5%-84.3%), 80.6% (95% CI, 63.4%-90.3%), and 25.1% (95% CI, 13.7%-43.2%), respectively, with a median follow-up of 14 (2-39) months. There were eight deaths (seven relapses and one infection). The rate of non-relapse mortality (NRM) was only 2.3%. The CR patients' 1-yr RI rate was significantly lower than the NR patients (16.8% vs 48.1%, P=0.026). The DFS rate in CR patients was greater than in NR patients, although there was no statistical difference (79.9% vs 51.9%, P=0.072). Univariate analysis revealed that CR before the second allo-HSCT was an important prognostic factor. Conclusion: With our RIC regimens, donor change, and post-transplant maintenance therapy, the second allo-HSCT in relapsed hematological malignancies after the first allo-HSCT is a safe and effective treatment with high OS and DFS and low NRM and relapse rate. The most important factor influencing the prognosis of the second allo-HSCT is the patient's illness condition before the transplant.

User Real-Time Influence Ranking Algorithm of Social Networks Considering Interactivity and Topicality

At present, the existing influence evaluation algorithms often ignore network structure attributes, user interests and the time-varying propagation characteristics of influence. To address these issues, this work comprehensively discusses users' own influence, weighted indicators, users' interaction influence and the similarity between user interests and topics, thus proposing a dynamic user influence ranking algorithm called UWUSRank. First, we determine the user's own basic influence based on their activity, authentication information and blog response. This improves the problem of poor objectivity of initial value on user influence evaluation when using PageRank to calculate user influence. Next, this paper mines users' interaction influence by introducing the propagation network properties of Weibo (a Twitter-like service in China) information and scientifically quantifies the contribution value of followers' influence to the users they follow according to different interaction influences, thereby solving the drawback of equal value transfer of followers' influence. Additionally, we analyze the relevance of users' personalized interest preferences and topic content and realize real-time monitoring of users' influence at various time periods during the process of public opinion dissemination. Finally, we conduct experiments by extracting real Weibo topic data to verify the effectiveness of introducing each attribute of users' own influence, interaction timeliness and interest similarity. Compared to TwitterRank, PageRank and FansRank, the results show that the UWUSRank algorithm improves the rationality of user ranking by 9.3%, 14.2%, and 16.7%, respectively, which proves the practicality of the UWUSRank algorithm. This approach can serve as a guide for research on user mining, information transmission methods, and public opinion tracking in social network-related areas.

Parallel interrogation of the chalcogenide-based micro-ring sensor array for photoacoustic tomography

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT), also known as optoacoustic tomography, is an attractive imaging modality that provides optical contrast with acoustic resolutions. Recent progress in the applications of PAT largely relies on the development and employment of ultrasound sensor arrays with many elements. Although on-chip optical ultrasound sensors have been demonstrated with high sensitivity, large bandwidth, and small size, PAT with on-chip optical ultrasound sensor arrays is rarely reported. In this work, we demonstrate PAT with a chalcogenide-based micro-ring sensor array containing 15 elements, while each element supports a bandwidth of 175 MHz (-6 dB) and a noise-equivalent pressure of 2.2 mPaHz^-1/2. Moreover, by synthesizing a digital optical frequency comb (DOFC), we further develop an effective means of parallel interrogation to this sensor array. As a proof of concept, parallel interrogation with only one light source and one photoreceiver is demonstrated for PAT with this sensor array, providing images of fast-moving objects, leaf veins, and live zebrafish. The superior performance of the chalcogenide-based micro-ring sensor array and the effectiveness of the DOFC-enabled parallel interrogation offer great prospects for advancing applications in PAT.

Deep learning based on preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) images improves the predictive power of survival models in primary spinal cord astrocytomas

BACKGROUND

Prognostic models for spinal cord astrocytoma patients are lacking due to the low incidence of the disease. Here, we aim to develop a fully automated deep learning (DL) pipeline for stratified overall survival (OS) prediction based on preoperative MR images.

METHODS

A total of 587 patients diagnosed with intramedullary tumors were retrospectively enrolled in our hospital to develop an automated pipeline for tumor segmentation and OS prediction. The automated pipeline included a T2WI-based tumor segmentation model and 3 cascaded binary OS prediction models (1-year, 3-year, and 5-year models). For the tumor segmentation model, 439 cases of intramedullary tumors were used to model training and testing using a transfer learning strategy. A total of 138 patients diagnosed with astrocytomas were included to train and test the OS prediction models via 10 × 10-fold cross-validation using CNNs.

RESULTS

The dice of the tumor segmentation model with the test set was 0.852. The results indicated that the best input of OS prediction models was a combination of T2W and T1C images and the tumor mask. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year automated OS prediction models achieved accuracies of 86.0%, 84.0%, and 88.0% and AUCs of 0.881 (95% CI 0.839-0.918), 0.862 (95% CI 0.827-0.901), and 0.905 (95% CI 0.867-0.942), respectively. The automated DL pipeline achieved 4-class OS prediction (<1 year, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, and >5 years) with 75.3% accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

We proposed an automated DL pipeline for segmenting spinal cord astrocytomas and stratifying OS based on preoperative MR images.

Single-exposure ultrasound-modulated optical tomography with a quaternary phase encoded mask

Ultrasound-modulated optical tomography (UOT) is a deep-tissue imaging modality that provides optical contrast with acoustic resolution. Among existing implementations, camera-based UOT improves modulation depth through parallel detection but suffers from a low camera frame rate. The condition prohibits this technique from being applied to in vivo applications where speckles decorrelate on a time scale of 1 ms or less. To overcome this challenge, we developed single-exposure camera-based UOT by employing a quaternary phase encoded mask (QPEM). As a proof of concept, we demonstrated imaging of an absorptive target buried inside a dynamic scattering medium with a speckle correlation time as short as 0.49 ms, typical of living biological tissues. Benefiting from the QPEM-enabled single-exposure wavefront measurement (5.5 ms) and GPU-assisted wavefront reconstruction (0.97 ms), the point scanning and result update speed can reach up to 150 Hz. We envision that the QPEM-enabled single-exposure scheme paves the way for in vivo UOT imaging, which holds promise for a variety of medical and biological applications.

Properties of Cosmic-Ray Sulfur and Determination of the Composition of Primary Cosmic-Ray Carbon, Neon, Magnesium, and Sulfur: Ten-Year Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

We report the properties of primary cosmic-ray sulfur (S) in the rigidity range 2.15 GV to 3.0 TV based on 0.38×10^{6} sulfur nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment (AMS). We observed that above 90 GV the rigidity dependence of the S flux is identical to the rigidity dependence of Ne-Mg-Si fluxes, which is different from the rigidity dependence of the He-C-O-Fe fluxes. We found that, similar to N, Na, and Al cosmic rays, over the entire rigidity range, the traditional primary cosmic rays S, Ne, Mg, and C all have sizeable secondary components, and the S, Ne, and Mg fluxes are well described by the weighted sum of the primary silicon flux and the secondary fluorine flux, and the C flux is well described by the weighted sum of the primary oxygen flux and the secondary boron flux. The primary and secondary contributions of the traditional primary cosmic-ray fluxes of C, Ne, Mg, and S (even Z elements) are distinctly different from the primary and secondary contributions of the N, Na, and Al (odd Z elements) fluxes. The abundance ratio at the source for S/Si is 0.167±0.006, for Ne/Si is 0.833±0.025, for Mg/Si is 0.994±0.029, and for C/O is 0.836±0.025. These values are determined independent of cosmic-ray propagation.

A Retrospective Study of the Functional Outcomes in Patients with Proximal Humeral Bone Defect after Shoulder Fusion or Prosthetic Replacement

AIMS

The reconstruction of proximal humeral defects resulting from tumor resection is challenging. The purpose of this work was to retrospectively study the functional outcomes in patients with large bone defects after the resection of proximal humeral tumors.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 49 patients with malignant or aggressive benign tumors in the proximal humerus at our institution between 2010 and 2021. Forty-nine patients were included in the study (prosthetic replacement, n = 27; shoulder arthrodesis, n = 22). The mean follow-up was 52.8 months (range, 14-129 months). The factors evaluated included the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) functional score, Constant Murley Score (CMS), and complications.

RESULTS

Of the 49 patients enrolled in the study, 35 were disease-free by the time of the latest follow-up, and 14 died because of the disease. Adjuvant therapies and medical comorbidities were similar between the two groups. Osteosarcoma was the most common abnormality among all the patients. The mean MSTS scores for surviving patients in the prosthesis and arthrodesis groups were 57.4% and 80.9%, respectively. The mean CMS score for the surviving patients in the prosthesis group was 43.47, and it was 61.44 for arthrodesis cases. Patients with shoulder arthrodesis demonstrated evidence of bony union at a mean of 4.5 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Shoulder arthrodesis is a reliable reconstructive procedure in patients with large bone defects after the resection of proximal humeral tumors for pediatric osteosarcoma patients. Moreover, prosthetic replacement with anatomical implants results in poor function in older metastasis patients with large bone defects and resection of the deltoid muscle.

Multi-parameter estimation resistant to the random polarization effect for coherent optical receivers

Optical parameter estimation based on the data obtained by coherent optical receivers is critical for optical performance monitoring (OPM) and the stable operation of the receiver digital signal processing (DSP). A robust multi-parameter estimation is intricate due to the interference of various system effects. By resorting to the cyclostationary theory, we are able to formulate a chromatic dispersion (CD), frequency offset (FO), and optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) joint estimation strategy that is resistant to the random polarization effect, including polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and polarization rotation. The method uses data directly after the DSP resampling and matched filtering. Both numerical simulation and field optical cable experiment validate our method.

Integrated Reconfigurable Photon-Pair Source Based on High-Q Nonlinear Chalcogenide Glass Microring Resonators

Chalcogenide glasses (ChGs) have recently emerged as enabling materials for building reconfigurable nanophotonic devices by employing their refractive index changes associated with photosensitive effects. In particular, the availability of low-loss thin-film ChGs and the realization of high-Q microresonators provide exciting opportunities for integrated photonics. So far, the ChG photonic devices are predominately operated in the classical optics regime. In this work, we present the realization on-chip bright photon-pair quantum light sources via spontaneous four-wave mixing in a high-Q microring resonator fabricated on the newly developed ChG Ge₂₅Sb₁₀S₆₅ platform. The emission wavelength of the photon-pair source can be continuously tuned across a double-free spectral range in a reconfigurable manner. Our work serves as a starting point to fully unleash the potential of exploiting ChGs for developing reconfigurable integrated quantum photonic devices.

Salts-assistant synthesis of g-C3N4/Prussian-blue analogue/nickel foam with hierarchical structures as binder-free electrodes for supercapacitors

The exploitation of high-performance electrode materials is significant to develop supercapacitors with satisfied energy and power output properties. In this study, a g-C₃N₄/Prussian-blue analogue (PBA)/Nickel foam (NF) with hierarchical micro/nano structures was developed by a simple salts-directed self-assembly approach. In this synthetic strategy, NF acted as both 3D macroporous conductive substrate and Ni source for PBA formation. Moreover, the incidental salt in molten salt-synthesized g-C₃N₄ nanosheets could regulate the combination mode between g-C₃N₄ and PBA to generate interactive networks of g-C₃N₄ nanosheets-covered PBA nano-protuberances on NF surfaces, which further expended the electrode/electrolyte interfaces. Based on the merits from this unique hierarchical structure and the synergy effect of PBA and g-C₃N₄, the optimized g-C₃N₄/PBA/NF electrode exhibited a maximum areal capacitance of 3366 mF cm^-2 at current of 2 mA cm^-2, as well as 2118 mF cm^-2 even under large current of 20 mA cm^-2. The solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor using g-C₃N₄/PBA/NF electrode possessed an extended working potential window of 1.8 V, prominent energy density of 0.195 mWh cm^-2 and power density of 27.06 mW cm^-2. Compared to the device with pure NiFe-PBA electrode, a better cyclic stability with capacitance retention rate of 80% after 5000 cycles was also achieved due to the protective effect of g-C₃N₄ shells on the etching of PBA nano-protuberances in electrolyte. This work not only builds a promising electrode material for supercapacitors, but also provide an effective way to apply molten salt-synthesized g-C₃N₄ nanosheet without purification.

[Association of sleep duration and risk of frailty among the elderly over 80 years old in China: a prospective cohort study]

Objective: To explore the association between sleep duration and the risk of frailty among the elderly over 80 years old in China. Methods: Using the data from five surveys of the China Elderly Health Influencing Factors Follow-up Survey (CLHLS) (2005, 2008-2009, 2011-2012, 2014, and 2017-2018), 7 024 elderly people aged 80 years and above were selected as the study subjects. Questionnaires and physical examinations were used to collect information on sleep time, general demographic characteristics, functional status, physical signs, and illness. The frailty state was evaluated based on a frailty index that included 39 variables. The Cox proportional risk regression model was used to analyze the correlation between sleep time and the risk of frailty occurrence. A restricted cubic spline function was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between sleep time and the risk of frailty occurrence. The likelihood ratio test was used to analyze the interaction between age, gender, sleep quality, cognitive impairment, and sleep duration. Results: The age M (Q₁, Q₃) of 7 024 subjects was 87 (82, 92) years old, with a total of 3 435 (48.9%) patients experiencing frailty. The results of restricted cubic spline function analysis showed that there was an approximate U-shaped relationship between sleep time and the risk of frailty. When sleep time was 6.5-8.5 hours, the elderly had the lowest risk of frailty; Multivariate Cox proportional risk regression model analysis showed that compared to 6.5-8.5 hours of sleep, long sleep duration (>8.5 hours) increased the risk of frailty by 13% (HR: 1.13; 95%CI: 1.04-1.22). Conclusion: There is a nonlinear association between sleep time and the risk of frailty in the elderly.