BACKGROUND Primary vaginal cancer is rare and most vaginal tumors are metastatic,often arising from adjacent gynecologic structures.Primary vaginal cancers are also more common among postmenopausal women and most of t...BACKGROUND Primary vaginal cancer is rare and most vaginal tumors are metastatic,often arising from adjacent gynecologic structures.Primary vaginal cancers are also more common among postmenopausal women and most of these are squamous cell carcinomas,with adenocarcinomas being relatively rare.Vaginal bleeding is the most common clinical manifestation of vaginal adenocarcinoma.About 70%of vaginal adenocarcinomas are stage I lesions at the time of diagnosis,for which radical surgery is recommended.However,more advanced vaginal cancers are not amenable to radical surgical treatment and have poor clinical outcomes.Optimal treatments modes are still being explored.Here,we report a rare case of stage IIb primary vaginal adenocarcinoma for which an individually designed vaginal applicator for after-loading radiotherapy was used to achieve good tumor control.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old woman presented to our clinic after 3 months of abnormal postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.Gynecological examination,computed tomography(CT),and positron emission tomography-CT showed a large mass(about 5 cm)on the anterior vaginal wall.Colposcopy biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma of vaginal origin.After three cycles of carboplatin plus paclitaxel chemotherapy,the lesion partially shrunk.The patient then received external irradiation of 45 gray(gy)in 25 fractions,which further reduced the vaginal lesion,followed by after-loading radiotherapy of 30 gy in 5 fractions with an individually designed vaginal applicator.Three months later,magnetic resonance imaging showed a slight thickening CONCLUSION Primary vaginal adenocarcinoma is rare,and prognosis is poor in most vaginal cancers of locally advanced stages,which cannot be treated with radical surgery.Better tumor control can be achieved with an individualized vaginal applicator that allows administration of a higher radical dose to the tumor area while protecting normal tissues.展开更多
In intracavitary radiotherapy (ICRT) for cancer cervix, applicator geometry has the potential to impact the doses to organs at risk (OARs) and the coverage of the target volume. At our centre two Varian made Fletcher-...In intracavitary radiotherapy (ICRT) for cancer cervix, applicator geometry has the potential to impact the doses to organs at risk (OARs) and the coverage of the target volume. At our centre two Varian made Fletcher-style applicator sets, namely defined (fixed) geometry and flexible geometry, are used for ICRT. In the present work, the two types of applicators were compared dosimetrically as per the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU-38) while delivering high dose rate brachytherapy. Twenty four patients who underwent ICRT were considered for this study. Radiographic method was used for treatment planning on Abacus planning system. ICRU-38 recommended parameters were estimated and compared. Flexible geometry applicator showed 8.8% and 16% higher bladder and rectum point doses as compared to the fixed geometry one but the difference was statistically not significant. The thickness of the pear-shaped isodose volume was larger for the flexible geometry implant also indicating towards higher doses to OARs. The higher bladder and rectum point doses in the case of flexible applicator will need to be validated by a larger data set.展开更多
Multi-channel cylindrical applicators for high dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy are utilized mainly for special gynecology cases often involving image-guidance high dose-rate (IG-HDR or IGBT) brachytherapy. In these case...Multi-channel cylindrical applicators for high dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy are utilized mainly for special gynecology cases often involving image-guidance high dose-rate (IG-HDR or IGBT) brachytherapy. In these cases, doses are prescribed to partial vaginal wall/depth where the disease is indicated by an MRI study scanned on the same day. These novel IG-HDR procedures are logistical challenges comparing to typical HDR out-patient treatments due to the complexity of planning for asymmetrical prescriptions as well as the extension of the whole procedure. Indeed the main advantages of HDR over LDR brachytherapy would be significantly weaken unless the IG-HDR procedures become more efficient in time, thus timely treatment planning becomes crucial. Based on our clinical experience, we propose the pseudo central-catheter method to reduce errors, to minimize uncertainty and to ensure efficiency. In this method, the central hollow path of the multi-channel cylindrical applicator is digitized into a pseudo catheter similar to other active catheters, and the asymmetrical prescription points could be generated corresponding to the pseudo dwelling points in the pseudo central-catheter. The pseudo dwelling points are later deleted after generating the prescription point arrays. This method is robust with minimal chance of errors or uncertainties, and demonstrates high efficiency with much less chance of uncertainty, which is significant for IG-HDR brachytherapy procedures utilizing multi-channel applicators.展开更多
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the results and complications associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） treated with combined external-beam radiotherapy （EBR） and intracavitary brachytherapy （IB） using a new-type app...OBJECTIVE To evaluate the results and complications associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） treated with combined external-beam radiotherapy （EBR） and intracavitary brachytherapy （IB） using a new-type applicator. METHODS Eighty patients with untreated NPC were divided into two groups based on therapy methods. An experimental group was treated with EBR plus IB and a control group was treated only with EBR. IB was given to the patients of the experimental group when the external radiotherapy dose amounted to more than 60～65 Gy. The total dose of IB was 6～20 Gy and the total dose of EBR of the control group was 70～75 Gy. RESULTS Follow-up was conducted for 97.5% of the patients with re- suits as follows： the overall response rates （ORR） for the experimental and the control groups were 92.5% and 75.3% respectively （P〈0.05）; the 3 and 5-year survival rates for the experimental group were 87.5% and 74.2% and for the control group, 65.0% and 55.6% （P〈0.05）; for the experimental group, the 3 and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 72.5% and 64.5% and for the control group, 60.0% and 52.8% （P〉0.05）.Some complications following radiotherapy showed a significant difference. CONCLUSION External irradiation plus intracavitary brachytherapy using a new-type applicator may improve the ORR and survival rates, reduce radiation complications and increase the quality of life. 展开更多
Whiteflies cause problems in vegetable production on a global scale. The primary worldwide whitefly pest is Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Insecticides are commonly used to mitigate the whitefly problem in vegetable crop...Whiteflies cause problems in vegetable production on a global scale. The primary worldwide whitefly pest is Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Insecticides are commonly used to mitigate the whitefly problem in vegetable crops. In limited-resource crop production, operator-carried spray applicators are commonly used for pesticide treatments. Three single-nozzle operator-carried spray applicators were assessed for their efficacies for whitefly (B. tabaci) control on summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) in Egypt. Each knapsack spray equipment was evaluated with five biorational and conventional insecticides. Counts of whitefly nymphs (first, second, third and fourth instars) on leaf samples were taken on 3, 9, 15 and 21 days after treatments with the insecticides. Nymphal mortality varied about 10% among the three spray equipment treatments. The Economy Micro Ulva sprayer resulted in significantly more nymphal mortality as compared with the Arimitsu sprayer and the CZP-3 sprayer, respectively. All insecticides greatly suppressed the whitefly populations;mean mortality ranged from 73% to 95% for all nymphs combined by day for a given treatment. These results provide pest management practitioners with performance assessment of the three operator-carried pesticide applicators for whitefly management with selected foliar insecticides.展开更多
The paper presents the construction of an automatic applicator of active substance that removes causes of the disturbances in the fluid flow in a system that is under the control. In a particular case, it can be appli...The paper presents the construction of an automatic applicator of active substance that removes causes of the disturbances in the fluid flow in a system that is under the control. In a particular case, it can be applied to the removal of disturbances in the blood flow in vessels caused by a thrombus formation (e.g. post-operative or due to dialysis treatment). The presented applicator automatically releases the active substance into the system while detecting in real time the abnormal fluid flow. It allows mixing the active substance (e.g. anticoagulant drug) with the controlled medium outside the substance container (e.g. serum) while offering the possibility of the repeated usage.展开更多
A prilled urea applicator was designed and developed to increase fertilizer use efficiency. The developed applicator’s aims to place Urea continuously at the subsurface of soil between two rows of plants. A line-to-l...A prilled urea applicator was designed and developed to increase fertilizer use efficiency. The developed applicator’s aims to place Urea continuously at the subsurface of soil between two rows of plants. A line-to-line distance of 20 cm, depth of prilled urea placement of 5 - 7 cm, and field operating condition at 1 - 1.5 cm standing water (for softening the field) was the designed hypothesis. At the laboratory and farm level, test the developed applicator. The applicator consists of a rectangular frame, two skids and furrow opener, two cylindrical hoppers, and a drive wheel connected with a metering device. The designed applicator was fabricated using PVC, except the push handled (mild steel). The metering device consists of twelve spikes and is made of a metallic plate to apply the Urea uniformly. The applicator has a furrow opener and closer options. The effective field capacity was 0.13 ha/h with a speed of 1.22 km/h and field efficiency of 98%. Due to the continuous falling mechanism, there is no missing option but found the over-falling urea for both hoppers was found 5.35%. The average depth of urea placement was 6.38 cm. The machine was user-friendly to push, and the mean pushing force was 63.89 N. The weight of the applicator was 9 kg. So, it is natural to carry from one field to another field. The applicator is also convenient to handle, operate and manage.展开更多
The paper introduces a microstrip applicator for treatment or prostatitisand kypertrophy or prostate via rectum. The principle or the applicator, the theoreticalcalculation or near field distribution of the applicator...The paper introduces a microstrip applicator for treatment or prostatitisand kypertrophy or prostate via rectum. The principle or the applicator, the theoreticalcalculation or near field distribution of the applicator covered with a lossy dielectric, theperformance or the impedance matching and the heating pattern or the applicator andthe clinical results are reported.展开更多
This Paper introduces a microstrip applicator for treatment of cervical erosion and cervical condyloma acuminatum with microwave tissue coagulationmethod. The principle of the applicator,the theoretical calculation of...This Paper introduces a microstrip applicator for treatment of cervical erosion and cervical condyloma acuminatum with microwave tissue coagulationmethod. The principle of the applicator,the theoretical calculation of near field distribution of the applicator covered with a lossy dielectric, the experimental resultsfor its performance of the impedance matching and for microwave leakage energyare reported. Finally,the therapeutic method and effects are presented.展开更多
The instability of the motion layer of fertilizer particle influences the precision and the accuracy of the amount of fertilizer application in the working process of fluted-roller fertilizer applicator.The characteri...The instability of the motion layer of fertilizer particle influences the precision and the accuracy of the amount of fertilizer application in the working process of fluted-roller fertilizer applicator.The characteristics of the motion layer were investigated,and a systematic scheme was proposed for designing the structures of fertilizer-filling cavity,fertilizer-filling surface and fertilizer-delivery cavity.The key parameters of the structure were studied by discrete element method.It was figured out that to ensure the smooth operation of fertilizer applicator,the fertilizer-filling angle was 105°,fertilizer-contact angle should be large than 100°,and the fertilizer-resistance angle should be smaller than 35°.Moreover,the stability of fertilizer motion morphology was investigated to verify the design.The results showed that when the roll rotational speed was larger than 120 deg/s,compared with the conventional design the CV of the amount of fertilizer application was reduced from 1.5%-3.5%to 0.5%-1.0%,and the accuracy of the fertilizer discharge was improved with the square of the correlation coefficient between the amount of fertilizer application and the roll rotational speed was larger than 0.999.It was deduced from the results that the precision and accuracy of the amount of fertilizer application are improved via eliminating the driving layer and enhancing the stable filling and conveying of the forced layer.展开更多
Environmental impact and economic concerns have driven a variable rate technology(VRT).Spinner spreaders were mainly used for granular fertilizer application since they are simple in design,inexpensive,and can cover l...Environmental impact and economic concerns have driven a variable rate technology(VRT).Spinner spreaders were mainly used for granular fertilizer application since they are simple in design,inexpensive,and can cover large areas.However,the spreader was not adequate for VRT because uniformity changes drastically while varying application rates.Thus,the purpose of this study was to develop a variable rate applicator with uniform spreading patterns.A commercial spreader was modified with a controller and electric actuators for controlling fertilizer discharge directions and amounts.Database was established to determine the optimum discharge direction according to the fertilizer application amount.The uniformity of spreading patterns in accordance with the spread amount per set unit area was evaluated by the statistical coefficient of variation(CV)lower than 15%is assumed to prevent damage to the crop.Test results showed that CVs were 8%,9%,and 8%,respectively,for a tractor in race track mode(adjacent passes in same direction of travel)at 200 kg/hm^(2),300 kg/hm^(2),and 400 kg/hm^(2).This indicates that the fertilizer was spread uniformly,while the coefficient of variation was 12%at 200 kg/hm^(2) in back and forth mode(adjacent passes in the opposite direction of travel).Overall,the results suggest that the race track mode is suitable for operation of a tractor to ensure uniform spreading of fertilizer when applying at variable rates.The future goal is to establish a system for automatic variable rate application according to location in connection with soil analysis and geographic information systems.展开更多
α-Trifluoromethyl ketones are a class of useful compounds with versatile applications.Their synthetic application via the transformation of the C—F bonds is of particular interest by allowing the synthesis of organi...α-Trifluoromethyl ketones are a class of useful compounds with versatile applications.Their synthetic application via the transformation of the C—F bonds is of particular interest by allowing the synthesis of organic compounds with diverse structures.Herein,the advances in the research areas ofα-trifluoromethyl ketone synthesis and their defluorination reactions are reviewed.Discussion on the mechanisms of the typical reactions has also been provided,in hope of affording some guides to the chemistry ofα-trifluoromethyl ketones in the synthetic methods toward themselves and their derivatives.展开更多
A remnant fertilizer monitoring system utilizing three-dimensional(3D)reconstruction was proposed to detect the amount of remaining fertilizer in the applicator’s tank.Bench tests were carried out to compare the perf...A remnant fertilizer monitoring system utilizing three-dimensional(3D)reconstruction was proposed to detect the amount of remaining fertilizer in the applicator’s tank.Bench tests were carried out to compare the performance of four algorithms to estimate the remnant fertilizer amount:fertilizer remnant monitoring biharmonic spline algorithm(V4),natural nearest-neighbor algorithm(Natural),linear algorithm(Linear),cubic algorithm(Cubic).The average relative error for remnant fertilizer monitoring is 7.33%for the Linear algorithm,7.30%for the Natural algorithm,5.18%for the Cubic algorithm,and 4.30%for the V4 algorithm.Field tests are conducted at three fertilization rates to compare the performances of the V4 and Cubic algorithms.The average relative error for discharged fertilizer monitoring is 8.64%for the Cubic algorithm,which is 1.91%lower than that of the V4 algorithm.The results show that the Cubic algorithm has the best performance for remnant fertilizer monitoring.The average relative error of remnant fertilizer monitoring is 2.42%for the Cubic algorithm,which is 0.43%lower than that of the V4 algorithm.The response time of the remnant fertilizer monitoring system is 0.26 s.The results demonstrate that the proposed remnant fertilizer monitoring system is highly accurate and suitable for real-time applications.展开更多
Background: There are only very few reports on clinical outcomes using multi-channel applicators (MCA) for patients with endometrial cancer (EC) in China. We aimed to evaluate the clinical experience of treating inter...Background: There are only very few reports on clinical outcomes using multi-channel applicators (MCA) for patients with endometrial cancer (EC) in China. We aimed to evaluate the clinical experience of treating intermediate-risk (IR) to high-risk (HR) stage I EC using in-house made multi-channel applicators (IH-MCA) in a single institution. Methods: Three hundred and ninety patients with stage I IR to HR EC were treated with hysterectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy from 2003 to 2015. All patients received post-operative vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VBT) alone or as a boost after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The prescriptions were 500 cGy per fraction for a total of 5 to 6 fractions with brachytherapy alone or 400 to 600 cGy per fraction for 2 to 3 fractions if it was combined with EBRT. Two types of applicators including a traditional rigid IH-MCA and a recent model custom-made with 3 dimension printing technology were used for treatment. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rate. Results: Follow-up rate was 92.8% and the median follow-up time was 48 months (range 4–172 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, local recurrence, and distant metastasis rates for all patients were 96.3%, 92.1%, 2.9%, and 4.8% respectively. Two patients had isolated relapse in vagina outside the irradiated volume. The univariate and multivariate analysis showed that age and grade were the prognostic factors correlated with OS (hazard ratio: 0.368, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.131–1.035, P = 0.048;hazard ratio: 0.576, 95% CI: 0.347–0.958, P = 0.026,). Conclusions: For patients with IR to HR stage I EC, adjuvant VBT alone or in combination with EBRT using IH-MCA led to excellent survival and recurrence rates. Age and grade were the prognostic factors correlated with OS.展开更多
Soil improvement is one of the most important issues in geotechnical engineering practice.The wide application of traditional improvement techniques(cement/chemical materials)are limited due to damage ecological en-vi...Soil improvement is one of the most important issues in geotechnical engineering practice.The wide application of traditional improvement techniques(cement/chemical materials)are limited due to damage ecological en-vironment and intensify carbon emissions.However,the use of microbially induced calcium carbonate pre-cipitation(MICP)to obtain bio-cement is a novel technique with the potential to induce soil stability,providing a low-carbon,environment-friendly,and sustainable integrated solution for some geotechnical engineering pro-blems in the environment.This paper presents a comprehensive review of the latest progress in soil improvement based on the MICP strategy.It systematically summarizes and overviews the mineralization mechanism,influ-encing factors,improved methods,engineering characteristics,and current field application status of the MICP.Additionally,it also explores the limitations and correspondingly proposes prospective applications via the MICP approach for soil improvement.This review indicates that the utilization of different environmental calcium-based wastes in MICP and combination of materials and MICP are conducive to meeting engineering and market demand.Furthermore,we recommend and encourage global collaborative study and practice with a view to commercializing MICP technique in the future.The current review purports to provide insights for engineers and interdisciplinary researchers,and guidance for future engineering applications.展开更多
The increase in soil temperature associated with climate change has introduced considerable challenges to crop production.Split nitrogen application(SN)represents a potential strategy for improving crop nitrogen use e...The increase in soil temperature associated with climate change has introduced considerable challenges to crop production.Split nitrogen application(SN)represents a potential strategy for improving crop nitrogen use efficiency and enhancing crop stress resistance.Nevertheless,the precise interaction between soil warming(SW)and SN remains unclear.In order to ascertain the impact of SW on maize growth and whether SN can improve the tolerance of maize to SW,a two-year field experiment was conducted(2022-2023).The aim was to examine the influence of two SW ranges(MT,warming 1.40℃;HT,warming 2.75℃)and two nitrogen application methods(N1,one-time basal application of nitrogen fertilizer;N2,one third of base nitrogen fertilizer+two thirds of jointing stage supplemental nitrogen fertilizer)on maize root growth,photosynthetic characteristics,nitrogen use efficiency,and yield.The results demonstrated that SW impeded root growth and precipitated the premature aging of maize leaves following anthesis,particularly in the HT,which led to a notable reduction in maize yield.In comparison to N1,SN has been shown to increase root length density by 8.54%,root bleeding rate by 8.57%,and enhance root distribution ratio in the middle soil layers(20-60 cm).The interaction between SW and SN had a notable impact on maize growth and yield.The SN improved the absorption and utilization efficiency of nitrogen by promoting root development and downward canopy growth,thus improving the tolerance of maize to SW at the later stage of growth.In particular,the N2HT resulted in a 14.51%increase in the photosynthetic rate,a 18.58%increase in nitrogen absorption efficiency,and a 18.32%increase in maize yield compared with N1HT.It can be posited that the SN represents a viable nitrogen management measure with the potential to enhance maize tolerance to soil high-temperature stress.展开更多
In the wave of digital and intelligent applications,artificial intelligence(AI)is transforming the development trajectories of industries across the globe.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),as a cultural treasure of th...In the wave of digital and intelligent applications,artificial intelligence(AI)is transforming the development trajectories of industries across the globe.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),as a cultural treasure of the Chinese nation,carries thousands of years of wisdom and practical experience.However,in the context of the rapid advancements in modern medicine and technology,TCM faces dual challenges:preserving its heritage while innovating.DeepSeek,a major achievement in the field of AI,offers a new opportunity for the development of TCM with its powerful technological capabilities.Exploring the integration of DeepSeek with TCM not only helps modernize the practice but also promises unique contributions to global health.展开更多
Liquid metals(LMs),because of their ability to remain in a liquid state at room temperature,render them highly versatile for applications in electronics,energy storage,medicine,and robotics.Among various LMs,Ga-based ...Liquid metals(LMs),because of their ability to remain in a liquid state at room temperature,render them highly versatile for applications in electronics,energy storage,medicine,and robotics.Among various LMs,Ga-based LMs exhibit minimal cytotoxicity,low viscosity,high thermal and electrical conductivities,and excellent wettability.Therefore,Ga-based LM composites(LMCs)have emerged as a recent research focus.Recent advancements have focused on novel fabrication techniques and applications spanning energy storage,flexible electronics,and biomedical devices.Particularly noteworthy are the developments in wearable sensors and electronic skins,which hold promise for healthcare monitoring and human-machine interfaces.Despite their potential,challenges,such as oxidative susceptibil-ity and biocompatibility,remain.Creating bio-based LMC materials is a promising approach to address these issues while exploring new avenues to optimize LMC performance and broaden its application domains.This review provides a concise overview of the recent trends in LMC research,highlights their transformative impacts,and outlines key directions for future investigation and development.展开更多
Carbon nanotubes(CNTs)have many excellent properties that make them ideally suited for use in lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).In this review,the recent research on applications of CNTs in LIBs,including their usage as fre...Carbon nanotubes(CNTs)have many excellent properties that make them ideally suited for use in lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).In this review,the recent research on applications of CNTs in LIBs,including their usage as freestanding anodes,conductive additives,and current collectors,are discussed.Challenges,strategies,and progress are analyzed by selecting typical examples.Particularly,when CNTs are used with relatively large mass fractions,the relevant interfacial electrochemistry in such a CNT-based electrode,which dictates the quality of the resulting solid-electrolyte interface,becomes a concern.Hence,in this review the different lithium-ion adsorption and insertion mechanisms inside and outside of CNTs are compared;the influence of not only CNT structural features(including their length,defect density,diameter,and wall thickness)but also the electrolyte composition on the solid-electrolyte interfacial reactions is analyzed in detail.Strategies to optimize the solid-solid interface between CNTs and the other solid components in various composite electrodes are also covered.By emphasizing the importance of such a structure-performance relationship,the merits and weaknesses of various applications of CNTs in various advanced LIBs are clarified.展开更多
Biliary system,which is responsible for transporting bile from the liver into the intestine,is commonly damaged by inflammation or tumors eventually causing liver failure or death.The implantation of biliary stents ca...Biliary system,which is responsible for transporting bile from the liver into the intestine,is commonly damaged by inflammation or tumors eventually causing liver failure or death.The implantation of biliary stents can effectively alleviate both benign and malignant biliary strictures,but the plastic and metal stents that are currently used cannot degrade and nearly has no beneficial biological effects,therefore their long-term service can result into inflammation,the formation of sludges and re-obstruction of bile duct.In recent years,magnesium(Mg)metal has been received increasing attention in the field of biomedical application due to its excellent biocompatibility,adequate mechanical properties,biodegradability and other advantages,such as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties.The research on biliary stents made of magnesium metals(BSMM)has also made significant progress and a series of experiments in vitro and vivo has proved their possibility.However,there are still some problems holding back BSMM’s clinical use,including rapid corrosion rate and potential harmful reaction.In this review,we would summarize the current research of BSMM,evaluate their clinical benefits,find the choke points,and discuss the solving method.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Primary vaginal cancer is rare and most vaginal tumors are metastatic,often arising from adjacent gynecologic structures.Primary vaginal cancers are also more common among postmenopausal women and most of these are squamous cell carcinomas,with adenocarcinomas being relatively rare.Vaginal bleeding is the most common clinical manifestation of vaginal adenocarcinoma.About 70%of vaginal adenocarcinomas are stage I lesions at the time of diagnosis,for which radical surgery is recommended.However,more advanced vaginal cancers are not amenable to radical surgical treatment and have poor clinical outcomes.Optimal treatments modes are still being explored.Here,we report a rare case of stage IIb primary vaginal adenocarcinoma for which an individually designed vaginal applicator for after-loading radiotherapy was used to achieve good tumor control.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old woman presented to our clinic after 3 months of abnormal postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.Gynecological examination,computed tomography(CT),and positron emission tomography-CT showed a large mass(about 5 cm)on the anterior vaginal wall.Colposcopy biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma of vaginal origin.After three cycles of carboplatin plus paclitaxel chemotherapy,the lesion partially shrunk.The patient then received external irradiation of 45 gray(gy)in 25 fractions,which further reduced the vaginal lesion,followed by after-loading radiotherapy of 30 gy in 5 fractions with an individually designed vaginal applicator.Three months later,magnetic resonance imaging showed a slight thickening CONCLUSION Primary vaginal adenocarcinoma is rare,and prognosis is poor in most vaginal cancers of locally advanced stages,which cannot be treated with radical surgery.Better tumor control can be achieved with an individualized vaginal applicator that allows administration of a higher radical dose to the tumor area while protecting normal tissues.
文摘In intracavitary radiotherapy (ICRT) for cancer cervix, applicator geometry has the potential to impact the doses to organs at risk (OARs) and the coverage of the target volume. At our centre two Varian made Fletcher-style applicator sets, namely defined (fixed) geometry and flexible geometry, are used for ICRT. In the present work, the two types of applicators were compared dosimetrically as per the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU-38) while delivering high dose rate brachytherapy. Twenty four patients who underwent ICRT were considered for this study. Radiographic method was used for treatment planning on Abacus planning system. ICRU-38 recommended parameters were estimated and compared. Flexible geometry applicator showed 8.8% and 16% higher bladder and rectum point doses as compared to the fixed geometry one but the difference was statistically not significant. The thickness of the pear-shaped isodose volume was larger for the flexible geometry implant also indicating towards higher doses to OARs. The higher bladder and rectum point doses in the case of flexible applicator will need to be validated by a larger data set.
文摘Multi-channel cylindrical applicators for high dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy are utilized mainly for special gynecology cases often involving image-guidance high dose-rate (IG-HDR or IGBT) brachytherapy. In these cases, doses are prescribed to partial vaginal wall/depth where the disease is indicated by an MRI study scanned on the same day. These novel IG-HDR procedures are logistical challenges comparing to typical HDR out-patient treatments due to the complexity of planning for asymmetrical prescriptions as well as the extension of the whole procedure. Indeed the main advantages of HDR over LDR brachytherapy would be significantly weaken unless the IG-HDR procedures become more efficient in time, thus timely treatment planning becomes crucial. Based on our clinical experience, we propose the pseudo central-catheter method to reduce errors, to minimize uncertainty and to ensure efficiency. In this method, the central hollow path of the multi-channel cylindrical applicator is digitized into a pseudo catheter similar to other active catheters, and the asymmetrical prescription points could be generated corresponding to the pseudo dwelling points in the pseudo central-catheter. The pseudo dwelling points are later deleted after generating the prescription point arrays. This method is robust with minimal chance of errors or uncertainties, and demonstrates high efficiency with much less chance of uncertainty, which is significant for IG-HDR brachytherapy procedures utilizing multi-channel applicators.
文摘OBJECTIVE To evaluate the results and complications associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） treated with combined external-beam radiotherapy （EBR） and intracavitary brachytherapy （IB） using a new-type applicator. METHODS Eighty patients with untreated NPC were divided into two groups based on therapy methods. An experimental group was treated with EBR plus IB and a control group was treated only with EBR. IB was given to the patients of the experimental group when the external radiotherapy dose amounted to more than 60～65 Gy. The total dose of IB was 6～20 Gy and the total dose of EBR of the control group was 70～75 Gy. RESULTS Follow-up was conducted for 97.5% of the patients with re- suits as follows： the overall response rates （ORR） for the experimental and the control groups were 92.5% and 75.3% respectively （P〈0.05）; the 3 and 5-year survival rates for the experimental group were 87.5% and 74.2% and for the control group, 65.0% and 55.6% （P〈0.05）; for the experimental group, the 3 and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 72.5% and 64.5% and for the control group, 60.0% and 52.8% （P〉0.05）.Some complications following radiotherapy showed a significant difference. CONCLUSION External irradiation plus intracavitary brachytherapy using a new-type applicator may improve the ORR and survival rates, reduce radiation complications and increase the quality of life.
文摘Whiteflies cause problems in vegetable production on a global scale. The primary worldwide whitefly pest is Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Insecticides are commonly used to mitigate the whitefly problem in vegetable crops. In limited-resource crop production, operator-carried spray applicators are commonly used for pesticide treatments. Three single-nozzle operator-carried spray applicators were assessed for their efficacies for whitefly (B. tabaci) control on summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) in Egypt. Each knapsack spray equipment was evaluated with five biorational and conventional insecticides. Counts of whitefly nymphs (first, second, third and fourth instars) on leaf samples were taken on 3, 9, 15 and 21 days after treatments with the insecticides. Nymphal mortality varied about 10% among the three spray equipment treatments. The Economy Micro Ulva sprayer resulted in significantly more nymphal mortality as compared with the Arimitsu sprayer and the CZP-3 sprayer, respectively. All insecticides greatly suppressed the whitefly populations;mean mortality ranged from 73% to 95% for all nymphs combined by day for a given treatment. These results provide pest management practitioners with performance assessment of the three operator-carried pesticide applicators for whitefly management with selected foliar insecticides.
文摘The paper presents the construction of an automatic applicator of active substance that removes causes of the disturbances in the fluid flow in a system that is under the control. In a particular case, it can be applied to the removal of disturbances in the blood flow in vessels caused by a thrombus formation (e.g. post-operative or due to dialysis treatment). The presented applicator automatically releases the active substance into the system while detecting in real time the abnormal fluid flow. It allows mixing the active substance (e.g. anticoagulant drug) with the controlled medium outside the substance container (e.g. serum) while offering the possibility of the repeated usage.
文摘A prilled urea applicator was designed and developed to increase fertilizer use efficiency. The developed applicator’s aims to place Urea continuously at the subsurface of soil between two rows of plants. A line-to-line distance of 20 cm, depth of prilled urea placement of 5 - 7 cm, and field operating condition at 1 - 1.5 cm standing water (for softening the field) was the designed hypothesis. At the laboratory and farm level, test the developed applicator. The applicator consists of a rectangular frame, two skids and furrow opener, two cylindrical hoppers, and a drive wheel connected with a metering device. The designed applicator was fabricated using PVC, except the push handled (mild steel). The metering device consists of twelve spikes and is made of a metallic plate to apply the Urea uniformly. The applicator has a furrow opener and closer options. The effective field capacity was 0.13 ha/h with a speed of 1.22 km/h and field efficiency of 98%. Due to the continuous falling mechanism, there is no missing option but found the over-falling urea for both hoppers was found 5.35%. The average depth of urea placement was 6.38 cm. The machine was user-friendly to push, and the mean pushing force was 63.89 N. The weight of the applicator was 9 kg. So, it is natural to carry from one field to another field. The applicator is also convenient to handle, operate and manage.
文摘The paper introduces a microstrip applicator for treatment or prostatitisand kypertrophy or prostate via rectum. The principle or the applicator, the theoreticalcalculation or near field distribution of the applicator covered with a lossy dielectric, theperformance or the impedance matching and the heating pattern or the applicator andthe clinical results are reported.
文摘This Paper introduces a microstrip applicator for treatment of cervical erosion and cervical condyloma acuminatum with microwave tissue coagulationmethod. The principle of the applicator,the theoretical calculation of near field distribution of the applicator covered with a lossy dielectric, the experimental resultsfor its performance of the impedance matching and for microwave leakage energyare reported. Finally,the therapeutic method and effects are presented.
基金We acknowledge that this research was financially supported by National Key Research Program Project(No.2016YFD0200600,2016YFD0200606,2018YFD0200700,2018YFD0200704,2017YFD0700500,2017YFD0700503).
文摘The instability of the motion layer of fertilizer particle influences the precision and the accuracy of the amount of fertilizer application in the working process of fluted-roller fertilizer applicator.The characteristics of the motion layer were investigated,and a systematic scheme was proposed for designing the structures of fertilizer-filling cavity,fertilizer-filling surface and fertilizer-delivery cavity.The key parameters of the structure were studied by discrete element method.It was figured out that to ensure the smooth operation of fertilizer applicator,the fertilizer-filling angle was 105°,fertilizer-contact angle should be large than 100°,and the fertilizer-resistance angle should be smaller than 35°.Moreover,the stability of fertilizer motion morphology was investigated to verify the design.The results showed that when the roll rotational speed was larger than 120 deg/s,compared with the conventional design the CV of the amount of fertilizer application was reduced from 1.5%-3.5%to 0.5%-1.0%,and the accuracy of the fertilizer discharge was improved with the square of the correlation coefficient between the amount of fertilizer application and the roll rotational speed was larger than 0.999.It was deduced from the results that the precision and accuracy of the amount of fertilizer application are improved via eliminating the driving layer and enhancing the stable filling and conveying of the forced layer.
基金This work was carried out with the support of the“Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science&Technology Development”(Project No.PJ01050303),Rural Development Administration,Republic of Korea.
文摘Environmental impact and economic concerns have driven a variable rate technology(VRT).Spinner spreaders were mainly used for granular fertilizer application since they are simple in design,inexpensive,and can cover large areas.However,the spreader was not adequate for VRT because uniformity changes drastically while varying application rates.Thus,the purpose of this study was to develop a variable rate applicator with uniform spreading patterns.A commercial spreader was modified with a controller and electric actuators for controlling fertilizer discharge directions and amounts.Database was established to determine the optimum discharge direction according to the fertilizer application amount.The uniformity of spreading patterns in accordance with the spread amount per set unit area was evaluated by the statistical coefficient of variation(CV)lower than 15%is assumed to prevent damage to the crop.Test results showed that CVs were 8%,9%,and 8%,respectively,for a tractor in race track mode(adjacent passes in same direction of travel)at 200 kg/hm^(2),300 kg/hm^(2),and 400 kg/hm^(2).This indicates that the fertilizer was spread uniformly,while the coefficient of variation was 12%at 200 kg/hm^(2) in back and forth mode(adjacent passes in the opposite direction of travel).Overall,the results suggest that the race track mode is suitable for operation of a tractor to ensure uniform spreading of fertilizer when applying at variable rates.The future goal is to establish a system for automatic variable rate application according to location in connection with soil analysis and geographic information systems.
文摘α-Trifluoromethyl ketones are a class of useful compounds with versatile applications.Their synthetic application via the transformation of the C—F bonds is of particular interest by allowing the synthesis of organic compounds with diverse structures.Herein,the advances in the research areas ofα-trifluoromethyl ketone synthesis and their defluorination reactions are reviewed.Discussion on the mechanisms of the typical reactions has also been provided,in hope of affording some guides to the chemistry ofα-trifluoromethyl ketones in the synthetic methods toward themselves and their derivatives.
基金supported in part by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2017YFD0700503)the Soil-Machine-Plant key laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture of China.
文摘A remnant fertilizer monitoring system utilizing three-dimensional(3D)reconstruction was proposed to detect the amount of remaining fertilizer in the applicator’s tank.Bench tests were carried out to compare the performance of four algorithms to estimate the remnant fertilizer amount:fertilizer remnant monitoring biharmonic spline algorithm(V4),natural nearest-neighbor algorithm(Natural),linear algorithm(Linear),cubic algorithm(Cubic).The average relative error for remnant fertilizer monitoring is 7.33%for the Linear algorithm,7.30%for the Natural algorithm,5.18%for the Cubic algorithm,and 4.30%for the V4 algorithm.Field tests are conducted at three fertilization rates to compare the performances of the V4 and Cubic algorithms.The average relative error for discharged fertilizer monitoring is 8.64%for the Cubic algorithm,which is 1.91%lower than that of the V4 algorithm.The results show that the Cubic algorithm has the best performance for remnant fertilizer monitoring.The average relative error of remnant fertilizer monitoring is 2.42%for the Cubic algorithm,which is 0.43%lower than that of the V4 algorithm.The response time of the remnant fertilizer monitoring system is 0.26 s.The results demonstrate that the proposed remnant fertilizer monitoring system is highly accurate and suitable for real-time applications.
基金This study was supported by the grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(No.2016YFC0105207).
文摘Background: There are only very few reports on clinical outcomes using multi-channel applicators (MCA) for patients with endometrial cancer (EC) in China. We aimed to evaluate the clinical experience of treating intermediate-risk (IR) to high-risk (HR) stage I EC using in-house made multi-channel applicators (IH-MCA) in a single institution. Methods: Three hundred and ninety patients with stage I IR to HR EC were treated with hysterectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy from 2003 to 2015. All patients received post-operative vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VBT) alone or as a boost after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The prescriptions were 500 cGy per fraction for a total of 5 to 6 fractions with brachytherapy alone or 400 to 600 cGy per fraction for 2 to 3 fractions if it was combined with EBRT. Two types of applicators including a traditional rigid IH-MCA and a recent model custom-made with 3 dimension printing technology were used for treatment. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rate. Results: Follow-up rate was 92.8% and the median follow-up time was 48 months (range 4–172 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, local recurrence, and distant metastasis rates for all patients were 96.3%, 92.1%, 2.9%, and 4.8% respectively. Two patients had isolated relapse in vagina outside the irradiated volume. The univariate and multivariate analysis showed that age and grade were the prognostic factors correlated with OS (hazard ratio: 0.368, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.131–1.035, P = 0.048;hazard ratio: 0.576, 95% CI: 0.347–0.958, P = 0.026,). Conclusions: For patients with IR to HR stage I EC, adjuvant VBT alone or in combination with EBRT using IH-MCA led to excellent survival and recurrence rates. Age and grade were the prognostic factors correlated with OS.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41962016)the Natural Science Foundation of NingXia(Nos.2023AAC02023,2023A1218,and 2021AAC02006).
文摘Soil improvement is one of the most important issues in geotechnical engineering practice.The wide application of traditional improvement techniques(cement/chemical materials)are limited due to damage ecological en-vironment and intensify carbon emissions.However,the use of microbially induced calcium carbonate pre-cipitation(MICP)to obtain bio-cement is a novel technique with the potential to induce soil stability,providing a low-carbon,environment-friendly,and sustainable integrated solution for some geotechnical engineering pro-blems in the environment.This paper presents a comprehensive review of the latest progress in soil improvement based on the MICP strategy.It systematically summarizes and overviews the mineralization mechanism,influ-encing factors,improved methods,engineering characteristics,and current field application status of the MICP.Additionally,it also explores the limitations and correspondingly proposes prospective applications via the MICP approach for soil improvement.This review indicates that the utilization of different environmental calcium-based wastes in MICP and combination of materials and MICP are conducive to meeting engineering and market demand.Furthermore,we recommend and encourage global collaborative study and practice with a view to commercializing MICP technique in the future.The current review purports to provide insights for engineers and interdisciplinary researchers,and guidance for future engineering applications.
基金supported by the Natural Science Fund of China(31771724)the Key Research and Development Project of Shaanxi Province(2024NC-ZDCYL-01-10).
文摘The increase in soil temperature associated with climate change has introduced considerable challenges to crop production.Split nitrogen application(SN)represents a potential strategy for improving crop nitrogen use efficiency and enhancing crop stress resistance.Nevertheless,the precise interaction between soil warming(SW)and SN remains unclear.In order to ascertain the impact of SW on maize growth and whether SN can improve the tolerance of maize to SW,a two-year field experiment was conducted(2022-2023).The aim was to examine the influence of two SW ranges(MT,warming 1.40℃;HT,warming 2.75℃)and two nitrogen application methods(N1,one-time basal application of nitrogen fertilizer;N2,one third of base nitrogen fertilizer+two thirds of jointing stage supplemental nitrogen fertilizer)on maize root growth,photosynthetic characteristics,nitrogen use efficiency,and yield.The results demonstrated that SW impeded root growth and precipitated the premature aging of maize leaves following anthesis,particularly in the HT,which led to a notable reduction in maize yield.In comparison to N1,SN has been shown to increase root length density by 8.54%,root bleeding rate by 8.57%,and enhance root distribution ratio in the middle soil layers(20-60 cm).The interaction between SW and SN had a notable impact on maize growth and yield.The SN improved the absorption and utilization efficiency of nitrogen by promoting root development and downward canopy growth,thus improving the tolerance of maize to SW at the later stage of growth.In particular,the N2HT resulted in a 14.51%increase in the photosynthetic rate,a 18.58%increase in nitrogen absorption efficiency,and a 18.32%increase in maize yield compared with N1HT.It can be posited that the SN represents a viable nitrogen management measure with the potential to enhance maize tolerance to soil high-temperature stress.
文摘In the wave of digital and intelligent applications,artificial intelligence(AI)is transforming the development trajectories of industries across the globe.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),as a cultural treasure of the Chinese nation,carries thousands of years of wisdom and practical experience.However,in the context of the rapid advancements in modern medicine and technology,TCM faces dual challenges:preserving its heritage while innovating.DeepSeek,a major achievement in the field of AI,offers a new opportunity for the development of TCM with its powerful technological capabilities.Exploring the integration of DeepSeek with TCM not only helps modernize the practice but also promises unique contributions to global health.
基金supported by the GRDC(Global Research Development Center)Cooperative Hub Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF),funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT(MSIT)(No.RS-2023-00257595).
文摘Liquid metals(LMs),because of their ability to remain in a liquid state at room temperature,render them highly versatile for applications in electronics,energy storage,medicine,and robotics.Among various LMs,Ga-based LMs exhibit minimal cytotoxicity,low viscosity,high thermal and electrical conductivities,and excellent wettability.Therefore,Ga-based LM composites(LMCs)have emerged as a recent research focus.Recent advancements have focused on novel fabrication techniques and applications spanning energy storage,flexible electronics,and biomedical devices.Particularly noteworthy are the developments in wearable sensors and electronic skins,which hold promise for healthcare monitoring and human-machine interfaces.Despite their potential,challenges,such as oxidative susceptibil-ity and biocompatibility,remain.Creating bio-based LMC materials is a promising approach to address these issues while exploring new avenues to optimize LMC performance and broaden its application domains.This review provides a concise overview of the recent trends in LMC research,highlights their transformative impacts,and outlines key directions for future investigation and development.
基金Xiamen Science and Technology Project,Grant/Award Number:3502Z20231057National Key Research and Development Program of China,Grant/Award Number:3502Z20231057National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Numbers:22279107,22288102。
文摘Carbon nanotubes(CNTs)have many excellent properties that make them ideally suited for use in lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).In this review,the recent research on applications of CNTs in LIBs,including their usage as freestanding anodes,conductive additives,and current collectors,are discussed.Challenges,strategies,and progress are analyzed by selecting typical examples.Particularly,when CNTs are used with relatively large mass fractions,the relevant interfacial electrochemistry in such a CNT-based electrode,which dictates the quality of the resulting solid-electrolyte interface,becomes a concern.Hence,in this review the different lithium-ion adsorption and insertion mechanisms inside and outside of CNTs are compared;the influence of not only CNT structural features(including their length,defect density,diameter,and wall thickness)but also the electrolyte composition on the solid-electrolyte interfacial reactions is analyzed in detail.Strategies to optimize the solid-solid interface between CNTs and the other solid components in various composite electrodes are also covered.By emphasizing the importance of such a structure-performance relationship,the merits and weaknesses of various applications of CNTs in various advanced LIBs are clarified.
基金supported by Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(2021JJ31081,2024JJ5619)the Science Fund of State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing Technology for Vehicle(No 32215004).
文摘Biliary system,which is responsible for transporting bile from the liver into the intestine,is commonly damaged by inflammation or tumors eventually causing liver failure or death.The implantation of biliary stents can effectively alleviate both benign and malignant biliary strictures,but the plastic and metal stents that are currently used cannot degrade and nearly has no beneficial biological effects,therefore their long-term service can result into inflammation,the formation of sludges and re-obstruction of bile duct.In recent years,magnesium(Mg)metal has been received increasing attention in the field of biomedical application due to its excellent biocompatibility,adequate mechanical properties,biodegradability and other advantages,such as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties.The research on biliary stents made of magnesium metals(BSMM)has also made significant progress and a series of experiments in vitro and vivo has proved their possibility.However,there are still some problems holding back BSMM’s clinical use,including rapid corrosion rate and potential harmful reaction.In this review,we would summarize the current research of BSMM,evaluate their clinical benefits,find the choke points,and discuss the solving method.
