Association between serum vitamin D and the risk of diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: This investigation explored the potential correlation between serum vitamin D concentration and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 4,570 patients with T2DM drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset. Restricted cubic splines were utilized to examine the dose-response relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the risk of DKD in patients with T2DM.

Advanced glycosylation end products promote the progression of CKD-MBD in rats, and its natural inhibitor, quercetin, mitigates disease progression.

Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone metabolism disorder (CKD-MBD) is a common chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated complication that increases the risk of metabolic bone diseases, fractures, osteoblastic trans-differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and cardiovascular events. SD rats were randomised into five groups with six rats per group: sham, CKD, CKD + advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), CKD + Quercetin, and CKD + AGEs + Quercetin. The protective effects of AGEs and quercetin on SD rats were assessed by renal function, renal pathology, bone metabolism, osteoblastic trans-differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and the receptor for AGE (RAGE) expression.

Two new dihydro--agarofuran sesquiterpenes from the roots of .

Two new dihydro--agarofuran sesquiterpenes chiapen T () and chiapen U (), along with chiapen A (), 1-hydroxy-2,6,12-triacetoxy-8-(-nicotinoyloxy)-9-(benzoyloxy)--dihydroagarofuran (), wilforlide B (), 3-hydroxy-2-oxo-3-friedelen-29-oic acid (), epikatonic acid (), 22-epi-maytenfolic acid (), maytenoic acid (), wilforic acid F (), wilforic acid B (), were reported for the first time from the . The structures of all the compounds were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, 1 D and 2 D NMR spectra, as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Compounds and were examined for anti-inflammatory activity, respectively.

Circular polarization sensitive absorbers based on graphene.

It is well known that the polarization of a linearly polarized (LP) light would rotate after passing through a single layer graphene under the bias of a perpendicular magnetostatic field. Here we show that a corresponding phase shift could be expected for circularly polarized (CP) light, which can be engineered to design the circular polarization sensitive devices. We theoretically validate that an ultrathin graphene-based absorber with the thickness about λ/76 can be obtained, which shows efficient absorption >90% within incident angles of ±80°.

Catenary optics for achromatic generation of perfect optical angular momentum.

The catenary is the curve that a free-hanging chain assumes under its own weight, and thought to be a "true mathematical and mechanical form" in architecture by Robert Hooke in the 1670s, with nevertheless no significant phenomena observed in optics. We show that the optical catenary can serve as a unique building block of metasurfaces to produce continuous and linear phase shift covering [0, 2π], a mission that is extremely difficult if not impossible for state-of-the-art technology. Via catenary arrays, planar optical devices are designed and experimentally characterized to generate various kinds of beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM).

Near-field collimation of light carrying orbital angular momentum with bull's-eye-assisted plasmonic coaxial waveguides.

The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light, as an emerging hotspot in optics and photonics, introduces many degrees of freedom for applications ranging from optical communication and quantum processing to micromanipulation. To achieve a high degree of integration, optical circuits for OAM light are essential, which are, however, challenging in the optical regime owing to the lack of well-developed theory. Here we provide a scheme to guide and collimate the OAM beam at the micro- and nano-levels.

Realization of low-scattering metamaterial shell based on cylindrical wave expanding theory.

In this paper, we demonstrate the design of a low-scattering metamaterial shell with strong backward scattering reduction and a wide bandwidth at microwave frequencies. Low echo is achieved through cylindrical wave expanding theory, and such shell only contains one metamaterial layer with simultaneous low permittivity and permeability. Cut-wire structure is selected to realize the low electromagnetic (EM) parameters and low loss on the resonance brim region.

Spatially and spectrally engineered spin-orbit interaction for achromatic virtual shaping.

The geometries of objects are deterministic in electromagnetic phenomena in all aspects of our world, ranging from imaging with spherical eyes to stealth aircraft with bizarre shapes. Nevertheless, shaping the physical geometry is often undesired owing to other physical constraints such as aero- and hydro-dynamics in the stealth technology. Here we demonstrate that it is possible to change the traditional law of reflection as well as the electromagnetic characters without altering the physical shape, by utilizing the achromatic phase shift stemming from spin-orbit interaction in ultrathin space-variant and spectrally engineered metasurfaces.

Conversion of broadband energy to narrowband emission through double-sided metamaterials.

In this paper, an energy harvesting/re-radiating device is proposed to realize high efficiency energy conversion in the solar thermo-photovoltaic system. Such device consists of double-sided metamaterials which are assembled by a broadband absorber working in the major solar spectrum, and a back-by-back narrowband emitter working in the infrared band. It is theoretically proved that most of solar light (from 0.

Anesthesia and postoperative analgesia during unilateral lower-extremity fracture surgeries using multiple injections through catheters beside the lumbar plexus or sciatic nerve.

Objective: To compare the clinical effects of anesthesia and postoperative analgesia for patients with unilateral lower-extremity fracture between multiple injections through catheters beside the lumbar plexus or sciatic nerve and continuous epidural analgesia.

Methods: Seventy patients with unilateral lower-extremity fracture scheduled for internal fixation were randomly divided into group N (n = 35) and group E (n = 35). Patients in group N received combined lumbar plexus and sciatic nerve block, then a catheter was inserted into the psoas compartment or beside the sciatic nerve, according to the surgical site, and 25 mL 0.

The analgesic efficacy of subcostal transversus abdominis plane block compared with thoracic epidural analgesia and intravenous opioid analgesia after radical gastrectomy.

Background: The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been shown to provide effective postoperative analgesia in lower abdominal surgery. Subcostal TAP block has also been proposed as a new technique to provide analgesia for the supraumbilical abdomen. We compared the analgesic and opioid-sparing effects of a single-injection subcostal TAP block with continuous thoracic epidural analgesia and IV opioid analgesia.

Strong enhancement of light absorption and highly directive thermal emission in graphene.

Graphene is a two-dimensional material with exotic electronic, optical and thermal properties. The optical absorption in monolayer graphene is limited by the fine structure constant α. Here we demonstrated the strong enhancement of light absorption and thermal radiation in homogeneous graphene.

Investigation of Fano resonance in planar metamaterial with perturbed periodicity.

In this paper, we report the formation of sharp Fano resonance in planar metamaterial array with perturbed periodicity. Rigorous sheet impedance theory is given to analyze the electric-magnetic and magnetic-magnetic coupling effects. It is found that periodicity perturbation can provide a general approach for Fano resonance with ultra-strong local field enhancement.

Engineering heavily doped silicon for broadband absorber in the terahertz regime.

Highly efficient absorber is of particular importance in terahertz regime as naturally occurring materials with frequency-selective absorption in this frequency band is difficult to find. Here we present the design and characterization of a broadband terahertz absorber based on heavily Boron-doped silicon (0.7676 Ω cm) grating.

Multi-band circular polarizer using planar spiral metamaterial structure.

A multi-band circular polarizer is proposed by using multi layered planar spiral metamaterial structure in analogy with classic spiral antenna. At three distinct resonant frequencies, the incident linearly polarized wave with electric field paralleling to one specific direction is transformed into left/right-handed circularly polarized waves through electric field coupling. Measured and simulated results show that right-handed circularly polarized wave is produced at 13.

Engineering the dispersion of metamaterial surface for broadband infrared absorption.

We propose a broadband infrared absorber by engineering the frequency dispersion of metamaterial surface (metasurface) to mimic an ideal absorbing sheet. With a thin layer of structured nichrome, a polarization-independent absorber with absorption larger than 97% is numerically demonstrated over a larger than one octave bandwidth. It is shown that the bandwidth enhancement is related with the transformation of the Drude model of free electron gas in metal film to the Lorentz oscillator model of a bound electron in the structured metallic surface.

Ultrathin broadband nearly perfect absorber with symmetrical coherent illumination.

As highlighted by recent articles [Phys. Rev. Lett.

Truncated spherical voids for nearly omnidirectional optical absorption.

Truncated spherical voids nanostructured tungsten films are shown to have nearly perfect absorption with characteristics of broad-band, polarization-independent and wide-incidence angle in near infrared and visible regime. Through optimizing material and structural parameters, we can achieve the absorbance above 90% from 420THz to 600THz within incidence angle from 0° to 60° for TE polarization and from 450THz to 800THz within incidence angle from 0° to 75° for TM polarization. In particular, absorbance can achieve 99.

Extraordinary optical transmission induced by electric resonance ring and its dynamic manipulation at far-infrared regime.

We present a design for a sub-wavelength hole array (SHA) decorated with an electric resonance ring (ERR) to realize angle-insensitive extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) at 9.7 μm. A net electric resonance in the whole MM plane, induced by the counter-circulating LC loops in each MM unit-cell, is proposed to have the primary responsibility for the EOT.

Design principles for infrared wide-angle perfect absorber based on plasmonic structure.

An approach for designing a wide-angle perfect absorber at infrared frequencies is proposed. The technique is based on a perfectly impedance-matched sheet (PIMS) formed by plasmonic nanostructure. It is shown that the effective impedance is more physical meaningful and beneficial than effective medium in describing the electromagnetic properties of metamaterial absorber.

Tunable bandwidth of band-stop filter by metamaterial cell coupling in optical frequency.

In this paper we present a simulation study of nanostructures with unit cells of periodic coupled cut-wire pairs for band-stop properties in the optical frequency range. A band-stop filter with a broader stop band for space transmission is realized by making use of plasmon hybridization. The bandwidth of the filter is tunable over a large range from 56.

Directional coupler and nonlinear Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on metal-insulator-metal plasmonic waveguide.

Directional coupler (DC) and nonlinear Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) based on metal-insulator-metal (MIM) plasmonic waveguide are investigated numerically. We show that the coupling length increases almost linearly with the wavelength and this property is utilized in the design of wavelength division multiplexer (WDM). A nonlinear MZI, with one branch filled with Kerr nonlinear medium, is built to ensure controlling light with light.

Investigation on the role of the dielectric loss in metamaterial absorber.

The authors report a metamaterial (MM) consisting of cut-wire structures which shows near-perfect absorption at microwave frequencies. Experimental results show slight lower performance than simulation. The analysis of the spectra and retrieved electromagnetic parameters demonstrate that the mismatch is attributed to the considerable influence of the dielectric loss on the strength of the electric and magnetic resonances, which largely determines the ability of the MM absorber.

Mixed plasmons coupling for expanding the bandwidth of near-perfect absorption at visible frequencies.

We theoretically investigate the electromagnetic response of mixed-size sub-wavelength square hole array (M-SHA) combined with thick metal layer (TML). Near-perfect absorption with bandwidth about 17 nm is firstly observed. Field distribution and dispersion relationship indicate that mixed surface plasmons (M-SPs) coupling is supported by M-SHA and TML.