Enhancement of responsivity and a self-powered on-chip LNOI integrated BiTe photodetector array.

The topological insulator BiTe possesses an extraordinary optoelectronic property for wide-band optoelectronics device applications. In this study, we demonstrate a high-responsivity and self-powered on-chip lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) waveguide-integrated BiTe photodetector array operating at 1550 nm. Enhancement of responsivity is attributed to the decreased BiTe/Au contact resistance, which is facilitated by electrothermal annealing.

Prognostic implication of right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling in valvular heart disease.

Valvular heart disease (VHD) leading to inadequate hemodynamic circulation is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Right ventricular-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling integrates the ability of RV contractility to adapt to increased pulmonary arterial afterload. If the right ventricle cannot adapt to the elevated afterload by increasing its contractile function, RV-PA uncoupling occurs.

Prognostic Value of LV Global Longitudinal Strain by 2D and 3D Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Patients With HFpEF.

Background: In patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the impact of type 2 diabetes (T2D) on left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) and its prognostic implications remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate LV function using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with HFpEF with and without T2D, and to investigate its prognostic significance.

Methods: A total of 335 patients with HFpEF were prospectively enrolled for echocardiographic evaluation.

MoTe Photodetector for Integrated Lithium Niobate Photonics.

The integration of a photodetector that converts optical signals into electrical signals is essential for scalable integrated lithium niobate photonics. Two-dimensional materials provide a potential high-efficiency on-chip detection capability. Here, we demonstrate an efficient on-chip photodetector based on a few layers of MoTe on a thin film lithium niobate waveguide and integrate it with a microresonator operating in an optical telecommunication band.

Curcumin-carbon dots suppress periodontitis via regulating METTL3/IRE1α signaling.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin-carbon dot conjugates (CUR-CD) on periodontitis. Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to establish periodontitis mode in vivo and in vitro. Histological analysis was conducted using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.

Lithium niobate waveguide-integrated BiTe/graphene heterojunction photodetector.

We demonstrate an on-chip photodetector by integrating a graphene and topological insulator BiTe heterostructure on a thin-film lithium niobate waveguide. Lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) waveguides are fabricated by the photolithography-assisted chemical mechanical etching method. The bismuth telluride (BiTe) and graphene heterostructure design provides enhanced photocurrent due to the effective photocarrier generation.

Compact low-half-wave-voltage thin film lithium niobate electro-optic phase modulator fabricated by photolithography-assisted chemo-mechanical etching (PLACE).

We present a compact dual-arm thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) electro-optic phase modulator fabricated using the photolithography-assisted chemo-mechanical etching (PLACE) technique. The design of the device doubles the modulation amount compared to single-arm modulators while maintaining the same chip length. Achieving a half-wave voltage of approximately 3 V, the device outperforms conventional single-arm phase modulators.

High-Extraction-Rate TaO-Core/SiO-Clad Photonic Waveguides on Silicon Fabricated by Photolithography-Assisted Chemo-Mechanical Etching (PLACE).

We demonstrate high-extraction-rate TaO-core/SiO-clad photonic waveguides on silicon fabricated by the photolithography-assisted chemo-mechanical etching technique. Low-confinement waveguides of larger than 70% coupling efficiency with optical fibers and medium propagation loss around 1 dB/cm are investigated in the experiment. Monolithic microring resonators based on TaO waveguides have shown the quality factors to be above 10 near 1550 nm.

Parthenolide enhances the metronomic chemotherapy effect of cyclophosphamide in lung cancer by inhibiting the NF-kB signaling pathway.

Background: Parthenolide (PTL), a sesquiterpene lactone derived from the medicinal herb Chrysanthemum parthenium, exhibits various biological effects by targeting NF-kB, STAT3, and other pathways. It has emerged as a promising adjunct therapy for multiple malignancies.

Aim: To evaluate the and effect of PTL on cyclophosphamide (CTX) metronomic chemotherapy.

Tuning polar discrimination between side chains to improve the performance of anion exchange membranes.

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are the heart of alkaline fuel cells and water electrolysis, and have made a great progress in recent years. However, AEMs are still unable to satisfy the needs of high conductivity and stability, hindering their widespread commercialization. Side chain regulations have been widely used to prepare highly conductive and durable AEMs.

Thin-film lithium niobate electro-optic isolator fabricated by photolithography assisted chemo-mechanical etching.

We report an electro-optic isolator fabricated on thin-film lithium niobate by photolithography-assisted chemo-mechanical etching that shows an isolation of 39.50 dB and an overall fiber-to-fiber loss of 2.6 dB.

On-chip coherent beam combination of waveguide amplifiers on Er-doped thin film lithium niobate.

We demonstrate on-chip coherent beam combination of two waveguide amplifiers on Er-doped thin film lithium niobate (Er:TFLN) platform. Our device is built based on an electro-optic modulator fabricated on Er:TFLN. The output power of the coherently combined amplifiers is measured as high as 12.

Clinical Usefulness of Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is defined as HF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) not less than 50%. HFpEF accounts for more than 50% of all HF patients, and its prevalence is increasing year to year with the aging population, with its prognosis worsening. The clinical assessment of cardiac function and prognosis in patients with HFpEF remains challenging due to the normal range of LVEF and the nonspecific symptoms and signs.

Based on cross-scale fusion attention mechanism network for semantic segmentation for street scenes.

Semantic segmentation, which is a fundamental task in computer vision. Every pixel will have a specific semantic class assigned to it through semantic segmentation methods. Embedded systems and mobile devices are difficult to deploy high-accuracy segmentation algorithms.

Clinical Usefulness of Right Ventricle-Pulmonary Artery Coupling in Cardiovascular Disease.

Right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling (RV-PA coupling) refers to the relationship between RV contractility and RV afterload. Normal RV-PA coupling is maintained only when RV function and pulmonary vascular resistance are appropriately matched. RV-PA uncoupling occurs when RV contractility cannot increase to match RV afterload, resulting in RV dysfunction and right heart failure.

Clinical Utility of Strain Imaging in Assessment of Myocardial Fibrosis.

Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a non-reversible process that occurs following acute or chronic myocardial damage. MF worsens myocardial deformation, remodels the heart and raises myocardial stiffness, and is a crucial pathological manifestation in patients with end-stage cardiovascular diseases and closely related to cardiac adverse events. Therefore, early quantitative analysis of MF plays an important role in risk stratification, clinical decision, and improvement in prognosis.

Semi-interpenetrating anion exchange membranes using hydrophobic microporous linear poly(ether ketone).

In order to realise high ionic conductivity and improved chemical stability, a series of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with semi-interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN) has been prepared via the incorporation of crosslinked poly(biphenyl N-methylpiperidine) (PBP) and spirobisindane-based intrinsically microporous poly(ether ketone) (PEK-SBI). The formation of phase separated structures as a result of the incompatibility between the hydrophilic PBP network and the hydrophobic PEK-SBI segment, has successfully promoted the hydroxide ion conductivity of AEMs. A swelling ratio (SR) as low as 12.

Clinical Utility of Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) is an extremely major health problem with gradually increasing incidence in developed and developing countries. HF may lead to cardiac remodeling; thus, advanced imaging techniques are required to comprehensively evaluate cardiac mechanics. Recently, three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) has been developed as a novel imaging technology that is based on the three-dimensional speckle-tracking on the full volume three-dimensional datasets.

Multimodality Imaging of Benign Primary Cardiac Tumor.

Primary cardiac tumors (PCTs) are rare, with benign PCTs being relatively common in approximately 75% of all PCTs. Benign PCTs are usually asymptomatic, and they are found incidentally by imaging. Even if patients present with symptoms, they are usually nonspecific.

Superior prognostic value of right ventricular free wall compared to global longitudinal strain in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Objectives: Both right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS) and right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) has been demonstrated to predict adverse outcomes in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (r-TOF). However, RVGLS may be affected by left ventricular (LV) function owing to the fact that the interventricular septum is also a part of the left ventricle. Therefore, the aim of our study was to compare the predictive value of RVFWLS with that of RVGLS in patients with r-TOF.