Enabling High-Performance Surfaces of Biodegradable Magnesium Alloys via Femtosecond Laser Shock Peening with Ultralow Pulse Energy.

The fast degradation rate and poor wear resistance of magnesium (Mg) alloys in physiological environments have limited their potential usage as next-generation biodegradable orthopedic implant materials. In this work, femtosecond laser shock peening (fs-LSP) was successfully applied to simultaneously improve the surface mechanical, corrosion, and tribocorrosion properties of WE43 Mg alloys in blood bank buffered saline solution at body temperature. Specifically, the treated surfaces of WE43 Mg alloys via fs-LSP with ultralow pulse energy were investigated under different power densities, confining mediums, and absorbent materials.

Graphene-TaO heterostructure enabled high performance, deep-ultraviolet to mid-infrared photodetection.

Ultrafast, high sensitive, low cost photodetectors operating at room temperature sensitive from the deep-ultraviolet to mid-infrared region remain a significant challenge in optoelectronics. Achievements in traditional semiconductors using cryogenic operation and complicated growth processes prevent the cost-effective and practical application of broadband detectors. Alternative methods towards high-performance photodetectors, hybrid graphene-semiconductor colloidal quantum dots have been intensively explored.

Quantitative CT Detects Undiagnosed Low Bone Mineral Density in Oncologic Patients Imaged With 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Purpose: We assessed the prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) in oncologic patients undergoing F-FDG PET/CT.

Patients And Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 100 patients who underwent F-FDG PET/CT at a single center from October 2015 till May 2016. Quantitative CT (QCT) was used to assess BMD at the lumbar spine (BMDQCT) and femoral necks (BMDCTXA).

Online Learning Based on Online DCA and Application to Online Classification.

We investigate an approach based on DC (Difference of Convex functions) programming and DCA (DC Algorithm) for online learning techniques. The prediction problem of an online learner can be formulated as a DC program for which online DCA is applied. We propose the two so-called complete/approximate versions of online DCA scheme and prove their logarithmic/sublinear regrets.

The chemical bond as an emergent phenomenon.

We first argue that the covalent bond and the various closed-shell interactions can be thought of as symmetry broken versions of one and the same interaction, viz., the multi-center bond. We use specially chosen molecular units to show that the symmetry breaking is controlled by density and electronegativity variation.

Clinical testing of an inactivated influenza A/H5N1 vaccine candidate in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in healthy adults in Vietnam.

We tested an inactivated egg-grown whole virus influenza A/H5N1 vaccine candidate developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), a state-run vaccine manufacturer in Vietnam, in a Phase 1, placebo controlled, double blinded, randomized trial. The vaccine was adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide. The trial enrolled 75 subjects who were randomized to receive two injections of one of the following: low-dose of vaccine (7.

PPyDEP: a new approach to microparticle manipulation employing polymer-based electrodes.

In this work, a novel approach to 3-dimensional (3D) electrode fabrication, based on electrodeposited polypyrrole (PPy), for dielectrophoresis (DEP) is described. 3D PPy electrodes with post and cage geometries were grown over planar interdigitated electrodes. Computational modelling and experimental work were carried out to assess the performance of the proposed electrode geometries.