Low-Cost High-Resolution Microendoscopy for the Detection of Esophageal Squamous Cell Neoplasia: An International Trial

Background & Aims: Esophageal squamous cell neoplasia has a high mortality rate as a result of late detection. In high-risk regions such as China, screening is performed by Lugol’s chromoendoscopy (LCE). LCE has low specificity, resulting in unnecessary tissue biopsy with a subsequent increase in procedure cost and risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a novel, low-cost, high-resolution microendoscope (HRME) as an adjunct to LCE. Methods: In this prospective trial, 147 consecutive high-risk patients were enrolled from 2 US and 2 Chinese tertiary centers. Three expert and 4 novice endoscopists performed white-light endoscopy followed by LCE and HRME. All optical images were compared with the gold standard of histopathology. Results: By using a per-biopsy analysis, the sensitivity of LCE vs LCE + HRME was 96% vs 91% (P = .0832), specificity was 48% vs 88% (P < .001), positive predictive value was 22% vs 45% (P < .0001), negative predictive value was 98% vs 98% (P = .3551), and overall accuracy was 57% vs 90% (P < .001), respectively. By using a per-patient analysis, the sensitivity of LCE vs LCE + HRME was 100% vs 95% (P = .16), specificity was 29% vs 79% (P < .001), positive predictive value was 32% vs 60%, 100% vs 98%, and accuracy was 47% vs 83% (P < .001). With the use of HRME, 136 biopsies (60%; 95% confidence interval, 53%–66%) could have been spared, and 55 patients (48%; 95% confidence interval, 38%–57%) could have been spared any biopsy. Conclusions: In this trial, HRME improved the accuracy of LCE for esophageal squamous cell neoplasia screening and surveillance. HRME may be a cost-effective optical biopsy adjunct to LCE, potentially reducing unnecessary biopsies and facilitating real-time decision making in globally underserved regions. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 01384708

Towards efficient photoinduced charge separation in carbon nanodots and TiO 2

In this work, photoinduced charge separation behaviors in non-long-chain-molecule-functionalized carbon nanodots (CDs) with visible intrinsic absorption (CDs-V) and TiO2 composites were investigated. Efficient photoinduced electron injection from CDs-V to TiO2 with a rate of 8.8 × 108 s−1 and efficiency of 91% was achieved in the CDs-V/TiO2 composites. The CDs-V/TiO2 composites exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation, superior to pure TiO2 and the CDs with the main absorption band in the ultraviolet region and TiO2 composites, which indicated that visible photoinduced electrons and holes in such CDs-V/TiO2 composites could be effectively separated. The incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) results for the CD-sensitized TiO2 solar cells also agreed with efficient photoinduced charge separation between CDs-V and the TiO2 electrode in the visible range. These results demonstrate that non-long-chain-molecule-functionlized CDs with a visible intrinsic absorption band could be appropriate candidates for photosensitizers and offer a new possibility for the development of a well performing CD-based photovoltaic system

Spatiotemporal Coupling Factors and Mode of Tourism Industry, Urbanization and Ecological Environment: A Case Study of Shaanxi, China

Identifying the factors and patterns of coordinated development in the tourism industry, urbanization, and the ecological environment sheds light on how to ensure the high-quality and sustainable development of the regional economy, but the research on this issue is relatively insufficient. Taking Shaanxi Province as an example, this paper analyzes the spatiotemporal coupling characteristics between the tourism industry, urbanization and ecological environment in cities of Shaanxi Province from 2000 to 2017. After identifying the leading factors of coupling of the three systems, the paper summarizes the coupling development mode in each city under the leading factors. The coupling between the tourism industry, urbanization and ecological environment in various cities has realized the fundamental transformation from incoordination to coordination and finally, formed a spatial development pattern featuring strong central regions, and weak southern and northern regions. Before 2010, ecological environment factors dominated the coupling between the tourism industry, urbanization, and ecological environment in Shaanxi&rsquo;s cities, while after 2010, urbanization and tourism industry gradually became the leading factors of the coupling development of the three systems. The coupling development mode in each city has generally undergone an evolution process of &ldquo;ecological environment mode--urbanization mode--tourism industry mode&rdquo;. A coupling development mode dominated by urbanization has formed in cities in Northern Shaanxi, a coupling development mode dominated by mixed urbanization and the tourism industry has formed in the Guanzhong Region, and a coupling development mode dominated by the tourism industry has formed in cities in Southern Shaanxi. This paper provides theoretical and practical references for promoting the precise macro-control of cities and guaranteeing the high-quality development of the regional economy

The Application of Photovoltaic-Electric Spring Technology to Rural Power Grids

Rural power grids are essential for rural development, impacting the lives of farmers, the agricultural economy, and the overall efficiency of agricultural production. To ensure the reliable operation of these grids, finding ways to provide high-quality power is imperative. In recent years, the penetration rate of distributed photovoltaic (PV) in the distribution network has been increasing. When the output of PV and load are not matched, the voltage fluctuation of the network affects the safe and stable operation of the distribution network. In this study, we propose that the stable operation of rural power grids can be achieved by employing a photovoltaic-electric spring (PV-ES) device. A state space model of PV-ES is established and a single PV-ES voltage control method, based on a PI controller, is proposed, taking a rural user household with a monthly power consumption of about 120 access to distributed power supply as an example. We analyzed the device’s effectiveness in addressing voltage fluctuation issues as well as how light intensity impacts its effectiveness. The implementation of the PV-ES device solves the most significant problem faced by rural power grids, namely, the unstable power supply that occurs during peak electricity consumption periods. In addition, the PV-ES device ensures a high-quality electricity consumption experience for consumers

Controlled Thermal Release of L-Menthol with Cellulose-Acetate-Fiber-Shelled Metal-Organic Framework

Fragrances have been widely used in many customer products to improve the sensory quality and cover flavor defects. The key to the successful application of fragrance is to realize controlled fragrance release, which relies on the use of an appropriate carrier for fragrance. An ideal fragrance carrier helps to achieve the stable storage and controlled release of fragrance. In this work, a novel composite fragrance carrier with MIL-101 (Cr) as the fragrance host and cellulose acetate fiber (CAF) as the protective shell was developed. The encapsulation effect of MIL-101 (Cr) and the protective function of the CAF shell significantly improved the storage stability of L-menthol (LM). Only 5 wt % of LM was lost after 40 days of storage at room temperature. Encapsulated LM could also be effectively released upon heating due to the thermal responsiveness of CAF. In addition, the composite carrier was highly stable with neglectable Cr leaching under different conditions. The results of this work showed that the developed composite carrier could be a promising carrier for the thermally triggered release of fragrance

Effect of Nanosized NbC Precipitates on Hydrogen Diffusion in X80 Pipeline Steel

In this paper, the effects of dispersed 3 similar to 10 nm NbC precipitates on hydrogen diffusion in X80 pipeline steel were investigated by means of high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electrochemical hydrogen permeation, and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). The relationship between hydrogen diffusion and temperature was determined for Nb-free X80 and 0.055 wt% Nb X80 steel. The temperature dividing reversible and irreversible traps was measured, and the quantity of hydrogen captured by different traps was calculated. Three types of hydrogen trap were designed and applied in the test, and the results revealed that irreversible hydrogen traps formed by nanosized and coherent NbC precipitates markedly hindered hydrogen diffusion, and prolonged breakthrough time in Nb-bearing X80 steel

A Novel Tri-Layer Cellulose-Based Membrane for the Capture and Analysis of Mainstream Smoke of Tobacco

Efficient capture of particulate matter in the smoke mainstream using low-cost filter pads is important for cost-effective analysis of mainstream smoke. The Cambridge filter pad (CFP) is the standard material for the collection of particulate matter in the mainstream. In this work, we report a low-cost alternative to CFP, which is composed of a cellulose acetate fiber (CAF) interlayer and two cotton fiber (CF) layers on both sides. The CF/CAF/CF filter exhibited high affinity toward typical tobacco additives such as glycerol and glycerol triacetate. In addition, the CF/CAF/CF filter had a favorable porous structure for the trapping of particulate matter. Due to these beneficial features, the CF/CAF/CF filter exhibited improved particulate matter trapping performance. These results suggest that the as-developed CF/CAF/CF filter could be a low-cost alternative to CFP

Heat Triggered Release Behavior of Eugenol from Tobacco Leaf

Fragrance is a commonly used substance in a number of commercial products, and fine control over the release behavior of the fragrance is essential for its successful application. Understanding the release behavior of the fragrance is the key to realizing the control of its release. Herein, we use tobacco leaf as the model substrate and investigate the mechanism of eugenol release from tobacco leaf. Our results show that interaction between eugenol and tobacco leaf is weak physical adsorption, and the eugenol release from tobacco leaf substrate is a temperature-dependent process. Further analysis on the release behavior reveals that eugenol release is closely associated with the morphology change of tobacco leaves under heating conditions. Our results provide insight into the release mechanism of fragrance from polymer substrate and may be useful for the future design of fragrance release systems