Spin Space Groups: Full Classification and Applications

In this work, we exhaust all the spin-space symmetries, which fully characterize collinear, non-collinear, commensurate, and incommensurate spiral magnetism, and investigate enriched features of electronic bands that respect these symmetries. We achieve this by systematically classifying the so-called spin space groups (SSGs) - joint symmetry groups of spatial and spin operations that leave the magnetic structure unchanged. Generally speaking, they are accurate (approximate) symmetries in systems where spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is negligible (finite but weaker than the interested energy scale); but we also show that specific SSGs could remain valid even in the presence of a strong SOC. By representing the SSGs as O($N$) representations, we - for the first time - obtain the complete classifications of 1421, 9542, and 56512 distinct SSGs for collinear ($N=1$), coplanar ($N=2$), and non-coplanar ($N=3$) magnetism, respectively. SSG not only fully characterizes the symmetry of spin d.o.f., but also gives rise to exotic electronic states, which, in general, form projective representations of magnetic space groups (MSGs). Surprisingly, electronic bands in SSGs exhibit features never seen in MSGs, such as nonsymmorphic SSG Brillouin zone (BZ), where SSG operations behave as glide or screw when act on momentum and unconventional spin-momentum locking, which is completely determined by SSG, independent of Hamiltonian details. To apply our theory, we identify the SSG for each of the 1604 published magnetic structures in the MAGNDATA database on the Bilbao Crystallographic Server. Material examples exhibiting aforementioned novel features are discussed with emphasis. We also investigate new types of SSG-protected topological electronic states that are unprecedented in MSGs

Comparison of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony parameters between exercise and adenosine triphosphate stress tests using gated single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging

Background Left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) can be induced after stress test. However, no studies have compared the influence of different stress-inducing methods on LVMD parameters. aims The aim of the study was to determine whether there is a difference between exercise and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) stress tests in terms of changes in LVMD parameters assessed using gated single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (GSPECT MPI). methods A total of 190 patients who underwent 99mTc-sestamibi GSPECT MPI were consecutively enrolled. Treadmill exercise and ATP stress tests were performed in 95 patients each. Normal myocardial perfusion was defined as the summed stress score (SSS) ≤3 and summed rest score (SRS) ≤3, myocardial ischemia as SSS \u3e3 and SRS ≤3, and myocardial infarction as SSS \u3e3 and SRS \u3e3. Parameters of LVMD, including phase standard deviation (PSD), phase bandwidth (PBW), skewness, and kurtosis were compared. Subtraction was made between values during stress and rest phases to acquire ∆PSD, ∆PBW, ∆skewness, and ∆kurtosis. results There were no differences in LVMD parameters between the exercise and ATP groups. The same results were obtained in the normal perfusion, ischemia, and infarction subgroups. Furthermore, no differences were observed in ∆PSD (median [interquartile range, IQR], 0.25 [-2.3 to 3.1] vs 0.42 (-1.7 to 3.1]; P = 0.73), ∆PBW (median [IQR], 1 [-7 to 11] vs 1 [-6 to 11]; P = 0.95), ∆skewness (mean [SD], -0.06 [0.63] vs 0 [0.81]; P= 0.53), and ∆kurtosis (median [IQR], -0.47 [-4.2 to 4.3] vs -0.42 [-4.8 to 5.2]; P= 0.73) between the exercise and ATP stress-inducing methods. conclusions There are no differences between the exercise and ATP stress tests in terms of changes in LVMD parameters. Thus, the 2 methods can be used alternatively

Myocardial Stunning-Induced Left Ventricular Dyssynchrony On Gated Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Objectives Myocardial stunning provides additional nonperfusion markers of coronary artery disease (CAD), especially for severe multivessel CAD. The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of myocardial stunning to the changes of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) parameters between stress and rest gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Patients and methods A total of 113 consecutive patients (88 males and 25 females) who had undergone both stress and rest 99mTc-sestamibi gated SPECT MPI were retrospectively enrolled. Suspected or known patients with CAD were included if they had exercise stress MPI and moderate to severe myocardial ischemia. Segmental scores were summed for the three main coronary arteries according to standard myocardial perfusion territories, and then regional perfusion, wall motion, and wall thickening scores were measured. Myocardial stunning was defined as both ischemia and wall dysfunction within the same coronary artery territory. Patients were divided into the stunning group (n=58) and nonstunning group (n=55). Results There was no significant difference of LVMD parameters between stress and rest in the nonstunning group. In the stunning group, phase SD and phase histogram bandwidth of contraction were significantly larger during stress than during rest (15.05±10.70 vs. 13.23±9.01 and 46.07±34.29 vs. 41.02±32.16, PP\u3c0.05). Conclusion Both systolic and diastolic LVMD parameters deteriorate with myocardial stunning. This kind of change may have incremental values to diagnose CAD

Degarelix vs. leuprorelin for the treatment of prostate cancer in China: A cost-utility analysis

ObjectiveTo explore the cost-effectiveness of degarelix acetate for injection (degarelix) compared to leuprorelin in prostate cancer (Pca) castration treatment from Chinese healthcare system perspective.MethodsA Markov model, adapted from the one established in Finland was conducted for the cost-effectiveness analysis of degarelix and leuprorelin for Pca treatment. The main data were derived from global phase III clinical trials of degarelix (CS21), published study and expert surveys. Outcomes, utility and costs of prostate cancer patients were calculated on a 30-year time horizon. The CS21 study based population of intention-to-treat (ITT) population and three scenarios were modeled. Taking three times of the Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (242,928 yuan, 2021) as the acceptable threshold for cost-effectiveness. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed on key parameters, including transition probabilities, costs, utility, and discount rate to test the robustness of the model.ResultsBase case analysis for ITT population revealed that total costs of degarelix and leuprorelin were 566,226 yuan and 489,693 yuan, while the total quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were 5.19 and 4.51 during the 30-year time horizon, resulting an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 112,674 yuan/QALY which was 1.39 times the GDP per capita, lower than willingness-to-pay level of three times the GDP per capita. The results for scenario analyses revealed that compared to leuprorelin, degarelix for Pca treatment in China was cost-effective. One-way sensitivity analysis showed that the model was most sensitive to price of 80 mg degarelix, utility of 1st-line therapy, hazard ratio of PSA recurrence, price of 3.75 mg leuprorelin, response rate of docetaxel per cycle, and discount rate of cost. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, compared to leuprorelin, the probability of degarelix to be cost-effective was 53 and 81% for willingness-to-pay threshold of one and three times the GDP per capita.ConclusionCompared to leuprorelin, degarelix for prostate cancer treatment is cost-effective. Moreover, scenario, one-way, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses revealed that the model was robust

Intratreatment Tumor Volume Change During Definitive Chemoradiotherapy is Predictive for Treatment Outcome of Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma

Background: This study aimed to assess the predictive value of tumor volume changes of esophagus evaluated by serial computed tomography (CT) scans before, during, and after radical chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for treatment outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer (EC). Methods: Fifty-three patients with histologically confirmed EC were included for analysis. Gross tumor volume of esophagus (GTVe) was manually contoured on the CT images before treatment, at a twentieth fraction of radiotherapy, at completion of CRT and three months after treatment. GTVe reduction ratio (RR) was calculated to reveal changes of tumor volume by time. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate survival and for univariate analysis. The Cox regression model was performed for multivariate analysis. Results: Predominant reduction of GTVe was observed during the first 20 fractions of radiotherapy. Age, pretreatment GTVe, GTVe three months after treatment and GTVe RR at twentieth fraction of radiotherapy were all significantly associated with overall survival (OS) in a univariate analysis. Gender was correlated with locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS) in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that GTVe ≤20 cc, GTVe RR at twentieth fraction of radiotherapy ≥35% were positive predictive factors of OS and pretreatment GTVe ≤20 cc was prognostic for a favorable LRRFS. Conclusion: Pretreatment tumor volume and intratreatment volume reduction ratio are reliable prognostic factors for esophageal cancer treated with definitive CRT

Design of a novel hybrid cryptographic processor

viii, 87 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm.A new multiplier that supports fields GF(p) and GF (2n) for the public-key cryptography, and fields GF (28) for the secret-key cryptography is proposed in this thesis. Based on the core multiplier and other extracted common operations, a novel hybrid crypto-processor is built which processes both public-key and secret-key cryptosystems. The corresponding instruction set is also presented. Three cryptographic algorithms: the Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), AES and RC5 are focused to run in the processor. To compute scalar multiplication kP efficiently, a blend of efficient algorthms on elliptic curves and coordinates selections and of hardware architecture that supports arithmetic operations on finite fields is requried. The Nonadjacent Form (NAF) of k is used in Jacobian projective coordinates over GF(p); Montgomery scalar multiplication is utilized in projective coordinates over GF(2n). The dual-field multiplier is used to support multiplications over GF(p) and GF(2n) according to multiple-precision Montgomery multiplications algorithms. The design ideas of AES and RC5 are also described. The proposed hybrid crypto-processor increases the flexibility of security schemes and reduces the total cost of cryptosystems

Synthesis and Characterization of a NiCo2O4@NiCo2O4 Hierarchical Mesoporous Nanoflake Electrode for Supercapacitor Applications

In this study, we synthesized binder-free NiCo2O4@NiCo2O4 nanostructured materials on nickel foam (NF) by combined hydrothermal and cyclic voltammetry deposition techniques followed by calcination at 350 °C to attain high-performance supercapacitors. The hierarchical porous NiCo2O4@NiCo2O4 structure, facilitating faster mass transport, exhibited good cycling stability of 83.6% after 5000 cycles and outstanding specific capacitance of 1398.73 F g−1 at the current density of 2 A·g−1, signifying its potential for energy storage applications. A solid-state supercapacitor was fabricated with the NiCo2O4@NiCo2O4 on NF as the positive electrode and the active carbon (AC) was deposited on NF as the negative electrode, delivering a high energy density of 46.46 Wh kg−1 at the power density of 269.77 W kg−1. This outstanding performance was attributed to its layered morphological characteristics. This study explored the potential application of cyclic voltammetry depositions in preparing binder-free NiCo2O4@NiCo2O4 materials with more uniform architecture for energy storage, in contrast to the traditional galvanostatic deposition methods