Levitation by a dipole electric field

The phenomenon of floating can be fascinating in any field, with its presence seen in art, films, and scientific research. This phenomenon is a captivating and pertinent subject with practical applications, such as Penning traps for antimatter confinement and Ion traps as essential architectures for quantum computing models. In our project, we reproduced the 1893 water bridge experiment using glycerol and first observed that lump-like macroscopic dipole moments can undergo near-periodic oscillations that exhibit floating effects and do not need classical bridge form. By combining experimental analysis, neural networks, investigation of Kelvin force generated by the Finite element method, and exploration of discharging, we gain insights into the mechanisms of motion. Our discovery has overturned the previous impression of a bridge floating in the water, leading to a deeper understanding of the new trap mechanism under strong electric fields with a single pair of electrodes.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

An Analysis and Research on the Transmission Ratio of Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Photoelectrodes by Using Different Etching Process

Classical photoelectrodes for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) were fabricated by using the electrochemical method on the titanium (Ti) template, for that the fabrication process would influence the characteristics of the DSSCs. In this study, at first three different methods were used to etch Ti templates from 10 to 17 min, (1) polishing-chemical etching: Ti template was annealed at 450°C for 1 h, abraded using number 80 to 1500 SiC sheet, and then etched in a solution of 5% HF + 95% H2O; (2) electrochemical polishing-chemical etching: Ti template was annealed at 450°C for 1 h, electrolytic polishing with 42% CH3OH + 5% HClO4 + 53% HOCH2CH2OC4H9 solution, and the chemical-etching in a solution of 5% HF + 95% H2O; (3) chemical etching: Ti template was etched in a solution of 5% HF + 95% H2O and annealed at 450°C for 1 h. When the etching time was changed from 10 to 17 min, the thicknesses of Ti templates decreased from 75.3 μm to 14.8 μm, depending on the etching method. After etching process, the TiO2 nanotube arrays were fabricated as the photoelectrode of DSSCs by electrochemical process, in which the Ti as anode and platinum (Pt) as cathode. The electrolyte solution included C2H4(OH)2, NH4F, and deionized water. After annealing the grown TiO2 nanotube arrays at 450°C for 3 h, we would show that the etching process had large effect on the structure and transmittance ratio of the TiO2 nanotube arrays

Coherent narrow-band light source for miniature endoscopes.

In this work, we report the successful implementation of a coherent narrow-band light source for miniature endoscopy applications. An RGB laser module that provides much higher luminosity than traditional incoherent white light sources is used for illumination, taking advantages of the laser light's high spatial coherence for efficient light coupling. Notably, the narrow spectral band of the laser light sources also enables spectrally resolved imaging, to distinguish certain biological tissues or components. A monochrome CMOS camera is employed to synchronize with the time lapsed RGB laser module illumination for color image acquisition and reconstruction, which provides better spatial resolution than a color CMOS camera of comparable pixel number, in addition to spectral resolving

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in capital areas of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa

Background: Although the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe (DRSTP) has undertaken school children-based deworming programs against intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) using a single dose of mebendazole annually since 2005, it remains unclear as to the outcome to date. The present study intends to  investigate the recent IPIs status among school children living in capital areas of the DRSTP.Methods: A total of 252 school children (121 boys and 131 girls) of grades 4 and 5 from 4 primary schools located in the capital areas participated in the present study and their fresh fecal specimens were examined for the presence of any parasites using the merthiolate- iodine-formaldehyde concentration method as conducted.Results: The overall prevalence of IPIs was 64.7% (163/ 252). No significant gender difference in prevalence between boys (67.8%) and girls (61.8%) was found (p = 0.3). The majority of school children were infected with a single species of parasite (55.8%). Altogether, 12 different intestinal parasite species were identified in DRSTP school children, of which 9 species were pathogenic and the remaining 3 were non-pathogenic.Conclusion: Improving the detection method, sanitation facilities and personal hygiene as well as utilizing combined drugs are all important measures to greatly reduce IPIs in DRSTP school children.Keywords: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, school children, intestinal parasitic infection

Heteroatoms Induce Localization of the Electric Field and Promote a Wide Potential-Window Selectivity Towards CO in the CO2 Electroreduction

Carbon dioxide electroreduction (CO2RR) is a sustainable way of producing carbon-neutral fuels. Product selectivity in CO2RR is regulated by the adsorption energy of reaction-intermediates. Here, we employ differential phase contrast-scanning transmission electron microscopy (DPC-STEM) to demonstrate that Sn heteroatoms on a Ag catalyst generate very strong and atomically localized electric fields. In situ attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) results verified that the localized electric field enhances the adsorption of *COOH, thus favoring the production of CO during CO2RR. The Ag/Sn catalyst exhibits an approximately 100 % CO selectivity at a very wide range of potentials (from -0.5 to -1.1 V, versus reversible hydrogen electrode), and with a remarkably high energy efficiency (EE) of 76.1 %

Continuous epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor administration in primary lung adenocarcinoma patients harboring favorable mutations with controlled target lung tumors dose not hinder survival benefit despite small new lesions

AbstractBackgroundIn this study, we investigated the efficacy of continuous epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) administration in lung adenocarcinoma patients harboring favorable mutations regarding the progressive disease (PD) status with appearance of indolent new lesions.MethodsFrom June 2010 to October 2012, 102 patients with lung adenocarcinoma, harboring favorable EGFR mutations and treated with EGFR-TKI were analyzed. Definite new lesions were detected during EGFR-TKI therapy, even though the primary target tumors were controlled.ResultsOf the 102 patients, 57 continued and 45 discontinued EGFR-TKI therapy. The median overall survival was 529 days for the discontinuation group and 791 days for the continuation group (p = 0.0197). Median survival time after the discontinuation of EGFR-TKI was 181 days and 115 days in the discontinuation and continuation groups, respectively (p = 0.1776), whereas median survival time after the appearance of indolent new lesions was 204 days and 262 days, respectively (p = 0.0237).ConclusionContinuous EGFR-TKI administration in favorable EGFR-mutative lung adenocarcinoma patients with controlled primary tumors did not hinder the survival benefit, despite the appearance of new lesions

Lumican Expression in Diaphragm Induced by Mechanical Ventilation

Diaphragmatic dysfunction found in the patients with acute lung injury required prolonged mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation can induce production of inflammatory cytokines and excess deposition of extracellular matrix proteins via up-regulation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Lumican is known to participate in TGF-β1 signaling during wound healing. The mechanisms regulating interactions between mechanical ventilation and diaphragmatic injury are unclear. We hypothesized that diaphragmatic damage by short duration of mechanical stretch caused up-regulation of lumican that modulated TGF-β1 signaling.Male C57BL/6 mice, either wild-type or lumican-null, aged 3 months, weighing between 25 and 30 g, were exposed to normal tidal volume (10 ml/kg) or high tidal volume (30 ml/kg) mechanical ventilation with room air for 2 to 8 hours. Nonventilated mice served as control groups.High tidal volume mechanical ventilation induced interfibrillar disassembly of diaphragmatic collagen fiber, lumican activation, type I and III procollagen, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) mRNA, production of free radical and TGF-β1 protein, and positive staining of lumican in diaphragmatic fiber. Mechanical ventilation of lumican deficient mice attenuated diaphragmatic injury, type I and III procollagen, fibronectin, and α-SMA mRNA, and production of free radical and TGF-β1 protein. No significant diaphragmatic injury was found in mice subjected to normal tidal volume mechanical ventilation.Our data showed that high tidal volume mechanical ventilation induced TGF-β1 production, TGF-β1-inducible genes, e.g., collagen, and diaphragmatic dysfunction through activation of the lumican

A colliding maxillary sinus cancer of adenosquamous carcinoma and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma - a case report with EGFR copy number analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC) of maxillary sinus is a rare and aggressive malignancy. A tumor with squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and SNEC co-existence is extremely rare.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a colliding tumor of squamous cell, adenocarcinoma and SNEC in maxillary sinus. The clinical features, diagnosis and EGFR flourescence in situ hybridization (FISH) study are presented. A 52-year-old female had a 1-month history of progressing left cheek swelling and purulent rhinorrhea. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a tumor involving left maxilla and orbital floor. Excision of tumor was done and the defect was reconstructed with free flap. The pathology revealed a malignant tumor composed of squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and SNEC components. EGFR FISH study showed no gene amplification in 3 components of this tumor. The tumor progressed rapidly and the patient expired at 8 months after surgery.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A colliding tumor of squamous cell, adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma in maxillary sinus was aggressive in behavior and the treatment response was poor due to the complexity of tumor.</p

The association between diverse psychological protocols and the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for clinical depressive symptoms: a Bayesian meta-analysis

Objective: Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown promising efficacy on clinical depressive symptoms. However, diverse psychological support or psychotherapy was performed with psilocybin treatment. This study aimed to explore the association of psychological protocols with the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for depressive symptoms. Method: Five major databases were systemic searched for clinical trials addressing psilocybin-assisted therapy for patients with clinical depressive symptoms. A Bayesian random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed. The effect size was mean difference (with 95% credible interval) measured by 17-Item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Results: There were 10 eligible studies including 515 adult patients with clinically diagnosed depression. The psychological protocols could be categorized into four types: (i) manualized directive psychotherapy(k=1); (ii) manualized nondirective psychological support(k=3), (iii) non-manualized nondirective psychological support(k=5); and (iv) non-manualized supportive psychotherapy(k=1). The pooled standard mean difference of psilocybin-assisted therapy was 10.08 (5.03-14.70). Conclusion: Compared with manualized nondirective psychological support, the other three psychological approaches did not differ significantly. The improvement of depressive symptoms was not associated with the psychological protocols in adult patients receiving psilocybin-assisted therapy