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Introduction: Lateral lymph node (LLN) metastasis in rectal cancer significantly affects patient treatment and prognosis. This study aimed to comprehensively compare the performance of various predictive models in predicting LLN metastasis. Methods: In this retrospective study, data from 152 rectal cancer patients who underwent lateral lymph node (LLN) dissection were collected. The cohort was divided into a training set (n=86) from Tianjin Union Medical Center (TUMC), and two testing cohorts: testing cohort (TUMC) (n=37) and testing cohort from Gansu Provincial Hospital (GSPH) (n=29). A clinical model was established using clinical data; deep transfer learning models and radiomics models were developed using MRI images of the primary tumor (PT) and largest short-axis LLN (LLLN), visible LLN (VLLN) areas, along with a fusion model that integrates features from both deep transfer learning and radiomics. The diagnostic value of these models for LLN metastasis was analyzed based on postoperative LLN pathology. Results: Models based on LLLN image information generally outperformed those based on PT image information. Rradiomics models based on LLLN demonstrated improved robustness on external testing cohorts compared to those based on VLLN. Specifically, the radiomics model based on LLLN imaging achieved an AUC of 0.741 in the testing cohort (TUMC) and 0.713 in the testing cohort (GSPH) with the extra trees algorithm. Conclusion: Data from LLLN is a more reliable basis for predicting LLN metastasis in rectal cancer patients with suspicious LLN metastasis than data from PT. Among models performing adequately on the internal test set, all showed declines on the external test set, with LLLN_Rad_Models being less affected by scanning parameters and data sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) has now been widely accepted as the optimal procedure to minimize lateral local recurrence (LLR) for selected cases with advanced lower rectal cancer in Asian countries. However, there is still controversy over the preservation or resection of the inferior vesical vessels (IVVs) during LLND due to concerns of impaired post-operative urinary function. Moreover, the standardized procedure for autonomic nerve preservation has not yet been established. Aim: To evaluate the early-stage postoperative voiding function in patients who underwent LLND with uni- versus bilateral resection of the IVVs and to introduce an autonomic nerve sparing technique with a fascial space priority approach (FSPA). Material and methods: LLND was performed in 106 consecutive patients with advanced low rectal cancer at Tianjin Union Medical Center from May 2017 to October 2022. Prospectively collected clinical data were retrospectively compared between patients who received uni-lateral and bilateral LLND. A video with narration was provided to introduce the stepwise procedure of autonomic nerve preservation during IVV resection. Results: The unilateral lymph node dissection (LND) group and the bilateral LND group included 75 and 31 cases, respectively. All LLNDs were performed with FSPA with IVV resection as a standard procedure. No significant differences were observed in overall catheterization days (p = 0.336) and re-catheterization rate (p = 0.575) between groups. No patients in either group suffered from long-term (≥ 30 days) voiding dysfunction. Conclusions: Autonomic nerve sparing is achievable with resection of IVVs during LLND. Satisfactory early-stage voiding function could be obtained with IVV resection on both sides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In this prospective observational study, we aimed to evaluate the consequences of laparoscopic fascia space priority lymph node dissection on urination and sexual function. Aim: To assess the consequences of laparoscopic lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) using the fascial space priority approach on urinary and sexual function in patients with advanced middle and low rectal cancer. Material and methods: Consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic LLND using the fascial space priority approach from December 2020 to November 2022 were identified from Tianjin Union Medical Center. Clinical data including patient characteristics, surgical details, and pathology were analysed. The urinary function was assessed by international prostate symptom score (IPSS) questionnaire and residual urine volume. The sexual function was investigated using the international index of erectile function (IIEF) questionnaire. Results: A total of 51 patients, mean age 60.5 ±10.9 years, were identified. The lymph nodes were positive in 70.6% (36/51) of the patients. There was no significant difference between the preoperative IPSS score and that at 6 months (5.2 ±2.1 vs. 5.6 ±1.5; p = 0.16). And there was no significant difference between the residual urine volume and that at 6 months (9.5 ±10.6 vs. 8.6 ±6.3; p = 0.61). The IIEF score before the surgery showed no significant difference from that at 6 months after the surgery (21.1 ±2.2 vs. 20.6 ±2.3; p = 0.26). Conclusions: Laparoscopic LLND using a fascial space priority approach can effectively protect the autonomic nerves. The procedure reduces short-term urination and sexual function, but it has little effect on long-term function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel magneto-electric dipole antenna with wide H-plane beamwidth, triple-linear polarisation and frequency reconfiguration is proposed for 5G communications. In this study, the radiated dipoles are designed with the arc-shaped planes to exhibit wide H-plane performance. A bent cross-dipole feed with PIN diodes and varactor diodes inserted into its four arms at different altitudes is utilised to excite and control the antenna. Consequently, a measured wide beamwidth ranging from -67° to 67° can be achieved in H-plane. In addition, the height of the proposed antenna decreased about 30% due to the bent designs. Finally, by controlling the PIN diodes and varactor diodes, the three kinds of linear polarisations and frequency reconfiguration functionalities for 2G/3G/LTE/5G applications can also be easily obtained. With the above-mentioned features, the proposed antenna well suits for intelligent base-station communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in mid-infrared technologies surrounds plenty of important optoelectronic applications ranging from optical communications, biomedical imaging to night vision cameras, and so on. Although narrow bandgap semiconductors, such as Mercury Cadmium Telluride and Indium Antimonide, and quantum superlattices based on inter-subband transitions in wide bandgap semiconductors, have been employed for mid-infrared applications, it remains a daunting challenge to search for other materials that possess suitable bandgaps in this wavelength range. Here, we demonstrate experimentally for the first time that two-dimensional (2D) atomically thin PtSe2 has a variable bandgap in the mid-infrared via layer and defect engineering. Here, we show that bilayer PtSe2 combined with defects modulation possesses strong light absorption in the mid-infrared region, and we realize a mid-infrared photoconductive detector operating in a broadband mid-infrared range. Our results pave the way for atomically thin 2D noble metal dichalcogenides to be employed in high-performance mid-infrared optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of monolayer superconductors bears consequences for both fundamental physics and device applications. Currently, the growth of superconducting monolayers can only occur under ultrahigh vacuum and on specific lattice-matched or dangling bond-free substrates, to minimize environment- and substrate-induced disorders/defects. Such severe growth requirements limit the exploration of novel two-dimensional superconductivity and related nanodevices. Here we demonstrate the experimental realization of superconductivity in a chemical vapour deposition grown monolayer material-NbSe2. Atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscope imaging reveals the atomic structure of the intrinsic point defects and grain boundaries in monolayer NbSe2, and confirms the low defect concentration in our high-quality film, which is the key to two-dimensional superconductivity. By using monolayer chemical vapour deposited graphene as a protective capping layer, thickness-dependent superconducting properties are observed in as-grown NbSe2 with a transition temperature increasing from 1.0 K in monolayer to 4.56 K in 10-layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrated ultra wideband (UWB) and narrowband (NB) rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is presented. The proposed antenna consists of a UWB rectangular DRA excited by a bevel-shaped patch and an NB DRA excited by a strip. The measured results demonstrate that the UWB and NB antenna provides a 2:1 voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) bandwidth for 2.4-12 and 2.3-4.5 GHz, respectively, with the same polarization. Moreover, two symmetrical short-circuited strips are introduced to improve the isolation between the two ports. This can be a suitable candidate for applications in cognitive radio, where the UWB antenna can be used for spectrum sensing and the NB antenna for communication operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new wideband and high-gain dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is proposed. Three cylindrical dielectric resonators (DRs) with different materials and different sizes and a metallic cylinder are designed to obtain a wideband bandwidth and a high gain. The stacked structure provides a wideband bandwidth, and the cavity formed by the metallic cylinder provides a high gain. The measured results demonstrate that the proposed DRA has a wide bandwidth from 5.4 to 7.0 GHz with VSWR less than two and a gain around 11 dBi, covering the frequency range of 26%. The experimental and numerical results are discussed and compared with each other, showing a good agreement between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a method to use 1-D dielectric slabs, instead of metallic Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSSs), to produce Partially Reflective Surfaces (PRSs) with positive reflection phase gradients. The structure is realized by a single kind of dielectric substrate. It is modeled as cascaded transmission lines and then analyzed by virtue of the Smith Chart from the perspective of impedance transformation. A PRS designed by this approach is then applied to the realization of a wideband EBG resonator antenna operating at Ku band which is fed by a slot-coupled patch antenna. The calculated results indicate that the antenna possesses a relative 3 dB gain bandwidth of 22%, from 14.1 GHz to 17.6 GHz, with a peak gain of 17 dBi. The impedance bandwidth for the reflection coefficient (S11) less than -10 dB, is from 14 GHz to 17.7 GHz, well covering the 3 dB gain bandwidth. A prototype has been fabricated and measured, and the experimental results well validate the simulation. The design method developed here is significantly effective, and can be easily adopted for antenna designs at other frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]