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Background: Laparoscopic right posterior anatomic resection (LRPAR) presents challenges due to uncontrollable hemorrhage from the inferior vena cava and the risk of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas embolism. However, there is a lack of research specifically addressing the safe exposure of right hepatic vein (RHV). Herein, we introduced a novel technique of combining occlusion of the RHV with the Pringle maneuver and presented the outcomes of our initial series. Patient and method: All consecutive patients who underwent LRPAR using this novel technique were enrolled in this study from March 2021 to January 2024. The demographic characteristics, perioperative outcomes and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 12 patients underwent LRPAR using the technique of double occlusion during study period. All the procedures were performed laparoscopically, with no conversions to open surgery. The median operative time was 203 min (range of 172–279 min) and the median blood loss was 200 ml (range of 50–280 ml). No patient received a blood transfusion during the perioperative period. Of note, the main trunk of the RHV was fully exposed on the cutting surface in all cases, and no evidence of CO2 gas embolism was observed following double occlusion. None of the patients suffered from Clavien–Dindo grade II or higher postoperative complications, and the perioperative mortality was nil. The median postoperative stay was 5 days (range of 5–7 days). The median hospitalization cost was 43,048.5 RMB (40,240.35–57,921.53 RMB). At a median follow-up period of 24 months (range of 4–35 months), all patients were alive with normal daily living and no disease recurrence was observed. Conclusions: Combining occlusion of the right hepatic vein with the Pringle maneuver appears to be a feasible and expected technique for securing the exposure of RHV in LRPAR. Further follow-up and well-designed prospective comparative studies are needed to validate the feasibility and efficacy of this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited data on the systematic evaluation and composition of metabolic compounds in different sorghum varieties makes their distinction difficult. Here, we employed untargeted metabolomic and multivariate statistical analyses on 129 sorghum samples collected from various regions across China using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). This approach enabled us to differentiate between two specific varieties of sorghum: Guizhou glutinous sorghum (GZGS), used in the production of soy sauce-flavoured baijiu in the Zunyi baijiu production area, and Guizhou Hongyingzi sorghum (GZ-HYZ), used in the production of Maotai-flavoured baijiu. The metabolic compounds in GZGS, mixed sorghum from other production areas, GZ-HYZ, and other glutinous sorghum varieties in Guizhou (GZ-others) were analysed, and key differential metabolites were identified. Differences were observed between the composition of GZ-HYZ and GZ-others. The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway produced large amounts of flavonoids and lignins with antioxidant activity and phenols, which partially explained the formation of the Maotai liquor aroma. UPLC–MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomics can effectively reveal the differences in metabolites among sorghum varieties, thereby facilitating the authentication of GZGS and GZ-HYZ for brewing purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopic anatomical resection of segment 7 (LARS7) remains a technically challenging procedure due to the deep anatomical location and the potential risk of injury to the right hepatic vein (RHV). Herein, we initiated an innovative technique of caudo-dorsal approach combined with the occlusion of the RHV and Pringle maneuver for LARS7 and presented the outcomes of our initial series. Method: Since January 2021, the patients who underwent LARS7 by using this novel technique were enrolled in this study. The critical aspect of this technique was the interruption of communication between the RHV and the inferior vena cava. Meanwhile, the Pringle maneuver was adopted to control the hepatic inflow. Result: A total of 11 patients underwent LARS7 by using this novel technique, which included 8 hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 bile duct adenocarcinoma and one focal nodular hyperplasia. The median operative time was 199 min (range of 151–318 min) and the median blood loss was 150 ml (range of 50–200 ml). The main trunk of the RHV was fully exposed on the cutting surface in all cases and no patient received perioperative blood transfusion. No procedure was converted to open surgery. Of note, no indications of CO2 gas embolism were observed in these cases after the introduction of double occlusion. Only one patient suffered from postoperative complications and healed after treatment. The median postoperative stay was 5 days (range of 4–7 days). The 90-day mortality was nil. At a median follow-up period of 19 months, all of the patients were alive without any evidence of tumor recurrence. Conclusion: The caudo-dorsal approach combined with the occlusion of RHV and the Pringle maneuver may be a feasible and expected technique for safe exposure of RHV in LARS7. Further validation of the feasibility and efficacy of this technique is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vibration characteristics induced by different kinds of blastholes, such as presplitting blastholes, smooth blastholes, and production blastholes, are quite different. Figuring out the vibration differences of different kinds of blastholes and the inherent causes are of great significance for the safety control of blast vibration. In this study, taking the excavation of a dam foundation as a case study, the inherent causes of vibration differences induced by presplitting blastholes, smooth blastholes, and production blastholes are investigated and discussed with both theoretical analyses and numerical simulation methods. In addition, onsite blasting experiments are conducted to verify the vibration characteristics differences. The results show that the explosion pressure applied on the hole wall of the presplitting and smooth blastholes are much smaller than those applied on the production blastholes. Thus, the inner blasting effects (i.e., the rock breakage and plastic zone around the blasthole) of the presplitting and smooth blastholes are relatively weaker. On the other hand, the outer blasting effects (i.e., the rock breakage induced by the reflection of blast waves at the free surface) of the presplitting blasthole are negligible because of their substantially larger burden thicknesses relative to the other blastholes. Therefore, much more explosion energy of the presplitting blasthole is converted into vibration energy than the other two kinds of blastholes. However, the vibration energy conversion and the plastic zone development of the smooth blastholes and production blastholes are approximately at the same level due to the balance of their inner and outer blasting effects. The measured peak particle velocities (PPVs) and dominant frequencies induced by different kinds of blastholes show good agreement with the above theoretical and numerical conclusions. It can be drawn that the inherent causes of the vibration characteristics differences induced by various blastholes lie in the differences in the blasting parameters, which determine the proportions of the inner and outer blasting effects. Highlights: The inner and out blasting parameters of different kinds of blastholes in dam foundation blasting excavation were defined based on the mechanisms of rock breakage by blasting. The blasting vibration responses of rock mass under different blasting parameters were investigated to figure out the inherent causes of vibration characteristics differences of various blastholes. Horizontal smooth blasting experiment and horizontal presplitting blasting were carried out to verify the vibration characteristics differences induced by various blastholes. We suggest adjusting the inner and outer blasting parameters of blastholes based on the distances of the structures from the explosive sources to minimize the disturbance caused by blasting to structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver parenchymal transection is the most critical step for laparoscopic liver resection (LLR). Ultrasonic scalpel (Harmonic) is a common used energy instrument in LLR; however, it is only recommended for superficial layer transection and the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA) is recommended for deep layer dissection. We herein introduce the "Harmonic mimic CUSA" technique for LLR. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients who underwent LLR using CUSA or the "Harmonic mimic CUSA" for parenchymal transection between July 2018 and October 2020 at West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Observation indicators included general demographic information, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion volume, complication rate, hospital stay, and the costs. Perioperative data was compared between the two groups by propensity score matching analysis (PSM). Results: A total of 298 patients, including 192 in Harmonic group and 106 in CUSA group, were enrolled in this study. After a 1:1 PSM, 99 patients using "Harmonic mimic CUSA" were matched with 99 patients via CUSA for parenchymal transection in LLRs. The Harmonic group had significantly less intraoperative blood loss (mean, 150 ml vs. 250 ml, P < 0.001), shorter operative time (mean 170 min vs. 250 min, P < 0.001) and less costs (mean 6723$ vs. 8307$, P < 0.001). The conversion to laparotomy, length of postoperative hospital stay, complications were comparable between the two groups. There perioperative mortality was nil. Conclusion: The "Harmonic mimic CUSA" technique is safe, simple and feasible for LLR, which may be an alternative to CUSA for LLR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered transition-metal oxides have attracted intensive interest for cathode materials of sodium-ion batteries. However, they are hindered by the limited capacity and inferior phase transition due to the gliding of transition-metal layers upon Na+ extraction and insertion in the cathode materials. Here, we report that the large-sized K+ is riveted in the prismatic Na+ sites of P2-Na0.612K0.056MnO2 to enable more thermodynamically favorable Na+ vacancies. The Mn-O bonds are reinforced to reduce phase transition during charge and discharge. 0.901 Na+ per formula are reversibly extracted and inserted, in which only the two-phase transition of P2 ↔ P'2 occurs at low voltages. It exhibits the highest specific capacity of 240.5 mAh g−1 and energy density of 654 Wh kg−1 based on the redox of Mn3+/Mn4+, and a capacity retention of 98.2% after 100 cycles. This investigation will shed lights on the tuneable chemical environments of transition-metal oxides for advanced cathode materials and promote the development of sodium-ion batteries. High-capacity and structural stable cathode materials are challenges for sodium-ion batteries. Here, the authors report a layered P2-Na0.612K0.056MnO2 with large-sized K+ riveted in the Na-layers to enable 0.9 Na+ (de)insertion with a reversible phase transition of P2-P'2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Currently, there is limited evidence comparing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) to laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC). The purpose of this study is to systematically review the literature and conduct a meta-analysis. Materials and methods: We conducted a systematic literature search to identify matching publications regarding RARC and LRC for bladder cancer through PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Web of Science with no restriction to date and language. The evaluated outcomes include perioperative outcomes (i.e. days to oral intake, operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), transfusion rates, length of stay (LOS) and complication rates) and oncological outcomes (i.e. positive surgical margin (PSM), lymph node yield, and overall survival (OS)). Results: After screening 780 articles, 10 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. We found that there was no significant difference with regard to basic demographic variables, operative time, and PSM. There were statistically significant shorter LOS (MD − 0.63, 95% CI − 1.24, 0.03), fewer complication rates (the risk ratios were 0.74 and 0.49 for Clavien grade 1–2 and Clavien grade 3–5,respectively), more lymph node yield (MD 2.38, 95% CI 1.89–2.87) and less death risk (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.17–0.39) in RARC group compared with LRC group. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that patients with RARC may benefit from significantly lower complications, shorter LOS, higher lymph node yield and lower death risk. These data thus showed that RARC might improve the management of patients with muscle invasive or high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of large single-crystal metal foils with various facet indices has long been a pursuit in materials science owing to their potential applications in crystal epitaxy, catalysis, electronics and thermal engineering1–5. For a given metal, there are only three sets of low-index facets ({100}, {110} and {111}). In comparison, high-index facets are in principle infinite and could afford richer surface structures and properties. However, the controlled preparation of single-crystal foils with high-index facets is challenging, because they are neither thermodynamically6,7 nor kinetically3 favourable compared to low-index facets6–18. Here we report a seeded growth technique for building a library of single-crystal copper foils with sizes of about 30 × 20 square centimetres and more than 30 kinds of facet. A mild pre-oxidation of polycrystalline copper foils, followed by annealing in a reducing atmosphere, leads to the growth of high-index copper facets that cover almost the entire foil and have the potential of growing to lengths of several metres. The creation of oxide surface layers on our foils means that surface energy minimization is not a key determinant of facet selection for growth, as is usually the case. Instead, facet selection is dictated randomly by the facet of the largest grain (irrespective of its surface energy), which consumes smaller grains and eliminates grain boundaries. Our high-index foils can be used as seeds for the growth of other Cu foils along either the in-plane or the out-of-plane direction. We show that this technique is also applicable to the growth of high-index single-crystal nickel foils, and we explore the possibility of using our high-index copper foils as substrates for the epitaxial growth of two-dimensional materials. Other applications are expected in selective catalysis, low-impedance electrical conduction and heat dissipation. Large-area single-crystal high-index copper and nickel foils with several types of facet are fabricated using mild pre-oxidation of the metal foil surface followed by annealing in a reducing atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the efficiency and safety of preoperative double-J stent placement for patients undergoing ureteroscopic lithotripsy. Eligible studies were identified from electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews). All analyses were performed by the Review Manager 5.3 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). Stone-free rate (SFR) was regarded as primary outcome. Second outcomes, including operation time, complication rates as well as major complication rates were also assessed. A total of 11,239 patients (2605 with and 8634 without preoperative stent) from nine retrospective studies were included. Our pooled analysis showed that SFR was significantly higher in patients with a preoperative stent than those without a stent (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.19-2.15, p = 0.002). Operation time was not significantly different between stented and non-stented groups (OR − 0.89, 95% CI − 5.79-4.01, p = 0.72). No significant differences of complication rates were observed between stented and non-stented groups (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.67-1.33, p = 0.73). Furthermore, major complication rates were not significantly different between two groups, either (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.43-2.70, p = 0.88). Generally, preoperative double-J stent placement significantly improved SFR of patients undergoing ureteroscopic lithotripsy. Operation time, complication rates, as well as major complication rates, were similar between stented and non-stented groups. However, the effect of preoperative double-J stent placement for different locations and burden of stones is unclear, more high-quality studies should be anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of CRLM should be 6 instead of 69 and the number of FNH in the HAM and CUSA groups should be 6 instead of 5 and 12 instead of 13, respectively. [Extracted from the article]

Mathematical models for predicting the temperature and thermal degradation have been developed, which include all important phenomena during the engagement of wet friction clutch. The thermal model consists of heat balance for the separator, friction lining, core plate, and ATF in the clearance. The degradation mechanism and constants for the selected friction material obey the zeroth order reaction. The model predictions show good agreement with experimental measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]