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ZnO nanowire-based surface plasmon polariton (SPP) nanolasers with metal&ndash, insulator&ndash, semiconductor hierarchical nanostructures have emerged as potential candidates for integrated photonic applications. In the present study, we demonstrated an SPP nanolaser consisting of ZnO nanowires coupled with a single-crystalline aluminum (Al) film and a WO3 dielectric interlayer. High-quality ZnO nanowires were prepared using a vapor phase transport and condensation deposition process via catalyzed growth. Subsequently, prepared ZnO nanowires were transferred onto a single-crystalline Al film grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Meanwhile, a WO3 dielectric interlayer was deposited between the ZnO nanowires and Al film, via e-beam technique, to prevent the optical loss from dominating the metallic region. The metal&ndash, oxide&ndash, semiconductor (MOS) structured SPP laser, with an optimal WO3 insulating layer thickness of 3.6 nm, demonstrated an ultra-low threshold laser operation (lasing threshold of 0.79 MW cm&minus, 2). This threshold value was nearly eight times lower than that previously reported in similar ZnO/Al2O3/Al plasmonic lasers, which were &asymp, 2.4 and &asymp, 3 times suppressed compared to the SPP laser, with WO3 insulating layer thicknesses of 5 nm and 8 nm, respectively. Such suppression of the lasing threshold is attributed to the WO3 insulating layer, which mediated the strong confinement of the optical field in the subwavelength regime.

A thermal-electrochemical coupled model framework considering mass balance, charge balance, reaction kinetics, and energy balance is developed to evaluate thermally-driven imbalance among cells of a commercialized lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack consisting of a combination of series and parallel connections. Current distribution and joule heat generation of copper alloy sheets connecting several cells within a battery pack are also considered in the simulation. A running management built in MATLAB, R2010a (2010) is applied to deliver the coupling of the thermal-electrochemical model, among different modulus of COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0 (2014). Simulated voltage variation and temperature distribution of an individual cell during charge/discharge are validated with the corresponding experiments. The developed model is further applied to study the non-uniform temperature distribution and electrical imbalance among cells within the 4S6P LFP battery pack. Simulation results show that thermal imbalance could magnify the deviation of discharge current and capacity among individual cells and may accelerate the capacity losses of the cells within a battery pack. Our model can facilitate understanding of the impact of electrical imbalance on the battery pack and assist thermal management systems.

In recent years, as information technologies have been widely adopted, more countries have focused attention on the intelligentization of cities. In 2012, the United Nations listed “Smart City” as one of the progress indicators of a country. The original development of smart cities emphasized technology-based demands, but gradually promoted people-oriented needs, especially on issues related to living and environment, such as public safety, transportation, environmental sustainability and health care. The most important concern is to provide effective solutions to local problems. Spatial information has become wider and more diversified with the rapid development of high technologies, such as ICT, IoT and big data applications. It plays an important role in the planning of smart cities and smart homeland. Municipal governance such as traffic control, environment monitoring, disaster prevention information is based on geographic information system (GIS). The resources, information and data of cities can be spatially visualized. The spatially visualized information are not only texts and data, but integrated, coherent and spatially effective information which can identify and explore correlation and development trends in urban information. In view of this, the government uses smart homeland as the core to explain development and planning of smart city and smart village, and in consideration of the unique geographical characteristics of Taiwan and the importance of spatial resources management and strategy, promotes development of spatial information technologies and application of the technologies to smart homeland. On the basis of smart homeland concept, this study discusses key points of promotional strategies and action plans of the cities in Taiwan, and from the perspective of spatial information, explores and analyzes how to integrate spatial information technologies into urban governance, disaster prevention traffic and tourism under Taiwan's strategies for smart homeland information development. It can help the county and city governments to propose the smart city development strategies, improve government governance, promote regional economic growth, satisfy people's demands and promote the sustainable development of smart cities.

Objective We describe a prenatal ultrasonography diagnosis of omphalocele and symbrachydactyly in a fetus and review the literature on prenatal diagnosis of 9p terminal chromosomal deletions. Case report A 31-year-old woman (gravida 3, para 1) was referred for genetic counseling because a fetal omphalocele had been detected. Prenatal ultrasonography at 17+ weeks of gestational age revealed a singleton female fetus with biometry equivalent to 18 weeks with an omphalocele. In addition, symbrachydactyly was also noted in the right arm; the wrist bones as well as the metacarpals were missing. A chromosomal study was arranged for a congenital anomaly involving omphalocele. We obtained Giemsa-banded chromosomes from fetal tissue cells, and an abnormal male karyotype with a terminal deletion of the short arm of chromosome 9 at band 9p13 was noted. After delivery, the fetus showed omphalocele, symbrachydactyly, trigonocephaly, sex reversal, a long philtrum, low-set ears, telecanthus, and a frontal prominence. Conclusion Prenatal diagnosis of abnormal ultrasound findings with omphalocele and symbrachydactyly should include the differential diagnosis of a chromosome 9p deletion.

The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the human body. It comprises a ball and socket structure that enables a series of functional movements to be carried out. These range from simple movements such as reaching for the top shelf to highly explosive overhead activities which involve throwing a baseball or serving with a tennis racquet as seen in athletes. Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is one of the most common shoulder disorders seen in general practice. It is caused by a multitude of factors. Pathology can arise either from the rotator cuff tendon itself, structures external to this tendon or both in combination. The resultant shoulder pain with SIS not only causes distress but also limits the quality of life of patients. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the pathogenesis, aetiologies, clinical tests, investigations and management options for SIS based on current literature and research.

Background Non-attendance at gynecological clinics is a major limitation of cervical cancer screening and self-collection of samples may improve this situation. Although HPV testing of self-collected vaginal samples is acceptable, the specificity is inadequate. The current focus is increasing self-collection of vaginal samples to minimize clinic visits. In this study, we analyzed the concordance and clinical performance of DNA methylation biomarker (PAX1, SOX1, and ZNF582) detection in self-collected vaginal samples and physician-collected cervical samples for the identification of cervical neoplasm. Methods We enrolled 136 cases with paired methylation data identified from abnormal Pap smears (n = 126) and normal controls (n = 10) regardless of HPV status at gynecological clinics. The study group comprised 37 cervical intraepithelial neoplasm I (CIN1), 23 cervical intraepithelial neoplasm II (CIN2), 16 cervical intraepithelial neoplasm III (CIN3), 30 carcinoma in situ (CIS), 13 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and seven adenocarcinomas (ACs)/adenosquamous carcinomas (ASCs). PAX1, SOX1 and ZNF582 methylation in study samples was assessed by real-time quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis. We generated methylation index cutoff values for the detection of CIN3+ in physician-collected cervical samples for analysis of the self-collected group. Concordance between the physician-collected and self-collected groups was evaluated by Cohen’s Kappa. Sensitivity, specificity and area under curve (AUC) were calculated for detection of CIN3+ lesions. Finally, we produced an optimal cutoff value with the best sensitivity from the self-collected groups. Results We generated a methylation index cutoff value from physician-collected samples for detection of CIN3+. There were no significant differences in sensitivity, specificity of PAX1, SOX1 and ZNF582 between the self-collected and physician-collected groups. The methylation status of all three genes in the normal control samples, and the CIN 1, CIN2, CIN3, CIS, ACs/ASCs and SCC samples showed reasonable to good concordance between the two groups (κ = 0.443, 0.427, and 0.609 for PAX1, SOX1, and ZNF582, respectively). In determining the optimal cutoff values from the self-collected group, ZNF582 showed the highest sensitivity (0.77; 95%CI, 0.65–0.87) using a cutoff value of 0.0204. Conclusions Methylation biomarker analysis of the three genes for detection of CIN3+ lesions shows reasonable to good concordance between the self-collected and physician-collected samples. Therefore, self-collection of samples could be adopted to decrease non-attendance and improve cervical screening.