Production of metallic ion beams by electron cyclotron resonance ion sources equipped with inductive heating ovens at the Institute of Modern Physics.

A high-temperature oven based on the inductive heating technology was developed successfully at the Institute of Modern Physics in 2019. This oven features a durable operation temperature of over 2000 °C inside the tantalum susceptor. By carefully designing the oven structure, the material compatibility issue at high temperature has been successfully solved, which enables the production and routine operation of refractory metal ions with SECRAL-II (Superconducting Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source with Advanced design in Lanzhou No. 2). To further apply this type of oven to the room temperature ECR ion sources LECR4 and LECR5 (Lanzhou Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source No. 4 and 5), a mini-inductive heating oven has been fabricated and tested in 2020. By directly evaporating calcium oxide, some high charge state calcium beams have been produced successfully, such as 52 euA of 40Ca16+, 30 euA of 40Ca17+, and 12 euA of 40Ca18+. The detailed design and testing results will be presented and discussed.

[Clinical features of hydronephrosis induced by retroperitoneal fibrosis: 17 cases reports].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and outcome of hydronephrosis induced by retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF), and to evaluate the effect of corticosteroid based therapy combined with surgical intervention of ureteral obstruction. METHODS: A total of 17 RPF patients with hydronephrosis hospitalized in Peking University International Hospital from May 2016 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The median age was 56 (53, 65) years, the male to female ratio was 2.4 : 1, and the disease duration was 4.00 (0.83, 8.00) months. The initial symptoms included back pain (9 cases), abdominal pain (6 cases), oliguria (2 cases) and lower limb edema (3 cases). Eight patients presented left hydronephrosis, 1 right hydronephrosis and 8 bilateral hydronephrosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were both elevated in 13 patients (76.5%, n=17). Immunoglobin (Ig) G4 increased in 5 cases (29.4%, n=17). IgG, IgE and IgA increased in 4 cases (30.8%, n=13), 4 cases (30.8%, n=13) and 1 case (7.7%, n=13), respectively. Among 12 patients who underwent biopsy, 3 patients were diagnosed with IgG4-relate disease. The level of IgG4 in the tissues varied, 6 cases expressed less than 10 per high power field (HPF) or no expression (50.0%). Only 2 cases expressed 10-30/HPF (16.7%), and 4 cases revealed more than 30/HPF (33.3%). Among the 17 patients with ureteral obstruction, no urinary drainage procedure was needed in 4 patients who had mild ureteral obstruction, whereas, ureteral stenting was carried out in the other 13 cases before drug treatment. Time was too short to evaluate the effect of urinary drainage procedures in 4 patients. For the rest, ureterolysis had to be performed in 3 cases after failed ureteral stent insertion. Successful drain removal was accomplished in all of these 9 patients and the mean time to drain removal was (6.7±3.0) months. In addition, 10 patients had complete medical records after an average follow-up time of 5 (3-13) months. Levels of ESR, CRP, IgG4, IgG, IgE, IgA were 54.0 (36.3, 98.5) mm/h, 26.8 (8.7, 53.0) mg/L, 1.34 (0.55, 3.36) g/L, 16.3 (13.0, 21.1) g/L, 40.5 (31.4, 203.0) IU/mL, 2.51 (1.82, 3.25) g/L at baseline, which all decreased predominantly after treatment. ESR, CRP, IgG4, IgG, IgE and IgA dropped by 38.5 (23.5, 54.3) mm/h (P < 0.01), 23.0 (5.5, 52.0) mg/L (P < 0.05), 0.92 (0.40, 2.85) g/L (P < 0.01), 6.5 (1.7, 9.1) g/L (P < 0.05), 23.7 (4.8, 162.0) IU/mL (P < 0.05) and 0.77 (0.32, 1.26) g/L (P < 0.05), respectively. Size of mass measured by CT/MRI imaging became smaller significantly and hydronephrosis relieved. CONCLUSION: Onset of RPF is insidious and lack of specific initial symptoms. Corticosteroid based therapy combined with surgical intervention of relieving obstruction is effective.

Influence of electron cyclotron resonance ion source parameters on high energy electrons.

In order to diagnose the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma, a high-efficiency collimation system has been developed at the Institute of Modern Physics, and the bremsstrahlung spectra in the range of 10 keV-300 keV were measured on a third generation superconducting ECR ion source, SECRAL-II, with a CdTe detector. Used as a comparative index of the mean energy of the high energy electron population, the spectral temperature, Ts, is derived through a linear fitting of the spectra in a semi-logarithmic representation. The influences of some main source parameters, such as the neutral gas pressure, extraction voltage, microwave power, and bias disk voltage, on the high energy electrons are systemically investigated.

A new microwave coupling scheme for high intensity highly charged ion beam production by high power 24-28 GHz SECRAL ion source.

The efficiency of the microwave-plasma coupling is a key issue to enhance the performance of electron cyclotron resonance ion sources (ECRISs) in terms of higher ion beam intensity yield. The coupling properties are affected by the microwave coupling scheme, especially for the high frequency (f > 20 GHz) and high power (P > 5 kW) ECR ion sources. Based on the study of 24 GHz SECRAL ion source performances working at different launching systems, a new microwave coupling scheme, called the Vlasov launcher, is proposed, which can not only realize efficient power matching and feeding but also enhance the microwave power distribution on the ECR surface. The first promising results are presented in this article. Then, a prototype dedicated to the next generation ECRIS is described.

Comparison of size-resolved hygroscopic growth factors of urban aerosol by different methods in Tianjin during a haze episode.

Size-resolved hygroscopic growth factors of urban aerosol during a haze episode were measured using a Humidified Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (HTDMA) (gm(RH)). These factors were also derived from size-resolved particulate chemical composition combined with the κ-Köhler theory (gκ(RH)) and the thermodynamic model ISORROPIA-II running in forward mode (giso-f(RH)) and reverse mode (giso-r(RH)), respectively. In terms of agreement among these hygroscopic growth factors, gκ(RH) matched gm(RH) best, followed by giso-r(RH). In contrast, giso-f(RH) demonstrated a poorer agreement with gm(RH). The good consistency among gm(RH), gκ(RH), and giso-r(RH) was because they only focus on the physical hygroscopic process, whereas giso-f(RH) contains not only the direct influence of relative humidity (RH) on particle size but also the influence of gaseous precursor on the particle chemical composition, which indirectly affects the hygroscopicity of the particles. In this sense, size-resolved gκ(RH) and giso-r(RH) in a wide size range are more adequate to investigate the impact of RH on light scattering and aerosol radiative forcing. At RH = 80%, gκ(RH) for accumulation mode particles was 1.30-1.45 on polluted days and higher than that on clean days (1.2-1.3). Whereas on both polluted and clean days, gκ(RH) of ultrafine and coarse mode particles were generally lower than 1.25. The strong hygroscopicity of accumulation mode particles observed on polluted days can deteriorate visibility due to their high extinction efficiency.

[Clavien-Dindo classification and influencing factors analysis of complications after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy].

Objective: To semi-quantify the postoperative complications occurred after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy(LPD) using Clavien-Dindo score, thereafter exploring its impact factors. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the clinical data of 124 patients who had undergone LPD for periampullary tumor from June 2016 to June 2017 at Department of Biliary Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were collected.Malignancy was confirmed based on postoperative pathological reports.Postoperative complications were semi-quantitated using Clavien-Dindo score.Multivariable logistic regression model was applied to explore the factors related to severe complications(Clavien-Dindo Ⅲb-Ⅴ). Results: Of the 124 patients, there were 64 males(51.6%) and 60 females(48.4%), with age of 57 years(range, 23-82 years). In total, postoperative complications occurred in 30 patients(24.2%). Among the 30 patients, 4 patients suffered Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ, 18 patients(14.5%) suffered Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅱ, 6 patients(4.8%) suffered Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅲa, 1 patient(0.1%) suffered Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅳb, and 1 patient(0.1%) suffered Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅴ.Intraabdominal hemorrhage occurred in 8 patients, pancreatic fistula was found in 10 patients(7 patients had biochemical leakage and 3 of them had grade B pancreatic fistula), both biliary fistula and gastrointestinal fistula were found in 1 patient.Abdominal infection occurred in 10 patients, both liver failure and renal failure occurred in one patient.Moreover, arrhythmia was found in two patients, and mortality occurred in one patient.Five patients suffered multiple complications.Univariable analysis showed that postoperative complications were associated with body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) score, intraoperative blood transfusion, and pancreatic texture(P<0.05). In multivariable logistic regression, ASA grade Ⅲ, intraoperative blood transfusion, and pancreatic softness were independently related to postoperative complications after LPD(P<0.05). Conclusions: Clavien-Dindo score is feasible to be applied in management of patients with LPD.ASA score, texture of pancreas, and intraoperative blood transfusion were independently associated with postoperative complications.

[Effects of low level laser irradiation on the osteogenic capacity of sodium alginate/gelatin/human adipose-derived stem cells 3D bio-printing construct].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of low level laser irradiation (LLLI) on the osteogenic capacity of three-dimensional (3D) structure by 3D bio-printing construct used human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) as seed cells. METHODS: Using hASCs as seed cells, we prepared sodium alginate/gelatin/hASCs 3D bio-printing construct, and divided them into four groups: PM (proliferative medium), PM+LLLI, OM (osteogenic medium) and OM+LLLI, and the total doses of LLLI was 4 J/cm². Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to observe the viability of the cells, and analyze the expression of the osteogenesis-related protein Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and osteocalcin (OCN). RESULTS: The 3D constructs obtained by printing were examined by microscope. The sizes of these 3D constructs were 10 mm×10 mm×1.5 mm. The wall thickness of the printed gelatin mold was approximately 1 mm, and the pores were round and had a diameter of about 700 µm. The cell viability of sodium alginate/gelatin/hASCs 3D bio-printing construct was high, and the difference among the four groups was not significant. On day 7, the expression of OCN from high to low was group OM+LLLI, PM+LLLI, OM and PM. There were significant differences among these groups (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between group PM+LLLI and OM. On day 14, the expression of OCN in each group was higher than that on day 7, and there was no significant difference between group OM+LLLI and OM. The expression of Runx2 in group OM+LLLI was more than 90%, significantly higher than that in group OM (P<0.01). But the expression of Runx2 in group PM+LLLI and OM+LLLI were significantly lower than that in the non-irradiated groups. The expression of osteogenesis-related protein Runx2 and OCN were higher in OM groups than in PM groups. Furthermore, the irradiated groups were significantly higher than the non-irradiated groups. CONCLUSION: LLLI does not affect the cell viability of sodium alginate/gelatin/hASCs 3D bio-printing construct, and may promote the osteogenic differentiation of hASCs.

[The effect of pulmonary injury in rats induced by paraquat].

Objective: To study the effect of sodium aescinate on the development process of lung injury induced by paraquat. Methods: Forty-five health adult male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, PQ group, sodium aescinate group, and 15 rats in each group. The PQ group and sodium aescinate group were given a one-time intraperitoneal injection of 18mg/kg body weight of rats PQ, the control group was given the same amout normal saline. Rats in sodium aescinate group were injected 2 mg/kg body weight sodium aescinate into abdominal cavity for 7 days continually, but the same volume of saline was injected into the other groups. Finally, at 7, 14 and 28 days after PQ poisoning, five rats were kills for measuring lung tissue pathological changes and the value of TGF-ß(1), TNF-α, hydroxyproline in each group. Results: The expression of TNF-α in serum of 7th day [ (17.03±0.82) ng/ml] and 14th day [ (15.74±0.91) ng/ml] of sodium aescinate group were lower than the corresponding period of PQ groups', and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.05) . The expression of TGF-ß(1) in serum of 7th day[ (225.93±8.33) ng/ml], 14th day [ (216.62±9.48) ng/ml] and 28th[ (181.41±6.10) ng/ml] of sodium aescinate group were lower than the corresponding period of PQ groups', and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.05) . Lung tissue pathological changes showed, compared with control group, inflammatory injury at 7th day and fibrosis degree at 28th of rats' lung reduced on sodium aescinate group. The expression of hydroxyproline in rats' lung of 7th day[ (1.246±0.018) µg/mg], 14th day [ (1.269±0.034) µg/mg] and 28th[ (1.283±0.028) µg/mg] of sodium aescinate group were lower than the corresponding period of PQ groups', and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.05) . Conclusion: sodium aescinate could reduce the pulmonary inflammatory injury and hydroxyproline value of PQ poisoning rats, so sodium aescinate could ameliorate lung injury induced by PQ.

[Changes of integrin-linked kinase expression on rats' pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat].

Objective: To observe the expression of integrin-linked kinase on pulmonary fibrosis of paraquat (PQ) poisoning rats, and to discuss the relationship between ILK with pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat. Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group and paraquat group, 20 in each group; the PQ group rats were intraperitoneally injected PQ liquid (18 mg/kg) , and the control group rats were injected the same volume of saline; 5 rats of these two groups were respectively sacrificed after 7, 14, 28, 56 days of PQ injection; according to the results of lung biopsy HE staining and Masson staining to observe the lung pathologic changes, measure the value of lung hydroxyproline and the expression of ILK. Results: HE and Masson staining of lung pathological biopsy showed, the 7th day after PQ exposure lung tissue mostly had congestion, edema, inflammatory cells infiltration; the 14th inflammation reduced, fibrosis change appeared gradually; the 28th and 56th showed the lung tissue structure disorder and occurred apparent hydroproline with blue dye in pulmonary interstitium. Compared with control group in the same experiment period, the value of lung hydroxyproline in each experiment period of PQ group increased (P<0.05) , and the value of lung hydroxyproline of PQ group rose with the increasing of the time of PQ poisoning. The expression of ILK mRNA and protein in each experiment period of PQ group was higher than the control group in the same experiment period (P<0.05) ; ILK mRNA and protein of PQ group began to increase on 7 day phase, reached the highest on 28 day phase, and decreased on 56 day phase. Conclusion: The expression of ILK mRNA and protein increased with the lung fibrosis progression of PQ poisoning rats, so ILK could be the key molecule target which induced pulmonary fibrosis of PQ poisoning.

[Analgesic effects of ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists MK-801 and NBQX on collagen-induced arthritis rats].

OBJECTIVE: The ionotropic glutamate receptorantagonists include two types: MK-801, antagonist of N-methyl-D-asparticacid (NMDA) receptor, and NBQX, antagonist of non-NMDA receptor.The above-mentioned ionotropic antagonists can block the glutamate and its corresponding receptor binding to produce analgesic effect. The objective of this research was to study two antagonists in analgesic effect on rat behavior,as well as to investigate the down-regulation and up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Janus-activated kinase (Jak3) in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat serum and tissue fluid after the application of these antagonists, that is, the effect on molecular biology. METHODS: This study used the ionotropic glutamate receptors as the target and established CIA rat model. Vivo studies were used to observe changes in behavior and molecular biology of the CIA rat.Behavioral assessment includedmechanical allodynia and joint swelling in the CIA rat,where themechanical allodynia was measured using the paw-withdrawal threshold (PWT) with VonFrey filaments according to the "Up-Down" method,and the drainage volume was used to assess joint swelling. Then the blood samples taken from the heart of the rat and the tissue homogenate were collected to detect the down-regulation and up-regulation of COX-2 and Jak3 in the serum and tissue fluid after the antagonists wereused. RESULTS: Using MK-801, NBQX alone or using the combination of these two antagonists,these three methods all could alleviate pain(P<0.01).The analgesic effect lasted more than 24 h.Both antagonists reached the peak of analgesia at the end of 4 hours post-injection. NBQX had stronger analgesic effect than MK-801 (P<0.05).Whether alone or combined use of these two antagonists,could not change the CIA rats' swelling of the joint (P>0.05). MK-801 could decrease the expression of COX-2 (P<0.01).At the same time, NBQX did not have this effect (P>0.05). Using MK-801, NBQX alone or combination of these two antagonists could not affect the increased expression of Jak3 caused by the CIA (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: MK-801 and NBQX could both alleviate pain, NBQX was much better than MK-801. Neither MK-801 nor NBQX had the effect on the swelling of the joint. NMDA receptor and COX-2 inflammatory pathways had certain interactions. For Jak3, it could not be found to have cross-function with ionotropic glutamate signaling pathways by this experiment.

Advancement of highly charged ion beam production by superconducting ECR ion source SECRAL (invited).

At Institute of Modern Physics (IMP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the superconducting Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source SECRAL (Superconducting ECR ion source with Advanced design in Lanzhou) has been put into operation for about 10 years now. It has been the main working horse to deliver intense highly charged heavy ion beams for the accelerators. Since its first plasma at 18 GHz, R&D work towards more intense highly charged ion beam production as well as the beam quality investigation has never been stopped. When SECRAL was upgraded to its typical operation frequency 24 GHz, it had already showed its promising capacity of very intense highly charged ion beam production. And it has also provided the strong experimental support for the so called scaling laws of microwave frequency effect. However, compared to the microwave power heating efficiency at 18 GHz, 24 GHz microwave heating does not show the ω(2) scale at the same power level, which indicates that microwave power coupling at gyrotron frequency needs better understanding. In this paper, after a review of the operation status of SECRAL with regard to the beam availability and stability, the recent study of the extracted ion beam transverse coupling issues will be discussed, and the test results of the both TE01 and HE11 modes will be presented. A general comparison of the performance working with the two injection modes will be given, and a preliminary analysis will be introduced. The latest results of the production of very intense highly charged ion beams, such as 1.42 emA Ar(12+), 0.92 emA Xe(27+), and so on, will be presented.

24 GHz microwave mode converter optimized for superconducting ECR ion source SECRAL.

Over-sized round waveguide with a diameter about Ø33.0 mm excited in the TE01 mode has been widely adopted for microwave transmission and coupling to the ECR (Electron Cyclotron Resonance) plasma with the superconducting ECR ion sources operating at 24 or 28 GHz, such as SECRAL and VENUS. In order to study the impact of different microwave modes on ECRH (Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating) efficiency and especially the production of highly charged ions, a set of compact and efficient TE01-HE11 mode conversion and coupling system applicable to 24 GHz SECRAL whose overall length is 330 mm has been designed, fabricated and tested. Good agreements between off-line tests and calculation results have been achieved, which indicates the TE01-HE11 converter meets the application design. The detailed results of the optimized coupling system will be presented in the paper.

High intensity high charge state ion beam production with an evaporative cooling magnet ECRIS.

LECR4 (Lanzhou ECR ion source No. 4) is a room temperature electron cyclotron resonance ion source, designed to produce high current, high charge state ion beams for the SSC-LINAC injector (a new injector for sector separated cyclotron) at the Institute of Modern Physics. LECR4 also serves as a PoP machine for the application of evaporative cooling technology in accelerator field. To achieve those goals, LECR4 ECR ion source has been optimized for the operation at 18 GHz. During 2014, LECR4 ion source was commissioned at 18 GHz microwave of 1.6 kW. To further study the influence of injection stage to the production of medium and high charge state ion beams, in March 2015, the injection stage with pumping system was installed, and some optimum results were produced, such as 560 eµA of O(7+), 620 eµA of Ar(11+), 430 eµA of Ar(12+), 430 eµA of Xe(20+), and so on. The comparison will be discussed in the paper.

The development of a room temperature electron cyclotron resonance ion source (Lanzhou electron cyclotron resonance ion source No. 4) with evaporative cooling technology at Institute of Modern Physics.

LECR4 (Lanzhou electron cyclotron resonance ion source No. 4) has been successfully constructed at IMP and has also been connected with the Low Energy Beam Transport (LEBT) and Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) systems. These source magnet coils are cooled through evaporative cooling technology, which is the first attempt with an ECR ion source in the world. The maximum mirror field is 2.5 T (with iron plug) and the effective plasma chamber volume is 1.2 l. It was designed to be operated at 18 GHz and aimed to produce intense multiple charge state heavy ion beams for the linear injector project SSC-Linac at IMP. In February 2014, the first analyzed beam at 18 GHz was extracted. During about three months' commissioning, some outstanding results have been achieved, such as 1.97 emA of O(6+), 1.7 emA of Ar(8+), 1.07 emA of Ar(9+), and 118 euA of Bi(28+). The source has also successfully delivered O(5+) and Ar(8+) ion beams for RFQ commissioning in April 2014. This paper will give a brief overview of the design of LECR4. Then, the latest results of this source at 18 GHz will be presented.

Transverse coupling property of beam from ECR ion sources.

Experimental evidence of the property of transverse coupling of beam from Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source is presented. It is especially of interest for an ECR ion source, where the cross section of extracted beam is not round along transport path due to the magnetic confinement configuration. When the ions are extracted and accelerated through the descending axial magnetic field at the extraction region, the horizontal and vertical phase space strongly coupled. In this study, the coupling configuration between the transverse phase spaces of the beam from ECR ion source is achieved by beam back-tracking simulation based on the measurements. The reasonability of this coupling configuration has been proven by a series of subsequent simulations.

Studies on a Q/A selector for the SECRAL electron cyclotron resonance ion source.

Electron cyclotron resonance ion sources are widely used in heavy ion accelerators in the world because they are capable of producing high current beams of highly charged ions. However, the design of the Q/A selector system for these devices is challenging, because it must have a sufficient ion resolution while controlling the beam emittance growth. Moreover, this system has to be matched for a wide range of ion beam species with different intensities. In this paper, research on the Q/A selector system at the SECRAL (Superconducting Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source with Advanced design in Lanzhou) platform both in experiment and simulation is presented. Based on this study, a new Q/A selector system has been designed for SECRAL II. The features of the new design including beam simulations are also presented.

Studies on low energy beam transport for high intensity high charged ions at IMP.

Superconducting Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source with Advanced design in Lanzhou (SECRAL) is an advanced fully superconducting ECR ion source at IMP designed to be operational at the microwave frequency of 18-24 GHz. The existing SECRAL beam transmission line is composed of a solenoid lens and a 110° analyzing magnet. Simulations of particle tracking with 3D space charge effect and realistic 3D magnetic fields through the line were performed using particle-in-cell code. The results of the beam dynamics show that such a low energy beam is very sensitive to the space charge effect and significantly suffers from the second-order aberration of the analyzing magnet resulting in large emittance. However, the second-order aberration could be reduced by adding compensating sextupole components in the beam line. On this basis, a new 110° analyzing magnet with relatively larger acceptance and smaller aberration is designed and will be used in the design of low energy beam transport line for a new superconducting ECR ion source SECRAL-II. The features of the analyzer and the corresponding beam trajectory calculation will be detailed and discussed in this paper.

Progress of a room temperature electron cyclotron resonance ion source using evaporative cooling technology at Institute of Modern Physics.

A new room temperature ECR ion source, Lanzhou Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source No. 4 (LECR4, previously named DRAGON), is under intense construction at Institute of Modern Physics. LECR4 is designed to operate with 18 GHz microwave frequency. The maximum axial magnetic fields are 2.3 T at injection and 1.3 T at extraction, and the radial field at the plasma chamber wall of 76 mm inner diameter is 1.0-1.2 T. One of the unique features for LECR4 is that its axial solenoids are winded with solid square copper wires which are immersed in a kind of special evaporative cooling medium for cooling purpose. Till now, a prototype of the cooling system has been successfully constructed and tested, which has demonstrated that the cooling efficiency of the designed system could meet the requirements of LECR4 under the routine operation conditions. All the main components of the ion source have been completed. Assembly and commissioning is ongoing. The latest developments and test results will be presented in this paper.

Progress of superconducting electron cyclotron resonance ion sources at Institute of Modern Physics (IMP).

Superconducting ECR ion sources can produce intense highly charged ion beams for the application in heavy ion accelerators. Superconducting Electron Resonance ion source with Advanced Design (SECRAL) is one of the few fully superconducting ECR ion sources that has been successfully built and put into routine operation for years. With enormous efforts and R&D work, promising results have been achieved with the ion source. Heated by the microwave power from a 7 kW/24 GHz gyrotron microwave generator, very intense highly charged gaseous ion beams have been produced, such as 455 eµA Xe(27+), 236 eµA Xe(30+), and 64 eµA Xe(35+). Since heavy metallic ion beams are being more and more attractive and important for many accelerator projects globally, intensive studies have been made to produce highly charged heavy metal ion beams, such as those from bismuth and uranium. Recently, 420 eµA Bi(30+) and 202 eµA U(33+) have been produced with SECRAL source. This paper will present the latest results with SECRAL, and the operation status will be discussed as well. An introduction of recently started SECRAL II project will also be given in the presentation.

Transumbilical single-port laparoscopic hysterectomy using traditional laparoscopic instruments: a report of 20 cases.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: We studied 20 cases of transumbilical single-port laparoscopic hysterectomy (TSPLH) to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the TSPLH. METHODS: Perioperative items and complications were observed: mean operation time, blood loss, gas pass time, out of bed activity time, postoperative analgesic rate, pain perception by visual analogue score (VAS), port site infection, hospital stay, postoperative fever rate and patient satisfaction score were measured. RESULTS: All procedures were performed successfully, and no case was transferred to 4-port laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH). No postoperative complication occurred during the period of two month follow-up. CONCLUSION: TSPLH is a feasible and safe method for hysterectomy, although it may be little more time consuming. Nonetheless, it is welcomed by patients who are more concerned about cosmetic outcomes. Future studies are needed to improve the instruments to shorten the surgery time and confirm its advantages.