Age-Based Outcomes after Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement with Bioprosthetic versus Mechanical Valves.

Recommendations for prosthesis type in older patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are established, albeit undervalidated. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes after bioprosthetic vs mechanical SAVR across various age groups. This was a retrospective study using an institutional SAVR database. All patients who underwent isolated SAVR were compared across valve types and age strata (<65 years, 65-75 years, >75 years). Patients who underwent concomitant operations, aortic root interventions, or prior aortic valve replacement were excluded. Objective survival and aortic valve reinterventions were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival estimation and multivariate regression were performed. A total of 1,847 patients underwent SAVR from 2010-2023. 1,452 (78.6%) patients received bioprosthetic valves while 395 (21.4%) received mechanical valves. Of those who received bioprosthetic valves, 349 (24.0%) were <65 years old, 627 (43.2%) were 65-75 years old, and 476 (32.8%%) were older than 75. For mechanical valve patients, 308 (78.0%) were <65 years, 84 (21.3%) were between 65-75 years, and 3 (0.7%) were >75 years. Median follow-up in the total cohort was 6.2 [2.6-8.9] years. No statistically significant differences were observed in early-term Kaplan-Meier survival estimates between SAVR valve types in all age groups. However, cumulative incidence estimates of aortic valve reintervention were significantly higher in patients under 65 who received bioprosthetic vs mechanical valves, with 5-year reintervention rates of 5.8% and 3.1%, respectively (p=0.002). On competing risk analysis for valve reintervention, bioprosthetic valves were significantly associated with an increased hazard of AV reintervention (HR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.73-6.49; p<0.001). In conclusion, SAVR with bioprosthetic valves (particularly in patients <65 years) was comparable in survival to mechanical valve SAVR but significantly associated with increased valve reintervention rates.

Splenectomy as a part of cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The role of splenectomy on cytoreductive surgery in patients with ovarian cancer remains controversial. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and impact of survival outcome of splenectomy in patients with ovarian cancer. METHODS: In this meta-analysis we analyzed studies published in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and Clinical Trials. gov that appeared in our search from inception to November 10, 2023. RESULT: This meta-analysis included 10 studies, totaling 6297 patients, comprising one prospective and nine retrospective analyses. The results indicated no significant disparity in overall survival and mortality (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.87, p=0.62) between the splenectomy cohort and the no splenectomy (required) cohort. Furthermore, relative to the no splenectomy (required) cohort, the splenectomy group showed a heightened incidence of overall post-operative complications (odds ratio (OR) 1.66, 95% CI 1.65 to 2.61, p=0.03), an extended duration of hospitalization (mean difference (MD) 2.88 days, 95% CI 2.09 to 3.67), an increased interval from surgery to the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy (MD 4.44 days, 95% CI 2.41 to 6.07, p<0.0001), and a greater probability of undergoing reoperation (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.91 to 11.55, p=0.0007). However, concerning the occurrence of specific post-operative complications such as anastomotic leakage (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.33 to 2.84, p=0.95), pancreatic fistula (OR 3.25, 95% CI 0.63 to 16.7, p=0.16), abdominal abscess (OR 1.75, 95% CI 0.25 to 12.33, p=0.57), sepsis (OR 1.46, 95% CI 0.77 to 2.77, p=0.25), and thrombotic events (OR 1.82, 95% CI 0.93 to 3.57, p=0.08), no significant differences were observed between the two cohorts. CONCLUSION: Splenectomy does not impact the overall survival and mortality of patients with ovarian cancer. Thus, it can be considered an acceptably safe procedure to obtain optimal cytoreduction. However, caution should be taken when selecting patients for splenectomy because it is associated with an increased incidence of overall post-operative complications, prolonged hospital stays, delayed initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy, and an increased probability of requiring subsequent surgical interventions.

Hybrid integrated optical chaos circuits with optoelectronic feedback.

A chip-scale chaotic laser system with optoelectronic delayed feedback is proposed and analyzed by numerical simulation. This chip eliminates the need for bulky delay components such as long optical fibers, free propagation and external cavities, relying solely on internal devices and waveguides to achieve feedback delay. This approach simplifies integration, maintaining a compact chip size. According to the results, the chip-scale system exhibits rich dynamics, including periodicity, quasi-periodicity, and chaotic states. Chaos resembling Gaussian white noise is achieved with picosecond-level delay time, highlighting the complexity of chip-scale signals. Furthermore, time delay signature (TDS) concealment is enhanced with a short delay comparable to the inverse bandwidth τ, albeit at a cost of sacrificing chaotic signal complexity. Applying the photonic integrated circuits to practical applications, 1 Gbps back-to-back communication transmission is feasible. Results demonstrate low bit error rates (BERs) for authorizers (<10-6) and high BERs for eavesdroppers (>10-2), ensuring communication confidentiality and chaotic synchronization. Lastly, preliminary experiments validate the feasibility. Our theoretical work has demonstrated the feasibility of hybrid integrated optical chaos circuits with optoelectronic feedback based on photonic wire bonding, which can provide a stable and flexible integrated chaos source.

Long-term outcomes of total arch replacement with bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion using the "arch first" approach.

OBJECTIVE: To report outcomes of total arch replacement (TAR) with hypothermic circulatory arrest and bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (bACP) using an "arch first" approach for acute Type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). The "arch first" approach involved revascularization of the aortic arch branch vessels with uninterrupted ACP, before lower body circulatory arrest, while the patient was cooling. METHODS: This was an observational study of aortic surgeries from 2010 to 2021. All patients who underwent TAR with bACP for ATAAD were included. Short-term and long-term outcomes were reported utilizing descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival estimation. RESULTS: A total of 215 patients were identified who underwent TAR + bACP for ATAAD. Age was 59.0 [49.0-67.0] years and 35.3% were female. 73 patients (34.0%) underwent a concomitant aortic root replacement, 188 (87.4%) had aortic cannulation, circulatory arrest time was 37.0 [26.0-52.0] minutes, and nadir temperature was 20.8 [19.4-22.5] degrees Celsius. 35 patients (16.3%) had operative mortality (STS definition), 17 (7.9%) had a new stroke, 79 (36.7%) had prolonged mechanical ventilation (>24 h), 35 (16.3%) had acute renal failure (by RIFLE criteria), and 128 (59.5%) had blood product transfusions. One-year survival was 77.1%, while 5-years survival was 67.1%. During follow-up, there were 23 (10.7%) reinterventions involving the descending thoracic aorta - either thoracic endovascular aortic repair or open thoracoabdominal aortic replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with ATAAD, short-term postoperative outcomes after TAR + bACP using the "arch first" approach are acceptable. Moreover, this operative strategy may furnish long-term durability, with a reasonably low reintervention rate and satisfactory overall survival.

External validation of the ARCH score in patients undergoing aortic arch reconstruction under circulatory arrest.

BACKGROUND: Aortic arch surgery with hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) carries a higher risk of morbidity and mortality compared to routine cardiac surgical procedures. The newly developed ARCH (arch reconstruction under circulatory arrest with hypothermia) score has not been externally validated. We sought to externally validate this score in our local population. METHODS: All consecutive open aortic arch surgeries with HCA performed between 2014 and 2023 were included. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. Model discrimination was assessed by the C-statistic with 95% confidence intervals as part of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Model performance was visualized by a calibration plot and quantified by the Brier score. RESULTS: A total of 760 patients (38.3% females) were included. The mean age was 61 (±13.6) years, with 56.4% of patients' age >60 years. The procedures were carried out mostly emergently or urgently (59.6%). Total arch replacement was performed in 32.5% of the patients, and aortic root procedures were carried out in 74.6%. In-hospital death occurred in 64 patients (8.4%), and stroke occurred in 5.4%. The C-statistic revealed a low discriminatory ability for predicting in-hospital mortality (area under the ROC curve, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.54-0.69; P = .002); however, model calibration was found to be excellent (Brier score of 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: The ARCH score for in-hospital mortality showed low discriminatory ability in our local population, although with excellent ability for prediction of mortality.

Comparison of hysterectomy cases performed by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: A paired sample cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, indications, and benefits of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (v-NOTES) hysterectomy for nonmalignant gynecological diseases. The clinical data, including the baseline information and surgical conditions of 81 patients who underwent v-NOTES hysterectomy for nonmalignant gynecological diseases in a tertiary university hospital from October 2018 to August 2022, were retrospectively analyzed and compared with the total laparoscopic hysterectomy group (200 cases) and the transumbilical laparoendoscopic Single Site Surgery group (150 cases). In comparison with the other 2 groups, the highest proportion of patients in the v-NOTES group had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Accordingly, mean preoperative uterine volume measured by sonography was significantly smaller in the v-notes group. In the v-NOTES group, the mean number of vaginal deliveries and age were significantly higher, while the mean number of previous abdominal surgeries was lower compared to the other 2 groups. The V-NOTES group had a shorter operation time, shorter postoperative urinary catheter insertion time, earlier intestinal recovery days, shorter hospital stay, and lower visual analogue scale scores after surgery, and the differences were statistically significant. When indicated appropriately, v-NOTES hysterectomy can be a feasible and advantageous surgical modality. In particular, in comparison to the laparoendoscopic Single Site Surgery and total laparoscopic hysterectomy groups, the v-NOTES group had advantages in postoperative recovery and had more aesthetic surgical results.

Investigation on the monolithically integrated chaotic optical transmitting chip based on parallel EAMs.

Chaotic optical communication ensures information security at the physical layer. However, the monolithic integration of lasers and lithium niobate Mach-Zehnder modulators remains a challenge, limiting the progress of integrated chaotic optical communication systems based on an electro-optic feedback. Here, we propose the monolithically integrated chaotic optical transmitting chip based on the parallel EAMs and validate its performance from the perspectives of phase portraits, fast Fourier transform (FFT), probability density function (PDF), largest Lyapunov exponents, and bifurcation. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the chip, which is beneficial for the miniaturization and integration of the system.

The Targeted Regulation of BDUbc and BDSKL1 Enhances Resistance to Blight in Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamopsis grandis.

Arthrinium phaeospermum is the major pathogen responsible for the significant stem disease "blight" in B. pervariabilis × D. grandis. The interacting proteins of the key pathogenic factor ApCtf1ß, BDUbc and BDSKL1, have previously been obtained by two-hybrid, BiFC, GST pull-down yeast assays. However, the functions of these interacting proteins remain unknown. This study successfully obtained transgenic plants overexpressing BDUbc, BDSKL1, and BDUbc + BDSKL1 via Agrobacterium-mediated gene overexpression. qRT-PCR analysis revealed significantly increased expression levels of BDUbc and BDSKL1 in the transgenic plants. After infection with the pathogenic spore suspension, the disease incidence and severity index significantly decreased across all three transgenic plants, accompanied by a marked increase in defense enzyme levels. Notably, the co-transformed plant, OE-BDUbc + BDSKL1, demonstrated the lowest disease incidence and severity index among the transgenic variants. These results not only indicate that BDUbc and BDSKL1 are disease-resistant genes, but also that these two genes may exhibit a synergistic enhancement effect, which further improves the resistance to blight in Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamopsis grandis.

Outcomes of Radial Artery Versus Saphenous Vein as A Second Conduit After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Despite the advantages of multiarterial grafting, saphenous vein (SV) configurations predominate in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In addition, the benefits of radial artery (RA) utilization in multivessel CABG remain unclear. This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of patients who received RA grafts during CABG with those of patients who received SV grafts. A retrospective, single-institution cohort study was performed in 8,774 adults who underwent isolated CABG surgery with multiple grafts between 2010 and 2022. To balance graft cohorts, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed using a 1:2 (RA/SV) match ratio. Long-term postoperative survival was compared in RA and SV graft groups. Similarly, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) rates were compared in the cohorts, with MACCE comprising death, myocardial infarction (MI), coronary revascularization, and stroke. Kaplan-Meier estimation was performed for both mortality and MACCE. A total of 7,218 patients (82.3%) who underwent multivessel CABG were included in this analysis. Of these patients, 341 (4.7%) received RA grafts, and 6,877 (95.3%) received SV grafts secondary to left internal mammary artery use. PSM yielded a cohort of 335 patients with RA and 670 patients with SV. After matching, groups were well balanced across all baseline variables. No significant differences were observed in either immediate postoperative morbidities or long-term survival. However, Kaplan-Meier estimates of long-term postoperative freedom from MACCE were significantly greater in matched patients with SV (73.3%) than in those with RA (67.4%) (p = 0.044, cluster log-rank), with patients with SV also possessing significantly greater freedom from coronary revascularization and MI. In conclusion, RA and SV secondary conduits for CABG were associated with comparable immediate postoperative complications and long-term survival after PSM. SV grafting was associated with significantly decreased rates of postoperative MACCE, likely owing to lower rates of coronary revascularization and MI than in RA grafting.

Outcomes of Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Structural valve degeneration is increasingly seen given the higher rates of bioprosthetic heart valve use for surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Valve-in-valve TAVR (VIV-TAVR) is an attractive alternate for patients who are otherwise at high risk for reoperative surgery. We compared patients who underwent VIV-TAVR and native valve TAVR through a retrospective analysis of our institutional transcatheter valve therapy (TVT) database from 2013 to 2022. Patients who underwent either a native valve TAVR or VIV-TAVR were included. VIV-TAVR was defined as TAVR in patients who underwent a previous surgical aortic valve replacement. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to obtain survival estimates. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for the multivariable analysis of mortality. A total of 3,532 patients underwent TAVR, of whom 198 (5.6%) underwent VIV-TAVR. Patients in the VIV-TAVR cohort were younger than patients who underwent native valve TAVR (79.5 vs 84 years, p <0.001), with comparable number of women and a higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score (6.28 vs 4.46, p <0.001). The VIV-TAVR cohort had a higher incidence of major vascular complications (2.5% vs 0.8%, p = 0.008) but lower incidence of permanent pacemaker placement (2.5% vs 8.1%, p = 0.004). The incidence of stroke was comparable between the groups (VIV-TAVR 2.5% vs native TAVR 2.4%, p = 0.911). The 30-day readmission rates (VIV-TAVR 7.1% vs native TAVR 9%, p = 0.348), as well as in-hospital (VIV-TAVR 2% vs native TAVR 1.4%, p = 0.46), and overall (VIV-TAVR 26.3% vs native TAVR 30.8%, p = 0.18) mortality at a follow-up of 1.8 years (0.83 to 3.5) were comparable between the groups. The survival estimates were also comparable between the groups (log-rank p = 0.27). On multivariable Cox regression analysis, VIV-TAVR was associated with decreased hazards of death (hazard ratio 0.68 [0.5 to 0.9], p = 0.02). In conclusion, VIV-TAVR is a feasible and safe strategy for high-risk patients with bioprosthetic valve failure. There may be potentially higher short-term morbidity with VIV-TAVR, with no overt impact on survival.

Radial artery vs right internal mammary artery as a second conduit during coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of radial artery (RA) grafts during CABG to those of right internal mammary artery (RIMA) grafts. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-institution cohort study of isolated CABG with multiple grafts between 2010-2022. To balance graft cohorts, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed using a 1:1 match ratio. Long-term postoperative survival was compared among RA and RIMA groups. Similarly, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were compared among both cohorts, with MACCE comprising death, myocardial infarction (MI), coronary revascularization, and stroke. Kaplan-Meier estimation was performed for mortality, while cumulative incidence estimation was utilized for MACCE. RESULTS: A total of 8,774 patients underwent CABG. Of those, 1,674 (19.1%) patients who underwent multiarterial CABG were included in this analysis. 326 (19.5%) patients received RA grafts and 1,348 (80.5%) received RIMA grafts. PSM yielded a cohort of 323 RA patients and 323 RIMA patients. After matching, groups were well-balanced across all baseline variables. No significant differences were observed in immediate postoperative complications or long-term survival, with 5-year survival estimates of 89.5% for the RA group vs 90.1% for the RIMA group. There was a nonsignificant trend toward a higher incidence of MACCE at 5 years in the RA group compared to the RIMA group (31.3% in the RA group vs 24.1% in the RIMA group), especially after 1-year follow-up (21.6% in the RA group vs 15.1% in the RIMA group). Specifically, for RA patients, there were higher rates of repeat revascularization in the 5-year postoperative period (14.7% in the RA group vs 5.3% in the RIMA group), particularly in the territory revascularized by the RA during the index operation (45.7% in the RA group vs 10.3% in the RIMA group). CONCLUSION: Overall, RA and RIMA secondary conduits for CABG were associated with comparable immediate postoperative complications, 5-year MACCE, and 5-year survival after PSM. RA grafting was associated with significantly higher rates of repeat coronary revascularization at 5 years, specifically in the territory revascularized by the RA during the index operation.

Outcomes after Perioperative Transient Ischemic Attack Following Cardiac Surgery.

Perioperative transient ischemic attacks (PTIAs) are associated with significantly increased rates of postoperative complications such as low cardiac output, atrial fibrillation, and significantly higher mortality in cardiac procedures. The current literature on PTIAs is sparse and understudied. Therefore, we aim to understand the effects of PTIA on hospital utilization, readmission, and morbidity. Using data on all the cardiac procedures at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 2011 to 2019, fine and gray analysis was performed to identify whether PTIAs and covariables correlate with increased hospital utilization, stroke, all-cause readmission, Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Events (MACCE), MI, and all-cause mortality. Logistic regression for longer hospitalization showed that PTIA (HR: 2.199 [95% CI: 1.416-3.416] increased utilization rates. Fine and gray modeling indicated that PTIA (HR: 1.444 [95% CI: 1.096-1.902], p < 0.01) increased the rates of follow-up all-cause readmission. However, PTIA (HR: 1.643 [95% CI: 0.913-2.956] was not statistically significant for stroke readmission modeling. Multivariate modeling for MACCE events within 30 days of surgery (HR: 0.524 [95% CI: 0.171-1.605], p > 0.25) and anytime during the follow-up period (HR: 1.116 [95% CI: 0.825-1.509], p > 0.45) showed no significant correlation with PTIA. As a result of PTIA's significant burden on the healthcare system due to increased utilization, it is critical to better define and recognize PTIA for timely management to improve perioperative outcomes.

Readmission-related outcomes of surgical versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients aged 65 or older with bicuspid aortic valve.

BACKGROUND: There continues to be debate regarding the superiority of transcatheter (TAVR) over surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV). We aimed to compare outcomes during readmissions in elderly patients with BAV who underwent SAVR or TAVR. METHODS: Patients 65 years or older with BAV who underwent TAVR or isolated SAVR were identified using the National Readmission Database from 2012 through 2018. We compared outcomes during readmissions within 90 days after discharge from the index surgery. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust the baseline differences. RESULTS: During the study period, 8555 and 1081 elderly patients with BAV underwent SAVR and TAVR, respectively. The number of patients who underwent TAVR went up by 179 % from 2012 to 2018. Propensity score matching yielded 573 patients in each group. A total of 111 (19.4 %) in the SAVR group and 125 (21.8 %) in the TAVR group were readmitted within 90 days after the index surgery (p = .31). The mortality during the readmissions within 90 days was equivalent between the two groups (0.9 % in the SAVR group vs. 3.2 % in the TAVR group, p = .22). However, the median hospital cost was approximately doubled in the TAVR group during the readmission (18,250 dollars vs. 9310 dollars in the SAVR group, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Readmission within 90 days was common in both groups. While the mortality during the readmissions after the surgery was equivalent between the two groups, hospital cost was significantly more expensive in the TAVR group.

Transfusion of non-red blood cell blood products does not reduce survival following cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The literature supports the assertion that patients undergoing cardiac surgery who receive perioperative packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions have increased associated mortality. The aim of the current study is to assess whether there is an association between non-pRBC blood product transfusions and increased mortality. METHODS: Data from our center's Society of Thoracic Surgeons database included patients who underwent cardiac surgery from 2010 to 2018. Patients with pRBC transfusions or circulatory arrest were excluded. Propensity matching was performed (1:1; caliper = 0.2 times the standard deviation of logit of propensity score). Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox regression were used. Cardiac transplant, ventricular assist devices, transcatheter aortic valves, and patients who had experienced circulatory arrest were excluded from this analysis. RESULTS: A total of 8042 patients met criteria for analysis. Following propensity matching (1:1), 395 patients requiring perioperative non-pRBC blood products (platelets, fresh-frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate) were matched with 395 nontransfusion patients, yielding equitable patient cohorts. Median follow-up was 4.5 (3.0-6.4) years. Patients received platelets (327 [82.8%]), fresh-frozen plasma (141 [35.7%]), and cryoprecipitate (60 [15.2%]). There was no significant difference in the postoperative mortality (6 [1.5%] vs 4 [1.0%]; P = .52). Reoperation (20 [5.0%] vs 8 [2.0%]; P < .02) and prolonged ventilation (36 [9.1%] vs 19 [4.8%]; P < .02) were greater in the transfusion group. Emergent operation (odds ratio [OR] 2.86 [1.72-4.78]; P < .001), intra-aortic balloon pump (OR 3.24 [1.64-6.39]; P < .001), and multivalve operation (OR 4.34 [2.83-6.67]; P < .001) were significantly associated with blood product use. Blood product transfusion (hazard ratio; 1.15 [0.89-1.48]; P = .3) was not significantly associated with increased mortality risk. There was no significant long-term survival difference between cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undergo cardiac surgery requiring blood products alone, without pRBC transfusion, have similar postoperative and long-term survival compared with patients not requiring blood products. These data are based on a limited patient sample, and future studies will aid in improving the generalizability of these results.

Electrochemiluminescent bioassay based on Ru@Zr-BTC-MOFs nanoparticles for determination of let-7a miRNA using the hybridization chain reaction.

Carboxyl-rich tris(4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) ([Ru(dcbpy)3]2+) and 1,3,5-phenyl tricarboxylic acid (H3BTC) were used as the organic ligand to synthesize the metal-organic frameworks by a simple one-pot hydrothermal method with ZrCl4 as metal ion source. Subsequently, the excellent electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophore (denoted as Ru@Zr-BTC-MOFs) was obtained. The Ru@Zr-BTC-MOFs displayed outstanding ECL properties, and a sensitive ECL bioassay based on Ru@Zr-BTC-MOFs was designed for the detection of let-7a microRNA (miRNA) using hybrid chain reaction (HCR). Under the optimal experimental conditions, the proposed bioassay exhibited a good linear relationship in the range from 50.0 fM to 5.00 × 102 pM with a detection limit of 3.71 fM. Besides, the proposed sensor exhibited satisfactory performance in real samples. The recovery was 91 ~ 108%, and the relative standard deviation was less than 5.6%. It might have potential clinical applications for detecting miRNA in biomedical research and clinical diagnosis. The schematic diagram of the preparation of Ru@Zr-BTC-MOFs (a) and ECL sensor for detecting let -7a (b).

BER for a space uplink laser communication system under an actual optical distortion with a cake-cutting method.

A numerical calculating model is proposed for characterizing the BER performance of the detector working among the 2-D asymmetric distorted spot on the effects of atmospheric turbulence under weak turbulent conditions. Based on the isotropy of the beam wander effect, we introduce a beam wander vector to describe the behavior of the detector drifting among the receiving plane. Furthermore, using the cake-cutting method, the overall PDF of the light intensity is approximated by the average PDF of light intensity intercepted by the detector drifting in all different directions. The results demonstrate that the model obtains the overall PDF of the light intensity received by the detector and analyzes the BER performance of the communication system efficiently. Being an extension of the traditional 1-D calculation, our proposed model has important implications for designing the space uplink optical communication system.