A rigorous analysis and design of efficient light trapping for Gallium arsenide nanowire array (NWA) solar cells is presented. The influence of the geometric parameters on the optical absorption of NWA has been thoroughly analyzed by using finite-difference time-domain simulations. It is found that the NWA have superior absorption characteristic over thin-film due to the combined effects of intrinsic anti-reflection and efficient excitation of resonant modes. Optimized optical designs are obtained by maximizing the ultimate photocurrent under AM1.5G illumination. The photogeneration profiles under optimized conditions are incorporated into electrical modeling, in which the core-shell NWA solar cells exhibit 22.3% efficiency.

Objective: To evaluate the potential relation between the ABO blood group and the risk of venous thrombosis in cancer patients with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). Methods: The patients who underwent PICC catheterization in Beijing Cancer Hospital from January 2018 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The general information, disease diagnosis, catheterization situation, and complications were recorded for each patient. Further, the blood group status was identified using the hospital information systems. Logistic and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for symptomatic PICC-related thrombosis. Results: Among the 2315 patients, 131 had symptomatic thrombosis after PICC catheterization. The incidence of symptomatic thrombosis was lower in patients with blood type O when compared with that in patients with blood types other than O. The history of venous thrombosis, tumor category, arm circumference, and insertion attempts are risk factors associated with the PICC-related venous thromboembolism (VTE). After multivariable adjustment, insertion attempts and the non-O blood type were observed to remain associated with thrombosis. Conclusion: The risk of PICC-related thrombosis in patients with non-O blood type is significantly higher than that in patients with blood type O.

Purpose A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE) especially in patients suffering from cancer. We analyzed the incidence, risk factors, and patterns of PICC-related VTE in cancer patients. Patients and Methods Patients with cancer who underwent PICC placement were evaluated retrospectively. Routine, prospective ultrasound post-PICC placement was used for asymptomatic and symptomatic patients to identify VTE. Multivariable logistic regression models with odds ratios (ORs) were used to examine VTE risk factors. Results Of 2353 PICCs placed, 165 patients (7.01%) developed PICC-related VTE with a median thrombosis time of 12 days. After adjustment of multivariable analysis, patients with PICC-related VTE were more likely to have a ratio of PICC diameter:vein diameter >0.35 (adjusted OR, 1.689; 95% CI, 1.023–2.789) and high level of triglycerides (1.561; 1.096–2.223). The prevalence of A (adjusted OR, 1.680; 95% CI, 1.009–2.798), B (1.835; 1.137–2.961), and AB (3.275; 1.840–5.829) blood group was significantly higher than that of the O blood group in VTE patients. Venous recanalization was observed in 44.8% (74/165) patients after anticoagulation therapy, and more often in patients with combined deep VTE than in patients with isolated superficial VTE (OR, 17.942; 95% CI, 5.427–59.316). The recanalization time was 20±5 (range, 10–31) days. Conclusion The non-O blood group, larger ratio of PICC diameter:vein diameter, and high level of triglycerides were significantly associated with PICC-related VTE. Almost half of cases of PICC-related deep VTE could be reversed by anticoagulation treatment.

Background: This study aimed to compare the tip location of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) under two forward P-wave amplitudes (P-wave amplitude is the autonomous peak or P-wave amplitude is 50-80% of the QRS main wave) by intracavitary electrocardiogram (IC-EKG) to determine the PICC tip in optimal location thus avoiding catheter-related complications.Methods: The data of 300 cancer patients with PICC insertion were collected retrospectively. For the observation group, the position of the catheter tip was left at the level when P wave amplitude was its autonomous peak (168 patients catheterized in 2018). While for the control group, the catheter tip was left at the level when the P wave amplitude was 50-80% of the QRS main wave (132 patients catheterized in 2017). Both groups of patients underwent the chest X-ray examination (CXR) after catheterization. The total compliance rate [PICC tip was located in the lower third of the Superior Vena Cava (SVC) and the Cavo-Atrial Junction (CAJ)], the optimal position compliance rate (PICC tip was located in the CAJ), and the incidence of the catheter tip malposition were compared between the two groups. The complications after catheterization including arrhythmia after catheterization within 24 hours, catheter-related thrombosis, catheter dysfunction, and catheter infection within 90 days were also compared.Results: There was no difference in the total compliance rate of PICC tip position and the incidence of the catheter malposition in the two groups (P>0.05). But the optimal position compliance rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of arrhythmia after catheterization within 24 hours of the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of catheterrelated thrombosis, catheter dysfunction, and catheter infection within 90 days in the observation group was lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions:The PICC tip position at the autonomous peak of the P wave is significantly better than that at the P wave amplitude being 50-80% of the QRS main wave under the IC-EKG guidance for PICC insertion.

Background: With increasing use, peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are associated with the risk of venous thrombosis. Few studies have focused on the relationships between venous thrombosis and venous characteristics. This study aimed to identify effects of venous characteristics on symptomatic PICC-related venous thrombosis in cancer patients and explore the relationship between venous characteristics and blood flow velocity. Methods: The data of patients who underwent placement of PICC were retrospectively studied between January 2015 and September 2017. Symptomatic PICC-related venous thrombosis was confirmed by ultrasound. Univariable, multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors associated with PICC-related venous thrombosis. In October 2017, 169 patients with PICCs were enrolled prospectively, and the relationships between blood flow velocity and venous characteristics were recorded and analyzed. Results: A total of 2933 cancer patients were enrolled in this study; of these patients, 68 experienced symptomatic venous thrombosis. In the bivariate analysis, body mass index (BMI), history of venous thrombosis, triglycerides, tumor category, vessel diameter, vessel depth and arm circumference were associated with thrombosis. The multivariable analyses showed that arm circumference, vascular diameter, triglyceride level and tumor category were independent risk factors for thrombosis. Blood flow velocity was positively correlated with vessel depth and arm circumference but not with vessel diameter. Conclusion: Different venous characteristics can lead to different blood flow rates, which can affect the incidence of thrombosis. A vein depth of greater than 1.07cm or less than 0.57cm was associated with a higher incidence of PICC-related venous thrombosis, and the greater the arm circumference and vessel diameter, the greater the risk of venous thrombosis.