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For eliminating the limits in the classical models, here we establish a general model for precisely predicting dielectric constant of porous materials. In this model, dielectric constant is independent on pore shapes when the pore size is far smaller than electromagnetic wavelengths; however, it depends on the porosities and correlation between the open pore direction and wave propagation direction. The structure factor β in the effective dielectric formula is 1 and 3 for through-hole and closed-pore materials, respectively. The experimental results are in good agreement with the model, suggesting a favorable tool for predicting dielectric properties of porous materials.

Since sensitive humidity sensing is strongly desired, we present a highly sensitive humidity sensor fabricated from graphene oxide (GO) foam based on low-frequency dielectric properties. The GO foam shows humidity- and compression-dependent dielectric. Upon applying compression on GO foam, the humidity sensitivity increases and the maximum humidity sensitivity of dielectric loss is more than 12-fold higher than that of direct-current electrical conductivity. The highly sensitive humidity response originates from the generation of local conductive networks, which is the result of the connected isolated conductive regions by water cluster. Additionally, the dielectric properties of fabricated GO foam show a stable and repeatable humidity response, suggesting a carbon prototype with great potential in humidity sensors.

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Background The aim of this study was to investigate the long‐term outcome of superior vena cava (SVC) replacement after chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for advanced thymoma. Methods The medical information of patients with advanced thymoma who underwent thymoma resection and SVC replacement in Beijing Tongren Hospital from 2002 to 2017 were reviewed. We compared surgical outcomes, postoperative complications and long‐term prognosis in the chemoradiotherapy + surgery group (CRT + surgery group, 19 cases) and the surgery group (26 cases). Results The operation time (486.05 ± 148.01 vs. 370.77 ± 124.32 min; p = 0.007) and intraoperative blood loss (1400 ml [IQR 1125–2105 ml] vs. 855 ml [IQR 555–1682.5 ml], p = 0.036), poor wound healing (three cases [15.79%] vs. zero cases [0.0%], p = 0.036) in the CRT + surgery group were significantly higher than those of the surgery group. There was no significant difference between the CRT + surgery group and the surgery group in postoperative chest tube drainage time, hospitalization time, postoperative arrhythmia and incidence of pneumonia. Kaplan Meier analysis showed that the recurrence‐free survival (RFS) curves of the CRT + surgery group patients were better than those of the surgery group (p = 0.031). However, overall survival (OS) between the two groups was not significantly different (p = 0.069). Conclusions Thymoma resection and SVC replacement is feasible for patients undergoing preoperative induction chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for advanced thymoma. Although patients in the CRT + surgery group had a longer operation time and increased intraoperative bleeding, the RFS rate seemed to be better than that in the surgery group.

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Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TET) are frequently eligible for curative-intent surgical resection. For locally advanced TETs, chemotherapy has been used to both reduce the tumor burden and achieve prolonged disease control. However, effective therapy for this disease largely remains to be determined. Here, we report the chemosensitivity of 100 patients with TETs determined by the collagen gel droplet embedded culture-drug sensitivity test (CD-DST). Methods: A total of 100 patients with TETs underwent surgical resection. The efficacy of antitumor agents on TET cells was tested by CD-DST. Results: Thymic epithelial tumors were pathologically confirmed after surgery: two cases were type A thymoma, 17 were type AB, 12 were type B1, 44 were type B2, 12 were type B3, and there were 13 cases with thymic carcinoma. A total of 36% patients with TETs were sensitive to different types of chemotherapeutic agents. There was no significant differences in age, histological type, clinical staging, or association with autoimmune diseases between sensitive and nonsensitive cases. Type B1 and B2 thymoma were relatively more sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents (6/12 and 18/44, respectively), while sensitivity of type B3 cases to chemotherapeutic agents was much lower (only 2/12). Cases with type A thymoma were not sensitive to any antitumor drugs. Among 11 chemotherapeutic agents tested in our study, the sensitivity of TETs to EPI was the highest (16%). No patients with thymoma were sensitive to Alimta (Pemetrexed). Conclusions: Our work illuminates the effectiveness of chemotherapy for TETs and provides important clues for choosing antitumor drugs with relatively high drug sensitivity to TETs in advance.