There is a tunable band gap in ABC-stacked few-layer graphene (FLG) via applying a vertical electric field, but the operation of FLG-based field effect transistor (FET) requires two gates to create a band gap and tune channel's conductance individually. Using first principle calculations, we propose an alternative scheme to open a band gap in ABC-stacked FLG namely via single-side adsorption. The band gap is generally proportional to the charge transfer density. The capability to open a band gap of metal adsorption decreases in this order: K/Al > Cu/Ag/Au > Pt. Moreover, we find that even the band gap of ABA-stacked FLG can be opened if the bond symmetry is broken. Finally, a single-gated FET based on Cu-adsorbed ABC-stacked trilayer graphene is simulated. A clear transmission gap is observed, which is comparable with the band gap. This renders metal-adsorbed FLG a promising channel in a single-gated FET device.
Background
Previous studies have investigated the prognostic value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the results have been inconsistent. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prognostic significance of SII in NPC through a meta-analysis.
Methods
The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were thoroughly searched. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the prognostic value of the SII for survival outcomes.
Results
A total of six studies comprising 2169 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analyses indicated that a high SII was significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.36–2.09, P < 0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.29–1.98, P < 0.001) in patients with NPC. Subgroup analysis showed that SII was a significant prognostic marker for PFS but not for OS in NPC.
Conclusion
Our meta-analysis demonstrated that a high SII could be an efficient prognostic indicator of OS and PFS in NPC. In our opinion, SII could be used to predict long-term and short-term outcomes in patients with NPC. Furthermore, we suggest that SII be applied to help individual patients with NPC assess the prognostic risk.
Systematic review registration
PROSPERO CRD42022321570
According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, the preferred treatment for early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is radiotherapy, however, the toxic effects associated with radiotherapy have been a nuisance for patients. Minimally invasive surgery for recurrent NPC has been widely recognized as an effective way to completely remove the tumor and free the patient from or mitigate the toxicity of radiotherapy. Therefore, some researchers hope that minimally invasive surgery can be used to treat early-stage NPC. It is a bold and controversial attempt, and the researchers’ efforts have achieved initial results. This article reviews the preliminary results of minimally invasive surgery for NPC, especially the feasibility and challenges of minimally invasive surgery for early-stage NPC.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.