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In recent years, the effective hydrogen release from hydrogen storage materials has attracted extensive attention. In this work, CoCl2·6H2O (Cobalt chloride hexahydrate, CCH), a low cost and easily available catalyst, was successfully used to catalyze the hydrolysis of NaBH4-NH3BH3 composite (xSB-AB, x is the molar ratio of SB to AB). The results show that the synergistic effect produced by ball milling is beneficial to improve the hydrogen release performance of xSB-AB hydrolysis. This work not only advances the understanding of the synergistic effect of SB and AB, but also provides a basis for using low-cost catalysts to improve the hydrolysis performance of xSB-AB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NaBH4-NH3BH3 composite (xSB-AB, x is the molar ratio of SB to AB) has better hydrolysis performance than its monomer, but the hydrogen generation rate (HGR) and hydrogen yield (HY) are still not ideal at room temperature. In this work, a low cost and easily available commercial porous spherical Co3O4 was successfully used to catalyze the hydrolysis of xSB-AB composite. It was found that Co3O4 showed good catalytic performance for the hydrolysis of xSB-AB, and the HY and hydrogen release efficiency (HRE) of 4SB-AB/10 wt%Co3O4 at 40 C° reached 2,279.71 mL·g-1 and 89.13%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage control of the magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect enables a voltage-mediated magnetization switching mechanism for lower-power applications. In this work, we experimentally investigate the characteristics of VCMA-induced switching and we observe a clear decrease in the critical switching voltage ( V c ) at elevated temperatures. A 50% reduction in V c is quantified when increasing the ambient temperature (T) from 300 K to 360 K. Such a T-dependence of V c is well explained with the variations of saturation magnetization ( M S ), interfacial anisotropy ( K i ), and VCMA coefficient (ξ). In addition, the dependences of these properties on temperature are well fitted and explained with the power law of M S (T). Our findings on the T-dependent magnetic and switching characteristics of VCMA are of technological importance for implementing VCMA in magnetic random access memory (MRAM) applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the characteristics of the precessional switching induced by voltage control of magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) in back-end-of-line (BEOL)-compatible perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction devices. Using micromagnetic simulation, we find three operation regimes differentiated by zero excess energy, lower boundary, zero energy barrier, and upper boundary. Experimentally, the switching speed (fs) is characterized by two phases: non-precession and acceleration. Non-precession is a thermal mediated phase, where fs cannot be deduced, while in acceleration, both the higher electric field (EF) and in-plane field (Bx) increase fs progressively. We find that the intrinsic thresholds can be retrieved by linear extrapolation of fs as a function of EF. Those thresholds and experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation. In addition, we numerically calculate the characteristic switching speed of 2γ*mz*Bx and verify it experimentally. This work provides insights into the VCMA-induced precessional switching, including detailed understandings of the switching mechanism and modeling of switching speed for reliable write duration control for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analogous device parameters in both the parallel (P) and anti-parallel (AP) states ensure a symmetric spin-transfer-torque magnetic random-access memory operation scheme. In this study, however, we observe an increasing asymmetry in the performance metrics with operating temperature of the bottom-pinned perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (p-MTJ) devices. A temperature-dependent increase in the contribution of the stray field is observed in the tunneling magnetoresistance loop analysis. The switching current for P-to-AP decreases by 30% in the thermally activated switching regime by increasing the temperature from 300 K to 400 K, while it remains similar for AP-to-P. In addition, with the same temperature range, the thermal stability factor for the P state decreases 20% more than that for the AP state. We attribute those observations to the increase in the overcompensation of the stray field from the synthetic anti-ferromagnet structure. Saturation magnetization (MS) of the [Co/Pt]x-based multilayers is much less affected by temperature [MS(400 K)/MS(300 K) = 97%] compared to that of the CoFeB-based multilayers (88%). Such an impact can be more severe during the electrical switching process due to the Joule heating effect. These results suggest that, to understand and to evaluate the performance in a wide range of temperatures, it is crucial to consider the contribution of the entire magnetic components in the p-MTJ stack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of seed arrangements on the ingot quality was studied for the n-type monolike silicon grown by G1-scale directional solidification. It was found that the subgrains and defects were generated easily from the 0° tilt angle between seed plates. In constrast, the seed junction with large tilt angles had little effect on the defect generation, and the best tilt angle ranged from 10° to 30°. Except the area near the 0° tilt angle, the best lifetime of the wafer after gettering could be greater than 3 ms. Color mismatch on the appearance of the solar cell made from the wafers due to seed arrangements could be an issue in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perhaps dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry based bone mineral density (BMD) can act as a predictor for fracture risk to avoid interindividual differences in drug response, especially signs such as BMD changes that are strongly associated with vertebral fractures [4]. Keywords: anti-osteoporosis medication; bisphosphonates; denosumab; NHIRD EN anti-osteoporosis medication bisphosphonates denosumab NHIRD 384 385 2 02/22/22 20220301 NES 220301 We have carefully read the cohort study by Fu et al. on anti-osteoporosis medication (AOM) [1]. Regarding: Increased fracture risk after discontinuation of anti-osteoporosis medications among hip fracture patients. [Extracted from the article]

The corrosion resistance of slag‐free self‐shielded metal‐cord welding overlay with different ferrotitanium additions in alkaline solution (pH=14) was investigated. The results show that the self‐corrosion potential Ecorr is the highest and the self‐corrosion current density Icorr is the minimum when the addition of ferrotitanium is 6 wt. %. titanium carbide corrodes before other carbides in alkaline solution due to the absence of iron. A ferrotitanium addition of 6 wt. % can provide the best corrosion resistance to the fabricated welding overlays, as an increased ferrotitanium addition will result in a decrease in chromium carbide and an increase in titanium carbide, of which titanium carbide is the most prone to corrosion, followed by chromium carbide, and finally the austenitic matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study confirmed that the infection of nervous necrosis virus (NNV), belonging to the betanodavirus, can induce the expression of endogenous Mx in grouper fin-3 (GF-3), grouper brain (cGB), and barramundi brain (cBB) cells, but not in grouper fin-1 (GF-1) cells. In a co-sedimentation assay, RdRp appeared in the mitochondrial pellet of GF-1 cells without endogenous Mx expression. However, in GF-3, cGB, and cBB cells, RdRp was detected in the nuclear pellet accompanied by endogenous Mx. By immunostaining, RdRp was found to colocalize with not only endogenous Mx but also lysosomes and monodansylcadaverine (MDC)-labeled autophagic vacuoles. In GF-1 cells, the RdRp level continuously increased during 24–72 h post infection (hpi). When endogenous Mx expressed during 24–72 hpi in virus-infected GF-3, cGB, and cBB cells, the RdRp level peaked at 24 hpi but decreased at 48–72 hpi. The degradation of RdRp could be suppressed by treatment with 3-methyladenine (3MA), NH 4 Cl, and Mx-specific siRNA respectively. After poly I:C transfection, the endogenous Mx level peaked at 3 days post transfection (dpt) and then spontaneously decreased at 5–7 dpt. The poly I:C-indued Mx also colocalized with MDC-labeled autophagic vacuoles at 3 dpt, and its degradation could be inhibited by 3MA or NH 4 Cl treatments. Therefore, the anti-NNV mechanism of endogenous grouper and barramundi Mx is suggested to sequester RdRp for degradation through autophagy and lysosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate anti-misalignment acousto-optically (AO) Q-switched Ho: YLF ring cavity laser with a single corner cube prism (CCP) as the cavity mirror and a diode-pumped 1940 nm solid state laser as the pump source. We study the polarization state of oscillating light of ring cavity with the CCP by simulation calculations, which matched with the experimental results. In the continuous wave (CW) operation, the Ho: YLF laser achieves a total bidirectional output power of 3.8 W at the wavelength of 2063.5 nm, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 15% and a slope efficiency of 50.7%. The maximum allowable deviations of the CCP are 0.57° (pitch angle) and 1.65° (horizontal angle), respectively. We obtain a single pulse energy of 17 mJ and a pulse width of 113 ns at a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 100 Hz. The beam quality factors in the horizontal and vertical directions are M x 2 = 1.01 and M y 2 = 1.06, respectively, which are approached to the diffraction limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) on glycemic control in insulin-naive type 2 diabetic patients comparing SMBG plus self-regulatory behavioral education, and SMBG plus individual education. Methods. Participants with glycated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) of 7.5-12% were enrolled in this 24-week, prospective study. Forty-two and forty participants received SMBG plus selfregulatory behavioral education, and SMBG plus individual education, respectively. The glycemic and behavioral attitudes outcomes were evaluated. Results. The A1C level decreased in both groups, from 9.41± 1.7% to 7.84± 0.83% in the SMBG plus self-regulatory behavioral education and 9.62 ±1.08% to 9.09± 1.1% in the SMBG plus individual education. However, the postprandial glucose (PPG) level sustained more significant decreases from 277.1 ±80.1 to 175.7 ±53.9 mg/dL in the SMBG plus self-regulatory behavioral education, and from 261.2 ±80.5 to 221.6 ±41.2 mg/dL in the SMBG plus individual education. The frequency of PPG monitoring increased from 0.1 ± 0.81 to 3.46 ± 2.81 times/week in SMBG plus self-regulatory behavioral education, whereas it increased from 0.13± 0.78 to 1.01± 0.89 in SMBG plus individual education. The amount of carbohydrates consumed per day decreased and the amount of physical activity performed per week increased significantly in self-regulatory behavioral education group. Conclusions. The use of this model of SMBG plus self-regulatory behavior education appears to have resulted in superior improvements in glycemic control and behavioral outcomes compared with those achieved by SMBG plus individual education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a laboratory investigation to evaluate the natural frequency variation of the scaled-down reinforced concrete containment vessel specimen subjected to an accelerated reinforcement corrosion. The states of damage in the scaled-down specimen were assessed through measurement of the concrete resistivity, the open circuit potential, the corrosion rate and the natural frequencies. Those electrochemical parameters related with steel corrosion were extensively compared. The test results indicated that the corrosion behaviours of steel in the scaled-down specimen and the natural frequencies before and after the immersion were different. The changes in the natural frequencies were consistent with the material degradation of the concrete vessel specimen. The natural frequencies decreased with the increasing corrosion rate or the decreasing resistivities for the specimen at a higher mode, but would be a slight change for the specimen at the natural frequency of the first mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] 4β-Hydroxywithanolide E might develop into a dietary chemopreventive agent. [•] 4β-Hydroxywithanolide E induces production of ROS and selective DNA damage response. [•] ATM-dependent DNA damage was involved in 4β-hydroxywithanolide E-induced apoptosis. [•] Non-homologous end joining pathway is the major route of protection against 4β-hydroxywithanolide E-induced DNA damage. [•] 4β-Hydroxywithanolide E-induced DNA damage was used as a research tool in project investigating DNA repair signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth, evolution, and annealing of closed and interconnected pores in amorphous and crystalline films of water ice grown under a range of conditions have been studied by variable-energy positron annihilation spectroscopy (VEPAS). By measuring positron and positronium-related annihilation parameters as a function of time and film temperature it is shown that VEPAS has the capacity to yield a wealth of depth-dependent information on film morphology, with particularly promising results on the evolution and annealing of subnanometer closed pores—inaccessible to other techniques—and the study of the energetics of structural and phase changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The hazards of electrocautery smoke have been known for decades. However, few clinical studies have been conducted to analyze the responsible variables of the smoke production. This study collected clinical smoke samples and systematically analyzed all possible factors. Methods: Thirty diathermy smoke samples were collected during mastectomy and abdominal cavity operations. Samples were analyzed using a gas chromatographer with a flame ionization detector. Data were applied to construct prediction models for chemical production from electrosurgeries to identify all possible factors that impact chemical production during electrosurgery. Results: Toluene was detected in 27 smoke samples (90%) with concentrations of 0.003-0.463 mg/m3 and production of 176.0-2,780.0 ng. Ethyl benzene and styrene were identified in very few cases. General linear regression analysis demonstrates that surgery type, patient age, electrocautery duration and imparted coagulation energy explained 67.63% of the variation in toluene production. Conclusion: Surgery type and patient age are known prior to surgery. In terms of risk precaution, the operating team should pay close attention to exposure when certain positive factors of increasing the chemical production are known in advance. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess two real-time PCR methods (the Riviere and Qvarnstrom assays) for environmental Acanthamoeba. Methods and Results: DNA extracted from Acanthamoeba castellanii taken from water and biofilms of cooling towers was analysed by the Riviere and Qvarnstrom assays. To quantify environmental Acanthamoeba, the calibration curves (DNA quantity vs cell number) were constructed with samples spiked with A. castellanii. The calibration curves for both quantitative PCR assays showed low variation (coefficient of variation of Ct≤ 5·7%) and high linearity ( R2 ≥ 0·99) over six orders of magnitudes with detection limit of three cells per water sample. DNA quantity determined by Qvarnstrom assay was equivalent between trophozoites and cysts ( P = 0·49), whereas a significant difference was observed with Riviere assay ( P < 0·0001). Riviere assay failed to detect Acanthamoeba in 21% (15/71) of the environmental samples which were positively detected by Qvarnstrom assay, while one sample (1·4%) was shown positive by Riviere assay but negative by Qvarnstrom assay. Moreover, Acanthamoeba counts by Qvarnstrom assay were greater than those by Riviere assay ( P < 0·0001). Conclusions: Qvarnstrom assay performs better than Riviere assay for detection and quantification of Acanthamoeba in anthropogenic water and biofilms. Significance and Impact of the Study: Qvarnstrom assay may significantly contribute to a better knowledge about the distribution and abundance of Acanthamoeba in environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the 54-year-old woman who has a past history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) under maintenance of hyroxychloroquine therapy and being hospitalized due to progressive dyspnea and orthopnea. It states that SLE has a cardiac manifestation and all of the structures of the heart including pericardium, endocardium and myocardium. It infers that SLE and thymoma both are diseases that affect the human immune system.

The physical mechanisms leading to the efficiency droop of InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are theoretically investigated. We first discuss the effect of Auger recombination loss on efficiency droop by taking different Auger coefficients into account. It is found that the Auger recombination process plays a significant nonradiative part for carriers at typical LED operation currents when the Auger coefficient is on the order of 10−30 cm6 s−1. Furthermore, the InGaN/GaN multiple-quantum-well (MQW) LEDs with varied indium compositions in InGaN quantum wells are studied to analyze the wavelength-dependent efficiency droop. The simulation results show that the wavelength-dependent efficiency droop is caused by several different effects including non-uniform carrier distribution, electron overflow, built-in electrostatic field induced by spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization, and Auger recombination loss. These internal physical mechanisms are the critical factors resulting in the wavelength-dependent efficiency droop in InGaN/GaN MQW LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and properties of a three-component system, a poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) [P(AM-co-AA)/PVP] polymer blend prepared by dispersion polymerization, were studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the resulting P(AM-co-AA) microspheres with diameters between 200-300 nm were well-dispersed in the PVP matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) showed that intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction occurred between the dispersed phase and the continuous phase. The mechanical properties of P(AM-co-AA)/PVP polymer blends were also determined. With different mass ratios of acrylamide to acrylic acid, it was found that the blends had better mechanical properties with increased AA content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terbium doped Y2O3 planar waveguides were fabricated by sol–gel process and dip-coating using yttrium acetate as precursor. Two different doping modes were compared, i.e. introduction in the sol of dispersed Tb3+ions from dissolved Tb(NO3)3, or of nanoparticles of Tb2O3 or [Y2O3:50% Tb] from an alcoholic suspension. The chemical and nanostructural properties were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The Tb3+ fluorescence properties were studied as a function of temperature and atmosphere of the thermal treatments, and of the Tb3+ concentration. The fluorescence properties are discussed in relation to the quenching mechanisms induced by Tb4+ transformation, residual OH groups, and crystallites size and structure. Optical propagation losses of the Tb doped Y2O3 planar waveguides related to the doping modes and Tb3+ concentration are presented. Doping sol–gel films by nanoparticles is shown to be a valuable alternative to the conventional doping from dissolved terbium salt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In water assisted injection moulded parts, structural ribs are usually designed to reinforce the parts as well as to serve as water channels. Water penetration in the channels results in improved mouldability and minimises sinkmarks. However, water leaves a rib core void, which reduces part rigidity. The present study examines the core out shapes of channels in water assisted injection moulded parts. The effects of channel geometry as well as processing conditions such as water injection delay time, water temperature, water pressure, etc., on the core out shapes were investigated. For the parameters selected, melt temperature, short shot size and water injection delay time were found to be the principal factors affecting the core out shapes of moulded parts. The core out geometries in water assisted injection moulded parts were compared with those in gas assisted injection moulded products. Water penetrated the parts with higher core out ratios, which are the ratios of the cross-sectional area of the water (gas) channel to the area of the water (gas) bubble in moulded parts, than gas. The core out geometry of water assisted injection moulded parts mainly resembles that of the water channel, while the void shape of gas assisted injection moulded parts tends to be more round shaped. Channels with ribs on top exhibited the highest bending strengths. Furthermore, a numerical simulation of the temperature distribution in the channels was completed to better interpret the water core out behaviour in water assisted injection moulded products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is devoted to investigating the gloss difference phenomenon occurring on the surface of water assisted injection moulded parts. Experiments were carried out on an 80-ton injection moulding machine equipped with a laboratory scale water injection system, which included a water pump, a water injection pin, a water tank equipped with a temperature regulator, and a control circuit. The material used was pigmented polypropylene. A plate cavity with a rib across the centre was used. Various processing variables were studied in terms of their influence on the surface gloss difference of moulded parts: melt temperature, mould temperature, melt filling speed, short-shot size, water pressure, water temperature, water hold and water injection delay time. After moulding, a glossmeter was used to measure the surface gloss profiles of the parts. A roughness meter and differential scanning calorimeter were also employed to characterise the surface quality of moulded parts. It was found that the surface gloss difference mainly occurs at the rib/plate transition area of moulded parts and results from the roughness gradient of the surface of the parts. Crystallinity as well as the molecular chain orientation induced by the shear stress in moulded materials may also be factors leading to the gloss difference of moulded products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dislocation substructure in hot-pressed hexagonal BaTiO3 ceramics was analysed by transmission electron microscopy. Two dislocation networks each consisting of dissociated half-partials were determined for the Burgers vectors ( b) using the g · b = 0 effective invisibility criteria, and the true directions ( u) by trace analysis. Each of the networks contains three partial nodes that are in the form: 1/3[ 010]+1/3[10 0]+1/3[1 00]+1/3[ 100] = 0, where four partials meet at a point and the Burgers vectors are conserved, as analysed by the weak-beam dark field technique. Basal dislocation with bb = 1/3<11 0> is dissociated into two prism plane half-partials with bhp = 1/3<10 0> by: 1/3<11 0> → 1/3<01 0> + 1/3<10 0>. Dissociation of basal dislocation by a glide mechanism creates a stacking fault when shear occurs along <10 0> in the c-layer of (000 l), where l = 1, 3, 4 and 6, of the (chc)1(chc)2 (or (CBC)(ABA)) stacking sequence. The slip system of 1/3<11 0>(0001) in hexagonal BaTiO3 has been activated at 1300 °C by hot-pressing under ∼25.8 MPa. Plastic flow contributing to the densification of hexagonal BaTiO3 ceramics occurs through glide of half-partials in the basal plane by a glide-controlled dislocation glide mechanism. Dislocation motion governed by the Peierls mechanism, where velocity is determined by both correlated and uncorrelated double-kink nucleation on two half-partials, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Y3Al5O12 (YAG) thin films are prepared by the sol–gel process using two different synthesis routes: acetate–alkoxide method (YAG-I) and two-alkoxides method (YAG-II). The sols and films elaborations are described. The film behavior is studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and conventional transmission electron microscopy (CTEM) for different annealing temperatures. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements are used for crystallization kinetics investigations. The refractive index and thickness of the as-prepared films are analyzed by m-lines spectroscopy (MLS) and their waveguiding properties are characterized. The relationships between structural evolutions and waveguiding properties of YAG thin films are discussed. These results show that the structural and optical performances of the elaborated YAG thin films strongly depend on the starting materials and their associated annealing treatments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This report investigates the filling phenomena of the water assisted injection moulding process by using a flow visualisation technique. Experiments were carried out on an 80-tonne injection-moulding machine equipped with a laboratory-developed water injection unit. The material used was semi-crystalline polypropylene. A flow visualisation mould was specially designed and made for this study. A high-speed video camera was used to record the mould filling phenomena of rectangular cavities with three-channel geometry and layouts: a flat plate, a plate with two zones of different depths and a plate with symmetric ribs. The interaction between the assisting water and the polymer melt during moulding was observed, and insight into the water penetration behaviour was summarised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Y2O3 optical planar waveguides are fabricated by the sol–gel method and the dip-coating technique. High purity yttrium alkoxide (yttrium 2-methoxyethoxide) is used as starting material for the Y2O3 sol and acetylacetone is added to improve the stability of the sol. Highly concentrated sol up to 0.8 M is prepared and six stacked layers are enough to support four propagation modes at wavelength from 488 to 632.8 nm. The cubic phase of Y2O3 is crystallized after an annealing treatment at 700 °C. X-ray diffraction is conducted on the films for their structural analysis. Optical properties of the waveguides are determined by multi-wavelength m-lines spectroscopy and attenuation coefficient measurement. The attenuation coefficient of the prepared Y2O3 waveguiding thin films is in the range between 1 and 2 dB/cm at 632.8 nm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

SummaryAims The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of mutation in hepatic nuclear factor (HNF)-1α, a gene recently implicated as causing maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) and to analyse the respective clinical presentations in an ethnically Chinese population. Methods Fifteen unrelated subjects (nine females and six males) aged less than 35 years who had early-onset diabetes were analysed to test the possibility that mutation of the HNF-1α gene was responsible for this disorder. Genomic DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequence analysis were performed accordingly. Results One patient with MODY had a novel missense mutation in exon 3 of the HNF-1α gene (Y218C) in a region of the protein that corresponds to a predicted DNA binding domain. Conclusions A Y218C mutation in HNF-1α gene was identified in one family in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yee-based expanded node with dielectric boundary conditions is introduced here for the TLM method to simulate the electromagnetic characteristics of microwave circuits. This numerical structure is presented graphically, and at the same time, related to the conventional bases straightforwardly. In application, microstrip line circuits including the microstrip line and interdigital structure are analyzed. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 20: 398–403, 1999. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the calcium-activated potassium channels of turtle cochlear hair cells. Determination of the electrical resonant frequency of the hair cells through the time course of calcium-activated potassium current; Study of factors affecting the time course.

This article gives the absolute calibration of two types phosphor screens (DRZ) that were used to detect and characterize electron bunches driven by laser-plasma accelerator. The test was performed with picoseconds electron bunch at a radio frequency linear electron accelerator in Tsinghua University. The photons emitted from DRZ screens showed good linear responses to the charge of incident electron bunch and cosine angular distribution in space. An energy conversional efficiency of effective scintillant matter was also calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel fluorescent probe, 2-allyl-6-((2-((2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzylidene)amino)ethyl)amino)-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline- 1,3(2H)-dione (ABID), based on naphthalimide-Schiff base, has been designed and synthesized for the monitoring of Cu2+ ions. In solution (DMSO/HEPES, 1:1, v/v, pH 7.4), ABID displayed fluorescence quenching towards Cu2+ ions over other important metal ions. A good linearity with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.99 validated that the ABID probe could be used to detect Cu2+ ions in 0.5–5.0 μM concentrations. The limit of detection of ABID for Cu2+ could reach at 3.4 × 10–7 M level, and the quenching constant (KSV) of ABID towards Cu2+ was calculated to be 3.4 × 104 M–1. The 2:1 stoichiometry and the binding mode between ABID and Cu2+ were studied by a Job plot and UV-Vis and fluorescence titration. Additionally, ABID was successfully employed to monitor Cu2+ in the Yellow River and tap water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computed Tomography (CT) is a powerful method for non-destructive testing (NDT) and metrology awakes with expanding application fields. To improve the spatial resolution of high energy CT, a micro-spot gamma-ray source based on bremsstrahlung from a laser wakefield accelerator was developed. A high energy CT using the source was performed, which shows that the resolution of reconstruction can reach 100 μm at 10% contrast. Our proof-of-principle demonstration indicates that laser driven micro-spot gamma-ray sources provide a prospective way to increase the spatial resolution and toward to high energy micro CT. Due to the advantage in spatial resolution, laser based high energy CT represents a large potential for many NDT applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Braille system is widely used worldwide for communication by visually impaired people. However, there are still some visually impaired people who are unable to learn Braille system due to various factors, such as the age (too young or too old), brain damage, etc. A wearable and low-cost Braille recognition system may substantially help these people recognize Braille or assist them in Braille learning. In this work, we fabricated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based flexible pressure sensors to construct an electronic skin (E-skin) for the application of Braille recognition. The E-skin mimics human touch sensing function for collecting Braille information. Braille recognition is realized with a neural network based on memristors. We utilize a binary neural network algorithm with only two bias layers and three fully connected layers. Such neural network design remarkably reduces the calculation burden and, thus, the system cost. Experiments show that the system can achieve a recognition accuracy of up to 91.25%. This work demonstrates the possibility of realizing a wearable and low-cost Braille recognition system and a Braille learning-assistance system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of octonary DyErGdHoLuScTbY and senary DyGdHoLaTbY and ErGdHoLaTbY high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with the hexagonal close-packed (HCP) structure was reported in this study. Experiments using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction confirmed the single HCP solid solution in the as-cast state for these three HEAs if the presence of minor rare-earth oxides due to contamination from processing is ignored. The measured compressive yield stress values for these HEAs at room temperature are 245, 205, and 360 MPa for the ErGdHoLaTbY, DyGdHoLaTbY, and DyErGdHoLuScTbY HEAs, respectively. The corresponding solid solution strengthening contributions for these HEAs were estimated using a simple elastic model, and the resulting contributions were 28 MPa, 27 MPa, and 42 MPa for the three aforementioned HEAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural rubber lamination is a kind of seismic isolation of bearings often used in civil engineering. The advantage of laminated bearings is large vertical stiffness and small lateral stiffness. In seismic regions, structural periods would be extended and the effect of seismic forces can be lowered using bearings. In previous tests, the static cyclic loading method was mainly used that failed to take account of the loading rate. The real-time substructure testing is proposed to simulate true seismic loads. This testing and test setup were first introduced, and the effect of the loading rate was studied. Then the effects of vertical pressure and peak acceleration of ground motion were studied. At last the test results were simulated by the finite element method, and an accurate method to calculate seismic responses of bridges with laminated bearings was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the case of a 36-year-old woman with recurrent scar endometriosis. Effectiveness of high-frequency power Doppler angiographic appearance and microvascular flow velocity; Identification of endometrial tissue in surgical and procedure-related scars; Incidence of endometriomas.

Epilepsy is a serious neurological condition caused by a sudden abnormality of brain neurons. An accurate epilepsy detection based on electroencephalogram (EEG) signals can provide vital information for diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we propose a lightweight automatic epilepsy detection system with artificial neural network based on our as-fabricated neuromorphic chip. The proposed system utilizes a neural network model to achieve high-accuracy detection without the need for epilepsy-related prior knowledge. The model uses a filter module and a convolutional neural network to preprocess the raw EEG signal and uses a long short-term memory recurrent neural network and a fully connected network as the classifier. In the examination, the classification accuracy of the normal cases and seizures approaches 99.10%, and the accuracy of the normal cases, and interictal and seizure cases can reach 94.46%. This design provides possible epilepsy detection in wearable or portable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the phytotoxin fusaric acid ( FA) on the biocontrol traits of two biocontrol strains Paenibacillus polymyxa WR-2 and SQR-21. The results showed that the growth of both WR-2 and SQR-21 decreased with increasing FA concentration, and at 70 and 80 μg mL−1 FA, respectively, the strains were unable to grow. The biocontrol traits of both strains were negatively affected by FA concentration higher than 2·5 μg mL−1. However, at 2·5 μg mL−1 FA, biofilm formation and root colonization were not affected and there was even a positive effect on the production of spores and hydrolytic enzymes (protease and β-l,3-glucanase). The production of fusaricidin-type antifungal compounds was increased with an increase in FA concentration up to 50 and 60 μg mL−1 for WR-2 and SQR-21, respectively. The production of antifungal volatile organic compounds by WR-2 and SQR-21 was increased only at 2·5 μg mL−1 FA. The effect of FA on the overall metabolic activity of WR-2 and SQR-21 was also determined. This study will help to understand the response of P. polymyxa strains to FA and will help to improve their biocontrol efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Although exercise has been addressed as an adjuvant treatment for anxiety, depression and cancer-related symptoms, limited studies have evaluated the effectiveness of exercise in patients with lung cancer.Methods:We recruited 116 patients from a medical centre in northern Taiwan, and randomly assigned them to either a walking-exercise group (n=58) or a usual-care group (n=58). We conducted a 12-week exercise programme that comprised home-based, moderate-intensity walking for 40 min per day, 3 days per week, and weekly exercise counselling. The outcome measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Taiwanese version of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory.Results:We analysed the effects of the exercise programme on anxiety, depression and cancer-related symptoms by using a generalised estimating equation method. The exercise group patients exhibited significant improvements in their anxiety levels over time (P=0.009 and 0.006 in the third and sixth months, respectively) and depression (P=0.00006 and 0.004 in the third and sixth months, respectively) than did the usual-care group patients.Conclusions:The home-based walking exercise programme is a feasible and effective intervention method for managing anxiety and depression in lung cancer survivors and can be considered as an essential component of lung cancer rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a 3D microfluidic device with 32 detection channels and 64 sheath flow channels and embedded microball lens array for high throughput multicolor fluorescence detection. A throughput of 358 400 cells/s has been accomplished. This device is realized by utilizing solid immersion micro ball lens arrays for high sensitivity and parallel fluorescence detection. High refractive index micro ball lenses (n = 2.1) are embedded underneath PDMS channels close to cell detection zones in channels. This design permits patterning high N.A. micro ball lenses in a compact fashion for parallel fluorescence detection on a small footprint device. This device also utilizes 3D microfluidic fabrication to address fluid routing issues in two-dimensional parallel sheath focusing and allows simultaneous pumping of 32 sample channels and 64 sheath flow channels with only two inlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an obituary for electrochemistry scientist Walter J. Hamer.

The first example of the sulfinylation of indoles with arylsulfinamides in water in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid as a promoter is described. The reaction occurs smoothly at room temperature under environmentally benign conditions without any catalyst, additive, ligand, or organic solvent. The developed sulfoxide synthetic protocol is attractive due to the use of water as the solvent and provides a novel and efficient route to a wide range of functionalized diaryl sulfoxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this paper, an improved lattice model of heterogeneous cohesive frictional solids is developed to simulate the fracture process of recycled concrete under tensile and compressive loadings. In this numerical simulation, the recycled concrete is considered as a composite material of five phases, including natural aggregates, old hardened mortar (HM), new HM, new interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and old ITZ. In addition to the numerical simulation, a series of laboratory tests are designed to investigate the failure process of the recycled concrete. The fracture process of the numerical simulation is in a satisfactory agreement with the experimental observations. It is demonstrated that the cracks always appear around ITZs at first, extend to old HM secondly and then to new HM in the recycled concrete. Under the condition of this investigation, the simulated stress-strain relationship of recycled concrete is fit well with the laboratory test results under tensile loadings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We integrated four gene expression profile data sets, namely two different pair-matched stage I lung adenocarcinoma data sets, secondary metastatic tumors vs benign tumors and lung tumor metastasizes to the brain, and we identified one kinase, T-LAK Cell-Originated Protein Kinase (TOPK), as a putative gene that promotes metastasis. To delineate the role of TOPK in lung cancer, we showed that overexpression of TOPK, but not a catalytically inactive form of TOPK, can enhance the migration and invasion of lung fibroblasts or cells with low TOPK expression. In addition, TOPK-induced cell migration was shown to be a PI3K/AKT-dependent event. TOPK concurrently promoted AKT phosphorylation at Ser473 and decreased the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) levels, whereas TOPK knockdown had the reverse effects. LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, did not inhibit the TOPK-induced decrease in PTEN, and co-expression of PTEN significantly reduced TOPK-induced AKT phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner; these results indicate that the TOPK-mediated PTEN decrease has an upstream role in regulating PI3K/AKT-stimulated migration. Using immunohistochemical analysis of lung cancer tissue samples, we showed that a high TOPK expression level correlates strongly with reduced overall and disease-free survivals. Moreover, an inverse correlation between TOPK and PTEN expression was present and is consistent with the biochemical findings. Finally, a combination of high TOPK and low PTEN expression was inversely correlated with overall and disease-free survivals, independent of other pathologic staging factors. Our results suggest that TOPK is a potential therapeutic target in lung cancer that promotes cell migration by modulating a PI3K/PTEN/AKT-dependent signaling pathway; they also suggest that high TOPK expression, either alone or in combination with a low level of PTEN, may serve as a prognostic marker for lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: An ideal wound closure device would repair the wound with minimal complexity. In this report, we describe a simple wound closure method using BioGlue sealant. Method: Eleven canines underwent transtracheal pericardial window creation under endoscopic guidance for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). The tracheal wound was closed using BioGlue sealant. The integrity of the wound was assessed by determining the amount of air leaking under mechanical ventilation. Results: Transtracheal thoracic exploration and pericardial window creation was successful for all of the canines, and adequate wound closure was achieved in 10 of the canines. There was 1 case of NOTES-related death arising from misplacement of the endotracheal tube in the left lower lobar bronchus. This caused a collapse of the left upper lobe and ventilatory failure. Minor lung injuries occurred in 3 canines and minor mediastinal bleeding was encountered in 1 canine during the creation of the access site. Conclusion: BioGlue sealant was found to be effective in sealing the tracheal wound in all but 1 of the canines. This study demonstrates that the use of the sealant is a simple and efficient means of endoscopically closing the tracheal access site in NOTES. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Inhibition of proteasome has been emerging as a promising approach in pathway-directed cancer therapy. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling, which is known to be regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in osteoblasts, plays a crucial role in the suppression of gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Here we sought to elucidate the anti-mitogenic effect of a proteasome inhibitor in relation to BMP signalling in colon cancer.Experimental Approach: The effects of the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 on proliferation of SW1116 and HT-29 colon cancer cells were determined by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation and colony-formation assay. The involvement of BMP signalling in the action of MG-132 was elucidated by western blot, real-time PCR, immunofluorescence and RNA interference.Key Results: MG-132 significantly suppressed the proliferation of colon cancer SW1116 and HT-29 cells. In this regard, MG-132 activated BMP signalling and this was manifested as an increase in Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation and upregulation of p21(Waf1/Cip1) and p27(Kip1) expression. Knockdown of BMP receptor II abolished Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation, the induction of p21(Waf1/Cip1) and p27(Kip1) and inhibition of cell proliferation induced by MG-132. Further analysis revealed that MG-132 upregulated the expression of BMP1 and BMP2, which are secreted members of the BMP superfamily. Moreover, the expression of Smad6, an intracellular inhibitor of BMP signalling, was suppressed by MG-132.Conclusions and Implications: These findings suggest that inhibition of proteasome suppresses the proliferation of colon cancer cells via activation of BMP signalling. They also demonstrate a novel aspect of proteasome function in the regulation of colon cancer cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]