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SiBCN ceramics have a wide range of applications in the field of high temperature electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption owing to their excellent EMW attenuation and oxidation resistance. However, excessive SiC and insufficient Si3N4 in the SiBCN ceramics deteriorate the impedance matching characteristics, and weaken the absorption ability for EMW. In this paper, the amount of SiC and Si3N4 is balanced by a competitive reaction strategy, in which HfZr atoms are introduced to modulate the dielectric phases in the SiBCN ceramics. The formation of a HfZrCN compound produces a cage-like structure around Si3N4, inhibiting the reaction of Si3N4 with carbon to form SiC. The appropriate amounts of SiC and Si3N4, and the abundant interfaces and defects jointly enhance the EMW absorption capability by simultaneously improving the impedance matching and attenuation capability. Thus, an effective absorption band of 4.96 GHz (11.20–16.16 GHz) is reached with a thickness of 1.7 mm for the HfZr-SiBCN ceramics. This work provides a new strategy for simultaneously improving the impedance matching and EMW attenuation capability of polymer-derived ceramics by introducing difficult-to-migrate atoms to regulate the content of the dielectric phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, developed microwave absorbers exhibit significant changes in absorption with temperature, which hinder their operation within a wide temperature range. In this paper, a microwave absorber based on SiBCN ceramics was prepared. Due to the excellent high‐temperature stability of SiBCN ceramics, its permittivity changes less with temperature, avoiding the issue of performance deterioration or even failure that traditional refractory absorbers face at high temperatures. The experiment proves the absorption bandwidth for –15 dB of the SiBCN metamaterials absorber (SMA) is 12 GHz at 800°C, with a maximum absorptivity of 99.99%. According to the computed data, the resonance loss contributes 81.9 to 94.5% of the microwave absorption of SMA. This work demonstrates significant potential for applications in radar stealth under harsh conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although human pluripotent stem cell (PSC)‐derived brain organoids have enabled researchers to gain insight into human brain development and disease, these organoids contain solely ectodermal cells and are not vascularized as occurs during brain development. Here it is created less complex and more homogenous large neural constructs starting from PSC‐derived neuroprogenitor cells (NPC), by fusing small NPC spheroids into so‐called concentroids. Such concentroids consisted of a pro‐angiogenic core, containing neuronal and outer radial glia cells, surrounded by an astroglia‐dense outer layer. Incorporating PSC‐derived endothelial cells (EC) around and/or in the concentroids promoted vascularization, accompanied by differential outgrowth and differentiation of neuronal and astroglia cells, as well as the development of ectodermal‐derived pericyte‐like mural cells co‐localizing with EC networks. Single nucleus transcriptomic analysis revealed an enhanced neural cell subtype maturation and diversity in EC‐containing concentroids, which better resemble the fetal human brain compared to classical organoids or NPC‐only concentroids. This PSC‐derived "vascularized" concentroid brain model will facilitate the study of neurovascular/blood‐brain barrier development, neural cell migration, and the development of effective in vitro vascularization strategies of brain mimics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by selective loss of motor neurons (MNs). A number of causative genetic mutations underlie the disease, including mutations in the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene, which can lead to both juvenile and late-onset ALS. Although ALS results from MN death, there is evidence that dysfunctional glial cells, including oligodendroglia, contribute to neurodegeneration. Here, we used human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with a R521H or a P525L mutation in FUS and their isogenic controls to generate oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) by inducing SOX10 expression from a TET-On SOX10 cassette. Mutant and control iPSCs differentiated efficiently into OPCs. RNA sequencing identified a myelin sheath-related phenotype in mutant OPCs. Lipidomic studies demonstrated defects in myelin-related lipids, with a reduction of glycerophospholipids in mutant OPCs. Interestingly, FUSR521H OPCs displayed a decrease in the phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine ratio, known to be associated with maintaining membrane integrity. A proximity ligation assay further indicated that mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAM) were diminished in both mutant FUS OPCs. Moreover, both mutant FUS OPCs displayed increased susceptibility to ER stress when exposed to thapsigargin, and exhibited impaired mitochondrial respiration and reduced Ca2+ signaling from ER Ca2+ stores. Taken together, these results demonstrate a pathological role of mutant FUS in OPCs, causing defects in lipid metabolism associated with MAM disruption manifested by impaired mitochondrial metabolism with increased susceptibility to ER stress and with suppressed physiological Ca2+ signaling. As such, further exploration of the role of oligodendrocyte dysfunction in the demise of MNs is crucial and will provide new insights into the complex cellular mechanisms underlying ALS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contributions of local and remote forcings to the interannual sea level anomalies (SLAs) along the U.S. East Coast (USEC) during the satellite altimetry era from 1993 to 2019 are quantified with analytical models assisted by statistical methods. The local forcings from alongshore wind stress, sea level pressure via inverted barometer (IB) effect, and river discharges together explain 47%, 60.4%, and 66.8% of coastal sea level variance in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB), Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB), and Gulf of Maine (GOM), respectively, with river discharges having the minimum contribution. Over a longer period of 1960–2019, the contribution of local forcings reduces significantly, with the IB effect having the minimum contribution. The remote forcings associated with open-ocean signals from the east and from the northern boundary at the Scotian coast together with the Gulf Stream (GS) variability explain 45.7%, 28.5%, and 37.7% of coastal sea level variance in the SAB, MAB, and GOM, respectively, playing a role comparable to that of local forcings in the SAB. The open-ocean sea level signals from 35° to 38°N strongly influence coastal SLAs in the SAB. The coastal SLAs in the SAB are also affected by the upstream GS strength (28°–36°N) and basin-scale wind stress curl anomaly, which is linked to the meridional shift in the downstream GS (74°–68°W). Remote forcings from the subpolar North Atlantic and wind stress curl from the Grand Banks to the Scotian coast influence coastal SLAs in the GOM and MAB via the northern boundary of the USEC at the Scotian coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Disruption of MAM integrity in mutant FUS oligodendroglial progenitors from hiPSCs" published in Acta Neuropathologica. The correction states that there was an error in Figure 5 of the article, where the incorrect dataset was used to compare FUSR521H and Isogenic 1 OPCs. The corrected figures are provided in the notice. The article provides information on dysregulated glycerophospholipid metabolism in mutant FUS iPSC-derived OPCs. It also includes joint-pathway analysis, volcano plots, and bar graphs to illustrate the dysregulated genes and metabolic pathways. The correction notice is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. [Extracted from the article]

Boron carbide (B4C) has excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance, high hardness, low relative density, high melting point and excellent abrasive resistance, which is widely used in fields such as refractories, wear-resistant materials and lightweight protective materials. The research progress and application of B4C materials in China and overseas in recent years were summarized. The influences of sintering processes (pressureless sintering, hot-pressing sintering, hot isostatic pressing sintering, spark plasma sintering and microwave sintering) and sintering additives (simple substances, oxides and carbides) on the B4C densification were analyzed. The development of B4C materials was prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface traveling waves (STWs) contribute greatly to non-specular scattering, but their scattering and attenuation characteristics in an absorbing coating are unclear. Thus, the scattering peak angular location and the electromagnetic (EM) loss of the STWs are calculated. The results show that the thickness of an absorbing coating should be appropriate to achieve a large EM loss in wide frequency bandwidth, and the magnetic loss is dominant in the attenuation constant. Moreover, radar cross section (RCS) features of the STW and the effect of EM parameters' imaginary part on the RCS reduction of the STW at 6 GHz were investigated. The simulated results show that the wedge model can effectively excite the STW. Meanwhile, the permeability μ″ of the coating material has a more significant influence on the RCS reduction of the STW than the permittivity ɛ″. Furthermore, the simulated results were verified by the experimental results with an error of less than 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rectangular pipe jacking method is an efficient, green, trenchless technology for constructing urban underground space. However, some problems, including the high jacking resistance, the instability of the tunneling face, and excessive ground settlement during the large-section rectangular pipe jacking for the underpass of national highways, seriously affect construction safety and traffic. Based on the engineering background of the large-section rectangular pipe jacking in constructing the subway entrance tunnel of Guangzhou Metro Line 7, this work adopts the methods of theoretical calculation, numerical simulation, and engineering application. Five kinds of mechanical models for pipe soil slurry interactions in rectangular pipe jacking are analyzed. An evaluation of the applicability of the jacking force prediction of the different models is conducted. Moreover, the ground settlement law for the large-section rectangular pipe jacking for the underpass of national highways under different influencing factors, including slurry sleeve thickness, grouting pressure, and earth chamber pressure, is revealed. The control countermeasures of the ground settlements, such as installing a waterproof rubber curtain for the tunnel portal, pipe jacking machine receiving techniques, thixotropic slurry for reducing friction resistance, and soil stability at the tunneling face, are carried out. The results show that there is no need to install an intermediate jacking station in the large-section rectangular pipe jacking project with a jacking distance of 63 m. The most reasonable thickness of the thixotropic slurry sleeve is about 150 mm. The most reasonable grouting pressure range is 600–700 kPa. An earth chamber pressure of about 153 kPa is more reasonable to control the soil stability of the tunneling face. The engineering practice shows that the maximum ground settlement of the national highway during jacking is 10 mm. The maintenance effect is excellent, and the traffic operates normally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonstationary roles of regional forcings from alongshore wind stress and sea level pressure (SLP) in driving low‐frequency (interannual‐to‐decadal) sea level variability along the U.S. east coast for the 1959–2020 period are investigated. The role of regional forcings increases with time north of Cape Hatteras particularly during summer when their contributions to the variance of observed summertime coastal sea level anomalies increase by approximately 58%–87% from 1959–1989 to 1990–2020. The enhanced impact of regional forcings in recent decades results from an increase in the Inverted Barometer (IB) effect that act constructively with alongshore wind stress especially during summer, and to a lesser extent for the Gulf of Maine during fall. The summertime North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is largely responsible for the increased IB effect, owing to the stronger NAO‐associated low SLP anomalies centered around the Mid‐Atlantic Bight in recent decades compared to earlier decades. Plain Language Summary: Alongshore wind stress and sea level pressure (SLP) are important regional forces in driving low‐frequency (interannual‐to‐decadal) sea level anomalies along the U.S. east coast. The roles of these regional forcings, however, vary with time, season, and region, which can shift the location and change the frequency and intensity of coastal flooding. In this study, we find that regional forcings contribute more to observed sea level variability north of Cape Hatteras in recent decades (1990–2020) compared to earlier decades (1959–1989), particularly during summer. The increased role of regional forcings results from SLP variability via the Inverted Barometer (IB) effect, which exhibits a significant upward trend during summer with lower (higher) SLP raising (suppressing) sea level. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is largely responsible for the increased role of IB effect because the lower SLP anomalies related to the NAO have become more prominent north of Cape Hatteras in recent decades. Although winter NAO has been shown to be important for affecting the coastal sea level anomalies, it is the summer NAO effect that is enhanced via the IB effect, accounting for the enhanced regional forcing in recent decades. Key Points: The sea‐level variance explained by regional forcings increases with time north of Cape Hatteras due to the Inverted Barometer effectLower sea level pressure centered around Mid‐Atlantic Bight favors more contributions of the Inverted Barometer effect in recent decadesThe summertime North Atlantic Oscillation is largely responsible for the increased role of the Inverted Barometer effect [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What Is Known? In elderly inpatients, potential inappropriate medication (PIM) is a prominent prescription challenge. However, there is limited information available regarding PIM in patients with central nervous system (CNS) diseases in China. Objective. To evaluate and improve the rational use of drugs for the treatment of CNS diseases in elderly inpatients. Method. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly inpatients (≥65 years) admitted to the Ninth People's Hospital of Zhengzhou in China from March 2020 to March 2021. PIM was identified based on the 2019 Beers criteria at admission and discharge. The patients recruited in March 2020 were considered a baseline group, which was used as a comparison to evaluate PIM of CNS disease-related drugs in June 2020, September 2020, December 2020, and March 2021. Results. A total of 1500 patients were included in the evaluation. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of average hospitalization days, drug varieties used, and PIM detection (p < 0.05), as determined by X2 test. A total of 332 cases of PIM were identified, and 226 cases were detected for the interaction with CNS disease dementia. Multifactor logistic regression analysis showed that male, length of stay ≥15 days, and >10 medication types were risk factors for the occurrence of PIM (p < 0.05). After clinical supervision and training based on the High-Risk Drug Replacement Program for the Elderly, the rate of irrational medication under medical advice decreased from 34.67% in March 2020 to 14.0% (p < 0.001) in March 2021. What Is New and Conclusion. There was certain rationality based on the High-Risk Drug Replacement Program for the Elderly, and the rates of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, 5-hydroxylamine/norepinephrine re-intake inhibitor, rotenone, quetiapine, and proton pump inhibitor use were improved. These results provide a reference for the continuous improvement of the PIM catalog for elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B4C ceramics have been widely used in armor plate and cutting tools due to their high hardness. However, their poor sintering performance and low fracture toughness have limited their extended applications. In order to solve these problems, B4C@TiB2 composite powders with core–shell structure were prepared by a sol–gel method using B4C and TiCl4 as raw materials and then sintered by spark plasma sintering. The composite powders were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of B4C ceramics were tested by indentation and three‐point bending methods. The results showed that the B4C@TiB2 composite powders exhibited a tight core–shell structure, and the chemical bonds on the surface were mainly B–C and B–Ti bonds. When the molar ratio of B4C:TiCl4 was 2:1, the relative density and bulk density of B4C ceramics reached 96.2% and 2.92 g/cm3, respectively. Because of the good sintering performance of the B4C@TiB2 composite powders, the Vickers hardness and fracture toughness reached 26.6 GPa and 5.22 MPa m1/2, respectively. The bending strength reached a maximum of 570 MPa. The excellent fracture toughness can be attributed to crack deflection, crack branching, and the residual thermal stress of the core–shell structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excellent thermostable performance is the basis for the further development of microwave absorbing materials in the field of military stealth. Herein, a high‐temperature metamaterial absorber (HMA) with high impedance patterns (multi‐octagonal‐rings), two quartz (SiO2) layers, and a metallic ground film is designed and simulated. The optimal structural parameters are obtained by optimizing the circuit parameters and the size of HMA. The interaction of electric and magnetic resonance in multioctagonal rings results in a wide absorption bandwidth and excellent absorption performance. The experimental results show that the structure has good impedance matching performance, and the effective absorption bandwidth (−10 dB) (EAB) of the structure can reach 10.6 GHz from room temperature to 700 °C under the combined effect of resonance loss and ohmic loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-roadway tunneling could mitigate the contradiction between mining production needs and tunneling speed, which is pivotal to the sustainable development of underground mines. However, it is very difficult to control the stability of a mining roadway on an adjacent working face suffering from strong mining disturbance due to double-roadway tunneling, especially at a large mining height working face. In order to control the stability of the return air roadway (RAR) 23205 of a strong mining roadway at working face 23205 in the Zhuanlongwan Coal Mine in Inner Mongolia, we carried out field monitoring, theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and engineering practice to identify the main factors influencing the deformations and the stress distribution law of the surrounding rock in order to propose countermeasures for strong mining roadways. The results show the factors influencing the large deformation of strong mining roadways include large mining height, repeated mining, stress concentration due to the large coal pillar, and a small thickness of the anchorage layer in the roof. The stress peak in the central coal pillar caused by the first and second mining is 23.19 MPa and 27.49 MPa, respectively, and the stress concentration coefficients are 4.538 and 5.379, respectively. Countermeasures (pressure relief via large-diameter boreholes in the large coal pillar and long anchorage for roof reinforcement) were created to control the stability of a strong mining roadway, i.e., RAR 23205. Field measurements indicated that deformations in RAR 23205 could be efficiently controlled. The maximum deformation of the surrounding rock was 50 mm, which meets the safety and efficient production requirements of the coal mine. In addition, new roadway layout optimization and control countermeasures are put forward to control the stability of mining roadways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Aidi injection (ADI) is a representative antitumor medication based on Chinese herbal injection, but its antitumor mechanisms are still poorly understood. Materials and methods: In this work, the subcutaneous xenograft model of human pancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1 was established in nude mice to investigate the anticancer effect of ADI in vivo. We then determined the components of ADI using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and explored the possible molecular mechanisms against pancreatic cancer using network pharmacology. Results: In vivo experiments, the volume, weight, and degree of histological abnormalities of implanted tumors were significantly lower in the medium and high concentration ADI injection groups than in the control group. Network pharmacology analysis identified four active components of ADI and seven key targets, TNF, VEGFA, HSP90AA1, MAPK14, CASP3, P53 and JUN. Molecular docking also revealed high affinity between the active components and the target proteins, including Astragaloside IV to P53 and VEGFA, Ginsenoside Rb1 to CASP3 and Formononetin to JUN. Conclusion: ADI could reduce the growth rate of tumor tissue and alleviate the structural abnormalities in tumor tissue. ADI is predicted to act on VEGFA, P53, CASP3, and JUN in ADI-mediated treatment of pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (EP) is a well-known botanical supplement with antioxidant characteristics. However, the effects of EP on oxidative stress induced by hyperthyroidism have not yet been studied. This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidative effect of ethanolic Echinacea Purpurea (EEP) on hyperthyroidism-induced oxidative stress mice using an integrated strategy combining transcriptomics with network pharmacology analysis. Firstly, a hyperthyroidism mice model was induced via thyroxine (160 mg/kg) and EEP (1, 2, or 4 g/kg) once daily for 2 weeks. Body weight, thyroid-stimulating hormones, and oxidative stress markers were tested. Secondly, EEP regulating the potential genes at transcript level were analyzed. Thirdly, a network pharmacology based on the constituents of EEP identified using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis was adopted. Finally, a joint analysis was performed to identify the key pathway. The results showed that EEP significantly changed the thyroid-stimulating hormones and oxidative stress markers. Meanwhile, RT-qPCR and Western Blotting demonstrated that the mechanism of the antioxidant effect of EEP reversed the mRNA expression of EHHADH, HMGCR and SLC27A2 and the protein expression of FABP and HMGCR in AMPK and PPAR signaling pathways. This study integrates transcriptomics with network pharmacology to reveal the mechanism of ameliorative effect of EEP on hyperthyroidism-induced oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reduce the sintering temperature and improve the mechanical properties of B4C ceramics, ZrB2 was formed in situ using the SPS sintering method with ZrO2 and B4C as raw materials. Thermodynamic calculations revealed that CO pressure affected the formation of ZrB2 at temperatures from 814 °C to 1100 °C. The experimental results showed that the ZrB2 grain size was <5 µm and that the grains were uniformly distributed within the B4C ceramics. With an increase in ZrO2 content, the Vickers hardness and flexural strength of the B4C ceramics first increased and then decreased, while the fracture toughness continuously increased. When the content of ZrO2 was 15 wt%, the Vickers hardness, fracture toughness and flexural strength of B4C ceramics were 35.5 ± 0.63 GPa, 3.6 ± 0.24 MPa·m1/2 and 403 ± 10 MPa, respectively. These results suggest that ZrB2 inhibits B4C grain growth, eliminates crack tip stress, and provides fine grain to strengthen and toughen B4C ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepidium meyenii Walp. (Maca), as a natural food supplement, has strong antioxidant and energy metabolism-improving characteristics, and Maca polysaccharide (MP) is its effective component. MP has been shown to mitigate liver damage in previous research, and Cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced hepatotoxicity is also a major concern in clinical practice. We investigated the possible cytoprotective effect of MP on CYP-induced liver injury, and explored its underlying mechanism by analyzing the resulting liver metabolic profiles. MP significantly inhibited increases in serum transaminase, improved pathological changes, reduced oxidative stress, and increased the levels of energy metabolism-related enzymes. Metabolomic analysis showed that MP corrected lipid metabolic problems and regulated the pentose phosphate pathway and acid metabolism, thereby protecting against apoptosis of hepatocytes. The Pearson correlation analysis indicated that antioxidant enzymes and energy metabolism-related enzymes are closely correlated with these differential metabolites. In addition, the upstream Keap1-Nrf2 antioxidant signal transduction pathway was explored to validate the possible mechanism of the cytoprotective effect of MP. In conclusion, MP plays a protective role in CYP-induced hepatotoxicity through these potential metabolic means, where it ameliorates oxidative stress, improves energy metabolism, and restores mitochondrial respiration by regulating the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway, thereby preventing liver damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Oxidative stress and memory impairment have been implicated as common functional brain diseases. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is highly induced in oxidative stress, indicating that Nrf2 is an emerging target of memory therapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of noni on brain memory impairment induced by hydrocortisone and its protective mechanism in mice. Methods. Male Kunming mice (n = 8/group) were given hydrocortisone by gastric gavage for 14 consecutive days to establish the memory impairment model, except for those in the control group. On the same day, the corresponding drugs were given by gastric gavage. The changes in ethology were examined. The brains were extracted and subjected to western blot analysis and biochemical analyses to assess the activities of antioxidative stress. Results. The middle- and high-dose noni groups exhibited ameliorated ethology, and the high-dose noni group exhibited increased cerebral protein expression of Nrf2, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), and haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) compared to the model group. The arrangement of CA3 vertebral cells in the hippocampus of mice was slightly compact, and hyperchromasia and pyknosis were alleviated. Furthermore, biochemical analyses showed that the activities of enzymes related to oxidative stress in the high-dose noni group were increased. Conclusions. Noni might be a powerful antioxidant that can protect nerve cells and may possess potential benefits for the treatment of memory impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron carbide (B4C) has excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance, high hardness, low density, high melting point and excellent abrasive resistance, which is widely used in fields such as refractories, wear-resistant materials and lightweight protective materials. The research progress and the application of B4C materials in China and at abroad in recent years were summarized. The influences of sintering processes (pressureless sintering, hot pressing sintering, hot isostatic pressing sintering, spark plasma sintering and microwave sintering) and sintering additives (simple substances, oxides and carbides) on the B4C densification were analyzed. The development of B4C materials was prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous studies on mesoscale eddies in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) have been conducted, a comprehensive study on their temporal and spatial characteristics is still lacking. In this study, we combine three eddy detection algorithms to detect eddies from the 26-year sea surface height record in the GoM and examine their characteristics. We find distinct characteristics between Loop Current Eddies (LCEs), Loop Current Frontal Eddies (LCFEs), and mesoscale eddies that are not directly related to the Loop Current (LC). Seasonal variability appears in both the LCFEs and non-LCFE cyclonic eddies and shows large uncertainties. More specifically, more LCFEs are formed in January to July than in August to December, likely related to the seasonal variation of the northward penetration of the LC. And the formation of non-LCFE cyclonic eddies shows a biannual variability, which could be linked to the position and strength of the background current in the western GoM. Low-frequency (interannual to multidecadal) variability is also detected. In the eastern GoM, the extent of northward penetration of the LC can affect the generation of LCFEs and result in low-frequency variations. In the western GoM, the low-frequency variability of eddy occurrence and amplitude could be related to the surface circulation strength. This study can serve as an up-to-date reference for eddy-related investigations in the GoM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing popularity of herbal medicine, high standards of the high quality control of herbs becomes a necessity, with the herb recognition as one of the great challenges. Due to the complicated processing procedure of the herbs, methods of manual recognition that require chemical materials and expert knowledge, such as fingerprint and experience, have been used. Automatic methods can partially alleviate the problem by deep learning based herb image recognition, but most studies require powerful and expensive computation hardware, which is not friendly to resource-limited settings. In this paper, we introduce a deep learning-enabled mobile application which can run entirely on common low-cost smartphones for efficient and robust herb image recognition with a quite competitive recognition accuracy in resource-limited situations. We hope this application can make contributions to the increasing accessibility of herbal medicine worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A broadband metamaterial absorber (MA) with high‐temperature resistance is designed and fabricated using a regular octagonal ring‐cross structure as a frequency‐selective surface (FSS). A high‐temperature conductive paste and SiO2 are used as the FSS raw materials and middle layer, respectively. Simulation and experimental results show that the absorber reaches a reflection loss below −5 dB at the 5.17–18 GHz range with normal incidence at room temperature. The measured values are in good agreement with the simulation results. At 800 °C, the absorption bandwidth expands to 13.3 GHz (4.72–18 GHz). The equivalent impedance of the absorber is obtained using an inversion method to qualitatively explain its working mechanism. The electric energy density, magnetic energy density, and surface current at the resonance frequency provide an intuitive understanding of the power loss of the structure. Comprehensive analysis illustrates that the main absorption mechanisms of the high‐temperature broadband MA (HBMA) are ohmic and resonance losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global mean sea level (GMSL) has been rising since the last century, posing a serious challenge for the coastal areas. A variety of regression models have been utilized for determining GMSL rise over the past one hundred years, resulting in a large spread of sea level rise rates and multidecadal variations. In this study, we develop a new nonparametric noise model that is data‐dependent and considers overfitting due to regression. The noise model is used to determine whether one regression model has significantly better skill than others over the period 1900–2010. The choices of background noise and GMSL reconstruction influence whether two sea level models can be statistically distinguished. With our new nonparametric noise spectra, the differences of model skills in explaining sea level variance are significant only in 34% of model comparisons. However, stepwise trends with three inflection points are significantly more skillful than the linear, quadratic, or exponential trend for most GMSL reconstructions, suggesting the importance of multidecadal variability of sea level rise in the twentieth century. Nevertheless, stepwise trend models cannot be distinguished from models with a long‐term harmonic oscillation, indicating that the shape of multidecadal variability is not conclusive. The multidecadal variability is also significant in the steric and barystatic sea level contributions and is related to both natural and anthropogenic forcings. GMSL predictions based on regression fits in the twentieth century underestimate the sea level rise rate over the period 2011–2020 because the sea level acceleration in the recent decade (2011–2020) is not well represented. Plain Language Summary: Global mean sea level (GMSL) has been rising since the last century under a warming climate. Understanding both the mean rate and how it is accelerating is important for future management of coastal areas. Various regression models have typically been used to detect the rates of sea level change. As different regression models imply different rates and their consequences for future sea level projections are very different, it is important to distinguish their skills in explaining sea level variance. In addition, different GMSL time series estimated from historical tide‐gauge data also imply different rise rates and long‐term variations. In this study, we develop a new noise model that is data‐dependent and considers the underestimation of noise energy due to regression. Based on the new noise model, comparisons between different regression models indicate that the exact shape of sea level change cannot be determined with any confidence. Nevertheless, the multidecadal variability of sea level rise is significant in the GMSL. Cautions must be taken when regression models are used to predict the GMSL rise because regression fits to the GMSL in the twentieth century underestimate the sea level rise in the recent decade (2011–2020). Key Points: A new nonparametric noise model is developed to distinguish skills of regression models for global mean sea levelAn accurate estimate of background noise and global mean sea level reconstruction is important for distinguishing sea level modelsThe multidecadal variability of sea level rise is significant, but its exact shape is not conclusive over the period 1900–2010 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier studies in the Northeast Pacific (NEP) suggest that the local and remote sea level responses are important for the large‐scale, low‐frequency sea level variability, but the relative importance of the two processes remains unclear. In this study, we develop a novel sea level model driven by wind, buoyancy and eddy forcing to examine their relative roles in the NEP. Based on the new model, a diagnostic equation for sea level that is an alternative to the conventional method of characteristics is formed. The wind, buoyancy and eddy forcing account for the sea level variability in different regions. Sea level variability is primarily controlled by the wind forcing in the central to the northeast of the NEP, by the local buoyancy forcing in the southeast region between 210°E and 230°E, and by the eddy forcing in the southwest of the NEP. In addition, the diagnosis demonstrates that the local sea level response is more important than the remote response over most of the NEP, while the remote sea level response could play an important role in the southwest portion of the NEP. Plain Language Summary: In the Northeast Pacific (NEP), the low‐frequency sea level variability is not only an important component for predicting the future sea level change but also an integrated measure of climate variability over this region. It can respond to the local and remote external forcing. However, the importance of different driving forces and the relative role of the local and remote sea level response in determining the low‐frequency sea level variability are not conclusive. In this study, the sea level variability is diagnosed with a new developed sea level model. Winds, surface heat and freshwater fluxes and intense eddy activities contribute to the sea level variability in different regions. Sea level variability is primarily driven by the winds in the central to the northeast of the NEP, by the local surface heat and freshwater fluxes in the southeast of the NEP, and by the eddy forcing in the southwest of the NEP. Moreover, our results suggest that the local sea level response is more important than the remote sea level response over most of the NEP. Key Points: A new sea level model driven by wind, buoyancy and eddy forcing is proposedWind, buoyancy and eddy forcing account for the sea level variability in different regions of the Northeast PacificThe local sea level response is more important than the remote response over most of the Northeast Pacific except in the southwest [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical circulation modeling and observational studies have been conducted to understand the Loop Current (LC) system behaviors in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). One of the factors that may influence the LC are upstream eddies from within the Caribbean Sea. By combining satellite altimetry, sea surface salinity and ocean color data, we demonstrate that mesoscale eddies from the western tropical Atlantic Ocean can eventually make their way to the Gulf of Mexico and likely affect the LC. In addition, our study shows that freshwater of Amazon and Orinoco River origin trapped within mesoscale eddies can also enter the GoM, potentially affecting the GoM stratification. This study provides insights into understanding variations of the LC system and showcases the roles of mesoscale eddies in connecting the open ocean and regional seas. Plain Language Summary: The Loop Current (LC) is the dominant large‐scale oceanic process in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). However, the mechanism for variations of the LC system is still unsolved. Here, we show that some mesoscale eddies originated in the tropical Atlantic Ocean can pass through the Caribbean Sea and eventually enter the GoM. These remotely generated eddies could be an important upstream factor affecting the behavior of the LC. Also, freshwater and other materials (e.g., chlorophyll) trapped in the eddies could reach the GoM as well. In addition to advancing the understanding of the LC system, this study provides an explicit example showing eddies can serve as a route connecting regional seas and the open ocean. Key Points: Some eddies from the Atlantic Ocean can ultimately reach the Gulf of Mexico and likely affect the Loop CurrentFreshwater of Amazon and Orinoco River origin and other materials trapped in eddies could reach the Gulf of MexicoWeakening and strengthening of the long‐propagating eddies are mostly related to the variation of bathymetry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As an effective prescription for gastric cancer (GC), Compound Kushen Injection (CKI) has been widely used even though few molecular mechanism analyses have been carried out. Methods: In this study, we identified 16 active ingredients and 60 GC target proteins. Then, we established a compound-predicted target network and a GC target protein-protein interaction (PPI) network by Cytoscape 3.5.1 and systematically analyzed the potential targets of CKI for the treatment of GC. Finally, molecular docking was applied to verify the key targets. In addition, we analyzed the mechanism of action of the predicted targets by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. Results: The results showed that the potential targets, including CCND1, PIK3CA, AKT1, MAPK1, ERBB2, and MMP2, are the therapeutic targets of CKI for the treatment of GC. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that CKI has a therapeutic effect on GC by synergistically regulating some biological pathways, such as the cell cycle, pathways in cancer, the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, the mTOR signaling pathway, and the FoxO signaling pathway. Moreover, molecular docking simulation indicated that the compounds had good binding activity to PIK3CA, AKT1, MAPK1, ERBB2, and MMP2 in vivo. Conclusion: This research partially highlighted the molecular mechanism of CKI for the treatment of GC, which has great potential in the identification of the effective compounds in CKI and biomarkers to treat GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupling between the surface and near‐bottom currents in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) has been reported in many case studies. However, geographical variations of this coupling need more examination. In this study, surface geostrophic currents derived from satellite‐observed sea surface height and subsurface currents from a collection of deep ocean moorings are used to examine the surface and bottom coupling in different parts of the GoM. The short‐period (30–90 days) fluctuations generated by the Loop Current (LC) and the LC eddies (LCEs) have a more vertically coherent structure and stronger deep ocean expressions than the long‐period fluctuations (>90 days). In addition, the strength of the coupling is modulated by the long‐period variations of the LC and LCE sheddings. Moreover, the surface and bottom coupling varies geographically. In the LC region, the surface fluctuations along the eastern side of the LC are important in causing the bottom current fluctuations through baroclinic instability under the LC and through traveling topographic Rossby waves (TRWs) north of the LC. In the central deep GoM, the bottom currents are affected by the upper fluctuations of the northern LC through both local baroclinic instability and remote TRW propagation. In the northwestern GoM, the bottom current fluctuations are largely related to the remote surface variability from the west side of the LC by TRWs propagating northwestward. This study will help us better understand mechanisms of the bottom current fluctuations that are important for the dispersal of deep ocean materials and properties. Plain Language Summary: Bottom currents in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) are important in many ways, such as transporting fish larvae and spilled oil. However, in contrast to surface currents that are easily derived from the abundant satellite observations, our understanding of the bottom currents is very limited. In this study, the relationships between surface and near‐bottom current fluctuations in different parts of the GoM are investigated by combining a collection of historical near‐bottom current measurements and satellite data. The results show that the bottom current variability is linked to local processes such as current instability or remote processes through planetary wave propagation. The surface and bottom coupling is mainly related to the short‐period variability generated along the Loop Current and the Loop Current eddies and has a significant influence on the bottom currents. Although the long‐period fluctuations have weak bottom expressions, they can modulate the strength of the short‐period coupling. Studying the coupling between the surface and bottom current fluctuations in the GoM can advance our understanding of mechanisms of the bottom currents that are important for the deep ocean ecosystem and industrial operations. Key Points: Surface and bottom currents in the Gulf of Mexico can be coupled locally by baroclinic instability and remotely by topographic Rossby wavesFluctuations generated along the Loop Current have stronger deep ocean expressions at the period of 30–90 days than at longer periodsSurface and bottom coupling in the Gulf of Mexico varies geographically and is modulated by the Loop Current and the Loop Current eddies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound Kushen injection (CKI), a medicine in widespread clinical use in China, has proven therapeutic effects on cancer. However, few molecular mechanism analyses have been carried out. To address this problem, bioinformatics approaches combining weighted gene co-expression network analysis with network pharmacology methods were undertaken to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of CKI in the treatment of esophageal cancer (ESCA). First, the key gene modules related to the clinical traits of ESCA were analysed by WCGNA. Based on the results, the hub genes related to CKI treatment for ESCA were explored through network pharmacology. Molecular docking simulation was performed to recognize the binding activity of hub genes with CKI compounds. The results showed that the potential hub targets, including EGFR, ErbB2, CCND1 and IGF1R, are therapeutic targets of CKI for the treatment of ESCA. Moreover, these targets were significantly enriched in many pathways related to cancer and signalling pathways, such as the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway and ErbB signalling pathway. In conclusion, this research partially highlighted the molecular mechanism of CKI in the treatment of ESCA, offering great potential in the identification of the effective compounds in CKI and biomarkers for ESCA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD), with decreased dopamine in the striatum as one of the major lesions, may be accompanied by retinopathy. By analyzing and comparing the gene expression patterns in the mouse striatum and retina at the transcriptome level, the potential molecular basis of PD-related retinopathy was explored. From normal adult C57BL/6 mice striatum and retinaribonucleic acid, library was constructed using ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) depletion, and sequenced on the Illumina Hiseq 4000 platform. After bioinformatic analysis of sequencing data, the expression profiles of the striatum and retina were compared, and differentially expressed genes were identified, followed by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of gene and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Andgene networks were constructed from the differentially expressed genes. Results showed that a total of 2 478 genes had significantly different expressions, among which 1 579 and 899 genes were highly expressed in the striatum and retina respectively. GO and KEGG analysis showed that genes highly expressed in the striatum were mainly enriched in signal transduction and membrane transport, while those highly expressed in the retina were associated with transcription and phototransduction. 11 genes in the PD pathway among the highly expressed genes in the striatum, showed significantly lower expression in the retina, while most of the other genes in the pathway had similar expression patterns between the two tissues. Our studythus demonstrated the similarities and differences in gene expression profiles between the mouse striatum and retina, and provided useful evidence tobetter understand the molecular basis of retinopathy in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Ce3+ and Tb3+ singly‐ and co‐doped NaBa4(AlB4O9)2Cl3 (NBAC) phosphors have been synthesized via high‐temperature solid state route. The crystal structure, morphology, photoluminescent properties, thermal properties and energy transfer process between Ce3+ and Tb3+ were systematically investigated. The structure refinements indicated that the phosphors based on NBAC crystallized in P42nm polar space group in monoclinic phase. The emission color could be tuned from blue (0.1595, 0.0955) to green (0.2689, 0.4334) via changing the ratio of Ce3+/Tb3+. The energy transfer mechanism of Ce3+/Tb3+ was verified to be dipole–quadrupole interaction via the examination of decay times of Ce3+ based on Dexter's theory. The good thermal stability showed the intensities of Ce3+ at 150°C were about 66.9% and 64.88% in NBAC:0.09Ce3+ and NBAC:0.09Ce3+, 0.07Tb3+ of that at room temperature, and the emission intensities of Tb3+ remained 102.41% in NBAC:0.11Tb3+ and 95.22% in NBAC:0.09Ce3+, 0.07Tb3+ due to the nephelauxetic shielding effect and the highly asymmetric rigid framework structure of NBAC. The maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of Ce3+ in NBAC:0.09Ce3+, yTb3+ phosphors could reach 43.38% at y = 0.13. Overall, all the results obtained suggested that NBAC:Ce3+, Tb3+ could be a promising option for n‐UV pumped phosphors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appearance of a cyan cavity is unavoidable in the 480–520 nm wavebands when combining n-UV LED chips (380–420 nm) with trichromatic phosphors to obtain white-light-emitting devices. Here, a concentration perturbation effect is proposed to improve the properties of phosphors via trace substitution of Mn2+, Mg2+ or Zn2+ cations for Ba2+ and Y3+ in Ba0.97Y2Si3O10:Eu. Based on local structure distortion or electron cloud interaction, the emission band corresponding to Eu2+ is broadened with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) more than 125 nm due to redistribution of Eu2+ and the emission color can be tuned to the cyan region. The coexistence of the above two effects on the photoluminescence can be further evidenced by the shifts of emission energy for the two sites in these systems. The quenching temperature for all the samples is observed over 473 K and even higher than that for the non-substituted Ba0.97Y2Si3O10:0.03Eu and it is discussed combined with Pauling's principles, average Uiso and the distortion degree of polyhedra, which could provide some references for improvement of thermal stability. Moreover, the valence mismatch between Mn2+/Mg2+/Zn2+ and Y3+ ions leads to the coexistence of Eu2+–Eu3+, which thus realizes color selective manipulation and even white light emission in Ba0.98−nMg0.02Y2Si3O10:nEu. Our results demonstrate that the concentration perturbation effect-assisted synthesis strategy has potential in improving the properties of phosphors for WLEDs, and it can also be extended to adjusting the coordination environment of activators whose properties are sensitive to local lattice variations and electronic surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Bi2WO6 nanosheets were synthesized via molten salt (M-Bi2WO6) and hydrothermal method (H-Bi2WO6), respectively. Powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy measurements demonstrated that the as-prepared Bi2WO6 samples preferred orientated alone {001} plane in both hydrothermal and molten salt system, enabling the formation of Bi2WO6 nanosheets. The results of UV-vis diffuse reflection spectrum showed that the M-Bi2WO6 nanosheets exhibited an obvious red shift in visible light absorption band in comparison with H-Bi2WO6 nanosheets, and the band gap of M-Bi2WO6 and H-Bi2WO6 nanosheets was 2.49 and 2.62 eV, respectively. As a result, the M-Bi2WO6 nanosheets reached as high as 97.13% of photodegradation efficiency of Rhodamine B under 180 min of sunlight irradiation, which was two times higher than that of the H-Bi2WO6 nanosheets (86.88%). Meanwhile, the photodegradation rate over M-Bi2WO6 (97.30%) for TC degradation was about two times higher than that of H-Bi2WO6 (78.58%). The much-enhanced photocatalytic performance of M-Bi2WO6 nanosheets was attributed to the better crystallinity, higher light-harvesting capability and superior sorption capacity. Basing on the detailed experimental study and analysis, this work could be a practical guidance for the fabrication of Bi2WO6-based microstructures with enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gas diffusion layer (GDL), as an important structure of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), provides a support layer for the catalyst and the fuel and the product channel. Traditionally, the material of GDL is generally carbon paper (CP). In this paper, a new material, namely three-dimensional graphene (3DG) is used as GDL for micro DMFC. The experimental results reveal that the performance of the DMFC has been improved significantly by application of 3DG. The peak powers increase from 25 mW to 31.2 mW and 32 mW by using 3DG as the anode and cathode GDL instead of CP, respectively. The reason may be the decrease of charge and mass transfer resistance of the cell. This means that the unique 3D porous architecture of the 3DG can provide lower contact resistance and sufficient fuel diffusion paths. The output performance of the cell will be further improved when porous metal current collectors is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Charge compensation was the effective methods to enhance the luminescence properties of phosphors. In this paper, novel single‐phased orange light emitting Sr2Mg3P4O15:Eu3+ phosphors were prepared by solid state method. The phase purity and luminous characteristics were examined in detail. Meanwhile, three kinds of charge compensation methods (co‐doping the alkali metal R+ (R+ = Li, Na, and K), substituting Si4+ for P5+ and self‐compensation) were employed to solve the charge imbalance problem between Sr2+ and Eu3+. The results showed that emission intensity of Eu3+ was improved by 1.43 (Li+), 1.58 (Na+), 1.53 (K+), 1.61 (Si4+), and 1.30 (self) times than that of Sr1.6Mg3P4O15:0.40Eu3+, respectively, and there was no change in the emitting color simultaneously. Furthermore, as the temperature reached at 423 K, the emission intensity increased from 41.67% of Sr1.6Mg3P4O15:0.40Eu3+ to 55.69% (Li+), 61.62% (Na+), 58.98% (K+), 71.15% (Si4+), and 80.59% (self) of that at room temperature. The reasons of those phenomena were the reduction in ion vacancies caused by charge imbalance through the charge compensation process. The specific mechanisms were elaborated in detail. Overall, this research validated that the charge compensation strategies could be severed as the key method to improve the luminescence properties, especially the thermal stability of phosphor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (EO) on alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). A total of 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (10 rats per group), including alcohol group (alcohol intake), EO group (alcohol + EO puree intake) and control group (distilled water intake). The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the levels of cholesterol (CHO), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in the serum as well as the liver tissue levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were measured. Histopathological changes in liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR analysis was performed for detecting the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and CD68. The results indicated that EO intake significantly decreased ALT, AST, ALP, TG and CHO as well as the hepatic index in alcohol-treated rats. In addition, EO treatment relieved alcohol-induced oxidative stress by decreasing the levels of MDA and TG, and increasing the activity of SOD and GSH levels. In addition, the expression of TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-8, NF-κB and CD-68 in the liver were decreased by EO treatment. Furthermore, EO intake alleviated the histopathological liver damage, including severe steatosis and abundant infiltrated inflammatory cells. In conclusion, EO alleviated alcohol-induced liver injury in rats by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) is an important factor contributing to variability of voriconazole pharmacokinetics. Polymorphisms of CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP2C9 and non-genetic factors such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), transaminase levels, concomitant medications might also affect voriconazole initial steady serum trough concentration (VICmin) in haematological patients, but the effects were not clear. 2. Eighteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms in CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP2C9 were genotyped. Patients were stratified into two groups according to CYP2C19 genotype. Group 1 were patients with CYP2C19 2 or CYP2C19 3, and Group 2 were homozygous extensive metabolizers. The effects were studied in different groups. VICminwas adjusted on daily dose (VICmin/D) for overcoming effect of dose. 3. A total of 106 blood samples from 86 patients were included. In final optimal scaling regression models, polymorphisms of rs4646437 (CYP3A4), age, BMI was identified to be factors of VICmin/D in Group 1 (R2 = .255,p < .001). Only age was confirmed as a factor of VICmin/D in Group 2 (R2 = 0.144,p = .021). 4. Besides polymorphisms of CYP2C19, in individualized medication of voriconazole in haematological patients, polymorphisms of CYP3A4, and non-genetic factors as BMI, age should also be taken into account, especially for individuals with CYP2C19 2 or CYP2C19 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By substituting Sr or Ba for Ca ions, a series of single-phased K(Ca, M)Gd(PO):0.01Eu (M = Sr, Ba) phosphors have been successfully synthesized via the solid-state reaction. The phase formations, structures, photoluminescence (PL) properties and thermal stability of the two cation substituting K(Ca, M)Gd(PO):0.01Eu phosphors were studied in detail. The emission peaks showed blue-shift and the CIE coordinates changed from (0.2117, 0.3761) to (0.2096, 0.3195) and (0.1969, 0.2857) corresponding to the Sr or Ba substituting due to the weaker crystal field splitting of Eu. Further, the optimal substitution proportions of Sr, Ba for Ca were determined to be 0.40 and 0.08 mol, the thermal quenching luminescence properties were enhanced and the emission intensity of Sr or Ba substituting KCaGd(PO):0.01Eu was remained 58.88 or 66.86% of that measured at room temperature when the temperature increased to 423 K. All these properties predict that K(Ca, M)Gd(PO):0.01Eu (M = Sr, Ba) phosphors have potential applications in the field of phosphor-converted devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bluish-green KBaY(BO):Eu phosphors were prepared by high-temperature solid state reaction method. The photoluminescence properties, concentration quenching and energy transfer as well as the luminescence decays were investigated. The emission spectrum showed a single intensive band centered at 500 nm, which correspond to the 4 f 5 d → 4 f transition of Eu. The optimal concentration for the luminescence of Eu in KBaY(BO):Eu was determined to be 0.03 mol. The critical energy transfer distance was calculated as 21.34 Å. The corresponding concentration quenching mechanism was verified to be a dipole-dipole interaction. And the blue-shift behavior of KBaY(BO):Eu with increasing temperature was analyzed by the configurational coordinate diagram. The results indicate that the KBaY(BO):Eu phosphors have potential applications as an ultraviolet-convertible phosphor due to its effective excitation in the ultraviolet rang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of trivalent rare-earth element ions (europium, terbium, dysprosium) singly- and co-doped strontium yttrium borate phosphors was synthesized via the sol–gel method. The phase formation, luminescence properties, decay times, and energy transfer behaviors from terbium ions to europium ions, the thermal stability, and the Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage coordinates were investigated. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light, the singly doped phosphors exhibited green emission of terbium ions, white emission of dysprosium ions, and red emission of europium ions, respectively. For the terbium and europium ions co-doped strontium yttrium borate samples, a white emission can be realized by blending the doping concentration of terbium and europium ions. The critical distance between terbium and europium ions has been calculated to be about 14.52 Å and the energy transfer from terbium to europium occurred through the dipole–quadrupole interaction. At 150°C, the emission intensity of terbium and europium in the 12 mol% terbium and 14 mol% europium co-doped strontium yttrium borate sample was maintained at about 74% and 87% of their corresponding initial values, respectively, and the dysprosium ions singly doped strontium yttrium borate sample showed about 70% of its initial emission intensity at room temperature. The above results suggested that europium, terbium, dysprosium ions singly- and co-doped strontium yttrium borate phosphors have potential applications as ultraviolet-convertible phosphors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing energy transfer process, Ce, Tb co-doped BaZrSiO (BZS) phosphors have been successfully prepared via solid state reaction process. The phase structure, photoluminescence properties, decay curves, thermal stability, and the energy transfer mechanism were investigated in this paper. The critical distance calculated by quenching concentration method was 8.84 Å, and the energy transfer process from Ce to Tb in BZS:Ce/Tb phosphors had been demonstrated to be a resonant type via a dipole-quadrupole mechanism. The emission colors of the phosphors could be tuned from blue (0.1625, 0.1261) to green (0.2979, 0.5473) through the corresponding Ce to Tb energy transfer. Moreover, thermal quenching luminescence results revealed that BZS:Ce, Tb exhibited good thermal stability. The Tb intensity of BZS:0.04Ce, 0.02Tb sample showed about 60.88 % of its initial emission intensity at room temperature. The above results indicate that the phosphors may be potentially used as single-component blue-green emission phosphors for application in light emitting device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropathic pain remains as the most frequent cause of suffering and disability around the world. The isomers paeoniflorin (PF) and albiflorin (AF) are major constituents extracted from the roots of Paeonia (P.) lactiflora Pall. Neuroprotective effect of PF has been demonstrated in animal models of neuropathologies. However, only a few studies are related to the biological activities of AF and no report has been published on analgesic properties of AF about neuropathic pain to date. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of AF and PF against CCI-induced neuropathic pain in rat and explore the underlying mechanism. We had found that both PF and AF could inhibit the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) pathway in spinal microglia and subsequent upregulated proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)). AF further displayed remarkable effects on inhibiting the activation of astrocytes, suppressing the overelevated expression of phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (p-JNK) in astrocytes, and decreasing the content of chemokine CXCL1 in the spinal cord. These results suggest that both PF and AF are potential therapeutic agents for neuropathic pain, which merit further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paeonia lactiflora root (baishao in Chinese) is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Paeoniflorin (PF) and albiflorin (AF) are two major active constituents of P. lactiflora. In this paper, we aimed to investigate the hematopoietic effects of PF and AF on myelosuppression mice induced by radiotherapy and to explore the underlying mechanism. The finding indicated that PF and AF significantly increased the numbers of white blood cells (WBC) and reversed the atrophy of thymus. Furthermore, PF and AF increased the levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) and reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum and increased the level of colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in plasma. Lastly, PF and AF not only enhanced the mRNA levels of GM-CSF and G-CSF in the spleens, but also increased the protein levels of G-CSF and GM-CSF in bone marrow. Our results suggest that PF and AF may promote the recovery of bone marrow hemopoietic function in a myelosuppressed mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Eu2+ and Tb3+ singly-doped and co-doped Sr3Y2(Si3O9)2 (SYSO) phosphors have been synthesized via a conventional high-temperature solid-state reaction. The crystal structures, photoluminescence properties, fluorescence lifetimes, thermal properties and energy transfer of SYSO:Eu2+,Tb3+ were systematically investigated in detail. Rietveld structure refinement of the obtained phosphors indicated that the SYSO host crystallized in a monoclinic system with the space group C2/c (15) and there are three kinds of cation sites for the doped ions to occupy forming emission centers. The photoluminescence (PL) emission bands of SYSO:xEu2+ show a red-shift tendency with increasing Eu2+ content which should be attributed to more Eu2+ ions entering into Sr2/Y2 and Sr3/Y3 sites from the Sr1/Y1 site. For the co-doped SYSO:Eu2+,Tb3+ samples, tunable colors from cyan to green can be realized by varying the doping concentration of the Tb3+ ions. The intense green emission was realized in the SYSO:Eu2+,Tb3+ phosphors on the basis of the highly efficient energy transfer from Eu2+ to Tb3+ with an efficiency of over 89%. As a result, the emission intensity of SYSO:0.01Eu2+,0.21Tb3+ is about 2.5 times higher than that of SYSO:0.21Tb3+ under 340 nm UV excitation. The energy transfer mechanism from Eu2+ to Tb3+ in the SYSO host was ascribed to the quadrupole–quadrupole interactions. These results indicated that the SYSO:Eu2+,Tb3+ phosphors can act as single-phase green emitting phosphors for possible applications in ultraviolet light-based white light-emitting diodes (w-LEDs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]