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During the post-classification for raster land cover updating, manual data inconsistency checking is labour-intensive and time-consuming. To address this issue, a spatial relationships-based data i...

Studies have shown that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) is a neurotrophic factor associated with depression. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to be an effective treatment for depression. In the current study, we observed the effects of EA on hippocampal FGF2 and astrocytes, and further investigated the mechanism underlying antidepressant effect of EA. The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) method were selected to induce depressive-like behaviors of rats. Paroxetine is a commonly used antidepressant and was used as a positive control drug in this experiment. The male adult Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomized to four experimental groups (normal control group, CUMS group, EA group and paroxetine group, n = 10/group). EA intervention was administered once daily for 14 days at acupuncture points Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (GV29). Rats in the paroxetine group received daily paroxetine administered intragastrical. Behavioral test, immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blot (WB) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) were conducted to evaluate the intervene effect and the changes of FGF2 and astrocyte marker (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP). The results showed that EA and paroxetine could improve depression-like behavior in CUMS rats, and up-regulated the expression level of FGF2 in the hippocampus, increased GFAP protein expression and the mean optical density of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocyte (GFAP-ir astrocyte). Our findings have identified that EA could ameliorate depressive-like behaviors possibly by regulating the expression of FGF2 in the hippocampus, and the mechanism might be related to the effect of FGF2 on astrocytes.

Object. To explore the specific effect of the international standard scalp acupuncture (ISSA) on patients with brain dysfunction after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (Rs-fMRI). Design. A parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Participants. 30 hemiplegic patients with middle cerebral artery acute infarction of the dominant hemisphere. Interventions. 30 patients were divided into 2 groups randomly. 15 patients in the treatment group (TG) were treated with ISSA, needling at the parietal midline (MS5) and left anterior/posterior parietal-temporal oblique lines (MS6 and MS7), combined with western routine treatment. While another 15 patients in the control group (CG) received routine treatment only. Main Outcome Measures. (1) Functional connectivity (FC): patients received brain scan using 3.0 T MRI after the treatment for 1 week. Based on the Matlab2012a platform, SPM12 software and DPABI software were used to process the scanning data and finally the functional connectivity of the brain was obtained. (2) National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Results. The difference in the NIHSS score between the two groups of patients before and after treatment was statistically significant (tNIHSS = 2.225; PNIHSS = 0.038), indicating that TG had a better effect. Centered to the seed region of the left supplementary motor area (SMA) (−5.32, 4.85, 61.38), FC increased at the left middle cerebellar peduncle, left cerebellum posterior lobe (uvula and declive), vermis, fusiform gyrus, lingual gyrus, inferior occipital gyrus, calcarine, cuneus, precuneus, BA7, BA18 and BA19, etc. Centered to the seed region of the left parahippocampal gyrus (PG) (−21.17, −15.95, −20.70), FC increased at the left precuneus, inside-paracingulate, inferior parietal gyrus, paracentral lobule, BA5, BA6, BA7, and BA40, right median cingulate, precuneus, BA19, BA23, and BA31, etc. Conclusions. It is indicated that ISSA can regulate the brain functional connection in patients with middle cerebral artery acute infarction in the dominant hemisphere and specifically strengthen the connections between visual, cognitive, motor control, and planning-related brain regions, which may be related to the recovery of movement in the mechanism. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-IOR-15007672.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture at LR3 and KI3 on hypertension at different time points and on related cerebral regions using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods We randomly divided 29 subjects into two groups: Group A (receiving acupuncture at LR3 + KI3; 15 subjects) and group B (receiving acupuncture at LR3 and a sham location not corresponding to any traditional acupuncture point; 14 subjects). Acupuncture was performed. Blood pressure (BP) changes were recorded and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 statistical software. We used a 3.0T MRI scanner and standard GE 8 channel head coil to collect whole brain fMRI data in both groups. Data analysis and processing was based on the R2009a MATLAB platform. REST 1.8 software was used to analyze the whole brain amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF). Results After acupuncture, a statistically significant reduction in BP at different time points was observed in group A. In group B, a statistically significant reduction was found only in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and was not sustained. Acupuncture at LR3 + KI3 specifically affected brain areas involved in BP regulation, as well as those involved in auditory sense, speech, vision, movement and sensation. Conclusion Acupuncture at LR3 + KI3 showed positive immediate and long-term effects on BP, particularly systolic blood pressure (SBP). After ALFF analysis, we concluded that LR3 + KI3 activates brain areas related to BP regulation. In addition, after acupuncture at LR3 + KI3, a highly targeted effect was observed in brain areas associated with BP. In addition, extracerebral areas involving vision, motion control, cognition and hearing were activated, which could potentially contribute to the mitigation of hypertensive complications in patients in an advanced stage of the disease.

Objective. The aim of this study is to investigate gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentacetate (Gd-DTPA) retention in the cystic area of brain metastasis and its correlation with MRI signs. Methods. Clinical and MRI data of 76 patients with brain metastasis in the cystic area were collected. The contrast signal intensity (CSI) of the cystic area and edema area in the plain scan, enhanced scan, and plain scan after enhancement within 1 month (hereafter referred to as “enhanced plain scan”) were analyzed to determine whether Gd-DTPA was retained in these areas. The lesions with higher CSI values on the enhanced plain scan were classified as the Gd-DTPA retention group and the remaining lesions as the Gd-DTPA-free group. The two groups were compared to determine significant differences in primary lesion type, tumor size, tumor location, capsule wall thickness and morphology, peritumoral edema, and renal function. Results. A total of 123 lesions were detected. The CSI of the enhanced plain scan exceeded that of the plain scan and enhanced scan in the cystic area ( P < 0.05 ). There were 54 lesions (43.9%) with Gd-DTPA retention in the cystic area and 69 lesions (56.1%) without Gd-DTPA retention. Significant differences were observed in tumor size and cystic wall thickness between the two groups ( P < 0.05 ), while no significant differences in primary lesion type, cystic wall shape, peritumoral edema, or function were observed. Conclusion. The retention of Gd-DTPA was found in the cystic area of some brain metastases, which was correlated with tumor size and cystic wall thickness.

Numerous studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in the malignant progression of cancer. However, the potential involvement of lncRNAs in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) remains unexplored. In this study, the expression of lncRNA

This study aimed to explore the changes in functional connections between cerebral hemispheres and local brain regions functional activities in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated with International Standard Scalp Acupuncture (ISSA). Thirty patients with middle cerebral artery AIS in the dominant hemisphere were selected and randomly divided into two groups such as the control group and the scalp acupuncture group, with 15 patients in each group. Patients in the control group were treated with conventional Western medicine, while patients in the scalp acupuncture group received ISSA (acupuncture at the parietal midline [MS5], acupuncture at the left anterior parietotemporal oblique line [MS6] and acupuncture at the left posterior parietotemporal oblique line [MS7]) for one course of treatment. All patients were evaluated for treatment efficacy and received whole brain resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (Rs-fMRI) scan before and after treatment. The observational indicators included: (a) the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and the simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment (SFMA) scores; (b) analyses of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo) and voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC). The results showed a significant difference in the NIHSS scores before and after treatment in the scalp acupuncture group compared with the control group (p .05), indicating that patients improved better after scalp acupuncture treatment. Compared with the control group, the VMHC, ALFF and ReHo values in the scalp acupuncture group increased after treatment. The VMHC values increased in the brain regions dominated by bilateral BA6 and BA8; the ALFF values increased in the left BA39 and the adjacent superior temporal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus; and the ReHo values increased in the brain regions extending from left middle temporal gyrus (including BA21) to BA37, and the brain regions extending from the left BA40 and angular gyrus to BA7. The present study indicated that scalp acupuncture can specifically strengthen the functional activities of the brain regions related to sensory integration, language processing and motor coordination in the middle aged and elderly patients with AIS of the dominant cerebral hemisphere, and can strengthen bilateral frontal lobe motor control. This study may provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of ISSA treatment in patients with AIS, and may also provide a preliminary research basis for further animal experiments.本研究为探讨急性期缺血性脑卒中功能障碍患者国际标准头针疗程干预后脑区的脑半球间功能连接和局部功能活动性变化，纳入30名优势半球大脑中动脉供血区急性缺血性脑卒中(Acute ischemic stroke，AIS)患者，随机分为头针组和对照组各15例。对照组采用西医药物常规治疗，头针组在对照组基础上，结合国际标准头针(顶中线、左侧顶颞前斜线和左侧顶颞后斜线)，分别治疗1个疗程。疗程治疗前后，2组患者均进行疗效评定，并接受Rs-fMRI扫描。观察指标包括(1)NIHSS评分及SFMA评分；(2)低频震荡振幅(ALFF)、局部一致性(ReHo)、体素-镜像同伦连接(VMHC)。结果显示头针组治疗前后NIHSS评分差值比对照组有显著改善(P0.05)。与对照组相比，头针组治疗后的VMHC、ALFF、ReHo值均有增强:以双侧BA6、BA8为主的脑区VMHC值增强；以左侧BA39为主，向邻近的颞上回和颞中回延伸的脑区ALFF值增强；以左侧颞中回(含BA21)为主，向BA37延伸的脑区，及以左侧BA40、角回为主，向BA7延伸的脑区ReHo值增强。本研究初步发现，国际标准头针组穴针刺能特异性加强优势大脑半球中动脉急性梗死的中老年患者感觉整合、语言加工、运动协调相关脑区的局域性功能活动，同时强化双侧额叶运动调控相关脑区的连通性，为国际标准头针治疗急性期缺血性脑卒中的临床应用提供科学依据，也为进一步地动物实验提供前期研究基础。.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is used as an adjunctive treatment for depression. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and mechanisms of EA in the depressive rat model induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in male adult Wistar rats. The underlying mechanisms were explored by using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomic analysis of the proteins in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and observing the number of the PFC neurons stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and synaptic morphological changes under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that EA plus paroxetine (EA + Par) for 1 week significantly relieved depression-like anhedonia symptoms and improved anxiety-like behavior, accompanied by the improvements in synaptic morphology and a significant increase of PFC neurons. Moreover, EA or paroxetine alone significantly alleviated anhedonia symptoms after 2 weeks of intervention. Additionally, iTRAQ analysis showed that dopaminergic signaling was significantly altered in CUMS rats after 1 week of EA treatment. As the critical enzyme of this pathway, aromatic-l-amino-acid decarboxylase (DDC) was significantly upregulated after the treatment with EA + Par for 1 week. These findings suggested that the dopaminergic signaling pathway in PFC may be involved in the antidepressant mechanisms of EA.电针(electroacupuncture，EA)是抑郁症的辅助疗法之一。本研究通过对慢性不可预见性温和应激(chronic unpredictable mild stress，CUMS)抑郁模型大鼠(成年雄性Wistar大鼠)进行电针干预，旨在探讨电针干预抑郁起效作用及机制。研究主要采用了蛋白质组学分析技术--同位素标记相对和绝对定量(isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation，iTRAQ)，分析了电针干预对CUMS大鼠前额叶蛋白质组的影响；同时运用HE染色、透射电镜观察了CUMS大鼠前额叶神经元数量、突触形态变化。结果表明电针+帕罗西汀干预1周后可明显缓解CUMS大鼠的快感缺失症状，增加前额叶神经元数目，改善突触病理改变；而电针或帕罗西汀单独干预2周可明显缓解CUMS大鼠的快感缺失症状。iTRAQ分析显示，电针干预1周后，CUMS大鼠多巴胺能信号通路发生明显改变；该通路的关键酶多巴脱羧酶(aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase，DDC)，在电针 + 帕罗西汀干预1周后显著上调。以上结果提示，前额叶多巴胺能信号通路可能参与EA抗抑郁起效机制。.

The complex and dynamic population of gut microbiota exerts a marked influence on the host during homeostasis and disease. Imbalance of gut microbiota metabolites may lead to cardiac dysfunction in patients with heart failure, which is related to myocardial infarction(MI) severity. However, the role of gut microbiota in the repair process after MI has rarely been reported. To explore the role of gut microbiota in MI repair and its underlying mechanism, we mixed antibiotics in drinking water to interfere with gut microbiota in rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Sirius red staining, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect tissue repair and fibrosis. We found that the expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin, collagen, and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities were significantly increased. We detected gut microbiota at different time points after MI using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and detected that Prevotellaceae, Clostridiaceae, and Lachnospiraceae were significantly altered among the butyric acid producers. We administered sodium butyrate via drinking water and discovered that sodium butyrate reduced HDAC activities and adverse repair. Therefore, we speculated that gut microbiota influences the acetylation level and tissue repair process after MI by affecting butyric acid production.

The specific mechanisms by which acupuncture affects the central nervous system are unclear. In the International Standard Scalp Acupuncture system, acupuncture needles are applied at the middle line of the vertex, anterior parietal-temporal oblique line, and the posterior parietal-temporal oblique line. We conducted a single-arm prospective clinical trial in which seven healthy elderly volunteers (three men and four women; 50-70 years old) received International Standard Scalp Acupuncture at MS5 (the mid-sagittal line between Baihui (DU20) and Qianding (DU21)), the left MS6 (line joining Sishencong (EX-HN1) and Xuanli (GB6)), and the left MS7 (line joining DU20 and Qubin (GB7)). After acupuncture, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated changes in the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity in various areas, showing remarkable enhancement of regional homogeneity in the bilateral anterior cingulate, left medial frontal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus. Functional connectivity based on a seed region at the right middle frontal gyrus (42, 51, 9) decreased at the bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus. Our data preliminarily indicates that the international standard scalp acupuncture in healthy elderly participants specifcally enhances the correlation between the brain regions involved in cognition and implementation of the brain network regulation system and the surrounding adjacent brain regions. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the China-Japan Union Hospital at Jilin University, China, on July 18, 2016 (approval No. 2016ks043).

The lotus leaf, a renewable source of biomass, was successfully explored as a low-cost crude carbon source for preparing high-value lotus leaf porous carbon (LLPC) via carbonization and KOH activation. The synthesis method is simple, inexpensive and easily scalable. Testing and analysis showed that LLPC is a good supercapacitor electrode material with a microporous and macroporous structure, a specific surface area (SSA) of up to 2488 m2 g−1, and a high content of oxygen heteroatoms. In a three-electrode system with 6 M KOH as the electrolyte, LLPC-800-1:3 exhibited a high specific capacitance of 379 F g-1 at 1 A g−1 and good rate performance. At a current density of 20 A g−1, the specific capacitance still reached as high as 298 F g−1. Furthermore, after 5000 charging/discharging cycles, the capacitance retention rate was 90%. When the energy density of the electrode was 9.2 W h kg-1, the power density was 491 W kg−1. The achieved electrochemical performance demonstrates that lotus leaves can function as a new biomass material for the production of high-performance supercapacitors and low-cost energy storage devices.

In this work, argy wormwood-based porous carbon electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors are prepared through H3PO4 solution hydrothermal carbonization and subsequent KOH activation. The obtained carbon has a specific surface area (SSA) of 927 m2 g−1, a total pore volume of 0.56 cm3 g−1, and a high oxygen (9.38%) content. In three-electrode system, it exhibits specific capacitance of 344 F g−1 at 1 A g−1. Moreover, the symmetric supercapacitor shows an excellent rate capability of 87% retention from 1 A g−1 to 10 A g−1, and a good cycling performance with 91.6% retention over 5000 cycles in 6 M KOH. Therefore, the sample activated by H3PO4 & KOH exhibits an excellent future in energy storage.

Nanomaterial composite gel has been successfully applied for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). However, the fatal flaw of using bare SiO2 nanoparticles in polymer gel systems is their agglomeration and poor dispersion stability. In this paper, hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) modified SiO2 nanoparticles for the reinforcement of PAM/PEI polymer gels was proposed. Basic performances of surface modified SiO2 (C-SiO2) including chemical structure, thermal stability and micro morphology were characterized by thermogravimetry, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). In addition, the gelation performance with respect to C-SiO2 dosage, pH, temperature and salinity were also examined in comparison with pure PAM/PEI gels. The results indicated that no gel was formed when pH 7) and temperature, both the gelation time and gel strength decreased with the increase of salinity. C-SiO2/PAM/PEI gel revealed long-term stability and the gel strength maintained Grade I within 360 days under the harsh reservoir conditions (salinity = 70000 mg/L, temperature = 120℃, pH = 9) in comparison with PAM/PEI (gel strength reduced to Grade D with syneresis). The mechanism of C-SiO2/PAM/PEI gel for reservoirs with high temperature and high salinity due to the rigid hybrid network resulting from the combination of ionic bonds and hydrogen bonds between PAM and C-SiO2.

In electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can be converted to hydroxyl radicals (·OH) by oxidation–reduction reactions to degrade organic matter. To increase the generation of H2O2 and ·OH radicals, reed straw activated carbon (RSAC) was prepared by carbonization and activation methods and RSAC cathode was prepared by a tableting machine. The samples were observed by XRD, Raman, SEM, TEM and XPS. The electrochemical performance of the RSAC cathode was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the obtained RSAC has a large specific surface area, and its surface is rich in oxygen-containing functional groups and active sites, enabling a good degradation performance. The degradation rate of phenol in over 120 min was 93.06%. The chemical oxygen demand COD value decreased from 323.70 to 95.48 mg O2 L−1 in 360 min. The results indicate that RSAC has a good electrocatalytic activity.

Anthocyanin is a widely distributed flavonoid pigment that confers plant red color. The biosynthesis of anthocyanin associated with onset of color in developing plants has been well documented. However, whether anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway still functions in fruit at senescent stage remains unclear. In this study we investigated the metabolism of anthocyanin in litchi, a red fruit whose color fades fast after harvest. We showed as the pericarp browning index increased, the total anthocyanin contents decreased in litchi during storage at 20 °C. RNA-seq and proteomics analysis identified 4769 differentially expressed genes (DEG) and 84 differentially expressed proteins (DEP), respectively, in stored fruit compared with that before storage. Among them, 4 DEGs and 1 DEP involved in anthocyanin degradation, and 10 DEGs and 2 DEPs in anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway were upregulated. In particular, chalcone synthase (CHS), the first enzyme involved anthocyanin biosynthesis, and peroxidase (POD), a major enzyme for anthocyanin degradation, showed increased accumulation at both transcript and protein levels. LC-MS analysis showed that the accumulation of five anthocyanins and derivatives were decreased, while one anthocyanin increased in litchi stored for 6 d. These results suggest that anthocyanin degradation is accompanied by biosynthesis during pericarp browning, and that the browning of litchi resulted from more degradation than biosynthesis. The work provides new insight into mechanism underlying litchi browning during storage and possibilities for developing new browning prevention techniques. Additionally, from the evolutional perspective, this finding might imply that plants at senescent stage still try to preserve and disseminate the seeds against stresses.

Browning of harvested litchi causes fast quality losses that are closely associated with anthocyanin degradation. Abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GA) are antagonistic in regulating plant growth and development, but it is unclear whether and how they affect anthocyanin metabolism in harvested litchi fruit. Here, application of ABA and GA3 to harvested litchi reduced browning and maintained higher anthocyanin content relative to the untreated control during storage at 20 °C. Transcriptome profiling showed 2362 and 6304 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were induced in response to ABA and GA3 treatment, respectively, implying the metabolism pathways regulated by ABA and GA are quite different. The flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis are two of the 30 most enriched KEGG pathways for ABA-treated fruit compared with the control, but not for GA3-treated fruit. ABA upregulated key DEGs involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and anthocyanin synthesis pathways, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), chalcone synthase (CHS) and UDP-flavonoid glucosyl transferase (UFGT), but GA3 downregulated them. ABA upregulated DEGs related to anthocyanin degradation and transport, laccase (LAC), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), whereas GA3 downregulated them. Of the 29 different anthocyanin-related metabolites identified by LC–MS, ABA and GA3 caused increase of four and two, respectively. Taken together, ABA alleviated browning mainly by promoting anthocyanin synthesis, whereas GA3 inhibited anthocyanin degradation. These findings add to understanding of the roles of ABA and GA in regulating anthocyanin metabolism of plants in senescent stages and provides new approaches to pericarp browning prevention in litchi.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are first-line antidepressants, however, only around 60% of patients could benefit from them. Acupuncture is supported by insufficient evidence to help with symptom relieving and SSRIs tolerance. This pragmatic randomized controlled trial compared SSRIs alone versus SSRIs together with manual acupuncture (MA) or electroacupuncture (EA) in moderate to severe depressed patients. Patients were randomly allocated to receive MA + SSRIs (161), EA + SSRIs (160), or SSRIs alone (156) for six weeks, and then followed up for another four weeks. The primary outcome was response rate of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) at 6th week. The secondary outcomes were HAMD-17 (remission rate, early onset rate, total score), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS: total score), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Rating Scale for Side Effects (SERS: total and domain scores), number of patients with adjusted dosage of SSRIs and adverse events (AEs). Both MA + SSRIs and EA + SSRIs were significantly better than SSRIs at 6th week on HAMD-17 response rate (RR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.04, 1.42, P = 0.013; RR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.09, 1.48, P = 0.0014), HAMD-17 early onset rate (P 0.0001), HAMD-17 and SDS total scores (P 0.05), CGI (P 0.01), SERS total score (P 0.01), number of patients with increased dosage of SSRIs (P 0.01). For HAMD-17 remission rate, EA + SSRIs was significantly higher than SSRIs (P = 0.0083), while MA + SSRIs showed no significant difference at 6th week (P = 0.092). No unintended acupuncture-related severe AE was observed. This study identified that both MA and EA showed beneficial effects in addition to SSRIs alone in patients with moderate to severe depression, and were well tolerated. Clinical trials registration: ChiCTR-TRC-08000297.

ZnO nanorods were successfully synthesized by a microwave-assisted chemical method. The as-prepared ZnO particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM, X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is found that ZnO nanorods with diameters around 20–30 nm and lengths in the range of 60–80 nm were synthesized. The products showed good photocatalytic performance under UV light irradiation. The ZnO nanorods also showed excellent photostability and reusability under UV-visible light irradiation.

Objective: This Study observed the relevant brain areas activated by acupuncture at the Taichong acupoint (LR3) and analyzed the functional connectivity among brain areas using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the acupoint specificity of the Taichong acupoint. Methods: A total of 45 healthy subjects were randomly divided into the Taichong (LR3) group, sham acupuncture group and sham acupoint group. Subjects received resting state fMRI before acupuncture, after true (sham) acupuncture in each group. Analysis of changes in connectivity among the brain areas was performed using the brain functional connectivity method. Results: The right cerebrum temporal lobe was selected as the seed point to analyze the functional connectivity. It had a functional connectivity with right cerebrum superior frontal gyrus, limbic lobe cingulate gyrus and left cerebrum inferior temporal gyrus (BA 37), inferior parietal lobule compared by before vs. after acupuncture at LR3, and right cerebrum sub-lobar insula and left cerebrum middle frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus compared by true vs. sham acupuncture at LR3, and right cerebrum occipital lobe cuneus, occipital lobe sub-gyral, parietal lobe precuneus and left cerebellum anterior lobe culmen by acupuncture at LR3 vs. sham acupoint. Conclusion: Acupuncture at LR3 mainly specifically activated the brain functional network that participates in visual function, associative function, and emotion cognition, which are similar to the features on LR3 in tradition Chinese medicine. These brain areas constituted a neural network structure with specific functions that had specific reference values for the interpretation of the acupoint specificity of the Taichong acupoint.

GdPO 4 :Yb 3+ /Tb 3+ powders were synthesized by a solid state reaction. The XRD patterns indicated that the obtained GdPO 4 :Yb 3+ /Tb 3+ powders have the monoclinic phase. Under the excitation of lights in the ultraviolet region, GdPO 4 :Yb 3+ /Tb 3+ powders show dominate green emission in the visible light region and emission band peaking at 980 nm in the infrared region along with shoulders at 1001 nm and 1024 nm, which originate from the 5 D 4 → 7 F j (j = 6, 5, 4 and 3) transitions of Tb 3+ and 2 D 5/2 → 2 F 7/2 transitions of Yb 3+ ions, respectively. Under the excitation of 980 nm, GdPO 4 :Yb 3+ /Tb 3+ powders show dominate green emission in the visible light region, which is based on the cooperative energy transfer between two Yb 3+ ions and one Tb 3+ ion. The results present successful doping of rare earth ions in particles with both up and down conversion fluorescence properties that can be used as potential spectrum converter in solar cells.

‘Electromagnetic Fields and Waves’ is an important professional basic course for students in the major of electrical and electronic engineering. Students regard it as the most difficult course because of numerous concepts and equations. Philosophy could assist the students’ understanding of the electromagnetic theories. The Chinese Yin- Yang principle reveals the basic composition and operating principles of the universe from the macroscopic and microscopic view, which provides another way to illustrate the electromagnetic phenomenon and equations. This paper presents a heuristic teaching practice carried out by combining the Chinese Yin- Yang principle and modern electromagnetic theory. Several lectures on vector analysis, electrostatic field, steady magnetic field, time-varying electromagnetic field, and gravitational field, even relativity and particle theories are given to show the application of the Yin- Yang principle. Student survey and exam results show that the adoption of Yin-Yang principle could help students to acquire the basic concepts in limited teaching hours and to promote philosophical thinking embodied in China's university education.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is considered a complementary therapy for depression. Trials also found that EA has additive benefits when combined with medication compared with medication alone. It is revealed that EA restores altered hippocampal synaptic plasticity in depressed brain. But precise molecular mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of EA and EA combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) on depressed (CUMS) rats. Then a new proteomics approach, isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ), was used to explore the differential expressed synaptic protein in hippocampus between CUMS and EA-treated rats to identify the possible target molecular mechanism of its effects. We found that EA had additive benefit against depressive behaviors when combined with SSRI. Ultrastructure study on neuron showed significant change in postsynapse density (PSD) and mitochondrion. Through iTRAQ, it is found that synaptic and mitochondrial proteins were significantly changed after EA, consisting with ultrastructure study results. These findings suggest that EA improves antidepressant performance in depressed rats through protecting synaptic and mitochondrial functions in hippocampus.

Background. Acupuncture is proved to be effective on hypertension by numerous studies and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (Rs-fMRI) is a widely used technique to study its mechanism. Along with lower blood pressure, patients with hypertension receiving acupuncture also presented improvement in function of cognition, emotion, language, sematic sensation, and so on. This study was a primary study to explore the acting path of acupuncture at combined acupoints in stimulated brain areas related to such functions. Methods. In this research, regional homogeneity (ReHo) was applied to analyze the Rs-fMRI image data of brain activities after acupuncture at LR3, KI3, and LR3+KI3 and to compare the differences of functional brain activities between stimulating combined acupoints and single acupoint under pathological conditions. A total of thirty hypertension patients underwent Rs-fMRI scanning before acupuncture treatment and then were randomly divided into three groups following random number table, the LR3 group (3 males and 7 females), the KI3 group (3 males and 7 females), and the LR3+ KI3 group (4 males and 6 females) for needling, respectively. When the 30-min treatment finished, they received a further Rs-fMRI scanning. The Rs-fMRI data before and after the acupuncture treatment were analyzed through ReHo. Results. Compared with preacupuncture, respectively, ReHo values increased in Brodmann areas (BAs) 3, 18, and 40 and decreased in BAs 7 and 31 in LR3+ KI3 group. However, ReHo values only decreased in BA7 of KI3 group while the results showed no significant difference of brain regions in LR3 group between pre- and postacupuncture. Compared with LR3 group, LR3+KI3 group exhibited decreased ReHo values in BAs 7, 9, and 31. Meanwhile, compared with KI3 group, LR3+KI3 group exhibited increased ReHo values in the BAs 2, 18, 30, and 40 and decreased ReHo values in BA13. Conclusion. Combined acupoints of LR3 and KI3 could act on wider brain areas than the sum of single acupoints, whose functions include emotional processing, cognition, somatic sensation, spatial orientation, language production, and vision.

Graphitized porous carbon nanofibers (GPCNFs) were prepared by electrospinning and a subsequent continuous unique three-part calcining process: pre-oxidation at 250 °C in air for 2 h, graphitization at 1000 °C in Ar for 2 h and pore-forming at 400 °C in air. The physical properties of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, four-probe measurements and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. The electrochemical properties were observed by cyclic voltammetry and a charge–discharge test of coin-type cells versus metallic lithium. The results showed GPCNFs exhibited good capacity retention and higher capacities than graphitized carbon nanofibers (GCNFs). The capacity of GPCNFs increased with the extension of calcining time at 400 °C from 3 to 18 h. While calcining for 18 h the capacity of GPCNFs achieved 473.5 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.5 A g−1. The excellent electrochemical properties of the GPCNFs could be attributed to the small diameter, large specific surface area, little pores and oxygen and nitrogen functional groups, which could promote transmission of lithium ions, provide more space for lithium storage and obtain a high capacity and good cycling stability.

In this paper, ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles/porous carbon nanofiber (Fe3O4/PCNFs) composites were successfully fabricated by electrospinning and subsequent calcination. The composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to analyze the structure, composition and morphology. The electrochemical performance was evaluated by coin-type cells vs. metallic lithium. The results indicated that Fe3O4/PCNFs composites exhibited high reversible capacity and good capacity retention. The discharge capacity was maintained at 717.2 mA h g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 after 100 cycles. The excellent performances of Fe3O4/PCNFs composites are attributed to good crystallinity and uniformly dispersive Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and a porous carbon shell with high conductivity. The carbon coating buffered the tremendous volumetric changes between Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Fe atoms in the charge/discharge processes and kept the structure integrity of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Porous carbon nanofibers prepared by the unique calcination process improved the conductivity of composites and provided free space for migration of lithium ions. The preparation strategy is expected to be applicable to the preparation of other transition metal oxide materials as superior anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Acupuncture has been used to treat chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for centuries. In this study, we evaluated the effect of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36), Zhongwan (CV12), and Pishu (BL20) acupoints on weight changes of rats, histological changes of gastric glands, and expressions changes of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, microRNA- (miR-) 155, miR-21, and miR-146a in CAG rats induced by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) combined with irregular diet. Consequently, we found that acupuncture treatment elevated body weight of rats significantly when compared to the model group. By observing histological changes, we found that the acupuncture group showed better improvement of gastric mucosa injury than the model group. Our results also demonstrated upregulation of NF-κB p65, miR-155, and miR-21 in gastric tissue of CAG rats and a positive correlation between miR-155 and miR-21. Relatively, expression of miR-146a was downregulated and negative correlation relationships between miR-146a and miR-155/miR-21 in CAG rats were observed. Additionally, expressions of NF-κB p65, miR-155, and miR-21 were downregulated and miR-146a was upregulated after acupuncture treatment. Taken together, our data imply that acupuncture can downregulate NF-κB p65, miR-155, and miR-21 and upregulate miR-146a expression in CAG rats. NF-κB p65, miR-155, miR-21, and miR-146a may play important roles in therapeutic effect of acupuncture in treating CAG.