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To examine the associations between microvascular disease (MVD) and risk of stroke, dementia, and their major subtypes among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We included 26,173 participants with T2DM from the UK Biobank who had no known stroke or dementia at baseline. MVD burden was reflected by the presence of retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and chronic kidney disease. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidential intervals (CIs) of stroke and dementia associated with overall MVD burden and individual MVD. During a median follow-up of 11.5 years, 1103 incident stroke (964 ischemic and 269 hemorrhagic stroke) and 813 incident dementia (312 Alzheimer's disease and 304 vascular dementia) cases were identified. The risk of stroke, dementia, and their major subtypes all increased with an increasing number of MVD (all P-trend <0.001). The adjusted HRs (95 % CIs) comparing three with no MVD were 5.03 (3.16, 8.02) for all stroke, 4.57 (2.75, 7.59) for ischemic stroke, and 6.60 (2.65, 16.43) for hemorrhagic stroke. The corresponding estimates were 4.28 (2.33, 7.86) for all-cause dementia, 6.96 (3.02, 16.01) for Alzheimer's disease, and 3.81 (1.40, 10.42) for vascular dementia. Among the three MVD, chronic kidney disease showed the strongest associations with both stroke subtypes, while peripheral neuropathy was most strongly associated with both dementia subtypes. Risk of stroke, dementia, and their major subtypes increased with an increasing number of MVD. The associations of individual MVD with stroke and dementia varied substantially by types of MVD. • Coexistence of multiple MVD is not uncommon for individuals with T2DM. • An increasing number of MVD was associated with a gradually elevated risk of stroke, dementia, and their major subtypes. • The associations of individual MVD with stroke and dementia varies substantially by types of MVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To investigate the impact of interpersonal sensitivity on the subjective well-being of accompanying children of migrant workers and the role of perception of exclusion and peer support in the process. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 304 migrant workers' accompanying children and 501 urban children in grades 4– 9 in seven schools in Jiangxi Province, China. Hierarchical regression and bootstrap analysis were used. Results: Interpersonal sensitivity not only had a significant direct negative effect on the subjective well-being of migrant workers' accompanying children (β= − 0.27, 95% CI = [− 0.37, − 0.17]), but also had an indirect effect through perception of exclusion (β= − 0.06, 95% CI = [− 0.11, − 0.03]). Peer support negatively moderated the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and perception of exclusion (β= − 0.18, 95% CI = [− 0.28, − 0.08]) and the mediating effect of perceptions of exclusion between interpersonal sensitivity and subjective well-being (β = 0.06, CI = [0.02, 0.11]). Conclusion: The subjective well-being of migrant children is indeed lower than that of urban children, and one of the most important reasons is their higher interpersonal sensitivity. Interpersonal sensitivity not only directly reduces their subjective well-being, but also reduces it by triggering their perception of exclusion, while peer support can effectively mitigate this negative effect. Therefore, one way to improve the subjective well-being of these children is to reduce their excessive interpersonal sensitivity. Their parents should help them to adapt to urban life, to develop correct professional values and to deal correctly with "occupational stigma", to overcome feelings of inferiority, while communities can create specialized activity centers to provide more social opportunities and psychological counseling services for these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whether estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) by differing biomarkers are differentially associated with mortality or whether the associations differ by diabetes status remains unclear, especially in Chinese population. Methods: We included 6995 participants without diabetes (mean age: 60.4 years) and 1543 with diabetes (mean age: 61.8 years). Each eGFR measure was divided into normal (≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2), modestly declined (60 to <90 mL/min/1.73 m2), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) groups. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) of all‐cause mortality associated with each eGFR. Results: Over a follow‐up of 7 years, 677 and 215 deaths occurred among individuals without or with diabetes, respectively. Among those without diabetes, all measures of modestly declined eGFR were not associated with mortality, whereas CKD defined by eGFR cystatin C (eGFRcys) and eGFR creatinine (eGFRcr)‐cys (HRs were 1.71 and 1.55, respectively) but not by eGFRcr were associated with higher risk of mortality. Among diabetes, all measures of modestly declined eGFR (HRs: 1.53, 1.56, and 2.09 for eGFRcr, eGFRcys, and eGFRcr‐cys, respectively) and CKD (HRs: 2.57, 2.99, and 3.92 for eGFRcr, eGFRcys, and eGFRcr‐cys, respectively) were associated with higher risk of mortality. Regardless of diabetes status, an addition of eGFRcys or eGFRcr‐cys to traditional risk factors lead to a larger improvement in the prediction of all‐cause mortality risk than adding eGFRcr. Conclusions: The association of eGFR with mortality risk appeared to be varied by its measures and by diabetes status among middle‐aged and older Chinese, which needs to be considered in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct the blending-type modified Bernstein–Durrmeyer operators and investigate their approximation properties. First, we derive the Voronovskaya-type asymptotic theorem for this type of operator. Then, the local and global approximation theorems are obtained by using the classical modulus of continuity and K-functional. Finally, we derive the rate of convergence for functions with a derivative of bounded variation. The results show that the new operators have good approximation properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tolerance is defined to be a hyporesponsive state following repeated stimulations with bacteria or their virulence factors and has potential impacts on the development of periodontitis. Recently, macrophages have been reported to release chromatin and antimicrobial peptides to form extracellular traps upon bacterial or chemical stimulations. Thus, we explored the roles and mechanisms of tolerance induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in macrophage extracellular traps (METs). Tolerance in peritoneal macrophages from mice was triggered by repeated P. gingivalis stimulation. METs were observed using fluorescence microscopy, and the levels of extracellular DNA were determined by microplate reader assays. The expression of p-RAF, p-MEK, and p-ERK was examined by Western blot, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was explored using flow cytometry. Moreover, the levels of intracellular Ca2+ were also determined by confocal microscopy to identify the possible mechanisms related to the changes in METs in P. gingivalis–pretreated macrophages. Repeated P. gingivalis stimulation contributed to the formation of METs and increased levels of extracellular DNA (p < 0.05). ROS generation and RAF/MEK/ERK phosphorylation were decreased in P. gingivalis–pretreated macrophages compared with non-pretreated cells (p < 0.05), which was inconsistent with the changes in METs. However, in P. gingivalis–pretreated macrophages, the levels of intracellular Ca2+ were significantly increased compared with the single stimulation group. Additionally, inhibition of intracellular Ca2+ resulted in a decrease in the levels of extracellular DNA in P. gingivalis–pretreated cells (p < 0.05). Taken together, P. gingivalis–pretreated macrophages released more METs, possibly related to the increased levels of intracellular Ca2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a near‐field focused metasurface design method for microwave hyperthermia. Utilizing full‐wave electromagnetic simulation, a novel dual‐layer metasurface unit with the following characteristics is developed: transmission efficiency higher than −1 dB, adjustable transmission phase from 0° to 360°, and insensitivity to the polarization and incident angle of the incoming wave. Leveraging phase compensation theory, the units at different positions in the array to achieve near‐field focusing functionality is meticulously designed. To further optimize transmission efficiency, the transmission phase of the central unit of the metasurface to 76° is tuned. When applying this near‐field focused metasurface to microwave hyperthermia, the electromagnetic and thermal effects in biological tissues is conducted simulations and experiments to analyzed. The results demonstrate that the proposed metasurface can effectively focus microwave energy, achieving efficient microwave transmission in pork tissue and generating localized high temperatures in the target area. This research introduces new design concepts and implementation strategies for the development of microwave hyperthermia technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two corticolous species of Ramalina are described as new to science from China. Ramalina ailaoshanensis is described from Mt. Ailaoshan in southwest China. It is characterized by dichotomous narrow branches with sparse raised or tuberculate pseudocyphellae, without warts, absence of chrondroid tissue in the cortex, the tips of branchlets becoming thin, terete and curled backwards, and lacking soredia and isidia. Ramalina qinlingensis is described from Mt. Qinling in northwest China. It is characterized by broad branches with distinct pseudocyphellae, many warts and branchlets, the discontinuous chrondroid tissue in the cortex, and lacking soredia and isidia. Both species were recovered as monophyletic and well-supported in a maximum-likelihood phylogeny inferred from ITS sequence data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most coexisting insect species exhibit stunted growth compared to individual species on plants. This phenomenon reflects an interspecific antagonism drawing extensive attention, while the underlying mechanisms remain largely uncharacterized. Mirids (Apolygus lucorum) and cotton bollworms (Helicoverpa armigera) are two common cotton pests. We identified a secretory protein, ASP1, from the oral secretion of mirids, found in the nucleus of mirid-infested cotton leaves. ASP1 specifically targets the transcriptional co-repressor TOPLESS (TPL) and inhibits NINJA-mediated recruitment of TPL, promoting plant defense response and gossypol accumulation in cotton glands. ASP1-enhanced defense inhibits the growth of cotton bollworms on cotton plants, while having limited impact on mirids. The mesophyll-feeding characteristic allows mirids to avoid most cotton glands, invalidating cotton defense. Our investigation reveals the molecular mechanism by which mirids employ cotton defense to selectively inhibit the feeding of cotton bollworms. The study revealed the underlying mechanism by which mirids manipulate cotton defense to confront the cotton bollworms co-existing on cotton plants. The mirid-secreted protein ASP1 enhances cotton defense by specifically targeting the transcriptional co-repressor TPL, thereby inhibiting cotton bollworm feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis is a dental plaque–induced chronic inflammatory disease. Long-term exposure of the host to periodontal pathogens leads to a hyporesponsive state to the following stimulations, which is described as endotoxin tolerance. Neutrophils are the most abundant innate immune cells in the body. To clarify the roles of endotoxin tolerance in periodontitis, inflammatory responses in Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–tolerized neutrophils were explored in this study. Here, apoptosis and respiratory burst in neutrophils upon single or repeated P. gingivalis LPS stimulations were explored by flow cytometry. Cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-10) in tolerized neutrophils or neutrophils co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined by ELISA. Phagocytosis of P. gingivalis by tolerized neutrophils was also assayed by flow cytometry. In addition, quality and quantitation of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation were detected using immunofluorescence microscope and microplate reader, respectively. The protein expressions of extracellular signal–regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) were examined to identify possible mechanisms for the abovementioned changes. Tolerance induced by P. gingivalis LPS significantly suppressed apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and phagocytosis in neutrophils (p < 0.05). In both neutrophils alone and co-culture system, repeated P. gingivalis LPS stimulations significantly decreased TNF-α production, but increased IL-10 secretion (p < 0.05). Moreover, in tolerized neutrophils, NET formations were strengthened and there were more released extracellular DNA (p < 0.05). In P. gingivalis LPS-tolerized neutrophils, phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was suppressed compared with that in non-tolerized cells. Taken together, immune responses in neutrophils were reprogrammed by P. gingivalis LPS-induced tolerance, which might be related with the development of inflammation in periodontal tissues. Moreover, ERK1/2 might play important roles in endotoxin tolerance triggered by P. gingivalis LPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant progress in diagnosis and treatment, asthma remains a serious public health challenge. The conventional therapeutic drugs for asthma often have side effects and unsatisfactory clinical efficacy. Therefore, it is very urgent to develop new drugs to overcome the shortcomings of conventional drugs. Natural polysaccharides provide enormous resources for the development of drugs or health products, and they are receiving a lot of attention from scientists around the world due to their safety, effective anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory properties. Increasing evidence shows that polysaccharides have favorable biological activities in the respiratory disease, including asthma. This review provides an overview of primary literature on the recent advances of polysaccharides from natural resources in the treatment of asthma. The mechanisms and practicability of polysaccharides, including polysaccharides from plants, fungus, bacteria, alga, animals and others are reviewed. Finally, the further research of polysaccharides in the treatment of asthma are discussed. This review can provide a basis for further study of polysaccharides in the treatment of asthma and provides guidance for the development and clinical application of novel asthma treatment drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest stands of Pinus yunnanensis Franch in southwestern China are seriously damaged by several bark living insect pests. These pests commonly exist in the same host tree and exploit limited phloem resources. In this study, we hypothesized that sympatric pests would occupy different ecological niches to reduce interspecific competition, and their coordinated attack would aggravate the tree vigor decline of P. yunnanensis. To quantify the ecological niches, we used a sampling method involving three dimensional divisions of tree resource states: (a) sample plot dimension (to evaluate the extent of pest colonization at plot scale), (b) trunk height dimension, and (c) tree vigor dimension. Those attacked pine canopies and colonized trunks were analysed in the field study. The results showed that Tomicus minor and Tomicus yunnanensis both widely and uniformly distributed in lightly, moderately and heavily damaged canopies while they aggregated on particular trunks of dying and withered trees. Lower and middle trunk sections (1–4 m) were mainly occupied by Monochamus alternatus and T. minor, yet T. yunnanensis dominated the upper parts (5–6 m). There was an overlap of the pine shoot beetles in the middle sections (2–4 m), whereas all three species were ecologically segregated in other trunk sections. During the shoot feeding phase, tree vigor declined with pine shoot beetles' increasing shoot feeding density. They coexisted in the same host tree, while M. alternatus only attacked dying and withered tree trunks, causing a greater infestation. Colonization of pine shoot beetle then followed by M. alternatus could be the major causes of tree mortality. This study highlights the resource utilization pattern of sympatric bark living insect pests corresponding with tree vitality. Those findings would help to understand the mechanisms of pest outbreak in P. yunnanensis ecosystem and provide potential guidance for developing an early monitoring pest warning system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel graphene photonic crystal structure is proposed and designed in this paper; each unit period is composed of graphene, metal, and magnesium fluoride. We investigate the optical properties of this structure in the visible to near-infrared range by means of finite-difference time-domain method. We examined the influence of structural parameters (metal material, thickness, period number, etc.) on the optical response of the structure and found that it can be transparent in visible range and can shield most of the near-infrared rays. As a result, the proposed graphene photonic structure enables potential applications in selective near-infrared shielding material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A selective UV shielding material based on photonic crystals structure is proposed in this paper, which composed of indium tin oxide, metallic silver and titanium dioxide. We investigate the optical properties of this structure in the UV to visible range by using finite-difference time-domain method. Furthermore, we have discussed the effect of structural parameters on the spectral selectivity of the structure. In addition, we find the (ITO/Ag/TiO 2)6 structure can be transparent in visible light while high-performance shielding in UV radiation. Numerical results demonstrate that this novel material enable potential applications in selective UV shielding material. • A selective UV shielding material based on photonic crystals structure is proposed in this paper, each unit period is composed of indium tin oxide, metallic silver and titanium dioxide. • Theoretically investigate the optical properties of this structure in the UV to visible range by means of finite-difference time-domain method and we find that controlling the thickness of each layer can shield different UV bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel spectral selectivity material is proposed based on photonic crystal structure; each unit cell is composed of graphene layer and superconductor layer. • The optical properties of this structure in the visible to near infrared range are numerically simulated by means of finite-difference time-domain method. Furthermore, we have discussed the effect of structural parameters and external temperature on the spectral selectivity inside the structure. • The results show that the spectral selectivity is very sensitive to the thickness of superconductor layer, period number and temperature variation, and the spectral range of visible transmission and near infrared reflectance can be tuned by changing these parameters. In this work, a novel spectral selectivity material is proposed based on photonic crystals structure, each unit cell is composed of graphene layer and superconductor layer. The optical properties of this structure in the visible to near infrared range are numerically simulated by means of finite-difference time-domain method. Furthermore, we have discussed the effect of structural parameters and external temperature on the spectral selectivity inside the structure. The result shows that the spectral selectivity is very sensitive to the thickness of superconductor layer, period number and temperature variation, and the spectral range of visible transmission and near infrared reflectance can be tuned by changing these parameters. In addition, we find the (Graphene/YBCO)10 structure can be transparent in visible light while high-performance shielding in near infrared at the period number is 10, the external temperature is 55 K and the thickness of graphene layer and superconductor layer are 0.34 nm and 50 nm, respectively. In fact, this novel material may be useful in designing of visible-near infrared filter at low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By virture of taking into account the two atoms' spatial motion, we evaluate the dynamics of geometric measure of quantum discord(GMQD) and Bell nonlocality of a two-qubit system in an ideal single-mode ring cavity for two types of extended Werner-like(EWL) internal states. It is shown that both Bell nonlocality and GMQD are closely related to the initial entanglement parameter, the initial state's purity and the wave packet's width. We also find that, for the initial state W±´, the sudden disappearance and sudden regeneration of GMQD and Bell nonlocality both happen, while for the initial state W±, the phenomena of sudden disappearance and sudden regeneration of Bell nonlocality still exist, but that of GMQD does not occur, that is, GMQD decays to zero asymptotically as time goes on. What's more, we have proved that the preservation of GMQD is much longer than that of Bell-inequality violation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A novel solar covering material composed of indium tin oxide and metal materials is proposed. • Its optical properties in visible and near infrared are numerically simulated by finite-difference time-domain method. • The effects of various parameters of the micro-nano photonic crystal structure on the optical response are examined. • In comparison to the metallic multilayer material and dielectric multilayer material, the simulations present the new material has improved performance. Abstracts In high temperature and scorching area during summer, solar greenhouse has solved the problem of greenhouse cooling and energy utilization. However, there are many deficiencies in the solar greenhouse covering material at present, such as the problems of low visible light transmittance for plant photosynthesis and low near-infrared reflectance causes warming. For this reason, we present a solar covering material composed of indium tin oxide and metal materials in this paper. Its optical properties in visible and near infrared are numerically simulated by finite-difference time-domain method. We examine the influence of structural parameters on optical response of the micro-nano photonic structure and find that (ITO/Ag)4ITO structure has a transmittance of more than 95% under visible light, while the near-infrared reflectance is above 90%. Numerical results demonstrate that this structure enable potential applications in solar covering material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, modified transmission matrix method is used to construct one-dimensional multilayer composite membrane structure doped with graphene defect. The optimal construction can be found to realize reciprocity transmission by comparing the influence of the time inversion-symmetry and space inversion-symmetry doped on nonreciprocal transmission. The simulation results show that it cannot ensure the nonreciprocal transmission with rotatory material only. Nonreciprocal transmission should be designed through the structure damage of the space inversion-symmetry to realize it. The structure absorption peak position will move to the direction of the wavelength increase along with the increase of thickness of rotation media. The structure shows the approximate perfect absorption characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By considering the spatial motion of the atoms, we study the time evolution of Bell nonlocality and entanglement of a pair of atoms for two kinds of Werner-type internal states in an ideal single-mode ring cavity. We have proved that both Bell nonlocality and entanglement have the phenomena of sudden death and sudden birth for the initial state W ± ′ , while for the initial state W ± , Bell nonlocality has the phenomenon of sudden death, but entanglement decays to zero asymptotically over time. We also notice that the preservation of Bell-inequality violation is much shorter than that of entanglement. In addition, it is shown that the disentanglement time and the Bell-inequality violation time both depend on the purity and the width of the wave packet describing the motion of the atomic center of mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumour immunosuppressive microenvironments inhibit antigen-specific cellular responses and interfere with CpG-mediated immunotherapy. Overcoming tumour microenvironment (TME) immunosuppression is an important strategy for effective therapy. This study investigated the ability of a tumour-targeting IL-4Rα aptamer-liposome-CpG ODN delivery system to introduce CpG into tumours and overcome the immunosuppressive TME. The IL-4Rα-liposome-CpG delivery system was prepared. FAM-CpG visualisation was used to demonstrate tumour targetingin vitroandin vivo. Anti-tumour effects of this delivery system were evaluated in CT26 tumour-bearing mice. Mechanisms for conquering the TME were investigated. FAM-CpG was better distributed into the tumours upon treatment with IL-4Rα-liposome-FAM-CpG compared to distribution in the control groupin vitroandin vivo. IL-4Rα-aptamer-liposome-CpG treatment inhibited distinct myeloid-derived suppressor cell populations in tumours and bone marrow. Similar profiles were observed for regulatory T cells in tumours. In CT26 tumour-bearing mice, IL-4Rα-liposome-CpG treatment exhibited enhanced anti-tumour activity. Increased mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-12, and decreased mRNA levels of VEGF, IL-6, IL-10, MMP9, arginase-1, inducible NOS, CXCL9, p-Stat3, and NF-κB were observed in tumours upon IL-4R-liposome-CpG-treatment. The results suggested that pharmacologic targeting by the IL-4R aptamer-liposome-CpG system improves TME therapeutic benefit and provides a rationale for cancer immunotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Arecoline is an effective constituent ofAreca catechuL. (Arecaceae) with various pharmacological effects. However, investigations also revealed that long use of arecoline could arouse some oral diseases. Objective: The present review gathers the fragmented information available in the literature (before 1 October 2015) regarding pharmacology and toxicology of arecoline. We also discussed the potential developments and applications of arecoline in the future. Methods: All the available information regarding the arecoline is compiled from scientific databases, including Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, etc. Results: Previous research demonstrated that arecoline is one of the major effective constituents inA. catechu. Additionally, arecoline has a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities including effects on nervous, cardiovascular, digestive and endocrine systems and anti-parasitic effects. What’s more, arecoline is reported to be the primary toxic constituent ofA. catechu, and the main toxic effects include oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and genotoxicity. Conclusion: Arecoline has great potential to be a therapeutic drug for various ailments. However, further investigations are needed in the future to reduce or eliminate its toxicities before developing into new drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new polymer, [Ni(5-iipa)(bbi)]n(1) (5-iipa = 5-iodoisophthalic acid, bbi = 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole)), has been synthesized through hydrothermal reaction. It was structurally characterized by elemental analysis and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The X-ray crystal structure shows that the complex belongs to orthorhombic system, Pbcaspace group, anda= 10.1599(3) Å,b= 16.9413(2) Å,c= 22.1516(5) Å. The polymer exhibits an infinite [Ni2(5-iipa)2]ndouble-chain, and such chains are further united together to generate a three-dimensional structure through bbi ligands. Adjacent 3D frameworks are interlaced each other in a parallel fashion to give rise to a twofold interpenetrating structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view to the attenuation of the electromagnetic (EM) wave propagating energy in media, the EM scattering of the simple model of the iridescent tropical butterfly Morpho rhetenor in visible light irradiation is investigated by using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, combined with extensive surface technique. And it is compared with that of the lossless media, and prospective scattering characteristics are verified. As the scattering performance of the structure is characteristic with not only the structural stealth but also the material stealth characteristic, taking all kinds of factors that influence the properties of the media into account, it will help to accurately select and develop late-model high performance stealth material to make a further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the dual-band absorption characteristics of one-dimensional photonic crystals with graphene-based defect were theoretically analyzed and numerically simulated using the transfer matrix method. The dependence of dual-band absorption characteristics of the one-dimensional photonic crystal with graphene-based defect on period number of the structure behind the graphene layer, graphene layers, dielectric thickness of defect layer and the incident angle was obtained. Simulation results show that the absorptions with the lights whose wavelength are 699 nm and 1000 nm approximately enhance with the increasing of the layers of graphene. The absorption peaks increase with the decreasing of the dielectric thickness of defect layer and move toward the shorter wavelength. In the transverse electric (TE) mode, the absorption peaks can be regularly tuned by varying the incident angle. The results provide the theoretical basis for the study of graphene absorbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the internal-state Bell nonlocal entanglement dynamics, as measured by CHSH inequality of two atoms interacting with a vacuum multi-mode noise field by taking into account the spatial degrees of freedom of the two atoms. The dynamics of Bell nonlocality of the atoms with the atomic internal states being initially in a Werner-type state is studied, by deriving the analytical solutions of the Schrödinger equation, and tracing over the degrees of freedom of the field and the external motion of the two atoms. In addition, through comparison with entanglement as measured by concurrence, we find that the survival time of entanglement is much longer than that of the Bell-inequality violation. And the comparison of the quantum correlation time between two Werner-type states is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction to: Inflammation https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-021-01611-y The original published version of this article contained a mistake, and the authors would like to correct it. The correct co-first author annotations are as follows: Yu-jie Liu and Jia-lu Chen have contributed equally to this work and share first authorship. There are errors in co-first author annotations. [Extracted from the article]

With the increment of awareness of health, people now pay more and more attention to the safety of sunscreen products. Inorganic sunscreen agents, such as nano- TiO 2 , nano- SiO 2 , nano- ZnO , and nano- Al 2 O 3 are very popular among consumers for their advantages, such as the nontoxic, the odorless, not easy to decompose, not easy to undergo metamorphism, and a good ability of resisting. Based on the theory of thin film optics, two kinds of nano-films are researched and designed on the basis of the structure of photonic crystal in this paper. We conduct the simulation calculation to the transmittance of the films in the ultraviolet region with the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and theoretically validate that these films can keep the ultraviolet radiation off well. Besides, the superposition of two film stacks effectively expands the width of the forbidden band against ultraviolet light. This provides a theoretical basis for the inorganic sunscreen agents applied to umbrellas coating, sunscreen coating, and anti-UV fabric and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a sensitive sensing platform for 17β-estradiol by combining the aptamer probe and hybridization reaction. In this assay, 2-dimensional cobalt sulfide nanosheet (CoS) was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method with l -cysteine as sulfur donor. An electrochemical aptamer biosensor was constructed by assembling a thiol group tagged 17β-estradiol aptamer on CoS and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified electrode. Methylene blue was applied as a tracer and a guanine-rich complementary DNA sequence was designed to bind with the unbound 17β-estradiol aptamer for signal amplification. The binding of guanine-rich DNA to the aptamer was inhibited when the aptamer captured 17β-estradiol. Using guanine-rich DNA in the assay greatly amplified the redox signal of methylene blue bound to the detection probe. The CoS/AuNPs film formed on the biosensor surface appeared to be a good conductor for accelerating the electron transfer. The method demonstrated a high sensitivity of detection with the dynamic concentration range spanning from 1.0×10 −9 to 1.0×10 −12 M and a detection limit of 7.0×10 −13 M. Besides, the fabricated biosensor exhibited good selectivity toward 17β-estradiol even when interferents were presented at 100-fold concentrations. Our attempt will extend the application of the CoS nanosheet and this signal amplification assay to biosensing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Areca catechu L. (Arecaceae), widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia, is a popular traditional herbal medicine that can be chewed for the purpose of dispersing accumulated fluid in the abdominal cavity and killing worms. The present paper aims to provide an up-to-date review on the traditional uses and advances in the botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of this plant. Furthermore, the possible trends and a perspective for future research of this plant are also discussed. Materials and methods A literature search was performed on A. catechu based on classic books of herbal medicine, PhD. and MSc. dissertations, government reports, the state and local drug standards, scientific databases including Pubmed, SciFinder, Scopus, the Web of Science, Google Scholar, and others. Various types of information regarding this plant are discussed in corresponding parts of this paper. In addition, perspectives for possible future studies of A. catechu are discussed. Results The seeds of A. catechu (areca nut) have been widely used in clinical practice in China, India and other South and Southeast Asian Countries. Currently, over 59 compounds have been isolated and identified from A. catechu , including alkaloids, tannins, flavones, triterpenes, steroids, and fatty acids. The extracts and compounds isolated from A. catechu have many pharmacological activities. These include antiparasitic effects, anti-depressive effects, anti-fatigue effects, antioxidant effects, antibacterial and antifungal effects, antihypertensive effects, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, anti-allergic effects, the promotion of digestive functions, suppression of platelet aggregation, regulatory effects on blood glucose and lipids, etc . Although arecoline is the primary active constituent of A. catechu , it is also the primary toxic compound. The main toxicities of arecoline are the promotion of oral submucosal fibrosis (OSF) and cytotoxic effects on normal human cells, which involve inducing apoptosis. Conclusion As an important herbal medicine, A. catechu has potential for the treatment of many diseases, especially parasitic diseases, digestive function disorders, and depression. Many traditional uses of A. catechu have now been validated by current investigations. However, further research should be undertaken to investigate the clinical effects, toxic constituents, target organs, and pharmacokinetics and to establish criteria for quality control for A. catechu- derived medications. In addition, it will be interesting to investigate the active macromolecular compounds and active constituents other than alkaloids in both raw and processed products of A. catechu . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, two-dimensional transition-metal chalcogenides attract increasing interest because of their remarkable structural and electronic properties. In this work, acetylene black (AB) incorporated CuS nanosheets are synthesized via a simple solvothermal route assisted by ethylene glycol. The obtained sample is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra. A novel DNA electrochemical biosensor is fabricated with the DNA labeled at 5′ end using 6-mercapto-1-hexhane immobilized on the CuS-AB/Au nanoparticles modified electrode through Au–S interaction. After blocked with 6-mercapto-1-hexanol, the probe DNA is bound with the addition of target DNA to form the double-stranded structure on the electrode surface, which leads to a significantly decrease of peak current of electrochemical indicator [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3−/4− . Under optimum conditions, the amperometric signals decrease linearly with the target DNA concentrations (0.1 pM–1 nM), and the DNA sensor exhibits a detection limit as low as 20 fM (3 σ / S ) with an excellent differentiation ability. The proposed method also shows acceptable stability and reproducibility. The good analytical performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of acetylene black and the unique microstructure of CuS nanosheets. This can open up new opportunities for sensitive and selective detection of specific sequence DNA and provide a promising platform for sensor or biosensor designs for other biomoleculars detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed an electrochemical method for the determination of 17β-estradiol. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with a composite made from copper sulfide nanosheets, gold nanoparticles, and glucose oxidase. The copper sulfide nanosheet was prepared by a single-step hydrothermal process, and its properties were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Finally, an estradiol-specific aptamer was assembled on the electrode. The copper sulfide nanosheet on the electrode surface acts as a relatively good electrical conductor. Glucose oxidase acts as an indicator, and the dual modification of glucose oxidase and gold nanoparticles for signal amplification. The determination of 17β-estradiol was performed by differential pulse voltammetry of glucose oxidase because the signal measured at typically −0.43 V depends on the concentration of 17β-estradiol because addition of 17β-estradiol at electrode hinders electron transfer. A linear relationship exists between the peak current and the logarithm of concentration of 17β-estradiol in the 0.5 pM to 5 nM range, with a 60 f. detection limit (at 3σ/S). The method displays good selectivity over bisphenol A, 1-aminoanthraquinone and naphthalene even if present in 100-fold concentrations. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide are attracting increasing attention in electrochemical sensing due to unique nanoconstruction and electronic properties. The present work reports the preparation of flower-like vanadium disulfide (VS2) by a simple one-step hydrothermal process and its properties are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Data from XRD, SEM and TEM demonstrate that the as-prepared VS2 product has ordered nanosheets stacking flower-structure which is constructed with many irregular nanosheets as a petal-like structure with thickness of several nanometers. A novel electrochemical biosensor was constructed for the determination of 17β-estradiol by immobilizing aptamer on the surface of VS2 nanoflowers and gold nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode. Differential pulse voltammetry is applied for the determination of 17β-estradiol and a good linear relationship between the peak current and the logarithm of 17β-estradiol concentration from 1.0×10−11 to 1.0×10−8 M with a detection limit of 1.0×10−12 M (3σ/S). The aptamer sensor exhibits a high sensitivity and remarkable reproducible analytical performance, and was successfully applied for the determination of 17β-estradiol in urine samples with recoveries of 92.0–105.2%. Our attempt will extend the application of VS2 nanoflowers to electrochemical biosensing and catalytic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel 2-dimensional graphene analog molybdenum disulfide/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MoS2/MWCNT) was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method to achieve excellent electrochemical properties. An ultrasensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor was subsequently constructed by assembling a thiol-tagged DNA probe on a MoS2/MWCNT and gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-modified electrode that has already been coupled with glucose oxidase (GOD). In this work, GOD was used as a redox marker. The heteronanostructure formed on the biosensor surface appeared relatively good conductor for accelerating the electron transfer, while the modification of GOD and AuNPs provided multiple signal amplification for electrochemical biosensing. The multiple signal amplification strategy produced an ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of DNA down to 0.79fM with a linear range from 10fM to 107 fM, and appeared high selectivity to differentiate three-base mismatched DNA and one-base mismatched DNA. The developed approach provided a simple and reliable method for DNA detection with high sensitivity and specificity, and would open new opportunities for sensitive detection of other biorecognition events. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel electrochemical biosensor for sensitive and selective DNA detection was constructed based on polydopamine@graphene composite functionalized with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-Pdop@Gr). The Pdop@Gr was prepared by simple chemical route and AgNPs further deposited over the Pdop@Gr by mildly stirring to form AgNPs-Pdop@Gr composite films, which was considered as potential sensing platform. DNA labeled at 5′ end using 6-mercapto-1-hexhane (HS-ssDNA) was immobilized on AgNPs-Pdop@Gr surface to form ssDNA-S-AgNPs-Pdop@Gr and hybridization sensing was done in phosphate buffer. Differential pulse voltammetry was applied to monitor the DNA hybridization event using methylene blue as an electrochemical indicator. Under optimum conditions, the peak currents of methylene blue were linear with the logarithm of the concentrations of complementary DNA from 1.0×10−13 to 1.0×10−8 M with a detection limit of 3.2×10−15 M (3σ/S). The biosensor also displayed high selectivity to differentiate one-base mismatched DNA. All these excellent performances of the developed biosensor indicated that this sensing platform could be easily extended to the detection of other nucleic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel two-dimensional graphene analogue tungsten sulfide–graphene (WS2–Gr) composite was synthesized to achieve excellent electrochemical properties for applications as DNA biosensor. Gr served as a 2D conductive skeleton that supported a highly electrolytic accessible surface area of WS2 nanocomposite which was prepared by a hydrothermal method. A sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor was fabricated by using the WS2–Gr–chitosan composites modified glassy carbon electrode to anchor Au nanoparticles (AuNPs), which subsequently used to capture ssDNA sequences. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were carried out for the characterization of modified electrodes. Under optimum conditions, the developed biosensor showed a good linear relationship between the current value and logarithm of the target DNA concentration ranging from 0.01 to 500pM with a detection limit of 0.0023pM. The DNA biosensor exhibited excellent discrimination ability to detect one-base mismatched DNA, three-base mismatched DNA and non-complementary DNA sequence. This work described a simple strategy for the preparation of a stable and conductive interface for electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization and opened a path for the application of WS2–Gr nanocomposite in DNA electrochemical biosensing analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the radiofrequency (RF) injury effect on cartilage in the different settings that are mostly used in clinical work under rigidly controlled laboratory conditions. Methods: Twelve fresh porcine knees were used in our study. Five treatment areas were created on the femoral condyles of each knee: the control group, coagulation (setting 2) group, coagulation (setting 7) group, ablation (setting 2) group, and ablation (setting 7) group. Hematoxylin/eosin staining, dual fluorescence staining, and the GAG content were observed to evaluate the histological cartilage changes, vacuolar cell rate of chondrocytes, depth of chondrocyte death, and detection of GAG content. Results: Vacuolar cell rates of chondrocytes in each experimental group were higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.05); there was no significant difference in vacuolar cell rate among experimental groups. Dual fluorescent staining showed that the ablation (setting 7) group had a smaller depth of cell death than did the coagulation (setting 2) group ( P < 0.05); the other experimental groups showed no statistically significant difference (n.s.). In addition, there was no significant difference in GAG content between the experimental groups and control group (n.s.). Conclusions: The coagulation mode results in heavier thermal radiation injury to chondrocytes than does the ablation mode. Higher-power settings in the ablation mode result in lower thermal radiation injury and may be most suitable for cartilage debridement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To compare the role of CTCAE version 4.0 (v4.0) and version 3.0 (v3.0) in assessing chemoradiation-induced oral mucositis (OM) for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). Patients with LA-NPC were recruited into the study. All eligible participants received docetaxel and cisplatin-based induction chemotherapy followed by intensity modulated radiation therapy concurrent with cisplatin. OM was assessed before and weekly during radiotherapy (RT), using CTCAE v3.0 (clinical exam) and v4.0 separately. OM-related quality of life (QOL) was also evaluated in these patients with the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire – Head and Neck module (QLQ-H&N35). From June 2010 to February 2011, 23 eligible patients were enrolled. A highly significant correlation (rho=0.838, p =0.000) and a non-significant difference (p =0.167) in OM grades were found between the two CTCAE versions. However, the trend lines showed that the mean grade determined by CTCAE v3.0 reached a plateau while the mean grade determined by v4.0 continued to increase after the fourth week during RT. Changing trends of several QOL subscale mean scores were similar to that of OM mean grade evaluated by CTCAE v4.0. Both grades of the two CTCAE versions were significantly and positively correlated with scores of several QOL subscales. Nonetheless, the correlation coefficients related to CTCAE v4.0 were higher than those related to v3.0 (rho: 0.727–0.865 versus 0.727–0.778). CTCAE v4.0 could serve as a good surrogate for v3.0 (clinical exam) in assessing chemoradiation-induced oral mucositis. Moreover, CTCAE v4.0 has a few subtle advantages over v3.0 under some circumstances such as delegating QOL. However, there is still no “gold standard” assessment scale for oral mucositis. Therefore, the appropriate tool should be carefully chosen according to the purpose of assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute gouty arthritis is a common inflammation model with multiple pathogenic mechanisms seen in clinical practice, for which acupuncture may potentially be an alternative therapy. To investigate the effect of acupuncture on acute gouty arthritis and search for its mechanism, a metabonomic method was developed in this investigation. Acute gouty arthritis model rats were induced by monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. The urine and plasma samples were collected at several time points and the endogenous metabolites were analyzed by an ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Data were analyzed using principal components analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) analysis to compare metabolic profiles of MSU crystal-induced acute gouty arthritis rats with MSU crystal-induced acute gouty arthritis, treated with acupuncture rats. The results showed that acupuncture could restore the metabolite network that disturbed by MSU administration. Our study indicates that UPLC-MS-based metabonomics can be used as a potential tool for the investigation of biological effect of acupuncture on acute gouty arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Possessing sessile filter-feeding lifestyle, bivalves are more susceptible to contamination by benthic phycotoxins such as the diarrhetic shellfish toxins (DSTs). Due to the prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments, bivalve that experienced MP-exposure are potentially at higher risk from exposure to DSTs-producing microalgae, however, little is known about the impacts of past MP-exposure experience on the accumulation of DSTs. In this study, taking polystyrene (PS) MPs and DSTs-producing Prorocentrum lima as representatives, the impacts of MP-exposure on DSTs accumulation were evaluated in the thick-shell mussel Mytilus coruscus. Our results demonstrated that mussels with MP-exposure experience accumulated markedly higher levels of DSTs in their digestive glands, which may result from a significant impairment of detoxification. In addition, although might exert their effects through different mechanisms, both MP- and/or P. lima -exposure aggravated the level of oxidative stress and led to significant histological lesion of the digestive glands, with the highest stress and lesion observed in mussels that exposed to P. lima after a 21-day MP-exposure. Collectively, our results indicate the risk of DSTs-contamination of bivalves could be markedly aggravated by the ubiquitous presence of MPs, which may pose a severe threat to human consumers and warrants upmost attention. [Display omitted] • Pre-exposure to MPs boosted the accumulation of DSTs in the thick-shell mussel. • MPs may aggravate DST-accumulation by hampering DST-excreting ABC transporters. • MPs may boost DST-accumulation by constraining energy supply for DST excretion. • Evident oxidative damage and tissue lesion were induced by MP- and P. lima -exposure. • Environmentally realistic levels of MPs aggravate DST-contamination risk of bivalves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a modified press-fit fixation technique for reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). A historical overview of ACL reconstruction is presented, along with details of preoperative planning. The technique involves several procedures including arthroscopic procedure, femoral tunnel preparation, and tibial tunnel preparation. Among the complications associated with the technique include motion deficits, persistent anterior knee pain and lack of muscle strength.

This document is a correction notice for a published paper titled "Multifunctional Injectable Hydrogel Loaded with Cerium-Containing Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles for Diabetic Wound Healing." The authors have identified errors in Figure 4A and in several sections of the paper, including the synthesis and characterization of BG/Ce-BG, in vivo wound healing in a diabetic skin defect model, and the wound healing effects on a diabetic skin defect model. The authors apologize for any inconvenience caused and state that the scientific conclusions of the paper are unaffected. The correction has been approved by the Academic Editor and the original publication has been updated. [Extracted from the article]

A strategy for the synthesis of isoquinolylselenocyanates and quinolylselenocyanates through electrophilic selenocyanogen cyclization has been developed. The feature of this reaction is that the sequential process was induced directly by generated in situ pseudohalogen (SeCN)2 generated in situ. Additionally, the obtained selenocyanates allowed functional group diversification, which could be potential intermediates for valuable compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The impact of microplastics on marine benthic dinoflagellates was studied. • PS had limited effect on the growth of P. lima , but enhanced OA and EPS production. • Genes related to toxin and carbohydrate synthesis, and metabolism were upregulated. • Increased DSP toxins may strengthen the threat of benthic dinoflagellates. Microplastics are well known as contaminants in marine environments. With the development of biofilms, most microplastics will eventually sink and deposit in benthic environment. However, little research has been done on benthic toxic dinoflagellates, and the effects of microplastics on benthic dinoflagellates are unknown. Prorocentrum lima is a cosmopolitan toxic benthic dinoflagellate, which can produce a range of polyether metabolites, such as diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins. In order to explore the impact of microplastics on marine benthic dinoflagellates, in this paper, we studied the effects of polystyrene (PS) on the growth and toxin production of P. lima. The molecular response of P. lima to microplastic stress was analyzed by transcriptomics. We selected 100 nm, 10 μm and 100 μm PS, and set three concentrations of 1 mg L −1, 10 mg L −1 and 100 mg L −1. The results showed that PS exposure had limited effects on cell growth, but increased the OA and extracellular polysaccharide content at high concentrations. After exposure to PS MPs, genes associated with DSP toxins synthesis, carbohydrate synthesis and energy metabolism, such as glycolysis, TCA cycle and pyruvate metabolism, were significantly up-regulated. We speculated that after exposure to microplastics, P. lima may increase the synthesis of DSP toxins and extracellular polysaccharides, improve the level of energy metabolism and gene expression of ABC transporter, thereby protecting algal cells from damage. Our findings provide new insights into the effects of microplastics on toxic benthic dinoflagellates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photonic crystal is a dielectric structure arranged according to certain rules, and its excellent electromagnetic wave characteristics can be used to manufacture a lot of kinds of photonic crystal devices. In this paper, a defect is introduced into the photonic crystal, and the transfer matrix method is used to study the relationship between the liquid concentration and the peak value of the liquid transmission at the electromagnetic wave length when the defect is a mixture of ethanol and glycol. The results show that by observing and measuring the position of the peak transmittance of the mixed liquid, the substance content of the liquid mixture, that is, the concentration, can be inferred. The accuracy of this method is compared with the experimental results, which shows that this method has high accuracy. This method is simple and easy to operate. This result opens up a new direction for the application of photonic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the relationship between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the time period when postmenopausal women received HRT and accelerated biological aging. Methods Based on the biochemical and anthropometric data collected from the UK Biobank baseline survey, the biological age (BA) and BA acceleration index were constructed by Klemera Doubal method (KDM). The subjects were divided into 5 groups according to the status of receiving HRT: no, 10 years before menopause, 0-10 years before menopause, 0-10 years after menopause, and 10 years after menopause. Multivariate linear regression model was used to explore the relationship between HRT and BA acceleration. The characteristic factors of the population were taken as stratified factors for stratified analysis. Results A total of 96 889 subjects were included. Compared with people who did not receive HRT, there was a correlation for starting HRT 0-10 years before menopause (3=-0.28, 95%CI: -0.36 to -0.19) and starting HRT postmenopausal 0-10 years (j8=-0.39, 95%CI: -0.46 to -0.31) with the delayed accelerated aging. The effect of HRT on delaying and accelerating aging was more obvious in postmenopausal women less than 60 years old. Conclusion Receiving HRT slows biological aging and is more effective when used within 10 years of menopause in postmenopausal women under 60 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the transmission characteristics of two-dimensional photonic crystal with Hg-1223 cylindrical array in transverse magnetic mode are studied in terahertz-waves by shift operator finite-difference time-domain method. The effects of external temperature and pressure and the period and radius of the dielectric cylinders on the transmission properties of superconducting photonic crystal in terahertz-waves are studied. The simulation results show that external temperature and pressure can be used to change the plasma frequency of superconductor, thus adjusting band gap width of superconducting photonic crystal. The decreasing of the external temperature or the increasing of the pressure have resulted in the increasing of the band gap width of superconducting photonic crystal, while increasing external temperature or decreasing the pressure can decrease the band gap width, which gradually becomes apparent as temperature increases or pressure decreases. In addition, the increasing of the periods and radius of superconducting cylinders can also broaden the band gap of superconducting photonic crystal in terahertz-waves. The research in this paper is in terahertz-waves, and all the cutoff frequencies of band gap are between 0.1 and 6 THz, which provides references for practical application of superconducting photonic crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we study about the absorption properties of terahertz (THz) wave in the magnetic plasma medium. Terahertz wave has strong transmission in plasma. Generally speaking, with the increase in THz wave frequency, the transmission in plasma is stronger. Thus, we can consider raising carrier frequency to THz band to solve the communication of "blackout." We found that the absorption in magnetic plasma is greatly affected by magnetic field. The changes on the power absorption coefficient of the two kinds of eigen wave in magnetic plasma vary with how the outside magnetic field, incident angle, and the thickness of the plasma are obtained. The study found that following the increase in magnetic field, the absorption of left circularly polarised waves (L-wave) gradually reduces, and the right circularly polarised waves (R-wave) will produce two absorption peaks, and these two absorption peaks move to high frequency as a whole. With the increase in incident angle and the high spectrum absorption of L-wave enhancement, the reflection between the two absorption peaks of R-wave broadens. The reflection area on the left side of the low-frequency area to absorb has a little change. The absorption on the right side of the high-frequency area is enhancement. With the increase in the plasma thickness, the L-wave absorption peak on the right side of the high-frequency area absorbs enhancement; the R-wave reflection between the two absorption peak areas is impregnability, the second absorption peak absorption enhancement on the right side of the high-frequency area. The study has shown the different absorption mechanisms of the L-wave and the R-wave and shown different absorption features in magnetic plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein is an important representative component of life. Protein concentration and temperature have a very important impact on life. This paper uses the special structure composed of photonic crystals to act on photonic crystals and protein solutions through electromagnetic waves. Using the transfer matrix method, the effects of the concentration and temperature of protein solution on the refractive index and transmittance of protein are analyzed and judged. The variation law is obtained by calculation and analysis. These basic laws are: First, at a certain temperature, the refractive index of protein solution increases approximately linearly with the increase of protein solution concentration. The transmittance of protein solution in photonic crystals is gradually decreasing; Second, when the concentration of protein solution is constant, with the increase of protein solution temperature, the refractive index of protein solution decreases approximately linearly, and the transmittance of protein solution increases gradually in the shape of parabola. The study of these laws provides a certain scientific basis for further applying photonic crystal structure to life science research and explaining the physical laws in biological changes. • Using the special structure composed of photonic crystals to act on photonic crystals and protein solutions through electromagnetic waves. • Using the transfer matrix method, the effects of the concentration and temperature of protein solution on the refractive index and transmittance of protein are analyzed and judged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charred areca nut (CAN) is used to treat dyspepsia and abdominal distension in children. However, reports revealed that arecoline, the most important active constituent of CAN, possesses potential toxicities. This study was designed to investigate the optimum arecoline content in CAN, using the 'target constituent removal combined with bioactivity assay' strategy. Based on PTLC method, we prepared CAN lacking all arecoline (WAC-100R) and a series of different ratios of arecoline-removed CAN samples (WAC-Rx). MTT and acute toxicity assays indicated that decreasing content by 50% decreased CAN toxicity significantly. Animal results revealed arecoline contents over 50% could guarantee the beneficial effects of CAN on gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, decreasing arecoline content in CAN by 50% decreased its pro-apoptotic effects significantly. Furthermore, decreasing 50% arecoline content in CAN down-regulated the expressions of Cleaved-Caspase-3, c-jun, c-fos, COX-2, PGE2, and IL-1α. Thus, our results revealed that CAN with 50% arecoline content (WAC-50R) has similar beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract to CAN, whereas its toxicity was decreased significantly. Collectively, our study suggested that the strategy of 'target constituent removal combined with bioactivity assay' is a promising method to identify the optimum arecoline content in CAN, which is approximately 0.12%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between a two-level atom trapped in symmetric double-well potential and a single mode cavity field is investigated. By solving Schrödinger equation, the analytical expressions of the total wave function and inversion of the atomic energy level for the whole system are given. Time evolution of the atomic population inversion is analyzed for different initial states of the cavity field, such as fock and coherent states. Influence of atomic mass centre motion on population inversion is considered. Results show that by choosing appropriate cavity field initial state, potential well location and related factors, the spontaneous emission rate of an atom can be effectively controlled and the atomic moving centre of mass can suppress Rabi oscillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Polysaccharides from the dried tuber of Typhonium giganteum Engl. (TGEPs) were obtained by utilizing ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) as the extraction method. The determination of optimal process parameters for the UAE of TGEPs (TGEP-U) was accomplished through the application of response surface methodology (RSM). The structural characteristics, antioxidant and hypoglycemic effects of TGEP-U and TGEPs obtained by hot water extraction (TGEP-H) were then compared. Consequently, the optimum extraction conditions predicted by RSM for TGEP-U were obtained as adding water at a ratio of 31 mL/g and extracted for 32 min under an ultrasound power of 440 W. In the verification experiment, the actual yield of TGEP-U was 7.32 ± 0.18 %. It was found that UAE could increase the yield and the total sugar content of TGEPs. Meanwhile, chemical composition analysis showed that both TGEP-U and TGEP-H were mainly composed of mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, arabinose, and fucose, but the monosaccharide molar ratios were changed by UAE. Analysis of molecular weight (Mw) revealed the presence of three primary constituents within TGEP-U, and four main components in TGEP-H, and UAE reduced the average Mw of TGEPs. No obvious difference was found in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of TGEP-U and TGEP-H. The Congo red and Circular dichroism tests demonstrated that TGEP-U and TGEP-H had non-three helical structure. Scanning electron microscope observation further revealed that the aggregation of functional groups within TGEPs may be influenced by ultrasound, thereby affecting their powder morphology. TGEP-U has slightly poorer thermal stability than TGEP-H, which may be affected by ultrasonic cavitation effects. The results also indicated that TGEP-U had better antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity than TGEP-H. In summary, UAE is an effective method to extract and enhance the activity of TGEPs with enormous research value and potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]