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China may face new threats to public health due to the increased risk of imported mpox (monkeypox) cases. However, research gaps exist in the acceptance of mpox vaccination and potential associated factors in the Chinese population. We conducted a cross-sectional study targeting community residents in Shenzhen, China, from August 5 to September 7 2022. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information about demographic and health characteristics, mpox-related perceptions, and attitudes towards mpox vaccination. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to detect the factors associated with willingness to receive and recommend mpox vaccination. A total of 2293 community residents were included in the analyses (average age: 34.03, female: 72.6%). Among the participants, 76.9% were aware of mpox, 62.1% were aware of the global mpox outbreak, but only 53.6% had a high knowledge level of mpox. Males had a higher proportion of high knowledge (56.9% vs 52.3%, P ＜0.05) and a lower proportion of high worry (30.2% vs 45.4%, P ＜0.05) than females. Approximately 69.1% of the participants were willing to vaccinate against mpox, and 69.6% were willing to recommend mpox vaccination to people around them, in which no gender difference was found. The obstacle reported most among people hesitant to receive vaccination was concerning the safety and side-effects, whereas it changed to be concerning the suitability due to individual health differences among people hesitant to recommend mpox vaccines. Factors associated with the willingness to receive and recommend mpox vaccination included having a history of influenza vaccination, having a history of COVID-19 vaccination, being aware of the global mpox outbreak, having a high knowledge level of mpox, and having a high level of mpox-related worry. This study identified a moderate willingness to receive and recommend mpox vaccination among Chinese adults. Without gender differences, willingness to receive and recommend mpox vaccination was significantly associated with mpox-related perceptions, such as awareness, knowledge, and worry. Authoritative and up-to-date information is needed to help the general population improve public confidence in mpox vaccines in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion beam irradiation is a powerful method to fabricate and tailor the nanostructured surface of materials. Nanorods on the surface of single crystal rutile TiO2 were formed by N+ ion irradiation. The dependence of nanorod morphology on ion fluence and energy was elaborated. With increasing ion fluence, nanopores grow in one direction perpendicular to the surface and burst finally to form nanorods. The length of nanorods increases with increasing ion energy under same fluence. The development of the nanorod structure is originated from the formation of the nanopores while N2 bubbles and aggregation of vacancies were responsible for the formation of nanopores and nanorods. Combining C+ ion irradiation and post-irradiation annealing experiments, two qualitative models are proposed to explain the formation mechanism of these nanorods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion beam irradiation is a powerful method to fabricate and tailor the nanostructured surface of materials. Nanorods on the surface of single crystal rutile TiO2 were formed by N+ ion irradiation. The dependence of nanorod morphology on ion fluence and energy was elaborated. With increasing ion fluence, nanopores grow in one direction perpendicular to the surface and burst finally to form nanorods. The length of nanorods increases with increasing ion energy under same fluence. The development of the nanorod structure is originated from the formation of the nanopores while N2 bubbles and aggregation of vacancies were responsible for the formation of nanopores and nanorods. Combining C+ ion irradiation and post-irradiation annealing experiments, two qualitative models are proposed to explain the formation mechanism of these nanorods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white light luminescence is observed from the silica slides implanted by sequential Si+ and C+ ions or only by C+ ions followed by thermal annealing. In the photoluminescence (PL) spectra, their white emissions cover the whole visible spectral range from 350 to 800 nm. The influence of thermal annealing on the PL of the implanted samples was studied. The microstructural and optical analysis allow us to figure out the origin of the white light emission, which is mainly attributed to the emission of graphite like C clusters although the contributions from the emissions of the Si and SiC nanocrystals are also included. Compared to the white light emission of C+ implanted sample, the white light emission of Si+/C+ implanted sample has higher thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stellite 3 is an excellent wear-resistant material owing to its high carbon content, but has the serious problem of cracking during laser processing due to its extreme brittleness. To solve this problem a novel composite Stellite alloy which has comparable hardness and sliding wear resistance to Stellite 3 was prepared on 316 stainless steel by laser cladding using a mixed powder of major Stellite 3 and minor Stellite 21. The microstructure and phase of the new alloy was analysed by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The hardness, wear resistance and single-tip scratching behavior of the specimens were investigated experimentally. The results showed that no pores and cracks were formed in the new Stellite alloy laser clad layer. The main reinforcement phases in the microstructure consist of (Co,W)3C, Cr23C6, Cr7C3, Co3Mo. The hardness and wear resistance were improved not only by the carbides, but also by the Co3Mo in this new Stellite alloy. The butterfly valve switch test demonstrated that the sealing properties of the new alloy were significantly better than the existing Stellite 6 alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an improved rock mass characterization method is presented. This method used a quantified geological strength index (GSI) and synthetic rock mass (SRM) model based on a discrete fracture network (DFN) and bonded particle model. A quantitative method is initially introduced to assist in the use of the conventional GSI chart, employing the rock block volume as the quantitative factor. The block volume for a given DFN model is calculated by a volumetric joint count, which is defined as the number of fractures intersecting a cube with unit length. The peak strength and deformation modulus of the rock mass are estimated based on the derived GSI, and then selected as references to constrain mechanical parameters of joints in the SRM model. A parametric study shows a positive correlation between the joint stiffness/friction coefficient and both the peak strength and deformation modulus. The joint friction coefficients of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 are suggested to correspond to the surface quality of ‘FAIR’, ‘GOOD’, and ‘VERY GOOD’ in the GSI chart. An advantage of the SRM over the GSI lies in the characterization of the post-peak strain softening behavior. The numerical results show that lower joint stiffness and friction coefficient result in a more ductile post-peak behavior. Additional SRM models with varied joint distributions show the complexities of rock mass characterization, where the rock mass strength, modulus, and post-peak strain softening rate may vary significantly with only one aspect of distributions of the joints, such as intensity or diameter. Triaxial testing is also conducted, and the SRM peak strengths are compared with the Hoek-Brown strength criterion based on the GSI system. The strengths of the regular triaxial models show general convergence with the Hoek-Brown criterion, but the strengths of the true triaxial models are less than those of the regular triaxial models due to deviatoric confining stresses. Meanwhile, ductile post-peak behavior is generally simulated in the triaxial testing. Cracking models are finally investigated and presented, behaving as additional information to explain the changes in the rock mass strength and deformability with different confining stresses. The method presented in this paper is meant to help geologists and engineers to quantify the GSI for jointed rock mass, and characterize the rock mass modulus and strength. Meanwhile, the synthetic rock mass method provides an alternative for rock mass characterization in addition to the traditional GSI method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin films of copper iodide (CuI) were grown on (-201) bulk Ga2O3 and (010) epitaxial (Al0.14Ga0.86)2O3 using a copper film iodination reaction method. The valence band offsets for these heterostructures were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). High resolution XPS data of the O 1s peak and onset of elastic losses were used to establish the (Al0.14Ga0.86)2O3 bandgap to be 5.0 ± 0.30 eV. The valence band offsets were −0.25 eV ± 0.07 eV and 0.05 ± 0.02 eV for CuI on Ga2O3 or (Al0.14Ga0.86)2O3, respectively. The respective conduction band offsets were 1.25 ± 0.25 eV for Ga2O3 and 1.85 ± 0.35 eV for (Al0.14Ga0.86)2O3. Thus, there is a transition from type-II to type-I alignment as Al is added to β-Ga2O3. The low valence band offsets are ideal for hole transport across the heterointerfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which examined defects and ion redistribution in implant-isolated gallium arsenide based device structures. Technique for isolating elementary gallium arsenide-based devices; Concerns about post-implant anneal needed to achieve maximum resistivity in heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) structures; Layer structure of gallium arsenide/AlGaAs grown by metal organic molecular beam epitaxy.

Reports on the implant isolation characteristics of highly doped n- and p-type gallium arsenide (GaAs) epitaxial layers implanted with 5 MeV O[sup+] ions. Layer structures used for MeV isolation experiments; Evolution of the sheet resistance of initially p[sup+] GaAs single epitaxial layers implanted with the ions at different doses; Measurement of the temperature dependence of the sheet carrier densities.

Presents as study that discussed how carbon and tin can be incorporated during growth by metalorganic molecular beam epitaxy in order to produce p-type n-type p-type semiconductor structures. Experimental procedure; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

Describes the simultaneous formation of buried external collector and extrinsic base regions in gallium arsenide/AlGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) structures by co-implantation of beryllium+ together with oxygen+ or hydrogen+ ions. Effect of high annealing temperature on beryllium (Be) activation; Reduction of the base-collector capacitance and the associated changes in parasitic resistances; Redistribution of the Be and the residual disorder in the HBT structure.

Discusses a study on the improved growth conditions by molecular-beam epitaxy and fabrication of state-of-the-art aluminum gallium arsenide (GaAs)/GaAs selectively doped heterostructure transistors and ring oscillators on silicon substrates. Effects of substrate misorientation on 2DEG properties; Properties of the two-dimensional electron gas; Schottky diodes characteristics and doping profiles on undoped gallium arsenide-on-silicon.

A key goal for Ga2O3 rectifiers is to achieve high forward currents and high reverse breakdown voltages. Field-plated β-Ga2O3 Schottky rectifiers with area 0.01 cm2, fabricated on 10 μm thick, lightly-doped drift regions (1.33 x 1016 cm-3) on heavily-doped (3.6 x 1018 cm-3) substrates, exhibited forward current density of 100A.cm-2 at 2.1 V, with absolute current of 1 A at this voltage and a reverse breakdown voltage (VB) of 650V. The on-resistance (RON) was 1.58 x 10-2 Ω.cm2, producing a figure of merit (VB2/RON) of 26.5 MW.cm-2. The Schottky barrier height of the Ni was 1.04 eV, with an ideality factor of 1.02. The on/off ratio was in the range 3.3 x 106 - 5.7 x 109 for reverse biases between 5 and 100V. The reverse recovery time was ∼30 ns for switching from +2V to -5V. The results show the capability of β-Ga2O3 rectifiers to achieve exceptional performance in both forward and reverse bias conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonic treatment and blanching prior to hot-air drying and freeze drying of onions on the retention of bioactive compounds (total phenolics, total flavonoids, and quercetin). Onion slices were treated either with ultrasound at 20 kHz and different amplitude levels (24.4–61 μm) for 1, 3 and 5 min or with blanching using hot water at 70 °C for 1, 3 and 5 min. The ultrasound treatment improved the retention of bioactive compounds (especially quercetin) and accordingly the antioxidant activity in onion slices dried either by freeze drying or hot-air drying. This is ascribed to the destruction of the original tissue structure by ultrasound and thus higher extraction ability of the studied phytochemicals. Comparing ultrasound treated samples, freeze dried onions had a higher retention of bioactive compounds than hot-air dried ones. Blanched and ultrasound treated dried onions exhibited similar colour change. Therefore, ultrasound treatment is a potential alternative to conventional blanching before drying of onion slices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The valence band offsets in rf-sputtered Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)/single crystal β-Ga 2 O 3 (ITO/Ga 2 O 3 ) heterostructures were measured with X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy using the Kraut method. The bandgaps of the component materials in the heterostructure were determined by Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy as 4.6 eV for Ga 2 O 3 and 3.5 eV for ITO. The valence band offset was determined to be −0.78 ± 0.30 eV, while the conduction band offset was determined to be −0.32 ± 0.13 eV. The ITO/Ga 2 O 3 system has a nested gap (type I) alignment. The use of a thin layer of ITO between a metal and the Ga 2 O 3 is an attractive approach for reducing contact resistance on Ga 2 O 3 -based power electronic devices and solar-blind photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy was used to determine the valence band offset at Al 2 O 3 /β-Ga 2 O 3 heterointerfaces. The Al 2 O 3 was deposited either by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) or rf magnetron sputtering and the synthesis method was found to have a very significant effect on the resulting band alignment. The bandgaps of the materials were determined by Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy as 4.6 eV for Ga 2 O 3 and 6.9eV for Al 2 O 3 deposited by either method. The valence band offset was determined to be 0.07eV ± 0.20 eV (straddling gap, type I alignment) for ALD Al 2 O 3 on Ga 2 O 3 and -0.86 ± 0.25 eV (staggered gap, type II alignment) for sputtered Al 2 O 3 . This led to conduction band offsets of 2.23 ± 0.60 eV for ALD Al 2 O 3 and 3.16 ± 0.80 eV for sputtered Al 2 O 3 , respectively. The choice of deposition method for the dielectric alters the type of band alignment for the Al 2 O 3 /Ga 2 O 3 system from type I alignment to type II. Since the main difference is expected to be the disorder at the dielectric/Ga 2 O 3 interface, this shows how synthesis method can affect the resulting band alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the determination of band offsets in rf-sputtered Aluminum Zinc Oxide (AZO)/single crystal β-Ga 2 O 3 (AZO/Ga 2 O 3 ) heterostructures using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The bandgaps of the materials were determined by Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy as 4.6 eV for Ga 2 O 3 and 3.2eV for AZO. The valence band offset was determined to be −0.61eV ± 0.23eV, while the conduction band offset was determined to be −0.79 ± 0.34 eV. The AZO/Ga 2 O 3 system has a nested, or straddling, gap (type I) alignment and provides a convenient method for reducing contact resistance on Ga 2 O 3 -based device structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a synthetic rock mass (SRM) method is used to numerically characterize the effect of joint sets on rock pillars. The SRM model is constructed by explicitly inserting discrete fracture network into a particle assembly. Conceptual SRM models show that pillarloading capacity is weakened by inserted joints. Pillar peak strength is lower when inserted joints favor shear sliding of rock blocks, and strength becomes higher when pillar failure is controlled by fragmentation of intact rocks. Meanwhile, loading capacity is weakened when longer joints are simulated. The effect of joint sets on pillar modulus is similar to the observed effect on peak strength. Pillar failure behaves as a continuous shear failure when the inserted joints are inclined and changes into intact rock splitting when the joints become vertical. The SRM method is then used to characterize the joint set effect on real pillars in the Doe Run mine. A pillar model with a width/height ratio of 0.8 is initially constructed on the basis of derived joint characteristics from photogrammetric mapping. Numerical results show that the pillar peak strength and deformation modulus were reduced by 68.1 and 44.8%, respectively, in comparison with the corresponding properties of the joint-free model. A series of additional pillar SRM models is also studied, and SRM pillar strengths agree with the empirical formulas in general. Finally, this paper presents a comparison study between continuum and SRM models. The coincidence in findings between the two numerical methods further validates the robustness of the SRM method for characterizing joint set effect on rock pillars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-phase Cu 90 –Ag 10 alloys are subjected to dry-sliding wear using pin-on-disk testing at room temperature with either a bronze or a martensitic stainless steel as counterface material. Thermal annealing prior to wear testing is used to vary the initial Ag-rich precipitate size in the Cu-rich matrix from ≈30 to 260 nm. The wear debris and the sub-surface microstructure are characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. For large enough initial precipitate size, wear induces the spontaneous formation of alternating Cu and Ag nanolayers, and this chemical nanolayering correlates with a significant reduction in wear rate. This correlation is analyzed by considering the role of chemical nanolayering on third bodies and on the mechanical properties of the near-surface microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoflurane-induced neurocognitive impairment in the developing rodent brain is well documented, and regular physical exercise has been demonstrated to be a viable intervention for some types of neurocognitive impairment. This study was designed to investigate the potential protective effect of swimming exercise on both neurocognitive impairment caused by repeated neonatal exposure to isoflurane and the underlying molecular mechanism. Mice received 0.75% isoflurane exposures for 4 h on postnatal days 7, 8, and 9. From the third month after anesthesia, the mice were subjected to regular swimming exercise for 4 weeks, followed by a contextual fear condition (CFC) trial. We found that repeated neonatal exposure to isoflurane reduced freezing behavior during CFC testing and deregulated hippocampal histone H4K12 acetylation. Conversely, mice subjected to regular swimming exercise showed enhanced hippocampal H3K9, H4K5, and H4K12 acetylation levels, increased numbers of c-Fos-positive cells 1 h after CFC training, and less isoflurane-induced memory impairment. We also observed increases in histone acetylation and of cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) during the swimming exercise program. The results suggest that neonatal isoflurane exposure-induced memory impairment was associated with dysregulation of H4K12 acetylation, which may lead to less hippocampal activation following learning tasks. Swimming exercise was associated with enhanced hippocampal histone acetylation and CBP expression. Exercise most likely ameliorated isoflurane-induced memory impairment by enhancing hippocampal histone acetylation and activating more neuron cells during memory formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although endoplasmic reticulum ( ER) stress is critical in various liver diseases, its role in acute-on-chronic liver failure (Ao CLF) caused by acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B ( CHB) is still elusive. This study aimed to analyse ER stress responses in the progression of HBV-related Ao CLF. Normal liver tissues ( n = 10), liver tissues of CHB ( n = 12) and HBV-related patients with Ao CLF ( n = 19) were used. Electron microscopy of the ultrastructure of the ER was carried out on liver specimens. The gene and protein expression levels of ER stress-related genes were measured. We further analysed the correlation between the expression levels of ER stress-related molecules and liver injury. Electron microscopy identified typical features of the ER microstructure in Ao CLF subjects. Among the three pathways of unfolded protein responses, the PKR-like ER kinase and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 signalling pathway were activated in CHB subjects and inactivated in Ao CLF subjects, while the activating transcription factor 6 signalling pathway was sustained in the activated form during the progression of Ao CLF; the expression of glucose-regulated protein (Grp)78 and Grp94 was gradually decreased in Ao CLF subjects compared to healthy individuals and CHB subjects, showing a negative correlation with serum ALT, AST and TBIL; moreover, the ER stress-related apoptosis molecules were activated in the progression of acute exacerbation of CHB. The dysregulated ER stress response may play a complicated role in the pathogenesis of Ao CLF, and a severe ER stress response may predict the occurrence of Ao CLF caused by acute exacerbation of CHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune dysfunction is the main characteristic of sepsis. T cell Ig and mucin domain protein 3 (Tim-3) on the monocytes has been reported to promote immune homeostasis during sepsis, but the influences of plasm soluble Tim-3 ( sTim-3) on the immune system during sepsis remain unknown. Here, 100 patients with different severities of sepsis (40 sepsis, 42 severe sepsis, and 18 septic shock) were enrolled in this study. The Tim-3 and human leukocyte antigen- DR ( HLA-DR) on the circulating monocytes were detected using flow cytometry. Plasma sTim-3 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Inflammatory factors and two kinds of A disintegrin and metalloprotease ( ADAM) - ADAM10 and ADAM17 were assessed. The Tim-3 and HLA-DR on the monocytes decreased with increasing sepsis severity. The sTim-3 was reduced in the sepsis and severe sepsis patients but was elevated in the septic shock patients who exhibited significant immunosuppression as predicted by HLA-DR. sTim-3 levels were negatively correlated with IL-12 and TNF-α. ADAM10 and ADAM17, sheddases of Tim-3, exhibited trends toward elevations in the septic shock group. In conclusion, sTim-3 was involved in the development of sepsis. The homeostasis-promoting role of the Tim-3 on the monocytes was disrupted, while the inhibitory role of sTim-3 emerged during sepsis-induced immunosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the feasibility of semiconductor deposition via the electrochemical reduction of gaseous precursors by the use of an anhydrous proton-conducting membrane, the solid acid CsHSO4, at 165 °C. This membrane electrode assembly was operated within the oxidation of hydrogen on a porous Pt anode and the deposition of Si or Ge under bias at the cathode from chloride-based gaseous precursors; SiCl4 and GeCl4 in an Ar flow with a reduction potential over -1.0 V (vs RHE) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have found that the [NiAl(OH)]OH transforms into β-Ni(OH), because Al ions are leached out into the electrolyte to form Al(OH). From thermodynamic point of view, Al(OH) may retard the structural transformation, and it is directly supported by experiments on [NiAl(OH)]OH soaked in the electrolyte containing at 60°C. Constant potential polarizations show the electrolyte containing Al(OH) at 60°C. Constant potential polarizations show the electrolyte containing Al(OH) can suppress the oxygen evolution at higher electrode potentials. The existence of Al(OH) in the electrolyte can obviously improve the charge/discharge performances under the current density of 1000 mA g at 60°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization has reported that the treatment success rate of multi-drug resistance tuberculosis is approximately 57% globally. Although new drugs such as bedaquiline and linezolid is likely improve the treatment outcome, there are other factors associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome. The factors associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes have been widely examined, but only a few studies have developed prediction models. We aimed to develop and validate a simple clinical prediction model for unsuccessful treatment outcomes in patients with multi-drug resistance pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-PTB). Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed between January 2017 and December 2019 at a special hospital in Xi'an, China. A total of 446 patients with MDR-PTB were included. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression were used to select prognostic factors for unsuccessful treatment outcomes. A nomogram was built based on four prognostic factors. Internal validation and leave-one-out cross-validation was used to assess the model. Results: Of the 446 patients with MDR-PTB, 32.9% (147/446) cases had unsuccessful treatment outcomes, and 67.1% had successful outcomes. After LASSO regression and multivariate logistic analyses, no health education, advanced age, being male, and larger extent lung involvement were identified as prognostic factors. These four prognostic factors were used to build the prediction nomograms. The area under the curve of the model was 0.757 (95%CI 0.711 to 0.804), and the concordance index (C-index) was 0.75. For the bootstrap sampling validation, the corrected C-index was 0.747. In the leave-one-out cross-validation, the C-index was 0.765. The slope of the calibration curve was 0.968, which was approximately 1.0. This indicated that the model was accurate in predicting unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Conclusions: We built a predictive model and established a nomogram for unsuccessful treatment outcomes of multi-drug resistance pulmonary tuberculosis based on baseline characteristics. This predictive model showed good performance and could be used as a tool by clinicians to predict who among their patients will have an unsuccessful treatment outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sliding friction of metallic materials results in severe plastic deformation of the contacting surfaces. While plastic deformation is generally considered detrimental, as it leads to localized material failure and wear, in some cases it can trigger the formation of self-organized microstructures with the potential for improved wear resistance. We report here on a novel, self-adapting mechanism in a Cu90Ag10 two-phase alloy that relies on the spontaneous formation of chemically nanolayered structures during sliding wear. For sufficiently large initial Ag precipitate sizes, the nanolayered structures remain stable up to the sliding surface, leading to a reduction in wear rate. Similar chemically nanolayered structures are observed in Cu90Ag10 alloys deformed by high-pressure torsion, enabling controlled investigation of this process. The results of these studies suggest a novel approach, through self-organization, for designing metallic alloys that can achieve low wear rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Xanthomatosis is a rare disease; predominantly, it is a response to altered lipid levels in the form of a mucocutaneous granulomatous proliferative disorder of unclear origin. When blood lipid levels exceed the normal values, the macrophages around the blood vessels may result in xanthoma. The present case was observed in a 55-year-old woman who suffered from Cushing's disease and had atypical xanthomas in her oral mucosa that were diagnosed by histopathological analysis and were associated with normal serum cholesterol levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AS a generalization of the triple I method, the universal triple I method is investigated from the viewpoints of both fuzzy reasoning and fuzzy controller. The universal triple I principle is put forward, which improves the previous triple I principle. Then, unified form of universal triple I method is established based on the (0,l)-implication or R-implication. Moreover, the reversibility property of universal triple I method is analyzed from expansion, reduction and other type operators, which demonstrate that its reversibility property seems fine, especially for the case employing the (O.l)-implication. Lastly, we analyze the response ability of fuzzy controllers based on universal triple I method, then the practicability of triple I method is improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mono-layer of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), each of which does not mostly overlap with one another, was formed on the surface of a silica glass by implantation with 60 keV Zn+ ions and subsequent thermal oxidation. Then, the sample was irradiated with swift heavy ions (SHIs) of 200 MeV Xe14+ ions in the fluence range of 1 × 1011–5 × 1013 ions/cm2. The X-ray diffraction intensity of the {002} peak from ZnO NPs shows a steep drop to 67% of the unirradiated value at the fluence of 1 × 1012 ions/cm2 but maintains almost the same value up to 50 times higher fluence of 5 × 1013 ions/cm2. The behavior could be ascribed to high susceptibility of this material ZnO for recrystallization in the cooling stage of the thermal spike: While damage remains at the central region of SHI impact, recrystallization is induced in large surrounding regions. The interplay between the damage generation in the core regions and the recovery in the surrounding regions reaches a dynamical equilibrium at the fluence exceeding 1 × 1012 ions/cm2. While it is known that free excitons are sensitive to defect registration, the free exciton photoluminescence (PL) with 20% of the unirradiated intensity still survives up to the highest fluence 5 × 1013 ions/cm2. The stable tolerance of this material in optical absorption and PL against SHI irradiation could be attractive for applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel 2-acetylbenzothiazole functionilised mesoporous silica based on SBA-15 was prepared, and then applied in fabricating a minicolumn to preconcentrate trace amount of heavy metal ions [e.g. Cd(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Pb(II), etc.] in this study. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of metal ions in water samples. The precontration conditions including pH value, adsorption time, eluent solution and its volume and recoveries were examined. The obtained results are as follows. When 500 mL water samples went through this column with the pH of 2·2-6·5, the maximum adsorption capacity could reach 0·45±0·01 mmol g-1 for Pb(II), 0·56±0·02 mmol g-1 for Cd(II), 0·37±0·01 mmol g-1 for Cu(II) and 0·48±0·03 mmol g-1 for Hg(II) respectively. The saturated columns could be eluted by 2·5 mL ethanol (95%) and thiourea (0·5 mol L-1) (v/v, 1:1) with preconcentration factor of 250. The detection limits (n = 11) were determined to be 0·02, 0·10, 0·13 and 0·04 μg L-1 for Cd(II), Cu(II), Hg(II) and Pb(II) respectively. The relative standard deviation for six replicate runs was better than 2·4%. This study provided a promising way to detect the trace amount of heavy metal ions in the water samples, which might be used in environmental protection and water quality monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed slot antenna consisting of a slotted ground and a parasitically coupled split ring for multiband operation. In the design, the use of both the loaded split ring to rectangle wide slot and embedded ¿-slots into the ground is found an effective skill for exciting multiresonant modes as well as miniaturizing the slot antenna. The numerical and experimental results show that the optimal antenna has triple operating bands below - 10-dB reflection coefficients magnitude ∣S11∣) centered at 2.4/3.5/ 5.8 GHz covering the required bandwidths of various wireless communication standards. In addition, stable monopole-like radiation patterns and acceptable antenna gains are achieved across the operating bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with a study which developed an experimental method for determining the viscoelastic behavior of a sedimentary rock. The viscoelastic behavior of a sedimentary rock was investigated through a series of impact tests. It relates how the frequency dependence of the viscoelastic storage modulus and loss modulus is obtained. It describes the rock viscosity and its effect on stress wave propagations in the sedimentary rock.

Abstract: We observe the electrochemical formation of a silicon layer on a molybdenum (Mo) electrode at 850°C in a CaCl2 melt containing silicon oxide (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs). A stable electrochemical cell for high temperature molten salt was fabricated from a sealed quartz tube, with a glassy carbon counter electrode and a Ca/Ca2+ dynamic reference electrode. When SiO2 NPs are added into the CaCl2 melt, the reduction current and the generation of a new redox couple relating to the reduced silicon were observed in a cyclic voltammogram at Mo. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed the formation of a silicon layer from the reduction of SiO2 NPs. Although the deposit was not continuous, XPS shows that it is silicon of good purity and XRD shows the pattern of crystalline silicon. We also investigated the dissolved silicon species generated after the oxidation of electrodeposited silicon in CaCl2 melt, which produces a redox couple at potentials positive of the deposition potential. We tentatively attribute it to the oxidation and re-reduction of an insoluble Si–Cl surface species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF) caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains to be a challenge in clinics with a high mortality rate in China, and it is important to identify biomarkers to foresee the prognosis of patients with HBV. The current study analysed serum proteome changes of acute-on-chronic liver failure as a result of acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B infection. Serum samples were collected from normal subjects (NS, n = 8), patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB, n = 12) and patients with AoCLF ( n = 12). After removal of albumin/IgG and ultramembrane centrifugation, serum proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Differentially expressed spots were identified by matrix-associated laser desorption ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Through the removal of albumin/IgG and ultramembrane centrifugation, the well-resolved and reproducible two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) profiles were obtained. A total of 23 proteins were identified on 2-DE profiles by their differential expression between the three cohorts. Mass spectrometry analysis resulted in the identification of 12 proteins unambiguously. Western blot analysis confirmed the proteomics results that the α1-acid glycoprotein (α1-AGP) levels decrease significantly in plasma of patients with AoCLF, but somewhat decreased in patients with chronic HBV. Further α1-AGP levels in bulk serum samples were measured by immune turbidimetry including normal subjects group ( n = 25), acute hepatitis group ( n = 36), chronic hepatitis group ( n = 52) and AoCLF group ( n = 48), the level of α1-AGP in AoCLF groups sharply decrease than other groups. Our study shows that α1-AGP may be a potential plasma biomarker for AoCLF diagnosis because of acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To study the dynamic fluctuations of nitrate and nitrite content in humans following damage to major salivary glands. Methods: Fifteen nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, scheduled to undergo IMRT, were recruited. The prescription dose to GTV, CTV1 and CTV2, was 68, 60 and 54 Gy, respectively, in 30 fractions, 1fraction/day. Saliva, serum and urine samples were collected at baseline, RT10, RT20 and at endpoint of radiation. Ions concentration was determined using ion chromatography. Results: Salivary flow rates and nitrate content decreased over time (p <0.0001), whereas serum and urinary nitrite rose. Salivary nitrite increased transiently and then plateaued. Cumulative irradiation dose to salivary glands correlated with nitrate content in serum (p <0.0001), but not in saliva and urine (p =0.876 and p =0.175). The salivary flow rates correlated to the nitrate content in serum (p <0.0001), but not in saliva and urine (p =0.230 and p =0.428). Conclusions: Nitrate and nitrite contents in saliva, serum or urine changed in response to salivary gland damage. Salivary glands are associated with the metabolism of both ions in humans. The decreased serum nitrate appears to provide adjuvant information about salivary dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A dynamic herding model with interactions of trading volumes is introduced. At time , an agent trades with a probability, which depends on the ratio of the total trading volume at time to its own trading volume at its last trade. The price return is determined by the volume imbalance and number of trades. The model can reproduce the power-law distributions of the trading volume, number of trades and price return, and the probable relation between them. The exponents are tunable by adjusting the values of the parameters, but show slight deviation from those revealed in empirical studies. Moreover, the time series generated are long-range correlated. We demonstrate that the results are rather robust, and do not depend on the particular form of the trading probability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pd and Pt Schottky diodes on non-polar a-plane (11–20) GaN layers show large increases in both forward and reverse bias current upon exposure to 4% H2 in N2. The barrier height reduction due to hydrogen exposure is 0.11eV for Pd/GaN and 0.14eV for Pt/GaN, with long recovery times (>25min) at room temperature. The sensitivity to hydrogen is significantly greater than for diodes on conventional c-plane (Ga-polar) GaN, but less than for c-plane (N-polar) material. The diode characteristics remain rectifying after exposure to hydrogen, unlike the case of N-polar GaN where Ohmic behavior is observed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This experiment was conducted to determine if CLA could be transferred from sows to their offspring through the umbilical cord or milk. Eighteen pregnant Dalland sows of mixed parity were used in a completely randomized block design based on parity and BW. The sows were allotted to 1 of 3 groups and fed diets containing 0, 0.5, or 1.0% CLA during the last 50 d of gestation and throughout a 26–d lactation (n = 6). Umbilical cord blood was sampled at parturition. Colostrum and milk were collected from each sow on d 2 and 15 after farrowing. Samples of blood, backfat, and the LM were obtained from piglets at 2 and 26 d of age. Sow reproductive performance and piglet growth were not altered by CLA supplementation during the late gestation and lactation periods. The CLA supplementation of sow diets had an impact on the fatty acid profiles in colostrum and milk. Dietary CLA increased the concentrations of total SFA (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01), but reduced the total MUFA in the colostrum (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01). Although dietary CLA increased the concentrations of total SFA (quadratic, P < 0.01), it had no influence on total MUFA concentrations in the milk. In addition, feeding sows diets supplemented with CLA resulted in increases (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01) in the CLA content of plasma, backfat, and the LM in their offspring. However, trans–lU, cis–12–18:2, rather than cis–9, trans–11–18:2, was detected in the umbilical cord blood, which indicates that CLA may be transported from the sow to the fetus in an isomer–specific manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thermomechanical characterization is important to material evaluation and device design in the development of thermoelectric technology. In this study, we utilize the resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) technique to examine the elastic behavior of a cast LAST (Pb–Sb–Ag–Te) material with a composition of Ag0.86Pb19Sb1.0Te20 between room temperature and 823K. The temperature-dependent Young’s modulus exhibits a monotonically decreasing trend with increasing temperature. However, an abnormal slope change in the Young’s modulus–temperature curve around 500K is observed. In addition, hysteresis between heating and cooling data in the temperature range of 450–550K is observed, which appears to be dependent on the heating/cooling rate during the RUS experiments such that the hysteresis disappears when the heating/cooling rate was decreased from 5 to 2Kmin–1. In this study we propose an order–disorder transition model for the anomalous temperature-dependent Young’s modulus behavior observed in this study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There has been significant recent interest in the use of surface-functionalized thin film and nanowire wide bandgap semiconductors, principally GaN, InN, ZnO and SiC, for sensing of gases, heavy metals, UV photons and biological molecules. For the detection of gases such as hydrogen, the semiconductors are typically coated with a catalyst metal such as Pd or Pt to increase the detection sensitivity at room temperature. Functionalizing the surface with oxides, polymers and nitrides is also useful in enhancing the detection sensitivity for gases and ionic solutions. The wide energy bandgap of these materials make them ideal for solar-blind UV detection, which can be of use for detecting fluorescence from biotoxins. The use of enzymes or adsorbed antibody layers on the semiconductor surface leads to highly specific detection of a broad range of antigens of interest in the medical and homeland security fields. We give examples of recent work showing sensitive detection of glucose, lactic acid, prostate cancer and breast cancer markers and the integration of the sensors with wireless data transmission systems to achieve robust, portable sensors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel orange-emitting phosphor, Ca2.6Sr2.4(PO4)3Cl:Eu3+, was prepared by a modified solid-state reaction and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of Ca2.6Sr2.4(PO4)3Cl:Eu3+. Photoluminescence (PL) results showed that the phosphor can be efficiently excited by UV-visible light from 380 to 500 nm, and exhibited bright orange emission. The effects of the doped-Eu3+ concentration in Ca2.6Sr2.4(PO4)3Cl:Eu3+ on the PL were investigated in detail. The results showed that the relative PL intensity decreases with Eu3+ concentration increasing due to concentration quenching. TEM images show that the grain size of Ca2.6Sr2.4(PO4)3Cl:Eu3+ is about 45 nm, which is in full agreement with the theoretical calculation data from the XRD patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel 9‐bit time–digital‐converter (TDC)‐assisted analogue–digital‐converter (ADC) supporting energy‐efficient high‐speed compressive‐sensing (CS) operation is presented. With a voltage–time‐converter serving as the cross‐domain residue conveyer, the proposed two‐stage self‐timed pipeline ADC architecture hybrids a voltage‐domain comparator‐interleaved successive‐approximation (SAR) ADC front‐end and a time‐domain locally readjusted folding two‐dimensional Vernier TDC back‐end. Implemented in 65 nm CMOS technology, the prototype benefits from both the CS‐enabled sub‐Nyquist operation and the hybrid quantisation scheme, leading up to 4 GS/s equivalent speed with 34.2 dB signal‐noise‐distortion‐ratio (SNDR) and a figure‐of‐merit (FOM) of 101 fJ/conversion step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report on the effects of annealing conditions on the photoluminescence from Si nanocrystal composites fabricated by implantation of Si ions into a SiO2 matrix, followed by thermal treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere. The evolution of the photoluminescence under different annealing temperatures (900–1100°C) and annealing time (0.5 up to 5h) were systematically studied for the implanted samples. After annealing the spectra presented two photoluminescence bands: one centered at 610nm and another around 800nm. Combined with transmission electron microscopy, we conclude that the photoluminescence behavior of the two bands suggests different origins for their emissions. The 610nm band has its origin related to matrix defects, while the 800nm band can be explained by a model involving recombination via quantum confinement effects of excitons in the Si nanocrystals and the interfacial states recombination process confined in the interfacial region between nanocrystals and SiO2 matrix. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The thermal expansion for two compositions of cast and hot-pressed LAST (Pb-Sb-Ag-Te) n-type thermoelectric materials has been measured between room temperature and 673 K via thermomechanical analysis (TMA). In addition, using high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD), the thermal expansion for both cast and hot-pressed LAST materials was determined from the temperature-dependent lattice parameters measured between room temperature and 623 K. The TMA and HT-XRD determined values of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for the LAST compositions ranged between 20 × 10-6 K-1 and 24 × 10-6 K-1, which is comparable to the CTE values for other thermoelectric materials including PbTe and Bi2Te3. The CTE of the LAST specimens with a higher Ag content (Ag0.86Pb19Sb1.0Te20) exhibited a higher CTE value than that of the LAST material with a lower Ag content (Ag0.43Pb18Sb1.2Te20). In addition, a peak in the temperature-dependent CTE was observed between room temperature and approximately 450 K for both the cast and hot-pressed LAST with the Ag0.86Pb19Sb1.0Te20 composition, whereas the CTE of the Ag0.43Pb18Sb1.2Te20 specimen increased monotonically with temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulus-porosity relationships are critical for engineered bone tissue scaffold materials such as hydroxyapatite (HA), where porosity is essential to biological function. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) measurements revealed that the Young's modulus, E, and shear modulus, G, of both alumina and HA decrease monotonically with increasing volume fraction porosity, P, for 0.06 < P < 0.39 (alumina) and 0.05 < P < 0.51 (HA). Although the elastic moduli of porous materials have been measured by a number of different ultrasonic resonance techniques (of which the RUS technique is one example) and over the last decade the elastic moduli of many solids have been measured by the RUS technique, this study is the first systematic RUS study of porous materials. Comparison of E versus P data for alumina (which has been studied extensively) with literature data from several measurement techniques indicates the RUS technique is effective for modulus-porosity measurements. Another key result is that although the HA specimens included in this study have a unimodal pore size distribution, the details of the decrease in E and G with increasing P agree well with literature data for HA with both unimodal and bimodal pore size distributions. In addition, Poisson's ratio exhibits a local minimum in the porosity range of 0.2 < P < 0.25 for both HA and alumina, which may be related to the pore morphology evolution during sintering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we focus on the room-temperature mechanical properties of LAST (Pb-Sb-Ag-Te) materials fabricated using casting with slow-cool temperature profiles (cooling rate <5°C h-1) including biaxial flexural strength, indentation hardness, Young's modulus, and dynamic elastic moduli. The slow-cooled specimens exhibited values of Young's modulus and hardness that are comparable to those of previously reported fast-cooled LAST materials (cooling rate >5°C h-1). The higher biaxial flexural strength is potentially beneficial for the mechanical integrity of thermoelectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diffusion coefficient (Do2), solubility (Co2), and electrochemical behavior of oxygen reduction were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and transient amperometry on a Pt ultramicroelectrode in aqueous solutions containing various concentrations of NaOH (1-12 M). The results show that both Do2 and Co2 decrease as the solution viscosity (η) increases significantly with increasing concentration of NaOH. The Stokes-Einstein relationship (Do2 vs 1/η) is followed, yielding a radius for the O2 molecule, 2.8 Å, that does not change over the concentration range of NaOH studied. From rosults reported previously for Co2 in more dilute NaOH solutions and the new results here, the number of electrons, n, involved in the first step of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was found to change with the concentration of NaOH, from n = 2 at low NaOH concentrations (1-2 M) to n = 1 at high concentrations (>6 M), in line with the changing water activity. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was employed as a sensitive tool to investigate the electrochemical behavior of the product of the ORR in 10 M NaOH solution, O2, as a function of potential. The SECM approach curves depend on the substrate bias and state of the Pt substrate surface, and the apparent rate constant for the redox couple of O2/O2- is determined to be about 2.6 x 10-4 cm/s in this solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]