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Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensors have been widely used in current detection, compass, automobile, and Internet of Things. The linearity of GMR sensors relies on a magnetic annealing process above the blocking temperature of the antiferromagnetic layer, which causes the same magnetization directions in the free and pinned ferromagnetic layers. Here we construct an orthogonal magnetic anisotropic structure by using a relatively low annealing temperature of 145 °C, where the magnetization direction of the free layer is perpendicular to that of the pinned layer so that a linear output can be realized. Quantitative magneto-optical kerr microscope (MOKE) is used to investigate the vector distribution of the magnetic domains, showing that an orthogonal anisotropy is established by the low temperature annealing process. GMR magnetic field sensor with a sensitivity of 0.78 mV/V/Oe and a measurement range of -20 to 20 Oe is demonstrated, which provides an effective method to enhance the linearity of the magnetic sensors with spin valve structures.

Electric field (E-field) control of magnetism based on magnetoelectric coupling is one of the promising approaches for manipulating the magnetization with low power consumption. The evolution of magnetic domains under in-situ E-fields is significant for the practical applications in integrated micro/nano devices. Here, we report the vector analysis of the E-field-driven antiparallel magnetic domain evolution in FeCoSiB/PMN-PT(011) multiferroic heterostructures via in-situ quantitative magneto-optical Kerr microscope. It is demonstrated that the magnetic domains can be switched to both the 0° and 180° easy directions at the same time by E-fields, resulting in antiparallel magnetization distribution in ferromagnetic/ferroelectric heterostructures. This antiparallel magnetic domain evolution is attributed to energy minimization with the uniaxial strains by E-fields which can induce the rotation of domains no more than 90°. Moreover, domains can be driven along only one or both easy axis directions by reasonably selecting the initial magnetic domain distribution. The vector analysis of magnetic domain evolution can provide visual insights into the strain-mediated magnetoelectric effect, and promote the fundamental understanding of electrical regulation of magnetism.

Nano-steps, as classical nano-geometric reference materials, are very important for calibrating measurements in the semiconductor industry; therefore, controlling the height of nano-steps is critical for ensuring accurate measurements. Accordingly, in this study nano-steps with heights of 1, 2, 3 and 4 nm were fabricated with good morphology using atomic layer deposition (ALD) combined with wet etching. The roughness of the fabricated nano-steps was effectively controlled by utilizing the three-dimensional conformal ALD process. Moreover, the relationship between the surface roughness and the height was studied using a simulation-based analysis. Essentially, roughness control is crucial in fabricating nano-steps with a critical dimension of less than 5 nm. In this study, the minimum height of a nano-step that was successfully achieved by combining ALD and wet etching was 1 nm. Furthermore, the preconditions for quality assurance for a reference material and the influencing factors of the fabrication method were analyzed based on the 1 nm nano-step sample. Finally, the fabricated samples were used in time-dependent experiments to verify the optimal stability of the nano-steps as reference materials. This research is instructive to fabricate nano-geometric reference materials to within 5 nm in height, and the proposed method can be easily employed to manufacture wafer-sized step height reference materials, thus enabling its large-scale industrial application for in-line calibration in integrated circuit production lines.

Magnetic field sensors based on the strain-mediated magnetoelectric (ME) coupling are usually bulky and energy-consuming due to the requirement for DC magnetic bias field, and the use of piezoelectric ceramics or single crystals cannot bear overlarge strain due to their fragility. Here, we demonstrate a stress-mediated ME sensor operating in torque mode without magnetic bias field. Combined with elastic layers, the NdFeB permanent magnets induce compressive stress on the piezoelectric layer via torque effect under a weak magnetic field. The contribution from d33 piezoelectric coefficient is dominant to the ME effect, and a large ME voltage of 2480 mV is observed at 13.6 Oe. At the resonate frequency of 138.7 Hz, magnetoelectric coefficient is found to be as high as 6.08 V/cm Oe. Our results reveal that the proposed ME sensor mediated by stress is excellent in performance and reliable in durability, which is promising for magnetic sensor applications.

Continuous urbanization and a coordinated regional development strategy have gradually shaped urban agglomerations as new and massive centers of resource consumption in China. Therefore, understanding the material consumption status and the underlying mechanisms for typical Chinese urban agglomerations will support efforts to promote regional resource‐utilization sustainability. In this study, we analyzed material consumption and its structure in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (Jing–Jin–Ji) urban agglomeration from 2000 to 2015 and traced the sources of material consumption and underlying processes from a metabolic perspective. We also identified the main contributors and key drivers behind the changes of consumption during this period. The urban agglomeration's total consumption increased 2.2 times compared to the 2,000 level during the study period, with metallic minerals accounting for the largest proportion. Highly developed cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, and Handan, consumed the largest amounts of materials and generated the most wastes. These cities also relied heavily on both internal and external resources and exchanged materials frequently among their metabolic compartments. Economic activity was the strongest contributor to the increased material consumption, followed by the population increase, whereas decreasing material‐consumption intensity (increased efficiency) restrained the growth of material consumption somewhat. Our application of the material‐flow accounting framework at the scale of an urban agglomeration provides support for future research on material consumption in other typical urban agglomerations, where it can provide support for policy development to alleviate regional resource shortages.

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate factors and boundary conditions that may affect the effectiveness of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in influencing a consumer's travel decision-making behavior. The conceptual model was tested using data collected from Chinese WeChat users. An online survey generated 550 valid responses. Results show that eWOM content richness and perceived ease of use of the eWOM platform positively influence eWOM effectiveness, while the eWOM receiver expertise is negatively associated with eWOM effectiveness. In addition, a consumer's social interaction with others on the social media platform moderates the aforementioned relationships. Theoretical and managerial implications are elaborated.

The operation mechanism of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensors relies on the linear response of the magnetization direction to an external magnetic field. Since the magnetic anisotropy of ferromagnetic layers can be manipulated by a strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling effect, we propose a tunable GMR magnetic field sensor design that allows for voltage tuning of the linear range and sensitivity. A spin valve structure Ru/CoFe/Cu/CoFe/IrMn/Ru is grown on a PMN-PT (011) substrate, and the magnetization directions of ferromagnetic layers can be controlled by an electric field. An adjustable linear magnetoresistance is therefore induced. Based on the magnetoelectric coupling effect and spin valve, we prepared tunable GMR magnetic field sensors with bridge structures. The linear sensing range of a DC magnetic field is enhanced 6 times by applying an electric field of 14 kV/cm. The electrically tunable GMR sensor fulfills the requirements to work at different magnetic field ranges in the same configuration, therefore exhibiting great potential for applications in the Internet of things.

GaN high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) terahertz (THz) detectors have been widely studied and applied in the past few decades. However, there are few reports about the influence of GaN/AlGaN heterostructure material properties on the detection model at present. In this paper, a response voltage model for a GaN HEMT THz detector that considers the carrier scattering in a GaN/AlGaN heterostructure is proposed. The phonon scattering, dislocation scattering, and interface roughness scattering mechanisms are taken into account in the classic THz response voltage model; furthermore, the influence of various material parameters on the response voltage is studied. In a low-temperature region, acoustic scattering plays an important role, and the response voltage drops with an increase in temperature. In a high temperature range, optical phonon scattering is the main scattering mechanism, and the detector operates in a non-resonant detection mode. With an increase in carrier surface density, the response voltage decreases and then increases due to piezoelectric scattering and optical phonon scattering. For dislocation and interface roughness scattering, the response voltage is inversely proportional to the dislocation density and root mean square roughness (RMS) but is positively related to lateral correlation length. Finally, a comparison between our model and the reported models shows that our proposed model is more accurate.

Oxide nanosprings have attracted many research interests because of their anticorrosion, high-temperature tolerance, oxidation resistance, and enhanced-mechanic-response from unique helix structures, enabling various applications like nanomanipulators, nanomotors, nanoswitches, sensors, and energy harvesters. However, preparing oxide nanosprings is a challenge for their intrinsic lack of elasticity. Here, an approach for preparing self-assembled, epitaxial, ferroelectric nanosprings with built-in strain due to the lattice mismatch in freestanding La

To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of bipolar coagulation forceps combined with 1% lauromacrogol foam sclerotherapy in the treatment of microcystic lymphatic malformation of tongue.The clinical data of 16 patients with microcystic lymphatic malformation of the tongue admitted to the Department of Stomatology of Foshan First People's Hospital from April 2017 to April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 7 males and 9 females, aging from 15 months to 21 years. The average age of patients was 8.32±1.21 years. The efficacy and complications of the patients were evaluated.All 16 patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months. The clinical response was evaluated as eleven patients (68.75%) for grade Ⅳ, three (18.75%) for grade Ⅲ, two (12.5%) for grade Ⅱ, and the effective rate was 87.5%. Necrosis of tongue mucosa and muscle occurred in 1 patient.Bipolar coagulation forceps combined with 1% lauromacrogol foam sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment for tongue microcystic lymphatic malformation.

Oxide nano-springs have attracted many research interests because of their anti-corrosion, high-temperature tolerance, oxidation resistance, and enhanced-mechanic-response from unique helix structures, enabling various nano-manipulators, nano-motors, nano-switches, sensors, and energy harvesters. However, preparing oxide nano-springs is a challenge for their intrinsic nature of lacking elasticity. Here, we developed an approach for preparing self-assembled, epitaxial, ferroelectric nano-springs with built-in strain due to the lattice mismatch in freestanding La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/BaTiO3 (LSMO/BTO) bilayer heterostructures. We find that these LSMO/BTO nano-springs can be extensively pulled or pushed up to their geometry limits back and forth without breaking, exhibiting super-scalability with full recovery capability. The phase-field simulations reveal that the excellent scalability originates from the continuous ferroelastic domain structures, resulting from twisting under co-existing axial and shear strains. In addition, the oxide hetero-structural springs exhibit strong resilience due to the limited plastic deformation nature and the built-in strain between the bilayers. This discovery provides an alternative way for preparing and operating functional oxide nano-springs that can be applied to various technologies.

To explore the DSA classification and treatment strategy of tongue venous malformation.From February 2016 to February 2019, the DSA manifestations of 132 cases with venous malformations of the tongue were summarized. They were classified into 4 types according to imaging characteristics: typeⅠ(non-drainage type), typeⅡ(lower- drainage type), type Ⅲ (higher-drainage type), type Ⅳ(extensive type). Different therapeutic schemes were selected according to the types. The non- drainage type was treated with pingyangmycin alone, the lower-drainage type was treated with lauromacrogol foam alone, the higher- drainage type was treated with absolute alcohol combined with lauromacrogol foam, the extensive type was treated as higher-drainage type first and then combined with plastic resection. Among the cases, therapeutic effects and adverse reactions of each group were recorded and compared.One hundred and thirty-two cases in this study were followed up for 12 to 41 months with an average of 15.8 months. After sclerosing therapy, the venous malformations of the tongue of all patients significantly reduced or even disappeared. Type Ⅰincluded 8 cases with an efficiency of 100%, type Ⅱ included 17 cases with an efficiency of 100%, type Ⅲ included 98 cases with an efficiency of 90.8%, typeⅣincluded 9 cases, with an efficiency of 77.8%.The main adverse reactions were tissue necrosis: 0 in typeⅠ, 1(5.88%) in typeⅡ, 16(16.33%) in type Ⅲ, and 7(77.78%) in type Ⅳ.The classification of venous malformations of the tongue based on DSA is significant and valuable in guiding clinical treatment. The majority of tongue venous malformations are type Ⅲ, and the smallest propotion is type Ⅰ. Transmucosal sclerotherapy with absolute ethanol is of significance for the treatment of venous malformations of the tongue classified in type Ⅲ and type Ⅳ.

BACKGROUND Bifidobacterium is a potentially effective and safe treatment for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. However, information on the influence of B. bifidum on gut microbial diversity of treated and pretreated IBD patients is limited. MATERIAL AND METHODS Our study investigated therapeutic and preventive effects of B. bifidum ATCC 29521 on C57BL/6 mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis via 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequencing. RESULTS Treatment and pretreatment of mice with B. bifidum ATCC 29521 significantly alleviated the severity of acute colitis on the basis of clinical and pathologic indicators. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that administration of B. bifidum shifted composition of the gut microbiome in mice with DSS-induced colitis in both treated and pretreated groups. Mice pretreated with B. bifidum ATCC 29521 for 21 days exhibited a significant increase in diversity of the gut microbiome. Principal coordinate analysis showed that gut microbiota structure was shaped by different treatments and time points. On the basis of linear discriminant analysis of effect size, the abundance of the genus Escherichia-Shigella, belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, was reduced in the B. bifidum-treated group, indicating that pathogens were inhibited by the B. bifidum treatment. Furthermore, the genera Intestinimonas and Bacteroides were significantly associated with the B. bifidum-pretreated group. CONCLUSIONS 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that pretreatment with B. bifidum ATCC 29521 reduced intestinal inflammation and altered the gut microbiota to favor the genera Intestinimonas and Bacteroides.

Under the background of development of Hainan Free Trade Zone (port) to meet its demand of English language talents with good intercultural communication competence, an empirical study is conducted to evaluate vocational college students’ communicative competence of intercultural communication. The results indicate that among the five factors of communicative competence of intercultural communication, students’ listening competence is the highest, followed successively by oral competence, strategic competence, sociolinguistic competence, discourse competence. The analytical results show that each factor among the five factors are positively correlated with the other four factors. Moreover, students’ scores in college English Test (Grade A) have a positive correlation with their oral English competence, discourse competence and sociolinguistic competence, respectively.

Previous studies have demonstrated that interleukins (ILs) are closely associated with doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiac injury. IL-5 is an important member of the IL family, and this study was performed to investigate whether IL-5 affects DOX-induced cardiac injury and its underlying mechanisms. The cardiac IL-5 expression was first detected and the results showed that cardiac IL-5 levels were significantly lower in DOX-treated mice, and IL-5 was mainly derived from cardiac macrophage (Mo). In addition, some DOX-treated mice received an injection of anti-IL-5-neutralizing antibody (nAb), and we found that treatment with a mouse anti-IL-5 nAb significantly upregulated the levels of myocardial injury markers, aggravated cardiac dysfunction, increased M1 macrophage (Mo1) and decreased M2 macrophage (Mo2) differentiation, and promoted apoptotic marker expression. Furthermore, the effect of mouse IL-5 nAb on DOX-induced Mo differentiation and its role on mouse cardiomyocyte (MCM) cells apoptosis were detected in vitro, and the results exhibited that mouse IL-5 nAb promoted Mo1 differentiation but inhibited Mo2 differentiation in vitro and alleviated apoptosis in MCM cells. Our results found a mouse anti-IL-5 nAb-aggravated DOX-induced cardiac injury and dysfunction by alleviating the inflammatory response and myocardial cell apoptosis.

In spite of recent rapid development of flexible electronics, voltage-tunable spintronic structures and devices on flexible substrates have been rarely studied. Here, voltage control of magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) is demonstrated via ionic gel (IG) gating on flexible polyimide substrates with a circuit operating voltage of 1.8 V. A reversible, nonvolatile VCMA switching of 114 Oe is achieved in Pt/Fe/Pt multilayer, where the spatial magnetic anisotropy distribution is determined quantitatively by electron spin resonance technique. This IG gating process is repeatable as the substrates are under different bending conditions. The voltage modulation of magnetic anisotropy through IG gating with excellent flexibility proposes potential applications in low-power wearable spintronic devices.

The rapid development of the internet of things technology has led to great demand for intelligent electric field sensor (EFS). Several working principles have been proposed, however major challenges remain existed for the requirements of EFS with low-cost, large-range, and high-resolution. In this paper, an EFS based on piezoelectric (PE) bending effect using d 31 mode is developed, where a bending strain is induced on the sandwiched bimorph structure of PZT/PDMS/PZT under an applied electric field, and the capacitance value of the PDMS layer reveals detectable variation. We demonstrate an EFS operating at the stress-mediated coupling between PE ceramic and elastic dielectric polymer, which reveals advantages such as simple fabrication process, low-cost and low power consumption. Due to the sandwiched bimorph structure, the strain caused by the electric field can be effectively transferred to improve the resolution of the device. The constitutive equations for the sandwiched bimorph structure are built, and the working principle of the proposed EFS is demonstrated. The EFS exhibits high sensitivity under both AC and DC electric fields, with a resolution of 0.1 V cm−1 in the range of −3 to 3 kV cm−1. The proposed sensor provides an alternative solution for power equipment fault diagnosis, power frequency electric field detection, etc.

Controlling spin dynamics through modulation of spin interactions in a fast, compact, and energy-efficient way is compelling for its abundant physical phenomena and great application potential in next-generation voltage controllable spintronic devices. In this work, we report electric field manipulation of spin dynamics—the two-magnon scattering (TMS) effect in Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 (NZFO)/Pb(Mg2/3Nb1/3)–PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) multiferroic heterostructures, which breaks the bottleneck of magnetostatic interaction-based magnetoelectric (ME) coupling in multiferroics. An alternative approach allowing spin-wave damping to be controlled by external electric field accompanied by a significant enhancement of the ME effect has been demonstrated. A two-way modulation of the TMS effect with a large magnetic anisotropy change up to 688 Oe has been obtained, referring to a 24 times ME effect enhancement at the TMS critical angle at room temperature. Furthermore, the anisotropic spin-freezing behaviors of NZFO were first determin...

One of the central challenges in realizing multiferroics-based magnetoelectric memories is to switch perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) with a control voltage. In this study, we demonstrate electrical flipping of magnetization between the out-of-plane and the in-plane directions in (Co/Pt)3/(011) Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 multiferroic heterostructures through a voltage-controllable spin reorientation transition (SRT). The SRT onset temperature can be dramatically suppressed at least 200 K by applying an electric field, accompanied by a giant electric-field-induced effective magnetic anisotropy field (ΔHeff) up to 1100 Oe at 100 K. In comparison with conventional strain-mediated magnetoelastic coupling that provides a ΔHeff of only 110 Oe, that enormous effective field is mainly related to the interface effect of electric field modification of spin–orbit coupling from Co/Pt interfacial hybridization via strain. Moreover, electric field control of SRT is also achieved at room temperature, resulting in a ...

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a common mental retardation syndrome. Anxiety and abnormal social behaviors are prominent features of FXS in humans. To better understand the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on these behaviors, we analyzed anxiety-related and social behaviors in Fmr1 knockout mice treated by HBOT. In the open field test, HBOT group mice preferred the periphery to central areas and tended to run or walk along the wall. The results suggested that thigmotaxis was significantly increased in the HBOT group compared with the control group. In the elevated plus maze test, the percentage of distance traveled was significantly increased in the open arm and significantly decreased in the closed arm for HBOT group mice compared with control group mice. These results suggested that HBOT group mice displayed enhanced motor activity in the open arm and exhibited fewer anxiety-related behaviors. In the three-chambered social approach test, the HBOT group mice made more approaches to the wire cup containing an acquaintance mouse than control group mice in the sociability test and made more approaches to the wire cup containing a stranger mouse than control group mice in the social novelty preference test. The results suggested that HBOT group mice showed increased levels of social interaction and decreased “social anxiety” than the control group to partner mice in this test. Our findings indicated that HBOT resulted in altered anxiety and social behavior in Fmr1 knockout mice and could possibly be used as a treatment for FXS.

One of the central challenges in realizing multiferroics-based magnetoelectric memories is to switch perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) with a control voltage. In this study, we demonstrate electrical flipping of magnetization between the out-of-plane and the in-plane directions in (Co/Pt)

To investigate the effect of c-Met inhibitor cabozantinib (XL-184) in inhibiting Listeria monocytogenes (LM) from invading Caco-2 cells to reduce the cell injury.The cell invasion capacity of LM was assayed in Caco-2 cells incubated with different doses of XL-184 for different durations. Caco-2 cells incubated with XL-184 were seeded on the upper room of the transwell chamber, and the cell monolayer was exposed to LM infection followed by addition of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The trans-epithelial electric resistance (TEER), HRP concentration and LM colony-forming unit (CFU) were measured in the cell monolayer. Fluorescent staining was used to evaluate the cell viability, and LDH release from the cells was examined to assess the changes in cell membrane permeability.XL-184 significantly decreased LM invasion rate in Caco-2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P=0.000), and this effect was enhanced by co-incubation of the cells with ampicillin (P0.05). In the cell membrane permeability assay in the monolayer cells, XL-184 markedly inhibited LM-induced reduction of TEER (P0.05) and significantly suppressed LM-induced enhancement of cell membrane permeability shown by reduced HRP concentration and LM count in the lower chamber (P=0.000). The cells infected with LM showed significantly lowered cell viability, which was rescued by XL-184 (P0.01); XL-184 also dose-dependently reduced LDH release from the cells (P0.05).XL-184 can suppress LM invasion in Caco-2 cells to reduce the cell injury, suggesting its value as a promising candidate agent for prevention and treatment of LM infections.

Two series of lanthanide coordination polymers with formular [Ln(Haip)(ox)(H2O)] (type I) (Ln = Ce(1), Pr(2), Nd(3), Sm(4), Eu(5), Gd(6), Tb(7)) and [Ln2(aip)2(ox)(H2O)]·H2O (type II) (Ln = Dy(8), Ho(9), Er(10), Tm(11)) have been synthesized by hydrothermal reactions of 5-aminoisophthalic acid (H2aip) and oxalate (ox) with corresponding lanthanide nitrates or lanthanide oxides. Complexes 1–7 (type I) are isostructural and possess 6-connected 2D layer structure with Schlafli symbol (36;46;53). Complexes 8–11 (type II) are also isomorphous and feature 9-connected 3D framework with Schlafli symbol (312;416;57;6). The solid-state luminescent properties of 5 and 7 containing Eu3 + and Tb3 + were measured at room temperature. The magnetic properties show complexes 6 and 8 have antiferromagnetic behavior. Furthermore, infrared (IR), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), elemental analyses (EA), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) of these complexes are also investigated.

A series of Ni–Co–B catalysts were synthesized by a two-step technique, namely, chemical reduction was used to prepare the precursors, and heat-treatment was used to adjust the crystal structures. The structures of the as-prepared Ni–Co–B catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption test. The catalytic activities of the Ni–Co–B catalysts for NaBH4 hydrolysis were evaluated in a successive hydrogen generation mode, where a 5%NaBH4 + 1%NaOH solution was pumped into the hydrogen generation reactor with a feeding rate of 5 ml per minute. It is found that the heat-treatment affects the crystal structure, the apparent morphology, the oxidation state, the surface structure, as well as the hydrogen generation performances of the Ni–Co–B catalysts. The sample treated at 673 K achieves an average hydrogen generation rate of 708 ml min−1 g−1catalyst, which can give successive hydrogen supply for an 115 W portable proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC).

Amorphous Ni-Co-B catalyst was synthesized by a chemical reduction method, and followed by a heat-treating at 100°C, then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmetr-Teller (BET) analysis, and adopted to help accelerating hydrolysis reaction of NaBH4 alkaline solution. It is proved that the amorphous Ni-Co-B catalyst is not a simple combination of elemental Ni, Co and B, but a multiplex metal boride. It exhibits an maximum hydrogen generation rate of 210 ml/min/(g catalyst) at 100% H2 utilization, which is potentially to give a successive H2 supply for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

In experimental rodents, surgical removal of the pineal gland, the major source of circulating melatonin, causes a gradual and sustained rise in blood pressure. Conversely, when melatonin is chronically administered to pinealectomized rodents the increment in blood pressure is ameliorated. In humans as well, the night time rise in endogenous circulating melatonin levels may be inversely related to the reduction in night time blood pressure. Among patients with hypertension, some exhibit a much greater reduction in blood pressure at night (the so-called 'extreme dippers' and 'dippers'), whereas others exhibit only a slight night time reduction in systolic and diastolic pressure ('non-dippers' and 'inverted dippers'). Longitudinal studies of these patients show that inverted dippers and non-dippers die at a faster rate than do dippers and extreme dippers. The chronic administration of melatonin to individuals with hypertension induces a measurable drop in night time systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Moreover, the higher the night time level of endogenous melatonin (estimated from urinary metabolite of melatonin, 6-hydroxymelatonin sulphate), the greater the reduction in arterial blood pressure at night. The implication of these findings is that melatonin may have utility as an antihypertensive agent.

Tris (2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate (TOTM) is commonly used as an alternative plasticizer for medical devices. But very little information was available on its biological effects. In this study, we investigated toxicity effects of TOTM on hepatic differential gene expression analyzed by using high-throughput sequencing analysis for over-represented functions and phenotypically anchored to complementary histopathologic, and biochemical data in the liver of mice. Among 1668 candidate genes, 694 genes were up-regulated and 974 genes were down-regulated after TOTM exposure. Using Gene Ontology analysis, TOTM affected three processes: the cell cycle, metabolic process and oxidative activity. Furthermore, 11 key genes involved in the above processes were validated by real time PCR. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that these genes were involved in the cell cycle pathway, lipid metabolism and oxidative process. It revealed the transcriptome gene expression response to TOTM exposure in mouse, and these data could contribute to provide a clearer understanding of the molecular mechanisms of TOTM-induced hepatotoxicity in human.

The voltage modulation in spin dynamics via the spin-lattice coupling (SLC) effect has been investigated in epitaxial La0.5Sr0.5MnO3/PMN-PT multiferroic heterostructures. The critical angle for the disappearance of the first exchange (FEX) spin wave has been observed around 67° experimentally and been shifted about 4° by applying an electric field (E-field). In particular, at the critical angle, the FEX spin wave can be switched “on” and “off” by voltages, showing great potential in realizing magnonic devices. Moreover, the FEX spin wave resonance shift of 187 Oe at 173 K has been realized by the voltage driven SLC effect, which is a little larger than piezostrain-induced ferromagnetic resonance shift of 169 Oe. The experimental results can be well-explained by the modified Puszkarski spin wave theory.

In industrialized countries, certain types of cancer, most notably, breast and prostate, are more frequent than in poorly developed nations. This high cancer frequency is not explained by any of the conventional causes. Within the past decade, numerous reports have appeared that link light at night with an elevated cancer risk. The three major consequences of light at night are sleep deprivation, chronodisruption, and melatonin suppression. Each of these individually or in combination may contribute to the reported rise in certain types of cancer. In this article, the potential mechanisms underlying the basis of the elevated cancer risk are briefly discussed. Finally, if cancer is a consequence of excessive nighttime light, it is likely that other diseases/conditions may also be exaggerated by the widespread use of light after darkness onset.

The discovery of melatonin and its derivatives as antioxidants has stimulated a very large number of studies which have, virtually uniformly, documented the ability of these molecules to detoxify harmful reactants and reduce molecular damage. These observations have clear clinical implications given that numerous age-related diseases in humans have an important free radical component. Moreover, a major theory to explain the processes of aging invokes radicals and their derivatives as causative agents. These conditions, coupled with the loss of melatonin as organisms age, suggest that some diseases and some aspects of aging may be aggravated by the diminished melatonin levels in advanced age. Another corollary of this is that the administration of melatonin, which has an uncommonly low toxicity profile, could theoretically defer the progression of some diseases and possibly forestall signs of aging. Certainly, research in the next decade will help to define the role of melatonin in age-related diseases and in determining successful aging. While increasing life span will not necessarily be a goal of these investigative efforts, improving health and the quality of life in the aged should be an aim of this research.

Craniocerebral trauma (CCT) is the most frequent cause of morbidity-mortality as a result of an accident. The probable origins and etiologies are multifactorial and include free radical formation and oxidative stress, the suppression of nonspecific resistance, lymphocytopenia (disorder in the adhesion and activation of cells), opportunistic infections, regional macro and microcirculatory alterations, disruptive sleep-wake cycles and toxicity caused by therapeutic agents. These pathogenic factors contribute to the unfavorable development of clinical symptoms as the disease progresses. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indoleamine endogenously produced in the pineal gland and in other organs and it is protective agent against damage following CCT. Some of the actions of melatonin that support its pharmacological use after CCT include its role as a scavenger of both oxygen and nitrogen-based reactants, stimulation of the activities of a variety of antioxidative enzymes (e.g. superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase), inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation-adhesion molecules which consequently reduces lymphocytopenia and infections by opportunistic organisms. The chronobiotic capacity of melatonin may also reset the natural circadian rhythm of sleep and wakefulness. Melatonin reduces the toxicity of the drugs used in the treatment of CCT and increases their efficacy. Finally, melatonin crosses the blood-brain barrier and reduces contusion volume and stabilizes cellular membranes preventing vasospasm and apoptosis of endothelial cells that occurs as a result of CCT.