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[Display omitted] • Calcification was identified in Randall's plaque. • Calcification-related proteins were up-regulated in animal and cell models. • HCA reduces calcification-induced apoptosis and oxidative damage. • HCA inhibits cellular calcification and deposition of calcium salts in animals. Ectopic calcification of the renal interstitium as an important cause of renal stone formation. Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a derivative of citric acid, has antioxidant properties and inhibits the crystallisation of calcium salts.The study found that HCA has an inhibitory effect on calcification and calcium salt deposition in fibroblasts. Additionally, HCA was found to reduce calcification-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis.Animal experiments also showed that HCA reduced calcium salt deposition and expression of calcification-related proteins. Cellular transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that HCA can regulate the changes in cellular transcriptome caused by calcification in culture. HCA can effectively inhibit the calcification of renal interstitial fibroblasts, reducing the risk of stone formation by inhibiting calcification culture-induced apoptosis and calcium salt deposition. Therefore, HCA is a promising alternative drug for inhibiting renal stone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A convenient and effective strategy of preparing the colorless and transparent Ce3+-doped aluminoborosilicate glass in air by high temperature melt-quenching method is revealed. It is easily achieved by the partial substitution of Si 3 N 4 for SiO 2 within 20–25 mol%. The optimized Ce3+-doped aluminoborosilicate glass scintillaor (y = 25%) is featured with a density of 4.6432 g/cm3 and a lifetime of 35.36 ns, respectively. Compared to the glass without any substitution of Si 3 N 4 (y = 0%), both the photo- and radio-luminescence intensity of the optimized Ce3+-doped aluminoborosilicate glass (y = 25%) are enhanced by a factor of 11.05 and 10.58, respectively. The corresponding integrated raidoluminescence intensity is about 22.8% of that of BGO crystal irradiated by X-rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a simple synthesis method of a transparent and colorless Ce 3+ -activated borosilicate glass scintillator by conventional melt-quenching method in air atmosphere. The optical transmittance and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) spectra imply that ceric ions (Ce 4+ ) can be effectively reduced to cerous one (Ce 3+ ) in borosilicate glass scintillator by substituting 40–60 mol% SiC for SiO 2 . Compared to the x =0 glass scintillator, both the photo- and radioluminescence intensity of the optimized borosilicate glass scintillator ( x =15 C) are enhanced by a factor of 6.5 and 7.7, respectively. The integral radioluminescence intensity of the x =15 C borosilicate glass scintillator resulted from the combined reduction effect of both SiC and graphite powder is about that of 14% bismuth germinate (BGO) crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • HCA can effectively inhibit CaOx crystal deposition. • HCA can effectively inhibit the lipid deposition and reduce lipid nephrotoxicity. • HCA inhibits lipid nephrotoxicity by activating the PPARα pathway. • HCA has a better inhibition of CaOx crystal formation compared to CA. Kidney stone is a urinary system disease with a high incidence, and effective stone drugs are limited. Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), mainly found in Garcinia cambogia and Hibiscus sabdariffa , can reduce body weight and calcium salt deposition. In this study, we explored the molecular mechanisms of HCA inhibition of renal calcium oxalate (CaOx) deposition and nephrotoxicity in an oxalate-induced cell model and rat model. HCA could effectively inhibit CaOx crystal deposition and reduce crystal adhesion and oxidative damage. Further cellular transcriptomic analysis and in vitro results showed that HCA could stably bind peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR α), thus promoting the expression of downstream oxidative stress molecules and inhibiting calcium ion release and mitochondrial dysfunction, thus reducing oxalate-induced renal lipid peroxidation damage. HCA, a drug with the ability to modulate lipid metabolism and inhibit CaOx formation, may be a therapeutic option for the treatment of oxalate nephropathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Borogermanate scintillating glasses with composition of 25B2O3–40GeO2–2Eu2O3–33RE2O3 (RE=Y, La and Gd) were synthesized by melt-quenching method. The effect of RE2O3 on the glass structure and performance including the density, transmittance as well as luminescent properties under both ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray excitation were compared and studied systematically. The enhanced intensity of Eu3+ emission under X-ray excitation is remarkably higher than that under UV excitation. The temperature-dependent emission spectra in the 75–295K temperature region reveal that the thermal quenching behavior of Eu3+ luminescence in Y2O3-based glass is slightly better than that in La2O3- or Gd2O3-based one. The covalency property of Eu O bond and the local environment of Eu3+ ions is evaluated by the values of Ω t parameter by employing the Judd–Ofelt analysis. The possible interconnection among the covalency nature of Eu O bond, the thermal quenching behavior of Eu3+ emission, and the thermal stability of the designed borogermanate scintillating is also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Tb3+-activated 25B2O3–40GeO2–(35− x)Gd2O3–xTb2O3 scintillating glasses were prepared by melt-quenching method. Their structure and luminescent properties were characterized by transmittance, Raman, photoluminescence and X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) spectra in details. A high Gd2O3 content is necessary to ensure borogermanate glass with density up to 5.7g/cm3. Energy transfer efficiency from Gd3+ to Tb3+ ions, and critical distances for both Gd3+-Tb3+ and Tb3+-Tb3+ ion pairs were calculated, respectively. The optimal concentration of Tb3+-activated borogermanate scintillating glass under both ultraviolet and X-ray excitation is determined. It reveals that the integral scintillation efficiency is about 30% of the standard Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) scintillating crystal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: (100− x)Li2B4O7:xDy2O3 (LBO:xDy3+) glasses were developed to be used for white light-emitting-diodes (W-LEDs). The luminescent properties were investigated by excitation and emission spectra. Approximate equal intensity of blue and yellow emissions bands was detected upon excitation from near-ultraviolet (N-UV) to blue light range. Combination of these blue and yellow bands gives rise to intensive white light to the naked eyes. The optimal concentration of Dy2O3 is 0.5mol% under 350nm excitation; the corresponding chromaticity coordinates (0.342, 0.372) in the white region is very near to the standard equal energy white light point (0.333, 0.333). The nature of energy transfer among Dy3+ ions was confirmed by Huang's rule. Simulation results of white light reveal that the color coordinates is insensitive to content and excitation wavelength of the incorporated Dy3+ ions. All results imply that the investigated LBO:xDy3+ glasses is of significance for W-LEDs application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Tunable full color emissive LiSr3.99−x Dy0.01(BO3)3:xEu3+ (0≤x≤0.09) phosphors peaked at 481nm (blue), 574nm (yellow), 592nm (orange), and 617nm (red) were synthesized in air by high temperature solid-state reaction route. The as-synthesized phosphors were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The PLE spectra in the range from 200 to 500nm include an Eu–O charge transfer band (CTB) and several 4f–4f transition peaks of Dy3+ and Eu3+, indicating its potential application in white light emitting diodes (LEDs). The effect of Eu3+ concentration on the emission intensity of LiSr3.99−x Dy0.01(BO3)3:xEu3+ phosphors was investigated in detail and the optical concentration is found to be x=0.005. The CIE chromaticity coordinates for LiSr3.99−x Dy0.01(BO3)3:xEu3+ phosphors are simulated. With an increase in Eu3+ ion concentration, the chromaticity color coordinates can be tuned efficiently from the border of greenish white region to its equal-energy white light point, and eventually to red region. All the results imply that the studied LiSr3.99−x Dy0.01(BO3)3:xEu3+ phosphors could be potentially used as white LEDs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Ca3−x B2O6:xDy3+ (0.0≤ x ≤0.105) and Ca2.95−y Dy0.05B2O6:yLi+ (0≤ y ≤0.34) phosphors were synthesized at 1100°C in air by solid-state reaction route. The as-synthesized phosphors were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The PLE spectra show the excitation peaks from 300 to 400nm is due to the 4f–4f transitions of Dy3+. This mercury-free excitation is useful for solid state lighting and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The emission of Dy3+ ions upon 350nm excitation is observed at 480nm (blue) due to the 4F9/2 → 6H15/2 transitions, 575nm (yellow) due to 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 transitions and a weak 660nm (red) due to 4F9/2 → 6H11/2 emissions, respectively. The optimal PL intensity of the Ca3−x B2O6:xDy3+ phosphors is found to be x =0.05. Moreover, the PL results from Ca2.95−y Dy0.05B2O6:yLi+ phosphors show that Dy3+ emissions can be enhanced with the increasing codopant Li+ content till y =0.22. By simulation of white light, the CIE of the investigated phosphors can be tuned by varying the content of Li+ ions, and the optimal CIE value (0.300, 0.298) is realized when the content of Li+ ions is y =0.22. All the results imply that the Ca2.95−y Dy0.05B2O6:yLi+ phosphors could be potentially used as white LEDs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]