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Primarily due to the scarce direct field evidence along a same fault, understanding the relationship between the pre‐existing off‐fault damage and coseismic slip distribution remains challenging. This study offers the first field‐based quantitative assessments of fault damage zones along the surface rupture generated by the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake in China over eight profiles with 254 outcrops. The width and mean tectonic fracture intensity of the damage zones exhibit pronounced variations along the fault strike. We introduce the damage index as a proxy to quantify the extent of pre‐existing damage. We find a statistically significant anti‐correlation between the damage index and coseismic on‐fault slip. We thus infer that pre‐existing off‐fault damage plays a significant role in dissipating rupture energy, thereby reducing coseismic on‐fault slip. This study provides a natural case for linking the long‐term fault zone evolution and the short‐term earthquake rupture dynamics. Plain Language Summary: Large earthquakes can cause significant surface ruptures, which often spatially coincide with severe seismic disasters. Therefore, understanding where large coseismic slip occurs is crucial for mitigating hazards. Off‐fault damage is an indispensable component of fault zone structure, and its impact on seismic behavior has been widely emphasized. However, unlike coseismic off‐fault damage, pre‐existing off‐fault damage cannot be easily observed through remote sensing. Investigating pre‐existing off‐fault damage and its influence on coseismic on‐fault slip is challenging yet essential for comprehending earthquake processes. To address this gap, we conducted a detailed field investigation along the surface rupture of the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake, China, characterizing the along‐strike distribution of fault damage zone. Comparing the extent of pre‐existing fault damage with the coseismic on‐fault slip profiles revealed an inverse relationship: a higher extent of pre‐existing off‐fault damage leads to smaller coseismic on‐fault slip. We propose that the dissipation of seismic energy occurring within densely fractured damage zones provides a possible explanation for this phenomenon. Our findings establish critical connections between long‐term fault zone evolution and short‐term earthquake rupture dynamics. From a disaster reduction perspective, identifying off‐fault damage along major active faults before future earthquakes may enhance fault displacement hazard assessments. Key Points: Detailed measurements of the pre‐existing off‐fault damage along the surface ruptures associated with the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan EarthquakeWe provide compelling evidence that a higher extent of pre‐existing off‐fault damage leads to smaller coseismic on‐fault slipWe discuss the seismic energy dissipation hypothesis for the mechanism of pre‐existing off‐fault damage impeding coseismic on‐fault slip [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We directly estimate the in situ current density of the Earth's ring current (RC) using the curlometer method and investigate its morphology using the small spatial separations and high accuracy of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. Through statistical analysis of data from September 2015 to the end of 2016, covering the region of 2-8 RE (Earth radius, 6,371 km), we reveal an almost complete near-equatorial (within ± 20) RC morphology in terms of radial distance and magnetic local time (MLT) which complements and extends that found from previous studies. We found no evidence of RC enhancement on the dusk side during geomagnetic active periods, but details of MLT asymmetries in, and the boundary between, the inner (eastward) and outer (westward) currents are revealed. We propose that part of the asymmetry demonstrated here suggests that in addition to the overall persistence of the westward RC, two large banana-like currents are directly observed, one which could arise from a peak of plasma pressure near ~4.8 RE on the noon side and the other from a valley of plasma pressure which could arise near ~4.8 RE on the night side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Slc26a9 is a member of the Slc26 multifunctional anion transporter family. Polymorphisms in Slc26a9 are associated with an increased incidence of meconium ileus and diabetes in cystic fibrosis patients. We investigated the expression of Slc26a9 in the murine pancreatic ducts, islets and parenchyma, and elucidated its role in pancreatic ductal electrolyte and fluid secretion and endocrine function. Methods: Pancreatic Slc26a9 and CFTR mRNA expression, fluid and bicarbonate secretion were assessed in slc26a9−/− mice and their age‐ and sex‐matched wild‐type (wt) littermates. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed. Results: Compared with stomach, the mRNA expression of Slc26a9 was low in pancreatic parenchyma, 20‐fold higher in microdissected pancreatic ducts than parenchyma, and very low in islets. CFTR mRNA was ~10 fold higher than Slc26a9 mRNA expression in each pancreatic cell type. Significantly reduced pancreatic fluid secretory rates and impaired glucose tolerance were observed in female slc26a9−/− mice, whereas alterations in male mice did not reach statistical significance. No significant difference was observed in peripheral insulin resistance in slc26a9−/− compared to sex‐ and aged‐matched wt controls. In contrast, isolated slc26a9−/− islets in short term culture displayed no difference in insulin content, but a significantly reduced glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion compared to age‐ and sex‐matched wt islets, suggesting that the impaired glucose tolerance in the absence of Slc26a9 expression these is a pancreatic defect. Conclusions: Deletion of Slc26a9 is associated with a reduction in pancreatic fluid secretion and impaired glucose tolerance in female mice. The results underline the importance of Slc26a9 in pancreatic physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Experimental research into guard cell metabolism has revealed the roles of the accumulation of various metabolites in guard cell function, but a comprehensive understanding of their metabolism over the diel cycle is still incomplete due to the limitations of current experimental methods. In this study we constructed a four‐phase flux balance model of guard cell metabolism to investigate the changes in guard cell metabolism over the diel cycle, including the day and night and stomatal opening and closing. Our model predicted metabolic flexibility in guard cells of C3 plants, showing that multiple metabolic processes can contribute to the synthesis and metabolism of malate and sucrose as osmolytes during stomatal opening and closing. Our model showed the possibility of guard cells adapting to varying light availability and sucrose uptake from the apoplast during the day by operating in a mixotrophic mode with a switch between sucrose synthesis via the Calvin–Benson cycle and sucrose degradation via the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. During stomatal opening, our model predicted an alternative flux mode of the Calvin–Benson cycle with all dephosphorylating steps diverted to diphosphate–fructose‐6‐phosphate 1‐phosphotransferase to produce inorganic pyrophosphate, which is used to pump protons across the tonoplast for the accumulation of osmolytes. An analysis of the energetics of the use of different osmolytes in guard cells showed that malate and Cl− are similarly efficient as the counterion of K+ during stomatal opening. Significance Statement: This work presents a four‐phase metabolic model for predicting guard cell metabolism over the diel cycle. The model predicted an alternative flux mode of the Calvin–Benson cycle that maximises the production of inorganic pyrophosphate during stomatal opening. While multiple metabolic processes were shown to be important in synthesising and metabolising osmolytes in guard cells of different experimental systems, our model demonstrated that these processes can operate simultaneously and at different rates depending on the conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the association between the MTNR1B G risk allele, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronotype in the UK Biobank.Methods: Data from the baseline investigation of the UK Biobank were utilized (n = 337 083 White British; mean age: 56.9 years; 54% women). MTNR1B rs10830963 was directly genotyped [CC (reference group), CG and GG]. Chronotype was divided into four categories: definitely morning (reference group); more morning than evening; more evening than morning; and definitely evening. Logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for T2D, controlling for age, sex and other confounders.Results: Carriers of the rs10830963 risk allele had a higher risk of T2D [CG vs. CC: OR (95% CI) 1.10 (1.07, 1.15); GG vs. CC: 1.21 (1.14, 1.29)]. Compared with definitely morning chronotype, participants with definitely evening chronotype exhibited the highest risk of T2D [1.25 (1.17, 1.33)]. Despite a nonsignificant interaction between chronotype and the risk allele [0.98 (0.94, 1.01), P = 0.176 for interaction term], we found that definitely evening chronotype (vs. definitely morning) was linked with a higher risk of T2D amongst CC and CG but not GG carriers. Additionally, we saw that the GG genotype (vs. CC) was associated with a higher risk of T2D across all chronotype categories, except for definitely evening.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the MTNR1B G risk allele and late chronotype increase the risk of T2D. The association between late chronotype and higher risk of T2D appears to vary across MTNR1B rs10830963 genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Meteorological Organization stipulates a minimum of 30 years of historical data is needed to obtain meaningful results in climatological research. However, large numbers of studies have explored downscaling approaches based on the TRMM Multi‐Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) data, which span only from 1998 to the present, to obtain the precipitation estimates (~1‐km resolution). The main aim of the present study was to develop a new method for obtaining long‐term (>30 years) precipitation estimates at ~1‐km resolution and to apply that method to a region with complex topography, the Tibetan Plateau. First, PERSIANN‐CDR (Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks—Climate Data Record) data were used for downscaling. Considering the characteristics of the PERSIANN‐CDR data, a new downscaling‐calibration procedure utilizing a combination of a spatial data mining downscaling algorithm (Cubist) and a geographical ratio analysis calibration method was proposed. We found that (1) both the original PERSIANN‐CDR data (Bias ~40.79%) and the downscaled results before calibration (Bias ~26.78%) overestimated the precipitation compared with ground observations; (2) the final downscaled results based on the PERSIANN‐CDR data after calibration were close to the ground observations (Bias ~5%); (3) compared to the results interpolated based on the PERSIANN‐CDR data (E <−1.0), both the downscaling procedure and calibration procedure contributed significantly to the accuracy of the final downscaled results (E ~0.83). These findings suggest that the proposed downscaling‐calibration procedure has great potential as an approach for retrieving long‐term precipitation estimates (~1‐km resolution) over the Tibetan Plateau. Key Points: A downscaling‐calibration procedure was developed for downscaling PERSIANN‐CDR dataThe PERSIANN‐CDR data significantly overestimated precipitation (Bias >40%) over the Tibetan PlateauThe final downscaled results (>30 years) were of higher quality, with Bias around 5% [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When tunneling in a hard and brittle rock mass within a tectonic stress zone, dynamic failure of rock mass-rockburst may occur. Considering the occurrence of rockburst is generally induced by a sudden release of storage elastic energy, a numerical analysis based on the geotechnical conditions of the headrace tunnels of the Neelum–Jhelum hydroelectric project was carried out to investigate the variations of the storage elastic energy of surrounding rock mass during excavation in the tectonic stress zone. As expected, the numerical results show that the storage elastic energy concentration zones is elliptical around the tunnel due to the influence of the tectonic stress field and that the long axis of the ellipse is perpendicular to the orientation of the maximum principal stress of the tectonic stress. Furthermore, the calculated storage energy concentration zone is consistent with the locations of blasting overbreak in the tunnel. Rockburst predictions were carried out using the strength-stress ratio and energy criteria to identify the applicability of the criteria in a tectonic stress zone. The comparisons between the predictions and the field observations show that the strength-stress ratio criteria based on the uniaxial tests do not consider the influence of the tectonic stress on the strength of the rock. These criteria overpredict the extent of the blasting pits in the tectonic stress zone. However, the energy criteria based on the energy conversion of unloading confining pressure tests are able to reflect the influence of the tectonic stress, and the prediction results are more close to the field observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central nervous system, specifically the brain, is implicated in the development of exertional fatigue under a hot environment. Diverse neuroimaging techniques have been used to visualize the brain activity during or after exercise. Notably, the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become prevalent due to its excellent spatial resolution and versatility. This review evaluates the significance and limitations of various brain MRI techniques in exercise studies—brain volumetric analysis, functional MRI, functional connectivity MRI, and arterial spin labeling. The review aims to provide a summary on the neural basis of exertional fatigue and proposes future directions for brain MRI studies. A systematic literature search was performed where a total of thirty‐seven brain MRI studies associated with exercise, fatigue, or related physiological factors were reviewed. The findings suggest that with moderate dehydration, there is a decrease in total brain volume accompanied with expansion of ventricular volume. With exercise fatigue, there is increased activation of sensorimotor and cognitive brain areas, increased thalamo‐insular activation and decreased interhemispheric connectivity in motor cortex. Under passive hyperthermia, there are regional changes in cerebral perfusion, a reduction in local connectivity in functional brain networks and an impairment to executive function. Current literature suggests that the brain structure and function are influenced by exercise, fatigue, and related physiological perturbations. However, there is still a dearth of knowledge and it is hoped that through understanding of MRI advantages and limitations, future studies will shed light on the central origin of exertional fatigue in the heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of dietary valine on the growth performance, feed utilization, digestive enzymes, serum antioxidant and immune indices of juvenile Trachinotus ovatus and determine its valine requirement. Six diets with different concentrations of L‐valine (15.0, 16.6, 18.6, 20.7, 23.5 and 25.4 g/kg dry diet, defined as diet Val‐1 to Val‐6.), were formulated to contain 430 g/kg crude protein with fish meal, soybean meal, peanut meal and precoated crystalline amino acids. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate treatments of 20 fish (the initial body weight was 5.34 ± 0.03 g) for 8 weeks. The results indicated that the final body weight and percent weight gain (PWG) increased with increasing valine concentration up to 18.6 g/kg (diet Val‐3), whereas the diets containing higher valine concentration reduced the growth performance significantly (p < .05). Moreover, the protein efficiency ratio, body protein deposition (BPD), muscle protein content, intestinal amylase and pepsin activities, serum T‐AOC, LZM activities, IgM, complement 3 and complement 4 concentration had a similar trend with PWG, and the trend of feed conversion ratio, serum AST, ALT activities, urea and MDA content was opposite. Meanwhile, the lipid contents of whole fish and muscle in diet Val‐6 were particularly lower than other diets (p < .05). The survival rate of diet Val‐1 was lowest in this study and was significantly lower than diet Val‐2 (p < .05). The results of polynomial regression based on PWG and BPD indicated that the optimal dietary valine requirement for Trachinotus ovatus reared in seawater‐floating net cages was 19.87–20.17 g/kg valine of dry diet, correspondingly 46.22–46.91 g/kg of dietary protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphate is an important mineral nutrient for both human and animals in growth and physiological functions; thus, much effort in the past has been made to clarify the mechanisms governing its absorption. Previous studies have found that epidermal growth factor ( EGF) inhibits phosphate absorption in human intestinal cells via modulating the interaction of transcriptional factor c-myb with sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi- IIb) gene promoter. This finding provoked our interest in determining the effect of EGF on NaPi- IIb gene expression in intestinal cells of pigs and the location of EGF-responsive element in the gene promoter. Using quantitative PCR, it was observed that EGF significantly reduced NaPi- IIb gene expression in porcine intestinal epithelial IPEC-J2 cells. Transfection with a series of constructs that contain different lengths of the 5′-flanking promoter region of the NaPi- IIb gene manifested that EGF-responsive element is located in the −1200 to −800 region. Further, c-myb was extracted from the cell nucleus of IPEC cells that were exposed to EGF or not via immunoprecipitation. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed a specific binding of transcription factor c-myb to labelled probes encompassing DNA sequence from −1092 to −1085 (- TCCAGTTG-). This protein- DNA complex was decreased with cells exposed to EGF and abrogated when c-myb was pre-incubated with excessive unlabelled competitive probes. Results from mutagenesis studies demonstrated that the c-myb-binding site is the EGF-responsive element involved in the regulation of NaPi- IIb expression. Identifying the location of EGF-responsive element contributes to understanding mechanisms underlying EGF down-regulated NaPi- IIb gene expression and provides a foundation for further investigating EGF-regulatory functions in phosphate absorption in pig intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al2NbTi3V2Zr alloys were prepared by low-energy (LE) and high-energy (HE) ball milling and subsequent vacuum hot pressing. The corrosion behavior of the Al2NbTi3V2Zr alloy in 10 wt% HNO3 solution was investigated. Results showed that the HE bulk exhibited improved corrosion resistance than the LE bulk. Both had lower corrosion rates than Ti64. The LE bulk displayed localized corrosion whereas the HE bulk exhibited general corrosion and a wide passive region. The corrosion resistance of the alloy depended on the content of the secondary phase for the LE bulk, whereas grain size of the secondary phase and matrix influenced the HE bulk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Regulators of multiple antibiotic resistance (MarRs) are key players against toxins in prokaryotes. MarR homologues have been identified in many bacterial and archaeal species which pose daunting antibiotic resistance issues that threaten public health. The continuous prevalence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) throughout the world is associated with the abuse of antibiotics, and antibiotic treatments of CDI have limited effect. In the genome of C. difficile strain 630, the marR gene (ID 4913953) encodes a MarR protein. Here, MarR from C. difficile (MarR C.difficile) was subcloned and crystallized for the first time. MarR C.difficile was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli in a soluble form and was purified to near-homogeneity (>95%) by a two-step purification protocol. The structure of MarR C.difficile has been solved at 2.3 Å resolution. The crystal belonged to the monoclinic space group P43212, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 66.569, c = 83.654 Å. The structure reported reveals MarR C.difficile to be a dimer, with each subunit consisting of six α-helices and three antiparallel β-hairpins. MarR C.difficile shows high structural similarity to the MarR proteins from E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, indicating that MarR C.difficile might be a DNA-binding protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is considered a major pattern recognition receptor, which plays an important role in the development of sepsis. Increasing evidence showed an association between RAGE polymorphisms and the susceptibility to several inflammatory-related diseases. However, little is known about the clinical relationship between RAGE polymorphisms and sepsis. In this study, we analyzed the association of sepsis with three functional RAGE gene polymorphisms (rs1800624, rs1800625 and rs2070600) in a Chinese Han population (372 sepsis cases and 400 healthy controls). Significant differences were observed in the rs1800624 and rs1800625 genotype/allele distributions between the sepsis and controls, but no significant difference was observed in the rs2070600 genotype/allele. Moreover, our results also revealed a significant difference in the genotype/allele frequencies of the rs1800624 and rs1800625 polymorphisms between the sepsis and severe sepsis subtypes, the rs1800624 TT or rs1800625 TT genotype carriers exhibited a significant increase in RAGE mRNA, sRAGE, TNF-α and IL-6 expression compared with the rs1800624 AT/AA or rs1800625 CT/CC carriers in sepsis patients. Overall, this study might provide valuable clinical evidence between the RAGE gene polymorphisms and the risk or the development of sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A zirconium- and Cr(III)-containing conversion coating on Al alloy 2024-T3 was prepared in solution containing Cr2(SO4)3 and K2ZrF6. Its composition was analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and its corrosion resistance was investigated using polarization curve, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and salt spray exposure. An artificial scratch cell was used to investigate its 'self-repairing' effect by EIS and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In addition to Al, the conversion coating contained Zr, Cr, O, and F. The conversion coating provided obvious corrosion protection for the Al alloy 2024-T3. The EIS measurement and corrosion morphology observation of bare samples (i.e., uncoated samples) in the artificial scratch cell confirmed that the conversion coating possessed 'self-repairing' effect. XPS analysis showed that Cr(III) species, but not Zr species were transported from the conversion coating to the nearby bare area as in a scratch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the role of PET imaging in the prediction of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease (AD) conversion has been the subject of many longitudinal studies. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of (18) F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and (11) C-Pittsburgh Compound B-positron emission tomography (PIB-PET) for prediction of short-term conversion to AD in patients with MCI. The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were systematically searched for relevant studies. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. Sensitivities and specificities of PET in individual studies were calculated and meta-analysis was undertaken with a random-effects model. A summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was constructed with the Moses-Shapiro-Littenberg method. Heterogeneity was tested, and the presence of publication bias was assessed. Potential sources for heterogeneity were explored by assessing whether or not certain covariates significantly influenced the relative diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). Pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR-), DOR and the SROC curve of each PET imaging were determined. A total of 13 research studies (seven FDG-PET and six PIB-PET) met inclusion criteria and had sufficient data for statistical analysis. FDG-PET pooled estimates had 78.7% sensitivity (95% CI, 68.7-86.6%),74.0% specificity (95% CI, 67.0-80.3%), 18.1 LR+(95% CI, 7.3-45.0) and 0.32 LR-(95% CI, 0.16-0.61); and PIB-PET pooled estimates had 93.5% sensitivity (95%CI, 71.3-99.9%), 56.2% specificity (95% CI, 47.2-64.8%), 2.01 LR+ (95% CI, 1.57-2.58) and 0.17 LR-(95% CI, 0.08-0.36). Overall DOR was 17.3 (95% CI, 5.08-59.2) for FDG-PET and 12.8 (95% CI, 5.35-30.54) for PIB-PET. Area under the SROC curve was 0.88 ± 0.05 for FDG-PET and 0.85 ± 0.04 for PIB-PET. The data from FDG-PET research studies had high heterogeneity and funnel plot suggested a publication bias. The diagnostic accuracy determined for both FDG-PET and PIB-PET in this meta-analysis suggests that they are potentially valuable techniques for prediction of progression in patients with MCI. Both have their advantages and their combined use is a promising option for prediction purposes depending on availability and experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil alkaline phosphatase plays a vital role in phosphorus cycling in the soil ecosystem. Arsenic, an ecotoxic element, affects the normal function of phosphatase in the soil environment. To understand the effects of arsenic on phosphatase, the activity, kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics were investigated systematically following the addition of arsenate to free soluble, clay-immobilized alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) and soil ALP. The results showed that the ALP activity was strongly inhibited by arsenate. The Michaelis constant Km increased linearly with increasing arsenate concentration, indicating a decrease in affinity of the enzyme for the substrate. The inhibition constant Ki increased after the ALP was immobilized on montmorillonite and goethite. Thermodynamic properties such as activation energy, activation enthalpy, Gibbs activation free energy and activation entropy increased when arsenate was added, which suggests that more energy is required to form the activated molecule and the enzyme-substrate complex. The reaction was less spontaneous and the enzyme-substrate complex was less ordered. Immobilization of the ALP on minerals reduced the variation in kinetic and thermodynamic properties in the presence of arsenate, indicating that immobilization provided protection from arsenate stress. Arsenate toxicity to soil ALP was affected markedly by soil texture. The results suggest that the type of arsenate inhibition on free soluble ALP was competitive inhibition, whereas for immobilized and soil ALPs, the inhibition was competitive or mixed inhibition depending on the mineral or soil property. Highlights Alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) activity was inhibited by arsenate., The kinetic and thermodynamic properties of ALP were changed in the presence of arsenate., Arsenate inhibition on free, mineral-immobilized ALP and soil ALP was different., ALP immobilization on minerals reduced arsenate toxicity to ALP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many functional properties of perovskite oxides, ABO3, have a close relationship with their subtle structures, especially, the distortions of BO6 octahedra. As perovskite oxide heterostructures offer a good platform for controlling functional properties, it is important to understand the coupling between strain and oxygen octahedral distortions across the interface. Here, we study the coupling between the interfacial strain and oxygen octahedral distortions in GdScO3/SrTiO3 heterostructure using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (AC-TEM) with sub-Angstrom resolution and complementary first-principle calculation. Our results reveal that the shape rather than tilting angle of octahedra is strongly modified by the interfacial strain. These results would conduct us to deeply understand the strainoctahedral distortion coupling mechanism, and tune functionalities of perovskite oxide thin film in a more elaborate way which is related to the geometry of cation-oxygen bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is new and objective To assess oral antidiabetic drug use and associated health outcomes in American non-elderly adults with cancer Methods A retrospective study was conducted by analysing the Marketscan® Commercial Claims and Encounters Database from 2008 to 2009. Individuals 18-64 years with concomitant diagnoses of cancer (breast, prostate, colon or lung) and type 2 diabetes, and treated with oral antidiabetic medications were included. Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Possession Ratio ( MPR); logistic regression was used to analyse factors associated with non-adherence. Adherence was compared between patients with cancer and non-cancer controls matched by propensity scores. Negative binomial regression was utilized to examine the effect of antidiabetic drug adherence on all-cause hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The impact of adherence on total medical costs was then evaluated using the generalized linear model ( GLM) with the log-link function and gamma error distribution. Results and discussion Of 1918 diabetic, cancer patients who newly initiated oral diabetic drugs, only 37·6% were adherent to oral diabetic medications; a similar proportion of adherence was found in the non-cancer control population (35·8%, P = 0·24). Younger age, living in the southern region, using combination therapy vs. monotherapy, and using retail pharmacy vs. mail order pharmacy were significantly associated with non-adherence in patients with cancer. Adherence to oral antidiabetic drugs was associated with 24% fewer all-cause hospitalizations ( P = 0·02). What is new and conclusion We identified high prevalence of non-adherence to oral antidiabetic medications as well as negative consequences associated with non-adherence, among patients with cancer. These findings may underscore the importance of developing relevant intervention strategies for improving diabetes management and treatment outcomes among cancer patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To obtain data on the characteristics of labour from a regional sample of Chinese parturients and to assess the pattern of progress of labour among nulliparous women.Design: A prospective observational study.Setting: The study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.Population: The final sample involved 1200 Chinese parturients with singleton, vertex and term gestation; spontaneous onset of labour; vaginal delivery; and without adverse perinatal outcomes.Methods: A repeated-measures analysis was used to depict labour curves while an interval-censored regression was used to estimate the duration of labour centimetre by centimetre.Main Outcome Measures: Labour curves and the duration of labour at the 50th and 95th percentiles.Results: Among 1091 nulliparous women, 57.7% had cervical dilation of 3 cm or less at the time of admission, and the mean duration of the first stage of labour was 9.1 ± 3.3 hours. From 5 to 9 cm of cervical dilation it sometimes took more than 2 hours for dilation to advance 1 cm. No obvious inflection points appeared in the labour curve of Chinese nulliparae, and no deceleration was observed.Conclusion: Progress of labour in Chinese parturients was more gradual than in their Western counterparts. Obstetric practice standards based on data generated from Western countries may not be appropriate for Chinese women.Tweetable Abstract: A prospective study has evaluated labour patterns in Chinese women using regional data from nulliparae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature-dependent energy storage and dielectric properties of Pb0.90La0.04Ba0.04[(Zr0.7Sn0.3)0.88Ti0.12]O3 were investigated in this work. With the phase transition from antiferroelectric to paraelectric induced by temperature rise, the releasable energy density decreases from 0.74 J/cm3 (20°C) to 0.29 J/cm3 (140°C), whereas the discharge efficiency increases from 75.0% to 93.4%. The pulsed discharge current indicates that the stored energy can be released in less than 1 μs. The temperature has little impact on the amplitude of the current but influences the discharge duration time greatly. In addition, with the comprehensive analysis of hysteresis loops, the DC-bias character of dielectric constant and the discharge current, the transition from strong nonlinearity to linearity of the dielectric along with the phase switching was confirmed. It proves that the vanishment of high-electric-field nonlinear polarization contributions causes the declination of releasable energy with the temperature rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure and 1.0 mol% La2O3, ZnO, and Cr2O3-modified 0.675BiFeO3-0.325BaTiO3 ( BF- BT) multiferroic ceramics were prepared and comparatively investigated. For pure and La-, Zn-, and Cr-modified BF- BT, the average grain size is 415, 325, 580, and 395 nm, and the maximum dielectric constant temperature is 460°C, 430°C, 465°C, and 445°C, respectively. All additives weaken the ferroelectricity slightly. Zn- and Cr-modifications dramatically enhance the room-temperature magnetic properties, whereas La-modification has almost no effect on magnetic property. Especially, the Cr-modified BF- BT ceramics show switchable polarization and magnetization of 4.9 μC/cm2 and 0.27 emu/g at room temperature, the magnetoelectric coupling is confirmed by the magnetization-magnetic field curves measured on ceramics before and after electric poling. The mechanism responsible for the different effects of additive on microstructures and properties are discussed based on additive-induced point defect and second phase as well as diffusion-induced substitution. These results not only provide a promising room-temperature multiferroic material candidate, but also are helpful to design new multiferroic materials with enhanced properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Pb0.97La0.02)(Zr xSn0.89− xTi0.11)O3 ( x = 0.60, 0.62, 0.64, 0.66, 0.68, 0.70, 0.72, and 0.74) ceramics with the compositions in tetragonal antiferroelectric (AFE) region, near the morphotropic phase boundary, were prepared by using the conventional solid-state reaction process. Their electric field-induced phase transitional behaviors, composition- and temperature-dependent dielectric, depolarization, and pyroelectric properties were investigated systematically. The AFE to ferroelectric phase switching field EA-F decreased with increasing x, while depolarization temperature Td increased with a linear relationship of Td = 842 x-483. Enhanced pyroelectric coefficient with a value of 12.1 μC/cm2/K was obtained at 88°C for the ceramics with x = 0.68, which was four times larger than the reported values. Composition-dependent pyroelectric response over 24°C-140°C was realized by changing x from 0.60 to 0.74. The results also suggested that the enhanced pyroelectric response near Td was accompanied by a release of large Pr, caused by an induced ferroelectric to AFE phase transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi n+1Fe n−3Ti3O3 n+1 (BFT- n, n = 6, 7, 8, 9) ceramics were prepared using Pechini's method and their magnetic behaviors were investigated. XRD and HRTEM results suggested that BFT- n have the pure Aurivillius structure. Magnetic properties of BFT- n depend largely on their layer numbers. BFT-6 exhibits a paramagnetic (PM)-like characteristics with a small portion of weak antiferromagnetic (AFM) property; while spin glass (SG)-like characteristics was observed for the BFT- n ( n ≥ 7) samples. An amazing exchange bias phenomenon was observed in BFT- n ( n ≥ 7) ceramics, of which shifts in both vertical and horizontal direction were found in the magnetic hysteresis loops as the functions of testing temperature and the layer number ( n). For BFT-8, the maximum HE is 3911 Oe when measured at 5 K. The AFM/SG interface should be the origin for the observed exchange bias effect, which was aggravated with the increased layer numbers for the enhanced coupling probability among Fe3+ ions. The fantastic exchange bias behavior of BFT- n ( n ≥ 7) makes them a good single-phase candidate for future spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu- and V-doped BNKT10-based piezoelectric ceramics with up to 0.5 at.% dopant concentration were synthesized and displayed more homogeneous grain growth compared to undoped BNKT10 ceramics. The defect chemistry and defect structure, studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), indicate a slightly rhombic electronic environment with major unidirectional octahedral distortion of the local environment of Cu. The solubility limit of Cu2+ in this material system is lower than 0.05 at.% Cu; above this limit, a Cu segregation at the grain boundaries is prevalent, unlike in PZT and KNN. Here, V was shown to be incorporated into the perovskite lattice and possess oxidation states of +4 and +5, acting both as isovalent and donor dopant, predominantly compensated by A-site vacancies. A trend toward higher ceramic densities, higher maximum polarization, and higher remanent polarization with increasing Cu concentration was observed. A maximum mechanical coupling factor could be obtained in the case of doping with 0.4 at.% V and 0.1 at.% Cu with a planar coupling of 0.19 and a thickness coupling factor of 0.56. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La-doping mechanisms and thermoelectric properties of Sr3Ti2O7 Ruddlesden-Popper ( RP) ceramics sintered under air and flowing 5% H2 at 1773 K for 6 h have been investigated. Changes in lattice parameters and conductivity revealed a limited interstitial anion mechanism (~1 at.%) based on La3+ + ½O2−→Sr2+, which resulted in insulating samples when processed in air. In contrast, electronic donor-doping (La3+ + e− → Sr2+) and oxygen loss [O2− → ½ O2 (g) + 2 e−] are the dominant mechanism(s) in 5% H2-sintered ceramics with a solution limit of ~5 at.%. The increased solubility limit is attributed to the formation of Ti3+ during reduction, which compensates for the extra positive charge associated with La on the A-site and also to the occurrence of oxygen loss due to the reducing conditions. For 5% H2-sintered samples, an insulating surface layer was formed associated with SrO volatilization and oxygen uptake (during cooling) from the sintering. Unless removed, the insulating layer masked the conductive nature of the ceramics. In the bulk, significantly higher power factors were obtained for ceramics that were phase mixtures containing highly conductive perovskite-based (Sr,La)TiO3−δ ( ST). This highlights the superior power factor properties of reduced perovskite-type ST phases compared to reduced RP-type Sr3Ti2O7 and serves as a precaution for the need to identify low levels of highly conducting perovskite phases when exploring rare-earth doping mechanisms in RP-type phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electric-field-driven phase transition in (K, Na, Li)(Nb, Ta, Sb)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics was investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, and the temperature dependences of permittivity spectra. After poling under different electric fields, phase of the ceramics transformed gradually from orthorhombic-tetragonal coexisting phase to orthorhombic phase, indicating that the crystal structure of ceramics was strongly sensitive to electric field as an external stimulus. A secondary phase K3Li2Nb5O15 induced by electric field was detected in the ceramics with Li content of 7 mol%, which was close to the solubility limit of lithium. This field-induced secondary phase resulted from the movement of Li ions and the structural deformation induced by electric field. Moreover, piezoelectric constant d33 increased with the increasing poling field strength and the enhancement can be attributed to the field-triggered domain switching. This study implied that in addition to temperature and composition, which has been reported in previous researches, electric field might be an effective way for inducing phase transition in lead-free piezoelectric ceramics and improving the electrical performances simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Previous studies suggested that the overall burden of prior infections contributes to cardiovascular diseases and stroke. In the present study, the association between infectious burden ( IB) and Alzheimer's disease ( AD) was examined. Methods Antibody titers to common infectious pathogens including cytomegalovirus ( CMV), herpes simplex virus type 1 ( HSV-1), Borrelia burgdorferi, Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 128 AD patients and 135 healthy controls. IB was defined as a composite serological measure of exposure to these common pathogens. Results Seropositivities toward zero−two, three and four−five of these pathogens were found in 44%, 40% and 16% of healthy controls but in 20%, 44% and 36% of AD patients, respectively. IB, bacterial burden and viral burden were independently associated with AD after adjusting for age, gender, education, APOE genotype and various comorbidities. Mini-Mental State Examination scores were negatively correlated with IB in all cases. Serum beta-amyloid protein ( Aβ) levels (i.e. Aβ40, Aβ42 and total Aβ) and inflammatory cytokines (i.e. interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6) in individuals exposed to four−five infectious pathogens were significantly higher than those exposed to zero−two or three pathogens. Conclusions IB consisting of CMV, HSV-1, B. burgdorferi, C. pneumoniae and H. pylori is associated with AD. This study supports the role of infection/inflammation in the etiopathogenesis of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The (1− x)BiFeO3- xBaTiO3 (with x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) ceramics were fabricated successfully by solid-state reaction method. Single-phase perovskite was obtained in all ceramics, as confirmed by XRD technique. It was observed that 0.7BiFeO3-0.3BaTiO3 was the morphotropic phase boundary ( MPB) between rhombohedral and cubic phases, as also revealed from ferroelectric and magnetic properties. The simulated and experimental X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy ( XAS) study revealed that BT in 0.75BF-0.25BT is possibly taken a rhombohedral structure. Furthermore, the rounded ferroelectric hysteresis loops observed for 0.9BiFeO3-0.1BaTiO3 and 0.8BiFeO3-0.2BaTiO3 compositions could be attributed to their microstructure and surface charge effects and electron transfer between Fe3+ and Fe2+ ions. It was also found that high dielectric constant of 0.9BiFeO3-0.1BaTiO3 composition was a result of grain and grain-boundary effects, as observed in SEM micrographs. In addition, a strong signature of dielectric relaxation behavior was observed in this ceramic system with the activation energy 0.467 eV obtained from the Arrhenius' law. Finally, the local structure investigation with XAS technique provided additional information to better understand the electric and magnetic properties in the BF- BT ceramic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel lead-free relaxor ferroelectric ceramic of (0.67− x)BiFeO3-0.33BaTiO3- xBa(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 [(0.67− x) BF-0.33 BT- xBMN, x = 0-0.1] was prepared by a solid-state reaction method. A relatively high maximum polarization Pmax of 38 μC/cm2 and a low remanent polarization Pr of 5.7 μC/cm2 were attained under 12.5 kV/mm in the x = 0.06 sample, leading to an excellent energy-storage density of W ~1.56 J/cm3 and a moderate energy-storage efficiency of η ~75%. Moreover, a good temperature stability of the energy storage was obtained in the x = 0.06 sample from 25°C to 190°C. The achievement of these characteristics was basically attributed to an electric field induced reversible ergodic to ferroelectric phase transition owing to similar free energies near a critical freezing temperature. The results indicate that the (0.67− x) BF-0.33 BT- xBMN lead-free realxor ferroelectric ceramic could be a promising dielectric material for energy-storage capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoration of fish populations is required in China with the use of fishways at dammed rivers, but scant biological data is available for their design and operation. The Changzhou fishway ( CFW) on the Pearl River is the largest in China, providing a channel for multispecies upstream migrations. This preliminary study used a combination of fish traps and hydroacoustic detection to document the diurnal presence of fish in the CFW, with the purpose of providing essential data for a future, solid performance of this fishway. Eighteen species from a total of 1362 fish individuals were collected in the traps. Three species were dominant, namely, Squaliobarbus curriculus, Pseudobagrus vachellii and Cirrhinus molitorella, altogether sharing proportions of 74.70 and 76.26% in the daytime and nighttime, respectively. Balanced by the up-/downward movements of each fish, they entered the fishway with net numbers of 339.9 ± 113.4 ind.h−1, and exited with net numbers of 234.54 ± 26.66 ind.h−1. In diel fishway use, no significant differences were observed in either species composition or individual size during a diurnal period. Fish presence at the monitored sites within the fishway was recorded primarily during the daytime, showing a particular trend towards crepuscular use at the entrance and an uninterrupted use at the exit. This initial study showed a significant fish presence in the CFW during the flood season; the outcome of the study will be the basis of future research aimed at evaluating the passage efficiency of the CFW and the use thereof in other seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ceramics with the composition of Sr xBi7− xFe1.5Co1.5Ti3O21−δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1, SBFCT) were prepared by a citrate-nitrate combustion method, and the phase evolution with an increasing Sr content was investigated. Pure Aurivillius phase SBFCT with a layer number of n = 6 was obtained when x ≤ 0.25, and then the structure collapsed to 5 layers for x = 0.50, then alternating 4 and 5 layers for x = 0.75, and finally 4 layers for x = 1.00. Meanwhile, secondary phase Sr1− mBi mFe1− iCo iO3−γ appeared when x > 0.25, which is antiferromagnetic ( AFM) and with low resistivity. Enhanced ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties were observed from single phase SBFCTs at the room temperature, and the ferromagnetic transition temperature ( Tc) increases with the Sr doping level x in the single phase range. The remnant magnetization (2 Mr) is 2.27 emu/g and the remnant polarization (2 Pr) is 2.89 μC/cm2 at an applied electric field of 100 kV/cm for the x = 0.25 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1 − x)Ba0.6Sr0.4La4Ti4O15- xBa5Nb4O15 ( x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2, BSLT-BN) ceramic samples were prepared by co-firing the mixtures of Ba0.6Sr0.4La4Ti4O15 and Ba5Nb4O15 powders. Crystal structure, microwave dielectric properties and thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC) of the BSLT-BN series ceramics were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that all the samples exhibit a hexagonal perovskite structure, which implies that the BSLT-BN mixtures form solid solutions. With increasing Ba5Nb4O15 content, the diffraction peaks shift to low angles and the sintering temperature of BSLT-BN decreases. Raman spectra analysis reveals the shifting and splitting of the vibration modes. The microwave dielectric properties of the well-sintered (1 − x)BSLT- xBN ceramics vary with Ba5Nb4O15 content. The dielectric permittivity of the ceramics exhibits a slight decreasing trend. The quality factor varies in the range of 45 000-11 200 GHz, whereas near-zero temperature coefficients of the resonant frequency may be achieved by changing the Ba5Nb4O15 content. TSDC was utilized to explore the extrinsic loss mechanism associated with defects. TSDC relaxation peaks are mainly generated by oxygen vacancies, and the Ba5Nb4O15 content has a significant influence on the TSDC spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of using Ba2+ to modify the structure and dielectric and piezoelectric properties of Pb(1-x)Bax(Mg1/3Nb2/3)m(Zn1/3 Nb2/3)y(Ni1/3Nb2/3)nTizO3(x = 0-0.15) ceramics near the morphotropic phase boundary has been investigated. It is found that increasing the content of Ba2+ leads to a sequence of structural transformations from heterophase state (tetragonal and pseudocubic phases) to a cubic state via an intermediate pseudocubic phase. The evolution of the dielectric and piezoelectric properties (sequences of transformations: normal ferroelectric → relaxor ferroelectric → paraelectric) is shown. It is stated that ceramics with x = 0.025-0.050 possess the optimal combination of functional parameters for use in low-frequency receivers and actuators. They are characterized by high values of small-signal and large-signal piezoelectric coefficients d33 of 621 pC/N and ~1500 m/V (at E = 5 kV/cm), respectively, and also by increased values of dielectric permittivity ε/ε0 and tunability coefficient (Κ = [(ε/ε0(E = 0) - ε/ε0(E≠0))/ε/ε0(E = 0)] ⋅ 100%), equal to ~7000 and ~80%, respectively (at i > E = 20 kV/cm). It is shown that for the creation of high-power piezoelectric transducers it is necessary to use ceramics with x = 0.125, which differs with high values of the mechanical quality factor Qm and ε/ε0 (1406 and 10 890, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel percolative PZN− PZT/ Ag ferroelectric composites with intragranular structure were prepared with micro- PZN− PZT and nano- Ag particles. The typical core-shell nanostructures were systematically investigated by TEM, in which, the nanoscale shells act as interlayers between the Ag cores and the ceramic matrix. Excellent dielectric properties, such as high dielectric constant (εr ~16600) and low dielectric loss (< 0.056) were reported. The high dielectric constant originates from the coeffect of 'microcapacitors' and Maxwell-Wager-Sillars ( MWS) polarization. Especially, the core−shell structure may reinforce the MWS effect. Meanwhile, the insulating interlayers reduce the tunnel current between neighboring Ag cores by causing potential barriers, endowing the nanocomposites with low dielectric loss. This approach can be used to realize a novel material with high dielectric constant over a wide frequency and temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulics play an essential role in successful fish passage through fishways, yet little is known about the response of fish species to specific hydraulic characteristics. This study aims to determine the response of fish presence to water velocity that results from the flow regulation in the Changzhou Fishway (CFW). Water velocity meters and fish traps were used in the study to monitor water velocities and the presence of fish species at flood control levels as well as at normal pool levels. Water velocities in the CFW have a varied significantly as result of flow regulation, whereby water velocities at flood control levels are significantly higher than at normal pool levels (P = 0.014). A total of 3558 fish representing 28 species collected in the CFW were divided into two groups by cluster analysis. This type of divergence in species is strongly associated with the two controlled water levels in the fishway, wherein pelagic species predominate at normal pool levels, and demersal species predominate at flood control levels. This study suggests that the variations in water velocities trigger the shifts in species compositions that in the use of CFW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Volta potential change and corrosion behaviors of alloys Al-0.63Mg-0.28Si and Al-0.52Mg-0.63Si under MgCl2 drops with the initial concentration of 0.1-1.0 M in environments with relative humidity (RH) 33% were studied using a Kelvin probe (KP). For the alloy Al-0.63Mg-0.28Si, the Volta potential curve was mainly featured with many potential transients in the form of a sudden drop followed by an immediate recovery along the potential baseline at a higher potential value of −0.35 to −0.5 VSHE, which were associated with initiation and repassivation of metastable pits with diameter less than 3 μm. For the alloy Al-0.52Mg-0.63Si containing excess Si particles, the potential curve was featured with potential change in the form of slow increase followed by a sudden drop along the potential baseline at a lower potential value of about −0.7 VSHE. The sudden potential drop and stabilizing at the lower potential level were associated with corrosion initiation and growth, respectively. In the case of lower initial concentration and higher Si content leading to excess Si particles, the corrosion rating was higher. However, the excess Si particles showed a greater impact than the initial concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study was conducted to compare phenotypes and in vitro angiogenic capacity of putative endothelial progenitor cells ( EPCs) derived from bone marrow ( BM) and peripheral blood ( PB), from an avian species. Materials and methods Mononuclear cells were isolated from chicken BM and PB ( BMMNCs and PBMNCs) and cultured in EGM-2 medium. Cells at days 7-14 were used for the experiments. Expression of progenitor and endothelial markers, number of Dil-ac- LDL/lectin dual-positive cells and adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation were determined. Migration and in vitro angiogenic ability between BMMNC- and PBMNC-derived cells were compared. Results PBMNCs developed typical EPC appearance, with initial spindle shape followed by a cobblestone form, whereas BMMNC-derived cells retained their constitutive spindle-like morphology throughout the study. Cells derived from both sources expressed CD133, CD31 and VEGFR-2, although PBMNCs-derived cells had lower CD133 expression. Nevertheless, number of Dil-ac- LDL/lectin dual-positive cells did not differ between groups. Adipogenic and osteogenic lineages were verified in BMMNC- but not in PBMNC-derived cells. PBMNC-derived cells formed tubular networks on Matrigel. However, BMMNC-derived cells formed few tube-like structures, which were not morphologically comparable to those developed by their counterparts. Conclusion Our results suggest that so called EPCs derived from BMMNCs are not 'true' EPCs, supporting previous findings on mammals that BM may not serve as an optimal isolation source of EPCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coexistence of Li2 MoO4 ( LMO) and Ni0.5 Zn0.5 Fe2 O4 ( NZO) has been proven and their low-temperature-sintered magneto-dielectric composites (1− x) LMO- x NZO (volume fraction factor x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7) were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method and were sintered below 700°C. It is found that the optimal sample ( x = 0.5) has good and relatively stable magneto-dielectric performance in the frequency range from 10 MHz to 1 GHz with permittivity between 7.14 and 6.84, dielectric loss tangent between 0.09 and 0.02, and permeability between 5.23 and 3.30, magnetic loss tangent between 0.06 and 0.65, respectively. Furthermore, the verified chemical compatibility with silver indicates that the LMO-NZO ceramics are potential for low-temperature cofired ceramic application and their multifunctional magneto-dielectric properties also make them for potential applications in electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary CLA (Conjugated linoleic acid) levels on growth performance, fatty acid profiles and lipid metabolism of liver in Synechogobius hasta. Fish were fed six diets with fish oil replaced by 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 g kg−1 CLA for 8 weeks. Weight gain, WG, and SGR (specific growth rate) tended to increase when dietary CLA levels increased from 0 to 10 g kg−1 and then decline with further increasing dietary CLA levels to 25 g kg−1. FCR (feed conversion ratio) showed contrary trend with WG and SGR. The reduced VSI (vicero somatic index) and increased HSI (hepatosomatic index) were observed in fish fed increasing dietary CLA levels. Whole-body lipid content declined, but hepatic lipid content increased with increasing dietary CLA levels. Dietary CLA modified total percentages of the main groups of fatty acids in liver. Hepatic 6 PGD, ME and ICDH activities increased with increasing dietary CLA levels. FAS and G6 PD were very variable and not related to dietary treatments. CPT I activities showed no significant differences among the treatments. Based on second-order polynomial regression analysis of WG and FCR against dietary CLA level, 8.7-10.1 g kg−1 was indicated to be the optimal dietary CLA range for maximum growth and feed utilization for S. hasta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese oxides are good candidates of strongly correlated electron materials due to the uniqueness of electronic structure of manganese and the mobility of oxygen among lattice sites under external impacts. Here, we used electron beam as the excitation source to explore the structural evolution of YMnO3 and identified a new phase under the radiation of electron beam in the transmission electron microscope. Analyses of the electron energy-loss spectra reveal that this phase originates from ordered oxygen vacancy. We applied the first principles calculation to pick out the optimized stable structure with a lower polarization, and verified its correctness by electron diffraction and image simulations. Analyses of density of states indicate that weak Y- O covalence is favorable for the existence of ferroelectricity, supporting the electrostatic nature of ferroelectricity in the YMnO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Stroke is often accompanied by hyperglycaemia, and this has an important impact on prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between early hyperglycaemia and the outcome of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage ( sICH). Methods A systematic literature search on PubMed, Embase, Cochran, WANFANG DATA, VIP and CNKI databases was conducted, and eight eligible studies were retrieved. Relative risks and 95% confidence interval ( CI) in the hyperglycaemia group compared with the non-hyperglycaemia group were calculated and meta-analysed when possible. Results Eight controlled trials and cohort studies totalling 3756 patients addressing early hyperglycaemia and the outcome of sICH were compiled for this meta-analysis. Cut-off points for defining hyperglycaemia was 6.1-8.3 mmol/ L, and the median cut-off value was 7.5 mmol/ L. Studies were assigned to one of the two subgroups: the group A (for studies with the values of glucose concentrations above the median cut-off) and the group B (for studies with the values of glucose concentrations below the median cut-off). The RR for short-term death associated with hyperglycaemia was 3.65 (95% confidence interval ( CI) (3.08, 4.33); P < 0.0001). In the subgroup analysis, the relative risk values were 3.46 (95% CI (1.66, 7.20); P = 0.0009) and 3.53 (95% CI (2.92, 4.26); P < 0.00001) for the groups A and B respectively. The publication bias showed that Egger's test ( P > 0.1), Begg's test ( P > 0.05) and Nfs0.05 exceeded included studies. Conclusions Early hyperglycaemia can significantly increase the rate of early-term death in patients with sICH, independent of the cut-off points for hyperglycaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures, Curie temperature, dielectric relaxor behaviors, ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, and magnetocapacitance of the (1− x) Ba0.70 Ca0.30 TiO3- x BiFeO3 [(1− x) BCT- x BF, x = 0-0.90] solid solutions have been systematically investigated. The ceramics have coexisted tetragonal (T) and orthorhombic (O) phases when x ≤ 0.06, coexisted pseudocubic (PC) and O phases when x = 0.065, coexisted cubic and O phases when 0.07 ≤ x ≤ 0.12, PC phase when 0.21 ≤ x ≤ 0.42, coexisted T and rhombohedral (R) phases when 0.52 ≤ x ≤ 0.70, and R phase when x ≥ 0.75. Significantly, composition-dependent microstructures and Curie temperature are observed, the average grain size increases from 1.9 μm for x = 0, reaches 12.0 μm for x = 0.67, and then decreases to 1.3 μm for x = 0.90. At room temperature, the ceramics with x = 0.42-0.70 show piezoelectric properties and multiferroic behaviors, characterized by the polarization-electric field, polarization current intensity-electric field, and magnetization-magnetic field curves, the composition with x = 0.67 has maximum polarization, remnant polarization, maximum magnetization, and remnant magnetization of 15.0 μC/cm2, 9.1 μC/cm2, 0.33 emu/g, and 0.14 emu/g, respectively. In addition, the magnetocapacitance is evidenced by the increased relative dielectric constant with increasing the applied magnetic field ( H). With Δ H = 8 kOe, the composition with x = 0.67 shows the largest values of (εr( H) − εr(0))/εr(0) = 2.96% at room temperature. The structure-property relationship is discussed intensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]