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Background We aimed to explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and body weight perception (BWP) with suicidal behaviors among mainland Chinese adolescents. Methods A nationally representative sample (N = 10 110) of Chinese adolescents was assessed in this study. Suicidal behaviors (ideation, plan and attempt) were evaluated by four self-reported questions. Generalized linear mixed model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the association between BWP/BMI with suicidal behaviors. Results The prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicidal plan and suicidal attempt was 12, 5 and 2.1%, respectively. After adjusting potential covariates, perceiving oneself as obese was significantly associated with increased risks of suicidal ideation (OR: 2.4, 95% confidence intervals, CI: 1.6–4.0, P = 0.001), suicidal plan (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.5–6.3, P = 0.002) and suicidal attempt (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.5–9.1, P = 0.001) compared with perceiving as normal weight among male adolescents; the effect attenuated to null among female adolescents. Perceiving oneself as underweight and overweight both exhibited significant adverse effect on suicidal behaviors (only suicidal ideation and suicidal plan) compared with perceiving oneself as normal weight among male adolescents, but not among female adolescents. The actual measured BMI was not significantly associated with suicidal behaviors among neither gender. Conclusions Self-perception of their body image rather than actual measured weight may have a gender-specific adverse effect on suicidal behaviors among Chinese adolescents.

It is highly desirable to red shift the emission of Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ phosphor to obtain a warmer correlated color temperature (CCT) in applications for blue-light pumped white-light emitting diodes (w...

Like micro-silica (MS), nano-silica (NS) can also be considered as a supplementary cementitious material for production of high-performance mortar and concrete. To investigate the influence of MS and NS on the fresh properties of mortar or the mortar phase of concrete, an experimental program encompassing mortar mixes with various water, cement, MS and NS contents was launched for undergoing flowability, cohesiveness and adhesiveness measurements. It was found that the NS added, albeit at much smaller dosage, has greater effects than the MS added on the fresh properties of mortar. More importantly, NS has negative effects on flowability, but positive effects on cohesiveness and adhesiveness. These results suggest that by enhancing the cohesiveness and adhesiveness, the addition of NS in conjunction with MS is a promising method for producing mortar with high adhesiveness requirement, as reflected by the results of the newly developed stone rod adhesion test.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.23.4.16632

A series of luminescent Ba0.79Al10.9O17.14:xEu (x = 0.005–0.12) phosphors were prepared by high-temperature solid-state reaction in air atmosphere. The coexistence of Eu2+ and Eu3+ was observed and verified by photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and diffuse reflection spectra. The band emission peaking at 430 nm was assigned to 4F65D–4F7 transition of Eu2+, and another four emissions peaking at 589, 619, 655, and 704 nm were attributed to 4F–4F transitions of 5D0–7F J (J = 1, 2, 3, 4) of Eu3+. The related mechanism of self-reduction was discussed in detail. The color of the Ba0.79Al10.9O17.14:xEu phosphors could be shifted from blue (0.23, 0.10) to red (0.42, 0.27) by doping Li+ ions, and the temperature dependence properties were investigated.

An Ag/AgBr/Bi5O7I heterojunction was developed using a simple in situ co-precipitation method. Ag/AgBr nanoparticles were tightly bound to Bi5O7I, improving charge transfer at the heterojunction interface. The photocatalytic activities of the Ag/AgBr/Bi5O7I composites were studied by monitoring the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and through the generation of a transient photocurrent under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). The Ag/AgBr/Bi5O7I composites displayed enhanced photocatalytic activities compared to either pure Ag/AgBr or Bi5O7I. Charge carrier behavior was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) which indicated the enhanced separation and transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes, thus giving to the higher photocatalytic activity. The high-performance semiconductor heterojunction developed in this work is a good candidate for photocatalytic application.

Phosphate minerals of apatite from three mines with different amounts of gangue minerals were activated by milling to increase their microcrystallinity and subsequent dissolution in a citric acid solution to serve as slow-release fertilizers for agricultural production. XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared), and SEM (Scanning electron microscope) were employed to characterize the properties of the prepared samples, such as changes in microcrystallinity, mineral composition, lattice structure, and granule morphology during the milling. With prolonged milling time, accompanied with the progress in microcrystallinity, the ratio of the formed amorphous compositions increased, resulting in higher dissolution in citric acid solution. In the case of carrot plants, the addition of the microcrystalline phosphate rock together with phosphorus bacteria allowed an efficient nutrient (P, K, and N) uptake as high as 77.0%, 36.7%, and 32.2%, which increased by 91.3%, 123.0%, and 105.2%, respectively, from the growth on an original soil without any addition, demonstrating clear contribution of the activated apatites in agricultural production.

Objective To explore the relationship between the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) as a susceptibility risk factor for acute mountain sickness (AMS) in healthy people entering a high altitude area abruptly. Methods A search in Medline, PubMed, Springer, Elsevier and LWW databases was done to collect the reports concerning SaO2 as a susceptibility risk factor for AMS from 2000 to 2010 published in literature abroad, and meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.0 software. Results Nine papers concerning the relationship of AMS and SaO2 were retrieved. The heterogeneity test indicated that the nine studies were consistent statistically (Q=12.98, df=10, P>0.05), the data from these nine studies could be analyzed by fixed effect model. After combination of the data, those of 246 subjects with AMS and 557 subjects without AMS were collected. Test of overall effect by fixed effect model showed that the SaO2 was significantly lower in AMS group than in non-AMS group (weighted mean difference was 4.04, 95%CI was 3.36-4.71, P

In this paper, SiC nanowires were successfully synthesized on Si substrate by the thermal evaporation method without the assistance of a metal catalyst. The phase composition, morphology and microstructure of the SiC–SiO 2 core–shell nanowires were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The SiC nanowires produced grew along the [111] direction and had diameters of 50–100 nm with lengths of several hundreds of microns. The SiC nanowire was composed of a single-crystalline SiC core with a thin amorphous SiO 2 shell. The growth mechanism of the nanowires can be explained by the vapor–solid (VS) process.

Objective To provide a scientific basis for logistic health support by analyzing the relationship between altitudes and rate of staff depletion due to acute mountain sickness (AMS). Methods Rate of staff depletion due to AMS at different altitudes was obtained from relevant literature, and statistical methods including descriptive statistics, curve estimation etc. were applied to analyze the relationship between the altitude and rate of AMS-associated staff depletion. Results The AMSassociated staff depletion was positively correlated with the altitude (Pearson correlation r=0.868, P < 0.01). The curve fitting equation of AMS-associated staff depletion rate (P) and the square of the altitude (h) in the range of 3500-5270m altitude was : P=64.542－0.034h+4.90×10－6h2, and the goodness-of-fit test showed a very good curve fit (coefficient of determination R2=0.835, F=35.492, P < 0.01). There was a remarkable difference in rate of AMS-associated staff depletion between 3000-4000m and 4000m or higher (t=－3.097, P < 0.05), with a mean of 5.74%±3.70%, and 95%CI of 2.64%-8.83% and a mean of 17.53%±10.16% and 95%CI of 9.72%-25.34% respectively. Conclusion AMS-associated staff depletion rate is positively correlated with the altitude. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for predicting AMS-associated staff depletion.

The China-Anhui Birth Cohort Study (C-ABCS) was set up to examine the delayed, cumulative and interactive effects of maternal environmental exposures on birth outcomes and children's development. The C-ABCS recruited pregnant women from six major cities of Anhui province, China, between November 2008 and October 2010. A range of data (including demographic, obstetric, occupational, nutritional and psychosocial factors) were collected by both interviews and laboratory tests. In each trimester, women's blood samples were drawn, and pregnancy complications were abstracted from physician's medical records. By the end of 2011, birth outcomes/birth defects were observed/identified by clinicians within 12 months after the delivery of 11,421 singleton live births of six cities and those outcomes among the remaining 2033 live births are still being observed. In addition, 4668 children from Ma'anshan city will be further followed up during the pre-school period till they reach adolescence to obtain the data on familial environmental exposures as well as children's physical, psychological, behavioural and sexual development. The interview data and information on laboratory examinations are available on request from archives in the Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health & Aristogenics.

High-toughness Sialon ceramic matrix composites containing alloy second-phase particles were fabricated by hot pressing at a relatively low temperature of 1600°C. Substantially improved fracture toughness of 8.0 MPa·m1/2 was achieved through the addition of varying amounts of ferro-molybdenum alloy particles. The microstructure of the composites was characterized and crack propagation behavior was observed to understand the toughening mechanisms. The results showed that crack deflection and crack bridging are the principal mechanisms in the toughening of these types of ceramic composites.

Well-aligned TiO2nanotube arrays were fabricated by anodizing Ti foil in viscous F−containing organic electrolytes, and the crystal structure and morphology of the TiO2nanotube array were characterized and analyzed by XRD, SEM, and TEM, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2nanotube arrays was evaluated in the photocatalytic (PC) and photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye in different supporting solutions. The excellent performance of ca. 97% for color removal was reached after 90 min in the PEC process compared to that of PC process which indicates that a certain external potential bias favors the promotion of the electrode reaction rate on TiO2nanotube array when it is under illumination. In addition, it is found that PEC process conducted in supporting solutions with low pH and containing Cl−is also beneficial to accelerate the degradation rate of MB.

Acute hepatic failure was induced experimentally in rats by intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mL kg−1 carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and the effects on the expression and function of P-glycoprotein in the liver, kidney and brain were evaluated. The CCl4 injection significantly increased the indicators of hepatic function (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase), but not of renal function (blood urea nitrogen, glomerular filtration rate). In rats with acute hepatic failure, the hepatic P-glycoprotein concentration increased 1.5-fold and the ATP concentration decreased to approximately 40% that in control rats. In contrast, P-glycoprotein concentrations in the kidney and brain and ATP concentrations in the kidney remained unchanged. The in-vivo P-glycoprotein function in these tissues was suppressed as evaluated by biliary and renal secretory clearances and brain distribution of rhodamine 123, a P-glycoprotein substrate. These findings suggest that factors other than P-glycoprotein concentration are involved in the systemic suppression of P-glycoprotein function in diseased rats. In Caco-2 cells, plasma collected from CCl4-treated rats exhibited a greater inhibitory effect on P-glycoprotein-mediated transport of rhodamine 123 than that from control rats, suggesting the accumulation of an endogenous P-glycoprotein substrate/inhibitor in the plasma of diseased rats. In fact, the plasma concentration of corticosterone, an endogenous P-glycoprotein substrate, increased 2-fold in CCl4-treated rats compared with control rats. It was demonstrated that P-glycoprotein function is systemically suppressed in rats with CCl4-induced acute hepatic failure, not only in the target organ (liver), but also in other organs (kidney and brain), although the P-glycoprotein concentration remained unchanged in the kidney and brain, and increased in the liver. In the systemic suppression of the P-glycoprotein function in the diseased state, the alteration of plasma concentrations or components of endogenous P-glycoprotein-related compounds, such as corticosterone, would likely be involved.

The title compound, C20H16N2O4S, was prepared by introduction of a 2-nitrobenzyl group to 2-(furan-2-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepin-4(5H)-one via an alkaline-catalysed reaction. The thiazepine ring adopts a twist-boat conformation. The furan ring is oriented at dihedral angles of 56.75 (14) and 10.82 (14)° with respect to the two benzene rings, while the two benzene rings make a dihedral angle of 62.96 (10)°. Weak intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds occur in the crystal structure.