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To investigate the antidepressant-like effects of Chaihu Shugan Powder (CSP, 柴胡疏肝散) and to explore its underlying mechanisms. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (CON), chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), fluoxetine (FLU), and CSP groups, 8 rats in each group. All of the rats except for those in the control group were subjected to 3 consecutive weeks of CUMS to establish the depression model. The open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and sucrose preference test were used to assess the anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects of CSP. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP nick-end labeling was used to determine the apoptosis rate in the hippocampal tissues. The mRNA and protein levels of glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 78, spliced X-box-binding protein (XBP)-1, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), caspase-12, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the hippocampus of rats were evaluated by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Administration of CSP alleviated anxiety and depression-like behavior in CUMS rats, as revealed by enhanced time and distance in the center of the OFT (P

Uranium-molybdenum (U-Mo) particles dispersed in an aluminum matrix is the most promising candidate fuel to convert high-power research and test reactors in Europe from using high-enriched to using low-enriched fuel. However, chemical interaction between the U-Mo and the Al matrix leads to undesirable fuel behavior. Zirconium nitride (ZrN) is used as a diffusion barrier between the U-Mo fuel particles and the Al matrix. To understand the potential microstructural evolution of ZrN during irradiation, a high-energy heavy ion (84 MeV Xe) irradiation experiment was performed on atomic layer deposited (ALD) nanocrystalline ZrN deposited on an Al plate. A fluence of 1.86 × 1017 ions/cm2, or 90.3 dpa was reached during this experiment. Both analytic transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron microbeam X-ray diffraction (μXRD) techniques were utilized to investigate the kinetics of radiation-induced grain growth of ZrN at various radiation doses based on the Williamson-Hall analyses. The grain growth kinetics can be described by a power law expression, D n − D 0 n = K ϕ , with n = 5.1. The Al-ZrN interaction products (Al3Zr and AlN) created by radiation-induced ballistic mixing/radiation-enhanced diffusion and their corresponding formation mechanism were determined from electron diffraction and elemental composition analysis. These experimental results were confirmed by first principle thermodynamic density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results from this ion irradiation study were also compared to in-pile irradiation data from physical vapor deposited (PVD) ZrN samples for a comprehensive evaluation of the interaction between Al and ZrN and its influence on diffusion barrier performance.

Due to its superior thermophysical properties, ZrN thin film has been studied as a diffusion barrier for a variety of applications. However, cracks and delamination of ZrN coating takes place because of its brittleness. To identify new diffusion barrier materials with improved fracture toughness, we systematically studied the mechanical properties, surface energies and fracture toughness of IVB, VB and VIB transition metal mononitrides using first-principles calculations. TiN and HfN show slightly better toughness than ZrN. To improve the toughness of ZrN, we investigated the fracture toughness of ZrN alloyed with 25% IVB, VB and VIB transition metal nitrides. TiN, HfN and TaN was found to be able to increase the fracture toughness of ZrN through alloying. Meanwhile, we predicted the interfacial fracture toughness of ZrN/TiN and ZrN/HfN interfaces to evaluate the fracture toughness of ZrN/TiN and ZrN/HfN multilayer structures. Both ZrN/TiN and ZrN/HfN films exhibit higher interfacial fracture toughness than that of ZrN single film. Therefore, alloying and multilayer structures are promising approaches to enhance the toughness of brittle ZrN film.

To evaluate the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (补阳还五汤, BYHWD) on glial scar after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and investigate the underlying mechanism. Collagenase type VII (0.5 U) was injected stereotaxically into right globus pallidus to induce ICH model. One hundred and twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups according to a random number table, including normal group (n=40), ICH model group (n=40) and BYHWD group (n=40), respectively. After ICH, the rats in the BYHWD group were intragastrically administered with BYHWD (4.36 g/kg) once a day for 21 days, while the rats in ICH group were administered with equal volume of distilled water for 21 days, respectively. Double immunolabeling was performed for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)+/glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+ nuclei. The expression of GFAP and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The astrocytes with hypertrophied morphology around the hematoma was observed on day 3 after ICH. The number of GFAP positive cells and GFAP mRNA levels increased notably on day 3 and reached the peak on day 14 post-ICH (P

We investigate the lattice and electronic thermal conductivities of uranium aluminide compounds, i.e., UAl2, UAl3 and UAl4, by density functional theory calculations. The lattice and electronic contributions to the total thermal conductivity of uranium aluminides are compared, and the contributions of phonons with different mean free times and modes to the lattice thermal conductivity of UAl3 are analyzed from the calculated cumulative and spectral thermal conductivities. The effect of Mo addition and U vacancy on the thermal conductivities of UAl3 and UAl4 is studied by considering the elastic phonon scattering due to mass difference. Both Mo addition and U vacancy are found to significantly reduce the thermal conductivities of ideal UAl3 and UAl4 even with very low concentrations. The currently predicted thermal conductivities of uranium aluminide compounds are expected to be useful to the evaluation of the effective thermal conductivity of the interaction layer formed in U-Mo/Al dispersion fuel.

To evaluate the effectiveness of ZrN as a diffusion barrier against fission gases, we investigate the incorporation and migration of fission gas atoms, with a focus on Xe, in ZrN by first-principles calculations. The formations of point defects in ZrN, including vacancies, interstitials, divacancies, Frenkel pairs, and Schottky defects, are first studied. Among all the defects, the Schottky defect with two vacancies as first nearest neighbor is predicted to be the most favorable incorporation site for fission gas Xe in ZrN. The migration of Xe gas atom in ZrN is investigated through two diffusion mechanisms, i.e., interstitial and vacancy-assisted diffusions. The migration barrier of Xe gas atom through the intrinsic interstitials in ZrN is considerably lower than that through vacancies. Therefore, at low temperatures fission gas Xe atoms diffuse mainly through interstitials in single crystal ZrN, whereas at high temperatures Xe may diffuse in ZrN assisted by vacancies.

In schistosomiasis, egg deposition in the liver contributes to the formation of hepatic granuloma and fibrosis, which are the most serious clinical pathological features. It has been proposed that activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways is closely associated with the development of hepatic granuloma and fibrosis. Genistein has been shown to inhibit the activity of NF-κB signaling pathways, which might be a potential agent to protect against Schistosoma japonicum egg-induced liver granuloma and fibrosis. In this study, liver granuloma and fibrosis were induced by infecting BALB/c mice with 18 ± 3 cercariae of S. japonicum. At the beginning of egg granuloma formation (early phase genistein treatment from 4 to 6 weeks after infection) or after the formation of liver fibrosis (late phase genistein treatment from 6 to 10 weeks after infection), the infected mice were injected with genistein (25, 50 mg/kg). The results revealed that genistein treatment significantly decreased the extent of hepatic granuloma and fibrosis in infected mice. The activity of NF-κB signaling declined sharply after the treatment with genistein, as evidenced by the inhibition of NF-κB-p65, phospho-NF-κB-p65, and phospo-IκB-α expressions, as well as the expression of IκB-α and the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of inflammatory cytokines (MCP1, TNFα, IL1β, IL4, IL10) mediated by NF-κB signaling pathways in the early phase of the infection. Moreover, western blot and immunohistochemistry assays demonstrated that the contents of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β were dramatically reduced in liver tissue under the treatment of genistein in the late phase of the infection. At the same time, the mRNA expression of MCP1, TNFα, and IL10 was inhibited markedly. These results provided evidence that genistein reduces S. japonicum egg-induced liver granuloma and fibrosis, at least partly due to decreased NF-κB signaling, and subsequently decreased MCP1, TNFα, and IL10 expressions. This implies that genistein can be a potential natural agent against schistosomiasis.

Molten mixtures of lithium chloride and metallic lithium (LiCl-Li) play an essential role in the electrolytic reduction of various metal oxides. These mixtures possess unique high temperature physical and chemical properties that have been investigated for decades. However, due to their extreme chemical reactivity, no study to date has been capable of definitively proving the basic physical nature of Li dissolution in molten LiCl. In this study, the evolution of the structure of molten LiCl-Li is probed as metallic Li is electrochemically introduced into the melt in situ, using synchrotron radiation experiments based on high energy wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The time-resolved scattering results indicate the formation of transient Cl- ion cages surrounding low-density voids with a periodicity of ∼8.3 A, which suggests the formation of metastable Li nanocluster. The structure of the LiCl-Li nanoclusters in the solution is modeled using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. The simulation results are in agreement with the X-ray diffraction measurement and suggest the nanoclusters are predominantly Li8, along with smaller clusters.

Zirconium nitride (ZrN) exhibits exceptional mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties, which make it attractive for a wide range of technological applications, including wear-resistant coatings, protection from corrosion, cutting/shaping tools, and nuclear breeder reactors. Despite its broad usability, an atomic scale understanding of the superior performance of ZrN, and its response to external stimuli, for example, temperature, applied strain, and so on, is not well understood. This is mainly due to the lack of interatomic potential models that accurately describe the interactions between Zr and N atoms. To address this challenge, we develop a modified embedded atom method (MEAM) interatomic potential for the Zr–N binary system by training against formation enthalpies, lattice parameters, elastic properties, and surface energies of ZrN (and, in some cases, also Zr3N4) obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The best set of MEAM parameters are determined by employing a multiobj...

Using density-functional theory based first-principles calculations we provided a comparative study of the diffusion barrier properties of TiN, ZrN, and HfN against Al for U–Mo dispersion fuel applications. We firstly examined the thermodynamic stability of these transition-metal nitrides with Al. The calculated heats of reaction show that both TiN and ZrN are thermodynamically unstable diffusion barrier materials, which might be decomposed by Al at relatively high temperatures. As a comparison, HfN is a stable diffusion barrier material for Al. To evaluate the kinetic stability of these nitride systems against Al diffusion, we investigated the diffusion mechanisms of Al in TiN, ZrN and HfN using atomic scale simulations. The effect of non-stoichiometry on the defect formation and Al migration was systematically studied.

Controlled photoluminescence tuning is important for the optimization and modification of phosphor materials. Herein we report an isostructural solid solution of (CaMg)x(NaSc)1–xSi2O6 (0 < x < 1) in which cation nanosegregation leads to the presence of two dilute Eu2+ centers. The distinct nanodomains of isostructural (CaMg)Si2O6 and (NaSc)Si2O6 contain a proportional number of Eu2+ ions with unique, independent spectroscopic signatures. Density functional theory calculations provided a theoretical understanding of the nanosegregation and indicated that the homogeneous solid solution is energetically unstable. It is shown that nanosegregation allows predictive control of color rendering and therefore provides a new method of phosphor development.

Uranium carbides have attracted renewed interest as advanced nuclear fuels for Generation IV reactors. As an important property required for gas bubble modeling in nuclear fuels, the surface energy of uranium carbides is scarce in literature. In this work, we study the surface properties of uranium carbides by first-principles density functional theory calculations. Surface orientations with maximum Miller index up to 3, 2 and 2 are investigated for UC, U2C3 and α-UC2, respectively. By studying the effects of surface termination and chemical potential on surface energy, we identify the factors that determines the surface stability. From the calculated surface energies, the surface properties of uranium carbide single crystals are obtained from Wulff construction, including equilibrium morphology, dominant surface orientation and area weighted surface energy.

Surface energy is a crucial material property required for the modeling of fission gas bubble behavior in nuclear materials. However, there is no information available regarding the surface properties of uranium aluminides. In this work we systematically investigate the surface properties of uranium aluminides (UAl3 and UAl4) by first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A total of 13 surface orientations with a maximum Miller index (MMI) up to 3 are studied for cubic UAl3, while 19 surfaces with a MMI of 2 for orthorhombic UAl4. Using the surface energies predicted by DFT, the surface properties of equilibrium single crystal UAl3 and UAl4, including surface area weighted surface energy, dominant surface orientations and surface anisotropy, are obtained from Wulff construction. To understand gas bubble behaviors in amorphous uranium aluminides under irradiation, we study the surface properties of amorphous UAl3 and UAl4. Compared to the crystalline phases, the amorphous phases are found to have lower surface energies due to the reduced number of breaking U-Al bonds close to the surface. The currently obtained surface properties of UAl3 and UAl4 can be used for the future modeling of gas bubble behaviors in both crystalline and amorphous uranium aluminide fuels.

Objective The objective of the present study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of sinomenine (SIN) on angiogenesis in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. Methods Arthritis assessments for all mice were recorded. The histopathological assessments were performed following haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses were used to detect the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin 1 (ANG-1) in the serum and in the membrane. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the synovium microvessel density (MVD). Results Compared with the CIA model group, SIN significantly ameliorated swelling and erythema extension, decreased the arthritis index, reduced inflammation, cartilage damage and bone erosion, and lessened the number of CD31 positive cells on the synovium. Moreover, the levels of HIF-1α, VEGF and ANG-1 in the synovium and in the peripheral serum were increased in the untreated CIA model group but were significantly reduced in the 30 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg SIN treatment groups. Conclusion SIN could mitigate CIA by inhibiting angiogenesis, and the mechanism may associate with the HIF-1α–VEGF–ANG-1 axis. Additionally, our study provides a referable experimental basis for the use of SIN for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine on expression of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), substance P (SP) and nerve nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in diabetic gastroparesis mice. Methods Eighty Kunming male mice were randomly divided into normal group (group A, 15 mice), diabetic gastroparesis model mice group (group B, 12 mice), acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine group (group C, 12 mice), Chinese medicine group (group D, 13 mice) and western medicine group (group E, 13 mice). The mice were intraperitoneally injected with steptozotocin and fed with high-fat diet-induced irregular except the normal group mice, that made mouse model of diabetic gastroparesis. And then, the ACM group were treated by acupuncture at the acupoints of Housanli ( ST 36) and Zhōngwan ( CV 12) combined with Chinese medicine, the CM group were only treated by Chinese medicine; the WM group were treated by domperidone and vitamin B 6. Numbers and expression of ICC, SP and nNOS were detected by immunohistochemical methods. Results After treatment, compared with normal group, ICC and SP indexes of model group were significantly reduced. Compared with model group, all indexes in ACM and CM groups were improved significantly (P 0.05), but expression of nNOS were increased markedly (P Conclusion Acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine have much better therapeutic effects for diabetic gastroparesis mice, which may be due to repairing ICC damage, upregulating the expression of SP and lowering the expression of nNOS.

An oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) 316 steel was developed to simultaneously provide the advantages of ODS steels in mechanical strength and radiation tolerance as well as the excellence of austenitic steels in creep performance and corrosion resistance. The precipitate phases within the austenite matrix were identified by the combined techniques of atom probe tomography (APT), scanning transmission electron microscopy equipped with electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDS), and synchrotron wide-angle and small-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS and SAXS). Coarse TiN, hexagonal YAlO 3 and orthorhombic YAlO 3 precipitates were found along with fine Y–Ti–O nanoparticles. In situ WAXS experiments were performed at room and elevated temperatures to examine the size effect on the load partitioning phenomenon for TiN, hexagonal YAlO 3 and Y 2 Ti 2 O 7 phases. In addition, the dislocation density evolution throughout the tensile tests was analyzed by the modified Williamson–Hall method and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, revealing the difference in plasticity at various temperatures.

The structural and elastic properties, lattice dynamics and thermophysical properties of uranium dioxide (UO 2 ) were studied by DFT based first-principles calculations. LDA+ U method shows the overall best description of the lattice parameters and elastic constants of UO 2 among all the DFT methods studied. The phonon dispersion relations of UO 2 predicted by direct method agree with experimental results. Thermodynamic properties, including Gibbs energy, enthalpy, entropy and heat capacity, were evaluated under quasiharmonic approximation using the calculated phonon density of states. Good agreement with experiments is obtained up to 1000 K. Further improvement of heat capacity at high temperatures can be achieved by taking into account of thermal expansion. The calculated lattice thermal conductivity of UO 2 shows that phonon scatterings by defects are critical at room temperature while three-phonon interactions dominate the phonon scattering at high temperatures.

The structural, elastic, electronic, phonon and thermodynamic properties of UN are studied by density functional theory (DFT) within local-density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA), and GGA + U . The GGA calculations of the ground state structural and elastic properties of UN show an overall better agreement with experimental data compared to LDA or GGA + U . The melting temperature of UN ( T m ) is estimated from the calculated elastic constant, with GGA predicting T m = 2944 ± 300 K, in excellent agreement with experimental data. The calculated phonon dispersions of UN agree well with the low temperature measurements. Furthermore, the thermodynamic properties of UN are studied using quasiharmonic approximation by including both lattice vibrational and thermal electronic contributions. The predicted thermodynamic properties, such as enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs energy, heat capacity and thermal expansion coefficient, agree well with experimental data. The derived thermodynamic functions of UN are useful to the thermodynamic modeling of phase stabilities in UN-based materials. This study shows that the thermal electronic energy and entropy due to U 5 f electrons are important to describe the free energy of UN, due to the metallic character of UN. The calculated thermodynamic properties also suggest that the anharmonic effects are less important in UN even at high-temperature.

Fermented Chinese formulaShuan-Tong-Ling(STL), composed of fourteen medicinal herbs, was an experiential formula by Dr. Zhigang Mei for treating vascular encephalopathy, but the underlying mechanisms remained unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of fermented STL on hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) induced injury in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and the possible mechanisms. Cultured BMECs were treated with H2O2, STL, or nicotinamide (NAM, a SIRT1 inhibitor). Then, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was employed to detect cell proliferation and senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) was used to examine cell senescence. Cell nuclei were observed by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. Additionally, changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured. Expression of SIRT1, p21, and PGC-1αwas determined by western blot. Cell proliferation significantly increased with STL treatment in a dose-dependent manner. H2O2treatment could intensify cell senescence and nuclei splitting or pyknosis. With STL treatment, the reduced ROS level was accompanied by increased SOD and GSH activity. Further assays showed upregulation of SIRT1 and PGC-1αand downregulation of p21 after STL treatment. The results revealed that STL could protect BMECs against oxidative stress injury at least partially through the SIRT1 pathway.

article i nfo We present the calculation of the lattice dynamics of chromia (Cr2O3), a typical Mott-Hubbard insulator, employing the first-principles density functional theory plus U approach. We first report the phonon disper- sions at the theoretical equilibrium volume. Then the phonon density-of-states is calculated as a function of volume. Finally, the atomic volume, heat capacity, linear thermal expansion coefficient, bulk modulus, Gruneisen constant, and elastic constants are calculated as functions of temperature.

Ferroelectric (FE) materials directly convert electrical energy to mechanical energy and are critical to applications such as sensors, transducers, and actuators. The giant electromechanical response is the manifestation of the critical point between the first-order and second-order ferroelectric–paraelectric (FE–PE) transitions. For the simple classic FE lead titanate (PbTiO3), it is commonly accepted that there is a critical point in the temperature–pressure phase diagram separating the first- and second-order FE–PE transitions at zero electric field. Here, we show that the FE-PE transition in PbTiO3 is second-order at zero electric field. We introduce the concept of the invariant critical points (ICP) among three phases, representing the stability of the PE phase with respect to two FE phases in a three-dimensional electric field-pressure-temperature phase diagram of PbTiO3. It is pointed out that the electromechanical response near ICPs is larger than that near the line of critical end points (LCEPs) ...

Puerarin suppresses autophagy to alleviate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and accumulating evidence indicates that the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway regulates the activation of the autophagy pathway through the coordinated phosphorylation of ULK1. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of puerarin and its role in modulating autophagy via the AMPK-mTOR-ULK1 signaling pathway in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with puerarin, 50 or 100 mg/kg, daily for 7 days. Then, 30 minutes after the final administration, rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion for 90 minutes. Then, after 24 hours of reperfusion, the Longa score and infarct volume were evaluated in each group. Autophagosome formation was observed by transmission electron microscopy. LC3, Beclin-1 p62, AMPK, mTOR and ULK1 protein expression levels were examined by immunofluorescence and western blot assay. Puerarin substantially reduced the Longa score and infarct volume, and it lessened autophagosome formation in the hippocampal CA1 area following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with puerarin (50 or 100 mg/kg) reduced Beclin-1 expression and the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, as well as p-AMPK and pS317-ULK1 levels. In comparison, it increased p62 expression. Furthermore, puerarin at 100 mg/kg dramatically increased the levels of p-mTOR and pS757-ULK1 in the hippocampus on the ischemic side. Our findings suggest that puerarin alleviates autophagy by activating the APMK-mTOR-ULK1 signaling pathway. Thus, puerarin might have therapeutic potential for treating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Uranium silicide (U3Si2) fuel has higher thermal conductivity and higher uranium density, making it a promising candidate for the accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) used in light water reactors (LWRs). However, previous studies on the fuel performance of U3Si2, including both experimental and computational approaches, have been focusing on the irradiation conditions in research reactors, which usually involve low operation temperatures and high fuel burnups. Thus, it is important to examine the fuel performance of U3Si2 at typical LWR conditions so as to evaluate the feasibility of replacing conventional uranium dioxide fuel with this silicide fuel material. As in-reactor irradiation experiments involve significant time and financial cost, it is appropriate to utilize modeling tools to estimate the behavior of U3Si2 in LWRs based on all those available research reactor experimental references and state-of-the-art density functional theory (DFT) calculation capabilities at the early development stage. Hence, in this report, a comprehensive investigation of the fission gas swelling behavior of U3Si2 at LWR conditions is introduced. The modeling efforts mentioned in this report was based on the rate theory (RT) model of fission gas bubble evolution that has been successfully applied for a variety of fuel materials at devious reactor conditions. Both existing experimentalmore » data and DFT-calculated results were used for the optimization of the parameters adopted by the RT model. Meanwhile, the fuel-cladding interaction was captured by the coupling of the RT model with simplified mechanical correlations. Therefore, the swelling behavior of U3Si2 fuel and its consequent interaction with cladding in LWRs was predicted by the rate theory modeling, providing valuable information for the development of U3Si2 fuel as an accident-tolerant alternative for uranium dioxide.« less

The fermented Chinese formula Shuan-Tong-Ling is composed of radix puerariae (Gegen), salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), radix curcuma (Jianghuang), hawthorn (Shanzha), salvia chinensis (Shijianchuan), sinapis alba (Baijiezi), astragalus (Huangqi), panax japonicas (Zhujieshen), atractylodes macrocephala koidz (Baizhu), radix paeoniae alba (Baishao), bupleurum (Chaihu), chrysanthemum (Juhua), rhizoma cyperi (Xiangfu) and gastrodin (Tianma), whose aqueous extract was fermented with lactobacillus, bacillus aceticus and saccharomycetes. Shuan-Tong-Ling is a formula used to treat brain diseases including ischemic stroke, migraine, and vascular dementia. Shuan-Tong-Ling attenuated H2O2-induced oxidative stress in rat microvascular endothelial cells. However, the potential mechanism involved in these effects is poorly understood. Rats were intragastrically treated with 5.7 or 17.2 mL/kg Shuan-Tong-Ling for 7 days before middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced. The results indicated Shuan-Tong-Ling had a cerebral protective effect by reducing infarct volume and increasing neurological scores. Shuan-Tong-Ling also decreased tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β levels in the hippocampus on the ischemic side. In addition, Shuan-Tong-Ling upregulated the expression of SIRT1 and Bcl-2 and downregulated the expression of acetylated-protein 53 and Bax. Injection of 5 mg/kg silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor EX527 into the subarachnoid space once every 2 days, four times, reversed the above changes. These results demonstrate that Shuan-Tong-Ling might benefit cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing inflammation and apoptosis through activation of the SIRT1 signaling pathway.

The structural, elastic, electronic, phonon and thermodynamic properties of uranium nitride (UN) have been systematically studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The calculated electronic band structure shows that UN is a metallic phase. The ground state structural and elastic properties predicted by DFT agree well with experiments. The thermodynamic properties of UN are studied by quasiharmonic approximation by including both lattice vibrational and thermal electronic contributions to free energies. The calculated enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs energy and heat capacity show an excellent agreement with experimental results. The thermal electronic contribution due to 5f electrons of U is found to be critical to describe the free energy of UN due to its metallic character.

The structural, phonon, and thermodynamic properties of six TiO(2) polymorphs, i.e., rutile, anatase, columbite, baddeleyite, orthorhombic I, and cotunnite, have been systematically investigated by density functional theory. The predicted volumes, bulk modulus, and Debye temperature are in good agreement with experiments. The phonon dispersions of the TiO(2) polymorphs were studied by the supercell approach, whereas the long-range dipole-dipole interactions were calculated by linear response theory to reproduce the LO-TO splitting, making accurate prediction of phonon frequencies for the polar material TiO(2). The calculated phonon dispersions show that all TiO(2) polymorphs are dynamically stable at ambient pressure, indicating the high-pressure phases might be quenched to ambient conditions as ultrahard materials. Furthermore, the finite temperature thermodynamic properties of TiO(2) polymorphs were predicted accurately from the obtained phonon density of states, which is critical in the future study of the pressure-temperature phase diagram of TiO(2). The calculated Gibbs energies reveal that rutile is more stable than anatase at ambient pressure. We derived the Gibbs energy and heat capacity functions for all TiO(2) polymorphs for use in thermodynamic modeling of phase equilibria.

Exploration of longstanding issues in magnetic materials, for example the nature of Curie/Neel temperature and the Schottky anomaly of heat capacity, appeals to reliable models at finite temperatures. Based on first-principles calculations and partition function approach with the microstates being the collinear magnetic configurations, the magnetic thermodynamics of fcc Ni, including the heat capacity and the pressure-dependent Curie temperature, is predicted well and compared with the results from experiments and mean-field approach. As demonstrated in fcc Ni, it is found that the magnetic thermodynamics containing anomalies stems from the magnetic configurational entropy caused by the competition of various magnetic states.

The issue of imaginary phonon modes predicted by first-principles calculations for high-temperature structures of most materials has been a longstanding problem for decades. We propose that the observed high-temperature structures are actually dynamic averages of related low-temperature structures. This theory is used to predict the phonon dispersions of cubic SrTiO3. The calculated phonon dispersions for the cubic phase, using the force constants calculated from the tetragonal phases, are found to be in remarkably good agreement with existing neutron data, without exhibiting any imaginary phonon modes.