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Background. Various laser and light sources are been used increasingly in cosmetic dermatology. Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination intense pulsed light (IPL) and fractional CO2 laser in treating patients with acne with both inflammatory and scarring lesions. Methods. In total, 37 Chinese patients with acne with facial inflammatory and scar lesions were treated. Successive sessions of 4-6 IPL treatments followed by 2 sessions of fractional CO2 laser treatments were applied. Effectiveness was determined by the dermatologist's evaluation, patient self-assessment, and devices that measure skin colour, sebum secretion and skin hydration. Results. IPL treatments significantly reduced the inflammatory lesion score and the atrophic scar score compared with baseline. Subsequent fractional CO2 laser treatments further decreased the atrophic scar score. Both scores remained low when patients were followed up at 6 months. Around 90% of the patients experienced significant or moderate overall improvement, and almost 80% patients rated their results as 'excellent' or 'good'. The melanin index (MI), erythema index (EI) and skin sebum level all significantly decreased after IPL treatments, and the EI and sebum level were still low when assessed at the 3-month follow-up, although the MI had increased again. The adverse effects (AEs) of both treatments were transient and bearable. Conclusions. IPL in combination with fractional CO2 laser was effective in treating patients with acne with both inflammatory lesions and atrophic scars, and the AEs were acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report our study on the magnetic properties of -doped thin films fabricated by pulsed laser deposition technique. The -doped thin films show ferromagnetism at room temperature. The saturation magnetism increases from 0 to 2.4 emu/cc with the increasing of concentration up to 2%, and then decreases with further increasing of concentration. First-principles calculation demonstrates that the origination of ferromagnetism for -doped system is the two unpaired electrons of -2p. These unpaired electrons increase the magnetic moments which are responsible for the increasing ferromagnetism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiferroic heterostructure (Ba0.5Sr0.5)TiO3(BST)/BiFeO3(BFO) have been deposited by pulsed laser deposition method. X-ray diffraction shows that the BFO and BST were epitaxial grown on La0.7Sr0.3MnO3-buffered (100) SrTiO3 substrate. Interestingly, the BST/BFO heterostructure exhibits improved ferroelectric and ferromagnetic behaviors with remnant polarization (2\Pr)\sim 34.8\ \muC/cm^2 and saturation magnetization (Ms)\sim 4.65\ emu/cm^3. Compared with the single BFO film, the BST/BFO heterostructure showed higher dielectric constant and lower dielectric loss. Furthermore, the leakage behaviors of the BST/BFO heterostructure were consistent with SCLC behavior at low electric-field region and PF emission at high electric-field region. Our result indicates the BST/BFO multiferroic heterostructure may be a promising material for the high-density memory application. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The electric-field control of magnetization has many potential applications in magnetic memory storage, sensors, and spintronics. A new multiferroic spin-valve (SV) heterostructure was grown by combining a multiferroic \ BiFeO3 (BFO) and a \ Co90{\ {Fe}}10/{\ {Cu/Co}}90{\ {Fe}}10 spin valve on \ Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrate. Through the magnetoelectric coupling between a BFO layer and \ Co90{\ {Fe}}10 layer, the magnetoresistance of SV could be controlled by electric field applied on the BFO layer. The BFO film exhibits an obvious ferroelectric property with a remnant polarization of 17 \mu\ C/cm^2 and a coercive field of 400 kV/cm. The exchange bias of 6 Oe and magnetoresistance (MR) of 1.04% were observed in the heterostructure at room temperature. Moreover, an electric-field-induced change of MR was demonstrated when we employed 0.5- and -0.5-V voltage between top and bottom electrode layer. Furthermore, the values of MR of the spin were changed into 0.71% and 0.95%, respectively. This realization of the electric-field-induced change of MR indicates the great potential applications in future functional devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the magnetic and electrical properties of multiferroic BiFe1-xMoxO3 ceramics (BFMO, x = 0.0%, 0.2%, 0.5% and 0.8%) prepared by the sol-gel method. The phase structure of BFMO samples were confirmed by X-ray diffraction. It was found that the substitution of Mo is responsible for the increasing of the magnetization in BFMO ceramics. Moreover, both dielectric and polarization-electric field properties suggest that the Mo doping could improve the dielectric and ferroelectric properties in BFMO ceramic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cathodoluminescent properties of nanocrystalline Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor films were investigated. Phosphor films were prepared on indium tin oxide coated glass by a screen printing method. The Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor is mixed with In2O3 nanoparticles to improve the luminescence and degradation properties of phosphor films under electron excitation. Cathodoluminescent spectra and luminance degradation behavior of the Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor films under electron bombardment were studied. Enhancement of the luminescence was observed after being mixed with In2O3 nanoparticles. Also, the In2O3 mixed Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor shows improvement of the resistance to the electron bombardment. The results show that the Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor is stable under electron bombardment and has potential for application in field emission display devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective way to reduce A/C energy use is to switch off air conditioning during unoccupied periods. The main concern is, however, whether occupants' thermal comfort is sacrificed. This paper reports a study of the impacts of switching off A/C during unoccupied hours in an office on thermal comfort of occupant after returning to office and resuming the operation of A/C system. Site measurements for both indoor thermal environmental parameters and energy consumption of A/C were carried out and the thermal comfort of occupants was assessed. Measurement and assessment results indicated that up to 11% of annual energy consumption of A/C for the office could be saved, but the level of thermal comfort of occupants was not greatly degraded. Practical applications: Intermittent operation of A/C is often ignored when people talk about energy saving. It requires no additional cost and equipment, but the saving is significant. Moreover, no advanced technology or knowledge is required. The most important result is that thermal comfort level is not scarified during occupied hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, we fabricated Co2FeAl films with perpendicular-to-plane magnetic anisotropy by cosputtering with terbium (Tb). The as-prepared (Tb+Co2FeAl) films (TCFA) consists of nanocrystalline L21 Co2FeAl and amorphous alloy of Tb(Co, Fe, and Al). The coercivity field (Hc) of the TCFA films is adjustable from 200 to 800 Oe. After annealing, the Hc decreases to 70 Oe. A perpendicularly magnetized spin valve with the TCFA films as free and reference layers shows a current-perpendicular-to-plane magnetoresistance of 1.8% at room temperature. Our result opens a way to fabricate perpendicularly magnetized full-Heusler alloys and makes it possible to realize faster and simple structured magnetic storage bits in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN) thin film was epitaxially grown on La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) buffered LaAlO3 substrate by pulse laser deposition. The crystallographic structure of KNN/LSMO was confirmed by x-ray diffraction. Interestingly, a dielectric relaxor feature was found in the temperature range 200–350 °C. The activation energies for relaxation and conduction of the films were found to be 1.87 and 0.63–0.71 eV, respectively. The mechanism for dielectric relaxation in KNN/LSMO structure was discussed under a thermally activated process. The remnant polarization and coercive field of the films were 21.3 μC/cm2 and 91 kV/cm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large Ca0.28Ba0.72Nb2O6 (CBN-28) single crystals exhibit saturated ferroelectric hysteresis loops under an electric field of 115 kV/cm along the [001] direction. Their spontaneous polarization, remanent polarization and coercive field are 35.3 μC/cm2, 32.2 μC/cm2, and 38.1 kV/cm, respectively. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss tan δ of the crystals are 195 and 0.32 at 10 kHz, respectively. A diffused dielectric anomaly with relaxor characteristic was observed in the range of 325-500 °C at low frequencies, while the CBN-28 crystals experienced a first-order normal-relaxor ferroelectric phase transition around 252 °C on heating. A broad dielectric loss peak appears around 120 °C and it is interpreted in terms of the migration of oxygen vacancies. The conductance activation energy was determined to be 1.33 eV in the high temperature regime (500–560 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Raman scattering study of the vibrational modes in K2Al2B2O7 crystals has been performed at room temperature. The vibrational modes are classified by the nuclear site group analysis method and the internal vibrational modes are assigned to vibrations of the BO3 triangle and AlO4 tetrahedron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mössbauer spectrum was collected in Fe[sup 3+] doped cubic LiMn[sub 2]O[sub 4] (LiFe[sub 0.1]Mn[sub 1.9]O[sub 4]) by using [sup 57]Fe as the radiation source. In the model of the crystal-field theory, the energy gaps between different d orbitals, ΔE(b[sub 1g]-a[sub 1g]) and ΔE(b[sub 2g]-e[sub g]), characterize the strength of the Jahn–Teller effect in the crystal. A relationship between the Mössbauer quardrupole splitting and the energy gaps was established, based on which both ΔE(b[sub 1g]-a[sub 1g]) and ΔE(b[sub 2g]-e[sub g]) of the [MnO[sub 6]] octahedron in LiFe[sub 0.1]Mn[sub 1.9]O[sub 4] are estimated to be about 0.41 and 0.30 eV, respectively. Electronic structure of LiMn[sub 2]O[sub 4] was studied theoretically via ab initio calculation based on the density-functional theory. Calculation shows that a gap about 0.28 eV between the filled Mn d bands is equivalent to ΔE(b[sub 2g]-e[sub g]). It also shows that the first unoccupied states are dominated by Mn 3d contribution essentially from both a[sub 1g] and b[sub 1g] of Mn d states. Distance between the two peaks in the first unoccupied band was used to calculate ΔE(b[sub 1g]-a[sub 1g]), which is about 0.36 eV. The Mössbauer quardrupole splitting characterizes Jahn–Teller distortion and its effect on the fine structure of Mn 3d bands. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 63-year-old male having a rare case of primary systemic amyloidosis presenting with multiorgan involvement. It mentions that the patient developed multiple skin lesions including purpura, petechiae, ecchymoses and papules, and dysphagia. Also it informs that his cardiac ultrasonography showed expansion of both atrium and skin biopsy showed amorphic acidophilic material in superficial and deep dermis.

The article presents a study which identifies two rare null phenotypes, p k and p in three Chinese individuals. It examines the significant effect of the frameshift mutation, amino acids and galactosyltransferase in the enzyme activity. It notes that the three Chinese individuals have missense mutations, which encoded single amino acid substitution in a high conserved region of the enzymatically dynamic carboxyl terminal domain.

Summary: Background: Various trials have been conducted on the management of male pattern hair loss (MPHL), but the outcomes often seem to be limited. Adjuvant therapies are urgently needed. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined fractional radiofrequency microneedling (FRM) and 5% topical minoxidil in the treatment of male pattern hair loss. Methods: In total, 19 Chinese men were enrolled in this randomized, controlled, split‐scalp trial. Participants received monotherapy with 5% topical minoxidil twice daily to one half of the scalp, while on the other half of the scalp the treatment with twice‐daily 5% topical minoxidil was combined with five sessions of FRM at 4‐week intervals. Mean hair count and hair thickness, global assessment by the investigators, subject self‐assessment and adverse effects were assessed. Results: After 5 months of treatment, mean hair count increased from 44.12 ± 21.58 to 73.14 ± 25.45 on the combined‐therapy side and from 46.22 ± 18.77 to 63.21 ± 19.22 on the monotherapy side, while mean hair thickness increased from 53 ± 13 μm to 71 ± 15 μm and from 52 ± 16 μm to 66 ± 14 μm, respectively. Compared with the monotherapy side, the combined‐therapy side had a higher degree of improvement in both hair count (P = 0.01) and hair thickness (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Combined treatment with fractional radiofrequency microneedle and 5% topical minoxidil could be an effective and safe treatment option for male pattern hair loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 59 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Evaluation of Photon and Neutron Activations During Radiation Treatments," by B. Han, B. Berdnarz, Y. Danon and X. G. Xu is presented.

An abstract of the article "Comparison of Main Software Packages for CT Dose Reporting," by J. W. Gu, A. Dorgu and X. G. Xu is presented.

The electric-field (E-field) controlled exchange bias (EB) in a Co90Fe10/BiFeO3 (BFO)/SrRuO3/PMN-PT heterostructure has been investigated under different tensile strain states. The in-plane tensile strain of the BFO film is changed from +0.52% to +0.43% as a result of external E-field applied to the PMN-PT substrate. An obvious change of EB by the control of non-volatile strain has been observed. A magnetization reversal driven by E-field has been observed in the absence of magnetic field. Our results indicate that a reversible non-volatile E-field control of a ferromagnetic layer through strain modulated multiferroic BFO could be achieved at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]