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Polystyrene (PS) is generally considered as a passive optical material that is transparent to light with wavelengths longer than 300 nm. In practice, PS micro- and nanospheres with uniform sizes are usually used to build photonic crystals based on self-assembly mechanism. Here, we demonstrate experimentally that PS microspheres supporting whispery gallery modes can be transformed into multimode light sources by laser irradiation. We show that a PS microsphere placed on a silica substrate can be lighted up when it is consecutively irradiated by using a 488-nm continuous wave laser beam with a pumping power above a threshold. Broadband luminescence emitted from the PS microsphere increases rapidly to a maximum value and decreases gradually with increasing irradiation time, implying the generation and degradation of a certain luminescent material upon laser irradiation. However, the PS microsphere is found to be damaged by high temperature based on morphology examination. By replacing the silica substrate with a thin silver film, the threshold laser power for lighting up a PS microsphere is dramatically reduced. More importantly, we can see enhanced luminescence intensities from the whispery gallery modes supported by the PS microsphere, which becomes an efficient multimode light source. Interestingly, the threshold laser power can be further lowered by inserting a molybdenum disulfide monolayer in between the PS microsphere and the silver film. As a result, the PS microsphere remains nearly unchanged except the formation of the luminescence material. Our findings open a new horizon for the interaction of polymer with laser light by exploiting the optical resonances supported by micro- and nanoparticles and pave the way for constructing photonic devices based on laser-induced luminescent materials in polymers.

Purpose of the study: We aim to examine the association between liver function‐related indicators and gallstone disease (GSD) risk. Study design: The subjects who participated in the China Multicenter Physical Examination Cohort (CMPEC) were enrolled. Relative odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were applied to investigate the effect of liver function‐related indicators and GSD risk. Moreover, a systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted until July 2021. Additionally, the results in the CMPEC and the systematic review and meta‐analysis were combined by meta‐analysis. Finally, the results were validated by a cohort study of the UK Biobank (UKB). Results and conclusions: Totally, 369,931 subjects in CMPEC were included in the study. A total of 28 publications were incorporated into the systematic review and meta‐analysis. The pooled analysis suggested that aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), and low albumin (ALB) were positively associated with the risk of GSD. Meanwhile, GSD present to have higher AST, ALT, gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBil), globulin (G), and ALP levels and relatively lower TP and ALB levels than the healthy participants. These results were consistent when stratified by the study design, geographic background, and study quality. Only the association between ALP and GSD risk was validated in the UKB cohort. This study suggests liver function indicators were associated with GSD risk. The results may provide the basis for exploring the etiology of GSD and may help clinicians identify high‐risk subjects. Trial Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42020179076). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the cancer incidence and mortality in cancer registration areas in Hubei Province in 2013. Methods The incidence, mortality and population data were collected and evaluated from nine cancer registries of Hubei Province, 2013. All quality indicators were evaluated according to national standards. Results The total estimates of new cancer cases and deaths were 29 738 and 17 986 in 2013. The crude incidence, age-standardized incidence rates by Chinese standard population (ASR China 2000) and world standard population(ASR World 2000) were 284.85/105, 188.08/105 and 203.59/105, respectively. The crude mortality, age-standardized mortality rates by ASR China 2000 and ASR World 2000 were 172.28/105, 107.97/105 and 122.54/105, respectively. Lung cancer was the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths. The incidence rate and mortality of male were higher than those of female. And the incidence rate and mortality in urban areas were higher than those in rural areas. Conclusion Age-standardized incidence rate by ASR China 2000 is slightly lower than that in 2012 in cancer registration areas in Hubei Province, and the mortality is slightly lower than national rate. Lung cancer, digestive system malignancies and breast cancer are the main cancers that should be focused on the prevention and control, in terms of health education in general population.

With the growth of service time, semirigid base asphalt pavements have gradually entered the maintenance and reconstruction period. Therefore, the treatment of waste semirigid bases has become an important issue. In this paper, based on the analysis of the properties of cement-stabilized gravel milling material, the waste semirigid base material is cold recycled using foam asphalt. The mechanical properties of the cold recycled mixture of foamed asphalt formed by 100% cement-stabilized gravel milling material (FACRM-CM) were evaluated by splitting strength test, compressive modulus of resilience test, and dynamic modulus test. The softening mechanism of the semirigid base milling material was investigated from a microscopic point of view with the aid of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that FACRM-CM exhibits adequate mechanical strength for use in road base layers. When semirigid base milling materials are cold recycled using foam asphalt, the stiffness of the resulting mixture decreases, whereas its flexibility increases. The results of this research can be applied to the regeneration of semirigid bases, realizing the transformation of the base from rigidity to flexibility and reducing pavement diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong light–matter interaction has attracted great interest due to its potential applications in photonic and plasmonic devices. So far, many studies focus on micro‐ and nanocavities with three‐dimensional confinement of light. Here, we investigate the coupling between the surface waves supported by a dielectric‐metal heterostructure and the excitons in a two‐dimensional material. It is revealed that the transverse‐electric (TE) polarized waves excited in the dielectric‐metal heterostructure possess significantly enhanced in‐plane electric field on the surface of the dielectric layer. This unique property makes it possible to realize strong photon–exciton coupling with the excitons in a two‐dimensional material. By using a tungsten disulfide (WS2)/silicon nitride (Si3N4)/silver (Ag) heterostructure, we demonstrate the strong coupling of the TE polarized waves with the two excitons (both A and B excitons) in the WS2 monolayer, creating TE polarized polaritons propagating in the heterostructure. The strong photon–exciton coupling is revealed in the angle‐resolved reflection or scattering spectra with a Rabi splitting larger than the average damping rate of the TE polarized wave and the exciton. Our findings open new horizons for manipulating light–matter interaction in two‐dimensional nanostructures and indicate the potential applications of such propagating polaritons in photonic and plasmonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MHz series resonant converter (SRC) dc transformer (dcX) is attractive for its good soft-switching characteristics, which is suitable for high efficiency high power density applications. For a 380–12 V dcX, it has been proved that using series-connected low voltage devices with low NFoM can reduce the conduction loss of the switches [Wu and Shi (2020)]. However, its large driving loss at megahertz frequency becomes a concern, which restricts the further improvement of the efficiency. Furthermore, numerous drivers are required for the series-connected devices and the power density is deteriorated. To reduce the driving loss and improve the power density, a low-profile multioutput resonant drive transformer is applied to the SRC dcX in this article. However, without a well-designed drive speed, the dead time provided will be inappropriate, leading to increased losses or even loss of ZVS in SRC. By properly designing the parameters of the drive circuit, ZVS can be both achieved for the SRC and the drive circuit, diving loss and footprint are reduced significantly and symmetry drive voltages can be achieved. A 380–12V/170A 1 MHz dcX prototype with the reduced power magnetics and the proposed resonant drive transformer is built up, which achieves 98.4% peak efficiency and 1.3 kW/in3 power density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium (Ga) emerges as a promising material in plasmonics mainly due to its extraordinary properties, such as changeable material phase, tunable plasmon resonances across the ultraviolet to near‐infrared spectral range, and remarkable chemical stability. Here, the efficient white light emission from gallium oxide (Ga2O3) nanoparticles doped with liquid Ga nanodots, which are fabricated by using a laser‐induced oxidation method is reported. The quantum efficiency of Ga/Ga2O3 hybrid nanoparticles is found to be ≈1.3%, which is nearly two orders of magnitude larger than that of liquid Ga nanoparticles. It is revealed that the existence of Schottky barrier and hotspots in Ga/Ga2O3 nanoparticles plays a crucial role in enhancing the quantum efficiency. As an example of practical applications, high‐quality optical data storage is demonstrated by exploiting the controllable formation of Ga/Ga2O3 nanoparticles on a platform of disordered Ga nanoislands. These results suggest the potential applications of Ga/Ga2O3 hybrid nanoparticles in the development of nanoscale light sources and data storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The present study determined and compared the permeability of capsaicin and nonivamide along the length of the intestine in rats. Accordingly, the purpose was to evaluate this synthetic analog as a clinical substitute for capsaicin.. 2. Permeabilities of capsaicin and nonivamide were measured in experiments utilizing Ussing chambers and in vivo methods. Capsaicin concentrations were examined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). 3. Both capsaicin (0.80 × 10−6 cm/s) and nonivamide (0.22 × 10−6 cm/s, p > 0.05) had poor permeabilities across the jejunal membrane. The permeability of nonivamide (10.12 × 10−6 cm/s) was significantly greater than that of capsaicin (5.34 × 10−6 cm/s, p < 0.05) across the iliac membrane. In contrast, the permeability of nonivamide (8.42 × 10−6 cm/s) across the colonic membrane was markedly lower than that of capsaicin (14.48 × 10−6 cm/s, p < 0.05). In accordance with the in vitro study, the drug concentration-time curve of nonivamide was significantly higher in the ileum (F = 14.18, p < 0.05) but lower in the colon (F = 11.86, p < 0.05) compared with capsaicin. 4. The results demonstrate that capsaicin and nonivamide exhibit varying permeabilities across several different intestinal tissues. The relevance of such extended investigations to healthcare is underscored by the lower cost of nonivamide versus capsaicin, along with potential application in prevention and management of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following improved accessibility to medical services, the phenomenon of polypharmacy in elderly patients with comorbidity has been increasing globally. Polypharmacy patients are prone to drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, and even the risk of death etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need to fully understand the current status and characteristics of drug use in elderly patients with chronic diseases, focusing on polypharmacy factors to ensure that medications for elderly patients are effective and safe. To collect and analyze the characteristics of the current drug use situation in elderly patients with chronic diseases in Chongqing and further explore the influencing factors for polypharmacy, providing references for formulating more effective and safe medication regimens for elderly patients. Most elderly patients affected with chronic diseases in Chongqing were willing to go to hospitals or pharmacies to buy medicines. However, they were not familiar with their disease conditions and drug-related adverse reactions and could not be regularly followed up or monitored. The number of diseases, medications, and adverse drug reactions increased with the increasing age of elderly patients. The problem of irrational use of drugs in elderly patients with chronic diseases was relatively prominent, especially the use of traditional Chinese medicines. The medication situation in elderly patients with chronic diseases was not optimistic, and the problem of polypharmacy was relatively prominent. Further large-scale studies are needed to provide a certain reference for improving the current status of drug use in elderly patients., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

1. The present study determined and compared the permeability of capsaicin and nonivamide along the length of the intestine in rats. Accordingly, the purpose was to evaluate this synthetic analog as a clinical substitute for capsaicin.. 2. Permeabilities of capsaicin and nonivamide were measured in experiments utilizing Ussing chambers and in vivo methods. Capsaicin concentrations were examined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). 3. Both capsaicin (0.80 × 10 -6  cm/s) and nonivamide (0.22 × 10 -6  cm/s, p > 0.05) had poor permeabilities across the jejunal membrane. The permeability of nonivamide (10.12 × 10 -6  cm/s) was significantly greater than that of capsaicin (5.34 × 10 -6  cm/s, p < 0.05) across the iliac membrane. In contrast, the permeability of nonivamide (8.42 × 10 -6  cm/s) across the colonic membrane was markedly lower than that of capsaicin (14.48 × 10 -6  cm/s, p < 0.05). In accordance with the in vitro study, the drug concentration-time curve of nonivamide was significantly higher in the ileum (F = 14.18, p < 0.05) but lower in the colon (F = 11.86, p < 0.05) compared with capsaicin. 4. The results demonstrate that capsaicin and nonivamide exhibit varying permeabilities across several different intestinal tissues. The relevance of such extended investigations to healthcare is underscored by the lower cost of nonivamide versus capsaicin, along with potential application in prevention and management of the disease.