Superior Piezoelectric Properties in Potassium-Sodium Niobate Lead-Free Ceramics.

A superior piezoelectric coefficient (d = 570 ± 10 pC N ), the highest value reported to date in potassium-sodium niobate-based ceramics, is obtained in (1-x-y)K Na Nb Sb O BaZrO - Bi K HfO ceramics. This high d value can be ascribed to the co-existence of "nano-scale strain domains" (1-2 nm) and a high density of ferroelectric domain boundaries. Therefore, ternary KNN-based ceramics demonstrate the potential for applications.

Identification of Phase Boundaries and Electrical Properties in Ternary Potassium-Sodium Niobate-Based Ceramics.

A large piezoelectric constant (d33) of ∼480 pC/N was attained in new ternary (1-x-y)K0.5Na0.5Nb0.

VEGFR2 Expression in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cancer Cells Mediates Proliferation and Invasion.

Vascular endothelial growth factor 2 (VEGFR2) was initially identified as a receptor of VEGF on endothelial cells with a role in regulating angiogenesis during organism development and tumorigenesis. Previously, in cancer tissue, VEGFR2 has been reported to be expressed in endothelial cells. In our research, we found that VEGFR2 was expressed not only in endothelial cells but also cancer cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs).

Protective effects of Ginsenoside Rg1 against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in mice through suppression of inflammation.

Background: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is one of the principal cellular energy sensors participating in maintenance of energy balance but recent evidences also suggested that AMPK might be involved in the regulation of inflammation.

Study Design/methods: Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) was used to investigate the potential roles of AMPK in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepato-toxicity. The experimental data indicated that treatment with Rg1 significantly decreased the elevation of plasma aminotransferases and alleviated hepatic histological abnormalities in CCl4-exposed mice.

Effect of alpha1-blockers on stentless ureteroscopic lithotripsy.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficiency of alpha1-adrenergic antagonists on stentless ureteroscopic lithotripsy treating uncomplicated lower ureteral stones.

Materials And Methods: From January 2007 to January 2013, 84 patients who have uncomplicated lower ureteral stones treated by ureteroscopic intracorporeal lithotripsy with the holmium laser were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups, group A (44 patients received indwelled double-J stents) and group B (40 patients were treated by alpha1-adrenergic antagonists without stents).

Supine Versus Prone Position in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for Kidney Calculi: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: There are several positions in the operation of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), such as prone position, supine position, flank position, and modified supine position for PCNL, but the supine and prone positions are the main two choices for several years. However, there is still discrepancy on the optimal position for PCNL. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to evaluate safety and efficacy of the supine versus the prone position in PCNL for renal calculi.

Can Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and Diffusion-Weighted MRI (DW-MRI) Evaluate Inflammation Disease: A Preliminary Study of Crohn's Disease.

The aim of the study was to investigate diagnosis efficacy of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) in Crohn's disease (CD). To find out the correlations between functional MRI parameters including K, Kep, Ve, Vp, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with a serologic biomarker. The relationships between pharmacokinetic parameters and ADC were also studied.

Quantitative determination of major capsaicinoids in serum by ELISA and time-resolved fluorescent immunoassay based on monoclonal antibodies.

To monitor capsaicinoids in serum on-site, three new monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were firstly proposed using a conjugate of 4-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl) amino]-4-oxobutanoic acid as the immunogen. Among them, the YQQD8 mAb showed the highest sensitivity and cross-reactivity to major capsaicinoids, such as capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin and N-vanillylnonanamide. A competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) and a time-resolved fluorescent immunochromatographic assay (TRFICA) were established based on this mAb.

Study of matrix crack-tilted fiber bundle interaction using caustics and finite element method.

In this work, the interaction between the matrix crack and a tilted fiber bundle was investigated via caustics and the finite element method (FEM). First, the caustic patterns at the crack tip with different distances from the tilted fiber were obtained and the stress intensity factors were extracted from the geometry of the caustic patterns. Subsequently, the shielding effect of the fiber bundle in front of the crack tip was analyzed.

Divergent responses of methanogenic archaeal communities in two rice cultivars to elevated ground-level O3.

Inhibitive effect of elevated ground-level ozone (O3) on paddy methane (CH4) emission varies with rice cultivars. However, little information is available on its microbial mechanism. For this purpose, the responses of methane-metabolizing microorganisms, methanogenic archaea and methanotrophic bacteria to O3 pollution were investigated in the O3-tolerant (YD6) and the O3-sensitive (IIY084) cultivars at two rice growth stages in Free Air Concentration Elevation of O3 (O3-FACE) system of China.

Sarcopenia-related features and factors associated with lower muscle strength and physical performance in older Chinese: a cross sectional study.

Background: The associations of sarcopenia with adverse health status have highlighted the importance of sarcopenia research and intervention. This study was designed to analyze the characteristics of aging-related differences in appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), handgrip strength (HS), gait speed (GS) and their associated factors in older Chinese, in order to generate guidance for sarcopenia intervention in this population.

Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study.

Association Between Cd Exposure and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A PRISMA-Compliant Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Several observational studies on the association between Cd exposure and risk of prostate cancer have yielded inconsistent results. To address this issue, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the correlation between Cd exposure and risk of prostate cancer.Relevant studies in PubMed and Embase databases were retrieved until October 2015.

Incidence and risk factors of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in patients after acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: Early identification and treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are critical to prevent disease progression. We determined the incidence and risk factors for CTEPH in patients with a first episode of acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: In this study, consecutive patients with first-episode acute PE were followed for ≤5 years.

The impact of elevated CO2 and temperature on grain quality of rice grown under open-air field conditions.

Background: Rising atmospheric CO2 is accompanied by global warming. However, interactive effects of elevated CO2 and temperature have not been well studied on grain quality of rice. A japonica cultivar was grown in the field using a free-air CO2 enrichment facility in combination with a canopy air temperature increase system in 2014.

Modification of both d33 and TC in a potassium-sodium niobate ternary system.

In this work, we simultaneously achieved a giant d33 and a high TC in a lead-free piezoelectric ternary system of (1-x-y)K0.48Na0.52NbO3-xBiFeO3-yBi0.

Anti-Staphylococcus aureus single-chain variable region fragments provide protection against mastitis in mice.

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading causative agent of bovine mastitis, which can result in significant economic losses to the dairy industry. However, available vaccines against bovine mastitis do not confer adequate protection, although passive immunization with antibodies may be useful to prevent disease. Hence, we constructed a bovine single-chain variable region fragment (scFv) phage display library using cDNAs from peripheral blood lymphocytes of cows with S.

Diurnal variation of apoplastic ascorbate in winter wheat leaves in relation to ozone detoxification.

Besides stomatal closure, biological detoxification is an important protection mechanism for plants against ozone (O3). This study investigated the diurnal changes of ascorbate (a major detoxification agent) in the apoplast and leaf tissues of winter wheat grown under ambient air field conditions. Results showed the reduced ascorbate in the apoplast (ASCapo) exhibited a peak in late morning or midday, mismatching with either the maximum external O3 concentrations in mid-afternoon or the maximum stomatal O3 uptake between late morning and mid-afternoon.

Pulmonary embolism risk stratification by European Society of Cardiology is associated with recurrent venous thromboembolism: Findings from a long-term follow-up study.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence carries significant mortality and morbidity. Accurate risk assessment and effective treatment for patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is important for VTE recurrence prevention. We examined the association of VTE recurrence with risk stratification and PE treatment.

Response of leaf endophytic bacterial community to elevated CO2 at different growth stages of rice plant.

Plant endophytic bacteria play an important role in plant growth and health. In the context of climate change, the response of plant endophytic bacterial communities to elevated CO2 at different rice growing stages is poorly understood. Using 454 pyrosequencing, we investigated the response of leaf endophytic bacterial communities to elevated CO2 (eCO2) at the tillering, filling, and maturity stages of the rice plant under different nitrogen fertilization conditions [low nitrogen fertilization (LN) and high nitrogen fertilization (HN)].

Single-lens 3D digital image correlation system based on a bilateral telecentric lens and a bi-prism: validation and application.

By using the principle of stereovision, 3D digital image correlation (3D-DIC) can determine the 3D morphology and deformation of a target and has been widely used in experimental mechanics as a noncontact 3D measurement technique. To eliminate the limitations of the conventional 3D-DIC system, this study proposes a calibration-free single-lens 3D-DIC system based on a bilateral telecentric lens and a bi-prism. The performance of the proposed system is verified by tests of rigid-body translation along the out-of-plane direction.

Physiological and Biochemical Changes Imposed by CeO2 Nanoparticles on Wheat: A Life Cycle Field Study.

Interactions of nCeO2 with plants have been mostly evaluated at seedling stage and under controlled conditions. In this study, the effects of nCeO2 at 0 (control), 100 (low), and 400 (high) mg/kg were monitored for the entire life cycle (about 7 months) of wheat plants grown in a field lysimeter. Results showed that at high concentration nCeO2 decreased the chlorophyll content and increased catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, compared with control.

Composition-Driven Phase Boundary and Piezoelectricity in Potassium-Sodium Niobate-Based Ceramics.

The piezoelectricity of (K,Na)NbO3 ceramics strongly depends on the phase boundary types as well as the doped compositions. Here, we systematically studied the relationships between the compositions and phase boundary types in (K,Na) (Nb,Sb)O3-Bi0.5Na0.

An indica rice genotype showed a similar yield enhancement to that of hybrid rice under free air carbon dioxide enrichment.

Although the rice growth response to FACE (free-air CO2 enrichment) has been widely studied and is considered important within the scientific community, few studies have attempted to examine the effects of FACE on the yield of indica rice, which is typically the parent of indica hybrids in China. The effects of FACE on the yield, yield components, biomass, N uptake and leaf photosynthesis of Yangdao 6 Hao (an indica rice) in China were examined over 2 years. The grain yield increased over 30%, the panicle number increased 12.

Super-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (SMP): a new concept in technique and instrumentation.

Objective: To present a novel miniature endoscopic system designed to improve the safety and efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy, named the 'super-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy' (SMP).

Patients And Methods: The endoscopic system consists of a 7-F nephroscope with enhanced irrigation and a modified 10-14 F access sheath with a suction-evacuation function. This system was tested in patients with renal stones of <2.