The photostrictive properties of (1−x)BiFe0.96Mn0.04O3-xBaTiO3 (0.23 ≤ x ≤ 0.38) ceramics were investigated using the solid-state synthesis method. Appropriate addition of manganese significantly ...reduces the bandgap, while the introduction of BaTiO3 changes the phase structure from rhombohedral to pseudo-cubic and significantly optimizes the ferroelectric domain size. The photostriction was observed in the visible light wavelength range with a response time of around 45 s. Specifically, both enhanced photo-induced deformation around 1.27×10−3 and high photostrictive efficiency of 8.40×10−12 m3 W−1 were obtained for the 0.67BiFe0.96Mn0.04O3-0.33BaTiO3 ceramics. The significantly narrow bandgap (∼1.89 eV) and the increased domain wall density due to reduction in ferroelectric domain size enhance the separation and motion of photo-generated carriers, and consequently improve the photostrictive performance. Besides, the prominent Raman peak redshift with the increasing of Raman power reveals the enhanced FeO6 octahedral distortion and stretching vibration of Fe–O bond, which indicates the lattice expansion caused by the photoexcited charge carriers.
Prostate cancer risk-associated variants have been reported in populations of European descent, African-Americans and Japanese using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). To systematically ...investigate prostate cancer risk-associated variants in Chinese men, we performed the first GWAS in Han Chinese. In addition to confirming several associations reported in other ancestry groups, this study identified two new risk-associated loci for prostate cancer on chromosomes 9q31.2 (rs817826, P = 5.45 × 10(-14)) and 19q13.4 (rs103294, P = 5.34 × 10(-16)) in 4,484 prostate cancer cases and 8,934 controls. The rs103294 marker at 19q13.4 is in strong linkage equilibrium with a 6.7-kb germline deletion that removes the first six of seven exons in LILRA3, a gene regulating inflammatory response, and was significantly associated with the mRNA expression of LILRA3 in T cells (P < 1 × 10(-4)). These findings may advance the understanding of genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer.
We propose a quasi‐steady nonlinear circuit model for the solar wind‐magnetosphere‐ionosphere (SW‐M‐I) coupling to study the observed saturation of polar cap potential. The oval conductance is shown ...to be a nonlinear circuit element since it increases with increasing dayside reconnection E field driving the proposed circuit. Oval conductance is produced by precipitating particles energized by enhanced sunward convection in the plasma sheet driven by reconnection at the dayside magnetopause and in the plasma sheet. The asymptotic saturation potential is shown to increase with (1) decreasing internal resistance of the dynamo region, (2) increasing length of dayside reconnection line, (3) increasing ratio of nightside to dayside reconnection potentials, and (4) increasing ratio of nightside to dayside internal resistances.
Rivaroxaban is a novel, oral, direct factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) ...and pharmacodynamics (PD) of rivaroxaban in healthy, elderly Chinese subjects. In this single-centre, single-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-escalation study, 79 subjects, aged 59-74years (mean 62.8), were randomised to receive once-daily oral doses of rivaroxaban 5, 10, 20, 30 or 40mg. Rivaroxaban was well tolerated: there was a low incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events and all events were of mild intensity. Rivaroxaban was absorbed rapidly, reaching maximum plasma concentrations within 2-4hours. The PK of rivaroxaban were dose dependent over the dose range tested. Maximal inhibition of FXa occurred 2-3hours after dosing and returned to baseline after 24-48hours, reflecting rivaroxaban plasma concentrations. Inhibition of FXa was associated with dose-dependent effects on global clotting tests. There were no clinically relevant differences in rivaroxaban plasma concentrations between male and female subjects. In conclusion, rivaroxaban was well tolerated and was found to have predictable PK and PD in healthy, elderly Chinese subjects.
Partons traversing the strongly interacting medium produced in heavy-ion collisions are expected to lose energy depending on their color charge and mass. We measure the nuclear modification factors ...for charm- and bottom-decay electrons, defined as the ratio of yields, divided by the number of binary nucleon–nucleon collisions, in $\sqrt{^SNN}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions to p+p collisions (RAA), or in central to peripheral Au+Au collisions (RCP). We find the bottom-decay electron RAA and RCP to be significantly higher than those of charm-decay electrons. Model calculations including mass-dependent parton energy loss in a strongly coupled medium are consistent with the measured data. These observations provide evidence of mass ordering of charm and bottom quark energy loss when traversing through the strongly coupled medium created in heavy-ion collisions.
Epitaxial crystallization of complex oxides provides the means to create materials with precisely selected composition, strain, and orientation, thereby controlling their functionalities. Extending ...this control to nanoscale three-dimensional geometries can be accomplished via a three-dimensional analog of oxide solid-phase epitaxy, lateral epitaxial crystallization. The orientation of crystals within laterally crystallized SrTiO 3 systematically changes from the orientation of the SrTiO 3 substrate. This evolution occurs as a function of lateral crystallization distance, with a rate of approximately 50° μm −1 . The mechanism of the rotation is consistent with a steady-state stress of tens of megapascal over a 100–nanometer scale region near the moving amorphous/crystalline interface arising from the amorphous-crystalline density difference. Second harmonic generation and piezoelectric force microscopy reveal that the laterally crystallized SrTiO 3 is noncentrosymmetric and develops a switchable piezoelectric response at room temperature, illustrating the potential to use lateral crystallization to control the functionality of complex oxides.
Lateral epitaxial crystallization has profound consequences for the properties of complex oxide electronic materials.
To know how moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time change across lifespan periods is needed for designing successful lifestyle interventions. We aimed to study changes in ...objectively measured (accelerometry) MVPA and sedentary time from childhood to adolescence and from adolescence to young adulthood.
Estonian and Swedish participants from the European Youth Heart Study aged 9 and 15 years at baseline (N = 2312) were asked to participate in a second examination 6 (Sweden) to 9/10 (Estonia) years later. 1800 participants with valid accelerometer data were analyzed.
MVPA decreased from childhood to adolescence (-1 to -2.5 min/d per year of follow-up, P = 0.01 and <0.001, for girls and boys respectively) and also from adolescence to young adulthood (-0.8 to -2.2 min/d per year, P = 0.02 and <0.001 for girls and boys, respectively). Sedentary time increased from childhood to adolescence (+15 and +20 min/d per year, for girls and boys respectively, P<0.001), with no substantial change from adolescence to young adulthood. Changes in both MVPA and sedentary time were greater in Swedish than in Estonian participants and in boys than in girls. The magnitude of the change observed in sedentary time was 3-6 time larger than the change observed in MVPA.
The decline in MVPA (overall change = 30 min/d) and increase sedentary time (overall change = 2:45 h/d) observed from childhood to adolescence are of concern and might increase the risk of developing obesity and other chronic diseases later in life. These findings substantially contribute to understand how key health-related behaviors (physical activity and sedentary) change across important periods of life.
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