A study on the interacting Ricci dark energy in f(R,T)f(R,T) gravity

The present work reports study on the interacting Ricci dark energy in a modified gravity theory named $f(R,T)$ gravity. The specific model $f(R,T)=\mu R+\nu T$ (proposed by R. Myrzakulov, arXiv:1205.5266v2) is considered here. For this model we have observed a quintom-like behavior of the equation of state (EoS) parameter and a transition from matter dominated to dark energy density has been observed through fraction density evolution. The statefinder parameters reveal that the model interpolates between dust and $\Lambda$CDM phases of the universe.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Clustering of Multilevel Factors Among Children and Adolescents:Associations With Health-Related Physical Fitness

BACKGROUND: To identify the clustering characteristics of individual-, family-, and school-level factors, and examine their associations with health-related physical fitness. METHODS: A total of 145,893 Chinese children and adolescents aged 9-18 years participated in this cross-sectional study. The 2-step cluster analysis was conducted to identify clusters among individual-, family-, and school-level factors. Physical fitness indicator was calculated through sex- and age-specific z scores of forced vital capacity, standing long jump, sit-and-reach flexibility, body muscle strength, endurance running, and body mass index. RESULTS: Three, 3, and 5 clusters were automatically identified at individual, family, and school levels, respectively. Students with low physical fitness indicator were more likely to be in the "longest sedentary time and skipping breakfast" cluster (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.24), and "physical inactivity and insufficient protein consumption" cluster (OR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12) at individual level, the "single children and high parental education level" cluster (OR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.10-1.21), and "no physical activity support and preference" cluster (OR = 1.30; 95% CI, 1.25-1.36) at family level, and the "physical education occupied" cluster (OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11), and "insufficient physical education frequency" cluster (OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.24) at school level. Girls were more vulnerable to individual- and school-level clusters, while boys were more susceptible to family clusters; the younger students were more sensitive to school clusters, and the older students were more susceptible to family clusters (P-interaction &lt; .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed different clusters at multilevel factors and proved their associations with health-related physical fitness, thus providing new perspective for developing targeted interventions.</p

Clustering of Multilevel Factors Among Children and Adolescents:Associations With Health-Related Physical Fitness

BACKGROUND: To identify the clustering characteristics of individual-, family-, and school-level factors, and examine their associations with health-related physical fitness. METHODS: A total of 145,893 Chinese children and adolescents aged 9-18 years participated in this cross-sectional study. The 2-step cluster analysis was conducted to identify clusters among individual-, family-, and school-level factors. Physical fitness indicator was calculated through sex- and age-specific z scores of forced vital capacity, standing long jump, sit-and-reach flexibility, body muscle strength, endurance running, and body mass index. RESULTS: Three, 3, and 5 clusters were automatically identified at individual, family, and school levels, respectively. Students with low physical fitness indicator were more likely to be in the "longest sedentary time and skipping breakfast" cluster (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.24), and "physical inactivity and insufficient protein consumption" cluster (OR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12) at individual level, the "single children and high parental education level" cluster (OR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.10-1.21), and "no physical activity support and preference" cluster (OR = 1.30; 95% CI, 1.25-1.36) at family level, and the "physical education occupied" cluster (OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11), and "insufficient physical education frequency" cluster (OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.24) at school level. Girls were more vulnerable to individual- and school-level clusters, while boys were more susceptible to family clusters; the younger students were more sensitive to school clusters, and the older students were more susceptible to family clusters (P-interaction &lt; .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed different clusters at multilevel factors and proved their associations with health-related physical fitness, thus providing new perspective for developing targeted interventions.</p

Macroscopic invisibility cloaking of visible light

Invisibility cloaks, which used to be confined to the realm of fiction, have now been turned into a scientific reality thanks to the enabling theoretical tools of transformation optics and conformal mapping. Inspired by those theoretical works, the experimental realization of electromagnetic invisibility cloaks has been reported at various electromagnetic frequencies. All the invisibility cloaks demonstrated thus far, however, have relied on nano- or micro-fabricated artificial composite materials with spatially varying electromagnetic properties, which limit the size of the cloaked region to a few wavelengths. Here, we report the first realization of a macroscopic volumetric invisibility cloak constructed from natural birefringent crystals. The cloak operates at visible frequencies and is capable of hiding, for a specific light polarization, three-dimensional objects of the scale of centimetres and millimetres. Our work opens avenues for future applications with macroscopic cloaking devices

Systemic delivery of microRNA-101 potently inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo by repressing multiple targets

Targeted therapy based on adjustment of microRNA (miRNA)s activity takes great promise due to the ability of these small RNAs to modulate cellular behavior. However, the efficacy of miR-101 replacement therapy to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In the current study, we first observed that plasma levels of miR-101 were significantly lower in distant metastatic HCC patients than in HCCs without distant metastasis, and down-regulation of plasma miR-101 predicted a worse disease-free survival (DFS, P<0.05). In an animal model of HCC, we demonstrated that systemic delivery of lentivirus-mediated miR-101 abrogated HCC growth in the liver, intrahepatic metastasis and distant metastasis to the lung and to the mediastinum, resulting in a dramatic suppression of HCC development and metastasis in mice without toxicity and extending life expectancy. Furthermore, enforced overexpression of miR-101 in HCC cells not only decreased EZH2, COX2 and STMN1, but also directly down-regulated a novel target ROCK2, inhibited Rho/Rac GTPase activation, and blocked HCC cells epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis, inducing a strong abrogation of HCC tumorigenesis and aggressiveness both in vitro and in vivo. These results provide proof-of-concept support for systemic delivery of lentivirus-mediated miR-101 as a powerful anti-HCC therapeutic modality by repressing multiple molecular targets. © 2015 Zheng et al.published_or_final_versio

Strain distribution in epitaxial SrTiO₃thin films

2006-2007 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Protective effects of hydrogen-rich saline on monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in a rat model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hydrogen-rich saline has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and effectively protect against organ damage. Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to the pathogenesis and/or development of pulmonary hypertension. In this study, we investigated the effects of hydrogen-rich saline on the prevention of pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline in a rat model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In male Sprague-Dawley rats, pulmonary hypertension was induced by subcutaneous administration of monocrotaline at a concentration of 6 mg/100 g body weight. Hydrogen-rich saline (5 ml/kg) or saline was administred intraperitoneally once daily for 2 or 3 weeks. Severity of pulmonary hypertension was assessed by hemodynamic index and histologic analysis. Malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-desoxyguanosine level, and superoxide dismutase activity were measured in the lung tissue and serum. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6) in serum were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Hydrogen-rich saline treatment improved hemodynamics and reversed right ventricular hypertrophy. It also decreased malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-desoxyguanosine levels, and increased superoxide dismutase activity in the lung tissue and serum, accompanied by a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that hydrogen-rich saline ameliorates the progression of pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline in rats, which may be associated with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.</p