The visualization of the space probability distribution for a particle moving in a double ring-shaped Coulomb potential

The analytical solutions to a double ring-shaped Coulomb potential (RSCP) are presented. The visualizations of the space probability distribution (SPD) are illustrated for the two-(contour) and three-dimensional (isosurface) cases. The quantum numbers (n, l, m) are mainly relevant for those quasi quantum numbers (n' ,l' ,m' ) via the double RSCP parameter c. The SPDs are of circular ring shape in spherical coordinates. The properties for the relative probability values (RPVs) P are also discussed. For example, when we consider the special case (n, l, m)=(6, 5, 0), the SPD moves towards two poles of axis z when the P increases. Finally, we discuss the different cases for the potential parameter b which is taken as negative and positive values for c>0 . Compared with the particular case b=0 , the SPDs are shrunk for b=-0.5 while spread out for b=0.5.Comment: 26 pages, 5 tables and 3 figures, Advances in High Energy Physics, in pres

The visualization of the space probability distribution for a moving particle I: in a single ring-shaped Coulomb potential

We first present the exact solutions of the single ring-shaped Coulomb potential and then realize the visualizations of the space probability distribution for a moving particle within the framework of this potential. We illustrate the two-(contour) and three-dimensional (isosurface) visualizations for those specifically given quantum numbers (n, l, m) essentially related to those so-called quasi quantum numbers (n',l',m') through changing the single ring-shaped Coulomb potential parameter b. We find that the space probability distributions (isosurface) of a moving particle for the special case and the usual case are spherical and circular ring-shaped, respectively by considering all variables in spherical coordinates. We also study the features of the relative probability values P of the space probability distributions. As an illustration, by studying the special case of the quantum numbers (n, l, m)=(6, 5, 1) we notice that the space probability distribution for a moving particle will move towards two poles of axis z as the relative probability value P increases. Moreover, we discuss the series expansion of the deformed spherical harmonics through the orthogonal and complete spherical harmonics and find that the principal component decreases gradually and other components will increase as the potential parameter b increases.Comment: 28 pages, 6 tables, 1 figure

In situ epicatechin-loaded hydrogel implants for local drug delivery to spinal column for effective management of post-traumatic spinal injuries

Purpose: To prepare hydrogels loaded with epicatechin, a strong antioxidant,  anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective tea flavonoid, and characterise them in situ as a vehicle for prolonged and safer drug delivery in patients with post-traumatic spinal cord injury.Methods: Five in situ gel formulations were prepared using chitosan and evaluated in terms of their visual appearance, clarity, pH, viscosity, and in vitro drug release. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was determined and compared with 2 % piroxicam gel as standard. Motor function activity in a rat model of spinal injury was examined comparatively with i.v. methylprednisolone as standard.Results: The N-methyl pyrrolidone solution (containing 1 % w/w epicatechin with 2 to 10 % w/w chitosan) of the in situ gel formulation had a uniform pH in the range of 4.01 ± 0.12 to 4.27 ± 0.02. High and uniform drug loading, ranging from 94.48 ± 1.28 to 98.08 ± 1.24 %, and good in vitro drug release (79.48 ± 2.84 to 96.48 ± 1.02 % after 7 days) were achieved. The in situ gel prepared from 1 % epicatechin and 2 % chitosan (E5) showed the greatest in vivo anti-inflammatory activity  (60.58 % inhibition of paw oedema in standard carrageenan-induced hind rat paw oedema model, compared with 48.08 % for the standard). The gels showed  significant therapeutic effectiveness against post-traumainduced spinal injury in rats. E5 elicited maximum motor activity (horizontal bar test) in the spinal injuryrat model; the rats that received E5 treatment produced an activity score of 3.62 ± 0.02 at the end of 7 days, compared with 5.0 ± 0.20 following treatment with the standard.Conclusion: In situ epicatechin-loaded gel exhibits significant neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects, and therefore can potentially be used for prolonged and safe drug delivery in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Keywords: Epicatechin, In situ gel, Chitosan, Spinal injury, Post-traumatic, Motor activity, Antiinflammator

Interleukin-22 ameliorates liver fibrosis through miR-200a/beta-catenin

IL-22 ameliorates liver fibrosis by inhibiting hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and loss of miR-200a is associated with the development of liver fibrosis. The study aimed to investigate the interplay between IL-22 and miR-200a in regulating liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. We observed that IL-22 significantly reduced the proliferation of HSC and increased the expression of p-STAT3. β-catenin was identified as a target gene of miR-200a by luciferase reporter assay, and upregulation of miR-200a significantly attenuated the proliferation of HSC and reduced β-catenin expression. IL-22 treatment increased expression of miR-200a and decreased expression of β-catenin in HSC. The expression of p-STAT3 and miR-200a was elevated while β-catenin was decreased in fibrotic rat liver after IL-22 treatment. Expression levels of β-catenin and p-STAT3 were inversely correlated in fibrotic rat liver and HSC. Upregulation of β-catenin suppressed expression of p-STAT3 in HSC. We concluded that IL-22 inhibits HSC activation and ameliorates liver fibrosis through enhancing expression of miR-200a and reducing expression of β-catenin, suggesting there may be a crosstalk between IL-22/STAT3 and β-catenin pathway

Attraction of Tomicus yunnanensis

The Yunnan pine shoot beetle, Tomicus yunnanensis Kirkendall and Faccoli (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) is an important pest of Yunnan pine (Pinus yunnanensis Franch) in China. Experiments with host log baits were done to develop a pest monitoring system using host tree kairomone. Five Yunnan pine logs (each 10–15 cm diam. × 30-cm long) in a trap-log bundle were treated by peeling periderm (outer bark) off to expose the phloem, and half of each log was covered with sticky adhesive to capture any attracted adult beetles. Significantly, more beetles were attracted and caught on the periderm-peeled logs (ca 30 beetles/m2 log surface/day) than on untreated control logs with adhesive (ca 2.5/m2/day). No significant differences were observed between catches on logs taken from lower or upper halves of Yunnan pines. T. yunnanensis flies mostly during the afternoon according to trap catches throughout the day. Attraction to the periderm-peeled logs decreased considerably when they were peeled further to remove the phloem, indicating phloem volatiles play a role in selection of the host by the beetle. The readily-available log baits appear useful for monitoring pine shoot beetle populations in integrated pest management programs

An Updated Search of Steady TeV γ−\gamma-Ray Point Sources in Northern Hemisphere Using the Tibet Air Shower Array

Using the data taken from Tibet II High Density (HD) Array (1997 February-1999 September) and Tibet-III array (1999 November-2005 November), our previous northern sky survey for TeV $\gamma-$ray point sources has now been updated by a factor of 2.8 improved statistics. From $0.0^{\circ}$ to $60.0^{\circ}$ in declination (Dec) range, no new TeV $\gamma-$ray point sources with sufficiently high significance were identified while the well-known Crab Nebula and Mrk421 remain to be the brightest TeV $\gamma-$ray sources within the field of view of the Tibet air shower array. Based on the currently available data and at the 90% confidence level (C.L.), the flux upper limits for different power law index assumption are re-derived, which are approximately improved by 1.7 times as compared with our previous reported limits.Comment: This paper has been accepted by hepn