Boosting Performance of SAW Resonator via AlN/ScAlN Composite Films and Dual Reflectors.

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators based on aluminum nitride (AlN)/scandium-doped AlN (ScAlN) composite thin films with dual reflection structures demonstrate substantial improvement in acoustic performance. In this work, the factors affecting the final electrical performance of SAW are analyzed from the aspects of piezoelectric thin film, device structure design, and fabrication process. AlN/ScAlN composite films can effectively solve the problem of abnormal grains of ScAlN, improve the crystal orientation, and reduce the intrinsic loss and etching defects. The double acoustic reflection structure of the grating and groove reflector can not only reflect the acoustic wave more thoroughly, but also helps to release the film stress. Both structures are beneficial to obtain a higher Q value. The new stack and design results in large Qp and figure of merit among SAW devices working at 446.47 MHz on silicon up to 8241 and 18.1, respectively.

14.85 µW Analog Front-End for Photoplethysmography Acquisition with 142-dBΩ Gain and 64.2-pArms Noise.

A low-power, high-gain, and low-noise analog front-end (AFE) for wearable photoplethysmography (PPG) acquisition systems is designed and fabricated in a 0.35 µm CMOS process. A high transimpedance gain of 142 dBΩ and a low input-referred noise of only 64.2 pArms was achieved. A Sub-Hz filter was integrated using a pseudo resistor, resulting in a small silicon area. To mitigate the saturation problem caused by background light (BGL), a BGL cancellation loop and a new simple automatic gain control block are used to enhance the dynamic range and improve the linearity of the AFE. The measurement results show that a DC photocurrent component up-to-10 µA can be rejected and the PPG output swing can reach 1.42 Vpp at THD < 1%. The chip consumes a total power of 14.85 µW using a single 3.3-V power supply. In this work, the small area and efficiently integrated blocks were used to implement the PPG AFE and the silicon area is minimized to 0.8 mm × 0.8 mm.

Effect of KNDC1 overexpression on the senescence of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Kinase non-catalytic C-lobe domain containing 1 (KNDC1) exists in dendrites, guanine nucleotide exchange factor complexes and neuronal cell bodies as a putative protein­protein interaction module that regulates a number of signaling pathways. Previous studies have demonstrated that the knockdown of KNDC1 delays human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) senescence. However, the effect of KNDC1 overexpression on HUVEC function remains unclear. In the present study, an adenovirus vector carrying KNDC1 was constructed and then transfected into endothelial cells to observe cell senescence. Furthermore, the effect of KNDC1 overexpression on HUVEC senescence was investigated in vitro and the underlying molecular mechanism was investigated. Senescence­associated ß­galactosidase staining was used to determine cellular senescence and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were monitored to detect the level of cell oxidative stress. The mRNA transcription level and protein expression were analyzed by reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. The results demonstrated that KNDC1 overexpression possibly inhibited HUVEC activity and function and promoted HUVEC senescence. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that KNDC1 triggered a p53­ROS positive feedback loop, which serves a crucial role in regulating senescence. In conclusion, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that KNDC1­adenovirus vector inhibition of HUVEC proliferation by activating the p53 signaling pathway has been reported. Theoretically, the results of the present study also support KNDC1 as a therapeutic target for future anti-senescence.

Monolayer MoS2-Graphene Hybrid Aerogels with Controllable Porosity for Lithium-Ion Batteries with High Reversible Capacity.

Monolayer MoS2 nanosheets (NSs) are promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries because all redox reactions take place at the surface without lithium-ion diffusion limit. However, the expanded band gap of monolayer MoS2 NSs (∼1.8 eV) compared to their bulk counterparts (∼1.2 eV) and restacking tendency due to the van der Waals forces result in poor electron transfer and loss of the structure advantage. Here, a facile approach is developed to fabricate the MoS2-graphene aerogels comprising controlled three-dimensional (3D) porous architectures constructed by interconnected monolayer MoS2-graphene hybrid NSs. The robust 3D architectures combining with the monolayer feature of the hybrid NSs not only prevent the MoS2 and graphene NSs from restacking, but also enable fast electrode kinetics due to the surface reaction mechanism and highly conductive graphene matrix. As a consequence, the 3D porous monolayer MoS2-graphene composite aerogels exhibit a large reversible capacity up to 1200 mAh g(-1) as well as outstanding cycling stability and rate performance, making them promising as advanced anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Treatment of functional constipation with the Yun-chang capsule: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Functional constipation is a common functional bowel disorder for which there is no reliable medical treatment. This study was designed to determine the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the Yun-chang capsule, a Chinese herbal formula, in the treatment of patients with functional constipation. METHODS: In our multi-center, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial, patients with functional constipation received 70 mg of Yun-chang capsule plus 35 mg placebo (group A), 105 mg of Yun-chang capsule (group B), or 105 mg placebo (group C), three times daily for 2 weeks. The primary end-points were the changes in main symptom score and cumulative symptom score 2 weeks after the treatment. The secondary end-points were adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients were recruited and 132 met the inclusion criteria; 44 patients constituted each of the three treatment groups. Compared with patients in group C, patients in groups A and B had significant improvement in the main symptom score, cumulative symptom score, the change from baseline of the main symptom score, and the change from baseline of the cumulative symptom score at week 1 and week 2. The scores showed slight superiority of group B over group A at week 1 and week 2, although these differences were not statistically significant. There were no differences in adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The Yun-chang capsule is efficacious and safe for the treatment of patients with functional constipation. Larger and longer-term trials are required to fully assess the benefits and safety of this treatment for functional constipation.

[Yunchang Capsule in treatment of functional constipation: a randomized, double-blinded controlled, multicenter trial].

BACKGROUND: Although there are some Chinese herbal medicines in treatment of constipation, but no multi-center randomized controlled trials have been carried out to prove their effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Yunchang Capsule in treatment of functional constipation with deficiency of both qi and yin and internal accumulation of poisonous pathogenic factors syndrome, and to explore the clinical dosage. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: A randomized, double-blinded controlled, multicenter trial was conducted. A total of 240 patients with functional constipation from West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Fujian Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine were randomly divided into three groups: low dose group (80 cases), high dose group (80 cases) and control group (80 cases). Patients in the low dose group were treated with two pills (0.35 g/pill) of Yunchang Capsule and one pill of Yunchang Capsule simulant for three times daily; patients in the high dose group were treated with three pills (0.35 g/pill) of Yunchang Capsule for three times daily; and patients in the control group were treated with three pills (0.35 g/pill) of Biantong Capsule for three times daily. The therapeutic course was 14 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical symptoms, syndromes, and adverse effects were observed before and after the treatment, and blood, urine and stool tests, hepatorenal function and electrocardiogram were also examined. RESULTS: Two cases were excluded, eleven cases were lost to follow-up, and there were 234 patients entered to intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. After the treatment, the therapeutic effects were calculated by full analysis set (FAS) and per-protocol population set (PPS) analysis respectively. The effects on functional constipation in FAS showed the response rates in the low dose, high dose and control groups were 86.25% (69/80), 82.90% (63/76), and 70.52% (55/78) respectively, and PPS analysis showed the response rates were 85.71% (66/77), 83.56% (61/73), and 70.13% (54/77) respectively. There were no significant differences among the three groups (P>0.05). The effects on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome in FAS showed the response rates in the low dose, high dose and control groups were 78.75% (63/80), 69.74% (53/76), and 67.95% (53/78) respectively, and PPS analysis showed the response rates were 77.92% (60/77), 69.87%(51/73), and 67.53% (52/77) respectively. There were also no significant differences among the three groups (P>0.05). No severe adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: Both low dose and high dose of Yunchang Capsule are effective and safe in treatment of functional constipation with deficiency of both qi and yin and internal accumulation of poisonous pathogenic factors syndrome.

Beneficial effects of oolong tea consumption on diet-induced overweight and obese subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the anti-obesity effects of oolong tea on diet-induced overweight or obesity. METHODS: A total of 8 g of oolong tea a day for 6 weeks was ingested by 102 diet-induced overweight or obese subjects. The body fat level of the subjects was determined at the same time by taking body weight, height and waist measurements. The thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer was also determined on the abdomen 3 cm to the right of the navel by the ultrasonic echo method. On the other hand, effects of oolong tea ingestion on plasma triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were determined. Inhibitions of pancreatic lipase by oolong tea extract and catechins in vitro were also determined. RESULTS: A total of 70% of the severely obese subjects did show a decrease of more than 1 kg in body weight, including 22% who lost more than 3 kg. Similarly, 64% of the obese subjects and 66% of the overweight subjects lost more than 1 kg during the experiment, and the subcutaneous fat content decreased in 12% of the subjects. The correlation between weight loss and subcutaneous fat decrease in men (r=0.055) was obviously lower than that in women (r=0.440, P<0.01). Body weight loss was signifificantly related to the decrease of the waist size in men (r=0.730, P<0.01) and women (r=0.480, P<0.01). Also, the correlation between subcutaneous fat reduction and decreased waist size was signifificant in women (r=0.554, P<0.01), but not in men (r=0.050, P>0.05). Moreover, the plasma levels of TG and TC of the subjects with hyperlipidemia were remarkably decreased after ingesting oolong tea for 6 weeks. In vitro assays for the inhibition of pancreatic lipase by oolong tea extract and catechins suggest that the mechanism for oolong tea to prevent hyperlipidemia may be related to the regulative action of oolong tea catechins in lipoprotein activity. CONCLUSIONS: Oolong tea could decrease body fat content and reduce body weight through improving lipid metabolism. Chronic consumption of oolong tea may prevent against obesity.

[Exploration on essence of spleen-kidney deficiency in middle-aged patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the essence of Spleen-Kidney Deficiency in middle-aged patients. METHODS: Investigation was carried out in 773 cases of 50-69 years old to assay 34 parameters in them, including blood lipid, oxidation and anti-oxidation related substance, sex hormone, liver and renal function, immune function, blood routine, blood pressure and lung vital capacity, etc. RESULTS: Spleen Deficiency Syndrome is closely related with lipid metabolism disorder; Kidney-Qi Deficiency Syndrome is closely related with hypoimmune function; Kidney-Yin Deficiency Syndrome is closely related with lipid metabolism disorder and hypertension, and Kidney Yang Deficiency is closely related with weakness of anti-oxidation capacity, hypoimmunity, the internal environment disorder of sex hormone and aging, manifested as multiple functions abating. CONCLUSION: Spleen Deficiency, Kidney-Qi Deficiency and Kidney Yang Deficiency are different layers of a gradually developed and aggravated pathological process, but Kidney-Yin Deficiency could not be listed into this layer.