Stacking tunable interlayer magnetism in bilayer CrI3

Diverse interlayer tunability of physical properties of two-dimensional layers mostly lies in the covalent-like quasi-bonding that is significant in electronic structures but rather weak for energetics. Such characteristics result in various stacking orders that are energetically comparable but may significantly differ in terms of electronic structures, e.g. magnetism. Inspired by several recent experiments showing interlayer anti-ferromagnetically coupled CrI3 bilayers, we carried out first-principles calculations for CrI3 bilayers. We found that the anti-ferromagnetic coupling results from a new stacking order with the C2/m space group symmetry, rather than the graphene-like one with R3 as previously believed. Moreover, we demonstrated that the intra- and inter-layer couplings in CrI3 bilayer are governed by two different mechanisms, namely ferromagnetic super-exchange and direct-exchange interactions, which are largely decoupled because of their significant difference in strength at the strong- and weak-interaction limits. This allows the much weaker interlayer magnetic coupling to be more feasibly tuned by stacking orders solely. Given the fact that interlayer magnetic properties can be altered by changing crystal structure with different stacking orders, our work opens a new paradigm for tuning interlayer magnetic properties with the freedom of stacking order in two dimensional layered materials

The experience of long-stay patients in a forensic psychiatric hospital in China: a qualitative study

open access articleBackground Long stay in forensic psychiatric hospitals is common in patients who are defined as “not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder”. However, little is known about how these patients experience and perceive the long stay within these settings. The aim of this study is to explore the perception and needs of long-stay patients in forensic psychiatric hospitals in China. Methods In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants who had lived in the forensic psychiatry hospital for more than 8 years. We used thematic analysis strategies to analyse the qualitative data. Results Participants’ perceptions clustered seven themes: hopelessness, loneliness, worthlessness, low mood, sleep disturbances, lack of freedom, and lack of mental health intervention. Conclusions The views and opinions expressed by long-stay patients showed that psychological distress is prevailing in forensic psychiatric hospitals. Adequate and effective care and mental health interventions are recommended to be tailored for their special needs

Optimization for heat and sound insulation of honeycomb sandwich panel in thermal environments

An optimization based on sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithm to increase the thermal insulation and sound transmission loss of honeycomb panel in thermal environments is presented. First, heat transfer analysis is performed to reveal the steady-state thermal performance of hexagonal aluminum honeycomb sandwich panel, by using the semi-empirical Swann and Pittman formula. Next, the influences of temperature on acoustic performance of honeycomb panel based on statistical energy analysis method (SEA) is performed. Results show that increasing the thickness of the honeycomb core can improve the acoustic performance and heat insulation behavior

Antitumor Effect of Natural Product Molecules against Lung Cancer

Lung cancer treatment remains difficult because of multidrug resistance and adverse effects, and natural product molecules show powerful activity in lung cancer with few side effects. The molecular targets and efficacy of natural product molecules remain unclear. We described the molecular regulation of natural product molecules with antitumor activities, the antilung cancer activities and the clinical trials for lung cancer treatment of natural product molecules. The results support the updated systemic information on the use of natural product molecules to prevent cancer progression and their constituents for lung cancer treatment

Clay minerals in the Pliocene–Quaternary sediments of the southern Yangtze coast, China: Sediment sources and palaeoclimate implications

AbstractClay mineralogy was used as an indicator of the sediment source and prevailing climate and five suites (I–V) were identified throughout the borehole. Smectite was dominant in the bottom suite of the borehole, indicating the sediment was mainly derived from the local basalt when the study area stood as uplands during the Pliocene. The sharp reduction of smectite in suites II and III (Early Pleistocene) reflects a broader sediment provenance due to neo-tectonic subsidence of the study area. Significant climate fluctuations are indicated by distinct variations in the ratios of illite versus smectite and kaolinite, and by the illite crystallinity in suites II and IV. Especially the suite IV, which forms mottled muddy sediments that underwent pedogenesis, possibly represents glacial/interglacial cycles during the Mid-Pleistocene climate transition (MPT). The rare presence of smectite in suite V which formed during the Late Quaternary suggests a significant contribution of fine-grained sediment derived from the upstream of the Yangtze catchment. Such changes in sediment sources are consistent with the evolution of regional sedimentary environments, which evolved towards an open coast/deltaic setting and imply that the study area became the depositional basin of the Yangtze fine-grained sediment due to the final submergence of the Wu-Nan-Sha and Fukien-Reinan Massifs since the Late Quaternary

Enzyme-linked immunospot assay response to recombinant CFP-10/ESAT-6 fusion protein among patients with spinal tuberculosis: implications for diagnosis and monitoring of surgical therapy

SummaryObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the performance of a laboratory-developed recombinant CFP-10/ESAT-6 fusion protein (rCFP-10/ESAT-6)-based enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay for the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis (TB) in China, and to evaluate the value of the ELISPOT assay for monitoring the efficacy of surgical treatment.MethodsIn the first part of the study, a total of 78 participants were consecutively recruited for ELISPOT using rCFP-10/ESAT-6 as a stimulus. The cutoff value for ELISPOT positivity was based on the results of receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. In the second part, this approach was evaluated in a prospective study including 102 patients with suspected spinal TB. Data on clinical characteristics of the patients and conventional laboratory results were collected, and blood samples were obtained for ELISPOT using rCFP-10/ESAT-6 as a stimulus.ResultsAmong the 102 patients with suspected spinal TB, 11 were excluded from the study. Twenty-three patients (25.2%) had culture-confirmed TB and 29 (31.9%) patients had probable TB. Among the spinal TB patients, the ELISPOT had a sensitivity of 82.7%, compared to a sensitivity of 61.5% for the purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test. The specificity was 87.2% for ELISPOT and 46.2% for the PPD skin test among 39 subjects with non-TB disease. The number of spot-forming cells and/or the positive rate of the ELISPOT assay were associated with aging, emaciation, and paravertebral abscess. The number of subjects with responses to rCFP-10/ESAT-6 slightly decreased after surgical treatment in spinal TB patients.ConclusionsA laboratory-developed rCFP-10/ESAT-6 ELISPOT assay is a useful adjunct to current tests for the diagnosis of spinal TB