Strongly correlated double Dirac fermions

Double Dirac fermions have recently been identified as possible quasiparticles hosted by three-dimensional crystals with particular non-symmorphic point group symmetries. Applying a combined approach of ab-initio methods and dynamical mean field theory, we investigate how interactions and double Dirac band topology conspire to form the electronic quantum state of Bi$_2$CuO$_4$. We derive a downfolded eight-band model of the pristine material at low energies around the Fermi level. By tuning the model parameters from the free band structure to the realistic strongly correlated regime, we find a persistence of the double Dirac dispersion until its constituting time reveral symmetry is broken due to the onset of magnetic ordering at the Mott transition. We analyze pressure as a promising route to realize a double-Dirac metal in Bi$_2$CuO$_4$

Putting a “C60 Ball” and Chain to Chlorin e6 Improves Its Cellular Uptake and Photodynamic Performances

Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and fullerene (C60) are among the most used photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Through the combination of the chemical and photophysical properties of Ce6 and C60, in principle, we can obtain an “ideal” photosensitizer that is able to bypass the limitations of the two molecules alone, i.e., the low cellular uptake of Ce6 and the scarce solubility and absorption in the red region of the C60. Here, we synthesized and characterized a Ce6–C60 dyad. The UV-Vis spectrum of the dyad showed the typical absorption bands of both fullerene and Ce6, while a quenching of Ce6 fluorescence was observed. This behavior is typical in the formation of a fullerene–antenna system and is due to the intramolecular energy, or electron transfer from the antenna (Ce6) to the fullerene. Consequently, the Ce6–C60 dyad showed an enhancement in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Flow cytometry measurements demonstrated how the uptake of the Ce6 was strongly improved by the conjugation with C60. The Ce6–C60 dyad exhibited in A431 cancer cells low dark toxicity and a higher PDT efficacy than Ce6 alone, due to the enhancement of the uptake and the improvement of ROS generation

Formation and observation of a quasi-two-dimensional dxyd_{xy} electron liquid in epitaxially stabilized Sr2−x_{2-x}Lax_{x}TiO4_{4} thin films

We report the formation and observation of an electron liquid in Sr$_{2-x}$La$_{x}$TiO$_4$, the quasi-two-dimensional counterpart of SrTiO$_3$, through reactive molecular-beam epitaxy and {\it in situ} angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The lowest lying states are found to be comprised of Ti 3$d_{xy}$ orbitals, analogous to the LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interface and exhibit unusually broad features characterized by quantized energy levels and a reduced Luttinger volume. Using model calculations, we explain these characteristics through an interplay of disorder and electron-phonon coupling acting co-operatively at similar energy scales, which provides a possible mechanism for explaining the low free carrier concentrations observed at various oxide heterostructures such as the LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interface

Interplay of Dirac nodes and Volkov-Pankratov surface states in compressively strained HgTe

Preceded by the discovery of topological insulators, Dirac and Weyl semimetals have become a pivotal direction of research in contemporary condensed matter physics. While easily accessible from a theoretical viewpoint, these topological semimetals pose a serious challenge in terms of experimental synthesis and analysis to allow for their unambiguous identification. In this work, we report on detailed transport experiments on compressively strained HgTe. Due to the superior sample quality in comparison to other topological semimetallic materials, this enables us to resolve the interplay of topological surface states and semimetallic bulk states to an unprecedented degree of precision and complexity. As our gate design allows us to precisely tune the Fermi level at the Weyl and Dirac points, we identify a magnetotransport regime dominated by Weyl/Dirac bulk state conduction for small carrier densities and by topological surface state conduction for larger carrier densities. As such, similar to topological insulators, HgTe provides the archetypical reference for the experimental investigation of topological semimetals.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted in PRX, added kp calculation and supplementar

Morning Blood Pressure Surge, Dipping, and Risk of Coronary Events in Elderly Treated Hypertensive Patients

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Tunable metal-insulator transition, Rashba effect and Weyl Fermions in a relativistic charge-ordered ferroelectric oxide

Controllable metal\u2013insulator transitions (MIT), Rashba\u2013Dresselhaus (RD) spin splitting, and Weyl semimetals are promising schemes for realizing processing devices. Complex oxides are a desirable materials platform for such devices, as they host delicate and tunable charge, spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedoms. Here, using first-principles calculations and symmetry analysis, we identify an electric-field tunable MIT, RD effect, and Weyl semimetal in a known, charge-ordered, and polar relativistic oxide Ag2BiO3 at room temperature. Remarkably, a centrosymmetric BiO6 octahedral-breathing distortion induces a sizable spontaneous ferroelectric polarization through Bi3+/Bi5+ charge disproportionation, which stabilizes simultaneously the insulating phase. The continuous attenuation of the Bi3+/Bi5+ disproportionation obtained by applying an external electric field reduces the band gap and RD spin splitting and drives the phase transition from a ferroelectric RD insulator to a paraelectric Dirac semimetal, through a topological Weyl semimetal intermediate state. These findings suggest that Ag2BiO3 is a promising material for spin-orbitonic applications

Electronic structure of epitaxial perovskite films in the two-dimensional limit: Role of the surface termination

An often-overlooked property of transition metal oxide thin films is their microscopic surface structure and its effect on the electronic properties in the ultrathin limit. Contrary to the expected conservation of the perovskite stacking order in the (001) direction, heteroepitaxially grown SrIrO3 films on TiO2-terminated SrTiO3 are found to exhibit a terminating SrO surface layer. The proposed mechanism for the self-organized conversion involves the adsorption of excess oxygen ions at the apical sites of the IrO2-terminated surface and the subsequent decomposition of the IrO6 octahedra into gaseous molecular IrO3 and the remaining SrO-terminated surface. Whereas the ab initio calculated electronic structure of SrO-terminated SrIrO3 in the monolayer limit exhibits a striking similarity to bulk Sr2IrO4, the broken octahedral symmetry at the IrO2-terminated surface would mix the otherwise crystal field split e(g) and t(2g) states, resulting in distinctly different low-energy electronic states. Published under license by AIP Publishing

Time-lapse video microscopy for assessment of EYFP-Parkin aggregation as a marker for cellular mitophagy

© 2016 Journal of Visualized Experiments.Time-lapse video microscopy can be defined as the real time imaging of living cells. This technique relies on the collection of images at different time points. Time intervals can be set through a computer interface that controls the microscope-integrated camera. This kind of microscopy requires both the ability to acquire very rapid events and the signal generated by the observed cellular structure during these events. After the images have been collected, a movie of the entire experiment is assembled to show the dynamic of the molecular events of interest. Time-lapse video microscopy has a broad range of applications in the biomedical research field and is a powerful and unique tool for following the dynamics of the cellular events in real time. Through this technique, we can assess cellular events such as migration, division, signal transduction, growth, and death. Moreover, using fluorescent molecular probes we are able to mark specific molecules, such as DNA, RNA or proteins and follow them through their molecular pathways and functions. Time-lapse video microscopy has multiple advantages, the major one being the ability to collect data at the single-cell level, that make it a unique technology for investigation in the field of cell biology. However, time-lapse video microscopy has limitations that can interfere with the acquisition of high quality images. Images can be compromised by both external factors; temperature fluctuations, vibrations, humidity and internal factors; pH, cell motility. Herein, we describe a protocol for the dynamic acquisition of a specific protein, Parkin, fused with the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) in order to track the selective removal of damaged mitochondria, using a time-lapse video microscopy approach

Efficacy of hyaluronate injections in rotator cuff disorders: a level-I meta-analysis

Background: Rotator cuff disease is the most common cause of shoulder pain and weakness. Conservative treatment is the first choice of shoulder pain management. Viscosupplementation of hyaluronic acid (HA) seems to be effective for management of tendon disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the scientific evidence reported in literature according to HA shoulder injection in rotator cuff disorders treatment. Methods: An English-language systematic literature search was performed by two independent researchers; data sources included the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Google scholar web, Ovid database, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and the Cochrane Library. We performed a broad research for relevant study up to February 2017. Articles were included if they reported data on clinical and functional outcomes in patients who had undergone HA injection for management of rotator cuff pathology compared to placebo, corticosteroid injection and/or physical therapies. Methodological quality was assessed with the PEDro rating scale. The outcomes were improvement of symptoms (assessed by VAS scale) and shoulder function (assessed through DASH and ASES Score). Results: 5 RCTs studies (990 patients) were pooled in the Meta-analysis. The PEDro rating scale ranged from 2 to 8. Two studies compared HA injection with corticosteroid injections, patients were injected once a week for three weeks. Four studies compared HA injection with placebo injection, of which two used 3 weekly injections and two used 5 weekly injections. Significant difference was found in pain reduction between HA and placebo group at 26 weeks follow-up (MD= -0.51, 95% CI -0.96 to -0.07), p=0.02. Conclusion: HA injections might be a valuable safe alternative to other conservative methods for the treatment of rotator cuff disorders. Nowadays, few and low quality randomized controlled trials have been published. Therefore, to reach an overall conclusion about the effect of HA injection in rotator cuff we need more high quality studies. Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. Study design: Meta-analys