Evidence of Indium impurity band in superconducting (Sn,In)Te thin films

Sn1-xInxTe has been synthesized and studied recently as a candidate topological superconductor. Its superconducting critical temperature increases with Indium concentration. However, the role of Indium in altering the normal state band structure and generating superconductivity is not well-understood. Here, we explore this question in Sn1-xInxTe (0<x<0.3) thin films, characterized by magneto-transport, infrared transmission and photoemission spectroscopy measurement. We show that Indium is forming an impurity band below the valence band edge which pins the Fermi energy and effectively generates electron doping. An enhanced density-of-states due to this impurity band leads to the enhancement of superconducting transition temperature measured in multiple previous studies. The existence of the In impurity band and the role of In as a resonant impurity should be more carefully considered when discussing the topological nature of Sn1-xInxTe

Inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus: The links.

The co-occurrence of the three disease entities, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer (CRC), type 2diabetes mellitus (T2DM) along with inflammation and dismicrobism has been frequently reported. Some authors have even suggested that dysbiosis could be the link through a molecular crosstalk of multiple inflammatory loops including TGFβ, NFKB, TNFα and ROS among others. This review focuses on the inflammatory process along with the role of microbiota in the pathophysiology of the three diseases. The etiology of IBD is multifactorial, and like CRC and T2DM, it is associated with a widespread and sustained GI inflammation and dismicrobism, whereby an array of pro-inflammatory mediators and other related biomolecules are up-regulated, both locally and systematically. Such a persistent or an inadequately resolved chronic inflammation may be a causative agent, in the presence other factors, leading to several pathologies such as IBD, CRC and T2DM. TGFβ plays a crucial role in pancreatic β cell malfunctioning as glucotoxicity stimulates its signaling cascade through smad 3, IL-6 and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Such a cascade could lead to macrophages and other cells recruitment, inflammation, then IBD and CRC. NFkB is also another key regulator in the crosstalk among the pathways leading to the three disease entities. It plays a major role in linking inflammation to cancer development through its ability to up regulate several inflammatory and tumor promoting cytokines like: IL-6, IL-1 α and TNF α, as well as genes like BCL2 and BCLXL. It activates JAK/STAT signaling network via STAT3 transcription factors and promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition. It also increases the risk for T2DM in obese people. In brief, NFKB is a matchmaker between inflammation, IBD, cancer and diabetes. In addition, TNFα plays a pivotal role in systemic inflammation. It is increased in the mucosa of IBD patients and has a central role in its pathogenesis. It also activates other signaling pathways like NFKB and MAPK leading to CRC. It is also overexpressed in the adipose tissues of obese patients thus linking it to T2DM, chronic inflammation and consequently CRC. On the other hand, increasing evidence suggests that dysbiosis plays a role in initiating, maintaining and determining the severity of IBD. Actually, among its functions, it modulates genotoxic metabolites which are able to induce CRC, a fact proven to be sustained by stool transfer from patients with CRC. Probiotics, however, may actively prevent CRC as well as IBD and results in a significant decrease in fasting glycemia in T2DM patients. In conclusion, IBD, CRC and T2DM are commonly occurring interrelated clinical problems. They share a common basis influenced by an inflammatory process, an imbalance in intestinal microbiota, and a crosstalk between various signaling pathways. Would probiotics interrupt the crosstalk or orient it in the physiological direction

Rab8, POSH, and TAK1 regulate synaptic growth in a Drosophila model of frontotemporal dementia

Mutations in genes essential for protein homeostasis have been identified in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Why mature neurons should be particularly sensitive to such perturbations is unclear. We identified mutations in Rab8 in a genetic screen for enhancement of an FTD phenotype associated with ESCRT-III dysfunction. Examination of Rab8 mutants or motor neurons expressing a mutant ESCRT-III subunit, CHMP2BIntron5, at the Drosophila melanogaster neuromuscular junction synapse revealed synaptic overgrowth and endosomal dysfunction. Expression of Rab8 rescued overgrowth phenotypes generated by CHMP2BIntron5. In Rab8 mutant synapses, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/activator protein-1 and TGF-β signaling were overactivated and acted synergistically to potentiate synaptic growth. We identify novel roles for endosomal JNK-scaffold POSH (Plenty-of-SH3s) and a JNK kinase kinase, TAK1, in regulating growth activation in Rab8 mutants. Our data uncover Rab8, POSH, and TAK1 as regulators of synaptic growth responses and point to recycling endosome as a key compartment for synaptic growth regulation during neurodegenerative processes

MRI-Based Therapy Guidance for Ultrasound Neuromodulation

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp21/1067/thumbnail.jp

Optimized ultraviolet grayscale process for high vertical resolution applied to spectral imagers

International audienceNanoCarb is a miniature Fourier transform imaging spectrometer dedicated to the measurement of atmospheric CO2 and CH4. The key element of NanoCarb is an array of Fabry-Perot micro-interferometers having a stepcase shape. Lateral dimensions and height of each step depend on the used material, the focusing lenses and the targetted Optical Path Difference (OPD) to be measured. In this paper, we developed a grayscale lithography process for a large surface patterning with high vertical resolution. This process is combined with plasma etching to transfer the as-obtained resist patterns into the silicon substrate. This method is an efficient and quick way for the realization of such arrays into silicon. A low contrast resist (ma-P1225G) was used for a better control of the step height and we investigated the effect of two annealing processes on the contrast curve slope: the soft bake and the post exposure bake. Therefore, combining the two processes leads to a 20 nm step height resolution in resist and 50 nm in silicon

Optimized ultraviolet grayscale process for high vertical resolution applied to spectral imagers

International audienc

Micro-interferomètres en silicium pour un spectro-imageur dédié à la surveillance des gaz à effet de serre

International audienceNanoCarb is a miniature Fourier transform imaging spectrometer dedicated to the measurement of greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) from a constellation of small satellites. The key element of NanoCarb is an array of Fabry-Perot microinterferometers having a stepcase shape. Lateral dimensions and height of each step depend on the used material, the focusing lenses and the targetted optical path difference to be measured. In this paper, we describe a grayscale lithography process for a large surface patterning with high vertical resolution. This process is combined with plasma etching. Therefore, this two processes leads to a 20 nm step height resolution in resist and 50 nm in silicon. In addition to the manufacturing of this plate, we also investigated the deposit of a narrow-band filter on this plate used to select the spectral band of CO2 (1608 nm), with promising preliminary results.NanoCarb est un spectromètre de Fourier miniature et imageur, dédié à la mesure des gaz à effet de serre (CO2 et CH4) par une constellation de petits satellites. Au coeur de NanoCarb est une matrice d'interféromètres de Fabry-Perot. Les dimensions latérales et les épaisseurs des interféromètres dépendent du matériau utilisé, de l'optique d'imagerie et des différences de marche à mesurer. Dans cet article, nous décrivons un procédé de lithographie en niveaux de gris adapté à des grandes largeurs et à une très haute résolution verticale. Ce procédé est complété par une gravure par plasma. On obtient ainsi des marches de 20nm dans la résine, soit 50 nm dans le silicium après gravure. En complément à la fabrication de cette matrice d'interféromètres, nous avons aussi étudié le dépôt d'un filtre étroit multi-couches pour sélectionner la bande d'intérêt du CO2 autour de 1608nm. les résultats préliminaires sont prometteurs

Micro-interferomètres en silicium pour un spectro-imageur dédié à la surveillance des gaz à effet de serre

International audienceNanoCarb is a miniature Fourier transform imaging spectrometer dedicated to the measurement of greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) from a constellation of small satellites. The key element of NanoCarb is an array of Fabry-Perot microinterferometers having a stepcase shape. Lateral dimensions and height of each step depend on the used material, the focusing lenses and the targetted optical path difference to be measured. In this paper, we describe a grayscale lithography process for a large surface patterning with high vertical resolution. This process is combined with plasma etching. Therefore, this two processes leads to a 20 nm step height resolution in resist and 50 nm in silicon. In addition to the manufacturing of this plate, we also investigated the deposit of a narrow-band filter on this plate used to select the spectral band of CO2 (1608 nm), with promising preliminary results.NanoCarb est un spectromètre de Fourier miniature et imageur, dédié à la mesure des gaz à effet de serre (CO2 et CH4) par une constellation de petits satellites. Au coeur de NanoCarb est une matrice d'interféromètres de Fabry-Perot. Les dimensions latérales et les épaisseurs des interféromètres dépendent du matériau utilisé, de l'optique d'imagerie et des différences de marche à mesurer. Dans cet article, nous décrivons un procédé de lithographie en niveaux de gris adapté à des grandes largeurs et à une très haute résolution verticale. Ce procédé est complété par une gravure par plasma. On obtient ainsi des marches de 20nm dans la résine, soit 50 nm dans le silicium après gravure. En complément à la fabrication de cette matrice d'interféromètres, nous avons aussi étudié le dépôt d'un filtre étroit multi-couches pour sélectionner la bande d'intérêt du CO2 autour de 1608nm. les résultats préliminaires sont prometteurs

Micro-interferomètres en silicium pour un spectro-imageur dédié à la surveillance des gaz à effet de serre

International audienceNanoCarb is a miniature Fourier transform imaging spectrometer dedicated to the measurement of greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) from a constellation of small satellites. The key element of NanoCarb is an array of Fabry-Perot microinterferometers having a stepcase shape. Lateral dimensions and height of each step depend on the used material, the focusing lenses and the targetted optical path difference to be measured. In this paper, we describe a grayscale lithography process for a large surface patterning with high vertical resolution. This process is combined with plasma etching. Therefore, this two processes leads to a 20 nm step height resolution in resist and 50 nm in silicon. In addition to the manufacturing of this plate, we also investigated the deposit of a narrow-band filter on this plate used to select the spectral band of CO2 (1608 nm), with promising preliminary results.NanoCarb est un spectromètre de Fourier miniature et imageur, dédié à la mesure des gaz à effet de serre (CO2 et CH4) par une constellation de petits satellites. Au coeur de NanoCarb est une matrice d'interféromètres de Fabry-Perot. Les dimensions latérales et les épaisseurs des interféromètres dépendent du matériau utilisé, de l'optique d'imagerie et des différences de marche à mesurer. Dans cet article, nous décrivons un procédé de lithographie en niveaux de gris adapté à des grandes largeurs et à une très haute résolution verticale. Ce procédé est complété par une gravure par plasma. On obtient ainsi des marches de 20nm dans la résine, soit 50 nm dans le silicium après gravure. En complément à la fabrication de cette matrice d'interféromètres, nous avons aussi étudié le dépôt d'un filtre étroit multi-couches pour sélectionner la bande d'intérêt du CO2 autour de 1608nm. les résultats préliminaires sont prometteurs

Micro-interferomètres en silicium pour un spectro-imageur dédié à la surveillance des gaz à effet de serre

International audienceNanoCarb is a miniature Fourier transform imaging spectrometer dedicated to the measurement of greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) from a constellation of small satellites. The key element of NanoCarb is an array of Fabry-Perot microinterferometers having a stepcase shape. Lateral dimensions and height of each step depend on the used material, the focusing lenses and the targetted optical path difference to be measured. In this paper, we describe a grayscale lithography process for a large surface patterning with high vertical resolution. This process is combined with plasma etching. Therefore, this two processes leads to a 20 nm step height resolution in resist and 50 nm in silicon. In addition to the manufacturing of this plate, we also investigated the deposit of a narrow-band filter on this plate used to select the spectral band of CO2 (1608 nm), with promising preliminary results.NanoCarb est un spectromètre de Fourier miniature et imageur, dédié à la mesure des gaz à effet de serre (CO2 et CH4) par une constellation de petits satellites. Au coeur de NanoCarb est une matrice d'interféromètres de Fabry-Perot. Les dimensions latérales et les épaisseurs des interféromètres dépendent du matériau utilisé, de l'optique d'imagerie et des différences de marche à mesurer. Dans cet article, nous décrivons un procédé de lithographie en niveaux de gris adapté à des grandes largeurs et à une très haute résolution verticale. Ce procédé est complété par une gravure par plasma. On obtient ainsi des marches de 20nm dans la résine, soit 50 nm dans le silicium après gravure. En complément à la fabrication de cette matrice d'interféromètres, nous avons aussi étudié le dépôt d'un filtre étroit multi-couches pour sélectionner la bande d'intérêt du CO2 autour de 1608nm. les résultats préliminaires sont prometteurs