Tetra­aqua­bis(N-phenyl­sulfonyl-l-leucinato)cadmium(II) dihydrate

In the title compound, [Cd(C12H16NO4S)2(H2O)]·2H2O, the Cd atom is located on a twofold rotation axis and a distorted CdO8 dodeca­hedral arrangement arises from the coordination of the two chelating ligands and four water mol­ecules. A network of N—H⋯O, O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds help to establish the crystal packing. Both coordinated and uncoordinated water molecules are disordered with an approximate half-occupation for each of the water molecules

Speed of Sound and Phase Transitions in Neutron Stars Indicated by the Thick Neutron Skin of 208^{208}Pb

The speed of sound is a novel probe of equation of state and phase transitions in dense cores of neutron stars. Recently nuclear experiments extracted a surprising thick neutron skin of $^{208}$Pb, causing tensions to reproduce the tidal deformability in gravitational-wave observations. This work finds that exotic structures in the speed of sound with a small softening slope followed by a steep-rising peak are required to reconcile the thick neutron skin of $^{208}$Pb with astronomical observations of neutron stars. Furthermore, the peak of speed of sound is narrowly constrained around two times the nuclear saturation density with the thick neutron skin. Consequently early and strong first-order phase transitions are comparatively more favorable.Comment: 5 pages 4 figures, submitte

Periodic nano/micro-hole array silicon solar cell

In this study, we applied a metal catalyst etching method to fabricate a nano/microhole array on a Si substrate for application in solar cells. In addition, the surface of an undesigned area was etched because of the attachment of metal nanoparticles that is dissociated in a solution. The nano/microhole array exhibited low specular reflectance (<1%) without antireflection coating because of its rough surface. The solar spectrum related total reflection was approximately 9%. A fabricated solar cell with a 40-μm hole spacing exhibited an efficiency of 9.02%. Comparing to the solar cell made by polished Si, the external quantum efficiency for solar cell with 30 s etching time was increased by 16.7%

Cross Z-Complementary Pairs for Optimal Training in Spatial Modulation Over Frequency Selective Channels

The contributions of this article are twofold: Firstly, we introduce a novel class of sequence pairs, called “cross Z-complementary pairs (CZCPs),” each displaying zero-correlation zone (ZCZ) properties for both their aperiodic autocorrelation sums and crosscorrelation sums. Systematic constructions of perfect CZCPs based on selected Golay complementary pairs (GCPs) are presented. Secondly, we point out that CZCPs can be utilized as a key component in designing training sequences for broadband spatial modulation (SM) systems. We show that our proposed SM training sequences derived from CZCPs lead to optimal channel estimation performance over frequency-selective channels

Numerical Study of Random Corrosion Characteristics of Metal Based On the Cellular Automata Method

In the production process of coal chemical companies, the corrosion of metal equipment and the resulting shortening of its service life can cause safety hazards. Simulation modeling of pit emergence and development during corrosion evolution provides a new approach to corrosion research. By analyzing the effect of different parameters on causing corrosion to occur, it is possible to reflect the influence of complex physico-chemical systems. In this paper, the simulation of a meta-cellular automaton model of pit growth under diffusion and the introduction of a passivation probability to correct the chemical reaction rate are developed; The effect of reaction passivation probability, chemical reaction rate and diffusion coefficient on the degree of corrosion was also analyzed by means of quantitative analysis. The results show that for metal corrosion loss processes, the degree of corrosion damage decreases with increasing probability of reactive passivation and increases with increasing chemical reaction rate, increasing electrolyte concentration and increasing time step. The CA model was applied to simulate the growth and change of pitting corrosion of metal materials with their corrosion protection layer under damaged conditions. The corrosion model can simulate the corrosion morphology change characteristics similar to the real metal to the corrosion pit evolution simulation related research has certain scientific, validity, reference

The Involvement of Bax in Zinc-Induced Mitochondrial Apoptogenesis in Malignant Prostate Cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The development and progression of prostate cancer requires the transformation of normal zinc-accumulating epithelial cells to malignant cells that have lost the ability to accumulate zinc. This metabolic transformation is essential so that the tumor suppressive effects of zinc can be eliminated and the malignant process can proceed. One of the major effects of zinc is its prevention of prostate cell growth by its induction of apoptosis. The accumulation of cellular zinc has a direct effect on the mitochondria that results in the release of cytochrome c, which initiates the caspase cascade that leads to apoptosis. This effect is associated with the mitochondrial pore-forming process, but the mechanism by which zinc induces the release of cytochrome c and induces mitochondrial apoptogenesis has not been resolved. The present report provides for the first time information that implicates Bax in the zinc induction of mitochondrial apoptogenesis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The effects of zinc treatment on the Bax levels of PC-3 cells and on the mitochondria were determined. The exposure of isolated mitochondria to zinc results in an increase in membrane bound Bax, which is due to the mitochondrial insertion of endogenous resident Bax. The mitochondrial Bax/Bcl-2 ratio is increased by zinc treatment. Zinc treatment of PC-3 cells also increases the mitochondrial level of Bax. In addition, zinc treatment increases the cellular level of Bax and the cellular Bax/Bcl2 ratio. Down regulation of Bax in PC-3 cells eliminates the zinc induction of apoptosis. The increase in cellular Bax level appears to involve zinc induction of Bax gene expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This report extends and confirms that physiological levels of zinc induce apoptosis in prostate cells. The study provides evidence that zinc is directly involved in facilitating a Bax-associated pore formation process that initiates mitochondrial apoptogenesis. This is enhanced by an additional effect of zinc on increasing the cellular level of Bax. To avoid the anti-tumor apoptogenic effects of zinc, the malignant cells in prostate cancer posses genetic/metabolic adaptations that prevent the cellular accumulation of zinc.</p

Numerical Study of Random Corrosion Characteristics of Metal Based On the Cellular Automata Method

In the production process of coal chemical companies, the corrosion of metal equipment and the resulting shortening of its service life can cause safety hazards. Simulation modeling of pit emergence and development during corrosion evolution provides a new approach to corrosion research. By analyzing the effect of different parameters on causing corrosion to occur, it is possible to reflect the influence of complex physico-chemical systems. In this paper, the simulation of a meta-cellular automaton model of pit growth under diffusion and the introduction of a passivation probability to correct the chemical reaction rate are developed; The effect of reaction passivation probability, chemical reaction rate and diffusion coefficient on the degree of corrosion was also analyzed by means of quantitative analysis. The results show that for metal corrosion loss processes, the degree of corrosion damage decreases with increasing probability of reactive passivation and increases with increasing chemical reaction rate, increasing electrolyte concentration and increasing time step. The CA model was applied to simulate the growth and change of pitting corrosion of metal materials with their corrosion protection layer under damaged conditions. The corrosion model can simulate the corrosion morphology change characteristics similar to the real metal to the corrosion pit evolution simulation related research has certain scientific, validity, reference