Barrier efficiency of sponge-like La2Zr2O7 buffer layers for YBCO-coated conductors

Solution derived La2Zr2O7 films have drawn much attention for potential applications as thermal barriers or low-cost buffer layers for coated conductor technology. Annealing and coating parameters strongly affect the microstructure of La2Zr2O7, but different film processing methods can yield similar microstructural features such as nanovoids and nanometer-sized La2Zr2O7 grains. Nanoporosity is a typical feature found in such films and the implications for the functionality of the films is investigated by a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy and quantitative electron tomography. Chemical solution based La2Zr2O7 films deposited on flexible Ni-5at.%W substrates with a {100} biaxial texture were prepared for an in-depth characterization. A sponge-like structure composed of nanometer sized voids is revealed by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy in combination with electron tomography. A three-dimensional quantification of nanovoids in the La2Zr2O7 film is obtained on a local scale. Mostly non-interconnected highly facetted nanovoids compromise more than one-fifth of the investigated sample volume. The diffusion barrier efficiency of a 170 nm thick La2Zr2O7 film is investigated by STEM-EELS yielding a 1.8 \pm 0.2 nm oxide layer beyond which no significant nickel diffusion can be detected and intermixing is observed. This is of particular significance for the functionality of YBa2Cu3O7-{\delta} coated conductor architectures based on solution derived La2Zr2O7 films as diffusion barriers.Comment: Accepted for publication in Superconductor Science and Technolog

Imaging diagnosis of chronic encapsulated intracerebral hematoma : a comparison of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics

Background: Chronic encapsulated intracerebral hematoma (CEICH) is a rare type of intracerebral hematoma that is often misdiagnosed. To explore the characteristics of CEICH on computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Material/Methods: Clinical, CT, MRI, and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) data of 5 patients who were diagnosed with CEICH on surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Results: CT showed quasi-circular or elliptical lesions with clear borders in all 5 cases and iso-density or low-density in the center of lesions that were surrounded by peripheral edema in 2 cases. CT showed mass effect in 5 patients. On contrast-enhanced CT, 2 cases exhibited mild ring enhancement, and 3 cases exhibited moderate ring enhancement. MRI showed cystic lesions with high uniform signal on T1-weighted images (T1WI) and T2-weighted images (T2WI), a lowsignal ring sign on the coated cystic lesions on T2WI, a lower signal ring sign on SWI, and ring enhancement after administration of contrast. Conclusions: CT imaging of CEICH did not reveal any typical characteristics in the studied patients. MRI showed an envelope with a "ring" an

Strong Photoluminescence Enhancement of MoS2 through Defect Engineering and Oxygen Bonding

We report on a strong photoluminescence (PL) enhancement of monolayer MoS2 through defect engineering and oxygen bonding. Micro- PL and Raman images clearly reveal that the PL enhancement occurs at cracks/defects formed during high temperature vacuum annealing. The PL enhancement at crack/defect sites could be as high as thousands of times after considering the laser spot size. The main reasons of such huge PL enhancement include: (1) the oxygen chemical adsorption induced heavy p doping and the conversion from trion to exciton; (2) the suppression of non-radiative recombination of excitons at defect sites as verified by low temperature PL measurements. First principle calculations reveal a strong binding energy of ~2.395 eV for oxygen molecule adsorbed on an S vacancy of MoS2. The chemical adsorbed oxygen also provides a much more effective charge transfer (0.997 electrons per O2) compared to physical adsorbed oxygen on ideal MoS2 surface. We also demonstrate that the defect engineering and oxygen bonding could be easily realized by oxygen plasma irradiation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy further confirms the formation of Mo-O bonding. Our results provide a new route for modulating the optical properties of two dimensional semiconductors. The strong and stable PL from defects sites of MoS2 may have promising applications in optoelectronic devices.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, to appear in ACS Nan

Mapping electronic reconstruction at the metal/insulator interfaces in \ce{LaVO_3/SrVO_3} heterostructures

A \ce{(LaVO_3)_6/(SrVO_3)_3} superlattice is studied with a combination of sub-{\AA} resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy and monochromated electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The V oxidation state is mapped with atomic spatial resolution enabling to investigate electronic reconstruction at the \ce{LaVO_3}/\ce{SrVO_3} interfaces. Surprisingly, asymmetric charge distribution is found at adjacent chemically symmetric interfaces. The local structure is proposed and simulated with double channeling calculation which agrees qualitatively with our experiment. We demonstrate that local strain asymmetry is the likely cause of the electronic asymmetry of the interfaces. The electronic reconstruction at the interfaces extends much further than the chemical composition, varying from 0.5 to 1.2 nm. This distance corresponds to the length of charge transfer previously found in the \ce{(LaVO_3)_m}/\ce{(SrVO_3)_n} metal/insulating and the \ce{(LaAlO_3)_m}/\ce{(SrTiO_3)_n} insulating/insulating interfaces.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Physical Review B, 201

Homozygous Frameshift Mutation in TMCO1 Causes A Syndrome with Craniofacial Dysmorphism, Skeletal Anomalies, and Mental Retardation

We identified an autosomal recessive condition in 11 individuals in the Old Order Amish of northeastern Ohio. The syndrome was characterized by distinctive craniofacial dysmorphism, skeletal anomalies, and mental retardation. The typical craniofacial dysmorphism included brachycephaly, highly arched bushy eyebrows, synophrys, long eyelashes, low-set ears, microdontism of primary teeth, and generalized gingival hyperplasia, whereas Sprengel deformity of scapula, fusion of spine, rib abnormities, pectus excavatum, and pes planus represented skeletal anomalies. The genome-wide homozygosity mapping using six affected individuals localized the disease gene to a 3.3-Mb region on chromosome 1q23.3-q24.1. Candidate gene sequencing identified a homozygous frameshift mutation, c.139_140delAG, in the transmembrane and coiled-coil domains 1 (TMCO1) gene, as the pathogenic change in all affected members of the extended pedigree. This mutation is predicted to result in a severely truncated protein (p.Ser47Ter) of only one-fourth the original length. The TMCO1 gene product is a member of DUF841 superfamily of several eukaryotic proteins with unknown function. The gene has highly conserved amino acid sequence and is universally expressed in all human tissues examined. The high degree of conservation and the ubiquitous expression pattern in human adult and fetal tissues suggest a critical role for TMCO1. This report shows a TMCO1 sequence variant being associated with a genetic disorder in human. We propose “TMCO1 defect syndrome” as the name of this condition

Homozygous Frameshift Mutation in TMCO1 Causes A Syndrome with Craniofacial Dysmorphism, Skeletal Anomalies, and Mental Retardation

We identified an autosomal recessive condition in 11 individuals in the Old Order Amish of northeastern Ohio. The syndrome was characterized by distinctive craniofacial dysmorphism, skeletal anomalies, and mental retardation. The typical craniofacial dysmorphism included brachycephaly, highly arched bushy eyebrows, synophrys, long eyelashes, low-set ears, microdontism of primary teeth, and generalized gingival hyperplasia, whereas Sprengel deformity of scapula, fusion of spine, rib abnormities, pectus excavatum, and pes planus represented skeletal anomalies. The genome-wide homozygosity mapping using six affected individuals localized the disease gene to a 3.3-Mb region on chromosome 1q23.3-q24.1. Candidate gene sequencing identified a homozygous frameshift mutation, c.139_140delAG, in the transmembrane and coiled-coil domains 1 (TMCO1) gene, as the pathogenic change in all affected members of the extended pedigree. This mutation is predicted to result in a severely truncated protein (p.Ser47Ter) of only one-fourth the original length. The TMCO1 gene product is a member of DUF841 superfamily of several eukaryotic proteins with unknown function. The gene has highly conserved amino acid sequence and is universally expressed in all human tissues examined. The high degree of conservation and the ubiquitous expression pattern in human adult and fetal tissues suggest a critical role for TMCO1. This report shows a TMCO1 sequence variant being associated with a genetic disorder in human. We propose “TMCO1 defect syndrome” as the name of this condition

Effects of Interferons and Double-Stranded RNA on Human Prostate Cancer Cell Apoptosis

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States. Prostate cancer therapy is severely hampered by lack of response and development of resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs in patients. Therefore, the development and discovery of new drugs have become an urgent clinical need. Interferons (IFNs), a family of pleiotropic cytokines, exert antitumor activities due to their anti-proliferative, immunomodulatory and proapoptotic functions. Here, we report that pretreatment of prostate cancer PC-3 cells with IFNs sensitized these cells to double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs)-induced apoptosis. The enhancement effect of IFN treatment was dependent on IFN subtypes, in particular, IFN γ. In comparison with IFN α or β, IFN γ treatment remarkably augmented apoptosis in PC-3 cells induced with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), a synthesized form of dsRNA. We demonstrated that IFN-signaling was necessary for these effects by using mutant cell lines. Transfection of 2–5A, the activator of RNase L, or silencing of dsRNA-dependent protein kinase R (PKR) by siRNA did not have any significant impact on this event, suggesting that neither RNase L nor PKR was involved in poly I:C/IFN γ-induced apoptosis in the cells. Further investigation of the apoptotic pathway revealed that Bak, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2family, was synergistically up-regulated by IFN γ and poly I:C, whereas other members of the family were not affected. Knocking down of Bak demonstrated its contribution to poly I:C/IFN γ-induced apoptosis in the cells. We believeour findings will precipitate the design of novel therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer

Clinical effects of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of endometriosis and endometriosis-fertility: A retrospective study of 226 cases

IntroductionTo determine the clinical effects of laparoscopic surgery (LS) in the treatment of endometriosis and endometriosis-fertility.MethodsTwo hundred twenty-six patients with endometriosis who underwent LS (LS group, n = 176) or laparotomy (LT group, n = 50) at the Third Hospital of Shijiazhuang City from June 2011 to June 2013 were included in this study, and their clinical outcomes for endometriosis and infertility were compared. All patients were followed up for 1 year after surgery to determine postoperative pregnancies in patients with endometriosis.ResultsThe operative times between the LS and LT groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05); however, the length of stay in the hospital and blood loss in the LS group were significantly different from the LT group (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative symptoms were lower in the LS group than the LT group (P < 0.05). The postoperative pregnancy rates in the two groups were significantly different, including the infertility patients (P < 0.05).ConclusionsCompared with LT, LS significantly reduced pain and improved the quality of life in women with endometriosis. These results can provide a reference for the clinical treatment of endometriosis