Population Redistribution among Multiple Electronic States of Molecular Nitrogen Ions in Strong Laser Fields

We carry out a combined theoretical and experimental investigation on the population distributions in the ground and excited states of tunnel ionized N2 molecules at various driver wavelengths in the near- and mid-infrared range. Our results reveal that efficient couplings (i.e., population exchanges) between the ground state and the excited states occur in strong laser fields. The couplings result in the population inversion between the ground and the excited states at the wavelengths near 800 nm, which is verified by our experiment by observing the amplification of a seed at ~391 nm. The result provides insight into the mechanism of free-space nitrogen ion lasers generated in remote air with strong femtosecond laser pulses.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

China's trade-off between economic benefits and sulfur dioxide emissions in changing global trade

China has been suffering from air quality degradation since its ascension into the World Trade Organization in 2001. The unequal exchange that occurs with international trade—that is, developed countries obtaining larger shares of trade‐related value added relative to the shares of trade‐related air pollution incurred locally—may obstruct the greening of global supply chains. In this study, we conduct a multi‐regional input‐output analysis to examine the change in the distribution of economic benefits and sulfur dioxide emissions underlying China's international trade from 2002 to 2015. The results show that both net trade‐related economic benefits and SO2 emissions in China rapidly increased from 2002 to 2007 and then decelerated after 2007 due to changes in China's green development strategy. In the past 13 years, China has suffered from economic‐environmental inequality due to trade with most developed countries, for example, the United States, the European Union, East Asia, and Canada. East Asia, particularly Japan and South Korea, became both an economic and environmental winner while trading with China in 2015. China has also outsourced emissions to less developed regions, such as Sub‐Saharan Africa. We propose policy implications to further reduce the economic‐environmental inequality underlying China's international trade

Virtual flows of aquatic heavy metal emissions and associated risk in China

Heavy metal pollution is posing a serious threat to ecosystem and human health in China. In addition to being emitted into the atmosphere, heavy metals generated by industrial processes are also emitted into water bodies. However, there is a lack of research exploring trade-induced aquatic heavy metals (AHM) emissions hidden in cross-regional supply chain networks. Such information can provide both consumer and producer perspectives on stakeholders' responsibility and involve them in pollution control along the entire supply chain including influencing consumption choices. Using a bottom-up AHM emission inventory (including mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), and lead (Pb)) in 2010, we firstly accounted for production- and consumption-based AHM emissions and their virtual flows between China's 30 provinces. Additionally, we developed an integrated index, i.e. Equal Risk Pollution Load, to measure the risk associated with five AHM based on the corresponding reference dose. We found that richer provinces Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang through their consumption of metal products caused aquatic Hg, Cd, As and Pb pollution in provinces with nonferrous-metallic mineral resources such as Hunan, Yunnan, and Inner Mongolia. However, virtual aquatic Cr emissions were incurred in richer coastal regions (e.g. Guangdong, Zhejiang) for producing and exporting high value added products (electroplated products, printed circuit board and leather products) to less developed inland provinces. Finally, we propose measures from a supply chain perspective to mitigate aquatic pollution

Fasudil in Combination With Bone Marrow Stromal Cells (BMSCs) Attenuates Alzheimer\u27s Disease-Related Changes Through the Regulation of the Peripheral Immune System.

Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease. Its mechanism is still not clear. Majority of research focused on the central nervous system (CNS) changes, while few studies emphasize on peripheral immune system modulation. Our study aimed to investigate the regulation of the peripheral immune system and its relationship to the severity of the disease after treatment in an AD model of APPswe/PSEN1dE9 transgenic (APP/PS1 Tg) mice. APP/PS1 Tg mice (8 months old) were treated with the ROCK-II inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-homo-piperazine (Fasudil) (intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections, 25 mg/kg/day), bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs; caudal vein injections, 1 × 1

Active optical beam shaping based on liquid crystals and polymer micro-structures

Emerging applications requiring light beam manipulation, such as high-efficiency sunlight concentrators for solar cells, switchable micro-lens arrays for autostereoscopic displays, tunable lenses for augmented reality goggles, auto-focusing spectacles, and smart contact lenses, mostly depend on one or more active optical components with the desired and controllable beam modifying functionalities, preferably manufactured at relatively low cost. Recent progress in research on components based on the combination of liquid crystals (LCs) and various polymer micro-structures is reviewed in this paper. It is found that such components can address the demands appropriately and have the potential of paving the way for large-scale applications of active optical beam shaping components

Fasudil in Combination With Bone Marrow Stromal Cells (BMSCs) Attenuates Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Changes Through the Regulation of the Peripheral Immune System

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease. Its mechanism is still not clear. Majority of research focused on the central nervous system (CNS) changes, while few studies emphasize on peripheral immune system modulation. Our study aimed to investigate the regulation of the peripheral immune system and its relationship to the severity of the disease after treatment in an AD model of APPswe/PSEN1dE9 transgenic (APP/PS1 Tg) mice. APP/PS1 Tg mice (8 months old) were treated with the ROCK-II inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)- homo-piperazine (Fasudil) (intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections, 25 mg/kg/day), bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs; caudal vein injections, 1 × 106 BMSCs /time/mouse), Fasudil combined with BMSCs, or saline (i.p., control) for 2 months. Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate learning and memory. The mononuclear cells (MNCs) of spleens of APP/PS1 Tg mice were analyzed using flow cytometry for CD4+ T-cells, macrophages, and the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules of the macrophages. Immunohistochemical staining was used to examine the expression of ROCK-II in the spleens of APP/PS1 Tg mice. The MWM test showed improved spatial learning ability in APP/PS1 Tg mice treated with Fasudil or BMSCs alone or in combination, compared to untreated APP/PS1 Tg mice. Fasudil combined with BMSCs intervention significantly promoted the proliferation of CD4+/CD25+ and CD4+/ IL-10 lymphocytes, induced the release of cytokine factors, and regulated the balance of the immune system to work functionally. It also shifted M1 (MHC-II, CD86) to M2 (IL-10, CD206) phenotype of macrophages of CD11b and significantly enhanced the anti-inflammatory and phagocytic abilities (CD16/32) of macrophages of CD11b. Immunohistochemical staining showed significantly decreased expression of ROCK-II in mice treated with combination of Fasudil with BMSCs as compared to saline control. Fasudil in combination of BMSCs improved cognition of APP/PS1 Tg mice through the regulation of the peripheral immune system, including reduction of ROCK-II expression and increased proportion of anti-inflammatory M2 mononuclear phenotype and phagocytic macrophages in the spleen of the peripheral immune system. The latter was achieved through the communication between brain and spleen to improve the immunoregulation of CNS and AD disease conditions

Atomic Sn–enabled high-utilization, large-capacity, and long-life Na anode

Constructing robust nucleation sites with an ultrafine size in a confined environment is essential toward simultaneously achieving superior utilization, high capacity, and long-term durability in Na metal-based energy storage, yet remains largely unexplored. Here, we report a previously unexplored design of spatially confined atomic Sn in hollow carbon spheres for homogeneous nucleation and dendrite-free growth. The designed architecture maximizes Sn utilization, prevents agglomeration, mitigates volume variation, and allows complete alloying-dealloying with high-affinity Sn as persistent nucleation sites, contrary to conventional spatially exposed large-size ones without dealloying. Thus, conformal deposition is achieved, rendering an exceptional capacity of 16 mAh cm−2 in half-cells and long cycling over 7000 hours in symmetric cells. Moreover, the well-known paradox is surmounted, delivering record-high Na utilization (e.g., 85%) and large capacity (e.g., 8 mAh cm−2) while maintaining extraordinary durability over 5000 hours, representing an important breakthrough for stabilizing Na anode

Uber die Welch-Fraenkelschen Bazillen und ihre Verwandten im Darmkanal

Der Welch-Fraenkelsche Bazillus, der sich als ein Bodenbakterium weit im Boden verbreitet, ist obligater Anaerobier, und bekannt als Erreger des Gasoedems, welches eine chirurgisch und insbesonders kriegschirurgisch wichtige Wundinfektionskrankheit ist. Die Tatsache, dass dieses Stabchen nicht nur aus dem Boden, sondern auch aus menschlichem Darm gezuchtet wird, hat viele Autoren schon bisweilen beschaftigt. Dieser Bazillus ist Gram-positiv, gross und kraftig, abgerundet, unbeweglich und sporuliert nicht im gewohnlichen Nahrboden. Die Milch wurde sturmisch mit Gasbildung vergoren. Schon nach 20 Stunden schwamm das Kasein deutlich geschieden in truber, immer klarer werdender Molke. Die Kaseingerinnsel wurden ferner nicht wieder durch Peptonisierung gelost, noch kam es nach dem leicht sauerlich bleibenden Geruch zu Eiweissfaulniss. Die oben beschriebene Eigenschaft, die sog. Sturmische Gerinnung , ist charakteristisches Merkmal zur Diagnose-stellung des Welch-Fraenkelschen Bazillus. Der Verfasser hat aus 172 Faeces der Menschen 244 Stamme der Welch-Fraenkelschen Bazillen und 39 ahnliche Stamme, die von erstem Bazillus deutlich voneinander in Eigenstumlichkeit abweicht gezuchtet; d. h. dem Letzteren fehlt die sturmische Gerinnung. Diesen Bazillus nennt der Verfasser einen Verwandten der Welch-Fraenkelschen Bazillen , und vergleicht dieses Stabchen morphologisch und biologisch mit den Welch-Fraenkelschen Bazillen, welche er aus menschlichen Faeces und klassischem Gasoedem isoliert hat. Morphologie: Die Verwandten sind ebenso mit abgerundetem Ende 0.8-1.0μ breit, 4.0-1.0μ, nicht haufig 15μ in der Lange, zuweilen leicht gekrummt, und werden zarter als Welch-Fraenkelche Bazillen beobachtet. Sporen und Kapseln: Nicht nur in gewohnlichen Nahrboden, sondern auch in den alkalischen-, natriumphosphathaltigen Nahrsubstraten und im Hirnbrei nahm der Verfasser keine Sporen oder Kapseln wahr. Aber nur bei aus Gasoedem gezuchtetem Stamm beobachtete er beide im spezifischen antiserumhaltigen Nahrboden. Kolonientypen: Auf d