243 research outputs found
Interface barriers at the interfaces of polar GaAs(111) faces with Al2O3
Internal photoemission measurements of barriers for electrons at interfaces between GaAs(111) and atomic-layer deposited Al2O3 indicate that changing the GaAs polar crystal face orientation from the Ga-terminated (111)A to the As-terminated (111)B has no effect on the barrier height and remains the same as at the non-polar GaAs(100)/Al2O3 interface. Moreover, the presence of native oxide on GaAs(111) or passivation of this surface with sulphur also have no measurable influence on the GaAs(111)/Al2O3 barrier. These results suggest that the orientation and composition-sensitive surface dipoles conventionally observed at GaAs surfaces are effectively compensated at GaAs/oxide interfaces. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3698461
Band offsets and trap-related electron transitions at interfaces of (100)InAs with atomic-layer deposited Al2O3
Spectral analysis of optically excited currents in single-crystal (100)InAs/amorphous (a-)Al2O3/metal structures allows one to separate contributions stemming from the internal photoemission (IPE) of electrons into alumina and from the trapping-related displacement currents. IPE spectra suggest that the out-diffusion of In and, possibly, its incorporation in a-Al2O3 lead to the development of ≈0.4 eV wide conduction band (CB) tail states. The top of the InAs valence band is found at 3.45 ± 0.10 eV below the alumina CB bottom, i.e., at the same energy as at the GaAs/a-Al2O3 interface. This corresponds to the CB and the valence band offsets at the InAs/a-Al2O3 interface of 3.1 ± 0.1 eV and 2.5 ± 0.1 eV, respectively. However, atomic-layer deposition of alumina on InAs results in additional low-energy electron transitions with spectral thresholds in the range of 2.0–2.2 eV, which is close to the bandgap of AlAs. The latter suggests the interaction of As with Al, leading to an interlayer containing Al-As bonds providing a lower barrier for electron injection
Impaired dendritic cell maturation and IL-10 production following H. pylori stimulation in gastric cancer patients
The current study was to investigate the interaction between Helicobacter pylori and human dendritic cells (DCs). Whether impaired DC function can influence the outcome of H. pylori infections. Human monocyte-derived DCs (MDDCs) from five gastric cancer patients and nine healthy controls were stimulated with H. pylori. Maturation markers of MDDC were examined by flow cytometry. IL-10 and TNF-α released by MDDCs and IL-17 produced by T cells were measured by ELISA. Regulatory signaling pathways of IL-10 were examined by ELISA, western blotting, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. The results showed that as compared with healthy individuals, the maturation marker CD40 in MDDCs, IL-17A expression from T cells, and IL-10 expression from MDDCs were significantly lower in gastric cancer patients. Blocking DC-SIGN, TLR2, and TLR4 could reverse H. pylori-associated IL-10 production. Activation of the p38 MAPK and NF-kB signaling pathways concomitant with decreased tri-methylated H3K9 and increased acetylated H3 accounted for the effect of H. pylori on IL-10 expression. Furthermore, upregulated IL-10 expression was significantly suppressed in H. pylori-pulsed MDDCs by histone acetyltransferase and methyltransferase inhibitors. Taken together, impaired DC function contributes to the less effective innate and adaptive immune responses against H. pylori seen in gastric cancer patients. H. pylori can regulate IL-10 production through Toll-like and DC-SIGN receptors, activates p-p38 MAPK signaling and the transcription factors NF-kB, and modulates histone modification
A Metalens with Near-Unity Numerical Aperture
The numerical aperture (NA) of a lens determines its ability to focus light
and its resolving capability. Having a large NA is a very desirable quality for
applications requiring small light-matter interaction volumes or large angular
collections. Traditionally, a large NA lens based on light refraction requires
precision bulk optics that ends up being expensive and is thus also a specialty
item. In contrast, metasurfaces allow the lens designer to circumvent those
issues producing high NA lenses in an ultra-flat fashion. However, so far,
these have been limited to numerical apertures on the same order of traditional
optical components, with experimentally reported values of NA <0.9. Here we
demonstrate, both numerically and experimentally, a new approach that results
in a diffraction limited flat lens with a near-unity numerical aperture
(NA>0.99) and sub-wavelength thickness (~{\lambda}/3), operating with
unpolarized light at 715 nm. To demonstrate its imaging capability, the
designed lens is applied in a confocal configuration to map color centers in
sub-diffractive diamond nanocrystals. This work, based on diffractive elements
able to efficiently bend light at angles as large as 82{\deg}, represents a
step beyond traditional optical elements and existing flat optics,
circumventing the efficiency drop associated to the standard, phase mapping
approach.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure
Towards Efficient Detection of Small Near-Earth Asteroids Using the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF)
We describe ZStreak, a semi-real-time pipeline specialized in detecting
small, fast-moving near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) that is currently operating on
the data from the newly-commissioned Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) survey.
Based on a prototype originally developed by Waszczak et al. (2017) for the
Palomar Transient Factory (PTF), the predecessor of ZTF, ZStreak features an
improved machine-learning model that can cope with the data rate
increment between PTF and ZTF. Since its first discovery on 2018 February 5
(2018 CL), ZTF/ZStreak has discovered confirmed new NEAs over a total of
232 observable nights until 2018 December 31. Most of the discoveries are small
NEAs, with diameters less than m. By analyzing the discovery
circumstances, we find that objects having the first to last detection time
interval under 2 hr are at risk of being lost. We will further improve
real-time follow-up capabilities, and work on suppressing false positives using
deep learning.Comment: PASP in pres
Generalized Brewster-Kerker effect in dielectric metasurfaces
Polarization is one of the key properties defining the state of light. It was
discovered in the early 19th century by Brewster, among others, while studying
light reflected from materials at different angles. These studies led to the
first polarizers, based on Brewster's effect. One of the most active trends in
photonics now is devoted to the study of miniaturized, sub-wavelength devices
exhibiting similar, or even improved, functionalities compared to those
achieved with bulk optical elements. In the present work, it is theoretically
predicted that a properly designed all-dielectric metasurface exhibits a
generalized Brewster effect potentially for any angle, wavelength and
polarization of choice. The effect is experimentally demonstrated for an array
of silicon nanodisks at visible wavelengths. The underlying physics of this
effect can be understood in terms of the suppressed scattering at certain
angles that results from the interference between the electric and magnetic
dipole resonances excited in the nanoparticles, predicted by Kerker in early
80s. This reveals deep connection of Kerker's and Brewster's legacies and opens
doors for Brewster phenomenon to new applications in photonics, which are not
bonded to a specific polarization or angle of incidence.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, and supplementary information (22 pages
Paradoxical roles of antioxidant enzymes:Basic mechanisms and health implications
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are generated from aerobic metabolism, as a result of accidental electron leakage as well as regulated enzymatic processes. Because ROS/RNS can induce oxidative injury and act in redox signaling, enzymes metabolizing them will inherently promote either health or disease, depending on the physiological context. It is thus misleading to consider conventionally called antioxidant enzymes to be largely, if not exclusively, health protective. Because such a notion is nonetheless common, we herein attempt to rationalize why this simplistic view should be avoided. First we give an updated summary of physiological phenotypes triggered in mouse models of overexpression or knockout of major antioxidant enzymes. Subsequently, we focus on a series of striking cases that demonstrate “paradoxical” outcomes, i.e., increased fitness upon deletion of antioxidant enzymes or disease triggered by their overexpression. We elaborate mechanisms by which these phenotypes are mediated via chemical, biological, and metabolic interactions of the antioxidant enzymes with their substrates, downstream events, and cellular context. Furthermore, we propose that novel treatments of antioxidant enzyme-related human diseases may be enabled by deliberate targeting of dual roles of the pertaining enzymes. We also discuss the potential of “antioxidant” nutrients and phytochemicals, via regulating the expression or function of antioxidant enzymes, in preventing, treating, or aggravating chronic diseases. We conclude that “paradoxical” roles of antioxidant enzymes in physiology, health, and disease derive from sophisticated molecular mechanisms of redox biology and metabolic homeostasis. Simply viewing antioxidant enzymes as always being beneficial is not only conceptually misleading but also clinically hazardous if such notions underpin medical treatment protocols based on modulation of redox pathways
Extensive Copy-Number Variation of Young Genes across Stickleback Populations
MM received funding from the Max Planck innovation funds for this project. PGDF was supported by a Marie Curie European Reintegration Grant (proposal nr 270891). CE was supported by German Science Foundation grants (DFG, EI 841/4-1 and EI 841/6-1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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