Understanding binary phase separation towards Cu-C nanocrystalline-amorphous composites

The nanocrystalline-amorphous textures are commonly observed in the coatings synthesized by energetic deposition. We report a binary phase separation towards Cu-C nanocrystalline-amorphous composites by the FCVA deposition. The experimental results highlight that the average size of Cu nanocrystallines mainly depends on the C2H2 content. By performing a MD simulation using the LAMMPS, we theoretically explained how the initial reagent concentration fundamentally determines Cu nanocrystalline's final morphology and size during phase separation. This finding may give insight into the formation of nanocrystalline-amorphous structures by energetic deposition.Comment: 12 pages,5 figure

EFFECT OF THE C2H2 AND N2 FLOW RATE ON NANOCOMPOSITE nc-ZrCN/a-C:H(N) FILM SYNTHESIZED BY FILTERED CATHODIC VACUUM ARC TECHNIQUE

Nanocomposite nc-ZrCN/a-C:H(N) films were prepared by filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique using the C2H2 and N2 gas as the precursor. The effect of the C2H2 and N2 flow rate on the microstructure, internal stress, phase composition, and mechanical properties of nanocomposite nc-ZrCN/a-C:H(N) films has been investigated by glancing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), surface profiler, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). It was revealed that the C2H2 and N2 flow rate affected the structure, Zr content, and internal stress of the films significantly. Furthermore, XRD pattern indicated the presence of the ZrCN crystalline grains in the range of 3–10 nm, and the deconvolution results for XPS spectra showed that the film mainly was constituted by Zr–C, C=C(sp2) and C–C(sp3) bonds.Filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique, nanocomposite nc-ZrCN/a-C:H(N), flow rate

Effect of surfactant SDS on the morphology and photocatalytic performance of Zn2GeO4 nanorods

The continuous discharge of organic dye effluents from textile industries causes severe global water pollution. A sustainable and effective route needs to be developed for the treatment of textile effluent in order to enable environmental protection and water recycling. In particular, the nanomaterials-based photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds is a promising approach to minimize water pollution. Herein, a facile hydrothermal method was reported for the preparation of Zn _2 GeO _4 nanorods (NDs) with unique size, shape, and surface chemistry using sodium lauryl sulfate (SDS) as the surfactant. The crystal structure, size, and shape of the synthesized NDs were characterized by x-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Initially, the XRD pattern revealed that SDS plays a crucial role in the formation of highly pure Zn _2 GeO _4 NDs with rhombohedral crystalline nature. It was clearly noticed that increasing SDS concentration results in the formation of Zn _2 GeO _4 NDs with decreased size ranges (100 nm). Conversely, the size of Zn _2 GeO _4 NDs increased at higher SDS concentrations. The photocatalytic activity of Zn _2 GeO _4 NDs was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solution. Under light irradiation, the Zn _2 GeO _4 NDs prepared by using different concentrations of SDS exhibited varied photocatalytic performance. Among the tested samples, Zn _2 GeO _4 NDs prepared with 0.1 g of SDS showed the best photocatalytic activity with a MO decomposition rate of 94.6% within 60 min. This study suggests that SDS can be used to modulate the morphology and photocatalytic performance of Zn _2 GeO _4 NDs, and the resultant Zn _2 GeO _4 NDs can serve as a photocatalyst in wastewater treatment

A frontal transcallosal inhibition loop mediates interhemispheric balance in visuospatial processing

Abstract Interhemispheric communication through the corpus callosum is required for both sensory and cognitive processes. Impaired transcallosal inhibition causing interhemispheric imbalance is believed to underlie visuospatial bias after frontoparietal cortical damage, but the synaptic circuits involved remain largely unknown. Here, we show that lesions in the mouse anterior cingulate area (ACA) cause severe visuospatial bias mediated by a transcallosal inhibition loop. In a visual-change-detection task, ACA callosal-projection neurons (CPNs) were more active with contralateral visual field changes than with ipsilateral changes. Unilateral CPN inactivation impaired contralateral change detection but improved ipsilateral detection by altering interhemispheric interaction through callosal projections. CPNs strongly activated contralateral parvalbumin-positive (PV+) neurons, and callosal-input-driven PV+ neurons preferentially inhibited ipsilateral CPNs, thus mediating transcallosal inhibition. Unilateral PV+ neuron activation caused a similar behavioral bias to contralateral CPN activation and ipsilateral CPN inactivation, and bilateral PV+ neuron activation eliminated this bias. Notably, restoring interhemispheric balance by activating contralesional PV+ neurons significantly improved contralesional detection in ACA-lesioned animals. Thus, a frontal transcallosal inhibition loop comprising CPNs and callosal-input-driven PV+ neurons mediates interhemispheric balance in visuospatial processing, and enhancing contralesional transcallosal inhibition restores interhemispheric balance while also reversing lesion-induced bias

The Apolipoprotein E neutralizing antibody inhibits SARS‐CoV‐2 infection by blocking cellular entry of lipoviral particles

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causal agent for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although vaccines have helped to prevent uncontrolled viral spreading, our understanding of the fundamental biology of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains insufficient, which hinders effective therapeutic development. Here, we found that Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a lipid binding protein, is hijacked by SARS-CoV-2 for infection. Preincubation of SARS-CoV-2 with a neutralizing antibody specific to ApoE led to inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The ApoE neutralizing antibody efficiently blocked SARS-CoV-2 infection of human iPSC-derived astrocytes and air-liquid interface organoid models in addition to human ACE2-expressing HEK293T cells and Calu-3 lung cells. ApoE mediates SARS-CoV-2 entry through binding to its cellular receptors such as the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). LDLR knockout or ApoE mutations at the receptor binding domain or an ApoE mimetic peptide reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, we detected strong membrane LDLR expression on SARS-CoV-2 Spike-positive cells in human lung tissues, whereas no or low ACE2 expression was detected. This study provides a new paradigm for SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry through binding of ApoE on the lipoviral particles to host cell receptor(s). Moreover, this study suggests that ApoE neutralizing antibodies are promising antiviral therapies for COVID-19 by blocking entry of both parental virus and variants of concern