824 research outputs found
Electrically tunable Gilbert damping in van der Waals heterostructures of two-dimensional ferromagnetic metals and ferroelectrics
Tuning the Gilbert damping of ferromagnetic (FM) metals via a nonvolatile way
is of importance to exploit and design next-generation novel spintronic
devices. Through systematical first-principles calculations, we study the
magnetic properties of the van der Waals heterostructure of two-dimensional FM
metal CrTe2 and ferroelectric (FE) In2Te3 monolayers. The ferromagnetism of
CrTe2 is maintained in CrTe2/In2Te3 and its magnetic easy axis can be switched
from in-plane to out-of-plane by reversing the FE polarization of In2Te3.
Excitingly, we find that the Gilbert damping of CrTe2 is tunable when the FE
polarization of In2Te3 is reversed from upward to downward. By analyzing the
k-dependent contributions to the Gilbert damping, we unravel that such
tunability results from the changed intersections between the bands of CrTe2
and Fermi level on the reversal of the FE polarizations of In2Te3 in
CrTe2/In2Te3. Our work provides an appealing way to electrically tailor Gilbert
dampings of two-dimensional FM metals by contacting them with ferroelectrics.Comment: 4 Figures, accepted by Applied Physics Letter
Review of Evidence Suggesting That the Fascia Network Could Be the Anatomical Basis for Acupoints and Meridians in the Human Body
The anatomical basis for the concept of meridians in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has not been resolved. This paper reviews the evidence supporting a relationship between acupuncture points/meridians and fascia. The reviewed evidence supports the view that the human body's fascia network may be the physical substrate represented by the meridians of TCM. Specifically, this hypothesis is supported by anatomical observations of body scan data demonstrating that the fascia network resembles the theoretical meridian system in salient ways, as well as physiological, histological, and clinical observations. This view represents a theoretical basis and means for applying modern biomedical research to examining TCM principles and therapies, and it favors a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment
Quantum metric nonlinear Hall effect in a topological antiferromagnetic heterostructure
Quantum geometry - the geometry of electron Bloch wavefunctions - is central
to modern condensed matter physics. Due to the quantum nature, quantum geometry
has two parts, the real part quantum metric and the imaginary part Berry
curvature. The studies of Berry curvature have led to countless breakthroughs,
ranging from the quantum Hall effect in 2DEGs to the anomalous Hall effect
(AHE) in ferromagnets. However, in contrast to Berry curvature, the quantum
metric has rarely been explored. Here, we report a new nonlinear Hall effect
induced by quantum metric by interfacing even-layered MnBi2Te4 (a PT-symmetric
antiferromagnet (AFM)) with black phosphorus. This novel nonlinear Hall effect
switches direction upon reversing the AFM spins and exhibits distinct scaling
that suggests a non-dissipative nature. Like the AHE brought Berry curvature
under the spotlight, our results open the door to discovering quantum metric
responses. Moreover, we demonstrate that the AFM can harvest wireless
electromagnetic energy via the new nonlinear Hall effect, therefore enabling
intriguing applications that bridges nonlinear electronics with AFM
spintronics.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures and a Supplementary Materials with 66 pages, 4
figures and 3 tables. Originally submitted to Science on Oct. 5, 202
Synthesis and Solution Self-Assembly of Polyisoprene-block-poly(ferrocenylmethylsilane):A Diblock Copolymer with an Atactic but Semicrystalline Core-Forming Metalloblock
The LAMOST Survey of Background Quasars in the Vicinity of the Andromeda and Triangulum Galaxies -- II. Results from the Commissioning Observations and the Pilot Surveys
We present new quasars discovered in the vicinity of the Andromeda and
Triangulum galaxies with the LAMOST during the 2010 and 2011 observational
seasons. Quasar candidates are selected based on the available SDSS, KPNO 4 m
telescope, XSTPS optical, and WISE near infrared photometric data. We present
509 new quasars discovered in a stripe of ~135 sq. deg from M31 to M33 along
the Giant Stellar Stream in the 2011 pilot survey datasets, and also 17 new
quasars discovered in an area of ~100 sq. deg that covers the central region
and the southeastern halo of M31 in the 2010 commissioning datasets. These 526
new quasars have i magnitudes ranging from 15.5 to 20.0, redshifts from 0.1 to
3.2. They represent a significant increase of the number of identified quasars
in the vicinity of M31 and M33. There are now 26, 62 and 139 known quasars in
this region of the sky with i magnitudes brighter than 17.0, 17.5 and 18.0
respectively, of which 5, 20 and 75 are newly-discovered. These bright quasars
provide an invaluable collection with which to probe the kinematics and
chemistry of the ISM/IGM in the Local Group of galaxies. A total of 93 quasars
are now known with locations within 2.5 deg of M31, of which 73 are newly
discovered. Tens of quasars are now known to be located behind the Giant
Stellar Stream, and hundreds behind the extended halo and its associated
substructures of M31. The much enlarged sample of known quasars in the vicinity
of M31 and M33 can potentially be utilized to construct a perfect astrometric
reference frame to measure the minute PMs of M31 and M33, along with the PMs of
substructures associated with the Local Group of galaxies. Those PMs are some
of the most fundamental properties of the Local Group.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures, AJ accepte
Utilizing alkoxyphenyl substituents for side-chain engineering of efficient benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-based small molecule organic solar cells
Solar-thermal conversion and steam generation: a review
Recently, steam generation systems based on solar-thermal conversion have received much interest, and this may be due to the widespread use of solar energy and water sources such as oceans and lakes. The photo-thermal desalination system becomes attractive as it can convert absorbed solar light energy into thermal energy and realise the desalination and water purification of saline water through the evaporation process. In this paper, the research status of solar-thermal conversion materials such as metal-based materials, semiconductor materials, carbon-base materials, organic polymer materials, composite photo-thermal materials and their solar-thermal conversion mechanism in recent years are reviewed. The physical process and evaluation principle of solar-thermal conversion are both carefully introduced. The methods of optimising thermal management and increasing the evaporation rate of a hybrid system are also introduced in detail. Four main applications of solar-thermal conversion technologies (seawater desalination, wastewater purification, sterilisation and power generation) are discussed. Finally, based on the above analysis, the prospects and challenges for future research in the field of desalination are discussed from an engineering and scientific viewpoint to promote the direction of research, in order to stimulate future development and accelerate commercial application
Isolation and Genetic Characteristics of Human Genotype 1 Japanese Encephalitis Virus, China, 2009
BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that the predominant genotype of Chinese Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is evolving from genotype 3 to genotype 1. However, in recent years, almost all genotype 1 isolates were from mosquitoes, and genotype 1 has been less associated with human disease than genotype 3. This study reports the isolation of human genotype 1 JEV and its genetic characteristics to provide additional insights into human JE pathogens that are currently circulating in China. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 2009, 31 cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from patients living in Yunnan and Shanxi provinces and were used to inoculate Aedes albopictus C6/36 cells for virus isolation. The JEV strains were identified using immunofluorescent assays and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Phylogenetic analyses based on the partial capsid/pre-membrane and full envelope (E) sequences were performed using Clustalx 1.8 software. Three JEV isolates were obtained from a 4-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy living in Yunnan and an 82-year-old woman in Shanxi. The boy had been immunized with one dose of JE live attenuated vaccine. New isolates were grouped into genotype 1. Amino acid sequence for the viral E protein indicated 95% to 100% identity with each other and with other JEV strains. When compared with a consensus sequence of E protein, two amino acid substitutions were found: Ser(E-123)-Asn in the two Yunnan isolates and Lys(E-166)-Arg in the Shanxi isolate. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the genotype 1 of JEV is causing human infections in China. Our observation of a previously vaccinated boy developing JE from genotype 1 virus infection also calls for more detailed studies, both in vitro and in vivo neutralization tests as well as active surveillance, to examine the possibility of a lack of complete protection conferred by the live attenuated JE vaccine against genotype 1 virus
Ultra-thin transmissive crystalline silicon high-contrast grating metasurfaces
Dielectric metasurfaces made from crystalline silicon, titanium dioxide, gallium nitride and silicon nitride have developed rapidly for applications in the visible wavelength regime. High performance metasurfaces typically require the realisation of subwavelength, high aspect ratio nanostructures, the fabrication of which can be challenging. Here, we propose and demonstrate the operation of high performance metasurfaces in ultra-thin (100 nm) crystalline silicon at the wavelength of 532 nm. Using optical beam analysis, we discuss fabrication complexity and show that our approach is more fabrication-tolerant than the nanofin approach, which has so far produced the highest performance metasurfaces, but may be difficult to manufacture, especially when using nanoimprint lithography
Approaches of climate factors affecting the spatial variation of annual gross primary productivity among terrestrial ecosystems in China
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