175 research outputs found
Unveiling nontrivial fusion rule of Majorana zero mode using a fermionic mode
Fusing Majorana zero modes leads to multiple outcomes, a property being
unique to non-Abelian anyons. Successful demonstration of this nontrivial
fusion rule would be a hallmark for the development of topological quantum
computation.Here we show that this can be done by simply attaching a fermionic
mode to a single Majorana zero mode. Through modulation of the energy level of
this fermionic mode as well as its coupling with the Majorana mode in different
sequences, we show that a zero or integer charge pumping can be realized when
different fusion loops are chosen. Such fusion loops are intimately related
with the nontrivial fusion rule of Majorana modes and are solely determined by
the crossings at zero energy in the parameter space. Finally we demonstrate our
proposal in a nanowire-based topological superconductor coupled to a quantum
dot. We show that the charge pumping is robust for MZMs in the real system
irrespective of the initial condition of FM state, contrary to the case for
trivial Andreev bound states. This provides a feasible way to distinguish
Majorana modes from trivial Andreev bound states.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Volumetric modulated arc therapy based total marrow and lymphoid irradiation: Workflow and clinical experience
BackgroundThe aim of this study is to report historical treatment planning experience at our institution for patients receiving total marrow and lymphatic irradiation (TMLI) using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) as part of the conditioning regimen prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplant.MethodsWe identified a total of fifteen patients with VMAT TMLI, ten with a prescription dose of 20 Gy (targeting the skeletal bones, lymph nodes, spleen, and spinal canal, with 12 Gy to the brain and liver) and five with a prescription dose of 12-16 Gy (targeting the skeletal bones, lymph nodes, spleen, and spinal canal). Representative dosimetric parameters including total treatment time, mean and median dose, D80, and D10 (dose covering 80% and 10% of the structure volume, respectively) for targets and normal organs were extracted and compared to historical patients treated with helical tomotherapy.ResultsThe median treatment time for the first and subsequent fractions was 1.5 and 1.1 hours, respectively. All the target volumes had a mean dose greater than the prescribed dose except the ribs, which had an average mean dose of 19.5 Gy. The skeletal bones had an average mean dose of 21.1 Gy. The brain and liver have average mean doses of 14.8 and 14.1 Gy, respectively. The mean lung dose had an average of 7.6 ± 0.6 Gy for the 20-Gy cohort. Relative to the prescription dose of 20 Gy, the average mean dose for the normal organ volumes ranged from 16.5% to 72.0%, and the average median dose for the normal organs ranged from 16.5% to 71.0%. Dosimetry for patients treated to 12-16 Gy fell within expected ranges based on historical helical tomotherapy plans.ConclusionsDosimetric data in the VMAT TMLI plans at our institution are summarized for 20 Gy and 12-16 Gy cohorts. Dose distributions and treatment times are overall similar to plans generated with helical tomotherapy. TMLI may be delivered effectively using a VMAT technique, even at escalated doses
In-situ STEM imaging of growth and phase change of individual CuAlX precipitates in Al alloy
Age-hardening in Al alloys has been used for over a century to improve its mechanical properties. However, the lack of direct observation limits our understanding of the dynamic nature of the evolution of nanoprecipitates during age-hardening. Using in-situ (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) while heating an Al-Cu alloy, we were able to follow the growth of individual nanoprecipitates at atomic scale. The heat treatments carried out at 140, 160, 180 and 200 °C reveal a temperature dependence on the kinetics of precipitation and three kinds of interactions of nano-precipitates. These are precipitate-matrix, precipitate-dislocation, and precipitate-precipitate interactions. The diffusion of Cu and Al during these interactions, results in diffusion-controlled individual precipitate growth, an accelerated growth when interactions with dislocations occur and a size dependent precipitate-precipitate interaction: growth and shrinkage. Precipitates can grow and shrink at opposite ends at the same time resulting in an effective displacement. Furthermore, the evolution of the crystal structure within an individual nanoprecipiate, specifically the mechanism of formation of the strengthening phase, θ′, during heat-treatment is elucidated by following the same precipitate through its intermediate stages for the first time using in-situ S/TEM studies
Molecular Mechanism of Substrate Specificity for Heparan Sulfate 2- O -Sulfotransferase
Heparan sulfate (HS) is an abundant polysaccharide in the animal kingdom with essential physiological functions. HS is composed of sulfated saccharides that are biosynthesized through a complex pathway involving multiple enzymes. In vivo regulation of this process remains unclear. HS 2-O-sulfotransferase (2OST) is a key enzyme in this pathway. Here, we report the crystal structure of the ternary complex of 2OST, 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphate, and a heptasaccharide substrate. Utilizing site-directed mutagenesis and specific oligosaccharide substrate sequences, we probed the molecular basis of specificity and 2OST position in the ordered HS biosynthesis pathway. These studies revealed that Arg-80, Lys-350, and Arg-190 of 2OST interact with the N-sulfo groups near the modification site, consistent with the dependence of 2OST on N-sulfation. In contrast, 6-O-sulfo groups on HS are likely excluded by steric and electrostatic repulsion within the active site supporting the hypothesis that 2-O-sulfation occurs prior to 6-O-sulfation. Our results provide the structural evidence for understanding the sequence of enzymatic events in this pathway
Restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS) spot identification by second generation virtual RLGS in multiple genomes with multiple enzyme combinations.
BackgroundRestriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS) is one of the most successfully applied methods for the identification of aberrant CpG island hypermethylation in cancer, as well as the identification of tissue specific methylation of CpG islands. However, a limitation to the utility of this method has been the ability to assign specific genomic sequences to RLGS spots, a process commonly referred to as "RLGS spot cloning."ResultsWe report the development of a virtual RLGS method (vRLGS) that allows for RLGS spot identification in any sequenced genome and with any enzyme combination. We report significant improvements in predicting DNA fragment migration patterns by incorporating sequence information into the migration models, and demonstrate a median Euclidian distance between actual and predicted spot migration of 0.18 centimeters for the most complex human RLGS pattern. We report the confirmed identification of 795 human and 530 mouse RLGS spots for the most commonly used enzyme combinations. We also developed a method to filter the virtual spots to reduce the number of extra spots seen on a virtual profile for both the mouse and human genomes. We demonstrate use of this filter to simplify spot cloning and to assist in the identification of spots exhibiting tissue-specific methylation.ConclusionThe new vRLGS system reported here is highly robust for the identification of novel RLGS spots. The migration models developed are not specific to the genome being studied or the enzyme combination being used, making this tool broadly applicable. The identification of hundreds of mouse and human RLGS spot loci confirms the strong bias of RLGS studies to focus on CpG islands and provides a valuable resource to rapidly study their methylation
A High-Performance Mid-infrared Optical Switch Enabled by Bulk Dirac Fermions in Cd3As2
Pulsed lasers operating in the 2-5 {\mu}m band are important for a wide range
of applications in sensing, spectroscopy, imaging and communications. Despite
recent advances with mid-infrared gain media, the lack of a capable pulse
generation mechanism, i.e. a passive optical switch, remains a significant
technological challenge. Here we show that mid-infrared optical response of
Dirac states in crystalline Cd3As2, a three-dimensional topological Dirac
semimetal (TDS), constitutes an ideal ultrafast optical switching mechanism for
the 2-5 {\mu}m range. Significantly, fundamental aspects of the photocarrier
processes, such as relaxation time scales, are found to be flexibly controlled
through element doping, a feature crucial for the development of convenient
mid-infrared ultrafast sources. Although various exotic physical phenomena have
been uncovered in three-dimensional TDS systems, our findings show for the
first time that this emerging class of quantum materials can be harnessed to
fill a long known gap in the field of photonics.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure
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
An age-period-cohort analysis of female breast cancer mortality from 1990–2009 in China
Somatostatin Inhibits the Production of Interferon-γ by Intestinal Epithelial Cells During Intestinal Ischemia–Reperfusion in Macaques
The chromosome content and genotype of two wheat cell lines and of their somatic fusion product with oat
Somatic hybridization seeks to genetically combine phylogenetically distant parents. An effective system has been established in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) involving protoplasts from a non-totipotent cell line adapted to in vitro culture (T1) in combination with totipotent protoplasts harvested from embryogenic calli (T2). Here, we report the karyotype and genotype of T1 and T2. Line T1 carries nine A (A-genome of wheat), seven B (B-genome of wheat) and eight D (D-genome of wheat) genome chromosomes, while T2 cells have 12 A, 10 B and 12 D genome chromosomes. Rates of chromosome aberration in the B- and D-genomes were more than 25%, higher than in the A-genome. DNA deletion rates were 55.6% in T1 and 19.4% in T2, and DNA variation rates were 8.3% in T1 and 13.9% in T2. Rate of DNA elimination was B- > D- > A-genome in both T1 and T2. The same set of cytological and genetic assays was applied to a derivative of the somatic fusion between protoplasts of T1, T2 and oat (Avena sativa L.). The regenerant plants were near euploid with respect to their wheat complement. Six wheat chromosome arms—4AL, 3BS, 4BL, 3DS, 6DL and 7DL—carried small introgressed segments of oat chromatin. A genotypic analysis of the hybrid largely confirmed this cytologically-based diagnosis
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