3D-2D crossover in the naturally layered superconductor (LaSe)1.14(NbSe2)

The temperature and angular dependencies of the resistive upper critical magnetic field $B_{c2}$ reveal a dimensional crossover of the superconducting state in the highly anisotropic misfit-layer single crystal of (LaSe)$_{1.14}$(NbSe$_2$) with the critical temperature $T_c$ of 1.23 K. The temperature dependence of the upper critical field $B_{c2\parallel ab}(T)$ for a field orientation along the conducting $(ab)$-planes displays a characteristic upturn at 1.1 K and below this temperature the angular dependence of $B_{c2}$ has a cusp around the parallel field orientation. Both these typical features are observed for the first time in a naturally crystalline layered system.Comment: 7 pages incl. 3 figure

A new mixed group 5 metal selenide, Nb1.41V0.59Se9

The new mixed-metallic phase, niobium vanadium nona­selenide, (Nb2-xVx)Se9 (0.18≤ x ≤ 0.59) is isostructural with monoclinic V2Se9. The structure is composed of chains of bicapped trigonal–prismatic [MSe8] units. The metal (M) site is occupied by statistically disordered Nb [0.706 (5)] and V [0.294 (5)] atoms. Two trigonal prisms are linked by sharing a recta­ngular face composed of two Se2 2− pairs. Through three edging and capping Se atoms, the chains are extended along [101]. The chain shows alternating short [2.8847 (7) Å] and long [3.7159 (7) Å] M—M distances. The structure shows a wide range of Se—Se inter­actions. In addition to the Se2 2− pairs of the recta­ngular face, an inter­mediate Se⋯Se separation [2.6584 (5) Å] is found. The amount of each metal can vary, [(Nb2-xVx)Se9, 0.18 ≤ x ≤m 0.59] and they seem to form a random substitutional solid solution. The M—M distances increase gradually by increasing the amount of Nb atoms. The classical charge-balance of the compound can be described as [M 4+]2[Se2 2−]2[Se5 4−]

Anal canal duplication in an 11-year-old-child

Anal canal duplication (ACD) is the least frequent digestive duplication. Symptoms are often absent but tend to increase with age. Recognition is, however, important as almost half of the patients with ACD have concomitant malformations. We present the clinical history of an eleven-year-old girl with ACD followed by a review of symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis based on all the reported cases in English literature

Diagnosis and treatment of male infertility-related fertilization failure

Infertility affects approximately 15% of reproductive-aged couples worldwide, of which up to 30% of the cases are caused by male factors alone. The origin of male infertility is mostly attributed to sperm abnormalities, of which many are caused by genetic defects. The development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has helped to circumvent most male infertility conditions. However, there is still a challenging group of infertile males whose sperm, although having normal sperm parameters, are unable to activate the oocyte, even after ICSI treatment. While ICSI generally allows fertilization rates of 70 to 80%, total fertilization failure (FF) still occurs in 1 to 3% of ICSI cycles. Phospholipase C zeta (PLC zeta) has been demonstrated to be a critical sperm oocyte activating factor (SOAF) and the absence, reduced, or altered forms of PLC zeta have been shown to cause male infertility-related FF. The purpose of this review is to (i) summarize the current knowledge on PLC zeta as the critical sperm factor for successful fertilization, as well as to discuss the existence of alternative sperm-induced oocyte activation mechanisms, (ii) describe the diagnostic tests available to determine the cause of FF, and (iii) summarize the beneficial effect of assisted oocyte activation (AOA) to overcome FF

Nb1.30Cr0.70S5: a layered ternary mixed-metal sulfide

The new layered ternary sulfide, Nb1.30Cr0.70S5, niobium chromium penta­sulfide, is isostructural with the solid solution Nb1+xV1−xS5 and belongs to the FeNb3Se10 structure type. Each layer is composed of two unique chains of face-sharing [NbS8] bicapped trigonal prisms (m symmetry) and edge-sharing [MS6] (M= Nb, Cr) octa­hedra (m symmetry). One of the two metal sites is occupied by statistically disordered Nb and Cr atoms, with 0.3 and 0.7 occupancy, respectively. The chains are connected along the c axis, forming two-dimensional layers, which then stack on top of each other to complete the three dimensional structure. As a result, an undulating van der Waals gap is found between the layers

Superconducting tantalum disulfide nanotapes; growth, structure and stoichiometry

Superconducting tantalum disulfide nanowires have been synthesised by surface-assisted chemical vapour transport (SACVT) methods and their crystal structure, morphology and stoichiometry studied by powder X-ray diffraction (PXD), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and nanodiffraction. The evolution of morphology, stoichiometry and structure of materials grown by SACVT methods in the Ta-S system with reaction temperature was investigated systematically. High-aspect-ratio, superconducting disulfide nanowires are produced at intermediate reaction temperatures (650 degrees C). The superconducting wires are single crystalline, adopt the 2H polytypic structure (hexagonal space group P6(3)/mmc: a = 3.32(2) angstrom, c = 12.159(2) angstrom; c/a = 3.66) and grow in the <2<(1)over bar>(1) over bar0> direction. The nanowires are of rectangular cross-section forming nanotapes composed of bundles of much smaller fibres that grow cooperatively. At lower reaction temperatures nanowires close to a composition of TaS3 are produced whereas elevated temperatures yield platelets of 1T TaS2