Electronic structures of doped anatase TiO2\rm TiO_{2}: Ti1−xMxO2\rm Ti_{1-x}M_{x}O_{2} (M=Co, Mn, Fe, Ni)

We have investigated electronic structures of a room temperature diluted magnetic semiconductor : Co-doped anatase $\rm TiO_{2}$. We have obtained the half-metallic ground state in the local-spin-density approximation(LSDA) but the insulating ground state in the LSDA+$U$+SO incorporating the spin-orbit interaction. In the stoichiometric case, the low spin state of Co is realized with the substantially large orbital moment. However, in the presence of oxygen vacancies near Co, the spin state of Co becomes intermediate. The ferromagnetisms in the metallic and insulating phases are accounted for by the double-exchange-like and the superexchange mechanism, respectively. Further, the magnetic ground states are obtained for Mn and Fe doped $\rm TiO_{2}$, while the paramagnetic ground state for Ni-doped $\rm TiO_{2}$.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Electronic structures of La3_3S4_4 and Ce3_3S4_4

We have investigated electronic structures of La$_3$S$_4$ and Ce$_3$S$_4$ using the LSDA and LSDA+$U$ methods. Calculated density of states (DOS) are compared with the experimental DOS obtained by the valence band photoemission spectroscopy. The DOS at $E_{\rm{F}}$ indicates the 5$d$ character in La$_3$S$_4$ and 4$f$ character in Ce$_3$S$_4$. It is found to be nearly half metallic in the ferromagnetic ground state of Ce$_3$S$_4$. %Ce$_3$S$_4$ has ferromagnetic ground states with spin and orbital magnetic %moments of 1.27 $\mu_{\rm{B}}$ and $-$2.81 $\mu_{\rm{B}}$ per Ce, respectively, %and shows nearly half metallic ground state. We discuss the superconductivity and structural transition in La$_3$S$_4$, and the absence of structural transition in Ce$_3$S$_4$.Comment: Transport and Thermal Properties of Advanced Materials(Aug. 2002; Hiroshima, Japan

Exact Master Equation and Non-Markovian Decoherence for Quantum Dot Quantum Computing

In this article, we report the recent progress on decoherence dynamics of electrons in quantum dot quantum computing systems using the exact master equation we derived recently based on the Feynman-Vernon influence functional approach. The exact master equation is valid for general nanostructure systems coupled to multi-reservoirs with arbitrary spectral densities, temperatures and biases. We take the double quantum dot charge qubit system as a specific example, and discuss in details the decoherence dynamics of the charge qubit under coherence controls. The decoherence dynamics risen from the entanglement between the system and the environment is mainly non-Markovian. We further discuss the decoherence of the double-dot charge qubit induced by quantum point contact (QPC) measurement where the master equation is re-derived using the Keldysh non-equilibrium Green function technique due to the non-linear coupling between the charge qubit and the QPC. The non-Markovian decoherence dynamics in the measurement processes is extensively discussed as well.Comment: 15 pages, Invited article for the special issue "Quantum Decoherence and Entanglement" in Quantum Inf. Proces

Optical signatures of spin-orbit exciton in bandwidth-controlled Sr2IrO4 epitaxial films via high-concentration Ca and Ba doping

We have investigated the electronic and optical properties of (Sr1-xCax)2IrO4 (x=0-0.375) and (Sr1-yBay)2IrO4 (y=0-0.375) epitaxial thin films, in which the bandwidth is systematically tuned via chemical substitutions of Sr ions by Ca and Ba. Transport measurements indicate that the thin-film series exhibits insulating behavior, similar to the Jeff=1/2 spin-orbit Mott insulator Sr2IrO4. As the average A-site ionic radius increases from (Sr1-xCax)2IrO4 to (Sr1-yBay)2IrO4, optical conductivity spectra in the near-infrared region shift to lower energies, which cannot be explained by the simple picture of well-separated Jeff=1/2 and Jeff=3/2 bands. We suggest that the two-peak-like optical conductivity spectra of the layered iridates originates from the overlap between the optically forbidden spin-orbit exciton and the intersite optical transitions within the Jeff=1/2 band. Our experimental results are consistent with this interpretation as implemented by a multiorbital Hubbard model calculation: namely, incorporating a strong Fano-like coupling between the spin-orbit exciton and intersite d-d transitions within the Jeff=1/2 band. ? 2017 American Physical Society.113Ysciescopu

Photoemission and x-ray absorption study of MgC_(1-x)Ni_3

We investigated electronic structure of MgC_(1-x)Ni_3 with photoemission and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Both results show that overall band structure is in reasonable agreement with band structure calculations including the existence of von Hove singularity (vHs)near E_F. However, we find that the sharp vHs peak theoretically predicted near the E_F is substantially suppressed. As for the Ni core level and absorption spectrum, there exist the satellites of Ni 2p which have a little larger energy separation and reduced intensity compared to the case of Ni-metal. These facts indicate that correlation effects among Ni 3d electrons may be important to understand various physical properties.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Transcriptional regulation of the urokinase receptor (u-PAR) - A central molecule of invasion and metastasis

The phenomenon of tumor-associated proteolysis has been acknowledged as a decisive step in the progression of cancer. This short review focuses on the urokinase receptor (u-PAR), a central molecule involved in tumor-associated invasion and metastasis, and summarizes the transcriptional regulation of u-PAR. The urokinase receptor (u-PAR) is a heavily glycosylated cell surface protein and binds the serine protease urokinase specifically and with high affinity. It consists of three similar cysteine-rich repeats and is anchored to the cell membrane via a GPI-anchor. The u-PAR gene comprises 7 exons and is located on chromosome 19q13. Transcriptional activation of the u-PAR promoter region can be induced by binding of transcription factors (Sp1, AP-1, AP-2, NF-kappaB). One current study gives an example for transcriptional downregulation of u-PAR through a PEA3/ets transcriptional silencing element. Knowledge of the molecular regulation of this molecule in tumor cells could be very important for diagnosis and therapy in the near future

Evolution of Fractal Pore Structure in Sedimentary Rocks

Geological processes alter pore spaces over time, and their analysis can shed light on the dynamic fractal structure and fluid flow of rocks over time. This study presents experimental evidence to illustrate that the pore fractal structure evolves with sedimentation, carbonate cementation, clay growth, and dissolution. It examines, describes and characterizes a suite of core samples from the Gaotaizi oil layer of the second and third members of the Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, China. The effects of mechanical compaction and other diagenesis effects on fractal pore structure on sedimentary rocks are discussed. A schematic diagram is proposed that describes the impacts of these diagenetic processes on fractal pore structure at the microscopic scale in sedimentary rocks. This work links the state of diagenetic alteration and fractal pore structure, which can guide practical applications such as predicting the permeability of sedimentary rocks. Key Points Evolution of fractal dimension with diagenesis was revealed Effects of diagenesis on fractal upper and lower limits were discussed Effect mechanism of fractal pore structure was revealed in sedimentary rocks Plain Language Summary Mechanical compaction or chemical alteration process will change the pore space of the rock, including pore size and grain-pore interface properties. We present the evidence that geological processes alter the “roughness” amplitude of grain-pore interface (fractal pore structure) in sedimentary rock, and discuss the evolutionary mechanism of the “roughness” amplitude of grain-pore interface. This work links the state of diagenetic alteration and fractal properties of rocks, which can guide practical applications such as predicting permeability of sedimentary rocks for any historical period

Energy Spectrum of Bloch Electrons Under Checkerboard Field Modulations

Two-dimensional Bloch electrons in a uniform magnetic field exhibit complex energy spectrum. When static electric and magnetic modulations with a checkerboard pattern are superimposed on the uniform magnetic field, more structures and symmetries of the spectra are found, due to the additional adjustable parameters from the modulations. We give a comprehensive report on these new symmetries. We have also found an electric-modulation induced energy gap, whose magnitude is independent of the strength of either the uniform or the modulated magnetic field. This study is applicable to experimentally accessible systems and is related to the investigations on frustrated antiferromagnetism.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures (reduced in sizes), submitted to Phys. Rev.

Numerical Test of Disk Trial Wave function for Half-Filled Landau Level

The analyticity of the lowest Landau level wave functions and the relation between filling factor and the total angular momentum severely limits the possible forms of trial wave functions of a disk of electrons subject to a strong perpendicular magnetic field. For N, the number of electrons, up to 12 we have tested these disk trial wave functions for the half filled Landau level using Monte Carlo and exact diagonalization methods. The agreement between the results for the occupation numbers and ground state energies obtained from these two methods is excellent. We have also compared the profile of the occupation number near the edge with that obtained from a field-theoretical method. The results give qualitatively identical edge profiles. Experimental consequences are briefly discussed.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev. B. 9 pages, 6 figure

Regulation of WNT Signaling by VSX2 During Optic Vesicle Patterning in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Few gene targets of Visual System Homeobox 2 (VSX2) have been identified despite its broad and critical role in the maintenance of neural retina (NR) fate during early retinogenesis. We performed VSX2 ChIP-seq and ChIP-PCR assays on early stage optic vesicle-like structures (OVs) derived from human iPS cells (hiPSCs), which highlighted WNT pathway genes as direct regulatory targets of VSX2. Examination of early NR patterning in hiPSC-OVs from a patient with a functional null mutation in VSX2 revealed mis-expression and upregulation of WNT pathway components and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) markers in comparison to control hiPSCOVs. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of WNT signaling rescued the early mutant phenotype, whereas augmentation of WNT signaling in control hiPSC-OVs phenocopied the mutant. These findings reveal an important role for VSX2 as a regulator of WNT signaling and suggest that VSX2 may act to maintain NR identity at the expense of RPE in part by direct repression of WNT pathway constituents