Superconductivity at 11.3 K induced by cobalt doping in CeOFeAs

Pure phases of a new oxyarsenide superconductor of the nominal composition CeOFe0.9Co0.1As was successfully synthesized by solid state reaction in sealed silica ampoules at 1180 C. It crystallizes in the layered tetragonal ZrCuSiAs type structure (sp gp P4/nmm) with lattice parameter of a = 3.9918(5) angstrom and c = 8.603(1) angstrom. A sharp superconducting transition is observed at 11.31 K with an upper critical field of 45.22 T at ambient pressure. The superconducting transition temperature is drastically lowered (~ 4.5, 4.9 K) on increasing the concentration (x = 0.15, 0.2) of cobalt

Evaluation of the likelihood of establishing false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) in Australia via the international cut flower market

Kenya and some other African countries are threatened by a serious pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), the false codling moth. The detection of T. leucotreta is quite difficult due to the cryptic nature of the larvae during transportation and is therefore a concern for Australia. This insect is a known pest of agriculturally important crops. Here, Maxent was used to assess the biosecurity threat of T. leucotreta to Australia. Habitat suitability and risk assessment of T. leucotreta in Australia were identified based on threatened areas under suitable climatic conditions and the presence of hosts in a given habitat. Modeling indicated that Australia is vulnerable to invasion and establishment by T. leucotreta in some states and territories, particularly areas of western and southern Australia. Within these locations, the risk is associated with specific cropping areas. As such, invasion and establishment by T. leucotreta may have serious implications for Australia’s agricultural and horticultural industries e.g., the fruit and vegetable industries. This study will be used to inform the government and industry of the threat posed by T. leucotreta imported via the cut flower industry. Targeted preventative measures and trade policy could be introduced to protect Australia from invasion by this pest

Magnetocaloric effect and magnetostructural coupling in Mn0.92Fe0.08CoGe compound

The structural properties of Mn0.92Fe0.08CoGe have been investigated in detail using synchrotron x-ray diffraction in zero and applied pressure (p = 0-10 GPa). A ferromagnetic transition occurs around TC = 300 K and a large magnetic-entropy change -ΔSM = 17.3 J/kg K detected at TC for a field change of ΔB = 5 T. The field dependence of -ΔSM max can be expressed as -ΔSM max ∞ B. At ambient temperature and pressure, Mn0.92Fe0.08CoGe exhibits a co-existence of the orthorhombic TiNiSi-type structure (space group Pnma) and hexagonal Ni2In-type structure (space group P63/mmc). Application of external pressure drives a structure change from the orthorhombic TiNiSi-type structure to the hexagonal Ni2In-type structure. A large anomaly in heat capacity around TC is detected and the Debye temperature θD (=319(±10) K) has been derived from analyses of the low temperature heat capacity, T ≲ 10 K

Superconductivity in CeO_{1-x}F_xFeAs with upper critical field of 94 T

We have successfully synthesized Ce based oxypnictide with fluorine doping (CeO_{1-x}F_xFeAs) by a two step solid state reaction method. Detailed XRD and EDX confirm the crystal structure and chemical compositions. We observe that an extremely high Hc2(0) of 94 T can be achieved in the x = 0.1 composition. This increase in Hc2(0) is accompanied by a decrease in transition temperature (38.4 K in x = 0.1 composition) from 42.5 K for the x = 0.2 phase. The in-plane Ginzburg-Landau coherence length is estimated to be ~ 27 A at x = 0.2 suggesting a moderate anisotropy in this class of superconductors. The Seebeck coefficient confirms the majority carrier to be electrons and strong dominance of electron-electron correlations in this multiband superconductor

Targeting TGF beta signal transduction for cancer therapy

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) family members are structurally and functionally related cytokines that have diverse effects on the regulation of cell fate during embryonic development and in the maintenance of adult tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of TGF beta family signaling can lead to a plethora of developmental disorders and diseases, including cancer, immune dysfunction, and fibrosis. In this review, we focus on TGF beta, a well-characterized family member that has a dichotomous role in cancer progression, acting in early stages as a tumor suppressor and in late stages as a tumor promoter. The functions of TGF beta are not limited to the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastasis of cancer cells. Recent reports have related TGF beta to effects on cells that are present in the tumor microenvironment through the stimulation of extracellular matrix deposition, promotion of angiogenesis, and suppression of the anti-tumor immune reaction. The pro-oncogenic roles of TGF beta have attracted considerable attention because their intervention provides a therapeutic approach for cancer patients. However, the critical function of TGF beta in maintaining tissue homeostasis makes targeting TGF beta a challenge. Here, we review the pleiotropic functions of TGF beta in cancer initiation and progression, summarize the recent clinical advancements regarding TGF beta signaling interventions for cancer treatment, and discuss the remaining challenges and opportunities related to targeting this pathway. We provide a perspective on synergistic therapies that combine anti-TGF beta therapy with cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy.Cancer Signaling networks and Molecular Therapeutic

Thermal properties of coal during low temperature oxidation using a grey correlation method

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.The low temperature oxidation of coal is a contradictory and unified dynamic process of coexisting mass and heat transfer. The thermophysical properties are crucial during coal spontaneous combustion. In the current paper, the variations of moisture, ash, volatiles, fixed carbon and thermophysical properties (thermal diffusivity, specific heat and thermal conductivity) of three coal samples from 30 °C to 300 °C were studied, and their grey correlation was analyzed. The results indicated that with the increase of temperature, the free moisture of Coals A and B decreased first but then increased, while the free moisture of Coal C kept decreasing without a later increase. The variation of surface moisture was consistent with that of free moisture. The trend of volatiles and fixed carbon was completely the opposite, showing a significant negative correlation. Ash was less affected by temperature. Along with the rise of temperature, the thermal diffusivity of three coal samples decreased first but later increased, and the specific heat was always in a state of increasing. The change in thermal conductivity was mainly affected by specific heat. By calculating the gray correlation degree, the major factors affecting the thermophysical properties were obtained

Raman Spectroscopic Measurement of a Vacuum-Deposited C60 Thin Film

Measurement of Raman shifts of a C60 thin film and the evaluation of their uncertainties were conducted. A C60 thin film with a thickness of about 1.2 μm was fabricated on a SiO2 substrate by vacuum deposition. Raman spectra of the C60 thin film were obtained using the laser beam power density of 5.7 103 mW mm-2. The measured Raman shifts were corrected according to the calibration curve that was prepared using sulfur and naphthalene as the reference samples. Standard uncertainties were calculated and combined in order to determine the combined uncertainty and the expanded uncertainty. It was found that the increase of measurement time and measurement points for the calibration curve leads to the higher reliability

Annealing Effects on the Band Alignment of ALD SiO2 on (Inx Ga1−x )2 O3 for x = 0.25–0.74

The band alignment of Atomic Layer Deposited SiO 2 on (In x Ga1−x) 2 O 3 at varying indium concentrations is reported before and after annealing at 450 °C and 600 °C to simulate potential processing steps during device fabrication and to determine the thermal stability of MOS structures in high-temperature applications. At all indium concentrations studied, the valence band offsets (VBO) showed a nearly constant decrease as a result of 450 °C annealing. The decrease in VBO was −0.35 eV for (In0.25Ga 0.75) 2 O 3 , −0.45 eV for (In0.42Ga 0.58) 2 O 3 , −0.40 eV for (In0.60Ga 0.40) 2 O 3 , and −0.35 eV (In0.74 Ga0.26) 2 O 3 for 450 °C annealing. After annealing at 600 °C, the band alignment remained stable, with <0.1 eV changes for all structures examined, compared to the offsets after the 450 °C anneal. The band offset shifts after annealing are likely due to changes in bonding at the heterointerface. Even after annealing up to 600 °C, the band alignment remains type I (nested gap) for all indium compositions of (In x Ga1−x ) 2 O 3 studied

The Proton Spin and the Wigner Rotation

It is shown that in both the gluonic and strange sea explanations of the Ellis-Jaffe sum rule violation discovered by the European Muon Collaboration (EMC), the spin of the proton, when viewed in in its rest reference frame, could by fully provided by quarks and antiquarks within a simple quark model picture, taken into account the relativistic effect from the Wigner rotation.Comment: 13 latex page