On the inner Double-Resonance Raman scattering process in bilayer graphene

The dispersion of phonons and the electronic structure of graphene systems can be obtained experimentally from the double-resonance (DR) Raman features by varying the excitation laser energy. In a previous resonance Raman investigation of graphene, the electronic structure was analyzed in the framework of the Slonczewski-Weiss-McClure (SWM) model, considering the outer DR process. In this work we analyze the data considering the inner DR process, and obtain SWM parameters that are in better agreement with those obtained from other experimental techniques. This result possibly shows that there is still a fundamental open question concerning the double resonance process in graphene systems.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Functional mechanisms underlying pleiotropic risk alleles at the 19p13.1 breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility locus

A locus at 19p13 is associated with breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) risk. Here we analyse 438 SNPs in this region in 46,451 BC and 15,438 OC cases, 15,252 BRCA1 mutation carriers and 73,444 controls and identify 13 candidate causal SNPs associated with serous OC (P=9.2 × 10-20), ER-negative BC (P=1.1 × 10-13), BRCA1-associated BC (P=7.7 × 10-16) and triple negative BC (P-diff=2 × 10-5). Genotype-gene expression associations are identified for candidate target genes ANKLE1 (P=2 × 10-3) and ABHD8 (P<2 × 10-3). Chromosome conformation capture identifies interactions between four candidate SNPs and ABHD8, and luciferase assays indicate six risk alleles increased transactivation of the ADHD8 promoter. Targeted deletion of a region containing risk SNP rs56069439 in a putative enhancer induces ANKLE1 downregulation; and mRNA stability assays indicate functional effects for an ANKLE1 3′-UTR SNP. Altogether, these data suggest that multiple SNPs at 19p13 regulate ABHD8 and perhaps ANKLE1 expression, and indicate common mechanisms underlying breast and ovarian cancer risk

Marginal Growth Increase, Altered Bone Quality and Polycystic Ovaries in Female Prepubertal Rats after Treatment with the Aromatase Inhibitor Exemestane

Background: Aromatase inhibition has been proposed as a potential approach for growth enhancement in children with short stature, but detailed animal studies are lacking. Aim: To assess the effect and potential adverse effects of aromatase inhibition on growth in female rats. Methods: Prepubertal Wistar rats received intramuscular injections with placebo or the aromatase inhibitor exemestane at a dose of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg/week (E10, E30, E100) for 3 weeks. A control group was ovariectomized (OVX). Weight and length gain, tibia and femur length, growth plate width, organ weights, insulin- like growth factor I (IGF- I) levels, and histology of the ovaries, uterus and brain were analyzed. Xray microtomography of femora was performed. Results: E100 significantly increased weight gain and growth plate width, but less prominently than OVX. Trabecular number and thickness were decreased in E100 and OVX in the metaphysis and epiphysis. E100 significantly decreased ovarian weight and multiple cysts were seen upon histological evaluation. No significant effects were found on IGF-I levels and brain morphology in E100. E10 and E30 had no effects on growth. Conclusion: A high dose of exemestane marginally increases axial and appendicular growth in female rats, at the expense of osteopenia and polycystic ovaries. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, BaselEpidemiology in Pediatrics and Child Healt

Impaired Body Weight and Tail Length Gain and Altered Bone Quality after Treatment with the Aromatase Inhibitor Exemestane in Male Rats

Background: Estrogen deficiency induced by aromatase inhibitors may be a novel treatment modality for growth enhancement in short children, but may have adverse effects on bone, brain and reproduction. Aim: To assess growth effects and potential adverse effects of aromatase inhibition in male rats. Methods: 26-day-old prepubertal rats received intramuscular injections with placebo or the aromatase inhibitor exemestane at a dose of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg/week [E10, E30, E100(6)] for 6 weeks, completely covering the sexual maturation phase, or with 3 weeks E100 followed by 3 weeks placebo [E100(3)]. Growth parameters and histology of the testis, seminal vesicle and brain were analyzed. Bone architecture was studied with X-ray microtomography. Results: Exemestane dose-dependently decreased body weight and tail length gain, as well as liver and seminal vesicle weights, but did not affect nose-anus length gain,Epidemiology in Pediatrics and Child Healt

Marginal Growth Increase, Altered Bone Quality and Polycystic Ovaries in Female Prepubertal Rats after Treatment with the Aromatase Inhibitor Exemestane

Background: Aromatase inhibition has been proposed as a potential approach for growth enhancement in children with short stature, but detailed animal studies are lacking. Aim: To assess the effect and potential adverse effects of aromatase inhibition on growth in female rats. Methods: Prepubertal Wistar rats received intramuscular injections with placebo or the aromatase inhibitor exemestane at a dose of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg/week (E10, E30, E100) for 3 weeks. A control group was ovariectomized (OVX). Weight and length gain, tibia and femur length, growth plate width, organ weights, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels, and histology of the ovaries, uterus and brain were analyzed. Xray microtomography of femora was performed. Results: E100 significantly increased weight gain and growth plate width, but less prominently than OVX. Trabecular number and thickness were decreased in E100 and OVX in the metaphysis and epiphysis. E100 significantly decreased ovarian weight and multiple cysts were seen upon histological evaluation. No significant effects were found on IGF-I levels and brain morphology in E100. E10 and E30 had no effects on growth. Conclusion: A high dose of exemestane marginally increases axial and appendicular growth in female rats, at the expense of osteopenia and polycystic ovaries. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, BaselEpidemiology in Pediatrics and Child Healt

Impaired Body Weight and Tail Length Gain and Altered Bone Quality after Treatment with the Aromatase Inhibitor Exemestane in Male Rats

Background: Estrogen deficiency induced by aromatase inhibitors may be a novel treatment modality for growth enhancement in short children, but may have adverse effects on bone, brain and reproduction. Aim: To assess growth effects and potential adverse effects of aromatase inhibition in male rats. Methods: 26-day-old prepubertal rats received intramuscular injections with placebo or the aromatase inhibitor exemestane at a dose of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg/week [E10, E30, E100(6)] for 6 weeks, completely covering the sexual maturation phase, or with 3 weeks E100 followed by 3 weeks placebo [E100(3)]. Growth parameters and histology of the testis, seminal vesicle and brain were analyzed. Bone architecture was studied with X-ray microtomography. Results: Exemestane dose-dependently decreased body weight and tail length gain, as well as liver and seminal vesicle weights, but did not affect nose-anus length gain

Light-emitting metasurfaces. Simultaneous control of spontaneous emission and far-field radiation

Light-emitting sources and devices permeate every aspect of our lives and are used in lighting, communications, transportation, computing, and medicine. Advances in multifunctional and “smart lighting” would require revolutionary concepts in the control of emission spectra and directionality. Such control might be possible with new schemes and regimes of light–matter interaction paired with developments in light-emitting materials. Here we show that all-dielectric metasurfaces made from III–V semiconductors with embedded emitters have the potential to provide revolutionary lighting concepts and devices, with new functionality that goes far beyond what is available in existing technologies. Specifically, we use Mie-resonant metasurfaces made from semiconductor heterostructures containing epitaxial quantum dots. By controlling the symmetry of the resonant modes, their overlap with the emission spectra, and other structural parameters, we can enhance the brightness by 2 orders of magnitude, as well as reduce its far-field divergence significantly