Flat edge modes of graphene and of Z2 topological insulator

A graphene nano-ribbon in the zigzag edge geometry exhibits a specific type of gapless edge modes with a partly flat band dispersion. We argue that the appearance of such edge modes are naturally understood by regarding graphene as the gapless limit of a Z2 topological insulator. To illustrate this idea, we consider both Kane-Mele (graphene-based) and Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang models: the latter is proposed for HgTe/CdTe 2D quantum well. Much focus is on the role of valley degrees of freedom, especially, on how they are projected onto and determine the 1D edge spectrum in different edge geometries

Evasion of anti-growth signaling: a key step in tumorigenesis and potential target for treatment and prophylaxis by natural compounds

The evasion of anti-growth signaling is an important characteristic of cancer cells. In order to continue to proliferate, cancer cells must somehow uncouple themselves from the many signals that exist to slow down cell growth. Here, we define the anti-growth signaling process, and review several important pathways involved in growth signaling: p53, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), retinoblastoma protein (Rb), Hippo, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), AT-rich interactive domain 1A (ARID1A), Notch, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) pathways. Aberrations in these processes in cancer cells involve mutations and thus the suppression of genes that prevent growth, as well as mutation and activation of genes involved in driving cell growth. Using these pathways as examples, we prioritize molecular targets that might be leveraged to promote anti-growth signaling in cancer cells. Interestingly, naturally-occurring phytochemicals found in human diets (either singly or as mixtures) may promote anti-growth signaling, and do so without the potentially adverse effects associated with synthetic chemicals. We review examples of naturally-occurring phytochemicals that may be applied to prevent cancer by antagonizing growth signaling, and propose one phytochemical for each pathway. These are: epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) for the Rb pathway, luteolin for p53, curcumin for PTEN, porphyrins for Hippo, genistein for GDF15, resveratrol for ARID1A, withaferin A for Notch and diguelin for the IGF1-receptor pathway. The coordination of anti-growth signaling and natural compound studies will provide insight into the future application of these compounds in the clinical setting

Space Charge Accumulation in Silicone Rubber Influenced by Poole-Frenkel Effect

With the rapid increase of electrical energy consumption in metropolises, more and more power cables are utilized in power grid or urban power network to transmit and distribute electrical energy. Silicone rubber is widely used as polymeric insulating materials of power cable accessories due to their excellent electrical and thermal performances. However, under high dc electric field space charges can accumulate inside the silicone rubber, which will distort the electric field in the bulk of the material, influencing the reliability and safety of operation. A bipolar charge injection and transport model is adopted to investigate the accumulation of space charges and distortion of electric field in silicone rubber. It is found that when charge injection rate is higher than the charge migration rate, space charges will accumulate in the material and the accumulation increases with an increase in electric field. The influence of the Poole-Frenkel effect is then studied. It is found that stronger Poole-Frenkel effect can enhance the nonlinearity of effective carrier mobility of silicone rubber, reducing the accumulation of space charges. This indicates that tuning the nonlinearity of effective carrier mobility by nano-doping can suppress space charges, improving the reliability of power cable accessories

Space Charge Accumulation in Silicone Rubber Influenced by Poole-Frenkel Effect

With the rapid increase of electrical energy consumption in metropolises, more and more power cables are utilized in power grid or urban power network to transmit and distribute electrical energy. Silicone rubber is widely used as polymeric insulating materials of power cable accessories due to their excellent electrical and thermal performances. However, under high dc electric field space charges can accumulate inside the silicone rubber, which will distort the electric field in the bulk of the material, influencing the reliability and safety of operation. A bipolar charge injection and transport model is adopted to investigate the accumulation of space charges and distortion of electric field in silicone rubber. It is found that when charge injection rate is higher than the charge migration rate, space charges will accumulate in the material and the accumulation increases with an increase in electric field. The influence of the Poole-Frenkel effect is then studied. It is found that stronger Poole-Frenkel effect can enhance the nonlinearity of effective carrier mobility of silicone rubber, reducing the accumulation of space charges. This indicates that tuning the nonlinearity of effective carrier mobility by nano-doping can suppress space charges, improving the reliability of power cable accessories

A complex system of small RNAs in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Endogenous small RNAs function in RNA interference (RNAi) pathways to control gene expression through mRNA cleavage, translational repression, or chromatin modification. Plants and animals contain many microRNAs (miRNAs) that play vital roles in development, including helping to specify cell type and tissue identity. To date, no miRNAs have been reported in unicellular organisms. Here we show that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a unicellular green alga, encodes many miRNAs. We also show that a Chlamydomonas miRNA can direct the cleavage of its target mRNA in vivo and in vitro. We further show that the expression of some miRNAs/Candidates increases or decreases during Chlamydomonas gametogenesis. In addition to miRNAs, Chlamydomonas harbors other types of small RNAs including phased small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that are reminiscent of plant trans-acting siRNAs, as well as siRNAs originating from protein-coding genes and transposons. Our findings suggest that the miRNA pathway and some siRNA pathways are ancient mechanisms of gene regulation that evolved prior to the emergence of multicellularity