1,643 research outputs found
Optical Probing of Electronic Interaction between Graphene and Hexagonal Boron Nitride
Even weak van der Waals (vdW) adhesion between two-dimensional solids may
perturb their various materials properties owing to their low dimensionality.
Although the electronic structure of graphene has been predicted to be modified
by the vdW interaction with other materials, its optical characterization has
not been successful. In this report, we demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy can
be utilized to detect a few % decrease in the Fermi velocity (vF) of graphene
caused by the vdW interaction with underlying hexagonal boron nitride (hBN).
Our study also establishes Raman spectroscopic analysis which enables
separation of the effects by the vdW interaction from those by mechanical
strain or extra charge carriers. The analysis reveals that spectral features of
graphene on hBN are mainly affected by change in vF and mechanical strain, but
not by charge doping unlike graphene supported on SiO2 substrates. Graphene on
hBN was also found to be less susceptible to thermally induced hole doping.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figure
An Innovative Method to Identify Autoantigens Expressed on the Endothelial Cell Surface: Serological Identification System for Autoantigens Using a Retroviral Vector and Flow Cytometry (SARF)
Autoantibodies against integral membrane proteins are usually pathogenic. Although anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECAs) are considered to be critical, especially for vascular lesions in collagen diseases, most molecules identified as autoantigens for AECAs are localized within the cell and not expressed on the cell surface. For identification of autoantigens, proteomics and expression library analyses have been performed for many years with some success. To specifically target cell-surface molecules in identification of autoantigens, we constructed a serological identification system for autoantigens using a retroviral vector and flow cytometry (SARF). Here, we present an overview of recent research in AECAs and their target molecules and discuss the principle and the application of SARF. Using SARF, we successfully identified three different membrane proteins: fibronectin leucine-rich transmembrane protein 2 (FLRT2) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) from a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, and Pk (Gb3/CD77) from an SLE patient with hemolytic anemia, as targets for AECAs. SARF is useful for specific identification of autoantigens expressed on the cell surface, and identification of such interactions of the cell-surface autoantigens and pathogenic autoantibodies may enable the development of more specific intervention strategies in autoimmune diseases
Exciton-Sensitized Second-Harmonic Generation in 2D Heterostructures
The efficient optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) of two-dimensional
(2D) crystals, coupled with their atomic thickness that circumvents the
phase-match problem, has garnered considerable attention. While various 2D
heterostructures have shown promising applications in photodetectors, switching
electronics, and photovoltaics, the modulation of nonlinear optical properties
in such hetero-systems remains unexplored. In this study, we investigate
exciton sensitized SHG in heterobilayers of transition metal dichalcogenides
(TMDs), where photoexcitation of one donor layer enhances the SHG response of
the other as an acceptor. We utilize polarization-resolved interferometry to
detect the SHG intensity and phase of each individual layer, revealing the
energetic match between the excitonic resonances of donors and the SHG
enhancement of acceptors for four TMD combinations. Our results also uncover
the dynamic nature of interlayer coupling, as evidenced by the dependence of
sensitization on interlayer gap spacing and the average power of the
fundamental beam. This work provides insights into how interlayer coupling of
two different layers can modify nonlinear optical phenomena in 2D
heterostructures
Prevalence and predictive factors of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis: the KURAMA cohort
Difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA) is a multifactorial condition in which disease activity of RA persists despite consecutive treatment with biological or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs). To evaluate the prevalence and predictive risk factors of D2T RA in our institution, a single-center, retrospective study was conducted. Medical records of RA patients, who visited our hospital from 2011 to 2020 and had a follow-up of more than 6 months, were retrospectively reviewed. D2T RA was defined as RA with a disease activity score of 28 - erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) of 3.2 or higher at the last visit, despite the use of at least two b/tsDMARDs. A logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors. A total of 672 patients were enrolled. The mean age at disease onset was 52.1 years and females were dominant (76.3%). After a mean follow-up of 46.6 months, patients with D2T RA accounted for 7.9% of overall patients. Multivariate analysis identified high rheumatoid factor (RF) levels (≥156.4 IU/mL, odds ratio [OR]: 1.95), DAS28-ESR (OR: 1.24), and coexisting pulmonary disease (OR: 2.03) as predictive risk factors of D2T RA. In conclusion, high RF levels, high DAS28-ESR, and coexisting pulmonary disease at baseline can predict the development of D2T RA
Altered functional organization within the insular cortex in adult males with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder: evidence from connectivity-based parcellation
Determination of the optimal number of clusters based on VI and MI in intracalcarine cortex. The intracalcarine cortex was selected as a control region. The VI and MI values are shown for every clustering solution for k values ranging from 2 to 10. Arrows indicate either local minima of VI or local maxima of MI. Dashed lines denote the optimal number of solutions as determined using both VI and MI. The error bars denote standard errors of the mean for 100 repetitions of the split-half procedure (see the “Estimation of the optimal number of clusters” section). “n.s.” indicates no statistically significant difference between points. (PDF 334 kb
A highly hydrophilic water-insoluble nanofiber composite as an efficient and easily-handleable adsorbent for the rapid adsorption of cesium from radioactive wastewater
Herein, we report a new Prussian blue nanoparticle (PBNPs) incorporated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite nanofiber (c-PBNPs/PVA) for the rapid adsorption of cesium (Cs) from radioactive wastewater. Initially, various electrospinning parameters such as solvent, PVA wt%, PBNPs wt% and glutaraldehyde (GA) wt% were extensively optimized to obtain a better physicochemical property of the c-PBNPs/PVA. In order to improve the water insoluble nature of the PVA, post cross-linking was carried out for the c-PBNPs/PVA using glutaraldehyde (GA) and HCl vapor as the cross-linker and catalyst, respectively. SEM images revealed the smooth and continuous morphology of the c-PBNPs/PVA composite nanofibers with diameters of 200–300 nm and lengths up to several millimeters. TEM images confirmed homogeneous dispersion and good incorporation of PBNPs into the PVA matrix. The amorphous nature of the c-PBNPs/PVA was confirmed by the XRD analysis. FT-IR spectra showed successful cross-linking of PVA with GA. It was found that the prepared composite nanofiber is highly hydrophilic and water-insoluble. The c-PBNPs/PVA showed an excellent and faster Cs adsorption rate of 96% after only 100 min. These results are comparable to those previously reported. After the Cs adsorption test, the c-PBNPs/PVA composite nanofiber can be easily separated from the wastewater.ArticleRSC ADVANCES. 4(103):59571-59578 (2014)journal articl
Dynamics of An Underdamped Josephson Junction Ladder
We show analytically that the dynamical equations for an underdamped ladder
of coupled small Josephson junctions can be approximately reduced to the
discrete sine-Gordon equation. As numerical confirmation, we solve the coupled
Josephson equations for such a ladder in a magnetic field. We obtain
discrete-sine-Gordon-like IV characteristics, including a flux flow and a
``whirling'' regime at low and high currents, and voltage steps which represent
a lock-in between the vortex motion and linear ``phasons'', and which are
quantitatively predicted by a simple formula. At sufficiently high anisotropy,
the fluxons on the steps propagate ballistically.Comment: 11pages, latex, no figure
Experimental Critical Current Patterns in Josephson Junction Ladders
We present an experimental and theoretical study of the magnetic field
dependence of the critical current of Josephson junction ladders. At variance
with the well-known case of a one-dimensional (1D) parallel array of Josephson
junctions the magnetic field patterns display a single minimum even for very
low values of the self-inductance parameter . Experiments
performed changing both the geometrical value of the inductance and the
critical current of the junctions show a good agreement with numerical
simulations. We argue that the observed magnetic field patterns are due to a
peculiar mapping between the isotropic Josephson ladder and the 1D parallel
array with the self-inductance parameter .Comment: 4 pages, 4 picture
General tendencies of stable isotopes and major chemical constituents of the Dome Fuji deep ice core (scientific paper)
Stable isotope compositions of water and major chemical constituents of the Dome Fuji ice core are analyzed and the data sets over the entire depth of the 2503-m core are presented in appropriate time resolution as consecutive series of average value in definite terms. These results based on the first stage analyses allow a temporal climatic dividing of the three glacial-interglacial cycles present in the records. A Comparison of the climatic and environmental characteristics of these climate stages is presented
Superconducting states and depinning transitions of Josephson ladders
We present analytical and numerical studies of pinned superconducting states
of open-ended Josephson ladder arrays, neglecting inductances but taking edge
effects into account. Treating the edge effects perturbatively, we find
analytical approximations for three of these superconducting states -- the
no-vortex, fully-frustrated and single-vortex states -- as functions of the dc
bias current and the frustration . Bifurcation theory is used to derive
formulas for the depinning currents and critical frustrations at which the
superconducting states disappear or lose dynamical stability as and are
varied. These results are combined to yield a zero-temperature stability
diagram of the system with respect to and . To highlight the effects of
the edges, we compare this dynamical stability diagram to the thermodynamic
phase diagram for the infinite system where edges have been neglected. We
briefly indicate how to extend our methods to include self-inductances.Comment: RevTeX, 22 pages, 17 figures included; Errata added, 1 page, 1
corrected figur
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