Manipulating Multiple Order Parameters via Oxygen Vacancies: The case of Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-{\delta}

Controlling functionalities, such as magnetism or ferroelectricity, by means of oxygen vacancies (VO) is a key issue for the future development of transition metal oxides. Progress in this field is currently addressed through VO variations and their impact on mainly one order parameter. Here we reveal a new mechanism for tuning both magnetism and ferroelectricity simultaneously by using VO. Combined experimental and density-functional theory studies of Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-{\delta}, we demonstrate that oxygen vacancies create Ti3+ 3d1 defect states, mediating the ferromagnetic coupling between the localized Eu 4f7 spins, and increase an off-center displacement of Ti ions, enhancing the ferroelectric Curie temperature. The dual function of Ti sites also promises a magnetoelectric coupling in the Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-{\delta}.Comment: Accepted by Physical Review B, 201

The Inner Dynamics of Kidult Culture: Trending Toys and games, Theme Parks, and Animated Movies

Trending toys, Disneyland, animation movies , which are traditionally connoted as children’s synonymous entertainment, have progressively gathered a growing number of elder children and adults, which is called Kidult. This article analyzes and interprets kidult culture from three types of phenomena in an attempt to understand and explore the inner factors of the contributors. Meanwhile, it also provides aesthetic instructions and practical implications for the kidult-derived cultural and creative industries

Existence and uniqueness of solution for a singular elliptic differential equation

In this article, we are concerned about the existence, uniqueness, and nonexistence of the positive solution for: −Δu−12(x⋅∇u)=μh(x)uq−1+λu−up,x∈RN,u(x)→0,as∣x∣→+∞,\left\{\begin{array}{l}-\Delta u-\frac{1}{2}\left(x\cdot \nabla u)=\mu h\left(x){u}^{q-1}+\lambda u-{u}^{p},\hspace{1.0em}x\in {{\mathbb{R}}}^{N},\\ u\left(x)\to 0,\hspace{1em}\hspace{0.1em}\text{as}\hspace{0.1em}\hspace{0.33em}| x| \to +\infty ,\end{array}\right. where N⩾3N\geqslant 3, 00\lambda \gt 0, p>1p\gt 1, μ>0\mu \gt 0 is a parameter and the function h(x)h\left(x) satisfies certain conditions. To start with, based on the variational argument and perturbation method, we obtain the existence and uniqueness of the positive solution for the aforementioned singular elliptic differential equation as λ>N2\lambda \gt \frac{N}{2}. In addition, there is no solution as λ⩽N2\lambda \leqslant \frac{N}{2}. Later, from an experimental point of view, we give the numerical solution of the aforementioned singular elliptic differential equation by means of a neural network in some special cases, which enrich the theoretical results. Our conclusions partially extend the results corresponding to the nonsingular case

Synergistic Effect of Fluconazole and Calcium Channel Blockers against Resistant <i>Candida albicans</i>

<div><p>Candidiasis has increased significantly recently that threatens patients with low immunity. However, the number of antifungal drugs on the market is limited in comparison to the number of available antibacterial drugs. This fact, coupled with the increased frequency of fungal resistance, makes it necessary to develop new therapeutic strategies. Combination drug therapy is one of the most widely used and effective strategy to alleviate this problem. In this paper, we were aimed to evaluate the combined antifungal effects of four CCBs (calcium channel blockers), amlodipine (AML), nifedipine (NIF), benidipine (BEN) and flunarizine (FNZ) with fluconazole against <i>C</i>. <i>albicans</i> by checkerboard and time-killing method. In addition, we determined gene (<i>CCH1</i>, <i>MID1</i>, <i>CNA1</i>, <i>CNB1</i>, <i>YVC1</i>, <i>CDR1</i>, <i>CDR2</i> and <i>MDR1</i>) expression by quantitative PCR and investigated the efflux pump activity of resistant <i>candida albicans</i> by rhodamine 6G assay to reveal the potential mechanisms. Finally, we concluded that there was a synergy when fluconazole combined with the four tested CCBs against resistant strains, with fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) <0.5, but no interaction against sensitive strains (FICI = 0.56 ~ 2). The mechanism studies revealed that fluconazole plus amlodipine caused down-regulating of <i>CNA1</i>, <i>CNB1</i> (encoding calcineurin) and <i>YVC1</i> (encoding calcium channel protein in vacuole membrane).</p></div

Efficient Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells into Trophoblast Stem-like Cells via Lats Kinase Inhibition

Mouse zygotes undergo multiple rounds of cell division, resulting in the formation of preimplantation blastocysts comprising three lineages: trophectoderm (TE), epiblast (EPI), and primitive endoderm (PrE). Cell fate determination plays a crucial role in establishing a healthy pregnancy. The initial separation of lineages gives rise to TE and inner cell mass (ICM), from which trophoblast stem cells (TSC) and embryonic stem cells (ESC) can be derived in vitro. Studying lineage differentiation is greatly facilitated by the clear functional distinction between TSC and ESC. However, transitioning between these two types of cells naturally poses challenges. In this study, we demonstrate that inhibiting LATS kinase promotes the conversion of ICM to TE and also effectively reprograms ESC into stable, self-renewing TS-like cells (TSLC). Compared to TSC, TSLC exhibits similar molecular properties, including the high expression of marker genes such as Cdx2, Eomes, and Tfap2c, as well as hypomethylation of their promoters. Importantly, TSLC not only displays the ability to differentiate into mature trophoblast cells in vitro but also participates in placenta formation in vivo. These findings highlight the efficient reprogramming of ESCs into TSLCs using a small molecular inducer, which provides a new reference for understanding the regulatory network between ESCs and TSCs

New coxsackievirus B4 genotype circulating in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) surveillance was initiated in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China in 2007, a crucial scrutiny for monitoring the prevalence of enterovirus serotypes associated with HFMD patients. However, this surveillance mostly focused on enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) and coxsackievirus A16; therefore, information on other enterovirus serotypes is limited. To identify the other circulating enterovirus serotypes in the HFMD outbreaks in Inner Mongolia in 2010, clinical samples from HFMD patients were investigated. Six coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4) strains were isolated and phylogenetic analyses of VP1 sequences were performed. Full-length genome sequences of two representative CVB4 isolates were acquired and similarity plot and bootscanning analyses were performed. The phylogenetic dendrogram indicated that all CVB4 strains could be divided into 5 genotypes (Genotypes I-V) with high bootstrap support (90-100%). The CVB4 prototype strain (JVB) was the sole member of genotype I. CVB4 strains belonging to genotype II, which were once common in Europe and the Americas, seemingly disappeared and gave way to genotype III and IV strains, which appear to be the dominant circulating strains in the world. All Chinese CVB4 strains belonged to Genotype V, a newly identified genotype supported by a high bootstrap value (100%), and are circulating only in mainland of China. Intertypic recombination occurred in the Chinese CVB4 strains with novel unknown serotype EV-B donor sequences. Two Chinese CVB4 strains had a virulent residue at position 129 of VP1, and one strain also had a virulent residue at position 16 of VP4. Increased surveillance is needed to monitor the emergence of new genetic lineages of enteroviruses in areas that are often associated with large-scale outbreaks. In addition, continued monitoring of enteroviruses by clinical surveillance and genetic characterization should be enhanced

An Antibody Persistent and Protective Two rSsCLP-Based Subunit Cocktail Vaccine against Sarcoptes scabiei in a Rabbit Model

Scabies is a highly contagious disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei which burrows into stratum corneum of host&rsquo;s skin. In this study, after optimizing vaccination schedule, a vaccination trial is comprised of three test groups of rabbits (n = 10/group) by immunization with (1) rSsCLP5; (2) rSsCLP12; or (3) a mixture of rSsCLP5 and rSsCLP12, three biological replicates groups (n = 10/group) and three control groups (n = 10/group). Levels of specific IgG, total IgE and cytokines in sera were detected and histopathologically analyzed as indicators of vaccine effects. The results showed that 85% (17/20) of rabbits exhibited no detectable skin lesions of S. scabiei infestation in mixed protein groups compared to single protein groups with 75% (15/20) and 70% (14/20), respectively. Moreover, the deworming rates of mixed groups are increased by 10%&ndash;20% compared with that of single groups. Each of six groups immunized with rSsCLP displayed significant increases of specific IgG, total IgE, IL-10, and TNF-&alpha;. The degree of skin damage in test groups also significantly lower than that of control groups. Thus, purified rSsCLP5 and rSsCLP12 subunit cocktail vaccine induced robust immune protection and could significantly decrease mite populations to reduce the direct transmission between rabbits

Relative expression of <i>CNA1</i>, <i>CNB1</i> and <i>YVC1</i> following treatment with fluconazole (FLC) and amlodipine (AML) alone or in combination in CA10.

<p>Cells were treated with fluconazole at 1 μg ml^-1, amlodipine at 16 μg ml^-1 alone or in combination. Total RNA was extracted and reversely transcribed to cDNA. cDNA was then used for real-time quantitative PCR to detect expression levels of <i>CNA1</i>, <i>CNB1</i> and <i>YVC1</i>. Values represent the means ± standard deviation of three replicates. * P < 0.01 and at least 2.0-fold compared to the control group.</p