Tunable two-dimensional Dirac nodal nets

Nodal-line semimetals are characterized by symmetry-protected band crossing lines and are expected to exhibit nontrivial electronic properties. Connections of the multiple nodal lines, resulting in nodal nets, chains, or links, are envisioned to produce even more exotic quantum states. In this work, we propose a feasible approach to realize tunable nodal-line connections in real materials. We show that certain space group symmetries support the coexistence of the planar symmetry-enforced and accidental nodal lines, which are robust to spin-orbit coupling and can be tailored into intricate patterns by chemical substitution, pressure, or strain. Based on first-principles calculations, we identify nonsymmorphic centrosymmetric quasi-one-dimensional compounds, K2SnBi and MX3 (M = Ti, Zr, Hf and X = Cl, Br, I), as materials hosting such tunable two-dimensional (2D) Dirac nodal nets. Unique Landau levels are predicted for the nodal-line semimetals with the 2D Dirac nodal nets. Our results provide a viable approach to realize the novel physics of the nodal-line connections in practice

Tunable two-dimensional Dirac nodal nets

Nodal line semimetals are characterized by symmetry-protected band crossing lines and are expected to exhibit nontrivial electronic properties. Connections of the multiple nodal lines, resulting in nodal nets, chains, or links, are envisioned to produce even more exotic quantum states. In this work, we propose a feasible approach to realize tunable nodal line connections in real materials. We show that certain space group symmetries support the coexistence of the planar symmetry enforced and accidental nodal lines, which are robust to spin-orbit coupling and can be tailored into intricate patterns by chemical substitution, pressure, or strain. Based on first-principles calculations, we identify non-symmorphic centrosymmetric quasi-one-dimensional compounds, K$_{2}$SnBi and MX$_{3}$ (M = Ti, Zr, Hf and X = Cl, Br, I), as materials hosting such tunable 2D Dirac nodal nets. Unique Landau levels are predicted for the nodal line semimetals with the 2D Dirac nodal nets. Our results provide a viable approach for realize the novel physics of the nodal line connections in practice

Tunable two-dimensional Dirac nodal nets

Nodal-line semimetals are characterized by symmetry-protected band crossing lines and are expected to exhibit nontrivial electronic properties. Connections of the multiple nodal lines, resulting in nodal nets, chains, or links, are envisioned to produce even more exotic quantum states. In this work, we propose a feasible approach to realize tunable nodal-line connections in real materials. We show that certain space group symmetries support the coexistence of the planar symmetry-enforced and accidental nodal lines, which are robust to spin-orbit coupling and can be tailored into intricate patterns by chemical substitution, pressure, or strain. Based on first-principles calculations, we identify nonsymmorphic centrosymmetric quasi-one-dimensional compounds, K2SnBi and MX3 (M = Ti, Zr, Hf and X = Cl, Br, I), as materials hosting such tunable two-dimensional (2D) Dirac nodal nets. Unique Landau levels are predicted for the nodal-line semimetals with the 2D Dirac nodal nets. Our results provide a viable approach to realize the novel physics of the nodal-line connections in practice

Rifamycin Resistance in Clostridium difficile Is Generally Associated with a Low Fitness Burden

We characterized clinically occurring and novel mutations in the β subunit of RNA polymerase in Clostridium difficile (CdRpoB), conferring rifamycin (including rifaximin) resistance. The Arg(505)Lys substitution did not impose an in vitro fitness cost, which may be one reason for its dominance among rifamycin-resistant clinical isolates. These observations were supported through the structural modeling of CdRpoB. In general, most mutations lacked in vitro fitness costs, suggesting that rifamycin resistance may in some cases persist in the clinic

Rheumatoid arthritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a bidirectional and multivariable two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Aims/hypothesis: The association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been reported by many observational studies in the Asian population. This study aimed to examine the bidirectional causal effects between GERD and RA by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using genetic evidence.Methods: Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses were performed to determine the causal effect of GERD (129,080 cases vs. 602,604 control participants) on RA (6,236 cases vs. 147,221 control participants) and RA on GERD, respectively. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis. Weighted median and MR-Egger regression were taken as supplementary analyses. Cochran’s Q test evaluated the heterogeneity. Horizontal pleiotropy was detected by estimating the intercept term of MR-Egger regression. Furthermore, multivariable MR analyses were performed to exclude the influence of confounding factors, including the years of schooling, BMI, and time spent watching television, between GERD and RA.Result: Both univariate MR (UVMR) and multivariable MR (MVMR) provided valid evidence that RA was causally and positively influenced by GERD (UVMR: OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.25–1.76, p = 6.18*10−6; MVMR: OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.24–2.31, p = 8.62*10−4), whereas GERD was not influenced by RA (UVMR: OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.00–1.06, p = 0.042; MVMR: OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.00–1.07, p = 0.0271).Conclusion: Our comprehensive bidirectional MR analysis found that for the European population, GERD can induce the occurrence of RA (OR = 1.69, p < 0.00125), whereas RA only has no significant influence on GERD. In particular, patients with GERD are suffering a 69% increased risk of RA occurrence, which means GERD is a substantial risk factor for RA

Development of a new pre-vascularized tissue-engineered construct using pre-differentiated rADSCs, arteriovenous vascular bundle and porous nano-hydroxyapatide-polyamide 66 scaffold

Background: Development of a pre-vascularized tissue-engineered construct with intrinsic vascular system for cell growth and tissue formation still faces many difficulties due to the complexity of the vascular network of natural bone tissue. The present study was to design and form a new vascularized tissue-engineered construct using pre-differentiated rADSCs, arteriovenous vascular bundle and porous nHA-PA 66 scaffold. Methods: rADSCs were pre-differentiated to endothelial cells (rADSCs-Endo) and then incorporated in nHA-PA 66 scaffolds in vitro. Subsequently, in vivo experiments were carried out according to the following groups: Group A (rADSCs-Endo/nHA-PA 66 scaffold with arteriovenous vascular bundle), Group B (rADSCs/nHA-PA 66 scaffold with arteriovenous vascular bundle); Group C (nHA-PA66 scaffold with arteriovenous vascular bundle), Group D (nHA-PA 66 scaffold only). The vessel density and vessel diameter were measured based on histological and immunohistochemical evaluation, furthermore, the VEGF-C, FGF-2 and BMP-2 protein expressions were also evaluated by western blot analysis. Results: The results of in vivo experiments showed that the vessel density and vessel diameter in group A were significantly higher than the other three groups. Between Group B and C, no statistical difference was observed at each time point. In accordance with the results, there were dramatically higher expressions of VEGF-C and FGF-2 protein in Group A than that of Group B, C and D at 2 or 4 weeks. Statistical differences were not observed in VEGF-C and FGF-2 expression between Group B and C. BMP-2 was not expressed in any group at each time point. Conclusions: Compared with muscular wrapping method, arteriovenous vascular bundle implantation could promote vascularization of the scaffold; and the angiogenesis of the scaffold was significantly accelerated when pre-differentiated rADSCs (endothelial differentiation) were added. These positive results implicate the combination of pre-differentiated rADSCs (endothelial differentiation) and arteriovenous vascular bundle may achieve rapidly angiogenesis of biomaterial scaffold

Comparison between Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty and Total Hip Arthroplasty for Unstable Intertrochanteric Fractures in Elderly Osteoporotic Patients

The present study was conducted to compare bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BA) with total hip arthroplasty (THA) in treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly osteoporotic patients. The THA group included 14 males and 26 females with a mean age of 73.4 years, and the BA group included 27 males and 45 females with a mean age of 76.5 years. Significant difference existed between the two groups in operation time, blood loss, transfusion volume and cost of hospitalization, while no remarkable difference was identified in hospitalization period, general complications, joint function, pain, rate of revision and mortality. No dislocation was observed in BA group while 3 occurred in THA group. The results indicated that for unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly osteoporotic patients, BA seems to be a better or more reasonable choice compared with THA for the reason of less blood loss, shorter operation time, lower cost and no dislocation