Non-Hermitian guided modes and exceptional points using loss-free negative-index materials

We analyze the guided modes in coupled waveguides made of negative-index materials without gain or loss. We show that it supports non-Hermitian phenomenon on the existence of guided mode versus geometric parameters of the structure. The non-Hermitian effect is different from parity-time (PT) symmetry, and can be explained by a simple coupled-mode theory with an anti-PT symmetry. The existence of exceptional points and slow-light effect are discussed. This work highlights the potential of loss-free negative-index materials in the study of non-Hermitian optics

Higher-order exceptional points in loss-free waveguide arrays with negative-index materials

Negative-index materials (NIMs) are shown to support optical anti-parity-time (anti-PT) symmetry even when they are lossless. Here we prove the feasibility in achieving higher-order exceptional points (EPs) in loss-free waveguide arrays by utilizing the anti-$\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry induced by NIM. Numerical simulation about a third-order EP fits well with the coupled-mode theory. A scheme of achieving fourth-order EPs is also discussed. This work highlights the potential of loss-free NIMs in the study of non-Hermitian optics

Yin-yang Balance Therapy on Regulating Cancer Stem Cells

AbstractsResearches have shown that cancer stem cells, regulated by the niche where they reside, are the roots of oncogenesis, relapse and metastasis. To date, very few treatments have targeted on cancer stem cells. The authors study that the regulated factors in the niche share the characteristics of yin-yang in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, which has confirmed its therapeutic effects in the prevention and treatment of cancer. So the authors presume that the mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine on the prevention and treatment of cancer may be related to the yin-yang balance of the niche of cancer stem cells

Effect of Baicalin on inflammatory mediator levels and microcirculation disturbance in rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Objective: To investigate the effect of Bacailin on inflammatory mediator levels and microcirculation disturbance in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rats and explore its therapeutic mechanism on this disease. Methods: SAP model rats were randomly divided into model control group and Baicalin treated group, 45 rats in each group. The same number of normal rats were included in sham-operated group. These groups were further subdivided into 3 h, 6 h and 12 h subgroups, respectively (15 rats in each subgroup). At 3, 6 and 12 hours after operation, rats were killed to conduct the following experiments: (1) to examine the mortality rates of rats, the ascites volume and pancreatic pathological changes in each group; (2) to determine the contents of amylase, PLA~2~, TXB~2~, PGE~2~, PAF and IL-1[beta]; in blood as well as the changes in blood viscosity.Results: (1) Compared to model control group, treatment with Baicalin is able to improve the pathological damage of the pancreas, lower the contents of amylase and multiple inflammatory mediators in blood, decrease the amount of ascitic fluid and reduce the mortality rates of SAP rats; (2) at 3 hours after operation, the low-shear whole blood viscosity in Baicalin treated group was significantly lower than that in model control group;at 12 hours after operation, both the high-shear and low-shear whole blood viscosity in Baicalin treated group were also significantly lower than those in model control group.Conclusion: Baicalin, as a new drug, has good prospects in the treatment of SAP since it can exert therapeutic effects on this disease through inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators, lowering blood viscosity, improving microcirculation and mitigating the pathological damage of the pancreas

Investigation of ultra-thin Al₂O₃ film as Cu diffusion barrier on low-k (k=2.5) dielectrics

Ultrathin Al(2)O(3) films were deposited by PEALD as Cu diffusion barrier on low-k (k=2.5) material. The thermal stability and electrical properties of the Cu/low k system with Al(2)O(3) layers with different thickness were studied after annealing. The AES, TEM and EDX results revealed that the ultrathin Al(2)O(3) films are thermally stable and have excellent Cu diffusion barrier performance. The electrical measurements of dielectric breakdown and TDDB tests further confirmed that the ultrathin Al(2)O(3) film is a potential Cu diffusion barrier in the Cu/low-k interconnects system

Enhancement of polar phases in PVDF by forming PVDF/SiC nanowire composite

Different contents of silicon carbide (SiC) nanowires were mixed with Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to facilitate the polar phase crystallization. It was shown that the annealing temperature and SiC content affected on the phase and crystalline structures of PVDF/SiC samples. Furthermore, the addition of SiC nanowire enhanced the transformation of non-polar α phase to polar phases and increased the relative fraction of β phase in PVDF. Due to the nucleating agent mechanism of SiC nanowires, the ion-dipole interaction between the negatively charged surface of SiC nanowires and the positive CH2 groups in PVDF facilitated the formation of polar phases in PVDF

Duration of untreated bipolar disorder: A multicenter study

Little is known about the demographic and clinical differences between short and long duration of untreated bipolar disorder (DUB) in Chinese patients. This study examined the demographic and clinical features of short (≤2 years) and long DUB (\u3e2 years) in China. A consecutively recruited sample of 555 patients with bipolar disorder (BD) was examined in 7 psychiatric hospitals and general hospital psychiatric units across China. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were collected using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. The mean DUB was 3.2 ± 6.0 years; long DUB accounted for 31.0% of the sample. Multivariate analyses revealed that longer duration of illness, diagnosis of BD type II, and earlier misdiagnosis of BD for major depressive disorder or schizophrenia were independently associated with long DUB. The mean DUB in Chinese BD patients was shorter than the reported figures from Western countries. The long-term impact of DUB on the outcome of BD is warranted

A low phase noise high power Er-fiber frequency comb synchronized to the hydrogen maser clock by harmonic phase locking

We demonstrate a low phase noise all polarization-maintaining (PM) Er-fiber optical frequency comb (OFC) with low phase noise, which is synchronized to the hydrogen maser clock (HMC) using the 18th harmonic of the repetition rate for tight phase locking. The instability of the locked carrier envelope offset frequency is 1.24 × 10−18@1 s, the phase noise of the OFC is −96 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz offset, and the corresponding RMS timing jitter of the repetition rate is 62 fs (1 Hz–1 MHz). The residual frequency instability of the repetition rate (200 MHz) is 1.46 × 10−14@1 s, and the residual phase noise of the OFC normalized to 10 MHz is −138 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz offset and declines to about −160 dBc/Hz at the far-end, much lower than that of the HMC (−122 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz and −156 dBc/Hz at the far-end)

Haplotype of gene Nedd4 binding protein 2 associated with sporadic nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the Southern Chinese population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bcl-3 as an oncoprotein is overexpressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Nedd4 binding protein 2 (N4BP2), which is located in the NPC susceptibility locus, is a Bcl-3 binding protein. This study is aimed to explore the association between N4BP2 genetic polymorphism and the risk of NPC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a hospital-based case-control study, including 531 sporadic NPC and 480 cancer-free control subjects from southern China. PCR-sequencing was carried out on Exons, promoter region and nearby introns of the N4BP2 gene. The expression pattern of N4BP2 and Bcl-3 was also analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We observed a statistically significant difference in haplotype blocks ATTA and GTTG between cases and controls. In addition, three novel SNPs were identified, two of which were in exons (loc123-e3l-snp2, position 39868005, A/G, Met171Val; RS17511668-SNP2, position 39926432, G/A, Glu118Lys), and one was in the intron6 (RS794001-SNP1, position 39944127, T/G). Moreover, N4BP2 was at higher levels in a majority of tumor tissues examined, relative to paired normal tissues.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that haplotype blocks ATTA and GTTG of N4BP2 is correlation with the risk of sporadic nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the Southern Chinese population and N4BP2 has a potential role in the development of NPC.</p

How Does Adult Attachment Affect Human Recognition of Love-related and Sex-related Stimuli: An ERP Study

Journal articleThis paper reports the descriptive analysis of a large sample of safety climate survey data (n = 110,014) collected over 10 years from U.S. Naval aircrew using the Command Safety Assessment Survey (CSAS)