Fully gapped superconducting state in Au2Pb: a natural candidate for topological superconductor

We measured the ultra-low-temperature specific heat and thermal conductivity of Au$_2$Pb single crystal, a possible three-dimensional Dirac semimetal with a superconducting transition temperature $T_c \approx$ 1.05 K. The electronic specific heat can be fitted by a two-band s-wave model, which gives the gap amplitudes $\Delta_1$(0)/$k_BT_c$ = 1.38 and $\Delta_2$(0)/$k_BT_c$ = 5.25. From the thermal conductivity measurements, a negligible residual linear term $\kappa_0/T$ in zero field and a slow field dependence of $\kappa_0/T$ at low field are obtained. These results suggest that Au$_2$Pb has a fully gapped superconducting state in the bulk, which is a necessary condition for topological superconductor if Au$_2$Pb is indeed one.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Motor entry point acupuncture for shoulder abduction dysfunction after stroke: a randomized controlled feasibility trial

Introduction: Evidence has suggested that shoulder abduction dysfunction after stroke can be treated with acupuncture, but it remains unclear which acupuncture approach may be more effective. This trial compared two different acupuncture interventions (Motor Entry Point acupuncture (MEPA) and Standard acupuncture (SA) for patients experiencing post-stroke shoulder abduction dysfunction. Methods: Hospital in-patients with post-stroke shoulder abduction dysfunction of two weeks duration and who agreed to participate in the trial were randomized into two groups. The SA group received acupuncture treatment at LI15, LI14, LI11, LI10 and LI4 (n=20); the MEPA group received acupuncture at the mid-third of deltoid (n=20). Each group received acupuncture for 40 minutes, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcomes were the range of motion (ROM) and the manual muscle test (MMT). Results: Forty in-patients (19 women, 21 men; age range: 35-75 years) were enrolled in this trial. There was significant improvement in shoulder abduction dysfunction in both groups after 4 weeks of treatment (P＜0.05). The MEPA group reported larger ROM and improved MMT compared to the SA group (P＜0.05) and the recovery of muscle strength in MEPA group was superior to the SA group (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Compared to SA therapy, MEPA therapy may be more effective for treating physical functional disability in post-stroke patients

Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene and modified atmosphere packaging on chilling injury and antioxidative defensive mechanism of sweet pepper

Some sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are chilling sensitive and can develop injury when stored at temperatures less than 7°C. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) (650 ppb) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on chilling injuries (CI) of sweet pepper during 30 days storage at 4°C. The results showed that, 1-MCP and MAP reduced chilling injury symptoms which were correlated with decreased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content. The combination of 1-MCP and MAP further reduced chilling injury. Atomic force microscope (AFM) images showed that, the surface of the sweet peppers with 1-MCP and MAP treatments were smoother than of the control samples. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) of sweet peppers were also influenced by 1-MCP and MAP. SOD, CAT and POD activities of sweet peppers were 87.3, 28.97 and 0.248 U·g-1, respectively at the beginning of the storage. The activities decreased during the first 15 days of storage followed by an increase during the later period of storage. Treatment with 1-MCP, MAP alone and in combination frequently reduced the activities of those enzymes during storage. These results suggested that, combination of 1-MCP treatment and MAP is a promising treatment for reducing chilling injuries of peppers stored at 4°C.Key words: 1-MCP, chilling injuries, modified atmosphere packaging, sweet pepper

Skyrmion Domain Wall Collision and Domain Wall-Gated Skyrmion Logic

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Thin Solid Electrolyte Layers Enabled by Nanoscopic Polymer Binding

To achieve high-energy all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), solid-state electrolytes (SE) must be thin, mechanically robust, and possess the ability to form low resistance interfaces with electrode materials. Embedding an inorganic SE into an organic polymer combines the merits of high conductivity and flexibility. However, the performance of such an SE-in-polymer matrix (SEPM) is highly dependent on the microstructure and interactions between the organic and inorganic components. We report on the synthesis of a free-standing, ultrathin (60 μm) SEPM from a solution of lithium polysulfide, phosphorus sulfide, and ethylene sulfide (ES), where the polysulfide triggers the in situ polymerization of ES and the formation of Li3PS4. Reactant ratios were optimized to achieve a room-temperature conductivity of 2 × 10-5 S cm-1. Cryogenic electron microscopy confirmed a uniform nanoscopic distribution of β-Li3PS4 and PES (polyethylene sulfide). This work presents a facile route to the scalable fabrication of ASSBs with promising cycling performance and low electrolyte loading