Emerging versatile two-dimensional MoSi2_2N4_4 family

The discovery of two-dimensional (2D) layered MoSi$_2$N$_4$ and WSi$_2$N$_4$ without knowing their 3D parents by chemical vapor deposition in 2020 has stimulated extensive studies of 2D MA$_2$Z$_4$ system due to its structural complexity and diversity as well as versatile and intriguing properties. Here, a comprehensive overview on the state-of-the-art progress of this 2D MA$_2$Z$_4$ family is presented. Starting by describing the unique sandwich structural characteristics of the emerging monolayer MA$_2$Z$_4$, we summarize and anatomize their versatile properties including mechanics, piezoelectricity, thermal transport, electronics, optics/optoelectronics, and magnetism. The property tunability via strain engineering, surface functionalization and layered strategy is also elaborated. Theoretical and experimental attempts or advances in applying 2D MA$_2$Z$_4$ to transistors, photocatalysts, batteries and gas sensors are then reviewed to show its prospective applications over a vast territory. We further discuss new opportunities and suggest prospects for this emerging 2D family. The overview is anticipated to guide the further understanding and exploration on 2D MA$_2$Z$_4$.Comment: 29 pages, 21 figure

Applicability of the Friedberg-Lee-Zhao method

Friedberg, Lee and Zhao proposed a method for effectively evaluating the eigenenergies and eigen wavefunctions of quantum systems. In this work, we study several special cases to investigate applicability of the method. Concretely, we calculate the ground-state eigenenergy of the Hellmann potential as well as the Cornell potential, and also evaluate the energies of the systems where linear term is added to the Coulomb and harmonic oscillator potentials as a perturbation. The results obtained in this method have a surprising agreement with the traditional method or the numerical results. Since the results in this method have obvious analyticity compared to that in other methods, and because of the simplicity for calculations this method can be applied to solving the Schr\"{o}dinger equation and provides us better understanding of the physical essence of the concerned systems. But meanwhile applications of the FLZ method are restricted at present, especially for certain potential forms, but due to its obvious advantages, it should be further developed.Comment: 14 pages,no figure

Zc(3900)Z_c(3900) as a DDˉ∗D\bar{D}^* molecule from the pole counting rule

A comprehensive study on the nature of the $Z_c(3900)$ resonant structure is carried out in this work. By constructing the pertinent effective Lagrangians and considering the important final-state-interaction effects, we first give a unified description to all the relevant experimental data available, including the $J/\psi\pi$ and $\pi\pi$ invariant mass distributions from the $e^+e^-\to J/\psi\pi\pi$ process, the $h_c\pi$ distribution from $e^+e^-\to h_c\pi\pi$ and also the $D\bar D^{*}$ spectrum in the $e^+e^-\to D\bar D^{*}\pi$ process. After fitting the unknown parameters to the previous data, we search the pole in the complex energy plane and find only one pole in the nearby energy region in different Riemann sheets. Therefore we conclude that $Z_c(3900)$ is of $D\bar D^*$ molecular nature, according to the pole counting rule method~[Nucl.~Phys.~A543, 632 (1992); Phys.~Rev.~D 35,~1633 (1987)]. We emphasize that the conclusion based upon the pole counting method is not trivial, since both the $D\bar D^{*}$ contact interactions and the explicit $Z_c$ exchanges are introduced in our analyses and they lead to the same conclusion.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures. To match the published version in PRD. Additional discussion on the spectral density function is include

A Survey on Breaking Technique of Text-Based CAPTCHA

The CAPTCHA has become an important issue in multimedia security. Aimed at a commonly used text-based CAPTCHA, this paper outlines some typical methods and summarizes the technological progress in text-based CAPTCHA breaking. First, the paper presents a comprehensive review of recent developments in the text-based CAPTCHA breaking field. Second, a framework of text-based CAPTCHA breaking technique is proposed. And the framework mainly consists of preprocessing, segmentation, combination, recognition, postprocessing, and other modules. Third, the research progress of the technique involved in each module is introduced, and some typical methods of segmentation and recognition are compared and analyzed. Lastly, the paper discusses some problems worth further research

The expression profile of microRNAs in a model of 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthrance-induced oral carcinogenesis in Syrian hamster

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-coding RNA molecules, such as microRNAs, may play an important role in carcinogenesis. Recent studies have indicated that microRNAs are involved in initiation and progression of various malignancies. However, little work has been done to compare the microRNA expression patterns in oral cancer. In this study, we constructed an animal model of oral squamous cell carcinoma to investigate expression profiles of microRNAs in oral carcinogenesis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The animal model of oral squamous cell carcinoma was conducted by tri-weekly (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) painting with 5% DMBA in acetone. Six Syrian hamsters, including three from the treated group and three from the control group, were used as a training group for microRNA microarray analysis. All microarray data were analyzed by Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) and CLUSTER 3.0 software, and this result was further confirmed by qRT-PCR assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seventeen microRNAs were differentially expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Five microRNAs (hsa-miR-21, hsa-miR-200b, hsa-miR-221, hsa-miR-338, and mmu-miR-762) were significantly upregulated and twelve microRNAs (hsa-miR-16, hsa-miR-26a, hsa-miR-29a, hsa-miR-124a, hsa-miR-125b, mmu-miR-126-5p, hsa-miR-143, hsa-miR-145, hsa-miR-148b, hsa-miR-155, hsa-miR-199a, and hsa-miR-203) were down-regulated in cancer tissues. The expression levels of hsa-miR-21 and hsa-miR-16 seen with Stem-loop qRT-PCR were also seen in microarray analysis in all samples.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings identified specific microRNA expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma and suggested that microRNAs have a role in oral carcinogenesis.</p

Giant magnetocaloric effect in magnets down to the monolayer limit

Two-dimensional magnets could potentially revolutionize information technology, but their potential application to cooling technology and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in a material down to the monolayer limit remain unexplored. Herein, we reveal through multiscale calculations the existence of giant MCE and its strain tunability in monolayer magnets such as CrX$_3$ (X=F, Cl, Br, I), CrAX (A=O, S, Se; X=F, Cl, Br, I), and Fe$_3$GeTe$_2$. The maximum adiabatic temperature change ($\Delta T_\text{ad}^\text{max}$), maximum isothermal magnetic entropy change, and specific cooling power in monolayer CrF$_3$ are found as high as 11 K, 35 $\mu$Jm$^{-2}$K$^{-1}$, and 3.5 nWcm$^{-2}$ under a magnetic field of 5 T, respectively. A 2% biaxial and 5% $a$-axis uniaxial compressive strain can remarkably increase $\Delta T_\text{ad}^\text{max}$ of CrCl$_3$ and CrOF by 230% and 37% (up to 15.3 and 6.0 K), respectively. It is found that large net magnetic moment per unit area favors improved MCE. These findings advocate the giant-MCE monolayer magnets, opening new opportunities for magnetic cooling at nanoscale

The autonomic nervous system: A potential link to the efficacy of acupuncture

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a diffuse network that regulates physiological systems to maintain body homeostasis by integrating inputs from the internal and external environment, including the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems (ENS). Recent evidence suggests that ANS is one of the key neural pathways for acupuncture signal transduction, which has attracted worldwide attention in the acupuncture field. Here, we reviewed the basic and clinical research published in PubMed over the past 20 years on the effects of acupuncture on ANS regulation and homeostasis maintenance. It was found that acupuncture effectively alleviates ANS dysfunction-associated symptoms in its indications, such as migraine, depression, insomnia, functional dyspepsia, functional constipation. Acupuncture stimulation on some specific acupoints activates sensory nerve fibers, the spinal cord, and the brain. Using information integration and efferents from a complex network of autonomic nuclei of the brain, such as the insular cortex (IC), prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), amygdala (AMG), hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray (PAG), nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), ventrolateral medulla (VLM), nucleus ambiguus (AMB), acupuncture alleviates visceral dysfunction, inflammation via efferent autonomic nerves, and relieves pain and pain affect. The modulating pattern of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves is associated with acupuncture stimulation on specific acupoints, intervention parameters, and disease models, and the relationships among them require further exploration. In conclusion, ANS is one of the therapeutic targets for acupuncture and mediates acupuncture’s actions, which restores homeostasis. A systemic study is needed to determine the rules and mechanisms underlying the effects of acupoint stimulation on corresponding organs mediated by specific central nervous networks and the efferent ANS