Engineering ferroelectricity in monoclinic hafnia

Ferroelectricity in the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible hafnia (HfO$_2$) is crucial for the fabrication of high-integration nonvolatile memory devices. However, the capture of ferroelectricity in HfO$_2$ requires the stabilization of thermodynamically-metastable orthorhombic or rhombohedral phases, which entails the introduction of defects (e.g., dopants and vacancies) and pays the price of crystal imperfections, causing unpleasant wake-up and fatigue effects. Here, we report a theoretical strategy on the realization of robust ferroelectricity in HfO$_2$-based ferroelectrics by designing a series of epitaxial (HfO$_2$)$_1$/(CeO$_2$)$_1$ superlattices. The advantages of the designated ferroelectric superlattices are defects free, and most importantly, on the base of the thermodynamically stable monoclinic phase of HfO$_2$. Consequently, this allows the creation of superior ferroelectric properties with an electric polarization $>$25 $\mu$C/cm$^2$ and an ultralow polarization-switching energy barrier at $\sim$2.5 meV/atom. Our work may open an entirely new route towards the fabrication of high-performance HfO$_2$ based ferroelectric devices

Transcriptome profile analysis in spinal cord injury rats with transplantation of menstrual blood-derived stem cells

IntroductionMenstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) are vital in treating many degenerative and traumatic disorders. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure in MenSCs-treating spinal cord injury (SCI) rats.MethodsMenSCs were adopted into the injured sites of rat spinal cords at day 7 post surgery and the tissues were harvested for total RNA sequencing analysis at day 21 after surgery to investigate the expression patterns of RNAs. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed with volcano and heatmap plot. DEGs were sequentially analyzed by weighted gene co-expression network, functional enrichment, and competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network analysis. Next, expression of selected miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs and mRNAs were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Bioinformatics packages and extra databases were enrolled to scoop the genes functions and their interaction relationships.ResultsA total of 89 lncRNAs, 65 circRNAs, 120 miRNAs and 422 mRNAs were significantly upregulated and 65 lncRNAs, 72 circRNAs, 74 miRNAs, and 190 mRNAs were significantly downregulated in the MenSCs treated rats compared to SCI ones. Current investigation revealed that MenSCs treatment improve the recovery of the injured rats and the most significantly involved pathways in SCI regeneration were cell adhesion molecules, nature killer cell mediated cytotoxicity, primary immunodeficiency, chemokine signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway and B cell receptor signaling pathway. Moreover, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network of SCI was constructed. Finally, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the top 100 DE mRNAs. The constructed PPI network included 47 nodes and 70 edges.DiscussionIn summary, the above results revealed the expression profile and potential functions of differentially expressed (DE) RNAs in the injured spinal cords of rats in the MenSCs-treated and SCI groups, and this study may provide new clues to understand the mechanisms of MenSCs in treating SCI

Deformation Characteristics of Tianjiaba Landslide Induced by Surcharge

The Tianjiaba landslide on the Hang Rui expressway was located in the south of Sinan County, Tongren City, Guizhou Province. From the night of 2 July to the morning of 3 July 2011, numerous house cracks, foundation subsidence, and surface cracks suddenly occurred in the Tudiwan and Tianjiaba villages on the north and south sides of the management area. Based on the field geological survey, drilling, pit exploration, surface displacement, fracture observation, and deep displacement monitoring data analysis the deformation characteristics and causes of the Tianjiaba landslide were comprehensively analyzed. In this study, the landslide was divided into three areas, in which fracture group 3 was the most severe. Among the ten inclinometer holes, the sliding surface displacement of No.8 inclinometer hole was the largest, i.e., 25 mm. The sliding surface slopes of fracture groups 1, 2, and 3 were small, i.e., 12.25°, 4.97° and 6.62° to 4.64°, respectively. The results showed that the displacement values of different positions of the landslide were different, and the ground displacement value was larger than the sliding surface displacement value. The maximum displacement of the ground was 242.68 mm, which is larger than the maximum displacement of the inclinometer hole. Because the displacement of the upper part was greater than that of the lower part, bulging cracks formed in the lower part of the landslide. When the displacement of the upper part was less than that of the lower part, tension cracks formed in the lower part of the landslide. According to the surface cracks and displacement values of inclinometer holes on the sliding surface, the landslide was in the initial sliding stage and filling the platform of the management area on the hillside was the main cause of the landslide