Generation of multiple plasmons in strontium niobates mediated by local field effects

Recently, an anomalous generation of multiple plasmons with large spectral weight transfer in the visible to ultraviolet range (energies below the band gap) has been experimentally observed in the insulating-like phase of oxygen-rich strontium niobium oxides (SrNbO$_{3+\delta}$). Here, we investigate the ground state and dielectric properties of SrNbO$_{3+\delta}$ as a function of $\delta$ by means of extensive first principle calculations. We find that in the random phase approximation by taking into account the local field effects (LFEs), our calculations are able to reproduce both the unconventional multiple generations of plasmons and spectral weight transfers, consistent with experimental data. Interestingly, these unconventional plasmons can be tuned by oxygen stoichiometry as well as microscopic superstructure. This unusual predominance of LFEs in this class of materials is ascribed to the strong electronic inhomogeneity and high polarizability and paves a new path to induce multiple plasmons in the untapped visible to ultraviolet ranges of insulating-like oxides

Systematic study of one-loop realizations of d=7d=7 long-range 0νββ0\nu\beta\beta decay operators

We study the systematical one-loop decomposition of the dimension-7 long-range $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay operators. We find that there are 3 genuine one-loop topologies and 8 diagrams. The procedure to determine the SM quantum number assignments for both internal and external fields is presented. The Majorana neutrino mass in long-range $0\nu\beta\beta$ models is discussed. We also present a one-loop $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay model which produces Majorana neutrino mass at three-loop level. The phenomenological predictions for light neutrino mass and $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay half-life time including both mass mechanism and long-range contribution are studied.Comment: 42 pages, 19 figure

4-Carb­oxy­anilinium chloride

In the title salt, C7H8NO2 +·Cl−, the cation and anion are linked by an O—H⋯Cl hydrogen bond. The three-dimensional crystal structure is stabilized by N—H⋯O and N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds

Studying antibiotic–membrane interactions via X-ray diffraction and fluorescence microscopy

AbstractAntibiotic drug resistance is a serious issue for the treatment of bacterial infection. Understanding the resistance to antibiotics is a key issue for developing new drugs. We used penicillin and sulbactam as model antibiotics to study their interaction with model membranes. Cholesterol was used to target the membrane for comparison with the well-known insertion model. Lamellar X-ray diffraction (LXD) was used to determine membrane thickness using successive drug-to-lipid molar ratios. The aspiration method for a single giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) was used to monitor the kinetic binding process of antibiotic–membrane interactions in an aqueous solution. Both penicillin and sulbactam are found positioned outside the model membrane, while cholesterol inserts perpendicularly into the hydrophobic region of the membrane in aqueous solution. This result provides structural insights for understanding the antibiotic–membrane interaction and the mechanism of antibiotics

Noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of 21-Hydroxylase deficiency using target capture sequencing of maternal plasma DNA.

Here, we aimed to validate a noninvasive method using capture sequencing for prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-Hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). Noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) of 21-OHD was based on 14 plasma samples collected from 12 families, including four plasma sample collected during the first trimester. Targeted capture sequencing was performed using genomic DNA from the parents and child trios to determine the pathogenic and wild-type alleles associated with the haplotypes. Maternal plasma DNA was also sequenced to determine the fetal inheritance of the allele using hidden Markov model-based haplotype linkage analysis. The effect of fetal DNA fraction and sequencing depth on the accuracy of NIPD was investigated. The lower limit of fetal DNA fraction was 2% and the threshold mean sequence depth was 38, suggesting potential advantage if used in early gestation. The CYP21A2 genotype of the fetus was accurately determined in all the 14 plasma samples as early as day 1 and 8 weeks of gestation. Results suggest the accuracy and feasibility of NIPD of 21-OHD using a small target capture region with a low threshold for fetal DNA fraction and sequence depth. Our method is cost-effective and suggests diagnostic applications in clinical practice

The chinese herbal decoction danggui buxue tang inhibits angiogenesis in a rat model of liver fibrosis.

In this study, we investigated the anti-angiogenic effect of the Chinese herbal decoction Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT; Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae sinensis in 5 : 1 ratio) in a rat model of liver fibrosis, in order to elucidate its mechanisms of action against liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was induced with CCl(4) and high-fat food for 6 weeks, and the rats were treated with oral doses of DBT (6 g raw herbs/kg/d) and N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC; 0.1 g/kg/d). The results showed that both DBT and NAC attenuated liver fibrosis and neo-angiogenesis. Furthermore, DBT and NAC improved SOD activity but decreased MDA content and 8-OH-dG in fibrotic livers, with DBT being more effective than NAC. DBT decreased the expression of VEGF, Ang1 and TGF-β1 and their signaling mediators, whereas NAC had no effect on VEGF and VEGFR2 expression. Both DBT and NAC reduced HIF-1α gene and protein expression in fibrotic livers, with DBT being more effective. These data clearly demonstrate that the anti-fibrotic properties of DBT are related to its ability to inhibit angiogenesis and its anti-angiogenic mechanisms are associated with improving oxidative stress, regulating the expression and signaling of angiogenic factors, and especially modulating HIF-1α in fibrotic livers