Tunable Atomically Wide Electrostatic Barriers Embedded in a Graphene WSe2 Heterostructure

Inducing and controlling electrostatic barriers in two-dimensional (2D) quantum materials has shown extraordinary promise to enable control of charge carriers, and is key for the realization of nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices1-10. Because of their atomically thin nature, the 2D materials have a congenital advantage to construct the thinnest possible p-n junctions1,3,7,9,10. To realize the ultimate functional unit for future nanoscale devices, creating atomically wide electrostatic barriers embedded in 2D materials is desired and remains an extremely challenge. Here we report the creation and manipulation of atomically wide electrostatic barriers embedded in graphene WSe2 heterostructures. By using a STM tip, we demonstrate the ability to generate a one-dimensional (1D) atomically wide boundary between 1T-WSe2 domains and continuously tune positions of the boundary because of ferroelasticity of the 1T-WSe2. Our experiment indicates that the 1D boundary introduces atomically wide electrostatic barriers in graphene above it. Then the 1D electrostatic barrier changes a single graphene WSe2 heterostructure quantum dot from a relativistic artificial atom to a relativistic artificial molecule

Differentiate Quality of Experience Scheduling for Deep Learning Inferences with Docker Containers in the Cloud

With the prevalence of big-data-driven applications, such as face recognition on smartphones and tailored recommendations from Google Ads, we are on the road to a lifestyle with significantly more intelligence than ever before. Various neural network powered models are running at the back end of their intelligence to enable quick responses to users. Supporting those models requires lots of cloud-based computational resources, e.g., CPUs and GPUs. The cloud providers charge their clients by the amount of resources that they occupy. Clients have to balance the budget and quality of experiences (e.g., response time). The budget leans on individual business owners, and the required Quality of Experience (QoE) depends on usage scenarios of different applications. For instance, an autonomous vehicle requires an real-time response, but unlocking your smartphone can tolerate delays. However, cloud providers fail to offer a QoE-based option to their clients. In this paper, we propose DQoES, differentiated quality of experience scheduler for deep learning inferences. DQoES accepts clients' specifications on targeted QoEs, and dynamically adjusts resources to approach their targets. Through the extensive cloud-based experiments, DQoES demonstrates that it can schedule multiple concurrent jobs with respect to various QoEs and achieve up to 8x times more satisfied models when compared to the existing syste

The prognostic value of Foxp3+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with glioblastoma

Forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) is known as a specific marker for regulatory T cells which contribute to immunosuppression in tumor microenvironment. However, existing studies regarding clinical significance of Foxp3+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in glioblastoma (GBM) remained discrepant. In this study, we aimed to explore whether this subtype of TILs correlated with prognosis in patients with GBM. Foxp3+ TILs as well as CD8+ ones were detected by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tumor samples from 62 patients. Staining for p53, MGMT and Ki-67 were also performed. The correlation of TIL subtypes with clinicopathologic features were analyzed. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by Kaplan–Meier method and compared using log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors for PFS and OS were determined through univariate and multivariate analysis. Significant correlation was found between Foxp3 and CD8 expression (P = 0.003), but not between TIL subtypes and clinicopathologic characteristics. Patients with higher density of Foxp3+ TILs showed relatively shorter PFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.003) whereas patients with higher density of CD8+ TILs obtained no significant differences in survival. Survival analysis based on molecular classifications further clarified these predictive values. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that frequency of Foxp3+ TILs was probably associated with both PFS (P = 0.002) and OS (P = 0.003). In conclusion, the results suggest that Foxp3 positive infiltrates could provide an independent predictive factor in GBM. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11060-013-1314-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Preparation of Tradescantia pallida-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles and their activity against cervical cancer cell lines

Purpose: To synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Tradescantia pallida. (Commelinaceae) and determine their fluorescent and cytotoxic properties.Methods: ZnO NPs were synthesized according to a simple protocol using T. pallida aqueous leaf extract (TPALE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and  transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to analyze the morphology of the ZnO NPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transforminfrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements were performed to determine their crystalline nature and functional groups, respectively. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to assess the  photoluminescence properties of ZnO NPs. Upon confirmation of ZnO NP synthesis, cytotoxicity tests were carried out against HeLa cell line by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.Results: The agglomerated ZnO NPs were rod-shaped and had a mean particle size of 25 ± 2 nm. Further, they exhibited good photoluminescence with correlation to ZnO crystals. MTT assay results indicated significant cytotoxicity against HeLa cervical cancer cell line.Conclusion: A simple approach for ZnO NP synthesis based on TPALE has been developed successfully. The synthesized ZnO NPs demonstrate good luminescence properties and cytotoxicity against cervical cancer line.Keywords: Commelinaceae, Cytotoxicity, Photoluminescence, Setcreasea pallida, Setcreasea purpurea, Tradescantia pallida, ZnO nanoparticle

Soil Abiotic Properties and Plant Functional Traits Mediate Associations Between Soil Microbial and Plant Communities During a Secondary Forest Succession on the Loess Plateau

In the context of secondary forest succession, aboveground-belowground interactions are known to affect the dynamics and functional structure of plant communities. However, the links between soil microbial communities, soil abiotic properties, plant functional traits in the case of semi-arid and arid ecosystems, are unclear. In this study, we investigated the changes in soil microbial species diversity and community composition, and the corresponding effects of soil abiotic properties and plant functional traits, during a ≥150-year secondary forest succession on the Loess Plateau, which represents a typical semi-arid ecosystem in China. Plant community fragments were assigned to six successional stages: 1–4, 4–8, 8–15, 15–50, 50–100, and 100–150 years after abandonment. Bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region of the rRNA operon, respectively. A multivariate variation-partitioning approach was used to estimate the contributions of soil properties and plant traits to the observed microbial community composition. We found considerable differences in bacterial and fungal community compositions between the early (S1–S3) and later (S4–S6) successional stages. In total, 18 and 12 unique families were, respectively, obtained for bacteria and fungi, as indicators of microbial community succession across the six stages. Bacterial alpha diversity was positively correlated with plant species alpha diversity, while fungal diversity was negatively correlated with plant species diversity. Certain fungal and bacterial taxa appeared to be associated with the occurrence of dominant plant species at different successional stages. Soil properties (pH, total N, total C, NH4-N, NO3-N, and PO4-P concentrations) and plant traits explained 63.80% and 56.68% of total variance in bacterial and fungal community compositions, respectively. These results indicate that soil microbial communities are coupled with plant communities via the mediation of microbial species diversity and community composition over a long-term secondary forest succession in the semi-arid ecosystem. The bacterial and fungal communities show distinct patterns in response to plant community succession, according to both soil abiotic properties and plant functional traits

Factors associated with euphoria in a large subset of cases using propofol sedation during gastrointestinal endoscopy

BackgroundThe utilization of Propofol, a widely used intravenous sedative or anesthetic, is characterized by its quick onset, predictable control, and fleeting half-life during both general anesthesia and intensive care unit sedation. Recent evidence, however, has highlighted propofol’s propensity to induce euphoria, particularly in patients undergoing painless procedures such as gastrointestinal or gastric endoscopy. Given its widespread use in patients undergoing such procedures, this study aims to investigate the clinical evidence and factors that may influence propofol-induced euphoria in these settings.MethodsThe Addiction Research Center Inventory-Chinese Version (ARCI-CV) scale was administered to 360 patients undergoing gastric or gastrointestinal endoscopy using propofol as a sedative. Patient characteristics including past medical history, depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, and sleep disturbance were recorded through history taking and assessment using various questionnaires prior to the examination. The euphoric and sedative statuses were assessed at 30 min and 1 week post-examination.ResultsThe experimental results of a survey of 360 patients who underwent gastric or gastrointestinal endoscopy using propofol showed that the mean Morphine–Benzedrine Group (MBG) score before the procedure and after 30 min of the procedure was 4.23 and 8.67, respectively. The mean Pentobarbital–Chlorpromazine–Alcohol Group (PCAG) score before the procedure and after 30 min of the procedure was 3.24 and 6.22, respectively. These results showed that both MBG and PCAG scores increased significantly after the procedure. Certain factors, such as dreaming, propofol dose, duration of anesthesia, and etomidate dose, were all correlated with MBG both at 30 min and 1 week after the examination. In addition, etomidate had an effect of decreasing MBG scores and increasing PCAG scores both at 30 min and 1 week after the examination.ConclusionTaken together, propofol may elicit euphoria and potentially contribute to propofol addiction. There are several risk factors for the development of propofol addiction, including dreaming, propofol dose, duration of anesthesia, and etomidate dose. These findings suggest that propofol may have a euphoric effect and may have the potential for drug addiction and abuse

Ethyl methanesulfonate mutant library construction in Neopyropia yezoensis to provide germplasm resources for next-generation genome-selection breeding

With the development of the laver industry, germplasm depression has become a serious issue, and current cultivars cannot adapt to different aquaculture regions. In order to increasing the genetic diversity and developing more germplasm sources, it is urgent and reasonable to construct a mutant library with more new germplasms. In this research, a mutant library was constructed by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized archeospores, and the most optimal treatment procedure was determined by performing different mutagen concentrations (2.25%) and treatment times (30 min). A total of 1860 haploid thalli were produced as the M1 mutant population and further cultured into conchocelis clones for the reservation of germplasm resources. Among these, 667 individual thalli were evaluated for their phenotypic traits, including thallus length, thallus width, length/width, thallus shape, photosynthesis ability, thallus color, thallus margin, and specific growth speed. The mutation frequency of the length/width ratio was 17.39%, Fv/Fm and NPQ were 21.84% and 29.35%, respectively, and SGR was 13.59%. The mutation frequency of thallus color was 0.91%. This work may not only provide a basic practical reference guide for EMS-based mutant library construction for other seaweeds but, more importantly, also serve as a valuable resource for functional genomics research and laver breeding