Wetting layer evolution and its temperature dependence during self assembly of InAs/GaAs quantum dots

For InAs/GaAs(001) quantum dot (QD) system, the wetting layer (WL) evolution and its temperature dependence were studied using reflectance difference spectroscopy (RDS) and analyzed with a rate equation model. The WL thicknesses showed a monotonic increase at relatively low growth temperatures but a first increase and then decrease at higher temperatures, which were unexpected from the thermodynamic understanding. By adopting a rate equation model, the temperature dependence of QD growth was assigned as the origin of different WL evolutions. A brief discussion on the indium desorption was also given. Those results gave hints of the kinetic aspects of QD self-assembly.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure

In Situ

“Smaller is stronger,” sub-, micro-, and nanomaterials exhibit high strength, ultralarge elasticity and unusual plastic and fracture behaviors which originate from their size effect and the low density of defects, different from their conventional bulk counterparts. To understand the structural evolution process under external stress at atomic scale is crucial for us to reveal the essence of these “unusual” phenomena and is momentous in the design of new materials. Our review presents the recent developments in the methods, techniques, instrumentation, and scientific progress of atomic scale in situ deformation dynamics on single crystalline nanowires. The super-large elasticity, plastic deformation mechanism transmission, and unusual fracture behavior related to the experimental mechanics of nanomaterials are reviewed. In situ experimental mechanics at the atomic scale open a new research field which is important not only to the microscopic methodology but also to the practice

Chlorobenzoxime inhibits respiratory syncytial virus infection in neonatal rats via up-regulation of IFN-γ in dendritic cells

Purpose: To investigate the effect of chlorobenzoxime on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in vitro in lung alveolar cells and in vivo in neonatal rats, as well as the mechanism of action involved. Methods: RSV infection in neonatal rats was induced via intranasal administration of 2 x 106PFU viral particles. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting were used for determination of changes in interleukin expression. Results: RSV infection in BEAS-2B cells caused significant reduction in viability and marked alteration in morphological appearance (p < 0.05). Exposure of RSV-infected BEAS-2B cells to chlorobenzoxime prevented viability reduction and changes in morphology, and led to reductions in RSV-mediated increases in levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8. Moreover, RSV infection significantly enhanced ROS levels in BEAS-2B cells, when compared to control cells (p < 0.05). Chlorobenzoxime at a concentration of 30 μM completely suppressed RSV-mediated generation of ROS in BEAS-2B cells. In neonatal rats, RSV-induced upregulation of interleukin-4, interleukin-13 and TNF-α, were suppressed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues by chlorobenzoxime. Moreover, the RSVmediated reduction in IFN-γ was maximally blocked by chlorobenzoxime at a dose of 10 mg/mL. Chlorobenzoxime enhanced the proportion of IFN-γ -producing cells in neonatal rat BALF. Conclusion: Chlorobenzoxime exhibits antiviral against RSV infection in neonatal rats via increase in dendritic cell population, leading to inhibition of cytokine production. Therefore, chlorobenzoxime is a potential therapeutic agent for RSV infection. Keywords: Respiratory syncytial virus, Cytokines, Dendritic cells, Lung aveolar cells, Morphology, Interleukin

Metabolomic profiles of myocardial ischemia under treatment with salvianolic acid B

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza </it>(<it>Danshen</it>) has been used as a principal herb in treating cardiovascular diseases in Chinese medicine. Salvianolic acid B (SA-B), a water-soluble active component of <it>Danshen</it>, was found to have anti-myocardial ischemia (anti-MI) effect. This study aims to investigate mechanisms of SA-B on MI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Five conventional Western medicines (isosorbide dinitrate, verapamil, propranolol, captopril and trimethazine) with different mechanisms for treating cardiovascular diseases were selected as positive references to compare with SA-B in changing of the metabolomic profiles in MI rats under treatment. Potential mechanisms of SA-B were further investigated in H9C2 cell line.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The metabolomic profiles between SA-B- and propranolol-treated MI rats were similar, since there was a big overlap between the two groups in the PLS-DA score plot. Finally, it was demonstrated that SA-B exhibited a protective effect on MI mainly by decreasing the concentration of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and Ca²⁺and inhibiting protein kinase A (PKA).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>SA-B and propanolol exhibited similar metabolomic profiles, indicating that the two drugs might have a similar mechanism.</p

Valence band offset of InN/BaTiO3 heterojunction measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to measure the valence band offset of the InN/BaTiO(3 )heterojunction. It is found that a type-I band alignment forms at the interface. The valence band offset (VBO) and conduction band offset (CBO) are determined to be 2.25 ± 0.09 and 0.15 ± 0.09 eV, respectively. The experimental VBO data is well consistent with the value that comes from transitivity rule. The accurate determination of VBO and CBO is important for use of semiconductor/ferrroelectric heterojunction multifunctional devices

Exploration of carbon reduction in new municipal power systems

In response to China’s goal of “carbon peak and carbon neutrality”, a large number of new energy sources are connected to the power grid, and Chinese cities are also accelerating the construction of new power systems led by new energy. Taking Lishui City as an example, this paper constructs a low-carbon emission reduction evaluation system to evaluate the carbon reduction effectiveness of the new power system. This paper first introduces the basic technical characteristics of the new power system, and introduces in detail the key technologies involved in the construction of the new power system in Lishui. Then, the projects implemented by Lishui City in promoting the new power system and the current achievements were briefly summarized. After that, a new electric carbon traceability model of Lishui power system was constructed to carry out carbon traceability and carbon tracking for the municipal power grid. Finally, a low-carbon emission reduction evaluation system was constructed, and a number of evaluation indicators were proposed to evaluate the carbon reduction effectiveness of Lishui’s new power system, and the zero-carbon evaluation index was calculated through the historical data of Lishui, and the results showed that the new power system in Lishui City achieved remarkable results in carbon reduction and emission reduction

Screening ANLN and ASPM as bladder urothelial carcinoma-related biomarkers based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis

Introduction: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the most common malignancies in the urinary system with a poor prognosis and high treatment costs. Identifying potential prognostic biomarkers is significant for exploring new therapeutic and predictive targets of BLCA.Methods: In this study, we screened differentially expressed genes using the GSE37815 dataset. We then performed a weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify the genes correlated with the histologic grade and T stage of BLCA using the GSE32548 dataset. Subsequently, Kaplan Meier survival analysis and Cox regression were used to further identify prognosis‐related hub genes using the datasets GSE13507 and TCGA‐BLCA. Moreover, we detected the expression of the hub genes in 35 paired samples, including BLCA and paracancerous tissue, from the Shantou Central Hospital by qRT‐polymerase chain reaction.Results: This study showed that Anillin (ANLN) and Abnormal spindle-like microcephaly-associated gene (ASPM) were prognostic biomarkers for BLCA. High expression of ANLN and ASPM was associated with poor overall survival.The qRT‐PCR results revealed that ANLN and ASPM genes were upregulated in BLCA, and there was a correlation between the expression of ANLN and ASPM in cancer tissues and paracancerous tissue. Additionally, the increasing multiples in the ANLN gene was obvious in high-grade BLCA.Discussion: In summary, this preliminary exploration indicated a correlation between ANLN and ASPM expression. These two genes, serving as the risk factors for BLCA progression, might be promising targets to improve the occurrence and progression of BLCA

Visual analysis of hot spots and trends in research of meteorology and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome: a bibliometric analysis based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer

Objective: We here displayed the global research trends of meteorology and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) as a visual knowledge map by using bibliometrics and revealed the research directions, hotspots, trends, and frontiers in this field.Methods: Using Web of Science core collection as the data source and with CiteSpace and VOSviewer software, we collected and analyzed the annual number of papers, cooperative relationships (countries, institutions, authors, etc.), citations (literature citation, literature co-citation, literature publication, etc.), keywords (emergence, clustering, etc.) of meteorology, and HFRS-related research data for the past 30 years, and drew a visual map.Results: In total, this study included 313 papers investigating the relationship between meteorology and HFRS. The first paper was published in 1992. Globally, United States had the largest number of publications in this field, and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention was the most influential institution conducting related research (20 articles published, and the mediation centrality was 0.24). Several small author cooperation clusters were formed; however, the number of papers published by the same scholar and the co-citation frequency were low. Cazelles Bernard (7 articles) published the highest number of articles in this field, and Gubler DJ was the author with the most co-citations (55 times). The most frequently cited journal was Emerging Infectious Diseases. In this field, the top three high-frequency keywords were “hemorrhagic fever,” “transmission,” and “temperature.” According to keyword cluster analysis, the top three themes were dengue, dechlorane plus, and bank voles. The timeline spectrum exhibited that dengue clustering had a good temporal continuity. The trend analysis of emergent words revealed that the research on “temperature,” “meteorological factors” and “Puumala hantavirus” has gradually appeared in recent years.Conclusion: This study represents the first comprehensive exploration of global trends, hotspots, frontiers, and developments in the relationship between meteorology and HFRS, utilizing CiteSpace and VOSviewer software. The findings of this study are crucial for elucidating the influence of climate change on disease transmission patterns and offering novel insights for forthcoming epidemiological research and public health interventions