Electron-phonon coupling and superconductivity in LiB1+x_{1+x}C1−x_{1-x}

By means of the first-principles density-functional theory calculation and Wannier interpolation, electron-phonon coupling and superconductivity are systematically explored for boron-doped LiBC (i.e. LiB$_{1+x}$C$_{1-x}$), with $x$ between 0.1 and 0.9. Hole doping introduced by boron atoms is treated through virtual-crystal approximation. For the investigated doping concentrations, our calculations show the optimal doping concentration corresponds to 0.8. By solving the anisotropic Eliashberg equations, we find that LiB$_{1.8}$C$_{0.2}$ is a two-gap superconductor, whose superconducting transition temperature, T$_c$, may exceed the experimentally observed value of MgB$_2$. Similar to MgB$_2$, the two-dimensional bond-stretching $E_{2g}$ phonon modes along $\Gamma$-$A$ line have the largest contribution to electron-phonon coupling. More importantly, we find that the first two acoustic phonon modes $B_1$ and $A_1$ around the midpoint of $K$-$\Gamma$ line play a vital role for the rise of T$_c$ in LiB$_{1.8}$C$_{0.2}$. The origin of strong couplings in $B_1$ and $A_1$ modes can be attributed to enhanced electron-phonon coupling matrix elements and softened phonons. It is revealed that all these phonon modes couple strongly with $\sigma$-bonding electronic states.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in EP

Development and evaluation of a prototype non-woven fabric filter for purification of malaria-infected blood

BACKGROUND: Many malaria-related studies depend on infected red blood cells (iRBCs) as fundamental material; however, infected blood samples from human or animal models include leukocytes (white blood cells or WBCs), especially difficult to separate from iRBCs in cases involving Plasmodium vivax. These host WBCs are a source of contamination in biology, immunology and molecular biology studies, requiring their removal. Non-woven fabric (NWF) has the ability to adsorb leukocytes and is already used as filtration material to deplete WBCs for blood transfusion and surgery. The present study describes the development and evaluation of a prototype NWF filter designed for purifying iRBCs from malaria-infected blood. METHODS: Blood samples of P. vivax patients were processed separately by NWF filter and CF11 column methods. WBCs and RBCs were counted, parasite density, morphology and developing stage was checked by microscopy, and compared before and after treatment. The viability of filtrated P. vivax parasites was examined by in vitro short-term cultivation. RESULTS: A total of 15 P. vivax-infected blood samples were treated by both NWF filter and CF11 methods. The WBC removal rate of the NWF filter method was 99.03%, significantly higher than the CF11 methods (98.41%, P < 0.01). The RBC recovery rate of the NWF filter method was 95.48%, also significantly higher than the CF11 method (87.05%, P < 0.01). Fourteen in vitro short-term culture results showed that after filter treatment, P. vivax parasite could develop as normal as CF11 method, and no obvious density, developing stage difference were fund between two methods. CONCLUSIONS: NWF filter filtration removed most leukocytes from malaria-infected blood, and the recovery rate of RBCs was higher than with CF11 column method. Filtrated P. vivax parasites were morphologically normal, viable, and suitable for short-term in vitro culture. NWF filter filtration is simple, fast and robust, and is ideal for purification of malaria-infected blood

Polymorphisms of CYP1A1 I462V and GSTM1 genotypes and lung cancer susceptibility in Mongolian

Aim: To study the genotype of cytochrome P450 1A1(CYP1A1) I462V and glutathions S-transferase M1( GSTM1) and the relationship of the genetic polymorphism of them with the susceptibility of lung cancer in Mongolia of China. &#xd;&#xa;&#xd;&#xa;Methods: Allele-specific PCR and a multiplex PCR were employed to identify the genotypes of I462V of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 in a case-control study of 210 lung cancer patients with bronchoscopy diagnosis and 210 matched controls free of malignancy.&#xd;&#xa;&#xd;&#xa;Results: The frequencies of the variant CYP1A1(Val/Val) genotypes and GSTM1(-) in lung cancer groups were higher than that in control groups (15.24% vs 7.4% and 56.67% vs 40.95% ). The individuals who carried with CYP1A1(Val/Val) or GSTM1(-) genotype had a significantly higher risk of lung cancer, the OR is 2.56 and 1.89 respectively. Stratified histologically the relative risk increased to 2.6 - fold when the patients carried with two valine alleles than the ones carried one valine allele in cases of SCC. GSTM1(-) genotype is the risk factor of SCC (OR=2.39) and AC(OR=2.16). The presence of at least one Val allele of CYP1A1 and GSTM1(-), the risk of lung cancer was increased, the OR was 4.15 for one Val allele and GSTM1(-) and 2.67 for two Val alleles and GSTM1 Considering ages and smoking status, the risk of lung cancer increased when the age less than 50 who carried with CYP1A1 valine (one or two) alleles or the age during the 51 to 65 who carried with GSTM1(-) genotype. The light smokers with CYP1A1 valine alleles and GSTM1(-) have a high risk for lung cancer. No association was found between the light and heavy drinkers with the susceptibility of lung cancer and the genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1 I462V and GSTM1(-). &#xd;&#xa;&#xd;&#xa;Conclusion: The valine allele of CYP1A1 was the risk factors of lung cancer especially for SCC and GSTM1(-) also was the risk factor of lung cancer and especially for SCC and AC of Mongolian, China. Light smoking has a influence each other with genotype of CYP1A1 I462V and GSTM1(-) and susceptibility of lung cancer. No relationship was found between the susceptibility of lung cancer and drinkers with genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1 I462V and GSTM1(-). The influence of genotypes on the susceptibility of lung cancer may depend on the ages. There may be a synergetic interaction between CYP1A1 valine allele and GSTM1(-) genotypes on the elevated susceptibility of lung cancer. So do those genotypes with light smokers. Key words polymorphism; genotype; lung cancer; cytochrome P450&#xff1b;glutathione S-transferase Abbreviations: SCC, squamous cell carcinoma; AC, adenocarcinoma; SCLC, small cell lung cancer; LCLC, large cell lung cance

Excited Heavy Quarkonium Production at the LHC through WW-Boson Decays

Sizable amount of heavy-quarkonium events can be produced through $W$-boson decays at the LHC. Such channels will provide a suitable platform to study the heavy-quarkonium properties. The "improved trace technology", which disposes the amplitude ${\cal M}$ at the amplitude-level, is helpful for deriving compact analytical results for complex processes. As an important new application, in addition to the production of the lower-level Fock states $|(Q\bar{Q'})[1S]>$ and $|(Q\bar{Q'})[1P]>$, we make a further study on the production of higher-excited $|(Q\bar{Q'})>$-quarkonium Fock states $|(Q\bar{Q'})[2S]>$, $|(Q\bar{Q'})[3S]>$ and $|(Q\bar{Q'})[2P]>$. Here $|(Q\bar{Q'})>$ stands for the $|(c\bar{c})>$-charmonium, $|(c\bar{b})>$-quarkonium and $|(b\bar{b})>$-bottomonium respectively. We show that sizable amount of events for those higher-excited states can also be produced at the LHC. Therefore, we need to take them into consideration for a sound estimation.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures and 6 tables. Typo errors are corrected, more discussions and two new figures have been adde