Preparation of Cu2ZnSnS/Se4 Thin Films from Oxide Precursors and its Prospect for Other Cu2MSnS4 Thin Films

In this chapter, the preparation of Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) and Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films from oxide precursors was described. Such an oxides‐based route is a low cost, facile way for the kesteries thin films. The rationality of applying oxides method into CZTSe and CZTS thin films was also clarified, including the reactive thermodynamics and annealing process. Finally, this oxide‐based approach is also expected for the preparation of the other Cu2MSnS4 (M= Co2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Mn2+) thin films

Preparation and Characterisation of Nobiletin-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers

The objective of this manuscript was to investigate and optimise the potential of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) as a carrier system for nobiletin (NOB), which was prepared by high-pressure homogenisation method. Additionally, this study was focused on the application of NOB-loaded NLC (NOB-NLC) in functional food. Response surface method with a three-level Box–Behnken design was validated through analysis of variance, and the robustness of the design was confirmed through the correspondence between the values measured in the experiments and the predicted ones. Properties of the prepared NOB-NLC, such as Z-average, polydispersity, entrapment efficiency, zeta potential, morphology, and crystallinity, were investigated. NOB-NLC exhibited a spherical shape with a diameter of 112.27 ± 5.33 nm, zeta potential of −35.1 ± 2.94 mV, a polydispersity index of 0.251 ± 0.058, and an EE of 81.06%  ±  6.02%. Results from X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry of NOB-NLC reviewed that the NOB crystal might be converted to an amorphous state. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that chemical interaction was absent between the compound and lipid mixture in NOB-NLC

Novel magnetic topological insulator FeBi2_2Te4_4 with controllable topological quantum phase

Here, we report a new intrinsic magnetic topological insulator FeBi$_2$Te$_4$ based on first-principles calculations and it can achieve a rich topological phase under pressure modulation. Without pressure, we predict that both FeBi$_2$Te$_4$ ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orders are non-trivial topological insulators. Furthermore, FeBi$_2$Te$_4$ of FM-z order will undergo a series of phase transitions from topological insulator to semimetals and then to trivial insulator under pressure. Finally, we further clarify and verify topological phase transitions with low-energy effective model calculations. This topological phase transition process is attributed to the synergy of the magnetic moment and the spin-orbit coupling. The unique topological properties of FeBi$_2$Te$_4$ will be of great interest in driving the development of quantum effects

Rescue of recombinant peste des petits ruminants virus: creation of a GFP-expressing virus and application in rapid virus neutralization test

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes high mortality in goats and sheep and the disease has shown a greatly increased geographic distribution over the last 15 years. It is responsible for serious socioeconomic problems in some of the poorest developing countries. The ability to create recombinant PPRV would provide a useful tool for investigating the biology of the virus and the pathology of disease, as well as for developing new vaccines and diagnostic methods. Here we report the first successful rescue of recombinant PPRV from a full-length cDNA clone of the virus genome. Successful recovery of PPRV was achieved by using a RNA polymerase II promoter to drive transcription of the full-length virus antigenome. We have used this technique to construct a virus expressing a tracer protein (green fluorescent protein, GFP). The recombinant virus replicated as well as the parental virus and could stably express GFP during at least 10 passages. The newly established reverse genetics system for PPRV provides a novel method for constructing a vaccine using PPRV as a vector, and will also prove valuable for fundamental research on the biology of the virus. We found that our recombinant virus allowed more rapid and higher throughput assessment of PPRV neutralization antibody titer via the virus neutralization test (VNT) compared with the traditional method

Topological Phases, Local Magnetic Moments, and Spin Polarization Triggered by C558-Line Defects in Graphene

We study the electronic properties of a novel topological defect structure for graphene interspersed with C558-line defects along the Armchair boundary. This system has the topological property of being topologically three-periodic and the type-II Dirac-fermionic character of the embedded topological phase. At the same time, we show computationally that the topological properties of the system are overly dependent on the coupling of this line defect. Using strain engineering to regulate the magnitude of hopping at the defect, the position of the energy level can be easily changed to achieve a topological phase transition. We also discuss the local magnetic moment and the ferromagnetic ground state in the context of line defects, which is the conclusion after considering additional Coulomb interactions. This leads to spin polarization of the whole system. Finally, by modulating the local magnetic moment at the position of the line defect, we achieve a tunable spin quantum conductance in a one-dimensional nanoribbon. Near the Fermi energy level, it also has the property of complete spin polarization. Consequently, spin filtering can be achieved by varying the incident energy of the electrons.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure