Electrospun polyvinyl alcohol/carbon dioxide modified polyethyleneimine composite nanofiber scaffolds

A novel biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol/carbon dioxide modified polyethyleneimine (PVA/PEI-CO2) composite nanofiber was fabricated by a green and facile protocol, which reduces the cytotoxicity of PEI through the surface modification of the PEI with CO2. The 13C NMR spectrum, elemental analysis, and TGA show that CO2 has been incorporated in the PEI surface resulting in a relatively stable structure. The resulting PVA/PEI-CO2 composite nanofibers have been characterized by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), contact angle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the average diameters of the nanofibers range from 265 ± 53 nm to 423 ± 80 nm. The cytotoxicity of PVA/PEI-CO2 composite nanofibers was assessed by cytotoxicity evaluation using the growth and cell proliferation of normal mice Schwann cells. SEM and the MTT assay demonstrated the promotion of cell growth and proliferation on the PVA/PEI-CO2 composite scaffold. It suggests that PEI-CO2 can have tremendous potential applications in biological material research

Magneto-transport in impurity-doped few-layer graphene spin valve

Using Keldysh nonequilibrium Green's function method we study the spin-dependent transport through impurity-doped few layer graphene sandwiched between two magnetic leads with an arbitrary mutual orientations of the magnetizations. We find for parallel electrodes magnetizations that the differential conductance possesses two resonant peaks as the applied bias increases. These peaks are traced back to a buildup of a magnetic moment on the impurity due to the electrodes spin polarization. For a large mutual angle of the electrodes magnetization directions, the two resonant peaks approach each others and merge into a single peak for antiparallel orientation of the electrodes magnetizations. We point out that the tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) may change sign for relatively small changes in the values of the polarization parameters. Furthermore, we inspect the behaviour of the differential conductance and TMR upon varying the temperature.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev.

QCD Effects in High Energy Processes

In this talk, some important QCD effects in Higgs physics, supersymmetry and top physics, as well as the factorization and resummation techniques in QCD are reviewed.Comment: LaTeX, 13 pages, uses ws-ijmpa.cls. Based on an invited talk at the International Conference on QCD and Hadronic Physics, Beijing, China, June 16--20, 2005. Minor change

Light Scalar Tetraquark Mesons in the QCD Sum Rule

We study the lowest-lying scalar mesons in the QCD sum rule by considering them as tetraquark states. We find that there are five independent currents for each state with a certain flavor structure. By forming linear combinations, we find that some mixed currents give reliable QCD sum rules. Among various tetraquark currents, we consider those which are constructed by the diquarks having anti-symmetric and symmetric flavor structures. That the results of the QCD sum rule derived from the two types of currents are similar suggests that the tetraquark states can have a large mixing between different flavor structures.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures; reference added, minor corrections; version to appear in Phys.Rev.

Field Driven Pairing State Phase Transition in d_x^2-y^2+id_xy-Wave Superconductors

Within the framework of the Ginzburg-Landau theory for $d_{x^2-y^2}+id_{xy}$-wave superconductors, we discuss the pairing state phase transition in the absence of the Zeeman coupling between the Cooper pair orbital angular momentum and the magnetic field. We find that above a temperature $T_{\ast}$, the pairing state in a magnetic field is pure $d_{x^{2}-y^{2}}$-wave. However, below $T_{\ast}$, the pairing state is $d_{x^{2}-y^{2}}+id_{xy}$-wave at low fields, and it becomes pure $d_{x^{2}-y^{2}}$-wave at higher fields. Between these pairing states there exists a field driven phase transition . The transition field increases with decreasing temperature. In the field-temperature phase diagram, the phase transition line is obtained theoretically by a combined use of a variational method and the Virial theorem. The analytical result is found to be in good agreement with numerical simulation results of the Gingzburg-Landau equations. The validity of the variational method is discussed. The difference to the case with the Zeeman coupling is discussed, which may be utilized to the detection of the Zeeman coupling.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, submitted to PRB Brief Repor

Flux-adjustable permanent magnet machines in traction applications

This paper overviews the recent advances in flux-adjustable permanent magnet (PM) machines for traction applications. The flux-adjustable PM machines benefit from the synergies of the high torque density and high efficiency in conventional PM machines as well as the controllable air-gap field in wound-field machines, which are attractive for the traction applications requiring enhanced capabilities of speed regulation and uncontrolled voltage mitigation. In general, three solutions have been presented, namely the hybrid excited (HE), the mechanically regulated (MR), and the variable flux memory (VFM) machines. Numerous innovations were proposed on these topics during the last two decades, while each machine topology has its own merits and demerits. The purpose of this paper is to review the development history and trend of the flux-adjustable PM machines, with particular reference to their topologies, working mechanism, and electromagnetic performance

H2S Donor, S-Propargyl-Cysteine, Increases CSE in SGC-7901 and Cancer-Induced Mice: Evidence for a Novel Anti-Cancer Effect of Endogenous H2S?

Background: S-propargyl-cysteine (SPRC), an H2S donor, is a structural analogue of S-allycysteine (SAC). It was investigated for its potential anti-cancer effect on SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells and the possible mechanisms that may be involved. Methods and Findings: SPRC treatment significantly decreased cell viability, suppressed the proliferation and migration of SPRC-7901 gastric cancer cells, was pro-apoptotic as well as caused cell cycle arrest at the G 1/S phase. In an in vivo study, intra-peritoneal injection of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of SPRC significantly reduced tumor weights and tumor volumes of gastric cancer implants in nude mice, with a tumor growth inhibition rate of 40–75%. SPRC also induced a pro-apoptotic effect in cancer tissues and elevated the expressions of p53 and Bax in tumors and cells. SPRC treatment also increased protein expression of cystathione-c-lyase (CSE) in cells and tumors, and elevated H 2S levels in cell culture media, plasma and tumoral CSE activity of gastric cancer-induced nude mice by 2, 2.3 and 1.4 fold, respectively. Most of the anti-cancer functions of SPRC on cells and tumors were significantly suppressed by PAG, an inhibitor of CSE activity. Conclusions: Taken together, the results of our study provide insights into a novel anti-cancer effect of H2S as well as o

Quasiparticle Scattering Interference in High Temperature Superconductors

We propose that the energy-dependent spatial modulation of the local density of states seen by Hoffman, et al [hoff2] is due to the scattering interference of quasiparticles. In this paper we present the general theoretical basis for such an interpretation and lay out the underlying assumptions. As an example, we perform exact T-matrix calculation for the scattering due to a single impurity. The results of this calculation is used to check the assumptions, and demonstrate that quasiparticle scattering interference can indeed produce patterns similar to those observed in Ref. [hoff2].Comment: RevTex4 twocolumn, 4 pages, 3 figures. Figs.2-3 virtually embedded (bacause of too big size) while jpg files available in the postscript/source package. Further polishe

Acts of distinction at times of crisis: an epistemological challenge to intercultural communication research

In this article, we reflect on the epistemological frameworks and priorities of intercultural communication research regarding ‘cultural differences’. With the current challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the growing political and social polarisation in recent years, we argue for a need to (re)focus attention to the ways acts of distinction (i. e., the explicit marking and accentuating of cultural differences) function in everyday encounters. The notion of acts of distinction, supported with principles from interactional sociolinguistics and moment analysis, can further our understanding of the dynamics of domination and the symbolic dimensions of group formation

Signature of Spin Collective Mode in Local Tunneling Spectra of a d-wave Superconductor

We consider the influence of magnetic excitations on the local density of states in the d-wave superconductor. The magnetic susceptibility is calculated within the renormalized $t-t'-J$ model and its influence on the quasiparticle self-energy is considered using a minimal model originally proposed by Polkovnikov {\it et al.}[cond-mat/0203176]. We find the local density of states possess periodic components both along $(\pi,0)$ and $(\pi,\pi)$ directions with the associated wavevectors changing in magnitude as the quasiparticle energy is varied. Comparison with the STM experiment reveals that the calculated LDOS modulation is inconsistent with the measured data.Comment: Two figures separately attached as .jpg file