Chiral Electronics

We consider the properties of electric circuits involving Weyl semimetals. The existence of the anomaly-induced chiral magnetic current in a Weyl semimetal subjected to magnetic field causes an interesting and unusual behavior of such circuits. We consider two explicit examples: i) a circuit involving the "chiral battery" and ii) a circuit that can be used as a "quantum amplifier" of magnetic field. The unique properties of these circuits stem from the chiral anomaly and may be utilized for creating "chiral electronic" devices.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; final version to appear in Physical Review

1/2 BPS Geometries of M2 Giant Gravitons

We construct the general 1/2 BPS M2 giant graviton solutions asymptotic to the eleven-dimensional maximally supersymmetric plane wave background, based on the recent work of Lin, Lunin and Maldacena. The solutions have null singularity and we argue that it is unavoidable to have null singularity in the proposed framework, although the solutions are still physically relevant. They involve an arbitrary function F(x) which is shown to have a correspondence to the 1/2 BPS states of the BMN matrix model. A detailed map between the 1/2 BPS states of both sides is worked out.Comment: 21 pages and 1 figure. v2: references added, comments adde

Influence of the anion potential on the charge ordering in quasi-one dimensional charge transfer salts

We examine the various instabilities of quarter-filled strongly correlated electronic chains in the presence of a coupling to the underlying lattice. To mimic the physics of the (TMTTF)$_2$X Bechgaard-Fabre salts we also include electrostatic effects of intercalated anions. We show that small displacements of the anion can stabilize new mixed Charged Density Wave-Bond Order Wave phases in which central symmetry centers are suppressed. This finding is discussed in the context of recent experiments. We suggest that the recently observed charge ordering is due to a cooperative effect between the Coulomb interaction and the coupling of the electronic stacks to the anions. On the other hand, the Spin-Peierls instability at lower temperature requires a Peierls-like lattice coupling.Comment: Latex, 4 pages, 4 postscript figure

Effect of incorporating different polyaniline-surface modified nanosilica content into polyurethane-based quasi-solid-state electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells

Polyaniline‐surface modified nanosilica (S‐PANi) was incorporated into polyurethane (PU) to form a polymer matrix able to entrap liquid electrolyte and to function as a quasi‐solid state electrolyte (QSE) in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Nanosilica was first synthesized via sol–gel technique and was post modified with aniline to form S‐PANi. The effects of introducing different S‐PANi content (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) on the nanoparticle distribution, surface morphology, surface porosity, thermal stability, and the structure of the PU matrix were analyzed using transmitted and reflected light microscopes, TGA and X‐ray powder diffraction. Additionally, polymer matrix absorptivity, conductivity, and ion diffusion of the formulated QSEs were investigated by using a digital analytical balance, the AC impedance method, and cyclic voltammetry. Lastly, all of the formulated quasi‐solid‐state electrolytes were applied for use in DSSCs wherein their charge recombination, photovoltaic performance, and lifespan were measured. The quasi‐solid‐state electrolyte based on 15 wt% S‐PANi (PU‐15%S‐PANi) exhibited the highest light‐to‐energy conversion efficiency, namely 3.17%, with an open circuit voltage of 708 mV, a short circuit current of 4.13 mA cm⁻², and a fill factor of 0.65

Enhanced Transmission of Light and Particle Waves through Subwavelength Nanoapertures by Far-Field Interference

Subwavelength aperture arrays in thin metal films can enable enhanced transmission of light and matter (atom) waves. The phenomenon relies on resonant excitation and interference of the plasmon or matter waves on the metal surface. We show a new mechanism that could provide a great resonant and nonresonant transmission enhancement of the light or de Broglie particle waves passed through the apertures not by the surface waves, but by the constructive interference of diffracted waves (beams generated by the apertures) at the detector placed in the far-field zone. In contrast to other models, the mechanism depends neither on the nature (light or matter) of the beams (continuous waves or pulses) nor on material and shape of the multiple-beam source (arrays of 1-D and 2-D subwavelength apertures, fibers, dipoles or atoms). The Wood anomalies in transmission spectra of gratings, a long standing problem in optics, follow naturally from the interference properties of our model. The new point is the prediction of the Wood anomaly in a classical Young-type two-source system. The new mechanism could be interpreted as a non-quantum analog of the superradiance emission of a subwavelength ensemble of atoms (the light power and energy scales as the number of light-sources squared, regardless of periodicity) predicted by the well-known Dicke quantum model.Comment: Revised version of MS presented at the Nanoelectronic Devices for Defense and Security (NANO-DDS) Conference, 18-21 June, 2007, Washington, US

Neuroprotective Effects against Glutamate-Induced HT-22 Hippocampal Cell Damage and Caenorhabditis elegans Lifespan/Healthspan Enhancing Activity of Auricularia polytricha Mushroom Extracts.

Oxidative stress is associated with several diseases, particularly neurodegenerative diseases, commonly found in the elderly. The attenuation of oxidative status is one of the alternatives for neuroprotection and anti-aging. Auricularia polytricha (AP), an edible mushroom, contains many therapeutic properties, including antioxidant properties. Herein, we report the effects of AP extracts on antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-aging activities. The neuroprotective effect of AP extracts against glutamate-induced HT-22 neuronal damage was determined by evaluating the cytotoxicity, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and expression of antioxidant enzyme genes. Lifespan and healthspan assays were performed to examine the effects of AP extracts from Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that ethanolic extract (APE) attenuated glutamate-induced HT-22 cytotoxicity and increased the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes. Moreover, APE promoted in the longevity and health of the C. elegans. Chemical analysis of the extracts revealed that APE contains the highest quantity of flavonoids and a reasonable percentage of phenols. The lipophilic compounds in APE were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), revealing that APE mainly contains linoleic acid. Interestingly, linoleic acid suppressed neuronal toxicity and ROS accumulation from glutamate induction. These results indicate that AP could be an exciting natural source that may potentially serves as neuroprotective and anti-aging agents

The shape of a moving fluxon in stacked Josephson junctions

We study numerically and analytically the shape of a single fluxon moving in a double stacked Josephson junctions (SJJ's) for various junction parameters. We show that the fluxon in a double SJJ's consists of two components, which are characterized by different Swihart velocities and Josephson penetration depths. The weight coefficients of the two components depend on the parameters of the junctions and the velocity of the fluxon. It is shown that the fluxon in SJJ's may have an unusual shape with an inverted magnetic field in the second junction when the velocity of the fluxon is approaching the lower Swihart velocity. Finally, we study the influence of fluxon shape on flux-flow current-voltage characteristics and analyze the spectrum of Cherenkov radiation for fluxon velocity above the lower Swihart velocity. Analytic expression for the wavelength of Cherenkov radiation is derived.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure

Mushroom-derived bioactive compounds potentially serve as the inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease: An in silico approach

Background and aim Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has now become the world pandemic. There is a race to develop suitable drugs and vaccines for the disease. The anti-HIV protease drugs are currently repurposed for the potential treatment of COVID-19. The drugs were primarily screened against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. With an urgent need for safe and effective drugs to treat the virus, we have explored natural products isolated from edible and medicinal mushrooms that have been reported to possess anti-HIV protease. Experimental procedures We have examined 36 compounds for their potential to be SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors using molecular docking study. Moreover, drug-likeness properties including absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity were evaluated by in silico ADMET analysis. Results Our AutoDock study showed that 25 of 36 candidate compounds have the potential to inhibit the main viral protease based on their binding affinity against the enzyme’s active site when compared to the standard drugs. Interestingly, ADMET analysis and toxicity prediction revealed that 6 out of 25 compounds are the best drug-like property candidates, including colossolactone VIII, colossolactone E, colossolactone G, ergosterol, heliantriol F and velutin. Conclusion Our study highlights the potential of existing mushroom-derived natural compounds for further investigation and possibly can be used to fight against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Taxonomy (classification by evise) Disease, Infectious Disease, Respiratory System Disease, Covid-19, Traditional Medicine, Traditional Herbal Medicine, Phamaceutical Analysis