High-efficiency photoelectric detector based on a p-n homojunction of monolayer black phosphorus

We numerically investigate the high-efficiency photovoltaic effect in lateral p-n homojunction based on monolayer black phosphorus (MBP) by using the non-equilibrium Green's function combined with the density functional theory. Due to the built-in electric field of the p-n junction and the wrinkle structure of MBP, the photocurrent excited by either linearly or elliptically polarized light is significantly enhanced in a wide photon energy range. Moreover, because of the electron-photon interaction, the photocurrent is related to atomic orbitals through the polarizing angle of polarized light. Therefore, we can read the orbital information of the band structure from the polarizing angular distribution of photocurrent. These findings suggest the promising application of MBP-based p-n homojunction in high-efficiency photoelectric devices and orbital-resolved photovoltaic detection

Liver Damage in Patients with HCV/HIV Coinfection Is Linked to HIV-Related Oxidative Stress

HIV infection aggravates the progression of liver damage in HCV-coinfected patients, with the underlying pathogenesis being multifactorial. Although high level of oxidative stress has been observed frequently in patients infected with HIV or HCV, the status of oxidative stress in HIV/HCV coinfection and its contribution to HCV liver damage have not been determined. This study involved 363 HBsAg-negative, anti-HCV-positive former blood donors recruited from a village in central China in July 2005; of these, 140 were positive for HIV. Of these 363 subjects, 282 were successfully followed up through July 2009. HIV/HCV-coinfected subjects had higher rates of end-stage liver disease-related death than those monoinfected with HCV. Liver ultrasound manifestations were poor in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative individuals, in both chronic HCV carriers and those with resolved HCV. Serum concentrations of total glutathione (tGSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), GSSG, and reduced GSH were higher in HIV-positive than HIV-negative subjects. GSSG concentrations were higher in HIV-infected subjects with abnormal ALT/AST levels than in those with normal ALT/AST levels and were associated with poorer liver ultrasound manifestations. These finding indicated that HIV infection accelerated HCV-associated liver damage in HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals. Increased oxidative stress, induced primarily by HIV coinfection, may contribute to aggravated liver damage

Semiquantum key distribution using initial states in only one basis without the classical user measuring

From the perspective of resource theory, it is interesting to achieve the same quantum task using as few quantum resources as possible. Semiquantum key distribution (SQKD), which allows a quantum user to share a confidential key with a classical user who prepares and operates qubits in only one basis, is an important example for studying this issue. To further limit the quantum resources used by users, in this paper, we constructed the first SQKD protocol which restricts the quantum user to prepare quantum states in only one basis and removes the classical user's measurement capability. Furthermore, we prove that the constructed protocol is unconditionally secure by deriving a key rate expression of the error rate in the asymptotic scenario. The work of this paper provides inspiration for achieving quantum superiority with minimal quantum resources.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure

Tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing apple MdAGO4.1 gene to drought and salt stress

The regulatory role of apple MdAGO4.1 gene in plant drought and salt resistance is unclear. In this study, transgenic A. thaliana in which the apple MdAGO4.1 gene was over-expressed was used to analyze the regulatory effects of the MdAGO4.1 gene on plant drought and salt resistance, to verify the function of the apple MdAGO4.1 gene. The seed germination rate, seedling fresh weight and root length of transgenic Arabidopsis strains in MS medium containing different concentrations of NaCl and mannitol were better than those of the wild type. The transgenic A. thaliana seedlings were more resistant to drought than wild type under drought stress. The transgenic strains were less affected by salt stress than thewild type. Exposure to drought and salt stress reduced the relative elektrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion (O2-), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels of the transgenic strain significantly compared with the levels in the wild type. The levels of proline, protective enzyme activities, and the expression of genes related to drought and salt stress resistance were significantly higher than those of the wild type. These results indicate that MdAGO4.1 overexpression improved drought and salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. This study can provide a theoretical basis for future research on stress tolerance mechanisms and breeding new varieties of fruit trees resistant to drought and salt

Plasma beam dumps for the EuPRAXIA facility

Beam dumps are indispensable components for particle accelerator facilities to absorb or dispose beam kinetic energy in a safe way. However, the design of beam dumps based on conventional technology, i.e., energy deposition via beam–dense matter interaction, makes the beam dump facility complicated and large in size, partly due to the high beam intensities and energies achieved. In addition, specific methods are needed to address the radioactive hazards that these high-power beams generate. On the other hand, the European Plasma Research Accelerator with eXcellence in Application (EuPRAXIA) project can advance the laser–plasma accelerator significantly by achieving a 1–5 GeV high-quality electron beam in a compact layout. Nevertheless, beam dumps based on the conventional technique will still produce radiation hazards and make the overall footprint less compact. Here, a plasma beam dump will be implemented to absorb the kinetic energy from the EuPRAXIA beam. In doing so, the overall compactness of the EuPRAXIA layout could be further improved, and the radioactivity generated by the facility can be mitigated. In this paper, results from particle-in-cell simulations are presented for plasma beam dumps based on EuPRAXIA beam parameters

One independent or many independent? The relationship among self-construal, number of brand endorsers, and brand attitudes

IntroductionIt was common for brands to use different numbers of endorsers in marketing practice. Nevertheless, research on brand endorsers’ quantity has not yielded a uniform consensus. The previous research about brand endorsers mainly focuses on the appeal of endorsement, brand category, and endorser characteristics, paying less attention to the impact of cultural factors, particularly self-construal. This study delves into selecting brand endorsers across diverse cultural regions for the same brand.MethodsDrawing on the principles of self-consistency theory and self-construal theory, our research, conducted through three distinct experiments, reveals that consumers tend to hold more favorable opinions about brands endorsed by a single individual. Furthermore, self-consistency emerges as a crucial mediating factor in this phenomenon. Additionally, self-construal is an essential factor among consumers from various cultural backgrounds.ResultsConsumers with an independent self-construal exhibit more favorable brand perceptions when it comes to single-endorser brands compared to their counterparts with an interdependent self-construal. Conversely, individuals with an interdependent self-construal demonstrate a more positive disposition towards brands with multiple endorsers than those with an independent self-construal.DiscussionThis research not only enriches and extends our theoretical understanding of the impact of the number of brand endorsers on consumer brand attitudes but also provides valuable practical insights for optimizing the selection of brand endorsers for companies