Spatial confinement of electrochemical reactions at solid/liquid interfaces is a mature area of research, and a central theme from cell biology to analytical chemistry. Monitoring or manipulating the ...kinetics of a charge transfer reaction in 2D is generally achieved using scanning electrochemical microscopy or multielectrode arrays, techniques that rely on moving physical probes or on a network of electrical connections. This tutorial is introducing concepts and instruments to confine faradaic electrochemical reactions in 2D without resorting to the mechanical movement of a probe, and with the simple design of one semiconducting electrode, one electrical lead and a single-channel potentiostat. We provide a theoretical background of semiconductor electrochemistry, and describe the use of localised visible light stimuli on photoconductor/liquid and semiconductor/liquid interfaces to address electrical conductivity - hence chemical reactivity - only at one specific site defined by the experimentalist. This enables shifting of the tenet of one electrode/one wire towards one wire/many electrodes. We discuss the applications of this emerging platform in the context of surface chemistry patterning, redox imaging, chemical and biological sensing, generating chemical gradients, electrocatalysis, nanotechnology and cell biology.
Electrochemical reactions in 2D with one electrical lead and a single-channel potentiostat.
Vortices are the hallmarks of hydrodynamic flow. Strongly interacting electrons in ultrapure conductors can display signatures of hydrodynamic behaviour, including negative non-local resistance1-4, ...higher-than-ballistic conduction5-7, Poiseuille flow in narrow channels8-10 and violation of the Wiedemann-Franz law11. Here we provide a visualization of whirlpools in an electron fluid. By using a nanoscale scanning superconducting quantum interference device on a tip12, we image the current distribution in a circular chamber connected through a small aperture to a current-carrying strip in the high-purity type 11 Weyl semimetal WTe2. In this geometry, the Gurzhi momentum diffusion length and the size ofthe aperture determine the vortex stability phase diagram. We find that vortices are present for only small apertures, whereas the flow is laminar (non-vortical) for larger apertures. Near the vortical-to-laminar transition, we observe the single vortex in the chamber splitting into two vortices; this behaviour is expected only in the hydrodynamic regime and is not anticipated for ballistic transport. These findings suggest a new mechanism of hydrodynamic flow in thin pure crystals such that the spatial diffusion of electron momenta is enabled by small-angle scattering at the surfaces instead of the routinely invoked electron-electron scattering, which becomes extremely weak at low temperatures. This surface-induced para-hydrodynamics, which mimics many aspects of conventional hydrodynamics including vortices, opens new possibilities for exploring and using electron fluidics in high-mobility electron systems.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Cd3As2 is a candidate three-dimensional Dirac semimetal which has exceedingly high mobility and nonsaturating linear magnetoresistance that may be relevant for future practical applications. We ...report magnetotransport and tunnel diode oscillation measurements on Cd3As2, in magnetic fields up to 65 T and temperatures between 1.5 and 300 K. We find that the nonsaturating linear magnetoresistance persists up to 65 T and it is likely caused by disorder effects, as it scales with the high mobility rather than directly linked to Fermi surface changes even when approaching the quantum limit. From the observed quantum oscillations, we determine the bulk three-dimensional Fermi surface having signatures of Dirac behavior with a nontrivial Berry phase shift, very light effective quasiparticle masses, and clear deviations from the band-structure predictions. In very high fields we also detect signatures of large Zeeman spin splitting (g~16).
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•Operation optimization model of a Distributed Energy System (DES).•Multi-objective strategy to optimize energy cost and exergy efficiency.•Exergy analysis in building energy supply systems.
With the ...growing demand of energy on a worldwide scale, improving the efficiency of energy resource use has become one of the key challenges. Application of exergy principles in the context of building energy supply systems can achieve rational use of energy resources by taking into account the different quality levels of energy resources as well as those of building demands. This paper is on the operation optimization of a Distributed Energy System (DES). The model involves multiple energy devices that convert a set of primary energy carriers with different energy quality levels to meet given time-varying user demands at different energy quality levels. By promoting the usage of low-temperature energy sources to satisfy low-quality thermal energy demands, the waste of high-quality energy resources can be reduced, thereby improving the overall exergy efficiency. To consider the economic factor as well, a multi-objective linear programming problem is formulated. The Pareto frontier, including the best possible trade-offs between the economic and exergetic objectives, is obtained by minimizing a weighted sum of the total energy cost and total primary exergy input using branch-and-cut. The operation strategies of the DES under different weights for the two objectives are discussed. The operators of DESs can choose the operation strategy from the Pareto frontier based on costs, essential in the short run, and sustainability, crucial in the long run. The contribution of each energy device in reducing energy costs and the total exergy input is also analyzed. In addition, results show that the energy cost can be much reduced and the overall exergy efficiency can be significantly improved by the optimized operation of the DES as compared with the conventional energy supply system using the grid power only.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Eosinophils are important effector cells of the innate immune system. Eosinophilic infiltrative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, though recognised for decades, have recently witnessed a ...resurgence of interest, particularly for oesophageal disease. A more comprehensive basis for eosinophilic infiltration and activation has identified interleukin 5 (IL5) as a key cytokine for the differentiation and proliferation of eosinophils, while eotaxins promote the recruitment of mature eosinophils to the gut. When activated, eosinophils release multiple cytotoxic agents and immunomodulatory cytokines, resulting in local inflammation and tissue damage. Although eosinophils normally convey a defence against unwanted interlopers such as parasites, in the absence of such inciting agents, their accumulation and activation can elicit the primary infiltrative disorders of the gut: eosinophilic oesophagitis, gastroenteritis and colitis. Diagnosis of these disorders is dependent on the clinical presentation, endoscopic findings (particularly for eosinophilic oesophagitis), and most importantly, histological confirmation. Dietary modifications and topical corticosteroids are first-line treatments for eosinophilic oesophagitis. Systemic corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment for eosinophilic gastroenteritis; surgery may be required depending on the layer of mucosa involved. Eosinophilic colitis most often occurs in infants; removal of the causative allergen usually results in a complete response. Steroids may be required for older children/adolescents or adults. This review summarises current knowledge on the trafficking of eosinophils to the gastrointestinal tract and the clinical management of the primary disorders of eosinophilic oesophagitis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis and eosinophilic colitis.
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have important roles in diverse biological processes. Our previous study has revealed that lncRNA-MALAT1 deregulation is implicated in the pathogenesis of ...diabetes-related microvascular disease, diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, the role of MALAT1 in retinal vasculature remodeling still remains elusive. Here we show that MALAT1 expression is significantly upregulated in the retinas of STZ-induced diabetic rats and db/db mice. MALAT1 knockdown could obviously ameliorate DR in vivo, as shown by pericyte loss, capillary degeneration, microvascular leakage, and retinal inflammation. Moreover, MALAT1 knockdown could regulate retinal endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation in vitro. The crosstalk between MALAT1 and p38 MAPK signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of endothelial cell function. MALAT1 upregulation represents a critical pathogenic mechanism for diabetes-induced microvascular dysfunction. Inhibition of MALAT1 may serve as a potential target for anti-angiogenic therapy for diabetes-related microvascular complications.
A
bstract
The cross-section for the production of an electroweak gauge boson (
G
=
W
±
,
Z
0
,
γ
) at forward rapidities in
pp
collisions is derived within the color-dipole
S
-matrix framework. We ...present the full expressions for the differential cross-section of the
qp
→
GX
process in the impact parameter and transverse momentum spaces, considering the longitudinal and transverse polarizations of the gauge boson. The particular cases associated with the Drell-Yan process and real photon production are discussed. We demonstrate that the final formulae are expressed in terms of the dipole-proton cross-section or the unintegrated gluon distribution, and can be used to estimate the impact of the saturation effects in the gauge boson production at the LHC and future colliders.
Tantalum arsenide is a member of the noncentrosymmetric monopnictides, which are putative Weyl semimetals. In these materials, three-dimensional chiral massless quasiparticles, the so-called Weyl ...fermions, are predicted to induce novel quantum mechanical phenomena, such as the chiral anomaly and topological surface states. However, their chirality is only well defined if the Fermi level is close enough to the Weyl points that separate Fermi surface pockets of opposite chirality exist. In this Letter, we present the bulk Fermi surface topology of high quality single crystals of TaAs, as determined by angle-dependent Shubnikov-de Haas and de Haas-van Alphen measurements combined with ab initio band-structure calculations. Quantum oscillations originating from three different types of Fermi surface pockets were found in magnetization, magnetic torque, and magnetoresistance measurements performed in magnetic fields up to 14 T and temperatures down to 1.8 K. Of these Fermi pockets, two are pairs of topologically nontrivial electron pockets around the Weyl points and one is a trivial hole pocket. Unlike the other members of the noncentrosymmetric monopnictides, TaAs is the first Weyl semimetal candidate with the Fermi energy sufficiently close to both types of Weyl points to generate chiral quasiparticles at the Fermi surface.
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Topological Weyl semimetals (TWSs) represent a novel state of topological quantum matter which not only possesses Weyl fermions (massless chiral particles that can be viewed as magnetic monopoles in ...momentum space) in the bulk and unique Fermi arcs generated by topological surface states, but also exhibits appealing physical properties such as extremely large magnetoresistance and ultra-high carrier mobility. Here, by performing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) on NbP and TaP, we directly observed their band structures with characteristic Fermi arcs of TWSs. Furthermore, by systematically investigating NbP, TaP and TaAs from the same transition metal monopnictide family, we discovered their Fermiology evolution with spin-orbit coupling (SOC) strength. Our experimental findings not only reveal the mechanism to realize and fine-tune the electronic structures of TWSs, but also provide a rich material base for exploring many exotic physical phenomena (for example, chiral magnetic effects, negative magnetoresistance, and the quantum anomalous Hall effect) and novel future applications.
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IJS, KISLJ, NUK, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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