The Aubry-André-Harper (AAH) model with a self-dual symmetry plays an important role in studying the Anderson localization. Here we find a self-dual symmetry determining the quantum phase transition ...between extended and localized states in a non-Hermitian AAH model and show that the eigenenergies of these states are characterized by two types of winding numbers. By constructing and studying a non-Hermitian generalized AAH model, we further generalize the notion of the mobility edge, which separates the localized and extended states in the energy spectrum of disordered systems, to the non-Hermitian case and find that the generalized mobility edge is of a topological nature even in the open boundary geometry in the sense that the energies of localized and extended states exhibit distinct topological structures in the complex energy plane. Finally, we propose an experimental scheme to realize these models with electric circuits.
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Topological phases have recently witnessed rapid progress in non-Hermitian systems. Here we study a one-dimensional non-Hermitian Aubry-André-Harper (AAH) model with imaginary periodic or ...quasiperiodic modulations. We demonstrate that the non-Hermitian off-diagonal AAH models can host zero-energy modes at the edges. In contrast to the Hermitian case, the zero-energy mode can be localized only at one edge. Such a topological phase corresponds to the existence of a quarter winding number defined by eigenenergy in momentum space. We further find the coexistence of a zero-energy mode located only at one edge and topological nonzero-energy edge modes characterized by a generalized Bott index. In the incommensurate case, a topological non-Hermitian quasicrystal is predicted where all bulk states and two topological edge states are localized at one edge. Such topological edge modes are protected by the generalized Bott index. Finally, we propose an experimental scheme to realize these non-Hermitian models in electric circuits. Our findings add another direction for exploring topological properties in Aubry-André-Harper models.
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Abstract
We introduce the one-dimensional quasireciprocal lattices where the forward hopping amplitudes between nearest neighboring sites {
t
+
t
jR
} are chosen to be a random permutation of the ...backward hopping {
t
+
t
jL
} or vice versa. The values of {
t
jL
} (or {
t
jR
}) can be periodic, quasiperiodic, or randomly distributed. We show that the Hamiltonian matrices are pseudo-Hermitian and the energy spectra are real as long as {
t
jL
} (or {
t
jR
}) are smaller than the threshold value. While the non-Hermitian skin effect is always absent in the eigenstates due to the global cancellation of local nonreciprocity, the competition between the nonreciprocity and the accompanying disorders in hopping amplitudes gives rise to energy-dependent localization transitions. Moreover, in the quasireciprocal Su–Schrieffer–Heeger models with staggered hopping
t
jL
(or
t
jR
), topologically nontrivial phases are found in the real-spectra regimes characterized by nonzero winding numbers. Finally, we propose an experimental scheme to realize the quasireciprocal models in electrical circuits. Our findings shed new light on the subtle interplay among nonreciprocity, disorder, and topology.
The Hippo pathway defined originally in
Drosophila melanogaster is conserved in mammals. The fly core components Hippo, Sav, Wts, and Mats are conserved in mammals as Mst1/2, WW45, LATS1/2, and Mob1. ...The pathway impinges on transcriptional coactivator Yorkie in fly and YAP in mammals to coordinate cell proliferation and apoptosis. Several recent publications establish that the pathway is one major conserved mechanism governing cell contact inhibition, organ size control, and cancer development. This advance opens new vistas in exploring fundamental mechanisms in cell and developmental biology and offers potential targets to interfere with cancer development.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Protein exerts a critical influence on the degradation behavior of absorbable magnesium (Mg)-based implants. However, the interaction mechanism between protein and a micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coating ...on Mg alloys remains unclear. Hereby, a MAO coating was fabricated on AZ31 Mg alloy. And its degradation behavior in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated and compared with that of the uncoated alloy. Surface morphologies and chemical compositions were studied using Field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The degradation behavior of the bare Mg alloy and its MAO coating was studied through electrochemical and hydrogen evolution tests. Cytotoxicity assay was applied to evaluate the biocompatibility of Mg alloy substrate and MAO coating. Results indicated that the presence of BSA decreased the degradation rate of Mg alloy substrate because BSA (RCH(NH2)COO‾) molecules combined with Mg2+ ions to form (RCH(NH2)COO)2Mg and thus inhibited the dissolution of Mg(OH)2 by impeding the attack of Cl‾ ions. In the case of MAO coated Mg alloy, the adsorption of BSA on MAO coating and the formation of (RCH(NH2)COO)2Mg exhibited a synergistic effect and enhanced the corrosion resistance of the coated alloy significantly. Furthermore, cell bioactive assay suggested that the MAO coating had good viability for MG63 cells due to its high surface area.
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•BSA reduces degradation of Mg substrate due to the formation of (RCH(NH2)COO)2Mg.•BSA inhibits degradation of MAO coating by acting as a protective layer.•MAO coating promotes cell proliferation due to higher surface area.•Cells were rounded shaped on MAO coating owing to the rough surface.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In this article, a fundamental method based on mutual conductance elimination is proposed for the ultimate decoupling of closely spaced antenna pairs. First, the mutual coupling between radiators is ...characterized by lossy J/K inverters, and the analysis with circuit models shows that the traditional lumped loading method can only suppress the mutual susceptance. Particularly, the decoupling will not be ultimate unless the mutual conductance is further eliminated, which requires equal modal conductance of the odd and even modes of the antenna pair. After that, a method based on antenna-shape modification is proposed, and three types of antennas are designed with characteristic mode analysis (CMA). As for the single-band and wideband patch antenna pairs, by changing the patch shape into a parallelogram and adjusting the patch angle, the modal conductance of the odd and even modes are regulated to be equal, and the isolation is thus significantly improved when compared with the traditional ones to be loaded with lumped elements. As for the inverted-F antenna (IFA) pair, enhanced isolation is achieved by changing the bending configuration, coupling gap, and ground length of the antenna. Good agreement between simulated and measured results shows that all these antennas have achieved isolation over 20 dB.
Autophagy is considered to be another restorative focus for the treatment of brain tumors. Although several research have demonstrated that melatonin induces autophagy in colon cancer and hepatoma ...cells, there has not been any direct evidence of whether melatonin is capable of inducing autophagy in human glioma cells.
In the present research, we report that melatonin or its agonist, agomelatine, induced autophagy in A172 and U87-MG glioblastoma cells for a concentration-and time-dependent way, which was significantly attenuated by treatment with luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist. Furthermore, by suppressing autophagy at the late-stage with bafilomycin A1 and early stage with 3-MA, we found that the melatonin-induced autophagy was activated early, and the autophagic flux was complete. Melatonin treatment alone did not induce any apoptotic changes in the glioblastoma cells, as measured by flow cytometry. Western blot studies confirmed that melatonin alone prominently upregulated the levels of Beclin 1 and LC3 II, which was accompanied by an increase in the expression of Bcl-2, whereas it had no effect on the expression of Bax in the glioblastoma cells. Remarkably, co-treatment with 3-MA and melatonin significantly enhanced the apoptotic cell population in the glioblastoma cells, along with a prominent decrease in the expression of bcl-2 and increase in the Bax expression levels, which collectively indicated that the disruption of autophagy triggers the melatonin-induced apoptosis in glioblastoma cells.
These results provide information indicating that melatonin may act as a common upstream signal between autophagy and apoptosis, which may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for glioma.
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