As a generic property, all substances transfer heat through microscopic collisions of constituent particles
. A solid conducts heat through both transverse and longitudinal acoustic phonons, but a ...liquid employs only longitudinal vibrations
. As a result, a solid is usually thermally more conductive than a liquid. In canonical viewpoints, such a difference also serves as the dynamic signature distinguishing a solid from a liquid. Here, we report liquid-like thermal conduction observed in the crystalline AgCrSe
. The transverse acoustic phonons are completely suppressed by the ultrafast dynamic disorder while the longitudinal acoustic phonons are strongly scattered but survive, and are thus responsible for the intrinsically ultralow thermal conductivity. This scenario is applicable to a wide variety of layered compounds with heavy intercalants in the van der Waals gaps, manifesting a broad implication on suppressing thermal conduction. These microscopic insights might reshape the fundamental understanding on thermal transport properties of matter and open up a general opportunity to optimize performances of thermoelectrics.
Gravitational‐wave high‐energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All‐sky Monitor (GECAM) is a space‐borne instrument dedicated to monitoring high‐energy transients, including Terrestrial Gamma‐ray Flashes ...(TGFs) and Terrestrial Electron Beams (TEBs). We implemented a TGF/TEB search algorithm for GECAM, with which 147 bright TGFs, 2 typical TEBs and 2 special TEB‐like events are identified during an effective observation time of ∼9 months. We show that, with gamma‐ray and charged particle detectors, GECAM can effectively identify and distinguish TGFs and TEBs, and measure their temporal and spectral properties in detail. A very high TGF‐lightning association rate of ∼80% is obtained between GECAM and GLD360 in east Asia region.
Plain Language Summary
Terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) and Terrestrial Electron Beams (TEBs) represent the most energetic radioactive phenomena in the atmosphere of the Earth. They reflect a natural particle accelerator that can boost electrons up to at least several tens of mega electron volts and produce gamma‐ray radiation. With novel detection technologies, Gravitational‐wave high‐energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All‐sky Monitor (GECAM) is a new powerful instrument to observe TGFs and TEBs, as well as study their properties. For example, it is difficult for most space‐borne high‐energy instruments to distinguish between TGFs and TEBs. However, we show here that, with the joint observation of gamma‐ray and charged particle detectors, GECAM can effectively identify TGFs and TEBs. GECAM can also reveal their fine features in the light curves and spectra.
Key Points
During 9‐month observation, Gravitational‐wave high‐energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All‐sky Monitor (GECAM) has detected 147 bright Terrestrial Gamma‐ray Flashes (TGFs), 2 typical Terrestrial Electron Beams (TEBs), and 2 special TEB‐like events
With novel detector design, GECAM can effectively classify TGFs and TEBs, and reveal their fine temporal features
We obtained a very high TGF‐lightning association rate (∼80%) between GECAM and GLD360 in east Asia region
Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a chronic disorder of gut-brain interaction characterized by recurrent disabling episodes of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. CVS affects both children and ...adults with a prevalence of approximately 2% in the United States. CVS is more common in female individuals and affects all races. The pathophysiology of CVS is unknown and a combination of genetic, environmental, autonomic, and neurohormonal factors is believed to play a role. CVS is also closely associated with migraine headaches and likely have a shared pathophysiology. The diagnosis of CVS is based on the Rome criteria, and minimal recommended testing includes an upper endoscopy and imaging studies of the abdomen. CVS is frequently associated with anxiety, depression, and autonomic dysfunction. Patients with CVS commonly use cannabis therapeutically for symptom relief. By contrast, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is believed to be a subset of CVS with chronic heavy cannabis use leading to hyperemesis. Due to the recalcitrant nature of the illness, patients often visit the emergency department and are hospitalized for acute CVS flares. Guidelines on the management of CVS recommend a biopsychosocial approach. Prophylactic therapy consists of tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline), antiepileptics (topiramate), and aprepitant in refractory patients. Abortive therapy consists of triptans, antiemetics (ondansetron), and sedation. Treatment of comorbid conditions is extremely important to improve overall patient outcomes. CVS has a significant negative impact on patients, families, and the healthcare system, and future research to understand its pathophysiology and develop targeted therapies is needed.
With a large number of multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) antennas embedded in the smartphone, much higher data throughput can be obtained for the smartphone in the MIMO operation. Furthermore, in order ...to be operational in heterogeneous networks, such as the mobile network and the wireless wide area network (WLAN), dual‐band operation of the MIMO antennas is desirable. However, owing to very limited space available in the smartphone, it has been a great challenge to dispose more MIMO antennas therein, not to mention the dual‐band MIMO antennas. To address this challenge, we present a compact decoupled 3.5/5.8 GHz (3400–3600/5725–5875 MHz) dual‐band building block formed by dual inverted‐F/loop antennas and its application for building eight dual‐band MIMO antennas for the mobile and WLAN operations. Details of the dual‐band building block and the fabricated eight MIMO antennas are described. The channel capacity of the eight MIMO antennas in an 8 × 8 MIMO system is also calculated and discussed. The obtained MIMO channel capacities are respectively about 37 and 42 bps/Hz in the 3.5 and 5.8 GHz bands, much higher than the present fourth‐generation (4G) 2 × 2 MIMO capacity (about 10 bps/Hz or less). The proposed eight MIMO antennas will hence be promising for future smartphone applications, such as in the fifth‐generation (5G) communications.
Background
IL‐25 has been proposed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). This study aimed to evaluate the association of IL‐25 with the ...Th2‐biased inflammatory profiles in CRSwNP.
Methods
Nasal polyp (NP) tissues and control uncinate process tissues were collected from 92 patients with CRSwNP, 20 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), and 16 normal control subjects. IL‐25 expression was examined using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, RT‐qPCR, and ELISA. The inflammatory profiles and clinical characteristics of 2 NP subtypes (IL‐25high and IL‐25low) were evaluated, and the effects of IL‐25 on Th2 cytokine production in cultured dispersed polyp cells were examined in vitro.
Results
The mRNA and protein levels of IL‐25 were significantly increased in the polyp tissues compared with the control uncinate process tissues. The IL‐25high subtype showed greater computed tomography scores, endoscopic scores, and Th2 response. Exposure to IL‐25 activated type 2 innate lymphoid cells and Th2 cells in NP simultaneously which further increased Th2 cytokine production in vitro.
Conclusions
Local IL‐25 plays a crucial role in promoting Th2‐biased inflammatory profiles in NP and may serve as a promising therapeutic target in CRSwNP patients.
A symmetry-preserving approach to the two valence-body continuum bound-state problem is used to calculate the elastic electromagnetic form factors of the ρ-meson and subsequently to study the ...evolution of vector-meson form factors with current-quark mass. To facilitate a range of additional comparisons, K* form factors are also computed. The analysis reveals that vector mesons are larger than pseudoscalar mesons; composite vector mesons are nonspherical, with magnetic and quadrupole moments that deviate ∼30% from point-particle values; in many ways, vector-meson properties are as much influenced by emergent mass as those of pseudoscalars; and vector-meson electric form factors possess a zero at spacelike momentum transfer. Qualitative similarities between the electric form factors of the ρ and the proton, GEp, are used to argue that the character of emergent mass in the Standard Model can force a zero in GEp. Moreover, the existence of a zero in vector-meson electric form factors entails that a single-pole vector-meson dominance model can only be of limited use in estimating properties of off-shell vector mesons, providing poor guidance for systems in which the Higgs mechanism of mass generation is dominant.
Deformation twinning is often mediated by partial dislocation activities at the twin boundary. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we have uncovered a new mechanism for the most commonly observed ...{1012}<101 1> deformation twinning in Mg and other hexagonal close-packed metals. Here the twin growth involves no definable dislocations at the twin boundary, and the twin orientational relationship can be established by local atomic shuffling, directly constructing the twin lattice from the parent lattice.
Secondary caries caused by dental plaque is one of the major reasons for the high failure rate of resin composite restoration. Although antimicrobial agent–modified dental restoration systems have ...been researched for years, few reported intelligent anticaries materials could respond to the change of the oral environment and help keep oral eubiosis. Herein, we report tertiary amine (TA)–modified resin adhesives (TA@RAs) with pH-responsive antibacterial effect to reduce the occurrence of secondary caries. Two kinds of newly designed TA monomers were synthesized: DMAEM (dodecylmethylaminoethyl methacrylate) and HMAEM (hexadecylmethylaminoethyl methacrylate). In the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration test against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Streptococcus gordonii, they exhibited antibacterial effect only in acidic medium, which preliminarily verified the acid-activated effect of TAs. Then DMAEM and HMAEM were incorporated into adhesive resin at the mass fraction of 5%, yielding TA@RAs. In vivo and in vitro tests showed that the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the adhesive were not affected. A S. mutans biofilm model in acidic and neutral medium was used and confirmed that TA@RAs could respond to the critical pH value of de-/remineralization and acquire reversible antibiofilm effect via the protonation and deprotonation of TAs. Meanwhile, the stability of antibacterial effect was confirmed via a 5-d pH-cycling experiment and a saliva-derived biofilm aging model. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that TA@RAs could increase the diversity of the saliva-derived biofilms, which implied that the novel materials could help regulate the microbial community to a healthy one. Finally, an in vitro demineralization model and in vivo secondary caries model were applied and demonstrated that TA@RAs could prevent secondary dental caries effectively. In summary, the reversible pH-responsive and non–drug release antibacterial resin adhesives ingeniously overcome the defect of the present materials and hold great promise for clinical application.
Our goal in this work was to illustrate the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-modulated global biochemical profile and provide a novel metabolism-related target to improve the therapeutic regimen of ...nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We used a metabolomics approach to investigate EBV-modulated metabolic changes, and found that the exogenous overexpression of the EBV-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) significantly increased glycolysis. The deregulation of several glycolytic genes, including hexokinase 2 (HK2), was determined to be responsible for the reprogramming of LMP1-mediated glucose metabolism in NPC cells. The upregulation of HK2 elevated aerobic glycolysis and facilitated proliferation by blocking apoptosis. More importantly, HK2 was positively correlated with LMP1 in NPC biopsies, and high HK2 levels were significantly associated with poor overall survival of NPC patients following radiation therapy. Knockdown of HK2 effectively enhanced the sensitivity of LMP1-overexpressing NPC cells to irradiation. Finally, c-Myc was demonstrated to be required for LMP1-induced upregulation of HK2. The LMP1-mediated attenuation of the PI3-K/Akt-GSK3beta-FBW7 signaling axis resulted in the stabilization of c-Myc. These findings indicate a close relationship between EBV and glycolysis in NPC. Notably, LMP1 is the key regulator of the reprogramming of EBV-mediated glycolysis in NPC cells. Given the importance of EBV-mediated deregulation of glycolysis, anti-glycolytic therapy might represent a worthwhile avenue of exploration in the treatment of EBV-related cancers.
Background:
Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a disabling condition frequently refractory to pharmacologic therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of noninvasive, auricular ...percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation (PENFS) as prophylactic therapy for pediatric CVS.
Methods:
Children 8–18 years with drug‐refractory CVS were prospectively enrolled from a tertiary care CVS clinic. Subjects received 6 consecutive weeks of PENFS. CVS severity was quantified by episode frequency and duration score (range 0–25) at baseline and at extended follow‐up (4–6 months after end of therapy). Response was classified as ≥50% improvement in either frequency or duration of attacks at extended follow‐up. Subjects also completed validated surveys of nausea, disability, and global response.
Results:
Thirty subjects completed the study. Median (interquartile range, IQR) age was 10.5 (8.5–15.5) years; 60% were female. At follow‐up, 80% met criteria for treatment response with a median (IQR) response duration of 113 (61–182) days. The frequency‐duration score improved from baseline median (IQR) 12.0 (9.0–16.0) to 3.0 (1.0–6.0) at follow‐up, P < 0.0001. Median (IQR) nausea and disability scores decreased from baseline to week 6: 2.1 (1.3–2.7) to 0.9 (0–1.6), P = 0.003 and 47.5 (41.0–53.0) to 38.0 (16.0–51.0), P = 0.001, respectively. At end of therapy, 66% and 55% patients reported global response of at least “moderately better” and “a good deal better,” respectively. There were no serious side effects.
Conclusions:
This study suggests long‐term benefits of PENFS for children with CVS. PENFS improves several disabling aspects of CVS, including episode frequency, duration, and functional disability.