In quantum field theory, Lorentz invariance leads to three types of fermion-Dirac, Weyl and Majorana. Although the existence of Weyl and Majorana fermions as elementary particles in high-energy ...physics is debated, all three types of fermion have been proposed to exist as low-energy, long-wavelength quasiparticle excitations in condensed-matter systems. The existence of Dirac and Weyl fermions in condensed-matter systems has been confirmed experimentally, and that of Majorana fermions is supported by various experiments. However, in condensed-matter systems, fermions in crystals are constrained by the symmetries of the 230 crystal space groups rather than by Lorentz invariance, giving rise to the possibility of finding other types of fermionic excitation that have no counterparts in high-energy physics. Here we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to demonstrate the existence of a triply degenerate point in the electronic structure of crystalline molybdenum phosphide. Quasiparticle excitations near a triply degenerate point are three-component fermions, beyond the conventional Dirac-Weyl-Majorana classification, which attributes Dirac and Weyl fermions to four- and two-fold degenerate points, respectively. We also observe pairs of Weyl points in the bulk electronic structure of the crystal that coexist with the three-component fermions. This material thus represents a platform for studying the interplay between different types of fermions. Our experimental discovery opens up a way of exploring the new physics of unconventional fermions in condensed-matter systems.
As metallic additive manufacturing grew in sophistication, users have requested greater control over the systems, namely the ability to fully change the process parameters. The goal of this ...manuscript is to review the effects of major process parameters on build quality (porosity, residual stress, and composition changes) and materials properties (microstructure and microsegregation), and to serve as a guide on how these parameters may be modified to achieve specific design goals for a given part. The focus of this paper is on laser powder bed fusion, but elements can be applied to electron beam powder bed fusion or direct energy deposition techniques.
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•Comparison between laser welding and laser-based additive manufacturing parameters is established.•Major process parameters during laser-based additive manufacturing and their influence are discussed.•Remedies for avoid several problems found during additive manufacturing are proposed.
Stretch bending is commonly used in the fabrication of profile-based shapes. However, one of the challenges in many bending-type forming processes is controlling springback upon unloading. Springback ...appears sensitive to upstream and in-process parameters, making prediction and control difficult. The springback problem is particularly important in forming processes where stringent control strategies are needed to assure product dimension, process flexibility and overall equipment effectiveness. In this research, we present an analytical framework for springback assessment in a stretching-controlled bending process. A new, flexible rotary stretch bending machine is designed and built, which allows the manufacture of complex-shape profiles with varying curvatures, including straight portions, with low tool investments. Furthermore, a Full Moment (FM) analytical model is developed for springback assessment. The modeling strategy employs a full moment distribution along the entire profile upon bending, introducing a stretching-controlled moment transition between different curvature portions such that the springback contribution from the plastic moment outside the theoretically bent portions is considered. Additionally, the influential factors related to material, geometry and process, including the applied stretching strains, are comprehensively considered. In this way, the modeling strategy enables accurate evaluation of springback in the flexible stretch bending process. Moreover, the proposed forming process is validated by a series of experiments conducted for a wide range of stretching levels using rectangular hollow aluminum alloy profiles. This forming strategy demonstrates high capability for controlling springback and dimensional accuracy. By comparing experiments, numerical simulations and analytical calculations, this proves that the developed FM model provides accurate and efficient assessment of springback. The average relative error provided by the FM model is 2.2%, as compared to 10.5% for a classical method used for comparison. Using the analytical model combined with numerical simulation, the crucial deformation characteristics, including stretching-dependent evolution of strain transition, are revealed. Overall, the FM analytical strategy has proven its capability as an effective tool, which can make springback knowledge more explicit, generic and reuseable for stretching-controlled bending processes.
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•A new, 3D flexible stretch bending method for fabrication of complex shapes is proposed.•A Full Moment (FM) analytical framework for springback assessment in flexible stretch bending is developed.•The full moment, nonuniformly distributed along the entire formed profile, is modeled.•Increased stretching up to a certain level can effectively improve the dimensional capability of the formed part.•Considering the full moment distribution significantly improves the accuracy of analytical springback prediction.
Cancer-testis (CT) antigens, rarely in normal tissues except testis, are expressed in many tumor types. In recent years, DDX43 has been shown to be expressed in several malignancies. However, the ...role of DDX43 during tumorigenesis is not well established. In the present study, we explored the function of DDX43 in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We found that DDX43 overexpression in CML cell lines enhanced survival and colony formation, inhibited cell apoptosis, promoted tumorigenesis, and CML progression. In contrast, silencing of DDX43 inhibited cell survival and tumorigenesis. Upregulated H19 and downregulated miR-186 were identified in DDX43-transfected cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-186 targeted DDX43, and overexpressed miR-186 increased apoptosis and decreased cell survival. We also showed that DDX43 regulated the expression of H19 through demethylation and silencing H19 inhibited cell survival. Taken together, these results indicate that DDX43 provides critical support to the progression of CML by enhancing cell survival, colony formation, and inhibiting cell apoptosis, thereby implicating DDX43 as a potential therapeutic target in CML.
Efficacy of Meta-Cognitive Therapy for Adult ADHD Solanto, Mary V.; Marks, David J.; Wasserstein, Jeanette ...
The American journal of psychiatry,
08/2010, Letnik:
167, Številka:
8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
ObjectiveThe authors investigated the efficacy of a 12-week manualized meta-cognitive therapy group intervention designed to enhance time management, organization, and planning in adults with ...attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
MethodEighty-eight clinically referred adults who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD according to clinical and structured diagnostic interviews and standardized questionnaires were stratified by ADHD medication use and otherwise randomly assigned to receive meta-cognitive therapy or supportive psychotherapy in a group modality. Meta-cognitive therapy uses cognitive-behavioral principles and methods to impart skills and strategies in time management, organization, and planning and to target depressogenic and anxiogenic cognitions that undermine effective self-management. The supportive therapy condition controlled for nonspecific aspects of treatment by providing support while avoiding discussion of cognitive-behavioral strategies. Therapeutic response was assessed by an independent (blind) evaluator via structured interview before and after treatment as well as by self-report and collateral informant behavioral ratings.
ResultsGeneral linear models comparing change from baseline between treatments revealed statistically significant effects for self-report, collateral report, and independent evaluator ratings of DSM-IV inattention symptoms. In dichotomous indices of therapeutic response, a significantly greater proportion of members of the meta-cognitive therapy group demonstrated improvement compared with members of the supportive therapy group. Logistic regression examining group differences in operationally defined response (controlling for baseline ADHD severity) revealed a robust effect of treatment group (odds ratio=5.41; 95% CI=1.77-16.55).
ConclusionsMeta-cognitive therapy yielded significantly greater improvements in dimensional and categorical estimates of severity of ADHD symptoms compared with supportive therapy. These findings support the efficacy of meta-cognitive therapy as a viable psychosocial intervention.
Female‐producing parthenogenesis can be induced by endosymbionts that increase their transmission by manipulating host reproduction. Our literature survey indicates that such endosymbiont‐induced ...parthenogenesis is known or suspected in 124 host species from seven different arthropod taxa, with Wolbachia as the most frequent endosymbiont (in 56–75% of host species). Most host species (81%, 100 out of 124) are characterized by haplo‐diploid sex determination, but a strong ascertainment bias likely underestimates the frequency of endosymbiont‐induced parthenogenesis in hosts with other sex determination systems. In at least one taxon, hymenopterans, endosymbionts are a significant driver of transitions from sexual to parthenogenetic reproduction, with one‐third of lineages being parthenogenetic as a consequence of endosymbiont infection. Endosymbiont‐induced parthenogenesis appears to facilitate the maintenance of reproductive polymorphism: at least 50% of species comprise both sexual (uninfected) and parthenogenetic (infected) strains. These strains feature distribution differences similar to the ones documented for lineages with genetically determined parthenogenesis, with endosymbiont‐induced parthenogens occurring at higher latitudes than their sexual relatives. Finally, although gamete duplication is often considered as the main mechanism for endosymbiont‐induced parthenogenesis, it underlies parthenogenesis in only half of the host species studied thus far. We point out caveats in the methods used to test for endosymbiont‐induced parthenogenesis and suggest specific approaches that allow for firm conclusions about the involvement of endosymbionts in the origin of parthenogenesis.
Extracting keratin from wool by using l-cysteine Wang, K; Li, R; Ma, J. H ...
Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC,
01/2016, Letnik:
18, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Keratin proteins are the major components of hair, feathers, wool and horns and represent an important source of renewable raw materials for many applications. The dissolution of the wool keratin is ...the first step of reuse of keratin wastes. In this work,
l
-cysteine was applied to the dissolution of wool keratin for the first time as a reducing agent. The dissolution time was 5 h at 75 °C with 72% dissolubility. XRD, ATR-FTIR and
13
C NMR showed that the content of α-helix structures in regenerated wool keratin was decreased compared with natural wool. The content of S-S crosslinkages for regenerated wool keratin significantly decreased and broke about 62% of the S-S crosslinkages in the natural wool, as observed from Raman spectra.
In this work,
l
-cysteine was applied to the dissolution of wool keratin as a reducing agent. The dissolution time was 5 h at 75 °C, with 72% dissolubility. XRD, ATR-FTIR and
13
C NMR showed that the content of α-helix structures in regenerated wool keratin was decreased compared with natural wool. The content of S-S crosslinkages for regenerated wool keratin significantly decreased and broke about 62% of the S-S crosslinkages in the natural wool, as observed from Raman spectra.
Summary Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is an endemic chronic osteochondral disease, which has a high prevalence and morbidity in the Eastern Siberia of Russia, and in the broad diagonal, northern-east to ...southern-west belt in China and North Korea. In 1990's, it was estimated that in China 1–3 million people had some degree of symptoms of the disease, although even higher estimates have been presented. In China, the extensive prevalence peaked in the late 1950's, but since then, in contrast to the global trend of the osteoarthritis (OA), the number of cases has been dramatically falling. Up to 2013, there are 0.64 millions patients with the KBD and 1.16 millions at risk in 377 counties of 13 provinces or autonomous regions. This is obviously thanks to the preventive efforts carried out, which include providing millions of people with dietary supplements and clean water, as well as relocation of whole villages in China. However, relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms behind the cartilage damage, the genetic and the environmental risk factors, and the rationale of the preventive effects. During the last decade, new data on a cellular and molecular level has begun to accumulate, which hopefully will uncover the grounds of the disease.
By combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and quantum oscillation measurements, we performed a comprehensive investigation on the electronic structure of LaSb, which exhibits ...near-quadratic extremely large magnetoresistance (XMR) without any sign of saturation at magnetic fields as high as 40 T. We clearly resolve one spherical and one intersecting-ellipsoidal hole Fermi surfaces (FSs) at the Brillouin zone (BZ) center Γ and one ellipsoidal electron FS at the BZ boundary X. The hole and electron carriers calculated from the enclosed FS volumes are perfectly compensated, and the carrier compensation is unaffected by temperature. We further reveal that LaSb is topologically trivial but shares many similarities with the Weyl semimetal TaAs family in the bulk electronic structure. Based on these results, we have examined the mechanisms that have been proposed so far to explain the near-quadratic XMR in semimetals.
Glass–ceramics are ceramic materials produced through controlled crystallisation (nucleation and crystal growth) of a parent glass. The great variety of compositions and the possibility of developing ...special microstructures with specific technological properties have allowed glass–ceramic materials to be used in a wide range of applications. One field for which glass–ceramics have been developed over the past two decades is that of glazes for ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles are the most common building material for floor and wall coverings in Mediterranean countries. Glazed tiles are produced from frits (glasses quenched in water) applied on the surface of green tiles and subjected to a firing process. In the 1990s, there was growing interest in the development of frits that are able to crystallise on firing because of the need for improvement in the mechanical and chemical properties of glazed tiles. This review offers an extensive evaluation of the research carried out on glass–ceramic glazes used for covering and pavement ceramic tile is accomplished. The main crystalline phases (silicates and oxides) developed in glass–ceramic glazes have been considered. In addition, a section focused on glazes with specific functionality (photocatalytic, antibacterial and antifungal activity, or aesthetic superficial effects) is also included.
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