Spin density distributions for the system in which thiophene molecule is edge-adsorbed to H-saturated zigzag graphene nanoribbon based on density functional theory calculations. It is clear from the ...figure that the thiophene molecule is spin polarized. There is charge transfer between thiophene molecule and zigzag graphene nanoribbon and this charge transfer induces the spin polarization of the molecule. The transferred charge will preferentially fill spin-splitted p orbitals in the thiophene molecule near the Fermi energy, which makes the molecule spin polarized due to the different occupations of up and down spins.
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•Thiophene molecule is spin-polarized when edge-adsorbed to zigzag graphene nanoribbon.•Transferred charges make the molecule bond lengths change so the system become asymmetric.•Spin polarization of the molecule arises from a preferably filling of spin-splitted p orbitals.
Spin polarization properties of thiophene molecule adsorbed to the edge of zigzag graphene nanoribbon (GNR) are studied based on density functional theory calculations. It is shown that there is charge transfer between the thiophene molecule and the zigzag GNR, which changes the bond lengths of the thiophene molecule. Another consequence of the charge transfer is the spontaneous spin polarization of the thiophene molecule. The mechanism of the spontaneous spin polarization is also discussed based on the analysis of the density of states. It is found that the p orbitals of the carbon atoms and the sulfur atom in thiophene molecule become spin split near the Fermi energy, so preferential fillings of the spin-splitted p orbitals make the thiophene molecule spin polarized. This spontaneous spin polarization of thiophene molecules adsorbed to the zigzag GNR could be a new route to graphene-based organic spintronic devices.
A new wideband dual-polarized patch antenna consisting of a magnetically-fed and an electrically-fed is presented in the paper. The two feeds are orthogonal to each other at the center of the ground ...plane and generate 0° and 90° polarization separately. Two pairs of L-shaped slots are etched in the radiating patch to improve the impedance bandwidth. By using a shorting pin connecting the radiating patch to the ground plane, the coupling between the two feeding ports can be reduced. With the help of circuit simulation and full wave simulation, the equivalent circuit model of the antenna is established. The simulated and measured results show that the impedance bandwidths for VSWR less than 2 of the proposed dual-polarized antenna with a profile of are 27.3% (3.29-4.33 GHz) and 19% (3.05-3.69 GHz) for 0° polarization and 90° polarization, respectively, with a height of 0.08λ.sub.0 between radiating patch and ground plane. The measured coupling between the two ports is below -20 dB over the operating band. Moreover, the maximum gain of the proposed antenna is about 8.5 dBi and 6.9 dBi for port 1 and port 2, respectively, over the operating band. Measured results of the fabricated antenna prototypes are in good agreement with the simulated results.
Cell volume can be altered by two different ways, swelling and shrinkage. Cell swelling is regulated by volume-regulated Cl- channel (VRC). It is not well understood whether shrinkage is regulated by ...VRC. We previously found that antisense oligonucleotide specific to ClC-3 (ClC-3 antisense) prevented cell proliferation, which was related to cell swell volume regulation. In the present study, we further studied the role of ClC-3 Cl- channel in cell apoptosis which was related to cell shrinkage volume regulation by using antisense oligonucleotide specific to ClC-3 (ClC-3 antisense) and ClC-3 cDNA transfection techniques. We found that thapsigargin (TG), a specific inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase, evoked apoptotic morphological changes (including cytoplasmic blebbing, condensation of nuclear chromatin, and the formation of apoptotic bodies), DNA laddering, and caspase-3 activation in PC12 cells (Pheochromocytoma-derived cell line). TG increased the cell apoptotic population with a decrease in cell viability. These effects were consistent with the decrease in endogenous ClC-3 protein expression, which was also induced by TG. Overexpression of ClC-3 significantly inhibited TG effect on PC12 cell apoptosis, whereas the ClC-3 antisense produced opposite effects and facilitated apoptosis induced by TG. Our data strongly suggest that ClC-3 channel in PC12 cells mediates TG-induced apoptotic process through inhibitory mechanism. Thus, it appears that ClC-3 Cl- channel mediates both cell proliferation and apoptosis through accelerative and inhibitory fashions, respectively.
Summary
There is evidence that NR6A1 is a strong candidate for being a causal gene underlying vertebral number in pigs. The Licha Black is one of the leanest Chinese indigenous pig breeds, having an ...average vertebral number of 21.5. The introgression of Western germplasm into Licha Black, resulting in increased vertebral number, has been assumed but is not confirmed. This study detected allele frequencies of the NR6A1 causative mutation (c.575T>C) in 519 pigs from three Western and seven Chinese breeds including Licha Black, and evaluated the genetic variation in a 650‐kb region containing NR6A1 in the 10 breeds. Allele T for increased vertebral number was fixed in Western breeds. In contrast, this allele was very rare in most of the Chinese native breeds. Notably, the T allele was present in the Licha Black at a rather higher frequency (0.585) and in the Laiwu at lower frequency (0.250). As expected, selection pressure has wiped out the genetic variability in the 650 kb region in Western breeds. Conversely, Chinese indigenous breeds showed a high degree of genetic variability in this region. However, the Licha Black displayed dramatically reduced heterozygosity at the loci proximal to the causative mutation. Moreover, a high proportion (45.9%) of Licha Black pigs and a small number (21%) of Laiwu pigs had the Western NR6A1 haplotype, and the two breeds showed closer relationships with Western commercial breeds than other Chinese breeds in the phylogenic tree. When the results are taken together, this study supports the assumption that the Western NR6A1 haplotypes were introduced into Licha Black and possibly Laiwu and are associated with increased vertebral number.
OBJECTIVES: While more than 300,000 total hip arthroplasties (THA) are performed annually in the United States, there is no gold standard for an effective postoperative THA pain strategy. The ...objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare clinical, and discharge outcomes for patients utilizing an extended-release liposomal bupivacaine (LB) to a control cohort utilizing bupivacaine. METHODS: The LB cohort included 64 consecutive THA patients from one surgeon at a single institution between August 2013 and July 2015 and 66 consecutive THA procedures performed by the same surgeon between June 2011 and July 2013 were selected as the control cohort. Clinical (pain VAS, distance walked, opioid use, falls) and discharge (discharge destination, length of stayLOS, readmission rates) outcomes were compared on post-operation day (POD) 0, 1 and 2 using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The LB cohort showed significantly lower AUC VAS pain scores on POD 0, 1 and 2. Significantly fewer LB patients used rescue opioids on POD1 and POD2. LOS decreased significantly from 2.7 to 2.0 days and 30% more LB patients were discharged at POD1. After adjusting for covariates, LB patients were more likely to walk farther than controls after surgery. LB cohort had significantly fewer 30-day readmissions than the control cohort. For patients with available financial data, adjusted mean hospital charge costs were lower in the LB patients. Categorically, the LB cohort had lower costs than the control cohort for room, medical and surgical supplies, diagnostic test (including labs and operation), and physical therapy. There were no differences in falls or discharge location. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective cohort study comparing LB to bupivacaine demonstrated improved perioperative pain management, less opioid use, decreased length of stay, lower costs, earlier discharge and increased physical function.
Summary
Our and others' previous studies have shown that Schistosoma japonicum (SJ) infection can inhibit allergic reactions. We recently reported that DCs played an important role in SJ ...infection‐mediated inhibition of allergy, which was associated with enhanced IL‐10 and T regulatory cell responses. Here, we further compared the role of CD8α+ DC and CD8α− DC subsets for the inhibitory effect. We sorted CD8α+ DC (SJCD8α+ DC) and CD8α− DC (SJCD8α− DC) from SJ‐infected mice and tested their ability to modulate allergic responses in vivo. The data showed that the adoptive transfer of SJCD8α− DC was much more efficient than SJCD8α+ DC for the suppression of allergic airway eosinophilia, mucus overproduction, antigen‐specific IgE responses, and Th2 cytokines (IL‐4 and IL‐5). More importantly, we found that the transfer of SJCD8α− DC, but not SJCD8α+ DC, significantly increased IL‐10 and TGF‐β production following OVA exposure. As control, the transfer of DC subsets from naïve mice had no significant effect on allergic inflammation. In addition, SJCD8α‐DC expressed significantly higher IL‐10 but lower IL‐12, CD80 and CD86 than SJCD8α+ DC, fitting a tolerogenic phenotype. The results suggest that CD8α− DC is the predominant DC subset which is involved in the parasitic infection‐mediated inhibition of allergic inflammation and possibly through enhancing immunomodulatory cytokine (IL‐10 and TGF‐β) production.
A porcine genome linkage map composed of 194 microsatellite markers was constructed with a large-scale White Duroc x Erhualian resource population. The marker order on this linkage map was consistent ...with the USDA-MARC reference map except for two markers on SSC3, two markers on SSC13 and two markers on SSCX. The length of the sex-averaged map (2344.9 cM) was nearly the same as that of the USDA-MARC and NIAI map. Highly significant heterogeneity in recombination rates between sexes was observed. Except for SSC1 and SSC13, the female autosomes had higher average recombination rates than the male autosomes. Moreover, recombination rates in the pseudoautosomal region were greater in males than in females. These observations are consistent with those of previous reports. The recombination rates on each paternal and maternal chromosome of F(2) animals were calculated. Recombination rates were not significantly affected by the age (in days) or parity of the F(1) animals. However, recombination rates on paternal chromosomes were affected by the mating season of the F(1) animals. This could represent an effect of environmental temperature on spermatogenesis.
A novel method for preparation of exfoliated/intercalated nanocomposites is reported based on two steps, i.e. preparation of treated-montmorillonite (MMT) solution and solution blending with ...polymers. After in situ polymerization of dimethyldichlorosilane between layers and separation of most polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), the treated-MMT solution shows good storage stability. Although elemental analyzer shows no residue PDMS, NMR proves residue PDMS still exists in the solution. The residue PDMS is believed to graft onto the MMT layer surface via condensation of hydroxyl groups of PDMS and those that existed on MMT surface. Lower relaxation time of end-capped CH3 of alkyl ammonium grafted onto layer surface via ion exchanging in the solution shows that the layer spacing was increased significantly or even exfoliated. When the solution was blended with some polar polymers, exfoliated nanocomposites were found. When it was blended with some nonpolar polymers, however, intercalated nanocomposites were obtained. The reason was explained in the light of compatibility between polymer matrix and MMT as well as alkyl ammonium and PDMS grafted on the layer surface. For intercalated nanocomposites, different layer spacing corresponds to different chain flexibility and the presence of multi-peaks is caused by the processing of these blends.
The form of energy termed heat that typically derives from lattice vibrations, i.e., phonons, is usually considered as waste energy and, moreover, deleterious to information processing. However, in ...this Colloquium, an attempt is made to rebut this common view: By use of tailored models it is demonstrated that phonons can be manipulated similarly to electrons and photons, thus enabling controlled heat transport. Moreover, it is explained that phonons can be put to beneficial use to carry and process information. In the first part ways are presented to control heat transport and to process information for physical systems which are driven by a temperature bias. In particular, a toolkit of familiar electronic analogs for use of phononics is put forward, i.e., phononic devices are described which act as thermal diodes, thermal transistors, thermal logic gates, and thermal memories. These concepts are then put to work to transport, control, and rectify heat in physically realistic nanosystems by devising practical designs of hybrid nanostructures that permit the operation of functional phononic devices; the first experimental realizations are also reported. Next, richer possibilities to manipulate heat flow by use of time-varying thermal bath temperatures or various other external fields are discussed. These give rise to many intriguing phononic nonequilibrium phenomena such as, for example, the directed shuttling of heat, geometrical phase-induced heat pumping, or the phonon Hall effect, which may all find their way into operation with electronic analogs.
We have analyzed the light curves of 3C 279 at 22 GHz, 37 GHz, optical
R
R
band, and X-ray (2–10 KeV), and found evidence of quasi-periodic outbusts. The light curves show that 3C 279 is an extremely ...active object. A period of
P = 130.6 ± 1.3
P
=
130.6
±
1.3
days was consistently confirmed by three methods: the power-spectrum method, the discrete correlation function (DCF) method, and the Jurkevich method. Based on the relationship between observed period
P
obs
P
obs
and the precession period
P
p
P
p
given by Rieger and our result, the precession period of jet in 3C 279 is
P
p
≃ 29.6 yr
P
p
≃
29.6
yr
, which is completely consistent with the precession period of jet of about 30 yr obtained by Carrara et al.. This suggests that there is a precession jet in 3C 279 and the variability period of about 130.6 days that we obtained is most likely caused by the helical motion of the jet.
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