The discovery of a new type‐II Dirac semimetal in Ir1−xPtxTe2 with optimized band structure is described. Pt dopants protect the crystal structure holding the Dirac cones and tune the Fermi level ...close to the Dirac point. The type‐II Dirac dispersion in Ir1−xPtxTe2 is confirmed by angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first‐principles calculations. Superconductivity is also observed and persists when the Fermi level aligns with the Dirac points. Ir1−xPtxTe2 is an ideal platform for further studies on the exotic properties and potential applications of type‐II DSMs, and opens up a new route for the investigation of the possible topological superconductivity and Majorana physics.
A type‐II Dirac semimetal in Ir1−xPtxTe2 with optimized Dirac dispersions is experimentally discovered by angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The Pt dopant protects the crystal structure holding the Dirac cones and tunes the Fermi level close to the Dirac point. Combining the type‐II Dirac cone, Fermi level tunability, and superconductivity together, Ir1−xPtxTe2 provides an ideal platform for more in‐depth research of type‐II DSMs.
Abstract
Gastric ulcers (GUs) are common pathologies that affect many people around the world. Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the main causes of GUs; however, there are still lack of ...effective drugs for the prevention or therapy of GUs. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects and possible mechanisms of kaempferol (KAE) against acute ethanol-induced lesions to the gastric mucosa in mice. Fasted mice were orally given vehicle (0.9% saline), omeprazole (20 mg/kg), or KAE (40, 80, or 160 mg/kg) for 1 h in different experimental sets prior to the establishment of the GU model by challenge with absolute ethanol (10 ml/kg). Animals were euthanized 1 h after ethanol intake, and their plasma and stomach tissues were subject to further examination. Macroscopic and microscopic lesions, and immunological and biochemical parameters were observed. The effects of inflammation were investigated using the following indicators: tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and nitric oxide (NO). Results showed that KAE significantly decreased the ulcer index, increased the preventive index, completely protected the mucosa from lesions, and preserved gastric mucosal glycoprotein. KAE decreased MPO activity and pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, and IL-1β) levels, and improved NO levels. The gastroprotective activity of KAE might be attributed to the preservation of gastric mucous glycoproteins levels, thus by inhibiting neutrophil accumulation and MPO activity, adjusting the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and improving NO production.
Many proposals for exploring topological quantum computation are based on superconducting quantum devices constructed on materials with strong spin–orbit coupling (SOC). For these devices, full ...control of both the magnitude and the spatial distribution of the supercurrent is highly demanded, but has been elusive up to now. We constructed a proximity-type Josephson junction on nanoplates of Bi2O2Se, a new emerging semiconductor with strong SOC. Through electrical gating, we show that the supercurrent can be fully turned ON and OFF, and its real-space pathways can be configured either through the bulk or along the edges. Our work demonstrates Bi2O2Se as a promising platform for constructing multifunctional hybrid superconducting devices as well as for searching for topological superconductivity.
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has emerged as a promising biomarker for cancer. However, the current understanding of LDH and circulating LDH expression in thymic epithelial tumour (TET) is lacking.
A ...comprehensive literature review and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the clinical significance of circulating LDH levels in patients with TET. Circulating LDH levels were measured using a laboratory analyser (Cobas8000, Roche, Basel, Switzerland). The maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) was determined in patients who underwent whole-body 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT). Multiplex immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed using a commercially available kit (Opal 6-plex Detection Kit, Akoya Biosciences, Marlborough, MA, USA) and slide scanner (Slideview VS200, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) and Prism version 9.0 (GraphPad Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). Differences with p < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.
Meta-analysis revealed that elevated circulating serum levels of LDH predicted poor prognosis in patients with TET. Circulating levels of LDH were analysed in the serum of 313 patients with TET and 87 with benign mediastinal mass. The mean circulating LDH level in patients with thymic carcinoma (TC) was significantly higher than that in those with thymoma (TM) and the benign group (p < 0.001). Expression levels of circulating LDH were significantly reduced in postoperative samples compared with that in preoperative samples (p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for diagnosing TC yielded an area under the curve of 0.74, with a sensitivity of 54 % and specificity of 86 %. Furthermore, patients with TC exhibited higher 18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax values compared to those with TM. Correlation analysis demonstrated a positive association between SUVmax values and circulating LDH levels. In addition, the percentages of LDH-positive cells in TC and type B1 TM tissues were higher than those in other subtypes of TM, and a significant positive correlation between the percentages of LDH-positive and CD20-positive cells was detected in patients with TET (p < 0.05).
Circulating serum LDH level may serve as a non-invasive biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of TET. The relationship between LDH expression and immune cell infiltration merits further regarding its application in companion diagnosis for immunotherapy.
Many proposals for exploring topological quantum computation are based on superconducting quantum devices constructed on materials with strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC). For these devices, full ...control of both the magnitude and the spatial distribution of the supercurrent is highly demanded, but has been elusive up to now. We constructed a proximity-type Josephson junction on nanoplates of Bi
O
Se, a new emerging semiconductor with strong SOC. Through electrical gating, we show that the supercurrent can be fully turned ON and OFF, and its real-space pathways can be configured either through the bulk or along the edges. Our work demonstrates Bi
O
Se as a promising platform for constructing multifunctional hybrid superconducting devices as well as for searching for topological superconductivity.
The discovery of a new type-II Dirac semimetal in Ir
Pt
Te
with optimized band structure is described. Pt dopants protect the crystal structure holding the Dirac cones and tune the Fermi level close ...to the Dirac point. The type-II Dirac dispersion in Ir
Pt
Te
is confirmed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. Superconductivity is also observed and persists when the Fermi level aligns with the Dirac points. Ir
Pt
Te
is an ideal platform for further studies on the exotic properties and potential applications of type-II DSMs, and opens up a new route for the investigation of the possible topological superconductivity and Majorana physics.
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