Abstract The quasiparticle spectrum and transport properties of the double quantum dot (DQD) deposited on a superconducting substrate (Andreev molecule) and side‐coupled to a nanowire hosting ...Majorana zero modes (MZMs) are studied. Placing a DQD on the superconducting substrate induces the trivial Andreev‐bound states (ABSs) in quantum dots. However, coupling of DQD with a nanowire causes the leakage of the MZM from the topological nanowire into quantum dots. The relationship between the Andreev states and the Majorana mode for different values of the coupling parameters is analyzed. Additionally, it is shown that the connection point of a metallic tip, treated as an scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip, affects the measured results of the differential conductance.
Focal brain injury in the form of a needlestick (NS) results in cell death and induces a self-protective response flanking the lesion. Myo/Nog cells are identified by their expression of bone ...morphogenetic protein inhibitor Noggin, brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) and the skeletal muscle specific transcription factor MyoD. Myo/Nog cells limit cell death in two forms of retinopathy. In this study, we examined the acute response of Myo/Nog cells to a NS lesion that extended from the rat posterior parietal cortex to the hippocampus. Myo/Nog cells were identified with antibodies to Noggin and BAI1. These cells were the primary source of both molecules in the uninjured and injured brain. One day after the NS, the normally small population of Myo/Nog cells expanded approximately eightfold within a 1 mm area surrounding the lesion. Myo/Nog cells were reduced by approximately 50% along the lesion with an injection of the BAI1 monoclonal antibody and complement. The number of dying cells, identified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL), was unchanged at this early time point in response to the decrease in Myo/Nog cells. However, increasing the number of Myo/Nog cells within the lesion by injecting BAI1-positive (+) cells isolated from the brains of other animals, significantly reduced cell death and increased the number of NeuN+ neurons compared to brains injected with phosphate buffered saline or exogenous BAI1-negative cells. These findings demonstrate that Myo/Nog cells rapidly react to injury within the brain and increasing their number within the lesion is neuroprotective.
The transport properties of a quantum dot coupled to two metallic contacts and side‐coupled to a topological superconductor wire hosting Majorana zero energy modes (Majorana wire) have been studied. ...The spin‐dependent tunneling amplitude between quantum dot and Majorana wire has been assumed. The polarization of tunneling amplitudes causes the polarization of spin‐dependent zero‐bias conductance, but the total conductance of a quantum dot depends very weakly on the polarization of tunneling amplitudes. The complex behavior of the zero‐bias anomaly of conductance in the presence of an external magnetic field is shown. The zero‐bias conductance peaks at high external magnetic field can be the fingerprint of the presence of Majorana fermions.
This study presents the transport properties of a quantum dot coupled to two metallic contacts and side‐coupled to a topological superconductor wire hosting Majorana zero energy modes. The spin‐dependent tunneling amplitude between quantum dot and Majorana wire causes the polarization of zero‐bias conductance and Seebeck coefficient.
Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) over-expression is associated with tissue destruction in the context of chronic inflammation. Previous studies showed that IL-4 inhibits induction of MMP-3 by ...IL-1β, and suggested that AP-1 might be involved. Here we show that IL-1 induced binding of transcription factor AP-1 to the MMP-3 promoter consists primarily of c-Jun, JunB, and c-Fos and that binding of c-Jun and c-Fos is inhibited by the combination of cytokines while binding of Jun B is not. Mutation of the AP-1 site in the MMP-3 promoter decreased the ability of IL-4 to inhibit its transcription in transfected MG-63 cells. Western blotting showed that both cytokines activate Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but with somewhat different kinetics, and that activation of JNK by both cytokines individually is inhibited by the combination. These results indicate that IL-4 inhibition of MMP-3 expression is associated with reduction of IL-1 induced binding of active forms of the AP-1 dimer, while less active JunB-containing dimers remain, and suggest that these changes are associated with decreased activation of JNK.
•IL-4 inhibits IL-1-induced binding of AP-1 proteins in human gingival and foreskin fibroblasts.•Higher basal AP-1 binding is seen in inflamed gingival cells than in foreskin fibroblasts.•IL-4 changes the amount and dimer composition of AP-1 binding to the MMP-1 promoter.•IL-4 inhibition of MMP-3 transcription requires the AP-1 site in transfected MG-63 cells.•Negative crosstalk between IL-1β and IL-4 is at the level of activation of Jun N-terminal kinase.
By changing air and water flow rates in the two-phase (air–water) flow through a minichannel, we observed the evolution of air bubbles and slugs patterns. This spatiotemporal behaviour was identified ...qualitatively by using a digital camera. Simultaneously, we provided a detailed analysis of these phenomena by using the corresponding sequences of light transmission time series recorded with a laser-phototransistor sensor. To distinguish particular patterns, we used recurrence plots and recurrence quantification analysis. Finally, we showed that the maxima of various recurrence quantificators obtained from the laser time series could follow the bubble and slugs patterns in studied ranges of air and water flows.
•Mixture flows of air and water with changing water and air rates were studied.•The character of two-phase flow dynamics were studied by recurrences of the laser light transmissivity time series.•Recurrence Quantification Analysis enabled to classify the flow patterns.
The two-phase flow (water–air) occurring in the square minichannel (3×3mm) has been analysed. In the minichannel it has been observed: flow of grouped isolated bubbles, flow of confined bubbles, flow ...of elongated bubbles, slugs flow and semi-annular flow. The time series of pressure drop fluctuations was analysed using the analyses of traditional recurrence quantification and recurrence network. The two coefficients: recurrence period density entropy and transitivity have been used for identification of differences between the dynamics of two-phase flow patterns. The algorithm which has been used normalizes the analysed time series before calculating the recurrence plots. Despite the neglect of quantitative signal characteristics the analysis of its dynamics allows us to identify the two-phase flow patterns. This confirms that this type of analysis can be used to identify the two-phase flow patterns in minichannels.
In tribological studies, one of the main challenges is the proper identification of the prevalent wear phenomena that affect the mating pair of materials. In surface-modified materials, it is ...particularly difficult to identify the onset of wear-induced damage of the protective film. In this paper, an example of successful application of Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on two tribological signals: coefficient of friction (COF) and electrical contact resistance (ECR), is presented. Based on the results provided, with the use of RQA and PCA, it is possible to identify the prevalent wear modes of a tribological pair, as well as to spot the transition between chaotic and periodic friction.
•COF and ECR signals, registered during a dry wear test, were analyzed with RQA and PCA.•As a tribological pair, TiN coated 316L vs. WC-Co ball was selected.•The aim of the study was to check if RQA and PCA might be used to spot failure of a protective anti-wear film.•Transitions between the wear modes, as well as failure of a TiN film, can be detected with the use of RQA and PCA.
Abstract Blood flow through the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries is a crucial area of research in hemodynamics and cardiovascular diseases. To get in to the problem, this study presents detailed ...analyses of blood flow through the abdominal aorta, together with left and right iliac arteries, under Earth gravity and weightless conditions, both at the rest stage, and during physical activity. The analysis were conducted using ANSYS Fluent software. The results indicate, that there is significantly less variation in blood flow velocity under weightless conditions, compared to measurement taken under Earth Gravity conditions. Study presents, that the maximum and minimum blood flow velocities decrease and increase, respectively, under weightless conditions. Our model for the left iliac artery revealed higher blood flow velocities during the peak of the systolic phase (systole) and lower velocities during the early diastolic phase (diastole). Furthermore, we analyzed the shear stress of the vessel wall and the mean shear stress over time. Additionally, the distribution of oscillatory shear rate, commonly used in hemodynamic analyses, was examined to assess the effects of blood flow on the blood vessels. Countermeasures to mitigate the negative effects of weightlessness on astronauts health are discussed, including exercises performed on the equipment aboard the space station. These exercises aim to maintain optimal blood flow, prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.
Using irreducible Green’s functions (IGF) method we analyse the Coulomb interaction dependence of the spectral functions and the transport properties of a quantum dot coupled to isotropic ...superconductor and metallic leads (SC-QD-N). The irreducible Green’s functions method is the modification of classical equation of motion technique. The IGF scheme is based on differentiation of double-time Green’s functions, both over the primary and secondary times. The IGF method allows to obtain the spectral functions for equilibrium and non-equilibrium impurity Anderson model used for SC-QD-N system. By the numerical computations, we show the change of spectral and the anomalous densities under the influence of the Coulomb interactions. The observed sign change of the anomalous spectral density can be used as the criterion of the SC singlet-Kondo singlet transition.
•The spectral functions of a quantum dot depends on the Coulomb interaction.•We use the irreducible Green’s functions method.•The increase of Coulomb interaction causes the SC singlet-Kondo singlet transition.•The sign change of anomalous spectral density is the phase transition criterion.
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