Three-dimensional topological insulators are a new state of quantum matter with a bulk gap and odd number of relativistic Dirac fermions on the surface. By investigating the surface state of Bi2Te3 ...with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the surface state consists of a single nondegenerate Dirac cone. Furthermore, with appropriate hole doping, the Fermi level can be tuned to intersect only the surface states, indicating a full energy gap for the bulk states. Our results establish that Bi2Te3 is a simple model system for the three-dimensional topological insulator with a single Dirac cone on the surface. The large bulk gap of Bi2Te3 also points to promising potential for high-temperature spintronics applications.
Blended learning combines online digital resources with traditional classroom activities and enables students to attain higher learning performance through well-defined interactive strategies ...involving online and traditional learning activities. Learning analytics is a conceptual framework and as a part of our Precision education used to analyze and predict students' performance and provide timely interventions based on student learning profiles. This study applied learning analytics and educational big data approaches for the early prediction of students' final academic performance in a blended Calculus course. Real data with 21 variables were collected from the proposed course, consisting of video-viewing behaviors, out-of-class practice behaviors, homework and quiz scores, and after-school tutoring. This study applied principal component regression to predict students' final academic performance. The experimental results show that students' final academic performance could be predicted when only one-third of the semester had elapsed. In addition, we identified seven critical factors that affect students' academic performance, consisting of four online factors and three traditional factors. The results showed that the blended data set combining online and traditional critical factors had the highest predictive performance.
In addition to a bulk energy gap, topological insulators accommodate a conducting, linearly dispersed Dirac surface state. This state is predicted to become massive if time reversal symmetry is ...broken, and to become insulating if the Fermi energy is positioned inside both the surface and bulk gaps. We introduced magnetic dopants into the three-dimensional topological insulator dibismuth triselenide (Bi₂Se₃) to break the time reversal symmetry and further position the Fermi energy inside the gaps by simultaneous magnetic and charge doping. The resulting insulating massive Dirac fermion state, which we observed by angle-resolved photoemission, paves the way for studying a range of topological phenomena relevant to both condensed matter and particle physics.
Background
The Child–Pugh (CP) score is used widely to assess liver function and predict postoperative outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, the albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) ...score has been validated as a predictor of overall survival in these patients. This study aimed to compare the ability of the ALBI and CP scores to predict outcomes in patients with HCC after liver resection with curative intent.
Methods
Consecutive patients who underwent liver resection with curative intent for HCC between January 2007 and July 2013 were included in this retrospective study. The performance of the ALBI score in predicting postoperative liver failure (PHLF) and long‐term survival was compared with that of the CP score.
Results
A total of 1242 patients were enrolled. Of these, 166 (13·4 per cent) experienced PHLF. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the ALBI score for predicting PHLF was greater than that of the CP score (0·723 versus 0·607; P < 0·001). Similar to findings for CP grade, the incidence and severity of PHLF increased with increasing ALBI grade. The ALBI grade stratified patients into at least two distinct overall survival cohorts (P < 0·001), whereas the CP grade did not. The ALBI grade also classified patients with CP grade A disease into two distinct overall survival cohorts (P < 0·001), and overall survival rates in the group with poorer survival were similar to those in the majority of patients with CP grade B disease. Both CP and ALBI scores had low power in predicting disease‐free survival.
Conclusion
The ALBI grade predicted PHLF and overall survival in patients with HCC undergoing liver resection with curative intent more accurately than the CP grade.
ALBI score may be better
Summary
Background
Up‐to‐date information regarding the recurrence rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) after eradication therapy is not available.
Aim
To evaluate the global recurrence rate ...following H. pylori eradication therapy and confirm its association with socioeconomic and sanitary conditions.
Methods
A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library was performed to identify potentially relevant publications using the following keywords: “Helicobacter pylori” or “H. pylori” or “Hp” and “recurrence” or “recrudescence” or “reinfection” or “recurrent” or “recurred” or “re‐infect*” or “relapse*.”
Results
A total of 132 studies (53 934 patient‐years) were analysed. Each study was weighted according to the duration of patient‐years. The global annual recurrence, reinfection and recrudescence rate of H. pylori were 4.3% (95% CI, 4‐5), 3.1% (95% CI, 2‐5) and 2.2% (95% CI, 1‐3), respectively. The H. pylori recurrence rate was inversely related to the human development index (HDI) (ie, 3.1% 95% CI, 2‐4, 6.2% 95% CI, 4‐8 and 10.9% 95% CI, 6‐18 in countries with a very high, high and medium or low HDI) (P <.01) and directly related to H. pylori prevalence (10.9% 95% CI, 7‐16, 3.7% 95% CI, 3‐5, 3.4% 95% CI, 2‐5 and 1.6% 95% CI, 0.5‐3 in countries with a very high, high, medium or low local H. pylori prevalence) (P <.01). Global recurrence rates remained relatively stable between 1990s, 2000s and 2010s but varied across different regions (P <.05).
Conclusions
H. pylori recurrence remains a problem closely associated with socioeconomic and sanitary conditions. Methods to reduce recurrence in developing countries are needed.
Linked ContentThis article is linked to Willington and Gearry, and Roblin et al papers. To view these papers visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14370 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14385.
The morphology of ceria films grown on a Ru(0001) substrate was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy in combination with low-energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy. The ...preparation conditions were determined for the growth of nm-thick, well-ordered CeO2(111) films covering the entire surface. The recipe has been adopted from the one suggested by Mullins et al. D.R. Mullins, P.V. Radulovic, S.H. Overbury, Surf. Sci. 429 (1999) 186 and modified in that significantly higher oxidation temperatures are required to form atomically flat terraces, up to 500A in width, with a low density of the point defects assigned to oxygen vacancies. The terraces often consist of several rotational domains. A circular shape of terraces suggest a large variety of undercoordinated sites at the step edges which preferentially nucleate gold particles deposited onto these films. The results show that reactivity studies over ceria and metal/ceria surfaces should be complemented with STM studies, which provide direct information on the film morphology and surface defects, which are usually considered as active sites for catalysis over ceria.
Establishing the appropriate theoretical framework for unconventional superconductivity in the iron-based materials requires correct understanding of both the electron correlation strength and the ...role of Fermi surfaces. This fundamental issue becomes especially relevant with the discovery of the iron chalcogenide superconductors. Here, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to measure three representative iron chalcogenides, FeTe0.56Se0.44, monolayer FeSe grown on SrTiO3 and K0.76Fe1.72Se2. We show that these superconductors are all strongly correlated, with an orbital-selective strong renormalization in the dxy bands despite having drastically different Fermi surface topologies. Furthermore, raising temperature brings all three compounds from a metallic state to a phase where the dxy orbital loses all spectral weight while other orbitals remain itinerant. These observations establish that iron chalcogenides display universal orbital-selective strong correlations that are insensitive to the Fermi surface topology, and are close to an orbital-selective Mott phase, hence placing strong constraints for theoretical understanding of iron-based superconductors.
Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been studied extensively as monolayers, vertical or lateral heterostructures. To achieve functionalization, monolayers are often patterned using soft lithography ...and selectively decorated with molecules. Here we demonstrate the growth of a family of 2D materials that are intrinsically patterned. We demonstrate that a monolayer of PtSe
can be grown on a Pt substrate in the form of a triangular pattern of alternating 1T and 1H phases. Moreover, we show that, in a monolayer of CuSe grown on a Cu substrate, strain relaxation leads to periodic patterns of triangular nanopores with uniform size. Adsorption of different species at preferred pattern sites is also achieved, demonstrating that these materials can serve as templates for selective self-assembly of molecules or nanoclusters, as well as for the functionalization of the same substrate with two different species.
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