Spin current historically referred to the flow of electrons carrying spin information, in particular since the discovery of giant magnetoresistance in the 1980s. Recently, it has been found that spin ...current can also be mediated by spin-triplet supercurrent, superconducting quasiparticles, spinons, magnons, spin superfluidity and so on. Here, we review key progress concerning the developing research direction utilizing spin current as a probe of quantum materials. We focus on spin-triplet superconductivity and spin dynamics in the ferromagnet/superconductor heterostructures, quantum spin liquids, magnetic phase transitions, magnon-polarons, magnon-polaritons, magnon Bose-Einstein condensates and spin superfluidity. The unique characteristics of spin current as a probe will be fruitful for future investigation of spin-dependent properties and the identification of new quantum materials.
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•Proton conductive carboxylate-based MOFs were reviewed.•Aliphatic carboxylate-based and aromatic carboxylate-based MOFs were included.•Proton conductivity and conducting mechanism ...were discussed.•The future development trend of such MOFs is prospected.
As a significant type of crystalline solid proton conducting materials, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been paid great attention and pursued by researchers. In this review, we will mainly summarize the proton conduction explorations of MOFs based on carboxylate ligands (including aliphatic carboxylate-based and aromatic carboxylate-based MOFs) from the aspects of synthetic strategies, stability, proton conductive properties and mechanism, application, etc. Finally, on the basis of summarization of literature and our own research on proton conduction, development prospects and challenges for such conductive materials in the future are highlighted.
A coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical (THM) model based on the combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) is presented for simulating rock cracking driven by multi-physics. The THM model contains ...three parts: a fracture-pore mixed seepage model, a heat transfer model, and a fracture mechanics calculation model. By combining any two of the above three models, a coupled thermal-mechanical (TM) model, a coupled hydrothermal (TH) model, and a coupled hydromechanical (HM) model are constructed. Then, the TM model, TH model, and HM model are combined to build the THM model, which is implemented in a GPU parallel multiphysics finite-discrete element software, namely MultiFracs. Finally, we use this THM model to study the hydraulic fracturing process of hot dry rock. The simulation results indicate that in addition to the primary fracture perpendicular to the direction of the minimum in situ stress, branching fractures along the direction of the minimum in situ stress are also produced during the hydraulic fracturing process. The proposed THM model can simulate heat and fluid transfer in fractured reservoirs, crack initiation, propagation, and intersection.
The early diagnosis of sepsis remains a challenge. Recently, soluble cluster of differentiation 14 subtype (sCD14-ST), also known as presepsin, has been identified as a potential biomarker of sepsis. ...We performed a meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic accuracy of presepsin for sepsis in patients with systemic inflammation.
We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Knowledge and Cochrane databases. Studies were included if they assessed the diagnostic accuracy of presepsin for sepsis in adult patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Furthermore, a 2 × 2 contingency table was constructed based on these results. Two authors independently judged the studies and extracted the data. The diagnostic accuracy of presepsin in sepsis was calculated using a bivariate meta-analysis model. The Q-test and I (2) index were used to test the heterogeneity.
Eight studies involving a total of 1,815 patients were included in the present study. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 0.86 (95% CI: 0.79-0.91), 0.78 (95% CI: 0.68-0.85), 22 (95% CI: 10-48), 3.8 (95% CI: 2.6-5.7), and 0.18 (95% CI: 0.11-0.28), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.92). Meta-regression analysis revealed that consecutive patient selection, sample size and setting significantly accounted for the heterogeneity of sensitivity.
Our findings suggest that presepsin exhibits very good diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.89) for the diagnosis for sepsis. Nevertheless, an overall assessment of all the clinical indexes for sepsis diagnosis and continual re-evaluation of presepsin during the course of the disease are needed.
Well‐developed asymmetric organocatalysis has been widely incorporated in various cascade/tandem sequences, providing a simple access to structurally complex target molecules in a highly ...stereoselective fashion, including spirocyclic compounds. Among all types of spirocyclic skeletons, those containing a six‐membered carbocyclic ring are recognized as an important core framework with up to six consecutive stereogenic centers and this motif is commonly found in many natural products, biologically active molecules and lead compounds. This review describes the asymmetric synthesis of spirocyclic compounds containing six‐membered carbocycles using small organic molecules as catalysts.
Topological lasers are immune to imperfections and disorder. They have been recently demonstrated based on many kinds of robust edge states, which are mostly at the microscale. The realization of 2D ...on-chip topological nanolasers with a small footprint, a low threshold and high energy efficiency has yet to be explored. Here, we report the first experimental demonstration of a topological nanolaser with high performance in a 2D photonic crystal slab. A topological nanocavity is formed utilizing the Wannier-type 0D corner state. Lasing behaviour with a low threshold of approximately 1 µW and a high spontaneous emission coupling factor of 0.25 is observed with quantum dots as the active material. Such performance is much better than that of topological edge lasers and comparable to that of conventional photonic crystal nanolasers. Our experimental demonstration of a low-threshold topological nanolaser will be of great significance to the development of topological nanophotonic circuitry for the manipulation of photons in classical and quantum regimes.Nanophotonics: Creating better performing topological lasersA high-performance topological laser could pave the way for its use in a wide range of nanophotonic applications. Semiconductor lasers are the most common type of laser, but their performance deteriorates if there are any structural defects in the lasing material. Topological lasers allow light to travel around a cavity of any shape without scattering, promising better performing lasers. However, creating a topological laser with a low threshold for lasing and high efficiency has proved challenging. A team of Chinese researchers led by Xiulai Xu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have now developed a topological laser made from a two-dimensional photonic crystal nanocavity slab with a lasing threshold of about one micro-watt and high spontaneous emission coupling factor of 0.25 and is comparable to the performance of conventional semiconductor lasers.
Tools for GPCR drug discovery Zhang, Ru; Xie, Xin
Acta pharmacologica Sinica,
03/2012, Letnik:
33, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
G-protein-coupled receptors （GPCRs） mediate many important physiological functions and are considered as one of the most success- ful therapeutic targets for a broad spectrum of diseases. The design ...and implementation of high-throughput GPCR assays that allow the cost-effective screening of large compound libraries to identify novel drug candidates are critical in early drug discovery. Early functional GPCR assays depend primarily on the measurement of G-protein-mediated 2nd messenger generation. Taking advantage of the continuously deepening understanding of GPCR signal transduction, many G-protein-independent pathways are utilized to detect the activity of GPCRs, and may provide additional information on functiona~ selectivity of candidate compounds. With the combination of automated imaging systems and label-free detection systems, such assays are now suitable for high-throughput screening （HTS）. In this review, we summarize the most widely used GPCR assays and recent advances in HTS technologies for GPCR drug discovery.
We investigated serum soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels for use in the diagnosis, severity assessment, and prognosis of sepsis in the critical ill patients and compared sCD163 with other ...infection-related variables.
During july 2010 and April 2011, serum was obtained from 102 sepsis patients (days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 after admission to an ICU) and 30 systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) patients with no sepsis diagnosed. Serum levels of sCD163, procalcitonon (PCT), and C reactive protein (CRP) were determined respectively. Sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores for sepsis patients were also recorded. Then evaluated their roles in sepsis.
The sCD163 levels were 0.88(0.78-1.00) ug/mL for SIRS patients, 1.50(0.92-2.00) ug/mL for moderate sepsis patients, and 2.95(2.18-5.57) ug/mL for severe sepsis patients on day 1. The areas under the ROC curves for sCD163, CRP, and PCT for the diagnosis of sepsis were, respectively, 0.856(95%CI: 0.791-0.921), 0.696(95%CI: 0.595-0.797), and 0.629(95%CI: 0.495-0.763), At the recommended cut-off 1.49 ug/mL for sCD163, the sensitivity is 74.0% with 93.3% specificity. Based on 28-day survivals, sCD163 levels in the surviving group stay constant, while they tended to gradually increase in the non-surviving group.The area under the ROC curve for sCD163 for sepsis prognosis was 0.706(95%CI 0.558-0.804). Levels of sCD163 with cut-off point >2.84 ug/mL have sensitivity of 55.8.0%, specificity 80.4%. Common risk factors for death and sCD163 were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis; the odds ratios (OR) for sCD163 and SOFA scores for sepsis prognosis were 1.173 and 1.396, respectively (P<0.05). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that sCD163 was weakly, but positively correlated with CRP, PCT, and SOFA scores (0.2< r <0.4, P<0.0001), but not with leukocyte counts (r <0.2, P = 0.450).
Serum sCD163 is superior to PCT and CRP for the diagnosis of sepsis and differentiate the severity of sepsis. sCD163 levels were more sensitive for dynamic evaluations of sepsis prognosis. Serum sCD163 and SOFA scores are prognostic factors for sepsis.
www.chictr.orgChiCTR-ONC-10000812.
•Optimal liquefaction conditions were the same in three solvents.•The liquefaction behaviors of three solvents were different.•Compositions of bio-oil highly depended on the type of solvents.
...Cellulose extracted from cornstalk was liquefied in supercritical organic solvents at different liquefaction parameters. Different organic solvents (methanol, ethanol and acetone) were used to disintegrate cellulose at different temperatures (240, 260, 280, 300 and 320 °C), reaction time (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min) and solvents dosage (0, 80, 120, 160 and 200 mL). The results showed that similar liquefaction characteristics of cellulose were observed in three different solvents. The larger bio-oil yield and smaller residue yield obtained from cellulose liquefaction in solvents were achieved under the suitable conditions (320 °C, 160 mL, 60–90 min), respectively. And the type of solvents was the main effect to the distribution of the composition of bio-oil. The dominant constituents of bio-oil that were produced in supercritical methanol was hydrocarbon, and ketones and esters were mainly produced in supercritical ethanol, whereas ketones compounds were primarily derived in supercritical acetone.
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