Abstract
Unconventional superconductors often feature competing orders, small superfluid density, and nodal electronic pairing. While unusual superconductivity has been proposed in the kagome metals
...A
V
3
Sb
5
, key spectroscopic evidence has remained elusive. Here we utilize pressure-tuned and ultra-low temperature muon spin spectroscopy to uncover the unconventional nature of superconductivity in RbV
3
Sb
5
and KV
3
Sb
5
. At ambient pressure, we observed time-reversal symmetry breaking charge order below
$${T}_{{{\rm{1}}}^{*}\simeq$$
T
1
*
≃
110 K in RbV
3
Sb
5
with an additional transition at
$${T}_{{{\rm{2}}}^{*}\simeq$$
T
2
*
≃
50 K. Remarkably, the superconducting state displays a nodal energy gap and a reduced superfluid density, which can be attributed to the competition with the charge order. Upon applying pressure, the charge-order transitions are suppressed, the superfluid density increases, and the superconducting state progressively evolves from nodal to nodeless. Once optimal superconductivity is achieved, we find a superconducting pairing state that is not only fully gapped, but also spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry. Our results point to unprecedented tunable nodal kagome superconductivity competing with time-reversal symmetry-breaking charge order and offer unique insights into the nature of the pairing state.
MicroRNAs have been shown to play an important role in normal hematopoisis and leukemogenesis. Here, we report function and mechanisms of miR-181 family in myeloid differentiation and acute myeloid ...leukemia (AML). The aberrant overexpression of all the miR-181 family members (miR-181a/b/c/d) was detected in French-American-British M1, M2 and M3 subtypes of adult AML patients. By conducting gain- and loss-of-function experiments, we demonstrated that miR-181a inhibits granulocytic and macrophage-like differentiation of HL-60 cells and CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) by directly targeting and downregulating the expression of PRKCD (which then affected the PRKCD-P38-C/EBPα pathway), CTDSPL (which then affected the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein) and CAMKK1. The three genes were also demonstrated to be the targets of miR-181b, miR-181c and miR-181d, respectively. Significantly decreases in the expression levels of the target proteins were detected in AML patients. Inhibition of the expression of miR-181 family members owing to Lenti-miRZip-181a infection in bone marrow blasts of AML patients increased target protein expression levels and partially reversed myeloid differentiation blockage. In the mice implanted with AML CD34+ HSPCs, expression inhibition of the miR-181 family by Lenti-miRZip-181a injection improved myeloid differentiation, inhibited engraftment and infiltration of the leukemic CD34+ cells into the bone marrow and spleen, and released leukemic symptoms. In conclusion, our findings revealed new mechanism of miR-181 family in normal hematopoiesis and AML development, and suggested that expression inhibition of the miR-181 family could provide a new strategy for AML therapy.
Objectives
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a multidomain intervention program on the change in functional status of hospitalized older adults.
Design
This single-arm, prospective, ...non-randomized interventional study investigates the efficacy of a multidomain interventional program including cognitive stimulation activity, simple exercises, frailty education, and nutrition counseling.
Setting and Participants
At a tertiary hospital in southern Taiwan, 352 eligible patients were sequentially enrolled. Included patients were aged ≥65 years (mean age, 79.6 ± 9.0 years; 62% male), scored 3–7 on the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), and were hospitalized in the geriatric acute ward.
Intervention
Those receiving standard care (physical rehabilitation and nutrition counseling) during January–July 2019 composed the historical control group. Those receiving the multidomain intervention during August–December 2019 composed the intervention group.
Measurements
The primary outcome was the change in activities of daily life (ADL) and frailty status, as assessed by Katz Index and Clinical Frailty Scale, with using the generalized estimating equation model. The length of hospital stay, medical costs, and re-admission rates were secondary outcomes.
Results
Participants undergoing intervention (n = 101; 27.9%) showed greater improvements in the ADL and CFS during hospitalization (ADL adjusted estimate, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.11–1.11; p = 0.02; CFS adjusted estimate, −1.11; 95% CI, −1.42–−0.80; p < 0.01), shorter length of hospital stay (adjusted estimate, -5.00; 95% CI, −7.99–−2.47; p < 0.01), lower medical costs (adjusted estimate, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.49–0.69; p < 0.01), and lower 30- and 90-day readmission rates (30-day adjusted OR aOR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.27–0.50; p < 0.01; 60-day aOR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.01–0.33; p < 0.01) than did controls.
Conclusions
Participation in the multidomain intervention program during hospitalization improved the functional status and decreased the hospital stay length, medical costs, and readmission rates of frail older people.
► We designed a BIPVT system for multi-functions in energy efficient building. ► The hybrid solar panel provides synergistic benefits for energy harvesting and saving. ► The functionally graded ...material with water tubes enhances structural integrity. ► The performance and cost analysis show great potential and economic viability. ► The holistic design is applicable to various PV and thermoelectric cells.
A building integrated multifunctional roofing system has been designed to harvest solar energy through photovoltaics (PVs) and heat utilization while minimizing PV efficiency loss and eliminating the material and labor redundancies of conventional PV systems. Silicon PV modules are embedded between a transparent protective layer and a functionally graded material (FGM) layer that is fabricated from a mixture of heat conducting aluminum and insulating high density polyethylene with water tubes cast within the FGM. Solar energy is collected by the PV modules in the form of PV electricity and heat energy. Due to high thermal conductivity of the upper part of the FGM, the heat in the PV modules is transferred into the FGM and is captured by the water flowing through the embedded tubes, so the modules’ temperature can be controlled and, thus, the PV efficiency can be optimized. The warm water can be used as it is gathered for heat supply in a radiant floor systems or it is heat can be extracted into a phase change material (PCM) storage unit, for use in nighttime heating or more efficient ejection during cooler evening hours. Due to the high thermal insulation of the lower part of the FGM and heat collection by water flow, excellent indoor thermal comfort can be achieved and building cooling needs minimized. A thermal resistive structural substrate is integrated into the composite system to provide structural support for FGM and PV elements. This holistic design will fulfill the basic functions of the building envelope: waterproofing, insulation, and structural strength and durability, while simultaneously producing energy and reducing energy consumption to achieve a high degree of energy efficiency and sustainability. A prototype study has proven the concept. The performance analysis indicates that the proposed solar roofing system provides significant advantages over the traditional asphalt shingle roof and PV systems without cooling.
The brain endothelium is an important therapeutic target for the inhibition of cerebrovascular dysfunction in ischemic stroke. Previously, we documented the important regulatory roles of microRNAs in ...the cerebral vasculature, in particular the cerebral vascular endothelium. However, the functional significance and molecular mechanisms of other classes of non-coding RNAs in the regulation of cerebrovascular endothelial pathophysiology after stroke are completely unknown.
Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, we profiled long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expressional signatures in primary brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) after oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD), an in vitro mimic of ischemic stroke conditions. After 16h of OGD exposure, the expression levels for 362 of the 10,677 lncRNAs analyzed changed significantly, including a total of 147 lncRNAs increased and 70 lncRNAs decreased by more than 2-fold. Among them, the most highly upregulated lncRNAs include Snhg12, Malat1, and lnc-OGD 1006, whereas the most highly downregulated lncRNAs include 281008D09Rik, Peg13, and lnc-OGD 3916. Alteration of the most highly upregulated/downregulated ODG-responsive lncRNAs was further confirmed in cultured BMECs after OGD as well as isolated cerebral microvessels in mice following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and 24h reperfusion by the quantitative real-time PCR approach. Moreover, promoter analysis of altered ODG-responsive endothelial lncRNA genes by bioinformatics showed substantial transcription factor binding sites on lncRNAs, implying potential transcriptional regulation of those lncRNAs. These findings are the first to identify OGD-responsive brain endothelial lncRNAs, which suggest potential pathological roles for these lncRNAs in mediating endothelial responses to ischemic stimuli. Endothelial-selective lncRNAs may function as a class of novel master regulators in cerebrovascular endothelial pathologies after ischemic stroke.
•A first study to profile ischemic-responsive brain endothelial long non-coding RNAs•Total 217 lncRNAs were classified as ischemic-responsive endothelial lncRNAs.•The most highly altered lncRNAs were confirmed in brain microvessels after stroke.•Identified key transcription factors that regulate ischemic-responsive lncRNAs
Two-dimensional topological insulators with a large bulk band gap are promising for experimental studies of quantum spin Hall effect and for spintronic device applications. Despite considerable ...theoretical efforts in predicting large-gap two-dimensional topological insulator candidates, none of them have been experimentally demonstrated to have a full gap, which is crucial for quantum spin Hall effect. Here, by combining scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we reveal that ZrTe5 crystal hosts a large full gap of ∼100meV on the surface and a nearly constant density of states within the entire gap at the monolayer step edge. These features are well reproduced by our first-principles calculations, which point to the topologically nontrivial nature of the edge states.
Abstract
The Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass for the International Space Station (ISS-CREAM) experiment successfully recorded data for 539 days from 2017 August to 2019 February. We report the energy ...spectrum of cosmic-ray protons from the ISS-CREAM experiment at energies from 1.60 × 10
3
to 6.55 × 10
5
GeV. The measured spectrum deviates from a single power law. A smoothly broken power-law fit to the data, including statistical and systematic uncertainties, shows the spectral index change at 9.0 × 10
3
GeV from 2.57 ± 0.03 to 2.82 ± 0.02 with a significance of greater than 3
σ
. This bump-like structure is consistent with a spectral softening recently reported by the balloon-borne CREAM, DAMPE, and NUCLEON, but ISS-CREAM extends measurements to higher energies.
•Absorb vibration to control and reduce the destructive effect of the resonance is important.•Energy absorption and vibration of conical three-layered panel are studied.•The layers are ...smart/auxetic/functionally graded porous.•The substrate is simulated by frictional viscoelastic torsional model.•Differential cubature-Newmark methods are used to solve the governing equations.
In recent years, the utilization of various methods to absorb vibration in widely-used structures has gained significant attention to control and reduce the destructive effect of the resonance phenomenon. The increased useful lifetime and reduced maintenance and repair costs are the advantages of vibration absorption. Besides, utilization of energy absorbers is one of the most effective strategies for reducing energy supply costs for different parts of the structure, such as sensors. In this regard, a numerical study is performed in this research to evaluate the energy absorption by vibrations' absorption in a conical three-layered panel located on a viscoelastic substrate. This three-layered panel is composed of three parts: piezoelectric upper layer reinforced with Graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs), auxetic core, and functionally graded material (FGM) porous lower layer. The substrate includes spring element, shear, torsion, and substrate-structure friction factor. Hamilton's principle and energy method have been used to extract the governing equations to model the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) for the presented structure. The Differential Cubature Method (DCM) and the Newmark method have been used to solve the governing equations. Results show that by applying the negative voltage to the sandwich conical panel, the in-plane compression forces and natural frequency are increased, while the maximum dynamic deflection is decreased. Furthermore, increasing the inherent damping coefficient increases the damping decrement. Meanwhile, the nonlinear scattering and increased dispersion concentration of GPLs near the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric layer will increase the frequency and energy absorption. Besides, the increased friction factor of the viscoelastic substrate and sandwich cone leads to more absorption energy.
Approximately 15% of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) occlude during the first year after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) despite aspirin use. The POPular CABG trial (The Effect of Ticagrelor ...on Saphenous Vein Graft Patency in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery) investigated whether ticagrelor added to standard aspirin improves SVG patency at 1 year after CABG.
In this investigator-initiated, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, patients with ≥1 SVGs were randomly assigned (1:1) after CABG to ticagrelor or placebo added to standard aspirin (80 mg or 100 mg). The primary outcome was SVG occlusion at 1 year, assessed with coronary computed tomography angiography, in all patients that had primary outcome imaging available. A generalized estimating equation model was used to perform the primary analysis per SVG. The secondary outcome was 1-year SVG failure, which was a composite of SVG occlusion, SVG revascularization, myocardial infarction in myocardial territory supplied by a SVG, or sudden death.
Among 499 randomly assigned patients, the mean age was 67.9±8.3 years, 87.1% were male, the indication for CABG was acute coronary syndrome in 31.3%, and 95.2% of procedures used cardiopulmonary bypass. Primary outcome imaging was available in 220 patients in the ticagrelor group and 223 patients in the placebo group. The SVG occlusion rate in the ticagrelor group was 10.5% (51 of 484 SVGs) versus 9.1% in the placebo group (43 of 470 SVGs), odds ratio, 1.29 95% CI, 0.73-2.30;
=0.38. SVG failure occurred in 35 (14.2%) patients in the ticagrelor group versus 29 (11.6%) patients in the placebo group (odds ratio, 1.22 95% CI, 0.72-2.05).
In this randomized, placebo-controlled trial, the addition of ticagrelor to standard aspirin did not reduce SVG occlusion at 1 year after CABG. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02352402.
PDF
