Discovery of a long-ranged charge order with 1/4 Ge1-dimerization in an antiferromagnetic Kagome metal.

Exotic quantum states arise from the interplay of various degrees of freedom such as charge, spin, orbital, and lattice. Recently, a short-ranged charge order (CO) was discovered deep inside the antiferromagnetic phase of Kagome magnet FeGe, exhibiting close relationships with magnetism. Despite extensive investigations, the CO mechanism remains controversial, mainly because the short-ranged behavior hinders precise identification of CO superstructure. Here, combining multiple experimental techniques, we report the observation of a long-ranged CO in high-quality FeGe samples, which is accompanied with a first-order structural transition. With these high-quality samples, the distorted 2 × 2 × 2 CO superstructure is characterized by a strong dimerization along the c-axis of 1/4 of Ge1-sites in Fe3Ge layers, and in response to that, the 2 × 2 in-plane charge modulations are induced. Moreover, we show that the previously reported short-ranged CO might be related to large occupational disorders at Ge1-site, which upsets the equilibrium of the CO state and the ideal 1 × 1 × 1 structure with very close energies, inducing nanoscale coexistence of these two phases. Our study provides important clues for further understanding the CO properties in FeGe and helps to identify the CO mechanism.

Eocene Statistics of the Semi-Deep-Deep Lake-Level Evolution of the Jijuntun Formation in the Fushun Basin, Northeast China.

The fluctuation of lake levels in semi-deep and deep lake environments has long been a central topic in the study of ancient lake evolution. This phenomenon has a significant impact on the enrichment of organic matter and the overall ecosystem. The study of lake-level changes in deep lake environments is hindered by the scarcity of records in continental strata. To address this issue, we conducted a study on the Eocene Jijuntun Formation in Fushun Basin, specifically focusing on the LFD-1 well. Our study involved finely sampling the extremely thick oil shale (about 80 m), which was deposited in the semi-deep to deep lake environment of the Jijuntun Formation. The TOC was predicted by multiple methods, and the lake level study was restored by combining logging INPEFA and Dynamic noise after orbital tuning (DYNOT) techniques. The oil shale of the target layer is type I kerogen, and the source of organic matter is basically the same. The γ ray (GR), resistivity (RT), acoustic (AC), and density (DEN) logging curves are in the normal distribution, indicating that the logging data are better. The accuracy of TOC simulated by improved Δlog R, SVR, and XGBoost models is affected by the number of sample sets. The improved Δlog R model is most affected by the change of sample size, followed by the SVR model, and the XGBoost model is the most stable. In addition, compared with the prediction accuracy of TOC by improved Δlog R, SVR, and XGBoost models, it is shown that the improved Δlog R method has limitations in the prediction of TOC in oil shale. The SVR model is more suitable for the prediction of oil shale resources with small sample size, and the XGBoost model is applicable when the sample size is relatively large. According to the DYNOT analysis of logging INPEFA and TOC, the lake level changes frequently during the deposition of ultra-thick oil shale, and the lake level has experienced five stages of rising-stabilizing-frequent fluctuation-stabilizing- decreasing. The research results provide a theoretical basis for revealing the plane change of stable deep lake lakes and provide a basis for the study of lake levels in faulted lake basins in Paleogene Northeast Asia.

The bioengineered and multifunctional nanoparticles in pancreatic cancer therapy: Bioresponisive nanostructures, phototherapy and targeted drug delivery.

The multidisciplinary approaches in treatment of cancer appear to be essential in term of bringing benefits of several disciplines and their coordination in tumor elimination. Because of the biological and malignant features of cancer cells, they have ability of developing resistance to conventional therapies such as chemo- and radio-therapy. Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant disease of gastrointestinal tract in which chemotherapy and radiotherapy are main tools in its treatment, and recently, nanocarriers have been emerged as promising structures in its therapy. The bioresponsive nanocarriers are able to respond to pH and redox, among others, in targeted delivery of cargo for specific treatment of PC. The loading drugs on the nanoparticles that can be synthetic or natural compounds, can help in more reduction in progression of PC through enhancing their intracellular accumulation in cancer cells. The encapsulation of genes in the nanoparticles can protect against degradation and promotes intracellular accumulation in tumor suppression. A new kind of therapy for cancer is phototherapy in which nanoparticles can stimulate both photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy through hyperthermia and ROS overgeneration to trigger cell death in PC. Therefore, synergistic therapy of phototherapy with chemotherapy is performed in accelerating tumor suppression. One of the important functions of nanotechnology is selective targeting of PC cells in reducing side effects on normal cells. The nanostructures are capable of being surface functionalized with aptamers, proteins and antibodies to specifically target PC cells in suppressing their progression. Therefore, a specific therapy for PC is provided and future implications for diagnosis of PC is suggested.

Environmental impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals and heavy metals in biological samples of petrochemical industry workers with perspective management.

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) or heavy metals are synthetic compounds that can lead to negative effect on health, including immune and endocrine system disruption, respiratory problems, metabolic issues, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular problems, growth impairment, neurological and learning disabilities, and cancer. Petrochemical industry drilling wastes, which contain varying levels of EDCs, are known to pose a significant risk to human health. This study aimed to investigate the levels of toxic elements in biological samples of individuals working in the petrochemical drilling sites. Biological samples, including scalp hair and whole blood, were collected from petrochemical drilling workers, individuals residing in the same residential area, and control age-matched persons from nonindustrial areas. The samples were oxidized by an acid mixture before analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The accuracy and validity of the methodology were verified through certified reference materials from scalp hair and whole blood. The results showed that the concentrations of toxic elements, such as cadmium and lead, were higher in biological samples of petrochemical drilling employees, while lower essential element levels (iron and zinc) were detected in their samples. This study highlights the significance of adopting better practices to reduce exposure to harmful substances and protect the health of petrochemical drilling workers and the environment. It also suggests that perspective management including policymakers and industry leaders should take measures to minimize exposure to EDCs and heavy metals to promote worker safety and public health. These measures could include the implementation of strict regulations and better occupational health practices to reduce toxic exposure and promote a safer work environment.

Charge order driven by multiple-Q spin fluctuations in heavily electron-doped iron selenide superconductors.

Intertwined spin and charge orders have been widely studied in high-temperature superconductors, since their fluctuations may facilitate electron pairing; however, they are rarely identified in heavily electron-doped iron selenides. Here, using scanning tunneling microscopy, we show that when the superconductivity of (Li0.84Fe0.16OH)Fe1-xSe is suppressed by introducing Fe-site defects, a short-ranged checkerboard charge order emerges, propagating along the Fe-Fe directions with an approximately 2aFe period. It persists throughout the whole phase space tuned by Fe-site defect density, from a defect-pinned local pattern in optimally doped samples to an extended order in samples with lower Tc or non-superconducting. Intriguingly, our simulations indicate that the charge order is likely driven by multiple-Q spin density waves originating from the spin fluctuations observed by inelastic neutron scattering. Our study proves the presence of a competing order in heavily electron-doped iron selenides, and demonstrates the potential of charge order as a tool to detect spin fluctuations.

Precise determination of energy transfer upconversion coefficient for the erbium and ytterbium codoped laser crystals.

Energy transfer upconversion (ETU) coefficient plays a crucial role in investigating complex laser systems as it greatly influences both the laser output behavior and heat generation. For some quasi-three-energy-level lasers based on Er3+ doped, Ho3+ doped and codoped gain media, the available theoretical studies relied on some unreasonable approximations due to the lack of spectroscopic data, notably the ETU coefficient. We put forward what we believe is a novel approach to overcome the difficulties caused by wavelength jump occurred in aforementioned laser systems. Based on net gain cross-section analysis and rate equations modelling, the functional relationship between the ETU coefficient, the laser power and pump power at the jumping wavelength are established. ETU coefficients and their temperature dependences of Er,Yb:YAB crystals with different crystal doped concentrations are experimentally determined for the first time. The results reveal that the ETU process in Er,Yb:YAB laser system is 5∼35 times stronger than that in Er3+ and Yb3+ codoped phosphate glass. The determination of these spectroscopic data paves the way for precise modelling of laser system based on Er,Yb:YAB or similar gain media.

Wavelength tuning of solid-state continuous-wave single frequency 1.5†µm laser by manipulating net gain spectra.

A wavelength tuning method suitable to watt-level continuous-wave single frequency solid-state laser (CWSFL) at 1.5 µm was proposed. Based on a dual-gain-medium resonator design, the laser wavelength can be tuned by manipulating the combined net gain spectrum. Comparing with the traditional tuning method, the wavelength tuning range was eight times broader and extended to 0.438 nm, the maximum laser power was raised up to 0.64 W, which was the highest record for the 1.5 µm CWSFL to the best of our knowledge. The laser intensity noise reached the shot noise limit at the analysis frequency above 3.5 MHz. Wider wavelength tuning band of 5.58 nm can be expected when the same resonator design including two gain media with different doped concentrations was used, according to our theory.

Correction to "Eocene Paleoclimate Evolution under the Background of Warmhouse-Hothouse Conditions in the Continental Fushun Basin: Implications from Magnetic Susceptibility and Color Reflectance".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c02445.].

Eocene Paleoclimate Evolution under the Background of Warmhouse-Hothouse Conditions in the Continental Fushun Basin: Implications from Magnetic Susceptibility and Color Reflectance.

Paleocene-Eocene hyperthermal events are a current research focus in the fields of sedimentology and paleoclimatology. The Fushun Basin in northeast China contains continuous continental Eocene fine-grained rocks, and a series of Eocene hyperthermal events in the Fushun Basin have been identified. Because of the high cost of high-precision isotope data testing, it is necessary to find new and alternative paleoclimate parameters. In this study, Eocene coal and oil shale-bearing layers in the Fushun Basin are used as research objects. The high-precision data of magnetic susceptibility, color reflectance, rock composition, and cluster analyses are used to conduct a vertical comparison in the same category and compare that analysis with the identified Eocene hyperthermal events in the Fushun Basin. The preliminary results show that high-frequency-dependent susceptibility, high color reflectance a* (redness)/L* (lightness) values, and high kaolinite content in the study area have good correspondence with global hyperthermal events and can be used as effective parameters for the identification of continental basin hyperthermal events. The detailed magnetic susceptibility and color reflectance data also reveal that the Eocene strata in the Fushun Basin recorded the Late Lutetian Thermal Maximum (LLTM) and 13 short-term hyperthermal events during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO). These results indicate that the parameters of rock physical properties can be used to study the evolution of the paleoclimate in geological history, and it has universal practicability in continental and marine fine-grained sedimentary rocks.

Snapshots of nascent RNA reveal cell- and stimulus-specific responses to acute kidney injury.

The current strategy to detect acute injury of kidney tubular cells relies on changes in serum levels of creatinine. Yet serum creatinine (sCr) is a marker of both functional and pathological processes and does not adequately assay tubular injury. In addition, sCr may require days to reach diagnostic thresholds, yet tubular cells respond with programs of damage and repair within minutes or hours. To detect acute responses to clinically relevant stimuli, we created mice expressing Rosa26-floxed-stop uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (Uprt) and inoculated 4-thiouracil (4-TU) to tag nascent RNA at selected time points. Cre-driven 4-TU-tagged RNA was isolated from intact kidneys and demonstrated that volume depletion and ischemia induced different genetic programs in collecting ducts and intercalated cells. Even lineage-related cell types expressed different genes in response to the 2 stressors. TU tagging also demonstrated the transient nature of the responses. Because we placed Uprt in the ubiquitously active Rosa26 locus, nascent RNAs from many cell types can be tagged in vivo and their roles interrogated under various conditions. In short, 4-TU labeling identifies stimulus-specific, cell-specific, and time-dependent acute responses that are otherwise difficult to detect with other technologies and are entirely obscured when sCr is the sole metric of kidney damage.

Research Progress of FeSe-based Superconductors Containing Ammonia/Organic Molecules Intercalation.

As an important part of Fe-based superconductors, FeSe-based superconductors have become a hot field in condensed matter physics. The exploration and preparation of such superconducting materials form the basis of studying their physical properties. With the help of various alkali/alkaline-earth/rare-earth metals, different kinds of ammonia/organic molecules have been intercalated into the FeSe layer to form a large number of FeSe-based superconductors with diverse structures and different layer spacing. Metal cations can effectively provide carriers to the superconducting FeSe layer, thus significantly increasing the superconducting transition temperature. The orientation of organic molecules often plays an important role in structural modification and can be used to fine-tune superconductivity. This review introduces the crystal structures and superconducting properties of several typical FeSe-based superconductors containing ammonia/organic molecules intercalation discovered in recent years, and the effects of FeSe layer spacing and superconducting transition temperature are briefly summarized.

Real time deterministic quantum teleportation over 10†km of single optical fiber channel.

A real time deterministic quantum teleportation over a single fiber channel was implemented experimentally by exploiting the generated EPR entanglement at 1550 nm. A 1342 nm laser beam was used to transfer the classical information in real time and also acted as a synchronous beam to realize the synchronization of the quantum and classical information. The dependence of the fidelity on the transmission distance of the fiber channel was studied experimentally with optimizing the transmission efficiency of the lossy channel that was established to manipulate the beam of the EPR entanglement in Alice's site. The maximum transmission distance of the deterministic quantum teleportation was 10 km with the fidelity of 0.51 ± 0.01, which is higher than the classical teleportation limit of 1/2. The work provides a feasible scheme to establish metropolitan quantum networks over fiber channels based on deterministic quantum teleportation.

Multiband Superconductivity with Sign-Preserving Order Parameter in Kagome Superconductor CsV_{3}Sb_{5}.

The superconductivity of a kagome superconductor CsV_{3}Sb_{5} is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy at ultralow temperature with high resolution. Two kinds of superconducting gaps with multiple sets of coherent peaks and residual zero-energy density of states (DOS) are observed on both half-Cs and Sb surfaces, implying multiband superconductivity. In addition, in-gap states can be induced by magnetic impurities but not by nonmagnetic impurities, suggesting a sign-preserving or s-wave superconducting order parameter. Moreover, the interplay between charge density waves (CDW) and superconductivity differs on various bands, resulting in different density-of-states distributions. Our results suggest that the superconducting gap is likely isotropic on the sections of Fermi surface that play little roles in CDW, and the superconducting gaps on the sections of Fermi surface with anisotropic CDW gaps are likely anisotropic as well. The residual spectral weights at zero energy are attributed to the extremely small superconducting gap on the tiny oval Fermi pockets. Our study provides critical clues for further understanding the superconductivity and its relation to CDW in CsV_{3}Sb_{5}.

cDNA cloning, expression and bioinformatical analysis of Tssk genes in tree shrews.

Tree shrews are more closely related to primate animals than rodents in many aspects. In addition, they also possess several advantageous characteristics including small body size, high brain-to-body mass ratio, low cost of feeding and maintenance, short reproductive cycle and life span, which make them promising novel laboratory animals to replace more precious larger primate animals. Testis-specific serine/threonine kinase (Tssk) plays important roles in spermatogenesis and/or the regulation of sperm function. However, studies on Tssk in tree shrews have not been reported yet. In the present study, the full-length sequences of five members of the Tssk family in tree shrews were cloned and their CDS region sequences were analyzed by basic bioinformatics. The phylogenetic tree and prokaryotic protein expression system of Tssk gene of tree shrews were constructed. The mRNA expressions of Tssk genes in 11 tissues/organs from tree shrews were studied. The results showed that: 1. the length of the CDS region of tree shrew Tssk gene for Tssk1B, Tssk2, Tssk3 (variant X1 / X2), Tssk4 (variant X1 / X2) and Tssk6 is 1080bp, 1077bp, 867 / 807bp, 1014 / 984bp, 822bp, respectively, encoding 359, 358, 288/268, 337/327 and 273 amino acids, respectively; the cloned sequences of Tssk genes have been submitted to GenBank with the following accession numbers: KX091161(Tssk1B), KX091162(Tssk2), KX091163(Tssk3 variant X1)/KX091164(Tssk3 variant X2), KX091165(Tssk4variant X1)/KX091166(Tssk4variant X2), KX091160(Tssk6). 2. All tree shrew Tssk proteins distribute in cytoplasm, indicating that they are hydrophilic and non-secretory proteins, with multiple phosphorylation sites of serine and/or threonine. In addition, they are all mixed proteins with similar tertiary structures sharing a highly conserved functional domain of S_TKc (Serine/Threonine protein kinases, catalytic domain). 3.The molecular phylogenetic tree of five Tssk genes in tree shrews indicates that they are neither rodent nor primate animal, but are closely related to primate animals. 4. Five members of the Tssk recombinant proteins in tree shrews were successfully obtained using the constructed prokaryotic protein expression system. 5. Five Tssk genes are specifically expressed in the testis and/or sperm of tree shrews. Additionally, small amount of Tssk1B was expressed in several tissues other than testis and sperm. Limited mRNA levels of Tssk2 and Tssk4 were expressed in the brain, while mRNA of Tssk3 or Tssk6 could only be detected in the testis and sperm. This study will provide fundamental data on reproductive biology of tree shrews, which paves a way for further studying Tssk's biological function in this novel model animal.

Influence of drying methods on the structure and properties of cellulose formate and its application as a reducing agent.

Cellulose formate (CF) with surface formyl groups can be prepared through the esterification between cellulose and formic acid (FA). The properties of CF are sensitive to temperature, which is of great importance for its end application. In this work, the effect of four drying methods on the structure and properties of the resultant CF was investigated. Results showed that the CF samples as special cellulose nanofibrils with cellulose II crystal form and fibrous structure were sensitive to drying temperature and drying time. The freeze-dried CF sample maintained its original structure, while the air-dried and oven-dried CF samples with amorphous structure showed the aggregation state. Furthermore, the CF/Ag composites were prepared using silver mirror reaction where the never dried CF was used as a reducing agent. SEM and TEM images exhibited a large number of Ag nanoparticles with the diameter of 20-50 nm on the surface of CF samples. As expected, the fabricated CF/Ag composites showed strong antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, and thus the prepared composites have great potential applications in antibacterial daily necessities and medical supplies.

Rule Out Acute Kidney Injury in the Emergency Department With a Urinary Dipstick.

INTRODUCTION: The identification of acute injury of the kidney relies on serum creatinine (SCr), a functional marker with poor temporal resolution as well as limited sensitivity and specificity for cellular injury. In contrast, urinary biomarkers of kidney injury have the potential to detect cellular stress and damage in real time. METHODS: To detect the response of the kidney to injury, we have tested a lateral flow dipstick that measures a urinary protein called neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Analysis of urine was performed in a prospective cohort of 479 patients (final cohort N = 426) entering an emergency department in New York City and subsequently admitted for inpatient care. RESULTS: Colorimetric development had high interrater reliability (88% concordance rate) and correlated with traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measurements (ρ = 0.732, P < .0001). Of the 14% of the cohort who met Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) SCr criteria for acute kidney injury (AKI), 67% demonstrated transient (<2 days) and 33% demonstrated sustained (>2 days) elevation of SCr. Comparing the outcomes of patients with sustained versus transient or undetectable changes in SCr revealed that the urinary NGAL (uNGAL) dipstick had high specificity and negative predictive value (NPV) (high- vs. low-intermediate readings, sensitivity = 0.55, specificity = 0.91, positive predictive value = 0.24, NPV = 0.97, χ2 = 20.39, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We show that the introduction of a bedside uNGAL dipstick permits accurate triage by identifying individuals who do not have tubular injury. In an era of shortening length of stay and rapid decisions based on isolated SCr measurements, real-time exclusion of kidney injury by a dipstick will be particularly useful to overcome the retrospective, insensitive, and nonspecific attributes of SCr.

Mobile Ions in Composite Solids.

Fast ion conduction in solid-state matrices constitutes the foundation for a wide spectrum of electrochemical systems that use solid electrolytes (SEs), examples of which include solid-state batteries (SSBs), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and diversified gas sensors. Mixing different solid conductors to form composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) introduces unique opportunities for SEs to possess exceptional overall performance far superior to their individual parental solids, thanks to the abundant chemistry and physics at the new interfaces thus created. In this review, we provide a comprehensive and in-depth examination of the development and understanding of CSEs for SSBs, with special focus on their physiochemical properties and mechanisms of ion transport therein. The origin of the enhanced ionic conductivity in CSEs relative to their single-phase parents is discussed in the context of defect chemistry and interfacial reactions. The models/theories for ion movement in diversified composites are critically reviewed to interrogate a general strategy to the design of novel CSEs, while properties such as mechanical strength and electrochemical stability are discussed in view of their perspective applications in lithium metal batteries and beyond. As an integral component of understanding how ions interact with their composite environments, characterization techniques to probe the ion transport kinetics across different temporal and spatial time scales are also summarized.

A Flexible Supercapacitor with High True Performance.

The demand for better "true performance" of supercapacitors, which is defined as the energy density based on the packaged cell with high active mass loading, is spurred by the ever-increasing energy storage market. The true performance of present supercapacitors is unsatisfactory, greatly limited by the currently used current collectors. Here, we develop a through-pore structured nickel current collector with excellent flexibility by electrodepositing nickel on laser-drilled stainless steel sheets filled with epoxy resin. Based on the new current collector, the electrodes possess higher performance than those fabricated by employing conventional current collectors. At a high active mass loading, the assembled supercapacitors show superior flexibility and high energy densities of 50.4 W hr L-1 and 30.1 W hr kg-1, respectively, based on the packaged cell, outperforming the present supercapacitors. Our strategy provides a new opportunity for promoting the further development of supercapacitors by enhancing the true performance.

Influence of energy-transfer upconversion and excited-state absorption on a high power Nd:YVO4 laser at 1.34 µm.

A self-consistent theoretical model considering both energy-transfer upconversion (ETU) and excited-state absorption (ESA) effects, as well as the couplings among the temperature distribution in the laser crystal, the thermal fractional loading, the upper state population involved in the ETU and ESA effects, the laser output and other temperature-dependent parameters, was developed to simulate the behaviors of diode-end-pumped continuous-wave (CW) single-transverse-mode (TEM00) lasers. Based on the theoretical and experimental investigations of the influences of ETU and ESA effects on laser performance, a high power CW TEM00 Nd:YVO4 1.34 µm laser dual-end pumped at 880 nm was achieved with a maximum output power of 16 W. The measured laser beam quality was M2x = M2y = 1.17 and the stability of the laser output was better than ± 0.9% in a given four hours. The theoretical predictions considering both ETU and ESA effects are in good agreement with experimental results.