Study on the effects of strain and electrostatic doping on the magnetic anisotropy of GaN/VTe2van der Waals heterostructure.

Using a first-principles approach, this study delves into the effects of strain and electrostatic doping on the electronic and magnetic properties of the GaN/VTe2van der Waals heterostructure. The results reveal that when the GaN/VTe2van der Waals heterostructure is doped with 0.1h/0.2hof electrostatic charge, its magnetization direction undergoes a remarkable reversal, shifting from out-of-plane orientation to in-plane direction. Therefore, we conduct a thorough investigation into the influence of electron orbitals on magnetic anisotropy energy. In addition, as the strain changes from -1% to 1%, the 100% spin polarization region of the GaN/VTe2vdW heterostructure becomes smaller. It is worth noting that at a doping concentration of 0.1h, the GaN/VTe2vdW heterostructure has a Curie temperature of 30 K above room temperature. This comprehensive study provides valuable insights and provides a reference for analyzing the electronic and magnetic properties of low-dimensional systems.

Electrochemical lithium storage of a biactive organic molecule containing cyano and imine groups.

With an electron-deficient rigid planar structure and excellent π-π stacking ability, hexaazatriphenylene (HAT) and its derivatives are widely used as basic building blocks for constructing covalent organic frameworks (COFs), components of organic light-emitting diodes and solar cells, and electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Here, a HAT derivative, hexaazatriphenylenehexacarbonitrile, is explored as an anode material for LIBs. The HAT anode exhibited high initial reversible capacities of 672 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1 and 550 mA h g-1 at 400 mA g-1 and stable cycling with a capacity of 503 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles at 400 mA g-1 corresponding to a capacity retention of 91.5%. Furthermore, the lithium storage mechanism and the cause of the first irreversible capacity loss of the HAT anode were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We have carried out a series of analyses on the mechanism of initial capacity loss. This study provides new insight on initial capacity loss and provides valuable insights into the molecular design and the electrochemical properties of HAT-based anode materials.

[Research progress on effect evaluation and application status of acupoint drug delivery].

Acupoint drug delivery is a traditional external therapy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Guided by the meridian and collateral theory in TCM, it applies medications to the skin at acupoints, exerting a dual therapeutic effect by stimulating the acupoints and the conduction of meridians. Acupoint drug delivery is widely used in clinical practice. Different from traditional oral admi-nistration and injection, it absorbs medications through the skin, effectively avoiding the first-pass effect of drugs and the toxic side effects caused by injection. Acupoint selection and transdermal drug absorption are pivotal factors affecting the efficacy of acupoint drug delivery. Recent research on acupoint drug delivery mainly focuses on the evaluation of clinical efficacy, yet the systematic investigations on acupoint selection and pharmacodynamic factors are scarce. This study reviews the mechanism, efficacy evaluation and application status of acupoint drug delivery. It integrates the theory of TCM with modern medicine to explore the mechanism of acupoint drug delivery, evaluate its clinical efficacy, and assess the transdermal penetration in vivo and in vitro. The application status of acupoint drug delivery is also summarized, including the selection of acupoints, application dosage form, application time and the absorption of acupoints. This review aims to offer insights and references for the research, development and clinical application of acupoint drug delivery products.

Comparison of genomic prediction accuracy using different models for egg production traits in Taiwan country chicken.

In local chickens targeted for niche markets, genotyping costs are relatively high due to the small population size and diverse breeding goals. The single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) model, which combines pedigree and genomic information, has been introduced to increase the accuracy of genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV). Therefore, this model may be more beneficial than the genomic BLUP (GBLUP) model for genomic selection in local chickens. Additionally, the single-step genome-wide association study (ssGWAS) can be used to extend the ssGBLUP model results to animals with available phenotypic information but without genotypic data. In this study, we compared the accuracy of (G)EBVs using the pedigree-based BLUP (PBLUP), GBLUP, and ssGBLUP models. Moreover, we conducted single-SNP GWAS (SNP-GWAS), GBLUP-GWAS, and ssGWAS methods to identify genes associated with egg production traits in the NCHU-G101 chicken to understand the feasibility of using genomic selection in a small population. The average prediction accuracy of (G)EBV for egg production traits using the PBLUP, GBLUP, and ssGBLUP models is 0.536, 0.531, and 0.555, respectively. In total, 22 suggestive- and 5% Bonferroni genome-wide significant-level SNPs for total egg number (EN), average laying rate (LR), average clutch length, and total clutch number are detected using 3 GWAS methods. These SNPs are mapped onto Gallus gallus chromosomes (GGA) 4, 6, 10, 18, and 25 in NCHU-G101 chicken. Furthermore, through SNP-GWAS and ssGWAS methods, we identify 2 genes on GGA4 associated with EN and LR: ENSGALG00000023172 and PPARGC1A. In conclusion, the ssGBLUP model demonstrates superior prediction accuracy, performing on average 3.41% than the PBLUP model. The implications of our gene results may guide future selection strategies for Taiwan Country chickens. Our results highlight the applicability of the ssGBLUP model for egg production traits selection in a small population, specifically NCHU-G101 chicken in Taiwan.

DNA barcodes are ineffective for species identification of Acropora corals from the aquarium trade.

Species identification of stony corals (Scleractinia), which are regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, is critical for effective control of harvest quotas, enforcement of trade regulations and species conservation in general. DNA barcoding has the potential to enhance species identification success, depending on the specific taxon concerned and genetic markers used. For Acropora, DNA barcoding, based on the mitochondrial putative control region (mtCR) and the nuclear PaxC intron (PaxC), has been commonly used for species identification and delimitation, but the reliability and robustness of these loci remain contentious. Therefore, we sought to verify the applicability of this approach. In this study, we obtained 127 Acropora colonies from the aquarium trade to test the effectiveness of barcoding mtCR and PaxC for species identification. We were able to recover sequences for both loci in over half of the samples (n = 68), while gene amplification and sequencing of mtCR (n = 125) outperformed PaxC (n = 70). Amongst the 68 samples with both loci recovered, just a single sample could be unambiguously identified to species. Preliminary identities, based on only one gene, were assigned for 40 and 65 samples with mtCR and PaxC, respectively. Further analyses of 110 complete mitochondrial genomes obtained from GenBank showed that, despite the full length of the sequences, only eight species were delimited, of which only three species were correspondingly monophyletic. Therefore, we conclude that the commonly used DNA barcoding markers for Acropora are ineffective for accurate species assignments due to limited variability in both markers and even across the entire mitochondrial genome. Therefore, we propose that barcoding markers should generally not be the only means for identifying corals.

Orchestrating NK and T cells via tri-specific nano-antibodies for synergistic antitumor immunity.

The functions of natural killer (NK) and T cells in innate and adaptive immunity, as well as their functions in tumor eradication, are complementary and intertwined. Here we show that utilization of multi-specific antibodies or nano-antibodies capable of simultaneously targeting both NK and T cells could be a valuable approach in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we introduce a tri-specific Nano-Antibody (Tri-NAb), generated by immobilizing three types of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), using an optimized albumin/polyester composite nanoparticle conjugated with anti-Fc antibody. This Tri-NAb, targeting PDL1, 4-1BB, and NKG2A (or TIGIT) simultaneously, effectively binds to NK and CD8+ T cells, triggering their activation and proliferation, while facilitating their interaction with tumor cells, thereby inducing efficient tumor killing. Importantly, the antitumor efficacy of Tri-NAb is validated in multiple models, including patient-derived tumor organoids and humanized mice, highlighting the translational potential of NK and T cell co-targeting.

Zinc finger protein 180 induces an apoptotic phenotype by activating METTL14 transcriptional activity in colorectal cancer.

Zinc finger protein 180 (ZNF180) is a multifunctional protein that interacts with nucleic acids and regulates various cellular processes; however, the function of ZNF180 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. The present study investigated the role and function of ZNF180 in CRC, and aimed to reveal the underlying molecular mechanism. The results revealed that ZNF180 was downregulated in CRC tissues and was associated with a good prognosis in patients with CRC. Additionally, the expression of ZNF180 was downregulated by methylation in CRC. In vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that ZNF180 overexpression was functionally associated with the inhibition of cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis. Mechanistically, chromatin immunoprecipitation­PCR and luciferase assays demonstrated that ZNF180 markedly regulated the transcriptional activity of methyltransferase 14, N6­adenosine­methyltransferase non­catalytic subunit (METTL14) by directly binding to and activating its promoter region. Simultaneous overexpression of ZNF180 and knockdown of METTL14 indicated that the reduction of METTL14 could suppress the effects of ZNF180 on the induction of apoptosis. Clinically, the present study observed a significant positive correlation between ZNF180 and METTL14 expression levels, and low expression of ZNF180 and METTL14 predicted a poor prognosis in CRC. Overall, these findings revealed a novel mechanism by which the ZNF180/METTL14 axis may modulate apoptosis and cell proliferation in CRC. This evidence suggests that this axis may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in patients with CRC.

[Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on aggregate breakdown of typical black soil during transportation]. / å†»èžå¯¹å ¸åž‹é»‘åœŸå›¢èšä½“è¾“ç§»ç ´ç¢Žç‰¹å¾çš„å½±å“.

During the snowmelt period, the external erosive forces are dominated by freeze-thaw cycles and snowmelt runoff. These forces may affect soil structure and aggregate stability, thereby influencing snowmelt erosion. The process of snowmelt runoff can lead to the breakdown of aggregates during their transportation. However, few studies examined the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on the breakdown of aggregates during transportation. Focusing on 5-7 and 3-5 mm soil aggregates of typical black soil region in Northeast China, we analyzed the composition of water-stable aggregates, mean weight diameter (MWD), normalized mean weight diameter (NMWD), as well as breakdown rate of soil aggregates (BR) under different freeze-thaw cycles (0, 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 times) and different transport distances (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 m). We further investigated the contribution (CT) of both freeze-thaw cycles and transport distances to BR. The results showed that: 1) After freeze-thaw cycles, the 5-7 and 3-5 mm aggregates were mainly composed of particles with a diameter of 0.5-1 mm. With increasing frequency of freeze-thaw cycles, the MWD generally showed a downward trend. Moreover, under the same number of freeze-thaw cycles, the NMWD of 3-5 mm aggregates was higher than that of 5-7 mm aggregates. 2) As the transport distance increased, the BR of 5-7and 3-5 mm aggregates gradually increased. Compared that under control group, the BR under one freeze-thaw cycle increased by 59.7%, 32.2%, 13.7%, 6.2%, 13.4%, 7.5%, and 60.0%, 39.0%, 18.4%, 13.0%, 6.3%, 6.1% at the condition of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 m transport distances, respectively. However, with increasing frequency of freeze-thaw cycles, the BR increased slowly. 3) The breakdown of soil aggregates was mainly influenced by the transport distance (CT=54.6%) and freeze-thaw cycles (CT=26.2%). Freeze-thaw cycles primarily altered the stability of soil aggregates, which in turn affected the BR. Therefore, during the snowmelt period, freeze-thaw cycles reduced the stability of soil aggregates, leading to severe breakdown of soil aggregates during snowmelt runoff process. This made the soil more susceptible to migration with snowmelt runoff, which triggered soil erosion. Therefore, more attention should be paid on the prevention of soil erosion during snowmelt period.

Monolayer graphene/GaN heterostructure photodetector with UV-IR dual-wavelength photoresponses.

An ultraviolet-infrared (UV-IR) dual-wavelength photodetector (PD) based on a monolayer (ML) graphene/GaN heterostructure has been successfully fabricated in this work. The ML graphene was synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and subsequently transferred onto GaN substrate using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The morphological and optical properties of the as-prepared graphene and GaN were presented. The fabricated PD based on the graphene/GaN heterostructure exhibited excellent rectify behavior by measuring the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics under dark conditions, and the spectral response demonstrated that the device revealed an UV-IR dual-wavelength photoresponse. In addition, the energy band structure and absorption properties of the ML graphene/GaN heterostructure were theoretically investigated based on density functional theory (DFT) to explore the underlying physical mechanism of the two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) hybrid heterostructure PD device. This work paves the way for the development of innovative GaN-based dual-wavelength optoelectronic devices, offering a potential strategy for future applications in the field of advanced photodetection technology.

Investigations of In2O3 Added SiC Semiconductive Thin Films and Manufacture of a Heterojunction Diode.

This study involved direct doping of In2O3 into silicon carbide (SiC) powder, resulting in 8.0 at% In-doped SiC powder. Subsequently, heating at 500 °C was performed to form a target, followed by the utilization of electron beam (e-beam) technology to deposit the In-doped SiC thin films with the thickness of approximately 189.8 nm. The first breakthrough of this research was the successful deposition of using e-beam technology. The second breakthrough involved utilizing various tools to analyze the physical and electrical properties of In-doped SiC thin films. Hall effect measurement was used to measure the resistivity, mobility, and carrier concentration and confirm its n-type semiconductor nature. The uniform dispersion of In ions in SiC was as confirmed by electron microscopy energy-dispersive spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry analyses. The Tauc Plot method was employed to determine the Eg values of pure SiC and In-doped SiC thin films. Semiconductor parameter analyzer was used to measure the conductivity and the I-V characteristics of devices in In-doped SiC thin films. Furthermore, the third finding demonstrated that In2O3-doped SiC thin films exhibited remarkable current density. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Gaussian-resolved spectra further confirmed a significant relationship between conductivity and oxygen vacancy concentration. Lastly, depositing these In-doped SiC thin films onto p-type silicon substrates etched with buffered oxide etchant resulted in the formation of heterojunction p-n junction. This junction exhibited the rectifying characteristics of a diode, with sample current values in the vicinity of 102 mA, breakdown voltage at approximately -5.23 V, and open-circuit voltage around 1.56 V. This underscores the potential of In-doped SiC thin films for various semiconductor devices.

Current evidence of synaptic dysfunction after stroke: Cellular and molecular mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is an acute cerebrovascular disease in which brain tissue is damaged due to sudden obstruction of blood flow to the brain or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain, which can prompt ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. After stroke onset, ischemia, hypoxia, infiltration of blood components into the brain parenchyma, and lysed cell fragments, among other factors, invariably increase blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, the inflammatory response, and brain edema. These changes lead to neuronal cell death and synaptic dysfunction, the latter of which poses a significant challenge to stroke treatment. RESULTS: Synaptic dysfunction occurs in various ways after stroke and includes the following: damage to neuronal structures, accumulation of pathologic proteins in the cell body, decreased fluidity and release of synaptic vesicles, disruption of mitochondrial transport in synapses, activation of synaptic phagocytosis by microglia/macrophages and astrocytes, and a reduction in synapse formation. CONCLUSIONS: This review summarizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms related to synapses and the protective effects of drugs or compounds and rehabilitation therapy on synapses in stroke according to recent research. Such an exploration will help to elucidate the relationship between stroke and synaptic damage and provide new insights into protecting synapses and restoring neurologic function.

BGP-15 alleviates LPS-induced depression-like behavior by promoting mitophagy.

The high prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) frequently imposes severe constraints on psychosocial functioning and detrimentally impacts overall well-being. Despite the growing interest in the hypothesis of mitochondrial dysfunction, the precise mechanistic underpinnings and therapeutic strategies remain unclear and require further investigation. In this study, an MDD model was established in mice using lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our research findings demonstrated that LPS exposure induced depressive-like behaviors and disrupted mitophagy by diminishing the mitochondrial levels of PINK1/Parkin in the brains of mice. Furthermore, LPS exposure evoked the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, accompanied by a notable elevation in the concentrations of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6). Additionally, neuronal apoptosis was stimulated through the JNK/p38 pathway. The administration of BGP-15 effectively nullified the impact of LPS, corresponding to the amelioration of depressive-like phenotypes and restoration of mitophagy, prevention of neuronal injury and inflammation, and suppression of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, we elucidated the involvement of mitophagy in BGP-15-attenuated depressive-like behaviors using the inhibitors targeting autophagy (3-MA) and mitophagy (Mdivi-1). Notably, these inhibitors notably counteracted the antidepressant and anti-inflammatory effects exerted by BGP-15. Based on the research findings, it can be inferred that the antidepressant properties of BGP-15 in LPS-induced depressive-like behaviors could potentially be attributed to the involvement of the mitophagy pathway. These findings offer a potential novel therapeutic strategy for managing MDD.

A positive feedback inhibition of isocitrate dehydrogenase 3ß on paired-box gene 6 promotes Alzheimer-like pathology.

Impaired brain glucose metabolism is an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the fundamental mechanism is unknown. In this study, we found a substantial decline in isocitrate dehydrogenase 3ß (IDH3ß) levels, a critical tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme, in AD patients and AD-transgenic mice's brains. Further investigations demonstrated that the knockdown of IDH3ß induced oxidation-phosphorylation uncoupling, leading to reduced energy metabolism and lactate accumulation. The resulting increased lactate, a source of lactyl, was found to promote histone lactylation, thereby enhancing the expression of paired-box gene 6 (PAX6). As an inhibitory transcription factor of IDH3ß, the elevated PAX6 in turn inhibited the expression of IDH3ß, leading to tau hyperphosphorylation, synapse impairment, and learning and memory deficits resembling those seen in AD. In AD-transgenic mice, upregulating IDH3ß and downregulating PAX6 were found to improve cognitive functioning and reverse AD-like pathologies. Collectively, our data suggest that impaired oxidative phosphorylation accelerates AD progression via a positive feedback inhibition loop of IDH3ß-lactate-PAX6-IDH3ß. Breaking this loop by upregulating IDH3ß or downregulating PAX6 attenuates AD neurodegeneration and cognitive impairments.

Boosting the Curie temperature of GaN monolayer through van der Waals heterostructures.

The pursuit of van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures with high Curie temperature and strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) is vital to the advancement of next generation spintronic devices. First-principles calculations are used to study the electronic structures and magnetic characteristics of GaN/VS2vdW heterostructure under biaxial strain and electrostatic doping. Our findings show that a ferromagnetic ground state with a remarkable Curie temperature (477 K), much above room temperature, exists in GaN/VS2vdW heterostructure and 100% spin polarization efficiency. Additionally, GaN/VS2vdW heterostructure still maintains PMA under biaxial strain, which is indispensable for high-density information storage. We further explore the electron, magnetic, and transport properties of VS2/GaN/VS2vdW sandwich heterostructure, where the magnetoresistivity can reach as high as 40%. Our research indicates that the heterostructure constructed by combining the ferromagnet VS2and the non-magnetic semiconductor GaN is a promising material for vdW spin valve devices at room temperature.

Packaged structure optimization for enhanced light extraction efficiency and reduced thermal resistance of ultraviolet B LEDs.

Ultraviolet B light-emitting diodes (UVB LEDs) hold promise in medical and agricultural applications. The commonly used sapphire substrate for their epitaxy growth possesses a high refractive index and excellent UV light absorption characteristics. However, this high refractive index can induce total internal reflection (TIR) within the substrate, leading to decreased Light Extraction Efficiency (LEE) due to light absorption within the material. In this study, UVB LED chips were detached from the sub-mount substrate and directly affixed onto an aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate with superior heat dissipation using a eutectic process. This was undertaken to diminish packaged thermal resistance (PTR). Simultaneously, optimization of the UVB LED packaging structure was employed to alleviate LEE losses caused by the TIR phenomenon, with the overarching goal of enhancin external quantum efficiency (EQE). The final experimental findings suggest that optimal LEE is achieved with packaging dimensions, including a length (ELL) of 2 mm, a width (ELW) of 1.62 mm, and a height (ELH) of 0.52 mm. At an input current of 200 mA, the output power reaches 50 mW, resulting in an EQE of 6.3%. Furthermore, the packaged thermal resistance from the chip to the substrate surface can be reduced to 4.615 K/W.

Full-angle chip scale package of mini LEDs with a V-shape packaging structure.

The light distribution of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) generally resembles that of a Lambertian light source. When used as large-area light sources, the light distribution angle of LEDs must be modified through secondary optics design to achieve uniformity and minimize the number of light sources. However, secondary optical components pose several challenges such as demanding alignment accuracy, material aging, detachment, and lower reliability. Therefore, this paper proposes a primary optical design approach to achieve full-angle emission in LEDs without the need for lenses. The design employs a flip-chip as the light source and incorporates a V-shaped packaged structure, including a white wall layer, optical structure layers, and a V-shaped diffuse structure. With this design, the LEDs achieve full-angle emission without relying on lenses. Our experimental results demonstrated a peak intensity angle of 77.7°, a 20.3% decrease in the intensity of the central point ratio, and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the light distribution of 175.5°. This design is particularly suitable for thin, large-area, and flexible backlight light sources. Moreover, the absence of secondary optical components allows for a thinner light source module.

Monolithic Integration of GaN-Based Transistors and Micro-LED.

Micro-LED is considered an emerging display technology with significant potential for high resolution, brightness, and energy efficiency in display applications. However, its decreasing pixel size and complex manufacturing process create challenges for its integration with driving units. Recently, researchers have proposed various methods to achieve highly integrated micro-structures with driving unit. Researchers take advantage of the high performance of the transistors to achieve low power consumption, high current gain, and fast response frequency. This paper gives a review of recent studies on the new integration methods of micro-LEDs with different types of transistors, including the integration with BJT, HEMT, TFT, and MOSFET.