Anisotropic Nonlocal Damping in Ferromagnet/α-GeTe Bilayers Enabled by Splitting Energy Bands.

The understanding and manipulation of anisotropic Gilbert damping is crucial for both fundamental research and versatile engineering and optimization. Although several works on anisotropic damping have been reported, no direct relationship between the band structure and anisotropic damping was established. Here, we observed an anisotropic damping in Fe/GeTe manipulated by the symmetric band structures of GeTe via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Moreover, the anisotropic damping can be modified by the symmetry of band structures. Our Letter provides insightful understandings of the anisotropic Gilbert damping in ferromagnets interfaced with Rashba semiconductors and suggests the possibility of manipulating the Gilbert damping by band engineering.

Research progress on the application of transcranial magnetic stimulation in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: a narrative review.

Traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to severe disability and complications. The incidence of SCI is high, and the rehabilitation cycle is long, which increases the economic burden on patients and the health care system. However, there is no practical method of SCI treatment. Recently, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, has been shown to induce changes in plasticity in specific areas of the brain by regulating the activity of neurons in the stimulation site and its functionally connected networks. TMS is a new potential method for the rehabilitation of SCI and its complications. In addition, TMS can detect the activity of neural circuits in the central nervous system and supplement the physiological evaluation of SCI severity. This review describes the pathophysiology of SCI as well as the basic principles and classification of TMS. We mainly focused on the latest research progress of TMS in the physiological evaluation of SCI as well as the treatment of motor dysfunction, neuropathic pain, spasticity, neurogenic bladder, respiratory dysfunction, and other complications. This review provides new ideas and future directions for SCI assessment and treatment.

Surface coupling in Bi2Se3 ultrathin films by screened Coulomb interaction.

Single-particle band theory has been very successful in describing the band structure of topological insulators. However, with decreasing thickness of topological insulator thin films, single-particle band theory is insufficient to explain their band structures and transport properties due to the existence of top and bottom surface-state coupling. Here, we reconstruct this coupling with an equivalently screened Coulomb interaction in Bi2Se3 ultrathin films. The thickness-dependent position of the Dirac point and the magnitude of the mass gap are discussed in terms of the Hartree approximation and the self-consistent gap equation. We find that for thicknesses below 6 quintuple layers, the magnitude of the mass gap is in good agreement with the experimental results. Our work provides a more accurate means of describing and predicting the behaviour of quasi-particles in ultrathin topological insulator films and stacked topological systems.

Falls caused by balance disorders in the elderly with multiple systems involved: Pathogenic mechanisms and treatment strategies.

Falls are the main contributor to both fatal and nonfatal injuries in elderly individuals as well as significant sources of morbidity and mortality, which are mostly induced by impaired balance control. The ability to keep balance is a remarkably complex process that allows for rapid and precise changes to prevent falls with multiple systems involved, such as musculoskeletal system, the central nervous system and sensory system. However, the exact pathogenesis of falls caused by balance disorders in the elderly has eluded researchers to date. In consideration of aging phenomenon aggravation and fall risks in the elderly, there is an urgent need to explore the pathogenesis and treatments of falls caused by balance disorders in the elderly. The present review discusses the epidemiology of falls in the elderly, potential pathogenic mechanisms underlying multiple systems involved in falls caused by balance disorders, including musculoskeletal system, the central nervous system and sensory system. Meanwhile, some common treatment strategies, such as physical exercise, new equipment based on artificial intelligence, pharmacologic treatments and fall prevention education are also reviewed. To fully understand the pathogenesis and treatment of falls caused by balance disorders, a need remains for future large-scale multi-center randomized controlled trials and in-depth mechanism studies.

Dual Topology of Dirac Electron Transport and Photogalvanic Effect in Low-Dimensional Topological Insulator Superlattices.

Dual topological insulators, simultaneously protected by time-reversal symmetry and crystalline symmetry, open great opportunities to explore different symmetry-protected metallic surface states. However, the conventional dual topological states located on different facets hinder integration into planar opto-electronic/spintronic devices. Here, dual topological superlattices (TSLs) Bi2 Se3 -(Bi2 /Bi2 Se3 )N with limited stacking layer number N are constructed. Angle-resolved photoelectron emission spectra of the TSLs identify the coexistence and adjustment of dual topological surface states on Bi2 Se3 facet. The existence and tunability of spin-polarized dual-topological bands with N on Bi2 Se3 facet result in an unconventionally weak antilocalization effect (WAL) with variable WAL coefficient α (maximum close to 3/2) from quantum transport experiments. Most importantly, it is identified that the spin-polarized surface electrons from dual topological bands exhibit circularly and linearly polarized photogalvanic effect (CPGE and LPGE). It is anticipated that the stacked dual-topology and stacking layer number controlled bands evolution provide a platform for realizing intrinsic CPGE and LPGE. The results show that the surface electronic structure of the dual TSLs is highly tunable and well-regulated for quantum transport and photoexcitation, which shed light on engineering for opto-electronic/spintronic applications.

Overexpression of Long Noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) NF-κß-Interacting Long Noncoding RNA (NKILA) in Ankylosing Spondylitis is Correlated with Transforming Growth Factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), Active Disease and Predicts Length of Treatment.

BACKGROUND Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) NF-kappaß-interacting long noncoding RNA (NKILA) is downregulated in various types of cancers, while its involvement in other diseases is unknown. In the present study we found that plasma lncRNA NKILA was expressed at higher levels in active ankylosing spondylitis patients than in healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS According to Youden's index, active disease patients were divided into high and low lncRNA NKILA groups. RESULTS Patients in the high lncRNA NKILA level group had significantly longer length of treatment and higher re-hospitalization rate at 3 years after discharge. Plasma levels of TGF-ß1 were also higher in active ankylosing spondylitis patients than in healthy controls. Levels of plasma lncRNA NKILA and TGF-ß1 were significantly and positively correlated in ankylosing spondylitis patients but not in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS Overexpression of lncRNA NKILA in ankylosing spondylitis is correlated with active disease and predicts length of treatment. LncRNA NKILA may participate in ankylosing spondylitis through the interaction with TGF-ß1, which is a key player in this disease.

The association between dietary zinc intake and risk of pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis.

Previous reports have suggested a potential association on dietary zinc intake with the risk of pancreatic cancer. Since the associations between different studies were controversial, we therefore conducted a meta-analysis to reassess the relationship between dietary zinc intake and pancreatic cancer risk. A comprehensive search from the databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Medline was performed until January 31, 2017. Relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) derived by using random effect model was used. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias were conducted. Our meta-analysis was based on seven studies involving 1659 cases, including two prospective cohort studies and five case-control studies. The total RR of pancreatic cancer risk for the highest versus the lowest categories of dietary zinc intake was 0.798 (0.621-0.984), with its significant heterogeneity among studies (I2=58.2%, P=0.026). The average Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) score was 7.29, suggesting a high quality. There was no publication bias in the meta-analysis about dietary zinc intake on the risk of pancreatic cancer. Subgroup analyses showed that dietary zinc intake could reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer in case-control studies and among American populations. In conclusion, we found that highest category of dietary zinc intake can significantly reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, especially among American populations.