BINA

In the pursuit of magneto-electronic systems nonstoichiometric magnetic elements commonly introduce disorder and enhance magnetic scattering. We demonstrate the growth of (EuIn)As shells, with a unique crystal structure comprised of a dense net of Eu inversion planes, over InAs and InAs1–xSbx core nanowires. This is imaged with atomic and elemental resolution which reveal a prismatic configuration of the Eu planes. The results are supported by molecular dynamics simulations. Local magnetic and susceptibility mappings show magnetic response in all nanowires, while a subset bearing a DC signal points to ferromagnetic order. These provide a mechanism for enhancing Zeeman responses, operational at zero applied magnetic field. Such properties suggest that the obtained structures can serve as a preferred platform for time-reversal symmetry broken one-dimensional states including intrinsic topological …

An approach to aberrarone, an antimalarial diterpenoid natural product with tetracyclic skeleton is reported. Key to the stereoselective preparation of the 6-5-5 tricyclic skeleton includes the mediation of Nagata reagent for constructing the C1 all-carbon quaternary centers and gold-catalyzed cyclopentenone synthesis through C–H insertion.

Nanofabrication research pursues the miniaturization of patterned feature size. In the current state of the art, micron scale areas can be patterned with features down to ~30 nm pitch using electron beam lithography. Here, we demonstrate a nanofabrication technique which allows patterning periodic structures with a pitch down to 16 nm. It is based on focused ion beam milling of suspended membranes, with minimal proximity effects typical to standard electron beam lithography. The membranes are then transferred and used as hard etching masks. We benchmark our technique by electrostatically inducing a superlattice potential in graphene and observe bandstructure modification in electronic transport. Our technique opens the path towards the realization of very short period superlattices in 2D materials, but with the ability to control lattice symmetries and strength. This can pave the way for a versatile solid-state …

The seven-transmembrane superfamily member 3 protein (TM7SF3) is a p53-regulated homeostatic factor that attenuates cellular stress and the unfolded protein response. Here we show that TM7SF3 localizes to nuclear speckles; eukaryotic nuclear bodies enriched in splicing factors. This unexpected location for a trans-membranal protein enables formation of stable complexes between TM7SF3 and pre-mRNA splicing factors including DHX15, LARP7, HNRNPU, RBM14, and HNRNPK. Indeed, TM7SF3 regulates alternative splicing of >330 genes, mainly at the 3′end of introns by directly modulating the activity of splicing factors such as HNRNPK. These effects are observed both in cell lines and primary human pancreatic islets. Accordingly, silencing of TM7SF3 results in differential expression of 1465 genes (about 7% of the human genome); with 844 and 621 genes being up- or down-regulated, respectively …

Changes in microbiome composition are associated with a wide array of human diseases, turning the human microbiota into an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Yet, clinical translation of these findings requires the establishment of causative connections between specific microbial taxa and their functional impact on host tissues. Here, we infuse gut organ cultures with longitudinal microbiota samples collected from therapy-naive patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) under a low-fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet. We show that post-diet microbiota regulates intestinal expression of inflammatory and neuro-muscular gene sets. Specifically, we identify Bifidobacterium adolescentis as a diet-sensitive pathobiont that alters tight junction integrity and disrupts gut barrier functions. Collectively, we present a pathway discovery platform for mechanistic dissection and …

Anionic redox provides an effective way to overcome the capacity bottleneck of sodium‐ion batteries. A dominant role is played by the arrangement of alkali A and transition metal M in the NaxAyM1‐yO2 superstructure. Here, in situ X‐ray diffraction and ex situ 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance of P2 type Na0.6Li0.2Mn0.8O2 with ribbon‐ordered superstructure illustrate structural changes and explain the evolution of the electrochemical behavior of electrodes comprising this active mass, during cycling. Upon substitution of a small amount of manganese by iron, Na0.67Li0.2Mn0.73Fe0.07O2 is formed with a honeycomb‐ordered superstructure. Experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations elucidate the effect of iron on oxygen redox activity. The iron‐doped material considerably outperforms the undoped Na0.6Li0.2Mn0.8O2 as a cathode material for rechargeable Na‐ion batteries. This research reveals …

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSB) are considered a very attractive alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity and low cost of the active materials. However, the realization of LSB is hostage to many challenges associated with the cathode and anode response to the electrochemical conditions inside the battery cell. While working with LSB, elemental sulfur undergoes multielectron reduction reactions until it is reduced to Li 2 S. The intermediate long chain lithium-polysulfide (LiPS) species are soluble, hence diffuse through the electrolyte solution from the cathode side to the anode. This" shuttle" phenomenon considered to be one of the main issues of LSB. Most effort in investigating LSB focused on the cathode side while only few considered the importance of the lithium anode reversibility and the separator role in preventing the" shuttle" phenomenon. In the current work, we use Atomic Layer …

Low-wavenumber Raman (LWR) spectroscopy determines signatures in structural information and layer-to-layer dependency of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). It supports proper 2D TMDC analysis and subsequent layer verification. The nondestructive nature and ultrafast detection make LWR measurements imperative for layer variations and defect investigations. Interference-enhanced Raman scattering utilizes a metal–dielectric layer to enhance the Raman signal. This has been used to study graphene, C60, and Te. Here, we investigate using Al/Al2O3 coatings to enhance the LWR scattering of different 2H-WS2 layers and understand the structures of these large-area nanosheets. Phase-pure WS2 is synthesized by CVD, and the layers are exfoliated via ultrasonication at 80 kHz. Layers were drop-casted on Al/Al2O3 coatings of different thicknesses of Al2O3 to study differences in bilayers up to a …

Magnetic field sensing plays vital role in vast range of areas such as navigation, military, and biomedical sciences. In recent times, optical sensors have made great advances, resulting in the development of magnetic field sensors based on optical principles due to their non-susceptibility to electromagnetic interference. Here, a simple and inexpensive approach for sensing magnetic field, that converts the magnetic field into a mechanical translation (of the sensing element) and then change into optical signals is presented. These optical signals are speckle patterns generated using a laser beam reflected off an optically rough metal cantilever which is exposed to the magnetic field. Magnetic field is quantified by measuring the changes in the speckle pattern using the intensity correlation technique. The approach can measure the static and time varying magnetic fields. The proposed system has a resolution of 2.2 and can measure magnetic fields with less than a 2% error.

This book, the first dedicated to the topic, provides a comprehensive treatment of forward stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in standard optical fibers. SBS interactions between guided light and sound waves have drawn much attention for over fifty years, and optical fibers provide an excellent playground for the study of Brillouin scattering as they support guided modes of both wave types and provide long interaction lengths. This book is dedicated to forward SBS processes that are driven by co-propagating optical fields. The physics of forward SBS is explained in detail, starting from the fundamentals of interactions between guided optical and acoustic waves, with emphasis given to the acoustic modes that are stimulated in the processes. The realization of forward SBS in standard single-mode, polarization-maintaining and multi-core fibers is then discussed in depth. Innovative potential applications in sensors, monitoring of coating layers, lasers, and radio-frequency oscillators are presented. This book introduces the subject to graduate students in optics and applied physics, and it will be of interest to scientists working in fiber-optics, nonlinear optics and opto-mechanics. Provides the first treatment of forward stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in book form; Reflects the dramatic recent increase in interest in forward SBS processes, driven in part by the promise of new fiber sensing concepts; Delivers a solid and comprehensive grounding in the physics of forward SBS along with detailed experimental set-ups, measurement protocols, and applications.

As Kate Atkinson has Effie say in Emotionally Weird, adapting John Donne,‘No woman is an island’(EW 219). Genuine thanks to Paul Clark at Manchester University Press and the anonymous experts and reader for supporting the project. Warm-hearted thanks are due to family, colleagues and friends for their support and notably to Josephine McNamara for her generous encouragement and faith, to Georges Letissier and Isabelle Roblin for their valuable advice, to Andrew Guy and Sandra Robinson for their helpful proof-reading, to James and Jacques McNamara for simply being there.

Nephrons are the functional units of the kidney. During kidney development, cells from the cap mesenchyme—a transient kidney-specific progenitor state—undergo a mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) and subsequently differentiate into the various epithelial cell types that create the tubular structures of the nephron. Faults in this transition can lead to a pediatric malignancy of the kidney called Wilms’ tumor that mimics normal kidney development. While human kidney development has been characterized at the gene expression level, a comprehensive characterization of alternative splicing is lacking. Therefore, in this study, we performed RNA sequencing on cell populations representing early, intermediate, and late developmental stages of the human fetal kidney, as well as three blastemal-predominant Wilms’ tumor patient-derived xenografts. Using this newly generated RNAseq data, we identified a set …

Surface plasmons polaritons (SPP) hold great promise for the next generation of fast nanoscale optoelectronic devices, as silicon-based electronic devices approach fundamental speed and scaling limitations. However, in order to fully exploit the potential of plasmonics, devices and material systems capable of actively controlling and manipulating plasmonic response is essential. Here, we demonstrate active control of the electric field distribution of a micro antenna by coupling SPP to a photosynthetic protein with outstanding optoelectronic properties and long range and efficient exciton transfer ability. The hybrid bio-solid state active platform is able to tune and modulate the optical activity of a micro plasmonic antenna via interaction of the bioactive material with plasmon oscillations occurring in the antennae. In addition, we demonstrate that the effect of the coupling can be further enhanced and controlled by an external potential applied to the micro antenna Photosynthetic hybrid system.

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a γ-oncogenic herpesvirus, and both lytic and latent infections play important roles in its pathogenesis and tumorigenic properties. Multiple cellular pathways and diverse mediators are hijacked by viral proteins and are used to support KSHV lytic replication. In previous studies, we revealed that KSHV ORF45 promoted KSHV transcription and translation by inducing sustained p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) activation and the phosphorylation of its substrates c-Fos and eIF4B. However, the cellular mediators required for lytic replication remain largely unknown. Here, we reveal that ORF45 activates eIF2α phosphorylation and ATF4 translation and then upregulates the expression of lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 (LAMP3) in an ATF4-dependent manner during KSHV lytic replication. Consequently, LAMP3 promotes Akt and ERK activation and then …

Low-wavenumber Raman (LWR) spectroscopy determines signatures in structural information and layer-to-layer dependency of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). It supports proper 2D TMDC analysis and subsequent layer verification. The nondestructive nature and ultrafast detection make LWR measurements imperative for layer variations and defect investigations. Interference-enhanced Raman scattering utilizes a metal–dielectric layer to enhance the Raman signal. This has been used to study graphene, C60, and Te. Here, we investigate using Al/Al2O3 coatings to enhance the LWR scattering of different 2H-WS2 layers and understand the structures of these large-area nanosheets. Phase-pure WS2 is synthesized by CVD, and the layers are exfoliated via ultrasonication at 80 kHz. Layers were drop-casted on Al/Al2O3 coatings of different thicknesses of Al2O3 to study differences in bilayers up to a …

Halide perovskites (HaPs) are functional semiconductors that can be prepared in a simple, near-room-temperature process. With thin polycrystalline HaP films, excellent solar cells, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and (also as single crystals) high-energy radiation detectors have been demonstrated. The very low single-crystal defect densities make HaP thin single crystals (TSCs), instead of polycrystalline HaP films an attractive option, to boost device performances and for fundamental research. However, growing TSCs is challenging primarily because of random multiple nucleations, which, in the often-used space-confined geometry, is favored at the substrate boundaries, where loss of organo-amines and solvents occurs. We show that fewer and better-quality thin crystals nucleate and grow reproducibly away from the substrate edges in the substrate center, if we localize the heating (needed for inverse-temperature …

We present a multi-head spray pyrolysis system and its application in high-throughput combinatorial synthesis for research of solid Li-ion conductors. Each spraying nozzle is fed with a separate precursor solution. The overlap of areas that are sprayed leads to unprecedented composition flexibility of the films obtained after pyrolysis. Thus, a library with a continuous composition spread of a Li-La-P-O model system is formed. The Li-ion conduction was determined on 169 cells of the library, using high throughput impedance measurements in a controlled environment. While the activation energies that were found were relatively small, Li-ion conduction was still low. This low mobility is hypothesized to originate from the sub-optimal occupation of Li sites in the non-stoichiometric materials' lattices, and/or porosity and tortuosity issues, which in turn, reduces their effective concentration and contribution to ion transport. In …

Osteoarthritis implies a progressive degeneration of the whole joint. Cartilage is particularly affected, with in ammation playing a pivotal role1. In recent years, cartilage regeneration has been pursued through several bioengineering strategies and using different stem cell types2-6. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) constitute an intriguing and minimally invasive option. However, the use of ASCs for cartilage regeneration is hampered by a relatively ine cient expression of key chondrogenic markers7. Thus, new strategies to boost both in situ targeting and chondrogenesis of ASCs are highly desirable. Here we show that ASCs embedded in a nanocomposite hydrogel including piezoelectric nanomaterials and graphene oxide nano akes, and stimulated with ultrasound waves with precisely controlled parameters (1 MHz and 250 mW/cm2, for 5 min once every two days for a period of 10 days) dramatically boost cell chondrogenic commitment. Furthermore, this stimulation regimen also has a considerable anti-in ammatory effect. The proposed nanocomposite hydrogel also shows excellent biocompatibility in vivo. Our results show for the rst time the chondrogenic potential of the combined piezoelectric nanoparticle-ultrasound stimulus; the proposed paradigm has the potential to trigger cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis, focal cartilage defects and other pathological conditions involving cartilage lesions and degeneration. Future efforts should expand preclinical data, and target clinical applications of this therapeutic strategy.

Due to the global problem with plastic contaminating the environment, with bisphenol A (BPA) being one of the highest demand, effective monitoring and purification of the pollutants are required. The electrochemical methods constitute a good solution but, due to polymerization of electrochemical oxidation bisphenol A products and their adsorption to the surfaces, measurement head elements are clogged by the formed film. In this research, we propose a nanocrystalline diamond sheet protection for securing elements in direct contact with bisphenol A during electrochemical processes. The solution was presented on the example of a zinc oxide (ZnO) coating deposited on a fiber-optic end-face by Atomic Layer Deposition. Series of optical and electrochemical measurements were performed in a dedicated hybrid setup. The results show that ZnO can be modified during the electrochemistry leading to the drastic …

Capacitive deionization (CDI) has been considered as the most promising and environmentally friendly electrical desalination technology owing to its low energy consumption and no secondary pollution. CDI is based on the principle of electric double layer for salt ion adsorption, but the existence of co-ions repulsion reduce the charge efficiency, leading to the low salt adsorption capacity. To prevent the intrinsic “co-ion effect” inside the porous carbon electrodes, membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) by applying an ion-exchange membrane (IEM) to the surface of electrode is of increasing interest. However, MCDI brings various resistances, such as the internal and interface resistances of membrane, as well as the contact resistance between membrane and carbon electrode. More recently, by integrating “membrane” with carbon electrode without the introduction of free-standing IEM, integrated-MCDI has …