[en] This paper analyzes the polarized light propagation in a one-dimensional scattering medium with the upper surface subjected to an oblique incident short-pulsed laser beam using the natural element method (NEM). The NEM discretization scheme for the transient vector radiative transfer equation (TVRTE) is presented in detail. The accuracy of the natural element method for transient vector radiative transfer in the scattering medium is assessed. Numerical results show that the NEM is accurate, and effective in solving transient polarized radiative problems. We examine a square short-pulsed laser transport firstly in the atmosphere with Mie scattering and then within aerosol scattering medium. We then investigate the transient polarized radiative transfer problem in the atmosphere-ocean system. The time-resolved signals and the polarization state of the Stokes vector are presented and analyzed. It is found that the scattering types of the medium make greatly influence on the transient transportation of the polarized light. Critically, the polarization states of the backward and forward scattered photons show significantly different time varying trends. For the two-layer system with dissimilar refractive index distributions, due to the total-reflection effect, the existence of a Fresnel interface significantly changes the polarization state of the light, and discontinuous distribution features are observed on the interface. - Highlights: • Transient vector radiative transfer in 1D scattering medium is solved by NEM. • A square short-pulsed laser transport in Mie or aerosol scattering medium is examined. • The atmosphere-ocean layer with Fresnel interface is considered. • The time-resolved signals and the polarization state of the lights are analyzed.

[en] The main goals of the paper are aimed at simulating core plasma parameters of HCSBDEMO (Heilum-cooled Solid Breeder, HCSB) by 1.5D plasma transport code. The study content included: the operation scenarios; the temperature and density profiles of the ion and electron; fusion and radiation power; the distribution of current density and safety factor; sensitivity analyses for some of the input parameters and physical models parameters, finally, there is a primary estimate of the divertor's target loads. The fusion power output of 2.6GW with a major radius of 7.2 m, aspect ratio of 3.4, elongation of 1.85, triangularity of 0.45, plasma current of 14.8 MA, normalized beta of 4.4, maximum field of 13 T, electron density of 1.5 A1020/m³, average electron temperature of 14.5 keV and neutron wall loading of 2.3 MW/m². In this investigation, parameters of reactor which satisfy the DEMO requirement are selected. (orig.)

[en] Previous studies have showed the anticancer effect of the all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in many tumors including breast cancer; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is still poorly understood. This study experimentally revealed that ATRA treatment inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation and promoted its apoptosis, along with an enhanced expression of docking protein 1 (DOK1). ATRA's effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis were prevented by DOK1 knockdown. In addition, the genetic silence of DOK1 can inhibit PPARγ expression and its activity. Moreover, inactivation of PPARγ by its specific inhibitor GW9662 reversed the impacts of ATRA on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that ATRA-enhanced expression of DOK1 activates PPARγ leading to inhibition of cell proliferation and enhancement of cell apoptosis in MCF-7 cell. - Highlights: • ATRA treatment inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation, along with an enhanced expression of docking protein 1 (DOK1). • The genetic silence of DOK1 can inhibit PPARγ expression and its activity. • Inactivation of PPARγ by its specific inhibitor GW9662 reversed the impacts of ATRA on cell proliferation. • ATRA-enhanced expression of DOK1 activates PPARγ leading to inhibition of cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells.

[en] Three different graphene nanostructure suspensions of graphene oxide nanosheets (GONSs), graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs), and graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) are prepared and characterized. Using a typical two-step method, the GONSs, GONRs, and GOQDs are incorporated into a polyimide (PI) matrix to synthesize graphene/PI composite films, whose nonlinear optical (NLO) and optical limiting (OL) properties are investigated at 532 nm in the nanosecond regime. The GONR suspension exhibits superior NLO and OL effects compared with those of GONSs and GOQDs because of its stronger nonlinear scattering and excited-state absorption. The graphene/PI composite films exhibit NLO and OL performance superior to that of their corresponding suspensions, which is attributed primarily to a combination of nonlinear mechanisms, charge transfer between graphene materials and PI, and the matrix effect

[en] A multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) study has been carried out on the LiCl molecule. The potential energy has been calculated over a wide range of internuclear separation for the 21 low-lying electronic states of the LiCl molecule dissociating into Li (²S, ²P, ³S)+Cl (²P). The (4)¹Σ⁺, (3)¹Π, 1–3³Σ⁺, 1–3³Π, ^1,3Δ, ^1,3Σ⁻, (5)¹Σ⁺, (4)³Σ⁺, (4)¹Π, (4)³Π excited states are studied for the first time in theory. Molecular spectroscopic constants (R_e,D_e, ω_e, ω_eχ_e, B_e and α_e) have been derived for the 9 bound states (X¹Σ⁺, (3)¹Σ⁺, (2)³Σ⁺, ^1,3Δ, ^1,3Σ⁻, (4)¹Π, (4)³Π) with a regular shape, and the spectroscopic constants of ground states X¹Σ⁺ are in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical values. The relative differences between experimental values and our values for R_e, D_e,ω_e, ω_eχ_e, B_e and α_e are 1.02%, 0.60%, 1.72%, 9.46%, 2.0%, and 0.75%, respectively. Moreover, vibrational levels of 9 bound states, which have not been investigated experimentally, are computed. (atomic and molecular physics)

[en] Highlights: • ACE2 was involved in CC-induced endothelial dysfunction. • SIRT1 and SIRT6 contributed to regulating the protein expression of ACE2 in CC-stimulated endothelial cells. • SIRT6 regulated ACE2 with intranuclear p-ATF2, but not affecting p-ATF2 expression in the cytoplasm. Sirtuins are a family of highly conserved nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺)-dependent enzymes. Among the sirtuins, SIRT1 and SIRT6 participate in the regulation of endothelial functions and play significant roles in the physiological and pathological processes of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Recently, our study found that minute cholesterol crystals (CC) can be endocytosed by endothelial cells and further impair endothelial functions. Since previous studies have reported that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) involves Angiotensin (Ang) II-induced inflammation in endothelial cells, this study was designed to investigate the role of SIRT1 and SIRT6 in CC-induced variation of ACE2 expression and the related mechanism between SIRT6 and ACE2. We found that ACE2 is involved in CC-induced endothelial dysfunction, which inhibits decreases in nitric oxide (NO) level and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and increases in inflammatory factors and adhesion molecules. Besides, SIRT1 and SIRT6 regulated the protein expression of ACE2 in CC-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Moreover, bioinformatics analysis from the Enrichr database indicated that activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2), is highly correlated with genes that significantly upregulated after infection with the SIRT6 adenovirus vector. In CC-induced HUVECs, ACE2 expression was up-regulated in cells transfected with ATF2 siRNA. However, further mechanism studies revealed that overexpression of SIRT6 decreases the accumulation of p-ATF2 in the nucleus, but did not affect p-ATF2 expression in the cytoplasm. Taken together, these data indicated that SIRT6 regulates ACE2 might via inhibiting the accumulation of nucleus p-ATF2 in CC-induced endothelial dysfunction.

[en] Highlights: • High-Co₉S₈-content composite is derived from a novel LDH precursor. • In-situ XRD reveals the topotactic transformation. • Enhanced lithium storage is supported by in-situ XRD and ex-situ Raman results. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), also known as brucite (Mg(OH)₂)-like anionic clay compounds, are very convenient precursors with a unique flexibility of tuning component type and molar ratio toward composite nanomaterials in energy storage, such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Conventional binary LDH precursors are typically converted to active/non-active transition-metal oxide composites as anode nanomaterials for LIBs, but either with the aid of additionally introducing highly conductive carbonaceous matrix, or possessing relatively high-content non-active components that greatly lower the reversible specific capacity. Herein, we demonstrate a rational design of a novel single-source precursor of dodecyl sulfonate-intercalated Co²⁺Co³⁺Al³⁺-layered double hydroxide (Co²⁺Co³⁺Al³⁺-LDH) and its conversion to high-Co₉S₈-content composite (Co₉S₈/S-doped carbon/Al₂O₃) as high-efficiency anode nanomaterials for LIBs. In-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the controllable topotactic transformation via tuning calcination temperature and time. Electrochemical test shows that the composite electrode delivers a reversible capacity of 970 mA h g⁻¹ after 200 cycles at 100 mA g⁻¹, and in particular, a long-term cycling stability of 780 mA h g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹, manifesting highly enhanced electrochemical performances compared with the counterpart derived from a conventional binary LDH precursor. Monitoring the discharged/charged states by in-situ XRD and ex-situ Raman spectra provides a direct support to the enhancement. Our results show that the LDH precursor-based approach provides an alternative to prepare diverse transition metal sulfides for energy storage.

[en] In this work, low operating voltage and high resistance ratio of different resistance states of binary transition metal oxide based resistive random access memories (RRAMs) are demonstrated. Binary transition metal oxides with high dielectric constant have been explored for RRAM application for years. However, CeO_x is considered as a relatively new material to other dielectrics. Since research on CeO_x based RRAM is still at preliminary stage, fundamental characteristics of RRAM such as scalability and mechanism studies need to be done before moving further. Here, we show very high operation window and low switching voltage of CeO_x RRAMs and also compare electrical performance of Al/CeO_x/Au system between different thin film deposition methods and discuss characteristics and resistive switching mechanism

[en] Arc heaters are vital equipment for the ground thermal appraisal of space probes reentering Earth’s atmosphere. However, the cathodes of arc heaters are currently made of pure copper, and cathode erosion limits the appraisal. A micro multi-electrode technology was proposed to reduce cathode erosion. Cu–Y, Cu–Ba, Cu–Hf, Cu–La, Cu–Cr₂Nb, Cu–LaB₆, Cu–HfO₂, and Cu–Y₂O₃ alloys were prepared with a content of mol. 0.3%. The microstructure, electron-emission abilities, and arc-attraction abilities of the prepared alloys were analyzed. These alloys consist of low work function (LWF) phases and copper. The electron-emission abilities of these alloys are 10–30 times higher than that of copper. The LWF phase can attract the arc, and its arc-attraction ability can be characterized by a parameter, $k_2$. The arc-attraction ability of these LWF phases from low to high is Cu, Cu₆Y, Cu₆La, Cu₁₃Ba, Cu₅Hf, Cr₂Nb, HfO₂, Y₂O₃, and LaB₆. The arc-attraction ability of the LWF phase is related to its work function and its melting point. Cr₂Nb, HfO₂, Y₂O₃, and LaB₆ successfully attracted and separated the single arc spot into multiple micro spots, which verified the feasibilty of the micro multi-electrode technology. (paper)

[en] Highly regulated Fe₃O₄–polyelectrolyte-modified polyaniline (Fe₃O₄–PE@PANI) hollow sphere nanocomposites were successfully synthesized using an electrostatic self-assembly approach. The morphology and structure of the Fe₃O₄–PE@PANI nanocomposites were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the as-prepared nanocomposites had well-defined sizes and shapes, and the average size is about 500 nm. The assembly process was investigated. Magnetization measurements showed that the saturation magnetization of the nanocomposites was 38.6 emu g⁻¹. It was also found that the Fe₃O₄–PE@PANI nanocomposites exhibited excellent reflection loss abilities and wide response bandwidths compared with those of PANI hollow spheres in the range 0.5–15 GHz. The Fe₃O₄–PE@PANI nanocomposites are, therefore, promising for microwave absorption applications