Orbital-dependent electron correlation in double-layer nickelate LaNiO.

The latest discovery of high temperature superconductivity near 80 K in LaNiO under high pressure has attracted much attention. Many proposals are put forth to understand the origin of superconductivity. The determination of electronic structures is a prerequisite to establish theories to understand superconductivity in nickelates but is still lacking.

Observation of flat band, Dirac nodal lines and topological surface states in Kagome superconductor CsTiBi.

Kagome lattices of various transition metals are versatile platforms for achieving anomalous Hall effects, unconventional charge-density wave orders and quantum spin liquid phenomena due to the strong correlations, spin-orbit coupling and/or magnetic interactions involved in such a lattice. Here, we use laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in combination with density functional theory calculations to investigate the electronic structure of the newly discovered kagome superconductor CsTiBi, which is isostructural to the AVSb (A = K, Rb or Cs) kagome superconductor family and possesses a two-dimensional kagome network of titanium. We directly observe a striking flat band derived from the local destructive interference of Bloch wave functions within the kagome lattice.

Short-term toxicity assessment of combined use of zidovudine, lamivudine and lopinavir/ritonavir in vitro and in vivo.

Introduction: A combination of zidovudine (AZT), lamivudine (3TC) and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) is one of the most effective drugs for preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. However, limited information is available regarding its systemic toxicity. This study aimed to investigate its potential toxicity.

Titanium doped kagome superconductor CsVTiSb and two distinct phases.

The vanadium-based kagome superconductor CsVSb has attracted tremendous attention due to its unexcepted anomalous Hall effect (AHE), charge density waves (CDWs), nematicity, and a pseudogap pair density wave (PDW) coexisting with unconventional strong-coupling superconductivity. The origins of CDWs, unconventional superconductivity, and their correlation with different electronic states in this kagome system are of great significance, but so far, are still under debate. Chemical doping in the kagome layer provides one of the most direct ways to reveal the intrinsic physics, but remains unexplored.

Electronic nature of charge density wave and electron-phonon coupling in kagome superconductor KVSb.

The Kagome superconductors AVSb (A = K, Rb, Cs) have received enormous attention due to their nontrivial topological electronic structure, anomalous physical properties and superconductivity. Unconventional charge density wave (CDW) has been detected in AVSb. High-precision electronic structure determination is essential to understand its origin.

Impact of Lead Exposure on Thyroid Status and IQ Performance among School-age Children Living Nearby a Lead-Zinc Mine in China.

Background: Lead exposure is one of the most concerning public health problems worldwide, particularly among children. Yet the impact of chronic lead exposure on the thyroid status and related intelligence quotient performance among school-age children remained elusive.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of lead exposure on the thyroid hormones, amino acid neurotransmitters balances, and intelligence quotient (IQ) among school-age children living nearby a lead-zinc mining site.

Author Correction: Universal mechanical exfoliation of large-area 2D crystals.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Universal mechanical exfoliation of large-area 2D crystals.

Two-dimensional materials provide extraordinary opportunities for exploring phenomena arising in atomically thin crystals. Beginning with the first isolation of graphene, mechanical exfoliation has been a key to provide high-quality two-dimensional materials, but despite improvements it is still limited in yield, lateral size and contamination. Here we introduce a contamination-free, one-step and universal Au-assisted mechanical exfoliation method and demonstrate its effectiveness by isolating 40 types of single-crystalline monolayers, including elemental two-dimensional crystals, metal-dichalcogenides, magnets and superconductors.

Effect of manganese on neural endocrine hormones in serum of welders and smelters.

Background: Although manganese (Mn)-induced neurotoxicity effects are well known among occupational Mn exposure, few reports have investigated the effects on endocrine systems among welders and smelters.

Objective: To determine the effect of high level occupational manganese (Mn) exposure on neuropsychological parameters and hormonal status.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional design with 52 welders, 48 smelters and 43 age-matched office workers from the same factory in China.

Sodium p-Aminosalicylic Acid Reverses Sub-Chronic Manganese-Induced Impairments of Spatial Learning and Memory Abilities in Rats, but Fails to Restore γ-Aminobutyric Acid Levels.

Excessive manganese (Mn) exposure is not only a health risk for occupational workers, but also for the general population. Sodium para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS-Na) has been successfully used in the treatment of manganism, but the involved molecular mechanisms have yet to be determined. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of PAS-Na on sub-chronic Mn exposure-induced impairments of spatial learning and memory, and determine the possible involvements of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism in vivo.

Sodium P-Aminosalicylic Acid Improved Manganese-Induced Learning and Memory Dysfunction via Restoring the Ultrastructural Alterations and γ-Aminobutyric Acid Metabolism Imbalance in the Basal Ganglia.

Excessive intake of manganese (Mn) may cause neurotoxicity. Sodium para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS-Na) has been used successfully in the treatment of Mn-induced neurotoxicity. The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is related with learning and memory abilities.

miR-1291 targets mucin 1 inhibiting cell proliferation and invasion to promote cell apoptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well known as important regulators in various cancer development. In the present study, we focused on the expression and biological function of miR-1291 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Compared with adjacent non-tumorous tissue samples, qRT-PCR data showed significant downregulation of miR-1291 in 54 ESCC tissue samples (P<0.

Upregulation of miR-513b inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and promotes apoptosis by targeting high mobility group-box 3 protein in gastric cancer.

The high mobility group-box 3 (HMGB3) protein belongs to the high mobility group box (HMG-box) subfamily, and recent studies have shown that HMGB3 is an oncogene for leukemia. HMGB3 is also expressed at a high level in the progression phase of breast and gastric cancer (GC). Using bioinformatic analyses, we found that HMGB3 is a potential target for miR-513b.

Silencing BMP-2 expression inhibits A549 and H460 cell proliferation and migration.

Background: Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) is a member of the TGF-β superfamily that is closely correlated with many malignancies, particularly lung cancer. However, the effects of silenced BMP-2 on lung cancer cell proliferation and migration are not clear.

Methods: Using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, BMP-2 mRNA expression was detected in 61 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples.

Pallidal index as biomarker of manganese brain accumulation and associated with manganese levels in blood: a meta-analysis.

Objective: The current study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity, feasibility, and effectiveness of the pallidal index (PI) serving as a biomarker of brain manganese (Mn) accumulation, which would be used as an early diagnosis criteria for Mn neurotoxicity.

Methods: The weighted mean difference (WMD) of the PI between control and Mn-exposed groups was estimated by using a random-effects or fixed-effects meta-analysis with 95% confidence interval (CI) performed by STATA software version 12.1.

Vulnerability of welders to manganese exposure--a neuroimaging study.

Increased manganese (Mn) exposure is known to cause cognitive, psychiatric and motor deficits. Mn exposure occurs in different occupational settings, where the airborne Mn level and the size of respirable particulates may vary considerably. Recently the importance of the role of the cerebral cortex in Mn toxicity has been highlighted, especially in Mn-induced neuropsychological effects.

[Effect of sodium para-aminosalicylic on concentrations of amino acid neurotransmitters in basal ganglia of manganese-exposed rats].

Objective: To probe the effect of sodium para-aminosalicylate (PAS-Na) on concentration of amino acid neurotransmitters including glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), glycine (Gly) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in basal ganglia of subacute manganese (Mn)-exposed rats.

Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into the control, Mn-exposed, low dose PAS-Na (L-PAS) and high dose PAS-Na (H-PAS) groups. Rats in experiment groups received daily intraperitoneally injections of manganese chloride (MnCl₂ · 4H₂O, 15 mg/kg), while rats in control group received daily intraperitoneally injections of normal saline (NS), all at 5 days/week for 4 weeks.

[Effects of low level manganese exposure on the serum neuroendocrine hormones in the welders].

Objective: To study the effects of low level manganese (Mn) exposure on the serum neuroendocrine hormones levels of the welders.

Methods: The exposure group consisted of 41 male welders, 40 male workers without exposing to harmful agents served as controls. The serum contents of prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (TST) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) of 81 subjects were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay.

Recombinant MafA protein containing its own protein transduction domain stimulates insulin gene expression in IEC-6 cells.

Aims: MafA, a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, functions as a potent activator of insulin gene transcription in β-cell. In this paper, we aimed to investigate whether the entire MafA protein has the self-delivery activity, and that the arginine- and lysine-rich sequence in MafA bZIP domain is an efficient protein transduction domain (PTD).

Main Methods: Entire MafA protein internalization was evaluated with Western blot and immunofluorescence.