Collective Charge Excitations between Moiré Minibands in Twisted WSe_{2} Bilayers Probed with Resonant Inelastic Light Scattering.

We establish low-temperature resonant inelastic light scattering (RILS) spectroscopy as a tool to probe the formation of a series of moiré bands in twisted WSe_{2} bilayers by accessing collective inter-moiré-band excitations (IMBEs). We observe resonances in RILS spectra at energies in agreement with inter-moiré-band transitions obtained from an ab initio based continuum model. Transitions between the first and second moiré band for a twist angle of about 8° are reported and between the first and the third, and higher bands for a twist of about 3°.

Exciton Manifolds in Highly Ambipolar Doped WS.

The disentanglement of single and many particle properties in 2D semiconductors and their dependencies on high carrier concentration is challenging to experimentally study by pure optical means. We establish an electrolyte gated WS2 monolayer field-effect structure capable of shifting the Fermi level from the valence into the conduction band that is suitable to optically trace exciton binding as well as the single-particle band gap energies in the weakly doped regime. Combined spectroscopic imaging ellipsometry and photoluminescence spectroscopies spanning large n- and p-type doping with charge carrier densities up to 1014 cm-2 enable to study screening phenomena and doping dependent evolution of the rich exciton manifold whose origin is controversially discussed in literature.

Current State and Future of Private Practice Nephrology in the United States.

Chronic kidney disease remains highly prevalent and exerts a heavy economic burden. The practice of nephrology has come a long way in managing this disease, though there remains room for improvement. The private domain, where more than half of the adult nephrology workforce operates, faces serious challenges.

Low power all optical switching and implementation of universal logic gates using micro-bubbles in semiconductor nanocrystal solutions.

We describe optical switching in solutions of semiconductor nanocrystals illuminated by a 404 nm continuous wave laser source, driven by the formation of a micro-bubble of solvent vapor in the solution. Low boiling solvents such as hexane show an oscillatory modulation of transmitted light intensity (period ∼4 s) while solvents with intermediate boiling points such as toluene give a stable switching response. An on/off ratio of 83% is observed in the transmitted pump beam.

Reconfiguring crystal and electronic structures of MoS by substitutional doping.

Doping of traditional semiconductors has enabled technological applications in modern electronics by tailoring their chemical, optical and electronic properties. However, substitutional doping in two-dimensional semiconductors is at a comparatively early stage, and the resultant effects are less explored. In this work, we report unusual effects of degenerate doping with Nb on structural, electronic and optical characteristics of MoS crystals.

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of alkali-metal intercalated ZrSe.

We report on the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of alkali metal intercalated ZrSe single crystals. ZrSe is produced by chemical vapour transport and then Li is intercalated. Intercalation is performed from the liquid phase (via butyllithium) and from the vapour phase.

Midlife managerial experience is linked to late life hippocampal morphology and function.

An active cognitive lifestyle has been suggested to have a protective role in the long-term maintenance of cognition. Amongst healthy older adults, more managerial or supervisory experiences in midlife are linked to a slower hippocampal atrophy rate in late life. Yet whether similar links exist in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is not known, nor whether these differences have any functional implications.

Therapeutically relevant structural and functional mechanisms triggered by physical and cognitive exercise.

Physical and cognitive exercise may prevent or delay dementia in later life but the neural mechanisms underlying these therapeutic benefits are largely unknown. We examined structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain changes after 6 months of progressive resistance training (PRT), computerized cognitive training (CCT) or combined intervention. A total of 100 older individuals (68 females, average age=70.

Relationship between physical performance and quality of life in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: a pilot study.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a rare inherited peripheral neuropathy in which quality of life (QoL) is reduced compared with the general population. This paper investigates the relationship between QoL and physical performance in people with CMT with the aim of identifying avenues for future research into rehabilitation strategies. Cross-sectional data was obtained from 10 participants (5 men, 5 women, age 46 ± 13 years, height 1.

Comparative assessment of (18) F-Mefway as a serotonin 5-HT1A receptor PET imaging agent across species: Rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans.

We have developed (18) F-trans-Mefway ((18) F-Mefway) for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies of serotonin 5-HT1A receptors which are implicated in various brain functions. Translation of imaging the 5-HT1A receptor in animal models to humans will facilitate an understanding of the role of the receptor in human brain disorders. We report comparative brain distribution of (18) F-Mefway in normal mice, rats, monkeys, and healthy human volunteers.

The Study of Mental and Resistance Training (SMART) study—resistance training and/or cognitive training in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized, double-blind, double-sham controlled trial.

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) increases dementia risk with no pharmacologic treatment available.

Methods: The Study of Mental and Resistance Training was a randomized, double-blind, double-sham controlled trial of adults with MCI. Participants were randomized to 2 supervised interventions: active or sham physical training (high intensity progressive resistance training vs seated calisthenics) plus active or sham cognitive training (computerized, multidomain cognitive training vs watching videos/quizzes), 2-3 days/week for 6 months with 18-month follow-up.

Angle of incidence averaging in reflectance measurements with optical microscopes for studying layered two-dimensional materials.

Reflectance spectrum measured using an optical microscope with a large numerical aperture objective lens is shown to get modified. The change is most prominent when there are optical interference related features in the spectrum. This modification is shown to arise primarily due to the wide range of angles of incidence involved in the measurement and a simple formulation is provided to correct for this in simulations.

Structural barriers at the workplace for employees with vision and locomotor disabilities in New Delhi, India.

Background: India, a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), has 2.21% of people with disabilities to the total population of which 26% are employed (Census 2011 and 2001). Accessibility was introduced for the first time in 1995 under The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act.

Evaluation of serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptors in rodent models using [¹⁸F]mefway PET.

Introduction: Serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptors have been investigated in various CNS disorders, including epilepsy, mood disorders, and neurodegeneration. [¹⁸F]Mefway (N-{2-[4-(2'-methoxyphenyl)piperazinyl]ethyl}-N-(2-pyridyl)-N-(cis/trans-4'-[¹⁸F]fluoromethylcyclohexane)-carboxamide) has been developed as a suitable positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent for these receptors. We have now evaluated the suitability of [¹⁸F]trans-mefway in rat and mouse models using PET and computerized tomography (CT) imaging and corroborated with ex vivo and in vitro autoradiographic studies.

Dopaminergic and GABA-ergic markers of impulsivity in rats: evidence for anatomical localisation in ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex.

Accumulating evidence indicates that impulsivity, in its multiple forms, involves cortical and subcortical mechanisms and abnormal dopamine (DA) transmission. Although decreased DA D2/D3 receptor availability in the nucleus accumbens (NAcb) predicts trait-like impulsivity in rats it is unclear whether this neurochemical marker extends to both the NAcb core (NAcbC) and shell (NAcbS) and whether markers for other neurotransmitter systems implicated in impulsivity such as serotonin (5-HT), endogenous opioids and γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA) are likewise altered in impulsive rats. We therefore used autoradiography to investigate DA transporter (DAT), 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) and D1, D2/D3, μ-opioid and GABA(A) receptor binding in selected regions of the prefrontal cortex and striatum in rats expressing low and high impulsive behaviour on the five-choice serial reaction-time task.

Synthesis and evaluation of 18F-FE-PEO in rodents: an 18F-labeled full agonist for opioid receptor imaging.

Unlabelled: We have investigated the opioid receptor (OR) agonist (20R)-4,5-α-epoxy-6-(2-(18)F-fluoroethoxy)-3-hydroxy-α,17-dimethyl-α-(2-phenyleth-1-yl)-6,14-ethenomorphinan-7-methanol ((18)F-FE-PEO) as a candidate OR PET ligand. This tracer is attractive because it combines (18)F labeling, is suited to the slow kinetics of high-affinity ligands, and has agonist binding, which has been shown to be more sensitive to changes in OR occupation than is antagonist binding.

Methods: Agonist potency and off-target binding were investigated in vitro, and autoradiographic studies on rat brain sections were used to assess binding patterns.

A two pulse drug delivery system for amoxicillin: an attempt to counter the scourge of bacterial resistance against antibiotics.

Bearing in mind the present scenario of the increasing biological tolerance of bacteria against antibiotics, a time controlled two pulse dosage form of amoxicillin was developed. The compression coating inlay tablet approach was used to deliver the drug in two pulses to different parts of the GIT after a well defined lag time between the two releases. This was made possible by formulating a core containing one of the two drug fractions (intended to be delivered as the second pulse), which was spray coated with a suspension of ethyl cellulose and a hydrophilic but water insoluble agent as a pore former (microcrystalline cellulose).

Chronopharmaceutics: a promising drug delivery finding of the last two decades.

Pulsatile drug delivery system capable of releasing the drug after a predetermined lag period in pulsed or controlled release manner recently has drawn the attention of both academic and industrial research. Depending on the effective therapeutic application of the drug, a variety of design strategies have been formulated in the pursuit of pulsatile release. Circadian (24 hr cycle) dependency of various physiological and pathological functions is well established, thus, it becomes imperative to develop a drug delivery system to achieve release of drug at specific site and time.

Distinctive features of "chronotherapeutic" and "pulsatile" drug delivery systems negating the practice of their interchangeable terminology.

The term pulsatile drug delivery has often been used as a synonym to chronotherapeutic drug delivery. This needs to be given a thought as both the drug delivery systems are entirely addressing different needs of the patients as well as the intentions of the formulators being different. Chronotherapeutic systems are based completely on circadian needs and response of the body and the need of the drug to be in its maximum concentrations at a particular time of the day, the fact being supported by endless list of ailments which elicit the related symptoms at a particular time of the day.

Multiple-pulse drug delivery systems: setting a new paradigm for infectious disease therapy.

Background: Pulsatile drug delivery of actives based on the body's biological rhythms came into sight as a novel and emerging concept in the field of drug delivery. The concept of late has given birth to another field of research worth exploring: multiple-pulse drug delivery.

Objective: Delivering a drug in multiple pulses has been applied to antibiotics for effective and patient compliant drug delivery.

Site specific chronotherapeutic drug delivery systems: a patent review.

Oral dosage forms are known to provide a zero order or first order release in which the drug is released at a substantially steady rate of release per unit of time. However, there are instances where maintaining a constant blood level of a drug is not desirable. In such cases a pulsatile drug delivery may be more advantageous.