Terahertz-field-induced insulator-to-metal transition in vanadium dioxide metamaterial

Electron-electron interactions can render an otherwise conducting material insulating, with the insulator-metal phase transition in correlated-electron materials being the canonical macroscopic manifestation of the competition between charge-carrier itinerancy and localization. The transition can arise from underlying microscopic interactions among the charge, lattice, orbital and spin degrees of freedom, the complexity of which leads to multiple phase-transition pathways. For example, in many transition metal oxides, the insulator-metal transition has been achieved with external stimuli, including temperature, light, electric field, mechanical strain or magnetic field. Vanadium dioxide is particularly intriguing because both the lattice and on-site Coulomb repulsion contribute to the insulator-to-metal transition at 340?K (ref. 8). Thus, although the precise microscopic origin of the phase transition remains elusive, vanadium dioxide serves as a testbed for correlated-electron phase-transition dynamics. Here we report the observation of an insulator-metal transition in vanadium dioxide induced by a terahertz electric field. This is achieved using metamaterial-enhanced picosecond, high-field terahertz pulses to reduce the Coulomb-induced potential barrier for carrier transport. A nonlinear metamaterial response is observed through the phase transition, demonstrating that high-field terahertz pulses provide alternative pathways to induce collective electronic and structural rearrangements. The metamaterial resonators play a dual role, providing sub-wavelength field enhancement that locally drives the nonlinear response, and global sensitivity to the local changes, thereby enabling macroscopic observation of the dynamics. This methodology provides a powerful platform to investigate low-energy dynamics in condensed matter and, further, demonstrates that integration of metamaterials with complex matter is a viable pathway to realize functional nonlinear electromagnetic composites.     

三维各向异性材料数值模型的计算方法

各向异性材料模型的一般计算方法需要编辑偏轴坐标系中的弹性矩阵,其推导过程十分复杂.针对这一问题,提出了一种基于FEM软件中两个坐标系(基本坐标系与辅助坐标系)的新方法.FEM软件自动转换两个坐标系的关系,因此该方法没必要编辑偏轴坐标系中的弹性矩阵,可简化各向异性模型的计算过程.计算结果很好地反映了各向异性材料的方向变化对巷道围岩应力分布的影响.     

Non-invasive measurement and validation of tissue oxygen saturation covered with overlying tissues

In this paper, the biological tissue oxygen saturation （rSO2） is obtained non-invasively and in real time based on near infrared spectroscopy （NIRS） using two emitting wavelengths and two detectors, where the tissue is covered with overlying tissues. Our group developed an NIRS oximeter based on the above principle independently, and validated it using liquid tissue model calibrations and animal experiments. The results indicate that （1） in the normal range of tissue oxygen saturation （40-70%）, the rSO2 measured by NIRS is accurate enough and little influenced by the background absorptions （such as the absorption of water） and overlying tissues （such as fat）; （2） during cerebral hypoxia and recovery of three piglets, there is excellent correlation （p 〈 0.001） between cerebral rSO2 and jugular venous oxygen saturation （SjO2）, meaning that the rSO2 can be indicated by the SjO2 to a large extent; during the death of the three piglets induced by heart beat stopping, cerebral rSO2 decreases continuously to significantly low levels （〈25%） because cerebral blood supply does not exist any more. All the above results are of explicit physiological importance.     

Control of plant germline proliferation by SCF(FBL17) degradation of cell cycle inhibitors

Flowering plants possess a unique reproductive strategy, involving double fertilization by twin sperm cells. Unlike animal germ lines, the male germ cell lineage in plants only forms after meiosis and involves asymmetric division of haploid microspores, to produce a large, non-germline vegetative cell and a germ cell that undergoes one further division to produce the twin sperm cells. Although this switch in cell cycle control is critical for sperm cell production and delivery, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Here we identify a novel F-box protein of Arabidopsis thaliana, designated FBL17 (F-box-like 17), that enables this switch by targeting the degradation of cyclin-dependent kinase A;1 inhibitors specifically in male germ cells. We show that FBL17 is transiently expressed in the male germ line after asymmetric division and forms an SKP1-Cullin1-F-box protein (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex (SCF(FBL17)) that targets the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors KRP6 and KRP7 for proteasome-dependent degradation. Accordingly, the loss of FBL17 function leads to the stabilization of KRP6 and inhibition of germ cell cycle progression. Our results identify SCF(FBL17) as an essential male germ cell proliferation complex that promotes twin sperm cell production and double fertilization in flowering plants.     

Mimicking unfolding motion of a beetle hind wing

This paper presents an experimental research aiming to realize an artificial hind wing that can mimic the wing unfolding motion of AIIomyrina dichotoma, an insect in coleopteran order. Based on the understanding of working principles of beetle wing folding/unfolding mechanisms, the hind wing unfolding motion is mimicked by a combination of creative ideas and state-of-art artificial muscle actuator. In this work, we devise two types of artificial wings and the successfully demonstrate that they can be unfolded by actuation of shape memory alloy wires to provide actuation force at the wing base and along the leading edge vein. The folding/unfolding mechanisms may provide an insight for portable nano/micro air vehicles with morphing wings.     

Design of Vehicle Routing by Integrating Optimization and Simulated Annealing Approach

The vehicle routing problem (VRP) can be described as the problem of designing the optimal delivery or collection routes from one or several depots to a number of geographically scattered customers, subject to load constraints. The routing decision involves determining which of the demand s will be satisfied by each vehicle and what route each vehicle will follow in s erving its assigned demand in order to minimize total delivery cost. In this pap er, a methodology for the design of VRP by integrating...     

锥形血管中的血液流动

本文研究了带有锥度的血管的发展流动问题,导得了一组相应的速度分布、压力分布公式。分析表明,锥度角对血管流场是有影响的。当略去锥度角时,本文公式便变为和无锥度角的等圆截面直管的Targ公式相一致。     

Senescence suppressors: their practical importance in replicative lifespan extension in stem cells

Recent animal and clinical studies report promising results for the therapeutic utilization of stem cells in regenerative medicine. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with their pluripotent nature, have advantages over embryonic stem cells in terms of their availability and feasibility. However, their proliferative activity is destined to slow by replicative senescence, and the limited proliferative potential of MSCs not only hinders the preparation of sufficient cells for in vivo application, but also draws a limitation on their potential for differentiation. This calls for the development of safe and efficient means to increase the proliferative as well as differentiation potential of MSCs. Recent advances have led to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and significance of cellular senescence, facilitating ways to manipulate the replicative lifespan of a variety of primary cells, including MSCs. This paper introduces a class of proteins that function as senescence suppressors. Like tumor suppressors, these proteins are lost in senescence, while their forced expression delays the onset of senescence. Moreover, treatments that increase the expression or the activity of senescence suppressors, therefore, cause expansion of the replicative and differentiation potential of MSCs. The nature of the activities and putative underlying mechanisms of the senescence suppressors will be discussed to facilitate their evaluation.