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Topological superconductors have attracted tremendous excitement as they are predicted to host Majorana zero modes that can be utilized for topological quantum computing. Candidate topological superconductor Sn1–xInxTe thin films (0 < x< 0.3) grown by molecular beam epitaxy and strained in the (111) plane are shown to host quantum interference effects in the conductivity coexisting with superconducting fluctuations above the critical temperature Tc. An analysis of the normal state magnetoresistance reveals these effects. A crossover from weak antilocalization to localization is consistently observed in superconducting samples, indicating that superconductivity originates dominantly from charge carriers occupying trivial states that may be strongly spin–orbit split. A large enhancement of the conductivity is observed above Tc, indicating the presence of superconducting fluctuations. Our results motivate a re-examination of the debated pairing symmetry of this material when subjected to quantum confinement and lattice strain.

A single-step method for the preparation of metastable ε-Fe3N nanoparticles by combustion of reactive gels containing iron nitrate (Fe(NO3)3) and hexamethylenetetramine (C6H12N4) in an inert atmosphere is reported. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analysis coupled with dynamic mass spectrometry revealed that the exothermic decomposition of a coordination complex formed between Fe(NO3)3and HMTA is responsible for the formation of ε-Fe3N nanoscale particles with sizes of 5–15 nm. The magnetic properties between 5 and 350 K are characterized using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer, revealing a ferromagnetic behavior with a low-temperature magnetic moment of 1.09 μB/Fe, high room temperature saturation magnetization (∼80 emu/g), and low remanent magnetization (∼15 emu/g). The obtained value for the Curie temperature of ∼522 K is close to that (∼575 K) for bulk ε-Fe3N reported in the literature.

Photodynamic therapy with temperature control is a new approach for treatment of obesity and cellulite. Cell death can occur under the action of various physical, chemical and biological factors. Depending on the inductor, this is apoptosis or necrosis. These two forms of cell death differ on the biochemical and morphological levels. Biochemical changes occur quickly enough and it raises difficulties of their detection. One of the morphological characteristics of apoptosis is a decrease (contraction) of cells, and necrosis - an increase in the size of the cell (swelling). This attribute simply determined visually using a digital microscope. The program was designed using LabVEIW media, which allowed us to develop the software for providing interaction with the measuring and control equipment, data collection, processing and displaying the information and results of calculations and simulations for the individual cells and ensembles of cells, and, in general, to automate process.

Interactions of leukocytes with the vascular endothelium culminating in their diapedesis represent not only a crucial event in immune surveillance and defense but are also critically involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis. Our previous in vitro studies using atomic force microscopy measurement of monocyte-endothelial cell interaction have demonstrated that a cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide (cRGD) inhibited their adhesion through very late antigen (α4β1-integrin; VLA4)-vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 by 60% with the IC50= 100 nM. To elucidate the potential efficacy of this peptide in vivo in preventing atherogenesis, experiments were performed in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient (−/−) mice fed a Western diet and receiving chronic treatment with cRGD peptide for 2–4 wk. In addition, some animals were subjected to a temporary carotid artery ligation while receiving the above treatment. Formation of fatty streaks and infiltration of the vascular wall with macrophages were not affected by cRGD treatment. Infiltration of the carotid artery postligation was significantly reduced in the cRGD-treated animals, as was the lipid accumulation. Furthermore, cRGD-treated ApoE−/−mice exhibited significantly lesser macrophage infiltration and lipid accumulation in the kidneys, the site of the highest expression of VLA4. These data demonstrated that cRGD peptide is a potent inhibitor of monocyte/macrophage infiltration of the injured macrovasculature and of the renal microvasculature, where it results in the attenuation of lipid accumulation. Formation of fatty streaks in the aortic root was not inhibitable by this treatment.

The structure of C5H5FeR+·ions was studied by tandem mass spectromerry that included the neutralization-reionization (NR) method. Halogen-containing species (R = F, Cl, Br, I) showed fragmentation that was consistent with a structure that has the cyclopentadienyl ring and R as separate ligands at the metal atom (structure A). This structure also was identified for C5H5FeO+and CpFeOH+·ions, but these species also easily isomerized to metal-cyclopentadiene structure, RC5H5Fe+·(B), followed by hydrogen rearrangement(s) and CO loss. B was the dominant structure of C5H5FeH+·and C5H5FeC6H5+·ions. All ions that have structure A showed recovery signals in their NR mass spectra that indicated that their stable neutral counterparts were generated. The NR mass spectra also provided complementary information about the structure of ions before neutralization and after reionization.

The structure of C5H5FeR+·ions was studied by tandem mass spectromerry that included the neutralization-reionization (NR) method. Halogen-containing species (R = F, Cl, Br, I) showed fragmentation that was consistent with a structure that has the cyclopentadienyl ring and R as separate ligands at the metal atom (structure A). This structure also was identified for C5H5FeO+and CpFeOH+·ions, but these species also easily isomerized to metal-cyclopentadiene structure, RC5H5Fe+·(B), followed by hydrogen rearrangement(s) and CO loss. B was the dominant structure of C5H5FeH+·and C5H5FeC6H5+·ions. All ions that have structure A showed recovery signals in their NR mass spectra that indicated that their stable neutral counterparts were generated. The NR mass spectra also provided complementary information about the structure of ions before neutralization and after reionization.

The structure of C5H5FeR+ions was studied by tandem mass spectromerry that included the neutralization-reionization (NR) method. Halogen-containing species (R = F, Cl, Br, I) showed fragmentation that was consistent with a structure that has the cyclopentadienyl ring and R as separate ligands at the metal atom (structure A). This structure also was identified for C5H5FeO+and CpFeOH+ions, but these species also easily isomerized to metal-cyclopentadiene structure, RC5H5Fe+(B), followed by hydrogen rearrangement(s) and CO loss. B was the dominant structure of C5H5FeH+and C5H5FeC6H5+ions. All ions that have structure A showed recovery signals in their NR mass spectra that indicated that their stable neutral counterparts were generated. The NR mass spectra also provided complementary information about the structure of ions before neutralization and after reionization.