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Magnetic topological phases of quantum matter are an emerging frontier in physics and materials science, of which kagome magnets appear as a highly promising platform. Here, we explore magnetic correlations in the recently identified topological kagome system TbMn6Sn6 using muon spin rotation, combined with local field analysis and neutron diffraction. Our studies identify an out-of-plane ferrimagnetic structure with slow magnetic fluctuations which exhibit a critical slowing down below T C1 * ≃ 120 K and finally freeze into static patches with ideal out-of-plane order below TC1 ≃ 20 K. We further show that hydrostatic pressure of 2.1 GPa stabilises the static out-of-plane topological ferrimagnetic ground state in the whole volume of the sample. Therefore the exciting perspective arises of a magnetically-induced topological system whose magnetism can be controlled through external parameters. The present results will stimulate theoretical investigations to obtain a microscopic understanding of the relation between the low-temperature volume-wise magnetic evolution of the static c-axis ferrimagnetic patches and the topological electronic properties in TbMn6Sn6. Kagome metals house a range of competing ground states leading to superconducting as well as topological features and so there has been significant recent interest in their underlying physics. Here, the authors use muon-spin rotation to identify slow fluctuations and low-temperature volume-wise magnetic evolution of the static c-axis ferrimagnetic patches in TbMn6Sn6, which seems to be intimately coupled to its topological electronic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic topological phases of quantum matter are an emerging frontier in physics and materials science, of which kagome magnets appear as a highly promising platform. Here, we explore magnetic correlations in the recently identified topological kagome system TbMn6Sn6 using muon spin rotation, combined with local field analysis and neutron diffraction. Our studies identify an out-of-plane ferrimagnetic structure with slow magnetic fluctuations which exhibit a critical slowing down below T C1 * ≃ 120 K and finally freeze into static patches with ideal out-of-plane order below TC1 ≃ 20 K. We further show that hydrostatic pressure of 2.1 GPa stabilises the static out-of-plane topological ferrimagnetic ground state in the whole volume of the sample. Therefore the exciting perspective arises of a magnetically-induced topological system whose magnetism can be controlled through external parameters. The present results will stimulate theoretical investigations to obtain a microscopic understanding of the relation between the low-temperature volume-wise magnetic evolution of the static c-axis ferrimagnetic patches and the topological electronic properties in TbMn6Sn6. Kagome metals house a range of competing ground states leading to superconducting as well as topological features and so there has been significant recent interest in their underlying physics. Here, the authors use muon-spin rotation to identify slow fluctuations and low-temperature volume-wise magnetic evolution of the static c-axis ferrimagnetic patches in TbMn6Sn6, which seems to be intimately coupled to its topological electronic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess knowledge and perceptions related to carbohydrates, including sugars, among Canadian nutrition-major undergraduates compared to those enrolled in elective nutrition courses (i.e., "nutrition-elective students"). Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were distributed during class time at eight Canadian universities, which included 32 questions on demographics, knowledge and perceptions of carbohydrates and sugars. Descriptive analyses were performed. Differences between groups were tested by Chi-squared statistics. Results: A total of 1207 students (60% nutrition-majors) participated in the survey (January 2016–February 2017). Internet-based sources accounted for one-third of the sources where students obtained nutrition information. About 61% of internet-bases sources were "online" or "website" with no qualifiers, and about a quarter was from social media. A higher percentage of nutrition-majors correctly answered knowledge questions of carbohydrates compared with nutrition-elective students (p < 0.01); no difference was observed for sugars-related knowledge questions. The perceptions of sugars were generally negative and did not differ between groups. Conclusions: Several knowledge gaps and common perceptions on topics related to carbohydrates and sugars were identified; nutrition-major students performed better than nutrition-elective students on carbohydrate knowledge questions, but not sugars. These results highlight the importance of identifying methods to help students bridge knowledge gaps and develop skills to critically evaluate nutrition information from various resources and challenge personal biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectronic recombination (DR) rate coefficients for carbon-like 40Ca14+ forming nitrogen-like 40Ca13+ have been measured using the electron–ion merged-beam technique at the heavy-ion storage ring CSRm at the Institute of Modern Physics in Lanzhou, China. The measured DR rate coefficients in the energy range from 0 to 92 eV cover most of the DR resonances associated with 2s22p2 → 2s22p2 and 2s22p2 → 2s2p3 core transitions (ΔN = 0). Theoretical calculations of the DR cross sections were carried out by using two different state-of-the-art atomic theoretical techniques, multiconfiguration Breit–Pauli (MCBP) code AUTOSTRUCTURE and relativistic configuration interaction code FAC, to compare with the experimental rate coefficients. The theoretical calculations agree with the experimental results at collision energy higher than 10 eV. However, significant discrepancies of resonance energies and strengths can be found at collision energy below 8 eV. Temperature-dependent plasma recombination rate coefficients were derived from the measured DR rate coefficients in the energy range from 0.1 to 1000 eV and compared with the recommended atomic data from the literature. The theoretical data of Gu et al. and Zatsarinny et al. are 30% lower than the experimental results at the temperatures of photoionized plasmas, but have a very good agreement at the temperatures of collisionally ionized plasmas. Other previously published theoretical data of Jacobs et al. and Mazzotta et al. by using Burgess formula and LS-coupling calculations significantly underestimate the plasma rate coefficients in the low temperature range. The present results comprise a set of benchmark data suitable for astrophysical modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles in disease incidence. However, the roles of circRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression remain largely unknown. We explored the expression of circMTO1 in CRC and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Realtime-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to explore circMTO1 expression in CRC tissues and cell lines. The effect of circMTO1 on the biological function of CRC cells was analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Edu assay, colony formation assay, wound-healing assay and transwell invasion assay. Gene expression and signaling pathway were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: QRT-PCR showed that circMTO1 expression was significantly decreased in CRC tissues and cell lines compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues and human normal colon epithelial cell line (FHC), respectively. Patients with low circMTO1 expression were correlated with advanced TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor overall survival. Function assays demonstrated that circMTO1 inhibition promoted CRC cells proliferation and invasion ability in vitro. In addition, we showed that circMTO1 inhibition could promote CRC progression via activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that circMTO1 could act as a tumor suppressor affecting the growth and invasion of CRC cells via regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, providing a novel potential biomarker and therapeutic target for CRC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous growth of China's urban agglomeration, inter-city rail transit in urban agglomeration is in full swing, inter-city rail transit passenger stations are also being built and rebuilt on a large scale, therefore, it is necessary to research the transfer convergence between inter-city rail transit and urban transport. Inter-city rail transit has the characteristics of safety, convenience, large capacity, high density of departure, environmental protection and low carbon, it is the most important transportation tool in urban agglomeration area, it can adapt to the new trend between urban traffic and regional traffic brought by the rapid development of urban agglomeration. Based on the analysis of the convergence of Hangzhou and Shaoxing intercity transportation, the paper analyzes the passenger flow prediction of multi-mode transport passenger transport hubs and the integration of intercity rail transit and urban traffic, and collects the experts' opinions on traffic planning and design, and establishes the evaluation index system of transfer convergence. In this paper, analytic hierarchy process and grey clustering method are used to compare and evaluate the transfer convergence scheme between Hangzhou and Shaoxing intercity transportation, through objective and effective transfer convergence scheme evaluation model, this paper presents evaluation results of transfer convergence between Hangzhou and Shaoxing intercity transportation. The research results provide some references for the construction of transfer convergence between inter-city rail transit and urban transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Allergic asthma is characterized by inflammation and airway remodelling. Airway remodelling with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and larger smooth muscle mass are correlated with increased airway responsiveness and asthma severity. Calpain is a family of calcium-dependent endopeptidases, which plays an important role in ECM remodelling. However, the role of calpain in airway smooth muscle remodelling remains unknown. Objective To investigate the role of calpain in asthmatic airway remodelling as well as the underlying mechanism. Methods The mouse asthma model was made by ovalbumin sensitization and challenge. Calpain conditional knockout mice were studied in the model. Airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) were isolated from smooth muscle bundles in airway of rats. Cytokines IL-4, IL-5, TNF-α, and TGF-β1, and serum from patients with asthma were selected to treated ASMCs. Collagen-I synthesis, cell proliferation, and phosphorylation of Akt in ASMCs were analysed. Results Inhibition of calpain using calpain knockout mice attenuated airway smooth muscle remodelling in mouse asthma models. Cytokines IL-4, IL-5, TNF-α, and TGF-β1, and serum from patients with asthma increased collagen-I synthesis, cell proliferation, and phosphorylation of Akt in ASMCs, which were blocked by the calpain inhibitor MDL28170. Moreover, MDL28170 reduced cytokine-induced increases in Rictor protein, which is the most important component of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2). Blockage of the mTORC2 signal pathway prevented cytokine-induced phosphorylation of Akt, collagen-I synthesis, and cell proliferation of ASMCs and attenuated airway smooth muscle remodelling in mouse asthma models. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Our results indicate that calpain mediates cytokine-induced collagen-I synthesis and proliferation of ASMCs via the mTORC2/Akt signalling pathway, thereby regulating airway smooth muscle remodelling in asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Whether the incidence rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) between laparoscopic and open colorectal cancer surgery the same or not were under the debated without conclusion. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of DVT after laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer surgery by meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The open published articles comparing the incidence of DVT after laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer were collected in the data bases of Medline, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials and CNKI. The relative risk (RR) was pooled by using random or fixed effect mode to evaluate the incidence of DVT between laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer surgery. RESULTS: After searching the databases, 9 randomized clinical studies with 2606 colorectal cancer cases were included in this meta-analysis. The mean operation time was 201.8 ± 17.28 min with its range of 180.0-224.4 min in the laparoscopic surgery group and 148.1 ± 18.8 min with its range of 135.0-184.0 min in the open surgery group. The operation time for laparoscopic surgery group were significant lower than in the open surgery group (P < 0.05). The RR of DVT between the laparoscopy and open surgery groups was 0.71 with its 95% confidence interval of 0.35-1.45 (P = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: The operation time in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery was statistical longer than in the open colorectal cancer surgery, but the DVT risk of the two surgery approach was not different according to this meta-analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn1.56Co0.96Ni0.48O4 (MCN) thin films are deposited onto Si (100) substrate under different post-annealing temperatures of 450 °C and 600 °C. As identified by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and SEM, pronounced difference in crystallinity is observed between the film annealed under 600 °C and 450 °C. Spectroscopic ellipsometry spectra, infrared transmission and reflection spectra are measured to compare and analyze the optical properties of the crystalline and non-crystalline MCN thin films. Ellipsometry measurement demonstrates the n, k spectra in the visible-to-near infrared range (300-1000 nm), indicating three absorption peaks locating at 1.6 eV, 2.6 eV, and above 3.5 eV for the crystallized sample, which corresponds to the charge-transfer (CT) transition involving O2− (2p) and Mn4+ (3d) ions, O2− (2p) to Co2+ (3d) ions, and O2− (2p) and Mn3+ (3d) ions, respectively. Transmittance and reflectance spectra in the near infrared (1.3 µm)-to-far infrared (25 µm) range are also investigated. A two-oscillator model is performed to directly analyze the combined transmission and reflection spectra in the far infrared (400 cm−1-800 cm−1) to acquire the optical constants, where the difference of n, k values of the crystallized and non-crystalline MCN films in reststrahlen band is investigated for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]