Berry paramagnetism in the Dirac semimetal ZrTe5

Dirac matters have attracted a lot of interest due to their unique band structure with linear band dispersions, which have great potential for technological applications. Recently, three-dimensional Dirac and Weyl semimetals have invoked distinctive phenomena originating from a non-trivial Berry phase. In this study, we prepare single crystals of TixZr1-xTe5 with a highly anisotropic Fermi surface. Our detailed electrical transport measurements reveal that the crystals show the Lifshitz transition, and Ti doping induces a band shift. Further quantum oscillation analyses demonstrate that the TixZr1-xTe5 crystals are 3D Dirac semimetals. Additionally, we observed a minimum temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility, which is close to a peak position of electrical resistivity. This observation is interpreted in terms of the Berry paramagnetism. Our finding paves the way to determine a band topology by magnetism and also provides a platform to apply the Berry magnetism to Dirac semimetals.

Morphological and molecular assessment of mushroom (Lentinus Squarrosulus) (mont.) Singer

Lentinus squarrosulus is a popular mushroom in Nigeria used for traditional medicine apart from food. The identification of those high-quality fungal species is not only necessary but has great economic significance as it will allow product distributors to verify the material they are selling. Hence, this study investigated the morphological and molecular relationship among L. squarrosulus samples from different locations in Ibadan. Ten samples of L. squarrosulus were collected from nine different natural habitats in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, from which pure cultures were prepared. Isolation of DNA was done from fruiting bodies of fresh samples evaluated. Ten primers were designed from ITS sequences of the Family Agariceae and used for the study. The ten mushrooms evaluated in the study showed diverse morphological features such as colour of cap and pileus, size of stipe and pileus. A total of 50 amplicons were generated of which 31 bands (62%) were polymorphic. The RAPD variety-specific products were generated in some of the genotypes evaluated which can serve as unique identifiers. The study showed mean values for marker gene diversity of 0.27, Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) of 0.25 and 63.81% polymorphism. Both morphological and molecular analyses revealed two clustered groups. Number and types of samples in each group were not the same in both studies. The presence of unique band pattern among sampled fungi evaluated showed the discriminating power of the primer Ast-F in the study. Keywords: Polymorphism, DNA, RAPD, Fungi, Gene diversity characterization

Printing a Pacinian Corpuscle: Modeling and Performance

The Pacinian corpuscle is a highly sensitive mammalian sensor cell that exhibits a unique band-pass sensitivity to vibrations. The cell achieves this band-pass response through the use of 20 to 70 elastic layers entrapping layers of viscous fluid. This paper develops and explores a scalable mechanical model of the Pacinian corpuscle and uses the model to predict the response of synthetic corpuscles, which could be the basis for future vibration sensors. The −3dB point of the biological cell is accurately mimicked using the geometries and materials available with off-the-shelf 3D printers. The artificial corpuscles here are constructed using uncured photoresist within structures printed in a commercial stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer, allowing the creation of trapped fluid layers analogous to the biological cell. Multi-layer artificial Pacinian corpuscles are vibration tested over the range of 20–3000 Hz and the response is in good agreement with the model.

A Robust 3D Self-powered Photoelectrochemical type Photodetector based on MoSe2 Nanoflower

Molybdenum selenide (MoSe2) has been extensively studied in recent years due to its strong absorption for sunlight and unique band structure. Herein, a self-assembly three-dimensional (3D) MoSe2 nanoflowers were prepared by a two-step process. Significantly, the photodetection device based on MoSe2 nanoflowers exhibited a maximum responsivity about 12.39mA/W and a rapid photo-response time about 0.15s at 0V bias under simulated sunlight exposure benefiting from its large specific surface area and unique morphologic structure. Meanwhile, we demonstrated the outstanding stability after two weeks of the photodetection device. In this way, the MoSe2 nanoflower-based photodetectors enriched the basic research of molybdenum selenide and provided some reference for the following researches based on molybdenum selenide.

Enhancing electrocatalytic water splitting by surface defect engineering in two-dimensional electrocatalysts

The electrocatalytic overall water splitting can efficiently and sustainably produce clean hydrogen energy to alleviate the global energy crisis and environmental pollution. Two-dimensional (2D) materials with unique band structure and...

Pattern Pick and Place Method for Twisted Bi- and Multi-Layer Graphene

Twisted bi-layer graphene (tBLG) has attracted much attention because of its unique band structure and properties. The properties of tBLG vary with small differences in the interlayer twist angle, but it is difficult to accurately adjust the interlayer twist angle of tBLG with the conventional fabrication method. In this study, we introduce a facile tBLG fabrication method that directly picks up a single-crystalline graphene layer from a growth substrate and places it on another graphene layer with a pre-designed twist angle. Using this approach, we stacked single-crystalline graphene layers with controlled twist angles and thus fabricated tBLG and twisted multi-layer graphene (tMLG). The structural, optical and electrical properties depending on the twist angle and number of layers, were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), micro–Raman spectroscopy, and gate-dependent sheet resistance measurements. The obtained results show that the pick and place approach enables the direct dry transfer of the top graphene layer on the as-grown graphene to fabricate uniform tBLG and tMLG with minimal interlayer contamination and pre-defined twist angles.

A Universally Primed-Polymerase Chain Reaction (UP-PCR) Marker to Discriminate Clonostachys rosea ACM941 from Related Strains

Clonostachys rosea strain ACM941 is an effective biocontrol agent against several crop diseases including Fusarium head blight. In anticipation of its increased relevance going forward, the development of a reliable DNA-based molecular marker to track it is essential. Universally primed-PCR (UP-PCR) has been used successfully to differentiate other C. rosea strains. Herein, the development of a UP-PCR marker for ACM941 is described. A combination of two primers (AS15 and L45) produced a ~450 bp fragment that was unique to ACM941 compared to other commercial biocontrol agents. Primers subsequently designed based on the obtained fragment also produced a similarly unique band from ACM941 alone. BLAST analysis of the amplified sequence did not yield any homologous sequence in available online databases or within the closely related C. rosea IK726 and CBS125111 strains’ genomes. The specificity of this marker for ACM941 was validated against ten additional C. rosea strains isolated from Canada, with ACM941 producing the brightest band. Taken together, these results imply that the UP-PCR primers AS15 and L45 and the amplified fragment can be used to detect and monitor the ACM941 strain after its release into the environment.

Relatedness Among Three Native Geese in Erbil Governorate Using Hematological and Molecular Methods

The objective of the present study was to determine genetic diversity among three geese color types using RAPD markers and hematological parameters. The overall mean, of the live weights, Hemoglobin, Hetrophil %, Lymphocyte %, Monocyte %, and H/L ratio were 3.006 (kg), 14.64, 36.896, 49.896, 2.233 and 0.736 respectively. The breed, sex and interaction between them have a significant effect on live body weight, Hemoglobin, and Monocyte %. Ten primers were used and six out of them were selected based on their number of bands (NB) and polymorphic characteristics. A total of 309 bands observed, ranged from 30 in primer OPB-07 to 54 bands in OPA-20. Five unique bands were found only in white goose, whereas the highest unique band was obtained in primer OPB-01 locus. Overall genetic distance among native geese arrived 64.122 and phylogenetic dendrograms showed that 3 clusters, the first cluster content only white geese (Male and Female) breed, the second one cluster is included piebald geese breed (Male and female) and the third one was including gray geese (Male and female) breed. It was concluded that the white geese was closer to piebald geese than to the gray geese breed. The high genetic distance (64.122%) and variation in phenotypic value such as live weight (2.375 to 3.600 kg/bird) for three native geese indicate that these native geese have a good amount of genetic resources to made genetically improvement in further and it means the three goose samples are independent breeds.

DNA Fingerprinting of Sex in Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) Grown under the Semi-arid Conditions of Sudan

Jojoba cultivation and production face the challenge of establishing ways to identify the sex at early stage of plant growth. The present study was carried out to identify sex of jojoba at the seedling stage under Sudan condition. Two DNA markers, ISSR (UBC807) and RAPD (OPG-5), were used for sex identification of jojoba genotypes: two known male and females genotypes and four unknown genotypes. ISSR marker, UBC807 was successfully amplified a unique male-specific band at 1200 bp, while RAPD marker, OPG-5 could not amplify a unique band within jojoba sex. The result clearly indicates that ISSR-UBC807 marker can be used for sex identification of jojoba at seedlings stage, a finding that could make the commercial cultivation and production of jojoba possible in Sudan.