Opportunities and Challenges in Tunneling Nanotubes Research: How Far from Clinical Application?

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are recognized long membrane nanotubes connecting distance cells. In the last decade, growing evidence has shown that these subcellular structures mediate the specific transfer of cellular materials, pathogens, and electrical signals between cells. As intercellular bridges, they play a unique role in embryonic development, collective cell migration, injured cell recovery, cancer treatment resistance, and pathogen propagation. Although TNTs have been considered as potential drug targets for treatment, there is still a long way to go to translate the research findings into clinical practice. Herein, we emphasize the heterogeneous nature of TNTs by systemically summarizing the current knowledge on their morphology, structure, and biogenesis in different types of cells. Furthermore, we address the communication efficiency and biological outcomes of TNT-dependent transport related to diseases. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of TNTs as an exciting therapeutic approach by focusing on the development of efficient and safe drugs targeting TNTs.     

长距离定向钻进技术在巷道掘进超前探查中的应用研究

巷道掘进超前探查一般采用钻探方法的开展工作,常规回转钻进由于受钻进工艺等影响,存在钻孔施工长度短、影响正常掘进、施工精度较差等问题。而采用长距离掩护式定向钻进工艺开展超前探放水工作,可对掘进头600m范围内进行超前探查,钻孔施工长度较常规回转钻进孔长度增大3~4倍,在不影响掘进的前提下,可通过随钻测斜仪器实时对钻孔轨迹进行调整、监控,从而达到高精度、长距离对掘进前方进行超前探查,较常规超前探放水具有较大的优势[1]。     

掘进巷道快速过断层施工技术应用

基于四候煤矿3108回风顺槽过F3断层期间,顶板出现严重破碎、下沉现象,提出了俯斜台阶法施工工艺,并对断层破碎带顶板采取MF-2型化学材料注浆加固以及"钢筋锚索网+U29梯形棚"联合支护措施。支护效果检验结果表明,联合支护有效控制了断层破碎区顶板下沉、破碎现象,保证了巷道顶板稳定性。     

Dynamic probe of ZnTe(110) surface by scanning tunneling microscopy

The reconstructed surface structure of the II–VI semiconductor ZnTe (110), which is a promising material in the research field of semiconductor spintronics, was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). First, the surface states formed by reconstruction by the charge transfer of dangling bond electrons from cationic Zn to anionic Te atoms, which are similar to those of IV and III–V semiconductors, were confirmed in real space. Secondly, oscillation in tunneling current between binary states, which is considered to reflect a conformational change in the topmost Zn–Te structure between the reconstructed and bulk-like ideal structures, was directly observed by STM. Third, using the technique of charge injection, a surface atomic structure was successfully fabricated, suggesting the possibility of atomic-scale manipulation of this widely applicable surface of ZnTe.     

探讨仪器分析课程中扫描隧道显微镜演示实验

为了加强本科学生对"中级仪器分析"(双语)课程中的原子和分子尺寸概念的理解,通过演示实验(DEMO)对作为可视化工具的扫描隧道显微镜(STM)的基本原理进行了简要介绍。该DEMO实验配有学生对给定物质进行仪器分析的实际操作,以及从原子和分子水平的计算。在国际合作环境中,我们对实验和计算的细节进行了完善,并帮助学生建立明确的分子和原子概念。最后以分析高度有序的热解石墨(HOPG)的形貌特征作为DEMO和计算演示的例子。     

扫描隧道显微镜钨针尖的制备与表征

采用直流电化学刻蚀方法制备扫描隧道显微镜钨针尖,研究了电化学刻蚀过程中NaOH溶液浓度、钨丝浸入长度和刻蚀电压对针尖形貌的影响。通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)测量针尖曲率半径和针尖纵横比值,以表征针尖的尺寸和形状;通过能谱仪(EDS)分析针尖表面成分,以表征表面清洁度;通过场发射显微镜(FEM)得到Fowler-Nordheim (F-N)曲线来检测针尖发射性能。实验结果表明,当溶液浓度为2 mol/L、钨丝浸入长度为4 mm、刻蚀电压为3 V时,可以得到曲率半径约为100 nm、纵横比值为13的针尖,且表面无钨的氧化层。FEM结果显示当对针尖施加500 V的负偏压时,针尖可以稳定发射50 nA量级的电流,且针尖性能具有良好的一致性。     

Real-time analysis and prediction of shield cutterhead torque using optimized gated recurrent unit neural network

An accurate prediction of earth pressure balance (EPB) shield moving performance is important to ensure the safety tunnel excavation. A hybrid model is developed based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) neural network. PSO is utilized to assign the optimal hyperparameters of GRU neural network. There are mainly four steps: data collection and processing, hybrid model establishment, model performance evaluation and correlation analysis. The developed model provides an alternative to tackle with time-series data of tunnel project. Apart from that, a novel framework about model application is performed to provide guidelines in practice. A tunnel project is utilized to evaluate the performance of proposed hybrid model. Results indicate that geological and construction variables are significant to the model performance. Correlation analysis shows that construction variables (main thrust and foam liquid volume) display the highest correlation with the cutterhead torque (CHT). This work provides a feasible and applicable alternative way to estimate the performance of shield tunneling.     

Ferroelectric Tunnel Junctions: Modulations on the Potential Barrier

Recently, ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) have attracted considerable attention for potential applications in next-generation memories, owing to attractive advantages such as high-density of data storage, nondestructive readout, fast write/read access, and low energy consumption. Herein, recent progress regarding FTJ devices is reviewed with an emphasis on the modulation of the potential barrier. Electronic and ionic approaches that modulate the ferroelectric barriers themselves and/or induce extra barriers in electrodes or at ferroelectric/electrode interfaces are discussed with the enhancement of memory performance. Emerging physics, such as nanoscale ferroelectricity, resonant tunneling, and interfacial metallization, and the applications of FTJs in nonvolatile data storage, neuromorphic synapse emulation, and electromagnetic multistate memory are summarized. Finally, challenges and perspectives of FTJ devices are underlined.     

Silicene Nanoribbons on an Insulating Thin Film

Silicene, a new 2D material has attracted intense research because of the ubiquitous use of silicon in modern technology. However, producing free-standing silicene has proved to be a huge challenge. Until now, silicene could be synthesized only on metal surfaces where it naturally forms strong interactions with the metal substrate that modify its electronic properties. Here, the authors report the first experimental evidence of silicene nanoribbons on an insulating NaCl thin film. This work represents a major breakthrough, for the study of the intrinsic properties of silicene, and by extension to other 2D materials that have so far only been grown on metal surfaces.     

Investigation on the mechanism of charge generation in organic heterojunctions: Analysis of I–V and C–V characteristics

The charge generation mechanism of organic heterojunction (OHJ) consisted of 1,4,5,8,9,11-hexaazatriphenylene-hexacarbonitrile (HAT-CN) and different hole transporting materials (HTMs) are studied systematically by current-voltage (I–V) and capacitance-voltage measurements. The analysis of I–V characteristics of the devices based on OHJs at forward and reverse voltages by comparing the thickness of HTM layers finds that a forward and reverse symmetrical I–V curve is observed at thin HTM layers and the forward current becomes larger than the reverse current with the increase of HTM thickness, fully illustrating the effectiveness of OHJ charge generation. Moreover, the I–V characteristics at different temperatures indicate that the efficient charge generation is originated from electron tunneling rather than diffusion. And the C–V and capacitance-frequency (C–F)characteristics further illustrate the highly efficient charge generation ability of OHJs so that the charge density is as high as 4.5 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³, guaranteeing the high conductivity of OHJs, which is very beneficial to developing highly efficient OLEDs using OHJs as charge injector and generator.