Interlayer and intralayer excitons in MoS2/WS2 and MoSe2/WSe2 heterobilayers

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter (2018), 97

Accurately described excitonic properties of transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers (HBLs) are crucial to comprehend the optical response and the charge carrier dynamics of them. Excitons in ... [more ▼]

Accurately described excitonic properties of transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers (HBLs) are crucial to comprehend the optical response and the charge carrier dynamics of them. Excitons in multilayer systems possess an inter- or intralayer character whose spectral positions depend on their binding energy and the band alignment of the constituent single layers. In this paper, we report the electronic structure and the absorption spectra of MoS2/WS2 and MoSe2/WSe2 HBLs from first-principles calculations. We explore the spectral positions, binding energies, and the origins of inter- and intralayer excitons and compare our results with experimental observations. The absorption spectra of the systems are obtained by solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation on top of a G0W0 calculation, which corrects the independent-particle eigenvalues obtained from density-functional theory. Our calculations reveal that the lowest energy exciton in both HBLs possess an interlayer character which is decisive regarding their possible device applications. Due to the spatially separated nature of the charge carriers, the binding energy of interlayer excitons might be expected to be considerably smaller than that of intralayer ones. However, according to our calculations, the binding energy of lowest energy interlayer excitons is only ∼20% lower due to the weaker screening of the Coulomb interaction between layers of the HBLs. Therefore, it can be deduced that the spectral positions of the interlayer excitons with respect to intralayer ones are mostly determined by the band offset of the constituent single layers. By comparing oscillator strengths and thermal occupation factors, we show that in luminescence at low temperature, the interlayer exciton peak becomes dominant, while in absorption it is almost invisible. [less ▲]

Interleukin-27 displays interferon-gamma-like functions in human hepatoma cells and hepatocytes.

in Hepatology (2009), 50(2), 585-91

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a cytokine belonging to the IL-6/IL-12 cytokine family. It is secreted by antigen-presenting cells, strongly acts on T cells, and also stimulates innate immune cells. In most ... [more ▼]

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a cytokine belonging to the IL-6/IL-12 cytokine family. It is secreted by antigen-presenting cells, strongly acts on T cells, and also stimulates innate immune cells. In most studies, the effects of IL-27 on T cells were investigated; however, not much is known about possible effects of IL-27 on other cell types. IL-27 signals via the common IL-6-type cytokine receptor chain gp130 and the IL-27-specific chain WSX-1. Given the importance of gp130 in regulating liver responses such as the acute phase response or liver regeneration, we investigated whether IL-27 could also have a function in liver cells. We find that IL-27 stimulates hepatoma cells and hepatocytes by inducing a sustained signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1 and STAT3 activation. Whereas the STAT3 mediated responses to IL-27 (gamma-fibrinogen and hepcidin induction) are not detectable, we observe an interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-like STAT1 response leading to the induction of interferon-regulated proteins such as STAT1, STAT2, interferon response factor (IRF)-1, IRF-9, myxovirus resistance A and guanylate binding protein 2. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence for a function of IL-27 in hepatoma cells and hepatocytes and shows that IL-27 responses are not restricted to the classical immune cells. Our results suggest that IL-27 exerts IFN-like functions in liver cells and that it can contribute to the antiviral response in these cells. [less ▲]

Interleukin-6 signalling and long non-coding RNAs in liver cancer

Doctoral thesis (2022)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the main form of primary liver cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide after lung cancer. Multiple aetiologies have been associated with the ... [more ▼]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the main form of primary liver cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide after lung cancer. Multiple aetiologies have been associated with the development of HCC, which arises in most cases in the context of a chronically inflamed liver. HCC is in fact an inflammation-driven cancer, with the TNF and IL6 families of cytokines playing key roles in maintaining a chronic inflammatory state, promoting hepatocarcinogenesis. IL6 signals mainly through the JAK1/STAT3 signal transduction pathway and is known to play key roles in liver physiology and disease. In the interest of identifying novel players and downstream effectors of the IL6/JAK1/STAT3 signalling pathway that may contribute to the signal transduction of IL6 in liver-derived cells, we have been investigating the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in response to treatment with the designer cytokine Hyper-IL6. Indeed, lncRNAs have recently emerged as a key layer of biological regulation and have been shown to be differentially expressed in cancer, including HCC. Upon analysis of time series transcriptomics data, we have identified hundreds of lncRNAs to be differentially expressed in HepG2, HuH7, and Hep3B hepatoma cells upon cytokine stimulation; 26 of which are common to the three cell lines tested. qPCR validation experiments have been performed for several lncRNAs, such as for the liver-specific lncRNA linc-ELL2. By functionally characterising identified clusters of IL6-regulated coding and non-coding genes in hepatoma cells, we propose, based on a guilt-by-association hypothesis, novel functions for previously poorly characterized lncRNAs and pseudogenes such as AL391422.4 or TUBA5P. Several lncRNA genes seem to be co-regulated with a protein-coding gene localized in their vicinity. For example, Hyper-IL-6 increases the mRNA and protein levels of XBP1, a well-known regulator of the unfolded protein response. At the same time, the expression of lncRNA AF086143 increases, which is expressed from the same gene locus in a bidirectional way. The targeted as well as a genome-wide analysis of lncRNA/mRNA gene pairs indicates a possible cis-regulatory role of lncRNAs with regards to their antisense and bidirectional protein coding counterparts. Taken together, these results provide a comprehensive characterisation of the lncRNA and pseudogene repertoire of IL6-regulated genes in hepatoma cells. Our results emphasize lncRNAs as crucial components of the gene regulatory networks affected by cytokine signalling pathways. [less ▲]

Interleukin-6-type cytokine signalling through the gp130/Jak/STAT pathway

in Biochemical Journal (1998), 334 (Pt 2)

The family of cytokines signalling through the common receptor subunit gp130 comprises interleukin (IL)-6, IL-11, leukaemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M, ciliary neurotrophic factor and cardiotrophin-1 ... [more ▼]

The family of cytokines signalling through the common receptor subunit gp130 comprises interleukin (IL)-6, IL-11, leukaemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M, ciliary neurotrophic factor and cardiotrophin-1. These so-called IL-6-type cytokines play an important role in the regulation of complex cellular processes such as gene activation, proliferation and differentiation. The current knowledge on the signal-transduction mechanisms of these cytokines from the plasma membrane to the nucleus is reviewed. In particular, we focus on the assembly of receptor complexes after ligand binding, the activation of receptor-associated kinases of the Janus family, and the recruitment and phosphorylation of transcription factors of the STAT family, which dimerize, translocate to the nucleus, and bind to enhancer elements of respective target genes leading to transcriptional activation. The important players in the signalling pathway, namely the cytokines and the receptor components, the Janus kinases Jak1, Jak2 and Tyk2, the signal transducers and activators of transcription STAT1 and STAT3 and the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 [SH2 (Src homology 2) domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase] are introduced and their structural/functional properties are discussed. Furthermore, we review various mechanisms involved in the termination of the IL-6-type cytokine signalling, namely the action of tyrosine phosphatases, proteasome, Jak kinase inhibitors SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signalling), protein inhibitors of activated STATs (PIAS), and internalization of the cytokine receptors via gp130. Although all IL-6-type cytokines signal through the gp130/Jak/STAT pathway, the comparison of their physiological properties shows that they elicit not only similar, but also distinct, biological responses. This is reflected in the different phenotypes of IL-6-type-cytokine knock-out animals. [less ▲]

Interlinguistic activities as bridges for intercultural encounters

Presentation (2012, October 16)

Intermediated Securities. The Impact of the Geneva Securities Convention and the

Book published by Cambridge University Press (2013)

Intermolecular Interactions in Static Electric Fields Studied with Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Electrodynamics

Doctoral thesis (2022)

In the present work, the interactions between neutral molecular systems subject to external static electric fields are studied. To comprehensively explore the effects of external fields on intermolecular ... [more ▼]

In the present work, the interactions between neutral molecular systems subject to external static electric fields are studied. To comprehensively explore the effects of external fields on intermolecular interactions, the two most reliable frameworks in the subject, namely molecular quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics are employed while atomic and molecular responses are modeled using quantum Drude oscillators (QDO). In the first part of the work, the focus is to understand the interplay between dispersion and field-induced forces in two-body systems for both nonretarded and retarded ranges of inter-species distances. To identify the origin and the mechanism responsible for different field-induced interactions, a complementary approach based on classical electrodynamics with a zero-point radiation field, namely stochastic electrodynamics, is employed. The results show that neglecting higher-order contributions coming from field-induced hyperpolarizabilities of atoms, the dispersion interaction remains unchanged by the external uniform static field, for both regimes. However, using an external static field one can control the magnitude and characteristics of intermolecular interactions. The second part of the work is devoted to the extension of the study to many-body interacting systems. There, the total interaction energy in systems with many interacting atoms or molecules is obtained by extending the well-established theory of many-body dispersion (MBD) interactions to the presence of external static electric fields. Diagonalization of the Hamiltonian of the system in the nonretarded regime and in the framework of quantum mechanics yields the total energy of the interacting system in terms of the corresponding normal mode frequencies. Subtraction of the energy of the non-interacting QDOs-in-fields from the total energy of the interacting system results in the many-body interaction energy. The impact of the field-induced many-body contributions is investigated for a benzene dimer as well as for two carbyne chains. Varying the number of carbon atoms per chain demonstrates the significance of the field-induced many-body terms in the interplay between dispersion and field-induced interactions. Such contributions can be of great importance for controlling delamination and self-assembly of materials in static electric fields. [less ▲]

Internal Finance and Capital Accumulation in a Dynamic General Equilibrium Model with Credit Constraints

in Louvain Economic Review - Recherches Economiques de Louvain (1996), 62(2-3), 255-86

Internal validity and modality specificity of interdigital web pinching as a model for perceptual DNIC-induced hypoalgesia in man

Poster (2009)

An internal version of epistemic logic

in Studia Logica (2010), 94(1), 1-22

Representing an epistemic situation involving several agents obviously depends on the modeling point of view one takes. We start by identifying the types of modeling points of view which are logically ... [more ▼]

Representing an epistemic situation involving several agents obviously depends on the modeling point of view one takes. We start by identifying the types of modeling points of view which are logically possible. We call the one traditionally followed by epistemic logic the perfect external approach, because there the modeler is assumed to be an omniscient and external observer of the epistemic situation. In the rest of the paper we focus on what we call the internal approach, where the modeler is one of the agents involved in the situation. For this approach we propose and axiomatize a logical formalism based on epistemic logic. This leads us to formalize some intuitions about the internal approach and about its connections with the external ones. Finally, we show that our internal logic is decidable and PSPACE-complete. [less ▲]