Graphene's Latest Cousin: Plumbene Epitaxial Growth on a "Nano WaterCube".

While theoretical studies predicted the stability and exotic properties of plumbene, the last group-14 cousin of graphene, its realization has remained a challenging quest. Here, it is shown with compelling evidence that plumbene is epitaxially grown by segregation on a Pd1- x Pbx (111) alloy surface. In scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), it exhibits a unique surface morphology resembling the famous Weaire-Phelan bubble structure of the Olympic "WaterCube" in Beijing. The "soap bubbles" of this "Nano WaterCube" are adjustable with their average sizes (in-between 15 and 80 nm) related to the Pb concentration (x < 0.2) dependence of the lattice parameter of the Pd1- x Pbx (111) alloy surface. Angle-resolved core-level measurements demonstrate that a lead sheet overlays the Pd1- x Pbx (111) alloy. Atomic-scale STM images of this Pb sheet show a planar honeycomb structure with a unit cell ranging from 0.48 to 0.49 nm corresponding to that of the standalone 2D topological insulator plumbene.

Oseltamivir, an anti-influenza virus drug, produces hypothermia in mice.

Oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu), an anti-influenza virus drug, is hydrolyzed by carboxylesterase to an active metabolite. The metabolite inhibits the influenza virus-specific neuraminidase. In this study, the effects of oseltamivir on normal core body temperature were studied in mice. Oseltamivir (30-300 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.) and 100-1000 mg/kg, orally (p.o.)) dose-dependently lowered the body temperature. The effects of oseltamivir (p.o.) continued longer than those of oseltamivir (i.p.), and approximately triple doses of oral oseltamivir were needed to produce the same peak effects as intraperitoneal oseltamivir. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (1-30 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect body temperature, and (at 30 and 60 mg/kg, s.c.) did not interact with the hypothermic effects of oseltamivir (100 mg/kg, i.p.). Zanamivir, which also inhibits neuraminidase, did not produce hypothermia at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg, i.p. Clopidogrel (100, 300 mg/kg, i.p.), which is metabolized by the same carboxylesterase, tended to decrease the hypothermic effects of oseltamivir (100 mg/kg, i.p.). These results suggest that the hypothermic effects of oseltamivir are due to its hydrolytic metabolite, and that the hypothermia observed in mice has some relationship to the antipyretic effects and severe hypothermia (adverse event) observed in influenza patients after taking oseltamivir.