Breakthrough In Search Research Articles

Experimental realization of type-II Weyl state in noncentrosymmetric TaIrTe4

Recent breakthrough in search for the analogs of fundamental particles in condensed matter systems lead to experimental realizations of 3D Dirac and Weyl semimetals. Weyl state can be hosted either by non-centrosymmetric or magnetic materials and can be of the first or the second type. Several non-centrosymmetric materials have been proposed to be type-II Weyl semimetals, but in all of them the Fermi arcs between projections of multiple Weyl points either have not been observed directly or they were hardly distinguishable from the trivial surface states which significantly hinders the practical application of these materials. Here we present experimental evidence for type-II non-centrosymmetric Weyl state in TaIrTe$_4$ where it has been predicted theoretically. We find direct correspondence between ARPES spectra and calculated electronic structure both in the bulk and the surface and clearly observe the exotic surface states which support the quasi-1D Fermi arcs connecting only four Weyl points. Remarkably, these electronic states are spin-polarized in the direction along the arcs, thus highlighting TaIrTe$_4$ as a novel material with promising application potential.

Significant Breakthroughs in Search for Anti-Infectious Agents Derived from Erythromycin A

As a well-established class, macrolide antibiotics continue to enjoy a remarkable interest within pharmaceutical industry. Several stunning breakthroughs in semi-synthetic study of erythromycin A (EMA) contribute to the important role played by the macrolide class in search for new anti-infectious agents. Earlier structural modifications of EMA to address the issue of acid instability resulted in the first breakthrough in search for anti-infectious agents derived from EMA. Clarithromycin (CAM) and azithromycin (AZM) are two representative antibacterials commercialized during this period. Afterwards, continued research on the modifications of EMA to combat bacterial resistance culminated in the second breakthrough in this field. Telithromycin and cethromycin are two innovative antibacterials discovered in this period for treating community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Recently, further structural modifications of EMA generate promising antibacterials endlessly, which will hopefully arouse another breakthrough in the near future. In this review, we will give an account of these breakthroughs and discuss the future directions of semi-synthetic research on EMA. In particular, the design and synthesis of some distinguished or promising antibacterials derived from EMA will be highlighted.