bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resignification of educational e-innovation to enhance opportunities for graduate employability in the context of new university degrees
Authors: Torres Valdés Rosa María , Santa Soriano Alba , Lorenzo Álvarez Carolina
Published: January 2018

This paper presents the findings of a training programme based on an Action-Research methodology that has been applied in two subjects of Event Organization, Protocol and Institutional Relations undergraduate and Master’s degrees. Through a teaching methodology called «learning by doing», students are encouraged to understand, internalise and apply the potential of technology in this field of knowledge, by means of building their personal brand as a key for digital literacy and professional empowerment. Thus, firstly this work proposes a review of the use of technology in teaching, with the goal of resignifying the concept of educational e-innovation from a transdisciplinary approach, which promotes progress in education ranging from technological to social innovation (technological-education-cultural-relational). Then, both the specific features and activities designed to build the students’ personal brands during the course as well as the research methodology applied to analyze the results are described. The methodology is based on a longitudinal «ex post-facto» approach through a panel sample survey. Finally, results demonstrate how this training programme has allowed graduates to improve their employability and career development opportunities from then on, encouraging active participation and self-directed learning. Initial conclusions encourage us to apply this experience to larger groups and new university degrees in the higher education context.
Protein Phosphatase 1 dephosphorylates TDP‐43 and suppresses its function in tau exon 10 inclusion
Authors: Gu Jianlan , Wang Weihua , Miao Shichen , Chen Feng , Wu Feng , Hu Wen , Iqbal Khalid , Gong Cheng‐Xin , Liu Fei
Published: January 2018

Transactive response DNA‐binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP‐43) regulates RNA processing, including alternative splicing of tau exon 10. Pathological TDP‐43 is hyperphosphorylated. However, how do the protein phosphatase(s) (PP) regulate TDP‐43 phosphorylation is unclear. Here, we found that both PP1 and PP2A were coimmunoprecipitated with TDP‐43. Treatment with calyculin A, but not with okadaic acid, increased TDP‐43 phosphorylation at Ser379, Ser403/404, and Ser409/410 in cultured cells. PP1α, PP1β, and PP1γ interacted with TDP‐43. Overexpression of PP1α and PP1γ, but not PP1β, suppressed TDP‐43 phosphorylation at Ser403/404 and Ser409/410 and TDP‐43‐induced tau exon 10 inclusion. These findings suggest that PP1α and PP1γ regulate TDP‐43 phosphorylation and its function in tau exon 10 inclusion mainly through its phosphorylation at Ser403/404 and Ser409/410.
Constraints Imposed by Rift Inheritance on the Compressional Reactivation of a Hyperextended Margin: Mapping Rift Domains in the North Iberian Margin and in the Cantabrian Mountains
Authors: Cadenas P. , Fernández‐Viejo G. , Pulgar J. A. , Tugend J. , Manatschal G. , Minshull T. A.
Published: January 2018

The Alpine Pyrenean‐Cantabrian orogen developed along the plate boundary between Iberia and Europe, involving the inversion of Mesozoic hyperextended basins along the southern Biscay margin. Thus, this margin represents a natural laboratory to analyze the control of structural rift inheritance on the compressional reactivation of a continental margin. With the aim to identify former rift domains and investigate their role during the subsequent compression, we performed a structural analysis of the central and western North Iberian margin, based on the interpretation of seismic reflection profiles and local constraints from drill‐hole data. Seismic interpretations and published seismic velocity models enabled the development of crustal thickness maps that helped to constrain further the offshore and onshore segmentation. Based on all these constraints, we present a rift domain map across the central and western North Iberian margin, as far as the adjacent western Cantabrian Mountains. Furthermore, we provide a first‐order description of the margin segmentation resulting from its polyphase tectonic evolution. The most striking result is the presence of a hyperthinned domain (e.g., Asturian Basin) along the central continental platform that is bounded to the north by the Le Danois High, interpreted as a rift‐related continental block separating two distinctive hyperextended domains. From the analysis of the rift domain map and the distribution of reactivation structures, we conclude that the landward limit of the necking domain and the hyperextended domains, respectively, guide and localize the compressional overprint. The Le Danois block acted as a local buttress, conditioning the inversion of the Asturian Basin.
Advances in Microfluidics‐Based Assisted Reproductive Technology: From Sperm Sorter to Reproductive System‐on‐a‐Chip
Authors: Kashaninejad Navid , Shiddiky Muhammad Johirul Alam , Nguyen Nam‐Trung
Published: January 2018

The fields of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) have progressed rapidly, yet still need further improvements. Microfluidic technology can incorporate various ART procedures such as embryo/gamete (sperm/oocyte) analysis, sorting, manipulation, culture, and monitoring. The introduction of paper‐based and droplet‐based microfluidics further improves the commercialization potential of this technology. The progress in 3D printing technology allows for the integration of microfluidics with tissue engineering that may revolutionize current practices in biology and medicine. This review categorizes ART methods according to continuous‐flow microfluidics, paper‐based microfluidics, droplet‐based microfluidics, and organ‐on‐a‐chip. The advances are summarized and potential opportunities in infertility diagnosis, sperm selection, sperm guidance, oocyte selection, insemination, embryo culture, embryo monitoring, and cryopreservation are identified. While some advances of continuous‐flow microfluidics for ART have already been reviewed, other microfluidic techniques are still in their early stages. It is envisioned that advances in droplet‐based microfluidics, especially digital microfluidics, will allow for more progress in human IVF, particularly single embryo transfer. Droplet‐based microfluidics may also lead to fully integrated and high‐throughput platforms for animal IVF. Recent advances in organ‐on‐a‐chip including ovary/uterus/oviduct‐on‐chip platforms hold promise for the integration of the whole human reproductive system‐on‐a‐chip for clinical applications.
Robust Fabrication of Nonstick, Noncorrosive, Conductive Graphene‐Coated Liquid Metal Droplets for Droplet‐Based, Floating Electrodes
Authors: Chen Yuzhen , Zhou Tingjiao , Li Yaoyao , Zhu Lifei , Handschuh‐Wang Stephan , Zhu Deyong , Zhou Xiaohu , Liu Zhou , Gan Tiansheng , Zhou Xuechang
Published: January 2018

Nontoxic liquid metals (conductive materials in a liquid state at room temperature) are an emerging class of materials for applications ranging from soft electronics and robotics to medical therapy and energy devices. Their sticky and corrosive properties, however, are becoming more of a critical concern for circuits and devices containing other metals as these are easily destroyed or contaminated by the liquid metals. Herein, a feasible method for fabricating highly conductive graphene‐coated liquid metal (GLM) droplets is reported and their application as nonstick, noncorrosive, movable, soft contacts for electrical circuits is demonstrated. The as‐prepared GLM droplets consist of a liquid‐phase soft core of liquid metal and a slippery outer layer of graphene sheets. These structures address the issue of simultaneous control of the wettability and conductivity of a soft electronic contact by combining extraordinary properties, i.e., nonstick, noncorrosive, yet exhibiting high electronic conductivity while in contact with metal substrates, e.g., Au, Cu, Ag, and Ni. As proof‐of‐concept, the as‐prepared GLM droplets are demonstrated as floating electrodes for movable, recyclable electronic soft contacts in electrical circuits.
Time‐Resolved Studies of Energy Transfer in Thin Films of Green and Red Fluorescent Proteins
Authors: Zajac Joanna M. , Schubert Marcel , Roland Thomas , Keum Changmin , Samuel Ifor D. W. , Gather Malte C.
Published: January 2018

Biologically derived fluorescent proteins are attractive candidates for lasing and sensing due to their excellent optical properties, including their high quantum yield, spectral tunability, and robustness against concentration quenching. Here, a time‐resolved study of the fluorescence dynamics of protein thin films is reported for the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), the red‐emitting tandem‐dimer protein tdTomato, and blends of EGFP and tdTomato. The exciton dynamics are characterized by using spectrally and time‐resolved measurements of fluorescence and a threefold reduction in lifetime is observed when going from solution to thin film, down to 1 and 0.6 ns for EGFP and tdTomato, respectively. This finding is attributed to a dipole–dipole nonradiative Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) in solid state. The temporal characteristics of FRET in blended thin films are also studied and increased nonradiative transfer rates are found. Finally, efficient sensitization of a semiconductor surface with a protein thin film is reported. Such a configuration may have important implications for energy harvesting in hybrid organic–inorganic solar cells and other hybrid optoelectronic devices.
Fluorinated and Alkylthiolated Polymeric Donors Enable both Efficient Fullerene and Nonfullerene Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Zhang Guangjun , Xu Xiaopeng , Bi Zhaozhao , Ma Wei , Tang Dongsheng , Li Ying , Peng Qiang
Published: January 2018

In this work, four donor (D)–acceptor (A) copolymers based on benzodithiophene (BDT) and benzothiadiazole (BT) with different alkylthiolated and/or fluorinated side chains are developed for efficient fullerene and nonfullerene polymer solar cells (PSCs). The synergistic effect of sulfuration and fluorination on the optical absorption, energy level, crystallinity, carrier mobility, blend morphology, and photovoltaic performance is investigated systematically. By incorporating sulfur atoms onto the side chains, a little blueshifted but significantly increased absorption can be obtained for PBDTS‐FBT compared to PBDT‐FBT. On the other side, a little more blueshifted but much stronger absorption and much lower‐lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level can be realized for PBDTF‐FBT when introducing fluorine atoms instead of sulfur atoms. With the combination of both fluorination and sulfuration strategies, PBDTS‐FBT exhibits the best absorption ability, lowest HOMO energy level, and highest crystallinity, which make PBDTSF‐FBT devices show the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.69% in fullerene PSCs and 11.66% in nonfullerene PSCs. The PCE of 11.66% is the best value for PSCs based on BT‐containing copolymer donors reported so far. The results indicate that fluorination and sulfuration have a synergistically positive effect on the performance of D–A photovoltaic copolymers and their solar cell devices.
Nitric Oxide Dependent Degradation of Polyethylene Glycol‐Modified Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Implications for Intra‐Articular Delivery
Authors: Bhattacharya Kunal , Sacchetti Cristiano , Costa Pedro M. , Sommertune Jens , Brandner Birgit D. , Magrini Andrea , Rosato Nicola , Bottini Nunzio , Bottini Massimo , Fadeel Bengt
Published: January 2018

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐modified carbon nanotubes have been successfully employed for intra‐articular delivery in mice without systemic or local toxicity. However, the fate of the delivery system itself remains to be understood. In this study 2 kDa PEG‐modified single‐walled carbon nanotubes (PNTs) are synthesized, and trafficking and degradation following intra‐articular injection into the knee‐joint of healthy mice are studied. Using confocal Raman microspectroscopy, PNTs can be imaged in the knee‐joint and are found to either egress from the synovial cavity or undergo biodegradation over a period of 3 weeks. Raman analysis discloses that PNTs are oxidatively degraded mainly in the chondrocyte‐rich cartilage and meniscus regions while PNTs can also be detected in the synovial membrane regions, where macrophages can be found. Furthermore, using murine chondrocyte (ATDC‐5) and macrophage (RAW264.7) cell lines, biodegradation of PNTs in activated, nitric oxide (NO)‐producing chondrocytes, which is blocked upon pharmacological inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), can be shown. Biodegradation of PNTs in macrophages is also noted, but after a longer period of incubation. Finally, cell‐free degradation of PNTs upon incubation with the peroxynitrite‐generating compound, SIN‐1 is demonstrated. The present study paves the way for the use of PNTs as delivery systems in the treatment of diseases of the joint.
Soft Artificial Bladder Detrusor
Authors: Yang Xuxu , An Chengrui , Liu Shuting , Cheng Tingyu , Bunpetch Varitsara , Liu Yixiao , Dong Shurong , Li Shijian , Zou Xiaohui , Li Tiefeng , Ouyang Hongwei , Wu Zhaohui , Yang Wei
Published: January 2018

Developing soft devices for invasive procedures bears great importance for human health. The softness and large strain actuation of responsive hydrogels promise the potential to fabricate soft devices, which can attach on and assist to the function of organs. The key challenges lie in the fabrication of soft devices with robust actuating ability and biocompatibility to the attached organ. This paper presents a solution that integrates the thermoresponsive hydrogel membrane with flexible electronics and silk scaffold into a balloon‐like soft device. As an example, the actuation assisting function of this soft device for shrinking an animal bladder is presented. The mechanical behaviors of the balloon‐like soft device are experimentally and theoretically investigated. The concepts are applicable to other applications such as soft implants, soft robotics, and microfluidics.
Engineering Polymersomes for Diagnostics and Therapy
Authors: Leong Jiayu , Teo Jye Yng , Aakalu Vinay K. , Yang Yi Yan , Kong Hyunjoon
Published: January 2018

Engineered polymer vesicles, termed as polymersomes, confer a flexibility to control their structure, properties, and functionality. Self‐assembly of amphiphilic copolymers leads to vesicles consisting of a hydrophobic bilayer membrane and hydrophilic core, each of which is loaded with a wide array of small and large molecules of interests. As such, polymersomes are increasingly being studied as carriers of imaging probes and therapeutic drugs. Effective delivery of polymersomes necessitates careful design of polymersomes. Therefore, this review article discusses the design strategies of polymersomes developed for enhanced transport and efficacy of imaging probes and therapeutic drugs. In particular, the article focuses on overviewing technologies to regulate the size, structure, shape, surface activity, and stimuli‐ responsiveness of polymersomes and discussing the extent to which these properties and structure of polymersomes influence the efficacy of cargo molecules. Taken together with future considerations, this article will serve to improve the controllability of polymersome functions and accelerate the use of polymersomes in biomedical applications.
Mobility Engineering in Vertical Field Effect Transistors Based on Van der Waals Heterostructures
Authors: Shin Yong Seon , Lee Kiyoung , Kim Young Rae , Lee Hyangsook , Lee I. Min , Kang Won Tae , Lee Boo Heung , Kim Kunnyun , Heo Jinseong , Park Seongjun , Lee Young Hee , Yu Woo Jong
Published: January 2018

Vertical integration of 2D layered materials to form van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) offers new functional electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, the mobility in vertical carrier transport in vdWHs of vertical field‐effect transistor (VFET) is not yet investigated in spite of the importance of mobility for the successful application of VFETs in integrated circuits. Here, the mobility in VFET of vdWHs under different drain biases, gate biases, and metal work functions is first investigated and engineered. The traps in WSe2 are the main source of scattering, which influences the vertical mobility and three distinct transport mechanisms: Ohmic transport, trap‐limited transport, and space‐charge‐limited transport. The vertical mobility in VFET can be improved by suppressing the trap states by raising the Fermi level of WSe2. This is achieved by increasing the injected carrier density by applying a high drain voltage, or decreasing the Schottky barrier at the graphene/WSe2 and metal/WSe2 junctions by applying a gate bias and reducing the metal work function, respectively. Consequently, the mobility in Mn vdWH at +50 V gate voltage is about 76 times higher than the initial mobility of Au vdWH. This work enables further improvements in the VFET for successful application in integrated circuits.
Slit Tubes for Semisoft Pneumatic Actuators
Authors: Belding Lee , Baytekin Bilge , Baytekin Hasan Tarik , Rothemund Philipp , Verma Mohit S. , Nemiroski Alex , Sameoto Dan , Grzybowski Bartosz A. , Whitesides George M.
Published: January 2018

This article describes a new principle for designing soft or ‘semisoft’ pneumatic actuators: SLiT (for SLit‐in‐Tube) actuators. Inflating an elastomeric balloon, when enclosed by an external shell (a material with higher Young's modulus) containing slits of different directions and lengths, produces a variety of motions, including bending, twisting, contraction, and elongation. The requisite pressure for actuation depends on the length of the slits, and this dependence allows sequential actuation by controlling the applied pressure. Different actuators can also be controlled using external “sliders” that act as reprogrammable “on‐off” switches. A pneumatic arm and a walker constructed from SLiT actuators demonstrate their ease of fabrication and the range of motions they can achieve.
Hot‐Electron‐Assisted Femtosecond All‐Optical Modulation in Plasmonics
Authors: Taghinejad Mohammad , Taghinejad Hossein , Xu Zihao , Liu Yawei , Rodrigues Sean P. , Lee Kyu‐Tae , Lian Tianquan , Adibi Ali , Cai Wenshan
Published: January 2018

The optical Kerr nonlinearity of plasmonic metals provides enticing prospects for developing reconfigurable and ultracompact all‐optical modulators. In nanostructured metals, the coherent coupling of light energy to plasmon resonances creates a nonequilibrium electron distribution at an elevated electron temperature that gives rise to significant Kerr optical nonlinearities. Although enhanced nonlinear responses of metals facilitate the realization of efficient modulation devices, the intrinsically slow relaxation dynamics of the photoexcited carriers, primarily governed by electron–phonon interactions, impedes ultrafast all‐optical modulation. Here, femtosecond (≈190 fs) all‐optical modulation in plasmonic systems via the activation of relaxation pathways for hot electrons at the interface of metals and electron acceptor materials, following an on‐resonance excitation of subradiant lattice plasmon modes, is demonstrated. Both the relaxation kinetics and the optical nonlinearity can be actively tuned by leveraging the spectral response of the plasmonic design in the linear regime. The findings offer an opportunity to exploit hot‐electron‐induced nonlinearities for design of self‐contained, ultrafast, and low‐power all‐optical modulators based on plasmonic platforms.
Co(OH)2 Nanoparticle‐Encapsulating Conductive Nanowires Array: Room‐Temperature Electrochemical Preparation for High‐Performance Water Oxidation Electrocatalysis
Authors: Wu Dan , Wei Yicheng , Ren Xiang , Ji Xuqiang , Liu Yiwei , Guo Xiaodong , Liu Zhiang , Asiri Abdullah M. , Wei Qin , Sun Xuping
Published: January 2018

It is highly desired but still remains challenging to design and develop a Co‐based nanoparticle‐encapsulated conductive nanoarray at room temperature for high‐performance water oxidation electrocatalysis. Here, it is reported that room‐temperature anodization of a Co(TCNQ)2 (TCNQ = tetracyanoquinodimethane) nanowire array on copper foam at alkaline pH leads to in situ electrochemcial oxidation of TCNQ− into water‐insoluable TCNQ nanoarray embedding Co(OH)2 nanoparticles. Such Co(OH)2‐TCNQ/CF shows superior catalytic activity for water oxidation and demands only a low overpotential of 276 mV to drive a geometrical current density of 25 mA cm−2 in 1.0 m KOH. Notably, it also demonstrates strong long‐term electrochemical durability with its activity being retrained for at least 25 h, a high turnover frequency of 0.97 s−1 at an overpotential of 450 mV and 100% Faradic efficiency. This study provides an exciting new method for the rational design and development of a conductive TCNQ‐based nanoarray as an interesting 3D material for advanced electrochemical applications.
Near‐Infrared Light‐Sensitive Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Photoresist for Spatiotemporal Control of Cell‐Instructive 3D Microenvironments
Authors: Qin Xiao‐Hua , Wang Xiaopu , Rottmar Markus , Nelson Bradley J. , Maniura‐Weber Katharina
Published: January 2018

Advanced hydrogel systems that allow precise control of cells and their 3D microenvironments are needed in tissue engineering, disease modeling, and drug screening. Multiphoton lithography (MPL) allows true 3D microfabrication of complex objects, but its biological application requires a cell‐compatible hydrogel resist that is sufficiently photosensitive, cell‐degradable, and permissive to support 3D cell growth. Here, an extremely photosensitive cell‐responsive hydrogel composed of peptide‐crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is designed to expand the biological applications of MPL. PVA hydrogels are formed rapidly by ultraviolet light within 1 min in the presence of cells, providing fully synthetic matrices that are instructive for cell‐matrix remodeling, multicellular morphogenesis, and protease‐mediated cell invasion. By focusing a multiphoton laser into a cell‐laden PVA hydrogel, cell‐instructive extracellular cues are site‐specifically attached to the PVA matrix. Cell invasion is thus precisely guided in 3D with micrometer‐scale spatial resolution. This robust hydrogel enables, for the first time, ultrafast MPL of cell‐responsive synthetic matrices at writing speeds up to 50 mm s−1. This approach should enable facile photochemical construction and manipulation of 3D cellular microenvironments with unprecedented flexibility and precision.
Nanocage‐Therapeutics Prevailing Phagocytosis and Immunogenic Cell Death Awakens Immunity against Cancer
Authors: Lee Eun Jung , Nam Gi‐Hoon , Lee Na Kyeong , Kih Minwoo , Koh Eunee , Kim Yoon Kyoung , Hong Yeonsun , Kim Soyoun , Park Seung‐Yoon , Jeong Cherlhyun , Yang Yoosoo , Kim In‐San
Published: January 2018

A growing appreciation of the relationship between the immune system and the tumorigenesis has led to the development of strategies aimed at “re‐editing” the immune system to kill tumors. Here, a novel tactic is reported for overcoming the activation‐energy threshold of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and mediating the delivery and presentation of tumor neoantigens to the host's immune system. This nature‐derived nanocage not only efficiently presents ligands that enhance cancer cell phagocytosis, but also delivers drugs that induce immunogenic cancer cell death. The designed nanocage‐therapeutics induce the release of neoantigens and danger signals in dying tumor cells, and leads to enhancement of tumor cell phagocytosis and cross‐priming of tumor specific T cells by neoantigen peptide‐loaded antigen‐presenting cells. Potent inhibition of tumor growth and complete eradication of tumors is observed through systemic tumor‐specific T cell responses in tumor draining lymph nodes and the spleen and further, infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the tumor site. Remarkably, after removal of the primary tumor, all mice treated with this nanocage‐therapeutics are protected against subsequent challenge with the same tumor cells, suggesting development of lasting, tumor‐specific responses. This designed nanocage‐therapeutics “awakens” the host's immune system and provokes a durable systemic immune response against cancer.
3D Printing of Liquid Crystal Elastomeric Actuators with Spatially Programed Nematic Order
Authors: Kotikian Arda , Truby Ryan L. , Boley John William , White Timothy J. , Lewis Jennifer A.
Published: January 2018

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are soft materials capable of large, reversible shape changes, which may find potential application as artificial muscles, soft robots, and dynamic functional architectures. Here, the design and additive manufacturing of LCE actuators (LCEAs) with spatially programed nematic order that exhibit large, reversible, and repeatable contraction with high specific work capacity are reported. First, a photopolymerizable, solvent‐free, main‐chain LCE ink is created via aza‐Michael addition with the appropriate viscoelastic properties for 3D printing. Next, high operating temperature direct ink writing of LCE inks is used to align their mesogen domains along the direction of the print path. To demonstrate the power of this additive manufacturing approach, shape‐morphing LCEA architectures are fabricated, which undergo reversible planar‐to‐3D and 3D‐to‐3D′ transformations on demand, that can lift significantly more weight than other LCEAs reported to date.
Origami‐Inspired 3D Interconnected Molybdenum Carbide Nanoflakes
Authors: Koizumi Ryota , Ozden Sehmus , Samanta Atanu , Alves Ana Paula P. , Mishra Avanish , Ye Gonglan , Silva Glaura G. , Vajtai Robert , Singh Abhishek K. , Tiwary Chandra S. , Ajayan Pulickel M.
Published: January 2018

High‐temperature stable transition metal carbides are one of the promising classes of materials for next‐generation energy applications such as water splitting catalysis and electrodes for energy storage devices. Herein, origami‐like molybdenum carbide flakes with interfacially connected structures in various orientations using an easily scalable chemical vapor deposition method are synthesized. Interestingly, each individual flake of similar orientation is interconnected across different planes. The interconnected architectures are found to be highly elastic and behave in a sponge‐like manner. In addition, the surface energy of each plane is calculated using the first‐principle density functional theory. The molybdenum carbide shows excellent activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction, with the onset over potential occurring around −16 to −25 mV with high stability. The material is used as an electrode for supercapacitors as a second demonstration. The supercapacitor constructed with polypyrrole reaches the specific capacitance of ≈279 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1.
Ultrahigh Temperature Graphene Molecular Heater
Authors: Huang Ke , Liu Jinxin , Tan Lifang , Zuo Junlai , Fu Lei
Published: January 2018

Although a number of molecular devices have been fabricated successfully, molecular heater still keeps blank. It is of great importance to find a satisfactory molecular building block with thicknesses controlled at the atomic level and outstanding electrical properties to achieve the construction of molecular heater. Graphene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecule with strictly atomic thickness, is known as a superior heat and electricity conductor, which makes it a promising building block of the molecular heater. However, the directly grown graphene on insulated substrate suffers from the significant drawback of low quality and nonuniformity and the transferred graphene is criticized because of its cracks and residues. Therefore, the heat temperature is limited to ≈200 °C in previous graphene‐based heaters. Here, a practical graphene molecular heater (GMH) with extremely high heating temperature up to ≈600 °C at a low voltage of 7.5 V is first constructed, and its heating characteristics are systematically explored. The Joule heating efficiency, temperature distribution, and heating rate of GMH exhibit promising characteristics. The successful construction of GMH suggests a bright future toward the urgent demand of miniaturization for the next‐generation devices.
Fabrication of Pyrrole‐Based Electrochemical Biosensor Platform Using Nanoimprint Lithography
Authors: Ahn Junhyoung , Kwon Soongeun , Jung Sanghee , Lee Wang Sik , Jeong Jinyoung , Lim Hyungjun , Shin Yong‐Beom , Lee JaeJong
Published: January 2018

Many electrochemical biosensors are developed and widely used for the detection of biological responses. However, there is a limitation like increasing the surface area of the working electrode for the improvement of sensitivity. Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a simple method that uses stamp and UV or thermally curable resins for fabricating nanopatterns and nanostructures at low cost and with high throughput and high resolution. Therefore, the fabrication of a nanostructure on the working electrode using nanoimprint lithography can improve not only the sensitivity of a biosensor to biological responses by increasing the surface area of the working electrode but also the mass production of nanopatterned electrodes. Here, a conducting polymer‐based UV‐curable resin is aimed to develop and to use it to fabricate a uniform nanostructure on the working electrode. The 150 nm pillar patterns on a Pt electrode are created using polydimethylsiloxane stamps and KIMM ANT‐6HO UV‐NIL system and measured electrochemical signals using cyclic voltammetry. Furthermore, glucose oxidase is immobilized on the conducting polymer‐imprinted electrode. The developed electrochemical biosensor successfully measures glucose levels across a dynamic range of 0.1 µg mL−1 to 200 mg mL−1 under optimized conditions.
Flat Optical and Plasmonic Devices Using Area‐Selective Ion‐Beam Doping of Silicon
Authors: Salman Jad , Hafermann Martin , Rensberg Jura , Wan Chenghao , Wambold Raymond , Gundlach Bradley S. , Ronning Carsten , Kats Mikhail A.
Published: January 2018

Highly doped semiconductors are an emerging platform for plasmonic devices. Unlike in noble metals, the carrier concentration of semiconductors can vary by many orders of magnitude, resulting in a widely tunable range of plasma wavelengths spanning the mid‐infrared and terahertz ranges. In this work, the potential of highly doped, ion‐beam‐patterned silicon is demonstrated as a fabrication‐friendly platform for flat optical devices. Detailed characterization of the optical properties of silicon is performed at various doping levels, and diffractive optical elements and plasmonic frequency‐selective surfaces that operate in the mid‐to‐far‐infrared regime are realized. The resulting optical devices are monolithic, flat, resilient to thermal and physical damage, and can be easily integrated into other silicon‐based platforms.
Tuning Charge Carrier Dynamics and Surface Passivation in Organolead Halide Perovskites with Capping Ligands and Metal Oxide Interfaces
Authors: Godin Robert , Ma Xuerui , González‐Carrero Soranyel , Du Tian , Li Xiaoe , Lin Chieh‐Ting , McLachlan Martyn A. , Galian Raquel E. , Pérez‐Prieto Julia , Durrant James R.
Published: January 2018

Organolead halide perovskites have emerged as exciting optoelectronic materials but a complete understanding of their photophysical properties is still lacking. Here, a morphological series of methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) perovskites are studied by transient optical spectroscopies over eight orders of magnitude in timescale to investigate the effect of nanostructuring and surface states on the charge carrier dynamics. The sample preparation route and corresponding morphology changes influence the position of the optical features, recombination dynamics, excitation fluence dependence, and dramatically impact surface trap passivation. Growth of the perovskite layer in the presence of capping ligands or within mesoporous alumina increases the photoluminescence efficiency by multiple orders of magnitude, indicating that interfacing with metal oxides can lead to the passivation of surface nonradiative recombination centers. Nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed in solution show mixed behavior since they consist of NPs on nanoplatelets, while isolated NPs could be grown within mesoporous alumina with the addition of capping ligands. Investigation on the microsecond timescale suggests that an exponential distribution of states below the band edges results in long‐lived charges. The investigations of the relationship between sample architecture and charge carrier dynamics will help in the appropriate choice of perovskite morphology for use in optoelectronic devices.
High Performance Amplifier Element Realization via MoS2/GaTe Heterostructures
Authors: Yan Xiao , Zhang David Wei , Liu Chunsen , Bao Wenzhong , Wang Shuiyuan , Ding Shijin , Zheng Gengfeng , Zhou Peng
Published: January 2018

2D layered materials (2DLMs), together with their heterostructures, have been attracting tremendous research interest in recent years because of their unique physical and electrical properties. A variety of circuit elements have been made using mechanically exfoliated 2DLMs recently, including hard drives, detectors, sensors, and complementary metal oxide semiconductor field‐effect transistors. However, 2DLM‐based amplifier circuit elements are rarely studied. Here, the integration of 2DLMs with 3D bulk materials to fabricate vertical junction transistors with current amplification based on a MoS2/GaTe heterostructure is reported. Vertical junction transistors exhibit the typical current amplification characteristics of conventional bulk bipolar junction transistors while having good current transmission coefficients (α ∼ 0.95) and current gain coefficient (β ∼ 7) at room temperature. The devices provide new attractive prospects in the investigation of 2DLM‐based integrated circuits based on amplifier circuits.
Bimodal Dielectric Breakdown in Electronic Devices Using Chemical Vapor Deposited Hexagonal Boron Nitride as Dielectric
Authors: Palumbo Felix , Liang Xianhu , Yuan Bin , Shi Yuanyuan , Hui Fei , Villena Marco A. , Lanza Mario
Published: January 2018

Multilayer hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) is an insulating 2D material that shows good interaction with graphene and MoS2, and it is considered a very promising dielectric for future 2D‐materials‐based electronic devices. Previous studies analyzed the dielectric properties of thick (>10 nm) mechanically exfoliated h‐BN nanoflakes (diameter < 20 μm) via conductive atomic force microscopy and applying very high voltages (>10 V); however, these methods are not scalable. In this work, the first device‐level reliability study of large area h‐BN dielectric stacks (grown via chemical vapor deposition) is presented, and the complete dielectric breakdown (BD) process is described. The experiments and calculations indicate that the BD process in metal/h‐BN/metal devices starts with a progressive current increase across the h‐BN stack until current densities up to 0.1 A cm−2 are reached. After that, the currents increase by sudden steps, which can be large (>1 order of magnitude, related to the BD of one/few h‐BN layers) or small (<1 order of magnitude, related to the lateral propagation of the BD). The bimodal BD process of h‐BN here presented (which cannot be detected via conductive atomic force microscopy) is essential to understand the reliability of 2D‐material‐based electronic devices using h‐BN as dielectric.
Obtaining Large Columnar CdTe Grains and Long Lifetime on Nanocrystalline CdSe, MgZnO, or CdS Layers
Authors: Amarasinghe Mahisha , Colegrove Eric , Moseley John , Moutinho Helio , Albin David , Duenow Joel , Jensen Soren , Kephart Jason , Sampath Walajabad , Sivananthan Siva , Al‐Jassim Mowafak , Metzger Wyatt K.
Published: January 2018

CdTe solar cells have reached efficiencies comparable to multicrystalline silicon and produce electricity at costs competitive with traditional energy sources. Recent efficiency gains have come partly from shifting from the traditional CdS window layer to new materials such as CdSe and MgZnO, yet substantial headroom still exists to improve performance. Thin film technologies including Cu(In,Ga)Se2, perovskites, Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4, and CdTe inherently have many grain boundaries that can form recombination centers and impede carrier transport; however, grain boundary engineering has been difficult and not practical. In this work, it is demonstrated that wide columnar grains reaching through the entire CdTe layer can be achieved by aggressive postdeposition CdTe recrystallization. This reduces the grain structure constraints imposed by nucleation on nanocrystalline window layers and enables diverse window layers to be selected for other properties critical for electro‐optical applications. Computational simulations indicate that increasing grain size from 1 to 7 µm can be equivalent to decreasing grain‐boundary recombination velocity by three orders of magnitude. Here, large high‐quality grains enable CdTe lifetimes exceeding 50 ns.
A Dual‐Insertion Type Sodium‐Ion Full Cell Based on High‐Quality Ternary‐Metal Prussian Blue Analogs
Authors: Peng Jian , Wang Jinsong , Yi Haocong , Hu WenJing , Yu Yonghui , Yin Jinwen , Shen Yi , Liu Yi , Luo Jiahuan , Xu Yue , Wei Peng , Li Yuyu , Jin Yu , Ding Yu , Miao Ling , Jiang Jianjun , Han Jiantao , Huang Yunhui
Published: January 2018

Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) are especially investigated as superior cathodes for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to high theoretical capacity (≈170 mA h g−1) with 2‐Na storage and low cost. However, PBAs suffer poor cyclability due to irreversible phase transition in deep charge/discharge states. PBAs also suffer low crystallinity, with considerable [Fe(CN)6] vacancies, and coordinated water in crystal frameworks. Presently, a new chelating agent/surfactant coassisted crystallization method is developed to prepare high‐quality (HQ) ternary‐metal NixCo1−x[Fe(CN)6] PBAs. By introducing inactive metal Ni to suppress capacity fading caused by excessive lattice distortion, these PBAs have tunable limits on depth of charge/discharge. HQ‐NixCo1−x[Fe(CN)6] (x = 0.3) demonstrates the best reversible Na‐storage behavior with a specific capacity of ≈145 mA h g−1 and a remarkably improved cycle performance, with ≈90% capacity retention over 600 cycles at 5 C. Furthermore, a dual‐insertion full cell on the cathode and NaTi2(PO4)3 anode delivers reversible capacity of ≈110 mA h g−1 at a current rate of 1.0 C without capacity fading over 300 cycles, showing promise as a high‐performance SIB for large‐scale energy‐storage systems. The ultrastable cyclability achieved in the lab and explained herein is far beyond that of any previously reported PBA‐based full cells.
Graphene‐Tailored Thermodynamics and Kinetics to Fabricate Metal Borohydride Nanoparticles with High Purity and Enhanced Reversibility
Authors: Zhang Hongyu , Xia Guanglin , Zhang Jian , Sun Dalin , Guo Zaiping , Yu Xuebin
Published: January 2018

Due to their ultrahigh theoretical capacity, metal borohydrides are considered to be one of the most promising candidate hydrogen storage materials. Their application still suffers, however, from high operating temperature, sluggish kinetics, and poor reversibility. Designing nanostructures is an effective way of addressing these issues, but seeking suitable approaches remains a big challenge. Here, a space‐confined solid‐gas reaction to synthesize Mg(BH4)2 nanoparticles supported on grapheme is reported, which serves as the structural support for the dispersed Mg(BH4)2 nanoparticles. More notably, density functional theory calculations reveal that graphene could weaken both the MgH bonds of MgH2 and BB bonds of B2H6, which could thermodynamically and kinetically facilitate the chemical transformation to synthesize Mg(BH4)2 with high purity. Because of the synergistic effects of both the significant reduction in particle size and the catalytic effect of graphene, an onset dehydrogenation temperature of ≈154 °C is observed for Mg(BH4)2 nanoparticles, and a complete dehydrogenation could be achieved at a temperature as low as 225 °C, with the formation of MgB2 as the by‐product. This work provides a new perspective to tailoring the thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions toward the favorable synthesis of functional inorganic materials.
Activation state of circulating eosinophils in nasal polyposis
Authors: Dupuch Vincent , Tridon Arlette , Ughetto Sylvie , Walrand Stéphane , Bonnet Benjamin , Dubray Claude , Virlogeux Aude , Vasson Marie‐Paule , Saroul Nicolas , Mom Thierry , Gilain Laurent , Evrard Bertrand
Published: January 2018

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a common disease with an uncertain pathophysiology. It is characterized by polyps rich in eosinophils, with an activation status already investigated at the tissue level. In a group of CRSwNP patients, we assessed the activation status of circulating eosinophils in the blood before migration into tissues.

Methods

Thirteen patients with CRSwNP and 16 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Several biologic parameters were studied: blood count of eosinophils; plasma eosinophil cationic protein; oxidative metabolism by chemiluminescence at baseline or when activated by phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate or platelet‐activating factor, with or without interleukin‐5 (IL‐5); percent of granulosar cells; and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) by flow cytometry.

Results

The mean number of eosinophils was significantly higher in patients with CRSwNP, whose eosinophils showed increased oxidative metabolism in the basal or activated state significantly decreasing in the presence of IL‐5. There was also a higher percentage of CD49d+, CD25+, and CCR3+ cells in patients, and a nonsignificant decrease in descending order in MFI between the control group, patients with normal eosinophil levels, patients with hypereosinophilia, and patients with aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates a priming state of circulating eosinophils in CRSwNP patients when compared with healthy controls, as evidenced by the extent of oxidative metabolism, with increased sensitivity to IL‐5 and by the observed variations of percent and MFI of CD49d, CCR3, and CD25. This priming is thus found at the peripheral level and occurs before the migration of eosinophils to polyps, reflecting the systemic and not just local nature of abnormalities in CRSwNP.
Optimization of the curing process of phenolic impregnated carbon ablator
Authors: Tian Ye , Huang Haiming , Xu Xiaoliang
Published: January 2018

Phenolic impregnated carbon ablator (PICA), which is composed of the phenolic resin (PR) and carbon fiber, is of particular interest to researchers in the aerospace field. In this work, PICA was prepared by the double‐stage isothermal heating curing method and the curing process of PICA was optimized based on non‐isothermal differential scanning calorimetry, extrapolation method and orthogonal experiment. Orthogonal array chose the standard L9 (34). The results show that the optimum curing process of PICA is 120 °C 1 h + 170 °C 1 h, based on considering the better compressive property as the standard. And the results of the Fourier transform infrared spectra indicate that the more dimethylene ether groups result in the higher compressive strength of PICA cured at 120 °C 1 h + 170 °C 1 h. The existence of the more dimethylene ether groups can increase the amount of gases generated and bring off more heat during the ablative process of materials. This may provide a new vision for improve the ablative property of materials. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46230.
The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Consensus Treatment Plans
Authors: Ringold Sarah , Nigrovic Peter A. , Feldman Brian M. , Tomlinson George A. , von Scheven Emily , Wallace Carol A. , Huber Adam M. , Schanberg Laura E. , Li Suzanne C. , Weiss Pamela F. , Fuhlbrigge Robert C. , Morgan Esi M. , Kimura Yukiko
Published: January 2018

The pediatric rheumatic diseases are a heterogeneous group of rare diseases, posing a number of challenges for the use of traditional clinical and translational research methods. Innovative comparative effectiveness approaches are needed to efficiently study treatment strategies and disease outcomes. The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) developed the consensus treatment plan (CTP) approach as a comparative effectiveness tool for research in pediatric rheumatology. CTPs are treatment strategies, developed by consensus methods among CARRA members, intended to reduce variation in treatment approaches, standardize outcome measurements, and allow for comparison of the effectiveness of different approaches with the goal of improving disease outcomes. To date, CTPs have been published for 8 different diseases and disease manifestations. The approach has been successfully piloted for juvenile localized scleroderma, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), polyarticular JIA, dermatomyositis, and lupus nephritis. Large‐scale studies are underway for systemic JIA and polyarticular JIA, with the CARRA patient registry serving as the data collection platform. These studies have been designed with stakeholder involvement, including active input from CARRA providers, patients, and parents, with the goal of increasing feasibility and ensuring the relevance of the outcomes. These studies include ancillary biologic specimen collection intended to support additional translational and mechanistic studies. Data from these ongoing CTP studies will provide more information on the ability of this approach to identify effective treatment strategies and improve outcomes in the pediatric rheumatic diseases.
Determination of isoorientin levels in rat plasma after oral administration of Vaccinum bracteatum Thunb. methanol extract by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Kim Min‐Ji , Kwon Seung‐Hwan , Jang Choon‐Gon , Maeng Han‐Joo
Published: January 2018

A simple, sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method (LC‐MS/MS) was developed and validated for the determination of plasma isoorientin levels in rats. After simple protein precipitation using methanol, chromatographic analysis was performed using a Synergi 4μ polar‐RP 80A column (150 × 2.0 mm, 4μm) under isocratic conditions and a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid in water and methanol (80:20, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. In positive electrospray ionization mode, the protonated precursor and product ion transitions of isoorientin (m/z 449.0 → 299.1) and of puerarin (the internal standard; m/z 417.1 → 297.1) were acquired by multiple reaction monitoring. Calibration curves obtained for plasma showed good linearity over the concentration range 1–1000 ng/mL. The lower limit of quantification was 1 ng/mL. Intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were within 8.8% relative standard deviation. Accuracies ranged from 92.1 and 109.7%. The isoorientin stability in rat plasma under typical handling/storage conditions also found to be acceptable. The developed method was applied successfully to a pharmacokinetic study of isoorientin orally administered as the methanol extract of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. or administered as pure isoorientin.