bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation Of The Role Of Visual Evoked Potentials In Detecting Visual Impairment In Type II Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Kothari Ruchi , Bokariya Pradeep , Singh Smita , Hemavaishnave TS
Published: May 2018

Purpose:-

To investigate the visual evoked potentials in Type II diabetic patients in order to determine the alterations, if any, resulting from visual impairment due to diabetes mellitus (DM).

Material & Methods:-

The study was conducted in the Neurophysiology unit of the Department of Physiology of a rural medical college of Central India. The study population consisted of 30 patients diagnosed with Type II DM and 30 age matched controls after proper screening as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Both eyes of the two groups of the subjects were included in the study.

Design:-

Tertiary care rural hospital based, single time assessment, short term observational study.

Methodology:-

The stimulus configuration consisted of the transient pattern reversal method in which a black and white checker board is generated (full field) on a VEP Monitor by an electronic pattern regenerator inbuilt in an Evoked Potential Recorder.

Results:-

Mean age of Type 2 diabetic subjects was 58.21 ± 8.17 years and it was 54.48 ± 3.87 years in controls. Except N70 Latency of LE, there was a statistically significant difference between diabetic subjects and controls in terms of all the PRVEP parameters of both the eyes (P<0.001). The pathological VEP was recorded as significant prolongation of P100 latency and significant lower amplitude in diabetic patients compared to control group. A significant intra-ocular difference was observed in 20% cases. The differences between the three groups namely diabetics with diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetics without DR and controls using One-way ANOVA were statistically significant in terms of P100 and N155 latencies and P100 amplitude (P<0.001), with the exception of N70 latency.

Conclusion:-

P100 wave latencies were significantly delayed in the diabetic patients compared with the control subjects indicative of functional disturbances in the visual system related to glucose metabolism.
Role of Mass Communication and Health Care In Promoting Glaucoma Awareness: An Observational Study
Authors: Rewri Parveen , Ali Wazid , Yadav Vibha , Vats Depender Paul
Published: May 2018

Purpose:-

Lack of awareness about glaucoma is one of the leading causes of glaucoma. This study was designed to understand possible reasons responsible for lower levels of awareness and discuss the role of media and health agencies.

Material & Methods:-

This was a year long observational study which closely followed sources of information readily available to common persons. We looked for information intended to improve glaucoma awareness in print media, electronic media and hospital premises.

Results:-

Between March 2016 and March 2017, we observed 5 newspapers, 2 FM radio channels, 1 TV channel and visited 26 hospitals. There was only one advertisement in one of the Hindi language newspaper. In only 3(11%) hospitals premises, some kind of information on glaucoma awareness was available.

Conclusion:-

Information on promoting glaucoma awareness through audio-visual media and health agencies is lacking in this part of India.
Inclusion Cell Disease - A Rare Cause of Megalocornea with Corneal Edema
Authors: Namrata  , Ranjan Rahul , Arya Gaurav
Published: May 2018

Inclusion cell disease (I cell disease), also known as mucolipidosis type II, is a rare congenital metabolic storage disorder which seemingly occupies an intermediate position between mucopolysaccharidosis and sphingolipidosis.1 We are hereby presenting a case of I cell disease that presented with megalocornea and corneal edema/corneal clouding.
Corneal Ulcer Following Prolonged Topical Chloroquine Phosphate
Authors: Mishra Samarth , Das Sudeep
Published: May 2018

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are well known weapons in a rheumatologist's armamentarium. Chloroquine, (N'-(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)-N, N-diethyl-pentane-1,4-diamine) is an antimalarial drug which has been in use since the early 1950s, in the treatment of Discoid and Systemic Lupus Erythematoses, Rheumatoid Arthritis and dermal light sensitivity eruptions. Hobbs in 1959 recognised a retinopathy which was produced by the long-term administration of this drug. Since the proposal of its anti-inflammatory effect, chloroquine phosphate has been used for the treatment of dry eyes. Among the many side-effects following systemic use of chloroquine; pruritus, urticaria, alopecia, lymphedema of forearm, headache, nausea etc are noteworthy. Ophthalmological complications like bull's eye maculopathy, keratopathy, corneal deposits have also been observed, although infrequently. Majority of the complications arise from the long-term use of the drug which leads to its accumulation in specific sites. Here, we present a rare case report of sterile corneal ulcer following prolonged use of preservative free topical chloroquine phosphate (0.03%w/v) in the form of unims.
Bilateral Shallow Anterior Chamber And Transient Myopia As A Presenting Feature Of Vogt Koyanagi Harada Syndrome
Authors: Sharma Rahul Kumar , Dagar Abhishek , Kumar Vivek
Published: May 2018

The Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is a rare systemic disorder of uveitis, dysacousia, vitiligo, premature greying of the hair, eyebrow and eyelashes, and meningoencephalitis. We report a case of a 36 year old type 2 diabetic patient who presented with sudden, painless, progressive blurring of vision in both eyes with shallow anterior chamber and transient myopia. He had history of headache, mild fever, malaise with stiffness in neck and back one week before blurring of vision. Exudative retinal detachment on fundus examination along with optical coherence tomography (OCT) features and fundus fluorescein angiogram (FFA) pattern confirmed our diagnosis as incomplete VKH. The patient responded well with steroid (systemic and topical) and cycloplegic drug. This case highlights the importance of history, careful ocular evaluation, judicious use of OCT and FFA in a patient presenting with bilateral shallow anterior chamber and transient myopia to narrow down the differential diagnosis as incomplete VKH.
Partial Orbital Prosthesis: An Alternate Option
Authors: Gupta Sachin , Gupta Shreya
Published: May 2018

To report a case of severely contracted socket which could not be fitted with conventional ocular prosthesis and required partial prosthetics lids to cover the defect. Case report: Cosmetic rehabilitation is a big challenge in case of disfigured eye. Sometimes due to delayed intervention or multiple surgeries it becomes difficult to fit optimal ocular prosthesis due to scaring of lids or contraction of socket. Sometimes a conventional ocular prosthesis does not provide the desired result. In such cases patients require additional and innovative work to cover the defect. We report the case of a patient who was fitted with a partial orbital prosthesis in which ocular prosthesis was fitted with a prosthetic lid attachment. A partial orbital prosthesis is an innovative technique for those patients who can retain an ocular prosthesis but need a bit extra to cover the defect. A partial prosthesis in one of the advanced technologies that ocularisty has come up with to help patients with facial deformities.
Management Of Stargardt’s Disease Through Ayurvedic Science
Authors: Shaw Santosh Kumar , Apoorva M. N. , Sujathamma K.
Published: May 2018

Stargardt’s disease is a hereditary disorder of the retina. There is a gradual loss of vision during childhood or adolescence and in a few cases, vision loss may be noticed in adulthood. Involvement of photoreceptor cells presents slow loss of central vision, distorted vision and reduced color vision. Mutations in ABCA4 gene following accumulation of lipofuscin within the retinal pigment epithelium is a causative factor of the disease. Beaten bronze reflex or Snail slime reflex from the macula is the typical clinical presentation.

The signs & symptoms like Avila darshana (Blurred vision) and Vyavidha darshana (distorted vision) which are mentioned in Ayurvedic classics in the context of the disease Timira, can be correlated with the clinical manifestation of Stargardt's disease. Currently, there is no effective treatment in contemporary science for Stargardt's disease except for gene therapy and stem cell therapy.

Hence, the present clinical study was undertaken in order to understand and manage the Stargardt's disease, with Ayurvedic treatment modalities like Virechana (Therapeutic purgative), Tarpana (Ocular therapy used to treat posterior segment disorders) and Nasya (Errhine therapy). A 25 years old male patient diagnosed with Stargardt's disease was advised to undergo Virechana with Trivrit lehyam (A linctus made of Operculina turpethum), Nasya with Ksheerabala taila (A medicated oil prepared from Sida cordifolia and sesame oil processed with medicinal herbs) and Tarpana with Mahatriphaladi ghrita (Medicated ghee prepared out of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula and other medicated herbs) for a course of 26 days. There was marked improvement in vision after the treatment and the results proved to be significant on the basis of clinical assessment.
Optic Disc Pit with An Atypical Presentation
Authors: Arora Neha , Patel Aniket
Published: May 2018

Optic Disc Pit (ODP) results from an imperfect closure of the superior edge of the embryonic fissure, usually associated with macular serous detachment. In our case report, we are presenting optic disc pit with a multilayered separation involving the nerve fibre layer and the outer plexiform layer along with neurosensory detachment.
Congenital Glaucoma with Neurofibromatosis Type-I A Rare Occurrence
Authors: Mahathi Vankireddi , Karanam Sairani , Medikonda Malleswari
Published: May 2018

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a rare genodermatoses in which there is involvement of the skin, eye, peripheral nervous system and skeletal system. Congenital glaucoma occurs in 1 in 300 NF1 patients. A 6 year old boy presented to us with defective vision in the left eye since 4 years. On examination the child had, café-au-lait spots, reduced visual acuity, Lisch nodules, increased corneal diameter, with glaucomatous cupping of optic nerve. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of congenital glaucoma with NF1 was made. The child was started on anti glaucoma medication for which he was non compliant and hence trabeculectomy was performed and the pressures are being maintained till date. Hence, if the diagnosis of NF1 is made, eye examinations are recommended in children for early detection of increasedintraocular pressureorother ophthalmological manifestations and to reduce visual morbidity.
Filamentary Keratitis
Authors: Sharma Mukta , Sareen Arti , Negi S. S.
Published: May 2018

Filamentary keratitis is a corneal condition characterized by multiple filaments attached to areas of compromised corneal epithelium. On blinking, the loose ends of filaments get pulled causing pain and foreign body sensation. Dry eye is a common association of filamentary keratitis. Here we present a case of a female who presented with the similar complaints for the last 1 month. Filaments were removed mechanically and she was put on treatment. She was relieved of her symptoms and was cured after 2 weeks. Thus it would be wise to mention that Filamentary Keratitis is a recurrent painful condition which is difficult to treat. But if properly managed, it can be treated and normal corneal epithelium can be restored.
Study of A Family with Clinical Features and Inheritance Pattern of Nance Horan Syndrome
Authors: Patil Sonal , Jain Kalpna , Manoher Jaishri Murli , Beniwal Vimla
Published: May 2018

Congenital cataract has various modes of inheritance. In Nance Horan syndrome, X linked recessive pattern of inheritance of congenital cataract is seen. Protein truncation mutation in an NHS gene located on Xp21.2-p22.3. could be associated with this syndrome. We report a case of Nance Horan syndrome family with bilateral congenital cataract with microcornea, strabismus, nystagmus, mental retardation, dysmorphic facies and dental anomalies. Treatment consists of surgery for cataract extraction, although results are poor.
Cogan- Reese Syndrome: A Variant of Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome
Authors: Praveena Guddeti , Medikonda Malleswari , Mashru Nandish
Published: May 2018

Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome (ICE) is a unique ophthalmic disorder characterized by the presence of an abnormal corneal endothelium which leads to varying degrees of corneal edema, progressive iris atrophy and secondary angle closure glaucoma without pupillary block. Cogan Reese syndrome is one of the three clinical variants of Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome (ICE) characterized by nodular, pigmented lesions of the iris which are hallmark, and may be seen with the entire spectrum of corneal and other iris defects. Secondary glaucoma is the main sight threatening complication. Management depends on severity of ocular findings and is targeted to control secondary glaucoma medically and surgically. We hereby report two middle aged male patients who were diagnosed to have the Cogan-Reese variant of ICE Syndrome based on clinical findings.
DDX3XRNAhelicase affects breast cancer cell cycle progression by regulating expression ofKLF4
Authors: Cannizzaro Ester , Bannister Andrew John , Han Namshik , Alendar Andrej , Kouzarides Tony
Published: May 2018

DDX3X is a multifunctionalRNAhelicase with documented roles in different cancer types. Here, we demonstrate thatDDX3X plays an oncogenic role in breast cancer cells by modulating the cell cycle. Depletion ofDDX3X inMCF7 cells slows cell proliferation by inducing a G1 phase arrest. Notably,DDX3X inhibits expression of Kruppel‐like factor 4 (KLF4), a transcription factor and cell cycle repressor. Moreover,DDX3X directly interacts withKLF4mRNAand regulates its splicing. We show thatDDX3X‐mediated repression ofKLF4 promotes expression of S‐phase inducing genes inMCF7 breast cancer cells. These findings provide evidence for a novel function ofDDX3X in regulating expression and downstream functions ofKLF4, a master negative regulator of the cell cycle.
Adenosine methylation as a molecular imprint defining the fate of RNA
Authors: Knuckles Philip , Bühler Marc
Published: May 2018

Multiple lines of evidence suggest the RNA modification N6‐methyladonsine (m6A), which is installed in the nucleus cotranscriptionally and, thereafter, serves as a reversible chemical imprint that influences several steps of mRNA metabolism. This includes but is not limited to RNA folding, splicing, stability, transport and translation. In this Review we focus on the current view of the nuclear installation of m6A as well as the molecular players involved, the so called m6A writers. We also explore the effector proteins, or m6A readers, that decode the imprint in different cellular contexts and compartments, and ultimately, the way the modification influences the lifecycle of an RNA molecule. The wide evolutionary conservation of m6A and its critical role in physiology and disease warrants further studies into this burgeoning and exciting field.
Long‐Term Changes in Global Socioeconomic Benefits of Flood Defenses and Residual Risk Based on CMIP5 Climate Models
Authors: Lim Wee Ho , Yamazaki Dai , Koirala Sujan , Hirabayashi Yukiko , Kanae Shinjiro , Dadson Simon J. , Hall Jim W. , Sun Fubao
Published: May 2018

A warmer climate is expected to accelerate the global hydrological cycle, causing more intense precipitation and floods. Despite recent progress in global flood risk assessment, the socioeconomic benefits of flood defenses (i.e., reduction in population/economic exposure) and the residual risk (i.e., residual population/economic exposure) are poorly understood globally and regionally. To address these knowledge gaps, we use the runoff data from a baseline and 11 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate models to drive the Catchment‐based Macro‐scale Floodplain model incorporating the latest satellite river width information. From the simulated annual maxima, we use a Gumbel distribution to estimate the river water depth‐flood return period relationship. We independently evaluate flood impacts on population and economy (i.e., gross domestic product) for a range of flood return periods. We estimate the socioeconomic benefits and the corresponding residual risk for the globe and 26 subcontinental regions. The global population (gross domestic product) exposed to flooding is ∼8% (∼7%) per year lower when implementing existing flood protection infrastructure extracted from the FLOod PROtection Standards database. If the current flood defenses were to be unchanged in the future (Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 [RCP4.5] and RCP8.5, i.e., ∼2 to ∼4.3°C above the preindustrial levels), the globe and most of the regions (particularly where developing countries are concentrated) would experience an increase in residual risk. This increase is especially obvious when the gap of climate forcing between RCP8.5 and RCP4.5 widens by the end of the 21st century. We finally evaluate the impact of changed flood defense levels on the socioeconomic benefits and the corresponding residual risk.
Reductions of intimate partner violence resulting from supplementing children with omega‐3 fatty acids: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, stratified, parallel‐group trial
Authors: Portnoy Jill , Raine Adrian , Liu Jianghong , Hibbeln Joseph R.
Published: May 2018

Omega‐3 supplementation has been found to reduce externalizing behavior in children. Reciprocal models of parent‐child behavior suggest that improving child behavior could lead to improvements in parent behavior, however no study has examined whether omega‐3 supplementation in children could reduce intimate partner violence or child maltreatment by their adult caregivers. In this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, stratified, parallel group trial, a community sample of children were randomized to receive either a fruit drink containing 1 gm of omega‐3 fats (Smartfish Recharge; Omega‐3 group, n = 100) or the same fruit drink without omega‐3's (Placebo group, n = 100). Child participants, adult caregivers, and research staff were blinded to group assignment. Adult caregivers reported inter‐partner and child‐directed physical assault and psychological aggression at baseline, 6 months (end of treatment) and 12 months (6 months post‐treatment) using the Conflicts Tactics Scale. Caregivers of children in the omega‐3 group reported long‐term reductions in psychological aggression in a group × time interaction. Improvements in adult psychological aggression were correlated with improvements in child externalizing behavior scores. No differences were reported for child maltreatment. This study is the first to show that omega‐3 supplementation in children can reduce inter‐partner psychological aggression among adult caregivers not receiving supplements. Findings suggest that improving child behavior through omega‐3 supplementation could have long‐term benefits to the family system as a whole.
COMP Report: CPQR technical quality control guidelines for conventional radiotherapy simulators
Authors: Bertrand Marie‐Joëlle
Published: May 2018

The Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP), in close partnership with the Canadian Partnership for Quality Radiotherapy (CPQR) has developed a series of Technical Quality Control (TQC) guidelines for radiation treatment equipment. These guidelines outline the performance objectives that equipment should meet in order to ensure an acceptable level of radiation treatment quality. The TQC guidelines have been rigorously reviewed and field tested in a variety of Canadian radiation treatment facilities. The development process enables rapid review and update to keep the guidelines current with changes in technology (the most updated version of this guideline can be found on the CPQR website). This particular TQC details recommended quality control testing of conventional radiotherapy simulators.
Dose rate response of Digital Megavolt Imager detector for flattening filter‐free beams
Authors: Xu Zhigang , Kim Jinkoo , Han James , Hsia An Ting , Ryu Samuel
Published: May 2018

In this study we investigated the dose rate response characteristics of the Digital Megavolt Imager (DMI) detector, including panel saturation, linearity, and imager ghosting effects for flattening filter‐free (FFF) beams. The DMI detector dose rate response characteristics were measured as a function of dose rate on a Varian TrueBeam machine. Images were acquired at dose rates ranging from 400 to 1400 MU/min for 6XFFF and 400 to 2400 MU/min for 10XFFF. Line profiles and central portal doses derived from the images were analyzed and compared. The linearity was verified by acquiring images with incremental Monitor Unit (MU) ranging from 5 to 500 MU. Ghosting effects were studied at different dose rates. Finally, for validation, test plans with optimal fluence were created and measured with different dose rates. All test plans were analyzed with a Gamma criteria of 3%‐3 mm and 10% dose threshold. Our study showed that there was no panel saturation observed from the profile comparison even at the maximum dose rate of 2400 MU/min. The central portal doses showed a slight decrease (1.013–1.008 cGy/MU for 6XFFF, and 1.020–1.009 cGy/MU for 10XFFF) when dose rate increased (400–1400 MU/min for 6XFFF, and 400–2400 MU/min for 10XFFF). The linearity of the DMI detector response was better than 0.5% in the range of 20–500 MU for all energies. The residual image was extremely small and statistically undetectable. The Gamma index measured with the test plans decreased from 100% to 97.8% for 6XFFF when dose rate increased from 400 to 1400 MU/min. For 10XFFF, the Gamma index decreased from 99.9% to 91.5% when dose rate increased from 400 to 2400 MU/min. We concluded that the Portal Dosimetry system for the TrueBeam using DMI detector can be reliably used for IMRT and VMAT QA for FFF energies.
Googling Gout: Exploring Perceptions About Gout Through a Linguistic Analysis of Online Search Activities
Authors: Jordan Kayla N. , Pennebaker James W. , Petrie Keith J. , Dalbeth Nicola
Published: May 2018

Objective

To understand what terms people seeking information about gout use most frequently in online searches and to explore the psychological and emotional tone of these searches.

Methods

A large de‐identified data set of search histories from major search engines was analyzed. Participants who searched for gout (n = 1,117), arthritis (arthritis search control group, age and sex‐matched, n = 2,036), and a random set of age and sex‐matched participants (general control group, n = 2,150) were included. Searches were analyzed using Meaning Extraction Helper and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count.

Results

The most frequent unique searches in the gout search group included gout‐related and food‐related terms. Those who searched for gout were most likely to search for words related to eating or avoidance. In contrast, those who searched for arthritis were more likely to search for disease‐ or health‐related words. Compared with the general control group, higher information seeking was observed for the gout and arthritis search groups. Compared with the general control group, both the gout and arthritis search groups searched for more food‐related words and fewer leisure and sex‐related words. The searches of both the gout and arthritis search groups were lower in positivity and higher in the frequency of sadness‐related words.

Conclusion

The perception of gout as a condition managed by dietary strategies aligns with online information seeking about the disease and its management. In contrast, people searching for information about arthritis focus more on medical strategies. Linguistic analyses reflect greater disability in social and leisure activities and lower positive emotion for those searching for gout or arthritis.
Poverty, Neighborhoods, Persistent Stress, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Outcomes: A Qualitative Study of the Patients’ Perspective
Authors: Yelin Edward , Trupin Laura , Bunde Jared , Yazdany Jinoos
Published: May 2018

Objective

To obtain the perspective of individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) regarding the role of poverty, neighborhood, and chronic stress in SLE outcomes.

Methods

Through annual structured interviews as part of the Lupus Outcomes Study, 723 persons with SLE were followed from 2003 to 2015 in order to establish the effect of combinations of poverty, persistent poverty, residence in an area of concentrated poverty, access to health care, and chronic stress on accumulated damage. We obtained a sample of 28 of the 723 individuals on the basis of household income, geography, and outcomes in their last interview, and administered qualitative interviews to explore their perspectives on the impact of these factors on SLE outcomes. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a grounded theory approach.

Results

Persons in poverty frequently reported that poverty necessitated a choice to deal with food, medical care, and housing insecurity on a daily basis and to relegate their management of SLE to occurrences of disease flares. They also reported that exposure to crime in their neighborhoods was a stressor that triggered worse disease activity. Affluent participants reported that neighborhood neither helped nor hindered dealing with SLE, because they relied on networks not tied to neighborhoods to deal with SLE.

Conclusion

Mitigating poverty and reducing exposure to crime through moving to safer neighborhoods are factors identified by individuals with SLE as potentially critical in disease outcomes.
The Flexible Conical Lamella: A Bio‐Inspired Open System for the Controllable Liquid Manipulation
Authors: He Meijin , Wang Pengwei , Xu Bojie , Jiang Lei , Liu Huan
Published: May 2018

Petals of the hydrophytic daisy, as a typical conical lamellar organ, enable the air trapping by forming a cavity‐like structure during times of flooding for protecting their genetic materials, which serves as an essential strategy to resist the harsh environment. Inspired by the air capturing of hydrophobic petals, a series of hydrophilic flexible conical polyethylene lamellae (FCL‐PE) with different apex angles are developed for controllable liquid manipulation: the smaller apex angle, the higher efficiency, and stability for liquid manipulation. Specifically, the FCL‐PE system could manipulate over 19 times its own mass of liquid when the apex angle is ≈14°, which remains rather stable even under external pressure. The highly efficient liquid manipulation of the FCL‐PE is attributable to the synergistic effects of the Laplace pressure difference generated by the topological asymmetric conical structure and the capillary–induced liquid spreading by the precursor film on the planar lamella. In addition, the wrinkle‐like nanostructures on the surface of FCL‐PE are helpful for the pinning of three–phase contact line when interacting with liquid. Here, an alternative open system of FCL‐PE is provided for the controllable liquid manipulation, which will shed new light on the designing of open systems for liquid transfer and collecting.
Conformal Multifunctional Titania Shell on Iron Oxide Nanorod Conversion Electrode Enables High Stability Exceeding 30 000 Cycles in Aqueous Electrolyte
Authors: Li Ruizhi , Ba Xin , Zhang Haifeng , Xu Pan , Li Yuanyuan , Cheng Chuanwei , Liu Jinping
Published: May 2018

Iron oxide is promising for use in aqueous energy storage devices due to the high capacity, but one of the most challenging problems is cycling instability within the large potential window that results from the complete quasi‐conversion reaction. Herein, a conformal surface coating strategy toward iron oxide via atomic layer deposition (ALD) is presented and an Fe3O4@TiO2 core–shell nanorod array anode is reported that exhibits remarkable cycling performance exceeding 30 000 times within a wide potential window in neutral lithium salt electrolyte. ALD offers a uniform and precisely controllable TiO2 shell that not only buffers the inner volume expansion of Fe3O4, but also contributes extra capacity through Li+ intercalation/de‐intercalation and helps to alleviate the water electrolysis. Furthermore, by pairing with a pseduocapacitive cathode of V2O3@carbon and using a hydrogel electrolyte of PVA‐LiCl, a unique flexible quasi‐solid‐state hybrid supercapacitor can be assembled. With a high voltage of 2.0 V, the device delivers high volumetric energy and power densities (2.23 mWh cm−3, 1090 mW cm−3), surpassing many recently reported flexible supercapacitors. This work highlights the importance of ALD conformal multifunctional shell to instable nanoarray electrodes in aqueous electrolytes and brings new opportunities to design advanced aqueous hybrid energy storage devices.
Realization of Wurtzite GaSb Using InAs Nanowire Templates
Authors: Namazi Luna , Gren Louise , Nilsson Malin , Garbrecht Magnus , Thelander Claes , Zamani Reza R. , Dick Kimberly A.
Published: May 2018

The crystal structure of a material has a large impact on the electronic and material properties such as band alignment, bandgap energy, and surface energies. Au‐seeded III–V nanowires are promising structures for exploring these effects, since for most III–V materials they readily grow in either wurtzite or zinc blende crystal structure. In III–Sb nanowires however, wurtzite crystal structure growth has proven difficult. Therefore, other methods must be developed to achieve wurtzite antimonides. For GaSb, theoretical predictions of the band structure diverge significantly, but the absence of wurtzite GaSb material has prevented any experimental verification of the properties. Having access to this material is a critical step toward clearing the uncertainty in the electronic properties, improving the theoretical band structure models and potentially opening doors toward application of this material. This work demonstrates the use of InAs wurtzite nanowires as templates for realizing GaSb wurtzite shell layers with varying thicknesses. The properties of the axial and radial heterointerfaces are studied at the atomic scale by means of aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, revealing their sharpness and structural quality. The transport characterizations point toward a positive offset in the valence bandedge of wurtzite compared to zinc blende.
High‐Performance Semitransparent Ternary Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Xie Yuanpeng , Huo Lijun , Fan Bingbing , Fu Huiting , Cai Yunhao , Zhang Lin , Li Zhiyi , Wang Ying , Ma Wei , Chen Yiwang , Sun Yanming
Published: May 2018

Semitransparent organic solar cells (STOSCs) are ideal candidates for building‐integrated photovoltaics. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) is one of the most important parameters of STOSCs, which is typically limited by the intrinsic narrow absorption of thin active layer. Ternary structure is demonstrated as an efficient approach to broaden the light absorption and manipulate the morphology, thus leading to improved PCEs by introducing a third component into the binary system. However, STOSCs based on ternary systems are rarely studied. In this contribution, semitransparent ternary solar cells are fabricated using a wide‐bandgap (E
g = 2.10 eV) polymer donor, PBT1‐S, as the third component. It is found that the addition of a small amount of PBT1‐S to PTB7‐Th:PC71BM blend has a negligible influence on its average visible transmittance (AVT) and color perception. A PCE of 9.2% is achieved for the champion ternary device with 20% AVT, which is one of the highest values for STOSCs. The results indicate that ternary structure is a promising approach for the fabrication of high‐performance STOSCs.
Highly Efficient Blue‐Emitting Bi‐Doped Cs2SnCl6 Perovskite Variant: Photoluminescence Induced by Impurity Doping
Authors: Tan Zhifang , Li Jinghui , Zhang Cheng , Li Zha , Hu Qingsong , Xiao Zewen , Kamiya Toshio , Hosono Hideo , Niu Guangda , Lifshitz Efrat , Cheng Yibing , Tang Jiang
Published: May 2018

Lead halide perovskites show excellent optoelectronic properties but are unsatisfactory in terms of stability and toxicity. Herein, bismuth (Bi)‐doped lead‐free inorganic perovskites Cs2SnCl6:Bi are reported as blue emissive phosphors. Upon Bi doping, the originally nonluminous Cs2SnCl6 exhibits a highly efficient deep‐blue emission at 455 nm, with a Stokes shift of 106 nm and a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) close to 80%. Hybrid density functional theory calculations suggest the preferred formation of [BiSn+VCl] defect complex, which is believed to be responsible for the optical absorption and the associated blue emission. The Cs2SnCl6:Bi also shows impressive thermal and water stability due to its inorganic nature and the formation of protective BiOCl layer. White light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) are constructed using Cs2SnCl6:Bi and commercial yellow phosphors combined with commercial UV LED chips, giving the Commission Internationale de I'Eclairage (CIE) color coordinates of (0.36, 0.37). This work represents a significant step toward the realization of highly efficient, stable, and environmentally benign next‐generation solid‐state lighting.
High Mobility Anisotropic Black Phosphorus Nanoribbon Field‐Effect Transistor
Authors: Feng Xuewei , Huang Xin , Chen Li , Tan Wee Chong , Wang Lin , Ang Kah‐Wee
Published: May 2018

Achieving excellent electrostatic control and immunity to short channel effects are the formidable challenges in ultrascaled devices. 3D device architectures, such as nanoribbon, have successfully mitigated these problems by achieving uniform top‐ and side‐wall control of the channel. Here, by leveraging on the merits of 3D structure, high‐mobility black phosphorus nanoribbon field‐effect transistors (BPNR‐FET) are demonstrated and the anisotropic transport properties are systematically investigated. A simple top‐down reactive ion etching method is used to realize both armchair‐ and zigzag‐oriented nanoribbons with various widths down to 60 nm. The mobility of BPNR‐FET is found to be width‐ and thickness‐dependent, with the highest hole mobility of ≈862 cm2 V−1 s−1 demonstrated in armchair‐oriented device at room temperature by combining high‐κ gate dielectric and hydrogen treatment to reduce sidewall scattering. Furthermore, hydrogenation effectively passivates the nanoribbon dangling bonds, leading to hysteresis and contact resistance improvement. This work unravels the superior electrical performance underscore a conceptually new device based on BP nanoribbons, paving the way toward the development of nonplanar devices on 2D materials platform.
Bioinspired LDH‐Based Hierarchical Structural Hybrid Materials with Adjustable Mechanical Performance
Authors: Zhang Youwei , Zheng Jinlong , Yue Yonghai , Zhao Hewei , Li Fengshi , Guo Lin
Published: May 2018

Materials with ultrahigh strength, lightweight, and high toughness have an urgent demand for a wide range of applications, which require a careful design of architectures and components from the micrometer to the nanometer scale. Herein, a simple method based on ice templating is exploited to prepare a layered double hydroxide based hierarchical structural hybrid material. There are two orders of interfaces in the hierarchical structure (the first‐order and the second‐order interface). The mechanical properties can be precisely controlled by adjusting interfacial interactions of these two orders of interfaces. The highest strength of this hybrid material with an optimal combination of these two orders of interfacial interactions is about 230 MPa, and the Young's modulus is about 131 GPa. The above‐mentioned values are higher than most common clay‐based hybrids, making the strengthening strategy (strengthening materials by adjusting interfacial interactions of these two orders of interfaces) a new and effective strengthening method.
Chiral 2D Colloidal Semiconductor Quantum Wells
Authors: Yang Gaoling , Kazes Miri , Oron Dan
Published: May 2018

Induced chirality in colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles has raised significant attention in the past few years as an extremely sensitive spectroscopic tool and due to the promising applications of chiral quantum dots in sensing, quantum optics, and spintronics. Yet, the origin of the induced chiroptical effects in semiconductor nanoparticles is still not fully understood, partly because almost all the theoretical and experimental studies to date are based on the simple model system of a spherical nanocrystal. Here, the realization of induced chirality in atomically flat 2D colloidal quantum wells is shown. A strong circular dichroism (CD) response as well as an absorptive‐like CD line shape is observed in chiral CdSe nanoplatelets (NPLs), significantly differing from that previously observed in spherical dots. Furthermore, this intense CD signal almost completely disappears after coating with a very thin CdS shell. In contrast, CdSe‐CdS core‐crown NPLs exhibit a spectral response which seems to originate independently from the core and the crown regions of the NPL. This work on the one hand further advances the understanding of the fundamental origin of induced chiroptical effects in semiconductor nanoparticles, and on the other opens a pathway toward applications using chiroptical materials.
Biological Stimulus‐Driven Assembly/Disassembly of Functional Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery, Controlled Activation, and Bioelimination
Authors: Hu Xi , Li Fangyuan , Wang Shuying , Xia Fan , Ling Daishun
Published: May 2018

Nanoassembly technology has emerged as a powerful tool for targeted drug delivery and provides a basis for fabricating medical theranostic nanosystems. However, it is extremely difficult to concentrate nanoparticles at tumor sites, and the poor target‐to‐background ratio undoubtedly obstructs the accurate diagnosis and effective therapy of cancerous tissues. Importantly, the addition of biological stimulus‐responsive groups to nanoassembly systems can enable a biological stimulus‐driven assembly–disassembly mutual switch or structural composition/conformation change, thereby amplifying the imaging signal and/or enhancing the therapeutic effect. This progress report provides an overview of well‐designed biological stimulus‐responsive nanosystems that can realize precise assembly–disassembly switches by disrupting or rebuilding the intricate balance between the entropy and enthalpy of the nanosystems in response to stimuli (pH, redox, enzymes, etc.) in tumor tissues. The discussion encompasses different biological stimulus‐responsive groups, fabrication approaches, and outstanding selective “turn‐on” performance for efficient tumor imaging, therapy, and bioelimination. This progress report is expected to inspire more extensive research for the development of smart “turn‐on” nanomaterials with increased signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratios for diagnosis and drug delivery, which may pave the way for precise nanomedicine with site‐specific theranostic features and biocompatibility.
Spoof Plasmonics: From Metamaterial Concept to Topological Description
Authors: Gao Zhen , Wu Lin , Gao Fei , Luo Yu , Zhang Baile
Published: May 2018

Advances in metamaterials have offered the opportunity of engineering electromagnetic properties beyond the limits of natural materials. A typical example is “spoof” surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), which mimic features of SPPs without penetrating into metal, but only with periodic corrugations on metal surfaces. They hold considerable promise in device applications from microwaves to the far infrared, where real SPP modes do not exist. The original spoof SPP concept is derived from the description of corrugated surfaces by a metamaterial that hosts an effective plasma frequency. Later, studies have attempted to describe spoof SPP modes with the band structure by strictly solving Maxwell's equations, which can possess band gaps from polaritonic anticrossing principle or Bragg interference. More recently, as inspired by the development of topological framework in condensed matter physics, the topological description of spoof SPPs is used to propose topologically protected waveguiding phenomena. Here, the developments of spoof SPPs from both practical and fundamental perspectives are reviewed.
Molecularly Imprinted Porous Aromatic Frameworks Serving as Porous Artificial Enzymes
Authors: Yuan Ye , Yang Yajie , Faheem Muhammad , Zou Xiaoqin , Ma Xujiao , Wang Zeyu , Meng Qinghao , Wang Lili , Zhao Shuai , Zhu Guangshan
Published: May 2018

Artificially designed enzymes are in demand as ideal catalysts for industrial production but their dense structure conceals most of their functional fragments, thus detracting from performance. Here, molecularly imprinted porous aromatic frameworks (MIPAFs) which are exploited to incorporate full host–guest interactions of porous materials within the artificial enzymes are presented. By decorating a porous skeleton with molecularly imprinted complexes, it is demonstrated that MIPAFs are porous artificial enzymes possessing excellent kinetics for guest molecules. In addition, due to the abundance of accessible sites, MIPAFs can perform a wide range of sequential processes such as substrate hydrolysis and product transport. Through its two functional sites in tandem, the MIPAF subsequently manifests both hydrolysis and transport behaviors. Advantageously, the obtained catalytic rate is ≈58 times higher than that of all other conventional artificial enzymes and even surpasses by 14 times the rate for natural organophosphorus hydrolase (Flavobacterium sp. strain ATCC 27551).
Synergies of Electrochemical Metallization and Valance Change in All‐Inorganic Perovskite Quantum Dots for Resistive Switching
Authors: Wang Yan , Lv Ziyu , Liao Qiufan , Shan Haiquan , Chen Jinrui , Zhou Ye , Zhou Li , Chen Xiaoli , Roy Vellaisamy A. L. , Wang Zhanpeng , Xu Zongxiang , Zeng Yu‐Jia , Han Su‐Ting
Published: May 2018

The in‐depth understanding of ions' generation and movement inside all‐inorganic perovskite quantum dots (CsPbBr3 QDs), which may lead to a paradigm to break through the conventional von Neumann bottleneck, is strictly limited. Here, it is shown that formation and annihilation of metal conductive filaments and Br− ion vacancy filaments driven by an external electric field and light irradiation can lead to pronounced resistive‐switching effects. Verified by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy as well as energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis, the resistive switching behavior of CsPbBr3 QD‐based photonic resistive random‐access memory (RRAM) is initiated by the electrochemical metallization and valance change. By coupling CsPbBr3 QD‐based RRAM with a p‐channel transistor, the novel application of an RRAM–gate field‐effect transistor presenting analogous functions of flash memory is further demonstrated. These results may accelerate the technological deployment of all‐inorganic perovskite QD‐based photonic resistive memory for successful logic application.
Enhanced Performance of a Molecular Photoacoustic Imaging Agent by Encapsulation in Mesoporous Silicon Nanoparticles
Authors: Kang Jinyoung , Kim Dokyoung , Wang Junxin , Han Yunho , Zuidema Jonathan M. , Hariri Ali , Park Ji‐Ho , Jokerst Jesse V. , Sailor Michael J.
Published: May 2018

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging allows visualization of the physiology and pathology of tissues with good spatial resolution and relatively deep tissue penetration. The method converts near‐infrared (NIR) laser excitation into thermal expansion, generating pressure transients that are detected with an acoustic transducer. Here, we find that the response of the PA contrast agent indocyanine green (ICG) can be enhanced 17‐fold when it is sealed within a rigid nanoparticle. ICG encapsulated in particles composed of porous silicon (pSiNP), porous silica, or calcium silicate all show greater PA contrast relative to equivalent quantities of free ICG, with the pSiNPs showing the strongest enhancement. A liposomal formulation of ICG performs similar to free ICG, suggesting that a rigid host nanostructure is necessary to enhance ICG performance. The improved response of the nanoparticle formulations is attributed to the low thermal conductivity of the porous inorganic hosts and their ability to protect the ICG payload from photolytic and/or thermal degradation. The translational potential of ICG‐loaded pSiNPs as photoacoustic probes is demonstrated via imaging of a whole mouse brain.
A Centimeter‐Scale Inorganic Nanoparticle Superlattice Monolayer with Non‐Close‐Packing and its High Performance in Memory Devices
Authors: Wang Ke , Ling Haifeng , Bao Yan , Yang Mengting , Yang Yi , Hussain Mubashir , Wang Huayang , Zhang Lianbin , Xie Linghai , Yi Mingdong , Huang Wei , Xie Xiaolin , Zhu Jintao
Published: May 2018

Due to the near‐field coupling effect, non‐close‐packed nanoparticle (NP) assemblies with tunable interparticle distance (d) attract great attention and show huge potential applications in various functional devices, e.g., organic nano‐floating‐gate memory (NFGM) devices. Unfortunately, the fabrication of device‐scale non‐close‐packed 2D NPs material still remains a challenge, limiting its practical applications. Here, a facile yet robust “rapid liquid–liquid interface assembly” strategy is reported to generate a non‐close‐packed AuNP superlattice monolayer (SM) on a centimeter scale for high‐performance pentacene‐based NFGM. The d and hence the surface plasmon resonance spectra of SM can be tailored by adjusting the molecular weight of tethered polymers. Precise control over the d value allows the successful fabrication of photosensitive NFGM devices with highly tunable performances from short‐term memory to nonvolatile data storage. The best performing nonvolatile memory device shows remarkable 8‐level (3‐bit) storage and a memory ratio over 105 even after 10 years compared with traditional devices with a AuNP amorphous monolayer. This work provides a new opportunity to obtain large area 2D NPs materials with non‐close‐packed structure, which is significantly meaningful to microelectronic, photovoltaics devices, and biochemical sensors.
Nanoparticle‐Enhanced Silver‐Nanowire Plasmonic Electrodes for High‐Performance Organic Optoelectronic Devices
Authors: Kim Taehyo , Kang Saewon , Heo Jungwoo , Cho Seungse , Kim Jae Won , Choe Ayoung , Walker Bright , Shanker Ravi , Ko Hyunhyub , Kim Jin Young
Published: May 2018

Improved performance in plasmonic organic solar cells (OSCs) and organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) via strong plasmon‐coupling effects generated by aligned silver nanowire (AgNW) transparent electrodes decorated with core–shell silver–silica nanoparticles (Ag@SiO2NPs) is demonstrated. NP‐enhanced plasmonic AgNW (Ag@SiO2NP–AgNW) electrodes enable substantially enhanced radiative emission and light absorption efficiency due to strong hybridized plasmon coupling between localized surface plasmons (LSPs) and propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) modes, which leads to improved device performance in organic optoelectronic devices (OODs). The discrete dipole approximation (DDA) calculation of the electric field verifies a strongly enhanced plasmon‐coupling effect caused by decorating core–shell Ag@SiO2NPs onto the AgNWs. Notably, an electroluminescence efficiency of 25.33 cd A−1 (at 3.2 V) and a power efficiency of 25.14 lm W−1 (3.0 V) in OLEDs, as well as a power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of 9.19% in OSCs are achieved using hybrid Ag@SiO2NP–AgNW films. These are the highest values reported to date for optoelectronic devices based on AgNW electrodes. This work provides a new design platform to fabricate high‐performance OODs, which can be further explored in various plasmonic and optoelectronic devices.