bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Factors Influencing Charge‐Carrier Mobility Measurements in Organic Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Li Haoyuan , Tessler Nir , Brédas Jean‐Luc
Published: August 2018

Evaluation of the charge mobilities is a critical link in the development of organic semiconductors and the associated devices. One of the most widely used measurements relies on an organic field‐effect transistor (OFET) configuration. It is based on a relationship between charge‐carrier mobility and current–voltage curves, which happens to often exclude factors that are extrinsic to the organic semiconductor but can in fact significantly affect the measured current. The consequence is that the actual meaning of the mobilities evaluated in this way remains ambiguous. As such, it is unclear how well OFET data represent the actual charge‐transport properties of the organic semiconductors. Here, by employing a molecular‐scale OFET device model that directly connects microscopic charge transfer to macroscopic current characteristics, the mobilities in an OFET configuration and their relationships to the bulk mobilities are investigated. Specifically, the role of disorder, nature of the semiconductor–dielectric interface, and presence of non‐Ohmic contacts are addressed. By explicitly including these factors that are frequently impeding a clear evaluation of the experimental data, the study represents a major step into a robust molecular‐scale description of OFET operation.
Precursor Engineering for All‐Inorganic CsPbI2Br Perovskite Solar Cells with 14.78% Efficiency
Authors: Yin Guannan , Zhao Huan , Jiang Hong , Yuan Shihao , Niu Tianqi , Zhao Kui , Liu Zhike , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: August 2018

The optoelectronic properties of perovskite films are closely related to the film quality, so depositing dense, uniform, and stable perovskite films is crucial for fabricating high‐performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). CsPbI2Br perovskite, prized for its superb stability toward light soaking and thermal aging, has received a great deal of attention recently. However, the air instability and poor performance of CsPbI2Br PSCs are hindering its further progress. Here, an approach is reported for depositing high‐quality CsPbI2Br films via the Lewis base adducts PbI2(DMSO) and PbBr2(DMSO) as precursors to slow the crystallization of the perovskite film. This process produces CsPbI2Br films with large‐scale crystalline grains, flat surfaces, low defects, and long carrier lifetimes. More interestingly, PbI2(DMSO) and PbBr2(DMSO) adducts could significantly improve the stability of CsPbI2Br films in air. Using films prepared by this technique, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.78% is obtained in CsPbI2Br PSCs, which is the highest PCE value reported for CsPbI2Br‐based PSCs to date. In addition, the PSCs based on DMSO adducts show an extended operational lifetime in air. These excellent performances indicate that preparing high‐quality inorganic perovskite films by using DMSO adducts will be a potential method for improving the performance of other inorganic PSCs.
2D Group IVB Transition Metal Dichalcogenides
Authors: Yan Chaoyi , Gong Chuanhui , Wangyang Peihua , Chu Junwei , Hu Kai , Li Chaobo , Wang Xuepeng , Du Xinchuan , Zhai Tianyou , Li Yanrong , Xiong Jie
Published: August 2018

Semiconductor technology is currently impaired by the surface dangling bond of materials, which introduces scattering and interface traps. 2D materials, especially transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with different main groups, have settled this issue by utilizing unique atomically smooth surfaces and van der Waals (vdW) structures. Over the past few decades, many processes for exploring new materials, manipulating physical properties, and synthesizing single crystals have been developed. Among these 2D materials, group IVB TMDs are distinguished for their splendid physical properties, including ultrahigh mobility, charge density wave, superconducting transitions, etc. Here, the recent advances in group IVB TMDs are reviewed, which offer easy access to next generation nano‐, opto‐, thermal‐electronic, energy storage and conversion applications. Both the advantages and challenges of these studies are summarized to further clarify existing problems.
Liquid Metal Droplets Wrapped with Polysaccharide Microgel as Biocompatible Aqueous Ink for Flexible Conductive Devices
Authors: Li Xiankai , Li Mingjie , Zong Lu , Wu Xiaochen , You Jun , Du Peikang , Li Chaoxu
Published: August 2018

Nanometerization of liquid metal in organic systems can facilitate deposition of liquid metals onto substrates and then recover its conductivity through sintering. Although having broader potential applications, producing stable aqueous inks of liquid metals keeps challenging because of rapid oxidation of liquid metal when exposing to water and oxygen. Here, a biocompatible aqueous ink is produced by encapsulating alloy nanodroplets of gallium and indium (EGaIn) into microgels of marine polysaccharides. During sonicating bulk EGaIn in aqueous alginate solution, alginate not only facilitates the downsizing process via coordination of their carboxyl groups with Ga ions but also forms microgel shells around EGaIn droplets. Due to the deceasing oxygen‐permeability of microgel shells, aqueous ink of EGaIn nanodroplets can maintain colloidal and chemical stability for a period of >7 d. Crosslinked alginate‐gel with tunable thickness can retard the generation and release of toxic cations, thereby affording high biocompatibility. The soft alginate shells also enable to recover electric conductivity of EGaIn layers by “mechanical sintering” for applications in microcircuits, electric‐thermal actuators, and wearable sensors, offering huge potential for electronic tattoos, artificial limbs, electric skins, etc.
Electrostatic Force–Driven Oxide Heteroepitaxy for Interface Control
Authors: Ren Zhaohui , Wu Mengjiao , Chen Xing , Li Wei , Li Ming , Wang Fang , Tian He , Chen Junze , Xie Yanwu , Mai Jiangquan , Li Xiang , Lu Xinhui , Lu Yunhao , Zhang Hua , Van Tendeloo Gustaaf , Zhang Ze , Han Gaorong
Published: August 2018

Oxide heterostructure interfaces create a platform to induce intriguing electric and magnetic functionalities for possible future devices. A general approach to control growth and interface structure of oxide heterostructures will offer a great opportunity for understanding and manipulating the functionalities. Here, it is reported that an electrostatic force, originating from a polar ferroelectric surface, can be used to drive oxide heteroepitaxy, giving rise to an atomically sharp and coherent interface by using a low‐temperature solution method. These heterostructures adopt a fascinating selective growth, and show a saturation thickness and the reconstructed interface with concentrated charges accumulation. The ferroelectric polarization screening, developing from a solid–liquid interface to the heterostructure interface, is decisive for the specific growth. At the interface, a charge transfer and accumulation take place for electrical compensation. The facile approach presented here can be extremely useful for controlling oxide heteroepitaxy and producing intriguing interface functionality via electrostatic engineering.
Label‐Free Optical Single‐Molecule Micro‐ and Nanosensors
Authors: Subramanian Sivaraman , Wu Hsin‐Yu , Constant Tom , Xavier Jolly , Vollmer Frank
Published: August 2018

Label‐free optical sensor systems have emerged that exhibit extraordinary sensitivity for detecting physical, chemical, and biological entities at the micro/nanoscale. Particularly exciting is the detection and analysis of molecules, on miniature optical devices that have many possible applications in health, environment, and security. These micro‐ and nanosensors have now reached a sensitivity level that allows for the detection and analysis of even single molecules. Their small size enables an exceedingly high sensitivity, and the application of quantum optical measurement techniques can allow the classical limits of detection to be approached or surpassed. The new class of label‐free micro‐ and nanosensors allows dynamic processes at the single‐molecule level to be observed directly with light. By virtue of their small interaction length, these micro‐ and nanosensors probe light–matter interactions over a dynamic range often inaccessible by other optical techniques. For researchers entering this rapidly advancing field of single‐molecule micro‐ and nanosensors, there is an urgent need for a timely review that covers the most recent developments and that identifies the most exciting opportunities. The focus here is to provide a summary of the recent techniques that have either demonstrated label‐free single‐molecule detection or claim single‐molecule sensitivity.
Selectivity of Threefold Symmetry in Epitaxial Alignment of Liquid Crystal Molecules on Macroscale Single‐Crystal Graphene
Authors: Shen Tian‐Zi , Hong Seung‐Ho , Lee Jae‐Hyun , Kang Seog‐Gyun , Lee Bomi , Whang Dongmok , Song Jang‐Kun
Published: August 2018

Epitaxial alignment of organic liquid crystal (LC) molecules on single‐crystal graphene (SCG), an effective epitaxial molecular assembly template, can be used in alignment‐layer‐free liquid crystal displays. However, selectivity among the threefold symmetric easy axes of LCs on graphene is not well understood, which limits its application. Here, sixfold symmetric radial LC domains are demonstrated by dropping an LC droplet on clean SCG, which reveals that the graphene surface does not have an intrinsic preferential direction. Instead, the first contact geometry of the LC molecules determines the direction. Despite its strong anchoring energy on graphene, the LC alignment direction is readily erasable and rewritable, contrary to previous understanding. In addition, the quality of the threefold symmetric alignment is sensitive to alien residue and graphene imperfections, which can be used to detect infinitesimal impurities or structural defects on the graphene. Based on this unique epitaxial behavior of LCs on SCG, an alignment‐layer‐free electro‐optical LC device and LC alignment duplication, which can result in practical graphene‐based flexible LC devices, are realized.
Anisotropic Magneto‐Coulomb Properties of 2D–0D Heterostructure Single Electron Device
Authors: Mouafo Louis Donald Notemgnou , Godel Florian , Melinte Georgian , Hajjar‐Garreau Samar , Majjad Hicham , Dlubak Bruno , Ersen Ovidiu , Doudin Bernard , Simon Laurent , Seneor Pierre , Dayen Jean‐Francois
Published: August 2018

Fabrication and spintronics properties of 2D–0D heterostructures are reported. Devices based on graphene (“Gr”)–aluminium nanoclusters heterostructures show robust and reproducible single‐electron transport features, in addition to spin‐dependent functionality when using a top magnetic electrode. The magnetic orientation of this single ferromagnetic electrode enables the modulation of the environmental charge experienced by the aluminium nanoclusters. This anisotropic magneto‐Coulomb effect, originating from spin–orbit coupling within the ferromagnetic electrode, provides tunable spin valve‐like magnetoresistance signatures without the requirement of spin coherent charge tunneling. These results extend the capability of Gr to act both as electrode and as a platform for the growth of 2D–0D mixed‐dimensional van der Waals heterostructures, providing magnetic functionalities in the Coulomb blockade regime on scalable spintronic devices. These heterostructures pave the way towards novel device architectures at the crossroads of 2D material physics and spin electronics.
Atomic Fe–Nx Coupled Open‐Mesoporous Carbon Nanofibers for Efficient and Bioadaptable Oxygen Electrode in Mg–Air Batteries
Authors: Cheng Chong , Li Shuang , Xia Yi , Ma Lang , Nie Chuanxiong , Roth Christina , Thomas Arne , Haag Rainer
Published: August 2018

The recently emerging metal–air batteries equipped with advanced oxygen electrodes have provided enormous opportunities to develop the next generation of wearable and bio‐adaptable power sources. Theoretically, neutral electrolyte‐based Mg–air batteries possess potential advantages in electronics and biomedical applications over the other metal–air counterparts, especially the alkaline‐based Zn–air batteries. However, the rational design of advanced oxygen electrode for Mg–air batteries with high discharge voltage and capacity under neutral conditions still remains a major challenge. Inspired by fibrous string structures of bufo‐spawn, it is reported here that the scalable synthesis of atomic Fe–Nx coupled open‐mesoporous N‐doped‐carbon nanofibers (OM‐NCNF‐FeNx) as advanced oxygen electrode for Mg–air batteries. The fabricated OM‐NCNF‐FeNx electrodes present manifold advantages, including open‐mesoporous and interconnected structures, 3D hierarchically porous networks, good bio‐adaptability, homogeneously coupled atomic Fe–Nx sites, and high oxygen electrocatalytic performances. Most importantly, the assembled Mg–air batteries with neutral electrolytes reveal high open‐circuit voltage, stable discharge voltage plateaus, high capacity, long operating life, and good flexibility. Overall, the discovery on fabricating atomic OM‐NCNF‐FeNx electrode will not only create new pathways for achieving flexible, wearable, and bio‐adaptable power sources, but also take a step towards the scale‐up production of advanced nanofibrous carbon electrodes for a broad range of applications.
One‐Step Assembly of a Biomimetic Biopolymer Coating for Particle Surface Engineering
Authors: Liu Ruirui , Zhao Jian , Han Qian , Hu Xinyi , Wang Dong , Zhang Xu , Yang Peng
Published: August 2018

Advances in material design and applications are highly dependent on the development of particle surface engineering strategies. However, few universal methods can functionalize particles of different compositions, sizes, shapes, and structures. The amyloid‐like lysozyme assembly‐mediated surface functionalization of inorganic, polymeric or metal micro/nanoparticles in a unique amyloid‐like phase‐transition buffer containing lysozyme are described. The rapid formation of a robust nanoscale phase‐transitioned lysozyme (PTL) coating on the particle surfaces presents strong interfacial binding to resist mechanical and chemical peeling under harsh conditions and versatile surface functional groups to support various sequential surface chemical derivatizations, such as radical living graft polymerization, the electroless deposition of metals, biomineralization, and the facile synthesis of Janus particles and metal/protein capsules. Being distinct from other methods, the preparation of this pure protein coating under biocompatible conditions (e.g., neutral pH and nontoxic reagents) provides a reliable opportunity to directly modify living cell surfaces without affecting their biological activity. The PTL coating arms yeasts with a functional shell to protect their adhered body against foreign enzymatic digestion. The PTL coating further supports the surface immobilization of living yeasts for heterogeneous microbial reactions and the sequential surface chemical derivatization of the cell surfaces, e.g., radical living graft polymerization.
Annealing of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers for Control over Ion Permeation
Authors: Reurink Dennis M. , Haven Jord P. , Achterhuis Iske , Lindhoud Saskia , Roesink (Erik) H. D. W. , de Vos Wiebe M.
Published: August 2018

Polyelectrolyte multilayer based membranes are highly promising systems to create stable and versatile nanofiltration membranes. One very popular and well‐studied polyelectrolyte pair, is the polycation poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and polyanion poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS), due to its excellent separation properties and high chemical and physical stability. Membrane charge can be easily controlled by simply terminating the multilayer by either PDADMAC or PSS. Unfortunately, a phenomenon that occurs during multilayer coating, is overcompensation by PDADMAC. In this study, it is shown that overcompensation of PDADMAC results in a positive surface charge even when the multilayer is PSS‐terminated. In addition, it is shown that this leads to poorer membrane separation properties with sulfate retention decreasing from 94 to 39%. At the same time, it is demonstrated that a so‐called annealing cycle with a high salt concentration leads to recovery of the negative surface charge, increasing the sulfate retention from 39 to 95%. Even for multilayers at which no irreversible positive surface charge is measured, separation properties improved substantially (increasing sulfate retention from 94 to 97%, at a higher membrane permeability) after salt‐annealing. It is concluded that post‐treatment by salt‐annealing results in an improved membrane performance and allows an additional degree of control over the membrane separation properties.
Plasmonic Nanoprobes for Multiplexed Fluorescence‐Free Super‐Resolution Imaging
Authors: Xu Jian , Zhang Tianyue , Yang Shenyu , Feng Ziwei , Li Haoying , Hu Dejiao , Qin Fei , Ouyang Xueying , Cao Yaoyu , Jiang Lingxiang , Li Xiangping
Published: August 2018

Noble metal nanoparticles (NPs), owing to their unique optical and physicochemical properties, are routinely used for optical imaging and labeling of biological specimens. Even though they can provide vital information for studying multiple cellular events and their interplays at the same time, optically multiplexing and resolving specific NPs within a diffraction‐limited region labeled in complex biological specimens remains a fundamental challenge. By introducing and manipulating plasmonic resonance assisted saturable scattering effects, multiplexed fluorescence‐free super‐resolution imaging of gold NPs in tumor cells with remarkable subdiffraction resolution is demonstrated. The saturable scattering allows fluorescence‐free resolving single plasmonic nanoprobes with significantly improved resolution down to ≈100 nm. The revealed plasmonic resonance assisted saturation effect as well as the associated spectral flexibility to variant sizes provides access to multiplexing capability in complex bioenvironments. The demonstrated feasibility of two‐color super‐resolution cellular imaging is achieved at ultralow suppression powers ≈0.28 MW cm−2, corresponding to a two‐order of magnitude improvement compared to the state‐of‐the‐art of stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy.
Optical Nanoparticles for Cardiovascular Imaging
Authors: Hu Jie , Ortgies Dirk H. , Martín Rodríguez Emma , Rivero Fernando , Aguilar Torres Rio , Alfonso Fernando , Fernández Nuria , Carreño‐Tarragona Gonzalo , Monge Luis , Sanz‐Rodriguez Francisco , Iglesias Maria del Carmen , Granado Miriam , García‐Villalon Angel Luis , García Solé José , Jaque Daniel
Published: August 2018

The current status of the use of optical nanoparticles for imaging of the cardiovascular system is reviewed in detail. The different types of optical (luminescent, photoacoustic, and scattering) nanoparticles capable of vessel imaging and diagnosis are described, paying special attention to the use of optical nanoparticles for atherosclerosis detection and diagnosis, for advanced imaging of blood perfusion and, finally, for the detection and diagnosis of ischemic tissues. The advantages and disadvantages of different optical nanoparticles and related techniques for cardiovascular imaging are discussed in detail.
Cytokine‐Functionalized Synthetic Dendritic Cells for T Cell Targeted Immunotherapies
Authors: Eggermont Loek J. , Hammink Roel , Blank Kerstin G. , Rowan Alan E. , Tel Jurjen , Figdor Carl G.
Published: August 2018

Widespread application of cytokine‐based therapies is hampered by severe toxic side effects, resulting from off‐target (immune) cell stimulation. This emphasizes the need for more precise targeting of cytokines to immune cells. While cytokines are generally active as soluble proteins, it is demonstrated here that synthetic mimics of immune cells based on polyisocyanopeptides (PICs), called synthetic dendritic cells (sDCs) can efficiently present immobilized cytokines to T cells, when targeted by anti‐CD3 antibodies. Anti‐CD3/IL‐2‐functionalized PICs induce strong T cell activation and proliferation, when compared to PICs functionalized with interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) alone. In contrast to the semi‐flexible PICs, immobilization of IL‐2 on a rigid micro‐sized scaffold results in significant loss of IL‐2 activity, signifying the importance of molecular flexibility on the PIC polymers to maintain function. Similarly, anti‐CD3/IFNα‐functionalized PICs support long‐term proliferation of T cells. Interferon‐α containing sDCs additionally promote the development of cytotoxic effector functions of T cells with limited upregulation of the inhibitory immune checkpoint PD‐1. This high cytolytic activity and low PD‐1 expression are essential to maintain effective anti‐cancer activity. Together, these results demonstrate that PICs form unique nano‐sized scaffolds that efficiently present immobilized cytokines to T cells, thus creating a powerful tool to improve cytokine‐based immunotherapies without concomitant off‐target toxicity.
Realistic Large‐Scale Modeling of Rashba and Induced Spin–Orbit Effects in Graphene/High‐Z‐Metal Systems
Authors: Voloshina Elena , Dedkov Yuriy
Published: August 2018

Graphene, as a material with a small intrinsic spin–orbit interaction of approximately 1 µeV, has a limited application in spintronics. Adsorption of graphene on the surfaces of heavy metals was proposed to induce the strong spin splitting of the graphene π bands either via Rashba effect or due to the induced spin–orbit effects via hybridization of the valence band states of graphene and metal. Spin‐resolved photoelectron spectroscopy experiments performed on graphene adsorbed on the substrates containing heavy elements demonstrate the “giant” spin splitting of the π states of the order of 100 meV in the vicinity of the Fermi level (EF) and the K point. However, recent scanning tunneling spectroscopy experiments did not confirm these findings, leaving the fact of the observation of the “giant” Rashba effect or induced spin–orbit interaction in graphene still open. Thus, a detailed understanding of the physics in such systems is indispensable. From the theory side, this requires, first of all, correct modeling of the graphene/metal interfaces under study. Here, realistic super‐cell density‐functional theory calculations are presented, including dispersion interaction and spin–orbit interaction, for several graphene/high‐Z‐metal interfaces. While correctly reproducing the spin‐splitting features of the metallic surfaces, their modifications under graphene adsorption and doping level of graphene, it is revealed that neither “giant” Rashba‐ nor spin–orbit‐induced splitting of the graphene π states around EF take place.
Database‐Driven Materials Selection for Semiconductor Heterojunction Design
Authors: Shapera Ethan P. , Schleife André
Published: August 2018

Heterojunctions are at the heart of many modern semiconductor devices with tremendous societal impact: Light‐emitting diodes shape the future of energy‐efficient lighting, solar cells are promising for renewable energy, and photoelectrochemistry seeks to optimize efficiency of the water‐splitting reaction. Design of heterojunctions is difficult due to the limited number of materials for which band alignment is known, and the experimental and computational difficulties associated with obtaining this data. Band alignment based on branch‐point energies (EBP) is shown to be a good and efficient approximation that can be obtained using data from existing electronic‐structure databases. Errors associated with this approach are comparable to those of expensive first‐principles computational techniques and experiments. EBP alignment is then incorporated into a framework capable of rapidly screening existing online databases to design semiconductor heterojunctions. The method is showcased for five different prototype cases: Transport layers are successfully predicted for CdSe‐ and InP‐based LEDs, and for CH3NH3PbI3‐ and nanoparticle PbS‐based solar absorbers. In addition, Cu2O as a possible hole‐transport layer for solar cells is examined. The framework addresses the challenge of accomplishing fast materials selection for heterostructure design by tying together first‐principles calculations and existing online materials databases.
Independent Band Modulation in 2D van der Waals Heterostructures via a Novel Device Architecture
Authors: Guo Zhongxun , Chen Yan , Zhang Heng , Wang Jianlu , Hu Weida , Ding Shijin , Zhang David Wei , Zhou Peng , Bao Wenzhong
Published: August 2018

Benefiting from the technique of vertically stacking 2D layered materials (2DLMs), an advanced novel device architecture based on a top‐gated MoS2/WSe2 van der Waals (vdWs) heterostructure is designed. By adopting a self‐aligned metal screening layer (Pd) to the WSe2 channel, a fixed p‐doped state of the WSe2 as well as an independent doping control of the MoS2 channel can be achieved, thus guaranteeing an effective energy‐band offset modulation and large through current. In such a device, under specific top‐gate voltages, a sharp PN junction forms at the edge of the Pd layer and can be effectively manipulated. By varying top‐gate voltages, the device can be operated under both quasi‐Esaki diode and unipolar‐Zener diode modes with tunable current modulations. A maximum gate‐coupling efficiency as high as ≈90% and a subthreshold swing smaller than 60 mV dec−1 can be achieved under the band‐to‐band tunneling regime. The superiority of the proposed device architecture is also confirmed by comparison with a traditional heterostructure device. This work demonstrates the feasibility of a new device structure based on vdWs heterostructures and its potential in future low‐power electronic and optoelectronic device applications.
Highly Multiplexed Single‐Cell Protein Profiling with Large‐Scale Convertible DNA‐Antibody Barcoded Arrays
Authors: Zhao Peng , Bhowmick Sirsendu , Yu Jianchao , Wang Jun
Published: August 2018

Highly multiplexed detection of proteins secreted by single cells is always challenging. Herein, a multiplexed in situ tagging technique based on single‐stranded DNA encoded microbead arrays and multicolor successive imaging for assaying single‐cell secreted proteins with high throughput and high sensitivity is presented. This technology is demonstrated to be capable of increasing the multiplexity exponentially. Upon integration with polydimethylsiloxane microwells, this platform is applied to detect ten immune effector proteins from differentiated single macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Significant heterogeneity is observed when the derived human primary macrophages are analyzed. This versatile technology is expected to open new opportunities in systems biology, immune regulation studies, signaling analysis, and molecular diagnostics.
Simultaneous Monitoring of Sweat and Interstitial Fluid Using a Single Wearable Biosensor Platform
Authors: Kim Jayoung , Sempionatto Juliane R. , Imani Somayeh , Hartel Martin C. , Barfidokht Abbas , Tang Guangda , Campbell Alan S. , Mercier Patrick P. , Wang Joseph
Published: August 2018

The development of wearable biosensors for continuous noninvasive monitoring of target biomarkers is limited to assays of a single sampled biofluid. An example of simultaneous noninvasive sampling and analysis of two different biofluids using a single wearable epidermal platform is demonstrated here. The concept is successfully realized through sweat stimulation (via transdermal pilocarpine delivery) at an anode, alongside extraction of interstitial fluid (ISF) at a cathode. The system thus allows on‐demand, controlled sampling of the two epidermal biofluids at the same time, at two physically separate locations (on the same flexible platform) containing different electrochemical biosensors for monitoring the corresponding biomarkers. Such a dual biofluid sampling and analysis concept is implemented using a cost‐effective screen‐printing technique with body‐compliant temporary tattoo materials and conformal wireless readout circuits to enable real‐time measurement of biomarkers in the sampled epidermal biofluids. The performance of the developed wearable device is demonstrated by measuring sweat‐alcohol and ISF‐glucose in human subjects consuming food and alcoholic drinks. The different compositions of sweat and ISF with good correlations of their chemical constituents to their blood levels make the developed platform extremely attractive for enhancing the power and scope of next‐generation noninvasive epidermal biosensing systems.
Fully Functional Logic‐In‐Memory Operations Based on a Reconfigurable Finite‐State Machine Using a Single Memristor
Authors: Xu Nuo , Yoon Kyung Jean , Kim Kyung Min , Fang Liang , Hwang Cheol Seong
Published: August 2018

Memristor offers a promising logic‐in‐memory (LIM) functionality to achieve the futuristic in‐memory computing machine, which may solve the problem of the “von Neumann bottleneck” in the conventional computer architecture. A sequential logic concept is capable of achieving LIM based on the finite‐state machine (FSM) using a single bipolar (BRS) or complementary resistive switching (CRS) memristor, where 14 of the 16 two‐input Boolean logic functions (XOR and XNOR are missing) are mapped between the resistance state and the terminal voltages. In this paper, a new FSM‐LIM concept based on a reconfigurable finite‐state machine (RFSM logic) is proposed, which is experimentally confirmed by a diode‐integrated single unipolar memristor. The scope of application of the proposed concept is further extended to three other asymmetric resistive switching devices, demonstrating the universality of the RFSM logic. With the use of different voltage conditions to denote logic input “1,” the function of FSM is reconfigured between the two state‐transition equations. Through the triggering of the two state‐transition equations alternatively, all the 16 Boolean logic functions can be achieved in three steps at most, without the assistance of reading operation. These correspond to the logical completeness and nonvolatility.
A Facile Strategy to Construct Amorphous Spinel‐Based Electrocatalysts with Massive Oxygen Vacancies Using Ionic Liquid Dopant
Authors: Sun Jing , Guo Niankun , Shao Zhiyu , Huang Keke , Li Yaowen , He Feng , Wang Qin
Published: August 2018

Oxygen vacancies are demonstrated to be beneficial to various electrocatalytic reactions. However, integrating oxygen vacancies into an amorphous catalyst with a large specific surface area, and investigating its effect on the oxygen evolution reaction remains a great challenge. Herein, oxygen vacancies are introduced into an amorphous N, P, and F tri‐doped CoFe2O4 using ionic liquid as a dopant. Simultaneously, ultrafine MoS2 nanoclusters are anchored onto its surface to increase the specific surface area. The vacancy‐rich MoS2/NPF‐CoFe2O4 exhibits an overpotential of 250 mV and a small Tafel slope of 41 mV dec−1, which is the best spinel‐based oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts so far. The excellent performance is attributed to massive oxygen vacancies, amorphous structure, large surface area, and synergistic coupling effects among active species. Density‐functional theory calculations reveal that the electronic structure of the catalyst can be modulated in the presence of heteroatoms and MoS2 nanoclusters, and then the energy barriers of intermediates are decreased as well, which enhances the OER performance. This design not only provides a simple strategy to construct amorphous structures with abundant oxygen vacancies using ionic liquid‐dopants, but also presents an in‐depth insight into the OER mechanism in alkaline solution.
Extended Conjugation Length of Nonfullerene Acceptors with Improved Planarity via Noncovalent Interactions for High‐Performance Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Liu Dongxue , Kan Bin , Ke Xin , Zheng Nan , Xie Zengqi , Lu Di , Liu Yongsheng
Published: August 2018

Three low‐bandgap nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) IDTO‐T‐4F, IDTO‐Se‐4F, and IDTO‐TT‐4F with extended conjugation length are designed and synthesized. Various π‐spacers, thiophene, selenophene, and thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene are incorporated to extend the conjugated length and enhance the backbone planarity via noncovalent O···S or O···Se interactions. These NFAs exhibit strong light absorption in the range of 600–900 nm with narrow bandgaps between 1.38 and 1.45 eV. By blending with a wide‐bandgap donor material PBDB‐T, organic solar cells (OSCs) based on these NFAs all yield high efficiency over 10% with low energy losses ranging from 0.52 to 0.59 eV. Importantly, as a result of relatively high lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level, large hole and electron mobility in blend film, and low charge carrier recombination loss, optimized devices based on IDTO‐T‐4F exhibit a large open‐circuit voltage of 0.864 V, a high short‐circuit current density of 20.12 mA cm−2, and a notable fill factor of 72.7%, leading to an impressive efficiency of 12.62%, which represents the best performance for NFA OSCs using noncovalent interactions in acceptor molecule design. The results indicate that optimizing the conjugation length and backbone planarity via intramolecular noncovalent O···S or O···Se interactions is a useful strategy for NFA materials invention toward high‐performance solar cells.
Universal correlation for gas hydrates suppression temperature of inhibited systems: III. salts and organic inhibitors
Authors: Hu Yue , Sa Jeong‐Hoon , Lee Bo Ram , Sum Amadeu K.
Published: August 2018

In Parts I and II, the Hu‐Lee‐Sum (HLS) correlation was developed and demonstrated to have an inherent generality and simplicity to predict structures I and II gas hydrates suppression temperature for both single and mixed salts systems. Utilization of thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors (THIs) is common practice in industry to prevent hydrate formation. Therefore, the HLS correlation is extended to predict hydrate suppression temperature with either single or mixed THIs, including any combination of inorganic salts and organic inhibitors. It is verified that hydrate equilibrium conditions with organic inhibitors also shows nearly independence of the water activity on temperature. In addition, additive contribution of salts and organic inhibitors to the water activity are used to determine the hydrate suppression temperature. A comprehensive comparison between the literature data and predicted results demonstrate the reliability of the HLS correlation for any combination of inorganic salts and organic inhibitors. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical EngineersAIChE J, 64: 4097–4109, 2018
Consequences of Inclined and Dual Jet Impingement in Stagnant Liquid and Stratified Layers
Authors: Jain Abhinav , Sanjay Vatsal , Das Arup Kumar
Published: August 2018

Different configurations of bubble entrainment have been explored inside a liquid pool resulting from the impact of plunging jets. Impingement of an inclined jet and the subsequent asymmetries are studied in present effort. The aberrations from the symmetric case have been realized in the genesis of the entrainment, including the formation and collapse of the annular cavity developed immediately after the impact. Furthermore, the three‐dimensional association of bubble population has been found to be skewed in the direction of inertia of liquid jets. The density of bubbles along a particular azimuthal plane has been tracked to quantify the intensity of entrainment in case of jet–jet interaction at different configurations. Toward the end, impingement of different fluid jets on a stratified kerosene–water layer is illustrated and complex interfacial shapes are described as an assemblage of emulsions, encapsulations, and liquid fingers. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 372–384, 2019
Experimental and numerical characterization of a new structured packing for CO2 capture
Authors: Hüser Nicole , Yazgi Murat , Hugen Thorsten , Rietfort Thomas , Kenig Eugeny Y.
Published: August 2018

Structured packings with a low pressure drop can reduce the energy consumption of CO2 capture plants. In this work, an experimental and a numerical study of a new structured packing with an inclination angle of 75° were carried out. The packing performance was compared to that of a state‐of‐the‐art packing with an inclination angle of 45°. Experimental results revealed that the specific pressure drop can be reduced by over 90%, whereas for the separation efficiency, only a small reduction was found. Simulations were conducted for industrial‐scale flue‐gas conditions of a gas‐fired and a coal‐fired power plant. For the coal‐fired power plant, only a slight reduction of the separation efficiency was found, while for the gas‐fired power plant, there was even no reduction. Thus, both experimental and simulation results revealed a high potential of the new packing, which appears to be a good alternative to conventional packings in CO2 capture applications. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 4053–4065, 2018
Surveillance of cancer risks for firefighters, police, and armed forces among men in a Canadian census cohort
Authors: Harris M. Anne , Kirkham Tracy L. , MacLeod Jill S. , Tjepkema Michael , Peters Paul A. , Demers Paul A.
Published: August 2018

Background

Firefighters, police, and armed services may be exposed to hazards such as combustion by‐products and shift work.

Methods

The CanCHEC cohort linked 1991 census data to the Canadian cancer registry for follow up. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate risks for firefighter, police, or armed forces compared to workers in other occupations.

Results

The cohort of 1 108 410 men included 4535 firefighters, 10 055 police, and 9165 armed forces. For firefighters, elevated risks were noted for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HR: 2.89, 95%CI: 1.29‐6.46), melanoma (HR: 1.67, 95%CI: 1.17‐2.37), and prostate cancer (HR: 1.18, 95%CI: 1.01‐1.37). Police had elevated risks for melanoma (HR:1.69, 95%CI: 1.32‐2.16) and prostate cancer (HR:1.28, 95%CI: 1.14‐1.42). No significant associations were found for armed forces workers.

Conclusions

Canadian firefighters, police, and armed services, may be at an increased risk of developing certain cancers. Results suggested that a healthy worker effect may influence risk estimates.
Growth in achondroplasia: Development of height, weight, head circumference, and body mass index in a European cohort
Authors: Merker Andrea , Neumeyer Luitgard , Hertel Niels Thomas , Grigelioniene Giedre , Mäkitie Outi , Mohnike Klaus , Hagenäs Lars
Published: August 2018

As growth references for achondroplasia are limited to reports from United States, Japan, Argentina, and Australia, the aim of this study was to construct growth references for height, weight, head circumference, and body mass index (BMI) from a European cohort of children with achondroplasia and to discuss the development of these anthropometric variables. A mix of cross‐sectional and longitudinal, retrospective, and prospective data from 466 children with achondroplasia and 4,375 measuring occasions were modeled with generalized additive model for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS) to sex‐specific references for ages 0 to 20 years. Loss in height position, that is, reduction in height standard deviation scores, occurred mainly during first 2 years of life while pubertal growth seemed normal if related to adult height. Adult height was 132 cm in boys and 124 cm in girls with a variability comparable to that of the general population and seems to be remarkably similar in most studies of children with achondroplasia. BMI had a syndrome‐specific development that was not comparable to BMI development in the general population. Weight and BMI might be misleading when evaluating, for example, metabolic health in achondroplasia. Head circumference reached adult head size earlier than in the general population. Increased tempo of head circumference growth necessitates thus close clinical follow‐up during first postnatal years.
Mucopolysaccharidosis III in Taiwan: Natural history, clinical and molecular characteristics of 28 patients diagnosed during a 21‐year period
Authors: Lin Hsiang‐Yu , Chuang Chih‐Kuang , Lee Chung‐Lin , Tu Ru‐Yi , Lo Yun‐Ting , Chiu Pao Chin , Niu Dau‐Ming , Fang Yi‐Ya , Chen Tzu‐Lin , Tsai Fuu‐Jen , Hwu Wuh‐Liang , Lin Shio Jean , Chang Tung‐Ming , Lin Shuan‐Pei
Published: August 2018

Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III, Sanfilippo syndrome) has a variable age of onset and variable rate of progression. However, information regarding the natural history of this disorder in Asian populations is limited. A retrospective analysis was carried out for 28 patients with MPS III (types IIIA [n = 3], IIIB [n = 23], and IIIC [n = 2]; 15 males and 13 females; median age, 8.2 years; age range, 2.7–26.5 years) seen in six medical centers in Taiwan from January 1996 through October 2017. The median age at confirmed diagnosis was 4.6 years. The most common initial symptom was speech delay (75%), followed by hirsutism (64%) and hyperactivity (54%). Both z scores for height and weight were negatively correlated with age (r = –.693 and −0.718, respectively; p < .01). The most prevalent clinical manifestations were speech delay (100%) and intellectual disability (100%), followed by hirsutism (93%), hyperactivity (79%), coarse facial features (68%), sleep disorders (61%), and hepatosplenomegaly (61%). Ten patients (36%) had epilepsy, and the median age at the first seizure was 11 years. Thirteen patients (46%) experienced at least one surgical procedure. At the time of the present study, 7 of the 28 patients had passed away at the median age of 13.0 years. Molecular studies showed an allelic heterogeneity without clear genotype and phenotype correlations. MPS IIIB is the most frequent subtype among MPS III in the Taiwanese population. An understanding of the natural history of MPS III may allow early diagnosis and timely management of the disease facilitating better treatment outcomes.
Epidemiology of anophthalmia and microphthalmia: Prevalence and patterns in Texas, 1999–2009
Authors: Chambers Tiffany M. , Agopian A. J. , Lewis Richard A. , Langlois Peter H. , Danysh Heather E. , Weber Kari A. , Shaw Gary M. , Mitchell Laura E. , Lupo Philip J.
Published: August 2018

Anophthalmia and microphthalmia are a set of rare, yet severe, birth defects considered to be part of a spectrum of developmental ocular malformations ranging from smaller than average to completely absent eyes. Despite their clinical significance, little is known about the etiologies of these conditions. The goal of this study was to expand our understanding of the epidemiology of anophthalmia and microphthalmia. Data for this population‐based assessment were obtained from the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR) and Center for Health Statistics for the period 1999–2009. Descriptive analyses and estimates of birth prevalence and prevalence ratios (PR) were determined for this defect. There were 1,262 definite anophthalmia and microphthalmia patients identified in the TBDR, with an overall combined prevalence of 3.0 per 10,000 live births. More than half (55.7%) of the patients had at least one chromosome abnormality or syndrome. In addition, 92.4% of nonsyndromic patients (i.e., have no recorded chromosome abnormalities or syndromes) had at least one additional birth defect. After adjustment for multiple factors, the prevalence of nonsyndromic anophthalmia and microphthalmia was higher among mothers who had ≥2 previous fetal deaths (PR = 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.97) and among mothers with any reported diabetes (PR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.49–2.90). Our results confirm that children with anophthalmia and microphthalmia frequently have genetic syndromes or are born with other major birth defects. Our findings add to the limited body of literature on anophthalmia and microphthalmia as well as help define subgroups of women who are more likely to have children with this malformation.
Behavioral and psychological features in girls and women with triple‐X syndrome
Authors: Freilinger Petra , Kliegel David , Hänig Susann , Oehl‐Jaschkowitz Barbara , Henn Wolfram , Meyer Jobst
Published: August 2018

Triple‐X syndrome is a common sex chromosome aneuploidy, which appears in 1 out of 1,000 females. The aim of our study was to describe the behavioral features of a large group of girls and women with triple‐X in comparison to a control group. A total of 72 subjects with triple‐X and 69 subjects of an age‐matched control group were included. Psychological and behavioral questionnaires were allocated to three age groups, representing a range of ages from young childhood to adulthood. Regarding the females between 4 and 7 years of age, we found significant differences for social problems, attention problems, and school performance. For the age group 8–17 years, we found larger significant differences for the majority of the scales listed in the child behavior checklist. The most significant differences (p < .001) were from total behavior problems, internalizing problems, and four other scales. Young females with triple‐X have significantly lower general self‐esteem, especially concerning school and family. In the adults, there were significant differences concerning psychological symptoms and distress, with higher scores in the triple‐X subjects. Regardless, their mean scores were still in the normal range. We did not find clinical evidence for more than 50% of the triple‐X females in any age group, indicating that approximately half of them do not have behavioral problems, and that more than 60% do not differ in their competence from the control group. However, our findings suggest that triple‐X influences mental health and the overall well‐being of the individuals across their whole life spans.
Studying Down syndrome recognition probabilities in Thai children with de‐identified computer‐aided facial analysis
Authors: Vorravanpreecha Nattariya , Lertboonnum Thanayoot , Rodjanadit Rungrote , Sriplienchan Pak , Rojnueangnit Kitiwan
Published: August 2018

Craniofacial dysmorphism recognition is the first step in diagnosing most genetic syndromes. However, the number of genetic syndromes is enormous, and the specific facial features are difficult to memorize. For clinical practice, recent advances in artificial intelligence can be of use. One such tool, Face2Gene (FDNA, Inc., Boston, MA), is an innovative free group of applications, that helps clinicians recognize possible genetic syndromes from patients’ facial two‐dimensional photos. The initial data set used to train this technology consisted primarily of Caucasian patients. Because ethnic differences affect patients’ facial features, the recognition probability in Asian patients may be limited. Our aim was to test the technology's recognition probability on Thai children with Down Syndrome (DS) as compared to Thai children without DS (non‐DS). Two separate control groups of Thai non‐DS children, either unaffected or having other syndromes, were included. Frontal photographs were obtained from all the participants. All 30 children with DS were recognized as DS in the top 10 syndrome‐matches (100% sensitivity), and 27 were in the first ranking of suggested syndromes. Eighteen non‐DS were recognized as DS (87.2% specificity) with an accuracy of 89%. We present a scientific basis for this novel tool, useful in the clinic where patients are of a different ethnicity unfamiliar to the evaluator. However, Face2Gene cannot be considered a replacement for clinicians’ knowledge of phenotypes. Further studies on other genetic syndromes/ethnicities being identified by software algorithms are needed.