Search

ABSTRACTCritical-thinking skills are a desired higher education outcome and a primary goal in education. This research focuses on fostering college students’ critical thinking through reflective writing. During an 18-week study, a total of 60 English majors were recruited. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected, including 1) the pre- and post-tests of the 5-point Likert scale Reflection Questionnaire, and 2) nine students’ reflective essays. The results showed that students significantly improved their critical thinking and revealed four prevalent changes. More specifically, self-worth and volunteerism (two major conceptual changes), as well as patience and gratefulness (two key behavioral changes) stood out among these changes. The implications of using reflective writing to promote students’ critical thinking are discussed.

AbstractPrevious research has addressed the effects of digital storytelling (DST) on verbal English competence and demonstrated that students engage more and learn more effectively. However, the relationship between learner engagement and speaking competence needs a further analysis of the methods wherein a specific DST tool facilitates learner engagement in the learning process and how it influences their speaking skills. Therefore, this study employed Toontastic—an app with the principles of scaffolding embedded to assist learners in producing DST. Results indicated that learners made significant progress in speaking competence as regards fluency and language use; but no significant correlations were observed between learner engagement and fluency as well as between engagement and language use; and topic familiarity and scaffolding embedded within DST were the two major methods in which the app, Toontastic, supported learners in improving speaking competence and learning engagement. The study concluded that using DST helps learners successfully communicate. Implications are disscussed.

ABSTRACTThe hybrid precoding design is considered for a millimeter-wave (mmWave) multi-user (MU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) downlink communication system. A small quantity of more energy-efficient switches and inverters (SIs) are being substituted for a large amount of high-resolution phase shifters (PSs) in the analog precoder of the mmWave MIMO system. This SI-based hybrid precoding architecture reduces significantly both the hardware complexity and energy consumption and thus enhances substantially the transmission energy efficiency (EE). On the basis of the achievable sum-rate (ASR) maximization, the SI-based overlapped subarray (OSA) hybrid precoding is exploited. Compared with the traditional SI-based sub-connected (SC) array configurations, the greater the overlapping antenna elements, the better the transmission ASR performance, and the nearer the fully PS-based precoding configuration. Finally, the SI-based hybrid precoding is equipped with the Gram–Schmidt orthogonalization (GSO) based dynamic subarray mapping and antenna selection (AS) mechanism to improve further the EE measure while maintaining excellent ASR performance.

Rutting resistance is an important consideration for paving asphalt mixes. The cause of rutting is a shear strain in the asphalt pavement structure. Here, the rutting behavior of asphalt pavements was evaluated through laboratory simulations using the Hamburg Wheel-Tracking Test (HWTT), UK Wheel-Tracking Test (UKWTT), and Scaled Accelerated Load Simulator (SALS) test. The correlation between the three simulation tests was analyzed to determine the conversion factor (CF). Two parameters of temperature and speed of simulation testing were evaluated in this study. Subsequently, the representative frequency and dynamic modulus were calculated with consideration of viscoelasticity and time–temperature superposition. Using logical analysis, CF between the three simulation tests was validated. The results showed that the full-scale test yielded the highest stiffness modulus of 4,015 MPa, and the UKWTT yielded the lowest stiffness modulus of 1,857 MPa at 60 °C. From the HWTT results, it was found that the impact of moisture damage at 40 °C is not substantial compared to that at 50 °C. The conversion factor of HWTT at 40 °C, HWTT at 50 °C and UKWTT at 60 °C to SALS were 0.92, 0.74, and 0.63, respectively. Furthermore, the similar rutting performance among SALS, HWTT at 40 °C in dry and wet conditions, and HWTT at 50 °C in dry condition can be observed when the CF is applied. Lastly, the effectiveness of the conversion factor is diminished with increasing rutting damage.

In the past decade, numerous studies have shown that incorporating geogrid in the pavement could effectively improve the pavement performance. The major benefit of using geogrid in the flexible pavement is to improve its rutting performance as the result of the reinforcement function of geogrid. Mechanical-empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG) developed to provide the pavement performance prediction throughout its design life. However, MEPDG is not able to consider the effect of incorporating geogrid in the flexible pavement. In this study, a design procedure was proposed to obtain an equivalent geogrid pavement structure, which satisfies MEPDG design input requirements. In this procedure, a 2D finite element method was used to simulate geogrid reinforced and non-reinforced pavement structures. The iteration process based on stress–strain analysis of finite element model (FEM) used to obtain an equivalent structure input for MEPDG. The geogrid reinforced rutting performance can be predicted by analyzing the equivalent geogrid structure using MEPDG. A significant life improvement of pavement with geogrid was observed compared to pavement without geogrid. The results showed that the incorporating of geogrid in asphalt pavement layer significantly reduce the rutting of pavement layer, thus will contribute to extension of pavement service life.

Mechanoreceptors are essential components of the somatosensory system that convert received mechanical signals into electrical signals that can be sent to the brain. These receptors provide the ability to sense a variety of stimuli from the external environment, including touch, vibration, and heat. Mechanoreceptors do not convert signals monotonically; in addition, several fundamental characteristics are embedded in mechanoreceptors, including thresholds and adaptation properties. In this study, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated a van der Waals stacking field-effect transistor (VS-FET), which was inspired by an FET with a floating gate structure, to realize the important characteristics of mechanoreceptors. The VS-FET can not only demonstrate the fundamental biological functions but also produce other unique properties such as fatigue and accommodation. We also integrated an artificial touch receptor with an array of the proposed VS-FET to demonstrate the feasibility of these devices experimentally in artificial humanoid systems.

Flexible manipulation of the carrier transport behaviors in two-dimensional materials determines their values of practical application in logic circuits. Here, we demonstrated the carrier-type manipulation in field-effect transistors (FETs) containing α-phase molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) by a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process in dry air for hole-dominated and electron-beam (EB) treatment for electron-dominated FETs. EB treatment induced a distinct shift of the transfer curve by around 135 V compared with that of the FET-processed RTA treatment, indicating that the carrier density of the EB-treated FET was enhanced by about 1 order of magnitude. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that the atomic ratio of Te decreased from 66.4 to 60.8% in the MoTe2channel after EB treatment. The Fermi level is pinned near the new energy level resulting from the Te vacancies produced by the EB process, leading to the electron-dominant effect of the MoTe2FET. The electron-dominated MoTe2FET showed excellent stability for more than 700 days. Thus, we not only realized the reversible modulation of carrier-type in layered MoTe2FETs but also demonstrated MoTe2channels with desirable performance, including long-term stability.

English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) students often encounter difficulties with English writing due to limited vocabulary and an inability to integrate reading and writing skills effectively. Summary writing is one of the most effective means of integrating English reading comprehension while developing writing skills. However, writing summaries requires unobservable cognitive processes of identifying main ideas in order to convert paragraphs into concise statements. This study contributes to the existing literature on summary writing by developing and testing an online summary writing system designed to support the cognitive processes of integrated reading and writing. The findings highlight the key factors and functions involved in the design system to support summary construction. The online writing system comprises Selecting, Organizing, and Integrating (SOI) modules with the functions of Vocabulary Helper, Online Dictionary, and Reference tools. The participants were 20 students in a reading class who were recruited to receive 11 weeks of English summary writing instruction. The data included pre- and post-TOEIC reading test scores, summary writing efficiency, action logs in the online system, and responses to a questionnaire. The results showed that the system functioned to scaffold students’ integrated reading and writing with the SOI functions, providing them with opportunities for repeated review of the selected vocabulary, main ideas, and important sentences. These were the fundamental factors in facilitating summary writing processes. Pedagogical implications are discussed.

The oxygen (O2)-dependent resistance change of multilayered molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) channels was characterized. A variation of the channel resistance could reproducibly determine relative O2content (denoted as the O2index). We found that Joule heating in a layered MoTe2field-effect transistor caused the O2index to decrease drastically from 100 to 12.1% in back gate modulation. Furthermore, Joule heating caused effective O2desorption from the MoTe2surface and repeatable O2detection by multilayered MoTe2channels was realized. This work not only explored the influence of O2on the electrical properties of multilayered MoTe2channels but also revealed that MoTe2channels are promising for sensing O2in an environmental condition.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of the vertical deformation between the scaled-down pavement test and full-scale pavement structure according to the theory of similitude-based analysis procedure. Finite element analysis used to investigate and establish the relationship between the scaled-down and full-scale models. Four scaled-down models with scaling factors of 0.9, 0.75, 0.6, and 0.45 with two types of constitutive models of asphalt concrete materials, elastic and viscoelastic, are considered. The results show that the vertical deformation in the full-scale model achieved by applying a vertical shift to the vertical deformation in the scaled-down model. The vertical shift factor varies linearly in normal and logarithm scale with the scaling factor from 0.9 to 0.45 for linear elastic and viscoelastic material, respectively. Moreover, this study proposes a systematic analysis procedure to determine the testing temperature in the SALS test at a specific loading speed by using the time–temperature superposition principle. This study contributes considerably to preliminary understanding of the relationship between the scaled-down tester in the laboratory and the full-scale model according to the theory of similitude.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are drawing growing attention for next-generation electronics and optoelectronics owing to its atomic thickness and unique physical properties. One of the challenges posed by 2D materials is the large source/drain (S/D) series resistance due to their thinness, which may be resolved by thickening the source and drain regions. Recently explored lateral graphene–MoS21−3 and graphene–WS21,4 heterostructures shed light on resolving the mentioned issues owing to their superior ohmic contact behaviors. However, recently reported field-effect transistors (FETs) based on graphene–TMD heterostructures have only shown n-type characteristics. The lack of p-type transistor limits their applications in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor electronics. In this work, we demonstrate p-type FETs based on graphene–WSe2lateral heterojunctions grown with the scalable CVD technique. Few-layer WSe2is overlapped with the multilayer graphene (MLG) at MLG–WSe2junctions such that the contact resistance is reduced. Importantly, the few-layer WSe2only forms at the junction region while the channel is still maintained as a WSe2monolayer for transistor operation. Furthermore, by imposing doping to graphene S/D, 2 orders of magnitude enhancement in Ion/Ioffratio to ∼108and the unipolar p-type characteristics are obtained regardless of the work function of the metal in ambient air condition. The MLG is proposed to serve as a 2D version of emerging raised source/drain approach in electronics.

To validate a conceptual short-form health literacy 12 items questionnaire (HL-SF12) in patient populations.

This study is aimed at evaluating the rate of long-term aging of WMA compared to conventional hot-mix-asphalt (HMA). A test section with recorded traffic and weather information was designated in this study. Field cores of two WMAs and one conventional HMA were taken from the field periodically. Both mix and binder properties of retrieved were measured in the laboratory. The resilient modulus and indirect tensile test were performed to characterize mixture properties. The rheological properties of extracted binder were measured by the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) in order to obtain the complex shear modulus (G*) as well as the phase angle (δ) of binder with and without the WMA additives.

Increasing evidence suggests that chronic, low-grade inflammation may be a common soil involving the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease. We examined the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, an extensively studied biomarker of low-grade inflammation, and the MetS in a representative sample of Chinese adults in Taiwan. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 4234 subjects [mean (±SD) age, 47.1 (±18.2) years; 46.4 % males] who participated in a population-based survey on prevalences of hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in Taiwan. CRP levels were measured by the immunoturbidimetric CRP-latex high-sensitivity assay. The MetS was defined by an unified criteria set by several major organizations. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with logistic regression model. Overall, there were 938 subjects with MetS among 4,234 participants, resulting in a prevalence rate of 22.1 %. A significantly progressive increase in the prevalence of MetS across quartiles of CRP was observed (pfor trend <0.001). Participants in the second, third, and upper quartiles of CRP had significantly higher risk of having MetS when compared with those in the lowest quartile [adjusted ORs (95 % CIs) were 2.18 (1.62–2.94), 4.39 (3.31–5.81), and 7.11 (5.39–9.38), respectively; pfor trend <0.001]. Furthermore, there was a strong stepwise increase in CRP levels as the number of components of the MetS increased. The prevalence of MetS showed a graded increase according to CRP concentrations. The possible utility of CRP concentration as a marker for MetS risk awaits further evaluation in prospective studies.Increasing evidence suggests that chronic, low-grade inflammation may be a common soil involving the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease. We examined the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, an extensively studied biomarker of low-grade inflammation, and the MetS in a representative sample of Chinese adults in Taiwan. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 4234 subjects [mean (±SD) age, 47.1 (±18.2) years; 46.4 % males] who participated in a population-based survey on prevalences of hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in Taiwan. CRP levels were measured by the immunoturbidimetric CRP-latex high-sensitivity assay. The MetS was defined by an unified criteria set by several major organizations. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with logistic regression model. Overall, there were 938 subjects with MetS among 4,234 participants, resulting in a prevalence rate of 22.1 %. A significantly progressive increase in the prevalence of MetS across quartiles of CRP was observed (pfor trend <0.001). Participants in the second, third, and upper quartiles of CRP had significantly higher risk of having MetS when compared with those in the lowest quartile [adjusted ORs (95 % CIs) were 2.18 (1.62–2.94), 4.39 (3.31–5.81), and 7.11 (5.39–9.38), respectively; pfor trend <0.001]. Furthermore, there was a strong stepwise increase in CRP levels as the number of components of the MetS increased. The prevalence of MetS showed a graded increase according to CRP concentrations. The possible utility of CRP concentration as a marker for MetS risk awaits further evaluation in prospective studies.

Scabies is a global problem. Transmission of scabies is usually due to direct or indirect contact. Delay in diagnosis may result in the spread of the scabies mite. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important.

This study, part of the NCHRP 9-45 Project, analyzed the effect of mineral filler properties on asphalt mastic and the rutting potential of asphaltic mixture. The mineral filler properties were characterized by four tests: Rigden voids (RV), fineness modulus (FM), calcium oxide (CaO) content, and methylene blue value. The rheological properties of asphalt binder and mastic were characterized with the use of apparent viscosity and multiple stress creep recovery tests. Dynamic modulus and flow number tests were conducted to examine the asphaltic mixture rutting potential. The tested mixtures included several variables: four asphalt binder types, including virgin and polymer modified; two aggregate gradations; and a selected group of fillers. The study concluded that asphalt mastic performance was significantly affected by the fractional voids in the filler and possibly by the CaO content and FM. This effect, however, depended on binder type. On the one hand, the styrene-butadiene-styrene modified binder showed the strongest effect as a result of the mineral filler inclusion when tested as mastic. On the other hand, RV and CaO content showed relatively greater correlation with the mixture rutting potential, as compared with other filler properties. Addition of RV improved the prediction models for dynamic modulus and flow number. The effect of RV on the mixture rutting potential was more pronounced for the coarse mixture than for the fine mixture.

This study, part of the NCHRP 9–45 Project, analyzed the effect of mineral filler properties on asphalt mastic and the rutting potential of asphaltic mixture. The mineral filler properties were characterized by four tests: Rigden voids (RV), fineness modulus (FM), calcium oxide (CaO) content, and methylene blue value. The rheological properties of asphalt binder and mastic were characterized with the use of apparent viscosity and multiple stress creep recovery tests. Dynamic modulus and flow number tests were conducted to examine the asphaltic mixture rutting potential. The tested mixtures included several variables: four asphalt binder types, including virgin and polymer modified; two aggregate gradations; and a selected group of fillers. The study concluded that asphalt mastic performance was significantly affected by the fractional voids in the filler and possibly by the CaO content and FM. This effect, however, depended on binder type. On the one hand, the styrene–butadiene–styrene modified binder showed the strongest effect as a result of the mineral filler inclusion when tested as mastic. On the other hand, RV and CaO content showed relatively greater correlation with the mixture rutting potential, as compared with other filler properties. Addition of RV improved the prediction models for dynamic modulus and flow number. The effect of RV on the mixture rutting potential was more pronounced for the coarse mixture than for the fine mixture.

Hot-poured bituminous crack sealing has been widely accepted as a routine preventative maintenance practice. With proper installation, the sealing is expected to extend pavement service life by 3 to 5 years. However, current specifications for selection of crack sealants correlate poorly with field performance; hence, a set of new testing methods, based on sealant rheological and mechanical properties, was developed recently. Measurements of the mechanical properties of crack sealant at low temperatures are among the criteria introduced as part of the developed performance-based guidelines. The main purpose of this study was to identify and validate the low-temperature selection thresholds for the newly developed performance-based guidelines for selecting hot-poured bituminous crack sealants. In this study, selection criteria for crack sealant bending beam rheometer (CSBBR) and crack sealant direct tension tester (CSDTT) tests were identified. Two performance parameters for CSBBR test were used for the selection criteria: stiffness at 240 s and average creep rate (ACR). Both parameters were identified by comparing laboratory testing results with known sealant field performance, obtained from a long-term study in Canada. The selection criterion for the CSDTT test was extendibility, on the basis of field values reported in the literature. The recommended selection criteria were used to predict the field performance of 12 sealants evaluated by the National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP). Results showed good correlation between the proposed selection thresholds and NTPEP field sealant performance.

This work describes amorphous fluorinated polymer films deposited by pulsed plasma polymerizations of octafluorotoluene (PPP-OFT) monomers on ITO glass as the hole-injection layer of organic electroluminescent (EL) devices, in order to study the influence of sample position and duty cycle on PPP-OFT film characteristics, and also to find a good process to yield a higher retention degree of monomers and lower roughness of PPP-OFT fluorocarbon films. Experimental results revealed that PPP-OFT films deposited at positions far away from the RF coil and close to the monomer inlet showed less roughness than films deposited near the high RF-flux regions. In addition, the retention of the monomers in the PPP-OFT layer will be high if the deposition is conducted near the monomer inlet but some distance away from the RF electrode. Moreover, amorphous fluorinated polymer films can be deposited with higher fluorine to carbon (F/C) ratios and CF2 contents at proper substrate positions by means of different sticking coefficients of free radicals dissociated by octafluorotoluene monomers.

Hot-poured bituminous crack sealing has been widely accepted as a routine preventative maintenance practice. With proper installation, the sealing is expected to extend pavement service life by 3 to 5 years. However, current specifications for selection of crack sealants correlate poorly with field performance; hence, a set of new testing methods, based on sealant rheological and mechanical properties, was developed recently. Measurements of the mechanical properties of crack sealant at low temperatures are among the criteria introduced as part of the developed performance-based guidelines. The main purpose of this study was to identify and validate the low-temperature selection thresholds for the newly developed performance-based guidelines for selecting hot-poured bituminous crack sealants. In this study, selection criteria for crack sealant bending beam rheometer (CSBBR) and crack sealant direct tension tester (CSDTT) tests were identified. Two performance parameters for CSBBR test were used for the selection criteria: stiffness at 240 s and average creep rate (ACR). Both parameters were identified by comparing laboratory testing results with known sealant field performance, obtained from a long-term study in Canada. The selection criterion for the CSDTT test was extendibility, on the basis of field values reported in the literature. The recommended selection criteria were used to predict the field performance of 12 sealants evaluated by the National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP). Results showed good correlation between the proposed selection thresholds and NTPEP field sealant performance.

Despite the possible benefits of implementing asphalt binder film thickness into current specifications to address durability problems, most of the related research has been theoretical and only a few attempts have been made to measure this property experimentally. The objective of this study was to investigate the concept of asphalt binder film thickness experimentally on the basis of measurements obtained by image analysis techniques, reflective light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results of the experimental program were used to gain insight into the concept of asphalt binder film thickness and its validity. Experimental results indicated that asphalt binder films coating large aggregates do not actually exist in hot-mix asphalt. Instead, what are referred to as asphalt binder films surrounding large aggregates are actually asphalt mastic films. These films are highly irregular in shape and have a thickness greater than 100 μm in the mixture considered in this study. The asphalt binder films in the mastic were observed at a thickness of 2 μm in the mixtures considered. However, these entities do not represent asphalt binder coatings around aggregates; they are only part of a blend with fine aggregates and mineral fillers. Microscopic analysis showed that air voids usually appear near the boundary between large aggregates and asphalt mastic.

Despite the possible benefits of implementing asphalt binder film thickness into current specifications to address durability problems, most of the related research has been theoretical and only a few attempts have been made to measure this property experimentally. The objective of this study was to investigate the concept of asphalt binder film thickness experimentally on the basis of measurements obtained by image analysis techniques, reflective light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results of the experimental program were used to gain insight into the concept of asphalt binder film thickness and its validity. Experimental results indicated that asphalt binder films coating large aggregates do not actually exist in hot-mix asphalt. Instead, what are referred to as asphalt binder films surrounding large aggregates are actually asphalt mastic films. These films are highly irregular in shape and have a thickness greater than 100 µm in the mixture considered in this study. The asphalt binder films in the mastic were observed at a thickness of 2 µm in the mixtures considered. However, these entities do not represent asphalt binder coatings around aggregates; they are only part of a blend with fine aggregates and mineral fillers. Microscopic analysis showed that air voids usually appear near the boundary between large aggregates and asphalt mastic.

This study describes the preparation of polyethersulfone (PES)/layered silicate nanocomposites (PLSNs) by mixing PES polymer chain into organically‐modified layered silicate in 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP) solution. Both X‐ray diffraction data and transmission electron microscopy images of PLSNs indicate that the silicate layers were almost exfoliated and randomly distributed into the PES matrix. The mechanical and barrier properties of PLSNs show remarkable enhancement in the storage modulus and water/oxygen permeability when compared with that of neat PES matrix. Surfaces modification of PES and PLSN films with various treated times, system pressures, and radio frequency (RF) powers were performed using a mixture of oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2) plasmas. The topographical and physical properties of plasma‐modified PES and PLSN surfaces were investigated using scanning probe microscopy (SPM), contact‐angle measurements, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These results indicate that the surface roughness of PLSNs with the same condition of plasma modification is lower than that of neat PES matrix and is probably due to the increase of stiffness with the presence of inorganic layered silicates in PES matrix. The surface properties of the PES and PLSNs are also changed from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. The XPS spectra suggest that the exposure of the PES and PLSNs to the plasmas led to the combination of etching reactions of polymer surface initiated by plasma and the following addition reactions of new oxygen‐ and nitrogen‐containing functional groups onto polymer surfaces to change their surface properties. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3185–3194, 2006

To establish a clear understanding of the behavior of hot-poured bituminous-based crack sealants at low service temperature and to predict their field performance, the constitutive stress–strain relationship must be described. The description of this relationship would allow accurate prediction of crack sealants’ field responses to thermal and traffic loading. The objective of this paper is to describe crack sealant constitutive behavior at low temperature by linear viscoelastic modeling (Prony series expansion). The suggested model was fitted to creep measurements obtained from a modified bending beam rheometer test setup. The experimental program included testing of three soft crack sealants having a relatively high level of polymer modification content at a temperature ranging from -28°C to -40°C. A Prony series expansion was fitted to the experimental results. To determine the time-dependent responses of crack sealants to a constant creep load, the fitted material parameters were incorporated into a three-dimensional finite element model. Measured and calculated deflections were in good agreement. This finding suggests that the constitutive behavior of crack sealants can be accurately described by the linear viscoelastic regime at low service temperatures.

To establish a clear understanding of the behavior of hot-poured bituminous-based crack sealants at low service temperature and to predict their field performance, the constitutive stress-strain relationship must be described. The description of this relationship would allow accurate prediction of crack sealants' field responses to thermal and traffic loading. The objective of this paper is to describe crack sealant constitutive behavior at low temperature by linear viscoelastic modeling (Prony series expansion). The suggested model was fitted to creep measurements obtained from a modified bending beam rheometer test setup. The experimental program included testing of three soft crack sealants having a relatively high level of polymer modification content at a temperature ranging from —28°C to —40°C. A Prony series expansion was fitted to the experimental results. To determine the time-dependent responses of crack sealants to a constant creep load, the fitted material parameters were incorporated into a three-dimensional finite element model. Measured and calculated deflections were in good agreement. This finding suggests that the constitutive behavior of crack sealants can be accurately described by the linear viscoelastic regime at low service temperatures.

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) and sinapic acid (SA) are 2 components separately isolated from 2 Asian medicinal plants, Hydnophytum formicarumJack and Salvia miltiorrhizaBunge. The antitumor activities of them were worth exploring, therefore, we examined their antitumor activities in A549, HCT116, HeLa, and Colo320 cancer cell lines by means of WST-1 assay. The results show that Tan IIA exerted far higher (IC50from 1.0 ± 0.0 to 166.3 ± 24.0 µg/mL) antiproliferative activities than SA (IC50from 2236.3 ± 484.1 to >10 000.0 µg/mL). Of the 4 cell lines, A549 cells were the most sensitive to Tan IIA; thus, we used Western blotting to explore the cytotoxic mechanisms of Tan IIA in A549 cells and found that they rely on simultaneous induction of apoptosis and necroptosis in the cells. Apoptosis was hallmarked by the induction of cleaved caspase-3 by Tan IIA and necroptosis by the necroptotic marker proteins cyclophilin A and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), as well as increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities. The necroptotic effect was confirmed by the necroptosis inhibitor necrostatin-1 (Nec-1), which eliminated these effects and restored cell survival rates. The levels of cyclophilin A decreased in response to the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, and those of cleaved caspase-3 decreased in response to Nec-1. Conclusively, Tan IIA has the potential to prevent lung cancer and the mechanism seems to be apoptosis and necroptosis, of which the relationship is mutually interdependent. This is the first report of Tan IIA eliciting necroptosis in A549 cells. Tan IIA may be used for necroptosis-based cancer therapy, especially to overcome apoptosis resistance.

Modern technology allows us to mimic biological functions with artificial devices. The human brain, including numerous neural cells that connect via synapses, enables us to handle complex tasks with ultra-low power consumption, which is one of the most important biological components that eager to emulate. Here, we propose and build a simple indium selenide (InSe)-based photonic synaptic device with unique gate tunable behaviours such as time-varying output current, auto-depression rate, and paired-pulse facilitation (PPF). A new inverse PPF behaviour is observed, characterized by the positive correlations to the time interval, which is opposite of those negative ones in previous studies. To unveil the origin of this new finding, both the substrate-dependent persistent photocurrent examination and low-frequency noise (LFN) measurements are performed to investigate the electric-controlled charge trapping/detrapping processes between the InSe and SiO2interface. Furthermore, we systematically demonstrate such the specific evolution of the flexible plasticity within a low-operation voltage and a wide range of visible spectra. Interestingly, the inverse PPF can be employed to emulate more detailed characteristics of a biological brain such as the age-related changes of synaptic plasticity in real human brains. Thus, we believed that our findings provide a proof-of-concept for systematically mimicking the brain plasticity and advancing the development of energy-efficient artificial brains.

Multifunctional devices are expected to allow development of low-cost, highly integrated, and energy-efficient electronics for the internet of things (IoT) era. Here, we demonstrate an all-two-dimensional ReSe2/h-BN/graphene heterostructure (ReSe2HS) consisting of a vertically coupled ReSe2field-effect transistor and charge storage component, which possesses multifunctional characteristics for use in electronics and optoelectronics. As an electrically controlled non-volatile memory (NVM), the ReSe2HS delivers high-performance multilevel data storage with a readout on/off current ratio exceeding 105and excellent durability (>104 s) at an ultralow Vdsof 50 mV, which benefits to the development of power saving devices. The ReSe2HS design and high-photoresponsivity ReSe2channel also achieve an energy efficient optical NVM with full-visible-spectrum distinction. Besides, the ReSe2HS displays unique ambipolarity to operate as either an inverter or frequency doubler. We further propose a power-free ReSe2HS optical memory matrix to simplify imaging systems. The ReSe2HS shows promise for use in light-programmable information storage systems and neuromorphic computation with low power consumption.