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Integrating high charge‐carrier mobility and low‐threshold lasing action in an organic semiconductor is crucial for the realization of an electrically pumped laser, but remains a great challenge. Herein, we present an organic semiconductor, named as 2,7‐di(2‐naphthyl)‐9H‐fluorene (LD‐2), which shows an unexpected high charge‐carrier mobility of 2.7 cm2 V−1 s−1 and low‐threshold lasing characteristic of 9.43 μJ cm−2 and 9.93 μJ cm−2 and high‐quality factor (Q) of 2131 and 1684 at emission peaks of 420 and 443 nm, respectively. Detailed theoretical calculations and photophysical data analysis demonstrate that a large intermolecular transfer integral of 10.36–45.16 meV together with a fast radiative transition rate of 8.0×108 s−1 are responsible for the achievement of the superior integrated optoelectronic properties in the LD‐2 crystal. These optoelectronic performances of LD‐2 are among the highest reported low‐threshold lasing organic semiconductors with efficient charge transport, suggesting its promise for research of electrically pumped organic lasers (EPOLs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecule design of organic semiconductors (OSCs) for eliminating photoresponse and maintaining high charge mobility concurrently is beneficial to realize intrinsically photostable and high‐performance organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs), which has never been reported. Here, a novel organic semiconductor TFP‐TT‐TPA with a centrosymmetric structure is synthesized. Remarkably, OFETs with TFP‐TT‐TPA show negligible photoresponse under light intensity up to 170.4 mW cm−2 (higher than sunlight intensity, about 138 mW cm−2), which ensures that the devices can work stably under sunlight. Through the single‐crystal structure and exciton dynamics analysis, it is found that the specific structure design can make strong intermolecular D–A interaction that occurs in the aggregate state, which facilitates the process of exciton quenching and thus enables the photostable OFETs. This study provides a new strategy for the design of organic semiconductors with intrinsic photostability and the construction of photostable organic optoelectronic devices for applications in light environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are crucial component of immune infiltration in tumor microenvironment (TME), and exosomes derived from TAMs contributed to the regulation of tumor progression through cellular communication. However, in bladder cancer, the role of exosomal components still remains largely unknown. In the current study, we investigated the role of exosomes derived from M2-like TAMs in the regulation of autophagy in bladder cancer (BC) cells. Methods. THP-1 cells were stimulated with IL-4 and IL-13 for the polarization of TAMs, and exosomes were extracted by ultracentrifugation. H19 overexpression plasmid and H19 siRNAs were used in the study. Fluorescent analysis was performed for GFP-LC3 detection. Levels of autophagy and potential target were confirmed by western blot assay and immunoprecipitation. Results. We found that TAMs-exosome treatment significantly enhanced autophagy in BC cells, and the expression of lncRNA H19 was greatly upregulated in TAMs-exosome. Silencing of lncRNA H19 in TAMs-exo obviously decreased the levels of LC3-II expression whereas the p62 levels were increased. Mechanistically, silencing of exosomal H19 from TAMs alleviated ULK1 stabilization in BC cells through promoting K48-linked polyubiquitination of ULK1. At last, we found that overexpression of exosomal H19 from TAMs suppressed the interaction between ULK1 and its specific E3 ligase NEDD4L in BC cells. Conclusion. We revealed the effect of TAMs-exo-contained lncRNA H19 on regulating autophagy of bladder cancer cells, which indicated that targeting TAMs-H19 is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Overexpression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) plays essential roles in tumorigenesis and tumor progression in almost all epithelium-derived cancer. Monitoring EpCAM expression in tumors can be used for the diagnosis, staging, and prognosis of cancer patients, as well as guiding the individualized treatment of EpCAM-targeted drugs. In this study, we described the synthesis and evaluation of a site-specifically [99mTc]Tc-labeled EpCAM-targeted nanobody for the SPECT/CT imaging of EpCAM expression. Methods: We first prepared the [99mTc]Tc-HYNIC-G4K; then, it was site-specifically connected to EpCAM-targeted nanobody NB4. The in vitro characteristics of [99mTc]Tc-NB4 were investigated in HT-29 (EpCAM positive) and HL-60 (EpCAM negative) cells, while the in vivo studies were performed using small-animal SPECT/CT in the subcutaneous tumor models and the lymph node metastasis model to verify the specific targeting capacity as well as the potential applications of [99mTc]Tc-NB4. Results: [99mTc]Tc-NB4 displayed a high EpCAM specificity both in vitro and in vivo. SPECT/CT imaging revealed that [99mTc]Tc-NB4 was cleared rapidly from the blood and normal organs except for the kidneys, and HT-29 tumors were clearly visualized in contrast with HL-60 tumors. The uptake value of [99mTc]Tc-NB4 in HT-29 tumors was increased continuously from 3.77 ± 0.39%ID/g at 0.5 h to 5.53 ± 0.82%ID/g at 12 h after injection. Moreover, the [99mTc]Tc-NB4 SPECT/CT could clearly image tumor-draining lymph nodes. Conclusion: [99mTc]Tc-NB4 is a broad-spectrum, specific, and sensitive SPECT radiotracer for the noninvasive imaging of EpCAM expression in the epithelium-derived cancer and revealed a great potential for the clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic phototransistors (OPTs) are playing an indispensable role in organic optoelectronics, which greatly show their promising application in optical communication, video imaging, missile guidance, and night vision. However, because the thermally activated mode dominated for thin‐film devices leads to a sharp drop in mobility at low temperatures, until now, most of the studies about OPTs are performed at room temperature, severely hindering their further potential optoelectronic application over a broad range of temperatures, especially at low temperature environment. In this work, the optoelectronic properties of a small molecule (2,6‐diphenylanthracene, DPA) based OPTs with band‐like transport are studied at low temperatures. The devices exhibit outstanding optoelectronic properties in terms of mobility (2.6 cm2 V−1 s−1), on/off ratio (≈104), detectivity (1013 Jones), and external quantum efficiency (2500%) even at 150 K, which is superior to the performance of devices with thermally activated mode. In addition, the organic photodetector at low temperatures is also fabricated. Our results demonstrate that organic π‐conjugated DPA small‐molecule has great potential in low‐temperature application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Rubrene thin films with high crystalline quality are obtained on a DPPC LB monolayer. [•] The rubrene thin films are found to be interconnected and highly ordered. [•] The crystallization process is shortly explained. [•] OTFTs devices based on those rubrene thin films exhibit high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An isotope separation on-line (ISOL) test-bench has been built at China Institute of Atomic Energy, an electron beam plasma type target/ion source selected as the ion source of the system. By bombarding selected targets with a proton beam from the HV-13 tandem, low intensity radioactive ion beam can be produced on-line. The first planned ion species is 62Zn+ and it will be used as nuclear probe to investigate the character of solid material by perturbed angular correlation and positive electron annihilation methods. Off-line tests are being carried out. The character of the target ion source and copper target to be used is described in this paper. Finally, a brief introduction of the ISOL design for the Beijing radioactive nuclear beam facility will be given. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Composite nanomaterials have recently amassed increasing interests in biomedical applications because of the limited function of pure material. This work designed a uniform and multifunctional nanoplatform (NPF) probe composed of superparamagnetic ferroferric oxide (Fe 3 O 4) cluster as core and mesoporous silica embedded with CdTeS quantum dots (QDs) as middle layer wrapped by the outer silica shell. The Fe 3 O 4 cluster core served as the magnetic and photothermal agent, and the CdTeS QDs served as the fluorescence-labelling agent. For the first time, quantities of QDs were embedded into the mesoporous silica based on electrostatic interaction and physical absorption, which are superior to the traditional crosslink-loading method. The NPF probes were successfully internalized into cancer cell with the decoration of folic acid. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), fluorescence spectrophotometer, and temperature detector were used to detect the NPF probe. The NPF probe was verified to possess excellent magnetic, fluorescent, and photothermal properties suitable for multiple medical applications. More importantly, a collaborative diagnosis–treatment probe that combines fluorescence labelling and photothermal therapy exhibited the perfect behaviour of labelling and destroying cancer cells in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited stability, compatibility, and ion transport capacity of SEI remain key challenges in the development of high-energy–density sodium metal batteries. In order to realize the rational design and facile synthesis of SEI, the influencing factors of different challenges were systematically sorted out. By improving SEI chemical/electrochemical stability, mechanical stability, and thermal stability, the voltage window and temperature range of the battery operation can be effectively broadened. Suppressing the volume effect, phase exfoliation, and phase dissolution to enhance SEI compatibility is crucial for extending battery cycle life. The stability of ion transport at the electrode–electrolyte interface is affected by the composition, structure, and homogeneity of the interfacial phase, and fast and uniform interfacial Na+ transport can enable high-rate, high-safety sodium ion battery designs. [Display omitted] • The challenges and design elements of SEI are summarized comprehensively. • The formation mechanism, characteristics, and failure mechanism of SEI are systematically reviewed. • The latest development of SEI regulation strategy is discussed. • The opportunity and research direction of interface design for long lasting sodium metal batteries are prospected. Inhomogeneous and fragile solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) leads to poor battery cycle life and safety hazards, which is a key challenge that limits the practical application of low-cost sodium metal anodes. Although sodium metal batteries based on non-aqueous liquid and solid electrolytes have made great progress in terms of interfacial chemistry and SEI regulation strategies, the relevant evaluation of SEI from the perspective of the electrolyte is not well understood. This paper reviews the formation mechanism, physicochemical properties, and failure mechanism of SEI at the interface between the sodium metal and the liquid/solid electrolyte, focusing on poor stability, compatibility, interfacial ion transport problems, and influencing factors. Recent advances in SEI regulation are summarized in terms of electrolytes, artificial interphases, and electrode engineering to achieve ideal electrochemical reversibility. The effectiveness of the SEI engineering strategies was evaluated based on a comprehensive review of the interfacial stability in different electrolyte systems. Finally, the challenges associated with rational interface design for long-lasting sodium metal batteries are discussed, along with promising avenues for the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design of transition‐metal sulfide with two‐dimensional (2D) structure and tunable edges on the nanoscale can effectively improve their activity for variously catalytic reactions. Herein, the 2D PbS nanosheets with abundant zigzag edges (e‐PbS NS), which exhibited an excellent performance for CO2 photoconversion to CO, were constructed. The zigzag edges on the PbS NS are beneficial for exposing more active sites and promoting charge separation, thereby accelerating the kinetics process of CO2 photoreduction. This study provides a strategy to regulate structure with effective edge sites for the CO2 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the main route of transmission in Asia, and characterization of HBV quasispecies is needed to further understand virus evolution and adaptation. To understand changes in HBV during mother-to-child transmission, we enrolled nine pairs of mothers and children in the study, including a set of twins. Three groups were infected with HBV genotype C, and six groups were infected with HBV genotype B. The full-length HBV genome was amplified by PCR from serum samples before antiviral treatment, the whole viral genomes from each pair were sequenced, and the complexity and diversity of the quasispecies were analyzed. The entropy of transmitted HBV in children was found to be lower than their mothers, suggesting that there was a bottleneck effect during HBV transmission from the mother to the child. Selective evolution was shown by calculating πN and πS in the whole genomes, and the highest values were obtained for the X gene, which plays a role in viral replication and immune escape. All genotype C patients and only one genotype B pair had a πN/πS greater than 1 ratio, indicating that positive selection had occurred. In addition, quasispecies were found to be different between the twin children despite having the same mother, indicating that virus evolution is host-specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of sensitivity of electrical piezoresistive sensors is critical for high‐precision and ultrasensitive detection, which mainly depends on the modulation ability of total resistance of sensor under applied pressure. However, in most of the reported sensor devices, the contact resistance and body resistance (the key parts of total resistance of sensor) generally cannot be modulated simultaneously, which results in the limited sensitivity. In this work, an ultrahighly sensitive piezoresistive pressure sensor with an exquisitely designed structure is demonstrated, providing an uncomparable advantage of synergistic modulation of contact resistance and body resistance under applied pressure. As a result, the sensor shows excellent sensing performance, with the highest sensitivity up to 11 668.6 kPa−1, the detection limit as low as 0.425 Pa, and the great stability over 20 000 cycle measurements. In respect of practical application, the high sensitivity endows the sensor with high‐precision recognition ability for detecting the weak pressure signals such as sound wave of ringtone and fluctuation of breath or pulse. These results suggest the synergistic resistance modulation to be an effective method toward piezoresistive pressure sensors with ultrahigh sensitivity and offer a new strategy for the achievement of high‐performance pressure sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transfer of CVD graphene grown on catalytic copper with an additional supporting substrate is different from that grown on the standalone copper foils, and the flexible polymer-based transfer supports are not quite suitable. For this purpose, we invented a wax-assisted crack-free graphene transfer method by taking advantage of the low polarity, high rigidity, and molecular-mixing nature of wax. Unlike other small-molecule transfer supports, the amorphous wax effectively mitigates the interfacial thermal stress caused by phase transition, enabling a clean and integral graphene transfer. Microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations reveal less doping defects of the wax-transferred graphene than its PMMA-transferred counterpart, demonstrating great electric properties with high electron and hole mobilities. Consequently, this new transfer method provides a universal solution for CVD graphene grown on various substrates, and paves the way for further extending their applications. Unlabelled Image • A novel solution for transfering CVD graphene grown on catalytic copper with an additional supporting substrate. • The molecular-mixing nature of wax allows alleviating the interfacial thermal stress typically incurred by small-molecule based transfer supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composites consisting of cubic boron nitride (cBN) as a matrix and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as reinforcing additives were fabricated by high-temperature and high-pressure sintering (HTHP). Microstructures, mechanical properties, fracture modes and toughening mechanisms of these composites were investigated. Composites exhibited excellent bending strength, wear resistance, and fracture toughness. Fracture toughness of composites reached 7.02 MPa·m1/2. Comparing to pure cBN matrix, bending strength improved from 475.27 to 600.15 MPa, and wear resistance increased by 43.23%. Such improvements of mechanical properties were mainly attributed to pullout and bridging reinforcements by CNTs. CNTs incorporation also changed fracture mode from inter-to trans-granular. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of cubic boron nitride (cBN)-diamond composites under high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) sintering. The effects of diamond content and particle size on phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties were investigated. A homogenous microstructure was obtained. Diamond as the second phase positively affected the mechanical properties of cBN composites. With the addition of 1 μm diamond, the highest bending strength and abrasive ratio of cBN composites sintered with 8 wt% diamond were 791 MPa and 2.56, respectively. The hardness of composites sintered with 12 wt% diamond reached up to 60.12 GPa. Unlabelled Image • CBN-diamond composites were synthesized by high pressure and high temperature sintering. • Mechanical properties of cBN composites with added diamond had a significant enhancement. • CBN composites are promising for cutting tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because techniques such as photolithography for inorganic materials are yet to have their equivalents for organic materials, multispecies patterning of functional organic materials at microscale resolution remains in development. This paper reports on a liquid droplet transfer printing method, that is, used for microscale patterning of multispecies materials. A transfer printing instrument is built with a multidimensional micropositioning stage, thereby enabling the technique to be used to pattern different materials on a single surface. The size range of the transferred liquid droplets can be tuned by manipulating the surface wettability and the gap between the surfaces of the sample and the stamp. The developed technique is used to prepare red–green–blue pixel patterns and microlenses integrated with color filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background H5N6 avian influenza virus (AIV) has caused sporadic, recurring outbreaks in China and Southeast Asia since 2013, with 19 human infections and 13 deaths. Seventeen of these infections occurred since December 2015, indicating a recent rise in the frequency of H5N6 cases. Methods To assess the relative threat of H5N6 virus to humans, we summarized and compared clinical data from patients infected with H5N6 (n = 19) against data from 2 subtypes of major public health concern, H5N1 (n = 53) and H7N9 (n = 160). To assess immune responses indicative of prognosis, we compared concentrations of serum cytokines/chemokines in patients infected with H5N6, H5N1, H7N9, and 2009 pandemic H1N1 and characterized specific immune responses from 1 surviving and 2 nonsurviving H5N6 patients. Results H5N6 patients were found to have higher incidences of lymphopenia and elevated alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels compared with H5N1 and H7N9 patients. Hypercytokinemia was detected at substantially higher frequencies from H5N6 patients compared to those infected with other AIV subtypes. Evaluation of adaptive immunity showed that both humoral and cellular responses could be detected in the H5N6-infected survivor, but cellular responses were absent in the nonsurvivors. In addition, the surviving patient had lower concentrations of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines compared to the nonsurvivors. Conclusions Our results support that H5N6 virus could potentially be a major public health threat, and suggest it is possible that the earlier acquisition of cellular immunity and lower concentrations of cytokines/chemokines contributed to survival in our patient. Analysis of more patient samples will be needed to draw concrete conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract With the decreased sizes of microelectronic devices, the excess heat has become one of the most important factors that shorten the lifetime of electronic components. As a result, developing materials with high-thermal conductivity is an urgent issue. In this study, we combine an ultrasonic exfoliation and evaporated self-assembly methods to prepare boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites with small (S) and large (L) sizes connected BNNS as additives. Our results indicate that BNNS/TPU nanocomposites have better thermal conductivity than TPU, and the optimum performance is achieved at 10 wt% BNNS(S/L-1/9)/TPU. This enhanced thermal conductivity is ascribed to the successful construction of effective thermal conductive pathway. The S-BNNS is connected to the adjacent L-BNNS in TPU, which can also form a dense structure. The formation of the continuous thermal conductive pathways and networks structure facilitate the heat diffusion throughout the composites, which are the key to achieving high thermal conductivity in polymer composites. Furthermore, these results may be helpful to the deeper understanding for the combined structure of fillers in polymer matrix, which will expand the scope of applications for these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films were surface fluorinated in a reaction kettle using a F2/N2 blend with 12.5% F2 by volume for the different time of 15, 30, 60, and 90 min at the same temperature of 30 °C. The chemical composition, surface morphology, wettability and thermal properties were characterized by attenuated total reflection fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), contact angle and surface energy measurement, and thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA). It is found that surface chemical composition and structure was substantially altered due to fluorination and surface morphology evolved continuously with fluorination time. The results indicate that the surface hydrophilicity of the fluorinated PET films is much higher than that of the unfluorinated PET films and increases significantly with fluorination time, as the fluorination led to a large decrease in water contact and a dramatic increase in surface energy. An increase in the number of polar groups is regarded as the main reason for the increases of hydrophilicity with fluorination time. The surface fluorination causes a slight decrease in the thermal stability of PET films because of the introduction of chain scission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To simplify the fabrication of electrode in batteries and improve the electrochemical performance, free-standing films composed of N-doped carbon incorporated TiO 2 hierarchical nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning followed by heat-treatment under a nitrogen atmosphere in this study. It is found that hierarchical nanofibers were formed at 700 °C or above due to the phase transformation and the presence of carbon matrix. The as-prepared film was tested as an anode in lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries. Electrochemical results demonstrate a high rate performance (180 mAh g −1 at 5 A g −1 in lithium ion batteries) and excellent cycle stability can be achieved in lithium-ion batteries as well as in sodium-ion batteries. This self-standing film is binder free and thus promising for scale-up applications for lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries with easy fabrication and satisfactory electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to protect the water quality of Dongting Lake, it is significant to find out its nitrogen pollution characteristics. Using long-term monthly to seasonally data (1997–2014), we investigated the spatial and temporal variations in nitrogen in Dongting Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in China. The average concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) in the eastern, southern, and western parts of the lake were 1.77, 1.56, and 1.35 mg/L, respectively, in 2014. TN pollution was generally worse in the southern area than in the western area. Concentrations showed temporal variation, and were significantly higher during the dry season than during the wet season. Based on the concentration and growth rate of TN, three different stages were identified in the long term lake data, from 1997 to 2002, from 2003 to 2008, and from 2009 to 2014, during which the concentrations and the growth rate ranged from 1.09–1.51 mg/L and 22.09%-40.03%, 1.05–1.57 mg/L and -9.05%-7.74%, and 1.68–2.02 mg/L and 57.99%-60.41%, respectively. The main controls on the lake water TN concentrations were the quality and quantity of the lake inflows, spatial and temporal variations in hydrodynamic conditions within the lake (flow velocity, flow direction), and point and nonpoint inputs from human activities. Diffuse nutrient losses from agricultural land are a significant contributor. As a priority, the local government should aim to control the pollutant inputs from upstream and non-point nutrient losses from land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Charge Transport; Crystal Engineering; Light Emission; Molecular Crystals; Organic Semiconductor EN Charge Transport Crystal Engineering Light Emission Molecular Crystals Organic Semiconductor 1 1 1 11/03/22 20221107 NES 221107 B An anthracene-based molecular crystal b with a unique "slipped herringbone" packing motif was developed by crystal engineering through terminal I tert i -butylation. Appropriate exciton-exciton coupling/electron-phonon coupling originating from the unique crystal packing induces a remarkably strong solid-state emission and efficient charge transport, as reported by Wenping Hu et al. in their Research Article (e202206825). Appropriate exciton-exciton coupling/electron-phonon coupling originating from the unique crystal packing induces a remarkably strong solid-state emission and efficient charge transport, as reported by Wenping Hu et al. in their Research Article (e202206825). [Extracted from the article]

Organic semiconductors with combinative high carrier mobility and efficient solid‐state emission are full of challenges but urgently pursued for developing new emerging optoelectronics. Herein, by delicately regulating the crystal packing of an anthracene‐based molecular crystal via terminal tert‐butylation, we developed a superior high mobility emissive molecule, 2,6‐di(6‐tert‐butylnaphthyl)anthracene (TBU‐DNA). The unique “slipped herringbone” packing motif of TBU‐DNA enables its appropriate exciton‐exciton coupling and electron‐phonon coupling, thus resulting in remarkably high solid‐state emission (photoluminescence quantum yield, ΦF≈74.9 %) and efficacious charge transport (carrier mobility, μ=5.0 cm2 V−1 s−1). Furthermore, OLETs based on TBU‐DNA show an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 1.8 %, which is among the highest EQE values for single component OLETs reported till now. This work presents a crystal engineering strategy via exquisite molecular design to realize high mobility emissive organic semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, it is believed that three-dimensional transport networks are preferable to those of lower dimensions. We demonstrate that inter-layer electronic couplings may result in a drastic decrease of charge mobilities by utilizing field-effect transistors (FET) based on two phases of titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc) crystals. The α-phase crystals with electronic couplings along two dimensions show a maximum mobility up to 26.8 cm2 V−1 s−1. In sharp contrast, the β-phase crystals with extra significant inter-layer electronic couplings show a maximum mobility of only 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1. Theoretical calculations on the bulk crystals and model slabs reveal that the inter-layer electronic couplings for the β-phase devices will diminish remarkably the device charge transport abilities owing to the coupling direction perpendicular to the current direction. This work provides new insights into the impact of the dimensionality and directionality of the packing arrangements on charge transport in organic semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, it is believed that three-dimensional transport networks are preferable to those of lower dimensions. We demonstrate that inter-layer electronic couplings may result in a drastic decrease of charge mobilities by utilizing field-effect transistors (FET) based on two phases of titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc) crystals. The α-phase crystals with electronic couplings along two dimensions show a maximum mobility up to 26.8 cm2 V−1 s−1. In sharp contrast, the β-phase crystals with extra significant inter-layer electronic couplings show a maximum mobility of only 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1. Theoretical calculations on the bulk crystals and model slabs reveal that the inter-layer electronic couplings for the β-phase devices will diminish remarkably the device charge transport abilities owing to the coupling direction perpendicular to the current direction. This work provides new insights into the impact of the dimensionality and directionality of the packing arrangements on charge transport in organic semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic complementary inverter is one of the key building blocks of some organic circuits, and the electrical performance and manufacture technique of inverter may determine its applications prospect. Through solution method, the organic complementary inverters were demonstrated based on triisopropylsilylethynyl-pentacene and N,N’-dioctyl-1,7-dicyano-perylene-(3,4:9,10)-tetracarboxylic diimide, which exhibited low operation voltage (4–10 V), high gain (12–27), large noise margin (>60% of 1/ 2V\mathrm {dd}) , low static power dissipation (tens of nanowatts), and a propagation delay time of $\sim 0.42$ ms. The solution processibility and overall performance of the inverter are highly promising for the applications in organic circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: In the present work we describe the electronic properties of octadecylsiloxane (ODS) adsorbed on 6H-SiC(0001). A quantitative analysis of the C 1s region of the functionalized samples by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed a surface coverage of about one monolayer. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the organic film is located about E b =−5.3eV below the Fermi level as determined by ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). Inverse photoemission (IPE) determined the energetic position of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) about E u =3.7eV above the Fermi level. Thus the HOMO–LUMO energy gap is determined to about 9eV for the present system. A comparison between the respective electronic states of the substrate and the adsorbate revealed barrier heights for charge transport from the substrate into the adsorbate, 3.3eV and 2.7eV for electrons and holes, respectively. The time evolution of the collected IPE spectra indicates that the LUMO is mainly attributed to antibonding bonds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Thiophene-phenylene co-oligomers with cyano and dicyanovinyl substituents at different positions were synthesized. Their stability and energy levels were estimated through thermal gravimetric analysis, UV–vis absorption spectra and electrochemistry. Interestingly, the absorption of BTCV covered the range of 430–610nm, and thin film transistors of BTCV exhibited p-type behavior with high stability, suggesting BTCV a good candidate for solar cell. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Increasing the alignment of thin films, which leads to anisotropy, is an attractive way to improve the performance of organic devices. A highly controllable and reproducible method to fabricate organic field effect transistors with large anisotropic ratios was proposed in this paper. The surface of the dielectric layer was etched to form patterns through conventional semiconductor processing. Transistors having current direction perpendicular to or parallel to the direction of the patterns were fabricated and characterized. The mobilities of these two kinds of transistors are 0.016 and 0.001 cm2/Vs respectively, which means the anisotropic ratio is 16. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The downregulation of microRNA (miR)-451a has been reported in bladder cancer (BCa) tissues. Herein, we elucidated the role of miR-451a in BCa with the involvement of DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B).Methods: We first screened the differentially expressed miRNAs from the serum of 12 BCa patients and 10 healthy controls in the BCa database GSE113486. Subsequently, we detected miR-451a expression and CpG island methylation of the promoter in BCa cells T24 and 5637 with DNMT3B knockdown. The downstream mRNAs of miR-451a were predicted by bioinformatics and KEGG enrichment analysis. Afterwards, the expression patterns of DNMT3B, miR-451a and erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor tyrosine kinase class A2 (EPHA2) were altered in BCa cells to test the ability of cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration as well as invasion. Finally, the effect of miR-451a and DNMT3B was evaluated in vivo.Results: miR-451a was significantly reduced in serum of BCa patients and cell lines. Moreover, the expression of DNMT3B in BCa cells was significantly increased, thus promoting methylation of the miR-451a promoter, resulting in miR-451a inhibition. Additionally, we found that miR-451a targeted and negatively regulated EPHA2, while EPHA2 could activate the PI3K/AKT signaling, driving BCa cell growth and metastasis.Conclusions: Our study proposed and demonstrated that miR-451a downregulation mediated by DNMT3B is critical for proliferation, migration, and invasion of BCa, which may be beneficial for developing more effective therapies against BCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authors would like to correct few errors in their publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A semi-interpenetrating network ionic conductive hydrogel is synthesized. • The hydrogel exhibits high transparency, excellent repeatability and fast response ability. • The network hydrogel can be bonded by CMC membrane via capillary force. • The hydrogel strain sensor demonstrates good sensing ability for human motion detection. Transparent conductive hydrogels with intrinsic flexibility, high sensitivity and outstanding repeatability and nearly real-time response are highly demanded for wearable devices/sensors. Here we report a novel ionic conductor hydrogel consisting of interpenetrating sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) microsheets and polyacrylamide (PAAm) network. Intrinsic interactions between the CMC and PAAm endow the hydrogel with outstanding physical, mechanical robustness. The ionic hydrogel shows a very high transparency (98.2%), high adhesion efficiency (64% in strength), outstanding repeatability (500 cycles at the strain of 300%), sensitivity (Gauge factor = 3.15), and nearly real-time response (360 ms) to a small amount of stress. Additionally, two pieces of the semi-interpenetrating hydrogel can be bonded together with CMC membrane instantly without any external stimulation. Strain sensor based on the semi-interpenetrating network hydrogel has been demonstrated reliable in detecting a small strain caused by a subtle vibration up to a very large deformation by stretching. The hydrogel-based strain sensor may be applied in human motion detection, smart cushion and soft robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of monolayer organic field‐effect transistors (MOFETs) provides an effective way to investigate the intrinsic charge transport of semiconductors. To date, the research based on organic monolayers on polymeric dielectrics lays far behind that on inorganic dielectrics and the realization of a bulk‐like carrier mobility on pure polymer dielectrics is still a formidable challenge for MOFETs. Herein, a quasi‐monolayer coverage of pentacene film with orthorhombic phase is grown on the poly (amic acid) (PAA) dielectric layer. More significantly, charge density redistribution occurs at the interface between the pentacene and PAA caused by electron transfer from pentacene to the PAA dielectric layer, which is verified by theoretical simulations and experiments. As a consequence, an enhanced hole accumulation layer is formed and pentacene‐based MOFETs on pure polymer dielectrics exhibit bulk‐like carrier mobilities of up to 13.7 cm2 V−1 s−1 from the saturation region at low VGS, 9.1 cm2 V−1 s−1 at high VGS and 7.6 cm2 V−1 s−1 from the linear region, which presents one of the best results of previously reported MOFETs so far and indicates that the monolayer semiconductor growing on pure polymer dielectric could produce highly efficient charge transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite gratings play important roles in modern information technology. However, such gratings are generally based on the same structural pattern with limited types, and their structural parameters are difficult to tune, which greatly limit their application. A mechanically tunable composite grating in bilayer film, which orthogonally couples a sinusoidal phase grating and a rectangular phase grating, is developed here. The structural parameters of the grating can be well tuned by mechanically stretching or releasing the grating in the uniaxial direction. Naturally, this property allows tunable light manipulation: that is, a single incident laser beam can be split into a 2D diffraction beams array, and the intensity and propagation angle of each diffraction beam can be precisely controlled via mechanical manipulation of the grating. A theoretical model based on scalar diffraction theory that can quantitatively describe and accurately predict this light manipulation is further established. In addition, after treatment with an electron beam, the tunable structures can be immobilized, which enables the storage of information in the bilayer film. This work may open up new pathways for composite grating fabrication and further extend the applications of composite gratings in diverse fields. A composite grating orthogonally coupling a sinusoidal and a rectangular phase grating is created in a bilayer film. This pattern can be well tuned under mechanical manipulation, and it allows tunable light manipulation behavior. Under additional irradiation treatment, the tunable pattern can be immobilized, which allows one to store information into this bilayer film as well as to prepare a rigid grating on a compliant substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable fiber‐shaped electronic devices have drawn abundant attention in scientific research fields, and tremendous efforts are dedicated to the development of various fiber‐shaped devices that possess sufficient flexibility. However, most studies suffer from persistent limitations in fabrication cost, efficiency, the preparation procedure, and scalability that impede their practical application in flexible and wearable fields. In this study, a simple, low‐cost 3D printing method capable of high manufacturing efficiency, scalability, and complexity capability to fabricate a fiber‐shaped integrated device that combines printed fiber‐shaped temperature sensors (FTSs) with printed fiber‐shaped asymmetric supercapacitors (FASCs) is developed. The FASCs device can provide stable output power to FTSs. Moreover, the temperature responsivity of the integrated device is 1.95% °C−1. 3D printing of fiber electrodes for an all‐fiber integrated electronic device via hybridization of an asymmetric supercapacitor and a temperature sensor is reported. A self‐energy monitoring system is developed that exhibits excellent electrochemical performance and rapid temperature response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by Naegleria fowleri, is a rare protozoan infectious disease in China. A fatality rate of over 95% had been reported due to extremely rapid disease progression in the USA and other countries. Rapid and precise identification of the causative agent is very important to clinicians for guiding their choices for administering countermeasures in the clinic. In this report, we applied the next-generation sequencing (NGS) method to rapidly show that N. fowleri was the causative agent of a fatal case involving a 42-year-old man with severe PAM disease, the first reported in mainland China.Case Presentation: A 42-year old male in a deep coma was admitted to Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, a special medical care unit with expertise in infectious diseases. Increased intracranial pressure was detected. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample was found to be red and cloudy with increased leukocyte and protein levels. While bacterial cultures with CSF were negative, N. fowleri was determined to be the causative agent with NGS. Amphotericin B (AmB), a drug with anti-amoeba activity, was used immediately, but the treatment came too late and the patient died 2 days after the NGS confirmation.Conclusion: In this paper, we reported a case of PAM disease for the first time in mainland China. NGS was used for rapid diagnosis and provided guidance for prescribing medications. However, the patient died due to a late admission amid advanced PAM disease. Early detection of N. fowleri is necessary in order to select effective drug treatments and control the disease progression. Despite the negative survival outcome, NGS was shown to be a promising method of rapid and precise identification of N. fowleri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize the practical applications of flexible pressure sensors, the high performance (sensitivity and response time) as well as more functionalities are highly desired. In this work, we fabricated a piezoresistive pressure sensor based on the micro-structured composites films of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). In addition, we establish efficient strategies to improve key performance of our pressure sensor. Its sensitivity is improved up to 474.13 kPa−1 by minimizing pressure independent resistance of sensor, and response time is shorten as small as 2 μs by enhancing the elastic modulus of polymer elastomer. Benefiting from the high performance, the functionalities of sensors are successfully extended to the accurate detection of high frequency mechanical vibration (~300 Hz) and large range of air pressure (6–101 kPa), both of which are not achieved before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]