Recent technological advances in developing a diverse range of lasers have opened new avenues in material processing. Laser processing of materials involves their exposure to rapid and localized ...energy, which creates conditions of electronic and thermodynamic nonequilibrium. The laser‐induced heat can be localized in space and time, enabling excellent control over the manipulation of materials. Metal oxides are of significant interest for applications ranging from microelectronics to medicine. Numerous studies have investigated the synthesis, manipulation, and patterning of metal oxide films and nanostructures. Besides providing a brief overview on the principles governing the laser–material interactions, here, the ongoing efforts in laser irradiation of metal oxide films and nanostructures for a variety of applications are reviewed. Latest advances in laser‐assisted processing of metal oxides are summarized.
Laser irradiation has emerged as an effective and reliable fabrication approach for the synthesis, manipulation, and patterning of metal oxides. A comprehensive overview is provided regarding the laser‐assisted tailoring of the functionality of metal oxide films and nanostructures for a wide range of applications. In addition, current progress and latest advances in the laser processing of metal oxides are summarized.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Spin-orbit coupling effect in structures with broken inversion symmetry, known as the Rashba effect, facilitates spin-orbit torques (SOTs) in heavy metal/ferromagnet/oxide structures, along ...with the spin Hall effect. Electric-field control of the Rashba effect is established for semiconductor interfaces, but it is challenging in structures involving metals owing to the screening effect. Here, we report that the Rashba effect in Pt/Co/AlO
x
structures is laterally modulated by electric voltages, generating out-of-plane SOTs. This enables field-free switching of the perpendicular magnetization and electrical control of the switching polarity. Changing the gate oxide reverses the sign of out-of-plane SOT while maintaining the same sign of voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy, which confirms the Rashba effect at the Co/oxide interface is a key ingredient of the electric-field modulation. The electrical control of SOT switching polarity in a reversible and non-volatile manner can be utilized for programmable logic operations in spintronic logic-in-memory devices.
ABSTRACT
We find that financial statement comparability enhances the ability of current period returns to reflect future earnings, as measured by the future earnings response coefficient (FERC). This ...suggests that comparability improves the informativeness of stock prices and allows investors to better anticipate future firm performance. In addition, using both the FERC and stock price synchronicity tests, we find that comparability increases the amount of firm‐specific information (rather than market/industry‐level information) reflected in stock prices. Analysts play an important role in improving stock price informativeness by producing more firm‐specific information when comparability is high. These findings suggest that comparability lowers the costs of gathering and processing firm‐specific information.
RÉSUMÉ
Comparabilité des états financiers et information sur les résultats futurs livrée par le cours des actions
Les auteurs constatent que la comparabilité des états financiers accroît l'aptitude des rendements de l'exercice courant à refléter les résultats futurs, mesurée au moyen du coefficient de réaction des résultats futurs (CRRF). Ce constat donne à penser que la comparabilité améliore la valeur informative du cours des actions et permet aux investisseurs de mieux anticiper la performance future de l'entreprise. De plus, en utilisant à la fois le CRRF et les tests de synchronicité du cours des actions, les auteurs observent que la comparabilité augmente le volume d'information propre à l'entreprise (plutôt que le volume d'information relative au marché ou au secteur d'activité) livré par le cours des actions. Les analystes jouent un rôle important dans l'amélioration de la valeur informative du cours des actions en produisant davantage d'information propre à l'entreprise lorsque la comparabilité est élevée. Ces observations permettent de croire que la comparabilité diminue les coûts associés à la collecte et au traitement de l'information propre à l'entreprise.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
A high-performance magneto-mechano-triboelectric nanogenerator (MMTEG) was demonstrated by introducing accelerated water-soluble nano-bullet modified nanostructures to convert a gentle magnetic field ...into electric energy for powering an indoor wireless positioning system. NaCl salt nanoparticles were accelerated by an aerosol deposition (AD) process to collide on a perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) film with a high kinetic energy for the formation of a complicated nanomorphology on the triboelectric active surface. Under an alternating current (AC) magnetic field of 7 Oe, the MMTEG generated an open-circuit peak-to-peak voltage (
V
pp
) and a short-circuit current of 708 V and 277 μA, respectively. The harvesting device also presented a maximum peak power of 21.8 mW as well as a continuous AC output power of 4.8 mW (4.8 mJ per second). A self-powered indoor IoT positioning system was constructed by integrating the MMTEG, a power managing circuit, a storage element, and an IoT Bluetooth beacon. The electric energy from the MMTEG device enabled continuous operation of a beacon device, and we successfully confirmed the accurate location of the installed wireless positioning system, subsequently resulting in transmission of our indoor position to the main monitoring computer. Lastly, the MMTEG generated an open-circuit
V
pp
and a short-circuit current of 330 V and 23 μA, respectively, near a 60 Hz power cable connected to home appliances, which were large enough to turn on 108 blue light emitting diodes (LEDs).
Bio-based production of industrially important chemicals provides an eco-friendly alternative to current petrochemical-based processes. Because of the limited supply of fossil fuel reserves, various ...technologies utilizing microbial host strains for the sustainable production of platform chemicals from renewable biomass have been developed.
Corynebacterium glutamicum
is a non-pathogenic industrial microbial species traditionally used for
l
-glutamate and
l
-lysine production. It is a promising species for industrial production of bio-based chemicals because of its flexible metabolism that allows the utilization of a broad spectrum of carbon sources and the production of various amino acids. Classical breeding, systems, synthetic biology, and metabolic engineering approaches have been used to improve its applications, ranging from traditional amino-acid production to modern biorefinery systems for production of value-added platform chemicals. This review describes recent advances in the development of genetic engineering tools and techniques for the establishment and optimization of metabolic pathways for bio-based production of major C2–C6 platform chemicals using recombinant
C. glutamicum
.
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CEKLJ, DOBA, EMUNI, FZAB, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
In this study, we developed a facile gold nanozyme-based paper chip (AuNZ-PAD) for Hg
detection. This device has the advantages of being simple, rapid, cost effective, sensitive, selective, high ...throughput, and applicable to onsite detection. The colorimetric mercury assay on the AuNZ-PAD is established based on the enzyme-like catalytic activity of gold nanoparticles promoted by the formation of Au-Hg amalgam, which is correlated to the intensity of the colorimetric response resulting from the catalytic reaction of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H
O
. Highly sensitive and selective detection of Hg
ions is achieved in both distilled and tap water samples, indicating the feasibility and applicability of our device for the determination of mercury pollution in real samples. Moreover, AuNZ-PAD analysis using a smartphone camera eliminates the need for expensive analytical equipment, thereby increasing the practicality of field monitoring of trace Hg
compared with other sensing methods.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background and Aims The efficacy of palliative biliary drainage by using bilateral or unilateral self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) for a malignant hilar biliary stricture (MHS) remains ...controversial. This prospective, randomized, multicenter study investigated whether bilateral drainage by using SEMSs is superior to unilateral drainage in patients with inoperable MHSs. Methods Patients with inoperable high-grade MHSs who underwent palliative endoscopic insertion of bilateral or unilateral SEMSs were enrolled. The main outcome measurements were the rate of primary reintervention for malfunction after successful placement of SEMSs, stent patency, technical and clinical success rates, adverse events, and survival duration. Results A total of 133 pathology-diagnosed patients were randomized to the bilateral group (n = 67) or the unilateral group (n = 66). The primary technical success rates were 95.5% (64/67) and 100% (66/66) in the bilateral and unilateral groups, respectively ( P = .244). The clinical success rates were 95.3% (61/64) and 84.9% (56/66), respectively ( P = .047). The primary reintervention rates based on the per-protocol analysis were 42.6% (26/61) in the bilateral group and 60.3% (38/63) in the unilateral group ( P = .049). The median cumulative stent patency duration was 252 days in the bilateral group and 139 days in the unilateral group. The risk of stent patency failure was significantly higher in the unilateral group (log-rank test; P < .01). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model to assess stent patency, bilateral SEMS placement was a favorable factor (adjusted hazard ratio 0.30, 95% confidence interval, 0.172-0.521; P < .001). Survival probability and late adverse events were not different between the 2 groups. Conclusions Unilateral and bilateral drainage strategies by using SEMSs had similar technical success rates, but bilateral drainage resulted in fewer reinterventions and more durable stent patency in patients with inoperable high-grade MHSs. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT02166970.)
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of hydrophilic polymers in a solid dispersion formulation in improving the solubility and dissolution rate of rivaroxaban (RXB), a poorly ...soluble drug. The developed solid dispersion consisted of two components, a drug and a polymer, and the drug was dispersed as amorphous particles in a polymer matrix using the spray drying method. Polymeric solid dispersions were evaluated using solubility tests, in vitro dissolution tests, powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and particle size distribution analysis. To maximize physical stability against crystallization and improve the solubility and dissolution of RXB, it is important to select the appropriate polymer type and the optimal ratio of the polymer to the drug. The optimized polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based (1/0.5, w/w) and gelatin-based (1/5, w/w) solid dispersion formulations showed 6.3 and 3.6 times higher drug solubilities than pure RXB powder, respectively, and the final dissolution rate was improved by approximately 1.5 times. Scanning electron microscopy and particle size distribution analyses confirmed that the gelatin-based solid dispersion was smaller and more spherical than the PVA-based solid dispersion, suggesting that the gelatin-based solid dispersion had a faster initial dissolution rate. Differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed that RXB had successfully changed from a crystalline form to an amorphous form, contributing to the improvement in its solubility and dissolution rate. This study provides a strategy for selecting suitable polymers for the development of amorphous polymer solid dispersions that can overcome precipitation during dissolution and stabilization of the amorphous state. In addition, the selected polymer solid dispersion improved the drug solubility and dissolution rate of RXB, a poorly soluble drug, and may be used as a promising drug delivery system.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
ABSTRACT
This study investigates whether and how a firm's real earnings management (REM) is influenced by the strength of a country's legal regime and the presence of a Big 4 auditor. In a ...cross‐country examination using data from 22 countries, we find that REM increases in countries with stronger legal regimes as firms switch from accrual‐based earnings management (AEM) to REM. The presence of a Big 4 auditor reduces REM (as well as AEM) and attenuates the positive relation between legal regime strength and REM. Our results suggest that higher‐quality auditors limit client firms’ use of REM, especially in countries with a strong legal regime.
RÉSUMÉ
Incidence conjuguée du régime juridique et de la qualité de l'audit sur le recours á la gestion du résultat réel : données internationales
Les auteurs se demandent si les sociétés sont influencées par la solidité du régime juridique d'un pays et la présence d'auditeurs des Quatre Grands dans leur décision et leur façon de recourir à la gestion du résultat réel (GRR). L'analyse de données provenant de 22 pays à laquelle ils procèdent révèle que la GRR augmente dans les pays où le régime juridique est plus solide, les sociétés passant de la gestion du résultat fondée sur les régularisations (GRFR) à la GRR. La présence d'un auditeur des Quatre Grands réduit le recours à la GRR (de même qu’à la GRFR) et atténue la relation positive entre la solidité du régime juridique et la GRR. Les résultats de l’étude semblent indiquer que les audits de qualité supérieure sont associés à une limitation du recours à la GRR chez les sociétés clientes, en particulier dans les pays où le régime juridique est solide.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
It is increasingly evident that bidirectional interactions exist among the gastrointestinal tract, the enteric nervous system, and the central nervous system. Recent preclinical and clinical trials ...have shown that gut microbiota plays an important role in these gut-brain interactions. Furthermore, alterations in gut microbiota composition may be associated with pathogenesis of various neurological disorders, including stress, autism, depression, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, the concepts of the microbiota-gut-brain axis is emerging. Here, we review the role of gut microbiota in bidirectional interactions between the gut and the brain, including neural, immune-mediated, and metabolic mechanisms. We highlight recent advances in the understanding of probiotic modulation of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders via the gut-brain axis.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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