Organic semiconductors demonstrate several advantages over conventional inorganic materials for novel electronic and optoelectronic applications, including molecularly tunable properties, ...flexibility, low‐cost, and facile device integration. However, before organic semiconductors can be used for the next‐generation devices, such as ultrafast photodetectors (PDs), it is necessary to develop new materials that feature both high mobility and ambient stability. Toward this goal, a highly stable PD based on the organic single crystal PtBr2(5,5′‐bis(CF3CH2OCH2)‐2,2′‐bpy) (or “Pt complex (1o)”) is demonstrated as the active semiconductor channel—a material that features a lamellar molecular structure and high‐quality, intraligand charge transfer. Benefitting from its unique crystal structure, the Pt‐complex (1o) device exhibits a field‐effect mobility of ≈0.45 cm2 V−1 s−1 without loss of significant performance under ambient conditions even after 40 days without encapsulation, as well as immersion in distilled water for a period of 24 h. Furthermore, the device features a maximum photoresponsivity of 1 × 103 A W−1, a detectivity of 1.1 × 1012 cm Hz1/2 W−1, and a record fast response/recovery time of 80/90 µs, which has never been previously achieved in other organic PDs. These findings strongly support and promote the use of the single‐crystal Pt complex (1o) in next‐generation organic optoelectronic devices.
A Pt‐complex‐based organic semiconductor is developed as the active channel and/or photoabsorption layer for high‐performance organic device applications. The Pt‐complex device displays a stable mobility (0.45 cm2 V−1 s−1), a remarkable photoresponsivity (1000 A W−1), and a record fast response/fall time (80/90 µs), demonstrating the highest combined efficiency and stability reported for an organic semiconductor.
We proposed a simple yet robust film treatment method with methanol having only one hydroxyl group to enhance the conductivity of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) ...by four orders of magnitude. Different methods of film treatment: immersing PEDOT:PSS film in the methanol solution; dropping methanol on the film; and a combination of these are employed and the results are compared. The conductivity of PEDOT:PSS films was enhanced from 0.3 S cm
−1
to 1362 S cm
−1
after film treatment with methanol. Other alcohols like ethanol and propanol were also used to treat the PEDOT:PSS film and showed inferior conductivity enhancement compared to methanol. The conductivity enhancement was greatly affected by the hydrophilicity and dielectric constant of the alcohols used. The mechanism of conductivity enhancement was investigated through various characterization techniques including FTIR, XPS and AFM. Removal of the insulator PSS from the film, and morphology and conformational changes are the mechanisms for the conductivity enhancement. The treated films also showed high transmittance and low sheet resistance desirable for a standalone electrode. ITO-free polymer solar cells were fabricated using PEDOT:PSS electrodes treated with methanol and showed almost equal performance to ITO electrodes.
The conductivity of PEDOT:PSS is enhanced by four orders of magnitude by simple film treatment with methanol and used as standalone electrode for polymer solar cells.
Ovarian cancer spheroids constitute a metastatic niche for transcoelomic spread that also engenders drug resistance. Spheroid-forming cells express active STAT3 signaling and display stem cell-like ...properties that may contribute to ovarian tumor progression. In this study, we show that STAT3 is hyperactivated in ovarian cancer spheroids and that STAT3 disruption in this setting is sufficient to relieve chemoresistance. In an NSG murine model of human ovarian cancer, STAT3 signaling regulated spheroid formation and self-renewal properties, whereas STAT3 attenuation reduced tumorigenicity. Mechanistic investigations revealed that Wnt signaling was required for STAT3-mediated spheroid formation. Notably, the Wnt antagonist DKK1 was the most strikingly upregulated gene in response to STAT3 attenuation in ovarian cancer cells. STAT3 signaling maintained stemness and interconnected Wnt/β-catenin signaling via the miR-92a/DKK1-regulatory pathways. Targeting STAT3 in combination with paclitaxel synergistically reduced peritoneal seeding and prolonged survival in a murine model of intraperitoneal ovarian cancer. Overall, our findings define a STAT3-miR-92a-DKK1 pathway in the generation of cancer stem-like cells in ovarian tumors, with potential therapeutic applications in blocking their progression.
.
In this study, the new method featuring low-temperature and high-pressure hydrogenation (LTHP-H) which is applied to 0.13-μm bipolar-CMOS-DMOS technology is compared with the conventional 400 °C H 2 ...annealing, and the technology without H 2 treatment is used as a control group. It is found that the LDMOS processed by the LTHP-H has such following improvements as 11% increase of the on-state performance, which is 3% higher than that of H 2 annealing, 61% increase of the interface quality and about 5 to 10 % improvement of the hot carrier degradation (HCD). The method not only lowers the process temperature, but also helps H 2 enter the supercritical fluid state to form a large number of free radicals. Therefore, the interface quality is well passivated and Si-H bonds with stable strength are formed, which inhibits the generation of HCD accordingly. With the results of this research, this technology can improve the performance and reliability of LDMOS.
Early diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) is critical for the prevention of metastasis and for early treatment; therefore, a simple and accurate device must be developed for this purpose. In this ...study, we reported a novel fabrication method for producing a dual-modality biosensor that can simultaneously detect vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in human serum for early diagnosis of PCa. This biosensor was constructed by coating graphene oxide/ssDNA (GO-ssDNA) on an Au-electrode for VEGF detection, and incorporated with poly-L-lactide nanoparticles (PLLA NPs) for signal amplification and PSA detection. The results showed that this biosensor has wide liner detection ranges (0.05–100ng/mL for VEGF and 1–100ng/mL for PSA), as well as high levels of sensitivity and selectivity (i.e., resisting interference from external factors, such as glucose, ascorbic acid human serum protein, immunoglobulin G, and immunoglobulin M), and demonstrated a high correlation with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for sample detection in patients. Therefore, this biosensor could be utilized for early clinical diagnosis of PCa in the future.
•Novel GO-ssDNA based biosensor incorporated with dual-antibody modified PLLA NPs.•Simultaneous detection of VEGF and PSA in same one electrochemical biosensor.•Achieving wide linear range of detection of 0.05–100 (VEGF) and 1–100ng/mL (PSA).•Highly sensitive and selective detection of VEGF and PSA was achieved in human serum.
To assess the associations of the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society Health Index (ASAS HI) with gender and other factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). From ...November 2017 to October 2018, we measured the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) and the ASAS HI score for AS patients at the Taichung Veterans General Hospital. After adjusting for disease activity (ASDAS-erythrocyte sedimentation rate ESR, ASDAS- C-reactive protein CRP, BASDAI+ESR or BASDAI+CRP), mSASSS and other potential confounders including medications, comorbidities, and laboratory data, any associations between gender and the sum score of ASDAS HI were assessed using multiple linear regression analysis, as well as any associations between gender and an ASAS HI score >5 using multivariable logistic regression analysis. A total of 307 AS patients (62 20.2% females, mean age 46.4 years S.D. 13.3, mean symptom duration 20.6 years S.D. 12.1) were included. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the male gender was significantly associated with a lower ASAS HI (B = -1. 91, 95% confidence interval CI, -2.82--1.00, p 5 than females (odds ratio = 0.15, 95% CI, 0.07-0.36, p <0.001). Disease activity measures, including ASDAS-ESR, ASDAS-CRP and BASDAI, had positive correlations with ASAS HI. This single-center, cross-sectional study revealed that a higher ASAS HI score was significantly associated with female gender and higher disease activity measures.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The objective of this study is to determine the risk of tuberculosis (TB) disease in biologics users among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in Taiwan from 2000 to 2015. This retrospective cohort ...study enrolled adult RA patients initiated on first biologics at Taichung Veterans General Hospital. TB risks were determined as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using cox regression. A total of 951 patients were recruited; etanercept (n = 443), adalimumab (n = 332), abatacept (n = 74), golimumab (n = 60), tocilizumab (n = 31) and tofacitinib (n = 11). Twenty-four TB cases were identified; 13 in etanercept and 11 in adalimumab group with the TB incidence rate of 889.3/ 100,000 and 1055.6/ 100,000 patient-years respectively. There was no significant difference in TB risk between adalimumab and etanercept users with an incidence rate ratio of 1.27 (p = 0.556 by Poisson model). Significant 2-year TB risk factors included elderly patient >65 year-old (HR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.06-6.99, p = 0.037), history of TB (HR: 6.24, 95% CI: 1.77-22.00, p = 0.004) and daily glucocorticoid use ≥5mg (HR:5.01, 95% CI: 1.46-17.21, p = 0.010). Sulfasalazine treatment appeared to be protective (HR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11-0.97, p = 0.043). Risk management plan (RMP) for TB before initiation of biologics commenced in 2012. The 2-year TB risks after RMP was compared with that before 2012 (HR:0.67, 95% CI: 0.30-1.49, p = 0.323). Elderly RA patients with a history of previous TB infection and concomitant moderate dose glucocorticoid were at higher risk of TB disease. Concurrent sulfasalazine treatment appeared to be a protective factor against TB disease.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study focuses on the influence of boron doping in FinFET Lightly Doped Drain (LDD) region. By modulating the concentration of boron, the maximum of electric field can be reduced to improve the ...reliability in hot carrier stress (HCS), while the initial electric characteristics of boron doped devices do not change a lot, compared with those of the standard (STD) device. Even though Boron doping may cause slight decreases in transconductance (gm) and Ion, but it can effectively improve the reliability of the device. The reduction of the electric field affected by boron is demonstrated in the simulation. Careful adjustment is needed to prevent the maximum of the electric field from shifting to the other side of LDD and causing the rise of the electric field rise. In this study, the electric characteristic of LDD boron doping in FinFET structure is comprehensively analyzed.
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is an increasing threat to human health and is regarded as an important public issue. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of DN are complicated. The initiating molecular events ...triggering the loss function in mesangial cells (MCs) in DN are not well known. In this cross-disciplinary study, transcriptome analysis of high glucose (HG)-treated mouse MCs (MMCs) using next-generation sequencing and systematic bioinformatics analyses indicated that miR-15b-5p and its downstream target B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) contribute to HG-induced apoptosis in MMCs. HG elevated miR-15b-5p expression, which in turn decreased the translation of BCL-2, leading to MMC apoptosis under HG. Apoptosis of MCs was enhanced in the presence of extracellular vesicles isolated from the urine of type 2 diabetic patients with high levels of miR-15b-5p. Furthermore, increased levels of urinary miR-15b-5p were found in db/db mice and type 2 diabetic patients, and such levels correlated with low baseline kidney function and rapid decline in kidney function during a mean of follow-up period of 2.4 ± 0.1 years. Therefore, miR-15b-5p induced mesangial cells apoptosis by targeting BCL-2 under HG. miR-15b-5p has the potential to predict kidney injury in DN. Blocking the miR-15b-5p epigenetic regulatory network could be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent mesangial apoptosis in DN.
High glucose elevates miR-15b-5p expression, which induces mesangial cell apoptosis by targeting BCL-2. Increased urinary miR-15b-5p levels are correlated with rapid kidney progression and have the potential to predict kidney injury in type 2 diabetic patients, implying that miR-15b-5p could be a therapeutic target for preventing diabetic nephropathy.
High-entropy superalloys (HESAs) can replace commercial Ni-based superalloys. For high-temperature applications, the oxidation resistance of HESAs must be considered. Herein, the oxidation mechanism ...of HESA with sufficient minor Nb addition was conducted at 900 °C under atmosphere. With 0.9 at% Nb added in the base metal, oxidation resistance was significantly improved, which was confirmed by a furnace test and thermogravimetry. The isothermal oxidation resistance was enhanced by approximately 66%, owing to the presence of the Nb-rich layer. This improvement was observed and analyzed by backscattering electron images through scanning electron microscopy and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy with a field-emission electron probe microanalyzer. The mechanism of oxide formation was elucidated by X-ray diffraction for various exposure time durations. With Nb minor addition, the microstructures of the present alloy were found to be composed of γ matrix and γ′ precipitates and the mechanical properties were slightly higher than those without Nb.
PDF
