In the rapidly developing electronics industry, it has become increasingly necessary to explore materials that are cheap, flexible and versatile which have led to significant research efforts towards ...organic molecular thin films. Organic molecules are unique compared to their inorganic atomic counterparts as their properties can be tuned drastically through chemical functionalization, offering versatility, though their extended shape and weak intermolecular interactions bring significant challenges to the control of both the growth and the electronic structures of molecular thin films. In this paper, we will review the self-assembly process and how to establish long-range ordered organic molecular thin films. We will also discuss how the electronic structures of thin films are impacted by the molecule's local electrostatic environment and its interaction with the substrate, within the context of controlling interfacial energy level alignment between organic semiconductors and electrodes in electronic devices.
Green agriculture can minimize the negative impact of agriculture on the environment. As countries around the world strongly advocate green production and green life style, not only is consumers’ ...awareness about green consumption rising, but the demand for green agricultural products at home and abroad is gradually increasing as well. Brand image has been a crucial factor for consumers to make their final purchasing decisions, thus playing a critical role in influencing the purchasing decisions of consumers. Based on the theory of the brand image, this paper undergoes a comprehensive theoretical and positive analysis and explores the influence mechanism of brand image of green agricultural products on consumers’ purchasing intention. A hypothetical model with perceived value as mediators is constructed by us to examine the influence of brand image of green agricultural products on consumers’ purchasing intention. A quantitative study was conducted for a random sample of 341 consumers who purchased green agricultural products in China according to a questionnaire-based survey using a cluster random sampling technique. The study showed that the overall image of agribusiness, the image of agricultural products, the social image of agribusiness, and the image of consumers are all positively related to consumption intention. The overall image of agribusiness, the image of agricultural products, the social image of agribusiness, and the image of consumers have a positive influence on perceived value. Moreover, perceived value plays a part in the mediating role in the influence of the overall image of agribusiness, the image of agricultural products, the social image of agribusiness, and the image of consumers on consumption intention. These findings shed lights on enterprises in establishing a scientific and effective brand strategy and building an excellent brand image. The research conclusion can provide new insight into how to enhance the consumption willingness for green agricultural products and promote sustainable development.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The Varian RapidArc is a system for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment planning and delivery. RapidArc incorporates capabilities such as variable dose-rate, variable gantry speed, and ...accurate and fast dynamic multileaf collimators (DMLC), to optimize dose conformality, delivery efficiency, accuracy and reliability. We developed RapidArc system commissioning and quality assurance (QA) procedures.
Tests have been designed that evaluate RapidArc performance in a stepwise manner. First, the accuracy of DMLC position during gantry rotation is examined. Second, the ability to vary and control the dose-rate and gantry speed is evaluated. Third, the combined use of variable DMLC speed and dose-rate is studied.
Adapting the picket fence test for RapidArc, we compared the patterns obtained with stationary gantry and in RapidArc mode, and showed that the effect of gantry rotation on leaf accuracy was minimal (< or =0.2 mm). We then combine different dose-rates (111-600 MU/min), gantry speeds (5.5-4.3 degrees /s), and gantry range (Deltatheta = 90-12.9 degrees ) to give the same dose to seven parts of a film. When normalized to a corresponding open field (to account for flatness and asymmetry), the dose of the seven portions show good agreement, with a mean deviation of 0.7%. In assessing DMLC speed (0.46, 0.92, 1.84, and 2.76 cm/s) during RapidArc, the analysis of designed radiation pattern indicates good agreement, with a mean deviation of 0.4%.
The results of these tests provide strong evidence that DMLC movement, variable dose-rates and gantry speeds can be precisely controlled during RapidArc.
The tectonic deformation of the outer Indo-Burman Ranges (i.e., Chittagong Tripura Fold Belt, CTFB) is associated with the oblique convergence of Indo-Burmese plates since the latest Miocene. This ...article presents detailed field evidence of deformation structures and their kinematics in the exposed Tertiary successions in the CTFB. We combine observations made in this study with the published structural, geodetic, and seismic data sets to present an overview of the active tectonic framework of the region and its strain partitioning. To determine the kinematic evolution, décollement depth, and amount of strain, we combined geologic field mapping, structural analysis of fifteen anticlines, fracture/lineament analysis, and paleostress analysis of faults that define the ∼100 km wide CTFB. Structural data and kinematic analyses suggest subhorizontal plane strain with approximately 10% east-west shortening (oriented ∼65°) that is perpendicular to the axial plane (oriented ∼155°) of the CTFB anticlines. No evidence of significant transpression or strike-slip faulting has been observed in the CTFB and, therefore, suggests that full slip-partitioning is normal to the outer belt and parallel to the inner belt of the IBR. Paleostress analysis results are in good agreement with the present-day stress regime, and this implies that past and present deformation is dynamically related with the normal component of India-Burma oblique vector velocity motion.
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a heterogeneous disease with a dismal prognosis for advanced tumors. Immune-associated cells in the microenvironment substantially impact LUAD formation and progression, ...which has gained increased attention in recent decades. Sphingolipids have a profound impact on tumor formation and immune infiltration. However, few researchers have focused on the utilization of sphingolipid variables in the prediction of LUAD prognosis. The goal of this work was to identify the major sphingolipid-related genes (SRGs) in LUAD and develop a valid prognostic model based on SRGs.
The most significant genes for sphingolipid metabolism (SM) were identified using the AUCell and WGCNA algorithms in conjunction with single-cell and bulk RNA-seq. LASSO and COX regression analysis was used to develop risk models, and patients were divided into high-and low-risk categories. External nine provided cohorts evaluated the correctness of the models. Differences in immune infiltration, mutation landscape, pathway enrichment, immune checkpoint expression, and immunotherapy were also further investigated in distinct subgroups. Finally, cell function assay was used to verify the role of CACYBP in LUAD cells.
A total of 334 genes were selected as being most linked with SM activity for further investigation, and a risk model consisting of 11 genes was established using lasso and cox regression. According to the median risk value, patients were split into high- and low-risk groups, and the high-risk group had a worse prognosis. The low-risk group had more immune cell infiltration and higher expression of immune checkpoints, which illustrated that the low-risk group was more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. It was verified that CACYBP could increase the ability of LUAD cells to proliferate, invade, and migrate.
The eleven-gene signature identified in this research may help physicians create individualized care plans for LUAD patients. CACYBP may be a new therapeutic target for patients with advanced LUAD.
Aims/hypothesis
The in vivo role of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the development and function of adipose tissue, especially brown adipose tissue (BAT), is not well understood. Here, we ...aimed to assess the effect of
mTOR
(also known as
Mtor
) knockout on adipose tissues and systemic energy metabolism.
Methods
We generated adipocyte-specific
mTOR
-knockout mice (
Adipoq-mTOR
) by crossing adiponectin
-Cre
(
Adipoq-Cre
) mice with
mTOR
flox/flox
mice. The mice were then subjected to morphological, physiological (indirect calorimetry, glucose and insulin tolerance tests) and gene expression analyses to determine the role of mTOR in adipose tissues.
Results
We provide in vivo evidence that
mTOR
is essential for adipose tissue development and growth. Deletion of
mTOR
decreased the mass of both BAT and white adipose tissues (WAT) and induced browning of WAT. In addition, ablation of
mTOR
in adipose tissues caused insulin resistance and fatty liver in the
Adipoq-mTOR
mice. Furthermore,
mTOR
was required for adipocyte differentiation in vivo and activation of PPARγ ameliorated the differentiation deficiency of the
mTOR
-null adipocytes.
Conclusions/interpretation
Our findings demonstrate that mTOR is a critical regulator of adipogenesis and systemic energy metabolism. Our study provides key insights into the role of mTOR in adipose tissues; such knowledge may facilitate the development of novel strategies with which to treat obesity and related metabolic diseases.
Introduction of Lewis acid–base adducts is an efficient way for achieving high quality perovskite films. In this work, we investigate the influence of Lewis bases on the annealing process of ...perovskite films, and three Lewis bases with different melting points and boiling points including DMSO, urea and thiourea are chosen. The interaction between the Lewis base and PbI 2 as well as the residual time of Lewis bases in perovskite films while annealing has been investigated. In the meantime, directly spin-coating urea or thiourea on perovskite films is also performed to study the effect of Lewis bases on the perovskite crystallinity and morphology during annealing. It is found that the existence of Lewis bases in the annealing process could significantly promote the perovskite grain growth. DMSO can be removed within a few minutes whereas the residual time of thiourea is longer than that of DMSO and urea, consistent with their boiling points. As a result, the grain sizes of the thiourea-based perovskite film increase continuously whereas the DMSO-based sample shows an obvious ripening effect only in the first few minutes. To take advantage of the ripening effect, synergistic systems of DMSO and a small amount of urea or thiourea are further adopted for fabricating perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The device based on DMSO/urea presents the best PCE of 20.06%, higher than 18.8% for the device based on DMSO and 8.35% for the device based on urea.
Brown adipose tissues (BAT) are derived from a myogenic factor 5 (Myf5)-expressing cell lineage and white adipose tissues (WAT) predominantly arise from non-Myf5 lineages, although a subpopulation of ...adipocytes in some WAT depots can be derived from the Myf5 lineage. However, the functional implication of the Myf5- and non-Myf5-lineage cells in WAT is unclear. We found that the Myf5-lineage constitution in subcutaneous WAT depots is negatively correlated to the expression of classical BAT and newly defined beige/brite adipocyte-specific genes. Consistently, fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS)-purified Myf5-lineage adipo-progenitors give rise to adipocytes expressing lower levels of BAT-specific Ucp1, Prdm16, Cidea, and Ppargc1a genes and beige adipocyte-specific CD137, Tmem26, and Tbx1 genes compared with the non-Myf5-lineage adipocytes from the same depots. Ablation of the Myf5-lineage progenitors in WAT stromal vascular cell (SVC) cultures leads to increased expression of BAT and beige cell signature genes. Strikingly, the Myf5-lineage cells in WAT are heterogeneous and contain distinct adipogenic stem cell antigen 1(Sca1)-positive and myogenic (Sca1-negative) progenitors. The latter differentiate robustly into myofibers in vitro and in vivo, and they restore dystrophin expression after transplantation into mdx mouse, a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. These results demonstrate the heterogeneity and functional differences of the Myf5- and non-Myf5-lineage cells in the white adipose tissue.
PDF
