Background Recent evidence suggests that prenatal maternal distress increases the risk of allergic diseases in offspring. However, the effect of prenatal maternal depression and anxiety on atopic ...dermatitis (AD) risk remains poorly understood. Objective We investigated whether prenatal maternal distress is associated with AD risk in offspring and whether the mechanism is mediated by reactive oxygen species. Methods Two general population-based birth cohorts formed the study. One cohort (Cohort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and Allergic Diseases COCOA) consisted of 973 mother-baby dyads, and the other (Panel Study on Korean Children PSKC) consisted of 1531 mother-baby dyads. The association between prenatal distress and AD was assessed by using Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression models. In COCOA placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and glutathione levels and serum IgE levels in 1-year-old children were measured. Results In COCOA and PSKC AD occurred in 30.6% (lifetime prevalence) and 11.6% (1 year prevalence) of offspring, respectively. Prenatal maternal distress increased the risk of AD in offspring, both in COCOA (hazard ratio for depression, 1.31 95% CI, 1.02-1.69; hazard ratio for anxiety, 1.41 95% CI, 1.06-1.89) and PSKC (odds ratio for distress, 1.85 95% CI, 1.06-3.25). In COCOA both prenatal maternal depression and anxiety scores were positively related to the predicted probability of AD ( P < .001 in both). Prenatal distress decreased placental glutathione to glutathione disulfide ratios ( P = .037) and, especially in those who later had AD, decreased placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 levels ( P = .010) and increased IgE levels at 1 year of age ( P = .005). Conclusion Prenatal maternal depression and anxiety promote risk of AD in offspring. Maternal distress increases the predicted probability of AD. The mechanism might involve chronic stress, abnormal steroid levels, and reactive oxygen species.
Thin-film transistor (TFT)-driven full-color organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with vertically stacked structures are developed herein using photolithography processes, which allow for ...high-resolution displays of over 2,000 pixels per inch. Vertical stacking of OLEDs by the photolithography process is technically challenging, as OLEDs are vulnerable to moisture, oxygen, solutions for photolithography processes, and temperatures over 100 °C. In this study, we develop a low-temperature processed Al
O
/SiN
bilayered protection layer, which stably protects the OLEDs from photolithography process solutions, as well as from moisture and oxygen. As a result, transparent intermediate electrodes are patterned on top of the OLED elements without degrading the OLED, thereby enabling to fabricate the vertically stacked OLED. The aperture ratio of the full-color-driven OLED pixel is approximately twice as large as conventional sub-pixel structures, due to geometric advantage, despite the TFT integration. To the best of our knowledge, we first demonstrate the TFT-driven vertically stacked full-color OLED.
The preparation of ferroelectric polymer–metallic nanowire composite nanofiber triboelectric layers is described for use in high‐performance triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). The electrospun ...polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)–silver nanowire (AgNW) composite and nylon nanofibers are utilized in the TENGs as the top and bottom triboelectric layers, respectively. The electrospinning process facilitates uniaxial stretching of the polymer chains, which enhances the formation of the highly oriented crystalline β‐phase that forms the most polar crystalline phase of PVDF. The addition of AgNWs further promotes the β‐phase crystal formation by introducing electrostatic interactions between the surface charges of the nanowires and the dipoles of the PVDF chains. The extent of β‐phase formation and the resulting variations in the surface charge potential upon the addition of nanowires are systematically analyzed using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Kelvin probe force microscopy techniques. The ability of trapping the induced tribocharges increases upon the addition of nanowires to the PVDF matrix. The enhanced surface charge potential and the charge trapping capabilities of the PVDF–AgNW composite nanofibers significantly enhance the TENG output performances. Finally, the mechanical stability of the electrospun nanofibers is dramatically enhanced while maintaining the TENG performances by applying thermal welding near the melting temperature of PVDF.
High‐performance triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) are successfully demonstrated using electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)–silver nanowire (AgNW) composite nanofibers. It is found that an electrospinning process and the addition of AgNWs to the PVDF promote the effective formation of the polar crystalline β‐phase. The enhanced surface charge potential and charge trapping properties of the PVDF–AgNW composite nanofibers significantly enhance the TENG performances.
The conductivity of graphite oxide films is modulated using reducing agents. It is found that the sheet resistance of graphite oxide film reduced using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is much lower than ...that of films reduced using hydrazine (N2H4). This is attributed to the formation of CN groups in the N2H4 case, which may act as donors compensating the hole carriers in reduced graphite oxide. In the case of NaBH4 reduction, the interlayer distance is first slightly expanded by the formation of intermediate boron oxide complexes and then contracted by the gradual removal of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups along with the boron oxide complexes. The fabricated conducting film comprising a NaBH4‐reduced graphite oxide reveals a sheet resistance comparable to that of dispersed graphene.
Reduced graphite oxide films obtained using NaBH4 exhibit much lower sheet resistance than films obtained using N2H4 because the latter results in the formation of C–N groups, which may act as donors compensating the hole carriers in the film and increasing resistivity. A transparent conducting film prepared using optimized NaBH4 reduction reveals a sheet resistance comparable to that observed in dispersed graphene.
Biomineralization is a naturally occurring process in living organisms. In this review, we discuss microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) in detail. In the MICP process, urease ...plays a major role in urea hydrolysis by a wide variety of microorganisms capable of producing high levels of urease. We also elaborate on the different polymorphs and the role of calcium in the formation of calcite crystal structures using various calcium sources. Additionally, the environmental factors affecting the production of urease and carbonate precipitation are discussed. This MICP is a promising, eco-friendly alternative approach to conventional and current remediation technologies to solve environmental problems in multidisciplinary fields. Multiple applications of MICP such as removal of heavy metals and radionuclides, improve the quality of construction materials and sequestration of atmospheric CO
2
are discussed. In addition, we discuss other applications such as removal of calcium ions, PCBs and use of filler in rubber and plastics and fluorescent particles in stationary ink and stationary markers. MICP technology has become an efficient aspect of multidisciplinary fields. This report not only highlights the major strengths of MICP, but also discusses the limitations to application of this technology on a commercial scale.
Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) stand at the forefront of a variety of photonic applications given their narrow spectral bandwidth and near-unity luminescence efficiency. However, integrating ...luminescent QD films into photonic devices without compromising their optical or transport characteristics remains challenging. Here we devise a dual-ligand passivation system comprising photocrosslinkable ligands and dispersing ligands to enable QDs to be universally compatible with solution-based patterning techniques. The successful control over the structure of both ligands allows the direct patterning of dual-ligand QDs on various substrates using commercialized photolithography (i-line) or inkjet printing systems at a resolution up to 15,000 pixels per inch without compromising the optical properties of the QDs or the optoelectronic performance of the device. We demonstrate the capabilities of our approach for QD-LED applications. Our approach offers a versatile way of creating various structures of luminescent QDs in a cost-effective and non-destructive manner, and could be implemented in nearly all commercial photonics applications where QDs are used.
ObjectiveThe mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes resolution after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are unclear. We suspected that glucose excretion may occur in the small bowel based on observations ...in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms underlying serum glucose excretion in the small intestine and its contribution to glucose homeostasis after bariatric surgery.Design2-Deoxy-2-18F-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) was measured in RYGB-operated or sham-operated obese diabetic rats. Altered glucose metabolism was targeted and RNA sequencing was performed in areas of high or low FDG uptake in the ileum or common limb. Intestinal glucose metabolism and excretion were confirmed using 14C-glucose and FDG. Increased glucose metabolism was evaluated in IEC-18 cells and mouse intestinal organoids. Obese or ob/ob mice were treated with amphiregulin (AREG) to correlate intestinal glycolysis changes with changes in serum glucose homeostasis.ResultsThe AREG/EGFR/mTOR/AKT/GLUT1 signal transduction pathway was activated in areas of increased glycolysis and intestinal glucose excretion in RYGB-operated rats. Intraluminal GLUT1 inhibitor administration offset improved glucose homeostasis in RYGB-operated rats. AREG-induced signal transduction pathway was confirmed using IEC-18 cells and mouse organoids, resulting in a greater capacity for glucose uptake via GLUT1 overexpression and sequestration in apical and basolateral membranes. Systemic and local AREG administration increased GLUT1 expression and small intestinal membrane translocation and prevented hyperglycaemic exacerbation.ConclusionBariatric surgery or AREG administration induces apical and basolateral membrane GLUT1 expression in the small intestinal enterocytes, resulting in increased serum glucose excretion in the gut lumen. Our findings suggest a novel, potentially targetable glucose homeostatic mechanism in the small intestine.
Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has received a great deal of attention as a substrate material for high-performance graphene electronics because it has an atomically smooth surface, lattice constant ...similar to that of graphene, large optical phonon modes, and a large electrical band gap. Herein, we report the large-scale synthesis of high-quality h-BN nanosheets in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process by controlling the surface morphologies of the copper (Cu) catalysts. It was found that morphology control of the Cu foil is much critical for the formation of the pure h-BN nanosheets as well as the improvement of their crystallinity. For the first time, we demonstrate the performance enhancement of CVD-based graphene devices with large-scale h-BN nanosheets. The mobility of the graphene device on the h-BN nanosheets was increased 3 times compared to that without the h-BN nanosheets. The on–off ratio of the drain current is 2 times higher than that of the graphene device without h-BN. This work suggests that high-quality h-BN nanosheets based on CVD are very promising for high-performance large-area graphene electronics.
This paper proposes a method to predict fluctuations in the prices of cryptocurrencies, which are increasingly used for online transactions worldwide. Little research has been conducted on predicting ...fluctuations in the price and number of transactions of a variety of cryptocurrencies. Moreover, the few methods proposed to predict fluctuation in currency prices are inefficient because they fail to take into account the differences in attributes between real currencies and cryptocurrencies. This paper analyzes user comments in online cryptocurrency communities to predict fluctuations in the prices of cryptocurrencies and the number of transactions. By focusing on three cryptocurrencies, each with a large market size and user base, this paper attempts to predict such fluctuations by using a simple and efficient method.
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