Soft and stretchable electronics have emerged as highly promising tools for biomedical diagnosis and biological studies, as they interface intimately with the human body and other biological systems. ...Most stretchable electronic materials and devices, however, still have Young's moduli orders of magnitude higher than soft bio-tissues, which limit their conformability and long-term biocompatibility. Here, we present a design strategy of soft interlayer for allowing the use of existing stretchable materials of relatively high moduli to versatilely realize stretchable devices with ultralow tissue-level moduli. We have demonstrated stretchable transistor arrays and active-matrix circuits with moduli below 10 kPa-over two orders of magnitude lower than the current state of the art. Benefiting from the increased conformability to irregular and dynamic surfaces, the ultrasoft device created with the soft interlayer design realizes electrophysiological recording on an isolated heart with high adaptability, spatial stability, and minimal influence on ventricle pressure. In vivo biocompatibility tests also demonstrate the benefit of suppressing foreign-body responses for long-term implantation. With its general applicability to diverse materials and devices, this soft-interlayer design overcomes the material-level limitation for imparting tissue-level softness to a variety of bioelectronic devices.
The hydrogen evolution reaction, 2H+ + 2e – → H2, and its converse, the hydrogen oxidation reaction, H2 → 2H+ + 2e –, are central to any realization of a hydrogen economy. Various forms of carbon ...have been used for decades as the precious metal catalyst support in these reactions. Here we report the unexpected result that single-wall carbon nanotubes and some graphitic carbons, activated by brief exposure to electrochemical potentials that induce hydrogen evolution in intercalating acids combined with extended soak times in such acids, acquire an activity for these reactions that exceeds that of known nonprecious metal catalysts.
Studies have proven that merging hands-on and online learning can result in an enhanced experience in learning science. In contrast to traditional online learning, multiple in-classroom activities ...may be involved in an augmented-reality (AR)-embedded e-learning process and thus could reduce the effects of individual differences. Using a three-stage AR-embedded instructional process, we conducted an experiment to investigate the influences of individual differences on learning earth science phenomena of "day, night, and seasons" for junior highs. The mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was employed. In the quantitative phase, factors of learning styles and ICT competences were examined alongside with the overall learning achievement. Independent t tests and ANCOVAs were employed to achieve inferential statistics. The results showed that overall learning achievement was significant for the AR-embedded instruction. Nevertheless, neither of the two learner factors exhibited significant effect on learning achievement. In the qualitative phase, we analyzed student interview records, and a wide variation on student's preferred instructional stages were revealed. These findings could provide an alternative rationale for developing ICT-supported instruction, as our three-stage AR-embedded comprehensive e-learning scheme could enhance instruction adaptiveness to disperse the imparities of individual differences between learners.
The heat generated by the transmission system in the gear-driven spindle module of the machine tool not only influences the overall temperature field but also induces an excessive rise in temperature ...of gears tooth flank or rolling contact surface resulting in thermal deformation. In this study, high torque geared spindle was adopted to investigate a cooling control method, and an effective geared spindle cooling control method was proposed and tested. The controller of the cooling system received gear spindle load, rotational speed, and temperature of spindle to adjust the cooling flowrate, and the gas temperature of oil gas lubrication. Under spindle speed of 2000 rpm, the thermal deformations of X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis with cooling control are reduced by 43.7%, 46.8%, and 18.6%, respectively. The cooling control method not only can effectively control the rise in temperature of the meshing and contact friction area of the transmission system but also enables the transmission components and bearings of the geared spindle to achieve optimal cooling and lubrication effects.
Ferroelectrics usually exhibit temperature‐triggered structural changes, which play crucial roles in controlling their physical properties. However, although light is very striking as a non‐contact, ...non‐destructive, and remotely controlled external stimuli, ferroelectric crystals with light‐triggered structural changes are very rare, which holds promise for optical control of ferroelectric properties. Here, an organic molecular ferroelectric, N‐salicylidene‐2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluoroaniline (SA‐PFA), which shows light‐triggered structural change of reversible photoisomerization between cis‐enol and trans‐keto configuration is reported. SA‐PFA presents clear ferroelectricity with the saturate polarization of 0.84 μC cm−2, larger than those of some typical organic ferroelectrics with thermodynamically structural changes. Benefit from the reversible photoisomerization, the dielectric real part of SA‐PFA can be reversibly switched by light. More strikingly, the photoisomerization enables SA‐PFA to show reversible optically induced ferroelectric polarization switching. Such intriguing behaviors make SPFA a potential candidate for application in next‐generation photo‐controlled ferroelectric devices. This work sheds light on further exploration of more excellent molecular ferroelectrics with light‐triggered structural changes for optical control of ferroelectric properties.
Organic N‐salicylidene‐2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluoroaniline is a ferroelectric that experiences a light‐triggered structural change of reversible photoisomerization between cis‐enol and trans‐keto configuration, different from the general temperature‐triggered structural changes in other ferroelectrics. It has a saturate polarization of 0.84 μC cm−2. The photoisomerization makes it show reversible optically induced ferroelectric polarization switching.
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are potential antitumor agents with unique therapeutic mechanisms. They possess the ability of direct oncolysis and the induction of antitumor immunity. OV can be genetically ...engineered to potentiate antitumor efficacy by remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment. The present mini review mainly describes the effect of OVs on remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment and explores the mechanism of regulation of the host immune system and the promotion of the immune cells to destroy carcinoma cells by OVs. Furthermore, this article focuses on the utilization of OVs as vectors for the delivery of immunomodulatory cytokines or antibodies.
By using cheap lactic acid as the recyclable catalyst and reaction media, a sustainable protocol for the synthesis of Z-3-selenocyanatoacrylates and analogues through green selenocyanation of ...activated alkynes has been achieved.
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Most organic reactions require the usage of volatile organic compounds in the synthesis, work-up and purification processes, thus resulting in major environmental pollution and high manufacturing cost. By using cheap biomass lactic acid as the reaction media and catalyst, a sustainable protocol for the synthesis of Z-3-selenocyanatoacrylates and analogues through green selenocyanation of activated alkynes has been achieved. A principal advantage of this protocol is that the usage of organic volatile compounds can be avoided entirely, as the conversion of substrate is almost quantitative or quantitative with a minimal amount of lactic acid employed as reaction media, and the pure products can be conveniently collected through water precipitation.
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and is more likely to occur in susceptible families. Whether genetic susceptibility operates through altered EBV control ...is incompletely understood. We used a NPC risk prediction model based on 14 EBV markers to compare risk score distribution in unaffected members from multiplex families with that in population-based controls. Despite the absence of NPC at the time of antibody measurement, we observed an upward shift in risk score among multiplex family members compared to the general population, consistent with the possibility that genetic factors affect NPC risk through alterations in EBV control.
The application of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to the round window membrane (RWM) is an emerging treatment for inner ear diseases. RWM permeability is the key factor for efficient IGF-1 ...delivery. Ultrasound microbubbles (USMBs) can increase drug permeation through the RWM. In the present study, the enhancing effect of USMBs on the efficacy of IGF-1 application and the treatment effect of USMB-mediated IGF-1 delivery for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) were investigated. Forty-seven guinea pigs were assigned to three groups: the USM group, which received local application of recombinant human IGF-1 (rhIGF-1, 10 µg/µL) following application of USMBs to the RWM; the RWS group, which received IGF-1 application alone; and the saline-treated group. The perilymphatic concentration of rhIGF-1 in the USM group was 1.95- and 1.67- fold of that in the RWS group, 2 and 24 h after treatment, respectively. After 5 h of 118 dB SPL noise exposure, the USM group had the lowest threshold shift in auditory brainstem response, least loss of cochlear outer hair cells, and least reduction in the number of synaptic ribbons on postexposure day 28 among the three groups. The combination of USMB and IGF-1 led to a better therapeutic response to NIHL. Two hours after treatment, the USM group had significantly higher levels of Akt1 and Mapk3 gene expression than the other two groups. The most intense immunostaining for phosphor-AKT and phospho-ERK1/2 was detected in the cochlea in the USM group. These results suggested that USMB can be applied to enhance the efficacy of IGF-1 therapy in the treatment of inner ear diseases.
Polysaccharide from Phellinus igniarius (PPI) is known for its immune-regulating effect with low toxicity. Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) is important in both innate and adaptive immune responses and ...considered to be a promising target for new immune adjuvants. In this study, PPI was investigated for its effect on activating TLR4 in RAW264.7 and peritoneal macrophages. The adjuvant potential of PPI was evaluated in OVA-immunized mice. The results showed PPI treatment significantly increased the secretion and the mRNA expression of both MyD88 dependent and TRIF dependent cytokines. IRAK-1, a key molecule on the downstream of MyD88, was polyubiquitinated while IRF-3, another key molecule on the downstream of TRIF, was phosphorylated obviously after the treatment of PPI. The phosphorylation of molecules involved in both NF-κB pathway and MAPK pathway were significantly up-regulated after PPI treatment. In addition, the effects of PPI on the macrophages almost completely disappeared after treating the cells with the TLR4 antagonist TAK-242. Further in vivo results showed PPI significantly increased the serum OVA-specific antibody and the OVA-specific spleen cell proliferation. Taken together, PPI can specifically stimulate TLR4 and activate both MyD88 and TRIF pathways. PPI has immune adjuvant activity and may become a new potential immune adjuvant.
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