This article presents the high temperature tensile and creep behaviors of a novel high entropy alloy (HEA). The microstructure of this HEA resembles that of advanced superalloys with a high entropy ...FCC matrix and L1
ordered precipitates, so it is also named as "high entropy superalloy (HESA)". The tensile yield strengths of HESA surpass those of the reported HEAs from room temperature to elevated temperatures; furthermore, its creep resistance at 982 °C can be compared to those of some Ni-based superalloys. Analysis on experimental results indicate that HESA could be strengthened by the low stacking-fault energy of the matrix, high anti-phase boundary energy of the strengthening precipitate, and thermally stable microstructure. Positive misfit between FCC matrix and precipitate has yielded parallel raft microstructure during creep at 982 °C, and the creep curves of HESA were dominated by tertiary creep behavior. To the best of authors' knowledge, this article is the first to present the elevated temperature tensile creep study on full scale specimens of a high entropy alloy, and the potential of HESA for high temperature structural application is discussed.
Solution‐processed small‐molecule bulk heterojunction (BHJ) ambipolar organic thin‐film transistors are fabricated based on a combination of 2‐phenylbenzod,d'thieno3,2‐b;4,5‐b'dithiophene (P‐BTDT) : ...2‐(4‐n‐octylphenyl)benzod,d'thieno3,2‐b;4,5‐b'dithiophene (OP‐BTDT) and C60. Treating high electrical performance vacuum‐deposited P‐BTDT organic semiconductors with a newly developed solution‐processed organic semiconductor material, OP‐BTDT, in an optimized ratio yields a solution‐processed p‐channel organic semiconductor blend with carrier mobility as high as 0.65 cm2 V−1 s−1. An optimized blending of P‐BTDT:OP‐BTDT with the n‐channel semiconductor, C60, results in a BHJ ambipolar transistor with balanced carrier mobilities for holes and electrons of 0.03 and 0.02 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively. Furthermore, a complementary‐like inverter composed of two ambipolar thin‐film transistors is demonstrated, which achieves a gain of 115.
Solution‐processed small‐molecule bulk heterojunction (BHJ) ambipolar organic thin‐film transistors fabricated by blending two p‐channel benzod,d'thieno3,2‐b;4,5‐b'dithiophene (BTDT) derivatives with n‐channel C60 result in balanced hole and electron carrier mobilities. A complementary‐like inverter composed of two ambipolar thin‐film transistors with a gain of 115 is achieved.
Tin perovskite nanomaterial is one of the promising candidates to replace organic lead halide perovskites in lighting applications. Unfortunately, the performance of tin-based systems is markedly ...inferior to those featuring toxic Pb salts. In an effort to improve the emission quantum efficiency of nanoscale 2D layered tin iodide perovskites through fine-tuning the electronic property of organic ammonium salts, we came to unveil the relationship between dielectric confinement and the photoluminescent properties of tin iodide perovskite nanodisks. Our results show that increasing the dielectric contrast for organic versus inorganic layers leads to a bathochromic shift in emission peak wavelength, a decrease of exciton recombination time, and importantly a significant boost in the emission efficiency. Under optimized conditions, a leap in emission quantum yield to a record high 21% was accomplished for the nanoscale thienylethylammonium tin iodide perovskite (TEA2SnI4). The as-prepared TEA2SnI4 also possessed superior photostability, showing no sign of degradation under continuous irradiation (10 mW/cm2) over a period of 120 h.
Understanding the role of the oxidation state of the Cu surface and surface-adsorbed intermediate species in electrochemical CO2 reduction is crucial for the development of selective CO2-to-fuel ...electrocatalysts. In this study, the electrochemical CO2 reduction mechanism over the Cu catalysts with various oxidation states was studied by using in situ surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS), in situ soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (Cu L-edge), and online gas chromatography measurements. The atop-adsorbed CO (COatop) intermediate is obtained on the electrodeposited Cu surface which primarily has the oxidation state of Cu(I). COatop is further reduced, followed by the formation of C1 product such as CH4. The residual bridge-adsorbed CO (CObridge) is formed on the as-prepared Cu surface with Cu(0) which inhibits hydrocarbon formation. In contrast, the CV-treated Cu electrode prepared by oxidizing the as-prepared Cu surface contains different amounts of Cu(I) and Cu(0) states. The major theme of this work is that in situ SEIRAS results show the coexistence of COatop and CObridge as the reaction intermediates during CO2 reduction and that the selectivity of CO2-to-ethylene conversion is further enhanced in the CV-treated Cu electrode. The Cu catalysts modulated by the electrochemical method exhibit different oxidation states and reaction intermediates as well as electrocatalytic properties.
Oxaliplatin (OXA), is a third generation platinum drug used as first‐line chemotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC). Cancer cells acquires resistance to anti‐cancer drug and develops resistance. ...ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) drug transporter ABCG2, one of multidrug resistance (MDR) protein which can effectively discharge a wide spectrum of chemotherapeutic agents out of cancer cells and subsequently reduce the intracellular concentration of these drugs. Role of ABCG2 and plausible molecular signaling pathways involved in Oxaliplatin‐Resistant (OXA‐R) colon cancer cells was evaluated in the present study. OXA resistant LoVo cells was developed by exposing the colon cells to OXA in a dose‐dependent manner. Development of multi drug resistance in OXA‐R cells was confirmed by exposing the resistance cells to oxaliplatin, 5‐FU, and doxorubicin. OXA treatment resulted in G2 phase arrest in parental LoVo cells, which was overcome by OXA‐R LoVo cells. mRNA and protein expression of ABCG2 and phosphorylation of NF‐κB was significantly higher in OXA‐R than parental cells. Levels of ER stress markers were downregulated in OXA‐R than parental cells. OXA‐R LoVo cells exposed to NF‐κB inhibitor QNZ effectively reduced the ABCG2 and p‐NF‐κB expression and increased ER stress marker expression. On other hand, invasion and migratory effect of OXA‐R cells were found to be decreased, when compared to parental cells. Metastasis marker proteins also downregulated in OXA‐R cells. ABCG2 inhibitor verapamil, downregulate ABCG2, induce ER stress markers and induces apoptosis. In vivo studies in nude mice also confirms the same.
Present study was designed to evaluate plausible role of ABCG2, multi drug resistance protein and associated pathway involved in OXA‐R LoVo cells. Our data show that oxaliplatin resistant LoVo colon cells are resistant to oxaliplatin, 5‐FU, and doxorubicin. Multi drug resistance acquired by overexpression of ABCG2 and p‐NF‐κB and downregulation of ER stress protein thereby preventing apoptosis.
The COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which developed into a pandemic in 2020, has become a major healthcare challenge for governments and healthcare workers worldwide. Despite several medical ...treatment protocols having been established, a comprehensive rehabilitation program that can promote functional recovery is still frequently ignored. An online consensus meeting of an expert panel comprising members of the Taiwan Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation was held to provide recommendations for rehabilitation protocols in each of the five COVID-19 stages, namely (1) outpatients with mild disease and no risk factors, (2) outpatients with mild disease and epidemiological risk factors, (3) hospitalized patients with moderate to severe disease, (4) ventilator-supported patients with clear cognitive function, and (5) ventilator-supported patients with impaired cognitive function. Apart from medications and life support care, a proper rehabilitation protocol that facilitates recovery from COVID-19 needs to be established and emphasized in clinical practice.
Four X‐shaped quinoxaline‐based organic dyes, PQx (1), TQx, (2), PQxD (3), and TQxD (4) (D = dye sensitizers) are developed and served as p‐type self‐assemble monolayer (SAM) for tin perovskite solar ...cells (TPSC). Thermal, optical, and electrochemical properties of these SAMs are thoroughly investigated and characterized. Tin perovskite layers are successfully deposited on these four SAM surfaces according to a two‐step approach and the devices exhibit power conversion efficiency in the order of TQxD (8.3%) > TQx (8.0%) > PQxD (7.1%) > PQx (6.1%). With thiophene π‐extended conjugation unit in SAM structure, TQxD (4) exhibits the highest hole extraction rates, greatest hole mobilities, and slowest charge recombination to achieve great device performance of 8.3%, which is the current best result for SAM‐based TPSC ever reported. Furthermore, all devices except PQx shows great enduring stability for the performance retaining ≈90% of their original values for shelf storage over 1600 h.
Quinoxaline‐based X‐shaped molecules (1‐4) are designed and synthesized as p‐type self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) for tin perovskite solar cells (TPSC). SAM; TQxD (4) exhibits excellent device performance of 8.3%, and shows great enduring stability for the performance retaining ≈90% of their original values for shelf storage over 1600 h. This is the current best result for SAM‐based TPSC ever reported.
A pathogen-free and standardized xeno-free supplement of growth media is required for the ex vivo propagation of human cells used as advanced therapeutic medicinal products and for clinical ...translation in regenerative medicine and cell therapies. Human platelet lysate (HPL) made from therapeutic-grade platelet concentrate (PC) is increasingly regarded as being an efficient xeno-free alternative growth medium supplement to fetal bovine serum (FBS) for clinical-grade isolation and/or propagation of human cells. Most experimental studies establishing the superiority of HPL over FBS were conducted using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from bone marrow or adipose tissues. Data almost unanimously concur that MSCs expanded in a media supplemented with HPL have improved proliferation, shorter doubling times, and preserved clonogenicity, immunophenotype, in vitro trilineage differentiation capacity, and T-cell immunosuppressive activity. HPL can also be substituted for FBS when propagating MSCs from various other tissue sources, including Wharton jelly, the umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, dental pulp, periodontal ligaments, and apical papillae. Interestingly, HPL xeno-free supplementation is also proving successful for expanding human-differentiated cells, including chondrocytes, corneal endothelium and corneal epithelium cells, and tenocytes, for transplantation and tissue-engineering applications. In addition, the most recent developments suggest the possibility of successfully expanding immune cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, and chimeric antigen receptor-T cells in HPL, further broadening its use as a growth medium supplement. Therefore, strong scientific rationale supports the use of HPL as a universal growth medium supplement for isolating and propagating therapeutic human cells for transplantation and tissue engineering. Efforts are underway to ensure optimal standardization and pathogen safety of HPL to secure its reliability for clinical-grade cell-therapy and regenerative medicine products and tissue engineering.
Developing dopant-free hole transporting layers (HTLs) is critical in achieving high-performance and robust state-of-the-art perovskite photovoltaics, especially for the air-sensitive tin-based ...perovskite systems. The commonly used HTLs require hygroscopic dopants and additives for optimal performance, which adds extra cost to manufacturing and limits long-term device stability. Here we demonstrate the use of a novel tetrakis-triphenylamine (TPE) small molecule prepared by a facile synthetic route as a superior dopant-free HTL for lead-free tin-based perovskite solar cells. The best-performing tin iodide perovskite cells employing the novel mixed-cation ethylenediammonium/formamidinium with the dopant-free TPE HTL achieve a power conversion efficiency as high as 7.23%, ascribed to the HTL’s suitable band alignment and excellent hole extraction/collection properties. This efficiency is one of the highest reported so far for tin halide perovskite systems, highlighting potential application of TPE HTL material in low-cost high-performance tin-based perovskite solar cells.
Developing efficient interfacial hole transporting materials (HTMs) is crucial for achieving high‐performance Pb‐free Sn‐based halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, a new series of ...benzodithiophene (BDT)‐based organic small molecules containing tetra‐ and di‐triphenyl amine donors prepared via a straightforward and scalable synthetic route is reported. The thermal, optical, and electrochemical properties of two BDT‐based molecules are shown to be structurally and energetically suitable to serve as HTMs for Sn‐based PSCs. It is reported here that ethylenediammonium/formamidinium tin iodide solar cells using BDT‐based HTMs deliver a champion power conversion efficiency up to 7.59%, outperforming analogous reference solar cells using traditional and expensive HTMs. Thus, these BDT‐based molecules are promising candidates as HTMs for the fabrication of high‐performance Sn‐based PSCs.
Low‐cost and efficient organic small molecules are desired as hole transporting materials for high‐performance perovskite solar cells. Two new molecules containing a benzodithiophene core and triphenylamine side chains are synthesized from cheap starting materials by a simple and low‐cost method. Lead‐free, tin‐based perovskite solar cells employing these new benzodithiophene‐based hole transporting materials achieve good efficiencies.