Recent years have witnessed the rise of graphene and its applications in various electronic devices. Specifically, featuring excellent flexibility, transparency, conductivity, and mechanical ...robustness, graphene has emerged as a versatile material for flexible electronics. In the past decade, facilitated by various laser processing technologies, including the laser‐treatment‐induced photoreduction of graphene oxides, flexible patterning, hierarchical structuring, heteroatom doping, controllable thinning, etching, and shock of graphene, along with laser‐induced graphene on polyimide, graphene has found broad applications in a wide range of electronic devices, such as power generators, supercapacitors, optoelectronic devices, sensors, and actuators. Here, the recent advancements in the laser fabrication of graphene‐based flexible electronic devices are comprehensively summarized. The various laser fabrication technologies that have been employed for the preparation, processing, and modification of graphene and its derivatives are reviewed. A thorough overview of typical laser‐enabled flexible electronic devices that are based on various graphene sources is presented. With the rapid progress that has been made in the research on graphene preparation methodologies and laser micronanofabrication technologies, graphene‐based electronics may soon undergo fast development.
Recent advancements in the laser fabrication of graphene‐based flexible electronic devices are comprehensively reviewed. Various laser processing technologies that enable preparation, processing, and modification of graphene and its derivatives are summarized. An overview of typical laser‐fabricated flexible electronic devices based on graphene‐related materials is presented.
Recent studies have identified a specialized subset of CD31
endomucin
(CD31
EMCN
) vascular endothelium that positively regulates bone formation. However, it remains unclear how CD31
EMCN
endothelium ...levels are coupled to anabolic bone formation. Mice with an osteoblast-specific deletion of Shn3, which have markedly elevated bone formation, demonstrated an increase in CD31
EMCN
endothelium. Transcriptomic analysis identified SLIT3 as an osteoblast-derived, SHN3-regulated proangiogenic factor. Genetic deletion of Slit3 reduced skeletal CD31
EMCN
endothelium, resulted in low bone mass because of impaired bone formation and partially reversed the high bone mass phenotype of Shn3
mice. This coupling between osteoblasts and CD31
EMCN
endothelium is essential for bone healing, as shown by defective fracture repair in SLIT3-mutant mice and enhanced fracture repair in SHN3-mutant mice. Finally, administration of recombinant SLIT3 both enhanced bone fracture healing and counteracted bone loss in a mouse model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Thus, drugs that target the SLIT3 pathway may represent a new approach for vascular-targeted osteoanabolic therapy to treat bone loss.
Epigenetic modifications are thought to be important for gene expression changes during development and aging. However, besides the Sir2 histone deacetylase in somatic tissues and H3K4 trimethylation ...in germlines, there is scant evidence implicating epigenetic regulations in aging. The insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway is a major life span regulatory pathway. Here, we show that progressive increases in gene expression and loss of H3K27me3 on IIS components are due, at least in part, to increased activity of the H3K27 demethylase UTX-1 during aging. RNAi of the
utx-1 gene extended the mean life span of
C. elegans by ∼30%, dependent on DAF-16 activity and not additive in
daf-2 mutants. The loss of
utx-1 increased H3K27me3 on the
Igf1r/
daf-2 gene and decreased IIS activity, leading to a more “naive” epigenetic state. Like stem cell reprogramming, our results suggest that reestablishment of epigenetic marks lost during aging might help “reset” the developmental age of animal cells.
► Elevated
utx-1 expression during aging preceded increases in
daf-2 expression ► Reducing
utx-1 gene expression extended the mean life span of
C. elegans by ∼30% ► Life span extension induced by
utx-1 RNAi depended on IIS pathway ► Reducing
utx-1 level promoted H3K27me3 on
daf-2 and a younger epigenetic state
The strong interaction between graphene oxides (GO) and water molecules has trigged enormous research interest in developing GO‐based separation films, sensors, and actuators. However, sophisticated ...control over the ultrafast water transmission among the GO sheets and the consequent deformation of the entire GO film is still challenging. Inspired from the natural “quantum‐tunneling‐fluidics‐effect,” here quantum‐confined‐superfluidics‐enabled moisture actuation of GO paper by introducing periodic gratings unilaterally is reported. The folded GO nanosheets that act as quantum‐confined‐superfluidics channels can significantly promote water adsorption, enabling controllable and sensitive moisture actuation. Water‐adsorption‐induced expansion along and against the normal direction of a GO paper is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. Featuring state‐of‐the‐art of ultrafast response (1.24 cm−1 s−1), large deformation degree, and complex and predictable deformation, the smart GO papers are used for biomimetic mini‐robots including a creeping centipede and a smart leaf that can catch a living ladybug. The reported method is simple and universal for 2D materials, revealing great potential for developing graphene‐based smart robots.
Inspired by the natural “quantum‐tunneling‐fluidics‐effect,” moisture actuation of a solo graphene oxide (GO) paper enabled by quantum‐confined superfluidics is achieved by introducing unilateral nanofolding. Featuring a state‐of‐the‐art ultrafast response, large deformation degree, and complex and predictable deformation, the smart GO films are used for a creeping centipede and a smart leaf that can catch a living ladybug.
Direct light‐to‐work conversion enables remote actuation through a non‐contact manner, among which the photothermal Marangoni effect is significant for developing light‐driven robots because of the ...diversity of applicable photothermal materials and light sources, as well as the high energy conversion efficiency. However, the lack of nanotechnologies that enable flexible integration of advanced photothermal materials with actuators of complex configurations significantly restricts their practical applications. In this paper, laser‐induced graphene (LIG) tape is reported as stick‐on photothermal labels for developing light‐driven actuators based on the Marangoni effect. With the help of direct laser writing technology, graphene patterns with superior photothermal properties are prepared on the PI tape. The patterned LIG tape can be stuck on any desired objects and generates an asymmetric photothermal field under light irradiation, forming a photothermal Marangoni actuator. Additionally, the PI tape with LIG patterns can be folded into 3D origami actuators that permit photothermal Marangoni actuation including both translation and rotation. The graphene‐based photothermal Marangoni actuators feature biocompatibility, which is confirmed by MDA‐MB‐231 cells proliferation experiments. Owing to the excellent photothermal property of LIG patterns, the as‐produced photothermal actuators can be manipulated by a variety of light sources, holding great promise for developing light‐driven soft robots.
Laser‐induced graphene (LIG) tape as stick‐on photothermal labels for developing light‐driven actuators based on Marangoni effect is reported. The LIG embedded PI tape can be either stuck on any desired objects or folded into 3D origami, forming a photothermal Marangoni actuator. The LIG tapes hold great promise for the facile development of light‐driven soft robots.
The COVID‐19 coronavirus is now spreading worldwide. Its pathogen, SARS‐CoV‐2, has been shown to use angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as its host cell receptor, same as the severe acute ...respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV) in 2003. Epidemiology studies found males although only slightly more likely to be infected than females account for the majority of the severely ill and fatality, which also bias for people older than 60 years or with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Here by analyzing GTEx and other public data in 30 tissues across thousands of individuals, we found a significantly higher level in Asian females, an age‐dependent decrease in all ethnic groups, and a highly significant decrease in type II diabetic patients of ACE2 expression. Consistently, the most significant expression quantitative loci (eQTLs) contributing to high ACE2 expression are close to 100% in East Asians, >30% higher than other ethnic groups. A shockingly common enrichment of viral infection pathways was found among ACE2 anti‐expressed genes, and multiple binding sites of virus infection related transcription factors and sex hormone receptors locate at ACE2 regulatory regions. Human and mice data analysis further revealed ACE2 expression is reduced in T2D patients and with inflammatory cytokine treatment and upregulated by estrogen and androgen (both decrease with age). Our findings revealed a negative correlation between ACE2 expression and COVID‐19 fatality at both population and molecular levels. These results will be instrumental when designing potential prevention and treatment strategies for ACE2 binding coronaviruses in general.
This study revealed the negative correlation of high basal ACE2 level with CoVID‐19 severity/fatality at the population level and its anticorrelation with virus infection pathway expression levels, upregulation by sex hormones and suppression by inflammatory cytokine at the molecular level.
Recent years have seen a considerable growth of research interests in developing novel technologies that permit designable manufacture and controllable manipulation of actuators. Among various ...fabrication and driving strategies, light has emerged as an enabler to reach this end, contributing to the development of actuators. Several accessible light‐mediated manufacturing technologies, such as ultraviolet (UV) lithography and direct laser writing (DLW), are summarized. A series of light‐driven strategies including optical trapping, photochemical actuation, and photothermal actuation for controllable manipulation of actuators is introduced. Current challenges and future perspectives of this field are discussed. To generalize, light holds great promise for the development of actuators.
Recent advances in light‐mediated manufacture and manipulation of actuators are highlighted. Several optical fabrication technologies, including UV lithography and direct laser writing, and various photo‐driven strategies, such as optical trapping, and photochemical and photothermal actuation are reviewed. Emerging trends and future perspectives of light‐enabled actuators are discussed.
Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent cause of dementia, which is defined by the combined presence of amyloid and tau, but researchers are gradually moving away from the simple assumption of ...linear causality proposed by the original amyloid hypothesis. Aging is the main risk factor for Alzheimer's disease that cannot be explained by amyloid hypothesis. To evaluate how aging and Alzheimer's disease are intrinsically interwoven with each other, we review and summarize evidence from molecular, cellular, and system level. In particular, we focus on study designs, treatments, or interventions in Alzheimer's disease that could also be insightful in aging and vice versa.
Direct light‐to‐work conversion enables manipulating remote devices in a contactless, controllable, and continuous manner. Although some pioneering works have already proven the feasibility of ...controlling devices through light‐irradiation‐induced surface tension gradients, challenges remain, including the flexible integration of efficient photothermal materials, multifunctional structure design, and fluidic drag reduction. This paper reports a facile one‐step method for preparing light‐driven floating devices with functional surfaces for both light absorption and drag reduction. The direct laser writing technique is employed for both arbitrary patterning and surface modification. By integrating the functional layer at the desired position or by designing asymmetric structures, three typical light‐driven floating devices with fast linear or rotational motions are demonstrated. Furthermore, these devices can be driven by a variety of light sources including sunlight, a filament lamp, or laser beams. The approach provides a simple, green, and cost‐effective strategy for building functional floating devices and smart light‐driven actuators.
A facile fabrication of superhydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers structures that permit controllable manipulation via Marangoni effectthat permit controllable manipulation via Marangoni effect is reported here. Direct laser writing technology is employed to apply a light absorbing and superhydrophobic layer on the PDMS surface. By integrating the functional layer at the desired position or by designing asymmetric structures, typical light‐driven devices with fast linear or rotational motions are demonstrated.
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