Gallium trioxide, β‐Ga2O3, has been recently studied due to its promising semiconducting properties as active material in transistors or Schottky diodes. Transistors with β‐Ga2O3 channels are mostly ...metal oxide field effect transistors (MOSFET), and they show very negative threshold voltages (Vth) in general. Metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs) with top gate are also reported with less negative Vth. Still, β‐Ga2O3 MESFETs are only a few. Here, bottom gate architecture β‐Ga2O3 MESFETs using transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) NbS2 and TaS2 are reported. Due to the large work functions of those metallic TMDs, the MESFETs display minimum subthreshold swing of 61 mV dec−1, small Vth of −1.2 V, minimum OFF ID of ≈100 fA, and maximum ON/OFF current ratio of ≈108. Both β‐Ga2O3 Schottky diodes with TaS2 and NbS2 display good junction stability even after 300 °C measurements in 10 mTorr vacuum. When the β‐Ga2O3 MESFET with TaS2 gate is integrated as a switching FET into an organic light emitting diode (OLED) circuit, it demonstrates long‐term leakage endurance performance, maintaining an OLED brightness higher than 58% of the initial intensity after 100 s passes since the ON‐switching point, which is even superior to the performance of conventional a‐IGZO MOSFET switch.
β‐Ga2O3 channel metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFETs) with metallic transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) gates using NbS2 and TaS2 are successfully fabricated. The MESFETs demonstrate stable junction properties and superior transistor performance in respects of Vth, SS and IOFF, since a large Schottky barrier forms at the TMD gate/β‐Ga2O3 channel junction. They also demonstrate excellent long‐term leakage endurance performances when integrated with OLED pixel circuits as switching FETs.
Applications of 2D semiconductors have been extensively studied, much oriented to various electron devices. Recently, multivalue field‐effect transistors (FETs) are also included among 2D‐based ...electron device studies in consideration that multivalue FETs may resolve power consumption issues in future integrated circuits. Several n‐channel devices are thus reported along with a few p‐channel devices, while studies to achieve both n‐ and p‐channel multivalue FETs are hardly found. Here, both n‐ and p‐channel multivalue FETs are fabricated using p‐MoTe2/n‐MoS2 heterostack channel architecture, where either p‐ or n‐channel ternary value FET is reproducible by switching the stacking order of p‐ and n‐channel layer. The main ternary value mechanism originates from resonant tunneling type injection and channel inversion, which take place during device operation. For a state‐of‐the‐art device application in 2D electronics, a quaternary NAND logic circuit is for the first time demonstrated by integrating two ternary n‐channel FETs, and a complementary ternary inverter is also fabricated by integrating multivalue p‐channel and plain n‐channel FET.
Both n‐ and p‐channel multivalue field‐effect transistors (FETs) are fabricated using p‐MoTe2/n‐MoS2 heterostack channel architecture, where either p‐ or n‐channel ternary value FET is reproducible by switching the stacking order. For a state‐of‐the‐art device application, a quaternary NAND logic circuit is for the first time demonstrated by integrating two ternary n‐channel FETs, and a complementary ternary inverter is also fabricated.
Many studies have examined the negative impact on smartphone addiction in adolescents. Recent concerns have focused on predictors of smartphone addiction. This study aimed to investigate the ...association of adolescents' smartphone addiction with family environment (specifically, domestic violence and parental addiction). We further investigated whether self-control and friendship quality, as predictors of smartphone addiction, may reduce the observed risk.
We used the 2013 national survey on internet usage and utilization data from the National Information Agency of Korea. Information on exposure and covariates included self-reported experience of domestic violence and parental addiction, sociodemographic variables, and other variables potentially related to smartphone addiction. Smartphone addiction was estimated using a smartphone addiction proneness scale, a standardized measure developed by national institutions in Korea.
Adolescents who had experienced domestic violence (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.23-2.45) and parental addiction (OR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.24-3.27) were found to be at an increased risk for smartphone addiction after controlling for all potential variables. Furthermore, on classifying adolescents according to their level of self-control and friendship quality the association between domestic violence and parental addiction, and smartphone addiction was found to be significant in the group with adolescents with lower levels of self-control (OR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.68-4.90 and OR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.34-2.83) and friendship quality (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.41-3.85 and OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.26-2.64).
Our findings suggest that family dysfunction was significantly associated with smartphone addiction. We also observed that self-control and friendship quality act as protective factors against adolescents' smartphone addiction.
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•Carbon nanotubes activate persulfates via nonradical mechanisms.•The CNT/persulfate system effectively oxidizes phenolic compounds.•Reactive complexes of CNT–persulfate are ...responsible for the compound degradation.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been found to activate persulfates (i.e., peroxymonosulfate and peroxydisulfate) into reactive species that are capable of oxidizing organic compounds in water. In the presence of single- or multi-walled CNTs, persulfates effectively degraded phenolic compounds and certain pharmaceuticals. Phenyl derivatives substituted with electron-withdrawing groups, such as benzoic acid and nitrobenzene, were resistant to degradation by the CNT/persulfate system. Based on observations regarding persulfate decomposition and linear sweep voltammetry using a CNT electrode, it has been suggested that persulfates bind onto the surface of CNTs, forming reactive complexes that are immediately decomposed upon reaction with organic compounds. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy with spin-trapping indicates that these reactive species are distinct from sulfate radical anions or hydroxyl radicals. The CNT-activated persulfate system shows promise as a novel treatment technology for the selective oxidation of organic contaminants in water.
Objective
There is no scale for rating the severity of autoimmune encephalitis (AE). In this study, we aimed to develop a novel scale for rating severity in patients with diverse AE syndromes and to ...verify the reliability and validity of the developed scale.
Methods
The key items were generated by a panel of experts and selected according to content validity ratios. The developed scale was initially applied to 50 patients with AE (development cohort) to evaluate its acceptability, reproducibility, internal consistency, and construct validity. Then, the scale was applied to another independent cohort (validation cohort, n = 38).
Results
A new scale consisting of 9 items (seizure, memory dysfunction, psychiatric symptoms, consciousness, language problems, dyskinesia/dystonia, gait instability and ataxia, brainstem dysfunction, and weakness) was developed. Each item was assigned a value of up to 3 points. The total score could therefore range from 0 to 27. We named the scale the Clinical Assessment Scale in Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE). The new scale showed excellent interobserver (intraclass correlation coefficient ICC = 0.97) and intraobserver (ICC = 0.96) reliability for total scores, was highly correlated with modified Rankin scale (r = 0.86, p < 0.001), and had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.88). Additionally, in the validation cohort, the scale showed high interobserver reliability (ICC = 0.99) and internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.92).
Interpretation
CASE is a novel clinical scale for AE with a high level of clinimetric properties. It would be suitable for application in clinical practice and might help overcome the limitations of current outcome scales for AE. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:352–358.
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•Porous carbons were obtained from MOFs via high temperature pyrolysis.•Characterized with TEM, FTIR, Boehm titration, SEM, and nitrogen adsorption.•The highest adsorption of ...sulfomethoxazole was observed over the carbons.•Adsorption mechanisms such as H-bond and π-π interactions were suggested.•The direction of H-bond (carbons: H-donor; adsorbates: H-acceptor) can be confirmed.
In this study, we prepared highly porous carbonaceous materials from a metal-organic framework (MOF), ZIF-8, by pyrolysis. Pyrolysis temperature had a significant effect on the porosity of MOF-derived carbons (MDCs); the MDCs obtained at 1000°C (MDC-1000) exhibited the highest surface area and pore volume. The MDC-1000 showed almost twice the porosity of the original ZIF-8 used to prepare it. The obtained MDC was applied to the adsorptive removal of a pharmaceutical product sulfamethoxazole (SMX) from water, and the adsorption amount on MDC was 20 times higher than that on the original ZIF-8. Moreover, a very high adsorption for SMX was exhibited by the prepared MDC, in fact, the best ever reported for any adsorbent. Plausible adsorption mechanisms, such as H-bonding, could be suggested based on the effect of the solution pH on the status and adsorbed quantity of SMX and the zeta potential of MDC. Moreover, MDC-1000 and SMX acted as the H-donor and H-acceptor, respectively, in the mechanism (H-bonding) for adsorption. MDC can be a potential adsorbent for the removal of SMX because of its high adsorption capacity and ready recyclability.
Oxidation by persulfates at elevated temperatures (thermally activated persulfates) disintegrates bacterial cells and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) composing waste-activated sludge (WAS), ...facilitating the subsequent sludge dewatering. The WAS disintegration process by thermally activated persulfates exhibited different behaviors depending on the types of persulfates employed, that is, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) versus peroxydisulfate (PDS). The decomposition of PMS in WAS proceeded via a two-phase reaction, an instantaneous decomposition by the direct reaction with the WAS components followed by a gradual thermal decay. During the PMS treatment, the WAS filterability (measured by capillary suction time) increased in the initial stage but rapidly stagnated and even decreased as the reaction proceeded. In contrast, the decomposition of PDS exhibited pseudo first-order decay during the entire reaction, resulting in the greater and steadier increase in the WAS filterability compared to the case of PMS. The treatment by PMS produced a high portion of true colloidal solids (<1 μm) and eluted soluble and bound EPS, which is detrimental to the WAS filterability. However, the observations regarding the dissolved organic carbon, ammonium ions, and volatile suspended solids collectively indicated that the treatment by PMS more effectively disintegrated WAS compared to PDS, leading to higher weight (or volume) reduction by postcentrifugation.
Wireless sensor networks with fixed sink node often suffer from hot spots problem since sensor nodes close to the sink usually have more traffic burden to forward during transmission process. ...Utilizing mobile sink has been shown as an effective technique to enhance the network performance such as energy efficiency, network lifetime, and latency, etc. In this paper, we propose a particle swarm optimization based clustering algorithm with mobile sink for wireless sensor network. In this algorithm, the virtual clustering technique is performed during routing process which makes use of the particle swarm optimization algorithm. The residual energy and position of the nodes are the primary parameters to select cluster head. The control strategy for mobile sink to collect data from cluster head is well designed. Extensive simulation results show that the energy consumption is much reduced, the network lifetime is prolonged, and the transmission delay is reduced in our proposed routing algorithm than some other popular routing algorithms.
•We made a survey about mobile sink and PSO based routing algorithms for WSNs.•We proposed an Energy efficient PSO based routing algorithm with Mobile Sink (EPMS).•We presented theoretical analysis of clustering with PSO algorithm for WSNs.•We gave detailed packet structure and explanation.•We performed extensive simulation and comparison with other routing algorithms.
•Separation of Pt, Pd and Rh by ion exchange resin is evaluated.•Effects of functional group of the resin, ionic state and selective elution are appraised.•Ir(IV), Au(III) and Ag(I) are the greatest ...treats for adsorption performance of Pt, Pd and Rh.•Environmental impact and economic feasibility of ion exchange process are discussed.
Demand for platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) as parts of platinum group metals (PGMs) has continued to increase as a consequence of increase in their applications. Various extraction methods have been developed to produce the metals including leaching-based process using halides, sulfate–chloride and cyanide, which generate leach liquors containing metal ions together with impurities. Separation processes are essentially employed to obtain metals of high purity for further applications. Among the widely applied techniques, ion exchange with the use of resins becomes one of the most important approaches. This paper reviews the separation of Pt, Pd and Rh by ion exchange resins from various solutions while considering the presence of other metals such as other PGMs, Au, Ag and base metals. The basic solution chemistry, type, properties and preparation of ion exchange resins including industrial and proposed flow sheets are also presented. In addition, an outlook for the further work in this area is provided.
The FDA-approved small-molecule drug ibrutinib is an effective targeted therapy for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Ibrutinib inhibits Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a kinase ...involved in B cell receptor signaling. However, the potential regulation of neuroinflammatory responses in the brain by ibrutinib has not been comprehensively examined.
BV2 microglial cells were treated with ibrutinib (1 μM) or vehicle (1% DMSO), followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 μg/ml) or PBS. RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and subcellular fractionation were performed to examine the effects of ibrutinib on neuroinflammatory responses. In addition, wild-type mice were sequentially injected with ibrutinib (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle (10% DMSO, i.p.), followed by LPS (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or PBS, and microglial and astrocyte activations were assessed using immunohistochemistry.
Ibrutinib significantly reduced LPS-induced increases in proinflammatory cytokine levels in BV2 microglial and primary microglial cells but not in primary astrocytes. Ibrutinib regulated TLR4 signaling to alter LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine levels. In addition, ibrutinib significantly decreased LPS-induced increases in p-AKT and p-STAT3 levels, suggesting that ibrutinib attenuates LPS-induced neuroinflammatory responses by inhibiting AKT/STAT3 signaling pathways. Interestingly, ibrutinib also reduced LPS-induced BV2 microglial cell migration by inhibiting AKT signaling. Moreover, ibrutinib-injected wild-type mice exhibited significantly reduced microglial/astrocyte activation and COX-2 and IL-1β proinflammatory cytokine levels.
Our data provide insights on the mechanisms of a potential therapeutic strategy for neuroinflammation-related diseases.
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