Coupling Two-Dimensional MoTe₂ and InGaZnO Thin-Film Materials for Hybrid PN Junction and CMOS Inverters

We report the fabrication of hybrid PN junction diode and complementary (CMOS) inverters, where 2D p-type MoTe₂ and n-type thin film InGaZnO (IGZO) are coupled for each device process. IGZO thin film was initially patterned by conventional photolithography either for n-type material in a PN diode or for n-channel of top-gate field-effect transistors (FET) in CMOS inverter. The hybrid PN junction diode shows a good ideality factor of 1.57 and quite a high ON/OFF rectification ratio of ∼3 × 10⁴. Under photons, our hybrid PN diode appeared somewhat stable only responding to high-energy photons of blue and ultraviolet. Our 2D nanosheet–oxide film hybrid CMOS inverter exhibits voltage gains as high as ∼40 at 5 V, low power consumption less than around a few nW at 1 V, and ∼200 μs switching dynamics

A Simple, Cost-Efficient Method to Separate Microalgal Lipids from Wet Biomass Using Surface Energy-Modified Membranes

For the efficient separation of lipid extracted from microalgae cells, a novel membrane was devised by introducing a functional polymer coating onto a membrane surface by means of an initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) process. To this end, a steel-use-stainless (SUS) membrane was modified in a way that its surface energy was systemically modified. The surface modification by conformal coating of functional polymer film allowed for selective separation of oil–water mixture, by harnessing the tuned interfacial energy between each liquid phase and the membrane surface. The surface-modified membrane, when used with chloroform-based solvent, exhibited superb permeate flux, breakthrough pressure, and also separation yield: it allowed separation of 95.5 ± 1.2% of converted lipid (FAME) in the chloroform phase from the water/MeOH phase with microalgal debris. This result clearly supported that the membrane-based lipid separation is indeed facilitated by way of membrane being functionalized, enabling us to simplify the whole downstream process of microalgae-derived biodiesel production

Comparisons of the clinical outcomes and subjective satisfaction according to the body mass index (kg/m²) groups in all participants.

<p>Comparisons among BMI groups are analyzed by the linear by linear association analysis.</p><p>Comparisons of the clinical outcomes and subjective satisfaction according to the body mass index (kg/m²) groups in all participants.</p

Intraoperative and postoperative complications according to the body mass index (kg/m²) groups.

<p>^aOne or more complications were experienced by 53 women, resulting in an aggregate of 63 recorded complications.</p><p>^bUrinary retention was determined when the patient failed to void after surgery or the volume of PVR was over 300ml after surgery. In these cases, clean intermittent self-catheterization was performed temporarily; however, three patients eventually required the procedure for the release of tape tension.</p><p>Comparisons among BMI groups are analyzed by the linear by linear association analysis.</p><p>Intraoperative and postoperative complications according to the body mass index (kg/m²) groups.</p

Demographic and urodynamic characteristics according to the body mass index (kg/m²) groups.

<p>Data are expressed as the mean ± standard error or as the number (%).</p><p>Comparisons among BMI groups are analyzed by a one-way analysis of variance with Scheffe's method for multiple comparisons or linear by linear association depending on the types of variables.</p><p>^a,b, and ^cThe same letters indicate non-significant difference.</p><p>^dCo-morbid diseases included hypertension, diabetes, hepatic disease, respiratory disease, and cardiovascular disease that were controlled by medication.</p><p>^eBased on the Stamey classification; Grade I: women who lose urine only with coughing, sneezing, or lifting heavy objects, Grade II: women who lose urine with minimal activity such as walking or arising from the sitting position, Grade III: women who are totally incontinent in the upright position and who cannot hold urine in their bladders.</p><p>Demographic and urodynamic characteristics according to the body mass index (kg/m²) groups.</p

Comparisons of the clinical outcomes and subjective satisfaction according to the body mass index (kg/m²) groups in patients with either the retropubic or transobturator approach.

<p>Comparisons among BMI groups are analyzed by the linear by linear association analysis.</p><p>Comparisons of the clinical outcomes and subjective satisfaction according to the body mass index (kg/m²) groups in patients with either the retropubic or transobturator approach.</p

Comparisons of the percent of subjects with mixed urinary incontinence according to the body mass index (kg/m²) groups in patients with either approach.

<p>Comparisons among BMI groups are analyzed by the linear by linear association analysis.</p><p>Comparisons of the percent of subjects with mixed urinary incontinence according to the body mass index (kg/m²) groups in patients with either approach.</p

Saponin suppresses viral propagation of IFN-α resistant mutant HCV.

<p>(A) Verification of IFN-α resistance of the mutant HCV. Huh7.5 cells were infected with either adaptive mutant HCV or IFN-α resistant mutant HCV for 4 h. The cells were treated with increasing amounts of IFN-α for 24 h and then total cell lysates were immunoblotted with the indicated antibodies. β-actin was used as a loading control for the same amount of cell lysates. (B) Saponin suppresses the NS5A expression in cells infected with IFN-α resistant mutant HCV. Huh7.5 cells were infected with HCV as described in the figure legend to A and then treated with increasing amounts of saponin for 24 h. Total cell lysates were immunoblotted with the indicated antibodies. (C) Co-treatment of saponin and IFN-α synergistically inhibits HCV replication in cells infected with IFN-α resistant HCV as similar level as in cells infected with adaptive HCV. Huh7.5 cells were infected with HCV as described in the figure legend to A and then treated with either 30 U/ml of IFN-α or 20 µg/ml of saponin alone, or in combination with IFN-α and saponin as indicated. Total cell lysates were immunoblotted with the indicated antibodies. (D) Huh7.5 cells were infected with HCV and then treated with either IFN-α or saponin alone, or in combination with IFN-α and saponin as described in the figure legend to C. Intracellular HCV RNAs isolated from these cells were analyzed by qRT-PCR.</p

Saponin inhibits HCV propagation.

<p>(A) Saponin inhibits HCV protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Huh7.5 cells infected with either HCV Jc1 or mock for 4 h were incubated with the selected amounts of saponin (2.5, 5, 10, and 20 µg/ml) for 24 h. Cells were harvested and then equal amounts of cell lysates were immunoblotted with anti-NS3 and NS5A antibodies, respectively. β-actin was used as a loading control for the same amount of cell lysates. (B) Relative viral protein levels in HCV-infected cells treated with the indicated dosage of saponin were normalized by β-actin. (C) Huh7.5 cells were infected with Jc1 for 4 h and then treated with the indicated amounts of saponin. At 24 h postinfection, intracellular HCV RNAs were analyzed by qRT-PCR using a primer targeting HCV 5′UTR-core. (D) Relative HCV infectivity was determined by focus-forming units (FFU) as we reported previously <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0039366#pone.0039366-Lim1" target="_blank">[16]</a>. Error bars indicate the standard deviation. * indicates statistical significance (p<0.05) and ** indicates p<0.01 versus control.</p

Saponin inhibits HCV propagation by regulating SOCS2 gene.

<p>(A) Huh7.5 cells were treated with either negative or SOCS2 siRNAs. At 72 h after transfection, cell viability was analyzed by cytotoxicity assay. (B-D) Silencing of SOCS2 impairs inhibitory activity of saponin on HCV propagation. Huh7.5 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNAs. At 36 h after transfection, cells were infected with HCV Jc1 for 4 h and then treated with 10 µg/ml of saponin for 24 h. Total cell lysates were immunoblotted with the indicated antibodies (B). Both intracellular HCV RNAs (C) and extracellular HCV RNAs (D) isolated from the culture supernatant were quantified by qRT-PCR. (E, F) Overexpression of SOCS2 suppresses HCV replication. Huh7 cells were transfected with either empty vector or FLAG-tagged SOCS2 expression plasmid. At 24 h after transfection, cells were infected with HCV for 4 h. Cell lysates harvested at 48 h postinfection were immunoblotted with the indicated antibodies (E). (F) Huh7 cells were treated as described in the figure legend to E. Intracellular HCV RNAs were isolated and analyzed by qRT-PCR.</p