Hybrid organic-inorganic light-emitting electrochemical cells using fluorescent polymer and ionic liquid blend as an active layer

We demonstrate enhanced device performance by using a blend of emissive polymer and mobile ionic liquid molecules in hybrid organic-inorganic polymeric light-emitting electrochemical cells with high air stability. The mobile anions and cations redistributed near each electrode/active layer interface make ohmic contacts, thereby enhancing current density and electroluminescence efficiency at relatively low operating voltage.open12

High performance polymer light-emitting diodes with N-type metal oxide/conjugated polyelectrolyte hybrid charge transport layers

We present an interfacial engineering strategy employing n-type-metal-oxide/conjugated-polyelectrolyte (CPE) hybrid charge-transport layers for highly efficient polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). The hybrid metal-oxide/CPE layer facilitates electron-injection, while blocking hole-transport, and thereby maximizes electron-hole recombination within the emitting layer. A series of metal-oxide/CPE combinations were tested in inverted PLEDs (FTO/metal-oxide/CPF8BT/MoO3/Au). Specifically, HfO2/CPE double layer achieved an electroluminescence (EL) efficiency of up to 25.8 cd/A (@ 6.4 V, one of the highest values reported for fluorescent PLEDs).open11

Flexible room-temperature NO2 gas sensors based on carbon nanotubes/reduced graphene hybrid films

We present a flexible room temperature NO2 gas sensor consisting of vertical carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/reduced graphene hybrid film supported by a polyimide substrate. The reduced graphene film alone showed a negligible sensor response, exhibiting abnormal N-P transitions during the initial NO2 injection. A hybrid film, formed by the growth of a vertically aligned CNT array (with CNTs 20 ??m in length) on the reduced graphene film surface, exhibited remarkably enhanced sensitivities with weak N-P transitions. The increase in sensitivity was mainly attributed to the high sensitivity of the CNT arrays. The outstanding flexibility of the reduced graphene films ensured stable sensing performances in devices submitted to extreme bending stress.open786

Protective Role of Colitis in Inflammatory Arthritis via Propionate-Producing Bacteroides in the Gut

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether and how inflammatory disease in the intestine influences the development of arthritis, considering that organ-to-organ communication is associated with many physiological and pathological events. METHODS: First, mice were given drinking water containing dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and then subjected to inflammatory arthritis. We compared the phenotypic symptoms between the cohoused and separately-housed mice. Next, donor mice were divided into DSS-treated and untreated groups and then cohoused with recipient mice. Arthritis was then induced in the recipients. The fecal microbiome was analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. We obtained type strains of the candidate bacteria and generated propionate-deficient mutant bacteria. Short-chain fatty acids were measured in the bacterial culture supernatant, serum, feces, and cecum contents using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Mice fed with candidate and mutant bacteria were subjected to inflammatory arthritis. RESULTS: Contrary to expectations, the mice treated with DSS exhibited fewer symptoms of inflammatory arthritis. Intriguingly, the gut microbiota contributes, at least in part, to the improvement of colitis-mediated arthritis. Among the altered microorganisms, CONCLUSIONS: We suggest a novel relationship between the gut and joints and an important role of the gut microbiota as communicators. Moreover, the propionate-producin

N-doped graphitic self-encapsulation for high performance silicon anodes in lithium-ion batteries

N-doped sites at CNT and graphene trigger spontaneous encapsulation of Si particles by simple pH control at room temperature. Significantly, N-doped CNT encapsulated Si composite electrode materials show remarkable cycle life and rate performance in battery operations. Superior capacity retention of 79.4% is obtained after 200 cycles and excellent rate capability of 914 mA h g -1 is observed at a 10 C rate.close13

Sublingual Immunization with M2-Based Vaccine Induces Broad Protective Immunity against Influenza

The ectodomain of matrix protein 2 (M2e) of influenza A virus is a rationale target antigen candidate for the development of a universal vaccine against influenza as M2e undergoes little sequence variation amongst human influenza A strains. Vaccine-induced M2e-specific antibodies (Abs) have been shown to display significant cross-protective activity in animal models. M2e-based vaccine constructs have been shown to be more protective when administered by the intranasal (i.n.) route than after parenteral injection. However, i.n. administration of vaccines poses rare but serious safety issues associated with retrograde passage of inhaled antigens and adjuvants through the olfactory epithelium. In this study, we examined whether the sublingual (s.l.) route could serve as a safe and effective alternative mucosal delivery route for administering a prototype M2e-based vaccine. The mechanism whereby s.l. immunization with M2e vaccine candidate induces broad protection against infection with different influenza virus subtypes was explored.A recombinant M2 protein with three tandem copies of the M2e (3M2eC) was expressed in Escherichia coli. Parenteral immunizations of mice with 3M2eC induced high levels of M2e-specific serum Abs but failed to provide complete protection against lethal challenge with influenza virus. In contrast, s.l. immunization with 3M2eC was superior for inducing protection in mice. In the latter animals, protection was associated with specific Ab responses in the lungs.The results demonstrate that s.l. immunization with 3M2eC vaccine induced airway mucosal immune responses along with broad cross-protective immunity to influenza. These findings may contribute to the understanding of the M2-based vaccine approach to control epidemic and pandemic influenza infections

Validation of Thermal Neutron Scattering Cross Sections for Heavy Water based on Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Recently, the thermal scattering libraries of ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 for light and heavy water were released with a new water model (CAB model) proposed by Damian. For the CAB model, the molecular dynamics code GROMACS was used to more accurately describe the realistic motions of water molecules. In this paper, to consider the coherent component we also generated the thermal scattering cross section of the deuterium and oxygen bound in the heavy water molecules using the GROMACS code and EPSR code. In addition, the frequency spectrum was also calculated using the GROMACS code. Thermal scattering cross sections based on the newly calculated Sköld correction factor and the frequency spectrum were generated by NJOY2016 code. Finally, the performance of the generated thermal scattering cross sections were validated by performing an ICSBEP benchmark simulation using MCNPX code

Validation of Thermal Neutron Scattering Cross Sections for Heavy Water based on Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Recently, the thermal scattering libraries of ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 for light and heavy water were released with a new water model (CAB model) proposed by Damian. For the CAB model, the molecular dynamics code GROMACS was used to more accurately describe the realistic motions of water molecules. In this paper, to consider the coherent component we also generated the thermal scattering cross section of the deuterium and oxygen bound in the heavy water molecules using the GROMACS code and EPSR code. In addition, the frequency spectrum was also calculated using the GROMACS code. Thermal scattering cross sections based on the newly calculated Sköld correction factor and the frequency spectrum were generated by NJOY2016 code. Finally, the performance of the generated thermal scattering cross sections were validated by performing an ICSBEP benchmark simulation using MCNPX code

Anti-inflammatory effects of Gracilaria vermiculophylla Papenfuss extract on Porphyromonas gingivalis stimulated RAW 264.7 cells

276-283Seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla Papenfuss, commonly called as ‘Worm wart weed’, is a red alga widely distributed in the coastal areas of several countries. Though G. vermiculophylla has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, such effects on periodontal diseases remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of G. vermiculophylla on the production of inflammatory cytokines in Porphyromonas gingivalis induced RAW 264.7 cells. Gracilaria vermiculophylla on that RAW 264.7 cells had no cytotoxic effect on cell viability compared with untreated controls. In P. gingivalis stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, G. vermiculophylla treatment reduced nitric oxide (NO) levels in a concentration-dependent manner by downregulating inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) proteins. Reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q) PCR inhibited interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA. Western blot analysis found that both inhibitor of kappa B alpha (IκBα) kinase (IKK) phosphorylation and IκBα degradation in P. gingivalis stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was inhibited by G. vermiculophylla in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, G. vermiculophylla treatment reduced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effect of G. vermiculophylla is associated with the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathways. Overall, the findings indicate that the red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla extract may have anti-inflammatory effects on periodontitis and can serve as a potent therapeutic agent to prevent periodontal disease