Facile fabrication of two-dimensional inorganic nanostructures and their conjugation to nanocrystals

Nanocomposites of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic nanosheets and inorganic nanocrystals are fabricated. Freestanding atomically flat gamma-AlOOH nanosheets (thickness <1 nm) are synthesized from a one-pot hydrothermal reaction. The freestanding and binder-free film composed of the gamma-AlOOH nanosheets is fabricated by sedimentation. Because they have positive zeta potentials in the pH range below ca. 9.3, the gamma-AlOOH nanosheets can function as positively charged 2D inorganic matrices in a broad pH range. By solution phase (pH 7.0) mixing of the gamma-AlOOH nanosheets (zeta potential: 30.7 +/- 0.8 mV) and inorganic nanocrystals with negative surface charge, including Au nanoparticles, Au nanorods, CdSe quantum dots, CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots and CdSe nanorods, the nanocomposites are self-assembled via electrostatic interactions. Negatively charged inorganic nanostructures with a wide range of chemical compositions, shapes, sizes, surface ligands and adsorbates can be used as building blocks for gamma-AlOOH nanocomposites. Adsorption densities of inorganic nanocrystals on the nanocomposites can be controlled by varying concentrations of nanocrystal solutions. Nanocomposite films containing alternating layers of gamma-AlOOH and nanocrystals are obtained by a simple drop casting method.close3

Dark to light! A new strategy for large Stokes shift dyes: coupling of dark donor with tunable high quantum yield acceptors

10.1039/c4sc01821dChemical Science5124812-481

Effects of Sexual Arousal on Commitment: The Moderating Role of the Arousing Source

Being sexually aroused by one's partner is likely to increase one's commitment to the partner; whereas being aroused by an alternative mate might decrease it. These patterns are conceivably moderated by satisfaction from one's romantic relationship--higher satisfaction is likely to result with higher commitment when sexually aroused, whereas lower satisfaction is likely to result with lower commitment. I tested these predictions in two studies focusing on the sense of relationship commitment after sexual priming. In Study 1, thinking about having sex lead participants high on satisfaction to report higher commitment to their partner regardless of the source of arousal they were exposed to (partner/alternative). Conversely, participants low on satisfaction reported higher commitment after being sexually primed with their partner and lower commitment after being sexually primed with an alternative; however these trends were not significant. When thinking about playing badminton with someone, those high on satisfaction reported higher commitment regardless of relational context (partner/alternative), whereas those low on satisfaction reported higher commitment only when thinking about their partner. Study 2 focused on shame and guilt as underlying mechanisms to explain the Study 1 findings. Results supported my initial prediction about prime, context and satisfaction. However, feeling shame and guilt did not mediate the association between sexual arousal, target of arousal (partner/alternative), and commitment. Implications for sexual activation, commitment, and close relationships in general are discussed

Cognitive Bias, Memory, and Fearfulness of Red Jungle Fowl and Athens Canadian Random Bred Chickens

Our understanding of how poultry perceive and interpret their environment is essential to enhancing their welfare; over the years, animal welfare science has relied on measures of the behavioral and physiological components of affective states (positive and negative) as welfare indicators. There is an increasing interest in the study of chicken’s affective states using the Judgment bias test (JBT) as a tool for assessing welfare through their responses to ambiguous cues. This study investigates the cognitive performance of two chicken breeds with different evolutionary histories: Red Junglefowl (RJF), the primary ancestor of modern chickens, and Athens Canadian Random Bred (ACRB), a rustic domesticated broiler breed from the 1950s, by examining their responses to ambiguous stimuli in the JBT and comparing the fear and stress responses of the chickens that were and were not subjected to the JBT at two ages. Latency to approach cues varied significantly, with chickens consistently showing shorter latencies to approach positive (POS) cues than neutral (NEU) and RJF chickens exhibiting faster responses than ACRB at the older age, indicating better memory. Longer latencies in the tonic immobility test revealed higher fearfulness in RJF than in ACRB. Additionally, tested chickens, particularly males, displayed longer durations of tonic immobility than untested chickens. Thermal image analysis of eye and beak temperatures revealed that chickens subjected to the JBT had lower eye and beak temperatures, indicating higher stress levels. These findings highlight the influence of domestication on cognitive and emotional responses in chickens and underline the importance of considering stress during cognitive tests