Fast growth of monolayer organic 2D crystals and their application in organic transistors

Growth of monolayer 2D organic crystal has been an interesting topic in recent years owing to their promising properties. However, it is still a tough challenge to obtain the 2D organic crystal with precise thickness control and uniform morphology. Herein, we reported the fabrication of 2D crystals of alkane molecules C44H90 with only monolayer thickness and tunable size through the simple dip-coating process. Benefitted from the low solubility of the C44H90 and the isotropic Van der Waals interaction, quadrilateral-shape monolayer 2D crystals with size from several micrometers to nearly hundreds of micrometers can be achieved in the dip-coating process. Utilized the X-ray diffraction and high resolution atomic force microscopy, we obtained the clear packing mode of these monolayer crystals. In addition, these smooth 2D crystals show promising application in the thin film transistors by acting as a molecular template layer. It leads to an increment of about one magnitude on the charge mobility owing to the decreasing of both morphology defects and interface traps.</p

Strength Reduction Method for Stability Analysis of Local Discontinuous Rock Mass with Iterative Method of Partitioned Finite Element and Interface Boundary Element

SRM (strength reduction method) with iterative method of PFE (partitioned fnite element) and IBE (interface boundary element) is proposed to solve the safety factor of local discontinuous rock mass. Slope system is divided into several continuous bodies and local discontinuous interface boundaries. Each block is treated as a partition of the system and contacted by discontinuous joints. The displacements of blocks are chosen as basic variables and the rigid displacements in the centroid of blocks are chosen as motion variables. The contact forces on interface boundaries and the rigid displacements to the centroid of each body are chosen as mixed variables and solved iteratively using the interface boundary equations. Flexibility matrix is formed through PFE according to the contact states of nodal pairs and spring flexibility is used to reflect the influence of weak structural plane so that nonlinear iteration is only limited to the possible contact region. With cohesion and friction coefficient reduced gradually, the states of all nodal pairs at the open or slip state for the first time are regarded as failure criterion, which can decrease the effect of subjectivity in determining safety factor. Examples are used to verify the validity of the proposed method

The Effects of Different Lead Pollution Levels on Soil Microbial Quantities and Metabolic Function with/without S<em>alix integra</em> Thunb. Planting

Background and Objectives: Salix integra Thunb., a fast-growing woody species, has been used in phytoremediation in recent years. It has the potential to accumulate high amounts of lead (Pb) in its growth, however, its effects on soil microbial community structure and function during its phytoextraction processes are not well understood, especially at different pollution levels. Materials and Methods: In our study, we set unplanted and planted Salix integra in areas with four levels of Pb treatments (0, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg). After six months of planting, the rhizospheric soil, bulk soil, and unplanted soil were collected. Soil properties and microbes participating in nitrogen and phosphorus cycling were measured, following standard methods. Microbial metabolic functions were assessed using a Biolog-ECO microplate. Results: The bacteria (nitrogen-fixing bacteria, ammonifying bacteria, inorganic phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, and nitrosobacteria) all increased in the 500 mg/kg treatment and decreased in the 1500 mg/kg treatment compared with the 0 mg/kg treatment, especially in rhizospheric soil. The microbial metabolisms decreased along with the increase of Pb levels, with the exception of the rhizospheric soil with a 500 mg/kg treatment. The metabolic patterns were relative to the pollution levels. The utilization of carbohydrates was decreased, and of amino acids or fatty acids was increased, in the 500 mg/kg treatment, while the opposite occurred in the 1500 mg/kg treatment. The values of soil properties, microbial quantities, and metabolic activities were higher in rhizospheric than bulk soil, while the differences between bulk and unplanted soil were different among the different Pb treatments. The soil properties had little effect on the microbial quantities and metabolic activities. Conclusions: S. integra planting and Pb levels had an interactive effect on the microbial community. In general, S. integra planting promoted microbial quantities and metabolic activity in rhizospheric soil. Lower Pb pollution increased microbial quantities and promoted the utilization of amino acids or fatty acids, while higher Pb concentrations decreased microbial quantities and metabolic activities, and promoted the utilization of carbohydrates

Inhibition of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V alleviates diabetic cardiomyopathy in mice by attenuating cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis

Abstract Background The pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy is closely linked to abnormal glycosylation modifications. N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V), which catalyzes the production of N-linked -1–6 branching of oligosaccharides, is involved in several pathophysiological mechanisms of many disorders, including cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. However, the mechanism by which GnT-V regulates cardiac hypertrophy in diabetic cardiomyopathy is currently poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of GnT-V on myocardial hypertrophy in diabetic cardiomyopathy and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. Material and methods Streptozotocin (STZ) was intraperitoneally injected into mice to induce diabetic cardiomyopathy. An adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying negative control small hairpin RNA (shNC) or GnT-V-specifc small hairpin RNA (shGnT-V) was used to manipulate GnT-V expression. In our study, forty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups (10 mice per group): control mice with AAV-shNC, diabetic cardiomyopathy mice with AAV-shNC, control mice with AAV-shGnT-V, and diabetic cardiomyopathy mice with AAV-shGnT-V. In addition, H9C2 cells and primary neonatal cardiac fibroblasts treated with high glucose were used as a cell model of diabetes. Analysis of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, as well as functional studies, were used to investigate the underlying molecular pathways. Results AAV-mediated GnT-V silencing dramatically improved cardiac function and alleviated myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis in diabetic mice. In vitro experiments demonstrated that GnT-V was elevated in cardiomyocytes and induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in response to high glucose stimulation. GnT-V knockdown significantly reduced the expression of the integrinβ1 signaling pathway, as evidenced by decreased downstream ERK1/2 activity, which inhibited cardiomyocyte hypertrophy accompanied by reduced ANP, BNP, and β-MHC expression. Furthermore, knocking down GnT-V expression lowered the TGF-β1-Smads signaling pathway, which reduced the expression of α-SMA, collagen I, and collagen III. Conclusions Overall, our research indicated that GnT-V may be a useful therapeutic target to treat diabetic cardiomyopathy, primarily in the inhibition of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis

Induced neural stem cells suppressed neuroinflammation by inhibiting the microglial pyroptotic pathway in intracerebral hemorrhage rats

Summary: Intracerebral hemorrhage usually manifests as strong neuroinflammation and neurological deficits. There is an urgent need to explore effective methods for the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. The therapeutic effect and the possible mechanism of induced neural stem cell transplantation in an intracerebral hemorrhage rat model are still unclear. Our results showed that transplantation of induced neural stem cells could improve neurological deficits by inhibiting inflammation in an intracerebral hemorrhage rat model. Additionally, induced neural stem cell treatment could effectively suppress microglial pyroptosis, which might occur through inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Induced neural stem cells could also regulate the polarization of microglia and promote the transition of microglia from pro-inflammatory phenotypes to anti-inflammatory phenotypes to exert their anti-inflammatory effects. Overall, induced neural stem cells may be a promising tool for the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage and other neuroinflammatory diseases

Engineering CIGS grains qualities to achieve high efficiency in ultrathin Cu(InxGa1−x)Se2 solar cells with a single-gradient band gap profile

Reducing the Cu(InxGa1−x)Se2 (CIGS) thickness is an effective way to reduce the material use and increase manufacturing throughput. However, it is still a challenge to obtain high efficiency in the ultrathin CIGS solar cell. Here, the CIGS solar cell with a 1.3 µm-thickness-CIGS was synthesized via a three-stage co-evaporation method. The obtained CIGS solar cells were characterized by capacitance-voltage, capacitance-frequency, secondary ion mass spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence, transmission electron microscope, and electron beam induced current techniques. By optimizing the grain size, interface quality, and the Ga gradient in the ultrathin CIGS solar cell, the highest efficiency reached to 11.72% without any light trapping and anti-reflecting coating techniques. Compared with the typical CIGS solar cell with a thickness of 2.3 µm, the ultrathin CIGS solar cell showed a higher open-circuit voltage due to formation a back electrical field. The grain boundaries were found to be beneficial to the carrier’s separation and transport. The ultrathin CIGS solar cell had good ability to resist ion bombardment, suggesting its potential application in the space devices. Our results provide a strategy to achieve high-efficiency ultrathin CIGS solar cells. Keywords: Cu(InxGa1−x)Se2 solar cells, Ultrathin, High interface quality, Heavy ion bombardmen

Table_1_Gut-microbiome-based predictive model for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in young male patients.XLSX

BackgroundST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in young male patients accounts for a significant proportion of total heart attack events. Therefore, clinical awareness and screening for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in asymptomatic patients at a young age is required. The gut microbiome is potentially involved in the pathogenesis of STEMI. The aim of the current study is to develop an early risk prediction model based on the gut microbiome and clinical parameters for this population.MethodsA total of 81 young males (age ResultsCompared to the control group, a significant decrease in tendency regarding α and β diversity was observed in patients in the case group and identified as a significantly altered gut microbiome represented by Streptococcus and Prevotella. Regarding clinical parameters, compared to the control group, the patients in the case group had a higher body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), triglyceride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and low blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Additionally, BMI and SBP were significantly (pConclusionIn this study, we combined the gut microbiome and common clinical parameters to construct a prediction model. Our analysis shows that the constructed model is a non-invasive tool with potential clinical application in predicting STEMI in the young males.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Gut-microbiome-based predictive model for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in young male patients.docx

BackgroundST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in young male patients accounts for a significant proportion of total heart attack events. Therefore, clinical awareness and screening for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in asymptomatic patients at a young age is required. The gut microbiome is potentially involved in the pathogenesis of STEMI. The aim of the current study is to develop an early risk prediction model based on the gut microbiome and clinical parameters for this population.MethodsA total of 81 young males (age ResultsCompared to the control group, a significant decrease in tendency regarding α and β diversity was observed in patients in the case group and identified as a significantly altered gut microbiome represented by Streptococcus and Prevotella. Regarding clinical parameters, compared to the control group, the patients in the case group had a higher body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), triglyceride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and low blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Additionally, BMI and SBP were significantly (pConclusionIn this study, we combined the gut microbiome and common clinical parameters to construct a prediction model. Our analysis shows that the constructed model is a non-invasive tool with potential clinical application in predicting STEMI in the young males.</p