Direct Patterning of Nitrogen-Doped CVD Graphene Based Microstructures for Charge Carrier Measurements Employing Femtosecond Laser Ablation

Chemical vapor deposited nitrogen-doped graphene, transferred on SiO2/Si substrate, was selectively patterned by femtosecond laser ablation for the formation of the topology dedicated to charge carrier measurements. Ultrashort 1030 nm wavelength Yb:KGW fs-laser pulses of 22 μJ energy,14 mJ cm−2 fluence, 96% pulse overlap, and a scanning speed of 100 mm s−1, were found to be the optimum regime for the high throughput microstructure ablation in graphene, without surface damage of the substrate in the employed fs-laser micromachining workstation. Optical scanning electron, atomic force microscopy, as well as Raman spectroscopy, were applied to clarify the intensive fs-laser light irradiation effects on graphene and the substrate, and to also verify the quality of the graphene removal. Measurements of magnetotransport properties of the fs-laser ablated nitrogen-doped graphene microstructure in the Hall configuration enabled the determination of the type, as well as concentration of charge carriers in a wide range of temperatures

Expression of NES-hTERT in Cancer Cells Delays Cell Cycle Progression and Increases Sensitivity to Genotoxic Stress

Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase associated with cellular immortality through telomere maintenance. This enzyme is activated in 90% of human cancers, and inhibitors of telomerase are currently in clinical trials to counteract tumor growth. Many aspects of telomerase biology have been investigated for therapy, particularly inhibition of the enzyme, but little was done regarding its subcellular shuttling. We have recently shown that mutations in the nuclear export signal of hTERT, the catalytic component of telomerase, led to a mutant (NES-hTERT) that failed to immortalize cells despite nuclear localization and catalytic activity. Expression of NES-hTERT in primary fibroblast resulted in telomere-based premature senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction. Here we show that expression of NES-hTERT in LNCaP, SQ20B and HeLa cells rapidly and significantly decreases their proliferation rate and ability to form colonies in soft agar while not interfering with endogenous telomerase activity. The cancer cells showed increased DNA damage at telomeric and extra-telomeric sites, and became sensitive to ionizing radiation and hydrogen peroxide exposures. Our data show that expression of NES-hTERT efficiently counteracts cancer cell growth in vitro in at least two different ways, and suggest manipulation with the NES of hTERT or its subcellular shuttling as a new strategy for cancer treatment

Study of p-Fe₃O₄/n-(GaAs,Si) Heterostructures: Fabrication and Physical Properties

We report preparation and investigation of p -n heterostructures based on Fe₃O₄ thin films grown on semiconductor Si and GaAs substrates. Fe₃O₄ films with thickness ranging from 60 to 300 nm were grown at 350÷450°C using dc magnetron sputtering technique. The measurement of X-ray diffraction and reflection high energy electron diffraction revealed polycrystalline microstructure of thin Fe₃O₄ films deposited on both Si and GaAs substrate. Investigation of surface composition by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that Fe 2p peak consists of three main peaks, namely, metallic iron Fe(0), Fe(II), and Fe(III). Transport measurements of Fe₃O₄/n-(Si, GaAs) heterostructures demonstrated nonlinear current-voltage (I -V) dependences in the temperature range from 300 K to 78 K

Nitrogen-doped twisted graphene grown on copper by atmospheric pressure CVD from decane precursor

We present Raman studies of graphene films grown on copper foil by atmospheric pressure CVD with n-decane as a precursor, a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen as the carrier gas, under different hydrogen flow rates. A novel approach for the processing of the Raman spectroscopy data was employed. It was found that in particular cases, the various parameters of the Raman spectra can be assigned to fractions of the films with different thicknesses. In particular, such quantities as the full width at half maximum of the 2D peak and the position of the 2D graphene band were successfully applied for the elaborated approach. Both the G- and 2D-band positions of single layer fractions were blue-shifted, which could be associated with the nitrogen doping of studied films. The XPS study revealed the characteristics of incorporated nitrogen, which was found to have a binding energy around 402 eV. Moreover, based on the statistical analysis of spectral parameters and the observation of a G-resonance, the twisted nature of the double-layer fraction of graphene grown with a lower hydrogen feeding rate was demonstrated. The impact of the varied hydrogen flow rate on the structural properties of graphene and the nitrogen concentration is also discussed

Quality of life, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in black African women: B-Healthy project

Purpose To study the associations between physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in black African women from a low socioeconomic community in South Africa. Methods Black African women (n = 146) aged 35–75 years from a low socioeconomic community in South Africa participated in this study. We measured PA levels via ActiHeart® accelerometers, and CRF by measuring peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2 peak). HRQoL was assessed once with the SF-8 Health Survey (SF-8). Participants were classified into groups based on age, moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and V̇O2 peak. Logistic regressions were used to compare the odds of having total HRQoL component scores above reported norms across PA and fitness groups. Two multiple linear regression models were developed using physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) as response variables respectively. Results V̇O2 peak and MVPA varied considerably across the sample and declined with increasing age. Participants in higher quartiles of MVPA and CRF showed trends to higher PCS scores. For CRF these trends were statistically significant, and persisted after adjustment for age and other possible confounders (p = 0.036). PCS was significantly associated with age, relative V̇O2 peak, and income (all p < 0.05), while MCS was associated with income (p = 0.028). Conclusions CRF is the most significant predictor, together with age and income, on the PCS of the HRQoL among black African women. We recommend that when seeking improvements in HRQoL, interventions should focus on improving CRF, particularly V̇O2 peak

Nitrogen-doped twisted graphene grown on copper by atmospheric pressure CVD from a decane precursor

We present Raman studies of graphene films grown on copper foil by atmospheric pressure CVD with n-decane as a precursor, a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen as the carrier gas, under different hydrogen flow rates. A novel approach for the processing of the Raman spectroscopy data was employed. It was found that in particular cases, the various parameters of the Raman spectra can be assigned to fractions of the films with different thicknesses. In particular, such quantities as the full width at half maximum of the 2D peak and the position of the 2D graphene band were successfully applied for the elaborated approach. Both the G- and 2D-band positions of single layer fractions were blue-shifted, which could be associated with the nitrogen doping of studied films. The XPS study revealed the characteristics of incorporated nitrogen, which was found to have a binding energy around 402 eV. Moreover, based on the statistical analysis of spectral parameters and the observation of a G-resonance, the twisted nature of the double-layer fraction of graphene grown with a lower hydrogen feeding rate was demonstrated. The impact of the varied hydrogen flow rate on the structural properties of graphene and the nitrogen concentration is also discussed

XPS study of graphene grown by atmospheric pressure CVD from n-decane precursor with nitrogenasa carrier gas

We present X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study (XPS) of graphene films grown on copper foil by atmospheric pressure CVD with n-decane as a precursor, a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen as a carrier gas, under different hydrogen flow rates. The XPS study revealed the characteristics of incorporated nitrogen, which was found to have a binding energy around 402 eV, the atomic concentration of incorporated nitrogen is higher for the sample synthesized with higher hydrogen flow rate

Nitrogen doped twisted graphene

We review the properties of twisted graphene synthesized by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition