Thermovoltaic Effects of van der Waals Heterojunctions based on Inert Conductor/Solution Interfaces

It is found that if the inert conductor P has a larger electron work function $\phi$ and surface state function G than the inert conductor N, the inert conductor P and the inert conductor N are isolated by a separator and then immersed in the solution S (abbreviation: inert conductorP$\mid$solutionS$\mid$inert conductorN, or as P$\mid$S$\mid$N). Excluding the electrochemical reaction and thermoelectric effect of P$\mid$S$\mid$N, etc., it is measured that the voltage between the two conductors after the open circuit continues to increase to a certain stable maximum value. Then, the current after the closed-circuit continues to decrease to a certain stable minimum value. Analysis of the structure and properties of P$\mid$S$\mid$N shows that the inert conductor/solution interface relies on physical adsorption to construct van der Waals heterojunctions and that two van der Waals heterojunctions of different potentials form a P-N junction for P$\mid$S$\mid$N. The inert conductors P and N have different potentials. This electric field energy is expressed in the outer circuit when the circuit is open, due to the joint action of the electron work function $\phi$ and the surface state function G, P$\mid$S$\mid$N generates a larger built-in electric field and obtains a larger voltage. When the circuit is closed, P$\mid$S$\mid$N only has the effect of the surface state function G, which produces a smaller built-in electric field, results in a smaller voltage and current. This Thermoelectric conversion phenomenon is called the thermovoltaic effect.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Isoglycyrrhizin protects mouse lungs against acute respiratory distress syndrome via regulation of AMPK/Nrf2/ARE pathway

Purpose: To study the effect of isoglycyrrhizin on LPS-mediated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a mouse model, as well as the associated mechanism of action.Methods: Ninety (90) wild-type C57BL/6 male mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups, viz, control, ARDS and isoglycyrrhizin groups. Pathological lesions in mice lungs were determined using H&E staining. The mRNA and protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heme oxygenase (HO-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), AMP- dependent protein kinase (AMPK), serine/threonine proteinkinase (Akt), glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), and Nrf2 were assayed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunoblotting, respectively.Results: The levels of mRNA and protein expressions of INO) and COX-2 were significantly upregulated in ARDS, when compared to control, but were markedly down-regulated by isoglycyrrhizin (p < 0.05). Similarly, exposure of ARDS mice to isoglycyrrhizin led to upregulations of mRNA and proteinlevels of Nrf2, NQO1, HO-1, GCLM, GCLC, p-GSK3, GSK3, p-AMPK, AMPK, p-Akt and AKT (p < 0.05). Moreover, isoglycyrrhizin significantly downregulated p-IκB and Nucl-p65 with respect to protein and mRNA levels, but upregulated IκBα expression. Histopathological examination revealed that pretreatment of ARDS mice with isoglycyrrhizin significantly reduced the number of infiltrating inflammatory cells, edema and ARDS score (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Isoglycyrrhizin protects mouse lungs against ARDS via regulation of AMPK/Nrf2/ARE pathway. Thus, this compound has potential for use in the treatment of ARDS

Improved Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm-based density peak clustering and its applications

Kao algoritam temeljen na gustoći, algoritam grupiranja na osnovu najviše gustoće (Density Peak Clustering - DPC) superioran je u grupiranju pronalaženjem vršne gustoće. No, smanjena udaljenost i središta grupiranja trebaju se postaviti slučajno, što bi utjecalo na rezultate grupiranja. Voćne mušice pronalaze najbolju hranu lokalnim pretraživanjem i globalnim pretraživanjem. Pronađena hrana je ekstremna vrijednost parametra izračunata algoritmom optimizacije voćne mušice (Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm - FOA). Na osnovu brze pretrage i superiornosti brze konvergencije FOA-e, moguće je nadoknaditi slučajnost DPC-a. Poboljšana vršna gustoća grupiranja voćnih mušica, temeljena na algoritmu optimizacije, predložena je kao FOA-DPC. Taj bi algoritam trebao biti efikasniji i učinkovitiji od DPC algoritma. Rezultati sedam simulacijskih eksperimenata na UCI nizovima podataka potvrdili su da predloženi algoritam nije imao samo bolju performansu grupiranja već je bio bliži pravim brojevima grupiranja. Nadalje, FOA-DPC primijenjen je i u analizi financijskih podataka i pokazao se vrlo učinkovitim.As density-based algorithm, Density Peak Clustering (DPC) algorithm has superiority of clustering by finding the density peaks. But the cut-off distance and clustering centres had to be set at random, which would influence clustering outcomes. Fruit flies find the best food by local searching and global searching. The food found was the parameter extreme value calculated by Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm (FOA). Based on the rapid search and fast convergence superiorities of FOA, it is possible to make up the casualness of DPC. An improved fruit fly optimization-based density peak clustering algorithm was proposed as FOA-DPC. The FOA-DPC algorithm would be more efficient and effective than DPC algorithm. The results of seven simulation experiments in UCI data sets validated that the proposed algorithm did not only have better clustering performance, but also were closer to the true clustering numbers. Furthermore, FOA-DPC was applied to practical financial data analysis and the conclusion was also effective

High-Speed Photothermal Patterning of Doped Polymer Films.

Organic semiconductors (OSCs) offer a new avenue to the next-generation electronics, but the lack of a scalable and inexpensive nanoscale patterning/deposition technique still limits their use in electronic applications. Recently, a new lithographic etching technique has been introduced that uses molecular dopants to reduce semiconducting polymer solubility in solvents and a direct-write laser to remove dopants locally, enabling rapid OSC etching with diffraction limited resolution. Previous publications postulated that the reaction that enables patterning is a photochemical reaction between photoexcited dopants with neutral solvent molecules. In this work, we analyze the photoinduced dissolution kinetics of F4TCNQ doped P3HT films using time-resolved in situ optical probing. We find two competing mechanisms that control de-doping and dissolution: the first is the photochemical reaction posited in the literature, and the second involves direct heating of the polymer by the laser, inducing increased solubility for both the polymer and dopant. We show that the wavelength-specific photochemical effect is dominant in low photon doses while the photothermal effect is dominant with high excitation rates regardless of laser wavelength. With sufficiently high optical intensity input, the photothermal mechanism can in principle achieve a high writing speed up to 1 m/s. Our findings bring new insights into the mechanisms behind laser direct writing of OSCs based on dopant induced solubility control and enable ultraprecise fabrications of various device configurations in large-scale manufacturing

Promoting long-term cycling performance of high-voltage Li2CoPO4F by the stabilization of electrode/electrolyte interface

National Basic Research Program of China (973 program) [2011CB935903]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [21233004, 21021002]High-voltage Li2CoPO4F (similar to 5 V vs. Li/Li+) with double-layer surface coating has been successfully prepared for the first time. The Li3PO4-coated Li2CoPO4F shows a high reversible capacity of 154 mA h g(-1) (energy density up to 700W h kg(-1)) at 1 C current rate, and excellent rate capability (141 mA h g(-1) at 20 C). XRD and MAS NMR results show that Li2CoPO4F can be indexed as an orthorhombic structure with space group Pnma and coexists with Li3PO4. The XPS depth profiles and TEM analysis reveal that the as-prepared material has a double-layer surface coating, with a carbon outer layer and a Li3PO4 inner layer, which greatly enhances the transfer kinetics of the lithium ions and electrons in the material and stabilizes the electrode/electrolyte interface. Using LiBOB as an electrolyte additive is another way to further stabilize the electrode/electrolyte interface, and the LiBOB has a synergistic effect with the Li3PO4 coating layer. In this way, the Li2CoPO4F cathode material exhibits excellent long-term cycling stability, with 83.8% capacity retention after 150 cycles. The excellent cycling performance is attributed to the LiBOB electrolyte additive and the Li3PO4 coating layer, both of which play an important role in stabilizing the charge transfer resistance of Li2CoPO4F upon cycling