Effect of Spin Coating Conditions on the Inter-molecular Ordering and Performance of Organic Photovoltaic Materials

Engineering and ArchitectureWe proposed to use fluctuation electron microscope to determine the molecular ordering of organic materials, and establish connections between the ordering and important properties of organic materials, which can significantly improve the performance of organic electronics. In the past, understanding the exact nature of molecular ordering has been challenging due to the lack of experimental technique that are sensitive to the molecular ordering. While FEM is a great technique that can measure the nanoscale atomic ordering, including type, size, volume fraction etc. P3HT is material of interest and it is spin-coated onto Si substrate and then observed under FEM. Consequently, the intermolecular ordering is established as a function of spin coat temperature, RPM, concentration, annealing temperature and so on. This summer served as the first stage of this project, aimed to find a sample, which can meet operating criteria of FEM, as standard for further research. During research, contamination was initially captured; particles around the point of irritation gathered together and made that region thicker, because carbon atoms were excited by light beam. Another technique called plasma clean was introduced to get rid of the noise, which can eliminate carbon atoms by chemical reaction. But it raises up another problem. P3HT consists of carbon, which may also react while cleaning. Even though this inference wasn’t examined, an alternative approach was suggested by advisor to increase the accuracy, which is heat-treatment under vacuum. But appropriate operation method is still under investigation. For the future goals, it’s imperative to either prove that plasma clean doesn’t damage the P3HT sample or find an alternative treating method. With this problem solved, the team will move on to make samples under different conditions, and the structures and properties will be compared with the ones of standard sample. Temporarily, three main factors interested the team most is the RPM, concentration and heat-treatment temperature. Basically, one factor will be changed with all other factors the same as standard, so that the effect of each factor can be studied solely. And the final conclusion about the correlation between structure and electronic properties can be drawn.Undergraduate Research OfficeAcademic Major: Materials Science and Engineerin

Mapping the potential distribution of the schistosomiasis intermediate host Biomphalaria straminea in China

Biomphalaria straminea is native to Brazil but has established a population in Guangdong Province China. Its potential of expanding and transmitting Schistosoma mansoni is of great concern. We seek to map S. mansoni transmission potential by predicting ecological dimensions and potential distributions of B. straminea using state-of-the-art ecological niche model approaches. Two environmental datasets were selected to fit individual and ensemble niche models, together with the evaluation of niche conservatism during B. straminea invasion in China. A small area is still occupied by the introduced population compared to that in Brazil. A vast space with suitable climate remains unfilled and might be available to B. straminea. Contrasting results of niche conservatism evaluation were attained based on the two environmental datasets. The coastal areas in southern China, together with south-western Yunnan and southern Hainan and Taiwan were consistent supported by multiple model approaches, showing high climate suitability for B. straminea. Attention should be paid to the possibility of S. mansoni epidemic in these identified areas, as high pressure due to propagation and future climate change may further complicate conditions. Our results call for rigorous monitoring and supervising along these areas in China

Signaling pathways in rheumatoid arthritis: implications for targeted therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an incurable systemic autoimmune disease. Disease progression leads to joint deformity and associated loss of function, which significantly impacts the quality of life for sufferers and adds to losses in the labor force. In the past few decades, RA has attracted increased attention from researchers, the abnormal signaling pathways in RA are a very important research field in the diagnosis and treatment of RA, which provides important evidence for understanding this complex disease and developing novel RA-linked intervention targets. The current review intends to provide a comprehensive overview of RA, including a general introduction to the disease, historical events, epidemiology, risk factors, and pathological process, highlight the primary research progress of the disease and various signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms, including genetic factors, epigenetic factors, summarize the most recent developments in identifying novel signaling pathways in RA and new inhibitors for treating RA. therapeutic interventions including approved drugs, clinical drugs, pre-clinical drugs, and cutting-edge therapeutic technologies. These developments will hopefully drive progress in new strategically targeted therapies and hope to provide novel ideas for RA treatment options in the future

Computational modeling of the cephalic arch with jugulocephalic vein variant predicts hemodynamic profiles in patients with brachiocephalic fistula

Background: The cephalic vein is often used in for arteriovenous fistula creation; however, the cephalic vein variation is common. This study will propose new theoretical explanations for a new discovered variation of cephalic vein draining into external jugular vein with “T-junction” shape by means of 3D computational hemodynamic modeling, which may provide reference for clinical practice. Methods: The precise measurements were conducted for the variant right cephalic vein draining into external jugular vein and for a normal right cephalic vein as a control. After processing the anatomical data, 3D geometrical model was reconstructed. Then, the influent field inside the variant jugulocephalic vein was mathematically modeled to get a detailed description of hemodynamic environment. Results: The anatomical parameters of the “T-junction” jugulocephalic vein variant were much more different from the normal right cephalic vein. The wall shear stress of variant cephalic vein at the corresponding position was higher and changed more rapidly than that of normal cephalic vein. The shear rate contour lines are disordered in several areas of the variant cephalic vein, indicating that the hemodynamic parameters in these areas are unstable. The hemodynamic characteristics at the confluence of the variant cephalic vein are more complex, with more areas where hemodynamic parameters are disrupted. Conclusions: The variation of cephalic arch in a “T-junction” with external jugular vein largely altered the fluid dynamics, especially in hemodialysis patients with brachiocephalic fistula in terms of the simulating flow in 3D computational model. This computational model provides hemodynamic profiles for stabilizing or modulating fluid dynamics in patients with jugulocephalic vein variant after brachiocephalic fistula