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The quest for highly sensitive and specific detection of disease biomarkers is high, despite many advances in analysis system. Here, we present a sensitive immunoassay platform using DNA-tethered gold nanoparticles and DNA-binding zinc fingers (ZFs). Monomeric alkaline phosphatase (mAP) and human TNF-α were employed as a signal generator and a disease biomarker, respectively. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were first grafted with double-stranded DNAs having specific sequences for two different types of ZFs (QNK and zif268). The alkaline phosphatase and TNF-α-specific protein binder were genetically fused to each of two different types of ZFs, respectively, followed by conjugation with the DNA-tethered AuNPs in a sequence-specific manner. The use of the functionalized AuNPs as a signal generator in a colorimetric immunoassay of TNF-α led to LOD of 120 pg/ml, showing about 161-fold higher sensitivity than a protein binder-fused mAP. The present immunoassay platform could be applied to other analytes by simply replacing a targeting moiety, allowing a versatile and reproducible colorimetric immunoassay. Image 1 • AuNPs were functionalized with template DNA and zinc finger proteins (ZFs) in a sequence specific manner. • Functionalized AuNPs were used as a signal generator in colorimetric immunoassay. • The immunoassay platform showed a 161-fold lower limit of detection (LOD) for TNF-α than the previous system. • Developed immunoassay platform can be generally applied to other analytes by simply replacing a targeting moiety. • The immunoassay platform using functionalized AuNPs led to high sensitivity and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated the effect of UV surface modification to sintering characteristics. • UVC surface modification changed the functional group to hydrophilic group. • The hydrophilic group enhanced adhesion strength of sintered Cu electrode. • It improved electrical conductivity without damage due to high thermal conduction. • The sintered Cu electrode showed the low resistivity and high adhesion strength. The effect of ultraviolet (UV) surface modification on a polyimide (PI) substrate was investigated for the intense pulsed light (IPL) sintering of Cu nanoparticle (NP)/microparticle (MP)-ink. The UV surface-modification conditions, such as the wavelength range (UVA, UVB, and UVC) and irradiation intensity, were optimized to enhance the IPL sintering characteristic. To measure the surface roughness of the UV-modified PI substrate, atomic force microscopy was conducted. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact-angle analysis were performed for measuring the change in the surface functional groups of the PI substrate. The IPL irradiation conditions (pulse power and pulse duration) were optimized to obtain a high electrical conductivity and high adhesion strength. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to analyze the microstructure of the IPL-sintered Cu NP/MP-ink. Laser flash analysis was used to measure the thermal conductivity of the sintered Cu NP/MP-ink on the PI substrate. Additionally, in situ temperature monitoring was conducted to monitor the IPL sintering process in real time. According to the results, the optimal IPL-sintered Cu NP/MP-ink film with UVC modification exhibited a low resistivity of 5.94 μΩ cm and a high adhesion strength level of 5B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system was used for measuring and predicting stacking sequence of laminated composites. The THz wave's penetration behavior in emissivity (E)-glass fiber reinforced polymer epoxy composites was analyzed. The relationship between polarization angle of THz radiation to fiber direction of the composites and dielectric constant in THz frequency range was formulated using a two-dimensional transformation matrix. Then, the dielectric constants of arbitrarily laminated composite plates were calculated by combining the transformation matrix via laminating rule. The dielectric constants of the arbitrarily laminated composites were measured and compared with those of the developed theoretical models. It was found that the THz waves could be successfully used to predict the stacking sequence of the laminated composites with 0.25% error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel protein binder, termed 'Repebody', that specifically binds to human serum albumin with high affinity was developed. • The genetic fusion of GLP-1 to the repebody significantly improved the blood half-life of GLP-1. • The repebody-fused GLP-1 showed enhanced therapeutic efficacy in vivo. • The present approach can be effectively used for extending the blood half-life of small-sized therapeutic proteins. Many small-sized proteins and peptides, such as cytokines and hormones, are clinically used for the treatment of a variety of diseases. However, their short half-life in blood owing to fast renal clearance usually results in a low therapeutic efficacy and frequent dosing. Here we present the development of a human serum albumin (HSA)-specific protein binder with a binding affinity of 4.3 nM through a phage display selection and modular evolution approach to extend the blood half-life of a small-sized therapeutic protein. As a proof-of-concept, the protein binder composed of LRR (Leucine-rich repeat) modules was genetically fused to the N-terminus of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1). The fused GLP-1 was shown to have a significantly improved pharmacokinetic property: The terminal half-life of the fused GLP-1 increased to approximately 10 h, and the area under the curve was 5-times higher than that of the control. The utility and potential of our approach was demonstrated by the efficient control of the blood glucose level in type-2 diabetes mouse models using the HSA-specific protein binder-fused GLP-1 over a prolonged time period. The present approach can be effectively used in enhancing the efficacy of small-sized therapeutic proteins and peptides through an enhanced blood circulation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Prediction of interfacial delamination including not only damage initiation but also crack propagation under arbitrary mixed mode loads for semiconductor packages. • Mixed mode fracture toughness measurement of thin EMC/PCB bilayer for a range of temperature and moisture absorption conditions. • Development of delamination prediction analysis model which was validated through different mixed mode bending test. Interfacial delamination is a critical factor for dissimilar bi-material interfaces in terms of structural mechanical behavior and reliability. In this study, the mixed mode interfacial fracture toughness of a thin epoxy molding compound/printed circuit board bilayer with different mixities was measured via the asymmetric double cantilever beam test with a reinforced metal jig. Additionally, mode II fracture toughness properties were measured through the end notched flexure test. All tests were performed under various temperature and moisture absorption conditions below 100℃/85 %RH. Then, a finite element simulation was performed with the cohesive zone model technique to validate the experimentally measured fracture toughness values by comparing the load–displacement curves from the experiment and simulation. Additionally, the single leg beam test and its finite element simulation were conducted and compared for validation of the measured mixed mode fracture toughness values. It was demonstrated that the developed mixed mode fracture toughness measurement method could provide accurate fracture toughness, which could effectively predict the overall load–displacement curve and damage propagation behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel deep neural network was proposed for predicting the mechanical behavior of plain carbon fabric reinforced woven composites. The deep neural network was trained by a pre-simulated stress-strain curve database of woven composites depending on yarn structures and the mechanical properties of the fiber and matrix. Micro-mechanics-based multi-scale analyses of woven composites were conducted for progressive damage analysis. These analyses utilized the stress amplification factor to transfer stress between the micro-scale and meso-scale simulations and the respective failure criteria were applied for micro-scale stresses of the fiber and matrix, respectively. The database of stress-strain curves under tensile, compressive and shear loading was acquired for different yarn geometries and constituent properties. These variables were used as training input and the resulting stress-strain curves were used as training output of the network. To optimize the network, hyper parameters of the neural network, such as the number of layers and nodes, were determined by the Hyperband optimization algorithm. The train and test of deep neural network model was performed by TensorFlow backend using the Keras library in Python. Mechanical tests were performed to validate the predicted mechanical behavior from both simulation and the deep neural network. As a result, the stress-strain curves under tensile, compressive and shear loading of arbitrary woven carbon composites can be successfully predicted in several seconds by the deep neural network with high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a combined forming-structural analysis of composite structures was performed. Fiber orientation and shear angle changes of the composite materials during its thermo-compression molding processes were predicted with commercial software PAM-FORM. In addition, the material properties, such as elastic modulus and strength, from the shearing of woven fabrics, were measured. The predicted shear angle changes were transformed and reflected to the structural analysis by a self-developed vector-mapping program. The load-displacement curves of the composite structures from the combined forming and structural simulation were compared with the experimental compression and bending test results of hemispherical and U-shaped components, respectively. Finally, it was found that the mechanical behaviors of composite structures can be accurately predicted by the developed combined thermo-forming structural analysis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refractive index and thickness of an epoxy molding compound (EMC) were successfully measured without any advance knowledge of properties of material using the Terahertz-Time of Flight System (THz-TFS). The theoretical analysis for calculation of the refractive index and thickness of EMC was conducted considering two time-delay values of emission and detection mode (normal reflection mode and transmission mode). By combining two time-delay values from the normal reflection and transmission modes, the refractive index of EMC could be directly deduced without any parameter of the properties of specimen. The thickness of EMC mold could be simultaneously calculated by using only THz time-delay values. The thickness measurement results using THz-TFS were verified with the thickness measured through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, the strain rate dependent mechanical behavior of glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic polypropylene (GFPP) was investigated under the high strain rate. The split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus was used in order to investigate the effects of strain rate based on the dynamic tensile, compressive and bias-extension shear behavior. The failure mode in fracture surface of each specimen was analyzed by using the scanning electron microscopy with respect to the strain rate. Additionally, the impact simulation of bumper beam was conducted to verify the measured strain rate dependent mechanical behavior of GFRP by using the commercial finite element analysis software LS-Dyna. Finally, it was found that the impact response of GFRP structures could be accurately predicted by using the strain rate dependent mechanical behavior compared to those of quasi-static properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract High-performance electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are urgently required to meet the requirement of the widespread use of energy storage devices from small-to large-scale applications. In this regard, ultra-small nanocrystalline SnO 2 particles with a size of ∼3 nm are synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and investigated as a high capacity anode material for LIBs. The SnO 2 anode shows a high reversible capacity of 1026 mAh g−1 at a current density of 150 mA g−1. The kinetic study of the anode material is conducted and compared using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic intermittent titration techniques and the lithium diffusion coefficient at open circuit potential is calculated to be 3.71978 × 10−13, 1.818 × 10−14, and ∼1.82 × 10−16 cm2 s−1, respectively. The reaction mechanism of highly reversible SnO 2 nanoparticles is investigated using ex-situ XRD, XPS, in-situ X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy, and TEM and the results reveal the formation of lithium-tin alloy in the lithiated electrode and reversible formation of SnO 2 upon delithiation. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Ultra-small nanocrystalline SnO 2 particles with a size of 3 nm are synthesized. • SnO 2 nanocrystalline electrode shows a specific capacity of 1026 mAh g−1. • This electrode delivers a 350 mAh g−1 at a high current density of 2 A g−1. • Li kinetic study was performed and compared using CV, EIS, and GITT. • The reaction mechanism was revealed using ex-situ XRD, XPS, and TEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, the in-plane permeability of a woven composite was characterized with respect to the fiber orientation of the deformed woven fabric, to predict the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. An analytical model was suggested to predict the permeability of shear-deformed woven fabric and the model was compared to the experiment results. Based on the developed model, the VARTM process for the U-shaped composite structure was simulated using commercial software (Pam-Form and Pam-RTM). The simulation results were compared with that of the VARTM experiment. Considering the fiber directional permeability of the shear-deformed woven fabric, it was concluded that the VARTM simulation could accurately predict the VARTM process results such as the filling time and flow front pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this work, the mechanical properties of self-reinforced polypropylene (SRPP) composite were investigated regarding their manufacturing process. The self-reinforced composite composed of polypropylene fiber and matrix were fabricated according to the consolidation temperature. Then, tensile and compressive tests were conducted to measure the mechanical properties such as strength and failure strain. Mode-I and Mode-II fracture toughness tests were performed to confirm the influence of consolidation temperature on interlaminar properties of SRPP composite. To evaluate crystal structure and thermal transition of the polypropylene fiber reinforcement, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were carried out according to the consolidation temperature. Digital microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to observe failure modes of the fractured SRPP composite specimens. Finally, the optimal consolidation temperature was suggested for improvement of in-plane and interlaminar mechanical properties of SRPP composite. It was also found that the superior impact characteristic of the optimally fabricated SRPP could be achieved under drop weight impact test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Reliability of interface between two dissimilar materials becomes an important issue due to increasing demands of high-density integrated circuits. Most of failures of semiconductor package occur at the interface between two dissimilar materials in high temperature reflow process, thus, adhesion strength under high temperature should be investigated. In this study, an adhesion shear test jig was newly devised to measure the adhesion strength of epoxy molding compound/Si chip (EMC/chip) interface at high temperature (200 °C). In order to investigate the effect of plasma treatment on adhesion strength and moisture absorption characteristics, the number of plasma treatments was varied. Also, moisture absorption time was varied to observe the moisture uptake and degradation of adhesion strength with respect to plasma treatment number. Atomic force microscope (AFM) was analyzed to verify the surface roughness of silicon chip, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe cross-sectional fractured morphology after adhesion strength test. From this study, it was found that the plasma treatments affect much the adhesion strength and moisture uptake at the interface between the EMC/Chip interface. Highlights • Measures the adhesion strength of the real semiconductor at high temperature. • Stronger chemical bonding at the interface prevents the moisture absorption. • Excessive plasma treatment degrades the adhesion strength by effective area reduction. • Optimization of plasma treatment for enhancing the adhesion strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Scalable Flash White Light (FWL) sintering of copper nanoparticles on silicon wafer is used to create highly conductive electrodes for crystalline silicon solar cells. After 1 s of FWL sintering, the Cu electrode has high electrical conductivity with lower cost, and no thermal damage, as compared to the state-of-the-art. Highlights • A new way to fabricate Cu electrodes using flash white light is demonstrated. • Flash white light sintering process is dramatically simple and high speed process. • Multi-pulsed FWL sintering method was developed for crystalline Si solar cells. • Artificial oxidation treatment improves the FWL sintering of Cu NPs on Si wafer. • Highly conductive Cu films were successfully produced under ambient conditions. Abstract In this work, ultra-high speed flash white light (FWL) sintering method of copper nanoparticle pastes on silicon wafer substrate, was developed to produce highly conductive and low-cost copper electrodes for crystalline silicon solar cells. FWL sintering of copper nanoparticles on silicon wafer substrate has been regarded to be very difficult, due to its high thermal conductivity (k) compared with that of polymer (PI and PET) substrates. To overcome this limitation, we applied multiple pulsed FWL to sinter copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) printed on silicon wafer. Furthermore, bimodal Cu NPs with different size were also applied to enhance the packing density of Cu films for highly conductive Cu electrodes. Finally, this work demonstrated that Cu NP-pastes are successfully sintered on crystalline silicon wafer substrate by multiple pulsed FWL irradiations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this work, damage sensing and self-healing of carbon fiber polypropylene (CFPP)/carbon nanotube (CNT) nano-composite were performed based on addressable conducting network (ACN). To increase damage sensing resolution of CFPP/CNT nano-composite, through-thickness electrical conductivity was improved by adjusting press condition and spraying carbon nanotubes (CNT) between prepregs. From the results, electrical resistivity in thickness direction was reduced to 19.44 Ω·mm under 1.0 MPa and 1.0 wt% of CNT condition. Also, self-healing efficiency was examined with respect to the temperature and time via resistive heating of CFPP/CNT nano-composite. As a result, the optimized fabrication and self-healing condition exhibited high resolution of damage sensing with outstanding self-healing efficiency (96.83%) under fourth cycle of repeated three-point bending test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A flexible and highly conductive linen fabric is fabricated. • The fabric is coated with carbon metallic films by doctor blade technique. • The electrode is durable and highly photocatalytic active. • The electrode is stable at various bending positions, against water and electrolyte. • The surface resistance of the carbon metallic films coated fabric is only 19 Ω sq−1. Abstract A unique metallic carbon hybrid film, synthesized with synchronized distribution of bismuth sulfide (Bi 2 S 3) and exfoliated multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), has been proposed for use as freestanding textile electrodes in photo catalysts. The defect-rich morphology of Bi 2 S 3 nanowire decorated MWCNT hybrid enhances the photocatalytic activity, electronic properties, cyclic stability, and electron pathways. The proposed f-CNT@Bi 2 S 3 -hybrid linen fabric electrode demonstrated a defect-rich morphology synchronized with high electrical conductivity. These properties greatly enhanced the photocatalytic activity and electron transfer. The high photocatalytic activity is attributed to the synergistic effect of the high electron affinity of MWCNTs and the structural distortion caused by Bi 2 S 3 nanowires. Degradation of methylene blue dye was accelerated owing to the elevated activity of Bi 2 S 3 nanowires, which provides fast absorption of contaminants and reduction of oxidative species. Our proposed system of metallic carbon freestanding textile electrode opens the broad applications of textile-based photochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-Hydroxybenzoate (4HBA) is a valuable platform intermediate for the production of commodity and fine chemicals, including protocatechuate, cis,cis -muconic acid, adipic acid, terephthalic acid, phenol, vanillin, and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol glycoside (gastrodin). Here we describe rational engineering of the shikimate and related pathways in Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC13032 for over-producing 4HBA. As an approach to increase the carbon flux to 4HBA, we first introduced a mutated chorismate-pyruvate lyase (CPL pr ) and feedback-resistant 3-deoxy- d -arabinoheptulosonate-7-phosphate synthases encoded by ubiC pr and aroF fbr /aroG fbr , respectively, from Escherichia coli along with blockage of carbon flux to the biosynthetic pathways for aromatic amino acids and the catabolic pathway for 4HBA by deletion of the genes trpE (encoding anthranilate synthase I), csm (chorismate mutase), and pobA (4HBA hydroxylase). In particular, CPL pr less sensitive to product inhibition was incorporated into the microorganism to enhance the conversion of chorismate to 4HBA. The subsequent steps involved expression of aroE (shikimate kinase) and aroCKB in the shikimate pathway and deletion of qsuABD coding for enzymes involved in the quinate/shikimate degradation pathway. Finally, to reduce accumulation of pathway intermediates, shikimate and 3-dehydroshikimate, shikimate-resistant AroK from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii was introduced. The resulting strain was shown to produce 19.0 g/L (137.6 mM) of 4HBA with a molar yield of 9.65% after 65 h in a fed-batch fermentation. The engineered strain can also be effectively applied for the production of other products derived from the shikimate pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth sulfide (Bi 2 S 3 ); is a non-toxic metal chalcogenide and a promising semiconductor in energy storage devices, but it has not received much attention in the regime of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The present research describes the synthesis of highly electro-catalytic active counter electrode (CE) material for quasi-solid state dye sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs), namely carbonous metallic heterostructure composite (CMHC), composed of solution processed bismuth sulfide nanorods and modified Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Due to the positive synergistic effect of conductive MWCNT network and rod-like morphology of bismuth sulfide, the composite exhibits multifunctional characteristics of high conductivity, superior electro-catalytic activity and optimal porosity. The carbonous composite with a dominant oxygen rich surface shows enhanced electro-catalytic activity, low charge transfer resistance (R CT ), and exceptional cyclic stability as compared with pristine bismuth sulfide. The as-synthesized composite exhibit a very low charge transfer resistance of 0.9 Ω which signifies a fast electron transport mechanism. The suggested composite CE with 3% polymer gel electrolyte achieves a high efficiency of 8.24% comparable to Pt (8.47%). Based on the facile synthesis of composites and excellent performance of CE, the designed quasi-solid state dye sensitized solar cells stand out as an efficient next generation solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • CuS/WS 2 heterostructure was synthesized via a sputtering-CVD process for counter electrode in DSSCs. • It showed low charge transfer resistance, good electrocatalytic activity and strong electrochemical stability. • The constructed DSSC using CuS/WS 2 CE achieved high power conversion efficiency of 8.21% • That value is comparable to that of Pt CE (8.74%) and higher than that of pristine WS 2 , MoS 2 , and CuS CEs. • CuS/WS 2 CE shows promising counter electrode for DSSCs. Abstract In this work, we demonstrated CuS/WS 2 and CuS/MoS 2 heterostructures via a sputtering-CVD process for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as a counter electrode (CE) to replace the currently preferred expensive platinum (Pt). The cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel curve studies revealed that the unique CuS/WS 2 and CuS/MoS 2 heterostructures were beneficial in achieving high electrocatalytic activity, low charge-transfer resistance at the CE/electrolyte interface, and fast reaction kinetics for the reduction of triiodide to iodide at the CE. The constructed DSSCs using these CuS/WS 2 and CuS/MoS 2 CEs exhibited high-power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 8.21% and 7.12%, respectively, which are comparable to conventional Pt CE (8.74%) and pristine WS 2 , MoS 2 , and CuS CEs (6.0%, 6.3% and 6.4%). This novel sulfur based heterostructure opens up opportunities for a variety of optoelectronic and photoelectrochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system was used to monitor the crystallinity and moisture content of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) specimens. The crystallinity and moisture content were varied by controlling cooling rate and immersion time. Crystallinity, crystallite size, and moisture content of the PET specimens were measured through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and gravimetric methods, respectively. The THz signal with regard to crystallinity and moisture content was subsequently analyzed within the time and frequency-domain. In addition, optical properties of refractive index and absorption coefficient were derived. Consequently, the crystallinity and moisture content could be simultaneously measured by analyzing the THz signals. • The THz amplitude ratio and the moisture content have a negative correlation. • The Low/high amplitude ratio and the degree of crystallinity have a negative correlation. • Degree of crystallinity and moisture content affect electro-magnetic properties. • Degree of crystallinity and moisture content of PET can be monitored in an in-situ condition using a terahertz system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) method that utilizes a convolutional neural network (CNN) based terahertz (THz) signal processing to quantitively distinguish overlapping signals from micro-defects in glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites. Theoretical electro–magnetic wave propagation models for describing the propagation of the THz signal into the GFRP composite were devised considering the interaction of THz with the micro-defects in the GFRP composite. THz signals were simulated with respect to the thickness of the defects, and transformed into two-dimensional (2D) spectrograms using a short-term Fourier transform (STFT). The converted 2D-STFT images were used to train the CNN deep learning model to classify the size and thickness of the defects. A probability map of the classification of the defect thickness was derived from the trained CNN deep learning model. Using the probability map based on the CNN model, the depth and size of the micro-defects thinner than 20 μm inside the GFRP composites could be successfully differentiated with 95% accuracy. This research proposes a promising approach for analyzing micro-defects in composite materials by quantitatively evaluating the extent of signal overlap, going beyond the traditional approach of training the model based solely on the signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a variety of non-viral gene delivery systems have been developed, they still suffer from low efficiency and specificity. Herein, we present the assembly of a dendrimer complex comprising a DNA cargo and a targeting moiety as a new format for targeted gene delivery. A PAMAM dendrimer modified with histidine and arginine (HR-dendrimer) was used to enhance the endosomal escape and transfection efficiency. An EGFR-specific repebody, composed of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) modules, was employed as a targeting moiety. A polyanionic peptide was genetically fused to the repebody, followed by incubation with an HR-dendrimer and a DNA cargo to assemble the dendrimer complex through an electrostatic interaction. The resulting dendrimer complex was shown to deliver a DNA cargo with high efficiency in a receptor-specific manner. An analysis using a confocal microscope confirmed the internalization of the dendrimer complex and subsequent dissociation of a DNA cargo from the complex. The present approach can be broadly used in a targeted gene delivery in many areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-sized non-antibody scaffolds have attracted considerable interest as alternatives to immunoglobulin antibodies. However, their short half-life is considered a drawback in the development of therapeutic agents. Here we demonstrate that a homo-dimeric form of a repebody enhances the anti-tumor activity than a monomeric form through prolonged blood circulation. Spytag and spycatcher were genetically fused to the C-terminus of a respective human IL-6-specific repebody, and the resulting two repebody constructs were mixed at an equimolar ratio to produce a homo-dimeric form through interaction between spytag and spycatcher. The homo-dimeric repebody was detected as a single band in the SDS-PAGE analysis with an expected molecular size (78 kDa), showing high stability and homogeneity. The dimeric repebody was shown to simultaneously accommodate two hIL-6 molecules, and its binding affinity for hIL-6 was estimated to be comparable to a monomeric repebody. The serum concentration of the dimeric repebody was observed to be about 5.5 times higher than a monomeric repebody, consequently leading to considerably higher tumor suppression effect in human tumor xenograft mice. The present approach can be effectively used for prolonging the blood half-life of small-sized protein binders, resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interests in the development of economical and high-efficiency counter electrodes (CEs) of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) to replace the excessively cost and scarce platinum (Pt) CEs have been increased. In this report, we demonstrate a facile chemical bath deposition (CBD) route to prepare layered MoS 2 /fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) films that directly act as the CEs of DSSCs. A DSSC containing the CBD-synthesized MoS 2 /FTO CE (prepared at 0.03 M Mo source concentration, 90 °C bath temperature and 30 min deposition time) exhibits high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.14%, which is approaching that of DSSC with Pt/FTO CE (8.73%). The electrocatalytic activity of the MoS 2 /FTO and Pt/FTO CEs are discussed in detail with their cyclic voltammetry (CV), Tafel polarization curves, and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). The observed results indicate that our low-cost CE has a high electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide to iodide and a low charge transfer resistance at the electrolyte–electrode interface with a comparable state to that of a Pt/FTO CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) imaging technique was used to detect the weld line defect of an injection-moulded short glass fiber-reinforced composite. To determine the effect of the weld lines on tensile strength, tensile tests were conducted with the specimens fabricated with NORYL (amorphous blends of polyphenylene ether resin and polystyrene) having a short glass fiber content ranging from 0% to 30%. The time delay phenomenon of the THz waves was observed with respect to the weld line and short glass fiber contents. The interaction between the THz waves and structural characteristics of the weld line, such as density and fiber orientation, were studied and different time delay phenomena of THz signal were observed owing to the different refractive index of the weld line defect. The refractive index of THz wave was also obtained by an analytical calculation and compared with the experimental results in order to determine the correlation between degradations of tensile strength and changes in the reflected THz wave caused by the weld line. Finally, the weld line defect of the specimens was successfully detected and identified using a THz-TDS imaging technique, showing that this technique is a nondestructive inspection method that can be utilized to evaluate the reliability of injection moulded short glass fiber-reinforced composite structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibody-mimetic proteins are intensively being developed for biomedical applications including tumor imaging and therapy. Among them, repebody is a new class of protein that consists of highly diverse leucine-rich repeat (LRR) modules. Although all possible biomedical applications with repebody are ongoing, it’s in vivo biodistribution and excretion pathway has not yet been explored. In this study, hexahistidine (His 6 )-tag bearing repebody (rEgH9) was labeled with [ 99m Tc]-tricarbonyl, and biodistribution was performed following intravenous (I.V.) or intraperitoneal (I.P.) injection. Repebody protein was radiolabeled with high radiolabeling efficiency (>90%) and radiolabeled compound was more than 99% pure after purification. Biodistribution data indicates radiotracer has a rapid clearance from blood and excreted through the kidneys for intravenous (I.V.) injection, but comparatively slow clearance for an intraperitoneal (I.P.) injection. SPECT-CT images were found to be in agreement with biodistribution data, high activity was found inside kidneys. The observed result for rapid blood clearance and renal excretion of repebody (rEgH9) provide useful information for the further development of therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt-based nanomaterials have received considerable attention in electric energy-storage devices due to their outstanding electrochemical characteristics. However, multiple time- and energy-consuming steps and complex reduction processes for producing cobalt and cobalt oxide nanostructures are disrupting their substantive commercialization. Here, we propose a facile, ultra-fast, and versatile method for the fabrication of cobalt and cobalt oxide nanostructures using an intense pulsed white light (IPWL) photothermal reduction technique. The mechanism of the IPWL photothermal reduction of cobalt and cobalt oxide is firstly studied by measuring the in-situ temperature of the Co(NO 3 ) 2 -coated carbon fiber paper (CFP) substrate during IPWL irradiation and analyzing the crystal structures of the IPWL-irradiated samples. Cobalt nanoflakes and cobalt oxide nanoparticles are synthesized on the surface of the CFP substrate by irradiating IPWL for 10 ms at ambient temperature and pressure with various energy densities from 10 to 30 J cm −2 . The Co 3 O 4 nanoparticle/CFP and Co nanoflake/CFP samples are further utilized as an electrode, and each electrode exhibits high specific capacity of 29 and 73 mA h g −1 , respectively, at a current density of 1 A g −1 . Since this novel photothermal reduction technique is applicable to other transition metals and metal oxides, it is a promising method for not only energy storage systems, but also for energy generation applications, filters, sensors, and catalysis systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the manufacturing of the polymer based composite materials, the understanding of appropriate manufacturing process is important to improve the productivity and manufacturing process. In this study, the effect of cooling rate on the mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (GFPP) composite was investigated including the tensile, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), fracture toughness and also the impact properties. To observe the crystallinity of the polypropylene (PP), the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis were employed. Based on the experimental results, it was found that the tensile strength of GFPP was decreased in the higher cooling rate due to the insufficient adhesion strength between the glass fiber and PP. Nevertheless, the fracture toughness, ILSS and impact properties of GFPP were much improved as the cooling rate increased because the adhesion strength between PP spherulites could be enhanced due to the higher crystallinity. It is expected that the investigated relationships between the cooling rate and the mechanical properties of GFPP will be widely used to optimize the manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular detection of target molecules with high sensitivity and specificity is of great significance in bio and medical sciences. Here, we present genetically functionalized ferritin nanoparticles with a high-affinity protein binder, and their utility as a signal generator in a variety of immunoassays and imaging. As a high-affinity protein binder, human IgG-specific repebody, which is composed of LRR (Leucine-rich repeat) modules, was used. The repebody was genetically fused to the N-terminal heavy-chain ferritin, and the resulting subunits were self-assembled to the repebody-ferritin nanoparticles composed of 24 subunits. The repebody-ferritin nanoparticles were shown to have a three-order of magnitude higher binding affinity toward human IgG than free repebody mainly owing to a decreased dissociation rate constant. The repebody-ferritin nanoparticles were conjugated with fluorescent dyes, and the resulting nanoparticles were used for western blotting, cell imaging, and flow cytometric analysis. The dye-labeled repebody-ferritin nanoparticles were shown to generate about 3-fold stronger fluorescent signals in immunoassays than monovalent repebody. The repebody-functionalized ferritin nanoparticles can be effectively used for sensitive and specific immunoassays and imaging in many areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) progressive failure material model was developed for glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic (GFRP) composites to predict the nonlinear mechanical response under impact loads. For the formulation of progressive failure, the material property degradation model (MDM) was constructed using a continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model based on the 3D Hashin failure criteria. The proposed progressive failure formulations were implemented in the user-defined material model (UMAT) in the commercial nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) software LS-Dyna. Then, the progressive failure model was verified experimentally with flexural and impact tests. Finally, it was found that the proposed 3D progressive failure model can be used to predict not only damage progression and impact behavior, but also interlaminar delamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, design optimization of a composite hood for automobiles was carried out to mitigate the impact of pedestrian head injuries based on finite element analysis. Reduced vehicle, headform impactor and single hood models were established to obtain optimal composite hood designs. The carbon fiber reinforced composite (CFRP) and the hybrid Glass fiber reinforced composite (CFRP/GFRP) laminates were selected as composite material candidates. Both stacking angle sequence and topometry of the composite hood were optimized based on the equivalent static load method. After the optimization, the head injury criterion (HIC), deflection and weight were measured to evaluate the performance of the composite hood. The developed CFRP and hybrid CFRP/GFRP type hoods with optimized final design exhibited the improved impact performance and significant weight reduction while satisfying bending and torsion deflection requirements compared to those of conventional steel and aluminum hoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, cobalt/cobalt oxide (Co-CoOx) core-shell nanoflakes were directly grown on flexible graphite felt (GF) using a facile one-step intense pulsed white light (IPWL) irradiation method. They were then used as a battery-type positive electrode for a high-performance asymmetric hybrid supercapacitor, which exhibited high rate capability and a long cycle life. The interconnected Co-CoOx thin nanoflakes grown on the GF offer large reaction sites and enough space for easy OH − ion transport due to their 3-dimensionally interconnected network structures. Cobalt metal at the core of the nanoflakes, directly connected to the current collector of the GF, provided pathways for electrons between the cobalt oxide and GF, leading to low internal resistance and high rate capability. The Co-CoOx/GF electrode had a high specific capacity of 108 mAh g −1 at a specific current of 1 A g −1 and maintained a capacity of 71 mAh g −1 at a high specific current of 20 A g −1 . A two-terminal asymmetric hybrid supercapacitor, assembled using Co-CoOx/GF as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode with gel-electrolyte (PVA/KOH), exhibited an energy density of 30.1 Wh kg −1 at a power density of 0.86 kW kg −1 and a high retention of 13.0 Wh kg −1 at a power density of 20.4 kW kg −1 . In addition, the asymmetric device showed excellent cycling stability, with 114% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitive and rapid diagnostic systems for avian influenza (AI) virus are required to screen large numbers of samples during a disease outbreak and to prevent the spread of infection. In this study, we employed a novel fluorescent dye for the rapid and sensitive recognition of AI virus. The styrylpyridine phosphor derivative was synthesized by adding allyl bromide as a stable linker and covalently immobilizing it on latex beads with antibodies generating the unique Red dye 53-based fluorescent probe. The performance of the innovative rapid fluorescent immnunochromatographic test (FICT) employing Red dye 53 in detecting the AI virus (A/H5N3) was 4-fold and 16-fold higher than that of Europium-based FICT and the rapid diagnostic test (RDT), respectively. In clinical studies, the presence of human nasopharyngeal specimens did not alter the performance of Red dye 53-linked FICT for the detection of H7N1 virus. Furthermore, in influenza A virus-infected human nasopharyngeal specimens, the sensitivity of the Red dye 53-based assay and RDT was 88.89% (8/9) and 55.56% (5/9) relative to rRT-PCR, respectively. The photostability of Red dye 53 was higher than that of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), showing a stronger fluorescent signal persisting up to 8 min under UV. The Red dye 53 could therefore be a potential probe for rapid fluorescent diagnostic systems that can recognize AI virus in clinical specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The counter electrode has a great influence on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this work, efforts have been made to develop a platinum (Pt)-free, low-cost, copper sulfide (CuS) counter electrode for application in DSSCs. CuS thin film was successfully grown on a conducting and non-conducting substrate using a low temperature, one pot, solution-process method. The as-synthesized CuS thin film was utilized in the DSSCs as a counter electrode (CE). The CE demonstrated good electrocatalytic properties and a photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.03% when used in DSSCs. It was also comparable with devices made using platinum counter electrodes. Synthesized CuS thin film with excellent electrocatalytic properties could serve as an alternative counter electrode in DSSC fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chemically active and stable WSe 2 /W structure was prepared by sputtering and selenization annealing in order to replace a high-cost Pt counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. The CV, EIS analysis, and Tafel curve measurements indicated that the WSe 2 /W electrode possesses high conductivity, low charge transfer resistance at the electrolyte-electrode interface, good electrocatalytic activity, and fast reaction kinetics for the a iodide/triiodide redox reaction, which are due to the synergistic effect of W and WSe 2 in combination. The DSSC with a novel WSe 2 /W counter electrode achieved a high power conversion efficiency of 8.22% under standard light illumination, which is comparable to that with a platinum (Pt)-coated FTO electrode (8.20%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs) are fabricated through the flash light sintering of reverse-offset printed Ag mesh patterns. Interestingly, the narrower printing lines require a higher flash light energy to obtain an equivalent sheet resistance even if the same Ag nanoparticle ink is used. The microstructural development of sintered Ag nanoparticles is also retarded with the decrease of line width after the same flash light sintering. The temperature calculation in the Ag mesh patterns clearly reveals that heat dissipation is affected by the print dimension. To improve the performance of Ag mesh TCEs with 3 μm wide lines, a preheating step comprised of multi-pulses is inserted before a main flash light sintering. The multi-pulsed flash light sintering is effective in decreasing the sample temperature and in removing the substrate damages or microstructural defects. As a result, the flash light-sintered Ag mesh TCEs shows a sheet resistance of 27 Ω/□ and an optical transmittance of 84.7% including an optical transmittance of substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical resistance change method (ERCM) is a promising method for structural health monitoring (SHM) of composites. In this work, copper (Cu) nano-ink was printed and successfully sintered on carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) substrate for damage sensing via a flash light sintering method. Before printing, surface-polished CFRP substrate was flash light treated to remove remnant epoxy between carbon fibers. Then, Cu nano-ink was formulated and printed on the CFRP substrate, and the printed Cu nano-ink patterns were sintered within a few milliseconds using a range of flash light irradiation energies. A two-step flash light sintering method to reduce contact resistance between the Cu electrode and CFRP interface was further investigated. Fabricated Cu electrodes were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Using a two-step sintering approach, we fabricated Cu electrodes on CFRP with low contact resistance (0.93 Ω), high durability, and no mechanical degradation of CFRP substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and facile two-step strategy for the synthesis of ( Z )-aurone from arylacetylenes and salicyladehydes, via silver(I) nitrate mediated cyclization/oxidation in the presence of potassium carbonate has been developed. The key feature of our method was delicate cascade reaction, to provide the corresponding ( Z )-aurone in high yield and good regio- and stereo selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of a targeted delivery with a tumour-selective agent has been considered an ideal platform for achieving high therapeutic efficacy and negligible side effects in cancer therapy. Here, we present engineered protein nanoparticles comprising a tumour-selective oncolytic protein and a targeting moiety as a new format for the targeted cancer therapy. Apoptin from chicken anaemia virus (CAV) was used as a tumour-selective apoptotic protein. An EGFR-specific repebody, which is composed of LRR (Leucine-rich repeat) modules, was employed to play a dual role as a tumour-targeting moiety and a fusion partner for producing apoptin nanoparticles in E. coli , respectively. The repebody was genetically fused to apoptin, and the resulting fusion protein was shown to self-assemble into supramolecular repebody-apoptin nanoparticles with high homogeneity and stability as a soluble form when expressed in E. coli . The repebody-apoptin nanoparticles showed a remarkable anti-tumour activity with negligible side effects in xenograft mice through a cooperative action of the two protein components with distinct functional roles. The repebody-apoptin nanoparticles can be developed as a systemic injectable and tumour-selective therapeutic protein for targeted cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a low-velocity impact test of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene (GFPP) composites was simulated considering interlaminar fracture toughness. In the simulation, intralaminar and interlaminar damage were modeled using the continuum damage mechanics (CDM) and cohesive zone method (CZM) models, respectively. The B-K criterion was used for the interlaminar damage model along with experimental results, which were obtained from fracture toughness tests of modes I and II and the mixed mode. Low-velocity impact tests were performed to verify the developed damage model, and various characteristics such as delamination and the force–displacement were evaluated. Finally, it was found that the developed damage model with interlaminar fracture toughness can be used to accurately predict the impact behavior of GF/PP composites, including interlaminar delamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzyme-linked immunoassays based on an antibody-antigen interaction are widely used in biological and medical sciences. However, the conjugation of an enzyme to antibodies needs an additional chemical process, usually resulting in randomly cross-linked molecules and a loss of the binding affinity and enzyme activity. Herein, we present the development of an alkaline phosphatase-fused repebody as a new format of immuno-reagent for immunoassays. A repebody specifically binding to human TNF-α (hTNF-α) was selected through a phage display, and its binding affinity was increased up to 49 nM using a modular engineering approach. A monomeric alkaline phosphatase (mAP), which was previously isolated from a metagenome library, was genetically fused to the repebody as a signal generator, and the resulting repebody-mAP fusion protein was used for direct and sandwich immunoassays of hTNF-α. We demonstrate the utility and potential of the repebody-mAP fusion protein as an immuno-reagent by showing the sensitivity of 216 pg mL −1 for hTNF-α in a sandwich immunoassay. Furthermore, this repebody-mAP fusion protein enabled the detection of hTNF-α spiked in a serum-supplemented medium with high accuracy and reproducibility. It is thus expected that a mAP-fused repebody can be broadly used as an immuno-reagent in immunoassays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth sulfide (Bi 2 S 3 ) belongs to a family of metal chalcogenides in a class of non-toxic semiconductor materials, whose importance in photovoltaic and thermoelectric applications is well recognized. We have successfully prepared crystalline Bi 2 S 3 nanorod (NR) thin films from a solution of bismuth chloride and thioacetamide via a solution process method. A possible mechanism for the growth process of the Bi 2 S 3 NRs is proposed. Prepared Bi 2 S 3 NR films characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive analysis (EDX), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), brunauer-emmett-teller (BET) surface area, and photoelectrochemical cells are studied. The morphology of the Bi 2 S 3 NR reveals a photocurrent density of 0.20 mA/cm 2 at 0 V bias condition under 1 sun illumination. The charge transport properties of the Bi 2 S 3 NRs are studied via impedance spectroscopy analysis. This preparation method is economical for scale-up processes, and can also applied to the preparation of other metal sulfide semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) imaging system was devised to detect hidden multi-delamination in a glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite laminates. Shapes, thicknesses and locations in the z -direction of each delamination among the overlapped multi-delamination were analyzed considering the interaction between the pulsed THz wave and the GFRP composite. THz wave power and phase were discussed by the analytical calculations and the experimental results with the evaluation of hidden multi-delamination. Then, the THz image results were compared with those of the ultrasound wave inspection method. Finally, hidden multi-delamination in the GFRP composite laminate was successfully detected and imaged using the THz-TDS imaging system, showing that this system can be widely utilized to evaluate the reliability of composite structures as a nondestructive evaluation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Mo pattern was printed by screen printing method using conductive ink on Si wafer. • The printed Mo pattern was successfully sintered by intense pulsed light process (35 μΩ·cm). • The thin film transistor was realized using Mo pattern as source and drain electrode. • The noteworthy saturation mobility of thin film transistor was 13.5 cm2·(V·s)−1. In this study, the molybdenum (Mo) pattern was realized via intense pulsed light (IPL) irradiation process under ambient condition, without vacuum deposition process. The screen printing method was applied to realize a certain pattern using conductive ink composed of Mo nanoparticles. This printed Mo pattern showed low electrical conductivity due to oxide film on the nanoparticles surface. To improve this drawback, the IPL irradiation process was optimized for sintering of Mo pattern, therefore the remarkable electrical conductivity (35 μ Ω ·cm) was observed after IPL irradiation process. To investigate the microstructure and other reaction effects of Mo pattern, the various analysis was conducted such as scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, focused ion beam analysis. This printed Mo pattern was applied for the source and drain (S/D) electrode of indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) based thin film transistor (bottom gate; TFT). The interfacial microstructure between Mo pattern and IGZO layer was investigated by transmittance electron microscope analysis. Consequently, the TFT with IPL-sintered Mo (S/D) pattern showed a noteworthy saturation mobility of 13.5 cm2·(V·s)−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Human interleukin-15 (hIL-15) has attracted a considerable attention as a promising cancer immunotherapeutic due to its function to directly stimulate the proliferation and cytotoxic activity of NK and T cells. Nevertheless, a relatively short half-life of hIL-15 requires repeated administration and higher doses, causing serious side effects. Here, we demonstrate an enhanced blood half-life and biological activity of hIL-15 through genetic fusion of a human serum albumin-specific protein binder (rHSA). The fusion construct (rHSA-IL15) was observed to maintain respective binding activities for both hIL-15 receptor α and human serum albumin. The rHSA-IL15 led to a significant increase in the secretion of Granzyme B and INF-γ by immune cells compare to free hIL-15, expanding the population of activated T cell subset such as CD4 + T and CD8+ T cells. The terminal half-life of the rHSA-IL15 was prolonged by around a 40-fold in transgenic mice expressing human serum albumin, compared to free hIL-15. The rHSA-IL15 resulted in distinct anti-tumor activities in xenograft SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) mouse and allograft melanoma mouse models through activation of NK and CD8+ T cells. The rHSA-IL15 is expected to be used in cancer immunotherapy, assisting in the development of other cytokines as immunotherapeutic agents with greater efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Human interleukin-15 (hIL-15) has attracted a considerable attention as a promising cancer immunotherapeutic due to its function to directly stimulate the proliferation and cytotoxic activity of NK and T cells. Nevertheless, a relatively short half-life of hIL-15 requires repeated administration and higher doses, causing serious side effects. Here, we demonstrate an enhanced blood half-life and biological activity of hIL-15 through genetic fusion of a human serum albumin-specific protein binder (rHSA). The fusion construct (rHSA-IL15) was observed to maintain respective binding activities for both hIL-15 receptor α and human serum albumin. The rHSA-IL15 led to a significant increase in the secretion of Granzyme B and INF-γ by immune cells compare to free hIL-15, expanding the population of activated T cell subset such as CD4 + T and CD8+ T cells. The terminal half-life of the rHSA-IL15 was prolonged by around a 40-fold in transgenic mice expressing human serum albumin, compared to free hIL-15. The rHSA-IL15 resulted in distinct anti-tumor activities in xenograft SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) mouse and allograft melanoma mouse models through activation of NK and CD8+ T cells. The rHSA-IL15 is expected to be used in cancer immunotherapy, assisting in the development of other cytokines as immunotherapeutic agents with greater efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cure shrinkage of the epoxy molding compound (EMC) for semiconductor package during molding process, was precisely measured using a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor by measuring a Bragg wavelength (BW) shift. A dielectric sensor was simultaneously used to monitor the curing process of the EMC and define its gelation point. The relationship between internal strain development of the EMC and its degree of cure was investigated by correlating two measured values (The internal strain from the FBG sensor and the degree of cure from the dielectrometry). The viscoelastic properties of the EMC were also measured by a three-point bending stress relaxation test. Finally, the warpage of EMC-aluminum bi-layer strip was measured with digital image correlation (DIC) method and compared with the result from the finite element analysis. As a result, it was confirmed that the cure shrinkage of the EMC should be considered as an important factor in predicting warpage behavior of the semiconductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metagenomes constitute a major source for the identification of novel enzymes for industrial applications. However, current functional screening methods are hindered by the limited transcription efficiency of foreign metagenomic genes. To overcome this constraint, we introduced the ‘Enforced Transcription’ technique, which involves the random insertion of the bi-directional T7 promoter into a metagenomic fosmid library. Then the effect of enforced transcription was quantitatively assessed by screening for metagenomic lipolytic genes encoding enzymes whose catalytic activity forms halos on tributyrin agar plates. The metagenomic library containing the enforced transcription system yielded a significantly increased number of screening hits with lipolytic activity compared to the library without random T7 promoter insertions. Additional sequence analysis revealed that the hits from the enforced transcription library had greater genetic diversity than those from the original metagenome library. Enhancing heterologous expression using the T7 promoter should enable the identification of greater numbers of diverse novel biocatalysts from the metagenome than possible using conventional metagenome screening approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method to improve the damping characteristics of polymer concretes was investigated. A pipe structure was embedded in polymer concrete specimens. The frequency-dependent variations of the dynamic stiffness and the loss factors of the specimens were measured by the vibration test method to identify the damping enhancement from the embedded structure. The weight reduction effect of epoxy resin usage was compared after the pipe embedment. Impact dampers were applied to the pipe-embedded polymer concretes to improve their vibrational energy dissipation. The impact dampers were fabricated through the insertion of impact balls into the pipe structures. The dynamic properties of the impact-damper-embedded polymer concretes were obtained by vibration tests. The damping performance was investigated according to the gap size between the impact ball and the pipe. An analytic model was used to predict the vibrational behavior of the polymer concrete when the impact dampers were applied. Consequently, the effect on vibration damping was identified for different mass ratios and gaps to find optimal construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A copper complex ion ink (including copper nanoparticles, a copper precursor and a silane coupling agent) was synthesized to enhance the adhesion between the copper pattern and a polyimide (PI) substrate. Oxygen plasma treatment was performed on the polyimide substrate to initiate a chemical reaction between the complex ion ink and the polyimide. Then, a two-step flash light sintering method (consisting of preheating and main sintering) was used to sinter the copper complex ion ink. The copper complex ion patterns were characterized as a function of the weight fraction of silane coupling agent using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a four-point probe method and adhesion testing. In addition, a bending fatigue test was performed to evaluate the reliability of the conductive copper pattern under cyclic bending. The copper pattern fabricated with copper complex ion ink containing 3 wt% silane coupling agent exhibited the highest adhesion level (5B), the lowest resistivity (7.6 μΩ·cm) and a low resistance change (18%) after the bending fatigue test. The two-step sintering method used to enhance the adhesion between the copper complex ion ink and polyimide substrate was also studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]