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Abstract We incorporated triphenylsulfonium triflate (TPST), a sulfonium‐based additive consisting of polar triflate and bulky hydrophobic phenyl rings, to the PbI2 precursor solution for preparation of less‐defect perovskite film via two‐step fabrication. TPST induced localized alterations in the array of the PbI2 structure due to its large size, thereby forming a more discontinuous and coarser surface with a greater number of pinholes and subsequently facilitating more efficient organic–inorganic reactions. As a result, we achieved the production of thick perovskite films with enlarged granules and decreased PbI2 residuals in the two‐step fabrication process. Furthermore, TPST facilitated the passivation of bulk film defects by increasing the binding energy with the defects. Consequently, the ITO/SnO2 np‐based device and the FTO/CBD SnO2‐based device obtained the best PCEs of 23.88% and 24.30%, respectively. Furthermore, the moisture stability of the perovskite was improved by the hydrophobic character of the TPST additive.

The conventional von Neumann computing architecture is ill suited to data intensive tasks as data must be repeated moved between the separated processing and memory units. Here, Seo et al propose a CMOS compatible, highly linear gate injection field-effect transistor where data can be both stored and processed.

This study focuses on the green synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using the marine algae extract, Sargassum horneri, as well as the degradation of organic dyes using biosynthesized nanoparticles as catalysts. The phytochemicals of the brown algae Sargassum horneri acted as reducing and capping agents for nanoparticle synthesis. Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the biosynthesized nanoparticles. The green-synthesized SH-AgNPs and SH-AuNPs exhibited high catalytic activity for degradation of organic dyes, such as methylene blue, rhodamine B, and methyl orange. The reduction reactions of dyes are based on pseudo-first-order kinetics.

Recently, with the development of metal nanostructure synthesis technology, Au nanostructures (AuNPs) are synthesized using seaweed extract without using an organic solvent and applied to the pharmaceutical field. In this regard, in this study, AuNPs biosynthesis was mediated through extracts of two brown algae (Sargassum siliquastrum [SS] and Sargassum horneri [SH]) without the use of stabilizers or surfactants. In addition, we investigated the effects of SS-AuNPs (SS-functionalized AuNPs) and SH-AuNPs (SH-functionalized AuNPs) on adipogenesis in adipocytes and their underlying molecular mechanisms. A rapid and simplified synthesis of SS-AuNP and SH-AuP was achieved using aqueous extracts of SS and SH. The morphology, structure and composition of SS-AuNPs and SH-AuNPs were characterized by DLS, FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, HR-TEM and EDS analysis. The stable monodisperse SS-AuNPs and SH-AuPs were synthesized with mean sizes of 17.47 ± 0.13 nm and 21.0 ± 2.74 and zeta potentials of −31.9 ± 0.75 and −34.57 ± 4.43, the biosynthetic AuNPs with the face-centered structure of SS-AuNPs and SH-AuPs had crystalline characteristics, and many functional groups that play an important role in the biological reduction present in the SS and SH extracts were adsorbed on the surfaces of the SS-AuNPs and SH-AuPs. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of SS-AuNPs and SH-AuPs on adipogenesis in adipocytes. SS-AuNPs and SH-AuPs reduced morphological changes and increased lipid accumulation by approximately 80% compared with that in mature adipocytes (MDI-induced). This result was accompanied by a reduction in the triglyceride content. SS-AuNPs and SH-AuPs suppressed lipid accumulation by downregulating C/EBPα, PPARγ, SREBP 1, FAS, and aP2 mRNA and protein expression. Furthermore, SS-AuNPs and SH-AuPs induced the mRNA and protein expression of UCP1, PRDM16, and PGC1α to increase mitochondrial biogenesis in mature adipocytes and effectively induced brown adipogenesis. SS-AuNPs and SH-AuPs have potent anti-adipogenic effects and can be used as potential therapeutic agents for obesity.

Nano-graphene oxide (Nano-GO) is an extensively studied multifunctional carbon nanomaterial with attractive applications in biomedicine and biotechnology. However, few studies have been conducted to assess the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We aimed to determine whether Nano-GO induces EMT by regulating phospholipase D (PLD) signaling in human RPE (ARPE-19) cells. The physicochemical characterization of Nano-GO was performed using a Zetasizer, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. RPE cell viability assays were performed, and the migratory effects of RPE cells were evaluated. RPE cell collagen gel contraction was also determined. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis were used to detect EMT-related protein expression. Phospholipase D (PLD) enzymatic activities were also measured. Nano-GO significantly enhanced the scratch-healing ability of RPE cells, indicating that the RPE cell migration ability was increased. Following Nano-GO treatment, the RPE cell penetration of the chamber was significantly promoted, suggesting that the migratory ability was strengthened. We also observed collagen gel contraction and the generation of intracellular ROS in RPE cells. The results showed that Nano-GO induced collagen gel contraction and intracellular ROS production in RPE cells. Moreover, immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis revealed that Nano-GO significantly regulated key molecules of EMT, including epithelial-cadherin, neural-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9). Interestingly, Nano-GO-induced RPE cell migration and intracellular ROS production were abrogated in PLD-knockdown RPE cells, indicating that PLD activation played a crucial role in the Nano-GO-induced RPE EMT process. We demonstrate for the first time that Nano-GO promotes RPE cell migration through PLD-mediated ROS production. We provide preliminary evidence to support the hypothesis that Nano-GO has adverse health effects related to RPE damage.

The green synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) using bio-materials has attained enormous attention in recent years due to its simple, eco-friendly, low-cost and non-toxic nature. In this work, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized by the marine algae extract, Sargassum serratifolium (SS). The characteristic studies of bio-synthesized SS-AgNPs and SS-AuNPs were carried out by using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Phytochemicals in the algae extract, such as meroterpenoids, acted as a capping agent for the NPs’ growth. The synthesized Ag and Au NPs were found to have important catalytic activity for the degradation of organic dyes, including methylene blue, rhodamine B and methyl orange. The reduction of dyes by SS-AgNPs and -AuNPs followed the pseudo-first order kinetics.

Green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (SNPs) have great potential for biomedical applications, due to their distinctive optical, chemical, and catalytic properties. In this study, we aimed to develop green-synthesized SNPs from extracts of Cudrania tricuspidata (CT) roots (CTR), stems (CTS), leaves (CTL), and fruit (CTF) and to evaluate their physicochemical, photocatalytic, and biological properties. CTR, CTS, CTL, and CTF extracts were evaluated and compared for their total phenol and flavonoid content, reducing capacity, and antioxidant activity. The results revealed that CTR, CTS, CTL, and CTF extracts have high phenol and flavonoid content, as well as a powerful antioxidant and reducing capacity. CTR and CTS extracts showed the strongest effects. The results from UV-Vis spectra analysis, dynamic light scattering, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed the successful formation of CT-SNPs with surface morphology, crystallinity, reduction capacity, capsulation, and stabilization. Synthesized CT-SNPs successfully photocatalyzed methylene blue, methyl orange, rhodamine B, and Reactive Black 5 within 20 min. The CTR- and CTS-SNPs showed better antibacterial properties against different pathogenic microbes (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enteritidis) than the CTL- and CTF-SNPs. CTS- and CTR-SNPs showed the most effective cytotoxicity and antiapoptosis properties in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2 and SK-Hep-1). CT-SNPs also seemed to be more biologically active than the CT extracts. The results of this study provide evidence of the establishment of CT extract SNPs and their physicochemical, photocatalytic, and biological properties.

In this study, we aimed to elucidate the anti-invasive effects of Cudrania tricuspidata root-gold nanoparticles (CTR-GNPs) using glioblastoma cells. We demonstrated the rapid synthesis of CTR-GNPs using UV-vis spectra. The surface morphology, crystallinity, reduction, capsulation, and stabilization of CTR-GNPs were analyzed using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Furthermore, CTR-GNPs displayed excellent photocatalytic activity as shown by the photo-degradation of methylene blue and rhodamine B. Cell migration and invasion assays with human glioblastoma cells were performed to investigate the anti-invasive effect of CTR-GNPs on U87 cells that were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The results show that CTR-GNPs can significantly inhibit both basal and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced migration and invasion ability. Importantly, treatment with CTR-GNPs significantly decreased the levels of metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/-9 and phospholipase D1 (PLD1) and protein but not PLD2, which is involved in the modulation of migration and the invasion of glioblastoma cells. These results present a novel mechanism showing that CTR-GNPs can attenuate the migration and invasion of glioblastoma cells induced by PMA through transcriptional and translational regulation of MMP-2/-9 and PLD1. Taken together, our results suggest that CTR-GNPs might be an excellent therapeutic alternative for wide range of glioblastomas.

Studies have shown that visualization can be an effective methodology in analyzing a large amount of data rapidly by exploiting the user's perceptual cognition. Especially, where the information space is filled by considerable amount of noise. This paper introduces a visualization method that presents online message boards through an intuitive graphical illustration. The improved system achieves higher visual abstraction by applying color coding to symbolize multiple attributes – activities, time-related factors, and turbulence – of threads together. The magnitude of each thread is projected as the dimension of a graphical shape. In addition, the system provides the significance of threads with the positional attribute on the viewing window. Preliminary analysis reiterates the efficiency of the visual interface for search activities and also suggests further agendas for future study.

The integrity of heat exchanger (HE) tubes is essential for power plant safety and efficiency. Numerous tube assessment techniques have been proposed, including eddy current inspection and the guided wave method. However, they mainly evaluate from the inside of the tubes. Hence, when the interior region of a tube wall is not accessible, inspection is difficult. To overcome this issue, a new guided wave device is fabricated that inspects from the exterior of the heat exchanger tubes. Using this device, a few sample heat exchanger tubes are selected and inspected in a field evaluation during an overhaul period. Furthermore, the feasibility of the device is evaluated. This new approach is expected to contribute to the efficient evaluation of heat exchanger tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White emission with two sharp strong peaks - a molecular emission peak at 455 nm and an excimer emission peak at 591 nm - was obtained by introducing a terphenyl group into a highly twisted core chromophore, which promoted a molecular orientation in the film state suitable for excimer formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue emitting materials, 9,10-bis-biphenyl-4-yl-anthracene (AC-P), 9,10-bis-[1,1';4',1'']terphenyl-4-yl-anthracene (AC-DP), and 9,10-bis[3'',5''-deiphenyltriphenyl-4'-yl]anthracene (AC-TP) were synthesized through boration and Suzuki aryl-aryl coupling reaction. EL performance of blue light-emitters was optimized and improved by varying the chemical structures of the side groups. In the thin film state, the three materials exhibit PLmax values in the range of 442-456 nm. EL device with the synthesized compounds in the following configuration was fabricated: ITO/4,4',4''-tris(N-(2-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino)triphenylamine (2-TNATA) 60nm/N,N'-bis (naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N'-bis(phenyl)benzidine (NPB) 15nm/synthesized blue emitting materials (30nm)/1,3,5- tri(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)phenyl (TPBi) 20nm/LiF 1nm/Al 200nm. The current efficiency and C.I.E. value of AC-TP were 3.87 cd/A and (0.15, 0.12). A bulky and non-planar side group helps to prevent π-π* stacking interaction, which should lead to the formation of more reliable amorphous film. This is expected to have a positive effect on the high efficiency of the operating OLED device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for measuring of microwave properties at ferroelectric thin films has been developed. Studied films are deposited onto dielectric substrates, and film-on-substrate "sandwich" is arranged along waveguide. S 11 ( f ) or S 21 ( f ) dependences are studied depending on sensitivity. Redundant measured data processed with specially developed software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an information visualization method, which transforms text into abstracted visual representations. Features of the proposed color-coding algorithm; Interactive navigation tools to support users' decision-making processes; Comparison of the system with a traditional retrieval system.