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Solvent rinse treatments using polar methanol (MeOH) and nonpolar n-hexane have been developed for controlling material concentration gradients along the longitudinal direction of non-fullerene acceptor-based bulk heterojunction (BHJ) films comprised of electron donor polymer, PBDB-T and acceptor, ITIC-m. Before the used solvents (chlorobenzene with 1 vol.% DIO) were completely evaporated, ITIC-m rich domains were formed at the top surface of the BHJ films after they were rinsed with MeOH, as evidenced by water contact angle, atomic force microscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy, which led to enhanced electron transport in the conventional structure of organic solar cells (OSCs). In contrast, after rinsing with n-hexane, ITIC-m rich domains were formed at the bottom surface of the films, which improved electron transport in the inverted structure OSCs. The enhanced carrier transports increased the PCEs (11.80% and 11.15%) in both conventional and inverted OSCs by 10.29% and 10.35% compared with control devices. The versatile control of material concentration gradients is determined to be feasible owing to the chemical interaction of the used substrates (glass, PEDOT:PSS, and ZnO) and rinsing solvents.

Nanocomposite thin film material Ag(NP)/TiO2(T) was synthesized and fabricated by facile template method and employed for the removal of Alizarin Yellow using UV-A radiations. The materials were suitably characterized by advanced analytical methods. The mechanism and kinetics of dye degradation was extensively studied for various parametric studies. The increase in pH from 6.0 to 8.0 had caused to decrease the removal efficiency of Alizarin Yellow from 53.1 to 37.5 % using the Ag(NP)/TiO2(T) thin film catalyst. The degradation of Alizarin Yellow using the thin film catalyst has followed the pseudo-first order degradation kinetics and the increase in concentration of Alizarin (0.5–15.0 mg/L) has caused to significant decrease in rate constants of degradation. The NPOC results showed significant amount of dye was mineralized since at pH 6.0 the percentage removal of Alizarin Yellow was found to be 48.36 % using the nanocomposite Ag(NP)/TiO2(T) photocatalyst. Photostability of catalyst was reaffirmed by successive photocatalytic operations and at the end of six successive operations has caused to a minimal decrease in percentage removal of Alizarin Yellow i.e., 0.97 % using the thin film catalyst. The co-existence of cations/anions demonstrated the study of real matrix treatment of waste water contaminated with Alizarin Yellow. The scavenger study implied to propose a plausible mechanism of oxidation.

The ability to detect and characterize drug binding to a target protein is of high priority in drug discovery research. However, there are inherent challenges when the target of interest is an integral membrane protein (IMP). Assuming successful purification of the IMP, traditional approaches for measuring binding such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) have been proven valuable. However, the mass dependence of SPR signals may preclude the detection of binding events when the ligand has a significantly smaller mass than the target protein. In FRET-based experiments, protein labeling through modification may inadvertently alter protein dynamics. Graphene Bio-Electronic Sensing Technology (GBEST) aims to overcome these challenges. Label-free characterization takes place in a microfluidic chamber wherein a fluid lipid membrane is reconstituted directly above the GBEST sensor surface. By leveraging the high conductivity, sensitivity, and electrical properties of monolayer graphene, minute changes in electrostatic charges arising from the binding and unbinding of a ligand to a native IMP target can be detected in real time and in a mass-independent manner. Using crude membrane fractions prepared from cells overexpressing monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), we demonstrate the ability to (1) form a fluid lipid bilayer enriched with MCT1 directly on top of the GBEST sensor and (2) obtain kinetic binding data for an anti-MCT1 antibody. Further development of this novel technology will enable characterization of target engagement by both low- and high-molecular-weight drug candidates to native IMP targets in a physiologically relevant membrane environment.

Bi0.86Ba0.14CuSeO/xCu2–ySe (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.15; y = 0 and 0.2) composites were fabricated by spark plasma sintering, and the crystal structure and thermoelectric properties of the Bi0.86Ba0.14CuSeO/xCu2–ySe composites were studied. The composites contained Cu2–ySe (y = 0 and 0.2) nanoinclusions in a tetragonal Bi0.86Ba0.14CuSeO matrix. To increase the electrical conductivities of Bi0.86Ba0.14CuSeO, we introduced Cu2–ySe nanoinclusions with a high electrical conductivity into the matrix. The introduction of Cu2–ySe nanoinclusions reduced the structural distortion of CuSe4 tetrahedra and the effective mass, thereby enhancing the carrier mobility. A significant increase in electrical conductivities was achieved with increasing Cu2–ySe nanoinclusion, i.e., 117, 165, and 214 Ω−1cm−1 at 673 K for x = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 composites. The Cu2–ySe nanoinclusions reduced the lattice thermal conductivity because they strengthened the long–wavelength phonon scattering at the Bi0.86Ba0.14CuSeO/Cu2–ySe interface. The largest dimensionless figure–of–merit (0.33 at 673 K) was obtained for x = 0.15 composite, which was attributed to the highest electrical conductivity and the lowest lattice thermal conductivity.

In this study we considered processes of treatment of agricultural apple waste which is normally discarded. We show the effect of various pre-treatment procedures on the final catalytic performance to produce 5-HMF from this real world biomass waste. Our study of the various potential pre-treatment steps, and their effect on the catalytic performance, provides valuable new insights which can be used for the development of new processes for the localised small scale valorization of agricultural fruit waste. The apple waste is aimed to be converted into a sugar rich feedstock stream for the catalytic conversion to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) at low temperatures (∼120 °C). Filters with varying pore sizes were studied for the filtration of apple pomace after milling the rotten apples in order to reduce the solids content. The tested filters varied in pore sizes of 0.2 μm, 2 μm and 54 μm. The effect of heating, acid or base treatment of the apple slurry was evaluated for increasing the speed of filtration. The highest flow rate was obtained for the filter with 54 μm pores. The sugar rich filtrates were investigated in the catalytic conversion to 5-HMF over an easy-to-manufacture Sn exchanged resin (Amberlyst-15) catalyst. Results showed that filtrates obtained over a 2 μm filter lead to the highest 5-HMF yields (18 %) without extra additives. Adjustment of the reaction mixtures to pH 7 resulted in a lower catalytic activity. 5-HMF is proposed to be extracted from the aqueous layer by using an organic liquid layer (methyl isobutyl ketone, MIBK). In order to increase the diffusion of 5-HMF to the MIBK layer the addition of salts to the reaction mixture was investigated. This leads to lower catalytic activity, possibly due to catalyst deactivation. Our results showed that a relatively wide pore filter (54 μm) provides the fastest apple processing method and a filtrate reacting to the highest 5-HMF yield in catalytic conversion of the sugar rich product stream obtained from agricultural waste apples.

A highly transparent nanostructured light outcoupling system integrated with a solution-processed polymer anode is proposed for enhancing the light outcoupling of tandem white organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). A poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) anode with an internal outcoupling structure (IOS) was easily prepared on a glass substrate via rapid and cost-effective fabrication methods. The nanostructures for the IOS were constructed based on zinc tin oxide (ZTO) prepared by Zn and Sn sputtering followed by thermal annealing. The refractive index matching and internal light scattering led to remarkably reduced waveguided and substrate modes in the OLEDs. The external quantum efficiency (EQE), current efficiency (CE), and luminance efficiency (LE) of the tandem white OLEDs fabricated using the PEDOT:PSS/IOS system were superior to those of the devices based on the conventional ITO and PEDOT:PSS electrodes without the IOS. With the application of the ZTO-based IOS, the tandem devices achieved EQE, CE, and LE 20.6%, 42 cd/A, and 23.3 lm/W, respectively, showing a 1.4-fold EQE enhancement over that of the ITO-based device without the IOS. Moreover, the EQE of the devices increased by a factor of 2.3 upon combining the ZTO IOS with a hemispherical lens placed on the backside of the substrate. Remarkably, the ZTO IOS-based devices exhibited outstanding white color stability over large viewing angles. The simple and low-cost IOS developed in this study can potentially be a practical technique for enhancing the light outcoupling efficiency of tandem white OLEDs.

Studies on environmental-friendly surfactants are essential to potentially replace those highly toxic and non-biodegradable commercially available surfactants. Two biocompatible polymeric anionic (AS1) and nonionic (NS1) surfactants were successfully synthesised from palm oil derivatives via polyesterification. The cytotoxicity of surfactants was measured by in vitro succinate dehydrogenase activity (MTT assay). Results revealed that both surfactants achieved cell viability above 80% against human keratinocytes (HaCaT), mouse fibroblasts (3T3), mouse hepatocytes (H2.35) and canine kidney cells (MDCK) in both dose- and time-dependent manners. Antimicrobial potential of both surfactants was evaluated using minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assay. Results indicated that AS1 had a significant antimicrobial activity against most of the tested Gram-positive bacteria. Meanwhile, only one of the Gram-negative bacteria (Acinetobacter baumannii) was successfully reduced by NS1. Both surfactants were subsequently compounded into natural rubber latex (NRL). From rheological study, AS1 exhibited better viscosity behaviour with longer linear viscoelastic region (LVR) towards high ammonia (HA) NRL, signifying its potential in providing stability in the latex environment.

Titanium silicon carbide (Ti3SiC2) with unique nano-laminated structures was successfully synthesized using an arc melting process with composite pellets of individual elements (Ti, Si, and C). The arc melting process was repeated and process parameters were controlled to form homogeneous high-purity Ti3SiC2 phases. In contrast with conventional arc melting, Ti3SiC2 phases were prepared by the semi-melting of source pellets, which maintained almost their original forms. This semi-melting process is industrially worthwhile, to keep costs down, because additional manufacturing processes are unnecessary or minimized. The distribution and size of pores and density in the products were controlled by varying the experimental parameters, and the temperature-dependent electrical properties of Ti3SiC2-MAX phases were investigated also.

Ti-6Al-4V alloy has limitations in terms of globularization when using additive manufacturing (AM), which requires a final forging step. To optimize this approach, this study investigated the effect of processing variables on the dynamic/static globularization of AM-processed Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Eight double-cone specimens were prepared with different processing variables such as effective strain, solution treatment, hot-forging temperature, and subsequent annealing. Microstructural evolutions were quantitatively characterized to interpret the kinetics of globularization based on the aforementioned variables. In particular, the combination of solution treatment, low-temperature (1073 K) forging, and subsequent annealing significantly accelerated the overall globularization. Such an accelerating effect stemmed from the reduced path for boundary splitting in fine α′ martensitic laths, which was induced via solution treatment. This accelerating effect disappeared at a high temperature (1223 K), which implies the necessity of optimizing the thermomechanical route to exploit martensitic laths.

Twin domains are often found as structural defects in symmetry mismatched epitaxial thin films. The delafossite ABO2, which has a rhombohedral structure, is a good example that often forms twin domains. Although bulk metallic delafossites are known to be the most conducting oxides, high conductivity is yet to be realized in thin film forms. Suppressed conductivity found in thin films is mainly caused by the formation of twin domains, and their boundaries can be a source of scattering centers for charge carriers. To overcome this challenge, the underlying mechanism for their formation must be understood so that such defects can be controlled and eliminated. Here, we report the origin of structural twins formed in a CuCrO2 delafossite thin film on a substrate with hexagonal or triangular symmetries. A robust heteroepitaxial relationship is found for the delafossite film with the substrate, and the surface termination turns out to be critical to determine and control the domain structure of epitaxial delafossites. Based on such discoveries, we also demonstrate twin-free epitaxial thin films grown on high-miscut substrates. This finding provides an important synthesis strategy for growing single-domain delafossite thin films and can be applied to other delafossites for the epitaxial synthesis of high-quality thin films.

We review the history of space mission in Korea focusing on the field of astronomy and astrophysics. For each mission, scientific motivation and achievement are reviewed together with some technical details of the program including mission schedule. This review includes the ongoing and currently approved missions as well as some planned ones. Within the admitted limitations of authors' perspectives, some comments on the future direction of space program for astronomy and astrophysics in Korea are made at the end of this review., 29 pages, 31 figures, and 4 tables. To be published in the special issue of Journal of Korean Physical Society (JKPS) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Astrophysics Division of Korean Physical Society (KPS)

This study aims to investigate the frequency-dependent characteristics of the focal length of an acoustic lens made of a material with a frequency-dependent acoustic refractive index (ARI). For this purpose, an exchangeable plano-spherical convex subsonic index lens (PSCSIL) was fabricated using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material. The ARI of the lens material was evaluated via the tone-burst through-transmission method over the frequency range of 1–10 MHz. The frequency dependence of the focal length of the fabricated PSCSIL was evaluated through graphical analysis of the acoustic field scanned by a hydrophone as well as of that simulated using the finite element method. The measured ARI and focal length were observed to be dependent on frequency. The simulated and measured focal lengths of the PSCSIL exhibited a great discrepancy with their respective values predicted using the conventional focal length equation. This discrepancy was further studied using the ray-tracing method and is described in the discussion section. In conclusion, the spherical curvature of PSCSIL does not induce the convergence of rays to meet in a point. The ray tracing method does not take into account the phase complexity of the near-field region inside the lens. This causes the actual focal length to be shorter than the predicted one.

Exploiting the long-range polarizability of an electrolyte based on ion migration, electric double-layer transistors (EDLTs) can be constructed in an unconventional configuration; here, the gate electrode is placed coplanarly with the device channel. In this paper, we demonstrate the influence of the distance factors of the electrolyte layer on the operation of EDLTs with a coplanar gate. As the promptness of the electric double-layer formation depends on the distance between the channel and the gate, the dynamic characteristics of a remote-gated transistor degrade with long distances. To suppress this degradation, we suggest using multiple coplanar floating gates bridged through ionic dielectric layers. Unlike remotely gated EDLTs that utilize a single extended electrolyte layer, the devices with multiple segmented electrolyte layers operate effectively even when they are gated from a distance longer than 1 mm.

Protein encapsulation into nanocarriers has been extensively studied to improve the efficacy and stability of therapeutic proteins. However, the chemical modification of proteins or new synthetic carrier materials are essential to achieve a high encapsulation efficiency and structural stability of proteins, which hinders their clinical applications. New strategies to physically incorporate proteins into nanocarriers feasible for clinical uses are required to overcome the current limitation. Here we report the spontaneous protein-induced reorganization of 'pre-formed' unilamellar lipid vesicles to efficiently incorporate proteins within multilamellar protein-lipid hybrid vesicles without chemical modification. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) binds to the surface of cationic unilamellar lipid vesicles and induces layer-by-layer self-assembly of the vesicles. The protein is spontaneously entrapped in the interstitial layers of a multilamellar structure with extremely high loading efficiency, ~99%, through polyionic interactions as predicted by molecular dynamics simulation. The loaded protein exhibits much higher structural, chemical, and biological stability compared to free protein. The method is also successfully applied to several other proteins. This work provides a promising method for the highly efficient encapsulation of therapeutic proteins into multilamellar lipid vesicles without the use of specialized instruments, high energy, coupling agents, or organic solvents.

Pipes applied to marine plants are used in deep-sea environments; therefore, they must be resistant to high pressure and corrosion. Because it is difficult to satisfy both of these factors in a single pipe, studies on a double-layered pipe are continuously being performed. An outer pipe should be made of carbon steel, with high pressure resistance, and an inner pipe should be made of stainless steel, with high corrosion resistance. A pipe formed by combining these two pipes is called a lined pipe. The shear strength of the lined pipe is an important factor because pipe cracking can occur due to stress concentration when two pipes are separated by bending or high pressure. Therefore, various processes have been applied to increase the shear strength. In this paper, we investigate the effect of the surface roughness of the bonding interface on the shear strength. Surface roughness is in units of micrometers, and it cannot be used for finite element method (FEM) analysis. Therefore, surface roughness should be converted into a friction coefficient to perform FEM analysis. The effect of surface roughness on shear strength was studied in the relationship between the results of pressure from FEM analysis and the shear strength test.

Conformal nanocoatings to nanostructured materials are key to the utilization of unique nanomaterial properties. Although catechol-based nanocoatings on flat substrates have been extensively report...

Dissipationless currents from topologically protected states are promising for disorder-tolerant electronics and quantum computation. Here, we photogenerate giant anisotropic terahertz nonlinear currents with vanishing scattering, driven by laser-induced coherent phonons of broken inversion symmetry in a centrosymmetric Dirac material ZrTe5. Our work suggests that this phononic terahertz symmetry switching leads to formation of Weyl points, whose chirality manifests in a transverse, helicity-dependent current, orthogonal to the dynamical inversion symmetry breaking axis, via circular photogalvanic effect. The temperature-dependent topological photocurrent exhibits several distinct features: Berry curvature dominance, particle–hole reversal near conical points and chirality protection that is responsible for an exceptional ballistic transport length of ~10 μm. These results, together with first-principles modelling, indicate two pairs of Weyl points dynamically created by B1u phonons of broken inversion symmetry. Such phononic terahertz control breaks ground for coherent manipulation of Weyl nodes and robust quantum transport without application of static electric or magnetic fields. Femtosecond optical pulses are used to generate coherent phonons that break inversion symmetry and drive anisotropic terahertz photocurrents in the topological material ZrTe5.

Photonic crystals (PCs) are attractive for utilization as label-free self-display colorimetric sensors. In this study, one-dimensional (1D) photonic humidity color indicators with color transitions...

A series of cyanomethylcarbamoyl-bridged molecular ensembles was synthesized via a facile two-step Strecker-acylation approach. The resulting products are arene–arene dyads, in which anthracene and pyrene are incorporated as fluorogenic units, respectively. The molecular structures and solid-state packing properties of these compounds were characterized by X-ray single-crystal analysis in conjunction with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Hydrogen bonding interactions and π–π stacking were observed as two key noncovalent forces that dictate supramolecular self-assemblies in the crystalline states, while the types of arene groups in these molecular dyads play a vital role in the solid-state packing motifs, pointing to a way of crystal engineering through bottom-up control. The electronic absorption and fluorescence emission properties of these compounds in the solution phase and solid state were examined. In each of the dyads, the arene group and cyanomethylcarbamoyl groups have little influence on the solution phase absorption and emission behaviors. However, the solid-state fluorescence properties were found to be significantly dependent on the arene groups as well as the crystalline and powdery states. In particular, close face-to-face stacking of the fluorogenic arenes (anthracene and pyrene) in the solid state can be correlated to long-wavelength (green color) luminescence due to the excimer mechanism. Moreover, the cyanomethylcarbamoyl bridge offers a receptor site for binding with fluoride anion through hydrogen bonding. Interactions of these molecular dyads with fluoride anion in polar organic solvents such as DMSO lead to fluorescence turn-off sensing function.

In this study, a new sI-sII dual hydrate former [chlorodifluoromethane (CHClF2); an important greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of 1810], which forms sI hydrate by itself and forms sII hydrate in the presence of external help guests such as CH4 and N2, was introduced and closely investigated for its potential significance in gas hydrate-based gas separation. The phase equilibria of CHClF2 hydrate, binary CHClF2 (5%) + N2 (95%) hydrate, and binary CHClF2 (5%) + CH4 (95%) hydrate were measured to examine the formation conditions and thermodynamic stability regions of CHClF2 + external guest hydrates. Nuclear magnetic resonance and in situ Raman spectroscopic results confirmed the formation of sII hydrates for CHClF2 + external guest (N2 or CH4) mixtures. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns clearly demonstrated a structural transition of sI to sII hydrates and a preferential incorporation of CHClF2 molecules in the hydrate phase when external guests (N2 or CH4) were involved in CHClF2 hydrate formation. The measured dissociation enthalpy values of CHClF2 hydrate, binary CHClF2 (5%) + N2 (95%) hydrate, and binary CHClF2 (5%) + CH4 (95%) hydrate using a high-pressure micro-differential scanning calorimeter also indicated preferential CHClF2 enclathration. The experimental results provide new insights into the thermodynamic and structural features of the CHClF2 (sI-sII dual hydrate former) + external guest hydrates for understanding and designing the hydrate-based CHClF2 separation process.

The toxic heavy metals contamination in water bodies is one of the major concerns in many countries. Copper and lead are the two common toxic metals present in aquatic environments due to their extensive usage in various industries for diverse applications. The present study deals with the removal of these two toxic heavy metal ions using activated bentonite-alginate (ABn-AG) composite beads which are easily separated and recovered after adsorption reaction. Composite beads were prepared by adapting the ionic gelation method and the materials; i.e., raw bentonite (BnR), activated bentonite (ABn) and ABn-AG were characterized by XRD, BET surface area, TGA-DTA, FT-IR, SEM analyses. The nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm obtained for the materials were the type IV isotherm with characteristics H3 hysteresis loops indicating the presence of mesopores with slit-shaped pores. Batch experiments showed that reasonably high percent removal was achieved even at highly acidic conditions, i.e., 58% of Cu2+and 77% of Pb2+were removed at pH 2.0. The removal was fast during the initial contact time and the adsorption data obtained at various contact time were fit well to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The maximum sorption capacity for Cu2+ was found to be 17.30 mg/g whereas Pb2+ was found to be 107.52 mg/g. The presence of MgCl2, NaCl and KCl did not cause significant influence on the removal of Cu2+ and Pb2+ using ABn-AG. Binary adsorption study suggested that Cu2+ and Pb2+ were removed through different binding sites present in ABn-AG. Reusability test showed that removal of Cu2+ and Pb2+ decreased by 10% only after the same material was reused for 5 times indicating that ABn-AG is a highly robust material and can be reuse for several times without losing its efficiency. Thus, this study suggested that ABn-AG composite beads can be employed as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Cu2+ and Pb2+ from aqueous waste.

This work investigated the removal of toluene using cyclic adsorption/oxidation operation in a fixed-bed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma-catalytic reactor containing Pd/ZSM-5 catalyst. The modification of ZSM-5 with Pd catalyst (2 wt %) substantially improved the adsorption capability for toluene. The catalyst adsorbing toluene was readily regenerated during the plasma-catalytic oxidation step. The synergistic effect of the catalyst promoted the toluene oxidation process as well as improved the selectivity towards CO2. As a method of reducing the energy in generating plasma, two cases (when the ground electrode was exposed to the external air and when the ground electrode was immersed in insulating oil) were compared. No micro-discharge occurred outside the ground electrode surface after oil jacketing, which prevented NOx and ozone from forming, improved energy efficiency, and promoted CO2 selectivity to 91%. The energy consumption with the oil insulation was 14.5 J/L, while that without it was 58.0 J/L. The catalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Fingerprints are unique to primates and koalas but what advantages do these features of our hands and feet provide us compared with the smooth pads of carnivorans, e.g., feline or ursine species? It has been argued that the epidermal ridges on finger pads decrease friction when in contact with smooth surfaces, promote interlocking with rough surfaces, channel excess water, prevent blistering, and enhance tactile sensitivity. Here, we found that they were at the origin of a moisture-regulating mechanism, which ensures an optimal hydration of the keratin layer of the skin for maximizing the friction and reducing the probability of catastrophic slip due to the hydrodynamic formation of a fluid layer. When in contact with impermeable surfaces, the occlusion of the sweat from the pores in the ridges promotes plasticization of the skin, dramatically increasing friction. Occlusion and external moisture could cause an excess of water that would defeat the natural hydration balance. However, we have demonstrated using femtosecond laser-based polarization-tunable terahertz wave spectroscopic imaging and infrared optical coherence tomography that the moisture regulation may be explained by a combination of a microfluidic capillary evaporation mechanism and a sweat pore blocking mechanism. This results in maintaining an optimal amount of moisture in the furrows that maximizes the friction irrespective of whether a finger pad is initially wet or dry. Thus, abundant low-flow sweat glands and epidermal furrows have provided primates with the evolutionary advantage in dry and wet conditions of manipulative and locomotive abilities not available to other animals.

Information recovery from incomplete measurements, typically performed by a numerical means, is beneficial in a variety of classical and quantum signal processing. Random and sparse sampling with nanophotonic and light scattering approaches has received attention to overcome the hardware limitations of conventional spectrometers and hyperspectral imagers but requires high-precision nanofabrications and bulky media. We report a simple spectral information processing scheme in which light transport through an Anderson-localized medium serves as an entropy source for compressive sampling directly in the frequency domain. As implied by the "lustrous" reflection originating from the exquisite multilayered nanostructures, a pearl (or mother-of-pearl) allows us to exploit the spatial and spectral intensity fluctuations originating from strong light localization for extracting salient spectral information with a compact and thin form factor. Pearl-inspired light localization in low-dimensional structures can offer an alternative of spectral information processing by hybridizing digital and physical properties at a material level.

The rattling effect has been a major research topic in attempts to reduce high-frequency phonon conduction, especially for the skutterudite system. Filling skutterudite with rattler atoms with different localized frequencies (double-filling) has also been reported as an effective method to decrease the thermal conductivity. Optimization research for the double rattler effect is required, especially in the p-type R1−yR′yFexCo4−xSb12 double-filled skutterudite system (R, R′ = rare earth rattlers) because these need larger numbers of rattlers (≈ 1.0) than are needed in the n-type skutterudite case (≈ 0.3). We attempted to optimize the rattler fraction in a p-type CeyYb1−yFe3CoSb12 skutterudite system in this research. We combined a melt spinning (MS) process with a subsequent spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique to fabricate bulk nanocrystalline skutterudites. The resulting low thermal conductivity (2.20 Wm−1K−1 at 723 K) and higher electrical conductivity (912 Ω−1cm−2 at 723 K) of this Ce0.6Yb0.4Fe3CoSb12 double-filled system makes the maximum dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT, 0.90 at 723 K) in the double-filled specimen higher than those in the single-filled skutterudite systems (YbyFe3CoSb12, and CeyFe3CoSb12) previously reported by us. We found that filling with the Ce4+-rattler was more effective than filling with the Yb2+ for reducing the lattice thermal conductivity in the Cey Yb1−yFe3CoSb12 double-filler system. The Yb2+-filler effectively increased the electrical conductivity of the p-type Fe3CoSb12 filled skutterudite by modifying the carrier concentration.

The molecular signatures of cells in the brain have been revealed in unprecedented detail, yet the ageing-associated genome-wide expression changes that may contribute to neurovascular dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases remain elusive. Here, we report zonation-dependent transcriptomic changes in aged mouse brain endothelial cells (ECs), which prominently implicate altered immune/cytokine signaling in ECs of all vascular segments, and functional changes impacting the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and glucose/energy metabolism especially in capillary ECs (capECs). An overrepresentation of Alzheimer disease (AD) GWAS genes is evident among the human orthologs of the differentially expressed genes of aged capECs, while comparative analysis revealed a subset of concordantly downregulated, functionally important genes in human AD brains. Treatment with exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, strongly reverses aged mouse brain EC transcriptomic changes and BBB leakage, with associated attenuation of microglial priming. We thus revealed transcriptomic alterations underlying brain EC ageing that are complex yet pharmacologically reversible., Blood–brain barrier dysfunction occurs in ageing and in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, the authors use scRNA-seq to identify transcriptomic changes in endothelial cell subtypes in the aged mouse brain, some of which may generalize to human and can be reversed by treatment with a GLP-1R agonist.

We have developed a real-time dose monitoring system for a low-energy ion-beam facility. Before we developed the monitoring system, the system had given a substantial error of ±23% when we irradiated an ion beam with a dose as much as 3.0 × 1016 cm−2 on the Si substrate. Moreover, a low irradiation dose as small as 1013 cm−2 was scarcely able to be controlled because of a too short irradiation time of several seconds, producing a greater dose error. To develop a real-time dose monitoring system, in this work, we employed a current integrator in conjunction with a beam stopper, by which a dose of 3.0 ×1016 cm−2 can be exactly irradiated on the sample with less than ±6% error, which was ensured by the measurements of Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy.

The harmful and destructive effects of excessive consumption of thiourea in various industries and agriculture have caused health and environmental concerns. Hence, attention has been paid to the need for analysis and detection thiourea at very low concentrations. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of electrochemical sensor based on glass carbon electrode modified with Ag nanoparticles and alizarin yellow to detect thiourea as a pollutant. Glass carbon electrode was first modified by alizarin yellow polymer and Ag nanoparticles through electropolymerization and chronoamperometry methods, respectively. The characteristics of the modified electrode were determined through FESEM and EDAX analysis and thiourea concentration was measured through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods. The results showed that the linear range, limit of detection, and sensitivity were 10 to 940 µM, 3.3 µM and 0.181 µA/µM, respectively. The stability and reproducibility of the sensor response as well as the interference effect of some anion species were investigated on the performance of the sensor in determining thiourea. The results indicate the optimum stability and reproducibility and no interference effect of the studied species on efficiency of the sensor in determining thiourea.

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) presents as a rapidly progressive dementia which is usually fatal within six months. No clinical blood tests are available for diagnosis or disease monitoring. Here, we profile blood microRNA (miRNA) expression in sCJD. Sequencing of 57 sCJD patients, and healthy controls reveals differential expression of hsa-let-7i-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-93-5p and hsa-miR-106b-3p. Downregulation of hsa-let-7i-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p and hsa-miR-93-5p replicates in an independent cohort using quantitative PCR, with concomitant upregulation of four mRNA targets. Absence of correlation in cross-sectional analysis with clinical phenotypes parallels the lack of association between rate of decline in miRNA expression, and rate of disease progression in a longitudinal cohort of samples from 21 patients. Finally, the miRNA signature shows a high level of accuracy in discriminating sCJD from Alzheimer’s disease. These findings highlight molecular alterations in the periphery in sCJD which provide information about differential diagnosis and improve mechanistic understanding of human prion diseases., Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is a rapidly progressive dementia. No clinical blood tests are available for diagnosis. The authors identified three miRNAs in whole-blood that are downregulated in sCJD patients, and discriminate sCJD from Alzheimer’s disease patients and healthy controls.

This work presents the effects of the insulation of ground electrode and operating parameters on CO2 reforming of CH4 to syngas in a coaxial-cylindrical dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor coupled with Ni/α-Al2O3 catalyst. For the conventional plasma reactor, abnormal outside discharge inevitably ignites and develops from the ground electrode, giving rise to the formation of harmful substances (e.g., NOx) and the waste of energy. The power dissipation for the conventional reactor therefore includes both that used for the dry reforming reactions and the loss of energy due to the air discharge. The new finding of this work is that by covering the ground electrode with an insulating oil jacket, not only the NOx formation is prevented but also the conversion rates, product selectivity and energy efficiency are largely enhanced by roughly 30, 10 and 100% at a specific energy input of about 47 kJ, respectively. The results are associated with the extinguishment of the discharge occurring outside the reactor, which is usually neglected when designing DBD reactors.

The macroalgal forest is being transformed to barren ground in coastal areas due to climate change. Current recovery technologies are ineffective, and an understanding of the fouling mechanism of m...

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the bones remains a major clinical challenge. Fractures in the talus, the scaphoid, and the neck of the femur are especially challenging to heal due to the low blood vessel network and the lack of collateral blood supply. These fractures are associated with high rates of nonunion and increased infections that require repeated operations. Conventional treatments by autografting or allografting bone replacement and synthetic bone implants have limitations, including the invasiveness of operative procedures, tissue supply insufficiency, and the risk of host rejection. The advancement in tissue engineering has revealed the potential of stem cells as restorative agents for bone injuries. The administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the talus, the scaphoid, and the neck of the femur could produce enhanced osteogenesis via the manipulation of MSC culture conditions. In this study, we used hydroxyapatite as the nanomaterial, and hypoxic milieu to enhance MSC differentiation capacity into the osteogenic lineage, allowing for more rapid and efficient bone cell replacement treatment. Our results demonstrate 1% oxygen and 12.5 μg/mL of hydroxyapatite (HAP) as the optimal conditions to incorporate the osteogenic medium for the osteogenic induction of MSCs. We also established a proof of concept that the addition of HAP and hypoxic conditions could augment the osteoinductive capacity of MSCs. We also developed an accurate mathematical model to support future bone cell replacement therapy.

Redox signaling and homeostasis are essential for cell survival and the immune response. Peroxiredoxin (Prx) modulates the level of H2O2 as a redox signal through H2O2 decomposition. The redox activity of thioredoxin (Trx) is required as a reducing equivalent to regenerate Prx. Edwardsiella piscicida is an opportunistic Gram-negative enteric pathogen that secretes a novel Trx-like effector protein, ETAE_2186 (Trxlp). Trxlp has unique structural properties compared with other Trx proteins. In enzymatic and binding assays, we confirmed Trxlp to be redox-inactive due to the low reactivity and flexibility of the resolving cysteine residue, C35, at the active site motif “31WCXXC35”. We identified key residues near the active site that are critical for reactivity and flexibility of C35 by site-directed mutagenesis analysis. NMR titration experiment demonstrated prolong inhibitory interaction of Trxlp with Prx1 resulting in the repression of Prx1–mediated H2O2 decomposition leading to increased ROS accumulation in infected host cells. Increased ROS in turn prevented nuclear translocation of NF-κB and inhibition of NF-κB target genes, leading to bacterial survival and enhanced replication inside host cells. Targeting Trxlp-mediated virulence promises to attenuate E. piscicida infection.

A periodic nano-porous surface on quartz crystal electrodes was carefully fabricated for increasing the mass-sensitive areas. Detailed porous structures were prepared by analyzing Au electrochemical reduction process of PS layer coated quartz crystals. The sensitivity measurement of the porous quartz crystals was performed with several traditional methods, and an optimized reduction time for higher sensitivity was determined. The frequency shift of the nano-porous quartz crystals showed 10 times bigger change with the same concentration of target solutions in self-assembly procedures. In the procedures, the freshly increased surface portion did not produce additional molecular slip-effects on the measured resonant resistance values, thus, the periodic porous chips showed another side merit for the mass sensor applications. We propose a possible use of the current porous surface as a platform for developing other high-performance sensors and analyses.

The silicon surface texture significantly affects the current density and efficiency of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. However, only a few studies have explored fabricating perovskite on textured silicon and the effect of texture on perovskite films because of the limitations of solution processes. Here we produce conformal perovskite on textured silicon with a dry two-step conversion process that incorporates lead oxide sputtering and direct contact with methyl ammonium iodide. To separately analyze the influence of each texture structure on perovskite films, patterned texture, high-resolution photoluminescence (μ-PL), and light beam-induced current (μ-LBIC), 3D mapping is used. This work elucidates conformal perovskite on textured surfaces and shows the effects of textured silicon on the perovskite layers with high-resolution 3D mapping. This approach can potentially be applied to any type of layer on any type of substrate. The efficiency of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells is affected by silicon surface texture, however fabrication processes in solution limit surface studies. Here a perovskite layer on textured silicon is formed through a dry two-step conversion process with lead oxide sputtering and direct contact with methyl ammonium iodide.

Ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure is beneficial for overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off and enhancing the superplasticity of two-phase Ti alloys. Recently, it has been demonstrated that com...

Thin polymeric films were developed for the vapor-phase sequential colorimetric detection of a nerve agent mimic and ammonia with high sensitivity. N-(4-Benzoylphenyl)acrylamide (BPAm), N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA), and (E)-2-(methyl(4-(pyridine-4yldiazenyl)phenyl)amino)ethyl acrylate (MPDEA, M1) were copolymerized via free radical polymerization (FRP) to yield p(BPAm-co-DMA-co-MPDEA), hereafter referred to as P1. P1 exhibits selective sensing properties toward diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP), a nerve agent mimic, in pure aqueous media. Upon the addition of DCP, the pyridine groups of P1 were quaternized with DCP, accompanied by a color change from yellow to pink due to the enhancement of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect. In situ generated quaternized P1, hereafter referred to as P2, after DCP sensing was used to selectively detect ammonia via dequaternization in an aqueous medium. Ammonia detection was indicated by a color change in the solution from pink back to yellow. A surface-immobilized P1 film was prepared and employed for the vapor-phase detection of DCP, demonstrating that an amount of as low as 2 ppm was detectable. Ammonia vapor was also successfully detected by the P2 film via the ammonia-triggered removal of the quaternized phosphates. Alternating exposure of the film to DCP and ammonia resulted in the corresponding color changes, thereby demonstrating the reversibility of the system. The reusability of the polymeric film for detecting DCP and ammonia in the vapor phase was confirmed by performing four sequential colorimetric detection cycles.

In recent years, polymeric adsorbent is gaining more interest over classical adsorbents such as clays and activated carbon due to its tunable physicochemical properties, structural diversity, reusability and selectivity. Therefore, the aim of this article is to summarize the available information on the adsorption studies of dyes using PVA and PVA-based polymer composite adsorbents. These materials were reviewed with emphasis on the experimental parameters (initial dye concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage etc.) and outcomes of the various adsorption studies were discussed. Furthermore, the isotherm models, kinetic and thermodynamic of the adsorption studies involved were also summarized. This review outlines the rationale for using the PVA-based composite adsorbents which have demonstrated good removal efficiency for several dyes. Future perspectives of the research work are also being suggested.

Upconverting luminescent nanoparticles are photostable, nonblinking, and low chemically toxic fluorophores that are emerging as promising fluorescent probes at the single molecule level. High luminescence intensity upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have previously been achieved by doping with high amounts of rare-earth ions using high excitation power (>2.5 MW/cm2). However, such particles are inadequate for in vitro live-cell imaging and single-particle tracking, as high excitation power can cause photodamage. Here, we compared UCNP luminescence intensities with different dopant concentrations and presented more efficient (about seven times) UCNPs at low excitation power by increasing the concentrations of Yb3+ and Tm3+ dopants (NaYF4: 60% Yb3+, 8% Tm3+) and adding a core-shell structure.

The present communication aims to synthesise the plasmonic nanocomposite Au0(NPs)/TiO2 by a facile route and to utilize material in the efficient removal of Alizarin Yellow in aqueous solutions using the UV-A light. Au0-nanoparticles were in situ doped with titania network using template method. Polyethylene glycol was employed as filler media. The nanocomposites Au0(NPs)/TiO2 (non-template) and Au0(NPs)/TiO2(T) (template) were characterized by the XRD and DRS (Diffuse Reflection Spectroscopy) methods. Surface characteristics were discussed by the SEM and TEM pictures of these materials. The interplanar distance of Au(NPs) were found to be 0.14 nm and 0.20 nm for the materials Au0(NPs)/TiO2 and Au0(NPs)/TiO2(T), respectively. The Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis showed heterogeneous surface structure and TiO2 were pillared on the surface. Physico-chemical studies deduced the mechanistic pathways of removal. The pseudo-first order rate constant values were decreased with the increase in dye concentrations. Further, mineralization of Alizarin Yellow was obtained at wide range of pH (pH 4.0–8.0). The nanocomposite thin films showed fairly a good stability for repeated cycle of operations in removal of Alizarin Yellow. The photocatalyst shown greater applicability in the real matrix treatment using Tlwang river water.

We revisit the surface plasmon resonances established along a planar interface lying between a lossless dielectric and a lossy metal. By examining the orbital and spin parts of the Poynting vector, the mechanisms behind forward or backward flows are clearly illustrated. Consequently, we were able to construct more intuitive pictures of two-dimensional energy flows induced by the metallic losses. In addition, we recognized the importance of both asymmetry and symmetry hidden behind the familiar transverse-magnetic waves. Our numerical results are close to reality, since experimentally observed optical data of gold is employed for a lossy metal.

We report high efficiency cell processing technologies for the ultra-thin Si solar cells based on crystalline Si thin foils (below a 50 µm thickness) produced by the proton implant exfoliation (PIE) technique. Shallow textures of submicrometer scale is essential for effective light trapping in crystalline Si thin foil based solar cells. In this study, we report the fabrication process of random Si nanohole arrays of ellipsoids by a facile way using low melting point metal nanoparticles of indium which were vacuum-deposited and dewetted spontaneously at room temperature. Combination of dry and wet etch processes with indium nanoparticles as etch masks enables the fabrication of random Si nanohole arrays of an ellipsoidal shape. The optimized etching processes led to effective light trapping nanostructures comparable to conventional micro-pyramids. We also developed the laser fired contact (LFC) process especially suitable for crystalline Si thin foil based PERC solar cells. The laser processing parameters were optimized to obtain a shallow LFC contact in conjunction with a low contact resistance. Lastly, we applied the random Si nanohole arrays and the LFC process to the crystalline Si thin foils (a 48 µm thickness) produced by the PIE technique and achieved the best efficiency of 17.1% while the planar PERC solar cell without the Si nanohole arrays exhibit 15.6%. Also, we demonstrate the ultra-thin wafer is bendable to have a 16 mm critical bending radius.

Carbazoles are excellent chromophores for electrochromic (EC) applications owing to their exceptional oxidation properties. Herein, we synthesized a donor-acceptor-type small molecule semiconductor, named LGC-D023, containing carbazole as a core donor, diketopyrrolopyrrole as a weak-acceptor π-linker, and 3-octylrhodanine as an electron-acceptor end-unit; and characterized its optical, thermal, and EC properties. LGC-D023 exhibited good organic solvent solubility, as well as distinct melting and crystallization transitions above 200 °C. Spectroelectrochemical spectra showed blue (L*: 88.28, a*: −6.56, b*: −1.29)-to-red (L*: 93.61, a*: 2.94, b*: −0.75) color switching with a high optical contrast (35.3%), fast response time (>0.3 s), and desirable coloration efficiency (91.9 cm2/C). These results confirmed that this donor-acceptor small molecule could be a new promising candidate for an EC material.

Because wind turbines and tidal current generation rely on irregular wind or tidal speed, maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) control is required in order to generate maximum turbine power. The most common turbine generation is obtained by employing the MPPT scheme using the tip speed ratio (TSR). However, this scheme has a disadvantage in that it relies on the characteristics of tidal current turbines, and it requires expensive tidal current speed-measurement equipment. The tidal current speed measurement is also affected by the installed location and distance to the equipment. To avoid these disadvantages, this paper proposes the maximum power control scheme using perturb and observe (P&O) for tidal current generation systems. The proposed P&O MPPT scheme can generate maximum power regardless of the characteristics of the turbine and the information about the tidal current speed. The reliability and suitability of the proposed scheme are proven using simulation and experiment results at the tidal current generation laboratory in Jin-do, South Korea.

Molybdenum (Mo) is a commonly used material as the electrical back contact for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin film solar cells taking advantages in electrical, structural and chemical properties. Bilayer structures have been actively examined to achieve Mo films of high conductivity with good substrate adhesion, which will also enable monolithically integrated solar cell modules on flexible platforms by combining laser scribing technology. However, reports on the bilayers on flexible substrates and their scribing by laser are very limited. In this study, we report the characteristics of bilayer Mo films deposited on a flexible polyimide substrate and the impact on the performance of picosecond laser scribing. Bilayer Mo films were deposited over a range of sputtering pressures and discharge powers as well as top-bottom layer thickness ratios, and laser scribing behavior was compared in the practical scribing speed range of the order of m/s. It is shown that microstructural and interfacial characteristics set by top and bottom Mo layers deposition parameters are critical factors influencing laser scribing quality.

Summary Dengue symptoms include alteration of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, causing severe hemorrhage and death. Here, we demonstrate that higher concentration of plasmin, the human fibrinolytic factor, in blood meal enhances dengue virus (DENV) infection in mosquito midgut and dissemination in mosquitoes. We also show that mosquitoes express a plasmin-selective Kazal-type inhibitor (AaTI) in the midgut to inhibit plasmin proteolysis and revert the enhanced infection. Using bio-layer interferometry, we show that DENV, plasmin, and AaTI interact to form a tripartite complex. Eventually, plasmin increases midgut internalization of dextran molecules and this is reverted by AaTI. Our study demonstrates that (1) DENV recruits plasmin to increase local proteolytic activity in the midgut, thus degrading the glycocalyx and enhancing DENV internalization and (2) AaTI can act as a transmission-blocking agent by inhibiting plasmin proteolysis. Our results indicate that dengue pathogenesis enhances DENV fitness by increasing its infectivity to mosquitoes., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • Higher level of plasmin increases dengue virus internalization in mosquito midgut • Dengue virus captures plasmin to use its proteolytic activity • Mosquito Kazal inhibitor inhibits plasmin proteolysis and reduces infection, Virology; Entomology

Porous graphitic activated carbon made from biodegradable starch-based packing peanuts contain metallic impurities, such as sodium and potassium impurities. The metallic impurities are not only eliminated in the activation process and revelation. These carbon sheets appear to form an ultrathin graphitic layer on the surface of the disordered carbon framework of the packed peanut-derived activated carbon. The shell-like graphitic structure can be explained by potassium penetration into the carbon structure during chemical activation and subsequent catalytic graphitization by the metallic impurities. These graphitic structures produce high-power density properties. As sodium impurities are present in the depth of the PP-C, it is possible to synergize the effects of potassium. The combination of these structural properties enables the carbon sheets to provide a harmonious electrochemical environment for the full realization of fast ion transport and high capacitance.

This work involved an investigation of the plasma-catalytic process, which consists of two steps: repeated cycles of adsorption to concentrate the ethylene and plasma catalysis to decompose the adsorbed ethylene. Investigations showed that the Pd/ZSM-5 catalytic adsorbent, which is prepared by an ion-exchange method, was found to be capable of efficiently adsorbing highly volatile ethylene, even under the humid conditions prevalent in agricultural facilities. The conditions under which the catalyst was prepared with the aid of ion exchange also greatly influenced the adsorption performance. The appropriate ion-exchange conditions were found to be room temperature, no pH adjustment, and the use of PdCl2 as the precursor, and the optimal Pd content was in the range of 0.268˜0.361 wt%. The dynamical adsorption and plasma-catalyzed oxidation of ethylene was carried out in a packed-bed plasma reactor with Pd/ZSM-5 pellets. The adsorbed ethylene could be completely oxidized to carbon dioxide during the plasma-catalyzed step. The effect of ethylene removal on the storage stability of agricultural products was examined using kiwi fruit and broccoli. These experiments demonstrated that ethylene removal could substantially enhance the storage stability of these products.

The bio-absorbent of Robinia pseudoacacia (R. pseudoacacia) bark was modified with sulfuric acid and their nitrate removal efficiency in water phase was investigated. At 2.5 ppm, the nitrate removal efficiency of R. pseudoacacia bark modified with 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 M H2SO4 was 54, 61, 69, 72 and 72%, respectively, and the maximum removal efficiency was increased by 100% as compared with the raw R. pseudoacacia bark. The XPS analysis results reveal that the acidic functional groups such as carboxylic, carbonyl and phenol groups were increased by 48% in the 8M H2SO4 modified R. pseudoacacia bark, and the specific surface area and the total pore volume increased by two-times to 4.94m2/g and 0.0113 cc/g, respectively. In addition, 0.1 M sodium hydroxide performed as the best desorption agent for desorption rates using hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), in order to recover the nitrate. Collectively, these results could be employed as economical and practical engineering data for the development of nitrate removal process.

Compositional tuning is one of the important approaches to enhance the electronic and thermal transport properties of thermoelectric materials since it can generate point defects as well as control the phase evolution behavior. Herein, we investigated the Ti addition effect on the grain growth during melt spinning and thermoelectric transport properties of Hf0.5Zr0.5NiSn0.98Sb0.02 half-Heusler compound. The characteristic grain size of melt-spun ribbons was reduced by Ti addition, and very low lattice thermal conductivity lower than 0.27 W m−1 K−1 was obtained within the whole measured temperature range (300–800 K) due to the intensified point defect (substituted Ti) and grain boundary (reduced grain size) phonon scattering. Due to this synergetic effect on the thermal transport properties, a maximum thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, of 0.47 was obtained at 800 K in (Hf0.5Zr0.5)0.8Ti0.2NiSn0.98Sb0.02.