Search

The experimental method that accurately assesses the responses of cementitious materials with complex microstructures requires significant time and effort. To address this issue, a multi-scale analysis approach that synergistically combines experiments and simulations can be adopted. In this study, a framework was designed to evaluate the macroscale (upper-scale) tensile strength of cement paste using microscale (lower-scale) characteristics and properties. The upper- and lower-scale microstructures of the cement paste are obtained through this approach using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray micro-CT. Solid-phase properties at the lower-scale are determined using a nanoindentation experiment and lower-scale micro-CT characteristics. The upper-scale solid phase properties are correlated by comparing the distributions of the linear attenuation coefficients or the grayscale values of the micro-CT images from the two scales. To evaluate the proposed method, splitting tensile test simulations of the cement pastes were conducted with upper-scale solid-phase input material parameters. The simulated results were comparable to the experimental ones. It was concluded that the proposed multi-scale approach combining experiments and simulations can reduce the time and effort required to evaluate the mechanical responses of cement paste. It thus contributes to advancing material innovations. • A multi-scale splitting tensile test simulation approach is proposed. • Cement paste microstructures are characterized by two-scale micro-CT images. • Microscale mechanical properties are determined from nanoindentation tests. • Macroscale input modeling parameters are obtained by a scale-linking strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skutterudite compounds have been studied as potential thermoelectric materials due to their high thermoelectric efficiency, which makes them attractive candidates for applications in thermoelectric power generation. In this study, the effects of double-filling on the thermoelectric properties of the CexYb0.2−xCo4Sb12 skutterudite material system were investigated through the process of melt spinning and spark plasma sintering (SPS). By replacing Yb with Ce, the carrier concentration was compensated for by the extra electron from Ce donors, leading to optimized electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and power factor of the CexYb0.2−xCo4Sb12 system. However, at high temperatures, the power factor showed a downturn due to bipolar conduction in the intrinsic conduction regime. The lattice thermal conductivity of the CexYb0.2−xCo4Sb12 skutterudite system was clearly suppressed in the range between 0.025 and 0.1 for Ce content, due to the introduction of the dual phonon scattering center from Ce and Yb fillers. The highest ZT value of 1.15 at 750 K was achieved for the Ce0.05Yb0.15Co4Sb12 sample. The thermoelectric properties could be further improved by controlling the secondary phase formation of CoSb2 in this double-filled skutterudite system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to identify systematic biomarker panel for primary nephrotic syndromes from urine samples by applying a non-target metabolite profiling, and to validate their utility in independent sampling and analysis by multiplex statistical approaches. Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a nonspecific kidney disorder, which is mostly represented by minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN). Since urine metabolites may mirror disease-specific functional perturbations in kidney injury, we examined urine samples for distinctive metabolic changes to identify biomarkers for clinical applications. We developed unbiased multi-component covarianced models from a discovery set with 48 samples (12 healthy controls, 12 MCD, 12 FSGS, and 12 MGN). To extensively validate their diagnostic potential, new batch from 54 patients with primary NS were independently examined a year after. In the independent validation set, the model including citric acid, pyruvic acid, fructose, ethanolamine, and cysteine effectively discriminated each NS using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis except MCD-MGN comparison; nonetheless an additional metabolite multi-composite greatly improved the discrimination power between MCD and MGN. Finally, we proposed the re-constructed metabolic network distinctively dysregulated by the different NSs that may deepen comprehensive understanding of the disease mechanistic, and help the enhanced identification of NS and therapeutic plans for future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although monolayer RuO 2 nanosheets exhibit semiconducting characteristics, their conductivity must be improved to enable application in transparent electrodes. In this study, RuO 2 nanosheet microstructures are modified through H 2 plasma treatment to reduce sheet resistance without deteriorating the optical characteristics necessary for flexible transparent electrode applications. Microstructural and chemical changes in the RuO 2 nanosheets are observed using monochromator Cs-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy. Single-crystalline RuO 2 nanosheets are transformed into nanometer-sized polycrystalline nanosheets. The phase-transformed polycrystalline RuO 2 nanosheets contain newly formed defects such as grain boundaries and O vacancies, which result in lower sheet resistances because these defects provide leakage-current paths in the semiconducting RuO 2 nanosheets. These defects are located parallel to the direction of light transmission. Consequently, transparency and haze do not significantly deteriorate after H 2 plasma treatment. These results indicate that the H 2 plasma creates a more stable O-vacancy row which alters the microstructure of the RuO 2 nanosheets. Our results demonstrate that H 2 plasma treatment can be widely used to fabricate two-dimensional material-based transparent electrodes. [Display omitted] • RuO 2 nanosheets were plasma-treated after synthesis to improve their conductivity. • It induces the formation of O vacancies and grain boundaries through water removal. • Grain boundaries provide pathways for leakage currents, improving conductivity. • The method preserves the transmittance and haze of the nanosheets. • Efficient method for fabrication 2D materials for transparent electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulating concrete is a type of concrete that is designed to reduce thermal conductivity. Insulating concrete contains numerous voids that play an important role in reducing heat conduction. Therefore, appropriate nondestructive methods are required to examine the spatial distribution of voids and constituents in a concrete specimen. In this study, an insulating concrete specimen containing hollow glass beads to increase the insulating effect is adopted. Then, micro computed tomography (CT) is used to investigate the spatial distribution of the voids in this specimen. By using a micro CT device, a series of cross-sectional images of the specimen at micrometer-order pixel size are generated by X-rays. To quantitatively describe the spatial distribution of voids in the specimen, probability functions such as two-point correlation, lineal-path, and two-point cluster functions are adopted. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the specimen is evaluated using finite element simulation. The results clarify the insulating effect of glass beads on the concrete specimen and reveal a strong relationship between the probabilistic characteristics of the void distribution and the material responses of insulating concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete is a multi-phase and random heterogeneous material composed mainly of water, aggregate, and cement. The spatial distribution of these constituents strongly affects material performance. In addition, the voids present in cast concrete permit the passage of most air and water through the material, which significantly affects permeability and durability. Therefore, a proper investigation of the void distribution within concrete is important in evaluating its material characteristics. To visualize and investigate the spatial distribution of voids in a concrete specimen, X-ray CT images and probabilistic methods, including reconstruction, are used in this study. Two cement paste specimens with different void ratios are prepared, and a virtual specimen with a gradient distribution of voids through its thickness is reconstructed from the two real specimens. The characteristics of the void distribution for all three specimens are then examined using low-order probability functions and tortuosity. In addition, the permeability of each specimen is evaluated using finite element (FE) simulation, which is then compared with experimental data. From these results, we can confirm that the proposed reconstruction method can effectively generate a virtual cement paste specimen with a specific void distribution. Thus, the simulation tools adopted in this study can be utilized to supplement time-consuming experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While extensive research has explored Cu doping in n -type Bi 2 (Te,Se) 3 for its beneficial effects on reproducibility and mobility, its impact on p -type (Bi,Sb) 2 Te 3 remains incompletely understood. Recently, Saglik et al. demonstrated Cu 2.9 Te 2 incorporation into Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 as a novel approach for simultaneous Cu doping and intercalation, surpassing prior studies focused solely on Cu doping at Bi/Sb sites. The influence of additional Cu intercalation on both electronic band parameters (density-of-states effective mass, deformation potential, and weighted mobility) and phonon scattering by point defects has yet to be investigated. Here, we employ the Effective Mass model to comparatively assess the impact of Cu intercalation on these band parameters relative to single Cu doping. Furthermore, the Callaway-von Baeyer and Debye-Callaway models are employed to evaluate the effect of Cu intercalation in scattering phonons. Our findings reveal that additional Cu intercalation effectively suppresses the lattice thermal conductivity of Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 to the amorphous limit, offering the potential to improve the figure-of-merit (zT) to ∼2.0 near 420 K with optimized carrier concentration. This approach highlights Cu intercalation as a readily applicable and powerful tool for maximizing the thermoelectric performance of Bi 2 Te 3 -based materials. • Incorporating Cu 2.9 Te 2 into p -type (Bi,Sb) 2 Te 3 makes Cu intercalation possible. • Cu intercalation increases effective mass more effectively than Cu doping. • Cu intercalation suppresses lattice thermal conductivity down to the amorphous limit. • Cu intercalation with optimized carrier concentration can improve the zT to ∼2.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bevel structure of organic multilayers produced by finely controlled Ar gas cluster ion beam sputtering preserves both the molecular distribution and chemical states. Nevertheless, there is still an important question of whether this method can be applicable to organic multilayer structures composed of complex or ambiguous interfaces used in real organic optoelectronic devices. Herein, various bevel structures are fabricated from different types of organic semiconductors using a solution‐based deposition technique: complicatedly intermixed electron‐donor and electron‐acceptor bulk heterojunction structure, thin film structure with an internal donor‐acceptor concentration gradient, and multi‐layered structure with more than three layers. For these organic material combinations listed above, the bevel structure is fabricated with finely tuned Ar gas cluster ion beam sputtering. The location‐dependent X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results obtained for each bevel structure exactly correspond to the XPS depth profiles. This result demonstrates that the bevel structure analysis is a powerful method to distinguish subtle differences in chemical component distributions and chemical states of organic semiconductors even with complex or ambiguous interfaces. Ultimately, due to its reliability as verified by this study, the proposed bevel structure analysis is expected to greatly expand other analytical techniques with a limited spatial or depth resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authors report the synthesis of PdSe 2- x S x solid-solutions (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.86) with pentagonal layered structure and their transport properties. From structural and optical characterizations, it can be confirmed that S atoms are successfully substituted on Se-site in the parent phase of PdSe 2. By analyzing the electrical and thermal transport characteristics, it reveals that the density of states effective mass as well as band gap of PdSe 2- x S x can be controlled by varying x. It strongly suggests that S substitution can be an effective compositional tuning approach for engineering the electronic band structure in pentagonal layered PdSe 2 system. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles in thermoelectric alloys has been considered as one of the most important ingredients to enhance their thermoelectric figure of merit zT mainly by reducing the lattice thermal conductivity due to intensified phonon scattering. However, the scattering mechanism of phonon with respect to wavelengths, which provides the comprehensive design rules for nanocomposites with enhanced zT , has not been fully understood. Here, we report a critical role of nanoparticles for the lattice thermal conductivity reduction from the theoretical and experimental analysis of the temperature-dependent thermal and electronic transport properties of p -type Ag/Cu nanoparticles-embedded Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 with respect to their electronic, bipolar, and lattice thermal conductivities. It was found that the introduction of the Ag/Cu nanoparticles reduced the lattice thermal conductivity through the additional phonon scattering based on the changeover between the Rayleigh and geometrical scatterings, indicating the indispensability of nanoparticles to scatter phonons that cannot be scattered effectively by either point defects or grain boundaries. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycrystalline bulks of Sc-, Ti-, and V-doped n-type Cu 0.008 Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 were prepared by melt solidification and spark plasma sintering, and their thermoelectric transport properties were investigated. The lattice thermal conductivity of Cu 0.008 Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 was slightly reduced by intensified point defect phonon scattering by the substitution of Sc, Ti, and V atoms on the Bi-site. On the other hand, the power factor of Cu 0.008 Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 was significantly enhanced by doping of V. Through the experimental and theoretical considerations, it was found that the enhanced power factor by V doping is originated from the increased density of states (DOS) effective mass by modified DOS near at Fermi level. Resultantly, an enhanced zT of 0.85 at 300 K was obtained in 1 at% V-doped Cu 0.008 Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 (Cu 0.008 Bi 1.98 V 0.02 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typical sputtering conditions based on substrate temperature, sputtering time and oxygen partial pressure to grow thin film, submicron-sized rods and trees of Cu 2 O on glass substrates from metallic Cu targets were investigated. The submicron-rods with diameters of 100–700 nm and lengths of 2–8 μm were synthesized. The abundance of Cu species, which is modulated by the Ar/O 2 ratio during the sputtering process affects directly to the growths of the Cu 2 O branches on the bodies of the submicron-rods. Transmission electron microscopy and elemental mapping reveal that metallic Cu is existed on the heads of the Cu 2 O rods. Finally, the formation model of the submicron-sized rods and trees of Cu 2 O is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present study, we propose that the glass stability of an amorphous oxide film is highly dependent on the interface stability between the amorphous oxide and the amorphous substrate. The interface stability is closely linked to the thermal stability of the amorphous substrate, which is changed by the chemical composition shift during formation of the oxide layer. Therefore, significant improvement of the oxidation resistance in metallic glass systems can be achieved by controlling the compositional changes underneath the oxide layer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bandgaps and defect-state energies are key electrical characteristics of semiconductor materials and devices, thereby necessitating nanoscale analysis with a heightened detection threshold. An example of such a device is an InGaN-based light-emitting diode (LED), which is used to create fine pixels in augmented-reality micro-LED glasses. This process requires an in-depth understanding of the spatial variations of the bandgap and its defect states in the implanted area, especially for small-sized pixelation requiring electroluminescence. In this study, we developed a new algorithm to achieve two-dimensional mappings of bandgaps and defect-state energies in pixelated InGaN micro-LEDs, using automated electron energy-loss spectroscopy integrated with scanning transmission electron microscopy. The algorithm replaces conventional background subtraction-based methods with a linear fitting approach, enabling enhanced accuracy and efficiency. This novel method offers several advantages, including the independent calculation of the defect energy ( E d ) and bandgap energy ( E g ), reduced thickness effects, and improved signal-to-noise ratio by eliminating the need for zero-loss spectrum calibration. These advancements allow us to reveal the relationship between the bandgap, defect states, microstructure, and electroluminescence of the semiconductor under ion-implantation conditions. The streamlined analysis achieves a spatial resolution of approximately 5 nm and an exceptional detection limit. Additionally, ab initio calculations indicate gallium vacancies as the predominant defects.

Managing giant partially thrombosed intracranial aneurysms presents significant challenges due to their unfavorable natural history and the lack of standardized treatment approaches. Conventional treatments, whether open surgical or endovascular, often struggle to manage these aneurysms effectively, resulting in high recurrence rates or significant morbidity. The patient was a 62-year-old male with a symptomatic giant partially thrombosed aneurysm at the tip of the basilar artery, presenting with left-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria. Diagnostic imaging revealed a giant aneurysm with a wide-necked, canalized portion. A two-stage endovascular treatment was conducted, involving a balloon occlusion test (BOT) and intraoperative monitoring (IOM) for maximum patient safety. The treatment utilized stent-assisted Woven EndoBridge (WEB) embolization and serial bilateral vertebral artery trapping. The procedure successfully isolated the aneurysm and postoperative imaging confirmed the absence of recanalization, preserving the intact posterior circulation. The patient showed stable recovery and no neurological deficits during the 12-month follow-up period. This technical note demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of strategically integrating intrasaccular flow diversion using a WEB device and flow reversal through bilateral vertebral artery trapping for treating giant partially thrombosed aneurysms.

In this study, we investigated the effect of the stacking order of metal precursors on the formation of volume defects, such as blisters and nanopores, in CZTSSe thin-film solar cells. We fabricated CZTSSe thin films using three types of metal-precursor combinations, namely, Zn/Cu/Sn/Mo, Cu/Zn/Sn/Mo, and Sn/Cu/Zn/Mo, and studied the blister formation. The blister-formation mechanism was based on the delamination model, taking into consideration the compressive stress and adhesion properties. A compressive stress could be induced during the preferential formation of a ZnSSe shell. Under this stress, the adhesion between the ZnSSe film and the Mo substrate could be maintained by the surface tension of a metallic liquid phase with good wettability, or by the functioning of ZnSSe pillars as anchors, depending on the type of metal precursor used. Additionally, the nanopore formation near the back-contact side was found to be induced by the columnar microstructure of the metal precursor with the Cu/Zn/Mo stacking order and its dezincification. Based on the two volume-defect-formation mechanisms proposed herein, further development of volume-defect-formation suppression technology is expected to be made.

Facile strategies in flexible transparent conductive electrode materials that can sustain their electrical conductivities under 1 mm-scale radius of curvature are required for wider applications such as foldable devices. We propose a rational design as well as a fabrication process for a silver nanowire-based transparent conductive electrode with low sheet resistance and high transmittance even after prolonged cyclic bending. The electrode is fabricated on a poly(ethylene terephthalate) film through the hybridization of silver nanowires with silver nanoparticles-anchored RuO 2 nanosheets. This hybridization significantly improves the performance of the silver nanowire network under severe bending strain and creates an electrically percolative structure between silver nanowires and RuO 2 nanosheets in the presence of anchored silver nanoparticles on the surface of RuO 2 nanosheets. The resistance change of this hybrid transparent conductive electrode is 8.8% after 200,000 bending cycles at a curvature radius of 1 mm, making it feasible for use in foldable devices.

The number of older adults admitted to nursing homes is steadily increasing, and the health management for them is a very important issue in Korean society. This study aimed to examine the effects of Yangsaeng (health management) therapy on physical health status, depression, life satisfaction, and Yangsaeng (health management) of Korean older adults in nursing homes. A quasi-experimental study design using a pretest-posttest control group was employed. Study participants were a total of 80 older adults (intervention: n = 40, control: n = 40) in a nursing home in Seoul, South Korea. Yangsaeng therapy as an intervention consisted of the Meridian therapy and Qi-gong therapy. Yangsaeng therapy was conducted for 50 min per one time, twice a week, and for 10 weeks. Measures were general characteristics of study participants, Cornell Medical Index, Geriatric Depression Scale, life satisfaction scale, and Yangsaeng scale. Data were collected from April 2018 to March 2019. There were statistically significant differences on physical health status, depression, life satisfaction, and Yangsaeng between the two groups. Yangsaeng therapy was an effective intervention for improving physical health status, life satisfaction, and Yangsaeng, and for decreasing depression of older adults in nursing homes. Health care providers need to pay attention to Yangsaeng therapy as a Korean traditional intervention method for the health management of the older adults residing in nursing homes., Competing Interests: No conflicts of interest, either real or perceived, were identified for this project.

In this study, to control the formation of non-uniformly distributed large voids and Cu-Sn alloy agglomeration, which leads to local compositional misfit and secondary phase formation, a SnS compound precursor was applied instead of metal Sn to avoid compositional non-uniformity. Using a Cu/Zn/SnS stacked precursor, a temperature tracking experiment was conducted to confirm the formation controllability of the void and the secondary phase. According to the results of this temperature-profile tracking experiment, it was confirmed that the large void was successfully controlled; however, an additional ZnSSe secondary phase layer was formed in the middle of the CZTSSe upper layer and small voids were distributed relatively uniformly in the bottom CZTSSe layer. An efficiency of approximately 8% was obtained when the Cu/Zn/SnS stacked precursor was used. The origins of the low short-circuit current and fill factor are posited to be caused by the increase of the energy bandgap of the CZTSSe layer due to the SnS precursor, the thin top CZTSSe layer (around 600 nm) of the triple CZTSSe layer, and the diffusion length extension of the minor carriers caused by bypassing the ZnSSe phase.

For kesterite copper zinc tin sulfide/selenide (CZTSSe) solar cells to enter the market, in addition to efficiency improvements, the technological capability to produce flexible and large-area modules with homogeneous properties is necessary. Here, we report a greater than 10% efficiency for a cell area of approximately 0.5 cm 2 and a greater than 8% efficiency for a cell area larger than 2 cm 2 of certified flexible CZTSSe solar cells. By designing a thin and multi-layered precursor structure, the formation of defects and defect clusters, particularly tin-related donor defects, is controlled, and the open circuit voltage value is enhanced. Using statistical analysis, we verify that the cell-to-cell and within-cell uniformity characteristics are improved. This study reports the highest efficiency so far for flexible CZTSSe solar cells with small and large areas. These results also present methods for improving the efficiency and enlarging the cell area.

Recently, highly efficient CZTS solar cells using pure metal precursors have been reported, and our group created a cell with 12.6% efficiency, which is equivalent to the long-lasting world record of IBM. In this study, we report a new secondary phase formation mechanism in the back contact interface. Previously, CZTSSe decomposition with Mo has been proposed to explain the secondary phase and void formation in the Mo-back contact region. In our sulfo-selenization system, the formation of voids and secondary phases is well explained by the unique wetting properties of Mo and the liquid metal above the peritectic reaction (η-Cu 6 Sn 5 → ε-Cu 3 Sn + liquid Sn) temperature. Good wetting between the liquid Sn and the Mo substrate was observed because of strong metallic bonding between the liquid metal and Mo layer. Thus, some ε-Cu 3 Sn and liquid Sn likely remained on the Mo layer during the sulfo-selenization process, and Cu-SSe and Cu-Sn-SSe phases formed on the Mo side. When bare soda lime glass (SLG) was used as a substrate, nonwetting adhesion was observed because of weak van der Walls interactions between the liquid metal and substrate. The Cu-Sn alloy did not remain on the SLG surface, and Cu-SSe and Cu-Sn-SSe phases were not observed after the final sulfo-selenization process. Additionally, Mo/SLG substrates coated with a thin Al 2 O 3 layer (1-5 nm) were used to control secondary phase formation by changing the wetting properties between Mo and the liquid metal. A 1 nm Al 2 O 3 layer was enough to control secondary phase formation at the CZTSSe/Mo and void/Mo interfaces, and a 2 nm Al 2 O 3 layer was enough to perfectly control secondary phase formation at the Mo interface and Mo-SSe formation.

Background: Several epidemiologic studies have suggested that the urine sodium excretion (USE) can be estimated in lieu of performing 24-hour urine collection. However, this method has not been verified in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or in an interventional study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of estimating USE in a prospective low-salt diet education cohort (ESPECIAL)., Methods: A new formula was developed on the basis of morning fasting urine samples from 228 CKD patients in the ESPECIAL cohort. This formula was compared to the previous four formulas in the prediction of 24-hour USE after treatment with olmesartan and low-salt diet education., Results: Most previously reported formulas had low predictability of the measured USE based on the ESPECIAL cohort. Only the Tanaka formula showed a small but significant bias (9.8 mEq/day, P < 0.05) with a low correlation ( r = 0.34). In contrast, a new formula showed improved bias (-0.1 mEq/day) and correlation ( r = 0.569) at baseline. This formula demonstrated no significant bias (-1.2 mEq/day) with the same correlation ( r = 0.571) after 8 weeks of treatment with olmesartan. Intensive low-salt diet education elicited a significant decrease in the measured USE. However, none of the formulas predicted this change in the measured urine sodium after diet adjustment., Conclusion: We developed a more reliable formula for estimating the USE in CKD patients. Although estimating USE is applicable in an interventional study, it may be unsuitable for estimating the change of individual sodium intake in a low-salt intervention study., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Authors report an effect of F substitution on layered SnSe 2 through the successful synthesis of polycrystalline SnSe 2-δ F x (0.000 ≤ x ≤ 0.010) by solid-state reaction. Accompanied with density functional theory calculations, the blue shift of A 1g peak in Raman spectra reveal that F - ions are substituted at Se vacancy sites as decreasing the reduced mass of vibrational mode associated with Sn-Se bonding. From the measurements of electrical parameters, conductivity as well as carrier concentration are governed by thermally activated behavior, while such behavior is suppressed in Hall mobility, which occurs as F ratio increases. Based on Arrhenius relation, it is found that the potential barrier height at the grain boundary is suppressed with increasing F amount, suggesting that the F - ion is a promising candidate for the grain boundary passivation in the two-dimensional dichalcogenide system.

The electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of RuO 2 nanosheets are enhanced by metal nanoparticle doping using Ag-acetate solutions. In this study, RuO 2 monolayer and bilayer nanosheets exfoliated from layered alkali metal ruthenates are transferred to Si substrates for device fabrication, and the temperature dependence of their conductivity and Seebeck coefficients is investigated. For pristine RuO 2 nanosheets, the sign of the Seebeck coefficient changes with temperature from 350-450 K. This indicates that the dominant type of charge carrier is dependent on the temperature, and the RuO 2 nanosheets show ambipolar carrier transport behavior. By contrast, the sign of the Seebeck coefficient for Ag nanoparticle-doped RuO 2 nanosheets does not change with temperature, indicating that the extra charge carriers from metal nanoparticles promote n-type semiconductor behavior.

The enhancement in electrical transport properties of exfoliated individual RuO 2 NSs was systemically investigated for their application in flexible electronics and optoelectronics. Decoration of Ag NPs on the surface of the RuO 2 NSs provides donor electrons and dramatically increases the electrical conductivity of the monolayer RuO 2 NSs by up to 3700%. The n-type doping behavior was confirmed via Hall measurement analysis of the doped RuO 2 NSs. The layer number- and temperature-dependence of the conductivity were also investigated. Moreover, carrier concentration and mobility were obtained from Hall measurements, indicating that the undoped RuO 2 NSs had ambipolar transport and semi-metallic characteristics. Moreover, the Ag-doped RuO 2 NS multilayer films on polycarbonate substrates were demonstrated by the Langmuir-Blodgett assembly methods, showing one-third reduction in the sheet resistance and extraordinarily high bending stability that the change in the resistance was less than 1% over 50 000 cycles.

Objective: This pilot study examined the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and discriminant validity of the Activity Participation Assessment (APA) for school-age children in Korea., Methods: The construct validity of the APA was first established by factor analysis on the response of 134 nondisabled children. Internal consistency was evaluated for each of the factors. A test-retest study was conducted on 22 nondisabled children. Discriminant validity was established by comparing the participation of 56 nondisabled children and 56 children with intellectual disabilities and examining sex differences of 61 boys and 61 girls., Results: Analysis of the APA revealed five factors, which were labeled as instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), sports and outdoor activities, hobbies and school activities, social activities, and personal care. The factors showed acceptable levels of internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha = .63-.89). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the five factors were all in the good range (ICC = .86-.92). We found statistically significant difference between nondisabled children and children with intellectual disabilities in five factors. We also found that girls participated in significantly more IADL, hobbies and school activities, and social activities. However, boys participated in significantly more sports and outdoor activities., Conclusion: The APA shows good internal reliability, test-retest reliability, discriminant validity, and construct validity. However, evidence of psychometric properties was limited by a small sample size. Psychometric properties such as interrater reliability as well as concurrent validity and construct validity need to be tested using a larger sample size with representative demographics., Competing Interests: All contributing authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

The intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has an important role in generating and maintaining hypertension in two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) rats. This study evaluated how various intrarenal RAS components contributed to hypertension not only in the maintenance period (5w; 5 wk after operation) but also earlier (2w; 2 wk after operation). We inserted a 2.5-mm clip into the left renal artery of Sprague-Dawley rats and euthanized them at 2w and 5w following the operation. Systolic blood pressure increased within 1 wk after the operation, and left ventricular hypertrophy occurred in 2K1C rats. At 2w, juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) and collecting duct (CD) renin increased in clipped kidney (CK) of 2K1C rats. The tubular angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) was not changed, but peritubular ACE2 decreased in nonclipped kidney (NCK) and CK of 2K1C rats. At 5w, ACE and CD renin were enhanced, and ACE2 was still lessened in both kidneys of 2K1C rats. However, plasma renin activity (PRA) was not different from that in sham rats. In proximal tubules of CK, the ANG II type 1 receptor (AT1R) was not suppressed, but the Mas receptor (MasR) was reduced; thus the AT1R/MasR ratio was elevated. Although hypoxic change in CK could not be excluded, the JGA renin of CK and CD renin in both kidneys was highly expressed independent of time. Peritubular ACE2 changed in the earlier period, and uninhibited AT1R in proximal tubules of CK was presented in the maintenance period. In 2K1C rats, attenuated ACE2 seems to contribute to initiating hypertension while upregulated ACE in combination with unsuppressed AT1R may have a key role in maintaining hypertension., (Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.)

Proinflammatory T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 17 (Th17) cell subsets have been reported to have an immunopathogenic role in metabolic disease. We previously demonstrated that CD4(+) T cells are increased in kidneys in type 2 diabetic patients. However, the role of Th1 and Th17 cells in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy is unclear. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) attenuates diabetic kidney injury by the suppression of renal T-cell proliferation and related cytokines. Four groups of male C57/BL6 mice (8-weeks-old) were studied: (1) untreated controls, (2) MMF-treated controls (30 mg/kg of body weight per day), (3) streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, and (4) MMF-treated STZ-induced diabetes. The interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 17 (IL-17) from renal CD4(+) T cells were analyzed in kidney mononuclear cells by flow cytometry. We found proliferating CD4(+) T cells were significantly increased in the kidney compared with the spleen. There were increases in IFN-γ(+) CD4(+) and IL-17A(+) CD4(+) T cells from the initiation of albuminuria in the kidneys of diabetic mice. We found MMF suppresses only the intrarenal IL-17A(+) CD4(+) T cells from early diabetic nephropathy and improves albuminuria, tubulointerstitial fibrosis independent of glycemic control. Our study results suggest that Th17 may play an independent role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy and modulation of IL-17 has potential as an immunologic therapeutic target., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

IL-1β-secreting nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes play a pivotal role in triggering innate immune responses in metabolic disease. We investigated the role of soluble uric acid in NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages to demonstrate the effect of systemic hyperuricemia on progressive kidney damage in type 2 diabetes. THP-1 cells, human acute monocytic leukemia cells, were cultured to obtain macrophages, and HK-2 cells, human renal proximal tubule cells, were cultured and stimulated with uric acid. In vivo, we designed four rat groups as follows: 1) Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO); 2) Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF); 3) OLETF+high-fructose diet (HFD) for 16 wk; and 4) OLETF+HFD+allopurinol (10 mg/dl administered in the drinking water). Soluble uric acid stimulated NLRP3 inflammasomes to produce IL-1β in macrophages. Uric acid-induced MitoSOX mediates NLRP3 activation and IL-1β secretion. IL-1β from macrophages activates NF-κB in cocultured proximal tubular cells. In vivo, intrarenal IL-1β expression and macrophage infiltration increased in HFD-fed OLETF rats. Lowering the serum uric acid level resulted in improving the albuminuria, tubular injury, macrophage infiltration, and renal IL-1β (60% of HFD-fed OLETF) independently of glycemic control. Direct activation of proximal tubular cells by uric acid resulted in (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 and high mobility group box-1 release and accelerated macrophage recruitment and the M1 phenotype. Taken together, these data support direct roles of hyperuricemia in activating NLRP3 inflammasomes in macrophages, promoting chemokine signaling in the proximal tubule and contributing to the progression of diabetic nephropathy through cross talk between macrophages and proximal tubular cells., (Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.)

We use a first-principles calculation and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to investigate the mechanism and the nanosize products of the sol-gel reaction with diphenylsilanediol (DPD) and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MEMO) precursors in synthesizing a hybrid waveguide material. It is predicted that switching between a DPD hydroxyl and a MEMO methoxy with a reaction rate of 6.8 x 10(-6) s(-1) at 300 K is the fastest process for the first reaction step, thus generating diphenylmethoxysilanol (DPM) and 3-methacryloxypropyldimethoxysilanol (MEDO) as products. However, we determine that this reaction pathway could be modified by the presence of the H2O released from a catalyst such as Ba(OH)2.H2O. Next, switching between the DPM hydroxyl and the MEDO methoxy is followed to generate diphenyldimethoxysilane (DPDM) and 3-methacryloxypropylmethoxysilanediol (MEMDO). However, condensation between a MEMDO hydroxyl and a DPDM methoxy is found to be most favorable for the third reaction step, which generates the DPDM-MEMDO dimer and CH3OH molecule as products. In a similar fashion, a DPDM methoxy of the DPDM-MEMDO dimer can condense with a MEMDO hydroxyl of the second DPDM-MEMDO dimer to increase the chain, but its reaction rate of 2.8 x 10(-11) s(-1) is predicted to be about 5 times smaller than that between a DPDM methoxy and a MEMDO hydroxyl. This implies that the reaction rate for the larger nanostructures becomes smaller. Additionally, our SANS measurements determine that the final products from our sol-gel reaction are on the nanometer scale, at sizes from 1.76 to 2.36 nm.