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An elastomeric seal needs to be soft to accommodate installation but stiff to block fluid flow. Here we show that the two requirements are better fulfilled by a strain-stiffening elastomer than a neo-Hookean elastomer. We represent the strain-stiffening elastomer using the Gent model, and calculate the deformation in the elastomeric seal using an approach analogous to the lubrication theory of a viscous fluid between rigid walls. We determine the sealing pressure on the basis of two modes of leak. The seal leaks by elastic deformation when the fluid pressure exceeds the contact pressure between the seal and the rigid wall. The seal leaks by rupture when the energy release rate of a crack exceeds the toughness of the elastomer. For both modes of leak, a strain-stiffening elastomer enhances the sealing pressure compared to a neo-Hookean elastomer. We construct diagrams in which the two modes of leak are demarcated. It is hoped that this study will aid in the development of materials and geometries of seals.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles (BMSC-EVs) relieve endometrial injury. This study aimed to elucidate the BMSC-EV mechanism in alleviating endometrial injury. Endometrial injury model in vivo was induced using 95% ethanol, and endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) treated with mifepristone were applied as an endometrial injury model in vitro. After BMSCs and BMSC-EVs were isolated and identified, the BMSC-EV function was evaluated by hematoxylin–eosin and Masson staining, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Transwell and tubule formation assays. The BMSC-EV mechanism was assessed using Western blot, ubiquitination, and cycloheximide-chase assays. After isolation and identification, BMSC-EVs were effective in endometrial injury repair in vivo and facilitated EEC proliferation and repressed cell apoptosis in vitro; the EEC supernatants accelerated human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and facilitated angiogenesis after endometrial injury in vitro. For the BMSC-EV mechanism, E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP1 in BMSC-EVs mediated the ubiquitination of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), thus relieving the PPARγ inhibition on vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Furthermore, the WWP1 in BMSC-EVs alleviated endometrial injury in vitro and in vivo. BMSC-EVs facilitated endometrial injury repair by carrying WWP1.

Adhesives typically fall into two categories: those that have high but irreversible adhesion strength due to the formation of covalent bonds at the interface and are slow to deploy, and others that are fast to deploy and the adhesion is reversible but weak in strength due to formation of noncovalent bonds. Synergizing the advantages from both categories remains challenging but pivotal for the development of the next generation of wound dressing adhesives. Here, we report a fast and reversible adhesive consisting of dynamic boronic ester covalent bonds, formed between poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and boric acid (BA) for potential use as a wound dressing adhesive. Mechanical testing shows that the adhesive film has strength in shear of 61 N/cm 2 and transcutaneous adhesive strength of 511 N/cm 2 , generated within 2 min of application. Yet the film can be effortlessly debonded when exposed to excess water. The mechanical properties of PVA/BA adhesives are tunable by varying the cross-linking density. Within seconds of activation by water, the surface boronic ester bonds in the PVA/BA film undergo fast debonding and instant softening, leading to conformal contact with the adherends and reformation of the boronic ester bonds at the interface. Meanwhile, the bulk film remains dehydrated to offer efficient load transmission, which is important to achieve strong adhesion without delamination at the interface. Whether the substrate surface is smooth (e.g., glass) or rough (e.g., hairy mouse skin), PVA/BA adhesives demonstrate superior adhesion compared to the most widely used topical skin adhesive in clinical medicine, Dermabond.

Lithium dendrite related problems form a major barrier that limits the application of lithium metal anode for Li-ion batteries. Here a copper coated 3D soft fabric anode was developed to show superior battery performance under an optimized mechanical stress for the lithium metal anode application. A scalable two-step dip-coating method was applied to coat Cu onto various insulating cloth fabrics, making them electrically conductive. In our battery tests, the 3D soft conductive fabric contributes to a more uniform lithium deposition during the battery cycling, which works for more than 1000 h. The mechanism for suppressing lithium dendrite growth by the mechanical interaction with 3D Cu-fabric was also revealed by a combination of microscopy characterization, electrochemical test and theoretical modeling, which provides the design principle for their future applications in lithium metal anode batteries.

Phytoplankton community structure based on photosynthetic pigments in the Lembeh strait was studied in April 2017, during the period of monsoon transition. With data of the spatial distribution of phytoplankton community structures and environmental factors, the main factors leading to the changes in phytoplankton community structure and distribution of phytoplankton abundance were discussed. Our results show that the phosphate concentration in the north of the strait was higher than that in the south, while the distribution of nitrogen concentration was just the opposite. The silicate concentration had a significance high concentration in the bottom water of the northern strait, indicating that there was a sinking ocean current from the north. Different from previous surveys, the N/P ratio of water ranges from 2.6 to 4.56, proving that nitrogen is the nutrient limiting factor in this survey, which was due to increased phosphorus concentrations due to continuous heavy rains. The main pigments were Chl b, 19-hex-fucoxanthin and fucoxanthin during the period of monsoon transition. Chl a concentration was significantly higher in the north of the strait than in the south, and Chl a concentration at surface was higher than that at bottom. This is because the thrive of cyanobacteria in the northern strait, which were the main group in the Lembeh strait during monsoon transition. They can grow and reproduce in the nutrient-poor sea water, since they can use phosphonates as a source of phosphorus during metabolic processes. Compared with surveys conducted during SE monsoonal period, the abundance of phytoplankton in monsoon transition period was significantly lower. Because the upwelling brought sufficient nutrients to the water, which meet the require of phytoplankton growth, allowing phytoplankton to grow well in SE monsoon. On the whole, the results show that the changes in phytoplankton community structure and distribution of phytoplankton abundance during the monsoon transition period in the Lembeh strait is mainly affected by nutrients. Keywords: Photosynthetic pigments, Phytoplankton, Community structure, Monsoon transition, Lembeh strait

The suspended particulate matter (SPM) is an important carrier of heavy metals transportation from land to sea, so it is significant to study the heavy metal pollution in SPM. The distribution and assessment of five heavy metals (Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Pb) in SPM collected from Passur River and its estuary in Sundarban were studied in combination with water temperature, salinity, and turbidity. The results show that the heavy metal content and distribution in SPM are mainly controlled by runoff input, hydrodynamic process and the interaction process of salt and fresh water in estuaries. The quality evaluation results of heavy metals in SPM show that pollution degree is light. Studies on the heavy metals in SPM are of great significance to comprehensively evaluate regional pollution status and carry out early warning.

The eye converts an optical signal to an ionic signal. This transduction is mimicked here using a photodiode in contact with ionic conductors, such as hydrogels. Photons generate electron-hole pairs in the photodiode. The photodiode/hydrogel interface forms capacitive coupling so that movements of electrons and holes in the photodiode induce movements of ions in the hydrogels. The hydrogels can be readily made stretchable and biocompatible to mimic the function of nerves. When light is turned on and off, the voltage between the hydrogels responds within 10 ms, comparable to the response in the human eye. A photosensitive skin is demonstrated to generate a voltage in response to light but not to stretch. Furthermore, a photosensitive actuation is demonstrated to mimic the light-triggered reflex, such as blinking of the eye and camouflage of the skin. Optoionic transduction has potential applications for wearable devices, implantable devices, and robotics.

Background Antenatal depression (AD) is considered as one of the major health burdens and has adverse effects on the outcome of expectant mothers and newborns. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of antenatal depression (AD), and to explore the potential risk factors of AD among pregnant women in Chengdu, including personal background, related social factors, family factors and cognitive factors. Methods The prospective nested case-control study included pregnant women who were in their second pregnancy and attended prenatal care at three tertiary hospitals and one regional hospital in Chengdu, China, between March 2015 and May 2016. Self-designed questionnaires were given to participants in their second and third trimesters to collect information on clinical and demographic characteristics, and a modified edition of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used to measure AD. The logistic regression was applicated in analyses. Results A total of 996 pregnant women were included in analysis. Ninety-three women suffered from AD symptoms only in their second trimester, 96 only in their third trimester, and 107 displayed persistent depression in both trimesters. In the univariate analyses, age and marital relationships were linked with AD occurrence in both second and third trimester. In addition, increasing age, full-time job, higher education level, and no gender preference of spouse were associated with reduced persistent depression. Multivariate analysis showed that gender preference and marital relationship were the potential risk factors of persistent depression. Conclusions Age, marital relationship relationships, with parents-in-law, the negative recognition of this pregnancy and husband’s gender preference were found as risk factors of AD occurrence in some specific trimester. Gender preference of husbands and marital relationships were independently associated with persistent depression. These findings suggest that stronger family support can help improve mental health of pregnant women.

Tough hydrogels of many chemical compositions are being discovered, and are opening new applications in medicine and engineering. To aid this rapid and worldwide development, it is urgent to study these hydrogels at the interface between mechanics and chemistry. A tough hydrogel often deforms inelastically over a large volume of the sample used in a fracture experiment. The rheology of the hydrogel depends on chemistry, and is usually complex, which complicates the crack behavior. This paper studies a hydrogel that has two interpenetrating networks: a polyacrylamide network of covalent crosslinks, and an alginate network of ionic (calcium) crosslinks. When the hydrogel is stretched, the polyacrylamide network remains intact, but the alginate network partially unzips. We tear a thin layer of the hydrogel at speed v and measure the energy release rate G. The v–G curve depends on the thickness of the hydrogel for thin hydrogels, and is independent of the thickness of the hydrogel for thick hydrogels. The energy release rate approaches a threshold, below which the tear speed vanishes. The threshold depends on the concentration of calcium. The threshold may also depend on the thickness when the thickness is comparable to the size of inelastic zone. The threshold determined by slow tear differs from the threshold determined by cyclic fatigue. We discuss these experimental findings in terms of the mechanics of tear and the chemistry of the hydrogel.

This study was carried out in Luoyuan Bay in March 2021. The species composition of microalgae community colonizing on microplastics called epimicroplastic microalgae (EMP-MA) was analyzed and compared with planktonic microalgae (PM) community. The species number of EMP-MA community (73) was higher than that of PM community (56). However Simpson Index and Pielou Evenness Index of EMP-MA community were significantly lower than that of PM community (P 0.05). Although diatom was the most diverse and abundant taxa in both EMP-MA and PM community, their species compositions were significantly different (P 0.05). Dominant species were also different between the two communities. Moreover, 12 harmful algal species were found in EMP-MA community, which may drift with microplastics and increase the risks of harmful algal blooms (HABs). This study is helpful to reveal the dispersal mechanism of HABs and potential impacts of EMP-MA on marine ecosystem.

We describe the materials, design, experimental measurements, and simulations of a bio-inspired all-solid tunable optical device: ionic eye. A dielectric elastomer functions as an electroactive material. An ionogel functions as an ionic conductor. Both materials are stretchable and transparent. The ionic eye achieves a ∼50% relative change of the focal length, beyond that of the human eye. Our analysis also points out that the ionic eye can respond rapidly (3.6 ms) and be miniaturized in size. This all-solid deformable lens eliminates the risk of leakage of currently used encapsulated fluid lenses and can be integrated into other devices for diverse applications.

Electroadhesion provides a simple route to rapidly and reversibly control adhesion using applied electric potentials, offering promise for a variety of applications including haptics and robotics. Current electroadhesives, however, suffer from key limitations associated with the use of high operating voltages (>kV) and corresponding failure due to dielectric breakdown. Here, a new type of electroadhesion based on heterojunctions between iono-elastomer of opposite polarity is demonstrated, which can be operated at potentials as low as ≈1 V. The large electric field developed across the molecular-scale ionic double layer (IDL) when the junction is placed under reverse bias allows for strong adhesion at low voltages. In contrast, under forward bias, the electric field across the IDL is destroyed, substantially lowering the adhesion in a reversible fashion. These ionoelastomer electroadhesives are highly efficient with respect to the force capacity per electrostatic capacitive energy and are robust to defects or damage that typically lead to catastrophic failure of conventional dielectric electroadhesives. The findings provide new fundamental insight into low-voltage electroadhesion and broaden its possible applications.

From 1997 to 2018, Phaeocystis globosa caused harmful algal blooms in Chinese coastal waters almost every year. In this study, the spatial and temporal distribution of P. globosa blooms and its influencing factors were discussed. The results showed that 80.6% of the P. globosa blooms happened in the South China Sea and 72.5% happened in the period from November to March of the following year. But in the Yellow Sea, P. globosa blooms might be limited by green tides. Among the influencing factors, temperature might be an important one that affected the spatial and temporal distribution of P. globosa blooms. Furthermore, eutrophication provided material basis and El Nino events might also stimulate the occurrence of P. globosa blooms. This study is helpful to reveal causes and mechanisms of P. globosa blooms and reduce the negative impacts of blooms on ecological environment, economic development and the safety of nuclear power plants.

A supercapacitor requires two electronic conductors with large surface areas, separated by an ionic conductor. Here we demonstrate a method to print a highly stretchable supercapacitor. We formulate an ink by mixing graphene flakes and carbon nanotubes with an organic solvent, and use the ink to print two interdigitated electronic conductors on the surface of a dielectric elastomer. We then submerge the printed electronic conductors in an aqueous solution of monomer, photoinitiator, crosslinker, and salt. The organic solvent and water form a binary solvent in which the ions are mobile. Upon UV irradiation, a polymer network forms. In each printed electrode, the graphene flakes and carbon nanotubes form a percolating network, which interpenetrates the polymer network. The electronic and ionic conductors form large interfacial areas. When the supercapacitor is stretched, the graphene flakes and carbon nanotubes slide relative to one another, and the polymer network deforms by entropic elasticity. The polymer network traps individual graphene flakes and carbon nanotubes, so that repeated stretch neither breaks the percolating network nor shorts the two electrodes. The supercapacitor maintains 88% the initial capacitance after 1600 cycles of stretch to five times its initial dimension. The interpenetration of a covalent network of elastic polymer chains and a percolating network of conductive particles is generally applicable for making stretchable ionotronic devices.

Ionic elastomeric material electronics Wearable devices often need to be soft or flexible, and ideally, these properties would extend beyond packaging material to also include the electronics. Some soft ionic conductors have been made in the form of flexible, stretchable, and transparent devices, but leaks from these materials is a concern. Kim et al. demonstrate ionic elastomeric diodes and transistors that harness ionic double layers to rectify and switch ionic currents (see the Perspective by Gao and Lee). This is achieved without trapped liquids by fixing the anions or cations to an elastomer network while the other species of ions remain mobile. Science , this issue p. 773 ; see also p. 735

Liquid propylene-glycol (PG) has long been used as an anti-icing substance, for example, by spraying on an airplane parked in an airport. In applications, large quantities of PG flow away, which is costly and raises environmental concerns. Here we report propylene-glycol materials, including PG-gels and PG-gel/cotton composites. A PG-gel consists of PG molecules as a solvent and a polymer network. PG evaporates slowly, and the polymer network retains the PG molecules so long as the gel is not in contact with running water. Water and PG form a eutectic system with an eutectic temperature of −60 °C. When ice falls on the surface of the gel, the ice and the PG molecules compete for water molecules, and thermodynamics dictates that the ice should lose water molecules to the PG molecules, so that ice melts and water molecules dissolve in the gel. A liquid-like layer exists on the ice/gel interface, the adhesion energy between the gel and ice is low, and ice readily slides on the gel. We peel a PG-gel from ice, and measure a low adhesion energy of ∼ 3 Jm−2 at temperatures about −35 °C. We further demonstrate PG-gel/cotton composites as tough, anti-icing blankets. The blankets are reusable if one removes water by dehydration, and replenish PG by submerging the blanket in liquid PG.

The measurement of bite force is important to dental care and research. Current sensors of bite force are made of hard materials, which do not conform to the irregular surfaces of teeth and constrain the movements of muscles. Here we propose a soft sensor made of a hydrogel and a dielectric elastomer. The sensor converts a mechanical force to a change in capacitance. We characterize the force under step loads at various speeds and under cyclic loads at different frequencies. We further use biocompatible materials and make arrayed sensors. The soft sensor easily conforms to the surfaces of individual teeth and captures dynamic bite forces in different regions of dentition. This work illustrates the potential of using soft sensors to collect massive data over irregular and dynamic surfaces of hard materials.

A soft ionic conductor can serve as an artificial nerve in an artificial muscle. A polyacrylamide hydrogel is syn- thesized containing a hygroscopic salt, lithium chloride. Two layers of the hydrogel are used as ionic conductors to sand- wich a dielectric elastomer and fabricate a highly stretchable and transparent actuator. When the two layers of the hydrogels are subject to a voltage, the actuator reduces its thickness and expands. An areal strain of 134% is demonstrated. The voltage- strain curves are calculated by using a model that accounts for the elastic constraint of the hydrogel and the inhomogeneous deformation of the actuator. For actuators fabricated with the hydrogel of various thicknesses and with the dielectric elasto- mer of various prestretches, excellent agreements are found between experimental data and theoretical predictions. V C 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014, 52, 1055-1060

Large deformation of soft materials is harnessed to provide functions in the nascent field of soft machines. This paper describes a new class of systems enabled by highly stretchable, transparent, stable ionogels. We synthesize an ionogel by polymer- izing acrylic acid in ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate ((C2mim)(EtSO4)). The ionogel exhibits desired attributes of adequate conductivity (0.22 S m −1 ), low elastic modulus (∼3 kPa), large rupturing stretch (∼4.6), and negligible hysteresis and degradation after cyclic stretches of large amplitude. Using the ionogel and a dielectric elastomer, we fabricate electromechanical transducers that achieve a voltage-induced areal strain of 140%. The ionogel is somewhat hygroscopic, but the transducers remain stable after a million cycles of excitation in a dry oven and in air. The transparency of the ionogels enable the transducers with conductors placed in the path of light, and the nonvolatility of the ionogels enable the transducers to be used in open air.

Akashiwo sanguinea is a harmful—but not toxic—species that causes blooms around the world. In China, the first A. sanguinea bloom was recorded in Yantai in 1998. Until 2017, there were 31 occurrences of A. sanguinea blooms recorded in Chinese four seas, with large spatial distributions. Furthermore, these blooms were recorded in almost every month except November, December and January. It can be concluded that the 1990s represented the initial stage of A. sanguinea blooms, while the 2000s represented the spreading stage and the 2010s represented the burst stage in China.

The integration of soft materials-biological tissues, gels, and elastomers-is a rapidly developing technology of this time. Whereas hard materials are adhered using adhesives of hard polymers since antiquity, these hard polymers are generally unsuited to adhere soft materials, because hard polymers constrain the deformation of soft materials. This paper describes a design principle to use hard polymers to adhere soft materials, such that adhesion remains tough after the adhered soft materials are subject to many cycles of large stretches in the plane of their interface. The two soft materials have stretchable polymer networks, but need not have functional groups for adhesion. The two soft materials are adhered by forming, in situ at their interface, islands of a hard polymer. The adhesion is tough if the islands themselves are strong, and the polymers of the islands are in topological entanglement with the polymer networks of the soft materials. The adhesion is stretchable if the islands are smaller than the flaw sensitivity length. Several methods of forming the hard polymer islands are demonstrated, and the mechanics and chemistry of adhesion are studied. The design principle will enable many hard polymers to form tough and stretchable adhesion between soft materials.

Water samples were collected at 20 sites on 4 occasions in 2009 (twice in May, and once in both August and November) along the Jiulong River, South China to examine how nutrient inputs from the Jiulong River could affect the nutrient status of the Xiamen Water. Samples were analyzed for nitrite (NO2-N), nitrate (NO3-N), ammonium (NH4-N), phosphate (PO4-P), silicate (SiO3-Si), salinity, and temperature, to determine the nutrient and trophic status of the river. The results indicate that nutrients are derived mainly from river runoff. NO3-N was the main form of DIN in most parts of the river. In addition, NO3-N, DIN, and SiO3-Si behave conservatively. There is a surplus of DIN and SiO3-Si in the river, and PO4-P is a limitation on phytoplankton growth. The concentration of DIN is typically above 0.60 mg/dm3, and higher than 1.00 mg/dm3 in most parts of the river. The concentration of PO4-P is typically above 0.02 mg/dm3, while the concentration of SiO3-Si is higher than 1.00 mg/dm3. Between 2003 and 2008, samples were collected 3 times per year (May, August and November) at 27 sites in the Xiamen Water and analyzed for NO2-N, NO3-N, NH4-N, PO4-P, salinity, and temperature. We discovered that the Jiulong River was the key source of DIN into the Xiamen Water, but not PO4-P, indicating the reason of the N/P molar ratio imbalance in the Xiamen Water. In the future, the effects of high DIN concentrations on the phytoplankton communities and marine ecosystems of the Xiamen Water shall be studied.

To investigate the response of phytoplankton size structure to changes of environmental factors, total and size-fractionated (pico-, nano- and micro-phytoplankton) Chla concentrations were studied in autumn in Xiamen Bay of China. Total Chla concentration was higher in west area than that in east area, similar to the spatial distribution of SiO3–Si and DIN concentration. Comparing different water areas, the proportion of micro-Chla and size index of phytoplankton were highest in the Da’deng water with lowest DIN and PO4–P. The highest value of pico-Chla concentration and proportion was in the nutrient-rich West water. Compared with historical results in Xiamen Bay, nano-phytoplankton was still the dominant contributor in the bay, and pico-phytoplankton proportion increased in the West water. Besides nutrient increasing, it might be relative to global climate warming. Based on historical data from 1954 to 2010, phytoplankton community under observation of microscope also showed a miniaturizing trend. Correlations between phytoplankton and environmental factors indicated that nutrient availability, temperature and irradiance probably impacted size structure of phytoplankton community in Xiamen Bay. It implies that more studies are needed to explore how environmental factors especially eutrophication and global climate change affect size structure of phytoplankton community and the subsequent impact on the marine ecosystem structure in the future.

A glassy carbon electrode modified with organic–inorganic pillared montmorillonite was used for voltammetric detection of mercury(II) in water. High sensitivity is obtained due to the use of the montmorillonites which displays outstanding capability in terms of adsorbing mercury ion due to its high specific surface and the presence of multiple binding sites. The experimental parameters and the effect of a chelating agent were optimized to further enhance sensitivity and selectivity. Linear calibration curves were obtained over the Hg(II) concentration range from 10 to 800 μg L−1 for 5 min accumulation, with a detection limit of 1 μg L−1. Simultaneous determination of Hg(II) and Cu(II) was also studied, and no interference was observed.

Long-term changes of phytoplankton community by water sampling method in Xiagu Sea waters of Xiamen, China, were investigated in this study. Species composition of the phytoplankton community in these waters changed greatly since the 1950s. The numbers of Dinophyta species increased significantly, although Bacillariophyta species are generally dominant. The succession of dominant species in phytoplankton community is obvious: large-size dominant species such as Biddulphia sinensis of the 1950s were gradually replaced by small-size ones such as Cyclotella striata and Nitzschia closterium, and species that still maintain dominant such as Skeletonema costatum are also small ones, leading the whole phytoplankton community of smaller size. Cell density of phytoplankton community increased greatly, among which cell density of the most dominant species Skeletonema costatum have been increasing in exponent function. Margalef index of phytoplankton community decreased, indicating decline of biodiversity of the community, and dominant character of Skeletonema costatum increased. Generally, the structure of the entire phytoplankton community is becoming more and more singular and unstable, which makes the occurrence of red tides more frequent. The succession in the phytoplankton community is related to the long-term changes in marine environment, influenced by human activities and global climate changes, especially the increases of nutrient content.

Large deformation of soft materials is harnessed to provide functions in the nascent field of soft machines. This paper describes a new class of systems enabled by highly stretchable, transparent, stable ionogels. We synthesize an ionogel by polymerizing acrylic acid in ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate ([C2mim][EtSO4]). The ionogel exhibits desired attributes of adequate conductivity (0.22 S m−1), low elastic modulus (∼3 kPa), large rupturing stretch (∼4.6), and negligible hysteresis and degradation after cyclic stretches of large amplitude. Using the ionogel and a dielectric elastomer, we fabricate electromechanical transducers that achieve a voltage-induced areal strain of 140%. The ionogel is somewhat hygroscopic, but the transducers remain stable after a million cycles of excitation in a dry oven and in air. The transparency of the ionogels enable the transducers with conductors placed in the path of light, and the nonvolatility of the ionogels enable the transducers to be used in open air.

This paper describes a time series experiment examining the nitrogen and phosphorus intake of natural phytoplankton communities by a microcosms approach. Seawater samples containing natural phytoplankton communities were collected from waters around Baozhu Islet in inner Xiamen Bay and around Qingyu Islet in the outer bay. The goal was to elucidate the relationship between phytoplankton population enhancement, the biological removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from the seawater, and the phytoplankton nitrogen and phosphorus intake ratio based on nitrogen and phosphorus removal from seawater by phytoplankton, to provide a basis for detecting prewarning conditions for red tide and the assessment of red tide events. Two key results were obtained: 1. During the experiment, the nitrogen and phosphorus seawater concentrations in samples from these two sites were negatively and closely correlated to the logarithm of the phytoplankton cell concentration and to the value of the apparent oxygen increment. The ratio of the intake coefficients was 3.5:1 for phosphorus and 1.1:1 for nitrogen for the phytoplankton between these samples from around Baozhu Islet and Qingyu Islet, respectively. This indicates that the intake capabilities of phytoplankton for nitrogen in the two waters are essentially identical. However, for phosphorus, the capability was much higher in the Baozhu Islet waters than the Qingyu Islet waters. In other words, the phytoplankton in Qingyu Islet waters produced more biomass while consuming the same amount of phosphorus as the other waters; 2. The phytoplankton nitrogen and phosphorus intake ratio from the Baozhu Islet and Qingyu Islet waters was 20:1 and 36:1, respectively. The latter waters had a significantly higher ratio than the former and both were higher than the Redfield Ratio. These results indicate that nitrogen and phosphorus intake ratios by phytoplankton can vary significantly from region to region.

Excitotoxicity mediated via the (S)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) subtype of receptor for l-glutamate contributes to various neuropathologies involving acute brain injury and chronic degenerative disorders. In this study, AMPA-induced neuronal injury and staurosporine (STS)-mediated apoptosis were compared in primary neuronal cultures of murine cerebral cortex by analyzing indices up- and downstream of mitochondrial activation. AMPA-mediated apoptosis involved induction of Bax, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (deltapsi(m)), early release of cytochrome c (cyt c), and more delayed release of second mitochondrial activator of caspases (SMAC), Omi, and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) with early calpain and minor late activation of caspase 3. STS-induced apoptosis was characterized by a number of differences, a more rapid time course, non-involvement of deltapsi(m), and relatively early recruitment of SMAC and caspase 3. The AMPA-induced rise in intracellular calcium appeared insufficient to evoke feltapsi(m) as release of cyt c preceded mitochondrial depolarization, which was followed by the cytosolic translocation of SMAC, Omi, and AIF. Bax translocation preceded cyt c release for both stimuli inferring its involvement in apoptotic induction. Inclusion of the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk reduced the AMPA-induced release of cyt c, SMAC, and AIF, while only affecting the redistribution of Omi and AIF in the STS-treated neurons. Only AIF release was affected by a calpain inhibitor (calpastatin) which exerted relatively minor effects on the progression of cellular injury. AMPA-mediated release of apoptogenic proteins was more hierarchical relative to STS with its calpain activation and caspase-dependent AIF redistribution arguing for a model with cross-talk between caspase-dependent/independent apoptosis.

A new type of electroluminescent device achieves giant stretchability by integrating electronic and ionic components. The device uses phosphor powders as electroluminescent materials, and hydrogels as stretchable and transparent ionic conductors. Subject to cyclic voltage, the phosphor powders luminesce, but the ionic conductors do not electrolyze. The device produces constant luminance when stretched up to an area strain of 1500%.

Programmed cell death contributes to neurological diseases and may involve mitochondrial dysfunction with redistribution of apoptogenic proteins. We examined neuronal death to elucidate whether the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway and the crosstalk between caspase-dependent/-independent injury was differentially recruited by stressors implicated in neurodegeneration. After exposure of cultured cerebellar granule cells to various insults, the progression of injury was correlated with mitochondrial involvement, including the redistribution of intermembrane space (IMS) proteins, and patterns of protease activation. Injury occurred across a continuum from Bax- and caspase-dependent (trophic- factor withdrawal) to Bax-independent, calpain-dependent (excitotoxicity) injury. Trophic-factor withdrawal produced classical recruitment of the intrinsic pathway with activation of caspase-3 and redistribution of cytochrome c, whereas excitotoxicity induced early redistribution of AIF and HtrA2/Omi, elevation of intracellular calcium and mitochondrial depolarization. Patterns of engagement of neuronal programmed cell death and the redistribution of mitochondrial IMS proteins were canonical, reflecting differential insult-dependencies.

Redistribution of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO from mitochondria occurs during apoptosis, although the relative timing of their release is not well characterized. Double immunocytochemistry was utilized here to study quantitatively the patterns of release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO from mitochondria in single cells. Human osteosarcoma cells and murine embryonic cortical neurons were analyzed during apoptosis induced by staurosporine. In osteosarcoma cells treated with staurosporine for 24 h, a substantial proportion of cells (36%) released cytochrome c from the mitochondria before Smac/DIABLO. In contrast, these proteins were released mostly concordantly in neurons; only a minority of cells (or = 15%) released cytochrome c without Smac/DIABLO (or vice versa) from mitochondria. Patterns of release in either cell type were unaltered by addition of the caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk. The double immunocytochemistry procedure facilitated clear definition of the temporal release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO from mitochondria in intact apoptotic cells, enabling us to demonstrate for the first time that their mutual redistribution during apoptosis varies between different cell types.