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In this study, we demonstrate inverted PTB7:PC71BM polymer solar cells featuring a solution-processed s-MoO3 hole transport layer that can, after thermal aging at 85 °C, retain their initial power conversion efficiency for at least 2200 h.

There are a growing number of opportunities within the field of orthopaedic surgery to address climate change and investigate ways to promote sustainability.Orthopaedic surgeons can take a proactive role in addressing climate change and its impacts within the areas of operating-room waste, carbon emissions from transportation and implant manufacturing, anesthetic gases, and water usage.Future studies are needed to further these initiatives on quantifying and decreasing environmental impact and furthering sustainable use of our resources.

Uniformity consideration in integrated-circuit manufacturing is an impressive task, especially in the field of nano-node semiconductors. The use of high-dielectric-constant (high-K) materials to promote drive current in deep nano-node devices is also increasing. One solution involves enhancing the quality of the high-K dielectric layer as a gate dielectric with nitridation treatment. This study combines the aforementioned concerns in deep nano-node manufacturing and demonstrates their relationship. Given the electrical measurement of the wafers treated with decoupled plasma nitridation (DPN), a few desired key parameters, including drive current (IDS), threshold voltage (Vth), gate oxide capacitance per area (Cox), subthreshold swing (SS), and interface state density, in the design of p-channel metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (pMOSFETs) are observed. A uniformity comparison with different DPN processes is also performed, and the uniformity of the gate dielectric in input/output and core zones is discussed. Based on the uniformity distribution, lower SS values are obtained by adopting the low-temperature nitridation treatment after high-K dielectric deposition. The increased nitrogen concentration decreases the deviation, thereby indicating improved uniformity of SS values.

Cranberry proanthocyanidin oligomers were investigated using ultra performance liquid chromatography-ion mobility-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-IM-HRMS). A total of 304 individual A-type and B-type proanthocyanidins, including 40 trimers, 68 tetramers, 53 pentamers, 54 hexamers, 49 heptamers, 28 octamers, and 12 nonamers, were characterized. A-type proanthocyanidins appeared to dominate the cranberry proanthocyanidins. As the degree of polymerization increased, the abundance of molecules with multiple A-type double inter-flavan linkage or having doubly charged ions also increased. Under the same charge state, the drift times of proanthocyanidin ions increased with their degree of polymerization or the number of double inter-flavan linkages. For the same proanthocyanidin molecules, doubly charged ions had shorter drift times compared to their singly charged counterparts, which lead to separated trendlines in the ion mobility-mass plot. While consistent ion mobility was observed for most proanthocyanidins with the same degree of polymerization, coeluted isomeric ions of trimer and tetramer were detected by their unique drift times. Incorporation of ion mobility into HRMS proved to be of great value to characterize and analyze proanthocyanidins from complex sample matrices. Graphical abstract.

Background Hemorrhaging trauma patients may be disproportionately affected by choice of induction agent during rapid sequence intubation (RSI). Etomidate, ketamine, and propofol are safe in the trauma population-at-large but have not been assessed in patients with ongoing hemorrhage. We hypothesize that in hemorrhaging patients with penetrating injury, propofol deleteriously affects peri-induction hypotension compared to etomidate and ketamine. Methods Retrospective cohort study. Primary outcome was the effect of induction agent on peri-induction systolic blood pressure. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of peri-induction vasopressor use and quantity of peri-induction blood transfusion requirements. Linear multivariate regression modeling assessed the effect of induction agent on the variables of interest. Results 169 patients were included, 146 received propofol and 23 received etomidate or ketamine. Univariate analysis revealed no difference in peri-induction systolic blood pressure (P = .53), peri-induction vasopressor administration (P = .62), or transfusion requirements within the first hour after induction (PRBC P = .24, FFP P = .19, PLT P = .29). Choice of RSI agent did not independently predict peri-induction systolic blood pressure or blood product administration. Rather, only presenting shock index independently predicted peri-induction hypotension. Conclusions This is the first study to directly assess the peri-induction effects of anesthetic induction agent choice in penetrating trauma patients undergoing emergent hemorrhage control surgery. Propofol does not appear to worsen peri-induction hypotension regardless of dose. Patient physiology is most predictive of peri-induction hypotension.

Spintronics can add new functionalities to electronic devices by utilizing the spin degree of freedom of electrons. Investigating magnetic defects is crucial for the performance of spintronics devices. However, the effects of magnetic defects that are introduced by the presence of organic materials on their magnetic properties remain unclear. Herein, we report on a novel method using rubrene combined with Kerr microscopy that enables quantitative and direct measurements of magnetic defect density. For Co/Si(100) at a magnetic field near the coercivity value, Kerr microscopy images show a dark image with some magnetic defects. Because of domain wall motion, small patches gradually change the contrast. These magnetic defects are immovable at different magnetic fields and serve as pinning sites for domain wall motion. Experimental evidence shows that coercive force can be reduced by controlling the magnetic defect density by introducing small amounts of rubrene into the films. Furthermore, direct quantitative measurements of magnetic defects show both a one-dimensional bowing of domain walls and strong defect-domain wall interactions in the films. Based on these findings, we propose a viable strategy for reducing the coercive force of Co/Si(100) by controlling the magnetic defect density and this new information promises to be valuable for future applications of spintronics devices.

Using the analysis and comparison of electrical performance in gate leakage, drive current, transconductance, channel mobility, and interface-state density, the channel surface integrity with the higher annealing temperature under the fixed nitrogen concentration seems better than that with the lower one. The speculation is that the higher temperature provides the sufficiently thermal energy in repairs of traps in gate dielectric. Thus, the related high-k value is little increased, but the gate leakage due to the increase the Si-N bonds is somewhat raised, too. In general, using the higher annealing temperature at this fixed nitrogen concentration as a treatment still shows the better electrical performance for an nMOSFET except the channel surface integrity.

This work primarily focuses on the degradation degree of bulk current (IB) for 28 nm stacked high-k (HK) n-channel metal&ndash, oxide&ndash, semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), sensed and stressed with the channel-hot-carrier test and the drain-avalanche-hot-carrier test, and uses a lifetime model to extract the lifetime of the tested devices. The results show that when IB reaches its maximum, the ratio of VGS/VDS values at this point, in the meanwhile, gradually increases in the tested devices from the long-channel to the short ones, not just located at one-third to one half. The possible ratiocination is due to the ON-current (IDS), in which the short-channel devices provide larger IDS impacting the drain junction and generating more hole carriers at the surface channel near the drain site. In addition, the decrease in IB after hot-carrier stress is not only the increment in threshold voltage VT inducing the decrease in IDS, but also the increment in the recombination rate due to the mechanism of diffusion current. Ultimately, the device lifetime uses Berkley&rsquo, s model to extract the slope parameter m of the lifetime model. Previous studies have reported m-values ranging from 2.9 to 3.3, but in this case, approximately 1.1. This possibly means that the critical energy of the generated interface state becomes smaller, as is the barrier height of the HK dielectric to the conventional silicon dioxide as the gate oxide.

Junction integrity in OFF-state current of an n-channel MOSFET (nMOSFET) plays an important role. Besides the electrical performance of leakage current and breakdown voltage for source/drain junction, it is still necessary to consider the gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) effect. The test to screen out the yield or reliability concern early demands the thermal stress to enhance the latent defect under the overlay interface between drain and gate zones. It is beneficial to investigate the fringe gate leakage with the relationship of the heat increase and the integrity of 28nm high-k (HK) gate dielectric. As the stress temperature increases, the junction leakage and GIDL effect are gradually increased, especially at the higher stress temperature circumstance.

Due to the widespread applications of biosensors, such as in magnetic resonance imaging, cancer detection and drug delivery, the use of superparamagnetic materials for preparing biosensors has increased greatly. We report herein on a strategy toward fabrication of a nanoscale biosensor composed of superparamagnetic films. On increasing the film thickness of magnetic layers, a phase transition typically occurs from either a low-Curie-temperature state or a superparamagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state. A new finding is demonstrated wherein a phase transition of such a superparamagnetic phase can be induced by controlling the thickness of ultrathin ferromagnetic layers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Both the M–H curve with zero coercive force at 300 K and deviations of the normalized hysteresis loop at 2 K confirm the superparamagnetic state of Co/Ir(111) at room temperature. An overstrained film transforming into clusters (OFTC) model based on the new finding and our experimental evidence is proposed for modeling this phenomenon. From the energetic point of view of the OFTC model, we propose a limited distortion mechanism that can be useful in determining the critical thickness for the phase transition. This mechanism considers the balance between interfacial strain energy and surface free energy. A method for producing superparamagnetic films by taking advantage of the accumulation of strain and relaxation is reported.

American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is native to Eastern North America. Recent studies have suggested that the A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) in cranberries are effective in preventing urinary tract infection. To meet the growing interest in the cranberry market, an accurate, reliable, and simple method to determine PAC concentration is needed. In this study, a modified method using 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde to quantify total PACs in cranberry products was validated. Cranberry juice extract powder, cranberry capsules containing juice extract, and cranberry juice concentrate were used as the samples in this study. With the modified method, the calibration curves for proanthocyanidin A2 had correlation coefficients (r2) of >0.99. The recoveries of two different concentrations after spiking were 97.1 and 99.1%, and the RSDs for repeatability and reproducibility were

Modifying the interfacial conditions of magnetic layers by capping with overlayers can efficiently enhance the magnetic functionality of a material. However, the mechanisms responsible for this are closely related to the crystalline structure, compositional combinations, and interfacial quality, and are generally complex. In this contribution, we explored the use of Ag ultrathin overlayers on annealed . A method for preparing magnetic layers with different levels of enhanced magnetic anisotropy energy was developed. The method essentially involves simply modifying the contact area of the metallic/magnetic interface. A rougher interface results in a larger contact area between the Ag and Ni layers, resulting in an increase in magnetic anisotropy energy. Moreover, post-annealing treatments led to the segregation of Ni atoms, thus making the enhancement in the coercive force even more efficient. A model permits an understanding of the contact area and a strategy for enhancing the magnetic anisotropy energy and the coercive force was developed. Our approaches and the developed model promise to be helpful in terms of developing potential applications of ultrathin magnetic layers in the area of spintronics.

In order to adapt to the quick and large amount of necessity in data flow for 5G cloud generation, it is necessary to develop a technology of warm storage device in market which takes a great balance between the reading/writing performance and the price per storage capacity. The technologies of warm storage devices are assumed to adopt phase change memory (PCM), resistive random access memory (ReRAM) or magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) which have the highest possibilities to 5G structures and magnetic properties of Co on non-hydrogenated diamond like carbon (DLC)/Si(100) films and Co/DLC interface are investigated. The self-assembled magnetic heterostructure is firstly reported in hexagonal close packing (hcp) Co layers perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) on Co carbide layers (in-plane) during Co deposited on DLC/Si(100). A PMA/in-plane magnetic heterostructure is expected to have the highest switching current to the energy barrier ratio of near 4 in previous report, which has great potential for developing warm memory devices. Based on these unique characteristics, we provide a novel design called magnetic anisotropy-phase change memory (Mani-PCM) which can impact the developing blueprint of memory. The working process of Mani-PCM includes in set, reset and read states as a universal PCM. This brand new technology is highly promising as warm memory devices including high reading/writing performance and economical price per storage capacity.

Introduction American cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) contain primarily A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs), which have been shown to prevent urinary tract infection. Currently, the accurate quantification of cranberry PACs is still lacking. Objective A normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC) method using relative response factors was developed and validated to quantify cranberry PAC oligomers and polymers. Materials and methods PAC oligomers with degree of polymerisation (DP) 3-9 and total polymers were isolated from the cranberry juice concentrate. Characterisation of the isolated PAC oligomers was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. The relative response factors of oligomers from DP 2-9 and total polymers were determined against procyanidin A2. Method validation was conducted to assess limit of detection, limit of quantification, the linearity and working range, precision and accuracy. In addition, quantifications of PACs by NP-HPLC using relative response factors and two other commonly used methods were conducted in three cranberry food products. Results Cranberries PACs oligomers contained both A-type and B-type linkage, with epicatechin and epigallocatechin as basic units. Method validation results suggested this method is reliable and reproducible. Quantifications of PACs by NP-HPLC using relative response factors yielded higher values than that by the other two methods. Conclusion A NP-HPLC method using the relative response factors was developed and validated. This method provides a more accurate approach in determining cranberry PACs. It can be used to quantify individual oligomers from DP 2-9, total polymers and total PACs in cranberries and cranberry products.

Cranberry proanthocyanidin oligomers were investigated using ultra performance liquid chromatography-ion mobility-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-IM-HRMS). A total of 304 individual A-type and B-type proanthocyanidins, including 40 trimers, 68 tetramers, 53 pentamers, 54 hexamers, 49 heptamers, 28 octamers, and 12 nonamers, were characterized. A-type proanthocyanidins appeared to dominate the cranberry proanthocyanidins. As the degree of polymerization increased, the abundance of molecules with multiple A-type double inter-flavan linkage or having doubly charged ions also increased. Under the same charge state, the drift times of proanthocyanidin ions increased with their degree of polymerization or the number of double inter-flavan linkages. For the same proanthocyanidin molecules, doubly charged ions had shorter drift times compared to their singly charged counterparts, which lead to separated trendlines in the ion mobility-mass plot. While consistent ion mobility was observed for most proanthocyanidins with the same degree of polymerization, coeluted isomeric ions of trimer and tetramer were detected by their unique drift times. Incorporation of ion mobility into HRMS proved to be of great value to characterize and analyze proanthocyanidins from complex sample matrices. Graphical abstract.

Compound formation at a metal/semiconductor interface plays crucial roles in the properties of many material systems. Applications of Ni silicides span numerous areas and have the potential to be used as new functionalities. However, the magnetic properties of ultrathin Ni layers on silicon surfaces and related chemical compositions at the interface are not fully understood and the influence of Ag additives on the reactivity of Ni/Si(111) remain unclear. We report herein on the fact that the dominant species produced at the interface is NiSi, which is produced by the spontaneous formation of strong bonds between Ni and Si atoms. Assuming that a Ni layer is formed over a NiSi layer with the total coverage as a constraint, we established a chemical shift-related concentration model that, in effect, represents a practical method for determining the amount of ultrathin Ni silicides that are produced at the buried interface. The formation of Ag-Si particles provide a viable strategy for enhancing silicide formation via a specific interaction transfer mechanism, even at room temperature. The mechanism is related to differences in the enthalpies of formation ΔHAg-Si, ΔHNi-Ag, and ΔHNi-Si, for these phases and provides insights into strategies for producing ultrathin silicides at a buried interface.

Anticipating the ecological effects of climate change to inform natural resource climate adaptation planning represents one of the primary challenges of contemporary conservation science. Species distribution models have become a widely used tool to generate first-pass estimates of climate change impacts to species probabilities of occurrence. There are a number of technical challenges to constructing species distribution models that can be alleviated by the use of scientific workflow software. These challenges include data integration, visualization of modeled predictor–response relationships, and ensuring that models are reproducible and transferable in an adaptive natural resource management framework. We used freely available software called VisTrails Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling (VisTrails:SAHM) along with a novel ecohydrological predictor dataset and the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 future climate projections to construct species distribution models for eight forest and shrub species in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the Northern Rocky Mountains USA. The species considered included multiple species of sagebrush and juniper, Pinus flexilis, Pinus contorta, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides, Abies lasciocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and Pinus albicaulis. Current and future species probabilities of occurrence were mapped in a GIS by land ownership category to assess the feasibility of undertaking present and future management action. Results suggested that decreasing spring snowpack and increasing late-season soil moisture deficit will lead to deteriorating habitat area for mountain forest species and expansion of habitat area for sagebrush and juniper communities. Results were consistent across nine global climate models and two representative concentration pathway scenarios. For most forest species their projected future distributions moved up in elevation from general federal to federally restricted lands where active management is currently prohibited by agency policy. Though not yet fully mature, custom scientific workflow software shows considerable promise to ease many of the technical challenges inherent in modeling the potential ecological impacts of climate change to support climate adaptation planning.

For CoO overlayers prepared by evaporating Co atoms in an oxygen atmosphere, both the oxidation of the Co atoms at the interface and the segregation of oxygen atoms into the Co surface occur. Parts of Co atoms at the interface become nonferromagnetic and this causes the reduction of Kerr intensity at 300 K. After field cooling treatments, further reduction of the Kerr intensity is detected. The change of the Kerr intensity is an indicator of the pinned magnetic moments. In the case of forming thicker interfacial region, more pinned magnetic moments are observed and result in the larger exchange bias field for CoO on thicker Co/Ge(1 0 0). This tunable pinning provides a practical way of increasing exchange bias field by controlling the thickness of the interfacial region for ultrathin CoO/Co bilayers on semiconductor substrates.

Because of the potential uses toward low-cost and flexible-substrate-based electronics, semiconducting organic materials have attracted much attention. In this contribution, structures and magnetic properties of Co–rubrene composite films on Si(1 0 0) have been studied by employing atomic force microscopy (AFM) and magneto-optic Kerr effect techniques. For composite films prepared by co-depositions of Co and rubrene on Si(1 0 0), the surface is smooth while a layered distribution of Co atoms is detected. For thick composite films, surfactant effects of rubrene molecules cause smooth surfaces and reduced interaction at the film/Si interface. For thin composite films, the formation of separated Co clusters in the films results in a larger coercive force due to the imperfection introduced by rough interface to impede the magnetization reversal. By increasing the rubrene concentration, more Co/rubrene interfaces are introduced in the composite films and the more rubrene served as a surfactant enhances the quality of the films. These information are valuable for future applications combining organic semiconductor and spintronics.

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a tropical fruit cultivated mainly in Southeast Asia. Recent studies have shown mangosteen has many health benefits. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of a mangosteen-based beverage on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and immunity biomarkers in plasma of healthy adults. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted using 60 participants, 30 men, and 30 women, ages 18–60. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, placebo and mangosteen groups, with the same number of male and female participants in each group. The trial duration was 30 days. ORAC as an antioxidant biomarker was measured in both groups. It was found that after the 30-day trial, the group given the mangosteen-based drink formula showed 15% more antioxidant capacity in the bloodstream than did the placebo group. As for the inflammatory biomarkers, in the mangosteen group, between the preintervention and postintervention, the C-reactive protein level significantly decreased by 46%, while no significant decreases for the same biomarker was observed in the placebo group. Immunity biomarkers IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4 were not affected in either group. In addition, the effects on hepatic function (Aspartate Aminotransferase and Alanine Aminotransferase) and kidney function (creatinine) were investigated. Our results indicated that after the 30-day consumption of the beverage, there were no side effects on human hepatic and kidney functions. The outcome of this study showed that the mangosteen-based formula significantly increases antioxidant capacity and possesses anti-inflammatory benefits with no side effects on immune, hepatic, and renal functions for long-term consumption.

A combination of a solution process and the control of the electric potential for magnetism represents a new approach to operating spintronic devices with a highly controlled efficiency and lower power consumption with reduced production cost. As a paradigmatic example, we investigated Co/Pt(111) in the Bloch-wall regime. The depression in coercive force was detected by applying a negative electric potential in an electrolytic solution. The reversible control of coercive force by varying the electric potential within few hundred millivolts is demonstrated. By changing the electric potential in ferromagnetic layers with smaller thicknesses, the efficiency for controlling the tunable coercive force becomes higher. Assuming that the pinning domains are independent of the applied electric potential, an electric potential tuning-magnetic anisotropy energy model was derived and provided insights into our knowledge of the relation between the electric potential tuning coercive force and the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer. Based on the fact that the coercive force can be tuned by changing the electric potential using a solution process, we developed a novel concept of electric-potential-tuned magnetic recording, resulting in a stable recording media with a high degree of writing ability.

ORAC and other in vitro methods have to date proved useful in measuring antioxidant potential in foods. In order to better understand the potential relationship between diet and free radical production/mitigation, an in vivo analytic method can provide new insight into directly measuring reactive oxidant species (ROS). Dihydrorhodamine-6G (DHR6G) is indiscriminate to the various free radicals found in humans, and therefore can be useful in quantifying total ROS in vivo. Our aim was to investigate whether the total ROS in human subjects can be quantified using DHR6G after intake of a blend of antioxidants-rich fruit and vegetable-based materials. Twelve participants were given 100 mg of a proprietary blend of fruit, vegetable, and herb powders and concentrates commercially marketed under the trade name “Spectra™”. Blood samples were collected at 0, 60, 120 and 180 min and were subsequently tested for ROS in serum using DHR6G as a fluorescent probe. By quantifying this fluorescence, we were able to measure ROS concentrations in human blood. This method is both reliable and efficient for evaluating the efficacy of antioxidants against ROS in vivo. Our data indicate that eleven participants responded to the intake of Spectra™ by significant decreases of ROS concentrations.