Enhanced photoelectric properties of PbSnSe thin films via quick oxygen ion-implantation sensitization

Journal of Materials Science - Although chalcogenide materials continue to generate considerable interest due to great potentials for various optoelectronic devices, annealing for a long time in...     

我国3～12岁儿童家长食品安全知识现状及其影响因素分析

了解我国儿童家长的家庭食品安全知识知晓情况及其影响因素，对开展精准食品安全宣教，减少家庭食源性疾病具有积极意义。本研究在7个城市的13 923名3～12岁儿童家长中开展问卷调查，收集基本信息、家庭食品安全知识知晓情况及需求。家长家庭食品安全知识平均得分为18.6分(总分29分)，及格率为68.7%。易错知识点包括熟食室温存储时间、食品保质期、易引起中毒的食物以及食品贮存环境等。多因素logistics回归分析显示:家长家庭食品安全知识及格率受地区、文化程度、职业、家长类型、是否关注食品安全、孩子是否讲过食品安全知识以及是否阅读孩子带回来资料的影响。家长最关心的前三位内容为滥用食品添加剂(84.9%)、卫生状况不合格(82.9%)、农药/药物残留(82.7%)。受家长信任的信息来源主要为电视/广播/广告(76.1%)、书籍/报纸/期刊(70.4%)、微博/微信等新媒体(57.7%)。家长的家庭食品安全知识仍存在短板，需利用传统媒体和新媒体结合的方式以及小手牵大手形式开展精准专题宣传，并特别关注文化程度低，从事食品行业的家长以及孩子父亲和保姆。     

Inhibitory effects of curcumin and piperine on fluorescent advanced glycation end products formation in a bovine serum albumin–fructose model

This study investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin and piperine on fluorescent advanced glycation end products (fAGEs) formation in a bovine serum albumin (BSA)–fructose model. Model systems of BSA and fructose were prepared, and curcumin or piperine was added. fAGEs and BSA oxidation product (dityrosine, kynurenine and N'-formylkynurenine) contents were determined. The results showed that fAGEs content decreased with increasing concentration of curcumin and piperine (P < 0.05). Addition of curcumin and piperine at 160 µg mL⁻¹ could inhibit fluorescent AGEs by 100% and 93% respectively. Dityrosine and N'-formylkynurenine contents decreased as curcumin and piperine concentration increased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the result of principal component analysis indicated that curcumin and piperine markedly impeded BSA oxidation, resulting in a lower level of fAGEs in model systems. Therefore, adding curcumin and piperine may facilitate reduced fAGEs levels in BSA–fructose model.     

Transgenerational Effects of Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Anogenital Distance,Sperm Functions and DNA Methylation in Rat Offspring

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is widely used as a plasticizer in the manufacture of polyvinylchloride plastics and has been associated with concerns regarding male reproductive toxicity. In this study, we hypothesized that maternal exposure to DEHP induces transgenerational inheritance of adult-onset adverse reproductive outcomes through the male germline in the F1, F2, and F3 generations of male offspring. Pregnant rats were treated with 5 or 500 mg of DEHP/kg/day through gavage from gestation day 0 to birth. The offspring body weight, anogenital distance (AGD), anogenital index (AGI), sperm count, motility, and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were measured for all generations. Methyl-CpG binding domain sequencing was performed to analyze sperm DNA methylation status in the F3. DEHP exposure at 500 mg/kg affected AGD, AGI, sperm count, mean DFI, and %DFI in the F1; AGD, sperm count, and mean DFI in the F2; and AGD, AGI, mean DFI, and %DFI in the F3. DEHP exposure at 5 mg/kg affected AGD, AGI, sperm count, and %DFI in the F1; sperm count in the F2; and AGD and AGI in F3. Compared with the control group, 15 and 45 differentially hypermethylated genes were identified in the groups administered 5 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg DEHP, respectively. Moreover, 130 and 6 differentially hypomethylated genes were observed in the groups administered 5 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg DEHP. Overall, these results demonstrated that prenatal exposure to DEHP caused transgenerational epigenetic effects, which may explain the observed phenotypic changes in the male reproductive system.     

Lighting the Path: Light Delivery Strategies to Activate Photoresponsive Biomaterials In Vivo

Photoresponsive biomaterials are experiencing a transition from in vitro models to in vivo demonstrations that point toward clinical translation. Dynamic hydrogels for cell encapsulation, light-responsive carriers for controlled drug delivery, and nanomaterials containing photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy are relevant examples. Nonetheless, the step to the clinic largely depends on their combination with technologies to bring light into the body. This review highlights the challenge of photoactivation in vivo, and presents strategies for light management that can be adopted for this purpose. The authors’ focus is on technologies that are materials-driven, particularly upconversion nanoparticles that assist in “direct path” light delivery through tissue, and optical waveguides that “clear the path” between external light source and in vivo target. The authors’ intention is to assist the photoresponsive biomaterials community transition toward medical technologies by presenting light delivery concepts that can be integrated with the photoresponsive targets. The authors also aim to stimulate further innovation in materials-based light delivery platforms by highlighting needs and opportunities for in vivo photoactivation of biomaterials.     

Facile preparation and strong adhesive strength of honeycomb polyurethane films with small pore diameter

With the continuous development of bionics, such as, geckos and virginia creeper with both superhydrophobic and super-adhesive, the surface wetting and super-adhesive properties of various porous materials have attracted extensive attention of the scientific and medical communities. Here, the honeycomb polyurethane (PU) porous films with strong adhesion were successfully prepared by microphase separation method and the effects of growth parameters on their microstructure and adhesive strength to ice were investigated. It was found that a high relative humidity (e.g., 100%) and a low solution concentration (e.g., 2%) facilitated the formation of ordered honeycomb PU porous films, and as-prepared PU pores with average pore diameter as small as 5 μm are better ordered and more uniform than these in related documents. Although the contact angle of water droplets on the surface of PU porous films increased from the premodification value of 85–130° to more than 160° after surface modification with polydopamine (PDA), the corresponding rolling angle remained approximately constant (180°), indicating that the surface of PU porous films has strong adhesion similar to geckos and virginia creeper. Furthermore, at lower temperature, the PU porous films exhibited the high adhesive strength of 142.13 kPa on ice, which was strongly dependent on the porous microstructures and surface compositions. The improved adhesive behavior to ice of honeycomb PU porous films modified with PDA provides new strategies for surface modification of materials and potential applications in medical domain.     

Effect of PyC interface phase on the cyclic ablation resistance and flexural properties of two-dimensional Cf/HfC composites

Composites based on hafnium carbide and reinforced with continuous naked carbon fiber with and without PyC interface were prepared at low temperature by precursor infiltration and pyrolysis and chemical vapor deposition method. The microstructure, mechanical property, cyclic ablation and fiber bundle push-in tests of the composites were investigated. The results show that after three times ablation cycles, the bending strength of samples without PyC interface decreased by 63.6 %; the bending strength of samples with PyC interface only decreased by 37.8 %. The force displacement curve of the samples with PyC interface presented a well pseudoplastic deformation state. The mechanical behavior difference of two kinds of composites was due to crucial function of PyC interface phase including protection of fiber and weakening of fiber/matrix interface.     

Dense and core-rim structured B4C-TiB2 ceramics with Mo-Co-WC additive

B₄C-TiB₂ ceramics (TiB₂ ranging 5~70 vol%) with Mo-Co-WC as the sintering additive were prepared by spark plasma sintering. In comparison with B₄C-TiB₂ without additive, the enhanced densification was evident in the sintered specimen with Mo-Co-WC additive. Core-rim structured grain was observed around TiB₂ grains. The interface of the rim between TiB₂ and B₄C phases demonstrated different feature: the inner borderline of the rim exhibited a smooth feature, whereas a sharp curved grain boundary was observed between the rim and the B₄C grain. The formation mechanism is discussed: the epitaxial growth of (Ti,Mo,W)B₂ rim around the TiB₂ core may occur as a result of the solid solution and dissolution-precipitation between TiB₂ phase and the sintering additive. It was revealed that the fracture toughness increased as the content of TiB₂ content increased, alongside the decreased hardness. B₄C-30 vol% TiB₂ specimen demonstrated the optimal combination of mechanical properties, reaching Vickers hardness of 24.3 GPa and fracture toughness of 3.33 MPa·m^1/2.     

Optical and electrical properties of ITO film on flexible fluorphlogopite substrate

Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) films were prepared, at room temperature, on a fluorphlogopite substrate using magnetron sputtering technology. At various temperatures of 500 °C, 600 °C, 700 °C, 800 °C, and 900 °C, the samples were (had) annealed for 2 h (a 2-h duration). The results showed improvement in the crystalline performance of ITO film at selected annealing temperatures, with a significant reduction in resistivity at 800 °C. The lowest resistivity is 4.08 × 10^?4 Ω-cm, which is nearly an order of magnitude lower than the unannealed sample. All samples have an average light transmittance above 85% in the visible light range (400–800 nm), and with increasing annealing temperature, the average light transmittance tends to decrease. Besides, at the sensitive wavelength of 550 nm, the light transmittance is as high as 93.74%. The sheet resistance testing of the sample was through the number of bending times, which revealed that with the increase of the number of bending, the sheet resistance increases. However, after 1200 bending times, the change rate of the sheet resistance remains below 5%. Thus, the ITO film prepared on the flexible fluorphlogopite substrate revealed excellent optical and electrical properties, good flexibility, and improved stability after high-temperature annealing, which guarantees successful application in flexible electronic devices.