High-throughput fabrication of organic nanowire devices with preferential internal alignment and improved performance

We demonstrate that arrays of nanowires of conjugated polymers can be easily produced by a simple embossing protocol, compatible with very large scale integration technology. The embossing process is shown to have the supplementary virtue to increase the internal degree of order of the nanowires, significantly enhancing their performance. This is applied to the fabrication of nanowire-based devices consisting of a liquid crystalline light-emitting polymer, of a liquid crystalline semiconducting polymer, and of an amorphous conducting polymer, illustrating the versatility and wide applicability of the method.     

Alcohol effects on intentional behavior: Dissociating controlled and automatic influences.

This research examined the effect of alcohol on intentional behavior using a process dissociation procedure to separate the influences of conscious controlled processes from those of unconscious automatic processes. In 2 identical experiments, 24 male social drinkers studied a list of words before they received either 0.56 g/kg alcohol, an alcohol placebo, or soda. Participants then performed a word stem completion test that provided estimates of controlled influences and of automatic influences on their responses. The results of the 2 experiments were consistent. Comparisons among the treatments showed that alcohol reduced conscious controlled processes and left automatic processes unchanged. The findings contribute to understanding how the drug may reduce cognitive control of intentional behavior and raise important questions concerning personal and environmental factors that might mediate these effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Indirect Cost Categorization and Allocation by Construction Contractors

In many instances, the architect∕engineer is responsible for the drafting of construction contracts. The importance of the drafter's clearly defining direct and indirect costs for contract items receiving cost reimbursement is reinforced by this survey of contractors. The survey asks contractors to classify a list of 44 items as their company would, with respect to project and home-office overhead and direct and indirect costs. The results of the survey indicate a lack of standard usage of these terms by industry. The survey also is used to investigate the manner in which contractors allocate home-office overhead to contracts.     

Isolation,Culture and Comprehensive Characterization of Biological Properties of Human Urine-Derived Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent an attractive source within the field of tissue engineering. However, their harvesting often requires invasive medical procedures. Urine-derived stem cells (UDSCs) display similar properties to MSCs, and their obtention and further processing is non-invasive for the donors as well as low cost. Here, we offer a comprehensive analysis of their biological properties. The goal of this study was to analyze their morphology, stemness, differentiation potential and cytokine profile. We have successfully isolated UDSCs from 25 urine samples. First colonies emerged up to 9 days after the initial seeding. Cell doubling time was 45 ± 0.24 SD, and when seeded at the density of 100 cells/cm², they formed 42 ± 6.5 SD colonies within 10 days. Morphological analyzes revealed that two different types of the cell populations have been present. The first type had a rice-grain shape and the second one was characterized by a polyhedral shape. In several cell cultures, dome-shaped cells were observed as well. All examined UDSCs expressed typical MSC-like surface markers, CD73, CD90 and CD105. Moreover, conditioned media from UDSCs were harvested, and cytokine profile has been evaluated showing a significantly higher secretory rate of IL-8, IL-6 and chemokines MCP-1 and GM-CSF. We have also successfully induced human UDSCs into chondrogenic, osteogenic and myogenic cell lineages. Our findings indicate that UDSCs might have immense potential in the regeneration of the damaged tissues.     

Photoconductive optically driven deformable membrane for spatial light modulator applications utilizing GaAs substrates

The fabrication and characterization of an optically addressable deformable mirror for a spatial light modulator is described. Device operation utilizes an electrostatically driven pixellated aluminized polymeric membrane mirror supported above an optically controlled photoconductive GaAs substrate. A 5 microm thick grid of patterned photoresist supports the 2 microm thick aluminized Mylar membrane. A conductive ZnO layer is placed on the back side of the GaAs wafer. A standard Michelson interferometer is used to measure mirror deformation data as a function of illumination, applied voltage, and frequency. A simplified analysis of device operation is also presented.     

Sputtered nickel oxide thin film for efficient hole transport layer in polymer-fullerene bulk-heterojunction organic solar cell

Bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) organic photovoltaics (OPV) are very promising thin film renewable energy conversion technologies due to low production cost by high-throughput roll-to-roll manufacturing, an expansive list of compatible materials, and flexible device fabrication. An important aspect of OPV device efficiency is good contact engineering. The use of oxide thin films for this application offers increased design flexibility and improved chemical stability. Here we present our investigation of radio frequency magnetron sputtered nickel oxide (NiO_x) deposited from oxide targets as an efficient, easily scalable hole transport layer (HTL) with variable work-function, ranging from 4.8 to 5.8 eV. Differences in HTL work-function were not found to result in statistically significant changes in open circuit voltage (V_oc) for poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) BHJ device. Ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) characterization of the NiO_x film and its interface with the polymer shows Fermi level alignment of the polymer with the NiO_x film. UPS of the blend also demonstrates Fermi level alignment of the organic active layer with the HTL, consistent with the lack of correlation between V_oc and HTL work-function. Instead, trends in j_sc, V_oc, and thus overall device performance are related to the surface treatment of the HTL prior to active layer deposition through changes in active layer thickness.     

Inhibition of HSV‐1 Attachment,Entry, and Cell‐to‐Cell Spread by Functionalized Multivalent Gold Nanoparticles

The use of modified nanoparticles in interactions with biological targets is attracting rapidly increasing attention. In this Full Paper, the application of gold nanoparticles capped with mercaptoethanesulfonate (Au‐MES NPs) as effective inhibitors of Herpes simplex virus type 1 infection based on their ability to mimic cell‐surface‐receptor heparan sulfate is described. Mechanistic studies reveal that Au‐MES NPs interfere with viral attachment, entry, and cell‐to‐cell spread, thereby preventing subsequent viral infection in a multimodal manner. The ligand multiplicity achieved with carrier nanoparticles is crucial in generating polyvalent interactions with the virus at high specificity, strength, and efficiency. Such multivalent‐nanoparticle‐mediated inhibition is a promising approach for alternative antiviral therapy.     

Prevalence and toxin type of Clostridium perfringens in beef from four different types of meat markets in Seoul,Korea

Food Science and Biotechnology - Beef is the primary source of foodborne poisoning caused by Clostridium perfringens. We investigated the prevalence of C. perfringens in retail beef from four...     

Phthalates exposure indicators determined by urinary phthalate metabolites in healthy non-obese Czech adults: FANTOM study

It is assumed that human exposure to phthalates may be associated with adverse health effects. The indicators of urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in healthy adults are limited. In this study, the phthalate metabolites concentrations were detected from 24-h urine collection in non-obese Czech adults (n = 201). Each participant filled in an 80-item questionnaire (FANTOM-SQ 2013) regarding the outdoor and indoor sources of phthalates, the use of personal care products and food intake sources. The concentrations of 15 phthalates metabolites were analysed following enzymatic cleavage of the glucuronide using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The indicators of chronic or acute exposure phthalate-containing materials were identified. It is shown that higher fruit consumption was positively and significantly associated with a higher level of total 15 urinary phthalates biomarkers (p < 0.001). Regular meat consumption showed a negative significant association with total 15 phthalates metabolites (p < 0.01). The use of personal care products was significantly and positively correlated with monoethyl phthalate urine concentrations (p < 0.05). The analysis of the dietary behaviour and personal care products use in the Czech non-obese population showed it to be a predictable tool in the level of phthalates exposure when high fruit consumption and personal care products use are linked to higher phthalate metabolite contents in the urine. However, this topic deserves more research.