Large-scale parallel arrays of silicon nanowires via block copolymer directed self-assembly

Extending the resolution and spatial proximity of lithographic patterning below critical dimensions of 20 nm remains a key challenge with very-large-scale integration, especially if the persistent scaling of silicon electronic devices is sustained. One approach, which relies upon the directed self-assembly of block copolymers by chemical-epitaxy, is capable of achieving high density 1?:?1 patterning with critical dimensions approaching 5 nm. Herein, we outline an integration-favourable strategy for fabricating high areal density arrays of aligned silicon nanowires by directed self-assembly of a PS-b-PMMA block copolymer nanopatterns with a L(0) (pitch) of 42 nm, on chemically pre-patterned surfaces. Parallel arrays (5 × 10(6) wires per cm) of uni-directional and isolated silicon nanowires on insulator substrates with critical dimension ranging from 15 to 19 nm were fabricated by using precision plasma etch processes; with each stage monitored by electron microscopy. This step-by-step approach provides detailed information on interfacial oxide formation at the device silicon layer, the polystyrene profile during plasma etching, final critical dimension uniformity and line edge roughness variation nanowire during processing. The resulting silicon-nanowire array devices exhibit Schottky-type behaviour and a clear field-effect. The measured values for resistivity and specific contact resistance were ((2.6 ± 1.2) × 10(5)Ωcm) and ((240 ± 80) Ωcm(2)) respectively. These values are typical for intrinsic (un-doped) silicon when contacted by high work function metal albeit counterintuitive as the resistivity of the starting wafer (～10 Ωcm) is 4 orders of magnitude lower. In essence, the nanowires are so small and consist of so few atoms, that statistically, at the original doping level each nanowire contains less than a single dopant atom and consequently exhibits the electrical behaviour of the un-doped host material. Moreover this indicates that the processing successfully avoided unintentional doping. Therefore our approach permits tuning of the device steps to contact the nanowires functionality through careful selection of the initial bulk starting material and/or by means of post processing steps e.g. thermal annealing of metal contacts to produce high performance devices. We envision that such a controllable process, combined with the precision patterning of the aligned block copolymer nanopatterns, could prolong the scaling of nanoelectronics and potentially enable the fabrication of dense, parallel arrays of multi-gate field effect transistors.     

法国料理的傲慢与偏见

不管有没有机会亲自去到法兰西一品当地“正宗”的鹅肝、松露、鱼子酱,浅酌一杯香槟以及葡萄酒,那些赞美诗般的菜名,洁白如雪的餐巾,以及万般星辰拱璧月的法式摆盘,总会在人脑中勾勒出一幅巴洛克风贵妇宫娥在烛火摇曳中就餐的图景。数个世纪以来,这些先入为主的印象,让法餐成了高雅、情调的代名词。浪漫的法国人为爱而痴,优雅的法国人因吃言爱。     

Quantitation of vitamin K in human milk

A quantitative method was developed for the assay of vitamin K in human colostrum and milk. The procedure combines preparative and analytical chromatography on silica gel in a nitrogen atmosphere followed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two HPLC steps were used: gradient separation with ultraviolet (UV) detection followed by isocratic separation detected electrochemically. Due to co-migrating impurities, UV detection alone is insufficient for identification of vitamin K. Exogenous vitamin K was shown to equilibrate with endogenous vitamin K in the samples. A statistical method was incorporated to control for experimental variability. Vitamin K₁ was analyzed in 16 pooled milk samples from 7 donors and in individual samples from 15 donors at 1 month post-partrum. Vitamin K₁ was present at 2.94±1.94 and 3.15±2.87 ng/mL in pools and in individuals, respectively. Menaquinones, the bacterial form of the vitamin, were not detected. The significance of experimental variation to studies of vitamin K in individuals is discussed.     

A versatile access to new halogenated 7-azidocoumarins for photoaffinity labeling: Synthesis and photophysical properties

A versatile methodology for the synthesis of 6/8-halogenated 7-aminocoumarins from the corresponding 7-hydroxy analogs using Pd-catalyzed amination reaction as the key step is presented. Further readily conversion into 7-azidocoumarins was performed and the resulting aryl azides proved higher stability and reactivity than the corresponding non-halogenated parent compound. These new compounds may thus constitute attractive scaffolds for designing novel photoaffinity reagents for various challenging bio-labeling applications.     

Microstructural Development during the Microwave Sintering of Yttria—Zirconia Ceramics

The microstructural development of 3 and 8 mol% yttria—zirconia ceramics during microwave sintering was studied and compared to conventionally heated samples. Microwave heating enhanced the densification processes occurring during constant-rate heating for both materials. No change was found in the grain size—density relationship for the 8 mol% yttria—zirconia. However, a small, but statistically significant shift favoring densification was found for the 3 mol% yttriazirconia. Differences in the responses of the two materials are not completely understood but may be due to the differences in the activation energy for grain growth and grain-boundary mobility.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of CTP Synthetase Inhibitors as Potential Agents for the Treatment of African Trypanosomiasis

Acivicin analogues with an increased affinity for CTP synthetase (CTPS) were designed as potential new trypanocidal agents. The inhibitory activity against CTPS can be improved by increasing molecular complexity, by inserting groups able to establish additional interactions with the binding pocket of the enzyme. This strategy has been pursued with the synthesis of α‐amino‐substituted analogues of Acivicin and N1‐substituted pyrazoline derivatives. In general, there is direct correlation between the enzymatic activity and the in vitro anti‐trypanosomal efficacy of the derivatives studied here. However, this cannot be taken as a general rule, as other important factors may play a role, notably the ability of uptake/diffusion of the molecules into the trypanosomes.     

Herbivore-Mediated Effects of Glucosinolates on Different Natural Enemies of a Specialist Aphid

The cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae is a specialist herbivore that sequesters glucosinolates from its host plant as a defense against its predators. It is unknown to what extent parasitoids are affected by this sequestration. We investigated herbivore-mediated effects of glucosinolates on the parasitoid wasp Diaeretiella rapae and the predator Episyrphus balteatus. We reared B. brassicae on three ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana that differ in glucosinolate content and on one genetically transformed line with modified concentrations of aliphatic glucosinolates. We tested aphid performance and the performance and behavior of both natural enemies. We correlated this with phloem and aphid glucosinolate concentrations and emission of volatiles. Brevicoryne brassicae performance correlated positively with concentrations of both aliphatic and indole glucosinolates in the phloem. Aphids selectively sequestered glucosinolates. Glucosinolate concentration in B. brassicae correlated negatively with performance of the predator, but positively with performance of the parasitoid, possibly because the aphids with the highest glucosinolate concentrations had a higher body weight. Both natural enemies showed a positive performance-preference correlation. The predator preferred the ecotype with the lowest emission of volatile glucosinolate breakdown products in each test combination, whereas the parasitoid wasp preferred the A. thaliana ecotype with the highest emission of these volatiles. The study shows that there are differential herbivore-mediated effects of glucosinolates on a predator and a parasitoid of a specialist aphid that selectively sequesters glucosinolates from its host plant.     

Accumulation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with variably sized polyethylene glycol in murine tumors

Iron oxide nanoparticles have found widespread applications in different areas including cell separation, drug delivery and as contrast agents. Due to water insolubility and stability issues, nanoparticles utilized for biological applications require coatings such as the commonly employed polyethylene glycol (PEG). Despite its frequent use, the influence of PEG coatings on the physicochemical and biological properties of iron nanoparticles has hitherto not been studied in detail. To address this, we studied the effect of 333-20,000 Da PEG coatings that resulted in larger hydrodynamic size, lower surface charge, longer circulation half-life, and lower uptake in macrophage cells when the particles were coated with high molecular weight (M(w)) PEG molecules. By use of magnetic resonance imaging, we show coating-dependent in vivo uptake in murine tumors with an optimal coating M(w) of 10,000 Da.     

Synthesis and Biochemical Evaluation of Biotinylated Conjugates of Largazole Analogues: Selective Class I Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors

The synthesis of biotinylated conjugates of synthetic analogues of the potent and selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor largazole is reported. The thiazole moiety of the parent compound's cap group was derivatized to allow the chemical conjugation to biotin. The derivatized largazole analogues were assayed across a panel of HDACs 1–9 and retained potent and selective inhibitory activity towards the class I HDAC isoforms. The biotinylated conjugate was further shown to pull down HDACs 1, 2, and 3.     

Effects of molasses grass,Melinis minutiflora volatiles on the foraging behavior of the cereal stemborer parasitoid,Cotesia sesamiae

Olfactory responses of the cereal stemborer parasitoid Cotesia sesamiae to volatiles emitted by gramineous host and nonhost plants of the stemborers were studied in a Y-tube olfactometer. The host plants were maize (Zea mays) and sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor), while the nonhost plant was molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora). In single-choice tests, females of C. sesamiae chose volatiles from infested and uninfested host plants and molasses grass over volatiles from the control (soil). In dual-choice tests, the wasp preferred volatiles from infested host plants to those from uninfested host plants. There was no discrimination between molasses grass volatiles and those of uninfested maize, uninfested sorghum, or infested maize. The wasp preferred sorghum volatiles over maize. Combining uninfested maize or sorghum with molasses grass did not make volatiles from the combination more attractive as compared to only uninfested host plants. Infested maize alone was as attractive as when combined with molasses grass. Infested sorghum was preferred over its combination with molasses grass. Local growth conditions of the molasses grasses influenced attractiveness to the parasitoids. Volatiles from Thika molasses grass were attractive, while those from Mbita molasses grass were not. Growing the Thika molasses grass in Mbita rendered it unattractive and vice versa with the Mbita molasses grass. This is a case of the same genotype expressing different phenotypes due to environmental factors.