Enhanced contrast of electrochromic full cell systems with nanocrystalline PEDOT-prussian blue

Poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is an ideal polymer for electrochromic (EC) devices due to its fast response time, high conductivity, and facile fabrication in a doped form except its demerit like an optical contrast limitation. In this study, we developed a simple way to overcome low coloration efficiency of PEDOT through fabricating a complementary PEDOT and prussian blue full cell system. Fundamental properties of EC displays, such as optical contrast, coloration efficiency, and switching speed, could be successfully optimized by controlling the deposition time and applied voltage during EDOT polymerization. In particular, UV transmittance spectra indicated that the optical contrast was enhanced up to 31 approximately 99% at the wavelength of 600 nm. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the optimized PEDOT and prussian blue films were deposited on ITO glass substrate with an uniform thickness of approximately 180 nm and approximately 190 nm, respectively. Moreover, according to the circuit analysis, the average response time of electric current for the optimized full cell system was about 400 ms. It is, therefore, concluded that such a full cell system could have high potential applications as smart windows and/or optical devices.     

Densification of Al-doped ZnO via preliminary heat treatment under external pressure

With the doping of Al in ZnO for the preparation of a bulk transparent conductor target, deteriorations were observed in sinterability and uniformity. The doping of 3 wt% Al resulted in the predominance of open pores after sintering at 1300 °C. Less open pores were observed in the ZnO with 2 wt% Al, but the porosity between the inner and outer regions was not uniform due to the preferential evaporation near the surface. To improve both the sinterability and uniformity, mild (<2 MPa) pressure was applied during the preliminary heat treatment at 900 °C, before pressureless final sintering. The pressed specimens showed increased density and uniformity after the final sintering, which were higher than those of the unpressed specimens. The improvements were particularly noticeable in the 3 wt% Al and at 1250 °C, wherein the conventional densification was not successful.     

Gibberellic Acid: A Key Phytohormone for Spikelet Fertility in Rice Grain Production

The phytohormone gibberellic acid (GA) has essential signaling functions in multiple processes during plant development. In the “Green Revolution”, breeders developed high-yield rice cultivars that exhibited both semi-dwarfism and altered GA responses, thus improving grain production. Most studies of GA have concentrated on germination and cell elongation, but GA also has a pivotal role in floral organ development, particularly in stamen/anther formation. In rice, GA signaling plays an important role in spikelet fertility; however, the molecular genetic and biochemical mechanisms of GA in male fertility remain largely unknown. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the network of GA signaling and its connection with spikelet fertility, which is tightly associated with grain productivity in cereal crops.     

Effect of MRT variation on the energy consumption in a PMV-controlled office

This paper investigates the energy-saving potential of a thermal comfort-controlled office building. A comparative simulation study between the thermal comfort control and conventional thermostatic control is conducted on a building with glass façades where changes in the outdoor temperature and solar radiation over the course of a day affect radiant temperature and thus thermal comfort. To evaluate the thermal performance in the comfort-controlled space, a PMV-based thermal comfort controller, which adjusts the set-point room temperature of the existing thermostatic controller according to the changes of environmental variables, is assumed. The results demonstrate that thermal comfort competes with energy saving in a conventional thermostatic-controlled space. However, it is suggested that thermal comfort control provides consistent thermal comfort as well as energy-saving effect. The results show that energy consumption in a thermal comfort-controlled space is more affected by a change in the mean radiant temperature than in the conventional thermostatic-controlled space. The energy-saving potential in the thermal comfort-controlled space increases with low mean radiant temperature conditions. Although the energy-saving potential is reduced under high mean radiant temperature conditions, it is suggested that thermal comfort control is still a reasonable strategy to achieve both thermal comfort and energy savings simultaneously.     

Behaviors of Emission Wavelength Shift in AlInGaN-Based Green Laser Diodes

InGaN quantum-well (QW) green laser diodes (LDs) with an emission wavelength of 483.7 nm were characterized by controlling the injection pulsewidth. The emission wavelength of LDs showed a large blueshift (> 20 nm) of spontaneous emission peak with increasing injection current below the threshold current. The huge blueshift was ascribed to the deep In localization states and the strong piezoelectric field in the green InGaN QW structure with higher In contents than conventional violet/blue InGaN QWs. However, the lasing wavelength of LDs was slightly redshifted by increasing the injection pulsewidth due to the thermal heating effects.     

Thermodynamic Relation between Silicon and Aluminum in Liquid Iron

The thermodynamic relation between silicon and aluminum in liquid iron was studied by measuring the effect of silicon on the solubility product of AlN in liquid Fe-Si-Al-N alloys containing silicon up to 1.5?mass pct in the temperature range from 1823?K to 1923?K (1550 °C to 1650 °C). The effects of aluminum and silicon on nitrogen solubility in liquid iron were separately determined in the same temperature range. The experimental results were thermodynamically analyzed using Wagner??s interaction parameter formalism to determine the first-order interaction parameters of silicon on nitrogen and aluminum in liquid iron as follows: $ e_{\text{N}}^{\text{Si}} = 0. 0 6 7 3, \;e_{\text{Al}}^{\text{Si}} = 0.009 $ (1823?K to 1923?K (1550 °C to 1650 °C), Si ?? 1.5?mass pct)     

Self‐Crystallized Multifunctional 2D Perovskite for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Recently, perovskite solar cells (PSC) with high power‐conversion efficiency (PCE) and long‐term stability have been achieved by employing 2D perovskite layers on 3D perovskite light absorbers. However, in‐depth studies on the material and the interface between the two perovskite layers are still required to understand the role of the 2D perovskite in PSCs. Self‐crystallization of 2D perovskite is successfully induced by deposition of benzyl ammonium iodide (BnAI) on top of a 3D perovskite light absorber. The self‐crystallized 2D perovskite can perform a multifunctional role in facilitating hole transfer, owing to its random crystalline orientation and passivating traps in the 3D perovskite. The use of the multifunctional 2D perovskite (M2P) leads to improvement in PCE and long‐term stability of PSCs both with and without organic hole transporting material (HTM), 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis‐(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenyl‐amine)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐OMeTAD) compared to the devices without the M2P.     

Enzyme-linked immuno-strip biosensor to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7

A strip-based biosensor using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was fabricated to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7. Two types of antibody specified to E. coli O157:H7 were used to form sandwich-binding complexes. To fabricate an immuno-strip, capture antibody (monoclonal antibody) was immobilized onto signal generation pad and polyclonal antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was utilized as detection antibody. Four different functional membranes have been used to fabricate immuno-chromatographic assay strip. A sample application pad was a glass fiber membrane pre-treated with polyvinyl alcohol. A conjugate release pad was fabricated using a glass membrane. A signal generation pad was made on nitrocellulose membrane. Finally, a cellulose membrane was used as an absorption pad. Under optimal conditions of analysis, a color signal in proportion to the E. coli O157:H7 concentration was measured using a detector. The measurement range was 1.8×10³–1.8×10⁸ CFU/mL.     

Eupatorium japonicum extract regulates inflammation through suppression of the TRIF-dependent signaling pathway of toll-like receptors

Inflammation can be mediated by invading microbial pathogens. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize invading microbial pathogens, inducing innate immune responses. Broadly, the activation of TLRs induces two major downstream signaling pathways, myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)- and Toll/interleukin 1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent pathways, which lead to the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). To evaluate the therapeutic potential of the ethanol extracts of flowers of Eupatorium japonicum Thunb (EJE), its effect on signal transduction via the TLR signaling pathways induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly[I:C]) was examined. EJE suppressed the activation of NF-κB and IRF3 induced by LPS or poly[I:C]. EJE also inhibited LPS- or poly[I:C]-induced IRF3 phosphorylation as well as interferon-inducible genes, such as interferon inducible protein-10. These results suggest that EJE can modulate TLR signaling pathways, realizing effective therapeutic options for chronic inflammatory diseases.     

All-optical inverter with one picojoule switching energy

An ultrafast inverter based on soliton dragging in optical fibres with a switching energy of only 1 pJ, which is the lowest switching energy of any all-optical device, is demonstrated. The inverter consists of a 30 m length of moderately birefringent fibre followed by a 2 km length of a polarisation-maintaining fibre. The switching energy is lowered by separating the soliton dragging mechanisms in two different fibres and optimising the parameters in a time domain chirp switch that is based on time shift keying logic.<>