Electrical and structural characterization of plasma polymerized polyaniline/TiO2 heterostructure diode: a comparative study of single and bilayer TiO2 thin film electrode

A heterostructure was fabricated using p-type plasma polymerized polyaniline (PANI) and n-type (single and bilayer) titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin film on FTO glass. The deposition of single and bilayer TiO2 thin film on FTO substrate was achieved through doctor blade followed by dip coating technique before subjected to plasma enhanced polymerization. To fabricate p-n heterostructure, a plasma polymerization of aniline was conducted using RF plasma at 13.5 MHz and at the power of 120 W on the single and bilayer TiO2 thin film electrodes. The morphological, optical and the structural characterizations revealed the formation of p-n heterostructures between PANI and TiO2 thin film. The PANI/bilayer TiO2 heterostructure showed the improved current-voltage (I-V) characteristics due to the substantial deposition of PANI molecules into the bilayer TiO2 thin film which provided good conducting pathway and reduced the degree of excitons recombination. The change of linear I-V behavior of PANI/TiO2 heterostructure to non linear behavior with top Pt contact layer confirmed the formation of Schottky contact at the interfaces of Pt layer and PANI/TiO2 thin film layers.     

Topoisomerase IIIβ Deficiency Induces Neuro-Behavioral Changes and Brain Connectivity Alterations in Mice

Topoisomerase IIIβ (Top3β), the only dual-activity topoisomerase in mammals that can change topology of both DNA and RNA, is known to be associated with neurodevelopment and mental dysfunction in humans. However, there is no report showing clear associations of Top3β with neuropsychiatric phenotypes in mice. Here, we investigated the effect of Top3β on neuro-behavior using newly generated Top3β deficient (Top3β^−/−) mice. We found that Top3β^−/− mice showed decreased anxiety and depression-like behaviors. The lack of Top3β was also associated with changes in circadian rhythm. In addition, a clear expression of Top3β was demonstrated in the central nervous system of mice. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) analysis revealed significantly altered connectivity between many brain regions in Top3β^−/− mice, including the connectivity between the olfactory bulb and the cerebellum, the connectivity between the amygdala and the olfactory bulb, and the connectivity between the globus pallidus and the optic nerve. These connectivity alterations in brain regions are known to be linked to neurodevelopmental as well as psychiatric and behavioral disorders in humans. Therefore, we conclude that Top3β is essential for normal brain function and behavior in mice and that Top3β could be an interesting target to study neuropsychiatric disorders in humans.     

An energy‐limited model of algal biofuel production: Toward the next generation of advanced biofuels

Algal biofuels are increasingly important as a source of renewable energy. The absence of reliable thermodynamic and other property data, and the large amount of kinetic data that would normally be required have created a major barrier to simulation. Additionally, the absence of a generally accepted flow sheet for biofuel production means that detailed simulation of the wrong approach is a real possibility. This model of algal biofuel production estimates the necessary data and places it into a heuristic model using a commercial simulator that back‐calculates the process structure required. Furthermore, complex kinetics can be obviated for now by putting the simulator into energy limitation and forcing it to solve for the missing design variables, such as bioreactor surface area, productivity, and oil content. The model does not attempt to prescribe a particular approach but provides a guide toward a sound engineering approach to this challenging and important problem. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 4641–4654, 2013     

The contextual therapeutic relationship: Ecological considerations in psychotherapy research and practice.

While the psychotherapeutic relationship has been assumed to be relatively free from external influence, we suggest that the therapeutic alliance develops within a larger environment, much of which is beyond the control of client and therapist. The reticence of practitioners and researchers to recognize and explore ecological issues is likely related to therapeutic tasks that are necessary for insight-oriented treatments (e.g., developing a therapeutic setting that protects clients from the intrusion of outside influences). Two sources of ecological disruption are discussed, managed care and psychotherapy research, and an illustrative case example of ecological disruption within a psychotherapy research setting is presented. We suggest that addressing ecological disruptions in the context of the therapeutic relationship may facilitate the establishment and maintenance of a positive therapeutic alliance. By doing so, the therapist can integrate the demands of the external world into the therapeutic relationship, thereby increasing the meaningfulness of interpersonal interventions and easing discussions about therapeutic alliance ruptures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparing industry and academia priorities in bioenergy education: a Delphi study

Bioenergy is a rapidly growing subsector of the emerging bioeconomy, with the potential to create a substantial number of jobs. However, training programmes for these positions are limited, and there is currently a lack of research-based guidance for the creation of new programmes. This study employed a modified, two-round Delphi technique to generate a bioenergy education framework, utilising the expertise of professionals in the field. Participants were presented with a list of bioenergy concepts and rated the importance of including each topic in a college-level bioenergy curriculum, using a five-point scale. Suggestions for additional items were requested. After receiving feedback about the panel's mean ratings from Round One, experts were again asked to rate each item. A comparison between rankings from participants in academia and industry showed that, overall, their priorities are well aligned. The resulting framework provides structure for developing standardised bioenergy workforce education programmes and appropriate evaluation instruments.     

Short term evaluation of material blood compatibility using a microchannel array

New short-term evaluation of material blood compatibility was attempted using a microchannel array with human blood under a flow condition. The microchannel array chips were made of silicon, having 8,736 microchannels of 10 μm-wide, 30 μm-long, and 4.5 μm-deep on the average, as the models of capillary blood vessels. Titanium, chromium, albumin and collagen were coated onto the chips to examine the difference of material blood compatibility and the effect of protein adsorption on it. The time for the first 100 μl portion of whole blood to pass through the channels (blood pass-through time, BPT) was measured under a pressure difference of 20 cmH₂O. Simultaneously, the flow behavior of blood cells was observed by an optical microscope. The BPT tends to correlate well with the level of platelet adhesion. The highest BPT as well as platelet adhesion was observed on collagen, followed by titanium, chromium, silicon, and albumin. These results indicate that the BPT can detect the different levels of platelet adhesion and thrombus formation on microchannel surface and that the protein adsorption onto chip surface can influence BPT. We concluded that this method could be applied to evaluate initial blood compatibility of materials within several minutes in vitro.