Lead-free iron-doped CsBiBr perovskite with tunable properties.

Perovskite based on cesium bismuth bromide offers a compelling, non-toxic alternative to lead-containing counterparts in optoelectronic applications. However, its widespread usage is hindered by its wide bandgap. This study investigates a significant bandgap tunability achieved by introducing Fe doping into the inorganic, lead-free, non-toxic, and stable CsBiBr perovskite at varying concentrations.

Photoinduced dynamics during electronic transfer from narrow to wide bandgap layers in one-dimensional heterostructured materials.

Electron transfer is a fundamental energy conversion process widely present in synthetic, industrial, and natural systems. Understanding the electron transfer process is important to exploit the uniqueness of the low-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures because interlayer electron transfer produces the function of this class of material. Here, we show the occurrence of an electron transfer process in one-dimensional layer-stacking of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs).

N-DMBI Doping of Carbon Nanotube Yarns for Achieving High n-Type Thermoelectric Power Factor and Figure of Merit.

The application of carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns as thermoelectric materials for harvesting energy from low-grade waste heat including that generated by the human body, is attracting considerable attention. However, the lack of efficient n-type CNT yarns hinders their practical implementation in thermoelectric devices. This study reports efficient n-doping of CNT yarns, employing 4-(1, 3-dimethyl-2, 3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazole-2-yl) phenyl) dimethylamine (N-DMBI) in alternative to conventional n-dopants, with o-dichlorobenzene emerging as the optimal solvent.

Extracting proficiency differences and individual characteristics in golfers' swing using single-video markerless motion analysis.

In this study, we analyzed golfers' swing movement to extract differences in proficiency and individual characteristics using two-dimensional video data from a single camera. We conducted an experiment with 27 golfers who had a wide range of skill levels, using a 7-iron; we acquired video data with a camera on the sagittal plane. For data extraction, we used pose estimation (using HRNet) and object detection (using DeepLabCut) methods to extract human-joint and club-head data.

Benzophenone: A Small Molecule Additive for Enhanced Performance and Stability of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

In this study, we investigated the impact of benzophenone (BP), a small molecule additive, on the performance and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Specifically, we introduced BP into the perovskite precursor solution of FAPbI to fabricate PSCs with an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/BP:FAPbI/PCBM/C/PCB/Ag architecture. The incorporation of BP with an optimum concentration of 2 mg mL significantly enhanced the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the inverted PSC from 13.

Intermediate State between MoSe and Janus MoSeS during Atomic Substitution Process.

Janus transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), with dissimilar chalcogen atoms on each side of TMDCs, have garnered considerable research attention because of the out-of-plane intrinsic polarization in monolayer TMDCs. Although a plasma process has been proposed for synthesizing Janus TMDCs based on the atomic substitution of surface atoms at room temperature, the formation dynamics and intermediate electronic states have not been completely examined. In this study, we investigated the intermediate state between MoSe and Janus MoSeS during plasma processing.

Self-Limiting Growth of Monolayer Tungsten Disulfide Nanoribbons on Tungsten Oxide Nanowires.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are promising two-dimensional (2D) materials for next-generation optoelectronic devices; they can also provide opportunities for further advances in physics. Structuring 2D TMDC sheets as nanoribbons has tremendous potential for electronic state modification. However, a bottom-up synthesis of long TMDC nanoribbons with high monolayer selectivity on a large scale has not yet been reported yet.

High visibility colored fabrics for normal trichromats and individuals with color vision defects in a sunset-simulated environment.

This study aimed to investigate the visibility of colors in congenitally color vision defect people using general and fluorescent colors in an environment simulating sunset to examine the standards for high-visibility safety clothing for general users. Twenty participants with normal trichromats, seven protanopes, and five deuteranopes were included, with mean ages (± standard deviation) of 21.0±1.

Characteristics of Vertical GaO Schottky Junctions with the Interfacial Hexagonal Boron Nitride Film.

We present the device properties of a nickel (Ni)-gallium oxide (GaO) Schottky junction with an interfacial hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) layer. A vertical Schottky junction with the configuration Ni/hBN/GaO/In was created using a chemical vapor-deposited hBN film on a GaO substrate. The current-voltage characteristics of the Schottky junction were investigated with and without the hBN interfacial layer.

Surface Diffusion-Limited Growth of Large and High-Quality Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides in Confined Space of Microreactor.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), including MoS and WS, are potential candidates for next-generation semiconducting materials owing to their atomically thin structure and strong optoelectrical responses, which allow for flexible optoelectronic applications. Monolayer TMDCs have been grown utilizing chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques. Enhancing the domain size with high crystallinity and forming heterostructures are important topics for practical applications.

Single Crystals of Mixed-Cation Copper-Based Perovskite with Trimodal Bandgap Behavior.

Two-dimensional (2D) hybrid perovskites with novel functionalities and structural diversity are a perfect platform for emerging optoelectronic devices such as photodetectors, light-emitting diodes, and solar cells. Here, we demonstrate that excess concentration of Cesium bromide (CsBr) is key to the formation of easily exfoliated 2D Cs Cu(Cl/Br) perovskite crystal. Furthermore, by employing this trick to 2D perovskite MA Cu(Cl/Br) (MA=methylammonium), we achieve a phase-pure easily exfoliated 2D mixed-cation (MA/Cs) Cu(Cl/Br) perovskite crystal, which exhibits reduced bandgap (1.

Enhancement of the mechanical and thermal transport properties of carbon nanotube yarns by boundary structure modulation.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit extremely high nanoscopic thermal/electrical transport and mechanical properties. However, the macroscopic properties of assembled CNTs are significantly lower than those of CNTs because of the boundary structure between the CNTs. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the relationship between the nanoscopic boundary structure in CNTs and the macroscopic properties of the assembled CNTs.

Exploring the growth process of successors in long-lived small and medium-sized manufacturing companies: a qualitative study.

Japan is the world's largest country in terms of the number of long-lived companies, the majority of which are family-owned small and medium-sized enterprises. On the other hand, many business owners will be retiring without successors, and the closure of these small and medium enterprises may have a significant impact on the future economy. The purpose of this study is to explore the growth process of successors in long-lived small and medium-sized manufacturing companies so that potential successors can know what they will experience as managers and be prepared for the future, and professionals who support successors can be provided with information on the growth process of successors to provide appropriate support.

Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of As-Grown Suspended Graphene Nanoribbons.

Conventionally, graphene is a poor thermoelectric material with a low figure of merit () of 10-10. Although nanostructuring was proposed to improve the thermoelectric performance of graphene, little experimental progress has been accomplished. Here, we carefully fabricated as-grown suspended graphene nanoribbons with quarter-micron length and ∼40 nm width.

Highly Stable Persistent Photoconductivity with Suspended Graphene Nanoribbons.

Graphene nanoribbon (GNR), also known as 1-dimensional graphene, with a non-zero band gap has a huge potential for various electrical and optoelectrical applications because of its high transparency, flexibility, controllable band gap, and unique edge states. Recent advances in the synthesis of GNR enable us to show the possibility of GNRs as future high performance electrical devices. However, the applicability of GNRs to optoelectrical devices is unclear.

Wafer-scale fabrication and growth dynamics of suspended graphene nanoribbon arrays.

Adding a mechanical degree of freedom to the electrical and optical properties of atomically thin materials can provide an excellent platform to investigate various optoelectrical physics and devices with mechanical motion interaction. The large scale fabrication of such atomically thin materials with suspended structures remains a challenge. Here we demonstrate the wafer-scale bottom-up synthesis of suspended graphene nanoribbon arrays (over 1,000,000 graphene nanoribbons in 2 × 2 cm(2) substrate) with a very high yield (over 98%).

Robustness to temporal constraint explains expertise in ball-over-net sports.

The present study investigated motor expertise in interpersonal competitive ball-over-net sports in terms of a dynamical system with temporal input. In a theoretical framework, the behavior of the system is characterized by a fractal-like structure according to switching input, which changes uniquely according to the duration of input and internal parameter of the system. We investigated periodic movements, in which the player executed a forehand or backhand stroke repeatedly, and continuous switching movements, in which the player continuously switched between two movement patterns corresponding to hitting the ball under two ball directions and with six temporal constraint conditions during a table tennis rally.

Effects of change in the formulation of lanthanum carbonate on laboratory parameters.

Lanthanum carbonate (LC) is available in the two formulations of chewable tablets and granules. In this study, we changed the formulation of LC from chewable tablet to granules, and compared the laboratory parameters for 3 months before and after changing formulation in 58 hemodialysis (HD) patients. We also surveyed patients about their preferences for the two formulations.

A critical interpersonal distance switches between two coordination modes in kendo matches.

In many competitive sports, players need to quickly and continuously execute movements that co-adapt to various movements executed by their opponents and physical objects. In a martial art such as kendo, players must be able to skillfully change interpersonal distance in order to win. However, very little information about the task and expertise properties of the maneuvers affecting interpersonal distance is available.

Switching dynamics in an interpersonal competition brings about "deadlock" synchronization of players.

In competitive sport game behavior, certain interpersonal patterns of movement coordination evolve even though each individual player only intends to exert their own strategy to win. To investigate this interpersonal pattern formation process, we asked pairs of naïve participants to engage in a play-tag game in which they had to remove a tag fastened to their partner's hip. Relative phase analysis of the players' step towards-away velocities indicated that anti-phase synchronization evolved across 10 repetitions of the game.

Enterovesical fistula caused by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the ileum: report of a case.

We herein present a rare case of enterovesical fistula caused by ileal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A 75-year-old Japanese male presented with macrohematuria at Kosei General Hospital in December 2010. An egg-sized mass was palpable in his right lower abdominal region, and computed tomography (CT) revealed that the ileal tumor had invaded the right posterior wall of the urinary bladder (UB).

Association of HCV core antigen seropositivity with long-term mortality in patients on regular hemodialysis.

Anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody seropositivity is independently associated with poor prognosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, anti-HCV antibody cannot distinguish between patients with active infection and those who have recovered from infection. We therefore aimed in this study to examine the association of HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) seropositivity with mortality in HD patients.

Influence of the assay for measuring serum albumin on corrected total calcium in chronic hemodialysis patients.

The Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy guideline for secondary hyperparathyroidism recommends the use of albumin-corrected serum Ca as a therapeutic target in chronic hemodialysis patients; however, the assay used for albumin measurement may affect the corrected Ca level. In this study, we examined the impact of the albumin assay on corrected Ca levels in hemodialysis patients. We measured serum albumin using bromocresol green (BCG) and modified bromocresol purple (BCP) assays, and corrected Ca for albumin using Payne's formula in 422 hemodialysis patients (age 66±13 years; time on hemodialysis 116±111 months).

Enhancement of antimicrobial activities of cefteram or clavulanic acid/amoxicillin against cefixime-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the presence of clarithromycin or azithromycin.

We investigated the enhancement of the antimicrobial activities of beta-lactams against cefixime (CFIX)-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the presence of macrolides. Ten strains of CFIX-resistant N. gonorrhoeae, isolated between 2000 and 2003 from male patients with urethritis at Jikei University Affiliated Hospital and its related clinics in the Tokyo metropolitan area, were tested.

Effects of dietary zinc levels, phytic acid and resistant starch on zinc bioavailability in rats.

Background: Owing to its fermentability, it has been advocated that resistant starch (RS) has a positive effect on the absorption of minerals by increasing their solubility in the hindgut. In marginally zinc-deficient rats, the enhancement of zinc bioavailability by RS occurs mostly when the diet contains phytic acid.

Aim Of The Study: This study aims to investigate the effect of dietary zinc level and phytic acid on the cecal zinc pools and zinc bioavailability of rats fed RS.