Could intratumoural microbiota be key to unlocking treatment responses in hepatocellular carcinoma?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Current treatments include surgery and immunotherapy with variable response. Despite aggressive treatment, disease progression remains the biggest contributor to mortality.

Native Defect-Dependent Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics in p-Type Dopable Wide-Bandgap NiO.

NiO is a wide-bandgap p-type metal oxide that has extensive applications in optoelectronics and photocatalysts. Understanding the carrier dynamics in p-type NiO is pivotal for optimizing device performance, yet they remain largely unexplored. In this study, we employed femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy to delve into the dynamics of photogenerated carriers in NiO films containing distinct prominent native defects: undoped NiO with oxygen vacancies () and O-rich NiO (denoted as NiO) with nickel vacancies ().

On-Wire Design of Axial Periodic Halide Perovskite Superlattices for High-Performance Photodetection.

Precise synthesis of all-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanowire heterostructures and superlattices with designable modulation of chemical compositions is essential for tailoring their optoelectronic properties. Nevertheless, controllable synthesis of perovskite nanostructure heterostructures remains challenging and underexplored to date. Here, we report a rational strategy for wafer-scale synthesis of one-dimensional periodic CsPbCl/CsPbI superlattices.

Mask-inspired moisture-transmitting and durable thermochromic perovskite smart windows.

Thermochromic perovskite smart windows (TPWs) are a cutting-edge energy-efficient window technology. However, like most perovskite-based devices, humidity-related degradation limits their widespread application. Herein, inspired by the structure of medical masks, a unique triple-layer thermochromic perovskite window (MTPW) that enable sufficient water vapor transmission to trigger the thermochromism but effectively repel detrimental water and moisture to extend its lifespan is developed.

Feasibility of pump-controlled retrograde trial off in weaning from veno-arterial ECMO in adults: A single-center case series.

Background: Various strategies of weaning V-A ECMO have been described. PCRTO is a weaning technique which involves serial decremental pump revolutions until a retrograde flow from the arterial to venous ECMO cannula is achieved. It has been reported as a feasible weaning strategy in the pediatric population, but its application in adults has not been widely reported.

Optoelectronic properties and ultrafast carrier dynamics of copper iodide thin films.

As a promising high mobility p-type wide bandgap semiconductor, copper iodide has received increasing attention in recent years. However, the defect physics/evolution are still controversial, and particularly the ultrafast carrier and exciton dynamics in copper iodide has rarely been investigated. Here, we study these fundamental properties for copper iodide thin films by a synergistic approach employing a combination of analytical techniques.

Suppressing Nickel Oxide/Perovskite Interface Redox Reaction and Defects for Highly Performed and Stable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

The inorganic hole transport layer of nickel oxide (NiO ) has shown highly efficient, low-cost, and scalable in perovskite photovoltaics. However, redox reactions at the interface between NiO and perovskites limit their commercialization. In this study, ABABr (4-(2-Aminoethyl) benzoic acid bromide) between the NiO and different perovskite layers to address the issues has been introduced.

Room-Temperature Broad-Wavelength-Tunable Single-Mode Lasing from Alloyed CdSSe Nanotripods.

Wavelength-tunable semiconductor nanolasers have attracted tremendous attention for their tunable emissions and robust stability, bringing possibilities for various applications, including nanophotonic circuits, solid-state white-light sources, wavelength-converted devices, and on-chip optical communications. Here, we report on the demonstration of broadband-tunable, single-mode nanolasers based on high-quality alloyed single crystalline CdSSe ( = 0-1) nanotripods with well-formed facets fabricated using a conventional CVD approach. Microstructural characterization and optical investigations reveal that these structures are crystalline with composition-tunable CdSSe alloys.

On-wire bandgap engineering via a magnetic-pulled CVD approach and optoelectronic applications of one-dimensional nanostructures.

Since the emergence of one-dimensional nanostructures, in particular the bandgap-graded semiconductor nanowires/ribbons or heterostructures, lots of attentions have been devoted to unraveling their intriguing properties and finding applications for future developments in optical communications and integrated optoelectronic devices. In particular, the ability to modulate the bandgap along a single nanostructure greatly enhances their functionalities in optoelectronics, and hence these studies are essential to pave the way for future high-integrated devices and circuits. Herein, we focus on a brief review on recent advances about the synthesis through a magnetic-pulled chemical vapor deposition approach, crystal structure and the unique optical and electronic properties of on-nanostructures semiconductors, including axial nanowire heterostructures, asymmetrical/symmetric bandgap gradient nanowires, lateral heterostructure nanoribbons, lateral bandgap graded ribbons.

Near-Infrared-Activated Thermochromic Perovskite Smart Windows.

Perovskite-based thermochromic smart windows that can change color have attracted much interest. However, the high transition temperature (>45 °C in air) hinders their practical application. Herein, a near-infrared (NIR) activated thermochromic perovskite window that enables reversible transition cycles at room temperature is proposed.

Doping limitation due to self-compensation by native defects in In-doped rocksalt CdZnO.

Cadmium oxide (CdO)-ZnO alloys (CdZnO) exhibit a transformation from the wurtzite to the rocksalt (RS) phase at a CdO composition of ∼70% with a drastic change in the band gap and electrical properties. RS-CdZnO alloys (> 0.7) are particularly interesting for transparent conductor applications due to their wide band gap and high electron mobility.

Flexibility of Room-Temperature-Synthesized Amorphous CdO-InO Alloy Films and Their Application as Transparent Conductors in Solar Cells.

Due to their low-temperature deposition, high mobility (>10 cm/V·s), and electrical conductivity, amorphous ionic oxide semiconductors (AIOSs) have received much attention for their applications in flexible and/or organic electro-optical devices. Here, we report on a study of the flexibility of CdO-InO alloy thin films, deposited on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate by radio frequency magnetron sputtering at room temperature. CdInO alloys with the composition of > 0.

Effects of oxygen flow ratio and thermal annealing on defect evolution of aluminum doped zinc oxide thin films by reactive DC magnetron sputtering.

Al doped ZnO (AZO) is a promising transparent conducting oxide to replace the expensive Sn doped InO(ITO). Understanding the formation and evolution of defects in AZO is essential for its further improvement. Here, we synthesize transparent conducting AZO thin films by reactive DC magnetron sputtering.

Two-Step Chemical Vapor Deposition-Synthesized Lead-Free All-Inorganic CsSbBr Perovskite Microplates for Optoelectronic Applications.

Lead-based halide perovskites (APbX, where A = organic or inorganic cation, X = Cl, Br, I) are suitable materials for many optoelectronic devices due to their many attractive properties. However, the concern of lead toxicity and the poor ambient and operational stability of the organic cation group greatly limit their practical utilization. Therefore, there has recently been great interest in lead-free, environment-friendly all-inorganic halide perovskites (IHPs).

Self-Densified Optically Transparent VO Thermochromic Wood Film for Smart Windows.

Optically transparent wood has emerged as a promising glazing material. Thanks to the high optical transmittance, strong mechanical properties, and excellent thermal insulation capability of transparent wood, it offers a potential alternative to glass for window applications. Recently, thermo-, electro-, and photochromic transparent woods that dynamically modulate light transmittance have been investigated to improve building energy efficiency.

Bio-inspired TiO nano-cone antireflection layer for the optical performance improvement of VO thermochromic smart windows.

Vanadium dioxide (VO) is a promising material for thermochromic glazing. However, VO thermochromic smart windows suffer from several problems that prevent commercialization: low luminous transmittance (T) and low solar modulation ability (ΔT). The solution to these problems can be sought from nature where the evolution of various species has enabled them to survive.

Electronically Controlled Chemical Stability of Compound Semiconductor Surfaces.

Effects of a humid environment on the degradation of semiconductors were studied to understand the role of the surface charge on material stability. Two distinctly different semiconductors with the Fermi level stabilization energy located inside the conduction band (CdO) and valence band (SnTe) were selected, and effects of an exposure to 85 °C and 85% relative humidity conditions on their electrical properties were investigated. Undoped CdO films with bulk Fermi level below and positively charged surface are very unstable.

Three-dimensional band structure and surface electron accumulation of rs-CdZnO studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.

Three-dimensional band structure of rock-salt (rs) CdZnO (x = 1.0, 0.83, and 0.

Room-Temperature-Synthesized High-Mobility Transparent Amorphous CdO-GaO Alloys with Widely Tunable Electronic Bands.

In this work, we have synthesized CdGaO alloy thin films at room temperature over the entire composition range by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. We found that alloy films with high Ga contents of x > 0.3 are amorphous.

Intermixing studies in GaNSb highly mismatched alloys.

GaNSb with x∼5%-7% is a highly mismatched alloy predicted to have favorable properties for application as an electrode in a photoelectrochemical cell for solar water splitting. In this study, we grew GaNSb under conditions intended to induce phase segregation. Prior experiments with the similar alloy GaNAs, the tendency of Sb to surfact, and the low growth temperatures needed to incorporate Sb all suggested that GaNSb alloys would likely exhibit phase segregation.

Parenting approaches, family functionality, and internet addiction among Hong Kong adolescents.

Background: Internet addiction (IA) among adolescents has become a global health problem, and public awareness of it is increasing. Many IA risk factors relate to parents and the family environment. This study examined the relationship between IA and parenting approaches and family functionality.

Formation of Nanoscale Composites of Compound Semiconductors Driven by Charge Transfer.

Composites are a class of materials that are formed by mixing two or more components. These materials often have new functional properties compared to their constituent materials. Traditionally composites are formed by self-assembly due to structural dissimilarities or by engineering different layers or structures in the material.

Mechanistic insights into chemical and photochemical transformations of bismuth vanadate photoanodes.

Artificial photosynthesis relies on the availability of semiconductors that are chemically stable and can efficiently capture solar energy. Although metal oxide semiconductors have been investigated for their promise to resist oxidative attack, materials in this class can suffer from chemical and photochemical instability. Here we present a methodology for evaluating corrosion mechanisms and apply it to bismuth vanadate, a state-of-the-art photoanode.