Robust Whispering-Gallery-Mode Microbubble Lasers from Colloidal Quantum Dots.

Microlasers hold great promise for the development of photonics and optoelectronics. Among the discovered optical gain materials, colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have been recognized as the most appealing candidate due to the facile emission tunability and solution processability. However, to date, it is still challenging to develop CQD-based microlasers with low cost yet high performance.

Blue liquid lasers from solution of CdZnS/ZnS ternary alloy quantum dots with quasi-continuous pumping.

A blue (ca. 440 nm) liquid laser with an ultra-low threshold through which quasi-continuous wave pumping is accessible is achieved by engineering unconventional ternary CdZnS/ZnS alloyed-core/shell QDs. Such an achievement is enabled by exploiting the novel gain media with minimal defects, suppressed Auger recombination, and large gain cross-section in combination with high-quality-factor whispering gallery mode resonators.

Stable, efficient, and all-solution-processed quantum dot light-emitting diodes with double-sided metal oxide nanoparticle charge transport layers.

An efficient and stable quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) with double-sided metal oxide (MO) nanoparticle (NP) charge transport layers is fabricated by utilizing the solution-processed tungsten oxide (WO3) and zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs as the hole and electron transport layers, respectively. Except for the electrodes, all other layers are deposited by a simple spin-coating method. The resulting MO NP-based QLEDs show excellent device performance, with a peak luminance of 21300 cd/m(2) at the emission wavelength of 516 nm, a maximal current efficiency of 4.

Solution processed tungsten oxide interfacial layer for efficient hole-injection in quantum dot light-emitting diodes.

A highly efficient and stable QLED using an inorganic WO3 nanoparticle film as a hole injection layer is demonstrated.The resulting WO3 nanoparticle-based QLEDs also exhibit superior performance compared to that of the present PEDOT:PSS-based QLEDs. The results indicate that WO3 nanoparticles are promising solution-processed buffer layer materials and serve as a strong candidate for QLED technology towards the practical applications in the next-generation lighting and displays.

Synthesis and nonvolatile memory behaviors of dioxatetraazapentacene derivatives.

Two novel heteroacenes 2,3,9,10-tetra(furan-2-yl)-1,4,8,11-tetraaza-6,13-dioxapentacene (FAOP, 1) and 2,3,9,10-tetra(thiophen-2-yl)-1,4,8,11-tetraaza-6,13-dioxapentacene (TAOP, 2) was successfully synthesized through a one-step condensation reaction, which have been fully characterized by (1)H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), (13)C NMR, FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), and HRMS (high-resolution mass spectrum). The sandwich-structure memory devices have been fabricated using FAOP (1) and TAOP (2) as active layers, showing a typical bipolar resistive switching (RS) behavior in positive and negative regions.

Quantum dot light-emitting diode with quantum dots inside the hole transporting layers.

We report a hybrid, quantum dot (QD)-based, organic light-emitting diode architecture using a noninverted structure with the QDs sandwiched between hole transporting layers (HTLs) outperforming the reference device structure implemented in conventional noninverted architecture by over five folds and suppressing the blue emission that is otherwise observed in the conventional structure because of the excess electrons leaking towards the HTL. It is predicted in the new device structure that 97.44% of the exciton formation takes place in the QD layer, while 2.

Improved performance of organic light-emitting diodes with MoO3 interlayer by oblique angle deposition.

We fabricated and demonstrated improved organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) in a thin film architecture of indium tin oxide (ITO)/ molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) (20 nm)/N,N'-Di(naphth-2-yl)-N,N'-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB) (50 nm)/ tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Alq3) (70 nm)/Mg:Ag (200 nm) using an oblique angle deposition technique by which MoO3 was deposited at oblique angles (θ) with respect to the surface normal. It was found that, without sacrificing the power efficiency of the device, the device current efficiency and external quantum efficiency were significantly enhanced at an oblique deposition angle of θ=60° for MoO3.

Study of bioengineered zebra fish olfactory receptor 131-2: receptor purification and secondary structure analysis.

How fishes are able to detect trace molecules in large bodies of water is not understood. It is plausible that they use olfactory receptors to detect water-soluble compounds. How the zebra fish Danio Rerio, an organism with only 98 functional olfactory receptors, is able to selectively detect and recognize numerous compounds in water remains a puzzling phenomenon.

The effects of dietary fasting on physical balance among healthy young women.

Background: The study examined the effects of dietary fasting on physical balance among young healthy women.

Methods: This study undertaken involving 22 young healthy women (age = 22 +/- 1.5) using a within subject counterbalanced 2-week crossover study design.

Three-dimensional reconstituted extracellular matrix scaffolds for tissue engineering.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a rich meshwork of proteins and proteoglycans. Besides assuming a cell adhesive and structural support role, the ECM also helps to sequester and present growth factors to cells. ECM derived from tissues has been used as biological scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Porous collagen-apatite nanocomposite foams as bone regeneration scaffolds.

We have created a porous bioresorbable nanocomposite bone scaffold that chemically, structurally and mechanically matched natural bone so that it could be recognized and remodeled by natural bone. Containing collagen fibers and synthetic apatite nanocrystals, our scaffold has high strength for supporting the surrounding tissue. The foam-like scaffold has a similar microstructure as trabecular bone, with nanometer-sized and micron-sized pores.

Recyclable hydrophilic-hydrophobic micropatterns on glass for microarray applications.

A novel method for fabricating recyclable hydrophilic-hydrophobic micropatterns on glass chips is presented. TiOx patterns (100-2000 microm) were sputtered on glass chips via a through-hole mask. The patterned chips were then vapor-coated with fluoroalkylsilane, for example, (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)triethoxysilane (FTES) to form a hydrophobic coating layer.

Correlates of minimal dating.

Researchers have associated minimal dating with numerous factors. The present author tested shyness, introversion, physical attractiveness, performance evaluation, anxiety, social skill, social self-esteem, and loneliness to determine the nature of their relationships with 2 measures of self-reported minimal dating in a sample of 175 college students. For women, shyness, introversion, physical attractiveness, self-rated anxiety, social self-esteem, and loneliness correlated with 1 or both measures of minimal dating.

Gz proteins are functionally coupled to dopamine D2-like receptors in vivo.

The receptors that couple to the G protein Gz in vivo are still relatively unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of various dopamine receptor agonists in a mouse deficient in the alpha subunit of Gz. The dopamine D1-like receptor agonist SKF38393 stimulated comparable locomotor activity in both wildtype mice and mice lacking Galphaz.

Enhanced effect of dopaminergic stimulation on prepulse inhibition in mice deficient in the alpha subunit of G(z).

Rationale: G(z) is a member of the G(i) G protein family associated with dopamine D2-like receptors; however, its functions remain relatively unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle, locomotor hyperactivity and dopamine D2 receptor binding in mice deficient in the alpha subunit of G(z).

Methods: We used automated startle boxes to assess startle and PPI after treatment with saline, amphetamine, apomorphine or MK-801.

Enhanced serotonin response in the hippocampus of Galphaz protein knock-out mice.

The serotonin-1A [5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5HT1A)] receptor is important for emotional and homeostatic processes in the central nervous system. In the hippocampus, the 5HT1A receptor couples to inhibitory Gi/o proteins to decrease pyramidal cell excitability. Here we investigate the 5HT1A receptor in a mouse deficient in the alpha-subunit of Gz protein (Galphaz knock-out).

Deletion of guanine nucleotide binding protein alpha z subunit in mice induces a gene dose dependent tolerance to morphine.

The mechanism underlying the development of tolerance to morphine is still incompletely understood. Morphine binds to opioid receptors, which in turn activates downstream second messenger cascades through heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins). In this paper, we show that G(z), a member of the inhibitory G protein family, plays an important role in mediating the analgesic and lethality effects of morphine after tolerance development.

A one-step quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction procedure.

Our laboratory has developed a one-step quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedure in which the reverse transcriptase enzyme and Taq DNA polymerase are combined in the one tube and a single, non-interrupted, thermal cycling program is performed. In the past, RT-PCR has been carried out with two separate steps: (1) reverse transcription of RNA to generate a cDNA pool and (2) polymerase chain reaction amplification of the cDNA. The two-step method can affect the accuracy of the procedure as the total number of manipulations is greater, thereby allowing a greater chance for pipetting errors.

Tongue deviation in acute ischaemic stroke: a study of supranuclear twelfth cranial nerve palsy in 300 stroke patients.

It is generally believed that the supranuclear innervation of the hypoglossal nucleus is bilateral and symmetrical. The aim of this work is to study the frequency and clinical characteristics of supranuclear tongue palsy in unilateral stroke. 300 patients with acute unilateral ischaemic motor strokes (excluding those in the lower brainstem) and an equal number of normal controls were studied for the presence of tongue deviation in a standardised manner.

Hypertolerance to morphine in G(z alpha)-deficient mice.

Our laboratory has generated a mouse deficient in the alpha (alpha) subunit of the G protein, G(z), (G(z alpha)) gene and we have examined the involvement of G(z alpha) in spinal and supraspinal analgesia and tolerance mechanisms. Spinal analgesia was tested by the response times to heat or cold tail flick times in a water bath at 50 degrees C or -5 degrees C and supraspinal analgesia was tested by the times for paw licking and jumping from a plate at 52 degrees C or 0.5 degrees C.

Fluctuating asymmetry, sociosexuality, and intrasexual competitive tactics.

Heterosexual men and women were told they were competing with another same-sex individual for a date with an attractive opposite-sex interviewer. After answering 6 questions, participants were asked to tell the competitor why the interviewer should choose them over the competitor. Participants' videotaped behavior was coded for different behavioral tactics.

The self-esteem motive in social influence: agreement with valued majorities and disagreement with derogated minorities.

This research provides evidence for the role of self-esteem in social influence; it demonstrates that the positions taken by self-relevant social groups can threaten people's self-esteem. Participants who wished to align themselves with a majority group and who learned that the group held a counterattitudinal position suffered a reduction in self-esteem. Similarly, participants who wished to differentiate themselves from a derogated minority group and who learned that the group held attitudes similar to theirs experienced reduced self-esteem.