Gold Nanoparticles with N-Heterocyclic Carbene/Triphenylamine Surface Ligands: Stable and Electrochromically Active Hybrid Materials for Optoelectronics.

Organic-hybrid particle-based materials are increasingly important in (opto)electronics, sensing, and catalysis due to their printability and stretchability as well as their potential for unique synergistic functional effects. However, these functional properties are often limited due to poor electronic coupling between the organic shell and the nanoparticle. N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) belong to the most promising anchors to achieve electronic delocalization across the interface, as they form robust and highly conductive bonds with metals and offer a plethora of functionalization possibilities.

Basal actomyosin pulses expand epithelium coordinating cell flattening and tissue elongation.

Actomyosin networks constrict cell area and junctions to alter cell and tissue shape. However, during cell expansion under mechanical stress, actomyosin networks are strengthened and polarized to relax stress. Thus, cells face a conflicting situation between the enhanced actomyosin contractile properties and the expansion behaviour of the cell or tissue.

Shear stress enhances anoikis resistance of cancer cells through ROS and NO suppressed degeneration of Caveolin-1.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) acquire enhanced anti-anoikis abilities after experiencing flow shear stress in the circulatory system. Our previous study demonstrated that low shear stress (LSS) promotes anoikis resistance of human breast carcinoma cells via caveolin-1 (Cav-1)-dependent extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. However, the underlying mechanism how LSS enhanced Cav-1 expression in suspended cancer cells remains unclear.

Stress cardiomyopathy: Medical studies and extensive review.

Stress cardiomyopathy (SC) was first reported in the year 1983. It is narrated as critical but quite commutative left ventricular (LV) malfunction mostly caused by poignant or psychological disorder. Numerous variations of SC have been described as well as reverse stress cardiomyopathy (rSC) which is an adaptation identified by the decreased muscle movement related with hyperkinesis that reconciles impetuously.

Poly(3-hexylthiophene)s Functionalized with N-Heterocyclic Carbenes as Robust and Conductive Ligands for the Stabilization of Gold Nanoparticles.

Recently, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are explored as anchor groups to bind organic ligands to colloidal gold (i.e. gold nanoparticles, Au NPs), yet these efforts are confined to non-conjugated ligands so far-that is, focused solely on exploiting the stability aspect.

Dual-Switching Electrochromism and Electrofluorochromism Derived from Diphenylamine-Based Polyamides with Spirobifluorene/Pyrene as Bridged Fluorescence Units.

Electrochromic (EC)/electrofluorochromic (EFC) bifunctional materials are receiving great attention because of their promising applications in optoelectronic devices. However, the development of ideal EC/EFC bifunctional materials is still a great challenge because of the poor integration of EC/EFC performances (optical contrast, response speed, and switching stability). Herein, we reported two novel diphenylamine-based mixed valence (MV) polyamides (S-HPA and P-HPA) with spirobifluorene (2,7-positions) and pyrene (1,6-positions) as bridged fluorescence units, respectively, showing impressive cyclability and fluorescence contrast with rapid switching.

AIE-Active Polyamide Containing Diphenylamine-TPE Moiety with Superior Electrofluorochromic Performance.

Electrofluorochromism has attracted great attention due to the intelligence optoelectronic and sensing applications. The intrinsically switchable fluorophores with high solid-state fluorescence are regarded as key for ideal electrofluorochromic materials. Here, we reported an AIE-active polyamide with diphenylamine and tetraphenylethylene units, showing high fluorescence quantum yield up to 69.

Broad-Range Electrically Tunable Plasmonic Resonances of a Multilayer Coaxial Nanohole Array with an Electroactive Polymer Wrapper.

Plasmonic assemblies featuring high sensitivity that can be readily shifted by external fields are the key for sensitive and versatile sensing devices. In this paper, a novel fast-responsive plasmonic nanocomposite composed of a multilayer nanohole array and a responsive electrochromic polymer is proposed with the plasmonic mode appearance vigorously cycled upon orthogonal electrical stimuli. In this nanocomposite, the coaxially stacked plasmonic nanohole arrays can induce multiple intense Fano resonances, which result from the crosstalk between a broad surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and the designed discrete transmission peaks with ultrahigh sensitivity; the polymer wrapper could provide the sensitive nanohole array with real-time-varied surroundings of refractive indices upon electrical stimuli.

Multiple Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescence Behavior of Novel Polyamic Acid Bearing Oligoaniline, Triphenylamine, and Fluorene Groups.

Multiple stimuli-responsive fluorescent materials have gained increasing attention for their fundamental investigation and intelligent applications. In this work, we report design and synthesis of a novel polyamic acid bearing oligoaniline, triphenylamine, and fluorene groups, which served as sensitive units and fluorescence emission unit, respectively. The resulting polymer exhibits multiple stimuli-responsive fluorescence switching behavior triggered by redox species, pH, electrochemical, and pressure stimuli.

Covalent functionalization of graphene oxide with porphyrin and porphyrin incorporated polymers for optical limiting.

Porphyrin-graphene composites have attracted increasing attention due to a number of intriguing functions, and their photoelectrical and catalytic performances are expected to be modulated through different approaches. In the present study, a designed polymer based on phenyl sulfone, (p-amino)phenylhydroquinone, and a symmetrical dinaphthylporphyrin were covalently attached to a graphene oxide (GO) sheet. The formation of the nanohybrid was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, steady and transient fluorescence spectroscopy techniques.

Dental practitioner concepts of efficiency related to the use of dental therapists.

Objectives: Efficiency is concerned with producing maximum output with the minimum input, although what constitutes inputs and outputs within an organization is not always clear. Labour substitution is one method of achieving efficiency gains, although cost savings are found to be context dependent and may not be achieved in some situations. Because dental therapists (DTs) in England are permitted to work in dental practices, we set out to investigate how efficiency with respect to the use of DTs is conceptualized by practitioners to deepen our understanding of the potential for substitution to realize efficiency gains in dental practice.

Translation of remuneration arrangements into incentives to delegate to English dental therapists.

Objectives: To investigate how changes to the dental remuneration system have translated into disincentives to delegate to dental therapists in dental practices.

Method: A purposive sample of nine practices was identified incorporating a mix of small, medium and large practices, both with and without dental therapists (DTs). Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 48 principal dentists, associate dentists, DTs, practice managers and dental hygienists.