Boosting the electron beam transmittance of field emission cathode using a self-charging gate.

The gate-type carbon nanotubes cathodes exhibit advantages in long-term stable emission owing to the uniformity of electrical field on the carbon nanotubes, but the gate inevitably reduces the transmittance of electron beam, posing challenges for system stabilities. In this work, we introduce electron beam focusing technique using the self-charging SiN/Au/Si gate. The potential of SiN is measured to be approximately -60 V quickly after the cathode turning on, the negative potential can be maintained as the emission goes on.

Cooperative microbial interactions drive spatial segregation in porous environments.

The role of microbial interactions and the underlying mechanisms that shape complex biofilm communities are poorly understood. Here we employ a microfluidic chip to represent porous subsurface environments and show that cooperative microbial interactions between free-living and biofilm-forming bacteria trigger active spatial segregation to promote their respective dominance in segregated microhabitats. During initial colonization, free-living and biofilm-forming microbes are segregated from the mixed planktonic inoculum to occupy the ambient fluid and grain surface.

A newly designed decoupling method for micro-Newton thrust measurement.

A decoupling method is proposed for micro-Newton thrust measurement with a torsion pendulum. The basic approach is to reduce the influences introduced by the propellant tube and wires of the thruster. A hollow aluminum tube is used to hang the torsion pendulum and is also chosen as the transport pipe for the propellant of the thruster.

Research on Competition and Cooperation Relationship of TV-Drama Production Company Based on Social Network.

The social network is affecting the connection of TV-drama production companies, and traditional partnerships are changing. Many companies are moving from traditional connections to gridded social networks. The changing relational network makes the relationship between TV-drama production companies change from linear and static to network and dynamic, and from the original cooperation based on "Contract" to the node-type cooperation of "Switch.

Creating Sustainable Cultural Industries: The Perspective of Artificial Intelligence and Global Value Chain.

In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), cultural industries have introduced new development opportunities, and their global value chain (GVC) position is receiving more attention. This study uses panel data from global cross-borders from 56 countries (regions) as the research sample to empirically analyze the impact of AI on improving the GVC position of cultural industries using the double fixed effects regression model and examines the heterogeneity effect. The results confirm that there is a significant positive correlation between AI and the GVC position of cultural industries.

A compound pendulum for thrust measurement of micro-Newton thruster.

A thrust stand is developed for testing micro-Newton level thrusters on the ground. The stand is composed of a compound pendulum that is symmetrically suspended by two thin beryllium copper strips, and it is precisely calibrated by gravity. The stiffness of the stand can be adjusted in 3 orders of magnitude by a counterweight.

An Intelligent Digital Media Asset Management Model Based on Business Ecosystem.

In the context of media convergence, it is of great significance to study and discuss the intelligent digital media asset management model and build a digital media asset management ecosystem model to carry out effective digital media asset management for media organizations and promote the value creation of digital media content assets. Based on the business ecosystem, this study adopts a system dynamics approach to construct a system dynamics model through theoretical research and simulation analysis. By studying the positioning of intelligent digital media asset management and service patterns, the basic framework of digital media asset management ecosystems is proposed.

Role of microfluidics in accelerating new space missions.

Numerous revolutionary space missions have been initiated and planned for the following decades, including plans for novel spacecraft, exploration of the deep universe, and long duration manned space trips. Compared with space missions conducted over the past 50 years, current missions have features of spacecraft miniaturization, a faster task cycle, farther destinations, braver goals, and higher levels of precision. Tasks are becoming technically more complex and challenging, but also more accessible via commercial space activities.

Instantaneous Self-Powered Sensing System Based on Planar-Structured Rotary Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

Self-powering electronics by harvesting mechanical energy has been widely studied, but most self-powering processes require a long time in the energy harvesting procedure, resulting in low efficiency or even system failure in some specific applications such as instantaneous sensor signal acquisition and transmission. In order to achieve efficient self-powered sensing, we design and construct an instantaneous self-powered sensing system, which puts heavy requirements on generator's power and power management circuit. Theoretical analysis and experimental results over two types of generators prove that the planar-structured rotary triboelectric nanogenerator possesses many advantages over electromagnetic generator for the circumstances of instantaneous self-powering.

Self-adaptive Bioinspired Hummingbird-wing Stimulated Triboelectric Nanogenerators.

Bio-inspired technologies have remarkable potential for energy harvesting from clean and sustainable energy sources. Inspired by the hummingbird-wing structure, we propose a shape-adaptive, lightweight triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) designed to exploit the unique flutter mechanics of the hummingbird for small-scale wind energy harvesting. The flutter is confined between two surfaces for contact electrification upon oscillation.

A Self-Powered Implantable Drug-Delivery System Using Biokinetic Energy.

The first triboelectric-nanogenerator (TENG)-based self-powered implantable drug-delivery system is presented. Pumping flow rates from 5.3 to 40 µL min under different rotating speeds of the TENG are realized.

Standalone Lab-on-a-Chip Systems toward the Evaluation of Therapeutic Biomaterials in Individualized Disease Treatment.

As each tumor is unique, treatments should be individualized in terms of their drug formulation and time dependent dosing. In vitro lab-on-a-chip (LOC) drug testing is a viable avenue to individualize treatments. A drug testing platform in the form of a customizable standalone LOC system is proposed for treatment individualization in vitro.

Synthesis and characterization of multifunctional hybrid-polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery and multimodal imaging of cancer.

In this study, multifunctional hybrid-polymeric nanoparticles were prepared for the treatment of cultured multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) of the PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. To synthesize the hybrid-polymeric nanoparticles, the poly lactic-co-glycolic acid core of the particles was loaded with Rhodamine 6G dye and the chemotherapeutic agent, Paclitaxel, was incorporated into the outer phospholipid layer. The surface of the nanoparticles was coated with gadolinium chelates for magnetic resonance imaging applications.

An in-vivo evaluation of a MEMS drug delivery device using Kunming mice model.

The use of MEMS implantable drug delivery pump device enables one to program the desired drug delivery profile in the device for individualized medicine treatment to patients. In this study, a MEMS drug delivery device is prepared and employed for in vivo applications. 12 devices are implanted subcutaneously into Kunming mice for evaluating their long term biocompatibility and drug-delivery efficiency in vivo.

Preparation of biofunctionalized quantum dots using microfluidic chips for bioimaging.

Biofunctionalized quantum dots (QDs), especially protein-coated QDs, are known to be useful targeted fluorescent labels for cellular and deep-tissue imaging. These nanoparticles can also serve as efficient energy donors in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) binding assays for the multiplexed sensing of tumor markers. However, current preparation processes for protein-functionalized QDs are laborious and require multiple synthesis steps (e.

High reliability nanosandwiched Pt/Ti multilayer electrode actuators for on-chip biomedical applications.

Microactuators provide the main driving force for fluid pumping in microfluidic devices and thus play an important role in on-chip biomedical applications. Interdigitated electrode based electrochemical actuators have provided a viable choice for effective actuation with advantages of flexible controllability, biocompatibility and ease of fabrication. However, the current feature size of a typical electrode structure is around 100 μm, which is relatively large for device miniaturization and integration.

An electrochemically actuated MEMS device for individualized drug delivery: an in vitro study.

Individualized disease treatment is a promising branch for future medicine. In this work, we introduce an implantable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based drug delivery device for programmable drug delivery. An in vitro study on cancer cell treatment has been conducted to demonstrate a proof-of-concept that the engineered device is suitable for individualized disease treatment.