Potential risks of bacterial plant pathogens from thawing permafrost in the Alaskan tundra.

Global warming-induced permafrost thawing raises concerns about the release of dormant microbes, including potentially harmful plant pathogens. However, the potential pathogenic risks associated with the thawing of permafrost remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a 90-day soil incubation experiment at 4 °C to mimic extended permafrost thawing in Alaskan tundra soils stratified into active (A), transitional (T), and permanently frozen (P) layers.

Development of a cerebellar ataxia diagnosis model using conditional GAN-based synthetic data generation for visuomotor adaptation task.

This study proposes a synthetic data generation model to create a classification framework for cerebellar ataxia patients using trajectory data from the visuomotor adaptation task. The classification objectives include patients with cerebellar ataxia, age-matched normal individuals, and young healthy subjects. Synthetic data for the three classes is generated based on class conditions and random noise by leveraging a combination of conditional adversarial generative neural networks and reconstruction networks.

Association between T1w/T2w ratio in white matter and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease.

Loss of myelin in the brain may lead to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The ratio of T1 weighted/T2 weighted (T1w/T2w) on magnetic resonance imaging has been used as a proxy for myelin content in the brain. Using this approach, we investigated the correlation between the white matter (WM) T1w/T2w ratio and both cognitive scores and disease progression in AD.

Time Perception and Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease: A Preliminary Study.

Background And Purpose: Episodic memory is a system that receives and stores information about temporally dated episodes and their interrelations. Our study aimed to investigate the relevance of episodic memory to time perception, with a specific focus on simultaneity/order judgment.

Methods: Experiment 1 employed the simultaneity judgment task to discern differences in time perception between patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, and age-matched normals.

A curtailed task for quantitative evaluation of visuomotor adaptation in the head-mounted display virtual reality environment.

To accurately perform a goal-directed movement in continuously changing environments, it is unavoidable for individuals to adapt accordingly. The cerebellum has been known to be responsible for such process, specifically adaptation using sensorimotor information. As shown in previous studies, using HMD-VR technology in an experimental setting has similar advantages as in the real-world environment: researchers can manipulate the experimental environment, precisely control the experiments, and quantitatively analyze errors in real time.

A novel statistical-dynamical method for a seasonal forecast of particular matter in South Korea.

Societal concerns about air quality in East Asia are still growing despite country-level efforts to reduce air pollution emissions. In coping with this growing concern, the government and the public demand a longer‑lead forecast of air quality to ensure sufficient response time until society prepares for countermeasures such as a temporary reduction of specific emission sources. Here we propose a novel method that produces skillful seasonal forecasting of wintertime (December to February) PM concentration over South Korea.

Wavelength-Tunable and Water-Stable Cesium-Lead-Based All-Bromide Nanocrystal-Polymer Composite Films Using Ultraviolet-Curable Prepolymer as an Anti-Solvent.

All-inorganic metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (IPeNCs) have become one of the most promising luminescent materials for next-generation display and lighting technology owing to their excellent color expression ability. However, research on IPeNCs with stable blue emission is limited. In this paper, we report stable blue emissive all-bromide IPeNCs obtained through a modified ligand-assisted reprecipitation method using an ultraviolet (UV)-curable prepolymer as the anti-solvent at a low temperature.

Enhanced Light Absorption by Facile Patterning of Nano-Grating on Mesoporous TiO Photoelectrode for Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Solar Cells.

CsPbIBr, a cesium-based all-inorganic halide perovskite (CsPe), is a very promising alternative material to mainstream organic-inorganic hybrid halide perovskite (HPe) materials owing to its exceptional moisture stability, thermal stability, and light stability. However, because of the wide band gap (2.05 eV) of CsPbIBr, it has a low power conversion efficiency (), which hinders its application in highly efficient solar cells.

Efficient TiO Surface Treatment Using CsCO for Solution-Processed Planar-Type SbS Solar Cells.

We report a highly effective surface treatment method for planar-type SbS solar cells by employing a CsCO-modified compact TiO (c-TiO) electron transport layer. It is found that surface treatment using a CsCO solution can shift the work function of c-TiO upward and reduce its surface roughness. As a result, compared with the power conversion efficiency of untreated solar cells, that of the treated solar cells with a glass/FTO/c-TiO(/CsCO)/SbS/P3HT/Au structure significantly improved from 2.

Fabrication of Sb₂S₃ Hybrid Solar Cells Based on Embedded Photoelectrodes of Ag Nanowires-Au Nanoparticles Composite.

The Ag nanowire (NW) + Au nanoparticle (NP)-embedded TiO2 photoelectrodes were adopted for conventional planar TiO2-based Sb2S3 hybrid solar cells to improve the cell efficiency. Compared to conventional planar TiO2-based Sb2S3 hybrid solar cells, the Ag NW + Au NP/TiO2-based Sb2S3 hybrid solar cells exhibited an improvement of approximately 40% in the cell efficiency due to the significant increase in both Jsc and Voc. These enhanced Jsc and Voc were attributed to the increased surface area, charge-collection efficiency, and light absorption by embedding the Ag NWs + Au NPs composite.

[18F]-THK5351 PET Imaging in Patients With Semantic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Background: Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) has been associated with a variety of proteinopathies, mainly transactive response DNA-binding protein, but also with tau and β-amyloid. Recently selective tau tracers for positron emission tomography (PET) have been developed to determine the presence of cerebral tau deposits in vivo. Here, we investigated the topographical distribution of THK5351 in svPPA patients.

Tau positron emission tomography using [F]THK5351 and cerebral glucose hypometabolism in Alzheimer's disease.

This study aims to evaluate the clinical validity of [F]THK5351 positron emission tomography (PET) for the assessment of disease progression and symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Fifty-one patients with AD dementia, 30 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and 43 controls with normal cognition (NC) were included. All subjects underwent [F]THK5351 PET, 3.

Stroke outcomes are worse with larger leukoaraiosis volumes.

Leukoaraiosis or white matter hyperintensities are frequently observed on magnetic resonance imaging of stroke patients. We investigated how white matter hyperintensity volumes affect stroke outcomes, generally and by subtype. In total, 5035 acute ischaemic stroke patients were enrolled.

Inverted polymer fullerene solar cells exceeding 10% efficiency with poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) nanodots on electron-collecting buffer layers.

Polymer solar cells have been spotlighted due to their potential for low-cost manufacturing but their efficiency is still less than required for commercial application as lightweight/flexible modules. Forming a dipole layer at the electron-collecting interface has been suggested as one of the more attractive approaches for efficiency enhancement. However, only a few dipole layer material types have been reported so far, including only one non-ionic (charge neutral) polymer.

Pronounced Cosolvent Effects in Polymer:Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells with Sulfur-Rich Electron-Donating and Imide-Containing Electron-Accepting Polymers.

The performance of solar cells with a polymer:polymer bulk heterojunction (BHJ) structure, consisting of poly[4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-alt-3-fluorothieno[3,4-b]thiophene-2-carboxylate] (PTB7-Th) donor and poly[[N,N'-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5'-(2,2'-bithiophene)] (P(NDI2OD-T2)) acceptor polymers, was investigated as a function of cosolvent (p-xylene:chlorobenzene (pXL:CB)) composition ratio. A remarkable efficiency improvement (∼38%) was achieved by spin-coating the photoactive blend layer from pXL:CB = 80:20 (volume) rather than pXL alone, but the efficiency then decreased when the CB content increased further to pXL:CB = 60:40. The improved efficiency was correlated with a particular PTB7-Th:P(NDI2OD-T2) donor-acceptor blend nanostructure, evidenced by a fiber-like surface morphology, a red-shifted optical absorption, and enhanced PL quenching.

Enhanced performance of polymer solar cells with a fluorocyanophenyl compound as an additive.

The efficiency of polymer solar cells (PSCs) with P3HT [poly(3-hexyl thiophene)]:PC61BM [[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester] blend film was improved by the incorporation of a fluorocyanophenyl compound, 3,4,5,6-tetrafluorophthalonitrile (TFP), as an additive. When the amount of TFTadditive was 5 wt% based on the total amount of P3HT and PC61BM, the highest efficiency was achieved. The annealed PSC with 5 wt% TFP had a power conversion efficiency of 4.

Improved photovoltaic properties of polymer solar cells with a phenyl compound as an additive.

A phenyl compound with electron withdrawing substituents, 3-fluoro-4-cyanophenol (FCP), was used as an additive in polymer solar cells with a P3HT [poly(3-hexyl thiophene)]:PCBM [[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester] blend film. Under simulated solar illumination of AM 1.5 (100 mW/cm2), the devices fabricated using a P3HT:PCBM (1:0.

Grading and interpretation of white matter hyperintensities using statistical maps.

Background And Purpose: We aimed to generate rigorous graphical and statistical reference data based on volumetric measurements for assessing the relative severity of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in patients with stroke.

Methods: We prospectively mapped WMHs from 2699 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke (mean age=66.8±13.

Efficient inverted bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells with self-assembled monolayer modified zinc oxide.

The performance of poly(3-hexylthiophen) (P3HT) and [6, 6]phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester ([60]PCBM)-based inverted bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs) is enhanced by the modification of zinc oxide (ZnO)/BHJ interface with carboxylic-acid-functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Under simulated solar illumination of AM 1.5 (100 mW/cm2), the inverted devices fabricated with SAM-modified ZnO achieved an enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.

Influence of nickel(II) oxide nanoparticle addition on the performance of organic field effect transistors.

Here, the improved performance of organic field effect transistors (OFET) by doping inorganic nanoparticles into a semiconducting polymer as a channel layer is briefly reported. Nickel(II) oxide nanoparticle (NiOnp) was used as an inorganic dopant while regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was used as a matrix polymer for the channel layer in the OFETs. The doping ratio of NiOnp was made 1 wt.

In situ-prepared composite materials of PEDOT: PSS buffer layer-metal nanoparticles and their application to organic solar cells.

We report an enhancement in the efficiency of organic solar cells via the incorporation of gold (Au) or silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) in the hole-transporting buffer layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), which was formed on an indium tin oxide (ITO) surface by the spin-coating of PEDOT:PSS-Au or Ag NPs composite solution. The composite solution was synthesized by a simple in situ preparation method which involved the reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) or silver nitrate (AgNO3) with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) solution in the presence of aqueous PEDOT:PSS media. The NPs were well dispersed in the PEDOT:PSS media and showed a characteristic absorption peak due to the surface plasmon resonance effect.

Effect of inorganic nanoparticle addition to the hole-collecting buffer layers in polymer solar cells.

We investigated the influence of nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles that are incorporated into the hole-collecting buffer layer [poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)] on the performance of polymer:fullerene solar cells. To understand the optimum composition of NiO nanoparticles, the composition of NiO nanoparticles was varied from 0 wt% to 23 wt%. Results showed that the optical transmittance was gradually decreased as the NiO content increased.

Improvement of photovoltaic properties by addition of a perylene compound in P3HT:PCBM BHJ system.

The synthesized n-type perylene derivative, N,N'-bis-(4-bromophenyl)-1,6,7,12-tetrakis(4-n-butoxy-phenoxy)-3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxdiimide (PIBr), was applied as an additive to polymer solar cells (PSCs) with P3HT [poly(3-hexylthiophene)]:PCBM [[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester] blend films. Without post thermal annealing, a considerable improvement of about 98% in power conversion efficiency was achieved by the addition of 1 wt% PIBr into a P3HT:PCBM layer, when compared with that of reference cell without the additive. The results, in combination with relevant data from UV-Vis.