Electropolymerization of Polydopamine at Electrode-Supported Insulating Mesoporous Films.

Bioinspired, stimuli-responsive, polymer-functionalized mesoporous films are promising platforms for precisely regulating nanopore transport toward applications in water management, iontronics, catalysis, sensing, drug delivery, or energy conversion. Nanopore technologies still require new, facile, and effective nanopore functionalization with multi- and stimuli-responsive polymers to reach these complicated application targets. In recent years, zwitterionic and multifunctional polydopamine (PDA) films deposited on planar surfaces by electropolymerization have helped surfaces respond to various external stimuli such as light, temperature, moisture, and pH.

Visible light induced RAFT for asymmetric functionalization of silica mesopores.

One key feature for bioinspired transport design through nanoscale pores is nanolocal, asymmetric as well as multifunctional nanopore functionalization. Here, we use a visible-light induced, controlled photo electron/energy transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerization for asymmetric polymer placement into mesoporous silica thin films including asymmetric polymer sequence design.

Electron-beam lithography of cinnamate polythiophene films: conductive nanorods for electronic applications.

We report the electron-beam induced crosslinking of cinnamate-substituted polythiophene proceeding excited state [2+2]-cycloaddition. Network formation in thin films is evidenced by infrared spectroscopy and film retention experiments. For the polymer studied herin, the electron-stimulated process appears to be superior to photo (UV)-induced crosslinking as it leads to less degradation.

Tuning the Charge of Sliding Water Drops.

When a water drop slides over a hydrophobic surface, it usually acquires a positive charge and deposits the negative countercharge on the surface. Although the electrification of solid surfaces induced after contact with a liquid is intensively studied, the actual mechanisms of charge separation, so-termed slide electrification, are still unclear. Here, slide electrification is studied by measuring the charge of a series of water drops sliding down inclined glass plates.

Iron Deficiency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Associated With Low Levels of Vitamin D Modulating Serum Hepcidin and Intestinal Ceruloplasmin Expression.

Introduction: Iron deficiency and vitamin D deficiency are common comorbidities in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Accumulating evidence indicates that active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)D) may enhance iron absorption by suppressing hepcidin. We investigated the influence of vitamin D on iron metabolism in patients with IBD and on the expression of genes facilitating intestinal epithelial iron absorption.

Self-Aligned Bilayers for Flexible Free-Standing Organic Field-Effect Transistors.

Free-standing and flexible field-effect transistors based on 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)-pentacene (TIPS-pentacene)/polystyrene bilayers are obtained by well-controlled phase separation of both components. The phase separation is induced by solvent vapor annealing of initially amorphous blend films, leading to crystallization of TIPS-pentacene as the top layer. The crystallinity and blend morphology strongly depend on the molecular weight of polystyrene, and under optimized conditions, distinct phase separation with a well-defined and trap-free interface between both fractions is achieved.

Room-Temperature Halide Perovskite Field-Effect Transistors by Ion Transport Mitigation.

Solution-processed halide perovskites have emerged as excellent optoelectronic materials for applications in photovoltaic solar cells and light-emitting diodes. However, the presence of mobile ions in the material hinders the development of perovskite field-effect transistors (FETs) due to screening of the gate potential in the nearby perovskite channel, and the resulting impediment to achieving gate modulation of an electronic current at room temperature. Here, room-temperature operation is demonstrated in cesium lead tribromide (CsPbBr ) perovskite-based FETs using an auxiliary ferroelectric gate of poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)], to electrostatically fixate the mobile ions.

Impact of Surface Chemistry and Doping Concentrations on Biofunctionalization of GaN/Ga‒In‒N Quantum Wells.

The development of sensitive biosensors, such as gallium nitride (GaN)-based quantum wells, transistors, etc., often makes it necessary to functionalize GaN surfaces with small molecules or even biomolecules, such as proteins. As a first step in surface functionalization, we have investigated silane adsorption, as well as the formation of very thin silane layers.

New methodical approaches for the investigation of weathered epoxy resins used for corrosion protection of steel constructions.

Epoxy resin coatings applied to steel constructions for corrosion protection purposes are often exposed to UV-irradiation and weathering during the construction process. Chemical alteration of the hardened coating might lead to i) the release of potentially harmful substances into the environment and ii) delamination of the polyurethane top layer. However, chemical processes and mechanisms occurring on the surfaces of exposed epoxy resin coatings are not fully understood yet.

Anatomical Characterization of Frontal Sinus and Development of Representative Models.

This paper presents the methods and the materials towards characterizing frontal sinus anatomy and developing representative anatomical models which reflect the variance of the anatomy with three different sizes: small, medium and large. Anatomical characterization was performed using computer tomography data of up to 50 anonymous patients. Dimensional and volumetric measurements were conducted using the .

Age at diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in Germany: a nationwide analysis based on claims data from 69 million people.

Aim: For many European countries, including Germany, no valid estimates are available on age at diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Thus, we aimed to estimate the age at diagnosis in Germany.

Methods: Age at diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in Germany was estimated based on Type 2 diabetes prevalence and incidence and the age distribution of the German population.

Printing Poly( p-phenyleneethynylene) PLEDs.

Gravure printing of functional thin-film layers of side-chain-substituted poly( para-phenyleneethynylene)s (PPEs) is reported. Rheological properties of PPEs in combination with the Hansen solubility model allowed the formulation of enhanced single-component inks. Layer evaluation is performed with reflectometric thin-film recordings in an optical setup for laterally resolved large-area investigation using imaging color reflectometry.

Facile synthesis of ultrasmall polydopamine-polyethylene glycol nanoparticles for cellular delivery.

Very small polydopamine (PDA) polyethylene glycol (PEG) crosslinked copolymer (PDA-PEG) nanoparticles have been prepared following a convenient one-step procedure in aqueous solution. Particle sizes and colloidal stabilities have been optimized by varying PEG in view of chain length and end group functionalities. In particular, amine-terminated PEG3000 [PEG(NH)] reacted with polydopamine intermediates so that very small, crosslinked PDA-PEG nanoparticles with sizes of less than 50 nm were formed.

Distribution of Paramagnetic Fe₂O₃/SiO₂⁻Core/Shell Nanoparticles in the Rat Lung Studied by Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry: No Indication for Rapid Lipid Adsorption.

Amorphous silica nanoparticles comprise a class of widely used industrial nanomaterials, which may elicit acute inflammation in the lung. These materials have a large specific surface to which components of the pulmonary micro-milieu can bind. To conduct appropriate binding studies, paramagnetic Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ core/shell nanoparticles (Fe-Si-NP) may be used as an easy-to-isolate silica surrogate, if several prerequisites are fulfilled.

Multimodal Hierarchical Imaging of Serial Sections for Finding Specific Cellular Targets within Large Volumes.

Targeting specific cells at ultrastructural resolution within a mixed cell population or a tissue can be achieved by hierarchical imaging using a combination of light and electron microscopy. Samples embedded in resin are sectioned into arrays consisting of ribbons of hundreds of ultrathin sections and deposited on pieces of silicon wafer or conductively coated coverslips. Arrays are imaged at low resolution using a digital consumer like smartphone camera or light microscope (LM) for a rapid large area overview, or a wide field fluorescence microscope (fluorescence light microscopy (FLM)) after labeling with fluorophores.

Detection of ZrO₂ Nanoparticles in Lung Tissue Sections by Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Ion Beam Microscopy.

The increasing use of nanoparticles (NP) in commercial products requires elaborated techniques to detect NP in the tissue of exposed organisms. However, due to the low amount of material, the detection and exact localization of NP within tissue sections is demanding. In this respect, Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and Ion Beam Microscopy (IBM) are promising techniques, because they both offer sub-micron lateral resolutions along with high sensitivities.

Detection of SiO nanoparticles in lung tissue by ToF-SIMS imaging and fluorescence microscopy.

The direct detection of nanoparticles in tissues at high spatial resolution is a current goal in nanotoxicology. Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is widely used for the direct detection of inorganic and organic substances with high spatial resolution but its capability to detect nanoparticles in tissue sections is still insufficiently explored. To estimate the applicability of this technique for nanotoxicological questions, comparative studies with established techniques on the detection of nanoparticles can offer additional insights.

Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards Interlaboratory Study on Measuring the Thickness and Chemistry of Nanoparticle Coatings Using XPS and LEIS.

We report the results of a VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards) inter-laboratory study on the measurement of the shell thickness and chemistry of nanoparticle coatings. Peptide-coated gold particles were supplied to laboratories in two forms: a colloidal suspension in pure water and; particles dried onto a silicon wafer. Participants prepared and analyzed these samples using either X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or low energy ion scattering (LEIS).

Unraveling the nanoscale morphologies of mesoporous perovskite solar cells and their correlation to device performance.

Hybrid solar cells based on organometal halide perovskite absorbers have recently emerged as promising class for cost- and energy-efficient photovoltaics. So far, unraveling the morphology of the different materials within the nanostructured absorber layer has not been accomplished. Here, we present the first visualization of the mesoporous absorber layer in a perovskite solar cell from analytical transmission electron microscopy studies.

Attorney-case manager collaboration in the conservatorship of older adults.

The complex issues of long-term care are everchanging, with no one discipline having the corner on all the intricate options, regulations, and ethical choices that often confront an aging person. This is most critical when a person's incompetence requires the appointment of a conservator or guardian. When the probate court finds it necessary to appoint a conservator/guardian for an older adult, and family or other informal caregivers are unavailable or unable to assume the role, the responsibility is often delegated to an attorney.

Elevated mononuclear leukocyte phosphodiesterase in allergic dogs with and without airway hyperresponsiveness.

To investigate if mononuclear leukocyte beta-adrenergic hyporesponsiveness of Basenji greyhound (BG) dogs is associated with atopy or nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness, we examined the relationship between mononuclear leukocyte cAMP phosphodiesterase levels, airway responsiveness to methacholine, and intradermal allergen responses in 17 BG dogs, five unrelated purebred Basenjis, and five greyhounds. BG dogs were hyperresponsive to aerosols of methacholine compared to Basenjis and greyhounds. Both BG dogs and Basenjis were allergic and had increased leukocyte cAMP phosphodiesterase activity compared to greyhounds.

Airway responses in offspring of dogs with and without airway hyperreactivity.

We examined airway responsiveness to aerosols of Ascaris suum, citric acid, and methacholine chloride in the offspring of two highly allergic breeds of dogs: Basenji-greyhounds (BG) and Basenjis (B). The BG parents had airway hyperresponsiveness to citric acid and methacholine, whereas the B parents did not. Both BG and B offspring were allergic as measured by many positive skin tests.