Trajectory Inference with Cell-Cell Interactions (TICCI): intercellular communication improves the accuracy of trajectory inference methods.

Motivation: Understanding cell differentiation and development dynamics is key for single-cell transcriptome analysis. Current cell differentiation trajectory inference algorithms face challenges such as high dimensionality, noise, and a need for users to possess certain biological information about the datasets to effectively utilize the algorithms. Here, we introduce Trajectory Inference with Cell-Cell Interaction (TICCI), a novel way to address these challenges by integrating intercellular communication information.

Cordycepin Ameliorates High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity by Modulating Endogenous Metabolism and Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis.

Background: Numerous metabolic illnesses have obesity as a risk factor. The composition of the gut microbiota and endogenous metabolism are important factors in the onset and progression of obesity. Recent research indicates that cordycepin (CRD), derived from fungi, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, showing potential in combating obesity.

Epigallocatechin gallate alleviates osteoporosis by regulating the gut microbiota and serum metabolites in rats.

Osteoporosis, one of the serious public health problems worldwide, can lead to degeneration of the bone structure and increased risk of fractures. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a natural product with potential efficacy in inhibiting bone loss. However, the specific mechanism remains unclear.

The role of intestinal microbes on intestinal barrier function and host immunity from a metabolite perspective.

The gut is colonized by many commensal microorganisms, and the diversity and metabolic patterns of microorganisms profoundly influence the intestinal health. These microbial imbalances can lead to disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Microorganisms produce byproducts that act as signaling molecules, triggering the immune system in the gut mucosa and controlling inflammation.

A Metabolite Perspective on the Involvement of the Gut Microbiota in Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a commonly diagnosed condition that has been extensively studied. The composition and activity of gut microbes, as well as the metabolites they produce (such as short-chain fatty acids, lipopolysaccharides, trimethylamine N-oxide, and bile acids) can significantly impact diabetes development. Treatment options, including medication, can enhance the gut microbiome and its metabolites, and even reverse intestinal epithelial dysfunction.

Optimisation of Additives to Maximise Performance of Expandable Graphite-Based Intumescent-Flame-Retardant Polyurethane Composites.

The effect of varying the weight percentage composition (wt.%) of low-cost expandable graphite (EG), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), fibreglass (FG), and vermiculite (VMT) in polyurethane (PU) polymer was studied using a traditional intumescent flame retardant (IFR) system. The synergistic effect between EG, APP, FG, and VMT on the flame retardant properties of the PU composites was investigated using SEM, TGA, tensile strength tests, and cone calorimetry.

Integration of Antifouling and Underwater Sound Absorption Properties into PDMS/MWCNT/SiO Coatings.

Any surface immersed in sea water will suffer from marine fouling, including underwater sound absorption coatings. Traditional underwater sound absorption coatings rely heavily on the use of toxic, biocide-containing paints to combat biofouling. In this paper, an environmentally-friendly nanocomposite with integrated antifouling and underwater sound absorption properties was fabricated by adopting MWCNTs-COOH and SiO into PDMS at different ratios.

Degradation of Carbon Nanotube Array Thermal Interface Materials through Thermal Aging: Effects of Bonding, Array Height, and Catalyst Oxidation.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) array thermal interface materials (TIMs) are promising candidates for high-performance applications in terms of thermal performance. However, in order to be useful in commercial applications, the reliability of the interfaces is an equally important parameter, which so far has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, the reliability of CNT array TIMs is investigated through accelerated aging.

Synthesis of graphene quantum dots and their applications in drug delivery.

This review focuses on the recent advances in the synthesis of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and their applications in drug delivery. To give a brief understanding about the preparation of GQDs, recent advances in methods of GQDs synthesis are first presented. Afterwards, various drug delivery-release modes of GQDs-based drug delivery systems such as EPR-pH delivery-release mode, ligand-pH delivery-release mode, EPR-Photothermal delivery-Release mode, and Core/Shell-photothermal/magnetic thermal delivery-release mode are reviewed.

High porosity and light weight graphene foam heat sink and phase change material container for thermal management.

During the last decade, graphene foam emerged as a promising high porosity 3-dimensional (3D) structure for various applications. More specifically, it has attracted significant interest as a solution for thermal management in electronics. In this study, we investigate the possibility to use such porous materials as a heat sink and a container for a phase change material (PCM).

Effects of high temperature treatment of carbon nanotube arrays on graphite: increased crystallinity, anchoring and inter-tube bonding.

Thermal treatment of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can significantly improve their mechanical, electrical and thermal properties due to reduced defects and increased crystallinity. In this work we investigate the effect of annealing at 3000 °C of vertically aligned CNT arrays synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on graphite. Raman measurements show a drastically reduced amount of defects and, together with transmission electron microscope (TEM) diffraction measurements, an increased average crystallite size of around 50%, which corresponds to a 124% increase in Young's modulus.

Multiple growth of graphene from a pre-dissolved carbon source.

Mono- to few-layer graphene materials are successfully synthesized multiple times using Cu-Ni alloy as a catalyst after a single-chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The multiple synthesis is realized by extracting carbon source pre-dissolved in the catalyst substrate. Firstly, graphene is grown by the CVD method on Cu-Ni catalyst substrates.

Experimental Microwave Complex Conductivity Extraction of Vertically Aligned MWCNT Bundles for Microwave Subwavelength Antenna Design.

This paper reports the extraction of electrical impedance at microwave frequencies of vertically aligned multi-wall carbon nanotubes (VA MWCNT) bundles/forests grown on a silicon substrate. Dedicated resonating devices were designed for antenna application, operating around 10 GHz and benefiting from natural inductive/capacitive behavior or complex conductivity in the microwave domain. As obtained from S-parameters measurements, the capacitive and inductive behaviors of VA MWCNT bundles were deduced from device frequency resonance shift.

Thermal Characterization of Low-Dimensional Materials by Resistance Thermometers.

The design, fabrication, and use of a hotspot-producing and temperature-sensing resistance thermometer for evaluating the thermal properties of low-dimensional materials are described in this paper. The materials that are characterized include one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes, and two-dimensional (2D) graphene and boron nitride films. The excellent thermal performance of these materials shows great potential for cooling electronic devices and systems such as in three-dimensional (3D) integrated chip-stacks, power amplifiers, and light-emitting diodes.

Vertically aligned CNT-Cu nano-composite material for stacked through-silicon-via interconnects.

For future miniaturization of electronic systems using 3D chip stacking, new fine-pitch materials for through-silicon-via (TSV) applications are likely required. In this paper, we propose a novel carbon nanotube (CNT)/copper nanocomposite material consisting of high aspect ratio, vertically aligned CNT bundles coated with copper. These bundles, consisting of hundreds of tiny CNTs, were uniformly coated by copper through electroplating, and aspect ratios as high as 300:1 were obtained.

Functionalization mediates heat transport in graphene nanoflakes.

The high thermal conductivity of graphene and few-layer graphene undergoes severe degradations through contact with the substrate. Here we show experimentally that the thermal management of a micro heater is substantially improved by introducing alternative heat-escaping channels into a graphene-based film bonded to functionalized graphene oxide through amino-silane molecules. Using a resistance temperature probe for in situ monitoring we demonstrate that the hotspot temperature was lowered by ∼28 °C for a chip operating at 1,300 W cm(-2).

Embedded Fin-Like Metal/CNT Hybrid Structures for Flexible and Transparent Conductors.

In this paper, an embedded fin-like metal-coated carbon nanotube (Fin-M/CNT) structure is demonstrated for flexible and transparent conductor wire applications. Embedded in a polydimethylsiloxane polymeric substrate, Fin-M/CNT wires with a minimum width of 5 μm and a minimum pitch of 10 μm have been achieved. Direct current resistances of single Fin-M/CNT wires, where the supporting CNT structures have been covered by Ti/Al/Au metal coatings of different thicknesses, have been measured.

Templated growth of covalently bonded three-dimensional carbon nanotube networks originated from graphene.

A template-assisted method that enables the growth of covalently bonded three-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) originating from graphene at a large scale is demonstrated. Atomic force microscopy-based mechanical tests show that the covalently bonded CNT structure can effectively distribute external loading throughout the network to improve the mechanical strength of the material.

A complete carbon-nanotube-based on-chip cooling solution with very high heat dissipation capacity.

Heat dissipation is one of the factors limiting the continuous miniaturization of electronics. In the study presented in this paper, we designed an ultra-thin heat sink using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as micro cooling fins attached directly onto a chip. A metal-enhanced CNT transfer technique was utilized to improve the interface between the CNTs and the chip surface by minimizing the thermal contact resistance and promoting the mechanical strength of the microfins.

Bitriazolyl acyclonucleosides synthesized via Huisgen reaction using internal alkynes show antiviral activity against tobacco mosaic virus.

A family of novel bitriazolyl acyclonucleosides were synthesized using a simple and convenient one-step synthetic procedure via the Huisgen reaction by addition of NaN(3) onto triazole nucleosides bearing internal alkynyl groups introduced at the 5-position of the triazole ring. Some of the compounds exhibited interesting antiviral activity against tobacco mosaic virus, demonstrating the importance of the bitriazolyl motif for the observed antiviral activity.