Solution-Processed Micro-Nanostructured Electron Transport Layer via Bubble-Assisted Assembly for Efficient Perovskite Photovoltaics.

Organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted significant attention in photovoltaic research, owing to their superior optoelectronic properties and cost-effective manufacturing techniques. However, the unbalanced charge carrier diffusion length in perovskite materials leads to the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. The inefficient charge carrier collecting process severely affects the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSCs.

A cross-temporal multimodal fusion system based on deep learning for orthodontic monitoring.

Introduction: In the treatment of malocclusion, continuous monitoring of the three-dimensional relationship between dental roots and the surrounding alveolar bone is essential for preventing complications from orthodontic procedures. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides detailed root and bone data, but its high radiation dose limits its frequent use, consequently necessitating an alternative for ongoing monitoring.

Objectives: We aimed to develop a deep learning-based cross-temporal multimodal image fusion system for acquiring root and jawbone information without additional radiation, enhancing the ability of orthodontists to monitor risk.

Spatiotemporal-Dependent Confinement Effect of Bubble Swarms Enables a Fractal Hierarchical Assembly with Promoted Chirality.

The submarine-confined bubble swarm is considered an important constraining environment for the early evolution of living matter due to the abundant gas/water interfaces it provides. Similarly, the spatiotemporal characteristics of the confinement effect in this particular scenario may also impact the origin, transfer, and amplification of chirality in organisms. Here, we explore the confinement effect on the chiral hierarchical assembly of the amphiphiles in the confined bubble array stabilized by the micropillar templates.

Staphylococcus warneri strain XSB102 exacerbates psoriasis and promotes keratinocyte proliferation in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis mice.

Psoriasis is one of the common chronic inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. The skin microbiota plays a role in psoriasis through regulating skin homeostasis. However, the studies on the interactions between symbiotic microbial strains and psoriasis are limited.

Humidity-Controlled Molecular Assembly and Photoisomerization Behavior with a Bubble-Assisted Patterning Approach.

Precise control of molecular assembly is of great significance in the application of functional molecules. This work has systematically investigated the humidity effect in bubble-assisted molecular assembly. This work finds humidity is critical in the evolution of the soft confined space, leading to the formation of microscale liquid confined space under high humidity, and nanoscale liquid confined space under low humidity.

Volatile Dual-Solvent Assisted Intermediate Phase Regulation for Anti-Solvent-Free Perovskite Photovoltaics.

The unprecedented development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) makes them one of the most promising candidates for terawatt-scale green energy production with low cost. However, the high boiling point solvents during the solution-processed film deposition cause anisotropic crystal growth and toxic solvent vapor during high-throughput manufacturing. Here, a dual-component green solvent consisting of isopropyl acetate and acetonitrile is proposed to form a volatile perovskite precursor, which can realize the high-quality perovskite thin film deposition by intermediate phase regulation.

Bubble wall confinement-driven molecular assembly toward sub-12 nm and beyond precision patterning.

Patterning is attractive for nanofabrication, electron devices, and bioengineering. However, achieving the molecular-scale patterns to meet the demands of these fields is challenging. Here, we propose a bubble-template molecular printing concept by introducing the ultrathin liquid film of bubble walls to confine the self-assembly of molecules and achieve ultrahigh-precision assembly up to 12 nanometers corresponding to the critical point toward the Newton black film limit.

Orientation-Controlled Ultralong Assembly of Janus Particles Induced by Bubble-Driven Instant Quasi-1D Interfaces.

Constructing precisely oriented assemblies and exploring their orientation-dependent properties remain a challenge for Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) due to their asymmetric characteristics. Herein, we propose a bubble-driven instant quasi-1D interfacial strategy for the oriented assembly of JNP chains in a highly controllable manner. It is found that the rapid formation of templated bubbles can promote the interfacial orientation of JNPs kinetically, while the confined quasi-1D interface in the curved liquid bridge can constrain the disordered rotation of the particles, yielding well-oriented JNP chains in a long range.

Passive silicon on-chip optic accelerometer for low frequency vibration detection.

In this article, a fiber optic accelerometer based on a Fabry-Perot interferometer is presented and prepared by micromachining on a silicon substrate. The inertial sensing structure of the accelerometer is built by a center block mass and four folded springs with a high thickness-to-width ratio, providing an in-plane resonance vibration. The miniature-sized sensor has large flexibility in structural design and its acceleration response can be predicted by theoretical estimation and finite element simulation.

Miniature tri-axis accelerometer based on fiber optic Fabry-Pérot interferometer.

A fiber optic accelerometer with a high sensitivity, low noise, and compact size is proposed for low-frequency acceleration sensing. The sensor is composed of a 20 mm diameter spherical outer frame and a three-dimensional spring-mass structure as the inertial sensing element. Three Fabry-Pérot interferometers (FPI) are formed between flat fiber facets and cubic mass surfaces to measure the FPI cavity length change caused by acceleration.

3D Optical Heterostructure Patterning by Spatially Allocating Nanoblocks on a Printed Matrix.

Heterostructures have attracted enormous interest due to the properties arising from the coupling and synergizing between multiscale structures and the promising applications in electronics, mechanics, and optics. However, it is challenging for current technologies to precisely integrate cross-scale micro/nanomaterials in three dimensions (3D). Herein, we realize the precise spatial allocation of nanoblocks on micromatrices and programmable 3D optical heterostructure patterning via printing-assisted self-assembly.

Influence of Surfacing Fe-Based Alloy Layers on Wire Arc Additive Manufactured Ni-Based Superalloys Material on Its Microstructure and Wear Properties.

Wire arc additively manufactured (WAAM) Ni-based materials have good properties but are costly and hard to cut, leading to difficulties in machining after welding and wasting the materials. To overcome these shortcomings, this work proposes a method of surfacing Fe-based alloy layers on WAAM Ni-based material. The effect of this method on the microstructure and wear properties of WAAM Ni-based materials is discussed.

A Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza reassortant virus became pathogenic and highly transmissible due to mutations in its PA gene.

Previous studies have shown that the Eurasian avian-like H1N1 (EA H1N1) swine influenza viruses circulated widely in pigs around the world and formed multiple genotypes by acquiring non-hemagglutinin and neuraminidase segments derived from other swine influenza viruses. Swine influenza control is not a priority for the pig industry in many countries, and it is worrisome that some strains may become more pathogenic and/or transmissible during their circulation in nature. Our routine surveillance indicated that the EA H1N1 viruses obtained different internal genes from different swine influenza viruses and formed various new genotypes.

Four-wavelength quadrature phase demodulation technique for extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors.

In this Letter, we report a four-wavelength quadrature phase demodulation technique for extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) sensors and dynamic signals. Four interferometric signals are obtained from four different laser wavelengths. A wavelength interval of four wavelengths is chosen according to the free spectrum range (FSR) of EFPI sensors to generate two groups of anti-phase signals and two groups of orthogonal signals.

Large-Dynamic-Range and High-Stability Phase Demodulation Technology for Fiber-Optic Michelson Interferometric Sensors.

A large-dynamic-range and high-stability phase demodulation technology for fiber-optic Michelson interferometric sensors is proposed. This technology utilizes two output signals from a 2 × 2 fiber-optic coupler, the interferometric phase difference of which is π. A linear-fitting trigonometric-identity-transformation differential cross-multiplication (LF-TIT-DCM) algorithm is used to interrogate the phase signal from the two output signals from the coupler.

A Direct Writing Approach for Organic Semiconductor Single-Crystal Patterns with Unique Orientation.

Organic semiconductor single-crystal (OSSC) patterns with precisely controlled orientation are of great significance to the integrated fabrication of devices with high and uniform performance. However, it is still challenging to achieve purely oriented OSSC patterns due to the complex nucleation and growth process of OSSCs. Here, a general direct writing approach is presented to readily obtain high-quality OSSC patterns with unique orientation.

Sensitivity enhanced fiber optic hydrophone based on an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer for low-frequency underwater acoustic sensing.

A miniaturized fiber optic hydrophone (FOH) based on a composite metal diaphragm with an air back cavity and a high finesse extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) scheme for low-frequency underwater acoustic sensing is proposed and experimentally demonstrated in this paper. A composite metal diaphragm is used to improve the stability of the hydrophone. A balance channel is used to equilibrate the hydrostatic pressure and maintain an air cavity, which improves the mechanical sensitivity.

Computational Insights Into the Effects of the R190K and N121Q Mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Complex With Biliverdin.

The SARS-CoV-2 spike has been regarded as the main target of antibody design against COVID-19. Two single-site mutations, R190K and N121Q, were deemed to weaken the binding affinity of biliverdin although the underlying molecular mechanism is still unknown. Meanwhile, the effect of the two mutations on the conformational changes of "lip" and "gate" loops was also elusive.

Passive Homodyne Phase Demodulation Technique Based on LF-TIT-DCM Algorithm for Interferometric Sensors.

A passive homodyne phase demodulation technique based on a linear-fitting trigonometric-identity-transformation differential cross-multiplication (LF-TIT-DCM) algorithm is proposed. This technique relies on two interferometric signals whose interferometric phase difference is odd times of π. It is able to demodulate phase signals with a large dynamic range and wide frequency band.

Genetic and biological characteristics of the globally circulating H5N8 avian influenza viruses and the protective efficacy offered by the poultry vaccine currently used in China.

The H5N8 avian influenza viruses have been widely circulating in wild birds and are responsible for the loss of over 33 million domestic poultry in Europe, Russia, Middle East, and Asia since January 2020. To monitor the invasion and spread of the H5N8 virus in China, we performed active surveillance by analyzing 317 wild bird samples and swab samples collected from 41,172 poultry all over the country. We isolated 22 H5N8 viruses from wild birds and 14 H5N8 viruses from waterfowls.

A Novel Intronic Circular RNA Antagonizes Influenza Virus by Absorbing a microRNA That Degrades CREBBP and Accelerating IFN-β Production.

Virus-host interactions are complicated processes, and multiple cellular proteins promote or inhibit viral replication through different mechanisms. Recent progress has implicated circular RNAs (circRNAs) in cancer biology and progression; however, the role of circRNAs in viral infection remains largely unclear. Here, we detected 11,620 circRNAs in A549 cells and found that 411 of them were differentially expressed in influenza virus-infected A549 cells.

A Bubble-Assisted Approach for Patterning Nanoscale Molecular Aggregates.

We demonstrate a new approach to pattern functional organic molecules with a template of foams, and achieve a resolution of sub 100 nm. The bubble-assisted assembly (BAA) process is consisted of two periods, including bubble evolution and molecular assembly, which are dominated by the Laplace pressure and molecular interactions, respectively. Using TPPS (meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin), we systematically investigate the patterns and assembly behaviour in the bubble system with a series of characterizations, which show good uniformity in nanoscale resolution.

Evolution and extensive reassortment of H5 influenza viruses isolated from wild birds in China over the past decade.

Lethal infection of wild birds with different subtypes of H5 viruses continuously occur. To investigate the genetic evolution and pathogenicity of H5 viruses in wild birds, we performed a detailed genetic and biologic analysis of 27 viruses, including H5N1, H5N2, H5N6, and H5N8 subtypes, that were responsible for avian influenza outbreaks in wild birds in China over the past decade. We found that these 27 viruses, bearing different clades/subclades of HA, were complicated reassortants and formed 12 different genotypes.

Micromachined extrinsic Fabry-Pérot cavity for low-frequency acoustic wave sensing.

In this work we demonstrate a low-frequency acoustic sensor structure based on extrinsic Fabry-Pérot interferometer (EFPI) cavity. The cavity is fabricated through micromachining techniques in a square silicon substrate with 4 mm side length and 400 μm thickness, which gives the sensor relative compact size. In the assembling process of the lead-in fiber, a D-shaped ceramic ferrule is designed to achieve the open cavity structure, which can balance the environmental pressure inside and outside the cavity and thus giving the sensor potentials of resisting strong pressure variations in some harsh application environments.

Rapid Evolution of H7N9 Highly Pathogenic Viruses that Emerged in China in 2017.

H7N9 low pathogenic influenza viruses emerged in China in 2013 and mutated to highly pathogenic strains in 2017, resulting in human infections and disease in chickens. To control spread, a bivalent H5/H7 inactivated vaccine was introduced in poultry in September 2017. To monitor virus evolution and vaccine efficacy, we collected 53,884 poultry samples across China from February 2017 to January 2018.