Multilayer Transfer Printing for Pixelated, Multicolor Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes.

Here, we report multilayer stacking of films of quantum dots (QDs) for the purpose of tailoring the energy band alignment between charge transport layers and light emitting layers of different color in quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QD LED) for maximum efficiency in full color operation. The performance of QD LEDs formed by transfer printing compares favorably to that of conventional devices fabricated by spin-casting. Results indicate that zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) can serve effectively as electron transport layers (ETLs) for red and green/blue QD LEDs, respectively.

Enzymatic formation of carbohydrate rings catalyzed by single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Macrocyclic carbohydrate rings were formed via enzymatic reactions around single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as a catalyst. Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase, starch substrate and SWNTs were reacted in buffer solution to yield cyclodextrin (CD) rings wrapped around individual SWNTs. Atomic force microscopy showed the resulting complexes to be rings of 12-50 nm in diameter, which were highly soluble and dispersed in aqueous solution.

Porous cationic polymers: the impact of counteranions and charges on CO2 capture and conversion.

Porous cationic polymers (PCPs) with surface areas up to 755 m(2) g(-1) bearing positively charged viologen units in their backbones and different counteranions have been prepared. We have demonstrated that by simply varying counteranions both gas sorption and catalytic properties of PCPs can be tuned for metal-free capture and conversion of CO2 into value-added products such as cyclic carbonates with excellent yields.

Vibrational solvatochromism. III. Rigorous treatment of the dispersion interaction contribution.

A rigorous first principles theory of vibrational solvatochromism including the intermolecular dispersion interaction, which is based on the effective fragment potential method, is developed. The present theory is an extended version of our previous vibrational solvatochromism model that took into account the Coulomb, exchange-repulsion, and induction interactions. We show that the frequency shifts of the amide I mode of N-methylacetamide in H2O and CDCl3, when combined with molecular dynamics simulations, can be quantitatively reproduced by the theory, which indicates that the dispersion interaction contribution to the vibrational frequency shift is not always negligibly small.

Salmonella typhimurium Suppresses Tumor Growth via the Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Interleukin-1β.

Although strains of attenuated Salmonella typhimurium and wild-type Escherichia coli show similar tumor-targeting capacities, only S. typhimurium significantly suppresses tumor growth in mice. The aim of the present study was to examine bacteria-mediated immune responses by conducting comparative analyses of the cytokine profiles and immune cell populations within tumor tissues colonized by E.

Adaptation of cortical activity to sustained pressure stimulation on the fingertip.

Background: Tactile adaptation is a phenomenon of the sensory system that results in temporal desensitization after an exposure to sustained or repetitive tactile stimuli. Previous studies reported psychophysical and physiological adaptation where perceived intensity and mechanoreceptive afferent signals exponentially decreased during tactile adaptation. Along with these studies, we hypothesized that somatosensory cortical activity in the human brain also exponentially decreased during tactile adaptation.

Identification of β-Lapachone Analogs as Novel MALT1 Inhibitors To Treat an Aggressive Subtype of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

The treatment of activated B cell-like DLBCL (ABC-DLBCL) is one of the urgent unmet medical needs because it is the most resistant DLBCL subtype to current therapies eagerly awaiting effective therapeutic strategies. Recently, the paracaspase MALT1 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of ABC-DLBCL. Herein, we report a new class of MALT1 inhibitors developed by high-throughput screening and structure-based drug design.

Highly durable and unidirectionally stooped polymeric nanohairs for gecko-like dry adhesive.

Gecko-like dry adhesive using high aspect ratio polymeric nanohairs has insuperable limitations, although it has huge potential in many applications. Repeated harsh contacts on a target substrate lead to physical collapse of nanohairs and significant degradation of the adhesion property, because the polymeric nanohairs are quite fragile due to poor mechanical robustness. Herein, we demonstrate a highly robust gecko-like dry adhesive with unidirectionally stooped polymeric nanohairs (diameter 100 nm) with a high aspect ratio (∼9) using an ultrathin metal coating.

Nano "Chocolate Waffle" for near-IR Responsive Drug Releasing System.

A majority of the photo-responsive drug-delivery systems that are currently being studied require a complicated synthesis method. Here, we prepare a near-infrared responsive, photothermally controllable, drug-delivery carrier by a simple mixing and extraction process without the incorporation of toxic chemicals. A blend of doxorubicin (DOX), an anticancer drug, and a phase-change material (PCM) are loaded onto the mesoporous structure of silica-coated graphene oxide (GO@MS) to form a waffle-like structure, which is confirmed by various physicochemical analyses.

Prevention of sulfur diffusion using MoS2-intercalated 3D-nanostructured graphite for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

We report new three-dimensional (3D)-nanostructured MoS2-carbonaceous materials in which MoS2 sheets are intercalated between the graphite layers that possess a multiply repeated graphite/MoS2/graphite structure which prevents the aggregation of MoS2 and diffusion of sulfur from carbonaceous materials, enhancing the cycling stability of Li-ion batteries. We developed an efficient and scalable process applicable to mass production for synthesizing non-aggregated MoS2-intercalated 3D hybrid-nanostructured graphite based on stress induced and microwave irradiation. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photospectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analyses demonstrated that the as-synthesized materials consisted of MoS2-intercalated 3D hybrid-nanostructured graphite platelets that had a multiply repeated graphite/MoS2/graphite structure.

Visible light-induced singlet oxygen-mediated intracellular disassembly of polymeric micelles co-loaded with a photosensitizer and an anticancer drug for enhanced photodynamic therapy.

Herein, we report a biocompatible amphiphilic block copolymer micelle bearing a singlet oxygen-sensitive vinyldithioether cleavable linker at the core-shell junction, which undergoes singlet oxygen-mediated photocleavage in the presence of visible light. The micelle facilitates the light-responsive release of singlet oxygen and an anticancer drug for enhanced photodynamic therapy.

Water-soluble thin film transistors and circuits based on amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide.

This paper presents device designs, circuit demonstrations, and dissolution kinetics for amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin film transistors (TFTs) comprised completely of water-soluble materials, including SiNx, SiOx, molybdenum, and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Collections of these types of physically transient a-IGZO TFTs and 5-stage ring oscillators (ROs), constructed with them, show field effect mobilities (∼10 cm2/Vs), on/off ratios (∼2×10(6)), subthreshold slopes (∼220 mV/dec), Ohmic contact properties, and oscillation frequency of 5.67 kHz at supply voltages of 19 V, all comparable to otherwise similar devices constructed in conventional ways with standard, nontransient materials.

Iridium(III)-catalyzed C-H amidation of arylphosphoryls leading to a P-stereogenic center.

Direct CH amidation of arylphosphoryl compounds has been developed by using an Ir(III) catalyst system under mild conditions. A wide range of substrates could be employed with high functional-group tolerance. This procedure was successfully applied for the first time to the asymmetric reaction giving rise to a P-chirogenic center with a high diastereomeric ratio of up to 19:1 (90 % de).

Thermopower enhancement by fractional layer control in 2D oxide superlattices.

Precise tuning of the 2D carrier density by using fractional δ-doping of d electrons improves the thermoelectric properties of oxide heterostructures. This promising result can be attributed to the anisotropic band structure in the 2D system, indicating that δ-doped oxide superlattices are good candidates for advanced thermoelectrics.

AgSbF₆-controlled diastereodivergence in alkyne hydroarylation: facile access to Z- and E-alkenyl arenes.

AgSbF6-controlled diastereodivergent hydroarylation reactions were developed. Unprecedented and remarkable switching of the E/Z-stereoselectivity could be obtained by adjusting the AgSbF6 loading.

N-Substituted hydroxylamines as synthetically versatile amino sources in the iridium-catalyzed mild C-H amidation reaction.

N-Substituted hydroxylamines such as aroyloxy- or acyloxycarbamates were successfully employed as synthetically versatile amino precursors in the iridium-catalyzed direct C-H amidation of arenes. The reaction proceeds smoothly at room temperature over a broad range of substrates with high functional group tolerance to afford N-substituted arylamine products.

Iridium-catalyzed C-H amination with anilines at room temperature: compatibility of iridacycles with external oxidants.

Described herein is the development of an iridium-catalyzed direct C-H amination of benzamides with anilines at room temperature, representing a unique example of an Ir catalyst system that is compatible with external oxidants. Mechanistic details, such as the isolation and characterization of key iridacycle intermediates, are also discussed.

Chelation-assisted hydroesterification of alkenes: new ruthenium catalyst systems and ligand effects.

New types of ruthenium catalysts were developed for the chelation-assisted intermolecular olefin hydroesterification that employs 2-pyridylmethyl formate as an ester source. Two classes of ligands, NHCs and phosphines, were found to facilitate the reaction delivering isomeric ester products (linear versus branched) with different ratios, thus allowing access to ligand-guided selective hydroesterification.

Knitted fabrics made from highly conductive stretchable fibers.

We report knitted fabrics made from highly conductive stretchable fibers. The maximum initial conductivity of fibers synthesized by wet spinning was 17460 S cm(-1) with a rupture tensile strain of 50%. The maximum strain could be increased to 490% by decreasing the conductivity to 236 S cm(-1).

Orthogonal reactivity of acyl azides in C-H activation: dichotomy between C-C and C-N amidations based on catalyst systems.

The dual reactivity of acyl azides was utilized successfully in C-H activation by the choice of catalyst systems: while selective C-C amidation was achieved under thermal Rh catalysis, a Ru catalyst was found to mediate direct C-N amidation also highly selectively. Investigations of the mechanistic dichotomy between two catalytic systems are also presented.

Iridium-catalyzed intermolecular amidation of sp³ C-H bonds: late-stage functionalization of an unactivated methyl group.

Reported herein is the iridium-catalyzed direct amidation of unactivated sp(3) C-H bonds. With sulfonyl and acyl azides as the amino source, the amidation occurs efficiently under mild conditions over a wide range of unactivated methyl groups with high functional group tolerance. This procedure can be successfully applied for the direct introduction of an amino group into complex compounds and thus can serve as a powerful synthetic tool for late-stage C-H functionalization.

Iridium-catalyzed direct C-H amidation with weakly coordinating carbonyl directing groups under mild conditions.

An iridium-catalyzed direct C-H amidation of weakly coordinating substrates, in particular of those bearing ester and ketone groups, under very mild conditions has been developed. The observed high reaction efficiency was achieved by the combined use of acetic acid and lithium carbonate as additives.

Mechanistic studies of the rhodium-catalyzed direct C-H amination reaction using azides as the nitrogen source.

Direct C-H amination of arenes offers a straightforward route to aniline compounds without necessitating aryl (pseudo)halides as the starting materials. The recent development in this area, in particular in the metal-mediated transformations, is significant with regard to substrate scope and reaction conditions. Described herein are the mechanistic details on the Rh-catalyzed direct C-H amination reaction using organic azides as the amino source.

Layer-dependent BOLD and CBV-weighted fMRI responses in the rat olfactory bulb.

The olfactory bulb is a laminarized brain structure involved in odor sensation that has important implications to basic neuroscience research, like mechanisms for neurovascular coupling and early disease diagnosis. To investigate laminar-dependent responses to odor exposure, blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) and cerebral blood volume weighted (CBVw) fMRI with iron oxide nanoparticle contrast agent were obtained with 110×110×500μm(3) resolution in urethane-anesthetized rats at 9.4T.

Regiodivergent access to five- and six-membered benzo-fused lactams: Ru-catalyzed olefin hydrocarbamoylation.

We report herein a new strategy of the Ru-catalyzed intramolecular olefin hydrocarbamoylation for the regiodivergent synthesis of five- and six-membered benzo-fused lactams starting from N-(2-alkenylphenyl)formamides. Using a combined catalyst of Ru3(CO)12/Bu4NI in DMSO/toluene cosolvent (catalytic system A), a 5-exo-type cyclization proceeds favorably to form indolin-2-ones as a major product in good to excellent yield. When the reaction was conducted in the absence of halide additives in DMA/PhCl (catalytic system B), 3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-ones were obtained in major in moderate to high yield via a 6-endo cyclization process.