Preparation and Evaluation of PVDF-HFP-Based Gel Electrolyte for Ge-Sensitized Thermal Cell.

The semiconductor-sensitized thermal cell (STC) is a new thermoelectric conversion technology. The development of nonliquid electrolytes is the top priority for the practical application of the STC. In this study, a novel gel polymer electrolyte (PH-based GPE) composed of poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PH), 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and Cu ions was synthesized and applied to the STC system. The PH-based GPE synthesized at 45 °C showed higher open-circuit voltage (-0.3 V), short-circuit current density (59 µA cm-2) and diffusion coefficient (7.82 × 10-12 m2 s-1), indicating that a well-balanced structure among the NMP molecules was formed to generate a high-efficiency conduction path of the Cu ions. Moreover, the ion diffusion lengths decreased with decreasing content rates of NMP for the PH-based GPEs, indicating that the NMP plays an important role in the diffusion of Cu ions. Furthermore, the activation energy was calculated to be 107 kJ mol-1, and that was smaller compared to 150 kJ mol-1 for the poly(ethylene glycol)-based liquid electrolyte. These results play an important reference role in the development of electrolytes for STC systems. At the same time, they also provide a new avenue and reference indicator for the synthesis of high-performance and safe GPEs.

Preparation of cerium molybdates and their antiviral activity against bacteriophage Φ6 and SARS-CoV-2.

Two cerium molybdates (Ce2Mo3O12 and γ-Ce2Mo3O13) were prepared using either polymerizable complex method or hydrothermal process. The obtained powders were almost single-phase with different cerium valence. Both samples were found to have antiviral activity against bacteriophage Φ6. Especially, γ-Ce2Mo3O13 exhibited high antiviral activity against both bacteriophage Φ6 and SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. A synergetic effect of Ce and molybdate ion was inferred along with the specific surface area as key factors for antiviral activity.

Effects of cerium and tungsten substitution on antiviral and antibacterial properties of lanthanum molybdate.

Powders of cerium (Ce)-substituted and tungsten (W)-substituted La2Mo2O9 (LMO) were prepared using polymerizable complex method. Their antiviral and antibacterial performances were then evaluated using bacteriophage Qß, bacteriophage Φ6, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The obtained powders, which were almost single-phase, exhibited both antiviral and antibacterial properties. Effects of dissolved ions on their antiviral activity against bacteriophage Qß were remarkable. A certain contribution of direct contact to the powder surface was also inferred along with the dissolved ion effect for antiviral activity against bacteriophage Φ6. Dissolved ion effects and pH values suggest that both Mo and W are in the form of polyacids. Antiviral activity against bacteriophage Φ6 was improved by substituting Ce for La in LMO. Similarly to LMO, Ce-substituted LMO exhibited hydrophobicity. Inactivation of alkaline phosphatase enzyme proteins was inferred as one mechanism of the antiviral and antibacterial activities of the obtained powders.

Aluminium metal-insulator-metal structure fabricated by the bottom-up approach.

Plasmonic color is an elegant color resulting from light absorption and emission induced by collective oscillation of free electrons in a metal and enables unprecedented new color expression. In particular, Al plasmonic color is highly desirable because of the low cost and high stability of Al. Here, we report a new cost-effective, wide-area fabrication method for an Al metal-insulator-metal (MIM) plasmonic nanostructure using a vapor deposition and sintering process.

Preparation of hydrophobic La2Mo2O9 ceramics with antibacterial and antiviral properties.

After powder of La2Mo2O9 (LMO) was prepared using complex polymerization, dense sintered bodies (96% relative density) of LMO were obtained from the powder through pressureless sintering in a synthesized air atmosphere. The water contact angle of the LMO ceramics increased gradually during storage in ambient air. It reached 93.6 ± 3.0° in 624 h. Results of XPS analysis and ozone treatment suggest that organic substances in ambient air adsorbed onto the LMO surface during storage. Measurements of antibacterial (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and antiviral (bacteriophage Qß and bacteriophage Φ6) activities of LMO revealed that their survival rates decreased more than 99.9% within 6 h. Based on results obtained using dissolved ion contact method and from comparison of the antibacterial and antiviral activities with La2O3 and MoO3, one can infer that the synergistic effect of La2O3 and MoO3 plays an important role in the high antibacterial and antiviral activity of LMO.

Work of breathing using different interfaces in spontaneous positive pressure ventilation: helmet, face-mask, and endotracheal tube.

PURPOSE: Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) using a helmet is expected to cause inspiratory trigger delay due to the large collapsible and compliant chamber. We compared the work of breathing (WOB) of NPPV using a helmet or a full face-mask with that of invasive ventilation by tracheal intubation. METHODS: We used a lung model capable of simulating spontaneous breathing (LUNGOO; Air Water Inc., Japan). LUNGOO was set at compliance (C) = 50 mL/cmH2O and resistance (R) = 5 cmH2O/L/s for normal lung simulation, C = 20 mL/cmH2O and R = 5 cmH2O/L/s for restrictive lung, and C = 50 mL/cmH2O and R = 20 cmH2O/L/s for obstructive lung. Muscle pressure was fixed at 25 cmH2O and respiratory rate at 20 bpm. Pressure support ventilation and continuous positive airway pressure were performed with each interface placed on a dummy head made of reinforced plastic that was connected to LUNGOO. We tested the inspiratory WOB difference between the interfaces with various combinations of ventilator settings (positive end-expiratory pressure 5 cmH2O; pressure support 0, 5, and 10 cmH2O). RESULTS: In the normal lung and restrictive lung models, WOB decreased more with the face-mask than the helmet, especially when accompanied by the level of pressure support. In the obstructive lung model, WOB with the helmet decreased compared with the other two interfaces. In the mixed lung model, there were no significant differences in WOB between the three interfaces. CONCLUSION: NPPV using a helmet is more effective than the other interfaces for WOB in obstructive lung disease.

Change in auditory evoked potential index and bispectral index during induction of anesthesia with anesthetic drugs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the auditory evoked potential (AEP) index (aepEX) as an assessment tool for hypnosis during induction of various anesthetic drugs, and to compare its performance to that of the bispectral index (BIS). A total of 45 cases were divided into three groups based on the drugs used for anesthesia. Before anesthetic induction, BIS and AEP monitors were initiated. Anesthesia was induced through intravenous injection (IV) as follows: MP (n = 15) group, midazolam (0.1 mg/kg IV); TP (n = 15) group, thiopental (4 mg/kg IV); and KP (n = 15) group, ketamine (2 mg/kg IV). After loss of response (LOR), an infusion of 3 µg/ml propofol via a target-controlled infusion was initiated in all groups. AepEX and BIS were measured in the waking state (baseline) and at LOR (1 min after LOR), pre-intubation (1 min after previous intubation) and post-intubation (1 min after tracheal intubation finished). The value of aepEX significantly decreased in all groups with LOR and that of BIS also decreased except of KP group. No significant difference were observed in BIS values between baseline and LOR in the KS group. The aepEX might be more useful than BIS for hypnosis monitoring during anesthetic induction, particularly when drugs such as ketamine are used.

Defective black TiOTiO2 synthesized via anodization for visible-light photocatalysis.

Defective TiO(2-x) was synthesized via a facile anodization technique. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra confirmed the presence of oxygen vacancy, which extended the photon-absorbance deeply into the visible-light region. By stripping off the nanotubes on top, a hexagonally dimpled layer of black TiO(2-x) was exposed and exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activity.

Sliding of water droplets on smooth hydrophobic silane coatings with regular triangle hydrophilic regions.

The effect of the triangular pinning region on the sliding of water droplets on the smooth hydrophobic surface was investigated. Smooth hydrophobic silane coatings with various regular triangle hydrophilic regions were prepared using photolithography and octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODS). The hydrophilic area in the surfaces was aligned hexagonally with a constant area fraction. Thereby water contact angles of the coatings were almost equivalent. The water droplet sliding velocity increased continuously with increasing pattern size. Anisotropic sliding velocity was observed on the surface, suggesting different pinning effects. The sliding motion of water droplets on the gradient surface with changing hydrophilic region size deflects against the downward direction. The deflection length depends on the direction of triangle hydrophilic regions and the initial sliding position. These results demonstrate that control of the sliding velocity while sustaining the static contact angle is feasible by designing the shape and alignment of chemical heterogeneity.

Six-rayed star-like nanostructures in prospective plasmonic devices.

A six-rayed star-like nanostructure was prepared by a combination of colloidal self-assembly, thermal sintering and chemical etching, which enables the tuning of both size of the particles and neck diameter. In this nanostructure, six nanotips are arrayed in a symmetric and planar arrangement on a spherical particle. Localized surface plasmon resonance characteristics were also clarified.

Sliding of water droplets on hydrophobic surfaces with various hydrophilic region sizes.

Four patterned surfaces with hydrophilic areas of different sizes were prepared using photolithography with a smooth octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODS) hydrophobic coating. The hydrophilic area in the surfaces was aligned hexagonally with a constant area fraction. The sliding angle and contact angle hysteresis of the water droplets increased concomitantly with increasing pattern size. The increase of the contact line distortion between defects at the receding side plays an important role in this trend. The droplet sliding velocity also increased concomitantly with increasing pattern size. This trend was simulated by a simple flow model. The contribution of the interface between the ODS region and the hydrophilic area was deduced from this trend. This study demonstrated the different size dependency of the chemical surface defects for sliding behavior between the critical moment at which a droplet slides down and the period when a droplet is sliding.

Calculation of photonic energy bands of TiO2 hollow spherical arrays.

The photonic energy bands of titanium dioxide (TiO2) hollow spherical arrays, which are self-assembled photonic crystals, were investigated. The finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method was applied to both the face-centred-cubic (fcc) and body-centred-cubic (bcc) packing structures of TiO2 hollow spherical arrays to determine the energy bands from the perspective of photoelectrode applications. Calculations were carried out on the basis of the TiO2 shell wall thickness. The spectral behaviour of light in the hollow spherical arrays was also studied, with particular interest devoted to the pseudogap found in one of the structures. A three-dimensional (3D) TiO2 hollow spherical array was then experimentally synthesized in three steps: the preparation of synthetic opal templates, replication by spin coating, and sintering. The diffuse scattering spectrum of the obtained array was finally measured and compared with the calculated photonic band structure.

[Cerebral infarction associated with esophagectomy: a report of a case].

We report a case of cerebral infarction developed either during or immediately after an operation. A 71-year-old man with esophageal cancer and a history of hypertension and asymptomatic cerebral infarction underwent right thoracolaparotomy for a subtotal esophagectomy. Anesthesia was maintained with a combination of 2% sevoflurane in oxygen and epidural analgesia using 2% mepivacaine. The operation was uneventful and the patient was transferred to ICU with the tracheal tube in place. On removal of the tracheal tube the next day the patient was unable to speak and his grip power of the right hand was weak. On CT a cerebral infarction was found in the left frontal lobe. A left carotid echogram showed a 90% constriction. The occlusion of the middle cerebral artery by an embolus detached from the constricted origin of the carotid artery was thought a most probable cause of the cerebral infarction. The presence of a carotid constriction must be explored preoperatively in aged patients scheduled to undergo extensive manipulations in the neck

Coupling of wrinkle patterns to microsphere-array lithographic patterns.

We report a method to modulate spontaneously formed microwrinkle patterns on a metal-capped elastomer surface by introducing lithographic patterns (structures) on the original surface as spatial triggers for directed wrinkling. The lithographic patterns are designed to have approximately the same lateral length scales as the characteristic wavelength of the microwrinkles by utilizing self-assembled two-dimensional microsphere arrays with hexagonal packing as a lithographic mask. When the lateral periodicity of the lithographic pattern is close to the wavelength of wrinkles, a novel directional order originating from the hexagonal packing of microspheres is induced. Otherwise, the wrinkle crests tend to form along the small ridges of the lithographic structure. The compression direction-dependent and reversible ordering of wrinkle patterns by compressive strain is also found for patterns with directional order.

Influence of substrate on self-assembled photonic crystal.

Freestanding monolayers of two-dimensional particle arrays, in which fine particles are two-dimensionally self-assembled in a highly oriented manner, was prepared to examine the influence of substrate on the transmission spectra of 2D particle array; as a result, the spectrum of the freestanding 2D particle array has less noise than that of the 2D particle array on the substrate, and besides, agree with the theoretical result particularly in the near-field discussion.

Intranasal immunization with formalin-inactivated virus vaccine induces a broad spectrum of heterosubtypic immunity against influenza A virus infection in mice.

It has been known that influenza A virus infection induces a cross-protective immunity against infection by viruses with different subtypes of viral envelope proteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). This heterosubtypic immunity is generally mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) reactive to specific epitopes in the viral internal proteins, such as nucleoprotein and matrix protein. By contrast, immunization with inactivated virus antigens has been thought to be unable to generate heterosubtypic immunity, since inactivated antigens do not usually induce CTL responses. However, we show that intranasal immunization with formalin-inactivated intact virus, but not ether-split vaccines, induced a broad spectrum of heterosubtypic protective immunity in mice. The protection may be mediated by the mucosal immune response, most likely secretory IgA antibodies to the viral proteins. This approach may overcome limitations in the efficacy of inactivated influenza vaccines and confer potent immunity to humans against viruses with new pandemic potential.