Scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy probe for in situ mechanism study of graphene‐oxide‐based resistive random access memory

Here, an in situ probe for scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy (STXM) has been developed and applied to the study of the bipolar resistive switching (BRS) mechanism in an Al/graphene oxide (GO)/Al resistive random access memory (RRAM) device. To perform in situ STXM studies at the C K‐ and O K‐edges, both the RRAM junctions and the I₀ junction were fabricated on a single Si₃N₄ membrane to obtain local XANES spectra at these absorption edges with more delicate I₀ normalization. Using this probe combined with the synchrotron‐based STXM technique, it was possible to observe unique chemical changes involved in the BRS process of the Al/GO/Al RRAM device. Reversible oxidation and reduction of GO induced by the externally applied bias voltages were observed at the O K‐edge XANES feature located at 538.2 eV, which strongly supported the oxygen ion drift model that was recently proposed from ex situ transmission electron microscope studies.     

Preparation and characterization of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 /Al-doped ZnO thin film heterojunctions

In this study, p–n heterojunctions with La_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ (LSCO) and Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films were fabricated by the radio frequency (r.f.) magnetron sputtering technique. The LSCO/AZO heterojunction was obtained by stacking the p-type LSCO thin film on the annealed n-type AZO thin film under different Ar: O₂ sputter gas ratio atmosphere. The thickness of LSCO and AZO thin films are about 400 nm and 500 nm, respectively. Good crystalline match between LSCO and AZO films was observed from the SEM and XRD analysis. The heterojunction diode clearly demonstrated rectifying behavior in the range of ?8 to +8 V in reverse shape. The turn-on voltage of the diodes is obtained around 1.5 V and is in agreement with the value obtained from the difference in the work functions of LSCO and AZO. The band structure of the heterojunction was proposed based on the results of analysis.     

Farthest-point queries with geometric and combinatorial constraints

In this paper we discuss farthest-point problems in which a set or sequence S of n points in the plane is given in advance and can be preprocessed to answer various queries efficiently. First, we give a data structure that can be used to compute the point farthest from a query line segment in O(log²n) time. Our data structure needs O(nlogn) space and preprocessing time. To the best of our knowledge no solution to this problem has been suggested yet. Second, we show how to use this data structure to obtain an output-sensitive query-based algorithm for polygonal path simplification. Both results are based on a series of data structures for fundamental farthest-point queries that can be reduced to each other.     

Linear-cavity fiber laser using subring-cavity incorporated saturable absorber for single-frequency operation

By using a subring cavity incorporated with a saturable absorber, a stable single-frequency selection is realized in a linear-cavity fiber laser, which is constructed using a broadband fiber mirror and a partial reflectance fiber Bragg grating as the cavity ends. At 1550.33 nm, the laser has an optical signal-to-noise-ratio of >53.28 dB and with linewidth less than 1 MHz. The pumping efficiency is 25% improved by recycling the residual pump power to gain medium. The power stability and wavelength stability have also been studied.     

Laser-driven high-resolution patterning of indium tin oxide thin film for electronic device

We here introduce a laser-driven process to pattern transparent thin films on transparent substrates. This method utilizes a pre-patterned metal film as the dynamic release layer and the transparent thin film is selectively removed by a thermo-elastic force laser-induced in the underlying metal layer. High-fidelity indium tin oxide (ITO) thin film patterns were fabricated on plastic and glass substrates using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Tens of square centimeters could be patterned with several pulse shots. We fabricated a pentacene thin film transistor with ITO source and drain electrodes and observed a very low off-current level. This tells that the channel area between ITO electrodes was completely etched out by this laser-driven process. Combined with the absence of photoresist and chemical etching steps, this method provides a simple high-resolution route to pattern transparent thin films over large areas at low temperatures.     

Cathode-sheath driven low-speed aerodynamic flow actuation using direct-current surface glow discharges

Flow actuation by a continuous/pulsed, direct-current (DC) surface glow discharge is explored. The discharge comprises an array of pin electrode pairs flush mounted on a dielectric actuator surface that lies adjacent to stagnant air. Strong electrostatic fields produced in the cathode sheath region of the discharge provides a motive force on the ions which in turn drag the background gas resulting in directed air flow from the anode to the cathode. The induced flow velocity is estimated by particle image velocimetry (PIV) at 10 Hz with TiO₂ seeding. For a pulsed DC discharge with peak power of 5 W per electrode pair, the induced flow velocity reaches peak values of about 1.7 m/s which is comparable to dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) or corona discharge actuators. The actuation effect quantified by the magnitude of induced velocity increases as the pulse frequency increases from 0 to 1 kHz. The actuation effect decreases for further increase in frequency above 1 kHz. Decreased actuation effect at high frequency is accompanied by structural change in the discharge. At fixed frequency of 1 kHz, flow actuation effect is highest for a square wave pulse with a duty cycle of 50% indicating that pulsed DC discharges produces better actuation than continuous DC with a corresponding reduction in energy consumption.     

Management of branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: observation with MR imaging

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of conservative management by observation with MRI of patients with branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs).

Materials and Methods

Twenty-three consecutive patients, who were followed up by MRI with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) over a period of more than 9 months after initial MRI examinations, were enrolled in this study. On MRI, number of lesions, the maximum diameter of BD-IPMNs, lesion location, the presence of associated dilatation of main pancreatic duct (MPD), the presence of enhancing mural nodules within the lesion and the presence of interval change were retrospectively reviewed on initial and follow-up MR images in consensus by two radiologists. All patients were evaluated to search for evidence of malignant progression of disease.

Results

The follow-up period ranged from 10 to 96 months (mean, 37 months). On initial MRI with MRCP, a total of 39 lesions were found in 23 patients. The maximum diameter of BD-IPMNs ranged between 6 and 32 mm, with a mean of 12 mm. Thirty-four lesions (87%) of 19 patients remained unchanged in the maximum diameter. Five lesions (13%) of four patients showed an increase in the maximum diameter. Enhancing mural nodules were not found in any individual, neither on the initial MRI study nor on the follow-up studies. There was no patient who had evidence of local aggressive growth of tumor or evidence of metastases to distant sites.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that branch-duct IPMNs without enhancing mural nodules are essentially benign and should be managed nonoperatively through observation by MRI.     

In-Solution Derivatization and Headspace Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry for 56 Carbonyl Compounds in Tobacco Heating Products,Traditional Tobacco Products and Flavoring Capsules

Chromatographia - Optimal derivatization conditions were established for the simultaneous determination of 12 aliphatic saturated aldehydes, 8 aliphatic saturated ketones, 4 cyclic ketones, 3...     

Absorption, first-pass metabolism, and disposition of itraconazole in rats

This study examined the pharmacokinetic disposition, oral absorption and hepatic extraction of itraconazole and its active metabolite, hydroxyitraconazole, in rats. After i.v. injection, serum itraconazole concentrations decreased biexponentially, with an average terminal elimination half-life, volume of distribution and systemic clearance of 4.9 h, 6.0 l/kg and 14.2 ml/min/kg, respectively. When given orally, its absorption was low, with a mean absolute bioavailability of 16.6%. The metabolite to parent drug area under the curve (AUC) ratio was higher after oral administration compared with i.v. injection (mean ratio, 2.7 vs. 0.9). The hepatic drug extraction ratio determined after femoral and portal vein administration averaged 18.5%. When hydroxyitraconazole was injected i.v., the elimination half-life, volume of distribution and systemic clearance of itraconazole averaged 10.0 h, 2.4 l/kg and 3.4 ml/min/kg, respectively. The fraction of the systemically available itraconazole that was metabolized to hydroxyitraconazole was 21.0% and 76.0% after i.v. and oral administration, respectively. In summary, this study is the first reporting the hepatic extraction of itraconazole and the i.v. disposition characteristics of hydroxyitraconazole in rats. Itraconazole is a drug with a low hepatic extraction ratio and its systemic clearance appears to be largely accounted for by hepatic metabolism.     

Tuning Local Coordination Environments of Manganese Single-Atom Nanozymes with Multi-Enzyme Properties for Selective Colorimetric Biosensing

Single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes) are promising in next-generation nanozymes, nevertheless, how to rationally modulate the microenvironment of SAzymes with controllable multi-enzyme properties is still challenging. Herein, we systematically investigate the relationship between atomic configuration and multi-enzymatic performances. The constructed Mn_SA−N₃-coordinated SAzymes (Mn_SA−N₃−C) exhibits much more remarkable oxidase-, peroxidase-, and glutathione oxidase-like activities than that of Mn_SA−N₄−C. Based on experimental and theoretical results, these multi-enzyme-like behaviors are highly dependent on the coordination number of single atomic Mn sites by local charge polarization. As a consequence, a series of colorimetric biosensing platforms based on Mn_SA−N₃−C SAzymes is successfully built for specific recognition of biological molecules. These findings provide atomic-level insight into the microenvironment of nanozymes, promoting rational design of other demanding biocatalysts.