Influence of Solvent and Bridge Structure in Alkylthio‐Substituted Triphenylamine Dyes on the Photovoltaic Properties of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Three new triphenylamine dyes that contain alkylthio‐substituted thiophenes with a low bandgap as a π‐conjugated bridge unit were designed and synthesized for organic dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The effects of the structural differences in terms of the position, number, and shape of the alkylthio substituents in the thiophene bridge on the photophysical properties of the dye and the photovoltaic performance of the DSSC were investigated. The introduction of an alkylthio substituent at the 3‐position of thiophene led to a decrease in the degree of redshift and the value of the molar extinction coefficient of the charge‐transfer band, and the substituent with a bridged structure led to a larger redshift than that of the open‐chain structure. The introduction of bulky and hydrophobic side chains decreased the short‐circuit photocurrent (J_sc), which was caused by the reduced amount of dye adsorbed on TiO₂. This resulted in a decrease in the overall conversion efficiency (η), even though it could improve the open‐circuit voltage (V_oc) due to the retardation of charge recombination. Furthermore, the change in solvents for TiO₂ sensitization had a critical effect on the performance of the resulting DSSCs due to the different amounts of dye adsorbed. Based on the optimized dye bath and molecular structure, the ethylene dithio‐substituted dye ( ATT3 ) showed a prominent solar‐to‐electricity conversion efficiency of 5.20 %.     

Paradoxical uptake of Gd-EOB-DTPA on the hepatobiliary phase in the evaluation of hepatic metastasis from breast cancer: is the “target sign” a common finding?

Purpose

The purpose was to describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of breast cancer liver metastasis using gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) with an emphasis on the added value of the hepatobiliary phase (HBP).

Material and methods

Nine patients with 13 liver metastases were included in the study after the medical records of 29 breast cancer patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI between February 2008 and June 2010 were reviewed. The diagnoses of liver metastasis were established by percutaneous liver biopsy or surgery and on the basis of image findings. Two radiologists retrospectively evaluated signal intensity (SI) and sizes of metastases and patterns of enhancement in an HBP. The SI ratio was calculated as the SI of the central hyperintense portion in “target” lesions divided by the SI of nearby normal liver parenchyma on the HBP. We also measured apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values from Diffusion Weighted Image (DWI).

Results

Liver metastases were all hypointense [n=13/13 (100%)] on T1-weighted imaging (WI), and many lesions had a “target” appearance with a central high SI and a peripheral low SI rim (47%) on T2WI. Dynamic study showed rim enhancement on the arterial phase (85%) and a “target” appearance, consisting of a central enhancing portion with peripheral washout or hypointense rim, on the HBP (62%). The mean SI ratio was 0.7. The mean ADC value of “target” appearing metastases was 1.25 (×10⁻³ mm²/s; range 1.3–1.6) compared with a mean value of 0.8 (×10⁻³ mm²/s; range 0.8–1.4) in homogeneous defect on the HBP. There was statistically significant difference (P<.05).

Conclusion

Breast cancer liver metastases commonly demonstrated as a peripheral ring enhancement on arterial dominant phase and a target sign with a central round enhancing portion and a peripheral hypointense rim on the HBP.     

Preparation and application of the 3C–SiC substrate to piezoelectric micro cantilever transducers

This study examines the fabrication process and mechanical properties of piezoelectric films with the substrate, which is made from silicon carbide. After depositing the PZT thick film on silicon carbide substrate and silicon substrate respectively, it was shown that silicon carbide substrate formed a stable interface with PZT thick film up to 950?°C, compared with silicon substrate. In addition, the dielectric constant of the PZT thick film sintered at 950?°C on a silicon carbide substrate was 843, and this value was about over 25 % improved value compared with that on a silicon substrate. A thick film piezoelectric micro transducer of a micro cantilever type was fabricated by using a multifunctional 3C–SiC substrate. The fabricated micro cantilever was a micro cantilever with multiple thin films on either silicon or silicon carbide substrate. The piezoelectric thick-film micro cantilever that was fabricated by using a SiC substrate showed excellent mechanical and thermal properties. The piezoelectric micro cantilever on the SiC substrate shows an excellent sensitivity towards the change of mass compared with the piezoelectric micro cantilever on the Si substrate.     

Studying Interfacial Reactions of Cholesterol Sulfate in an Unsaturated Phosphatidylglycerol Layer with Ozone Using Field Induced Droplet Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Field-induced droplet ionization (FIDI) is a recently developed ionization technique that can transfer ions from the surface of microliter droplets to the gas phase intact. The air-liquid interfacial reactions of cholesterol sulfate (CholSO₄) in a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG) surfactant layer with ozone (O₃) are investigated using field-induced droplet ionization mass spectrometry (FIDI-MS). Time-resolved studies of interfacial ozonolysis of CholSO₄ reveal that water plays an important role in forming oxygenated products. An epoxide derivative is observed as a major product of CholSO₄ oxidation in the FIDI-MS spectrum after exposure of the droplet to O₃ for 5 s. The abundance of the epoxide product then decreases with continued O₃ exposure as the finite number of water molecules at the air-liquid interface becomes exhausted. Competitive oxidation of CholSO₄ and POPG is observed when they are present together in a lipid surfactant layer at the air-liquid interface. Competitive reactions of CholSO₄ and POPG with O₃ suggest that CholSO₄ is present with POPG as a well-mixed interfacial layer. Compared with CholSO₄ and POPG alone, the overall ozonolysis rates of both CholSO₄ and POPG are reduced in a mixed layer, suggesting the double bonds of both molecules are shielded by additional hydrocarbons from one another. Molecular dynamics simulations of a monolayer comprising POPG and CholSO₄ correlate well with experimental observations and provide a detailed picture of the interactions between CholSO₄, lipids, and water molecules in the interfacial region.     

Photoswitchable fluorescent diarylethene in a turn-on mode for live cell imaging

A new diarylethene-derived photochromic compound, with little cytotoxicity, plasma membrane-permeability, and efficient photoswitchability in cells upon alternative UV and visible light irradiation, was synthesized and applied to live cell imaging.     

A facile reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ in gadolinium monosulfide nanoparticles using a mixed solvent of oleic acid/hexadecylamine

We prepared GdS:Eu(3+) by simple thermal decomposition under 1-dodecanethiol. A reduction process was observed from Eu(3+) to Eu(2+) when oleic acid and hexadecylamine were injected into GdS:Eu(3+). Under UV excitation, GdS:Eu(3+) showed an intense orange-red emission and GdS:Eu(2+) showed a broad green band.     

Acoustical remodeling of a large fan-type auditorium to enhance sound strength and spatial responsiveness for symphonic music

The Grand Theater in the Sejong Performing Arts Center in Seoul, Korea is a proscenium hall with 3022 seats. Originally built in 1978, the Grand Theater was remodeled in 2004 to provide variable reverberation time (RT) using a sound system. Recently, a second remodeling was scheduled to enhance the hall’s acoustic quality, especially its RT, sound strength (G) and binaural quality index (BQI = 1-IACCE3), based on architectural acoustic analysis. In the remodeling plan, the wall covering and chair materials were changed to produce longer RT and higher G. For the remodeling design, side balconies were added to the first and third floors to provide lateral reflections to the audience area. The orchestra shell and various ceiling/wall reflectors were planned to provide more early reflections to the audience area. To verify the design, the effects of these structures on the sound pressure levels and spatial parameters of early sound in the audience area were investigated by open-type 1:10 scale model measurement. In addition, the acoustical qualities of the remodeled hall were evaluated using computer simulations and 1:50 scale model measurement. The results show that G was improved by 5 dB and BQI by 0.24, whereas the occupied RT at mid-frequencies became variable from 1.47 to 2.24 s.     

Improving the optical performance of InGaN light-emitting diodes by altering light reflection and refraction with triangular air prism arrays

The effect of triangular air prism (TAP) arrays with different distance-to-width (d/w) ratios on the enhancement of light extraction efficiency (LEE) of InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is investigated. The TAP arrays embedded at the sapphire/GaN interface act as light reflectors and refractors, and thereby improve the light output power due to the redirection of light into escape cones on both the front and back sides of the LED. Enhancement in radiometric power as high as 117% and far-field angle as low as 129° are realized with a compact arrangement of TAP arrays compared with that of a conventional LED made without TAP arrays under an injection current of 20 mA.     

Full range spectral domain optical coherence tomography using a fiber-optic probe as a self-phase shifter

We present a full range handheld probe type spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) method. Here, the sample arm is composed of a tilted fiber-optic cantilever scanner; thus, the phase shift concurrently occurs while sample scanning. With the phase shift, we could achieve a full range complex-conjugate-free OCT image with no additional phase shifters in the reference arm. To realize this technique, a magnetically actuated probe was adopted. Full range SD-OCT images of a pearl, human fingernail, and human tooth were subsequently obtained using this suggested probe. The scanning range and acquisition speed were 3?mm and 20 frames/s?, respectively.     

Fluorescence response of human HER2+ cancer- and MCF-12F normal cells to 200MHz ultrasound microbeam stimulation: a preliminary study of membrane permeability variation

Targeted mechanical cell stimulation has been extensively studied for a better understanding of its effect on cellular mechanotransduction signaling pathways and structures by utilizing a variety of mechanical sources. In this work, an ultrasound-driven single cell stimulation method is thus proposed, and a preliminary study is carried out by comparing the fluorescence intensities representing a change in cell membrane permeability between MDA-MB-435 human HER2+ cancer cells (∼40-50 μm in diameter) and MCF-12F normal cells (∼50-60 μm) in the presence of ultrasound. A 200 MHz single element zinc oxide (ZnO) transducer is employed to generate ultrasound microbeam (UM) whose beamwidth and depth of focus are 9.5 and 60 μm, comparable to typical cell size. The cells in tetramethyl rhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) are interrogated with 200 MHz sinusoidal bursts. The number of cycles per burst is 5 and the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) is 1 kHz. The temporal variation of fluorescence intensity in each cell is measured as a function of input voltage to the transducer (16, 32, and 47 V), and its corresponding fluorescence images are obtained via a confocal microscope. A systematic method for visualizing UM’s focus by adding Rhodamine B to the immersion medium is also proposed to enhance the precision in aiming the beam at an individual cell.Both types of cells exhibit a decrease in the intensity upon UM irradiation. In particular, normal cells show more fluorescence reduction (down to 0.7 in normalized intensity) than cancer cells (∼0.9) under the same excitation condition of the transducer. With UM being turned off, the normalized intensity level in normal cells is slowly increased to 1.1. The cell images taken before and after UM exposure indicate that the intensity reduction is more pronounced in those cells after exposure. Hence the results show the potential of UM as a non-invasive in vitro stimulation tool for facilitating targeted drug delivery and gene transfection as well as for studying cellular mechanotransduction.