Effect of electrospun non-woven mats of dibutyryl chitin/poly(lactic acid) blends on wound healing in hairless mice

The aim of this study was to examine the proliferative ability of dibutyryl chitin (DBC) on scratch wounds in HaCaT keratinocytes and to evaluate the effect of nanoporous non-woven mat (DBCNFM) on skin wound healing in hairless mice using the advantages of DBCNFM, such as high porosity and high surface area to volume. The cell spreading activity of DBC was verified through a cell spreading assay in scratched human HaCaT keratinocytes. Scratch wound experiments showed that DBC notably accelerates the spreading rate of HaCaT keratinocytes in a dose dependent manner. The molecular aspects of the healing process were also investigated by hematoxylin & eosin staining of the healed skin, displaying the degrees of reepithelialization and immunostaining on extracellular matrix synthesis and remodeling of the skin. Topical application of DBCNFM significantly reduced skin wound rank scores and increased the skin remodeling of the wounded hairless mice in a dose dependent way. Furthermore, DBCNFM notably increased the expression of the type 1 collagen and filaggrin. These results demonstrate that DBC efficiently accelerates the proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes and DBCNFM notably increases extracellular matrix synthesis on remodeling of the skin, and these materials are a good candidate for further evaluation as an effective wound healing agent.     

Novel lower critical solution temperature phase transition materials effectively control osmosis by mild temperature changes

Osmosis can be controlled reversibly and effectively by mild temperature changes based on novel thermosensitive solutes with LCST transition. The nBu-TAEA thermosensitive solution can draw fresh water from seawater at temperatures less than the phase separation temperature, and the osmotic flow was reversed at higher temperatures.     

Introducing technology in algebra in Hong Kong: addressing issues in learning

A review of recent studies in Hong Kong suggests that possible problems in secondary school algebra may be due to the procedural paradigm orientation in the curriculum and the conventional style of teaching in the classroom which do not provide sufficient opportunities for students to develop conceptual understanding. Based on the works of a number of projects in the West, it is hypothesized that the introduction of technology in lessons which embody a cognitive model in their design and delivery will provide a viable alternative for enhancing algebraic thinking. The key features of the cognitive model are concrete preparation, cognitive conflict, construction, metacognition and bridging, imbedded in a ‘mediation’ style of teaching. These features are exemplified by detailed accounts of classroom episodes from a Hong Kong lesson supported by the use of graphics calculators. Results indicate that while the approach places particular demands on teachers (a tension between a transmission style of teaching and mediating) there is real potential for supporting more dynamic student constructions.     

Polarized angular distributions in the decays of the 3D2 state of charmonium produced in unpolarized proton–antiproton annihilation

Using the helicity formalism, we calculate the combined angular distribution functions of the polarized gamma photons and electron in the triple cascade process $\bar{\mathrm{p}}\mathrm{p}\to{}^{3}\mathrm{D}_{\mathrm{2}}\to\chi_{\mathrm{\mathrm{{J}}}}+\gamma_{\mathrm{1}}\to(\psi +\gamma_{\mathrm{2}})+\gamma_{\mathrm{1}}\to(\mathrm{e}^{+}+\mathrm{e}^{-})+\gamma_{\mathrm{1}}+\gamma_{\mathrm{2}}\ (\mathrm{{J}}=0,1,2)$ , when $\bar{\mathrm{p}}$ and p are unpolarized. We also present the partially integrated angular distribution functions in different cases. Our results show that by measuring the two-particle angular distribution of γ ₁ and γ ₂ and that of γ ₂ and e^? with the polarization of either one of the two particles, one can determine the relative magnitudes as well as the relative phases of all the helicity amplitudes in the two radiative decay processes ³D₂→χ _J+γ ₁ and χ _J→ψ+γ ₂.     

Mannose‐Modified Serum Exosomes for the Elevated Uptake to Murine Dendritic Cells and Lymphatic Accumulation

The surface of bovine serum‐derived exosomes (EXOs) are modified with α‐d ‐mannose for facile interaction with mannose receptors on dendritic cells (DCs) and for efficient delivery of immune stimulators to the DCs. The surface of the EXOs is modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) without particle aggregation (≈50 nm) via the incorporation of 1,2‐distearoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphoethanolamine (DSPE) into the lipid layer of the EXO, compared to chemical conjugation by N‐hydroxysuccinimide activated PEG (NHS‐PEG). PEG modification onto the exosomal surface significantly decreases the non‐specific cellular uptake of the EXOs into the DCs. However, the EXOs with mannose‐conjugated PEG‐DSPE (EXO‐PEG‐man) exhibit excellent intracellular uptake into the DCs and boost the immune response by the incorporation of adjuvant, monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) within the EXO. After an intradermal injection, a higher retention of EXO‐PEG‐man is observed in the lymph nodes, which could be used for the efficient delivery of immune stimulators and antigens to the lymph nodes in vivo.     

Development of surface-textured hydrogenated ZnO:Al thin-films for μc-Si solar cells

This study addresses the optimization of rf magnetron-sputtered hydrogenated ZnO:Al (HAZO) films as front contacts in microcrystalline silicon solar cells. The front contact of a solar cell has to be highly conductive and highly transparent to visible and infrared radiation. Furthermore, it has to scatter the incident light efficiently in order for the light to be effectively trapped in the underlying silicon layers. In this research, HAZO films were rf-magnetron-sputtered on glass substrates from a ceramic (98 wt% ZnO, 2 wt% Al₂O₃) target. Various compositions of AZO films on glass substrates were prepared by changing the H₂/(Ar + H₂) ratio of the sputtering gas. The resulting smooth films exhibited high transparencies (T  85% for visible light including all reflection losses) and excellent electrical properties (ρ = 2.7 × 10⁻⁴ Ω · cm). Depending on their structural properties, these films developed different surface textures upon post-deposition etching using diluted hydrochloric acid. The light-scattering properties of these films could be controlled simply by varying the etching time. Moreover, the electrical properties of the films were not affected by the etching process. Therefore, within certain limits, it is possible to optimize the electro-optical and light-scattering properties separately. The microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H)-based p–i–n solar cells prepared using these new texture-etched AZO:H substrates showed high quantum efficiencies in the long wavelength range, thereby demonstrating effective light trapping. Using the optimum AZO:H thin-film textured surface, we achieved a p–i–n μc-Si solar cell efficiency of 7.78%.     

多晶铂电极表面硫吸附物种的原位表面增强拉曼光谱研究(英文)

本工作首次报道了在酸性或碱性电解质中高粗糙度多晶铂电极表面硫物种的吸附、电氧化过程的原位表面增强拉曼光谱研究.分别在两种情况下采集了粗糙铂电极的表面增强拉曼光谱:(a)循环伏安处理后控制一定电位(0.2V)下;(b)逐步控制不同电位.酸性电解质条件下,两种情况均观察到位于300cm-1的Pt—S振动.Pt—S键较强,阻止了氢在铂电极表面的吸附,需多次循环伏安处理才能完全将表面吸附的硫去除.同时还观察到位于470cm-1处的少量多聚S物种(S8或者其他类型).这些多聚S物种仅仅微弱地键合在铂电极的表面,可以容易地除去.在碱性电解质中,同样也在(a)和(b)情况下观察到位于310cm-1的Pt—S振动吸收.本工作了获得了有关硫在粗糙多晶铂电极表面吸附和电氧化重要信息,证明了原位表面增强拉曼光谱在研究铂表面的适用性.