Toughening Effects through Optimizing Cell Structure and Deformation Behaviors of Al–Mg Foams

As widely used protective materials,the application of Al foams is still limited by their low intrinsic mechanical properties caused by the brittleness of struts.The introduction of Mg is recently demonstrated effective to improve the mechanical performance of Al foams;however,the mechanism of Mg modification is still not clear.In this work,Al-Mg foams are developed through a powder metallurgy process with excellent compression performance and high energy absorption capacity.The effects of Mg modification on the cell structure,toughness,and deformation behavior are investigated systematically.As a result,the small cell size of~1.8 mm and the high sphericity of 0.92 are achieved with 5% of Mg addition,delivering high compression stress of 8.5±0.43 MPa and energy absorption capacity of 6.9±0.36 MJ/m^(3),simultaneously.The synergistic mechanism for the improved mechanical performance is also demonstrated to be the combination of stress transfer and plastic deformation behavior of cells.The results provide a new strategy to develop high-performance foam materials by improving toughness and further promote the practical application.

Comparison of conventional and inverted structures in fullerene-free organic solar cells

A n-type small molecule DC-IDT2E with 4,4,9,9-tetrakis（4-hexylphenyl）-indaceno[1,2-b：5,6-bt]dithiophene as a central building block, furan as rr-bridges, and 1,1 -dicyanomethylene-3-indanone as end acceptor groups, was synthesized and used as an electron acceptor in solution-processed organic solar cells （OSCs）. DC-IDT2F exhibited good thermal stability, broad and strong absorption in 500-850 rim, a narrow bandgap of 1.54 eV, LUMO of-3.88 eV, HOMO of-5.44 eV and an electron mobility of 6.5 × 10-4 cm2/（V.s）. DC-IDT2F-based OSCs with conventional and inverted structures exhibited power conversion efficiencies of 2.26 and 3.08% respec- tively. The effect of vertical phase separation and morphology of the active layer on the device performance in the two structures was studied.

Deep insights into the advancements and applications of perovskite based photovoltaic cells

The organometal halide perovskite materials have a blend of surprising optoelectronic properties, for example high value of absorption coefficient and abrupt optical retention edge, lifetime, long charge carrier diffusion length and many more. Brought in conjunction with the capacity for manufacturing at low temperature, likewise from the solution, devices based on perovskite, particularly solar cells have been contemplated seriously with striking advancements in performance, in the course of recent years. The amalgamation of minimal effort, high efficiency and extra applications gives incredible potential to commercialization of these cells. The applications and performance of perovskite cells frequently relate with the structures of the device. Numerous creative structures of the devices were produced, targeting for vast scale manufacture, diminishing creation cost, upgrading the PCE and subsequently expanding the prospective for future applications. This paper outlines the various advanced structures of PSC, challenges confronted by these PSCs and their future perspectives. The commercial applications of PSC are additionally talked about in this paper.

Anatomical berry characteristics during the development of grape berries with different shapes

The aim of this study was to characterize the changes in berry anatomy during the development of grape(Vitis vinifera L.,and Vitis vinifera×Vitis labrusca)with different shapes.Paraffin sectioning was used to examine the structural parameters of the cells.The results revealed that,with the development of berries,the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the flesh cells gradually increased,revealing certain regularity.However,the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the epidermal and sub-epidermal cells were different between varieties,reflecting the specificity of the varieties.The growth of the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the berries was found to be completed in the early stage of development.A combination of correlation analysis and size analysis for each cell layer revealed that,due to the small crosssectional area of the epidermal and sub-epidermal cells,the influence of these cells on the transverse and the longitudinal diameters of the berries would be small.In conclusion,the longitudinal and transverse diameters of the grape berries were mainly determined by the longitudinal and transverse diameters of the flesh cells.The different shapes of the grape berries could mainly be attributed to the different growth rates of the flesh cells in the longitudinal and transverse directions.These different rates of growth led to different lengths and widths of the berry.

DISLOCATION ARRAY AT VARIOUS DEFORMING AND HARDENING STAGES OF STEEL 1035

The alteration of dislocation arrays in the process of strain hardening for normalized carbon steel 1035 was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. At primary stage the separated dislocation lines tend to form tangles and networks, dislocation cells appear at the secondary stage, the amount of the cells increases significantly, its average dimension does not change and the cell walls become clear. The third stage of strain hardening was observed in the process from necking to fracture and shows a straight line segment on the lg σ -lg ε curve, at this time the dislocation cells become smaller and tend to form band structure.

Inactivation of Bacillus Subtilis by Atomic Oxygen Radical Anion

UAtomic oxygen radical anion （O-） is one of the most active oxygen species, and has extremely high oxidation ability toward small-molecules of hydrocarbons. However, to our knowledge, little is known about the effects of O- on cells of micro-organisms. This work showed that O- could quickly react with the Bacillus subtilis cells and seriously damage the cell walls a s well as their other contents, leading to a fast and irreversible inactivation. SEM micrographs revealed that the cell structures were dramatically destroyed by their exposure to O-. The inactivation efficiencies of B. subtilis depend on the O- intensity, the initial population of cells and the treatment temperature, but not on the pH in the range of our investigation. For a cell concentration of 10^6 cfu/ml, the number of survived cells dropped from 10^6 cfu/ml to 10^3 cfu/ml after about five-minute irradiation by an O- flux in an intensity of 233 nA/cm^2 under a dry argon environment （30 ℃, 1 atm, exposed size： 1.8 cm^2）. The inactivation mechanism of micro-organisms induced by O- is also discussed.

Image reconstruction for brain CT slices

Different modalities in biomedical images, like CT, MRI and PET scanners, provide detailed cross-sectional views of human anatomy. This paper introduces three-dimensional brain reconstruction based on CT slices. It contains filtering, fuzzy segmentation, matching method of contours, cell array structure and image animation. Experimental results have shown its validity. The innovation is matching method of contours and fuzzy segmentation algorithm of CT slices.

Organic Cation Effect on the Physical Properties of CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite from the First-principles Study

The effect of the distribution of organic cations CH3NH3^＋（MA^＋） on the stability,electronic structures and optical properties of CH3NH3 Pb I3 perovskite have been investigated using the plane-wave ultrasoft pseuudopotentials. Generalized gradient approximation and local density approximation are used to optimize the geometries of six models, which are different in the orientation of organic cations. The results show that model C is more stable than others, and the main contribution to the top of valence band is from I 5p states. In the bottom of conduction bands, the main components are Pb 6s states with an overlapping of I 5p states. When the orientation of organic group is transforming, the Pb I6 octahedra will distort and the band structure will alter with it, which affect the generation and migration of photon-generated carriers and optical properties.

A NEW STRUCTURE OF SMALL INTENSELY FLUORESCENT CELLS IN SUPERIOR MESENTERIC GANGLION OF HUMAN FETUS

Superior mesenteric ganglia of six fetuses (35-40 weeks old) were investigated by histochemical fluorescent method. In addition to solitary SIF cells and clusters of SIF cells reported previously, a new structure of SIF cells was found and named ''SIF-cell nodule''. The SIF-cell nodule was composed of a large number of SIF cells and was encapsulated by dense connective tissue. Some blood vessels and nerve fibers entered the nodule. Based on the morphology, we speculated that SIF-cell nodule might be an endocrine gland.

Removal of pathogenic indicator microorganisms during partial nitrification:the role of free nitrous acid

Digested wastewater contains pathogenic microorganisms and high ammonia concentrations,which can pose a potential risk to public health.Effective removal of pathogens and nitrogen is crucial for the post-treatment of digested wastewater.Partial nitrification-anammox is an energy-saving nitrogen removal process.Free nitrous acid(FNA),an intermediate product of partial nitrification,has the potential to inactivate microorganisms.However,the efficiency and mechanisms of FNA-related inactivation in pathogens during partial nitrification remains unclear.In this study,Enterococcus and Escherichia coli(E.coli)were selected to investigate the efficiency and mechanisms of FNA-related inactivation in partial nitrification process.The results revealed that 83%±13%and 59%±27%of E.coli and Enterococcus were removed,respectively,in partial nitrification process at FNA concentrations of 0.023−0.028 mg/L.When the concentration of FNA increased from 0 to 0.5 mg/L,the inactivation efficiencies of E.coli and Enterococcus increased from 0 to 99.9%and 89.9%,respectively.Enterococcus exhibited a higher resistance to FNA attack compared to E.coli.3D-laser scanning microscopy(3D-LSM)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)revealed that FNA exposure caused the surface collapse of E.coli and Enterococcus,as well as visible pore formation on the surface of E.coli cells.4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride n-hydrate(DAPI)/propidium iodide(PI)and biomolecule leakage confirmed that inactivation of E.coli and Enterococcus occurred due to breakdown of cell walls and cell membranes.These findings indicate that partial nitrification process can be used for the removal of residual pathogenic microorganisms.

Cell Wall Biology： Perspectives from Cell Wall Imaging

Polysaccharide-rich plant cell walls are important biomaterials that underpin plant growth, are major repositories for photosynthetically accumulated carbon, and, in addition, impact greatly on the human use of plants. Land plant cell walls contain in the region of a dozen major polysaccharide structures that are mostly encompassed by cellulose, hemicelluloses, and pectic polysaccharides. During the evolution of land plants, polysaccharide diversification appears to have largely involved structural elaboration and diversification within these polysaccharide groups. Cell wall chemistry is well advanced and a current phase of cell wall science is aimed at placing the complex polysaccharide chemistry in cellular contexts and developing a detailed understanding of cell wall biology. Imaging cell wall glycomes is a challenging area but recent developments in the establishment of cell wall molecular probe panels and their use in high throughput procedures are leading to rapid advances in the molecular understanding of the spatial heterogeneity of individual cell walls and also cell wall differences at taxonomic levels. The challenge now is to integrate this knowledge of cell wall heterogeneity with an understanding of the molecular and physiological mechanisms that underpin cell wall properties and functions.

Fluorescence Intensity Decay Shape Analysis Microscopy （FIDSAM） for Quantitative and Sensitive Live-Cell Imaging： A Novel Technique for Fluorescence Microscopy of Endogenously Expressed Fusion-Proteins

Fluorescent studies of living plant cells such as confocal microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging often suffer from a strong autofluorescent background contribution that significantly reduces the dynamic image contrast and the quantitative access to sub-cellular processes at high spatial resolution. Here, we present a novel technique--fluorescence intensity decay shape analysis microscopy （FIDSAM） to enhance the dynamic contrast of a fluorescence image of at least one order of magnitude. The method is based on the analysis of the shape of the fluorescence intensity decay （fluorescence lifetime curve） and benefits from the fact that the decay patterns of typical fluorescence label dyes strongly differ from emission decay curves of autofluorescent sample areas. Using FIDSAM, we investigated Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyl cells in their tissue environment, which accumulate an eGFP fusion of the plasma membrane marker protein LTI6b （LTI6b-eGFP） to low level. Whereas in conventional confocal fluorescence images, the membranes of neighboring cells can hardly be optically resolved due to the strong autofluorescence of the cell wall, FIDSAM allows for imaging of single, isolated membranes at high spatial resolution. Thus, FIDSAM will enable the sub-cellular analysis of even low-expressed fluorophoretagged proteins in living plant cells. Furthermore, the combination of FIDSAM with fluorescence lifetime imaging provides the basis to study the local physico-chemical environment of fluorophore-tagged biomolecules in living plant cells.

Electron Tomography in Plant Cell Biology

This review focuses on the contribution of electron tomography-based techniques to our understanding of cellular processes in plant cells. Electron microscopy techniques have evolved to provide better three-dimensional resolution and improved preservation of the subcellular components. In particular, the combination of cryofixation/freeze substitution and electron tomography have allowed plant cell biologists to image organelles and macromolecular complexes in their native cellular context with unprecedented three-dimensional resolution （4-7 nm）. Until now, electron tomography has been applied in plant cell biology for the study of cytokinesis, Golgi structure and trafficking, formation of plant endosome/prevacuolar compartments, and organization of photosynthetic membranes. We discuss in this review the new insights that these tomographic studies have brought to the plant biology field.

Assessment of an alternative to deep foundations in compressible clays： the structural cell foundation

The new type of deep foundation for buildings on saturated, compressible-low strength clayey soil deposits, branded structural cell essentially consists of a rigid concrete top slab, structurally connected to reinforced concrete peripheral walls （diaphragms） that enclose the natural soil. Accordingly, as the initial volume of the confined soft clays within the lateral stiff diaphragms will remain constant upon loading, the hollowed structural cell will be ＂transformed＂ into a very large cross-section pillar of unit weight slightly higher than that of the natural soft clayey soil. This type of foundation seems to be a highly competitive alternative to the friction pile-box foundations （widely used in Mexico City clays）, due to its economic and environmental advantages. Economies result, for example, from the absence of huge excavations hence sparing the need of earth retaining structures. Further savings result from appreciably smaller concrete volumes required for building the structural cell than the friction pile-box foundation; moreover, the construction time of the former is much shorter than that of the latter. Regarding the impact to the environment, less air contamination follows from the fact that both traffic jams and soil excavation lessen appreciably. Considering these facts and others regarding scheduling, it was decided to replace 48-friction pile-box foundations specified in the master plan project by this new type of foundation. The overall behavior of these cell foundations over a five-year period is fared from close visual observations and their leveling during the first three years after their construction.

Inside-out Ostwald ripening： A facile process towards synthesizing anatase TiO2 microspheres for high- efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells

A facile inside-out Ostwald ripening route to the morphology-controlled preparation of TiO2 microspheres is developed. Here, TiO2 hollow microspheres （HM） and solid microspheres （SM） are prepared by adjusting the volume ratio of isopropanol （IPA） to acetylacetone （Acac） in the solvothermal process. During the formation process of HM, precipitation of solid cores, subsequent deposition of outer shells on the surface of cores, and simultaneous core dissolution and shell recrystallizafion are observed, which validate the inside-out Ostwald ripening mechanism. Design and optimization of the properties （pore size, surface area, and trap state） of TiO2 microspheres are vital to the high performance of dye- sensitized solar cells （DSSCs）. The optimized TiO2 rnicrospheres （rHM and rSM） obtained by post-processing on recrystallization, possess large pore sizes, high surface areas and reduced trap states （Ti3~ and oxygen vacancy）, and are thus ideal materials for photovoltaic devices. The power conversion efficiency of DSSCs fabricated using rHM photoanode is 11.22%, which is significantly improved compared with the 10.54% efficiency of the rSM-based DSSC. Our work provides a strategy for synthesizing TiO2 microspheres that simultaneously accommodate different physical properties, in terms of surface area, crystallinity, morphology, and mesoporosity.

Recent advances in the design of dopant-free hole transporting materials for highly efficient perovskite solar cells

Continuous success has been achieved for solution-processed inorganic-organic hybrid perovskite solar cells（PVSCs） in the past several years, in which organic charge transporting materials play an important role. At present, most of the commonly used hole-transporting materials（HTMs） such as spiro-OMeTAD derivatives for PVSCs require additional chemical doping process to ensure sufficient conductivity and shift the Fermi level towards the HOMO level for efficient hole transport and collection. However, this doping process not only increases the complexity and cost of device fabrication, but also decreases the device stability. Thus development of efficient dopant-free HTMs for PVSCs is highly desirable and remains as a major challenge in this field. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in the molecular design of dopant-free HTMs for PVSCs.

Improving photoelectrochemical activity of dye sensitized solar cell by a bilayered electrode with an overlayer of mesoporous anatase TiO_2

For better performance of dye sensitized solar cells （DSSCs）, a bilayer structured electrode was constructed by employing a mesoporous anatase TiO2 overlayer above a commercial P25 TiO2 nanoparticles underlayer. The mesoporous anatase TiO2, prepared through a facile surfactant-assisted sol-gel process, possessed large pore size and well inter-connected network structure, both beneficial for dye adsorption and electron transfer. The dye adsorption capability of the mesoporous TiO2 was nearly twice that of the P25 counterpart. In the electrode, the mesoporous TiO2 film enhanced both dye adsorption and lightharvest, to increase photocurrent （Jsc） from 12.32 to 14.78 mA/cm^2. Compared to the single P25 TiO2 film, the synergy of the mesoporous TiO2 and the P25 TiO2 nanoparticle films in the electrode resulted in a 24% improvement in light-to-electricity conversion efficiency （η）. This bilayered electrode provides an alternative approach for further developing a photovoltaic device with better cell performance.

D-A structural protean small molecule donor materials for solution-processed organic solar cells

Under the synergistic effect of molecular design and devices engineering, small molecular organic solar cells have presented an unstoppable tendency for rapid development with putting forward donor- acceptor （D-A） structures. Up to now, the highest power conversion efficiency of small molecules has exceeded 11%, comparable to that of polymers. In this review, we summarize the high performance small molecule donors in various classes of typical donor-acceptor （D-A） structures and discuss their relationships briefly.

A titanium dioxide nanorod array as a high-affinity nano-bio interface of a microfluidic device for efficient capture of circulating tumor cells

Nanomaterials show promising opportunities to address clinical problems （such as insufficient capture of circulating tumor cells; CTCs） via the high surface area-to-volume ratio and high affinity for biological cells. However, how to apply these nanomaterials as a nano-bio interface in a microfluidic device for efficient CTC capture with high specificity remains a challenge. In the present work, we first found that a titanium dioxide （TiO2） nanorod array that can be conveniently prepared on multiple kinds of substrates has high affinity for tumor cells. Then, the TiO2 nanorod array was vertically grown on the surface of a microchannel with hexagonally patterned Si micropillars via a hydrothermal reaction, forming a new kind of a micro-nano 3D hierarchically structured microfluidic device. The vertically grown TiO2 nanorod array was used as a sensitive nano-bio interface of this 3D hierarchically structured microfluidic device, which showed high efficiency of CTC capture （76.7% ± 7.1%） in an artificial whole-blood sample.

Micro-scale hierarchical photoanode for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells based on Ti02 nanowires

This paper proposed a new architecture design for nanowire-based quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells to improve the photovoltaic performance. Microstructured rough substrate was used to increase the surface area of the photoanode without influence on charge carrier transport in the system. Compared to conventional devices, the short circuit current density and power conversion efficiency were enhanced by 50%. And the technology can be widely used in the photoelectroehemical （PEC） field, and it can be combined with other hierarchical nanostructures.