<i>In operando</i> X-ray diffraction strain measurement in Ni₃Sn₂ – Coated inverse opal nanoscaffold anodes for Li-ion batteries

Glazer, Matthew P.B.,Wang, Junjie,Cho, Jiung,Almer, Jonathan D.,Okasinski, John S.,Braun, Paul V.,Dunand, David C. Elsevier 2017 Journal of Power Sources Vol.367 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Volume changes associated with the (de)lithiation of a nanostructured Ni<SUB>3</SUB>Sn<SUB>2</SUB> coated nickel inverse opal scaffold anode create mismatch stresses and strains between the Ni<SUB>3</SUB>Sn<SUB>2</SUB> anode material and its mechanically supporting Ni scaffold. Using <I>in operando</I> synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements, elastic strains in the Ni scaffold are determined during cyclic (dis)charging of the Ni<SUB>3</SUB>Sn<SUB>2</SUB> anode. These strains are characterized using both the center position of the Ni diffraction peaks, to quantify the average strain, and the peak breadth, which describes the distribution of strain in the measured volume. Upon lithiation (half-cell discharging) or delithiation (half-cell charging), compressive strains and peak breadth linearly increase or decrease, respectively, with charge. The evolution of the average strains and peak breadths suggests that some irreversible plastic deformation and/or delamination occurs during cycling, which can result in capacity fade in the anode. The strain behavior associated with cycling of the Ni<SUB>3</SUB>Sn<SUB>2</SUB> anode is similar to that observed in recent studies on a Ni inverse-opal supported amorphous Si anode and demonstrates that the (de)lithiation-induced deformation and damage mechanisms are likely equivalent in both anodes, even though the magnitude of mismatch strain in the Ni<SUB>3</SUB>Sn<SUB>2</SUB> is lower due to the lower (de)lithiation-induced contraction/expansion.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Lithiation-induced strains quantified in a Ni<SUB>3</SUB>Sn<SUB>2</SUB> inverse opal anode <I>in operando</I>. </LI> <LI> Lithiation induces compressive average strains in Ni inverse opal scaffold. </LI> <LI> Ni inverse opal scaffold strain distribution reversibly broadens upon lithiation. </LI> <LI> Three measured volumes show similar cyclic strain averages and distributions. </LI> <LI> Ni<SUB>3</SUB>Sn<SUB>2</SUB> measured cyclic strains are similar to prior Si inverse opal anode studies. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Efficient long-term amplification of hepatitis B virus isolates after infection of slow proliferating HepG2-NTCP cells

Kö,nig, Alexander,Yang, Jaewon,Jo, Eunji,Park, Kyu Ho Paul,Kim, Hyun,Than, Thoa Thi,Song, Xiyong,Qi, Xiaoxuan,Dai, Xinghong,Park, Soonju,Shum, David,Ryu, Wang-Shick,Kim, Jung-Hee,Yoon, Seung Kew,P Elsevier 2019 Journal of hepatology Vol.71 No.2

<P><B>Background & Aims</B></P> <P>As hepatitis B virus (HBV) spreads through the infected liver it is simultaneously secreted into the blood. HBV-susceptible <I>in vitro</I> infection models do not efficiently amplify viral progeny or support cell-to-cell spread. We sought to establish a cell culture system for the amplification of infectious HBV from clinical specimens.</P> <P><B>Methods</B></P> <P>An HBV-susceptible sodium-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide-overexpressing HepG2 cell clone (HepG2-NTCPsec+) producing high titers of infectious progeny was selected. Secreted HBV progeny were characterized by native gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy. Comparative RNA-seq transcriptomics was performed to quantify the expression of host proviral and restriction factors. Viral spread routes were evaluated using HBV entry- or replication inhibitors, visualization of viral cell-to-cell spread in reporter cells, and nearest neighbor infection determination. Amplification kinetics of HBV genotypes B-D were analyzed.</P> <P><B>Results</B></P> <P>Infected HepG2-NTCPsec+ secreted high levels of large HBV surface protein-enveloped infectious HBV progeny with typical appearance under electron microscopy. RNA-seq transcriptomics revealed that HBV does not induce significant gene expression changes in HepG2-NTCPsec+, however, transcription factors favoring HBV amplification were more strongly expressed than in less permissive HepG2-NTCPsec−. Upon inoculation with HBV-containing patient sera, rates of infected cells increased from 10% initially to 70% by viral spread to adjacent cells, and viral progeny and antigens were efficiently secreted. HepG2-NTCPsec+ supported up to 1,300-fold net amplification of HBV genomes depending on the source of virus. Viral spread and amplification were abolished by entry and replication inhibitors; viral rebound was observed after inhibitor discontinuation.</P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P>The novel HepG2-NTCPsec+ cells efficiently support the complete HBV life cycle, long-term viral spread and amplification of HBV derived from patients or cell culture, resembling relevant features of HBV-infected patients.</P> <P><B>Lay summary</B></P> <P>Currently available laboratory systems are unable to reproduce the dynamics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) spread through the infected liver and release into the blood. We developed a slowly dividing liver-derived cell line which multiplies infectious viral particles upon inoculation with patient- or cell culture-derived HBV. This new infection model can improve therapy by measuring, in advance, the sensitivity of a patient’s HBV strain to specific antiviral drugs.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Cell culture system that mimicks complete HBV life cycle from entry to egress. </LI> <LI> Efficient <I>in vitro</I> infection with crude HBV patient sera. </LI> <LI> Up to 50- and 1,300-fold net amplification of patient- and cell culture-derived input HBV in the supernatant. </LI> <LI> Polyethylene glycol-independent HBV spread to adjacent cells, forming infected cell clusters. </LI> <LI> Evaluation of patient- and cell culture-derived HBV amplification w/wo antivirals over 8 weeks. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Fluorination of Polythiophene Derivatives for High Performance Organic Photovoltaics

Jo, Jea Woong,Jung, Jae Woong,Wang, Hsin-Wei,Kim, Paul,Russell, Thomas P.,Jo, Won Ho American Chemical Society 2014 Chemistry of materials Vol.26 No.14

<P>For the purpose of examining the tuning of photophysical property by fluorine atom substitution, fluorinated and nonfluorinated poly(3,4-dialkylterthiophenes) (PDATs) were synthesized, and their photovoltaic properties were compared. Fluorinated PDATs exhibit a deeper highest occupied molecular orbital energy level than nonfluorinated ones, leading to higher open-circuit voltage in organic solar cells and also enhanced molecular ordering as evidenced by a vibronic shoulder in UV–vis spectra, π–π scattering in GIWAXS, and a well-developed fibril structure in TEM, which contributes to efficient charge transport. As a result, the fluorine substitution increases the power conversion efficiency by 20% to 250% as compared with nonfluorinated PDATs.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/cmatex/2014/cmatex.2014.26.issue-14/cm502229k/production/images/medium/cm-2014-02229k_0008.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/cm502229k'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Molecular Gas Feeding the Circumnuclear Disk of the Galactic Center

Hsieh, Pei-Ying,Koch, Patrick M.,Ho, Paul T. P.,Kim, Woong-Tae,Tang, Ya-Wen,Wang, Hsiang-Hsu,Yen, Hsi-Wei,Hwang, Chorng-Yuan American Astronomical Society 2017 The Astrophysical journal Vol.847 No.1

<P>The interaction between a supermassive black hole (SMBH) and the surrounding material is of primary importance in modern astrophysics. The detection of the molecular 2 pc circumnuclear disk (CND) immediately around the Milky Way SMBH, SgrA*, provides a unique opportunity to study SMBH accretion at subparsec scales. Our new wide-field CS(J = 2 - 1) map toward the Galactic center (GC) reveals multiple dense molecular streamers that originated from the ambient clouds 20 pc further out, and that are connected to the central 2 pc of the CND. These dense gas streamers appear to carry gas directly toward the nuclear region and might be captured by the central potential. Our phase-plot analysis indicates that these streamers show a signature of rotation and inward radial motion with progressively higher velocities as the gas approaches the CND and finally ends up corotating with the CND. Our results might suggest a possible mechanism of gas feeding the CND from 20 pc around 2 pc in the GC. In this paper, we discuss the morphology and the kinematics of these streamers. As the nearest observable Galactic nucleus, this feeding process may have implications for understanding the processes in extragalactic nuclei.</P>

생물학적 특성에 기반한 지능 제어 시스템의 구현 방안

최병재,Paul P. Wang 한국지능시스템학회 2004 한국지능시스템학회 학술발표 논문집 Vol.14 No.1

지식 정보화 사회의 도래와 함께 사람에게 친숙한 시스템의 개발에 관한 관심이 고조되고 있다. 아울러 인간 게놈 프로젝트를 통한 사람의 유전학적 특징을 분석하는 분야의 연구가 활성화되고 있다. 본 논문에서는 사람의 유전자 거동 특성이 가진 여러 가지의 다양한 특성이 새로운 지능 알고리즘의 구현을 위한 기본 원리로 사용될 수 있음을 제시한다. 이를 위하여 유전자 동조에 널리 사용되고 있는 불리언 네트워크 모델을 포함하여 생물학과 제어공학의 접목에 관하여 설명한다. 또한 불리언 네트워크를 기반으로 발표된 SORE (Self Organization and Regulating Engine) 시스템의 다양한 특징들이 자동제어 분야에 적용될 수 있음을 보인다. 본 논문의 범위는 구체적인 적용 예를 제시하는 정도는 아니며, 단지 그 가능성에 관해서만 제안 하고자 한다.

A Study on the Design of a Biologizing Control System

Byung-Jae Choi,Paul P. Wang 한국지능시스템학회 2004 한국지능시스템학회논문지 Vol.14 No.5

According to the progress of an information-oriented society, more human friendly systems are required. The systems can be implemented by a kind of intelligent algorithms. In this paper we propose the possibility of the implementation of an intelligent algorithm from gene behavior of human beings, which has some properties such as self organization and self regulation. The regulation of gene behavior is widely analyzed by Boolean network. Also the SORE (Self Organizable and Regulating Engine) is one of those algorithms. This paper does not report detailed research results; rather, it studies the feasibility of gene behavior in biocontrol systems based upon computer simulations.

A Study on the Design of a Biologizing Control System

Park, Byung-Jae,Wang, Paul P. Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems 2004 한국지능시스템학회논문지 Vol.14 No.5

According to the progress of an information-oriented society, more human friendly systems are required. The systems can be implemented by a kind of intelligent algorithms. In this paper we propose the possibility of the implementation of an intelligent algorithm from gene, behavior of human beings, which has some properties such as self organization and self regulation. The regulation of gene behavior is widely analyzed by Boolean network. Also the SORE (Self Organizable and Regulating Engine) is one of those algorithms. This paper does not report detailed research results; rather, it studies the feasibility of gene behavior in biocontrol systems based upon computer simulations.

A Magnetic Field Connecting the Galactic Center Circumnuclear Disk with Streamers and Mini-spiral: Implications from 850 <i>μ</i>m Polarization Data

Hsieh, Pei-Ying,Koch, Patrick M.,Kim, Woong-Tae,Ho, Paul T. P.,Tang, Ya-Wen,Wang, Hsiang-Hsu American Astronomical Society 2018 The Astrophysical journal Vol.862 No.2