Undercut structure fabricated by complementary-structure micropatterning technique for the passive-matrix display of organic light-emitting diodes

This paper reports a new patterning method, the complementary-structure micropatterning (CSMP) technique, to fabricate the undercut structures for the passive-matrix display of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). First, the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) stripe patterns with a trapeziform cross-section were formed by micromolding in capillaries. Then the photoresist was spin coated on the substrate with the patterned PVP stripes and developed in water.

"Dual-Parallel-Channel" Shape-Gradient Surfaces: Toward Oriented and Reversible Movement of Water Droplets

In this paper, we prepared "dual-parallel-channel" shape-gradient surfaces, on which water droplets can reversibly and orientedly move between two adjacent pools under the guidance of an external voltage. Furthermore, it is found that the motion speed is governed by several parameters, including bath condition, gradient angle, and the working voltage. In this self-transportation process of water droplets, the external voltage works like a traffic light, which can give "moving", "stopping", "turning" and "straight-going" signals to the Water droplets.

A Novel Biodegradable and Light-Breakable Diblock Copolymer Micelle for Drug Delivery

A facile approach to the preparation of light-responsive copolymer micelles is developed. This approach is based on the attachment of hydrophobic groups to one block of a diblock copolymer via a light-sensitive linkage. The micelles can be dissociated under light irradiation and release the encapsulated pyrene. The obtained polymeric micelles are expected to be of use as drug-delivery vehicles.

Synthesis, self-assembly in water, and cytotoxicity of MPEG-block-PLLA/DX conjugates

Docetaxel (DX) is one of the most effective antineoplastic drugs. Its current clinical administration is limited because of its hydrophobicity and Serious side effects. A polymer/DX conjugate is designed and successfully prepared to solve these problems. It is monomethoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(L-lactide)/DX (MPEG-PLLA/DX) It was synthesized by reacting DX with carboxyl-terminated copolymer MPEG-PLLA, which was prepared by reacting succinic anhydride with hydroxyl-terminated copolymer monomethoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly (L-lactide) (MPEG-PLLA). Its structure and molecular weight was confirmed by H-1 NMR and GPC. The MPEG-PLLA/DX micelles in aqueous solution were prepared Using a SO]vent displacement method and characterized by dynamic light scattering for size and size distribution, and by transmission electron microscopy for surface morphology. Its antitumor activity against HeLa cancer cells evaluated by MTT assay showed that it had a similar antitumor activity to Pure D at the same drug content.

Design of polymeric stabilizers for size-controlled synthesis of monodisperse gold nanoparticles in water

A new methodology is described for the one-step aqueous preparation of highly monodisperse gold nanoparticles with diameters below 5 nm using thioether- and thiol-functionalized polymer ligands. The particle size and size distribution was controlled by subtle variation of the polymer structure. It was shown that poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) were the most effective stabilizing polymers in the group studied and that relatively low molar mass ligands (similar to 2500 g/mol) gave rise to the narrowest particle size distributions. Particle uniformity and colloidal stability to changes in ionic strength and pH were strongly affected by the hydrophobicity of the ligand end group. "Multidentate" thiol-terminated ligands were produced by employing dithiols and tetrathiols as chain-transfer agents, and these ligands gave rise to particles with unprecedented control over particle size and enhanced colloidal stability. It was found throughout that dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a very useful corroboratory technique for characterization of these gold nanoparticles in addition to optical spectroscopy and TEM.

Efficient multilayer white polymer light-emitting diodes with aluminum cathodes

Efficient multilayer white polymer light-emitting diodes (WPLEDs) with aluminum cathodes are fabricated. The multilayer structure is composed of a water soluble hole-injection layer, a toluene-soluble emissive layer, and an alcohol-soluble emissive layer. The polarity difference of the solvents used for spin coating these polymers allows for realization of the multilayer polymer structure. The recombination zone confined at the interface of the two emissive polymers avoids exciton quenching by electrodes, and white emission is realized by harvesting photons emitted from the two emissive polymers. A maximum luminous efficiency of 16.9 cd/A and a power efficiency of 11.1 lm/W are achieved for this WPLED.

Tethered diblock copolymer chains on platelets prepared by semicrystalline ABC triblock copolymers in toluene with trace amounts of water

Lamellar platelets of triblock copolymers grown in dilute toluene solution with trace amounts of water can be used as templates for tethered diblock copolymer chain preparation and analysis. Polystyrene-bpoly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO) with two different block fractions were used as model templates to generate tethered P2VP-b-PS chains on the platelet basal surfaces. In toluene solution the aggregation states of PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO were sensitive to the water content in the solution. For toluene with trace amount of water, spherical micelles were formed in the early stage and large square platelets would gradually grow from these spherical micelles. The hydrogen bonding between water and EO units was responsible for the formation of micelles and subsequent square platelets in the solution. Tethered P2VP-b-PS chains on basal surface of PEO platelets could be regarded as diblock copolymer brushes and the density (or: 0.086-0.36) and height (d: 3.5-14.3 nm) of these tethered chains could be easily modulated by changing the crystallization condition and/ or the molecular weight of each block. The tethered P2VP-b-PS chains were responsive to different solvent vapor.

A novel laser light-scattering study of enzymatic biodegradation of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) nanoparticles

A successful micronization of water-insoluble poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) into narrowly distributed nanoparticles stable in water has not only enabled us to study the enzymatic biodegradation of PCL in water at 25 degrees C by a combination of static and dynamic laser light scattering (LLS), but also to shorten the biodegradation time by a factor of more than 10(3) compared with using a thin PCL film, i.e. a 1 week conventional experiment becomes a 4 min one. The time-average scattering intensity decreased linearly. It was interesting to find that the decrease of the scattering intensity was not accompanied by a decrease of the average size of the PCL nanoparticles, indicating that the enzyme, Lipase Pseudomonas (PS), ''eats'' the PCL nanoparticles one-by-one, so that the biodegradation rate is determined mainly by the: enzyme concentration. Moreover, we found that using anionic sodium lauryl sulphate instead of cationic hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide as surfactant in the micronization can prevent the biodegradation, suggesting that the biodegradation involves two essential steps: the adsorption of slightly negatively charged Lipase PS onto the PCL nanoparticles and the interaction between Lipase PS and PCL. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rapid automated in-situ monitoring of total dissolved iron and total dissolved manganese in underground water by reverse-flow injection with chemiluminescence detection during the process of water treatment

Measurement of iron and manganese is very important in evaluating the quality of natural waters. We have constructed an automated Fe(II), total dissolved iron(TDI), Mn(II), and total dissolved manganese(TDM) analysis system for the quality control of underground drinking water by reverse flow injection analysis and chemiluminescence detection(rFIA-CL), The method is based on the measurement of the metal-catalyzed light emission from luminol oxidation by potassium periodate. The typical signal is a narrow peak, in which the height is proportional to light emitted and hence to the concentration of metal ions. The detection limits were 3 x 10(-6) mu g ml(-1) for Fe(II) and the linear range extents up to 1.0 x 10(-4) and 5 x 10(-6) mu g ml(-1) for Mn(II) cover a linear range to 1.0 x 10(-4) mu g ml(-1). This method was used for automated in-situ monitoring of total dissolved iron and total dissolved in underground water during water treatment. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

THE CHAIN STRUCTURE AND LIGHT-SCATTERING-STUDIES FOR ACRYLAMIDE-SODIUM ACRYLIC-ACID (AM-AA) COPOLYMERS

A set of AM-AA copolymer samples with the same comonomer content and different average molecular weight have been characterized by C-13 NMB and light scattering methods in this paper. The chemical composition (comonomer AA, mole content 16.9 +/- 1.1%) of these samples is uniform. the sequence of AA in the macromolecular chain is of alone and random distribution and the light scattering theory from polyelectrolyte in added-salt solutions is suitable for the AM-AA copolymers-0.12 mol/L NaCl water systems. The actual values of M(w), the second Virial coefficient A(2) and the mean square radius of gyration (R(2)), for the studied samples have been obtained. The relationships between the molecular parameters are as follows: A(2)=0.0619 ($) over bar M(w)(-0.24), < R(2) >(1/2)(t)= 0.0210 ($) over bar M(w)(0.54).

Tank cultivation of the red alga Palmaria palmata: Effects of intermittent light on growth rate, yield and growth kinetics

Tank cultivation of marine macroalgae involves air-agitation of the algal biomass and intermittent light conditions, i.e. periodic, short light exposure of the thalli in the range of 10 s at the water surface followed by plunging to low light or darkness at the tank bottom and recirculation back to the surface in the range of 1-2 min. Open questions relate to effects of surface irradiance on growth rate and yield in such tumble cultures and the possibility of chronic photoinhibition in full sunlight. A specially constructed shallow-depth tank combined with a dark tank allowed fast circulation times of approximately 5 s, at a density of 4.2 kg fresh weight (FW) m(-2) s(-1). Growth rate and yield of the red alga Palmaria palmata increased over a wide range of irradiances, with no signs of chronic photoinhibition, up to a growth-saturating irradiance of approximately 1600 mumol m(-2) s(-1) in yellowish light supplied by a sodium high pressure lamp at 16 h light per day. Maximum growth rate ranged at 12% FW d(-1), and maximum yield at 609 g FW m(-2) d(-1). This shows that high growth rates of individual thalli may be reached in a dense tumble culture, if high surface irradiances and short circulation times are supplied. Another aspect of intermittent light relates to possible changes of basic growth kinetics, as compared to continuous light. For this purpose on-line measurements of growth rate were performed with a daily light reduction by 50% in light-dark cycles of 1, 2 or 3 min duration during the daily light period. Growth rates at 10degreesC and 50 mumol photon m(-2) s- 1 dropped in all three intermittent light regimes during both the main light and dark periods and reached with all three periodicities approximately 50% of the control, with no apparent changes in basic growth kinetics, as compared to continuous light.

Temperature and light tolerance of representative brown, green and red algae in tumble culture revealed by chlorophyll fluorescence measurements

Laminaria japonica, Undaria pinnatifida, Ulva lactuca, Grateloupia turuturu and Palmaria palmata are Suitable species that fit the requirements of a seaweed-animal integrated aquaculture system in terms of their viable biomass, rapid growth and promising nutrient uptake rates. fit this investigation, the responses of the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield of the five algal species in tumble Culture were assessed at a temperature range of 10 similar to 30 degrees C. The results revealed that Ulva lactuca was the most resistant species to high temperature, withstanding 30 degrees C for 4 h without apparent decline in the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield. While the arctic alga Palmaria palmata was the most vulnerable one, showing significant decline in the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield at 25 degrees C for 2 h. The cold-water species Laminaria japonica, however, demonstrated strong ability to cope with higher temperature (24 similar to 26 degrees C) for shorter time (within 24 h) without significant decline in the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield. Grateloupia turuturu showed a general decrease in the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield with the rising temperature from 23 to 30 degrees C, similar to the temperate kelp Undaria pinnatifida. Changes of chlorophyll fluorescence yields of these algae were characterized differently indicating the existence of species-unique strategy to cope with high light. Measurements of the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield after short exposure to direct solar irradiance revealed how long these exposures could be without significant photoinhibition or with promising recovery in photosynthetic activities. Seasonal pattern of alternation of algal species in tank culture in the Northern Hemisphere at the latitude of 36 degrees N was proposed according to these basic measurements.

Cultivation of the brown alga Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura: controlled fertilization and early development of seedlings in raceway tanks in ambient light and temperature

Commercial cultivation of the dioecious brown macroalga Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura in East Asia depends on the supply of young seedlings from regenerated holdfasts or from wild population. Recent development of synchronized release of male and female gametes in tumble culture provides a possibility of mass production of young seedlings via sexual reproduction. In this paper, we demonstrate that controlled fertilization can be efficiently realized in ambient light and temperature in a specially designed raceway tank in which the sperm-containing water has been recirculated. The effective fertilization time of eggs by sperm was found to be within six hours. Fast growth and development of the young seedlings relied on the presence of water currents. Velocity tests demonstrated that young seedlings of 2-3 mm in length could withstand a water current of 190 cm s(-1) stop without detachment. Culture experiments at 24 h postfertilization showed that elongation of both the seedlings and their rhizoids were not hampered by high irradiance up to 600 mu mol photons m(-2) stop s(-1) stop. However, growth was slightly retarded if cultured at a temperature of 16 degrees C compared to other culture temperatures of 22, 25 and 29 degrees C. No seedling detachment was observed after transfer of the young seedlings to raft cultivation in the sea after one and 1.5 months post-fertilization, indicating the feasibility of obtaining large quantity of seedlings in such a system.

Light energy conversion into H-2 by Anabaena variabilis mutant PK84 dense cultures exposed to nitrogen limitations

Concentrated cultures (25-86 mg Chl a l(-1)) of Anabaena variabilis PK84 were incubated under 99% Ar+1% CO2 atmosphere in the photobioreactor made of coaxial cylinders. Under illumination equal to 353 mu E m(-2) s(-1) they produced hydrogen with the rate more than 20 ml l(-1) h(-1) for several days. The efficiency of light energy conversion into H-2 was approx. 1% and did not depend significantly on initial Chl a concentration. H-2/O-2 ratio reached 41.5% of theoretical value for water photolysis. Data indicate that dense cultures might be used for outdoor systems under direct sun light. Supra-optimal temperatures 36 degrees C were not harmful for cultures even for 2 days period. Short-term incubation of cultures under 36 degrees C even increased H2 production rate and efficiency of light energy bioconversion by 1.25 times. (c) 2006 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Carbon dioxide dynamics and controls in a deep-water wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

To initially characterize the dynamics and environmental controls of CO2, ecosystem CO2 fluxes were measured for different vegetation zones in a deep-water wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during the growing season of 2002. Four zones of vegetation along a gradient from shallow to deep water were dominated, respectively by the emergent species Carex allivescens V. Krez., Scirpus distigmaticus L., Hippuris vulgaris L., and the submerged species Potamogeton pectinatus L. Gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (Re), and net ecosystem production (NEP) were markedly different among the vegetation zones, with lower Re and GPP in deeper water. NEP was highest in the Scirpus-dominated zone with moderate water depth, but lowest in the Potamogeton-zone that occupied approximately 75% of the total wetland area. Diurnal variation in CO2 flux was highly correlated with variation in light intensity and soil temperature. The relationship between CO2 flux and these environmental variables varied among the vegetation zones. Seasonal CO2 fluxes, including GPP, Re, and NEP, were strongly correlated with aboveground biomass, which was in turn determined by water depth. In the early growing season, temperature sensitivity (Q(10)) for Re varied from 6.0 to 8.9 depending on vegetation zone. Q(10) decreased in the late growing season. Estimated NEP for the whole deep-water wetland over the growing season was 24 g C m(-2). Our results suggest that water depth is the major environmental control of seasonal variation in CO2 flux, whereas photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) controls diurnal dynamics.