A bifunctional copolymer additive to utilize photoenergy transfer and to improve hole mobility for organic ternary bulk-heterojunction solar cell.

To realize the high efficiency organic photovoltaics (OPVs), two critical requirements have to be fulfilled: (1) increasing the photon energy absorption range of the active layer, and (2) improving charge separation and transport in the active layer. This study reports the utilization of THC8, a novel fluorescence-based polymer containing propeller-shaped di-triarylamine and fluorene moieties in the active layer consisting of poly-3-hexylthiophene and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester to form a ternary bulk heterojunction. The results showed that the high absorbance and strong fluorescence of THC8 at 420 and 510 nm, respectively, broadened the spectral absorption of the OPV, possibly through Förster resonance energy transfer. In addition, the morphology of the device active layer was improved with the addition of a suitable amount of THC8. Consequently, the charge transport property of the active layer was improved. The best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device with THC8 was 3.88%, a 25% increase compared to the PCE of a pristine OPV.

Self-assembled monolayer immobilized gold nanoparticles for plasmonic effects in small molecule organic photovoltaic.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gold nanoparticle (Au NP)-induced surface plasmons on the performance of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) that consist of copper phthalocyanine and fullerene as the active materials. The photon absorption can be enhanced by immobilization of surfactant-stabilized Au NPs on a self-assembled monolayer-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, and thus, the photocurrent as well as the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of these OPVs can be improved. Varying the density of the immobilized Au NPs in the devices provided no significant variation in the charge mobility but it did enhance the photocurrent. In addition, device simulation results demonstrated that the improvement in photocurrent was due to the enhancement of light absorption and the increase in charge separation, which was facilitated by the Au NPs. Overall, we attributed the improvement in PCE of OPVs to a localized surface plasmon resonance effect generated by the Au NPs.

The effect of direction on cursor moving kinematics.

There have been only few studies to substantiate the kinematic characteristics of cursor movement. In this study, a quantitative experimental research method was used to explore the effect of moving direction on the kinematics of cursor movement in 24 typical young persons using our previously developed computerized measuring program. The results of multiple one way repeated measures ANOVAs and post hoc LSD tests demonstrated that the moving direction had effects on average velocity, movement time, movement unit and peak velocity. Moving leftward showed better efficiency than moving rightward, upward and downward from the kinematic evidences such as velocity, movement unit and time. Moreover, the unique pattern of the power spectral density (PSD) of velocity (strategy for power application) explained why the smoothness was still maintained while moving leftward even under an unstable situation with larger momentum. Moreover, the information from this cursor moving study can guide us to relocate the toolbars and icons in the window interface, especially for individuals with physical disabilities whose performances are easily interrupted while controlling the cursor in specific directions.

Freshwater clam extract inhibits inflammatory responses in LPS-activated macrophages by reducing the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and NF-kappaB.

Recent studies demonstrated that freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea) has lipid-lowering and hepatoprotective activities, but its effect on immune responses has not yet been addressed. Here we showed that ethanol extracts of C. fluminea (ECF) reduced nitrite oxide, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. Further, ECF was fractionated into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water soluble fractions. Of these, the ethyl acetate soluble fraction (EACF) had the highest capacity to inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators expression. The underlying mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory activity of EACF were demonstrated as down-regulation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 phosphorylation and NF-kappaB activity. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis EACF was found to be composed mainly of fatty acids and steroids. Our results provide evidence that freshwater clam has anti-inflammatory activity, and support the possibility for the development of freshwater clam as a health supplement or adjuvant therapeutic agent for either preventing or treating inflammation related diseases.

Effect of translucency on transparency and symbol learning for children with and without cerebral palsy.

Based on the concept of iconicity, the iconicity hypothesis was emphasized for decades. The aims of this study were to explore the effect of translucency on transparency and symbol learning for children with and without cerebral palsy. Twenty children with cerebral palsy and forty typical peers participated in the study. Ten symbols with high translucency and ten with low translucency were used as experimental material. The results of transparency testing demonstrated the positive relationship between translucency and transparency. The effect of translucency on symbol learning was supported partially, all children with and without CP could learn the low translucent symbols only after two teaching sessions, or three sessions at most. The authors also provided some suggestions for further study based the results of this study.

The performance of mouse pointing and selecting for pupils with and without intellectual disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of mouse pointing and selecting in the tasks with different index of difficulty between 20 pupils with intellectual disabilities and 21 pupils without disabilities. A mouse proficiency assessment software was utilized to collect data. Pupils with intellectual disabilities executed tasks more correctly in bigger target even in tasks with the same index of difficulty. The group with intellectual disabilities performed worse in cursor control even when only those correctly completed tasks were used for comparison. However, a similar pattern was observed in the performance of the group without disabilities.

The effectiveness of picture-fading techniques in a multimedia learning system for teaching Chinese word recognition to students with multiple disabilities.

The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of picture-fading techniques in a multimedia learning system for Chinese word-recognition instruction. A single-subject, multiple-probe baseline design across participants was used. Three first-grade students with multiple disabilities participated in this study. The three participants received word-recognition instruction with picture-fading techniques to identify four Chinese printed words. The results of this study demonstrated that all participants could identify the four printed words correctly without the presence of known pictorial prompts. In conclusion, the use of picture-fading techniques in word-recognition instruction can function as a bridge between pictorial prompts and printed words.

The effectiveness of adapted web pages on the learning performance of students with severe mental retardation.

Learning to use computers and/or using computers to learn has become a part of everyday life for most students. Unfortunately, students with mental retardation in Taiwan, especially those with moderate or severe mental retardation, are often not considered capable of utilizing computers and online learning. It is common for students with moderate or severe mental retardation to have poor vocabulary, or even be illiterate. Web pages mostly displayed in text form have therefore become the major obstacle for students with mental retardation when they try to learn online. This research focused on students with severe mental retardation by integrating picture communication symbols, voices and animation into a teaching home page, and then examined its effectiveness on learning.