Preparation and thermoelectric properties of Ag-dispersed Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3.

Ag-dispersed Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 was prepared successfully by silver acetate (AgOAc) decomposition and hot pressing. The Ag nanoparticles were well-dispersed in the Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 matrix, and acted as phonon scattering centers effectively. The electrical conductivity increased systematically with increasing amount of Ag nanoparticle dispersion, whereas it decreased with increasing temperature similar to metals or degenerate semiconductors. All specimens had a positive Seebeck coefficient, which confirmed that the electrical charge was transported mainly by holes. The Seebeck coefficient of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 decreased with increasing temperature but its temperature dependence was changed by Ag dispersion. The power factor values for Ag-dispersed Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 increased significantly due to the increase in effective carrier mass and were higher over the entire temperature range. The decrease in lattice thermal conductivity by Ag dispersion overcame the increase in electronic thermal conductivity. The thermoelectric figure of merit was enhanced remarkably over a wide temperature range of 323-523 K due to the high power factor and the maintenance of low thermal conductivity.

Cloning and sequences of beta-actin genes from Rhodeus notatus and the silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (cyprinidae) and the phylogeny of Cyprinid fishes inferred from beta-actin genes.

Complete beta-actin genes from Rhodeus notatus and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (silver carp) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into pCRII vector for further characterization. The beta-actin genes of these two fishes were 1718 and 1755 bp in sequence length, respectively, and both of them contained 5 exons and 4 introns. The exon and intron boundaries were identified with the GT/AG rule. The phylogenetic implications of beta-actin gene in the family Cyprinidae were shortly discussed.

Palladium nanoparticles decorated mesoporous carbon spheres as catalyst for reduction of 4-nitrophenol.

Two kinds of polyaromatics with mesoporous have been synthesized from aromatic hydrocarbons using anhydrous zinc chloride as the Friedel-Crafts catalyst and chloromethyl methyl ether as a cross-linker, after the Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) decorated on the mesoporous carbon spheres (Pd@CSs) have been prepared by simply mixing the as-prepared polyaromatics (polynaphthalene or polypyrene) with PdCl2, reducing the Pd2+ to Pd0 by using NaBH4, followed by thermal treatment at 600 degrees C for 5 h in nitrogen atmosphere. The synthesized PdNPs have a uniform size distribution with an average size smaller than 15 nm and they can be loaded on the highly mesoporous carbon microspheres. Structural of the resulting Pd@CSs were carried out using FE-SEM, HR-TEM, X-ray differaction, dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The resulting Pd@CSs have been investigated as a catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, showing the Pd@CSs have high catalytic reactivity and recyclability.

Evaluation of nanocomposite gate insulators for flexible organic thin-film transistors.

To develop physically flexible electronics, high performance and mechanical stability of component materials and devices are required. For a flexible display, a backplane with flexible thin-film transistors (TFTs) must be developed. Gate insulating materials with excellent electrical and mechanical properties are highly important to the development of flexible TFTs. We investigated nanocomposite gate dielectrics composed of polyimide (PI) because of their superior thermal stability, as well as different inorganic HfO2, TiO2, and Al2O3 nanoparticles with high dielectric constants. Nanocomposite gate dielectrics of HfO2 nanoparticles and PI lowered leakage current density and increased the relative dielectric constant compared to PI solely because of a high degree of dispersion. Pentacene TFTs with HfO2 nanocomposite gate insulators also showed higher field-effect mobility (µ), smaller subthreshold swing, and an enhanced on/off current ratio (I(on/off)) compared to those of the PI gate dielectric. In addition, mechanical cyclic bending tests involving bending cycles of 2 x 10(5) time sat a bending radius of 5 mm showed improvement in electrical stability of nanocomposite gate insulators with a change in leakage current density of nanocomposite gate insulators below 30%.

Effect of pilopool on forced swimming test in mice.

Pilopool is composed of high molecular weight water-soluble chitosan, Allium sativum L. extract, mushroom extract, Dioscorea Batatas D., and purple bamboo salt. This study investigated the effect of Pilopool on performance of forced swimming test (FST). First, the immobility time was decreased in Pilopool-fed group in comparison with control group on FST. In blood serum, the contents of creatine kinase and lactic dehydrogenase were decreased and the contents of glucose and total protein were increased. The results predict a potential benefit of Pilopool as an anti-fatigue agent and for improving physical stamina.