The present study investigated the influence of substrate temperature(Ts)and working pressure(P(Ar))on tailoring the properties of nanocrystalline(nc)molybdenum(Mo)films fabricated by radio-frequency magnetron sputter...The present study investigated the influence of substrate temperature(Ts)and working pressure(P(Ar))on tailoring the properties of nanocrystalline(nc)molybdenum(Mo)films fabricated by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering.The structural,morphological,electrical and optical properties of nc-Mo films were evaluated in detail.The Mo films exhibited(110)orientation with average crystallite size varying from 9 to 22(±1)nm on increasing Ts.Corroborating with structural data,the electrical resistivity decreased from 55μΩcm to 10μΩcm,which is the lowest among all the Mo films.For Mo films deposited under variable P(Ar).the(110)peak intensity decrement coupled with peak broadening on increasing P(Ar).Lower deposition pressure yielded densely packed thin films with superior structural properties along with low resistivity of 15μΩcm.Optimum conditions to produce high quality Mo films with excellent structural,morphological,electrical and optical characteristics for utilization in solar cells as back contact layers were identified.展开更多
In humans,excess accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS)produces oxidative stress,resulting in cell and tissue damage,and eventually,leading to variety of diseases.Excess ROS can be eliminated,and its detrimental...In humans,excess accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS)produces oxidative stress,resulting in cell and tissue damage,and eventually,leading to variety of diseases.Excess ROS can be eliminated,and its detrimental repercussions avoided by combining endogenous and exogenous antioxidants.A plant-based diet and dietary supplements are a major source of exogenous antioxidants;however,fungi,bacteria,lichens,insects,and algae(macroalgae and microalgae)are also deemed as potential sources for exogenous antioxidants.For example,algal biomass and extracts can be directly consumed or their purified metabolites can be used as antioxidants.Furthermore,some exogenous antioxidant molecules can be synthesized only by algae but not by other organisms.Antioxidant molecules derived from algae,include a variety of polysaccharides,pigments(carotenoids,phycobiliproteins etc),mycosporins-like amino acids,phytosterols,phenolic compounds(phenolic acids,bromophenols,phlorotannins,flavonoids etc),fatty acids,and alkaloids.They exhibit potent antioxidant activities confirmed by in vitro scavenging assays(DPPH,ABTS,hydroxyl,superoxide,hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide radicals)and/or by reducing or chelating metal ions.In addition,algal-derived antioxidants have also been tested in in vivo models and have demonstrated high antioxidant activities achieved by upregulation of antioxidant enzymes(catalase,superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase)and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.This review study focuses on the antioxidant potential of different natural compounds obtained from different algal groups(macroalgae,eukaryotic microalgae and prokaryotic microalgae).This review is based primarily on research and review articles published in the last five years(2019-2023)and written in English.展开更多
The genus Mentha encompasses mint species cultivated for their essential oils, which are formulated into a vast array of consumer products. Desirable oil characteristics and resistance to the fungal disease Verti- cil...The genus Mentha encompasses mint species cultivated for their essential oils, which are formulated into a vast array of consumer products. Desirable oil characteristics and resistance to the fungal disease Verti- cillium wilt are top priorities for the mint industry. However, cultivated mints have complex polyploid ge- homes and are sterile. Breeding efforts, therefore, require the development of genomic resources for fertile mint species. Here, we present draft de novo genome and plastome assemblies for a wilt-resistant South African accession of Mentha Iongifolia （L.） Huds., a diploid species ancestral to cultivated peppermint and spearmint. The 353 Mb genome contains 35 597 predicted protein-coding genes, including 292 disease resistance gene homologs, and nine genes determining essential oil characteristics. A genetic linkage map ordered 1397 genome scaffolds on 12 pseudochromosomes. More than two million simple sequence repeats were identified, which will facilitate molecular marker development. The M. Iongifolia genome is a valuable resource for both metabolic engineering and molecular breeding. This is exemplified by employing the genome sequence to clone and functionally characterize the promoters in a peppermint cultivar, and demonstrating the utility of a glandular trichome-specific promoter to increase expression of a biosynthetic gene, thereby modulating essential oil composition.展开更多
Interposers with through-silicon vias(TSVs)play a key role in the three-dimensional integration and packaging of integrated circuits and microelectromechanical systems.In the current practice of fabricating interposer...Interposers with through-silicon vias(TSVs)play a key role in the three-dimensional integration and packaging of integrated circuits and microelectromechanical systems.In the current practice of fabricating interposers,solder balls are placed next to the vias;however,this approach requires a large foot print for the input/output(I/O)connections.Therefore,in this study,we investigate the possibility of placing the solder balls directly on top of the vias,thereby enabling a smaller pitch between the solder balls and an increased density of the I/O connections.To reach this goal,inkjet printing(that is,piezo and super inkjet)was used to successfully fill and planarize hollow metal TSVs with a dielectric polymer.The under bump metallization(UBM)pads were also successfully printed with inkjet technology on top of the polymer-filled vias,using either Ag or Au inks.The reliability of the TSV interposers was investigated by a temperature cycling stress test(−40℃ to+125℃).The stress test showed no impact on DC resistance of the TSVs;however,shrinkage and delamination of the polymer was observed,along with some micro-cracks in the UBM pads.For proof of concept,SnAgCu-based solder balls were jetted on the UBM pads.展开更多
Sequential carbohydrate synthesis is important for plant survival because it guarantees energy supplies for growth and development during plant ontogeny and reproduction. Starch and fructan are two important carbohydr...Sequential carbohydrate synthesis is important for plant survival because it guarantees energy supplies for growth and development during plant ontogeny and reproduction. Starch and fructan are two important carbohydrates in many flowering plants and in human diets. Understanding this coordinated starch and fructan synthesis and unraveling how plants allocate photosynthates and prioritize different carbohydrate synthesis for survival could lead to improvements to cereals in agriculture for the purposes of greater food security and production quality. Here, we report a system from a single gene in barley employing two alternative promoters, one intronic/exonic, to generate two sequence-overlapping but functionally opposing transcription factors, in sensing sucrose, potentially via sucrose/gluco lose 6-phosphate signaling. The system employs an autoregulatory mechanism in perceiving a sucrose- controlled trans activity on one promoter and orchestrating the coordinated starch and fructan synthesis by competitive transcription factor binding on the other promoter. As a case in point for the physiological roles of the system, we have demonstrated that this multitasking system can be exploited in breeding barley with tailored amounts of fructan to produce healthy food ingredients. The identification of an intron/exon-spanning promoter in a hosting gene, resulting in proteins with distinct functions, adds to the complexity of plant genomes.展开更多
基金supported financially by the National Science Foundation (NSF) with the NSF-PREM grant#DMR-1827745
文摘The present study investigated the influence of substrate temperature(Ts)and working pressure(P(Ar))on tailoring the properties of nanocrystalline(nc)molybdenum(Mo)films fabricated by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering.The structural,morphological,electrical and optical properties of nc-Mo films were evaluated in detail.The Mo films exhibited(110)orientation with average crystallite size varying from 9 to 22(±1)nm on increasing Ts.Corroborating with structural data,the electrical resistivity decreased from 55μΩcm to 10μΩcm,which is the lowest among all the Mo films.For Mo films deposited under variable P(Ar).the(110)peak intensity decrement coupled with peak broadening on increasing P(Ar).Lower deposition pressure yielded densely packed thin films with superior structural properties along with low resistivity of 15μΩcm.Optimum conditions to produce high quality Mo films with excellent structural,morphological,electrical and optical characteristics for utilization in solar cells as back contact layers were identified.
文摘In humans,excess accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS)produces oxidative stress,resulting in cell and tissue damage,and eventually,leading to variety of diseases.Excess ROS can be eliminated,and its detrimental repercussions avoided by combining endogenous and exogenous antioxidants.A plant-based diet and dietary supplements are a major source of exogenous antioxidants;however,fungi,bacteria,lichens,insects,and algae(macroalgae and microalgae)are also deemed as potential sources for exogenous antioxidants.For example,algal biomass and extracts can be directly consumed or their purified metabolites can be used as antioxidants.Furthermore,some exogenous antioxidant molecules can be synthesized only by algae but not by other organisms.Antioxidant molecules derived from algae,include a variety of polysaccharides,pigments(carotenoids,phycobiliproteins etc),mycosporins-like amino acids,phytosterols,phenolic compounds(phenolic acids,bromophenols,phlorotannins,flavonoids etc),fatty acids,and alkaloids.They exhibit potent antioxidant activities confirmed by in vitro scavenging assays(DPPH,ABTS,hydroxyl,superoxide,hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide radicals)and/or by reducing or chelating metal ions.In addition,algal-derived antioxidants have also been tested in in vivo models and have demonstrated high antioxidant activities achieved by upregulation of antioxidant enzymes(catalase,superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase)and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.This review study focuses on the antioxidant potential of different natural compounds obtained from different algal groups(macroalgae,eukaryotic microalgae and prokaryotic microalgae).This review is based primarily on research and review articles published in the last five years(2019-2023)and written in English.
文摘The genus Mentha encompasses mint species cultivated for their essential oils, which are formulated into a vast array of consumer products. Desirable oil characteristics and resistance to the fungal disease Verti- cillium wilt are top priorities for the mint industry. However, cultivated mints have complex polyploid ge- homes and are sterile. Breeding efforts, therefore, require the development of genomic resources for fertile mint species. Here, we present draft de novo genome and plastome assemblies for a wilt-resistant South African accession of Mentha Iongifolia （L.） Huds., a diploid species ancestral to cultivated peppermint and spearmint. The 353 Mb genome contains 35 597 predicted protein-coding genes, including 292 disease resistance gene homologs, and nine genes determining essential oil characteristics. A genetic linkage map ordered 1397 genome scaffolds on 12 pseudochromosomes. More than two million simple sequence repeats were identified, which will facilitate molecular marker development. The M. Iongifolia genome is a valuable resource for both metabolic engineering and molecular breeding. This is exemplified by employing the genome sequence to clone and functionally characterize the promoters in a peppermint cultivar, and demonstrating the utility of a glandular trichome-specific promoter to increase expression of a biosynthetic gene, thereby modulating essential oil composition.
基金This work is supported by ENIAC-JU Project Prominent Grant No 324189 and Tekes Grant No.40336/12 and Vinnova Grants Nos.2012-04301,2012-04287,and 2012-04314MM is supported by the Academy of Finland Grant Nos.288945 and 294119The work of Silex and KTH was funded in part through an Industrial Ph.D.grant from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research(SSF),Grant No.ID14-0033.
文摘Interposers with through-silicon vias(TSVs)play a key role in the three-dimensional integration and packaging of integrated circuits and microelectromechanical systems.In the current practice of fabricating interposers,solder balls are placed next to the vias;however,this approach requires a large foot print for the input/output(I/O)connections.Therefore,in this study,we investigate the possibility of placing the solder balls directly on top of the vias,thereby enabling a smaller pitch between the solder balls and an increased density of the I/O connections.To reach this goal,inkjet printing(that is,piezo and super inkjet)was used to successfully fill and planarize hollow metal TSVs with a dielectric polymer.The under bump metallization(UBM)pads were also successfully printed with inkjet technology on top of the polymer-filled vias,using either Ag or Au inks.The reliability of the TSV interposers was investigated by a temperature cycling stress test(−40℃ to+125℃).The stress test showed no impact on DC resistance of the TSVs;however,shrinkage and delamination of the polymer was observed,along with some micro-cracks in the UBM pads.For proof of concept,SnAgCu-based solder balls were jetted on the UBM pads.
文摘Sequential carbohydrate synthesis is important for plant survival because it guarantees energy supplies for growth and development during plant ontogeny and reproduction. Starch and fructan are two important carbohydrates in many flowering plants and in human diets. Understanding this coordinated starch and fructan synthesis and unraveling how plants allocate photosynthates and prioritize different carbohydrate synthesis for survival could lead to improvements to cereals in agriculture for the purposes of greater food security and production quality. Here, we report a system from a single gene in barley employing two alternative promoters, one intronic/exonic, to generate two sequence-overlapping but functionally opposing transcription factors, in sensing sucrose, potentially via sucrose/gluco lose 6-phosphate signaling. The system employs an autoregulatory mechanism in perceiving a sucrose- controlled trans activity on one promoter and orchestrating the coordinated starch and fructan synthesis by competitive transcription factor binding on the other promoter. As a case in point for the physiological roles of the system, we have demonstrated that this multitasking system can be exploited in breeding barley with tailored amounts of fructan to produce healthy food ingredients. The identification of an intron/exon-spanning promoter in a hosting gene, resulting in proteins with distinct functions, adds to the complexity of plant genomes.
