We report a new ALD process for Ni3C and explore its applications for supercapacitors and electrocatalytic H2 evolution.

A new atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for depositing nickel carbide (NiC ) thin films is reported, using bis( N, N'-di- tert-butylacetamidinato)nickel(II) and H plasma. The process shows a good layer-by-layer film growth behavior with a saturated film growth rate of 0.039 nm/cycle for a fairly wide process temperature window from 75 to 250 °C. Comprehensive material characterizations are performed on the NiC films deposited at 95 °C with various H plasma pulse lengths from 5 to 12 s, and no appreciable difference is found with the change of the plasma pulse length. The deposited NiC films are fairly pure, smooth, and conductive, and the x in the nominal formula of NiC is approximately 0.7. The ALD NiC films are polycrystalline with a rhombohedral NiC crystal structure, and the films are free of nanocrystalline graphite or amorphous carbon. Last, we demonstrate that, by using this ALD process, highly uniform NiC films can be conformally deposited into deep narrow trenches with an aspect ratio as high as 20:1, which thereby highlights the broad and promising applicability of this process for conformal NiC film coatings on complex high-aspect-ratio 3D architectures in general.

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Our aim was to investigate the effects of acute cold pressor test (CPT) on augmentation index (AI) and wave intensity (WI) indexes from right common carotid artery (RCCA) and right common femoral artery (RCFA) and to test whether the reflection coefficient (RC) from wave intensity analysis can reflect the distal vascular resistance (DVR) accurately. Forty-three healthy males were randomly selected for measurements at baseline and 1 min after CPT at RCCA or RCFA. CPT induced similar increases of heart rate and blood pressure in RCCA and RCFA groups with their pulse pressures unchanged. The W(2) (the second peak of WI) was too obscure in RCFA to be analyzed. The W(1) (the first peak of WI) of both arteries, W(1)-W(2) (interval between W(1) and W(2)), and NA (negative area between W(1) and W(2), indicating reflected waves) of RCCA and the R-W(1) (interval between the R wave of ECG and W(1)) of RCFA decreased obviously, whereas the W(2) and R-W(1) of RCCA and the RC (calculated as NA/W(1)) of RCFA increased with no changes in the RC of RCCA and the NA of RCFA during CPT compared with baseline. The AIs from both arteries increased significantly after CPT. These results suggested that acute CPT has opposing effects on cerebral and peripheral vascular resistances, with the former decreased and the latter increased. The RCs from RCCA and RCFA are more associated with the changes of cerebral and peripheral vascular resistances, respectively, than the NA and AI, and the RC is of guiding value in assessing DVR.

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Cacna1f gene mutation could lead to incomplete congenital stationary night blindness (iCSNB) disease. The CSNB-like phenotype rat is a spontaneous rat model caused by Cacna1f gene mutation. The present study explored the phenotypic properties of behavior performance in CSNB rats further. The vision-related behaviors of CSNB rats were assessed with a Morris water maze (MWM), passive avoidance tests, and open-field test. Motor ability was evaluated with a rotarod test and a wire hang test, and mechanical pain and thermalgia were used to evaluate sensory system function. Electroretinograms (ERGs) were recorded to evaluate the function of the retina. The vision-related results showed that longer latencies of escape and reduced probe trial in MWM for CSNB rats. There were more errors in avoidance test; CSNB rats were more active in the open field and presented a different pattern of exploration. The locomotor-related behaviors showed shorter falling latencies in the rotarod test and shorter gripping time in CSNB rats. And mechanical thresholds of pain increased in CSNB rats. The ERGs indicated that both the amplitude and latency of rod and cone systems were impaired in the CSNB rats. In summary, Cacna1f gene mutation changed the performance of various behaviors in the CSNB rat aside from vision-related phenotype. Cacna1f gene might play a role in a wide range of responses in the organism. These results confirm the importance of a comprehensive profile for understanding the behavior phenotype of Cacna1f gene mutation in CSNB rat.

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