A highly-efficient, flexible piezoelectric PZT thin film nanogenerator is demonstrated using a laser lift-off (LLO) process. The PZT thin film nanogenerator harvests the highest output performance of ∼200 V and ∼150 μA·cm(-2) from regular bending motions. Furthermore, power sources generated from a PZT thin film nanogenerator, driven by slight human finger bending motions, successfully operate over 100 LEDs.

This article reports on the International Nanofluid Property Benchmark Exercise, or INPBE, in which the thermal conductivity of identical samples of colloidally stable dispersions of nanoparticles or "nanofluids," was measured by over 30 organizations worldwide, using a variety of experimental approaches, including the transient hot wire method, steady-state methods, and optical methods. The nanofluids tested in the exercise were comprised of aqueous and nonaqueous basefluids, metal and metal oxide particles, near-spherical and elongated particles, at low and high particle concentrations. The data analysis reveals that the data from most organizations lie within a relatively narrow band ͑Ϯ10% or less͒ about the sample average with only few outliers. The thermal conductivity of the nanofluids was found to increase with particle concentration and aspect ratio, as expected from classical theory. There are ͑small͒ systematic differences in the absolute values of the nanofluid thermal conductivity among the various experimental approaches; however, such differences tend to disappear when the data are normalized to the measured thermal conductivity of the basefluid. The effective medium theory developed for dispersed particles by Maxwell in 1881 and recently generalized by Nan et al. ͓J. Appl. Phys. 81, 6692 ͑1997͔͒, was found to be in good agreement with the experimental data, suggesting that no anomalous enhancement of thermal conductivity was achieved in the nanofluids tested in this exercise.

High-performance flexible power sources have gained attention, as they enable the realization of next-generation bendable, implantable, and wearable electronic systems. Although the rechargeable lithium-ion battery (LIB) has been regarded as a strong candidate for a high-performance flexible energy source, compliant electrodes for bendable LIBs are restricted to only a few materials, and their performance has not been sufficient for them to be applied to flexible consumer electronics including rollable displays. In this paper, we present a flexible thin-film LIB developed using the universal transfer approach, which enables the realization of diverse flexible LIBs regardless of electrode chemistry. Moreover, it can form high-temperature (HT) annealed electrodes on polymer substrates for high-performance LIBs. The bendable LIB is then integrated with a flexible light-emitting diode (LED), which makes an all-in-one flexible electronic system. The outstanding battery performance is explored and well supported by finite element analysis (FEA) simulation.

Rationale: Monocyte infiltration into the subintimal space and their intracellular lipid accumulation are the most prominent features of atherosclerosis. To understand the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease, we need to understand the characteristics of lipid-laden foamy macrophages in the subintimal space during atherosclerosis. Objective: We sought to examine the transcriptomic profiles of foamy and non-foamy macrophages isolated from atherosclerotic intima. Methods and Results: Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of CD45+ leukocytes from murine atherosclerotic aorta revealed that there are macrophage subpopulations with distinct differentially expressed genes involved in various functional pathways. To specifically characterize the intimal foamy macrophages of plaque, we developed a lipid staining-based flow cytometric method for analyzing the lipid-laden foam cells of atherosclerotic aortas. We employed the fluorescent lipid probe BODIPY493/503 and assessed side-scattered light (SSC) as an indication of cellular granularity. BODIPYhiSSChi foamy macrophages were found residing in intima and expressing CD11c. Foamy macrophage accumulation determined by flow cytometry was positively correlated with the severity of atherosclerosis. Bulk RNA-seq analysis showed that compared with non-foamy macrophages, foamy macrophages expressed few inflammatory genes but many lipid-processing genes. Intimal non-foamy macrophages formed the major population expressing interleukin-1β and many other inflammatory transcripts in atherosclerotic aorta. Conclusions: RNA-seq analysis of intimal macrophages from atherosclerotic aorta revealed that lipid-loaded plaque macrophages are not likely the plaque macrophages that drive lesional inflammation.

for their helpful discussions and comments, Dev Jennings (action editor) and the three reviewers for editorial guidance, and Yuanyuan Zhou for research assistance.

IntroductionInterleukin (IL)-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine that is produced largely by a unique CD4+ T-helper (Th) subset called Th17 cells. The development of Th17 cells is suppressed by interferon (IFN)-γ produced by Th1 cells, suggesting cross-regulation between Th17 and Th1 cells. Thus, this study analyzed the balance of CD4+ Th17 and Th1 cell responses in peripheral blood from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy subjects.MethodsTwenty-five adult patients with SLE and 26 healthy subjects matched for gender and age (± 2 years) were recruited. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients and healthy subjects were stimulated for 4 h ex vivo with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. The frequency of CD4+ T cells producing IL-17 and/or IFN-γ was measured by using flow cytometry. Expression of Th17-associated chemokine receptors CCR4 and CCR6 on CD4+ T cells as well as plasma levels of Th17-polarizing cytokines were assessed. Disease activity was evaluated by the SLE disease activity index score (SLEDAI). Unpaired t test and Pearson correlation were used for statistical analyses.ResultsPatients with SLE had an increased frequency of CD4+IL-17+ T cells compared with healthy subjects. However, the frequency of CD4+IFN-γ+ T cells was similar between the two groups, indicating an altered balance of Th17 and Th1 cell responses in SLE. Patients with SLE also had an increased frequency of CD4+CCR4+CCR6+ T cells that are known to produce IL-17. The frequency of CD4+IL-17+ T cells and CD4+CCR4+CCR6+ T cells correlated with disease activity. In measuring plasma levels of the Th17-polarizing cytokines, levels of IL-6 were higher in patients with SLE than in healthy subjects, although levels of IL-1β, IL-21, IL-23, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were not different between the two groups.ConclusionsWe demonstrate an enhanced Th17 cell response that correlates with disease activity in patients with SLE, suggesting a role for IL-17 in the pathogenesis of lupus. Our data indicate that the mechanisms involved in balancing Th1 and Th17 regulation, as well as in producing IL-6, are aberrant in SLE, leading to an increased Th17 response. We suggest that CCR4 and CCR6 expression on CD4+ T cells should be considered as markers of disease activity, and that IL-17 blocking may offer a therapeutic target in SLE.

For the differentiation and identification of mycobacterial species, the rpoB gene, encoding the β subunit of RNA polymerase, was investigated. rpoB DNAs (342 bp) were amplified from 44 reference strains of mycobacteria and clinical isolates (107 strains) by PCR. The nucleotide sequences were directly determined (306 bp) and aligned by using the multiple alignment algorithm in the MegAlign package (DNASTAR) and the MEGA program. A phylogenetic tree was constructed by the neighbor-joining method. Comparative sequence analysis of rpoB DNAs provided the basis for species differentiation within the genusMycobacterium. Slowly and rapidly growing groups of mycobacteria were clearly separated, and each mycobacterial species was differentiated as a distinct entity in the phylogenetic tree. Pathogenic Mycobacterium kansasii was easily differentiated from nonpathogenic M. gastri; this differentiation cannot be achieved by using 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) sequences. By being grouped into species-specific clusters with low-level sequence divergence among strains of the same species, all of the clinical isolates could be easily identified. These results suggest that comparative sequence analysis of amplified rpoB DNAs can be used efficiently to identify clinical isolates of mycobacteria in parallel with traditional culture methods and as a supplement to 16S rDNA gene analysis. Furthermore, in the case of M. tuberculosis, rifampin resistance can be simultaneously determined.

We develop a real options perspective to explore how an entrepreneur-friendly bankruptcy law can encourage entrepreneurship development at the societal level. If bankrupt entrepreneurs are excessively punished for failure, they may let inherently high-risk but potentially high-return opportunities pass. We suggest that a more entrepreneur-friendly bankruptcy law, informed by a real options logic, can encourage more active and vibrant entrepreneurship development. We also discuss the implications of the role of venture capital and stigma in the effectiveness of an entrepreneur-friendly bankruptcy law.