Exciton transformation, a non-radiative process in changing the spin multiplicity of an exciton usually between singlet and triplet forms, has received much attention recently due to its crucial effects in manipulating optoelectronic properties for various applications. However, current understanding of exciton transformation mechanism does not extend far beyond a thermal equilibrium of two states with different multiplicity and it is a significant challenge to probe what exactly control the transformation between the highly active excited states. Here, based on the recent developments of three types of purely organic molecules capable of efficient spin-flipping, we perform ab initio structure/energy optimization and similarity/overlap extent analysis to theoretically explore the critical factors in controlling the transformation process of the excited states. The results suggest that the states having close energy levels and similar exciton characteristics with same transition configurations and high heteroatom participation are prone to facilitating exciton transformation. A basic guideline towards the molecular design of purely organic materials with facile exciton transformation ability is also proposed. Our discovery highlights systematically the critical importance of vertical transition configuration of excited states in promoting the singlet/triplet exciton transformation, making a key step forward in excited state tuning of purely organic optoelectronic materials.

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C 60 and single-layer MoS 2 nanocomposites were facilely prepared via a combined solvent transfer and surface deposition (STSD) method by templating C 60 aggregates on 2D MoS 2 nanosheets to construct hybrid van der Waals heterojunctions. The electronic property of the hybrid nanomaterials was investigated in a direct charge transport diode device configuration of ITO/C 60 −MoS 2 nanocomposites/Al; rewritable nonvolatile resistive switching with low SET/RESET voltage (∼3 V), high ON/OFF resistance ratio (∼4 × 10 3 ), and superior electrical bistability (>10 4 s) of a flash memory behavior was observed. This particular electrical property of C 60 −MoS 2 nanocomposites, not possessed by either C 60 or MoS 2 nanosheets, was supposed to be due to the efficiently established C 60 /MoS 2 p−n nanojunction, which controls the electron tunneling via junction barriers modulated by electric-field-induced polarization. Thus, our 2D templating method through STSD is promising to massively allocate van der Waals p−n heterojunctions in 2D nanocomposites, opening a window for important insights into the charge transport across the interface of organic/2D-semiconductors.

BackgroundFor a good probiotic candidate, the abilities to adhere to intestinal epithelium and to fortify barrier function are considered to be crucial for colonization and functionality of the strain. The strain Lactobacillus acidophilus LAB20 was isolated from the jejunum of a healthy dog, where it was found to be the most pre-dominant lactobacilli. In this study, the adhesion ability of LAB20 to intestinal epithelial cell (IECs) lines, IECs isolated from canine intestinal biopsies, and to canine, porcine and human intestinal mucus was investigated. Further, we studied the ability of LAB20 to fortify the epithelial cell monolayer and to reduce LPS-induced interleukin (IL-8) release from enterocytes.ResultsWe found that LAB20 presented higher adhesion to canine colonic mucus as compared to mucus isolated from porcine colon. LAB20 showed adhesion to HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines, and importantly also to canine IECs isolated from canine intestinal biopsies. In addition, LAB20 increased the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) of enterocyte monolayers and thus strengthened the intestinal barrier function. The strain showed also anti-inflammatory capacity in being able to attenuate the LPS-induced IL-8 production of HT-29 cells.ConclusionIn conclusion, canine indigenous strain LAB20 is a potential probiotic candidate for dogs adhering to the host epithelium and showing intestinal barrier fortifying and anti-inflammatory effects.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-014-0337-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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To address the intrinsic contradiction between high optoelectronic properties and good processability in organic π-conjugated molecules, we propose that soft-conjugated molecules (SCMs), conformationally locked by intramolecular nonbonding interactions, can benefit from both nonplanar molecular structures in solution for processing and rigid coplanar structures in the solid state for enhanced optoelectronic properties. Computational results reveal that nonbonding pairs of S···N, N···H, and F···S are strong enough to prevail over thermal fluctuations, steric effects, and other repulsive interactions to force the adjacent aromatic rings to be planar; thus, constructed SCMs display delocalized frontier molecular orbitals with frontier orbital energy levels, band gaps, reorganization energies, and photophyscial properties comparable to those of rigid-conjugated molecules because of their stable planar soft-conjugation at both ground and excited states. The understanding gained from the theoretical investigations of SCMs provides keen insights into construction and modification of soft-conjugations to harmonize the optoelectronic property and processability in conjugated molecules for advanced optoelectronic applications.

This study presents a grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) system based on the series Z-source inverter. The grid-tied current control strategy, the dc-link voltage control, as well as the maximum power point tracking scheme is realised in the single-stage system. The current control strategy is performed based on dq rotating frame. Indirect dc-link control is adopted to achieve constant peak dc-link voltage and thus can simplify the controller design in inversion stage. The overall control strategy is given and analysed in detail. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system can be applied in PV system with a wide input voltage range, which verify the correctness and validity of the analysis.

A balanced gastrointestinal microbial ecosystem is crucial for the health and growth of animals. In the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of ruminants, cellulolytic bacteria aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Rumen contents and feces in ruminants are often used to assess gastrointestinal microbial communities; however, these sites do not guarantee to represent the diversity of microbes found in the entire GIT. In this study, we investigated the microbiota along the GIT of five Chinese Mongolian sheep using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and real-time PCR analysis. Results indicated that microbiota were more abundant in the stomach and large intestine than in the small intestine. DGGE and real-time PCR revealed the predominance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the GIT. Meanwhile, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Clostridium cluster IV showed significant difference in their abundance along the GIT (P < 0.05). Fibrobacter succinogenes was the most dominant species, followed by Ruminococcus albus and R. flavefaciens. The ileum harbored a larger number of cellulolytic bacteria, particularly-Clostridium cluster IV, than reported previously. In addition, comparisons between microbiota in the rumen and rectum indicated similar number of total bacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, F. succinogenes, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Clostridium cluster IV, and Clostridium cluster XIVa, whereas the number of R. albus and R. flavefaciens was higher in the rumen. This study investigated the composition and quantification of GIT microbial community in Chinese Mongolian sheep, and revealed for the first time the cellulolytic bacterial community in these sheep.