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Throughout the history of materials science and physics, few topics have captured as much interest as the phenomenon of superconductivity (SPC), discovered in 1911. Perhaps this is because of the intriguing interpretation of the phenomenon, which remains controversial, or for the secret hope of being able to synthesize a material with a critical superconductive transition temperature (TC) high enough to revolutionize the sector of energy generation and transport. As a matter of fact, the search for new superconductor materials has motivated an army of scientists, in particular, after the discovery of high-TC superconductor cuprates (HTS) in the mid-80s. Besides the unremitting interest in HTS, new materials, such as intermetallic borides, iron–nickel-based superconductors, heavy fermion, and organic and superhydride systems, are still delivering outstanding achievements to the scientific community, among which includes thousands of papers and a handful of Nobel prize winners). This Special Issue “Synthesis and Characterization of New Superconductor Materials” is a collection of scientific contributions providing new insights and advances in this fascinating field, addressing issues ranging from the fundamental research (theory and correlation between critical temperature, TC, and structural properties) to the development of innovative solutions for practical applications of superconductivity: Synthesis of new superconducting materials Magnetic and/or electric characterization of the TC transition Role of crystal symmetry and chemical substitutions on TC TC dependence on external stimuli and/or non-ambient conditions Theoretical modeling

Research & information: general --- Dirac electron --- Landau level --- interlayer magnetoresistance --- organic conductor --- α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 --- Er123 --- melt temperature --- superconducting solder --- superconducting joint --- FeSe --- superconductivity --- high pressure --- chemical intercalation --- interfacial coupling --- AC susceptibility --- BaZrO3 --- co-precipitation --- solid-state --- YBa2Cu3O7−δ --- Weyl semimetal --- focused ion beam --- high-temperature superconductors --- bismuth-based cuprates --- Bi-2212 --- n/a

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Microelectrode arrays are increasingly used in a wide variety of situations in the medical device sector. For example, one major challenge in microfluidic devices is the manipulation of fluids and droplets effectively at such scales. Due to the laminar flow regime (i.e., low Reynolds number) in microfluidic devices, the mixing of species is also difficult, and unless an active mixing strategy is employed, passive diffusion is the only mechanism that causes the fluid to mix. For many applications, diffusion is considered too slow, and thus many active pumping and mixing strategies have been employed using electrokinetic methods, which utilize a variety of simple and complex microelectrode array structures. Microelectrodes have also been implemented in in vitro intracellular delivery platforms to conduct cell electroporation on chip, where a highly localized electric field on the scale of a single cell is generated to enhance the uptake of extracellular material. In addition, microelectrode arrays are utilized in different microfluidic biosensing modalities, where a higher sensitivity, selectivity, and limit-of-detection are desired. Carbon nanotube microelectrode arrays are used for DNA detection, multi-electrode array chips are used for drug discovery, and there has been an explosion of research into brain–machine interfaces, fueled by microfabricated electrode arrays, both planar and three-dimensional. The advantages associated with microelectrode arrays include small size, the ability to manufacture repeatedly and reliably tens to thousands of micro-electrodes on both rigid and flexible substrates, and their utility for both in vitro and in vivo applications. To realize their full potential, there is a need to develop and integrate microelectrode arrays to form useful medical device systems. As the field of microelectrode array research is wide, and touches many application areas, it is often difficult to locate a single source of relevant information. This Special Issue seeks to showcase research papers, short communications, and review articles, that focus on the application of microelectrode arrays in the medical device sector. Particular interest will be paid to innovative application areas that can improve existing medical devices, such as for neuromodulation and real world lab-on-a-chip applications.

Technology: general issues --- electrothermal --- microelectrode --- microfluidics --- micromixing --- micropump --- alternating current (AC) electrokinetics --- bisphenol A --- self-assembly --- biosensor --- flexible electrode --- polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) --- pyramid array micro-structures --- low contact impedance --- multimodal laser micromachining --- ablation characteristics --- shadow mask --- interdigitated electrodes --- soft sensors --- liquid metal --- fabrication --- principle --- arrays --- application --- induced-charge electrokinetic phenomenon --- ego-dielectrophoresis --- mobile electrode --- Janus microsphere --- continuous biomolecule collection --- electroconvection --- microelectrode array (MEA) --- ion beam assisted electron beam deposition (IBAD) --- indium tin oxide (ITO) --- titanium nitride (TiN) --- neurons --- transparent --- islets of Langerhans --- insulin secretion --- glucose stimulated insulin response --- electrochemical transduction --- intracortical microelectrode arrays --- shape memory polymer --- softening --- robust --- brain tissue oxygen --- in vivo monitoring --- multi-site clinical depth electrode --- n/a

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Microelectrode arrays are increasingly used in a wide variety of situations in the medical device sector. For example, one major challenge in microfluidic devices is the manipulation of fluids and droplets effectively at such scales. Due to the laminar flow regime (i.e., low Reynolds number) in microfluidic devices, the mixing of species is also difficult, and unless an active mixing strategy is employed, passive diffusion is the only mechanism that causes the fluid to mix. For many applications, diffusion is considered too slow, and thus many active pumping and mixing strategies have been employed using electrokinetic methods, which utilize a variety of simple and complex microelectrode array structures. Microelectrodes have also been implemented in in vitro intracellular delivery platforms to conduct cell electroporation on chip, where a highly localized electric field on the scale of a single cell is generated to enhance the uptake of extracellular material. In addition, microelectrode arrays are utilized in different microfluidic biosensing modalities, where a higher sensitivity, selectivity, and limit-of-detection are desired. Carbon nanotube microelectrode arrays are used for DNA detection, multi-electrode array chips are used for drug discovery, and there has been an explosion of research into brain–machine interfaces, fueled by microfabricated electrode arrays, both planar and three-dimensional. The advantages associated with microelectrode arrays include small size, the ability to manufacture repeatedly and reliably tens to thousands of micro-electrodes on both rigid and flexible substrates, and their utility for both in vitro and in vivo applications. To realize their full potential, there is a need to develop and integrate microelectrode arrays to form useful medical device systems. As the field of microelectrode array research is wide, and touches many application areas, it is often difficult to locate a single source of relevant information. This Special Issue seeks to showcase research papers, short communications, and review articles, that focus on the application of microelectrode arrays in the medical device sector. Particular interest will be paid to innovative application areas that can improve existing medical devices, such as for neuromodulation and real world lab-on-a-chip applications.

electrothermal --- microelectrode --- microfluidics --- micromixing --- micropump --- alternating current (AC) electrokinetics --- bisphenol A --- self-assembly --- biosensor --- flexible electrode --- polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) --- pyramid array micro-structures --- low contact impedance --- multimodal laser micromachining --- ablation characteristics --- shadow mask --- interdigitated electrodes --- soft sensors --- liquid metal --- fabrication --- principle --- arrays --- application --- induced-charge electrokinetic phenomenon --- ego-dielectrophoresis --- mobile electrode --- Janus microsphere --- continuous biomolecule collection --- electroconvection --- microelectrode array (MEA) --- ion beam assisted electron beam deposition (IBAD) --- indium tin oxide (ITO) --- titanium nitride (TiN) --- neurons --- transparent --- islets of Langerhans --- insulin secretion --- glucose stimulated insulin response --- electrochemical transduction --- intracortical microelectrode arrays --- shape memory polymer --- softening --- robust --- brain tissue oxygen --- in vivo monitoring --- multi-site clinical depth electrode --- n/a

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Alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) of the lung are important contributors to pulmonary immune functions and to pulmonary development and alveolar repair mechanisms following lung injury. AECI, together with the capillary endothelium, form the extremely thin barrier between alveolar air and blood. AECII produce and metabolize the surface-tension lowering and immune-modulating surfactant and are the progentiors of AECI. A great variety of processes rely on their normal functioning, including maintenance of the alveolar barrier; innate immune defense; and processes of differentiation, senescence, apoptosis, and autophagy. The wide range of AEC functions is nicely reflected by the diversity of topics addressed by the four review and eight original articles contained in this Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Beyond the broad spectrum of topics, the authors of this issue also made use of an impressive variety of analytical methods, thus further illustrating the fascinating diversity of aspects related to AEC biology.

Research & information: general --- Biology, life sciences --- JAM-A --- P2X7 receptor --- mouse lung --- alveolar epithelium --- bleomycin-induced lung injury --- GSK-3β --- dietary sugar --- hyperglycemia --- lung mechanics --- alveolar septal composition --- physical activity --- extracellular matrix remodeling --- high-altitude pulmonary edema --- acute mountain sickness --- oxygen diffusion limitation --- surfactant protein B --- atelectrauma --- alveolar fluid --- acinar micromechanics --- acute lung injury --- autophagy --- lysosome --- lysosomal membrane permeability --- mitochondria --- pneumocyte --- microRNA-21 --- alveolar micromechanics --- structural remodeling --- inflammatory signaling --- lung --- alveolus --- type 1 alveolar epithelial cell --- type 2 alveolar epithelial cell --- focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy --- 3D reconstruction --- carbon dioxide --- hypercapnia --- Na,K-ATPase --- endoplasmic reticulum --- sodium transport --- protein oxidation --- alveolar epithelial cells --- pulmonary fibrosis --- epithelial cell dysfunction --- stem cell exhaustion --- pneumonia --- necrotizing --- regeneration --- model --- bovine --- chlamydia --- alveoli --- air-blood barrier --- epithelium --- air-liquid interface --- alveolar lining layer --- glycocalyx --- surfactant --- lung injury --- lung regeneration