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Transparent and conductive IGZO/Ni/IGZO tri-layer films were deposited on a poly-carbonate substrate using RF and DC magnetron sputtering in order to achieve high transmittance in the visible range and low emissivity in the infrared range. The influence of the Ni interlayer on the structural and optical properties of the films was then investigated. Although the observed XRD pattern indicates that the IGZO films are amorphous structures, the surface roughness and electrical conductivity increased as the thickness of the Ni interlayer increased. In addition, the rough surface and enhanced carrier density of the films due to the Ni interlayer results in the decreased visible transmittance and low emissivity of the films.

Antifreeze protein type IV (AFPIV) cDNAs and genomic DNAs from the Antarctic fishes Pleuragramma antarcticum (Pa) and Notothenia coriiceps (Nc) were cloned and sequenced, respectively. Each cDNA encoded 128 amino acids, with 94% similarity between the two and 83% similarity with AFPIV of the longhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus. The genome structures of both genes consisted of four exons and three introns, and were highly conserved in terms of sequences and positions. In contrast, the third intron of PaAFPIV had additional nucleotides with inverted repeats at each end, which appeared to be a MITE-like transposable element. Comparative analysis revealed that fish AFPIVs were widely distributed across teleost fishes, well conserved in their intron positions, but more variable in intron sequences and sizes. However, the intron sequences of two Antarctic fishes were highly conserved, indicating recent radiation of notothenioids in the evolutionary lineage. The recombinant PaAFPIV and NcAFPIV were expressed in E. coli, and examined antifreeze activity. PaAFPIV and NcAFPIV gave ice crystals with star-shaped morphology, and thermal hysteresis (TH) values were 0.08°C at the concentration of 0.5mg/ml.

A psychrophilic yeast was isolated from an Arctic pond and its culture supernatant showed ice-binding activity. This isolate, identified as Leucosporidium sp. based on an analysis of the D1/D2 and ITS regions of its ribosomal DNA, produced a secretory ice-binding protein (IBP). Yeast IBP was purified from the culture medium to near homogeneity by the ice affinity method and appeared to be glycosylated with a molecular mass of approximately 26 kDa. In addition, the yeast IBP was shown to have thermal hysteresis (TH) and recrystallization inhibition (RI) activities. The full-length cDNA for yeast IBP was determined and was found to encode a 261 amino acid protein with molecular weight of 26.8 kDa that includes an N-terminal signal peptide and one potential N-glycosylation site. The deduced protein showed high sequence identity with other IBPs and hypothetical IBPs from fungi, diatoms, and bacteria, clustering with a class of ice-active proteins.

Objective To investigate the effect of medium- or higher-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for treating acute-phase Kawasaki disease to prevent coronary artery aneurysm (CAA). Study design Among the children with acute Kawasaki disease investigated in the eighth nationwide survey in the Republic of Korea, 8456 children with adequate data were included in this study. The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to the use of medium- or higher-dose ASA (≥30 mg/kg/day), or-low dose ASA (3-5 mg/kg/day) during the acute febrile phase. Both z- score–based criteria and Japanese criteria for CAA were used. Results The prevalence of CAA based on z -score (24.8% vs 18.3%; P = .001) and on the Japanese criteria (19.0% vs 10.4%; P z -score: OR, 1.472, 95% CI, 1.169-1.854, P = .001; based on Japanese criteria: OR, 2.013, 95% CI, 1.507-2.690, P P = .003 and OR, 2.198, 95% CI, 1.563-3.092, P Conclusions The use of medium- or higher-dose ASA in acute Kawasaki disease did not prevent CAA. A future randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the optimum dose of ASA.