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A new series of proton-conducting solid polymer electrolytes with different compositions, comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVPK40) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) as host polymers, methanesulfonic acid (MSA) as a proton-conducting salt, and alumina (Al2O3) as the nanofiller, were prepared using solution casting. High proton-conducting samples were identified and utilized for the construction of primary proton batteries. The electrical properties of the prepared electrolytes were investigated through AC impedance analysis. The highest proton conductivity (2.51 × 10−5 S/cm) was achieved at room temperature by PMMA-PVPK40-MSA-based blended polymer electrolytes (BS3). The discharge characteristics of filler-dispersed solid polymer electrolytes were better than those of other solid polymer electrolytes. The estimated energy density of the constructed proton battery using solid polymer electrolytes with blended polymers and nanofillers was 0.66 and 3.25 Wh kg−1, respectively.

A simple solution cast route was used to prepare proton conducting solid polymer electrolytes using poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as polymer hosts and methanesulfonic acid as a proton provider. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed functional group interactions between polymers, blended polymers, and acid. Polymer glass transition temperature shifted with increasing acid content in the blend electrolytes provide thermal stability up to 290 °C, verified by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analyses. Proton conductivity achieved = 1.16 × 10−4 S/cm at room temperature with an ionic transport number of 0.98. Discharge profiles verified oxidation current

Background Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction has been reported as characteristic symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study evaluated olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in mild COVID-19 patients using validated assessment methods. Methods A prospective surveillance study was conducted for mild COVID-19 patients who were isolated at the Gyeonggi International Living and Treatment Support Center (LTSC), Korea. Olfactory function was assessed using the Korean version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) and Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test (CC-SIT). Gustatory function was assessed using an 11-point Likert scale and 6-n-propylthiouracil, phenylthiocarbamide, and control strips. All patients underwent nasal and oral cavity endoscopic examination. Results Of the 62 patients at the LTSC, 15 patients (24.2%) complained of olfactory or gustatory dysfunction on admission. Four of 10 patients who underwent functional evaluation did not have general symptoms and 2 were asymptomatic. The mean short version of QOD-negative statements and QOD-visual analogue scale scores were 13 ± 6 and 4.7 ± 3.6, respectively. The mean CC-SIT score was 8 ± 2. No patients showed anatomical abnormalities associated with olfactory dysfunction on endoscopic examination. The mean Likert scale score for function was 8 ± 2, and there were no abnormal lesions in the oral cavity of any patient. Conclusions The prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was 24.2% in mild COVID-19 patients. All patients had hyposmia due to sensorineural olfactory dysfunction, which was confirmed using validated olfactory and gustatory evaluation methods and endoscopic examination. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction may be characteristic indicators of mild COVID-19., Graphical Abstract

Background: Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction have been reported as characteristic symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study evaluated olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in mild COVID-19 patients using validated assessment methods. Methods: A prospective surveillance study was conducted for mild COVID-19 patients who were isolated at the Gyeonggi International Living and Treatment Support Center (LTSC), Korea. Olfactory function was assessed using the Korean version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) and Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test (CC-SIT). Gustatory function was assessed using an 11-point Likert scale and 6-n-propylthiouracil, phenylthiocarbamide, and control strips. All patients underwent nasal and oral cavity endoscopic examination. Findings: Of the 62 patients at the LTSC, 15 patients (24.2%) complained of olfactory or gustatory deterioration on admission. Four of 10 patients who underwent functional evaluation did not have general symptoms and 2 patients were asymptomatic. The mean sQOD-NS and QOD-VAS scores were 13 ± 6 and 4.7 ± 3.6, respectively. The mean CC-SIT score was 8 ± 2. No patients showed anatomical abnormalities associated with olfactory dysfunction on endoscopic examination. The mean Likert scale score for function was 8 ± 2, and there were no abnormal lesions in the oral cavity of any patient. Interpretation: The prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was 24.2% in mild COVID-19 patients. All patients had hyposmia due to sensorineural olfactory deterioration, which was confirmed using validated olfactory and gustatory evaluation methods and endoscopic examination. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction may be characteristic indicators of mild COVID-19. Funding Statement: No funding. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: This study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Korea University Ansan Hospital (2020AS0122).

The use of organic conjugated polymers in sensors has attracted greater attention due to their application in materials technology. In the present communication, we utilized Schiff's condensation polymerization reaction for the synthesis of a novel conjugated polymer poly(tetrahexadecyl-dihydroindacenodithiophene)-alt-(p-phenylenediimine) (PIDTPD) consisting of indacenodithiophene (IDT) and p-phenylene diamine (PDA) units for use in acid vapor sensing. Conventionally, the characteristics and applications of conjugated polymers are affected by their constituents. The imine bond between the components of organic materials has received little attention compared to their active counterparts. In order to explore the practical application of conjugated polymers in sensors, we employed PIDTPD in a paper sensor and illustrated the impact of mono- and bis-protonation on the pristine material in driving a noteworthy protonation-induced color shift toward the longer wavelength region via acidochromism.

The cooperative effect of pyridine catalysis with photoenhanced electrochemical reduction by CdTe/FTO of CO2 is explored. The enhancement of overall formic acid production and high faradaic efficiency is due to the increased photocurrent of CdTe/FTO upon irradiation and the decrease in activation barrier due to the formation of a pyridine–CO2 intermediate.

Temozolomide is the current first-line treatment for glioblastoma patients but, because many patients are resistant to it, there is an urgent need to develop antitumor agents to treat temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma. Gossypol, a natural polyphenolic compound, has been studied as a monotherapy or combination therapy for the treatment of glioblastoma. The combination of gossypol and temozolomide has been shown to inhibit glioblastoma, but it is not clear yet whether gossypol alone can suppress temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma. We find that gossypol suppresses the growth of temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma cells in both tumor sphere and adherent culture conditions, with tumor spheres showing the greatest sensitivity. Molecular docking and binding energy calculations show that gossypol has a similar affinity to the Bcl2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) family of proteins and several dehydrogenases. Gossypol reduces mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular ATP levels before cell death, which suggests that gossypol inhibits several dehydrogenases in the cell&rsquo, s metabolic pathway. Treatment with a Bcl2 inhibitor does not fully explain the effect of gossypol on glioblastoma. Overall, this study demonstrates that gossypol can suppress temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma and will be helpful for the refinement of gossypol treatments by elucidating some of the molecular mechanisms of gossypol in glioblastoma.

Delphinidin, gallic acid, betulinic acid, and ursolic acid, which are bio-active ingredients in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, have potent antioxidant activity and various biological activities. However, it is not clear whether these bio-active ingredients can significantly contribute to the protection of embryonic stem (ES) cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. In the present study, hypoxia-induced ES cells apoptosis with time, which were abrogated by pretreatment with all ingredients. Hypoxia-induced ROS generation was blocked by pretreatment with all ingredients in a dose-dependent manner, with the maximum ROS scavenging effect observed for delphinidin. Hypoxia increased phosphorylation of JNK and NF-κB were blocked by pretreatment of delphinidin as well as NAC. Hypoxia decreased phosphorylation of Akt(thr308) and (ser473); these decreases were reversed by pretreatment with delphinidin or NAC. However, Akt inhibition did not affect NF-κB phosphorylation. Delphinidin attenuated the hypoxia-induced increase in Bax, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, and decrease in Bcl-2, which were diminished by pretreatment of Akt inhibitor. Hypoxia induced Bax translocation from the cytosol to mitochondria. Furthermore, hypoxia induced mitochondria membrane potential loss and cytochrome c release in cytosol, which were blocked by delphinidin pretreatment. Hypoxia induced cleavage of procaspase-9 and procaspase-3 which were blocked by delphinidin or SP600125, but Akt inhibitor abolished the protection effect of delphinidin. Moreover, inhibition of JNK and NF-κB abolished hypoxia-induced ES cell apoptosis and inhibition of Akt attenuated delphinidin-induced blockage of apoptosis. The results indicate that delphinidin can prevent hypoxia-induced apoptosis of ES cells through the inhibition of JNK and NF-κB phosphorylation, and restoration of Akt phosphorylation.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on titanium dioxide () have been extensively studied because of their promising low-cost alternatives to conventional semiconductor based solar cells. DSSCs consist of molecular dye at the interface between a liquid electrolyte and a mesoporous wide-bandgap semiconductor oxide. Most efforts for high conversion efficiencies have focused on dye and liquid electrolytes. However, interface engineering between dye and electrode is also important to reduce recombination and improve efficiency. In this work, for interface engineering, we deposited semiconducting ferroelectric with bandgap of 2.8 eV on nanoparticles and nanotubes. Photovoltaic properties of DSSCs were characterized as a function of thickness of . We showed that ferroelectric -coated electrodes enable to increase overall efficiency of DSSCs, which was associated with efficient electron transport due to internal electric field originating from electric polarization. It was suggested that engineering the dye- interface using ferroelectric materials as inorganic modifiers can be key parameter for enhanced photovoltaic performance of the cell.

Ceramide, a major structural element in the cellular membrane, is a key regulatory factor in various cellular behaviors that are dependent on ceramide-induced association of specific proteins. However, molecular mechanisms that regulate ceramide-induced embryonic stem cell (ESC) migration are still not well understood. Thus, we investigated the effect of ceramide on migration and its related signal pathways in mouse ESCs. Among ceramide species with different fatty acid chain lengths, C(16)-Cer increased migration of mouse ESCs in a dose- (≥1μM) and time-dependent (≥8h) manners, as determined by the cell migration assay. C(16)-Cer (10μM) increased protein-kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation. Subsequently, C(16)-Cer increased focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Paxillin phosphorylation, which were inhibited by PKC inhibitor Bisindolylmaleimide I (1μM). When we examined for the downstream signaling molecules, C(16)-Cer activated small G protein (Cdc42) and increased the formation of complex with Neural Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein (N-WASP)/Cdc42/Actin-Related Protein 2/3 (Arp2/3). This complex formation was disrupted by FAK- and Paxillin-specific siRNAs. Furthermore, C(16)-Cer-induced increase of filamentous actin (F-actin) expression was inhibited by Cdc42-, N-WASP-, and Arp2/3-specific siRNAs, respectively. Indeed, C(16)-Cer increased cofilin-1/F-actin interaction or F-actin/α-actinin-1 and α-actinin-4 interactions in the cytoskeleton compartment, which was reversed by Cdc42-specific siRNA. Finally, C(16)-Cer-induced increase of cell migration was inhibited by knocking down each signal pathway-related molecules with siRNA or inhibitors. In conclusion, C(16)-Cer enhances mouse ESC migration through the regulation of PKC and FAK/Paxillin-dependent N-WASP/Cdc42/Arp2/3 complex formation as well as through promoting the interaction between cofilin-1 or α-actinin-1/-4 and F-actin.

High-quality channel layer is required for next-generation flexible electronic devices. Graphene is a good candidate due to its high carrier mobility and unique ambipolar transport characteristics but typically shows a low on/off ratio caused by gapless band structure. Popularly investigated organic semiconductors, such as pentacene, suffer from poor carrier mobility. Here, we propose a graphene/pentacene channel layer with high-k ion-gel gate dielectric. The graphene/pentacene device shows both high on/off ratio and carrier mobility as well as excellent mechanical flexibility. Most importantly, it reveals ambipolar behaviors and related negative differential resistance, which are controlled by external bias. Therefore, our graphene/pentacene barristor with ion-gel gate dielectric can offer various flexible device applications with high performances.

We aimed to study the relationship between glucosamine and FoxO1/Notch in gluconeogenesis and maintenance of mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) self-renewal. Glucosamine (GlcN) increased glucose production and gluconeogenic enzyme (G6Pase and PEPCK) expression. GlcN also increased the percentage of cells in S phase, number of cells, and the protein expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins that were blocked by 3-mercaptopicolinic acid (gluconeogenesis inhibitor) or glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 neutralizing antibody. GlcN increased the O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT)-dependent protein O-GlcNAc level. Moreover, inhibition of OGT (by ST045849) decreased glucose production. GlcN enhanced the expression of OGT-dependent O-GlcNAcylated Notch1 and then increased the translocation of cleaved Notch1 to the nucleus. Moreover, GlcN stimulated the translocation of O-GlcNAcylated FoxO1 to the nucleus. GlcN increased the binding between cleaved Notch1 and FoxO1 with CSL, a transcription factor, which was blocked by L-685,458 (γ-secretase inhibitor) or ST045849, respectively. Simultaneous blockage of cleaved Notch1 and FoxO1 also decreased the expression of G6Pase and PEPCK more significantly than that by inhibition of cleaved Notch1 alone or FoxO1 alone. In addition, GlcN maintained the undifferentiation status while depletion of Notch1 and FoxO1 for 3 days decreased Oct4 and SSEA-1 expression and alkaline phosphatase activity or increased the mRNA expression of GATA4, Tbx5, Cdx2, and Fgf5. In conclusion, GlcN-induced OGT activation mediated glucose production through cleaved Notch1 and FoxO1, which contributed to the regulation of maintenance of self-renewal in mESCs.

By confining columnar grains of textured oxide film using anodized aluminum oxide template, we could obtain a grain-boundary-free (GB-free) cuprous oxide (Cu(2)O) nanowire arrays with a narrow diameter distribution and a high density under the same electrochemical deposition condition. A two-terminal device fabricated using an individual GB-free nanowire and Au/Cr electrodes exhibits bipolar resistive switching contrary to the unipolar one of a textured film, and Schottky-like conduction. On the other hand, a nanowire device with Pt electrodes reveals non-switching behavior and Ohmic conduction. Thus, we can propose that the bipolar switching of a nanowire device with Au/Cr electrodes may result from the modulation of Schottky barrier at the interface by migration of oxygen vacancies while the unipolar one of a textured film may be defined as the bulky filamentary switching along the GBs in the GB-embedded texture films.