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The absorption spectra and input photon-to-converted current efficiency curves showed that Au nanoparticles increased the plasmonic broadband light absorption, thereby enhancing the short-circuit current density of the inverted organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells with a Au–ZnO nanocomposite electron transport layer (ETL). The power conversion efficiency of the inverted OPV cell fabricated with a Au–ZnO nanocomposite ETL was higher by 40% than that of the inverted OPV cell fabricated with a ZnO nanoparticle ETL, which could be attributed to the enhanced photon absorption in the active layer due to the localized surface plasmonic resonance of the Au nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify the scoring patterns of male and female Korean judo athletes by weight class, based on major international competitions from 2016 to 2021. METHODS We analyzed 1,508 scoring techniques, consisting of penalty, Waza-ari, and Ippon connected techniques, from male and female Korean athletes who participated in the Grand Prix, Grand Slam, Masters, World Championships, and Olympics. Chi-squared tests were conducted to examine differences in rounds, time, results, techniques, and continent by weight class. RESULTS In terms of differences in rounds, statistically significant differences were found in the men's lightweight and women's heavyweight categories. Statistically significant differences were found in the following: regarding differences in match time, in the men's heavyweight category; regarding match results, in the men's heavyweight category; and regarding differences in technique type, in the men's middleweight and heavyweight categories and in the women's lightweight and heavyweight categories. Finally, in terms of opponent continents, significant differences were found in both men's and women's lightweight categories. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, this study confirmed the differences in wins and losses of male and female Korean athletes according to their weight classes. Based on this, it is necessary to analyze and systematize the technology types of the world's top athletes, including Korean athletes, to improve their judo performance.

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images showed that the lattice distortion of as-grown InGaP/InGaAlP multiple quantum wells (MQWs) appeared to be due to the small thickness of the alloyed layers, and that their distortion was relaxed owing to the high atomic mobility. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy images demonstrated that the chemical intermixing of Ga and Al atoms between the InAlP and InGaP alloy layers due to thermal annealing relaxed the stress of the InGaAlP layer. The atomic arrangements of the as-grown and annealed MQWs are described on the basis of the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with high crystallinity were embedded in the SiO2 matrix by electrospining and calcining. As-calcined TiO2–SiO2 nanofibers were transformed into Ti2O3–SiO2 nanofibers owing to in situ electron-beam irradiation in a transmission electron microscope. The microstructural properties and the mechanisms of electron-beam-induced formation of Ti2O3–SiO2 composite nanofibers were described on the basis of the obtained high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images, fast-Fourier-transformed patterns, and energy dispersive spectroscopy profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent indium–zinc–tin oxide (IZTO)-based thin-film transistors (TFTs) with IZTO/Ag/IZTO multilayer electrodes were fabricated on glass substrates using a tilted dual-target radio-frequency magnetron sputtering system. The IZTO TFTs with IZTO/Ag/IZTO multilayer electrodes exhibited a high optical transmittance in a visible region. The threshold voltage, the mobility, and the on/off-current ratio of the TFTs with IZTO/Ag/IZTO multilayer electrodes were enhanced in comparison with those of the TFTs with ITO electrodes. The source/drain contact resistance of the IZTO TFTs with IZTO/Ag/IZTO multilayer electrodes was smaller than that of the IZTO TFTs with ITO electrodes, resulting in enhancement of their electrical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical characteristics of NAND flash memories with an asymmetric interpoly-dielectric (IPD) structure and a conventional IPD structure were simulated by using a technology computer-aided sentaurus simulation tool to enhance their device performance. The floating gate potential and the on-current level of the NAND memory devices with an asymmetric IPD structure were higher than those with a conventional IPD structure. The maximum electric field formed at the rounding boundary area of the floating gate and the blocking oxide layer in an asymmetric IPD structure was 34% smaller than that in a conventional IPD structure. The trapped charges in the floating gate layer of NAND flash memories with an asymmetric IPD structure increased owing to an increase in the saturation voltage during programming and erasing operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy images, and transmission electron microscopy images showed that one-dimensional GaN nanorods with [0001]-oriented single-crystalline wurtzite structures were grown on Al2O3 (0001) substrates by hydride vapor-phase epitaxy without a catalyst. The tip morphology of the GaN nanorods became flat with increasing temperature difference between the gas mixing and the substrate zones. The gas mixing temperature significantly affected the formation of the nanorods, and the substrate temperature influenced the morphology and the strain of the GaN nanorods near the GaN/Al2O3 heterointerface. The strain and the stress existing in the GaN layer near the heterointerface were decreased with increasing growth rate. The formation mechanisms of the GaN nanorods grown on the Al2O3 (0001) substrates are described on the basis of the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carma1, a caspase recruitment domain-containing membrane-associated guanylate kinase, initiates a unique signaling cascade via BcI10 and Malt1 in NK cells. Carma1 deficiency results in reduced phosphorylation of JNK½ and activation of NF-κB that lead to impaired NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and cytokine production. However, the precise identities of the downstream signaling molecules that link Carma1 to these effector functions were not defined. Here we show that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is abundantly present in NK cells, and activation via NKG2D results in its phosphorylation. Lack of Carma1 considerably reduced TAK1 phosphorylation, demonstrating the dependence of TAK1 on Carma1 in NKG2D-mediated NK cell activations. Pharmacological inhibitor to TAK1 significantly reduced NK-mediated cytotoxicity and its potential to generate IFN-γ, GM-CSF, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and RANTES. Conditional in vivo knockdown of TAK1 in NK cells from Mx1Cre+TAK1fx/fx mice resulted in impaired NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity and cytokine/chemokine production. Inhibition or conditional knockdown of TAK1 severely impaired the NKG2D-mediated phosphorylation of ERK½ and JNK½ and activation of NF-κB and AP1. Our results show that TAK1 links Carma1 to NK cell-mediated effector functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IRAK2, a member of the interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) family, has been implicated in Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated signaling. We generated IRAK2-deficient mice to examine its function in detail. These mice are resistant to lipopolysaccharide-induced septic shock, because of impaired TLR4-mediated induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Although IRAK2 deficiency did not affect TLR4-mediated NFKB activation, a reduction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated mRNA stabilization contributed to the reduced cytokine and chemokine production observed in bone marrow-derived macrophages from IRAK2-deficient mice, Furthermore, the ratios of LPS-induced cytokine and chemokine mRNAs in translation-active (polysomal) versus translation-inactive (free ribosomes) pools were reduced in IRAK2-deficient macrophages compared with wild type macrophages. Importantly, LPS-induced phosphorylation of MKK3/6, MNK1, and eIF4E was significantly reduced in IRAK2-deficient macrophages compared with wild type macrophages. Moreover, LPS stimulation induced an interaction of IRAK2 with TRAF6, MKK3/6, and MK2, implicating a critical role for mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in LPS-induced IRAK2-mediated post-transcriptional control. These results reveal that IRAK2 is required for LPS-mediated post-transcriptional control of cytokine and chemokine expression, which plays an essential role in TLR4-induced septic shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TLR8-mediated NF-κB and IRF7 activation are abolished in human IRAK-deficient 293 cells and IRAK4-deficient fibroblast cells. Both wild-type and kinase-inactive mutants of IRAK and IRAK4, respectively, restored TLR8-mediated NF-κB and IRF7 activation in the IRAK- and IRAK4-deficient cells, indicating that the kinase activity of IRAK and IRAK4 is probably redundant for TLR8-mediated signaling. We recently found that TLR8 mediates a unique NF-κB activation pathway in human 293 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts, accompanied only by IκBα phosphorylation and not IκBα degradation, whereas interleukin (IL)-1 stimulation causes both IκBα phosphorylation and degradation. The intermediate signaling events mediated by IL-1 (including IRAK modifications and degradation and TAK1 activation) were not detected in cells stimulated by TLR8 ligands. TLR8 ligands trigger similar levels of IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB and JNK activation in TAK1-/- mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) as compared with wild-type MEFs, whereas lack of TAK1 results in reduced IL-1-mediated NF-κB activation and abolished IL-1-induced JNK activation. The above results indicate that although TLR8-mediated NF-κB and INK activation are IRAK-dependent, they do not require IRAK modification and are TAK1-independent. On the other hand, TLR8-mediated IκBα phosphorylation, NF-κB, and INK activation are completely abolished in MEKK3-/- MEFs, whereas IL-1-mediated signaling was only moderately reduced in these deficient MEFs as compared with wild-type cells. The differences between IL-1R- and TLR8-mediated NF-κB activation are also reflected at the level of IκB kinase (IKK) complex. TLR8 ligands induced IKKγ phosphorylation, whereas IKKα/β phosphorylation and IKKγ ubiquitination that can be induced by IL-1 were not detected in cells treated with TLR8 ligands. We postulate that TLR8-mediated MEKK3-dependent IKKγ phosphorylation might play an important role in the activation of IKK complex, leading to IκBα phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]