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Sophora flavescens, also known as Kushen, has traditionally been used as a herbal medicine. In the present study we evaluated the ameliorative effects of kushenol C (KC) from S. flavescens against tBHP (tert-Butyl hydroperoxide)-induced oxidative stress in hepatocellular carcinoma (HEPG2) cells and acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. KC pretreatment protected the HEPG2 cells against oxidative stress by reducing cell death, apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. KC pretreatment also upregulated pro-caspase 3 and GSH (glutathione) as well as expression of 8-Oxoguanine DNA Glycosylase (OGG1) in the HEPG2 cells. The mechanism of action was partly related by KC’s activation of Akt (Protein kinase B (PKB)) and Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) in the HepG2 cells. In in vivo investigations, coadministration of mice with KC and APAP significantly attenuated APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and liver damage, as the serum enzymatic activity of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as liver lipid peroxidation and cleaved caspase 3 expression, were reduced in APAP-treated mice. Coadministration with KC also up-regulated antioxidant enzyme expression and prevented the production of proinflammatory mediators in APAP-treated mice. Taken together, these results showed that KC treatment has potential as a therapeutic agent against liver injury through the suppression of oxidative stress.

The aim of this study is to compare the scleral thickness of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) eyes with controls using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS OCT). This prospective case control study included 15 patients (15 eyes) with CSC and 15 age and gender matched healthy subjects. All subjects underwent spectral domain OCT with enhanced depth imaging and swept source AS OCT of temporal sclera. We investigated difference in scleral thickness between the two groups and relationship between choroidal and scleral thickness. Among the 15 eyes in the study group, 1 eye had acute CSC, 4 had recurrent CSC, 7 had inactive CSC, and 3 had chronic CSC. There was no significant difference in terms of age, gender, axial length and spherical equivalent between the two groups. The choroidal and scleral thickness of the study group were significantly greater than those of the control group (P P = 0.034). Choroidal thickness was positively correlated with scleral thickness (P = 0.031). A thick sclera along with a thick choroid were demonstrated in CSC eyes using AS OCT. Scleral characteristics might be involved in the pathogenesis of CSC by affecting outflow resistance of venous drainage in choroidal circulation.

Problem Chorioamnionitis is caused by a bacterial infection that ascends from the vagina and can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is a periodontal pathogen associated with the occurrence of APOs. In this study, we evaluated whether receptor-interacting protein kinase 2 (Ripk2), an adaptor protein of the cytosolic receptors nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)1 and NOD2, in macrophages and human decidual stromal cells (hDSCs) contributes to immune responses against F. nucleatum. Method of study Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) isolated from wild-type (WT) and Ripk2-deficient mice and hDSCs were cultured with F. nucleatum (MOI 1, 10, 100). BMDMs and hDSCs were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analysis, real-time PCR, and nitrite assay. Results Fusobacterium nucleatum-induced production of IL-6, but not of TNF-α and IL-10, was lower in Ripk2-deficient BMDMs than in WT cells. Western blotting revealed a decrease in F. nucleatum-induced p65 phosphorylation in Ripk2-deficient macrophages, whereas mitogen-activated protein kinases activation was comparable between WT and Ripk2-deficient cells. The production of nitric oxide (NO) in response to F. nucleatum and the gene and protein expression of inducible NO synthase was impaired in Ripk2-deficient BMDMs. In hDSCs, F. nucleatum upregulated the gene and protein expression of NOD1, NOD2, and Ripk2 in a time-dependent manner. F. nucleatum also increased the production of IL-6, CXCL8, and CCL2, whereas this production was decreased by the Ripk2 inhibitors SB203580 and PP2. Conclusions In conclusion, Ripk2 signaling appears to contribute to the F. nucleatum-induced immune response and can be a preventive and therapeutic target against APOs.

Four Korea-native wild vegetables belonging to the Allium genus (Allium tuberosum Rottl., Allium senescens L., Allium thunbergii G. Don., and Allium sacculiferum Maxim.) were investigated for their antioxidant and anti-obesity potential, in order to promote the utilization of wild edible plants for the development of potential new crops. In this study, we compared the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts by ABTS+ and DPPH scavenging method. We then compared the anti-adipogenic effects of the extracts in adipocytes. We quantified the phenolics in the extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to identify the bioactive compounds. A. tuberosum and A. sacculiferum had a higher total phenolic content (19.0 ± 0.3 and 19.6 ± 0.7 mg GA/g extract, respectively) than A. senescens and A. thunbergii (16.0 ± 0.2 and 14.5 ± 0.7 mg GA/g extract). Caffeic acid, an antioxidant and anti-adipogenic compound, was detected in A. tuberosum and A. sacculiferum, but not in A. senescens and A. thunbergii. A. tuberosum, and A. sacculiferum showed superior antioxidative and anti-adipogenic activities compared to A. senescens and A. thunbergii. Therefore, A. tuberosum and A. sacculiferum, both of which contain antioxidant and anti-adipogenic phenolics, such as caffeic acid, present a therapeutic potential against obesity. Various phenolic compounds, which have been found to differ among Allium spp., may partially account for differences among the Allium spp. with respect to their antioxidant and anti-obesity effects.

Background/aimsTo evaluate the efficacy of a new automated method for quantification of corneal neovascularisation (NV).MethodsAn in-house software for automated measurement of corneal NV was developed. Anterior segment photographs (ASPs) of 81 consecutive patients with corneal NV were analysed using our newly developed software. Manual measurements were performed by three independent examiners using ImageJ software V.1.48 (National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA). Interobserver reliability of the automated and manual methods, and correlations between the results of both methods were evaluated.ResultsThe automated method showed a strong interexaminer reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)=0.994), which was slightly better than the manual method (ICC=0.958). A significant correlation was found between the results of both methods (pConclusionsOur newly developed automated method for quantification of corneal NV was more reproducible and time-saving compared with the manual method. Our method can be useful for diagnosis and monitoring diseases causing corneal NV.

P(BDT-TCNT) and P(DTBDAT-TCNT), which has an extended conjugation length, were designed and synthesized for applications in organic solar cell (OSCs). The solution absorption maxima of P(DTBDAT-TCNT) with the extended conjugation were red-shifted by 5–15 nm compared with those of P(BDT-TCNT). The optical band gaps and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels of both P(BDT-TCNT) and P(DTBDAT-TCNT) were similar. The structure properties of thin films of these materials were characterized using grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering and tapping-mode atomic force microscopy, and charge carrier mobilities were characterized using the space-charge limited current method. OSCs were formed using [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) as the electron acceptor and 3% diphenylether as additive suppress aggregation. OSCs with P(BDT-TCNT) as the electron donor exhibited a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.10% with a short-circuit current density of JSC = 9.06 mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage of VOC = 0.77 V, and a fill factor of FF = 0.58. OSCs formed using P(DTBDAT-TCNT) as the electron donor layer exhibited a PCE of 5.83% with JSC = 12.2 mA/cm2, VOC = 0.77 V, and FF = 0.62. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 3182–3192

A definitive study on the prevalence of adult unilateral hearing loss and hearing aid rehabilitation is lacking in Korea. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prevalence of adult unilateral hearing loss and the factors associated with hearing aid use in patients with unilateral hearing loss in South Korea. We obtained data from 2009 to 2012 from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES), a cross-sectional, nationwide and population-based survey in the Republic of Korea. We analyzed the prevalence and associated factors of unilateral hearing loss and hearing aid adoption by univariable and multivariable analysis. Unilateral hearing loss was defined as pure tone average ≥ 41 dB in the worse hearing ear, and < 41 dB in the other ear assessed at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 kHz. From 2009 to 2012, 33,252 individuals participated in the KNHANES. Among them, the number of patients with unilateral hearing loss was 1632 (5.55%) and the prevalence of hearing aid adoption in unilateral hearing loss was 1.56%. We also compared the factors between hearing aid users and non-users. Occupational status (OR 3.759, 95% CI 1.443-9.804), the hearing threshold in the better ear (OR 1.088, 95% CI 1.029-1.151), and hearing threshold in the worse ear (OR 1.031, 1.005-1.058) were found to affect the adoption of hearing aids. The prevalence of noise exposure at work in hearing aid users was significantly lower than the prevalence of noise exposure at work in those with no hearing aid. The prevalence of hearing aid use in patients with unilateral hearing loss in Korea is very low compared to other countries. Public health education is needed to increase public awareness of unilateral hearing loss, hearing aid adoption and its continued usage. Auditory rehabilitation should be actively recommended to patients with unilateral hearing loss.

Background: The root of Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight has been traditionally used as a folk medicine in the eastern Asia. Objectives: In this study, we explored the immune-enhancing effect of the high-molecular weight fraction of C. auriculatum (CAHF) root extracts in RAW 264.7 macrophages and cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced immune-suppressed mice. Materials and Methods: To obtain the CAHF, ultrafiltration was performed using 30-kDa molecular weight cutoff polyethersulfone membranes in a cross-flow microfiltration system. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the immunostimulatory effects of CAHF. Results: CAHF increased the production of nitric oxide and immunostimulatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α) in recombinant interferon-γ primed macrophages. In addition, the phagocytic activity of macrophage cells was enhanced by CAHF. Furthermore, CAHF treatment markedly restored the decreased body weight, immune organs (spleen and thymus) weight, natural killer cell activity, and T- and B-lymphocyte proliferation in CYP-induced immune-suppressed mice. Conclusion: These results suggest that CAHF is an effective immunostimulatory agent.

We report the synthesis of a new conjugated polymer composed of isoindigo (IID) and 2,3-bis[thiophenyl-2-yl]thiophene acrylonitrile (CNTVT) subunits for high-performance n-type organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). To realize high electron mobility for the IID-based conjugated polymer, an electron-withdrawing nitrile group is incorporated into the vinylene unit, thereby shifting the energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital for efficient electron injection from Au electrodes without disrupting the backbone planarity. Uniaxially aligned IID24–CNTVT-conjugated polymer films for efficient intramolecular charge transport are achieved by off-center spin-coating from preaggregated solutions. To obtain its stable preaggregation in solution, a binary solvent system (a mixture of good and bad solvents) chosen with the assistance of Hansen solubility parameter simulation is used. Through this process, highly aligned IID24–CNTVT films are obtained by off-center spin coating from a solvent mixture of 9:1 ...

Background : The aim of the present study was to identify an effective physicochemical control method to reduce Fusarium species infestation in adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) before and after harvesting. Methods and Results : We observed that prochloraz emusifiable concentrate and hexaconazol prochloraz emusifiable concentrate strongly inhibited the mycelial growth of 10 Fusarium species. Strong growth inhibitions and cell lysis were observed following treatment with 4% NaOCl solution. The total number of fungi detected were lower follwing treatment with thiophanatemethyl triflumizole wettable powder (), hexaconazol prochloraz emulsifiable concentrate (), carboxin thiram dustable powder () and prochloraz emulsifiable concentrate () than in the non-treated control (). The reduction of Fusarium fungi varies with the concentration and soaking time of NaOCl solution. Fungal detection was not observed after soaking in NaOCl solution for 24 h and harmful effects were not observed for plant growth by NaOCl after soacking for 6 - 12 h. Conclusion : Soaking seed for 6 - 12 h in 4% NaOCl could be an effective method of disinfectant treatment for the control of Fusarium fungi in adlay seeds.

Background : This study examined the effect of harvesting time on the growth, yield characteristics, and major beneficial components in Salvia miltiorrhiza. Methods and Results : Although plant height, stem diameter and branch length were not affected by harvesting time, the number of stems was highest when harvested in mid October. There were no differences in root length and thickness, however, the rhizome was thicker when it was harvested at the end of October or early November than when it was harvested in early and mid October. The dried root weight also showed a similar pattern. However, there was a statistically significant increase to 408 kg (16%) in the rhizome weight when in late October and a rise to 455 kg (29%) when harvested in early November. Harvest time had little effect on the content of the major component of S. miltiorrhiza. For example, salvianolic acid content rose from 9.42 to 9.64% with later harvest times, and tanshinone content was tended to be slightly more increased in mid October which S. miltiorrhiza has 0.22% tanshinon than in early October. Conclusions : According to these results, the optimum harvest time for S. miltiorrhiza is early November when plant or major component yields are hightest. There were no significant harvest time effects on the major beneficial components.

*Department of Herbal Crop Research, NIHHS, RDA, Eumsung 369-873, Korea.**Department of Plant Resources, College of Industrial Science, Kongju National University, Yesan 340-702, Korea.ABSTRACT : This study was conducted to obtain the basic data related to seed characteristics and germination conditionsof the Coriandrum sativum L. at different storage condition and temperature. The shape of fruit was oval with light browncolor. Fruit was mericarp, biloculate, with one ovule in each locus. The length and width of seed were 1.37±0.067 ㎜ and0.52 ±0.039 ㎜, respectively. Weight of 1,000 seeds was 6.55±0.15 g. Seeds which were stored at room (15℃) and cold tem-perature (4℃) in vinyl container showed the highest germination rate (93.3%) under the room temperature germinationcondition. Percentage of germination in cold and freeze temperature was 20% and 0%, respectively. Germination rate ofroom storage seeds with paper container increased to about 91.3%, however, decreased in cold (4℃) and freeze storage (−20℃)with paper container (76.7% and 78.0%, respectively). Germination rate of seed in vinyl stock container was better thanthat of paper stock container. Germination rate of seeds stored at room temperature for 4 years (2010 - 2013) ranged from80.0% to 91.3%. Therefore, coriander seeds are expected to be stored at room temperature for increasing the germinationrate and keeping a long term.Key Words : Coriandrum sativum L., Germination Temperature, Seed Characteristics, Storage Condition

The new assymmetric limb-structured blue light emitting material, composed of anthracene main core, naphthalene units at 9, 10-position of anthracene and xylene units at 2,3-positon of anthracene, was designed and synthesized. The three-dimensional structure from theoretical calculation was characterized to elucidate non-copolar structure with inhibited intermolecular interaction. The limb-structured blue material was thermally stable up to 373 degrees C with T(g) of 143 degrees C. ITO/TAPC/CBP (3% BMPNA)/Bphen/LiF/Al device exhibits the maximum quantum efficiency of 3.42% and maximum current efficiency of 3.07 cd/A with deep blue emission of (0.141, 0.115) CIE coordinates.

한국해양과학기술원 해양환경보전연구부(Marine Environment and Conservation Research Division, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology)요약:황해 남동 이질대에서 채취된 51개의 표층퇴적물 시료와 황해로 유입되는 한국과 중국의 하천퇴적물 시료 33개에 대해서 반정량 X선회절분석법을 통한 점토광물의 상대적인 함량을 토대로 주성분분석을 도입하여 해양표층퇴적물의 기원지를 연구하였다. 전체 자료의 98% 이상을 반영하는 제1주성분과 제2주성분을 이용하여 R 프로그램을 통해 주성분분석을 수행하였다. 황해 남동 이질대 퇴적물의 점토광물 함량은 남부 지역과 북부 지역에서 거의 차이가 나지 않으며, 성분도표상에서의 해양퇴적물 분포는 중국의 황하, 양쯔강 퇴적물보다 한국의 하천퇴적물과 더욱 근접한 양상을 보였다. 이러한 통계적 분석 결과를 바탕으로 황해 남동 이질대는 거의 모두가 한국 하천퇴적물로부터 유래했다는 것을 추정할 수 있다. 또한, 황해 남동 이질대에 한국 하천에서 유출되는 양보다 더 많은 퇴적물이 축적된 이유로는 퇴적물의 침식과 재동에 의한 것으로 판단된다. 주성분분석은 한반도 주변 해역 퇴적물의 기원지 연구에 유용하게 사용될 것으로 기대된다.주요어:황해 남동 이질대, 주성분분석, 반정량 X선회절분석, 점토광물조성, 기원지ABSTRACT : In this study, we tried to determine the origin of fine-grained sediments in Southeastern Yellow Sea Mud patch (SEYSM) using principal component analysis coupled with semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis for 4 major clay minerals. We used 51 marine surface sediments from SEYSM and 33 surface sediments of rivers flowing into the Yellow Sea. We made bioplot diagram using R program with principal component 1 and component 2 because the two components might contain about 98% of all data. The content of each clay mineral in the south and north regions of

New poly(silole-pyridine) was designed and synthesized. Polymer was obtained by Yamamoto coupling reaction. The structure of obtained polymer was characterized by the spectroscopic methods such as FT-IR and 1H-NMR. The resulting polymer was soluble in common organic solvents such as toluene, tetrahydrofurane, chloroform, chlorobenzene, etc. The obtained polymer showed good thermal stabilities, which was characterized by TGA and DSC.

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to investigate the oral health kn owledge and attitude toward the patients and to provide the right direction for oral health improvement in the dental hygienists.Methods : A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by the 297 adult patients who were taught by the oral health education by the dental hygienists in Seoul and Gyeonggi province from May-July 2013. Corresponding Author Soo-Kyung KimDepartment of Dental HygieneShinhan University95 Hoam-ro, UijeongbuGyeonggi-do 480-701, Korea.Tel : +82-31-870-3455 +82-10-9217-9397Fax : +82-31-870-3459 E-mail : lalikim2@hanmail.netResults : Among the patients, 34.7 percent replied that they had oral health education by the dental hygienists. The intention to revisit to dental clini c accounted for 60.6%. Those having the oral health education by the dental hygienists accounted fo r 67.7%.Conclusions : It is very important for the dental hygienists to educate th e patients on the oral health knowledge that can influence the dental clinic revi sit intention.Key Words : oral health attitude, oral health education, oral health kno wledge?????? : ??????????????????, ??????????????????, ??????????????????

An 86-year-old Asian man with asteroid hyalosis presented with decreased vision in the left eye. He underwent phacoemulsification and implantation of silicone intraocular lens (IOL) in the left eye 18 years ago, and also received neodymium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet (Nd:YAG) laser 3 years ago. At presentation, his corrected visual acuity (CVA) was 20/1000 in the left eye. Slit-lamp examination showed white-gray membranous deposits on the posterior IOL surface. The deposits were removed using Nd:YAG laser treatment. One week later, his CVA improved to 20/30, and opacity of the posterior IOL surface was removed. Six months later, his CVA was 20/30, and visual axis was clear. This case suggests that Nd:YAG laser treatment can be a viable option in some patients with posterior surface opacification of silicone IOL associated with asteroid hyalosis, especially in those who are a poor candidate for IOL exchange due to old age or compromised general condition.

We show that selenophene-substitution can be an efficient synthetic strategy toward high charge carrier mobility of isoindigo (IID)-based copolymers when their side chains are optimized. A high mobility of 5.8 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) is demonstrated by a strategically designed IID-based polymer, with both side-chain adjustment and selenophene-substitution.

한국지질자원연구원 석유해저연구본부(Petroleum and Marine Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon 305-350, Korea)요약:제주 남서 이질대에서 채취된 138개의 해양표층퇴적물 시료와 황하와 양쯔강 하천퇴적물 시료에 대하여 반정량 X선회절분석법에 의한 점토광물 상대조성을 바탕으로 주성분분석을 이용하여 퇴적물의 기원지를 연구하였다. 제1주성분과 제2주성분이 전체 자료의 90% 이상을 설명하기 때문에 두 주성분만을 가지고 R프로그램을 이용하여 주성분분석을 실시하였다. 제주 남서 이질대 내 각각의 점토광물의 분포양상은 매우 복잡하지만, 전체적인 분포양상을 고려할 때, 스멕타이트와 카올리나이트는 서부지역에서 높은 함량을 보였고 일라이트와 녹니석은 동부지역에서 상대적으로 높은 값을 나타냈다. 제주 남서 이질대의 동부지역에서 보여주는 상대적으로 높은 일라이트와 녹니석 함량은 양쯔강 퇴적물과, 서부지역에서의 높은 스멕타이트와 카올리나이트 함량은 황하 퇴적물과 더 유사한 양상을 나타낸다. 이러한 통계 처리 결과를 바탕으로 제주 남서 이질대의 동부지역은 양쯔강에서 유래하였고 서부지역은 황하로부터 기원했음을 추정할 수 있다. 추후 퇴적물 기원지 연구에 주성분분석이 유용하게 활용될 것으로 기대한다.주요어:제주 남서 이질대, 주성분분석, 반정량 X선회절분석, 황하물, 양쯔강, 점토광물조성ABSTRACT : In this study, we tried to define the origin of fine-grained sediments in Southwestern Cheju Island Mud (SWCIM) using principal component analysis. We used relative clay mineral compositions using 138 marine surface sediments, 4 Huanghe sediments and 3 Changjiang river sediments by the semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis. We made bioplot diagram using R

The objective of this study was to investigate the immune-enhancing activity of a high molecular weight fraction (HMF) of Cynanchum wilfordii in RAW 264.7 macrophages and the cyclophosphamide (CYC)-induced mouse model of immunosuppression. To identify the bioactive substances of HMF, a crude polysaccharide (HMFO) was obtained and treated with sodium periodate (an oxidation agent) or digested with protease. In macrophages, HMF treatment enhanced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta)), as well as phagocytic ability. In CYC-immunosuppressed mice, HMF improved relative spleen and thymus weights, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and splenic lymphocyte proliferation. These increases in NO and cytokines were mediated by up-regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Periodate treatment, but not protease treatment, decreased the immune-enhancing activity of HMFO, suggesting that polysaccharides are the active ingredients in C. wilfordii extract.

Donor molecular structures, and their packing aspects in donor:acceptor active blends, play a crucial role in the photovoltaic performance of polymer solar cells. We systematically investigated a series of isoindigo-based donor polymers within the framework of a three-dimensional (3D) crystalline motif by modifying their chemical structures, thereby affecting device performances. Although our isoindigo-based polymer series contained polymers that differed only by their alkyl side chains and/or donating units, they showed quite different nanoscale morphological properties, which resulted in significantly different device efficiencies. Notably, blends of our isoindigo-based donor polymer systems with an acceptor compound, whereby the blends had more intermixed network morphologies and stronger face-on orientations of the polymer crystallites, provided better-performing photovoltaic devices. This behavior was analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and two-dimensional grazing incidence wide angle X-ray diffraction (2D-GIWAXD). To the best of our knowledge, no correlation has been reported previously between 3D nano-structural donor crystallites and device performances, particularly for isoindigo-based polymer systems.

New poly(silole-fluorene) copolymers were designed and synthesized. Copolymers were obtained by Suzuki coupling reaction with different ratio of fluorene and silole. The obtained copolymers were characterized by the spectroscopic methods such as FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopies. The resulting copolymers were soluble in common organic solvents such as toluene, tetrahydrofurane, chloroform, chlorobenzene, etc. The obtained copolymers showed thermal stabilities, which were characterized by TGA and DSC. PLEDs with device configurations of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Copolymer I~VI/LiF/AI. The best device performances, with maximum brightness of 231.5 cd/m2 at a current density (J) of 408.3 mA/cm2, and a maximum luminance efficiency of 0.115 cd/A, were achieved in the composition of fluorene and silole moiety (0.9:0.1).

Oligonucleotides that carry a detectable label can be used to probe for mRNA targets in in situ hybridization experiments. Oligonucleotide probes (OPs) have several advantages over cDNA probes and riboprobes. These include the easy synthesis of large quantities of probe, superior penetration of probe into cells and tissues, and the ability to design gene- or allele-specific probes. One significant disadvantage of OPs is poor sensitivity, in part due to the constraints of adding and subsequently detecting multiple labels per oligonucleotide. In this study, we compared OPs labeled with multiple detectable haptens (such as biotin, digoxigenin, or fluorescein) to those directly conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). We used branching phosphoramidites to add from two to 64 haptens per OP and show that in cells, 16-32 haptens per OP give the best detection sensitivity for mRNA targets. OPs were also made by directly conjugating the same oligonucleotide sequences to HRP. In general, the HRP-conjugated OPs were more sensitive than the multihapten versions of the same sequence. Both probe designs work well both on cells and on formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. We also show that a cocktail of OPs further increases sensitivity and that OPs can be designed to detect specific members of a gene family. This work demonstrates that multihapten-labeled and HRP-conjugated OPs are sensitive and specific and can make superior in situ hybridization probes for both research and diagnostic applications.

Amorphous ZnO thin film on soda–lime–silica glass substrate was prepared by the sol–gel process at low-temperature processing, i.e., 100 °C. No distinct grain structure was observable in the surface of the film. The photoluminescence spectrum of the ZnO thin film with an intense near band edge emission was observed while the defect-related broad green emission was nearly quenched.

A new highly twisted asymmetric anthracene derivative with naphthalene and triphenylamine substituted xylene was synthesized as an extremely deep blue emitting material. A non-doped device using the new asymmetric blue emitter displays a maximum EQE of 4.62% with CIE color coordinates of (0.154, 0.049).

We describe herein the synthesis of novel donor-acceptor conjugated polymers with dithienobenzodithiophenes (DTBDT) as the electron donor and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole as the electron acceptor for high-performance organic photovoltaics (OPVs). We studied the effects of strategically inserting thiophene into the DTBDT as a substituent on the skeletal structure on the opto-electronic performances of fabricated devices. From UV/Vis absorption, electrochemical, and field-effect transistor analyses, we found that the thiophene-containing DTBDT derivative can substantially increase the orbital overlap area between adjacent conjugated chains and thus dramatically enhance charge-carrier mobility up to 0.55 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). The outstanding charge-transport characteristics of this polymer allowed the realization of high-performance organic solar cells with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.1 %. Detailed studies on the morphological factors that enable the maximum PCE of the polymer solar cells are discussed along with a hole/electron mobility analysis based on the space-charge-limited current model.

The plasma membrane-localized BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) and BRI1-ASSOCIATED KINASE1 (BAK1) are a well-known receptor pair involved in brassinosteroids (BR) signaling in Arabidposis. The formation of a receptor complex in response to BRs and the subsequent activation of cytoplasmic domain kinase activity share mechanistic characteristics with animal receptor kinases. Here, we demonstrate that BRI1 and BAK1 are BR-dependently phosphorylated, and that phosphorylated forms of the two proteins persist for different lengths of time. Mutations of either protein abolished phosphorylation of the counterpart protein, implying transphosphorylation of the receptor kinases. To investigate the specific amino acids critical for formation of the receptor complex and activation of BAK1 kinase activity, we expressed several versions of BAK1 in yeast and plants. L32E and L46E substitutions resulted in a loss of binding of BAK1 to BRI1, and threonine T455 was essential for the kinase activity of BAK1 in yeast. Transgenic bri1 mutant plants overexpressing BAK1(L46E) displayed reduced apical dominance and seed development. In addition, transgenic wild type plants overexpressing BAK1(T455A) lost the phosphorylation activity normally exhibited in response to BL, leading to semi-dwarfism. These results suggest that BAK1 is a critical component regulating the duration of BR efficacy, even though it cannot directly bind BRs in plants.

Background: Data comparing the clinical characteristics and outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP-COPD) and acute exacerbation (AECOPD) are very limited. Methods: Eighty episodes of hospitalization in 65 CAP-COPD patient...