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Background: An excess of thyroid hormones in Graves’ disease (GD) has profound effects on systemic energy metabolism that are currently partially understood. In this study, we aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the metabolite changes that occur when patients with GD transition from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism with methimazole treatment.Methods: Eighteen patients (mean age, 38.6±14.7 years; 66.7% female) with newly diagnosed or relapsed GD attending the endocrinology outpatient clinics in a single institution were recruited between January 2019 and July 2020. All subjects were treated with methimazole to achieve euthyroidism. We explored metabolomics by performing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of plasma samples of these patients and then performed multivariate statistical analysis of the metabolomics data.Results: Two hundred metabolites were measured before and after 12 weeks of methimazole treatment in patients with GD. The levels of 61 metabolites, including palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1), were elevated in methimazole-naïve patients with GD, and these levels were decreased by methimazole treatment. The levels of another 15 metabolites, including glycine and creatinine, were increased after recovery of euthyroidism upon methimazole treatment in patients with GD. Pathway analysis of metabolomics data showed that hyperthyroidism was closely related to aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid biosynthesis and branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis pathways.Conclusion: In this study, significant variations of plasma metabolomic patterns that occur during the transition from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism were detected in patients with GD via untargeted metabolomics analysis.

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) is a critical regulator of skeletal muscle mass and function. Although muscle atrophy due to mitochondrial dysfunction is closely associated with bone loss, the biological characteristics of the relationship between muscle and bone remain obscure. We showed that muscle atrophy caused by skeletal muscle-specific CR6-interacting factor 1 knockout (MKO) modulates the bone marrow (BM) inflammatory response, leading to low bone mass.MKO mice with lower muscle OxPhos were fed a normal chow or high-fat diet and then evaluated for muscle mass and function, and bone mineral density. Immunophenotyping of BM immune cells was also performed. BM transcriptomic analysis was used to identify key factors regulating bone mass in MKO mice. To determine the effects of BM-derived CXCL12 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12) on regulation of bone homeostasis, a variety of BM niche-resident cells were treated with recombinant CXCL12. Vastus lateralis muscle and BM immune cell samples from 14 patients with hip fracture were investigated to examine the association between muscle function and BM inflammation.MKO mice exhibited significant reductions in both muscle mass and expression of OxPhos subunits but increased transcription of mitochondrial stress response-related genes in the extensor digitorum longus (P 0.01). MKO mice showed a decline in grip strength and a higher drop rate in the wire hanging test (P 0.01). Micro-computed tomography and von Kossa staining revealed that MKO mice developed a low mass phenotype in cortical and trabecular bone (P 0.01). Transcriptomic analysis of the BM revealed that mitochondrial stress responses in skeletal muscles induce an inflammatory response and adipogenesis in the BM and that the CXCL12-CXCR4 (C-X-C chemokine receptor 4) axis is important for T-cell homing to the BM. Antagonism of CXCR4 attenuated BM inflammation and increased bone mass in MKO mice. In humans, patients with low body mass index (BMI = 17.2 ± 0.42 kg/mDefects in muscle mitochondrial OxPhos promote BM inflammation in mice, leading to decreased bone mass. Muscle mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to BM inflammatory cytokine secretion via the CXCL12-CXCR4 signalling axis, which is critical for inducing low bone mass.

Background Thyroid hormone excess induces protein energy wasting, which in turn promotes muscle weakness and bone loss in patients with Graves' disease. Although most studies have confirmed a relationship between thyrotoxicosis and muscle dysfunction, few have measured changes in plasma metabolites and immune cells during the development and recovery from thyrotoxic myopathy. The aim of this study was to identify specific plasma metabolites and T‐cell subsets that predict thyrotoxic myopathy recovery in patients with Graves' disease. Methods One hundred patients (mean age, 40.0 ± 14.2 years; 67.0% female), with newly diagnosed or relapsed Graves' disease were enrolled at the start of methimazole treatment. Handgrip strength and Five Times Sit to Stand Test performance time were measured at Weeks 0, 12, and 24. In an additional 35 patients (mean age, 38.9 ± 13.5 years; 65.7% female), plasma metabolites and immunophenotypes of peripheral blood were evaluated at Weeks 0 and 12, and the results of a short physical performance battery assessment were recorded at the same time. Results In both patient groups, methimazole‐induced euthyroidism was associated with improved handgrip strength and lower limb muscle function at 12 weeks. Elevated plasma metabolites including acylcarnitines were restored to normal levels at Week 12 regardless of gender, body mass index, or age (P trend

BackgroundMitochondria are involved in cancer energy metabolism, although the mechanisms underlying the involvement of mitoribosomal dysfunction in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of mitoribosomal impairment-mediated alterations on the immunometabolic characteristics of liver cancer.MethodsWe used a mouse model of HCC, liver tissues from patients with HCC, and datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to elucidate the relationship between mitoribosomal proteins (MRPs) and HCC. In a mouse model, we selectively disrupted expression of the mitochondrial ribosomal protein CR6-interacting factor 1 (CRIF1) in hepatocytes to determine the impact of hepatocyte-specific impairment of mitoribosomal function on liver cancer progression. The metabolism and immunophenotype of liver cancer was assessed by glucose flux assays and flow cytometry, respectively.ResultsSingle-cell RNA-seq analysis of tumor tissue and TCGA HCC transcriptome analysis identified mitochondrial defects associated with high-MRP expression and poor survival outcomes. In the mouse model, hepatocyte-specific disruption of the mitochondrial ribosomal protein CRIF1 revealed the impact of mitoribosomal dysfunction on liver cancer progression. Crif1 deficiency promoted programmed cell death protein 1 expression by immune cells in the hepatic tumor microenvironment. A [U-13C6]-glucose tracer demonstrated enhanced glucose entry into the tricarboxylic acid cycle and lactate production in mice with mitoribosomal defects during cancer progression. Mice with hepatic mitoribosomal defects also exhibited enhanced progression of liver cancer accompanied by highly exhausted tumor-infiltrating T cells. Crif1 deficiency induced an environment unfavorable to T cells, leading to exhaustion of T cells via elevation of reactive oxygen species and lactate production.ConclusionsHepatic mitoribosomal defects promote glucose partitioning toward glycolytic flux and lactate synthesis, leading to T cell exhaustion and cancer progression. Overall, the results suggest a distinct role for mitoribosomes in regulating the immunometabolic microenvironment during HCC progression.

Microbial bioconversion of a given substrate is considered an efficient and eco-friendly tool for value-added industrial compound generation from natural products. Among natural products, unsaturated fatty acids have been used as substrates to produce various functional hydroxy fatty acids. In this study, we report the production of 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-hexadecenoic acid (DHD) from palmitoleic acid by a new strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa KNU-2B. KNU-2B efficiently produced DHD from palmitoleic acid and required a strong alkaline condition for maximum DHD production. The maximum DHD amount produced under pH 10.0 and 48-h incubation at 27 °C and 150 rpm was 219.5 mg/100 mL culture. Other important nutritional factors were also investigated to obtain optimum DHD production.

Periodontitis is caused by an oral microbial dysbiosis-mediated imbalance of the local immune microenvironment, which is promoted by insulin resistance and obesity. The prevalence and severity of periodontitis is higher in patients with type 2 diabetes than in healthy individuals, possibly because of differences in immune responses. The level of glycemic control also affects the saliva profile, which may further promote periodontal disease in diabetes patients. Therefore, we compared the salivary exosomal miRNA profiles of patients with type 2 diabetes with those of healthy individuals, and we found that exosomal miR-25-3p in saliva is significantly enriched (by approximately 2-fold, p < 0.01) in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. We also identified CD69 mRNA as a miR-25-3p target that regulates both activation of γδ T cells and the inflammatory response. Knockdown of CD69 increased (by approximately 2-fold) interleukin-17A production of γδ T cells in vitro. To evaluate the role of exosomal miRNA on progression of periodontitis, we analyzed regional immune cells in both periodontal tissues and lymph nodes from mice with periodontitis. We found that diet-induced obesity increased the population of infiltrating pro-inflammatory immune cells in the gingiva and regional lymph nodes of these mice. Treatment with miR-25-3p inhibitors prevented the local in vivo inflammatory response in mice with periodontitis and diet-induced obesity. Finally, we showed that suppression of interleukin 17-mediated local inflammation by a miR-25-3p inhibitor alleviated (by approximately 34%) ligature-induced periodontal alveolar bone loss in mice. Taken together, these data suggest that exosomal miR-25-3p in saliva contributes to development and progression of diabetes-associated periodontitis. Discovery of additional miR-25-3p targets may provide critical insights into developing drugs to treat periodontitis by regulating γδ T cell-mediated local inflammation.

Background: Crosstalk between brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the liver is receiving increasing attention. This study investigated the effect of BAT dysfunction by thermoneutral (TN) housing on liver fibrosis in mice and examined the effect of secreted factors from brown adipocytes on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).Methods: The carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis mouse model was used to evaluate fibrotic changes in the livers of mice housed under standard and TN conditions. The effect of BAT on the activation of HSCs was examined using cultured cells treated with conditioned media from brown adipocytes.Results: Under TN conditions, mice with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis exhibited increased liver injury, collagen deposition, and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in the liver compared with mice maintained at room temperature. The numbers of liver-infiltrating immune cells and T cells producing IL-17A and IFN-γ were also significantly increased in the livers of mice housed under TN conditions. Treatment of HSCs with conditioned media from brown adipocytes markedly attenuated HSC activation, as shown by down-regulated α-SMA expression at day 4, day 7 and day 10 of culture. At thermoneutrality, with CCl4 administration, IL-10-deficient mice exhibited more severe liver fibrosis than wild-type mice. Interestingly, conditioned media from IL-10-deficient brown adipocytes could up-regulate the expression of α-SMA and induce HSCs activation.Conclusions: BAT inactivation by thermoneutrality contributes to the activation of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic pathways in mice with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Normal brown adipocytes secreted factors that impair the activation of HSCs, while this protective effect was lost in IL-10-deficient brown adipocytes. Thus, the BAT–liver axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis, and IL-10 may be a key factor regulating the activation of HSCs by BAT.

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) is a critical regulator of skeletal muscle mass and function. Although muscle atrophy due to mitochondrial dysfunction is closely associated with bone loss caused by reduction of mechanical loading, questions remain about the biological characteristics in the relationship between muscle and bone. Here, we have shown that muscle atrophy caused by skeletal muscle-specific Crif1 knockout (MKO) modulates the bone marrow inflammatory response, leading to bone loss. Transcriptome analysis of the extensor digitorum longus revealed that local mitochondrial stress increased serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in mice. However, we have shown by Fgf21 knockout in MKO mice that FGF21 is dispensable for muscle atrophy-mediated bone loss. RNA sequencing in MKO mice indicated that mitochondrial stress response in skeletal muscles induces an inflammatory response and adipogenesis in the bone marrow. We also found, using transcriptomic analysis of bone marrow, that the CXCL12–CXCR4 axis is important for T-cell homing to the bone marrow, which is an immunological mediator of muscle-bone communication. CXCR4 antagonism attenuated bone marrow inflammation and bone loss in MKO mice. Together, these data highlight the role that muscle mitochondrial dysfunction plays in triggering bone marrow inflammation via the CXCL12–CXCR4 signaling axis, which is critical for inducing bone loss.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with aging‐mediated inflammatory responses, leading to metabolic deterioration, development of insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is an important mitokine generated in response to mitochondrial stress and dysfunction; however, the implications of GDF15 to the aging process are poorly understood in mammals. In this study, we identified a link between mitochondrial stress‐induced GDF15 production and protection from tissue inflammation on aging in humans and mice. We observed an increase in serum levels and hepatic expression of GDF15 as well as pro‐inflammatory cytokines in elderly subjects. Circulating levels of cell‐free mitochondrial DNA were significantly higher in elderly subjects with elevated serum levels of GDF15. In the BXD mouse reference population, mice with metabolic impairments and shorter survival were found to exhibit higher hepatic Gdf15 expression. Mendelian randomization links reduced GDF15 expression in human blood to increased body weight and inflammation. GDF15 deficiency promotes tissue inflammation by increasing the activation of resident immune cells in metabolic organs, such as in the liver and adipose tissues of 20‐month‐old mice. Aging also results in more severe liver injury and hepatic fat deposition in Gdf15‐deficient mice. Although GDF15 is not required for Th17 cell differentiation and IL‐17 production in Th17 cells, GDF15 contributes to regulatory T‐cell‐mediated suppression of conventional T‐cell activation and inflammatory cytokines. Taken together, these data reveal that GDF15 is indispensable for attenuating aging‐mediated local and systemic inflammation, thereby maintaining glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in humans and mice., Aging‐induced GDF15 production is observed in humans and mice, which is positively correlated with systemic inflammation and mitochondrial stress. GDF15 deficiency promotes glucose intolerance as well as hepatic and adipose inflammation in old mice. GDF15 contributes to regulatory T cells‐mediated suppression of conventional T cell activation, but senescent T cells were resistant to regulatory T cells‐mediated suppression compared to conventional T cells.

목적: 파슬리(Petroselinum crispum ) 70% 에탄올 추출물의 활성 효능을 확인하여 기능성 화장품 소재로서의 응용 가능성을 검 증하고자 하였다. 방법: 파슬리를 70% 에탄올로 추출하여, 항염증 및 항노화, 미백 효과를 확인하기 위하여 총 폴리페놀 함량, 총 플라보노이드 함량, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical 소거능, nitric oxide (NO) 생성, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, phospho-extracellular signal–regulated kinase (p-ERK), phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK) 발현량 억제 효과를 측정하였다.결 과: 파슬리 추출물의 플라보노이드, 폴리페놀 함 량과 DPPH radical 소거능을 확인하였으며, RAW 264.7, B16F10, human dermal fibroblast (HDF) 세포에서 파슬리 추출물에 대 한 세포 독성 실험을 진행한 결과, 세포독성이 나타나지 않는 범위에서 실험을 진행하였다. NO 생성 억제 및 COX2 억제효과를 확 인하였고, MITF 발현량이 억제된 반면 tyrosinase 억제 효과는 나타나지 않는 것으로 확인되었다. 또한 JNK의 인산화가 억제되는 것을 확인하였다. 결론: 파슬리 추출물은 항산화 효과가 우수하고, 항염증 효과와 미백 및 주름 개선 효과를 가지는 다양한 기능성 화장품 소재로서의 가치가 있는 것으로 사료된다

Microbial production of hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) was widely studied because of important biological properties of HFAs. Among microorganisms producing HFAs, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3 was well known to produce various HFAs from different unsaturated fatty acids. Recently, a new variant species of P. aeruginosa PR3 was isolated and characterized, showing improved efficiency for producing 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid from oleic acid. In this study, we report the production of 7,10,12-trihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (TOD) from ricinoleic acid by the newly isolated P. aeruginosa KNU-2B. TOD was efficiently produced from ricinoleic acid by KNU-2B with the maximum conversion yield of 56.7% under the optimum reaction conditions of pH 8.0 and 48-h incubation at 27 °C, 150 rpm. Under optimized reaction conditions, maximum TOD production reached 340.3 mg/100 mL of the culture. However, requirement of nutritional factors by KNU-2B for production of TOD were considerably different from those by PR3 strain.

To evaluate changes in the segmented retinal layers of pituitary adenoma (PA) patients and to identify the relationship between these changes and visual function. A total of 47 (PA patients) and 22 (healthy subjects) eyes were reviewed from the medical records. The PA patients performed a visual field (VF) test before surgery and 1 month after surgery. By optical coherence tomography scanning, eight retinal layers were measured: retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer, outer nuclear layer, retinal pigment epithelium, and photoreceptor layer. The PA group showed reduced RNFL, GCL, and IPL thicknesses (p = 0.004

Chronic inflammation is a driving force for the development of metabolic disease including diabetes and obesity. However, the functional characteristics of T-cell senescence in the abnormal glucose homeostasis are not fully understood. We studied the patients visiting a hospital for routine health check-ups, who were divided into two groups: normal controls and people with prediabetes. Gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal controls and patients with type 2 diabetes was undertaken using microarray analysis. We also investigated the immunometabolic characteristics of peripheral and hepatic senescent T cells in the normal subjects and patients with prediabetes. Moreover, murine senescent T cells were tested functionally in the liver of normal or mice with metabolic deterioration caused by diet-induced obesity. Human senescent (CD28−CD57+) CD8+ T cells are increased in the development of diabetes and proinflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic molecules are highly expressed in senescent T cells from patients with prediabetes. Moreover, we demonstrate that patients with prediabetes have higher concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in their senescent CD8+ T cells via enhancing capacity to use glycolysis. These functional properties of senescent CD8+ T cells contribute to the impairment of hepatic insulin sensitivity in humans. Furthermore, we found an increase of hepatic senescent T cells in mouse models of aging and diet-induced obesity. Adoptive transfer of senescent CD8+ T cells also led to a significant deterioration in systemic abnormal glucose homeostasis, which is improved by ROS scavengers in mice. This study defines a new clinically relevant concept of T-cell senescence-mediated inflammatory responses in the pathophysiology of abnormal glucose homeostasis. We also found that T-cell senescence is associated with systemic inflammation and alters hepatic glucose homeostasis. The rational modulation of T-cell senescence would be a promising avenue for the treatment or prevention of diabetes.

목적: 본 연구는 밀싹 추출물을 활용하여 고온 보존 시 항산화력에 미치는 영향을 살펴보고, 밀싹 추출물을 함유한 크림이화 장품소재로서 활용 가능성에 대하여 확인하고자 하였다. 방법: 고온 보존된 밀싹 추출물의 항산화력 변화와 피부 경피 수분 증발량 변화를 측정하였다. 결과: 밀싹 추출물은 고온 보존 시간에 따라 항산화력이 고온 보존 전보다 감소하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 밀싹 추출물을 함유한크림을 인체 피부에 적용하여 인체폐쇄첩포시험을 실시한 결과 시험 기간 중 피부 이상반응을 나타나지 않았으며, 밀싹을 함유한크림은 일반 크림보다 손상된 피부 장벽 기능을 효과적으로 복원시켜 주고, 경피 수분 증발량을 효과적으로 줄여주어피 부 장벽 기능에도움을 주는 것으로 확인하였다. 결론: 본 연구결과를 바탕으로 밀싹 추출물은 고온 보존에 불안정하여 화장품 소재로 활용 시 50℃ 이하에서 유화시키는 것이 항산화력 유지에 도움이 될 것으로 사료되며, 경피 수분 증발량을 효과적으로 줄여주는 것으로 보아 화장품 소재로서의 활용 가능성이있을 것으로 사료된다.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of three different concentrations of diluted atropine for the control of myopia in Korean children, and to assess the risk factors associated with rapid myopia progression. METHODS: A total of 285 children, with refractive errors within the range of -6 diopters (D) between 5 and 14 years of age were included. After using 0.01%, or 0.025%, or 0.05% atropine, for about 1y, changes in refraction, axial lengths and frequency of adverse events were analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors associated with rapid myopia progression. RESULTS: The changes in the mean spherical equivalent values were -0.134 D/mo in the before atropine group, -0.070 D/mo in the 0.01% atropine group, -0.047 D/mo in the 0.025% atropine group, and -0.019 D/mo in the 0.05% atropine group, with significant differences between the groups (P

For over a century, tilted disc syndrome (TDS) has been defined vaguely. The lack of consensus of the terminology arises from the lack of understanding of the pathogenesis of this condition. Also, myopic discs with temporal crescents or peripapillary atrophy (PPA) are histologically indistinguishable from TDS. Therefore, we examined the morphological background of the extreme ONH appearances such as the myopic tilted disc and the TDS by analyzing the posterior segment of the eye from a three-dimensional (3D) perspective. 107 eyes of 107 subjects were classified into 3 groups with respect to the optic disc torsion degrees: (1) mild torsion (0–30 degrees; 35 eyes) and (2) moderate torsion (30–60 degrees; 35 eyes) and (3) severe torsion (60–90 degrees; 37 eyes). SSOCT images were analyzed in coronal view, which supplements anterior-posterior depth (z axis in Cartesian coordinates). The amount of optic disc torsion was significantly correlated with Disc-DPE angle and Fovea-Disc depth (r = 0.548, P

When the world entered the industrial age, new modern residential models were attempted to prevent dense rundown residential areas in cities from turning into slum areas. An excessive emphasis on sanitation and mass production resulted in creating a residential environment replete with 'psychological slum', lacking history and culture. To do that, This study focuses on Alison and Peter Smithson's design proposal for the Golden Lane Housing project, which was presented at the Golden Lane Housing Competition held in London. As their proposal served as an important turning point in modern architecture, this study analyzed the characteristics of architecture and communities realized in the proposal of Golden Lane Housing project, which reflected the Smithsons' architectural philosophy. This study reviewed the history of England's housing and analyzed the characteristics of community space, which was realized in Golden Lane Housing project. It also analyzed the architectural features of Golden Lane according to the Smithsons' architectural vision. It also attempted to derive the characteristics of community which were realized by the Golden Lane housing project through an architectural analysis. this study analyzed the formational system of community, which was envisioned by the Smithsons. The findings of this study will serve as valuable data in resolving problems of Korea's housing. They will also provide a clue for realizing housing from a modern perspective in a more concrete, broad way.

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 on postoperative inflammation and adhesion following extraocular muscle surgery in rabbits.Methods. The superior rectus muscle reinsertion was performed on both eyes of 8 New Zealand white rabbits. After reinsertion, the rabbits received subconjunctival injections of the Rho-kinase inhibitor and saline on each eye. To assess acute and late inflammatory changes, Ki-67, CD11β+, and F4/80 were evaluated and the sites of muscle reattachment were evaluated for a postoperative adhesion score and histopathologically for collagen formation.Results. F4/80 antibody expression was significantly different in the Rho-kinase inhibitor-injected group at both postoperative day 3 and week 4 (p=0.038, 0.031). However, Ki-67 and CD11β+ were not different the between two groups. The difference in the SRM/conjunctiva adhesion score between the two groups was also significant (p=0.034). Conclusion. Intraoperative subconjunctival injection of the Rho-kinase inhibitor may be effective for adjunctive management of inflammation and fibrosis in rabbit eyes following extraocular muscle surgery.

Background/Objectives: The purpose of the act was to verify the operability of the Korean Mistletoe extract as a functional material through antioxidant activity, cell toxicity in B16F10 melanoma cells, melanin production inhibiting function, and tyrosinase inhibiting effect. Methods/Statistical analysis: After extracting the Korean mistletoe with 70% ethanol, the total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, DPPH radical Scavenging Activity, cell toxicity in B16F10 melanoma cells, melanin production inhibitory and tyrosinase activity were measured. Findings: The Korean Mistletoe extract was found to contain total polyphenols and total flavonoids, which are concentration-dependent. The excellent DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity effect was identified. the effect of tyrosinase in vitro was checked. No cell toxicity in B16F10 melanoma cells was present, and melanin production inhibits were identified. Improvements/Applications: As the active antioxidant effect was confirmed through various methods of Korean mistletoe extract and whitening effect due to excellent antioxidant activity, it is believed that it may be a functional material.

The effectiveness of 70% ethanol (Ethanol, EtOH) extract of Codonopsis lanceolata and Platycodon grandiflourum was investigated to verify its applicability as a functional cosmetic material. Antioxidant activity of antioxidant, total flavonoid content, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and human dermal fibroblast (HDF) Experiments were conducted to confirm the effect of collagen. Antioxidant activities of Codonopsis lanceolata and Platycodon grandiflourum extracts were increased by concentration of polyphenol and polabonoid effect, and no toxicity was observed in Human Dermal Fibroblast (HDF) cells. It was confirmed that collagen production was further increased in Duckweed extract. Dodeca and bellflower extracts are considered to be valuable as various functional cosmetic materials having antioxidative effect and anti-aging wrinkle improvement effect.

A new semiconducting polymer based on terthiophene-thienopyrrolodione alternating building blocks with a deep HOMO energy level (5.66 eV) is presented. The polymer is prepared by a direct heteroarylation polycondensation reaction, which is a low-cost and green alternative to the standard Stille coupling reaction and thus avoids any use of toxic stannyl derivatives. Integrating the polymer into bulk heterojunction solar cells with [6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester ([70]PCBM) leads to a PCE of over 6% and a high open-circuit voltage of up to 0.94 V. To obtain these results a unique processing additive, 1-chloronaphthalene, is used, and a relatively low concentration of [70]PCBM is used in the blend solution.

Fusion bonding of cast iron and Al alloy is an effective way to improve the properties such as low inertia, high efficiency and corrosion resistance in machinery parts. In case of fusion bonding, intermetallic compound layers are formed at the interface between cast iron and Al alloy interface. It is important to control the intermetallic compound layers for improving bonding strength. The formation behavior of intermetallic compound layer by heat treatment has been investigated. Heat treatment was performed at temperature from to with interval for an hour to investigate the phase transformation during heat treatment. Heat treated specimens were analyzed by using FE-SEM, EPMA and EDS. The EPMA/WDS results revealed that various phases were formed at the interface, which exhibited 4 distinct intermetallic compound layers such as , , and . Also, fine precipitation of phase was formed between and layer. The phase fraction in intermetallic compound layer was changed by heat treatment temperature. At , intermetallic compound layer of phase was mainly formed with increasing heat treatment time. With increasing heat treatment temperature to , however, phase was mainly distributed in intermetallic compound layer. phase was remarkably decreased with increasing heat treatment time and temperature.

Bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices based on poly[N-9''-hepta-decanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'-benzothiadiazole) (PCDTBT)/[6,6]-phenyl C(70) butyric acid methyl ester (PC(70)BM) can be successfully fabricated by a sequential solution deposition process. When the top layer is deposited from an appropriate cosolvent, the PC(70)BM penetrates a predeposited bottom layer of PCDTBT during the spin-casting process, resulting in an interdiffused structure with a layer-evolved bulk heterojunction (LE-BHJ) nanomorphology. The PCDTBT:PC(70)BM LE-BHJ solar cells prepared with an optimized cosolvent ratio have comparable power conversion efficiency to the conventional BHJ solar cells. The nanomorphology of the optimized PCDTBT:PC(70)BM LE-BHJ mixture was found to have better vertical connectivity than the conventional BHJ material.

An amount of 3% of power conversion efficiency (PCE) was observed from bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs) using a novel silole-containing polymer, poly(2,7-(9′,9′-silafluorene)-al...

The bulk heterojunction (BHJ) material Si-PDTBT:PC(70)BM is sensitive to the use of a small amount of 1-chloronaphthalene (CN) as a processing additive; CN as a cosolvent (e.g., 4% in chlorobenzene) causes in a factor of 2 increase in the power conversion efficiency of BHJ solar cells. The morphology of the BHJ material, prepared with and without the CN additive is studied with top-down transmission electron microscopy, cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The improved performance is the result of changes in the nanoscale morphology. Field-effect transistor measurements are consistent with the observed changes in morphology.

A Russian Doll encapsulation architecture utilizing pairs of free-standing barrier films and epoxy seals separated by nitrogen spacers is presented, enabling the use of low-cost epoxy to attach two or more free-standing barrier films to a substrate with improved barrier performance. The performance of various Russian Doll encapsulations was evaluated with the calcium thin film optical transmission test, showing improved performance of the Russian doll configuration relative to a non-nested barrier/spacer architecture, and demonstrating that water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) of 0.00021 g/(m2, day) or below can be achieved with low-cost materials in this architecture. This WVTR correlates to a predicted lifetime of more than 10 years for bulk heterojunction solar cell modules fabricated and tested by Konarka Technologies (Lowell, MA, USA).

We present a general method for making thin and smooth films of a water-repelling perfluorinated polymer. These films function as encapsulation barrier layers against water and oxygen permeation. Based on a phenomenological analysis, we find that disturbances in flow due to the Rayleigh–Benard–Marangoni instability during drying of spin-cast perfluorinated polymer films cause high surface roughness and the formation of “pinholes”. Atomic force microscopy measurements show that this instability can increase the surface roughness by an order of magnitude. Casting films from solutions with higher polymer concentration and from solvents with higher viscosity suppress the instability and significantly reduce the roughness. Suppression of the instability results in improved barrier properties as indicated by the calcium thin film optical transmission test.

A polymer solar-cell based on a bulk hetereojunction design with an internal quantum efficiency of over 90% across the visible spectrum (425 nm to 575 nm) is reported. The device exhibits a power-conversion efficiency of 6% under standard air-mass 1.5 global illumination tests.

The cross-sectional morphology of the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) films comprising regio-regular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (rrP3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was observed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cross-sectional TEM images of the BHJ film provide information on the pathways for charge transport through the film thickness. The length scale of the phase separation was obtained from spatial Fourier transform analysis of the TEM images and from calculations of the autocorrelation function.

Bipolar filed-effect transistors (BiFETs) fabricated from bulk heterojunction (BHJ) materials comprised of various ratios of the small bandgap polymer, poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PCPDTBT), and the soluble fullerene, [6,6]-phenyl-C71butyric acid methyl ester (PC 71 BM) are reported. We focus on the effect of the addition of small concentrations of the processing additive, 1,8-octanedithiol (ODT), on the gate-induced transport properties. Processing with the ODT additive increased the mobilities of holes (on the PCPDTBT) and electrons (on the PC 71 BM). If, however, the ODT was not completely removed from the BHJ films, the hole mobility actually decreased, implying that residual ODT functions as a hole trap.

The effects of plasma damages on the organic gate dielectric of the organic thin film transistor (OTFT) during the fabrication process are investigated; metal deposition process on the organic gate insulator by the plasma sputtering mainly generates the process induced damage of bottom contact structured OTFT. For this study, two different deposition methods (thermal evaporation and plasma sputtering) have been tested for their damage effects onto poly(4-vinyl phenol) (PVP) as organic gate dielectric. Unlike thermal evaporation, conventional plasma sputtering process induces serious damages onto the organic layer as increasing the surface energy, changing the surface morphology and degrading OTFT performances.

Optical characteristics in polymer films of MEH-PPV/DFPP blends were for the first time investigated. DFPP (N, N`-diperfluorophenyl-3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide) used here was a novel n-type polymer, which had good stability in air and solubility in common solvents. For a 1:9 DFPP:MEH-PPV blend, highly efficient quenching of photoluminescence (PL) was observed. In addition, the photocurrent responses of these MEH-PPV/DFPP photovoltaic cells were measured. When the light intensity was , short-circuit photocurrent densities were two times higher than those of single layer MEH-PPV devices.