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This study delves into enhancing the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by optimizing the surface morphologies and optoelectronic properties of the electron transport layer (ETL) using tungsten (W) doping in zinc oxide (ZnO). Through a unique green synthesis process and spin-coating technique, W-doped ZnO films were prepared, exhibiting improved electrical conductivity and reduced interface defects between the ETL and perovskite layers, thus facilitating efficient electron transfer at the interface. High-quality PSCs with superior ETL demonstrated a substantial 30% increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to those employing pristine ZnO ETL. These solar cells retained over 70% of their initial PCE after 4000 h of moisture exposure, surpassing reference PSCs by 50% PCE over this period. Advanced numerical multiphysics solvers, employing finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) and finite element method (FEM) techniques, were utilized to elucidate the underlying optoelectrical characteristics of the PSCs, with simulated results corroborating experimental findings. The study concludes with a thorough discussion on charge transport and recombination mechanisms, providing insights into the enhanced performance and stability achieved through W-doped ZnO ETL optimization.

The imbalance in the phosphorylation and the dephosphorylation of proteins leads to various diseases. Therefore, in vivo, the functions of protein kinases and protein phosphatases are strictly regulated. Mg 2+ /Mn 2+ -dependent protein phosphatase PPM1M has been implicated in immunity and cancer; however, the regulation mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we show that PPM1M is regulated in different ways by multiple phosphorylation. PPM1M has four Ser/Thr-Pro motifs (Ser27, Ser43, Ser60, and Thr254) that are recognized by proline-directed kinases, and Ser60 was found to be phosphorylated by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) in the cell. The phospho-mimetic mutation of Ser27 and Ser43 in the N-terminal domain suppresses the nuclear localization of PPM1M and promotes its accumulation in the cytoplasm. The phospho-mimetic mutation of Ser60 decreases PPM1M activity; conversely, the phospho-mimetic mutation of Thr254 increases PPM1M activity. These results suggest that the subcellular localization and phosphatase activity of PPM1M are regulated by protein kinases, including CDK5, via phosphorylation at multiple sites. Thus, PPM1M is differentially regulated by proline-directed kinases, including CDK5., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We investigated the effect of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modification of ZnO on the resistive switching behaviour by fabricating electrode-sandwiched devices (ITO/ZnO-SAM/Al). The resistive switching voltages of SAM-modified ZnO films were shifted from that of bare ZnO depending on the surface dipole induced by the SAMs. In particular, methylaminopropyl-substituted SAM-modified ZnO showed lower switching voltage (1.6 V) than bare ZnO (2.9 V). Moreover, the on/off ratio was also improved by SAM modification (from 10 2 to 10 4 ).

The device durability of inverted organic solar cells (OSCs) is investigated based on Y6, which is an effective nonfullerene acceptor for high-performance OSCs. The durability of Y6-based inverted OSCs is poor and it can be caused by aggregation of Y6 in the bulk-heterojunction layer due to heating by continuous photo-irradiation (≈65 °C, 100 mW cm -2 , and 72 h). It is found that the aggregation of Y6 is suppressed at a low temperature (≈50 °C), and that the Y6-based devices can be useful as a photodurable near-infrared detector upon continuous laser irradiation., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

With the rapid improvement of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), long-life operational stability has become a major requirement for their commercialization. In this work, we devised a pristine cesium-formamidinium-methylammonium (termed as CsFAMA) triple-cation-based perovskite precursor solution into the ionic liquid (IL)-assisted MAPbI 3 nanoparticles (NPs) through a seeded growth approach in which the host IL-assisted MAPbI 3 NPs remarkably promote high-quality perovskite films with large single-crystal domains, enhancing the device performance and stability. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the MAPbI 3 NP-seeded growth of MAPbI 3 NPs/CsFAMA-based PSCs is as high as 19.44%, which is superior to those of MAPbI 3 NPs and pristine CsFAMA films as the photoactive layer (9.52 and 17.33%, respectively). The long-term light-soaking and moisture stability of IL-aided MAPbI 3 NPs/CsFAMA-based devices (non-encapsulated) remain above 90 and 80%, respectively, of their initial output after 2 h of light illumination (1 sun) and 6000 h storage at ambient with a relative humidity range of 30-40%. The use of the IL-assisted MAPbI 3 NP-seeded growth for PSCs is a significant step toward developing stable and reliable perovskite photovoltaic devices.

Detailed analyses of the microstructures of bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) layers are important for the development of high-performance photovoltaic organic solar cells (OSCs). However, analytical methods for BHJ layer microstructures are limited because BHJ films are composed of a complex mixture of donor and acceptor materials. In our previous study on the microstructure of a BHJ film composed of donor polymers and fullerene-based acceptors, we analyzed donor polymer-only films after selectively extracting fullerene-based acceptors from the film by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Not only was AFM suitable for a clear analysis of the morphology of the donor polymers in the BHJ film, but it also allowed us to approximate the acceptor morphology by analyzing the pores in the extracted films. Herein we report a method for the selective extraction of nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) from a BHJ layer in OSCs and provide a detailed analysis of the remaining BHJ films based upon AFM. We found that butyl glycidyl ether is an effective solvent to extract NFAs from BHJ films without damaging the donor polymer films. By using the selective extraction method, the morphologies of NFA-free BHJ films fabricated under various conditions were studied in detail. The results may be useful for the optimization of BHJ film structures composed of NFAs and donor polymers.

A Naphthalene diimide (NDI)-incorporated helical thienoacene was developed. The compound has high electron mobility (1.4 cm2 V-1 s-1) thanks to its two-dimensional π-π interaction assisted by the intermolecular C-HO hydrogen bonding of the NDI moieties. Moreover, its bow-shaped π-skeleton reduces molecular fluctuation and gives the compound a thermally stable solid phase, which enables us to fabricate thermally stable organic devices.

The most frequently used n-type electron transport layer (ETL) in high-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is based on titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) films, involving a high-temperature sintering (>450 °C) process. In this work, a dense, uniform, and pinhole-free compact titanium dioxide (TiO x ) film was prepared via a facile chemical bath deposition process at a low temperature (80 °C), and was applied as a high-quality ETL for efficient planar PSCs. We tested and compared as-deposited substrates sintered at low temperatures (< 150 °C) and high temperatures (> 450 °C), as well as their corresponding photovoltaic properties. PSCs with a high-temperature treated TiO 2 compact layer (CL) exhibited power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) as high as 15.50%, which was close to those of PSCs with low-temperature treated TiO x (14.51%). This indicates that low-temperature treated TiO x can be a potential ETL candidate for planar PSCs. In summary, this work reports on the fabrication of low-temperature processed PSCs, and can be of interest for the design and fabrication of future low-cost and flexible solar modules.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have appeared as a promising design for next-generation thin-film photovoltaics because of their cost-efficient fabrication processes and excellent optoelectronic properties. However, PSCs containing a metal oxide compact layer (CL) suffer from poor long-term stability and performance. The quality of the underlying substrate strongly influences the growth of the perovskite layer. In turn, the perovskite film quality directly affects the efficiency and stability of the resultant PSCs. Thus, substrate modification with metal oxide CLs to produce highly efficient and stable PSCs has drawn attention. In this review, metal oxide-based electron transport layers (ETLs) used in PSCs and their systemic modification are reviewed. The roles of ETLs in the design and fabrication of efficient and stable PSCs are also discussed. This review will guide the further development of perovskite films with larger grains, higher crystallinity, and more homogeneous morphology, which correlate to higher stable PSC performance. The challenges and future research directions for PSCs containing compact ETLs are also described with the goal of improving their sustainability to reach new heights of clean energy production.

Photoelectrochemical oxidation of thiols was enhanced with a threshold potential of -0.35 V vs. Ag/AgCl by the use of a ZnPc/PCBM:P3HT/ZnO electode, which was prepared by removing the PEDOT:PSS/Au electrode of an inverted OPV device and coating it with ZnPc. A co-photocatalysis property of ZnPc was observed in the photoelectrochemistry and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy.

3,6-Di-O-hexanoyl-N-[4-(N,N-diphenylamino)-1-phenyl] thiocarbamoyl chitosan was prepared from 3,6-di-O-hexanoyl chitosan isothiocyanate in a 78% yield, and spin-coated films of the chitosan derivative and tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium (Ir(ppy) 3 ) were fabricated. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra and photoluminescence spectra of the films indicated efficient Förster energy transfer from the chitosan derivative to the Ir(ppy) 3 . An electroluminescent device using both compounds emitted green luminescence when voltage was applied. The results suggested that the regio-selectively substituted chitosan derivative could be used as a scaffold in the emitting layer of organic light emitting diode., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Adalimumab (ADA) is one of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α monoclonal antibodies used for the treatment of psoriasis. In Japan, standard dosing of ADA for adults is an initial s.c. injection of 80 mg, followed by 40 mg every other week. Some patients who initially do not respond to treatment are allowed an increased dose of 80 mg every other week. However, studies on the efficacy and safety of ADA dose escalation to 80 mg every other week are few. In this study, we retrospectively studied 92 patients with psoriasis who received ADA therapy in our hospital. In 45 out of 92 patients, the dose of ADA 80 mg was administrated every other week, and the efficacy was observed within 12 weeks. The most common adverse drug reaction was upper respiratory infection, followed by diarrhea. In three patients, malignancies occurred during the observation period. No deaths or other severe complications were observed. In conclusion, this study showed the efficacy and safety of ADA dose escalation to 80 mg every other week in patients with psoriasis., (© 2019 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Background: A new complication, longitudinal stent deformation (LSD), is increasingly reported with recent intracoronary stent designs. There have been experiences of unusual cases of distal LSD caused by entrapment of a Lacrosse® non-slip element (NSE) balloon (Goodman Co., Ltd., Nagoya, Japan), which has three flexible nylon elements to prevent slippage. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to report the clinical experience of distal LSD caused by the NSE in the documented center and to investigate the incidence and mechanisms involved., Methods: Coronary intervention cases were retrospectively reviewed using the NSE balloon in hospital between May 2014 and June 2017. In bench testing, distal LSD was reproduced in a silicon tube model to identify its mechanism., Results: A total of 95 patients with 107 lesions underwent coronary interventions with NSE. Of these, 72 lesions (12 de-novo lesions and 60 in-stent restenosis) were treated using in-stent dilatation. Two distal LSD cases occurred, representing an incidence of 2.78% (2/72) among all procedures; 16.7% (2/12) of the de-novo lesions developed LSD. In vitro experimentation allowed indentification of the mechanisms involved and bailout strategies., Conclusions: This is the first study to evaluate NSE balloon catheter entrapment complicated by distal LSD in which reconstruction of the deformed stent and retrieval of the NSE could be achieved successfully. There is a potential hazard for distal LSD during post-dilatation using the NSE balloon due to its structural characteristics. Careful assessment is needed to prevent this complication.

An effective metal oxide coating with solution processes by the metal organic decomposition method as deposited at room temperature (RT) poses great challenge. In this study, we report the characterization and evaluation of the semiconductor properties of a zinc hydroxide thin film with RT just as deposition by solution coating method. The films worked well as an inter-layer of the organic photovoltaic cell and optimized the film thickness condition with chemical and physical properties. As a result, we achieved a power conversion efficiency performance level, which was almost similar to that in the cells used after calcination in the crystal ZnO inter-layer. The presented process without any additional decomposition energy is expected to make a significant contribution to the realization of a flexible and cost-effective solution process for device fabrication.

The molecular orientation of organic molecules of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) in single-component films on copper iodide (CuI) substrates can be controlled to achieve a molecular orientation lying flat on the substrate (flat-on) owing to π-d orbital interactions between the ZnPc molecules and the CuI. A 3-fold enhancement in the performance of organic photovoltaic cells has been reported by introducing a CuI interlayer between a ZnPc:fullerene (C60) bulk heterojunction (BHJ) film and the substrate. However, the mechanism underpinning the resultant solar cell performance enhancement was unclear. Herein, we report on the results of using in situ reflection absorption spectroscopy measurements during the vacuum deposition of coevaporated ZnPc:C60 BHJ films on various substrates to investigate the ZnPc molecular orientation. Our results revealed that the flat-on molecular orientation of ZnPc molecules in ZnPc:C60 BHJ films on CuI interlayers and flat-on ZnPc substrates can be successfully identified via the strong π-π interactions between the BHJ film and the substrate. The π-π interactions between individual ZnPc molecules are stronger than the π-d interactions between ZnPc molecules and CuI in coevaporated ZnPc:C60 films, as is evident from the molecular orientation of ZnPc, as determined by in situ reflection absorption spectroscopy. Our findings demonstrate that precisely controlling the molecular orientations of the films could enhance organic photovoltaic (OPV) performance. The present work provides important insights that will enable the design of higher performance OPV cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

The careful assessment of collateral channels is important for a retrograde approach for a chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO). This case report describes a percutaneous coronary intervention for CTO of the distal right coronary artery with good collateral circulation. All visible collateral channels failed by the retrograde approach; however, the procedure was successful using the distal atrial circumflex (AC) channel. Although this distal channel was poorly visualized on standard coronary angiography, it was clearly contrasted retrogradely from the CTO exit using a super-selective injection through the proximal AC channel as the antegrade flow was obstructed by the anchor balloon. This case highlights a unique super-selective injection with anchor balloon technique for collateral channel assessment., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Vacuum deposition is a simple and controllable approach that aims to form higher-quality perovskite films compared with those formed using solution-based deposition processes. Herein, we demonstrate a novel method to promote the intercalation control of inorganic cesium lead iodide (CsPbI 3 ) perovskite thin films via alternate vacuum deposition. We also investigated the effect of layer-by-layer deposition of PbI 2 /CsI to fabricate efficient planar heterojunction CsPbI 3 thin films and solar cells. This procedure is comparatively simple when compared with commonly used coevaporation techniques; further, precise intercalation control of the CsPbI 3 thin films can be achieved by increasing the number of layers in the layer-by-layer deposition of PbI 2 /CsI. The best control and the highest reproducibility were achieved for the deposition of four double layers owing to the precise intercalation control during the deposition of the CsPbI 3 thin film. A power conversion efficiency of 6.79% was obtained via alternating vacuum deposition of two double layers with a short-circuit current density ( J sc ) of 12.06 mA/cm 2 , an open-circuit voltage ( V oc ) of 0.79 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.72. Our results suggest a route for inorganic precursors to be used for efficient perovskite solar cells via alternating vacuum deposition., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Fulleropyrrolidine derivatives are intrinsically basic owing to the amino group within the pyrrolidine structure. It can be predicted that the basicity of fulleropyrrolidine may affect the photovoltaic devices containing an acidic layer (e.g., , Pedot: PSS). To clarify the effect of basic fulleropyrrolidine derivatives, we synthesized compounds with an N-benzyl substituent group and fabricated organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells using this N-benzyl fulleropyrrolidine. A device structure with the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/organic layer (PTB7:fulleropyrrolidine)/Ca/Al showed high series resistance, short-circuit current density (J sc ), and low fill factor (FF) values. However, OPV cells having an inverted structure, without the PEDOT:PSS layer, contributed good device performance. We were able to reproduce the high series resistance in a model experiment using aqueous ammonia vapor to treat the PEDOT:PSS layer. Our results indicated that the activity of the PEDOT:PSS layer was affected by the basicity of the fulleropyrrolidines. These results also explain why this phenomenon does not occur at the interface of OPV devices when conventional [6,6]-phenyl C 61 butyric acid methyl ester is used as an acceptor material. This finding would contribute to enhancing the OPV device performances from a chemical view point of designing a new compound.

We report a case of a 70-year-old woman with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) who responded well to infliximab therapy and adalimumab therapy after secondary failure of infliximab therapy, but did not respond to ustekinumab therapy. We speculate that the pathogenic factor in this case favored anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapy to anti-interleukin-12/23 therapy. Herein, we also briefly present three additional cases of treatment with adalimumab after secondary failure of infliximab. GPP is often difficult to treat, and no placebo-controlled trials have been conducted to guide the use of biologics against it because of a paucity of cases. Infliximab and adalimumab are anti-TNF-α antibodies that specifically block the interaction of TNF-α with its receptors. Infliximab has been reported to be effective, with a rapid clearance of symptoms, even in cases of severe GPP. Adalimumab could be a good biologic candidate that can be administrated after secondary failure of infliximab therapy., (© 2016 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Background: Drug-eluting stent (DES) -induced coronary vasospasm is a well known phenomenon after stent implantation; however, the extent of this risk is still unknown. We report a case in which DES-induced severe coronary vasospasm was clinically suspected as a cause of subacute stent thrombosis (ST)., Case Presentation: A 67-year-old man came to our hospital due to chest pain with mild exercise. He was diagnosed with effort angina by coronary angiography and underwent DES implantation in the mid-left ascending artery (LAD) after the administration of dual anti-platelet therapy. The procedure was uneventful, but his symptoms changed from effort angina to rest angina after stenting. Five days after the procedure, subacute ST occurred, requiring aspiration thrombectomy and balloon angioplasty. Thereafter, he continued to report early morning chest discomfort. We performed a spasm provocation test to evaluate the coronary vasomotor response; it revealed severe stent-edge spasm in the left main trunk to the LAD, except for the stented lesion, and total occlusion of the left circumflex artery., Conclusions: To our knowledge, the present case is the first report describing in-stent thrombosis secondary to stent-edge spasm. This case describes the potential hazard of DES-induced coronary vasospasm. Although there are several overlapping risk factors for ST development, we consider that stent-edge spasm also plays an important role in ST development. Therefore, we should monitor new-onset rest angina after stent implantation and carefully assess DES-induced coronary vasospasm.

Adalimumab is a biologic that is very effective for treatment of psoriasis. However, recalcitrant or recurrent lesions sometimes occur during treatment. Maxacalcitol is an active vitamin D3 ointment that is effective in treatment of psoriasis. Topical therapy may be beneficial in treatment of recalcitrant or recurrent lesions during treatment with systemic therapy, but there is little evidence on this topic. We investigated the effect of maxacalcitol on skin lesions during treatment with adalimumab in patients with psoriasis. Twelve patients with psoriasis were randomly assigned to two groups after informed consent - treatment with adalimumab only (n = 6), and treatment with adalimumab and maxacalcitol (n = 6) - and they were evaluated every 4 weeks for 44 weeks. Exacerbation was defined as an increase of the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. The interval between adalimumab treatments was elongated to 3-4 weeks from 2 weeks according to the individual patient's condition. The PASI score was evaluated every 4 weeks, and the frequency of exacerbations was counted. The overall improvement in PASI score was not statistically different between the two groups, but the frequency of exacerbations was significantly less in the maxacalcitol combination group compared with the adalimumab monotherapy group (Mann-Whitney U-test, P < 0.05). The better control of skin lesions in patients who elongated the interval of adalimumab administration was achieved in the maxacalcitol combination group compared with the adalimumab monotherapy group. Topical maxacalcitol treatment is effective and useful in controlling skin lesions in patients with psoriasis when used in combination with adalimumab., (© 2016 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

The high performance of soluble [60]fulleropyrrolidine upon its use as the active layer of n-channel organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) is reported. The two materials, N-phenyl derivatives C60-fused-N-phenyl-2-phenylpyrrolidine ([C60]PhNPh) and C60-fused N-phenyl-2-hexylpyrrolidine ([C60]HexNPh), have well-controlled molecular structures with a modification of the pyrrolidine ring, with no increase in the LUMO level, achieving a high mobility and highly ambient stable n-type OFET. The top-gate, bottom-contact device shows a high electron charge-carrier mobility of up to 0.14 and 0.08 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for [C60]PhNPh and [C60]HexNPh, respectively, (Ion/Ioff = 10(6)) with the commonly used CYTOP dielectric. Excess carriers introduced by a small amount of chemical doping of polyethyleneimine (PEI) compensate traps by shifting the Fermi level (EF) toward the respective transport energy levels and therefore increase charge-carrier mobility (0.26 and 0.1 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)) and provide good ambient operational stability compared with pristine devices.

Background: The clinical significance of induced left atrial macro-reentrant tachycardia (LA-AT) after encircling pulmonary vein isolation (EPVI) is unclear. Our objective was to determine whether induced LA-ATs are associated with the clinical recurrence of ATs., Methods: We studied 185 consecutive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) who underwent their first EPVI with an 8-mm tip, nonirrigated catheter approach. AT was induced by atrial burst pacing after the completion of EPVI, and the atrial activation pattern was evaluated using EnSite NavX. Induced LA-ATs were ablated only in patients with clinical ATs of suspected LA origin. The factors associated with occurrence of AT after the procedure were examined., Results: LA-ATs were induced in 38 patients and ablated in 5 patients. During a follow-up of 23 ± 7 months, the occurrence of AT did not differ between patients with nonablated LA-ATs (4/33, 12 %) and those without any inducible ATs (16/113, 14 %, p > 0.99). In multivariate analysis, the number of ablation points for completing EPVI was the only independent predictor of AT occurrence (odds ratio 1.07, p < 0.01). A repeat procedure was performed in 22 of 26 patients who developed AT. Nineteen patients became free from AT and AF after ablation of the conduction gaps (EPVI, n = 17; another line, n = 4), extra PV firing (n = 4), focal AT (n = 4), and induced LA-ATs (n = 3)., Conclusions: In patients who had EPVI for PAF using an 8-mm tip, nonirrigated catheter, the occurrence of AT after EPVI was mainly due to conduction gaps in the ablation line or extra PV triggers. In patients with PAF, LA-ATs induced during the first procedure did not require ablation if they were not associated with clinical AT.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a cardiomyopathy that shows distinctive clinical conditions first described more than 20 years ago. Because clinical features of TC mimic those of anterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the differential diagnosis is important in selecting the appropriate treatment strategy in the acute phase. But it was difficult to differentiate those two diseases because the TC-like findings; such as the electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and left ventricular wall motion abnormality can occur in AMI especially with the anatomical variance of the coronary artery., Case Presentation: A 63-year-old man was admitted due to sudden onset of chest pain and was in a cardiogenic shock state. His ECG showed ST-segment elevation in precordial (V2-6) and inferior leads (II, III, and aVF) and ST-segment depression in lead aVR. Blood biochemistry showed that cardiac enzymes were not elevated. Ultrasonic cardiography showed that the left ventricular apical level was akinetic, papillary muscle level was severely hypokinetic, and basal level was hyperkinetic, mimicking TC. However, coronary angiogram showed total occlusion of his right coronary artery wrapping around the cardiac apex. Successful percutaneous coronary intervention reversed his critical status., Conclusion: To our knowledge, the present case is the first report described AMI with wrap-around RCA, mimicking TC. Although TC is increasingly recognized as a true but relatively infrequent clinical entity, it is still important to carefully rule out obstructive coronary artery disease.

Background: The QRS duration does not always reflect the left ventricular (LV) activation delay in patients with ventricular conduction disturbances. The R-wave offset in left chest leads may more closely reflect the LV activation delay than the QRS offset., Methods: We evaluated 138 cases with left bundle branch block (LBBB, n=11), right BBB (RBBB, n=38), non-specific intraventricular conduction disturbance (n=11), narrow QRS (<120ms, n=56) and right ventricular pacing (n=22). Cases with right axis deviation (120 to 270 degrees) were excluded. The intervals from the QRS onset to the V-waves in coronary sinus bipolar electrograms (QCS) were measured, and the longest interval was defined as the QCSmax. In the 12-lead electrocardiogram, the interval from the QRS onset to the R-wave offset (QR) was measured and then averaged in leads I-aVL, II-III-aVF, V1-V2, V3-V4 and V5-V6., Results: Significant correlations (p<0.05) were found between QCSmax and QR in I-aVL (r=0.83), II-III-aVF (r=0.51) and V5-V6 (r=0.86) in cases with a normal axis (0 to 90 degrees, n=64); and I-aVL (r=0.90), II-III-aVF (r=0.31) and V5-V6 (r=0.69) in cases with left axis deviation (-45 to -89 degrees, n=52). Overall, the QRS duration was also correlated with QCSmax (r=0.72, p<0.001); however, this correlation was weaker than the correlation between QCSmax and QR in I-aVL (r=0.89, p<0.001) due to disparities in RBBB (p<0.001)., Conclusions: The interval from the QRS onset to R-wave offset in the left chest leads reflects the degree of LV activation delay regardless of differences in QRS duration and morphology., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Optically transparent nanofiber paper containing silver nanowires showed high electrical conductivity and maintained the high transparency, and low weight of the original transparent nanofiber paper. We demonstrated some procedures of optically transparent and electrically conductive cellulose nanofiber paper for lightweight and portable electronic devices. The nanofiber paper enhanced high conductivity without any post treatments such as heating or mechanical pressing, when cellulose nanofiber dispersions were dropped on a silver nanowire thin layer. The transparent conductive nanofiber paper showed high electrical durability in repeated folding tests, due to dual advantages of the hydrophilic affinity between cellulose and silver nanowires, and the entanglement between cellulose nanofibers and silver nanowires. Their optical transparency and electrical conductivity were as high as those of ITO glass. Therefore, using this conductive transparent paper, organic solar cells were produced that achieved a power conversion of 3.2%, which was as high as that of ITO-based solar cells.

Pyradinodithiazole (PDTz) was designed as a new electron-accepting unit. The physical property measurements indicated that the PDTz unit has stronger electron-accepting characteristics than thiazolothiazole and benzodithiazole. A donor-acceptor copolymer containing PDTz as an acceptor unit was synthesized for hole-transporting semiconductors in organic photovoltaics (OPV). Furthermore, an acceptor-acceptor copolymer containing PDTz has also been developed for electron-transporting OPV materials. These copolymer-based blend films showed expected photovoltaic characteristics in individual OPV devices.

The cutaneous T cell-attracting chemokine (CTACK)/CCL27 is indispensable in skin inflammation. CTACK/CCL27 is exclusively produced by epidermal keratinocytes to attract CCR10-expressing T lymphocytes to the skin. We investigated the mechanism of CTACK/CCL27 production from normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) by the proinflammatory cytokines TNFα and IFNγ. CTACK/CCL27 production was induced by TNFα via ERK, JNK, p38, and NFκB. The induction of CTACK/CCL27 by TNFα was suppressed by IFNγ via a pathway dependent on JAK, STAT1, and STAT3. Our results also demonstrated that IFNγ and TNFα induced the phosphorylation of EGFR and the following phosphorylation of ERK, which is partly responsible for the suppressive effect of IFNγ on TNFα-induced production of CTACK/CCL27. Peri-lesional skin of psoriasis demonstrates early inflammatory changes as we have previously reported. CTACK/CCL27 expression was diffuse in the peri-lesional epidermis, while it was restricted to basal layer in lesional epidermis, suggesting that CTACK/CCL27 expression was induced in the early stage of psoriatic plaque formation, and IFNγ could participate in the suppression of CTACK/CCL27 expression in the lesional epidermis, reflecting the later stage of psoriatic plaque formation. Our study suggests that CTACK/CCL27 may have a pivotal role in the early stage of psoriasis plaque formation, but should be downregulated in the later stage to induce inflammation characteristic for chronic psoriasis plaques., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Electron-donor function of methanofullerenes (MFs) in bulk heterojunction systems is demonstrated by the combination of MFs with the electron-transporting π-system that has a much higher electron affinity than MFs.

The synthesis of three-dimensional compounds containing perylene bis(dicarboximide) for application as acceptor materials in organic photovoltaics is reported. Physicochemical measurements as well as device evaluations revealed that the characteristic properties of these materials are derived from their three-dimensional structure.