Extremely Flexible Transparent Conducting Electrodes for Organic Devices

Extremely flexible transparent conducting electrodes are developed using a combination of metal‐embedding architecture into plastic substrate and ultrathin transparent electrodes, which leads to highly transparent (optical transmittance ≈93% at a wavelength of 550 nm), highly conducting (sheet resistance ≈13 Ω □^?1), and extremely flexible (bending radius ≈ 200 μm) electrodes. The electrodes are used to fabricate flexible organic solar cells and organic light‐emitting diodes that exhibit performance similar or superior to that of devices fabricated on glass substrates. Moreover, the flexible devices do not show degradation in their performance even after being folded with a radius of ≈200 μm.     

A PCR-based SNP marker for specific authentication of Korean ginseng (<Emphasis Type="Italic">panax ginseng</Emphasis>) cultivar “Chunpoong”

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) has been developed as a horticultural crop due to the increasing demand in the world market. “Chunpoong” is an economically important cultivar with superior quality and high yield among nine cultivars of Korean ginseng. The aim of this work was to develop a simple technique for specific authentication of Chunpoong using DNA method. Molecular authentication of Chunpoong was investigated using DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 (cox2) intron I and intron II regions. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) specific to Chunpoong was detected and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR method was applied to specific identification of Chunpoong based on the SNP site. Ginseng samples collected from other locations were used to validate the SNP marker and the established method was determined to be effective. Thus, this work provides a rapid and reliable method for the specific identification of Chunpoong cultivar.     

Abdominal Adipose Tissue was Associated with Glomerular Hyperfiltration among Non- Diabetic and Normotensive Adults with a Normal Body Mass Index

Glomerular hyperfiltration is recognized as an early marker of progressive kidney dysfunction in the obese population. This study aimed to identify the relationship between glomerular hyperfiltration and body fat distribution measured by computed tomography (CT) in healthy Korean adults. The study population included individuals aged 20–64 years who went a routine health check-up including an abdominal CT scan. We selected 4,378 individuals without diabetes and hypertension. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated using the CKD-EPI equation, and glomerular hyperfiltration was defined as the highest quintile of glomerular filtration rate. Abdominal adipose tissue areas were measured at the level of the umbilicus using a 16-detector CT scanner, and the cross-sectional area was calculated using Rapidia 2.8 CT software. The prevalence of glomerular hyperfiltration increased significantly according to the subcutaneous adipose tissue area in men (OR = 1.74 (1.16–2.61), P for trend 0.016, for the comparisons of lowest vs. highest quartile) and visceral adipose tissue area in women (OR = 2.34 (1.46–3.75), P for trend < 0.001) in multivariate analysis. After stratification by body mass index (normal < 23 kg/m², overweight ≥ 23 kg/m²), male subjects with greater subcutaneous adipose tissue, even those in the normal BMI group, had a higher prevalence of glomerular hyperfiltration (OR = 2.11 (1.17–3.80), P for trend = 0.009). Among women, the significance of visceral adipose tissue area on glomerular hyperfiltration resulted from the normal BMI group (OR = 2.14 (1.31–3.49), P for trend = 0.002). After menopause, the odds ratio of the association of glomerular hyperfiltration with subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue increased (OR = 2.96 (1.21–7.25), P for trend = 0.013). Subcutaneous adipose tissue areas and visceral adipose tissue areas are positively associated with glomerular hyperfiltration in healthy Korean adult men and women, respectively. In post-menopausal women, visceral adipose tissue area shows significant positive association with glomerular hyperfiltration as in men.     

Elucidating Interactions and Conductivity of Newly Synthesised Low Bandgap Polymer with Protic and Aprotic Ionic Liquids

In this paper, we have examined the conductivity and interaction studies of ammonium and imidazolium based ionic liquids (ILs) with the newly synthesised low bandgap polymer (Poly(2-heptadecyl-4-vinylthieno[3,4-d]thiazole) (PHVTT)). Use of low bandgap polymers is the most suitable way to harvest a broader spectrum of solar radiations for solar cells. But, still there is lack of most efficient low bandgap polymer. In order to solve this problem, we have synthesised a new low bandgap polymer and investigated its interaction with the ILs to enhance its conductivity. ILs may undergo almost unlimited structural variations; these structural variations have attracted extensive attention in polymer studies. The aim of present work is to illustrate the state of art progress of implementing the interaction of ILs (protic and aprotic ILs) with newly synthesised low bandgap polymer. In addition to this, our UV-Vis spectroscopy, confocal Raman spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy results have revealed that all studied ILs (tributylmethylammonium methyl sulfate ([N₁₄₄₄][MeSO₄] from ammonium family) and 1-methylimidazolium chloride ([Mim]Cl, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl from imidazolium family) have potential to interact with polymer. Our semi empirical calculation with help of Hyperchem 7 shows that protic IL ([Mim]Cl) interacts strongly with the low bandgap polymer through the H-bonding. Further, protic ILs shows enhanced conductivity than aprotic ILs in association with low bandgap polymer. This study provides the combined effect of low bandgap polymer and ILs that may generate many theoretical and experimental opportunities.     

Deterioration of Mitochondrial Membranes from Castor Bean Endosperm by Hydrogen Peroxide

Loss of membrane integrity by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was studiedin isolated mitochondria of castor bean. Incubation of mitochondriawith H₂O₂ resulted in the release of fumarase with a concomitantloss of phospho-lipids. Degradation of membrane was found tooccur independent of lipid peroxidation. H₂O₂-treated mitochondriawere able to degrade exogenous radiolabelled phospho-lipids. ³Corresponding author; fax 82-42-821-2391     

Differential expression of 10 sweetpotato peroxidases in response to sulfur dioxide, ozone, and ultraviolet radiation

Secretory class III plant peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) is believed to function in diverse physiological processes, including responses to various environmental stresses. To understand the function of each POD in terms of air pollutants and UV radiation, changes in POD activity and expression of 10 POD genes isolated from cell cultures of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) were investigated in the leaves of sweetpotato after treatment with sulfur dioxide (SO(2) 500ppb, 8h/day for 5 days), ozone (O(3) 200ppb, 8h/day for 6 days), and ultraviolet radiation (UV-B 0.6mWm(-2) for 24h, UV-C 0.16mWm(-2) for 24h). All treatments significantly reduced the PSII photosynthetic efficiency (F(v)/F(m)). POD-specific activities (units/mg protein) were increased in leaves treated with SO(2) and O(3) by 5.2- and 7.1-fold, respectively, compared to control leaves. UV-B and UV-C also increased POD activities by 3.0- and 2.4-fold, respectively. As determined by RT-PCR analysis, 10 POD genes showed differential expression patterns upon treatment with air pollutants and UV radiation. Among the POD genes, swpa1, swpa2, and swpa4 were strongly induced following each of the treatments. Interestingly, basic POD genes (swpb1, swpb2, and swpb3) were highly expressed following SO(2) treatment only, whereas neutral swpn1 was highly induced following O(3) treatment only. These results indicated that some specific POD isoenzymes might be specifically involved in the defense mechanism against oxidative stress induced by air pollutants and UV radiation in sweetpotato plants.     

Habitat and Vegetation Variables Are Not Enough When Predicting Tick Populations in the Southeastern United States

Two tick-borne diseases with expanding case and vector distributions are ehrlichiosis (transmitted by Amblyomma americanum) and rickettiosis (transmitted by A. maculatum and Dermacentor variabilis). There is a critical need to identify the specific habitats where each of these species is likely to be encountered to classify and pinpoint risk areas. Consequently, an in-depth tick prevalence study was conducted on the dominant ticks in the southeast. Vegetation, soil, and remote sensing data were used to test the hypothesis that habitat and vegetation variables can predict tick abundances. No variables were significant predictors of A. americanum adult and nymph tick abundance, and no clustering was evident because this species was found throughout the study area. For A. maculatum adult tick abundance was predicted by NDVI and by the interaction between habitat type and plant diversity; two significant population clusters were identified in a heterogeneous area suitable for quail habitat. For D. variabilis no environmental variables were significant predictors of adult abundance; however, D. variabilis collections clustered in three significant areas best described as agriculture areas with defined edges. This study identified few landscape and vegetation variables associated with tick presence. While some variables were significantly associated with tick populations, the amount of explained variation was not useful for predicting reliably where ticks occur; consequently, additional research that includes multiple sampling seasons and locations throughout the southeast are warranted. This low amount of explained variation may also be due to the use of hosts for dispersal, and potentially to other abiotic and biotic variables. Host species play a large role in the establishment, maintenance, and dispersal of a tick species, as well as the maintenance of disease cycles, dispersal to new areas, and identification of risk areas.