A Cross‐Linked Interconnecting Layer Enabling Reliable and Reproducible Solution‐Processing of Organic Tandem Solar Cells

The performance of tandem organic solar cells (OSCs) is directly related to the functionality and reliability of the interconnecting layer (ICL). However, it is a challenge to develop a fully functional ICL for reliable and reproducible fabrication of solution‐processed tandem OSCs with minimized optical and electrical losses, in particular for being compatible with various state‐of‐the‐art photoactive materials. Although various ICLs have been developed to realize tandem OSCs with impressively high performance, their reliability, reproducibility, and generic applicability are rarely analyzed and reported so far, which restricts the progress and widespread adoption of tandem OSCs. In this work, a robust and fully functional ICL is developed by incorporating a hydrolyzed silane crosslinker, (3‐glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GOPS), into poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and its functionality for reliable and reproducible fabrication of tandem OSCs based on various photoactive materials is validated. The cross‐linked ICL can successfully protect the bottom active layer against penetration of high boiling point solvents during device fabrication, which widely broadens the solvent selection for processing photoactive materials with high quality and reliability, providing a great opportunity to continuously develop the tandem OSCs towards future large‐scale production and commercialization.     

Investigation on the precaecal and faecal digestibility of lactulose and inulin and their influence on nutrient digestibility and microbial characteristics

This study was conducted to determine the pre-caecal and faecal digestibility of lactulose and inulin and the influence of these substances on nutrient digestibility and microbial characteristics. In metabolic trials three of six male growing pigs (German Landrace?×?Pietrain) were fitted with an ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA) in end-to-end technique with preserved ileo-caeco-colic valve. The metabolic trials were conducted from day 21?–?63 after surgery. The remaining pigs were used as intact partners (IN) for the IRA pigs. The experimental diets, based on corn, wheat, barley and soybean meal, were supplemented with either 1.5% lactulose or 2% inulin in replacement of diatomaceous earth (control). Pre-caecal digestibility of lactulose and inulin was assessed to be 79 and 98%, respectively, faecal digestibility was determined as 100%. The supplementation of lactulose and inulin had only minor effects on the pre-caecal and faecal digestibility of nutrients. Significant differences in nutrient digestibility were obvious between IRA and IN pigs, whereas the IRA pigs showed lower digestibility values with the exception of ether extracts (EE). Bacterial population in the digesta of IRA and IN pigs were not affected by the experimental diets except the concentration of gram-negative anaerobes, which inclined when the IRA pigs received the lactulose diet. The pH of chyme was significantly lower than the pH of faeces, however the pH was unaffected by the different supplemented diets. The concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in pre-caecal chyme decreased significantly when IRA pigs received the lactulose supplemented diet whereas VFA in faeces were unaffected by the supplementation. IRA pigs administered with lactulose excreted more N via the urine, but the nitrogen balance remained unaffected. From the present investigation it can be concluded that lactulose and inulin did only partly or scarcely fulfill the expectation of acting as prebiotics in pigs.     

Asymptotic behaviour of the non-autonomous competing two-species Lotka–Volterra models with impulsive effect

In this paper, the nonautonomous competing two-species Lotka–Volterra models with impulsive effect are considered, where all the parameters are time-dependent and asymptotically approach the corresponding periodic functions. Under some conditions, it is shown that the semi-trivial positive solutions of the models asymptotically approach the semi-trivial positive periodic solutions of the corresponding periodic system. It is also shown that the positive solution of the models asymptotically approach the positive periodic solution of the corresponding periodic system.     

CDR-H3 loop ensemble in solution – conformational selection upon antibody binding

ABSTRACT

We analyzed pairs of protein-binding, peptide-binding and hapten-binding antibodies crystallized as complex and in the absence of the antigen with and without conformational differences upon binding in the complementarity-determining region (CDR)-H3 loop. Here, we introduce a molecular dynamics-based approach to capture a diverse conformational ensemble of the CDR-H3 loop in solution. The results clearly indicate that the inherently flexible CDR-H3 loop indeed needs to be characterized as a conformational ensemble. The conformational changes of the CDR-H3 loop in all antibodies investigated follow the paradigm of conformation selection, because we observe the experimentally determined binding competent conformation without the presence of the antigen within the ensemble of pre-existing conformational states in solution before binding. We also demonstrate for several examples that the conformation observed in the antibody crystal structure without antigen present is actually selected to bind the carboxyterminal tail region of the antigen-binding fragment (Fab). Thus, special care must be taken when characterizing antibody CDR-H3 loops by Fab X-ray structures, and the possibility that pre-existing conformations are present should always be considered.     

Syntheses of New Quarternary Ammonium Iodides as Plant Growth Retardants and Their Biological Activities

Twelve new quarternary ammonium compounds were synthesized and their plant growth retarding activities were examined. Among the candidates, N,N,N-trimethyl-l-methyl-3-(3′,3′5′-trimethylcyclohexyl)- and N,N,N-trimethyl-l-methyl-3-(3′,3′,5′,5′-tetramethylcyclohexyl)-2-propenylammonium iodides were the most effective to suppress the growth of rice and cucumber seedlings, and their activities were far stronger than those of any growth retardants hitherto known.     

Food Allergy,Oral Tolerance and Immunomodulation—Their Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms

This paper describes the molecular and cellular mechanisms of food allergy and oral tolerance including immunomodulation. Food allergy is triggered by an aberrant immune response elicited by oral administration of dietary antigens. Oral tolerance is a state of immunological unresponsiveness induced by oral administration of dietary antigens and is thought to serve to suppress food allergy. This review first describes the characteristic properties of T and B cells relating to milk allergy and also the location of binding sites to T and B cells on allergen molecules. The immunogenicity of allergens is shown to be reduced by the modulations of the T cell binding site, using sophisticated methods such as site-specific mutagenesis. Furthermore, this review focuses on oral tolerance with special reference to the identification of lymphocyte compartment subsets and the immunological mechanism relating to oral tolerance. Finally, the application of oral tolerance for the treatment of allergy is speculated on.     

Continuous Orally Administered Coffee Enhanced the Antigen-Specific Th1 Response and Reduced Allergic Development in a TCR-Transgenic Mice Model

Coffee is a globally consumed beverage. Although recent studies have suggested that coffee reduced the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, there are few studies regarding allergic response.

This study investigates the effects of orally administered coffee (91 ml/kg/d) on allergic responses using a T cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic DO11.10 mouse allergic model. Splenocytes from coffee-administered naïve mice increased antigen (Ag)-specific interleukin (IL)-12p40 secretion. When Ag sensitization and coffee administration were concurrently performed, the splenocytes from coffee-administered mice showed a decrease of IL-2 and an increase of IL-12p40 secretion. The Ag-specific cutaneous response and serum IgE level were reduced in coffee-administered mice, although, after establishing the allergy, coffee administration did not suppress the allergic reaction.

These results suggest that coffee could induce a Th1-type response of the immune system and prevent an allergy developing. Further studies on the optimum dose, cultivar differences, and roasted degree need to be undertaken.     

Liposome-encapsulated midazolam for oral administration

The oral administration of midazolam has often been used for sedation in pediatric patients. However, oral administration of an intravenous formulation of midazolam is difficult for younger pediatric patients because of its bitter taste. Liposomes have been developed as vesicles encapsulating various kinds of drugs to serve as a medical drug-delivery system. Thus, the aim of the present study was to produce pH-sensitive liposomes encapsulating midazolam and to evaluate its pharmacokinetics on rabbits. Liposome-encapsulated midazolam was produced from hydrogenated L-α-phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid, and midazolam. The capacity of liposomes to encapsulate midazolam (encapsulation efficiency), stability of encapsulation, and release efficiency were evaluated in vitro. Further, the produced liposome-encapsulated midazolam solution was orally administered to rabbits in vivo. As a result, midazolam was encapsulated by liposomes with a high encapsulation efficiency and was stably encapsulated in a physiological medium. Further, the produced liposomes rapidly and effectively released midazolam in an acidic medium in vitro. When the liposome-encapsulated midazolam solution was orally administered to rabbits, the time to achieve the maximum plasma concentration of midazolam after administration was slightly longer, but both the maximum plasma concentration and area under the concentration-time curve were higher than those receiving midazolam solution. In conclusion, we produced pH-sensitive liposome-encapsulated midazolam, which remained stable in a physiological medium and showed efficient release in an acidic environment. The results suggest that it is possible to clinically use liposome-encapsulated midazolam for oral administration as a useful drug-delivery vehicle.     

一类带Monod增长率及脉冲状态反馈控制的微生物杀虫剂模型的周期解

研究了一类带Monod增长率及脉冲状态反馈控制的微生物杀虫剂模型．证明了无脉冲系统的负向全局渐近稳定性及带有脉冲状态反馈控制系统具有阶一周期解,并且给出阶一周期解存在和稳定的充分条件．数值模拟验证了理论结果．     

具有脉冲效应的时滞捕食系统的正周期解

提出了一个具有脉冲效应的周期时滞捕食系统,运用叠合的方法研究了该系统的周期解的存在性．结论表明在一定的条件下捕食者和食饵周期变化．