Scalable Water‐Based Production of Highly Conductive 2D Nanosheets with Ultrahigh Volumetric Capacitance and Rate Capability

Highly conductive and ultrathin 2D nanosheets are of importance for the development of portable electronics and electric vehicles. However, scalable production and rational design for highly electronic and ionic conductive 2D nanosheets still remain a challenge. Herein, an industrially adoptable fluid dynamic exfoliation process is reported to produce large quantities of ionic liquid (IL)‐functionalized metallic phase MoS₂ (m‐MoS₂) and defect‐free graphene (Gr) sheets. Hybrid 2D–2D layered films are also fabricated by incorporating Gr sheets into compact m‐MoS₂ films. The incorporated IL functionalities and Gr sheets prevent aggregation and restacking of the m‐MoS₂ sheets, thereby creating efficient and rapid ion and electron pathways in the hybrid films. The hybrid film with a high packing density of 2.02 g cm^?3 has an outstanding volumetric capacitance of 1430.5 F cm^?3 at 1 A g^?1 and an extremely high rate capability of 80% retention at 1000 A g^?1. The flexible supercapacitor assembled using a polymer‐gel electrolyte exhibits excellent resilience to harsh electrochemical and mechanical conditions while maintaining an impressive rate performance and long cycle life. Successful achievement of an ultrahigh volumetric energy density (1.14 W h cm^?3) using an organic electrolyte with a wide cell voltage of ≈3.5 V is demonstrated.     

Slot‐Die and Roll‐to‐Roll Processed Single Junction Organic Photovoltaic Cells with the Highest Efficiency

The record efficiency of the state‐of‐the‐art polymer solar cells (PSCs) is rapidly increasing, due to the discovery of high‐performance photoactive donor and acceptor materials. However, strong questions remain as to whether such high‐efficiency PSCs can be produced by scalable processes. This paper reports a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.5% achieved with single‐junction ternary PSCs based on PTB7‐Th, PC₇₁BM, and COi8DFIC fabricated by slot‐die coating, which shows the highest PCE ever reported in PSCs fabricated by a scalable process. To understand the origin of the high performance of the slot‐die coated device, slot‐die coated photoactive films and devices are systematically investigated. These results indicate that the good performance of the slot‐die PSCs can be due to a favorable molecule‐structure and film‐morphology change by introducing 1,8‐diiodooctane and heat treatment, which can lead to improved charge transport with reduced carrier recombination. The optimized condition is then used for the fabrication of large‐area modules and also for roll‐to‐roll fabrication. The slot‐die coated module with 30 cm² active‐area and roll‐to‐roll produced flexible PSC has shown 8.6% and 9.6%, respectively. These efficiencies are the highest in each category and demonstrate the strong potential of the slot‐die coated ternary system for commercial applications.     

TLR4-dependent effects of ISAg treatment on conventional T cell polarization in vivo

We recently demonstrated that the polysaccharide component of the Korean medicinal herb Angelica gigas (immuno-stimulatory fraction of A. gigas; ISAg) induces anticancer effects in mice by activating natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells. However, it is unclear whether the use of ISAg in vivo can affect the differentiation of conventional T cells. Here, we investigated the effects of ISAg on the activation of conventional CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. We found that the administration of ISAg induced the polarization of CD4⁺ T cells toward the acquisition of the Th1 phenotype in vivo. Additionally, in mice treated with ISAg, CD8⁺ T cells produced more IFNγ than in control mice treated with PBS. Moreover, treatment with ISAg activated CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells as well as NK and NKT cells, resulting in the secretion of Th1-type cytokines in a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-dependent manner, implying that TLR4 is critical for an optimal Th1 response. Interestingly, ISAg treatment increased the number of Foxp3⁺ Treg cells, but not of Th2 cells, compared to control mice treated with PBS, indicating that ISAg possesses an immunomodulatory capacity that can control adaptive immune responses. Taken together, our results indicate that ISAg possesses a Th1-enhancing activity that could be used to treat Th2-mediated allergic immune diseases such as atopic dermatitis.     

Allelopathic suppression of wheat and mustard byRumex dentatus ssp.klotzschianus

Laboratory studies were conducted to see the allelopathic suppression of wheat and mustard byRumex dentatus ssp.klotzschianus (Meissn) Rech. It was observed that aqueous extracts, rain leachates and litter from dried and fresh shoot and roots invariably inhibited the germination and seedling growth of both the crop species. Soil collected from beneathRumex dentatus also proved harmful for the germination and seedling growth. It is suggested thatRumex dentatus ssp.klotzschianus exhibits allelopathy against wheat and mustard.     

Surface immobilization of galactose onto aliphatic biodegradable polymers for hepatocyte culture

A novel surface modification method of biodegradable polymers was investigated for inducing the attachment of specific cells onto the polymer surface via ligand-receptor interactions. Galactose, a targeting ligand specific to asialoglycoprotein receptors present on cell membrane of hepatocytes, was introduced on the surface of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) films. A terminal end group of carboxylic acid in PLGA was activated by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide for the direct conjugation of lactose by reductive amination reaction. Di-block copolymers of PLGA-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) having a free terminal amine group were also synthesized and used for the conjugation of galactose for the introduction of a PEG spacer between PLGA and galactose. The presence of galactose moieties on the blend film surface was characterized by measuring water contact angle and X-ray photon spectroscopy, and the amount of galactose was indirectly determined by a specific lectin-binding assay. With increasing the galactose concentration on the blend film surface, the initial attachment as well as the cell viability of hepatocyates concomitantly increased. The introduction of PEG spacer reduced the cell attachment and viability. Albumin secretion rate from hepatocytes was enhanced for galactose modified surfaces, whereas it was reduced for the surfaces not having galactose moieties.     

Genome wide QTL mapping to identify candidate genes for carcass traits in Hanwoo (Korean Cattle)

Meat quality traits are the most economically important traits affecting the beef industry in Korea. We performed a whole genome quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping study of carcass data in Hanwoo Korean cattle. Two hundred sixty-six Hanwoo steers from 65 sires were genotyped using a 10K Affymetrix SNP chip. The average SNP interval across the bovine genome was 1.5Mb. Associations between each individual SNP and four carcass traits [carcass weight (CWT), eye muscle area (EMA), back fat thickness (BFT), and marbling (MAR)] were assessed using a linear mixed model of each trait. Combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis (LDLA) detected six potential QTL on BTA04, 06, 13, 16, 17, and 23 at the chromosome-wise level (P<0.05). Two MAR QTL were detected at 52.2 cM of BTA06 and 46.04 cM of BTA17. We identified three genes (ARAP2, LOC539460, and LOC511424) in the QTL region of BTA06 and seven genes (RPS14, SCARB1, LOC782103, BRI3BP, AACS, DHX37, and UBC) in the QTL region of BTA17. One significant QTL for CWT was detected at 100 cM on BTA04 and the corresponding QTL region spanned 1.7 cM from 99.7 to 101.4 cM. For EMA QTL, one significant QTL was detected at 3.9 cM of BTA23 and the most likely QTL interval was 1.4 cM, placing 15 candidate genes in the marker bracket. Finally, two QTL for BFT were identified at 68 cM on BTA13 and 24 cM on BTA16. The LPIN3 gene, which is functionally associated with lipodystrophy in humans, is located in the BFT QTL on BTA13. Thus, two potential candidate genes, acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase (AACS) and lipin (LPIN), were detected in QTL regions on BTA17 for MAR and BTA13 for BFT, respectively. In conclusion, LDLA analysis can be used to detect chromosome regions harboring QTL and candidate genes with a low density SNP panel, yielding relatively narrow confidence intervals regarding location.     

Attractiveness of conspecific stink bugs to adult stink bug-baited traps in soybean fields

The attractiveness of live adult stink bugs used as baits in traps in soybean fields, Milyang, Korea, to conspecific stink bugs was evaluated. Both sexes of bean bug, Riptortus pedestris Fabricius (Hemiptera: Alididae), and one-banded stink bug, Piezodorus hybneri Gmelin (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), were attracted to conspecific male adults-baited traps. Likewise, both sexes of brown-marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and sole bug, Dolycoris baccarum L. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), were attracted to traps baited with conspecific male stink bugs. However, in Nezara antennata Scott (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), both male and female used as baits in traps were attractive to conspecific adults. Accordingly, these results suggest that the only male adults of H. halys and D. baccarum and both sexes of N. antennata are attractive to conspecific male stink bugs.     

Impaired spare respiratory capacity in cortical synaptosomes from Sod2 null mice

Presynaptic nerve terminals require high levels of ATP for the maintenance of synaptic function. Failure of synaptic mitochondria to generate adequate ATP has been implicated as a causative event preceding the loss of synaptic networks in neurodegenerative disease. Endogenous oxidative stress has often been postulated as an etiological basis for this pathology, but has been difficult to test in vivo. Inactivation of the superoxide dismutase gene (Sod2) encoding the chief defense enzyme against mitochondrial superoxide radicals results in neonatal lethality. However, intervention with an SOD mimetic extends the life span of this model and uncovers a neurodegenerative phenotype providing a unique model for the examination of in vivo oxidative stress. We present here studies on synaptic termini isolated from the frontal cortex of Sod2 null mice demonstrating impaired bioenergetic function as a result of mitochondrial oxidative stress. Cortical synaptosomes from Sod2 null mice demonstrate a severe decline in mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity in response to physiological demand induced by mitochondrial respiratory chain uncoupling with FCCP or by plasma membrane depolarization induced by 4-aminopyridine treatment. However, Sod2 null animals compensate for impaired oxidative metabolism in part by the Pasteur effect allowing for normal neurotransmitter release at the synapse, setting up a potentially detrimental energetic paradigm. The results of this study demonstrate that high-throughput respirometry is a facile method for analyzing specific regions of the brain in transgenic models and can uncover bioenergetic deficits in subcellular regions due to endogenous oxidative stress.     

Regulation of protein phosphorylation in pancreatic acini by cyclic AMP-mediated secretagogues: interaction with carbamylcholine

The effects on protein phosphorylation in mouse pancreatic acini of cyclic AMP-mediated secretagogues and the Ca2+-mediated agonist carbamylcholine were compared. Under the conditions adopted for the study of protein phosphorylation, carbamylcholine (3 microM) stimulated amylase release from pancreatic acini 6-fold, whereas vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (100 nM) and the cyclic AMP analogue 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (1 mM) caused little or no increase in secretion. However, VIP and 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, when added in combination with carbamylcholine, potentiated the stimulation of amylase release to 170-180% of that caused by carbamylcholine alone. As assessed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, VIP reproduced four of the ten changes in protein phosphorylation elicited by carbamylcholine, these changes being the increased phosphorylation of one soluble protein and the decreased phosphorylation of three soluble proteins. VIP enhanced the carbamylcholine-induced changes in phosphorylation for three proteins. In addition, VIP increased the phosphorylation of a unique protein of Mr 52,000 and pI 5.66 which was not affected by carbamylcholine. All of the effects on protein phosphorylation exerted by VIP in the presence or absence of carbamylcholine were mimicked by 8-bromo-cyclic AMP. Secretin also reproduced most of the changes in protein phosphorylation caused by VIP, although concentrations of secretin of at least 100-fold higher were required to elicit a maximal response. It is concluded that cyclic AMP-mediated secretagogues alter the phosphorylation of a unique protein as well as of several pancreatic proteins affected by carbamylcholine. Moreover, these effects appear to be mediated primarily by VIP-preferring receptors and may be involved in the synergistic action of VIP to promote carbamylcholine-induced amylase release.     

Analytical similarity assessment of rituximab biosimilar CT-P10 to reference medicinal product

CT-P10 (Truxima?) was recently approved as the world's first rituximab biosimilar product in the European Union (EU) and South Korea. To demonstrate biosimilarity of CT-P10 with the reference medicinal product (RMP), extensive 3-way similarity assessment has been conducted between CT-P10, EU-Rituximab and US-Rituximab, focusing on the physicochemical and biological quality attributes. A multitude of state-of-the-art analyses revealed that CT-P10 has identical primary and higher order structures compared to the original product. Purity/impurity profiles of CT-P10 measured by the levels of aggregates, fragments, non-glycosylated form and process-related impurities were also found to be comparable with those of RMPs. In terms of the post-translational modification, CT-P10 contains slightly less N-terminal pyro-glutamate variant, which has been known not to affect product efficacy or safety. Oligosaccharide profiling has revealed that, although CT-P10 contains the same conserved glycan species and relative proportion with the RMPs, the content of total afucosylated glycan in CT-P10 was slightly higher than in EU- or US-Rituximab. Nevertheless, the effect of the observed level of afucosylation in CT-P10 drug product on Fc receptor binding affinity or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity was found to be negligible based on the spiking study with highly afucosylated sample. Arrays of biological assays representative of known and putative mechanisms of action for rituximab have shown that biological activities of CT-P10 are within the quality range of RMPs. Recent results of clinical studies have further confirmed that the CT-P10 exhibits equivalent clinical efficacy and safety profiles compared to EU- and US-Rituximab. The current 3-way similarity assessment together with clinical study results confidently demonstrate that CT-P10 is highly similar with EU- and US-Rituximab in terms of physicochemical properties, biological activities, efficacy, and safety for its final approval as a biosimilar product.