A Triboelectric Generator Based on Checker‐Like Interdigital Electrodes with a Sandwiched PET Thin Film for Harvesting Sliding Energy in All Directions

A triboelectric generator based on checker‐like interdigital electrodes (TEGC) with a sandwiched polyethylene terephthalate (PET) thin film that can convert translation kinetic energy in all directions to electricity is reported. The design of the sandwiched PET thin film can effectively avoid direct wear between metal electrodes and sliding panel. The mechanism of the TEGC is described in detail. The performance of the TEGC in different sliding directions is studied, indicating a maximum output power density of 1.9 W m^‐2 and open‐circuit voltage of 210 V achieved in the X or Y sliding direction. The TEGC is used to charge a 110 μF commercial capacitor to 5 V in 35 s and light up two light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) connected with the capacitor simultaneously. The TEGC based mouse pad and sliding panel are fabricated to harvest mouse operation energy to light up LEDs connected in antiparallel when the computer mouse operates a game. The TEGC has advantages of being flexible, light weight, durable, cost effective, and portable by folding or rolling into a small part. This work presents a significant progress toward the structure design of triboelectric generator for its practical applications.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> Subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">morrisoni</Emphasis> PG-14 Encoding δ-Endotoxin Cry1Ac

Bacillus thuringiensis 656-3, isolated from a soil sample collected at mushroom houses, showed high toxicity to mushroom flies, Lycoriella mali and Coboldia fuscipes. B. thuringiensis 656-3 produced bipyramidal inclusions and reacted with the H antiserum of B. thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni (H8a8b). The plasmid and protein profiles of B. thuringiensis 656-3 were similar to those of its reference strain, subsp. morrisoni PG-14. However, PCR analysis using cry gene primers showed that B. thuringiensis 656-3, unlike its reference strain, had cry4A, cry4B, cry10A, cry11A, and cry1Ac genes, suggesting that B. thuringiensis 656-3 was a unique strain with respect to gene type. In addition, B. thuringiensis 656-3 showed a high level of toxicity against mushroom flies, L. mali and C. fuscipes.     

Suppressing Manganese Dissolution from Lithium Manganese Oxide Spinel Cathodes with Single‐Layer Graphene

Spinel‐structured LiMn₂O₄ (LMO) is a desirable cathode material for Li‐ion batteries due to its low cost, abundance, and high power capability. However, LMO suffers from limited cycle life that is triggered by manganese dissolution into the electrolyte during electrochemical cycling. Here, it is shown that single‐layer graphene coatings suppress manganese dissolution, thus enhancing the performance and lifetime of LMO cathodes. Relative to lithium cells with uncoated LMO cathodes, cells with graphene‐coated LMO cathodes provide improved capacity retention with enhanced cycling stability. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that graphene coatings inhibit manganese depletion from the LMO surface. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy demonstrates that a stable solid electrolyte interphase is formed on graphene, which screens the LMO from direct contact with the electrolyte. Density functional theory calculations provide two mechanisms for the role of graphene in the suppression of manganese dissolution. First, common defects in single‐layer graphene are found to allow the transport of lithium while concurrently acting as barriers for manganese diffusion. Second, graphene can chemically interact with Mn³⁺ at the LMO electrode surface, promoting an oxidation state change to Mn⁴⁺, which suppresses dissolution.     

Suppression of thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) production by 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose via blockade of NF-κB and STAT1 activation in the HaCaT cells

Keratinocytes, one of major cell types in the skin, can be induced by TNF-α and IFN-γ to express thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17), which is considered to be a pivotal mediator in the inflammatory responses during the development of inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, we examined the effect of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (PGG), isolated from the barks of Juglans mandshurica, on TNF-α/IFN-γ induced CCL17 expression in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Pretreatment of HaCaT cells with PGG suppressed TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced protein and mRNA expression of CCL17. PGG significantly inhibited TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced NF-κB activation as well as STAT1 activation. Furthermore, pretreatment with PGG resulted in significant reduction in expression of CXCL9, 10, and 11 in the HaCaT cells treated with IFN-γ. These results suggest that PGG may exert anti-inflammatory responses by suppressing TNF-α and/or IFN-γ-induced activation of NF-κB and STAT1 in the keratinocytes and might be a useful tool in therapy of skin inflammatory diseases.     

Development of polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers from the Korean field mouse, Apodemus peninsulae

We isolated and characterized eight polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers from the Korean field mouse, Apodemus peninsulae. The primers developed in this study yielded an average polymorphic information content of 0.78 (range 0.44–0.90), with an average of 10.9 alleles per locus (range 5–16). Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.46 to 1.00 and from 0.49 to 0.93, respectively. These polymorphic loci may provide useful tools for understanding the species’ genetic structure and ecology.     

Adaptor Protein Complex 2–Mediated Endocytosis Is Crucial for Male Reproductive Organ Development in Arabidopsis

Fertilization in flowering plants requires the temporal and spatial coordination of many developmental processes, including pollen production, anther dehiscence, ovule production, and pollen tube elongation. However, it remains elusive as to how this coordination occurs during reproduction. Here, we present evidence that endocytosis, involving heterotetrameric adaptor protein complex 2 (AP-2), plays a crucial role in fertilization. An Arabidopsis thaliana mutant ap2m displays multiple defects in pollen production and viability, as well as elongation of staminal filaments and pollen tubes, all of which are pivotal processes needed for fertilization. Of these abnormalities, the defects in elongation of staminal filaments and pollen tubes were partially rescued by exogenous auxin. Moreover, DR5rev:GFP (for green fluorescent protein) expression was greatly reduced in filaments and anthers in ap2m mutant plants. At the cellular level, ap2m mutants displayed defects in both endocytosis of N-(3-triethylammonium-propyl)-4-(4-diethylaminophenylhexatrienyl) pyridinium dibromide, a lypophilic dye used as an endocytosis marker, and polar localization of auxin-efflux carrier PIN FORMED2 (PIN2) in the stamen filaments. Moreover, these defects were phenocopied by treatment with Tyrphostin A23, an inhibitor of endocytosis. Based on these results, we propose that AP-2–dependent endocytosis plays a crucial role in coordinating the multiple developmental aspects of male reproductive organs by modulating cellular auxin level through the regulation of the amount and polarity of PINs.     

Hydrogen peroxide mediates Rac1 activation of S6K1

We previously reported that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mediates mitogen activation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) which plays an important role in cell proliferation and growth. In this study, we investigated a possible role of H2O2 as a molecular linker in Rac1 activation of S6K1. Overexpression of recombinant catalase in NIH-3T3 cells led to the drastic inhibition of H2O2 production by PDGF, which was accompanied by a decrease in S6K1 activity. Similarly, PDGF activation of S6K1 was significantly inhibited by transient transfection or stable transfection of the cells with a dominant-negative Rac1 (Rac1N17), while overexpression of constitutively active Rac1 (Rac1V12) in the cells led to an increase in basal activity of S6K1. In addition, stable transfection of Rat2 cells with Rac1N17 dramatically attenuated the H2O2 production by PDGF as compared with that in the control cells. In contrast, Rat2 cells stably transfected with Rac1V12 produced high level of H2O2 in the absence of PDGF, comparable to that in the control cells stimulated with PDGF. More importantly, elimination of H2O2 produced in Rat2 cells overexpressing Rac1V12 inhibited the Rac1V12 activation of S6K1, indicating the possible role of H2O2 as a mediator in the activation of S6K1 by Rac1. However, H2O2 could be also produced via other pathway, which is independent of Rac1 or PI3K, because in Rat2 cells stably transfected with Rac1N17, H2O2 could be produced by arsenite, which has been shown to be a stimulator of H2O2 production. Taken together, these results suggest that H2O2 plays a pivotal role as a mediator in Rac1 activation of S6K1.     

Cigarette Smoking Increases Abdominal and Visceral Obesity but Not Overall Fatness: An Observational Study

Background

Cigarette smoking and obesity are leading public health concerns. Both increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolic abnormalities. This study was conducted to assess the association between cigarette smoking and different types of obesity.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Two hundred eighty-three visitors to university hospitals located in four main provinces of South Korea were participated. All participants were classified as either current/past or never smokers and were divided into quartiles according to the total pack-years. Body mass index, waist circumference, total body fat percentage, and area of visceral and abdominal subcutaneous fat were measured. These results of each groups were compared. Waist circumference, and visceral fat area showed a J- or U-shaped association with total smoking amount during a lifetime. After restricting the analyses to past/current smokers, we found significant dose-dependent associations of smoking pack-years with abdominal and visceral obesity. Overall obesity measured by body mass index and total body fat percentage did not show such associations. Although current smokers clearly showed significant associations, we could not demonstrate these in past smokers, possibly because of the limited sample size.

Conclusions/Significance

Although smokers did not show significant difference in mean body mass index than those who never smoked, they showed more metabolically adverse fat distributions with increasing smoking amounts. This finding suggests that smoking is not beneficial for weight control. Therefore, smoking cessation and avoidance of smoking commencement should be addressed as important public health issues in preventing obesity and related complications.