RNA editing of atp6 transcripts from male-sterile and normal cytoplasms of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

AbstractThe complete cDNA sequence corresponding to the rapeseed atp6 gene transcript (coding for subunit 6 of FO-ATPase) has been determined by a method involving cDNA synthesis, using specific oligonucleotides as primers, followed by PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing of the amplification products. Only one modification, a C-to-U conversion, has been found when compared to the genomic mitochondrial DNA sequence. Comparison of the extent and frequency of RNA editing of the pol cytoplasmic male sterile (cms) atp6 transcript with those of normal atp6 transcript indicates that there is no variation between the editing status of the atp6 transcripts from pol cms and normal cytoplasms

Large thermal expansion leads to negative thermo-optic coefficient of halide perovskite CH₃NH₃PbCl₃

Lead halide perovskites have emerged as new optoelectronic materials owing to their outstanding optical properties. There has been increased interest in their temperature-sensitive optical properties and new optical applications have been proposed thereby. Here, we report the origin of the unusual negative thermo-optic coefficient of the halide perovskite CH₃NH₃PbCl₃, i.e., a decrease in the refractive index by an increase in temperature. From the temperature dependences of the absorption spectrum and the lattice constant and using the Lorentz oscillator model, we conclude that the negative thermo-optic coefficient below the absorption edge is predominantly determined by the large thermal expansion coefficient inherent to this soft material system. This work demonstrates that the negative thermo-optic coefficient is a distinctive phenomenon reflecting the unique electronic and lattice properties of halide perovskites

Bilayer Indium Tin Oxide Electrodes for Deformation-Free Ultrathin Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells

The superior electrical conductivity and optical transparency of indium tin oxide (ITO) make it an ideal electrode material for use in optoelectronic devices such as solar cells. When ITO electrodes are fabricated on very thin plastic substrates, however, the internal stress of the ITO layer causes the substrate to deform, severely limiting the device's performance. Herein, it is shown that ITO bilayers composed of an amorphous base layer and a crystalline overlayer lead to deformation-free ITO electrodes. It is shown that an optimized bilayer structure is achieved when the internal stresses of the amorphous and crystalline layers approximately cancel. With this approach, mixed composition metal halide perovskite solar cells with ITO electrodes are successfully fabricated on 4 μm polyethylene naphthalate films. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.2% is obtained for the reference cell design, corresponding to a power-to-weight ratio of 24 W g−1 before encapsulation. The devices retain 95% of the original PCE after 1000 bend cycles, while under simulated indoor lighting (white LED, 200 lux, 5000 K) the PCE reaches 28.3%. A 3-cell module with a designated area of 2.3 cm² is realized with a power output of 28.1 mW and an open-circuit voltage of 3.17 V

A Case of Inoperable Duodenal Cancer Achieving Long-Term Survival after Multidisciplinary Treatment

A 50-year-old female became aware of skin yellowing and consulted another hospital where she was diagnosed intraoperatively with duodenal cancer because of lymph node metastases around the aorta. Endoscopy revealed type IIa + IIc cancer distal to the duodenal papilla, and biopsy allowed a diagnosis of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Computed tomography revealed a large number of lymph node metastases around the aorta and in the left supraclavicular cavity. The patient was given many regimens of chemotherapy, mainly containing S-1, and multidisciplinary treatment, and achieved long-term survival for 6 years and 1 month. This is a valuable case suggesting the usefulness of this therapeutic approach. In view of the fact that duodenal cancer is a relatively rare disease and the possibility that the incidence of this disease may increase in the future, it seems essential to collect additional data from multicenter prospective studies towards the goal of establishing a standard method of treatment for this disease