Interfacial Energy Alignment at the ITO/Ultra-Thin Electron Selective Dielectric Layer Interface and Its Effect on the Efficiency of Bulk-Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells.

We have investigated the photovoltaic properties of an inverted bulk heterojunction (BHJ) cell in a device with an indium-tin-oxide (ITO)/electron selective layer (ESL)/P3HT:PCBM active layer/MoOx/Ag multilayered structure. The insertion of only single layer of poly(diallyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride) (PDDA) cationic polymer film (or poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) polymeric interfacial dipole layer) and titanium oxide nanosheet (TN) films as an ESL effectively improved cell performance. Abnormal S-shaped curves were observed in the inverted BHJ cells owing to the contact resistance across the ITO/active layer interface and the ITO/PDDA/TN/active layer interface.

[Trial of the integrated cross-field pharmaceutical education in the first year of faculty of pharmacy].

The six-year pharmacist education course has begun, and now first-year students receive clinical training. Interdisciplinary problem-solving capabilities covering chemistry, biology, molecular biology, pharmacology, pathology, and pharmacokinetics are necessary for new pharmacists. However, the conventional pharmaceutical science education was so separate from other fields that education for interdisciplinary cooperative capability was insufficient.

Effects of the α1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine on SART stress-induced orthostatic hypotension in rats.

Background: Specific alternation of rhythm in temperature (SART)-stressed rats, an animal model of autonomic imbalance, exhibit low blood pressure and tachycardia during consciousness and under anesthesia. In addition, these rats easily develop orthostatic hypotension (OH) as a response to postural manipulation. Hence, we studied the influence of the adrenalin α1-receptor agonist phenylephrine on stress-induced OH in SART-stressed rats and unstressed rats.

Specific alternation of rhythm in temperature (SART) stress-induced irritable bowel syndrome-like changes in mice and effects of drugs.

Stress is closely associated with the manifestation and progress of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For the purpose of establishing experimentally the relationship between IBS and stress, the transportation capacity of the small intestine in specific alternation of rhythm in temperature (SART)-stressed animals was studied using charcoal transportation method. The charcoal suspension was administered orally into the stomach of fasting mice.

Suppressed neutrophil respiratory burst in patients with haemorrhagic stroke.

The pathophysiology underlying the high incidence of post-stroke infectious complications has not been fully understood. We measured the respiratory burst of neutrophils as an index of their bactericidal function in patients with haemorrhagic stroke, and we also measured the plasma concentrations of noradrenalin, cortisol and neutrophil function-related amino acids. Blood samples were obtained from patients who underwent emergency craniotomies for haemorrhagic stroke (n=11) or CT-guided stereotaxic aspiration of intracerebral haematomas (n=6).

Effects of some beta-adrenoceptor antagonists on orthostatic hypotension in repeatedly cold- (SART-) stressed rats.

Rats stressed by specific alternation of rhythm in temperature (SART) show various symptoms of disautonomia, increased pulse rates, continuous hypotension, and severe orthostatic hypotension (OH) when they are subjected to postural change. The OH symptoms are improved by muscarinic M2-receptor blockers. In the present study, effects of beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents on OH in SART-stressed rats were investigated.

Effects of AF-DX116 and other muscarinic receptor antagonists on orthostatic hypotension in autonomic imbalanced (SART-stressed) rats.

SART (specific alternation of rhythm in temperature)-stressed rats are an animal model of autonomic imbalance created by exposing animals to repeated cold stress. The SART-stressed rats have been shown to easily develop orthostatic hypotension (OH). In this study, effects of AF-DX116, a selective M(2) antagonist, and other muscarinic receptor antagonists on OH were investigated in SART-stressed and unstressed rats.

A role for corticotropin-releasing factor in repeated cold stress-induced anxiety-like behavior during forced swimming and elevated plus-maze tests in mice.

SART (specific alternation of rhythm in temperature) stress is known to cause anxiety-like behavior in mice/rats in several anxiety-related behavioral tests. In the present study, we investigated possible roles for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and glucocorticoids in SART stress-induced anxiety-like behavior in two different anxiety-related behavioral tests. In the forced swimming test, CRF, administered intracerebroventricular (i.