Deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (expandase): Research progress and application potential.

Cephalosporins play an indispensable role against bacterial infections. Deacetyloxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS), also called expandase, is a key enzyme in cephalosporin biosynthesis that epoxides penicillin to form the hexavalent thiazide ring of cephalosporin. DAOCS in fungus was identified as a bifunctional enzyme with both ring expansion and hydroxylation, whereas two separate enzymes in bacteria catalyze these two reactions.

Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis reveals wall-associated and glucan-degrading proteins with potential roles in Phytophthora infestans sexual spore development.

Sexual reproduction remains an understudied feature of oomycete biology. To expand our knowledge of this process, we used RNA-seq and quantitative proteomics to examine matings in Phytophthora infestans. Exhibiting significant changes in mRNA abundance in three matings between different A1 and A2 strains compared to nonmating controls were 1170 genes, most being mating-induced.

A Solid-State Intrinsically Stretchable Polymer Solar Cell.

An organic solar cell based on a bulk heterojunction of a conjugated polymer and a methanofullerene PCBM or PCBM exhibits a complex morphology that controls both its photovoltaic and mechanical compliance (flexibility and stretchability). Here, the donor-acceptor blend of poly(thieno[3,4-b]-thiophene/benzodithiophene) (PTB7) and PCBM containing a small amount of diiodooctane (DIO) in the spin-casting solution is reported to exhibit elastic deformability. The blend comprises nanometer-size, nanocrystalline grains that are relatively uniformly distributed.

The prediction of a pathogenesis-related secretome of Puccinia helianthi through high-throughput transcriptome analysis.

Background: Many plant pathogen secretory proteins are known to be elicitors or pathogenic factors,which play an important role in the host-pathogen interaction process. Bioinformatics approaches make possible the large scale prediction and analysis of secretory proteins from the Puccinia helianthi transcriptome. The internet-based software SignalP v4.

A solution processed flexible nanocomposite electrode with efficient light extraction for organic light emitting diodes.

Highly efficient organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on multiple layers of vapor evaporated small molecules, indium tin oxide transparent electrode, and glass substrate have been extensively investigated and are being commercialized. The light extraction from the exciton radiative decay is limited to less than 30% due to plasmonic quenching on the metallic cathode and the waveguide in the multi-layer sandwich structure. Here we report a flexible nanocomposite electrode comprising single-walled carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires stacked and embedded in the surface of a polymer substrate.

Silver nanowire percolation network soldered with graphene oxide at room temperature and its application for fully stretchable polymer light-emitting diodes.

Transparent conductive electrodes with high surface conductivity, high transmittance in the visible wavelength range, and mechanical compliance are one of the major challenges in the fabrication of stretchable optoelectronic devices. We report the preparation of a transparent conductive electrode (TCE) based on a silver nanowire (AgNW) percolation network modified with graphene oxide (GO). The monatomic thickness, mechanical flexibility, and strong bonding with AgNWs enable the GO sheets to wrap around and solder the AgNW junctions and thus dramatically reduce the inter-nanowire contact resistance without heat treatment or high force pressing.

Tactile feedback display with spatial and temporal resolutions.

We report the electronic recording of the touch contact and pressure using an active matrix pressure sensor array made of transparent zinc oxide thin-film transistors and tactile feedback display using an array of diaphragm actuators made of an interpenetrating polymer elastomer network. Digital replay, editing and manipulation of the recorded touch events were demonstrated with both spatial and temporal resolutions. Analog reproduction of the force is also shown possible using the polymer actuators, despite of the high driving voltage.

A healable, semitransparent silver nanowire-polymer composite conductor.

A quick recovery: A semitransparent composite conductor comprising a layer of silver nanowire percolation network inlaid in the surface layer of a Diels-Alder-based healable polymer film is fabricated. The composite is flexible and highly conductive, and is capable of both structural and electrical healing via heating. Cut samples that completely lose their conductivity can recover 97% of it within 5 minutes of heating at 110 °C.

Electromechanical instabilities of thermoplastics: Theory and in situ observation.

Thermoplastics under voltages are used in diverse applications ranging from insulating cables to organic capacitors. Electromechanical instabilities have been proposed as a mechanism that causes electrical breakdown of thermoplastics. However, existing experiments cannot provide direct observations of the instability process, and existing theories for the instabilities generally assume thermoplastics are mechanically unconstrained.

Bistable large-strain actuation of interpenetrating polymer networks.

The bistable electroactive polymer is a new smart material capable of large strain, rigid-to-rigid actuation. At the rubbery state of the polymer heated to above its glass transition, stable electrically-induced actuation is obtained at strains as large as 150%. Electromechanical instability can be effectively overcome by the formation of interpenetrating polymer networks.

Efficient white polymer light-emitting diodes employing a silver nanowire-polymer composite electrode.

White polymer phosphorescent light-emitting diodes have been fabricated employing silver nanowire (AgNW)-polymer composite substrates. Solution processing is used to form all the layers in the devices, except for the cathode, for potentially low fabrication cost. The current efficiency in the front viewing direction is 20.

Intrinsically stretchable transparent electrodes based on silver-nanowire-crosslinked-polyacrylate composites.

Stretchable transparent composites have been synthesized consisting of a silver nanowire (AgNW) network embedded in the surface layer of a crosslinked poly(acrylate) matrix. The interpenetrating networks of AgNWs and the crosslinked polymer matrix lead to high surface conductivity, high transparency, and rubbery elasticity. The presence of carboxylic acid groups on the polymer chains enhances the bonding between AgNWs and the polymer matrix, and further increases the stretchability of the composites.

Compliant silver nanowire-polymer composite electrodes for bistable large strain actuation.

A new compliant electrode-based on silver nanowire-polymer composite has been developed. The composite electrode has low sheet resistance (as low as 10 Ω/sq), remains conductive (10(2) -10(3) Ω/sq) at strains as high as 140%, and can support Joule heating. The combination of the composite and a bistable electroactive polymer produces electrically-induced, large-strain actuation and relaxation, reversibly without the need of mechanical programming.

Highly flexible silver nanowire electrodes for shape-memory polymer light-emitting diodes.

Shape-memory polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) using a new silver nanowire/polymer electrode are reported. The electrode can be stretched by up to 16% with only a small increase in sheet resistance. Large deformation shape change and recovery of the PLEDs to various bistable curvatures result in minimal loss of electroluminescence performance.