We report enhanced light output of GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with vertically aligned ZnO nanorod arrays. The ZnO nanorod arrays were prepared on the top layer of GaN LEDs using catalyst-free metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. Compared to conventional GaN LEDs, light output of GaN LEDs with the ZnO nanorod arrays increased up to 50% and 100% at applied currents of 20 and 50mA, respectively. The source of the enhanced light output is also discussed.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) may have a key role in the initiation and maintenance of allergic inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis. The present study revealed that UVB radiation exposure could induce TSLP expression in human keratinocytes and a human skin equivalent model. In addition, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of UVB-induced TSLP expression in keratinocytes. TSLP expression was upregulated by transfection with pcDNA3-hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α (P402A and P564A), which stably expresses HIF-1α protein. UVB-induced TSLP induction in keratinocytes was suppressed in the treatment of mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors or small interfering RNAs against HIF-1α. The results of chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicate the direct involvement of HIF-1α in UVB-mediated TSLP induction. Taken together, these findings indicate that UVB exposure may increase TSLP expression through a HIF-1α-dependent mechanism via the c-JUN N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways in human keratinocytes. Our data showed that UVB-induced TSLP might increase secretion of the T-helper type 2-attracting chemokine (c-c motif) ligand 17 by human dendritic cells. The present study suggests an important role of HIF-1α in UVB-mediated immune response in keratinocytes.

No abstract

Although the concern for the socio-economic effect of climate change has recently increased, its effect on sectoral GDP growth has rarely been researched especially regarding the transcontinental, mid-range area that consists mostly of developing countries like the Indian Ocean countries. Since this area shares an overall similar climate condition represented by the highest temperature as well as economic condition where most of them have experienced lagged economic growth amidst the fastest population growth, such effect will become more critical as their economies consist more heavily of climate-vulnerable sectors. Thus, we analyzed it by two level, e.g., aggregate and sectoral GDP levels. Utilizing both empirical orthogonal and regression functions, we found that the anomalies of GDP significantly decrease when local temperature, which shows high positive correlations with the Indian Ocean Sea Surface Temperature (IOSST) index, increases anomalously. In addition, this trend has been getting stronger recently as local and sea surface temperatures have overall risen. Most importantly, the highest sensitivity to climate change was shown in the service sector, as hypothesized in light of previous studies on the low-skilled and non-tradable service areas with higher adaptation deficit to climate change. We call this tested hypothesis “ climate-vulnerable service expansion. ”

This study addresses past and recent South Korean regional economic development policies, based on author's doctoral dissertation.