Proteome analysis by 2-DE and PMF by MALDI-TOF MS was performed on human amnion and amniotic fluid at term. Ninety-two soluble and nineteen membrane proteins were identified from amnion. Thirty-five proteins were identified from amniotic fluid. Calgranulin A and B were found in all patients infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum, but not in any of the patients without infection, indicating that they are potential markers of intrauterine infection. Identity of calgranulin A and B was confirmed by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. This study represents the first extensive analysis of the human amnion and amniotic fluid proteome at term and demonstrates that 2-DE and MALDI-TOF MS is a useful tool for identifying clinically significant biomarkers of problematic pregnancies.

A new high-performing small molecule n-channel semiconductor based on diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), 2,2 ′ -(5,5 ′ -(2,5-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,6-dioxo-2,3,5,6tetrahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-diyl)bis(thiophene-5,2-diyl))bis(methan-1-yl-1-ylidene)dimalononitrile (DPP-T-DCV), is successfully synthesized. The frontier molecular orbitals in this designed structure are elaborately tuned by introducing a strong electron-accepting functionality (dicyanovinyl). The well-defi ned lamellar structures of the crystals display a uniform terrace step height corresponding to a molecular monolayer in the solid-state. As a result of this tuning and the remarkable crystallinity derived from the conformational planarity, organic fi eld-effect transistors (OFETs) based on densepacked solution-processed single-crystals of DPP-T-DCV exhibit an electron mobility ( μ e ) up to 0.96 cm 2 V − 1 s − 1 , one of the highest values yet obtained for DPP derivative-based n-channel OFETs. Polycrystalline OFETs show promise (with an μ e up to 0.64 cm 2 V − 1 s − 1 ) for practical utility in organic device applications.

A novel electron-accepting bis-lactam building block, 3,7-dithiophen-2-yl-1,5-dialkyl-1,5-naphthyridine-2,6-dione (NTDT), and a conjugated polymer P­(NTDT-BDT) comprising NTDT as an electron acceptor and benzo­[1,2-b:4,5-b′]­dithiophene (BDT) as an electron donor are designed and synthesized for producing efficient organic solar cells. The thermal, electronic, photophysical, electrochemical, and structural characteristics of NTDT and P­(NTDT-BDT) are studied in detail and compared with those of the widely used bis-lactam acceptor 3,6-dithiophen-2-yl-2,5-dialkylpyrrolo­[3,4-c]­pyrrole-1,4-dione (DPPT) and its polymer P­(DPPT-BDT). Compared to DPPT derivatives, NTDT and P­(NTDT-BDT) exhibit remarkably higher absorption coefficients, deeper highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels, and more planar conformations. A bulk heterojunction solar cells based on P­(NTDT-BDT) exhibit power conversion efficiency of up to 8.16% with high short circuit current (J sc) of 18.51 mA cm–2, one of the highest J sc values yet obtained for BDT-based polymer. Thus, it is successfully demonstrated that the novel bis-lactam unit NTDT is a promising building block for use in organic photovoltaic devices.

Melt-spun poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) fibers were zone-drawn and the structures and properties of the fibers were investigated in consideration of the spinning and zone-drawing conditions. The draw ratio increased up to 4 with increasing drawing temperature to 180°C, at a maximum drawing stress of 220 MPa. Higher take-up velocity gave lower drawability of the fiber. The PTT fiber taken up at 4000 rpm was hardly drawn, in spite of using maximum drawing stress, because a high degree of orientation had been achieved in the spinning procedure. However, an additional enhancement of birefringence was observed, indicating a further orientation of PTT molecules by zone drawing. The exotherm peak at 60°C disappeared and was shifted to a lower temperature with an increase in the take-up velocity, which means that the orientation and crystallinity of the fiber increased. The d-spacing of (002) plane increased with increasing take-up velocity and draw ratio, whereas those of (010) and (001) planes decreased. In all cases, the crystal size increased with take-up velocity and draw ratio. The cold-drawn PTT fiber revealed a kink band structure, which disappeared as the drawing temperature was raised. The physical properties of zone-drawn PTT fibers were improved as the draw ratio and take-up velocity increased.

Submillimeter sized n-channel organic single crystalline nanosheet based on dicyanodistyrylbenzene derivative, (2E,2'E)-3,3'-(2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-pheny-lene)bis(2-(5-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile) (Me-4-TFPTA), is developed. Strong π-π interaction, hydrogen bonding interactions derived from cyano group (CN) as well as solvent inclusion along the lateral direction play a key role in forming nanosheet morphology. Me-4-TFPTA nanosheets exhibit excellent field-effect electron mobility of up to 7.81 cm(2) v(-1) s(-1) .