We report on the synthesis and properties of 6,6′-dithienylindigo (DTI) and poly(DTI). Redox chemistry and ambipolar charge transport with μ_h = 0.11 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and μ_e = 0.08 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and excellent air stability are shown.

The alkynyl‐substituted Re^I complex [Re(5,5′‐bisphenylethynyl‐2,2′‐bipyridyl)(CO)₃Cl] was immobilized by electropolymerization onto a Pt‐plate electrode. The polymerized film exhibited electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of CO₂ to CO. Cyclic voltammetry studies and bulk controlled‐potential electrolysis experiments were performed by using a CO₂‐saturated acetonitrile solution. The CO₂ reduction, determined by cyclic voltammetry, occurs at approximately −1150 mV versus the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE). Quantitative analysis by GC and IR spectroscopy was used to determine a Faradaic efficiency of approximately 33 % for the formation of CO. Both values of the modified electrode were compared to the performance of the homogenous monomer [Re(5,5′‐bisphenylethynyl‐2,2′‐bipyridyl)(CO)₃Cl] in acetonitrile. The polymer formation and its properties were studied by using SEM, AFM, and attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopy.

Climatic changes and heat stress have become a great challenge in the livestock industry, negatively affecting, in particular, poultry feed intake and intestinal barrier malfunction. Recently, phytogenic feed additives were applied to reduce heat stress effects on animal farming. Here, we investigated the effects of ginseng extract using various in vitro and in vivo experiments. Quantitative real-time PCR, transepithelial electrical resistance measurements and survival assays under heat stress conditions were carried out in various model systems, including Caco-2 cells, Caenorhabditis elegans and jejunum samples of broilers. Under heat stress conditions, ginseng treatment lowered the expression of HSPA1A (Caco-2) and the heat shock protein genes hsp-1 and hsp-16.2 (both in C. elegans), while all three of the tested genes encoding tight junction proteins, CLDN3, OCLN and CLDN1 (Caco-2), were upregulated. In addition, we observed prolonged survival under heat stress in Caenorhabditis elegans, and a better performance of growing ginseng-fed broilers by the increased gene expression of selected heat shock and tight junction proteins. The presence of ginseng extract resulted in a reduced decrease in transepithelial resistance under heat shock conditions. Finally, LC-MS analysis was performed to quantitate the most prominent ginsenosides in the extract used for this study, being Re, Rg1, Rc, Rb2 and Rd. In conclusion, ginseng extract was found to be a suitable feed additive in animal nutrition to reduce the negative physiological effects caused by heat stress.