In recent times, fused aromatic DiketoPyrroloPyrrole-(DPP)-based functional semiconductors have attracted considerable attention in the developing field of organic electronics. Over the past few years, DPP-based semiconductors have demonstrated remarkable improvements in the performance of both organic field-effect transistor (OFET) and organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices due to the favourable features of the DPP unit, such as excellent planarity and better electron-withdrawing ability. Driven by this success, DPPbased materials are now being exploited in various other electronic devices including complementary circuits, memory devices, chemical sensors, photodetectors, perovskite solar cells, organic light-emitting diodes, and more. Recent developments in the use of DPP-based materials for a wide range of electronic devices are summarized, focusing on OFET, OPV, and newly developed devices with a discussion of device performance in terms of molecular engineering. Useful guidance for the design of future DPP-based materials and the exploration of more advanced applications is provided.

Atm gene-disrupted mice recapitulate the majority of characteristics observed in patients with the genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). However, although they exhibit defects in neuromotor function and a distinct neurological phenotype, they do not show the progressive neurodegeneration seen in human patients, but there is evidence that ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (Atm)-deficient animals have elevated levels of oxidized macromolecules and some neuropathology. We report here that in vitro survival of cerebellar Purkinje cells from both Atm "knock-out" and Atm "knock-in" mice was significantly reduced compared with their wild-type littermates. Although most of the Purkinje neurons from wild-type mice exhibited extensive dendritic elongation and branching under these conditions, most neurons from Atm-deficient mice had dramatically reduced dendritic branching. An antioxidant (isoindoline nitroxide) prevented Purkinje cell death in Atm-deficient mice and enhanced dendritogenesis to wild-type levels. Furthermore, administration of the antioxidant throughout pregnancy had a small enhancing effect on Purkinje neuron survival in Atm gene-disrupted animals and protected against oxidative stress in older animals. These data provide strong evidence for a defect in the cerebellum of Atm-deficient mice and suggest that oxidative stress contributes to this phenotype.