•The highest conversion efficiency of Cu(In,Y)Se2 solar cell with non-toxic SnS2 buffer reaches 25.32%.•Y doping can improve the photoelectric performance of CuInSe2, even better than ...CIGSe.•Cu(In,Y)Se2 with the broadband gap is a promising candidate for top cell of tandem cells.
To explore material solutions for improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of copper based thin film solar cells, we systematically study the CuInSe2 doped by Y element containing shell-unfilled 4d electrons. The crystal and electronic structures are investigated by the first-principles calculations and the device performance with Y-doped CuInSe2 as absorber is simulated by employing SCAPS-1D software. And the matching between different buffer layers and absorber is also examined. The result shows that the substitution of Y for In can increase the band gap and make the valence bands flatting, which increases the density of states at Fermi level and effective masses of electrons and holes while decreases the carrier mobility. Two doping cases with the band gap of 1.262 and 1.465 eV are considered promising candidates for the absorber and exhibit the PCE higher than 23.6% of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2. CdS, SnS2, ZnMgO, and Zn(S,O) can all serve as buffer layers for Y-doped CuInSe2 devices and the impact of their thickness on conversion efficiency is analyzed. From the perspective of achieving the same efficiency, the thickness of SnS2 buffer layer can be reduced to 30 nm. The highest conversion efficiency of device based on Cu(In,Y)Se2 absorber with the band gap of 1.465 eV reaches 25.32%, which demonstrates excellent performance of broadband gap photovoltaic cells using as a top cell of tandem cells. The results suggest that, by doping yttrium and adjusting thickness of buffer and absorber layers, the conversion efficiency of copper based thin film solar cells is able to further be improved.
Background Tumor cells can reduce the number of dendritic cells （DCs） in the tumor environment and cause DC dysfunction through autocrine or paracdne pathways. We sought to measure cyclooxygenase-2 ...（COX-2） expression in bombesin-inhibited DCs treated with theanine in vitro and to explore the protection and activation effects of theanine on DCs. Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, and Western blotting were used to analyze the effects of theanine on COX-2 expression and interleukin （IL）-12/IL-10 secretion of bombesin-treated DCs. Results DCs acquired an impaired phenotype as a result of bombesin treatment. Theanine increased the expression of mature DC surface molecules. The number of cell apoptosis with the treatment of bombesin and theanine significantly decreased, accounting for 15.9%, compared with 26.1% of cell apoptosis with bombesin. COX-2 expression in bombesin- treated DCs was inhibited by theanine in a dose-dependent manner. Theanine promoted DC secretion of IL-12. IL-12 levels reached （137.4_＋4.9） pg/ml with theanine at 200 pmol/L. However, theanine inhibited the secretion of IL-10 in a dose-dependent manner. IL-10 levels were only （58.4_＋6.9） pg/ml with theanine at 200 IJmol/L. Conclusion Theanine inhibits the transcription and translation of COX-2 and regulates the balance of IL-10/IL-12 secretion in bombesin-inhibited DCs, leadincl to the recovery of a state of activation in DCs.
To the Editor: Although the causes and mechanisms of lung cancer (LC) are still not clear, with the advances in science and technology and the progress in research methods, it has been shown that ...tumor cells aggregate with platelets (PLTs) and escape being recognized by the immune system. Fasting venous blood samples were collected in the morning from both the LC and control group subjects who were not given hemostasis and anticoagulant medication for up to two weeks prior to the blood sampling. 5 We analyzed findings of blood tests and found that PLT numbers and their morphology in patients with LC were significantly different from the control group.
Abstract
MicroRNAs are deemed as key regulators of gene expression. In particular, the elevated expression of excision repair cross‐complementing 1 (ERCC1) significantly reduced the effectiveness of ...gastric cancer treatment by cisplatin (CDDP)‐based therapies. In this paper, qRT‐PCR and western blot were adopted to measure miR‐122 and ERCC1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in all samples. Luciferase assay was carried out to verify the role of ERCC1 as a target of miR‐122. The CCK‐8 assay was carried out to study the effect of ERCC1 and miR‐122 on cell survival and apoptosis. The results demonstrated that miR‐122 expression was reduced in cisplatin‐resistant gastric cancer. Using bioinformatic analysis, miR‐122 was shown to target the 3′‐UTR of human ERCC1. A dual‐luciferase assay demonstrated that miR‐122 downregulated ERCC1 expression, while the mutations in ERCC1 3′‐UTR abolished its interaction with miR‐122. Transfection of miR‐122 mimics decreased the levels of ERCC1 mRNA and protein expression, while the transfection of miR‐122 inhibitors increased the levels of both ERCC1 mRNA and protein expression. Furthermore, we found that overexpressed miR‐122 promoted the proliferation of MKN74 cells and reduced their apoptotic by targeting ERCC1. In addition, the levels of miR‐122 and ERCC1 were negatively correlated in gastric cancer samples. In summary, the reduced miR‐122 expression may play an essential role in the induction of cisplatin‐resistance by increasing ERCC1 expression.
An unprecedented Ag-catalyzed addition reaction of cyclopropenones and nitrones to access imides was developed. Sequential C–C bond cleavage, N–O bond cleavage, and Mumm rearrangement were uncovered ...in this process. This protocol exhibited high efficiency, regioselectivity, good yields, and a broad tolerance of various functional groups.
The binary surfactant mixtures of 1,3-dialkyl (diC
8
-diC
12
) glyceryl ether ethoxylates with didodecylmethylhydroxylpropyl sulfobetaine (diC
12
HSB) are good formulations for surfactant-polymer ...flooding of Daqing crude oil, China, but suffer from low aqueous solubility. By combining with α-olefin sulfonates (AOS) at small molar fractions, the aqueous solubility of the formulations can be significantly improved due to the formation of charged mixed micelles. The ternary formulations can reduce Daqing crude oil/connate water interfacial tension to ultralow at a wide range of total surfactant concentration (0.625 ∼ 10 mM), have good resistance to adsorption by sandstone, and can keep sandstone surface water-wet.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Two-dimensional (2D) conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), whose advanced electrical properties accompany their intrinsic structural characteristics, represent an exciting new class of 2D ...atomic crystals for the van der Waals integration of novel heterostructures and the development of novel nano/quantum devices. Guided by topology, we report two 2D MOFs (1 and 2) constructed via combination of In(COO)4− metal nodes and tetratopic tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based linkers, with ultrahigh proton conductivity (6.66 × 10−4 and 1.30 × 10−2 S cm−1 for 1 and 2, respectively). Additionally, high electrical conductivity was simultaneously achieved with the pure protonic nature of the 2D MOF 2. The electrical conduction at the MOF-metal interface is enabled by the redox-switchable behavior of the TTF-based ligands. This unique charge-transport mechanism, protonic/pseudo-capacitance coupling, offers a new strategy for utilizing the ionic conductivity from MOFs to construct functional electronic devices.
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•Topology-guided design strategy for 2D MOFs•High proton conductivity in a 2D MOF with spatially installed carboxyl groups•High electrical conductivity enabled by protonic/pseudo-capacitance coupling mechanism
Porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) combining both high proton and high electrical conductivity are poised to bring unprecedented opportunities to clean energy technologies such as new designs of fuel cells. However, so far, this unique class of materials has been elusive. Here, we present rational design of an MOF that displays exceptionally high proton conductivity by implementing proton-conveying functional groups onto the wall of its pores. Furthermore, this material is constructed by a redox-active ligand that enables efficient charge transfer between the MOF and the metal electrode in an electrical device. This leads to a high apparent electrical conductivity through a coupled ionic/pseudo-capacitive conduction mechanism. Thus, our work elaborates design principles for realizing efficient proton and electrical conduction in MOFs, extending their future applications to a variety of functional electronic, neuromorphic, and energy-conversion/storage devices.
Integrating efficient ionic and electrical conduction in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is desired for their applications in clean energy technologies. We present the rational design and synthesis of an MOF with unbound carboxyl groups that facilitate high proton conductivity and redox-active ligands that mediate efficient electrical conduction at the MOF-metal interface through a coupled ionic/pseudo-capacitive conduction mechanism. The design strategy presented here offers guidance to the future development of ionically and electrically conductive MOFs for energy-storage devices.
Chemokine receptors CCR6 and CCR7 have been reported to play important roles in T cell migration and organ-specific metastasis of various tumors. In the present study, we evaluated the expression and ...clinical significance of CCR6, CCR7, their ligands and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and metastatic lymph nodes (LNs). The expression of CCR6, CCR7 and their ligands mRNA (CCL20, CCL19/CCL21) as well as the CCR6 and CCR7 proteins were detected by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Furthermore, a number of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12p70, interferon (IFN)-γ and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were detected by ELISA. The results showed that CCR6 and CCR7 were expressed in tumors in situ, metastatic LNs and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs. It was hypothesized that the expression profile of CCR6, CCR7 and the proliferation of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs affected the process of LN metastasis in LSCC patients. Therefore, the increased percentage of the Foxp3+ Tregs and the upregulation of Foxp3 expression on CCR6+ Tregs in LSCC patients may have accounted for the downregulation of antitumor immunity in these patients, which could be valuable for assessment of prognosis in LSCC treatment.
To shift the formation of plastic hinges away from beam–column joints and reduce the number of cracks at beam ends, a novel beam in which the ends were embedded with perforated H-shaped steel and ...reinforced with engineered cementitious composite (ECC) was proposed. Low-cycle reciprocating loading tests were performed on four concrete beams with different structural forms at their ends. The seismic performance of the specimens was evaluated through the analysis of the responses, such as skeleton curves, ductility index, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capacity, and strain. Some parameters, such as shear span ratio, spacing of transverse rebars, insertion depth of perforated H-shaped steel, and ECC transition section length, were analyzed by the validated finite element (FE) models. In addition, a method for calculating the shear strength capacity of the novel beams under low-cycle reciprocating loads based on the truss–arch model was proposed. The results indicate that the ECC improves the seismic performance, and the embedment of perforated H-shaped steel in the beam ends significantly enhances the bearing capacity and shifts the plastic hinges away from the beams ends; although the ductility is reduced, the novel beams can satisfy the minimum seismic performance requirements of frame structures. Compared with the test and FE results, the theoretical equations exhibit good computational accuracy.
•A novel concrete beam embedded with perforated steel and reinforced by ECC at the ends was presented.•The seismic performance of the novel beam was evaluated through tests and FE analysis.•A method for calculating the shear strength capacity of the novel beams was proposed.
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