Serum leptin and IGF-I levels in cystic fibrosis

(3S,4R)-4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]methyl] piperidine [(3S,9R)-3, paroxetine] is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used as an antidepressant in humans. In previous studies, we reported that certain (1R)-3 beta-(substituted phenyl)nortropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters (2a) exhibited high affinity and reasonable selectivity for the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). The major structural differences between 2a and (3S,4R)-3 are that 2a possesses a different absolute stereochemistry and has an ethylene bridge not present in 3. In addition, 2a possesses a carbomethoxy substituent adjacent to the aryl ring, whereas (3S,4R)-3 contains a [3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]methyl group. In this study, we present the synthesis and biological evaluations of six of the possible eight isomers of 3-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-[[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]methyl]nortropane+ ++ (4). The data for inhibition of [3H]paroxetine binding show that (1R)-2 beta, 3 alpha-4c, which has the same stereochemistry as paroxetine, has the highest affinity at the 5-HTT. Strikingly, the most potent compounds for inhibition of [3H]WIN-35,428 binding were not the (1R)-2 beta, 3 beta-isomers but rather (1R)-2 beta, 3 alpha-4c and (1S)-2 beta, 3 alpha-4f. Conformational analyses show that these isomers exist in a flattened boat conformation with pseudoequatorial substituents. Thus, the binding data show that this conformation is recognized by the DAT-associated binding site and also suggest that this conformation of paroxetine is recognized by the 5-HTT-associated binding site.     

Progressive chorion morphology during egg development in Samia ricini (Donovan)

The egg of Samia ricini (Donovan), is oval or laterally flattened ellipsoid, freshly laid eggs are candid white while the chorion is colorless and semi‐transparent. The surface of the chorion is covered with network patterns of polygons and their shapes are common in the whole surface region. The boundaries between polygons made ridges had distinct acropyles at three‐cell junctions. The numbers of aeropyles are variable according to their structures both in the lateral flat and marginal regions. During the course of egg development, no significant structural changes were observed in either the polygonal structures or the overall morphology of the egg. However, the size of the aeropyles kept on changing as the egg matures. The aeropyle increases initially upto day‐9 of egg development and then decreases as it approach hatching. Lines of weaknesses were not observed at time of hatching or close to it. Hatching process of the newly emerge larvae are through gnawing. The larva eats their way out through the chorion membrane mostly from the anterior region. Egg buster or spine which aid in hatching are not present in the newly emerge larvae. This article was published online on 25 September 2009. An error was subsequently identified. This notice is included in the online and print versions to indicate that both have been corrected 6 January 2010. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Comparison of the Effects of an Ionic Liquid and Other Salts on the Properties of Electrospun Fibers, 2 – Poly(vinyl alcohol)

Understanding the effect of conductivity in electrospinning solutions is crucial in order to improve or control the electrospinning process. In this paper the effect of adding small amounts (0.039–0.259 mol · kg^?1) of three different conductive additives to aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol has been investigated. The salts were HMICl (a room temperature ionic liquid), TEBAC (a quaternary ammonium salt) and KCl. Addition of these salts caused a steady increase in the solution conductivity but the fiber diameter was typically greater than that of PVA alone, and exhibited an oscillatory trend. The oscillatory trend on the fiber diameter is attributed to fiber backbuilding and fusion that occurs prior to deposition on the collector.

     

Formation and characteristics of zinc phosphate coatings obtained by electrochemical treatment: Cathodic vs. anodic

Electrochemical treatment and galvanic coupling are some of the possible modes of acceleration of low temperature phosphating process. The cathodic and anodic treatments during phosphating influence the deposition mechanism, characteristic properties and the corrosion resistance of the resultant coatings in a different way. The present paper aims to compare these aspects and to identify the possible applications of phosphate coatings obtained by these treatments.     

Electrospinning as a tool in fabricating hydrated porous cobalt phosphate fibrous network as high rate OER electrocatalysts in alkaline and neutral media

Electrospinning (ES) is a most reliable method for synthesizing one dimensional (1D) fibrous material. Fibrous materials are having peculiar interest owing to their fascinating properties. For efficient hydrogen fuel generation, electrocatalytic water splitting is one of the finest way of producing hydrogen in a pure form. But it is encountered by the counter oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in more often. As of now, noble metal based catalysts are utilized in the commercial sector. Some of the disadvantages associated with the noble materials are restrict their usage commercially. To address this issue, herein, we have synthesized One dimensional (1D), hydrated porous cobalt phosphate fibrous network by an ES method and act as an electrocatalyst for OER in both alkaline and neutral media for the first time, which exhibits an overpotential of 245 and 457 mV respectively at a current density of 10 mAcm^?2 with astonishing stability.     

Rational Design of Statically and Dynamically Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries with High Sulfur Loading and Low Electrolyte/Sulfur Ratio

The primary challenge with lithium–sulfur battery research is the design of sulfur cathodes that exhibit high electrochemical efficiency and stability while keeping the sulfur content and loading high and the electrolyte/sulfur ratio low. With a systematic investigation, a novel graphene/cotton‐carbon cathode is presented here that enables sulfur loading and content as high as 46 mg cm^?2 and 70 wt% with an electrolyte/sulfur ratio of as low as only 5. The graphene/cotton‐carbon cathodes deliver peak capacities of 926 and 765 mA h g^?1, respectively, at C/10 and C/5 rates, which translate into high areal, gravimetric, and volumetric capacities of, respectively, 43 and 35 mA h cm^?2, 648 and 536 mA h g^?1, and 1067 and 881 mA h cm^?3 with a stable cyclability. They also exhibit superior cell‐storage capability with 95% capacity‐retention, a low self‐discharge constant of just 0.0012 per day, and stable poststorage cyclability after storing over a long period of six months. This work demonstrates a viable approach to develop lithium–sulfur batteries with practical energy densities exceeding that of lithium‐ion batteries.     

“Wiring” Fe‐Nx‐Embedded Porous Carbon Framework onto 1D Nanotubes for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline and Acidic Media

This study presents a novel metal‐organic‐framework‐engaged synthesis route based on porous tellurium nanotubes as a sacrificial template for hierarchically porous 1D carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, an ultrathin Fe‐ion‐containing polydopamine layer has been introduced to generate highly effective FeN_xC active sites into the carbon framework and to induce a high degree of graphitization. The synergistic effects between the hierarchically porous 1D carbon structure and the embedded FeN_xC active sites in the carbon framework manifest in superior catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) compared to Pt/C catalyst in both alkaline and acidic media. A rechargeable zinc‐air battery assembled in a decoupled configuration with the nonprecious pCNT@Fe@GL/CNF ORR electrode and Ni‐Fe LDH/NiF oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrode exhibits charge–discharge overpotentials similar to the counterparts of Pt/C ORR electrode and IrO₂ OER electrode.     

Tailoring C60 for Efficient Inorganic CsPbI2Br Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules

Although inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising in thermal stability, their large open-circuit voltage (V_OC) deficit and difficulty in large-area preparation still limit their development toward commercialization. The present work tailors C₆₀ via a codoping strategy to construct an efficient electron-transporting layer (ETL), leading to a significant improvement in V_OC of the inverted inorganic CsPbI₂Br PSC. Specifically, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (TPFPB) is introduced as a dopant to lower the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level of the C₆₀ layer by forming a Lewis acidic adduct. The enlarged free energy difference provides a favorable enhancement in electron injection and thereby reduces charge recombination. Subsequently, a nonhygroscopic lithium salt (LiClO₄) is added to increase electron mobility and conductivity of the film, leading to a reduction in the device hysteresis and facilitating the fabrication of a large-area device. Finally, the as-optimized inorganic CsPbI₂Br PSCs gain a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.19%, with a stabilized power output (SPO) of 14.21% (0.09 cm²). More importantly, this work also demonstrates a record PCE of 14.44% for large-area inorganic CsPbI₂Br PSCs (1.0 cm²) and reports the first inorganic perovskite solar module with the excellent efficiency exceeding 12% (10.92 cm²) by a self-developed quasi-curved heating method.     

On-Demand Local Modification of High-Tc Superconductivity in Few Unit-Cell Thick Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ

High-temperature superconductors (HTSs) are important for potential applications and for understanding the origin of strong correlations. Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ (BSCCO), a van der Waals material, offers a platform to probe the physics down to a unit-cell. Guiding the flow of electrons by patterning 2DEGS and oxide heterostructures has brought new functionality and access to new science. Similarly, modifying superconductivity in HTS locally, on a small length scale, is of immense interest for superconducting electronics. A route to modify superconductivity locally by depositing metal on the surface is reported here by transport studies on few unit-cell thick BSCCO. Deposition of chromium (Cr) on the surface over a selected area of BSCCO results in insulating behavior of the underlying region. Cr locally depletes oxygen in CuO₂ planes and disrupts the superconductivity in the layers below. This technique of modifying superconductivity is suitable for making sub-micrometer superconducting wires and more complex superconducting devices.