Pulmonary lymphoma mimicking metastases: a case report

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Supercritical carbon dioxide versus toluene as reaction media in silica functionalisation: Synthesis and characterisation of bonded aminopropyl silica intermediate

This research reports supercritical carbon dioxide versus toluene as reaction media in silica functionalisation for use in liquid chromatography. Bonded aminopropyl silica (APS) intermediates were prepared when porous silica particles (Exsil-pure, 3 μm) were reacted with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APTES) or N,N-dimethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane (DMAPTMS) using supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) and toluene as reaction media. Covalent bonding to silica was confirmed using elemental microanalysis (CHN), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), zeta potential (ξ), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS NMR) spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that under sc-CO2 conditions of 100 °C/414 bar in a substantial reduced time of 3 h, the surface coverage of APS (evaluated from%C obtained from elemental analysis) prepared with APTES (%C: 8.03, 5.26 μmol/m−2) or DMAPTES (%C: 5.12, 4.58 μmol/m2) is somewhat higher when compared to organic based reactions under reflux in toluene at a temperature of 110 °C in 24 h with APTES (%C: 7.33, 4.71 μmol/m2) and DMAPTMS (%C: 4.93, 4.38 μmol/m2). Zeta potential measurements revealed a change in electrostatic surface charge from negative values for bare Exsil-pure silica to positive for functionalised APS materials indicating successful immobilization of the aminosilane onto the surface of silica

Mercaptophosphonic acids as efficient linkers in quantum dot sensitized solar cells

This work was supported by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche, project QuePhélec (ANR-13-BS10-0011-01). MTS and IDWS are thankful to ERC for financial support for exciton diffusion project, grant number 321305. AKB and IDWS also acknowledge financial support from EPSRC programme grant: structured light, EP/J01771X.Control over the deposition of quantum dots (QDs) on nanostructured semiconductors is very important for the photovoltaic performance of QD sensitized solar cells. The best control is typically achieved using bifunctional molecular linkers, such as mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), to attach the QDs to metal oxides in a specific manner; however some materials, such as ZnO, are not compatible with these molecules due to their pH sensitivity. We have developed new linkers, mercaptophosphonic acids of different length, which allow efficient functionalization of ZnO nanowires and also mesoporous TiO2 without damaging their surface. Detailed XPS and contact angle studies of the mechanism of self-assembly of these acids show that their strong chelation of the oxide surface prevents protonic attack and etching. Using these linkers, we show that colloidal ternary quantum dots, CuInS2, can be conformally and homogeneously deposited on the functionalized metal oxides. Photophysical studies by means of time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy confirm efficient electron transfer from the QDs to the metal oxides with the rate and efficiency scaling with respect to the linker length and nature. The efficiency of the QD sensitized solar cells fabricated with such assemblies also strongly depends on the linkers used and follows the trends observed for the charge transfer.PostprintPeer reviewe

Coastal iodine emissions: part 2. Chamber experiments of particle formation from Laminaria digitata-derived and laboratory-generated I2

Laboratory studies into particle formation from Laminaria digitata macroalgae were undertaken to elucidate aerosol formation for a range of I2 (0.3−76 ppbv) and O3(<3−96 ppbv) mixing ratios and light levels (EPAR = 15, 100,and 235 μmol photons m−2 s−1). No clear pattern was observed for I2 or aerosol parameters as a function of light levels. Aerosol mass fluxes and particle number concentrations,were, however, correlated with I2 mixing ratios for low O3mixing ratios of <3 ppbv (R2 = 0.7 and 0.83, respectively for low light levels, and R2 = 0.95 and 0.98, respectively for medium lightlevels). Additional experiments into particle production as a function of laboratory-generated I2, over a mixing ratio range of 1−8ppbv, were conducted under moderate O3 mixing ratios (∼24 ppbv) where a clear, 100-fold or greater, increase in the aeroso lnumber concentrations and mass fluxes was observed compared to the low O3 experiments. A linear relationship between particle concentration and I2 was found, in reasonable agreement with previous studies. Scaling the laboratory relationship to aerosol concentrations typical of the coastal boundary layer suggests a I2 mixing ratio range of 6−93 pptv can account for the observed particle production events. Aerosol number concentration produced from I2 is more than a factor of 10 higher than thatproduced from CH2I2 for the same mixing ratios

Solubilised bright blue-emitting iridium complexes for solution processed OLEDs

EZ-C acknowledges the University of St Andrews for financial support. IDWS and AKB acknowledge support from EPSRC (EP/J01771X). The authors would like to thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for financial support for Adam Henwood: EPSRC DTG Grants: EP/J500549/1; EP/K503162/1; EP/L505097/1.Combining a sterically bulky, electron-deficient 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-4-(2,4,6- trimethylphenyl)pyridine (dFMesppy) cyclometalating C^N ligand with an electron rich, highly rigidified 1,1’-(α,α’-o-xylylene)-2,2’-biimidazole (o-xylbiim) N^N ligand gives an iridium complex, [Ir(dFMesppy)2(o-Xylbiim)](PF6), that achieves extraordinarily bright blue emission (ΦPL = 90%; λmax = 459 nm in MeCN) for a cationic iridium complex. This complex is compared with two reference complexes bearing 4,4’-di-tert-butyl-2,2’- bipyridine, and solution-processed organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been fabricated from these materials.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Coastal iodine emissions. 1. Release of I2 by Laminaria digitata in chamber experiments

Tidally exposed macroalgae emit large amounts of I2 and iodocarbons that produce hotspots of iodine chemistry and intense particle nucleation events in the coastal marine boundary layer. Current emission rates are poorly characterized, however,with reported emission rates varying by 3 orders of magnitude. In this study, I2 emissions from 25 Laminaria digitata samples were investigated in a simulation chamber using incoherent broadbandcavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (IBBCEAS). The chamber design allowed gradual extraction of seawater to simulate tidal emersion of algae. Samples were exposed to air with or without O3 and to varying irradiances. Emission of I2 occurred in four distinct stages: (1) moderate emissions from partially submerged samples;(2) a strong release by fully emerged samples; (3) slowing or stopping of I2 release; and (4) later pulses of I2 evident in some samples. Emission rates were highly variable and ranged from 7to 616 pmol min−1 gFW−1 in ozone-free air, with a median value of 55 pmol min−1 gFW−1 for 20 samples

A Pan-India, Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Study of Healthcare Practitioners in India Regarding Immunomodulatory Role of Vitamin D Supplementation in COVID-19

Introduction: Vitamin D has immunomodulatory effects and vitamin D deficiency has been associated with autoimmune responses and increased risk of infections. Vitamin D-mediated antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory responses play an effective role in the prevention of various respiratory tract infections including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Aims and objective: To evaluate the therapeutic role of vitamin D via immunomodulation in COVID-19 through a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) study of pan India healthcare practitioners (HCPs) to arrive at a common consensus statement regarding dosage and duration of vitamin D for immune-modulatory function. Methods: A pan-India, online, questionnaire-based, KAP survey was conducted on vitamin D and its role in immunomodulation in COVID-19 from April 2021 to January 2022 followed by polling obtained from 2,338 HCPs through round table meetings (RTMs). Results: Approximately 64% of HCPs considered the use of vitamin D in COVID-19 patients for various reasons including prevention of illness, reduced ICU stay, reduction in morbidity and mortality along with decrease in the levels of inflammatory markers in COVID-19 patients. For the dosage regime, 47% of HCPs preferred vitamin D 60,000 IUweekly while 45% of HCPs preferred both 60,000 IU weekly and 2,000 IU daily dose for boosting immune system in their patients. Conclusion: The panel agreed that vitamin D levels of 40 ng/mL and above appear to confer better immune-protective response to several infections including COVID-19

USE OF TEA LEAF EXTRACT FOR INHIBITING MICROBIAL TRANSFORMANT

The present invention relates to an efficient and cost effective use of preventing growth of genetic transformant bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens after transformation in plants by using tea leaf extract as a bactericide, wherein said use leads to elimination of common problem of polyphenol oxidation during transformation and thereby helps maintain regeneration potential in explants and also helps in increased transformation efficacy