Optical Properties of Cu2S/SnS2 Precursor Layers for the Preparation of Kesterite Cu2SnS3 Photovoltaic Absorber

The Cu2S and SnS2 layers have been prepared by the chemical bath deposition method. The results of SEM and EDX analyses confirm a high stoichiometry of the synthesized semiconductor thin films. The optical properties of the Cu2S and SnS2 layers have been studied, and the optical band gap values have been determined. Keywords: thin films, sulfides, band gap, hydrochemical deposition, transmittance, photovoltaic absorbe

Effect of Copper Doping on Luminescent Characteristics of Hydrochemical Deposited ZnS Thin Films

The work was financially supported by program 211 of the Government of the Russian Federation (№ 02.A03.21.0006), and by the FASO program № AAAA-А16-116122810218-7

A facile low-temperature deposition of Sn-rich tin (II) monosulfide colloid particles

A novel, eco-friendly and low temperature synthesis of tin (II) monosulfide colloid particles is described. Chemical bath deposition was successfully applied for the deposition of polynanocrystalline SnS from acidic aqueous solutions. The characterization of the prepared samples was accomplished through elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and optical spectroscopy. The composition of tin (II) monosulfide colloids assembled of nanoparticles was found to be Sn-rich. Several simple scenarios for Sn surplus within SnS lattice (Svacancies at S-sublattice, Sn-atoms intercalated between SnS layers and Sn-doping of S-sites) have been analyzed by means of quantum chemical calculations. The potential application of the Sn1+xS colloid particles in solar cells as absorber material and as photocatalyst was demonstrated by measuring the optical properties. © 2020, ITMO University. All rights reserved.This work was performed in accordance with the scientific and research plans and state assignment of the ISSC UB RAS (theme AAAA-A19-119031890025-9) and by the Government of the Russian Federation (program 211, project No 02.A03.21.0006)

Surface topology, electrophysical properties and formation mechanism of tin(ii) sulfide thin films

Photosensitive nanocrystalline SnS films with a size of coherent X-ray scattering regions of about 30 nm were obtained by chemical bath deposition. It has been demonstrated that the deposition time affects significantly both microstructure and thickness of the film as well as the size of the particles’ agglomerates forming the film. The current sensitivity of the obtained films was studied. All synthesized films, regardless of the duration of synthesis, reveal p-type conductivity due to Sn vacancies. Atomic force microscopy measurements and fractal approach provide a detailed description of the processes occurring during film formation. The characteristics of the fabricated SnS films are potentially useful for design of advanced absorbing layers within thin film solar cells. © Kozhevnikova N.S., Maskaeva L.N., Enyashin A.N., Tyutyunnik A.P., Lipina O.A., Selyanin I.O., Markov V.F., 2023.Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Minobrnauka; Institute of Solid State Chemistry, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ISSC UB RASPACS 81.10.Dn, 82.60.Lf, 82.70.Dd, 81.05.Hd ABSTRACT Photosensitive nanocrystalline SnS films with a size of coherent X-ray scattering regions of about 30 nm were obtained by chemical bath deposition. It has been demonstrated that the deposition time affects significantly both microstructure and thickness of the film as well as the size of the particles’ agglomerates forming the film. The current sensitivity of the obtained films was studied. All synthesized films, regardless of the duration of synthesis, reveal p-type conductivity due to Sn vacancies. Atomic force microscopy measurements and fractal approach provide a detailed description of the processes occurring during film formation. The characteristics of the fabricated SnS films are potentially useful for design of advanced absorbing layers within thin film solar cells. KEYWORDS tin(II) sulfide, thin films, chemical bath deposition, p-type conductivity, quantum-chemical calculations, formation mechanism ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was carried out in accordance with the scientific and research plans and state assignment of the ISSC UB RAS and Ural Federal University Program of Development within the Priority-2030 Program (Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation). FOR CITATION Kozhevnikova N.S., Maskaeva L.N., Enyashin A.N., Tyutyunnik A.P., Lipina O.A., Selyanin I.O., Markov V.F. Surface topology, electrophysical properties and formation mechanism of tin(ii) sulfide thin films. Nanosystems: Phys. Chem. Math., 2023, 14 (6), 699–704

Formation of CdxPb1−xS/Cd1-δS Thin-film Two-phase Compositions by Chemical Bath Deposition: Composition, Structure, and Optical Properties

The possibility of forming thin-film two-phase compositions CdxPb1-xS/Cd1−δS using chemical bath deposition from aqueous media with adding various cadmium salts has been demonstrated. The crystal structure, chemical composition, morphology, and the band gap were studied by the X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, Auger and Raman spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance measurements. The formation of a CdxPb1−xS/Cd1−δS substitutional solid solution phase in well-faceted crystallites on the substrate of an X-ray amorphous CdS phase was experimentally shown. The observed difference in the composition of the films deposited with adding different cadmium salts is the result of the effect of the nucleophilicity of the anionic component of these salts on the kinetics of thiourea decomposition. The results demonstrate the possibility of forming thin-film two-phase compositions or heterostructures on the base of cadmium and lead sulfides in one technological stage using chemical bath deposition, which can be important for the creation of solar cells. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.The research was financially supported in part by 211 Program of the Government of the Russian Federation (No. 02.A03.21.0006), was carried out within the state assignment of Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Themes No. AAAA-A18-118020190112-8 (“Flux”), No. AAAA-A18-118020290104-2 (“Spin”), and No. AAAA-A19-119031890025-9) and in part supported by RFBR (projects No. 18-29-11051-mk, 20-48-660041-r-a)

Enhanced insulin sensitivity associated with provision of mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids in skeletal muscle cells involves counter modulation of PP2A

International audienceAims/Hypothesis: Reduced skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity is a feature associated with sustained exposure to excess saturated fatty acids (SFA), whereas mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and PUFA) not only improve insulin sensitivity but blunt SFA-induced insulin resistance. The mechanisms by which MUFAs and PUFAs institute these favourable changes remain unclear, but may involve stimulating insulin signalling by counter-modulation/repression of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). This study investigated the effects of oleic acid (OA; a MUFA), linoleic acid (LOA; a PUFA) and palmitate (PA; a SFA) in cultured myotubes and determined whether changes in insulin signalling can be attributed to PP2A regulation. Principal Findings: We treated cultured skeletal myotubes with unsaturated and saturated fatty acids and evaluated insulin signalling, phosphorylation and methylation status of the catalytic subunit of PP2A. Unlike PA, sustained incubation of rat or human myotubes with OA or LOA significantly enhanced Akt-and ERK1/2-directed insulin signalling. This was not due to heightened upstream IRS1 or PI3K signalling nor to changes in expression of proteins involved in proximal insulin signalling, but was associated with reduced dephosphorylation/inactivation of Akt and ERK1/2. Consistent with this, PA reduced PP2Ac demethylation and tyrosine 307 phosphorylation-events associated with PP2A activation. In contrast, OA and LOA strongly opposed these PA-induced changes in PP2Ac thus exerting a repressive effect on PP2A.Conclusions/Interpretation: Beneficial gains in insulin sensitivity and the ability of unsaturated fatty acids to oppose palmitate-induced insulin resistance in muscle cells may partly be accounted for by counter-modulation of PP2A

Prevalence of Propionibacterium acnes in Intervertebral Discs of Patients Undergoing Lumbar Microdiscectomy: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study

Background The relationship between intervertebral disc degeneration and chronic infection by Propionibacterium acnes is controversial with contradictory evidence available in the literature. Previous studies investigating these relationships were under-powered and fraught with methodical differences;moreover, they have not taken into consideration P. acnes' ability to form biofilms or attempted to quantitate the bioburden with regard to determining bacterial counts/genome equivalents as criteria to differentiate true infection from contamination. The aim of this prospective cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of P. acnes in patients undergoing lumbar disc microdiscectomy. Methods and Findings The sample consisted of 290 adult patients undergoing lumbar microdiscectomy for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation. An intraoperative biopsy and pre-operative clinical data were taken in all cases. One biopsy fragment was homogenized and used for quantitative anaerobic culture and a second was frozen and used for real-time PCR-based quantification of P. acnes genomes. P. acnes was identified in 115 cases (40%), coagulase-negative staphylococci in 31 cases (11%) and alpha-hemolytic streptococci in 8 cases (3%). P. acnes counts ranged from 100 to 9000 CFU/ml with a median of 400 CFU/ml. The prevalence of intervertebral discs with abundant P. acnes (>= 1x10(3) CFU/ml) was 11% (39 cases). There was significant correlation between the bacterial counts obtained by culture and the number of P. acnes genomes detected by real-time PCR (r = 0.4363, p<0.0001). Conclusions In a large series of patients, the prevalence of discs with abundant P. acnes was 11%. We believe, disc tissue homogenization releases P. acnes from the biofilm so that they can then potentially be cultured, reducing the rate of false-negative cultures. Further, quantification study revealing significant bioburden based on both culture and real-time PCR minimize the likelihood that observed findings are due to contamination and supports the hypothesis P. acnes acts as a pathogen in these cases of degenerative disc disease

SYNTHESIS OF NEW PHOSPHORS BASED ON Tm3+, Nd3+ OR Ho3+ DOPED GERMANATES BY “WET” CHEMICAL ROUTES

Various “wet” synthetic chemical techniques are widely used for the production of multifunctional inorganic materials. In contrast to the standard high-temperature solid state route, methods based on the dissolution of starting reagents allow one to obtain phases with given particle morphology and particle size distribution. Besides, with this approach, the defect structure can be efficiently controlled by varying the synthesis conditions and solution preparation. These advantages are important for producing luminescent materials.This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project № 16-13-10111

Сравнительная эффективность различных режимов медикаментозной профилактики постнагрузочного бронхоспазма у детей: результаты многоцентрового рандомизированного исследования

The article demonstrates results of multi-center randomized placebo-controlled study of efficacy of 4 drug modes of post-exercise bronchoconstriction prevention in asthmatic children who received long-term therapy with inhaled corticosteriods. The combination of fluticazone propionate and salmeterol (Seretid 50/100) was found to be beneficial and reasonable as the first-line therapy. An increase of the inhaled corticosteroid’s dose in asthmatic children with post-exercise bronchoconstriction is reasonable if its combination with the long-acting β2-agonist does not permit to achieve a sufficient bronchoprotective effect.В статье представлены результаты многоцентрового рандомизированного плацебо-контролируемого исследования эффективности четырех режимов медикаментозной профилактики постнагрузочного  бронхоспазма у детей с бронхиальной астмой, получавших долговременную терапию ингаляционнымикортикостероидами. Установлено преимущество и обоснована целесообразность использования у данной группы больных комбинации флутиказона пропионата и сальметерола (Серетида 50/100) в качестве терапии выбора. Увеличение дозы ингаляционного кортикостероида у детей с бронхиальной астмой и явлениями постнагрузочного бронхоспазма целесообразно в ситуации, когда комбинированная терапия с β2-агонистом длительного действия не позволяет достичь достаточного бронхопротекторного эффекта

DISC1 genetics, biology and psychiatric illness

Psychiatric disorders are highly heritable, and in many individuals likely arise from the combined effects of genes and the environment. A substantial body of evidence points towards DISC1 being one of the genes that influence risk of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, and functional studies of DISC1 consequently have the potential to reveal much about the pathways that lead to major mental illness. Here, we review the evidence that DISC1 influences disease risk through effects upon multiple critical pathways in the developing and adult brain