Early-stage analysis of PET - fullerene derivatives for electron transport in photovoltaics.

In the pursuit of sustainable materials for solar cell technologies, this work presents a new class of electron transport layers (ETLs) based on PET-derived monomers and dimers hybridized with fullerene C. These hybrids were synthesized selective cyclopropane and furan functionalization and thoroughly characterized using electrochemical, optical, and morphological methods. Compared to the benchmark material PCBM, several PET-fullerene derivatives exhibited improved properties, including enhanced substrate coverage, stronger electron-blocking behaviour, and favourable energy level alignment.

Diastereomeric Fullerene Composite Engineering for Enhanced Perovskite Solar Cells.

Achieving high performance and long-term stability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) typically requires the use of surface passivation layers to suppress the interfacial defects. However, these additional passivation agents often introduce chemical and structural instabilities, limiting the device lifetime. Here, we present a molecular engineering strategy utilizing a chiral series of C-Furan-Sugar (CFS) fullerene derivatives blended with [6,6]-phenyl-C-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) to modify the electron transport layer (ETL).

Effects of Chestnut Tannin Extract on Enteric Methane Emissions, Blood Metabolites and Lactation Performance in Mid-Lactation Cows.

Dietary tannin supplementation represents a potential strategy to modulate rumen fermentation and enhance lactation performance in dairy cows, though responses remain inconsistent. A 21-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of chestnut tannin (CNT) extract on the enteric methane emissions (EME), blood metabolites, and milk production traits in mid-lactation dairy cows. Thirty-six Holstein cows were allocated to three homogeneous treatment groups: control (CNT, 0 g/d CNT), CNT (40 g/d CNT), and CNT (80 g/d CNT).

The Connection Between Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Iron Metabolism and Microglia in Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review.

In recent years, in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, emphasis has been placed on mitochondrial processes that influence the onset of the disease. Oxidative stress would be one of the consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction, and its impact on brain tissue is well described. Microglia, as a brain macrophage, have an important function in removing unwanted metabolites, as well as iron, which is an amplifier of oxidative stress.

Case report: Spontaneous rupture of leiomyosarcoma uteri 8 months after primary laparoscopic surgery of STUMP.

Introduction: Leiomyosarcoma (LMS), together with smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) and benign leiomyomas, belongs to a heterogeneous group of uterine neoplasms. According to the World Health Organization, tumors originating from uterine smooth muscle fibers are the second most frequent tumors. It is challenging to distinguish between STUMP and LMS because of an overlap of symptoms, lack of a precise definition, and unequivocal information obtained using imaging diagnostic methods.

Influence of Aging on the Flexural Strength of PLA and PLA-X 3D-Printed Materials.

The three-point bending test is a valuable method for evaluating the mechanical properties of 3D-printed biomaterials, which can be used in various applications. The use of 3D printing in specimen preparation enables precise control over material composition and microstructure, facilitating the investigation of different printing parameters and advanced materials. The traditional approach to analyzing the mechanical properties of a material using a three-point bending test has the disadvantage that it provides only global information about the material's behavior.

Exploring fullerene derivatives for optoelectronic applications: synthesis and characterization study.

In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of newly synthesized fullerene derivatives developed for potential application in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We explored three novel dihydrofuran-fused C60 fullerene derivatives (13, 14, and 15) that were specifically designed to enhance solubility and interaction with the substrate, fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). A comparative analysis was performed, with reference to the widely used phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and compound 12, from which 13, 14, and 15 are derived, to assess the impact of sugar units on materials properties.

Enzymatic functionalization of liquid phase exfoliated graphene using horseradish peroxidase and laccase.

We present a novel approach for the enzymatic functionalization of graphene, utilizing horseradish peroxidase (HPO) and laccase (LC) from Trametes versicolor. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the covalent modification of non-homogeneous graphene with a low surface-to-volume ratio, both in solution and on solid support. Through thermogravimetry analysis, we estimate the degree of functionalization to be 11% with HPO and 4% with LC, attributed to the varying redox potentials of the enzymes.

Sugar-Bridged Fullerene Dumbbells and Their Interaction with the [10]Cycloparaphenylene Nanoring.

The synthesis and characterization of four dumbbell-shaped fullerene molecules connected by isosorbide and isomannide moieties is presented. Additionally, their electrochemical behavior and their ability to form complexes with [10]cycloparaphenylene ([10]CPP) were investigated. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) results of the fullerene dumbbells demonstrate a high electron affinity, indicating their strong interaction with electron-donating counterparts such as carbon nanorings, which possess complementary charge and shape properties.

Selective formation of dihydrofuran fused [60] fullerene derivatives by TEMPO mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of medium chain β-keto esters to C.

In this study, β-keto esters as readily available bio-based building blocks were used to decorate the C sphere. Generally, cyclopropanated fullerene derivatives are obtained by the standard Bingel-Hirsch procedure. Herein, omitting the iodine from the reaction mixture and adding TEMPO afforded dihydrofuran fused C fullerene derivatives.

Covalent and non-covalent chemistry of 2D black phosphorus.

The post-graphene era is undoubtedly marked by two-dimensional (2D) sheet polymers, such as black phosphorus (BP). This emerging material has a fascinating structure and outstanding electronic properties and has been postulated for a plethora of applications. The need to circumvent the pronounced oxophilicity of P atoms has dominated the research on this material in recent years, with the objective of finding the most effective method to improve its environmental stability.

Differential Polarization Imaging of Plant Cells. Mapping the Anisotropy of Cell Walls and Chloroplasts.

Modern light microscopy imaging techniques have substantially advanced our knowledge about the ultrastructure of plant cells and their organelles. Laser-scanning microscopy and digital light microscopy imaging techniques, in general-in addition to their high sensitivity, fast data acquisition, and great versatility of 2D-4D image analyses-also opened the technical possibilities to combine microscopy imaging with spectroscopic measurements. In this review, we focus our attention on differential polarization (DP) imaging techniques and on their applications on plant cell walls and chloroplasts, and show how these techniques provided unique and quantitative information on the anisotropic molecular organization of plant cell constituents: (i) We briefly describe how laser-scanning microscopes (LSMs) and the enhanced-resolution Re-scan Confocal Microscope (RCM of Confocal.

SR-FTIR spectro-microscopic interaction study of biochemical changes in HeLa cells induced by Levan-C, Pullulan-C, and their cholesterol-derivatives.

Objects of the present study are improved fullerene C drug carrier properties trough encapsulation by microbial polysaccharides, levan (LEV), pullulan (PUL), and their hydrophobized cholesterol-derivatives (CHL and CHP), that show better interaction with cancer cells. The zeta potential, polydispersity index, and the diameter of particles were determined, and their cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines were tested. Biochemical changes in HeLa cells are analyzed by synchrotron radiation (SR) FTIR spectro-microscopy combined with the principal component analysis (PCA).

Cell wall response to UV radiation in needles of Picea omorika.

The UV-B represents the minor fraction of the solar spectrum, while UV-C is not contained in natural solar radiation, but both radiation types can cause damaging effects in plants. Cell walls (CWs) are one of the targets for external stressors. Juvenile P.

Interface Amorphization of Two-Dimensional Black Phosphorus upon Treatment with Diazonium Salts.

Two-dimensional (2D) black phosphorus (BP) represents one of the most appealing 2D materials due to its electronic, optical, and chemical properties. Many strategies have been pursued to face its environmental instability, covalent functionalization being one of the most promising. However, the extremely low functionalization degrees and the limitations in proving the nature of the covalent functionalization still represent challenges in many of these sheet architectures reported to date.

Does beauty capture the eye, even if it's not (overtly) adaptive? A comparative eye-tracking study of spontaneous attention and visual preference with VAST abstract art.

Studies have routinely shown that individuals spend more time spontaneously looking at people or at mimetic scenes that they subsequently judge to be more aesthetically appealing. This "beauty demands longer looks" phenomenon is typically explained by biological relevance, personal utility, or other survival factors, with visual attraction often driven by structural features (symmetry, texture), which may signify fitness and to which most humans tend to respond similarly. However, what of objects that have less overtly adaptive relevance? Here, we consider whether people also look longer at abstract art with little associative/mimetic content that they subsequently rate for higher aesthetic appeal.

3D Digital Image Correlation Analysis of the Shrinkage Strain in Four Dual Cure Composite Cements.

The introduction of resin-based cements and an adhesive-bonding system in daily dental practice has given the opportunity to increase the retention of previously conventional cemented restorations and the optimal results in esthetic. This experimental study employed the 3D Digital Image Correlation Method (3D-DIC) for detecting shrinkage strain in four dual cured composite cements. The aim was to visualize measure, analyze, and compare strain fields in four resin-based cements using the 3D-DIC method.

Biochemical and histological characterization of succulent plant Tacitus bellus response to Fusarium verticillioides infection in vitro.

We present changes in Tacitus bellus antioxidative system that specifically correspond to subsequent phases of hemibiotroph Fusarium verticillioides infection revealed by histological analysis. T. bellus response to spore germination 6 h post inoculation (hpi), manifested as first oxidative burst, was characterized by transient decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) content, transient increase in catalase (CAT), low level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity, as well as with transient decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total phenol content (TPC) and phenylalanine ammonium lyase activity (PAL), and no changes in polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, or phenolic profile.

Interaction of Carbohydrate Coated Cerium-Oxide Nanoparticles with Wheat and Pea: Stress Induction Potential and Effect on Development.

Reports about the influence of cerium-oxide nanoparticles (nCeO) on plants are contradictory due to their positive and negative effects on plants. Surface modification may affect the interaction of nCeO with the environment, and hence its availability to plants. In this study, the uncoated and glucose-, levan-, and pullulan-coated nCeO were synthesized and characterized.

Effects of liking on visual attention in faces and paintings.

The visual aesthetics of an object increases visual attention towards the object. It is argued that this relation between liking and attention is an evolutionary adaptation in sexual and natural selection. If this is the case, we would expect this relation to be domain specific, and thus, stronger for biological than for non-biological objects.

Lattice Opening upon Bulk Reductive Covalent Functionalization of Black Phosphorus.

The chemical bulk reductive covalent functionalization of thin-layer black phosphorus (BP) using BP intercalation compounds has been developed. Through effective reductive activation, covalent functionalization of the charged BP by reaction with organic alkyl halides is achieved. Functionalization was extensively demonstrated by means of several spectroscopic techniques and DFT calculations; the products showed higher functionalization degrees than those obtained by neutral routes.

How relationship status and sociosexual orientation influence the link between facial attractiveness and visual attention.

Facial attractiveness captures and binds visual attention, thus affecting visual exploration of our environment. It is often argued that this effect on attention has evolutionary functions related to mating. Although plausible, such perspectives have been challenged by recent behavioral and eye-tracking studies, which have shown that the effect on attention is moderated by various sex- and goal-related variables such as sexual orientation.

Understanding the mechanisms behind the sexualized-body inversion hypothesis: The role of asymmetry and attention biases.

A controversial hypothesis, named the Sexualized Body Inversion Hypothesis (SBIH), claims similar visual processing of sexually objectified women (i.e., with a focus on the sexual body parts) and inanimate objects as indicated by an absence of the inversion effect for both type of stimuli.

Cycloaddition Reactions of Azomethine Ylides and 1,3-Dienes on the C-Symmetrical Pentakisadduct of C.

The reactivity of the C-symmetric pentakisadduct of C with azomethine ylides and conjugated dienes was studied experimentally and computationally. This derivative possesses four [6,6] double bonds, each with unique electrophilicity. The Diels-Alder reaction studied is a regiospecific, kinetically and thermodynamically guided [4 + 2] process producing [5:1]-hexaadducts with an octahedral addition pattern.

How Beauty Determines Gaze! Facial Attractiveness and Gaze Duration in Images of Real World Scenes.

We showed that the looking time spent on faces is a valid covariate of beauty by testing the relation between facial attractiveness and gaze behavior. We presented natural scenes which always pictured two people, encompassing a wide range of facial attractiveness. Employing measurements of eye movements in a free viewing paradigm, we found a linear relation between facial attractiveness and gaze behavior: The more attractive the face, the longer and the more often it was looked at.