Preparation and characterization of novel polymer-based gel electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells based on poly(vinylidene fluoride-cohexafluoropropylene) and poly(acrylonitrile-cobutadiene) or poly(dimethylsiloxane) bis(3-aminopropyl) copolymers

Polymer gel electrolytes based on poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) and poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene) (PAB) or poly(dimethylsiloxane) bis(3-aminopropyl)-terminated (PDES-bAP) copolymers were prepared and investigated in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Selected optical and electrochemical properties of all compositions with various ratio from 9:1 to 6:4 were investigated towards DSSC applications. The highest value of power conversion efficiency equal to 5.07% was found for DSSCs containing a PVDF-HPF:PAB (9:1) gel electrolyte. Compositions of electrolytes were additionally tested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The influence of the ratio and type of polymers used as an additive to PVDF-HPF on absorption wavelengths, energy gap, and Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) and Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) levels were investigated. Individual components of DSSCs, such as the TiO2 layer and platinum nanoparticles, were imaged by scanning electron microscope. Finally, a DSSC module with six electrically separated solar cells with a 7 × 80 mm2 active area was constructed based on gel electrolytes and tested. © 2020 by the authors

Analysis of the immune response of calves to various saponin-based adjuvants for an experimental Mycoplasma bovis vaccine

Mycoplasma bovis is a primary infectious agent of many disorders in cattle including bovine respiratory disease. No commercial vaccines against M. bovis are available in Europe. The immune response of calves to three saponin-based adjuvants combined with a field Polish M. bovis strain was evaluated. Four groups of six calves each were injected subcutaneously with the M. bovis strain combined with either saponin, saponin + Emulsigen®, saponin + Emulsigen® + alphatocopherol acetate, or with phosphate-buffered saline as control group. Blood and nasal swab samples were collected up to day 84 post injection. All formulations effectively stimulated the humoral and the cellular immune response of the calves, but the course of the response depended on the adjuvant formulation. These immunological data provide additional information supporting the findings of previous M. bovis saponin and Emulsigen® vaccine challenge studies to facilitate the development of successful M. bovis vaccines

Gut resistome of NSCLC patients treated with immunotherapy

BackgroundThe newest method of treatment for patients with NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) is immunotherapy directed at the immune checkpoints PD-1 (Programmed Cell Death 1) and PD-L1 (Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1). PD-L1 is the only validated predictor factor for immunotherapy efficacy, but it is imperfect. Some patients do not benefit from immunotherapy and may develop primary or secondary resistance. This study aimed to assess the intestinal resistome composition of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the context of clinical features and potentially new prediction factors for assessing immunotherapy efficacy.MethodsThe study included 30 advanced NSCLC patients, 19 (57%) men and 11 (33%) women treated with first- or second-line immunotherapy (nivolumab, pembrolizumab or atezolizumab). We evaluated the patient’s gut resistome composition using the high sensitivity of targeted metagenomics.ResultsStudies have shown that resistome richness is associated with clinical and demographic factors of NSCLC patients treated with immunotherapy. Smoking seems to be associated with an increased abundance of macrolides, lincosamides, streptogramins and vancomycin core resistome. The resistome of patients with progression disease appears to be more abundant and diverse, with significantly higher levels of genomic markers of resistance to lincosamides (lnuC). The resistance genes lnuC, msrD, ermG, aph(6), fosA were correlated with progression-free survival or/and overall survival, thus may be considered as factors potentially impacting the disease.ConclusionThe results indicate that the intestinal resistome of NSCLC patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment differs depending on the response to immunotherapy, with several distinguished markers. Since it might impact treatment efficacy, it must be examined more deeply

Female terminalia morphology and cladistic relations among Tok-Tok beetles (Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini)

Tok-tokkies are one of the most iconic lineages within Tenebrionidae. In addition to containing some of the largest darkling beetles, this tribe is recognized for its remarkable form of sexual communication known as substrate tapping. Nevertheless, the phylogenetic relationships within the group remain poorly understood. This study investigates the usefulness of female terminalia morphology for delimiting Sepidiini and reconstructing relationships among it. Data on the structure of the ovipositors, genital tubes and spicula ventrali have been generated for >200 species representing 28 Pimeliinae tribes. This dataset was used in a comparative analysis at the subfamilial level, which resulted in recognition of several unique features of tok-tokkie terminalia. Additionally, new features linking phenotypically challenging tribes also were recovered (Cryptochilini + Idisiini + Pimeliini).Secondly, 23 characters linked to the structure of female terminalia were defined for tok-tok beetles. Cladistic analysis demonstrates the nonmonophyletic nature of most of the recognized subtribes. The morphological dataset was analysed separately and in combination with available molecular data (CAD, Wg, cox1, cox2, 28S). All obtained topologies were largely congruent, supporting the following changes: Palpomodina Kaminski & Gearner subtr.n. is erected to accommodate the genera Namibomodes and Palpomodes; Argenticrinis and Bombocnodulus are transferred from Hypomelina to Molurina; 153 species and subspecies previously classified within Psammodes are distributed over three separate genera (Mariazofia Kaminski nom.n., Piesomera stat.r., Psammodes sens.n.). Psammodes sklodowskae Kaminski & Gearner sp.n. is described. Preliminary investigation of the ovipositor of Mariazofia basuto (Koch) comb.n. was carried out with the application of microcomputed tomography, illuminating the muscular system as a reliable reference point for recognizing homologous elements in highly modified ovipositors.Funding was provided by the National Science Centre, Poland (OPUS-19 Project 2020/37/B/NZ8/02496) and National Science Foundation (DEB-1754630/2009247)Peer reviewe

Platynotini (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Opatrinae) of the Natural History Museum in Geneva

Volume: 97Start Page: 427End Page: 43

Interpretation of the tribes Opatrini and Pedinini (sensu Iwan 2004) versus subfamily Opatrinae (sensu Koch 1956 and Medvedev 1968) and "opatrine lineage" (sensu Doyen and Tschinkel 1982)

The studies of the male genitalia and other structures of the tribe Platynotini and subfamily Opatrinae (sensu Medvedev 1968) presented by Iwan (2001, 2002, 2004) gave the following conclusions : (1) the shape of clypeus and structure of female genitalia present the high level of differentiation ; (2) the above-mentioned characters are not appropriate to distinguishing the monophyletic taxa (subfamily Opatrinae sensu Medvedev, opatrine lineage sensu Doyen and Tschinkel) ; (3) Pedinini and Opatrini are hypothetical monophyletic taxa (division based on the structure of trochanter and aedeagus).Les études des organes génitaux masculins et d'autres structures de la tribu des Platynotini et de la sous-famille des Opatrinae (sensu Medvedev 1968) présentées par Iwan (2001, 2002, 2004) ont donné les conclusions suivantes : (1) la forme du clypeus et la structure des organes génitaux femelles présentent un niveau élevé de différenciation ; (2) les caractères mentionnés ci-dessus ne sont pas appropriés pour distinguer les taxa monophyletic (sous-famille des Opatrinae sensu Medvedev, opatrine lineage sensu Doyen and Tschinkel) ; (3) Pedinini et Opatrini sont des taxa monophylétiques hypothétiques (division basée sur la structure du trochanter et de l'édéage).Iwan Dariusz. Interpretation of the tribes Opatrini and Pedinini (sensu Iwan 2004) versus subfamily Opatrinae (sensu Koch 1956 and Medvedev 1968) and "opatrine lineage" (sensu Doyen and Tschinkel 1982). In: Cahiers scientifiques du Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Lyon - Centre de conservation et d'étude des collections, tome 10, 2006. pp. 71-74

Interpretation of the tribes Opatrini and Pedinini (sensu Iwan 2004) versus subfamily Opatrinae (sensu Koch 1956 and Medvedev 1968) and "opatrine lineage" (sensu Doyen and Tschinkel 1982)

The studies of the male genitalia and other structures of the tribe Platynotini and subfamily Opatrinae (sensu Medvedev 1968) presented by Iwan (2001, 2002, 2004) gave the following conclusions : (1) the shape of clypeus and structure of female genitalia present the high level of differentiation ; (2) the above-mentioned characters are not appropriate to distinguishing the monophyletic taxa (subfamily Opatrinae sensu Medvedev, opatrine lineage sensu Doyen and Tschinkel) ; (3) Pedinini and Opatrini are hypothetical monophyletic taxa (division based on the structure of trochanter and aedeagus).Les études des organes génitaux masculins et d'autres structures de la tribu des Platynotini et de la sous-famille des Opatrinae (sensu Medvedev 1968) présentées par Iwan (2001, 2002, 2004) ont donné les conclusions suivantes : (1) la forme du clypeus et la structure des organes génitaux femelles présentent un niveau élevé de différenciation ; (2) les caractères mentionnés ci-dessus ne sont pas appropriés pour distinguer les taxa monophyletic (sous-famille des Opatrinae sensu Medvedev, opatrine lineage sensu Doyen and Tschinkel) ; (3) Pedinini et Opatrini sont des taxa monophylétiques hypothétiques (division basée sur la structure du trochanter et de l'édéage).Iwan Dariusz. Interpretation of the tribes Opatrini and Pedinini (sensu Iwan 2004) versus subfamily Opatrinae (sensu Koch 1956 and Medvedev 1968) and "opatrine lineage" (sensu Doyen and Tschinkel 1982). In: Cahiers scientifiques du Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Lyon - Centre de conservation et d'étude des collections, tome 10, 2006. pp. 71-74

Species groups in the genus Atrocrates Koch, 1956 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini)

Iwan, Dariusz (2016): Species groups in the genus Atrocrates Koch, 1956 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini). Zootaxa 4175 (6): 571-587, DOI: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4175.6.