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Zn2SnO4 plates, particles and spheres are successfully prepared via a facile synthesis way by carefully adjusting the solvothermal conditions, which are further applied as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to explore the relationships between the photoanode nanostructure and the photovoltaic performances. As a result, the DSSCs based on Zn2SnO4 spheres photoanode showcased the best power conversion efficiency (PCE, 4.85%), compared to Zn2SnO4 plates (3.80%) and particles (4.13%). It is found that Zn2SnO4 spheres exhibit the highest light-scattering abilities, as evidenced by ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) diffuse reflectance spectra. Additionally, investigations on dynamic electron transport and recombination properties via intensity-modulated photovoltage/photocurrent spectroscopy (IMVS/IMPS), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements demonstrate that the Zn2SnO4 spheres-based DSSCs possess the fastest electron transport rate, the longest electron lifetime, the highest electron collection efficiency (ηcc), and the largest charge recombination resistance, compared with the Zn2SnO4 plates and particles, all of which are highly beneficial for the powder conversion efficiency enhancements.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Shuanghu Qinggan Granule (双虎清肝颗 粒, SQG) plus Yigan Yiqi Jieyu Granule (乙肝益气解郁颗粒, YYJG) combined with lamivudine (LAM) on chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Hierarchical anatase TiO(2) nano-architecture arrays consisting of long TiO(2) nanowire trunk and numerous short TiO(2) nanorod branches on transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide glass are successfully synthesized for the first time through a facile one-step hydrothermal route without any surfactant and template. Dye-sensitized solar cells based on the hierarchical anatase TiO(2) nano-architecture array photoelectrode of 18 μm in length shows a power conversion efficiency of 7.34% because of its higher specific surface area for adsorbing more dye molecules and superior light scattering capacity for boosting the light-harvesting efficiency. The present photovoltaic performance is the highest value for the reported TiO(2) nanowires array photoelectrode.

Background Epidemiological evidence suggests that moderately elevated levels of circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are associated with increased risk of breast cancer in women. How circulating IGF-I may promote breast cancer incidence is unknown, however, increased IGF-I signaling is linked to trastuzumab resistance in ErbB2 positive breast cancer. Few models have directly examined the effect of moderately high levels of circulating IGF-I on breast cancer initiation and progression. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of circulating IGF-I to independently initiate mammary tumorigenesis and/or accelerate the progression of ErbB2 mediated mammary tumor growth. Methods We crossed heterozygous TTR-IGF-I mice with heterozygous MMTV-ErbB2 mice to generate 4 different genotypes: TTR-IGF-I/MMTV-ErbB2 (bigenic), TTR-IGF-I only, MMTV-ErbB2 only, and wild type (wt). Virgin females were palpated twice a week and harvested when tumors reached 1000 mm3. For study of normal development, blood and tissue were harvested at 4, 6 and 9 weeks of age in TTR-IGF-I and wt mice. Results TTR-IGF-I and TTR-IGF-I/ErbB2 bigenic mice showed a moderate 35% increase in circulating total IGF-I compared to ErbB2 and wt control mice. Elevation of circulating IGF-I had no effect upon pubertal mammary gland development. The transgenic increase in IGF-I alone wasn't sufficient to initiate mammary tumorigenesis. Elevated circulating IGF-I had no effect upon ErbB2-induced mammary tumorigenesis or metastasis, with median time to tumor formation being 30 wks and 33 wks in TTR-IGF-I/ErbB2 bigenic and ErbB2 mice respectively (p = 0.65). Levels of IGF-I in lysates from ErbB2/TTR-IGF-I tumors compared to ErbB2 was elevated in a similar manner to the circulating IGF-I, however, there was no effect on the rate of tumor growth (p = 0.23). There were no morphological differences in tumor type (solid adenocarcinomas) between bigenic and ErbB2 mammary glands. Conclusion Using the first transgenic animal model to elevate circulating levels of IGF-I to those comparable to women at increased risk of breast cancer, we showed that moderately high levels of systemic IGF-I have no effect on pubertal mammary gland development, initiating mammary tumorigenesis or promoting ErbB2 driven mammary carcinogenesis. Our work suggests that ErbB2-induced mammary tumorigenesis is independent of the normal variation in circulating levels of IGF-I.