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Sulfosalt thin film can be applied to a thermoelectric material due to its tunable electrical properties and low thermal conductivity. In this work, we study the thermoelectric figure of merit of SnxSb2Sy (1 ≤ x ≤ 3, 4 ≤ y ≤ 6) thin films. Here, we added the SnS component to improve the thermoelectric (TE) performance of SnxSb2Sy. The thermal properties were determined using the front electro-pyroelectric (FEPE) technique. The thermal conductivity values decrease with added SnS component. Meanwhile, the thermoelectric properties measured for SnxSb2Sy thin films reveal a simultaneous improvement in both Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity by the addition of SnS. In addition, the Seebeck coefficient average value of samples is approximately −160 µV/K at 300 K. Finally, Sn3Sb2S6 thin film had a significantly higher ZT value compared with SnSb2S4, reaching a value of 0.95 at 600 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reproductive strategy of an unexploited population of Arca noae from the salt-water Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia, western Mediterranean), including its tissue plasticity, was studied. In total 309 individuals, collected monthly from October 2013 to September 2014, were examined; 142 were females, 42 were males and five were hermaphrodites. They were used in histological and immunohistochemical (stem marker: Pou5f1; proliferation marker: proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)) analyses of gonads and adjacent tissues (N = 189) as well as to compute the monthly condition index (N = 120). Water salinity, temperature and chlorophyll a concentration were recorded. Ripe ovaries were observed in two discrete periods, October–November and April–August. Both gonad ripenings were followed by spawning periods, November–April and July–September. The mature oocyte density showed that the first spawning period was less vigorous than the second one. These data also indicated that A. noae is a multiple spawner. Five cases of protandric hermaphroditism occurred from December to April. Gonad tissue was strictly associated and intermingled with the digestive gland and mantle muscle fibres. Seasonal variations were observed in the relative proportions of digestive gland and gonads: the former predominated when the latter regressed (March) and vice versa (peak in June). Seasonal transitions from germinal to somatic tissue and vice versa were hypothesised to occur through transdifferentiation mechanisms based on the activity of stem and proliferating cells. The condition index roughly increased along with gonad ripening and decreased during the spawning periods, although it did not run parallel to gonad evolution, because it also depended on chlorophyll a concentration, a proxy for phytoplankton density. The condition index was significantly correlated, by multiple regression, to both mature oocyte density and chlorophyll a concentration. Arca noae appears to have evolved a flexible reproductive strategy that makes it capable of exploiting diverse environmental conditions, which also involves tissue transdifferentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of our study was to establish the clinic, psychopathologic and etiopathogenic profile of children’s chronic depression and to search for the link that it may have with anaclitic organisation.Material and methods – We led a retrospective study consisting of 15 files of children and teenagers presenting chronic depression evolving for more than 2 years, from among 1452 new consultant files. These cases answer all the criteria of anaclitic organisation according to the French Classification of Mental disorders in Children and Adolescents (FCMCA).Results – The school difficulties and behavioural problems constituted the main motive of the most frequent consultation (14/15 cases). The symptomatology was concealed right away by behavioural unrest in five out of 15 cases. The ten remaining cases became marked more and more by the evolution. The projective tests showed, in the eight children tested, a picture of a fragile self, a change in the image of the mother, and the experience of abandonment.All children had undergone experiences of loss or separation. A disturbance in the parents investment in the child has been noted in 12 cases out of 15. A mental pathology of one or both parents has been noted at 10 cases on 15.Conclusion – All patients followed for chronic depression fulfilled the criteria for anaclitic organisation of the CFTMEA, which suggests that this organisation in the child predisposes to the chronicity of depression in the child.Due to the existence of the well-integrated self and of the absence of specific defence mechanisms of borderline pathology; anaclitic organisation deserves to be individualised in relation to borderline pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of our work was to study  the role of  parental divorce in the appearance of possible specific psychopathologics of children and teenagers.The survey was retrospective and comparative. We used 84 files of children and teenagers with divorced parents and 300 files of patients from unite families; they were matched according to age, sex and socioeconomic level.We compared motives of consultation, settings nosographics and the evolution of troubles in the 2 groups.Three motives of consultation were linked to divorce: character disturbance, behavior disturbance and school difficulties.Three pathologies were linked to divorce: personality disorders without neurosis and psychosis, functional disturbance and depressive disturbance.The short-term and medium-term aggravation of the psychic pathology was meaningfully more frequent for children of divorced parents. The long-term evolution was similar in both groups.The frequency of personality disorders out of neurosis and psychosis, of functional and depressive disturbance for children of divorced parents can be partly linked to the importance of separation experiences in these pathologies.Divorce appears to be a factor of risk for mental pathology of children and teenagers but no etiologic linear link was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the toxic effects of CoCl 2 -induced hepatotoxicity and fatty acid changes in juvenile Cyprinus carpio. Fish were divided into six experimental groups in duplicate. The first group served as controls. The second group received the lowest exposure dose at 2.5 µg/L. In the third group, fish were exposed to 25 µg/L of CoCl 2 . The fourth group was exposed to 50 µg/L of CoCl 2 . The last two groups were exposed to the highest doses, 100 and 500 µg/L of CoCl 2 . Total antioxidant activities were estimated using a colorimetric method. Liver fatty acid compositions were analyzed by high-performance gas chromatography (GC). Hepatopathy was identified through microscopic analysis. Exposure of C. carpio to CoCl 2 resulted in hepatotoxicity, indicated by increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), protein carbonyls (PCO), and alterations in the ferric reducing antioxidant power system (FRAP). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), metallothioneins (MTs), and low thiol levels (L-SH) significantly increased, particularly under exposure to the highest CoCl 2 doses (100 and 500 µg/L). Acetylcholinesterase activity decreased significantly in C. carpio exposed to graded CoCl 2 doses. Additionally, there was a decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), primarily n-3 PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), while an increase in monounsaturated (MUFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA), including palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), palmitoleic (C16:1), and oleic (C18:1) acids, was observed. Histopathological examination of the liver confirmed hepatopathy revealing characteristic tissue changes such as leucocyte infiltration, hepatic cell membrane degradation, vacuolization, and lipid inclusions. The study provided ethnophysiology insights into the responses of C. carpio to CoCl 2 -induced oxidative stress and lipidomic alteration, underscoring its potential as a bioindicator for assessing environmental impacts and metal contamination., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The principal aim of this study is to reduce considerably, via Sn doping, the resistivity of ZnO thin films prepared by simple, flexible, and cost-effective nitrogen pneumatic spray pyrolysis (NPSP) method on glass substrates at a temperature of 400°C. Different Sn content was tested (Sn/Zn = 0, 1, 3, 5 wt%) in an attempt to reduce the concentration of excessive oxygen atoms and create more free electrons. The microstructural, optical, morphological, and electrical properties of the films have been studied. The x-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that tin-doped SZO films exhibited polycrystalline nature with a preferential orientation along (002) plane with the appearance of a new orientation (101) with the increase of Sn concentration leading then to bidirectional growth. The deposited SZO films showed an average optical transmittance of about 80% in the UV-visible region (200-800 nm) with optical band gap values at around 3.27 eV. Photoluminescence emissions of SZO samples presented three main peaks: near band edge emission, violet emission, and the blue-green emission. The surface morphology of the films obtained by scanning electron microscope (SEM) exhibited the change in morphology with increasing the Sn content. A minimum electrical resistivity value of about 17·10 -3  Ω·cm was obtained for 3% SZO films. SZO films prepared by the NPSP method can be used as transparent window layer and electrodes in solar cells. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Highly oriented, conducting, and transparent Sn-doped ZnO films are successfully synthesized. The film growth orientation changed from mono-directional (002) axis to bi-directional (002) and (101) axis according to Sn doping. Ultraviolet and green emissions are noted by photoluminescence investigation. A minimum resistivity is observed for 3 wt% SZO film. The dual positive effect of the carrier gas used (N 2 ) and Sn doping is confirmed., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)