Search

Herein we report the synthesis of covalently functionalized carbon nano-onions (CNOs) via a reductive approach using unprecedented alkali-metal CNO intercalation compounds. For the first time, an in situ Raman study of the controlled intercalation process with potassium has been carried out revealing a Fano resonance in highly doped CNOs. The intercalation was further confirmed by electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Moreover, the experimental results have been rationalized with DFT calculations. Covalently functionalized CNO derivatives were synthesized by using phenyl iodide and n-hexyl iodide as electrophiles in model nucleophilic substitution reactions. The functionalized CNOs were exhaustively characterized by statistical Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, dynamic light scattering, UV-vis, and ATR-FTIR spectroscopies. This work provides important insights into the understanding of the basic principles of reductive CNOs functionalization and will pave the way for the use of CNOs in a wide range of potential applications, such as energy storage, photovoltaics, or molecular electronics.

The article reflects the results of studying platelet parameters in HIV-positive patients with different types of stroke.Aim. To identify changes in laboratory parameters of a complete blood count which characterize the morphofunctional features of platelets in stroke among HIV-positive patients.Materials and methods. 110 HIV-positive patients who received treatment for stroke in hospitals of the Tyumen region were examined. The study of blood parameters was carried out at the analyzer Sysmex XE2100 (Japan). Blood sampling was carried out on the day of patients admission.The number of platelets and platelet indices were analyzed: MPV – mean platelet volume, PDW – platelet distribution width, PCT – plateletcrit and P-LCR – platelet large cell ratio. The control group consisted of 117 patients. The signifcance of the differences was determined at the twotailed signifcance level of p < 0.05.Results. There was a signifcant decrease in the number of platelets (p < 0.05), in average, on 34.3% among patients with hemorrhages and HIV infection. Among patients with ischemic stroke this decrease was less pronounced (p = 0.05). A signifcant decrease in plateletcrit was established among patients with intracranial hemorrhages, while it did not change signifcantly among patients with cerebral infarction. During evaluation of other platelet parameters, no signifcant differences were found between patients in experimental and control groups. The coeffcient of giant platelets prevailed by one and a half times in patients with hemorrhages associated with HIV infection, which turned out to be beyond the statistical signifcance.Conclusion. The presence of HIV infection leads to a more pronounced, reliable decrease in the number of platelets and plateletcrit among patients that have acute phase of the development of hemorrhagic stroke than in patients with cerebral infarction. The development of intracranial hemorrhage among HIV-positive patients is characterized by an increase of blood platelets with a high volume, the level of which increased by one and a half times being beyond the statistical signifcance and having as a leading mechanism the intensifcation of platelet formation in the bone marrow.

The solid-state synthesis of pure sodium-black phosphorus intercalation compounds (Na-BPICs) has been optimized in bulk for two stoichiometric ratios. Specifically, in-situ X-Ray diffraction (XRD) allowed the precise identification of the optimal temperature range for the formation of Na-BPICs: 94°C–96°C. Moreover, as the undesired formation of Na3P takes place at this very same range, we succeeded in introducing a new synthetic route based on a fast-thermal ball milling implementation that results in the bulk production of BPIC without Na3P in 9 out of 10 cases. Finally, by combining XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and DFT calculations we developed a new structural model for Na-based BPICs showing an increase of BP’s unit cell with Na atoms incorporated in every second layer. These results will pave the way for the large-scale synthesis and application of pure BPICs, which are of great interest in fields such as optoelectronics or energy storage.

The meteoric growth of global cryptocurrency markets presents novel challenges to regulators. Some policymakers and scholars warn that regulation will cause trading activity to cross borders into less-regulated jurisdictions—or even smother a promising new financial asset class. Others believe regulatory actions will stimulate activity by providing clarity to market participants. Standing behind this disagreement is a debate about the desirability of either outcome. Some believe that governments should promote development of the cryptocurrency sector within their countries, while others view cryptocurrencies as conduits of illegality and fraud that should be restricted through strict regulation or even outright bans. Yet these debates have, to date, been conducted almost entirely without data concerning the effects of regulation on market activity. As a corrective, in this article we assembled original data on cryptocurrency regulations worldwide and used them to empirically examine movement in trading activity at a number of exchanges following key regulatory announcements. We found that a wide variety of models yielded almost entirely null results. From the creation of bespoke licensing regimes to targeted anti-money-laundering and anti-fraud enforcement actions, as well as many other categories of government activities, we found no systemic evidence that regulatory measures cause traders to flee, or enter into, the affected jurisdictions. These findings at last provide an empirical basis for regulatory decisions concerning cryptocurrency trading. Among other things, they call into question that capital flight or chilling effects should be a first-order concern.

The thermoelectric efficiency of skutterudite materials can be improved by lowering the lattice thermal conductivity via the uniform dispersion of a nanosized second phase in the matrix of filled C...

The pathological diagnosis of diffuse pleural mesothelioma (DPM) contributes to treatment selection and clinical trials interpretation. To know its characteristics and evaluate the viability of comprehensive pathological diagnosis of DPM in Argentina we did a retrospective descriptive study of DPM cases reported from 2009 to 2018. We analyzed 398 cases corresponding to 238 (60%) men and 160 (40%) women, median age 66 years, from surgical biopsies (78%), small biopsies (16.5%) and surgical resections (5.5%). The 77% were epithelioid (E-DPM), 12% biphasic, 10% sarcomatoid, and 4 cases transitional variant. In E-DPM the main pattern was tubular in 36% and solid in 33%. There was a second pattern in 179 cases. Considering the main pattern and the second together, 48% presented tubular subtype and 48% solid subtype. Stroma, necrosis, and nuclear score showed significant differences between E-DPM and non-epithelioid mesotheliomas. Overall tumor grade was predominantly low in E-DPM, except for 42% of the solid main pattern. We recognized the transitional variant extensively in 4 cases and focally in 8. The immunohistochemical antibody panel used included pan-cytokeratin, calretinin, WT-1, cytokeratin 5, CEA and TTF-1. The expression of cytokeratin 5, calretinin and WT-1 was lower in the sarcomatoid type (43%, 87 and 37%) than in the epithelioid type (92%, 98% and 93%). This study highlights the tumor heterogeneity of DPM that shows the diagnostic difficulty, and the feasibility of evaluating histological aggressiveness in E-DPM, B-DPM and S-DPM in our country. Resumen El diagnóstico patológico del mesotelioma pleural difuso (MPD) contribuye a la selección del tratamiento y a la interpretación de los ensayos clínicos. Para conocer sus características y evaluar la viabilidad del diagnóstico patológico de MPD en Argentina se realizó un estudio descriptivo retros pectivo de los casos de MPD informados de 2009 a 2018. Se analizaron 398 casos correspondientes a 238 (60%) hombres y 160 (40%) mujeres, mediana de edad de 66 años, a partir de biopsias quirúrgicas (78%), biopsias pequeñas (16.5%) y resecciones quirúrgicas (5.5%). El 77% fue epitelioide (E-MPD), 12% bifásicos, 10% sarcomatoides y 4 casos variante transicional. En E-MPD se encontró como patrón principal el tubular en 36% y el sólido en 33%. Hubo un segundo patrón en 179 casos. Considerando el principal y el segundo patrón en conjunto, el 48% presentó subtipo tubular y el 48% subtipo sólido. El estroma, la necrosis y el score nuclear mostraron diferencias significativas entre E-MPD y mesoteliomas no epitelioides. El grado general del tumor fue predominantemente bajo en E-MPD, a excepción del 42% del patrón principal sólido. Reconocimos la variante transicional en forma extensa en 4 casos y focalmente en 8. La expresión de citoqueratina 5, calretinina y WT-1 fue menor en el tipo sarcomatoide (43%, 87 y 37%) que en el tipo epitelioide (92%, 98% y 93%). Este estudio destaca la heterogeneidad tumoral de MPD que evidencia la dificu ltad en el diagnóstico y la viabilidad de evaluar la agresividad histológica en E-MPD, B-MPD y S-MPD en nuestro país.

The pathological diagnosis of diffuse pleural mesothelioma (DPM) contributes to treatment selection and clinical trials interpretation. To know its characteristics and evaluate the viability of comprehensive pathological diagnosis of DPM in Argentina we did a retrospective descriptive study of DPM cases reported from 2009 to 2018. We analyzed 398 cases corresponding to 238 (60%) men and 160 (40%) women, median age 66 years, from surgical biopsies (78%), small biopsies (16.5%) and surgical resections (5.5%). The 77% were epithelioid (E-DPM), 12% biphasic, 10% sarcomatoid, and 4 cases transitional variant. In E-DPM the main pattern was tubular in 36% and solid in 33%. There was a second pattern in 179 cases. Considering the main pattern and the second together, 48% presented tubular subtype and 48% solid subtype. Stroma, necrosis, and nuclear score showed significant differences between E-DPM and non-epithelioid mesotheliomas. Overall tumor grade was predominantly low in E-DPM, except for 42% of the solid main pattern. We recognized the transitional variant extensively in 4 cases and focally in 8. The immunohistochemical antibody panel used included pan-cytokeratin, calretinin, WT-1, cytokeratin 5, CEA and TTF-1. The expression of cytokeratin 5, calretinin and WT-1 was lower in the sarcomatoid type (43%, 87 and 37%) than in the epithelioid type (92%, 98% and 93%). This study highlights the tumor heterogeneity of DPM that shows the diagnostic difficulty, and the feasibility of evaluating histological aggressiveness in E-DPM, B-DPM and S-DPM in our country.El diagnóstico patológico del mesotelioma pleural difuso (MPD) contribuye a la selección del tratamiento y a la interpretación de los ensayos clínicos. Para conocer sus características y evaluar la viabilidad del diagnóstico patológico de MPD en Argentina se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de los casos de MPD informados de 2009 a 2018. Se analizaron 398 casos correspondientes a 238 (60%) hombres y 160 (40%) mujeres, mediana de edad de 66 años, a partir de biopsias quirúrgicas (78%), biopsias pequeñas (16.5%) y resecciones quirúrgicas (5.5%). El 77% fue epitelioide (E-MPD), 12% bifásicos, 10% sarcomatoides y 4 casos variante transicional. En E-MPD se encontró como patrón principal el tubular en 36% y el sólido en 33%. Hubo un segundo patrón en 179 casos. Considerando el principal y el segundo patrón en conjunto, el 48% presentó subtipo tubular y el 48% subtipo sólido. El estroma, la necrosis y el score nuclear mostraron diferencias significativas entre E-MPD y mesoteliomas no epitelioides. El grado general del tumor fue predominantemente bajo en E-MPD, a excepción del 42% del patrón principal sólido. Reconocimos la variante transicional en forma extensa en 4 casos y focalmente en 8. La expresión de citoqueratina 5, calretinina y WT-1 fue menor en el tipo sarcomatoide (43%, 87 y 37%) que en el tipo epitelioide (92%, 98% y 93%). Este estudio destaca la heterogeneidad tumoral de MPD que evidencia la dificu ltad en el diagnóstico y la viabilidad de evaluar la agresividad histológica en E-MPD, B-MPD y S-MPD en nuestro país.

The financial services industry is among the areas predicted to benefit the most from blockchain in the years to come. A key reason is that its ‘core functions of verifying and transferring financial information and assets very closely align with blockchain’s core transformative impact’ and it relies heavily ‘on multiple ledgers to maintain transactional information and balances.’ Blockchain’s promise for the industry lies in its potential to increase the efficiency of existing processes in the short term (dispensing with intermediaries and time-consuming administrative processes ), and to transform existing business models in the longer term.