@article{351, abstract = {A multistrategy approach to overcome the main challenges of nanoparticle-based solution-processed Cu2ZnSnSe4 thin film solar cells is presented. We developed an efficient ligand exchange strategy, using an antimony salt, to displace organic ligands from the surface of Cu 2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles. An automated pulsed spray-deposition system was used to deposit the nanoparticles into homogeneous and crack-free films with controlled thickness. After annealing the film in a Se-rich atmosphere, carbon-free and crystalline Cu2ZnSnSe4 absorber layers were obtained. Not only was crystallization promoted by the complete removal of organics, but also Sb itself played a critical role. The Sb-assisted crystal growth is associated with the formation of a Sb-based compound at the grain boundaries, which locally reduces the melting point, thus promoting the film diffusion-limited crystallization. }, author = {Carrete, Alex and Shavel, Alexey and Fontané, Xavier and Montserrat, Joana and Fan, Jiandong and Ibáñez, Maria and Saucedo, Edgardo and Pérez Rodríguez, Alejandro and Cabot, Andreu}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, number = {43}, pages = {15982 -- 15985}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Antimony-based ligand exchange to promote crystallization in spray-deposited Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells}}, doi = {10.1021/ja4068639}, volume = {135}, year = {2013}, } @article{353, abstract = {We report a procedure to prepare highly monodisperse copper telluride nanocubes, nanoplates, and nanorods. The procedure is based on the reaction of a copper salt with trioctylphosphine telluride in the presence of lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and oleylamine. CuTe nanocrystals display a strong near-infrared optical absorption associated with localized surface plasmon resonances. We exploit this plasmon resonance for the design of surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensors for unconventional optical probes. Furthermore, we also report here our preliminary analysis of the use of CuTe nanocrystals as cytotoxic and photothermal agents.}, author = {Li, Wenhua and Zamani, Reza and Rivera Gil, Pilar and Pelaz, Beatriz and Ibáñez, Maria and Cadavid, Doris and Shavel, Alexey and Alvarez Puebla, Ramon and Parak, Wolfgang and Arbiol, Jordi and Cabot, Andreu}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, number = {19}, pages = {7098 -- 7101}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{CuTe nanocrystals: Shape and size control, plasmonic properties, and use as SERS probes and photothermal agents}}, doi = {10.1021/ja401428e}, volume = {135}, year = {2013}, } @article{376, abstract = {The compositional versatility of I2–II–IV–VI4 tetrahedrally-coordinated compounds allows for accommodating their functional properties to numerous technological applications. Among them, Cu2ZnSnSe4 is an emerging photovoltaic material and Cu2CdSnSe4 displays excellent thermoelectric properties. The third compound of this family, Cu2HgSnSe4, remains relatively unexplored. Herein, a synthetic route to produce Cu2HgSnSe4 nanoparticles with narrow size distribution and controlled composition is presented. Cu2HgSnSe4 nanoparticles were subsequently used as building blocks to produce bulk nanocrystalline materials, whose thermoelectric properties were analyzed. A very preliminary adjustment of the material composition yielded Seebeck coefficients up to 160 μV K−1, electrical conductivities close to 104 S m−1 and thermal conductivities down to 0.5 W m−1 K−1.}, author = {Li, Wenhua and Ibáñez, Maria and Zamani, Reza and García Castelló, Nuria and Stéphane, Grosse and Cadavid, Doris and Prades, Joan and Arbiol, Jordi and Cabot, Andreu}, journal = {CrystEngComm}, pages = {8966 -- 8971}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, title = {{Cu2HgSnSe4 nanoparticles: synthesis and thermoelectric properties}}, doi = {10.1039/C3CE41583J}, volume = {44}, year = {2013}, } @article{450, abstract = {Understanding the relative importance of heterosis and outbreeding depression over multiple generations is a key question in evolutionary biology and is essential for identifying appropriate genetic sources for population and ecosystem restoration. Here we use 2455 experimental crosses between 12 population pairs of the rare perennial plant Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides (Asteraceae) to investigate the multi-generational (F1, F2, F3) fitness outcomes of inter-population hybridization. We detected no evidence of outbreeding depression, with inter-population hybrids and backcrosses showing either similar fitness or significant heterosis for fitness components across the three generations. Variation in heterosis among population pairs was best explained by characteristics of the foreign source or home population, and was greatest when the source population was large, with high genetic diversity and low inbreeding, and the home population was small and inbred. Our results indicate that the primary consideration for maximizing progeny fitness following population augmentation or restoration is the use of seed from large, genetically diverse populations.}, author = {Pickup, Melinda and Field, David and Rowell, David and Young, Andrew}, journal = {Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B Biological Sciences}, number = {1750}, publisher = {Royal Society, The}, title = {{Source population characteristics affect heterosis following genetic rescue of fragmented plant populations}}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2012.2058}, volume = {280}, year = {2013}, } @article{476, abstract = {Maternal exposure to infection occurring mid-gestation produces a three-fold increase in the risk of schizophrenia in the offspring. The critical initiating factor appears to be the maternal immune activation (MIA) that follows infection. This process can be induced in rodents by exposure of pregnant dams to the viral mimic Poly I:C, which triggers an immune response that results in structural, functional, behavioral, and electrophysiological phenotypes in the adult offspring that model those seen in schizophrenia. We used this model to explore the role of synchronization in brain neural networks, a process thought to be dysfunctional in schizophrenia and previously associated with positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Exposure of pregnant dams to Poly I:C on GD15 produced an impairment in long-range neural synchrony in adult offspring between two regions implicated in schizophrenia pathology; the hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). This reduction in synchrony was ameliorated by acute doses of the antipsychotic clozapine. MIA animals have previously been shown to have impaired pre-pulse inhibition (PPI), a gold-standard measure of schizophrenia-like deficits in animal models. Our data showed that deficits in synchrony were positively correlated with the impairments in PPI. Subsequent analysis of LFP activity during the PPI response also showed that reduced coupling between the mPFC and the hippocampus following processing of the pre-pulse was associated with reduced PPI. The ability of the MIA intervention to model neurodevelopmental aspects of schizophrenia pathology provides a useful platform from which to investigate the ontogeny of aberrant synchronous processes. Further, the way in which the model expresses translatable deficits such as aberrant synchrony and reduced PPI will allow researchers to explore novel intervention strategies targeted to these changes. }, author = {Dickerson, Desiree and Bilkey, David}, journal = {Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience}, number = {DEC}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, title = {{Aberrant neural synchrony in the maternal immune activation model: Using translatable measures to explore targeted interventions}}, doi = {10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00217}, volume = {7}, year = {2013}, }