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This thesis details an investigation into the factors that could be restricting the performance of tin sulfide thus far. It is shown that there is confusion in the literature with respect to the assignment of different tin sulfide phases, and that the presence of these phases cannot easily be discerned with routine diffraction methods. In order to better understand the behaviour of tin sulfide in devices, it is important to isolate these materials as separate components and to consider the distinct properties of each. %Indeed, even a fundamental property such as the colour of SnS is still subject to conflicting reports. Herein, the targeted synthesis of SnS, SnS2 and Sn2S3 by chemical vapour transport is used to produce phase-pure single crystals, which are characterised in terms of structural, optical and electrical properties. These are compared directly with results from modern simulation methods as well as the work of others to explore fully the possible origins of performance losses. It is found that the work function of SnS is significantly lower than those of alternate successful photovoltaic materials, which means that novel device architectures are necessary in order to unlock the full potential of this promising photo-absorber. Concerns are also raised regarding the stability of the tin monosulfide phase with respect to degradation and defect formation over time, processes that undoubtedly affect device performance and lifetimes if sufficient safeguards are not put in place to suppress them. Further results of this 3 year research project also provide a broader platform for achieving sustainable light harvesting devices from the abundant and cheap elements, tin and sulfur.

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Species composition, distribution, habitat preference of click beetle detected in Lithuanian agrocenoses, their need for certain soil properties and as well as food ration has not been yet fully explored in Lithuania. Every year, farmers suffer huge losses in relation to damage caused by click beetle larvae. They injure germinating seeds of the variety of plants, seedlings, underground parts of the plants, tubers, and roots. Damaged seeds do not sprout up, seedlings perish, and crops become sparse. The trade value gets worse and fungal or bacterial infection pervades through the injuries into potato tubers or vegetables during the storage period and finally the stored production gets rotten. There is a lack of data concerning click beetle bioecology and harmfulness under Lithuanian environmental conditions. In order to increase the efficacy of plant protection measures against these pests it is necessary to establish prevalent click beetle species composition, to explore their bioecological characteristics and the level of harm in agrocenoses under Lithuanian agroclimatic conditions. On the other hand, not every click beetle species is herbivorous and makes damage. There are species which are recognized as predators. In this respect, they may be eligible as natural enemies of pests for an integrated pest management approach. / Spragšiai (Elateridae) yra viena iš gausiausių rūšimis vabalų (Coleoptera) būrio, įvairiaėdžių (Polyphaga) pobūrio šeimų. Pasaulio vabalų faunoje yra aprašyta daugiau kaip 12000 spragšių rūšių priklausančių 600 genčių (Tarnawski, Buchholz, 2008). Vabalų si-stematikoje spragšių šeima priklauso stambiai spragšinių (Elateroidea) antšeimiui jungian-čiai ir kitas giminingas vabalų šeimas, tokias kaip: blusvabaliai (Throscidae), medienvaba-liai (Eucnemidae), Cerophytidae, Cebrionidae (dviejų pastarųjų šeimų atstovai Lietuvoje neaptinkami). Visi šio antšeimio vabalų suaugėliai turi charakteringą krūtinės sandarą: prieškrūtinėlės galiniame krašte yra smaili išauga (dantelis), kuri įsistato į specialią duobu-tę vidukrūtinėlės priekiniame krašte. Vabalui lankstant prieškrūtinį minėtas dantelis yra iš-traukiamas ir įstumiamas į vidukrūtinėlės duobutę su charakteringu spragtelėjimu, o tuo metu susidariusi atatrankos jėga mesteli visą vabalo kūną aukštyn, jei šis guli ant nugaros (Parker, Howard, 2001). Lietuvos spragšių fauna nėra pakankamai ištirta. Paskutiniame Lietuvos vabalų kata-loge, kuriame susumuota visa prieinama faunistinė informacija apie Lietuvos vabalus nu-rodyta, kad šiuo metu yra užregistruota 74 spragšių rūšys, o 30 rūšių yra pateikiamos kaip tikėtinos respublikos teritorijoje (Tamutis ir kt., 2011). Dar mažiau ištirtos blusvabalių ir medienvabalių šeimos, aptikta tik 22 – 42% visų tikėtinų rūšių. Daugumos spragšių rūšių vystymosi ciklas lervos tarpsnyje trunka nuo 2... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

This thesis ‘’An Investigation of Tin Chalcogenide Precursors and Thin Film Materials for Applications in Energy Harvesting Devices’’ encompasses a range of research areas. The report can be divided into two categories: The first is the design of novel heavy tin chalcogenide complexes and compounds that demonstrate the recent advances in main group chemistry and act as potential precursor candidates for CVD processes. The second category follows on from the previous, and focuses on materials deposited and their successive development, characterisation and optimisation for device applications. Subsequently, an array of metal chalcogenide thin films have been deposited and characterised within this project. By designing of a number of the tin chalcogenide precursors and precursor solutions it has been possible to selectively deposit thin films of Sn, α-SnS and cubic-SnS polymorphs, SnS2, SnSe, and SnTe via a low-cost deposition route known as aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AA-CVD). It is proposed that the processes developed in this PhD can be adapted to deposit a wider spectrum of metal chalcogenide materials using cost effective techniques. Even though there is a wide scope of the possible applications for the aforementioned materials, the study has only been extended towards the characterisation of the optoelectronic properties of phase pure α-SnS and cubic-SnS samples, and SnS2 thin films deposited onto FTO, Mo and graphene substrates. The optimum deposition parameters for the application of these materials has been defined. In collaboration with a research group at the Institut de Recerca de Energia de Catalunya (iREC), Barcelona, Spain, an extended study of the photovoltaic properties of the α-SnS and Cubic-SnS samples is also presented, from which a series of SnS based thin film photovoltaic devices have been fabricated and characterised. This study present some of the few reports explicitly comparing the PV properties of the two α-SnS and Cubic-SnS polymorphs.

We have previously used a two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis protein expression with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization of mass spectrometry to identify the serum proteomic profiles before and after the Tai Chi exercise in normal adults (Yang & Chang, et al. Clin Chem 56:127, 2010). However, the high abundant serum proteins in seyal samples might interfere the discovery of low abundance proteins in two-dimensional electrophoresis, but these low abundant proteins may play an important role on human physiology. Therefore, we looked for another way to resolve this complex issue. After multiple attempts, we chose a commercial affinity column to exclude 14 kinds of high-abundance proteins before analyses of serum proteomic displays. This column could be fit into a fast liquid chromatography separation of purified proteins and eluted for low abundant proteins. The low abundant proteins were first expressed by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis of proteins followed by a series of gel cut down for in-gel digestion by trypsin and subject to nano-liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis (nano-LC ESI MS/MS ). The results obtained by software analysis were subject to its functional pathways analysis. We analysed 3 comparisons of the protein displays including differences between normal adults before and after exercise, differences of normal adults and diabetic patients before and after exercise. Experiments were next performed to validate the most significant difference of proteins between each category by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results showed that dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) proteins were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in normal adults ( P values were 0.011 and less than 0.001), while the prolactin-inducible protein (PIP) was higher in normal adults than in diabetic patients after exercise (P value of 0.042). To our knowledge, decrease of DPP4 in type 2 diabetes has been shown to reduce blood sugar and improve the immunity; and NGAL has been confirmed to be an indicator for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury. Therefore, we have identified certain functional proteomic markers in normal and diabetic patients after Tai Chi exercise. This study model with exclusion of high-abundance serum proteins is a useful mode for identifying immune and metabolic marker with and without.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) genes have been irrefutably linked to the osmotic stress response since their initial discovery in maturing cotton seeds. They have since been reported from a multitude of other organism where their occurrence is often associated with general responses to abiotic stress. Many studies have been conducted using LEA genes in over expression strategies to improve abiotic stress resistance. Of the known classes of LEAs, the group 1 LEAs have been widely reported, in plants, to only occur in seeds during late stages of development. Their expression coincides with the seeds acquisition of desiccation tolerance. In this thesis we present a group 1 LEA isolated from the desiccated vegetative tissues (leaves) of the resurrection plant Xerophyta humilis. Using E.coli and Arabidopsis we attempted to use XhLEA to improve salt and water deficit stress-responses, respectively. To this end we conducted soil-drought trials on two independent transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing XhLEA under a drought inducible-promoter and monitored their responses as compared to untransformed WT (Col-0 ) controls. Solid substrate E.coli growth assays and liquid media growth curves under both stress and unstressed conditions were conducted. We found no obvious beneficial effect through the expression of XhLEA in either of the organisms. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar

京都大学 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(医学) / 乙第13441号 / 論医博第2240号 / 新制||医||1054(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 生田 宏一, 教授 滝田 順子, 教授 江藤 浩之 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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