Reversible photo-induced performance deterioration is observed in mesoporous TiO 2 -containing devices in an inert environment. This phenomenon is correlated with the activation of deep trap sites due to astoichiometry of the metal oxide. Interestingly, in air, these defects can be passivated by oxygen adsorption. These results show that the doping of TiO 2 with aluminium has a striking impact upon the density of sub-gap states and enhances the conductivity by orders of magnitude. Dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells employing Al-doped TiO 2 have increased device effi ciencies and signifi cantly enhanced operational device stability in inert atmospheres. This performance and stability enhancement is attributed to the substitutional incorporation of Al in the anatase lattice, "permanently" passivating electronic trap sites in the bulk and at the surface of the TiO 2 .

Since spontaneous oral dyskinesias are more prevalent in the elderly, and since these movements may be controlled by the balance of brain dopamine D1 and D2 dopamine receptors, we measured the densities of these receptors in 247 postmortem brain striata. In childhood, the densities of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in the brain striatum rise and fall together. After age 20 years, D1 receptors disappear at 3.2% per decade while D2 receptors disappear at about 2.2% per decade. Overall, therefore, the D1/D2 ratio falls with age. Since perioral motion in rats is dominated by a high D1/D2 ratio, the observed decline in the human D1/D2 ratio with age suggests that the perioral control mechanisms for humans and rats may be different.

In the analysis of post-mortem brains of 14 chronic schizophrenic patients and 10 controls, biochemical evidence of a hyperdopaminergic state was found in the basal ganglia of schizophrenics; tyrosine hydroxylase activity was increased with a concomitant increase of homovanillic acid. Unusually high tyrosine hydroxylase activity was noted in 2 schizophrenic cases. The Bmax value of 3H-spiperone binding for schizophrenics was higher than the controls. We also found increased specific binding of 3H-kainic acid to the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenics. A negative correlation existed between 3H-kainic acid binding in the medial frontal cortex, and glutamic acid content in various brain areas. Increased immunoreactivity of substance P was found in more than ten brain areas. Methionine-enkephalin was also increased in three areas of the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics. These results suggest that the hyperdopaminergic state co-existed with glutamatergic hypofunction and increased neuropeptides in various brain areas of chronic schizophrenic patients.

Articles you may be interested inFormation of ordered films of axially bridged aluminum phthalocyanine [(tBu)4PcAl]2O via magnetic fieldinduced reaction Light-induced EPR study of charge transfer in poly(3-hexylthiophene)/fullerene bulk heterojunction J. Chem. Phys. 131, 044515 (2009); 10.1063/1.3193722 Direct observation of the charge carrier concentration in organic field-effect transistors by electron spin resonance Appl.

Charge carrier concentration in operating field-effect transistor (FET) of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) has been directly determined by electron spin resonance (ESR). ESR signals of field-induced polarons are observed around g=2.003 under the application of negative gate-source voltage (Vgs). Upon applying drain-source voltage (Vds), ESR intensity decreases linearly in the low Vds region, reaching to about 50% of the initial intensity at the pinch-off point (Vds≅Vgs). For larger absolute values of Vds, it becomes nearly Vds independent. These behaviors are well explained by the change in the carrier concentration obtained by the FET theory using gradual channel approximation.