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Background Splenectomy is an effective intervention in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Attempts to define pre-clinical predictors of platelet response to splenectomy are inconsistent. Based on international studies defining the likelihood of platelet response using platelet sequestration, patients with relapsed/refractory ITP being considered for splenectomy at a regional Australian hospital were assessed with 111 Indium-labelled autologous platelet sequestration (ILAPS) studies. Aims To audit the use of ILAPS in an Australian setting and define its role in predicting response to splenectomy. Methods A retrospective review of all patients referred for an ILAPS study at a regional hospital was performed. Results for each patient were expressed as an "R" value (spleen/ liver uptake ratio) to quantify the platelet sequestration pattern and outcome post splenectomy, based on platelet counts. Results A total of 45 patients were identified, 13 underwent splenectomy and 32 were medically managed. Patients with favourable ILAPS scans (pure or predominant splenic sequestration) demonstrated a superior response post splenectomy (100% overall response rate (ORR), 83.5% complete remission (CR)) compared to those with unfavourable ILAPS scans (mixed or pure hepatic sequestration) (71.4% ORR, 57.1% CR) over 12 months. Conclusions The use of ILAPS in the Australian setting is feasible and this experience confirms larger international studies demonstrating its utility as a predictor of response to splenectomy in ITP. An unfavourable ILAPS scan could be considered a negative predictor of response prompting consideration for other emerging ITP treatments such as thrombopoietin-receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) or B-cell depleting therapy such as Rituximab. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: Indirect detection flat-panel detectors (FPDs) consisting of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film transistors (TFTs) are a prevalent technology for digital x-ray imaging. However, their performance is challenged in applications requiring low exposure levels, high spatial resolution, and high frame rate. Emerging FPD designs using metal oxide TFTs may offer potential performance improvements compared to FPDs based on a-Si:H TFTs. PURPOSE: This work investigates the imaging performance of a new indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) TFT-based detector in 2D fluoroscopy and 3D cone-beam CT (CBCT). METHODS: The new FPD consists of a sensor array combining IGZO TFTs with a-Si:H photodiodes and a 0.7-mm thick CsI:Tl scintillator. The FPD was implemented on an x-ray imaging bench with system geometry emulating intraoperative CBCT. A conventional FPD with a-Si:H TFTs and a 0.6-mm thick CsI:Tl scintillator was similarly implemented as a basis of comparison. 2D imaging performance was characterized in terms of electronic noise, sensitivity, linearity, lag, spatial resolution (modulation transfer function, MTF), image noise (noise-power spectrum, NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) with entrance air kerma (EAK) ranging from 0.3 to [Formula: see text]. 3D imaging performance was evaluated in terms of the 3D MTF and noise-equivalent quanta (NEQ), soft-tissue contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and image quality evident in anthropomorphic phantoms for a range of anatomical sites and dose, with weighted air kerma, [Formula: see text] , ranging from 0.8 to 4.9 mGy. RESULTS: The 2D imaging performance of the IGZO-based FPD exhibited up to [Formula: see text] lower electronic noise than the a-Si:H FPD at matched pixel pitch. Furthermore, the IGZO FPD exhibited ~27% increase in mid-frequency DQE [Formula: see text] at matched pixel size and dose [Formula: see text] and ~11% increase after adjusting for differences in scintillator thickness. 2D spatial resolution was limited by the scintillator for each FPD. The IGZO-based FPD demonstrated improved 3D NEQ at all spatial frequencies in both head [Formula: see text] increase for all dose levels) and body ([Formula: see text] increase for [Formula: see text]) imaging scenarios. These characteristics translated to improved low-contrast visualization in anthropomorphic phantoms, demonstrating [Formula: see text] improvement in CNR and extension of the low-dose range for which the detector is input-quantum limited. CONCLUSION: The IGZO-based FPD demonstrated improvements in electronic noise, image lag, and NEQ that translated to measurable improvements in 2D and 3D imaging performance compared to a conventional FPD based on a-Si:H TFTs. The improvements are most beneficial for 2D or 3D imaging scenarios involving low-dose and/or high-frame rate.

Novel luminescent dialdiminate complexes of the Group 13 elements were prepared to evaluate the effects of the central element on their properties. We demonstrate that their absorption wavelength and the response to Lewis bases apparently depend on the central atom. The aluminum complex exhibited the absorption band in the higher-energy region than the gallium and indium congeners. Theoretical calculations suggest that the aluminum complex has a lower-lying highest-occupied molecular orbital than the other complexes. Additionally, the emission intensity of the aluminum complex clearly changed in response to a Lewis base. Quantum chemical calculations suggest that these element-dependent optical properties could originate from the difference in the electric charges on the central elements. Interestingly, the ligand exchange reactions were observed in the indium complexes together with the changes in the optical properties and controlled by the addition of InCl3 and InMe3. Furthermore, all the complexes showed aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) and crystallization-induced emission enhancement (CIEE) properties. These results lead to proposing a practical strategy for manipulating the optoelectronic properties coupled with the reactivities of complexes by choosing the central elements in the same group.

Gallium and its alloys, such as eutectic gallium indium alloy (EGaIn), a form of liquid metal, have recently attracted the attention of researchers due to their low toxicity and electrical and thermal conductivity for biomedical application. However, further research is required to harness EGaIn-composites advantages and address their application as a biomedical scaffold. In this research, EGaIn-polylactic acid/polycaprolactone composites with and without a second conductive filler, MXene, were prepared and characterized. The addition of MXene, into the EGaIn-composite, can improve the composite's electrochemical properties by connecting the liquid metal droplets resulting in electrically conductive continuous pathways within the polymeric matrix. The results showed that the composite with 50% EGaIn and 4% MXene, displayed optimal electrochemical properties and enhanced mechanical and radiopacity properties. Furthermore, the composite showed good biocompatibility, examined through interactions with fibroblast cells, and antibacterial properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, the liquid metal (EGaIn) polymer composite with MXene provides a first proof-of-concept engineering scaffold strategy with low toxicity, functional electrochemical properties, and promising antimicrobial properties.

In recent years, much effort has been devoted to the development of effective anticancer agents. In this manner, the utilization of water-soluble sulfonated phthalocyanines is crucial for many cancer cell lines. In this study, phthalonitrile and metallophthalocyanine compounds linked by benzenesulfonic acid groups have been prepared. Antimicrobial behaviors of those compounds were investigated by performing disk diffusion and photodynamic assays on gram-positive and negative bacteria. Indium phthalocyanine (InClPc) (3) showed inhibition activity against B. cereus, B. subtilis and S. aureus with disk diffusion assay. Also, gallium and indium phthalocyanines (2 and 3) exhibited inhibitory activity on both gram-positive and -negative microorganisms after light activation. Increasing the inhibitor concentration and light exposure time increased the inhibition activity for both molecules. GaClPc (2) demonstrated the maximum reducing power capacity among studied compounds, and CoPc (4) showed even better DPPH radical scavenging ability than the standard molecule Trolox at 2000 mu g mL(-1) concentration. The dose-dependent effect of compounds on cytotoxicity was studied against cancer cells PANC-1, MDA-MB-231, HepG2, A549, HeLa, CaCo-2 and non-tumorigenic cells HEK-293. All compounds showed no significant cytotoxic effect on any cell line up to the highest treated concentration at 50 mu g mL(-1). However, all phthalocyanines had significant nitric oxide inhibition activity, and only in copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) (5), the MTT IC50 value was reached on LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The lowest inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) IC50 values were defined as 6 +/- 1 mu g mL(-1) and 7 +/- 0.5 mu g mL(-1) for CuPc (5) and InClPc (3), respectively.

Author(s): Sood, Mohit; Urbaniak, Aleksander; Boumenou, Christian Kameni; Weiss, Thomas; Elanzeery, Hossam; Babbe, Finn; Werner, Florian; Melchiorre, Michele; Siebentritt, Susanne | Abstract: The presence of interface recombination in a complex multilayered thin-film solar structure causes a disparity between the internal open-circuit voltage (VOC,in), measured by photoluminescence, and the external open-circuit voltage (VOC,ex) i.e. an additional VOC deficit. Higher VOC,ex value aim require a comprehensive understanding of connection between VOC deficit and interface recombination. Here, a deep near-surface defect model at the absorber/buffer interface is developed for copper indium di-selenide solar cells grown under Cu excess conditions to explain the disparity between VOC,in and VOC,ex.. The model is based on experimental analysis of admittance spectroscopy and deep-level transient spectroscopy, which show the signature of deep acceptor defect. Further, temperature-dependent current-voltage measurements confirm the presence of near surface defects as the cause of interface recombination. The numerical simulations show strong decrease in the local VOC,in near the absorber/buffer interface leading to a VOC deficit in the device. This loss mechanism leads to interface recombination without a reduced interface bandgap or Fermi level pinning. Further, these findings demonstrate that the VOC,in measurements alone can be inconclusive and might conceal the information on interface recombination pathways, establishing the need for complementary techniques like temperature dependent current voltage measurements to identify the cause of interface recombination in the devices.

Indium tribromide catalysed the transfer hydrogenation from dihydroaromatic compounds, such as the commercially available γ‐terpinene, to enones, which resulted in the cyclisation to trisubstituted furan derivatives. The reaction was initiated by a Michael addition of a hydride nucleophile to the enone subunit followed by a Lewis‐acid‐assisted cyclisation and the formation of a furan–indium intermediate and a Wheland intermediate derived from the dihydroaromatic starting material. The product was formed by protonation from the Wheland complex and replaced the indium tribromide substituent. In addition, a site‐specific deuterium labelling of the dihydroaromatic HD surrogates resulted in site specific labelling of the products and gave useful insights into the reaction mechanism by H–D scrambling., InBr3 is used as functional‐group‐tolerant catalyst for the transfer hydrogenation from γ‐terpinene as H2 surrogate to initiate the cyclisation of 2‐alkynyl‐substituted enones to trisubstituted furans in good yields. Design of Experiments was used to optimise the reaction conditions with a few experiments to almost quantitative yields and deuterium‐labelling experiments gave valuable mechanistic insights.

We report an amino-functionalized indium-organic framework for efficient CO2 reduction to formate. The immobilized amino groups strengthen the absorption and activation of CO2 and stabilize the active intermediates, which endow an enhanced catalytic conversion to formate despite the inevitable reduction and reconstruction of the functionalized indium-based catalyst during electrocatalysis. The reconstructed amino-functionalized indium-based catalyst demonstrates a high Faradaic efficiency of 94.4 % and a partial current density of 108 mA cm-2 at -1.1 V vs. RHE in a liquid-phase flow cell, and also delivers an enhanced current density of ca. 800 mA cm-2 at 3.4 V for the formate production in a gas-phase flow cell configuration. This work not only provides a molecular functionalization and assembling concept of hybrid electrocatalysts but also offers valuable understandings in electrocatalyst evolution and reactor optimization for CO2 electrocatalysis and beyond.

Chemistry - a European journal 27(38), 9791-9800 (2021). doi:10.1002/chem.202101126, Multilayered heterostructures comprising of In$_2$O$_3$, SnO$_2$, and Al$_2$O$_3$ were studied for their application in thin-film transistors (TFT). The compositional influence of tin oxide on the properties of the thin-film, as well as on the TFT characteristics is investigated. The heterostructures are fabricated by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at 200 °C, employing trimethylindium (TMI), tetrakis(dimethylamino)tin (TDMASn), trimethylaluminum (TMA), and water as precursors. After post-deposition annealing at 400 °C the thin-films are found to be amorphous, however, they show a discrete layer structure of the individual oxides of uniform film thickness and high optical transparency in the visible region. Incorporation of only two monolayers of Al$_2$O$_3$ in the active semiconducting layer the formation of oxygen vacancies can be effectively suppressed, resulting in an improved semiconducting and switching behavior. The heterostacks comprising of In$_2$O$_3$/SnO$_2$/Al$_2$O$_3$ are incorporated into TFT devices, exhibiting a saturation field-effect mobility ($μ_{sat}$) of 2.0 cm$^2$⋅ V$^{−1}$ s$^{−1}$, a threshold-voltage (V$_{th}$) of 8.6 V, a high current on/off ratio (I$_{On}$/I$_{Off}$) of 1.0×10$^7$, and a subthreshold swing (SS) of 485 mV ⋅ dec$^{−1}$. The stability of the TFT under illumination is also altered to a significant extent. A change in the transfer characteristic towards conductive behavior is evident when illuminated with light of an energy of 3.1 eV (400 nm)., Published by Wiley-VCH, Weinheim

Indium and gallium nitride are important semi-conductor materials with desirable properties for high-frequency and power electronics. We have previously demonstrated high-quality ALD grown InN and GaN using the hexacoordinated 1,3-diisopropyltriazenide In(III) and Ga(III) precursors. Herein we report the structural and thermal properties their analogues employing combinations of isopropyl, sec-butyl and tert-butyltriazenide alkyl groups on the exocyclic nitrogen of the triazenide ligand. The new triazenide compounds were all found to be volatile (80-120 degrees C, 0.5 mbar) and showed very good thermal stability (200 and 300 degrees C). These new triazenide analogues provide a set of precursors whose thermal properties are determined and can be accordingly tailored by strategic choice of exocyclic nitrogen alkyl substituents. Funding Agencies|Swedish foundation for Strategic Research [SSF-RMA 15-0018]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation [KAW 2013.0049]

Main-group element indium (In) is a promising electrocatalyst which triggers CO2 reduction to formate, while the high overpotential and low Faradaic efficiency (FE) hinder its practical application. Herein, we rationally design a new In single-atom catalyst containing exclusive isolated Inδ+ -N4 atomic interface sites for CO2 electroreduction to formate with high efficiency. This catalyst exhibits an extremely large turnover frequency (TOF) up to 12500 h-1 at -0.95 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), with a FE for formate of 96 % and current density of 8.87 mA cm-2 at low potential of -0.65 V versus RHE. Our findings present a feasible strategy for the accurate regulation of main-group indium catalysts for CO2 reduction at atomic scale.

Heterobimetallic cationic sandwich complexes [M(μ‐Cp)M′Cp]+ of group 13 (M=Ga, In) and group 14 (M′=Ge, Sn) elements have been prepared as [WCA]− salts (WCA=Al(ORF)4; ORF=OC(CF3)3). Their molecular structures include free apical gallium or indium atoms. The sandwich complexes were formed in the reactions of [M(HMB)]+[WCA]− (HMB=C6Me6) with the free metallocenes [M′Cp2]. Their structures are related to known stannocene and stannocenium salts; the unprecedented germanium analogues, namely the free germanocenium cation [GeCp]+ and the corresponding triple‐decker complex cation [CpGe(μ‐Cp)GeCp]+, are described herein. By variation of the reaction conditions, these sandwich complexes can be transformed into the group 13/14 mixed cationic coordination polymer [{In(HMB)(μ‐SnCp2)}n][WCA]n. This polymeric chain motif was also successfully replicated by the synthesis of complexes [{Ga/In(HMB)(μ‐FeCp2)}n][WCA]n containing FeCp2 as a bridging ligand., One, two, three, infinity… The syntheses of the free germanocenium cation, a series of heterobimetallic sandwich cations of groups 13 and 14, as well as cationic sandwich polymers containing group 13 hexamethylbenzene cations bridged by stannocene and ferrocene are described.

An interdigitated back-contacted (IBC) configuration is proposed for submicron copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS). In a modelling platform, the structure was opto-electrically optimized for maximum efficiency. The results are compared with a reference front/back-contacted (FBC) solar cell with similar absorber thickness and exhibiting 11.9% efficiency. The electrical passivation at the front side is accomplished by an Al2O3 layer, which is endowed with negative fixed charges. The results indicate that with an optimal geometry and engineered bandgap grading, the efficiency of the new IBC structure can reach 17%. Additionally, with a reasonably low defect density in the absorber layer, efficiencies as high as 19.7% and open-circuit voltage comparable with that of the record solar cell are possible with the IBC structure.

International audience; Tandem iron/zinc or iron/indium-catalysed reductions of various primary amides to amines under hydrosilylation conditions are reported under visible light activation. By a simple modification of the nature of the co-catalyst (Zn(OTf)(2) vs In(OTf)(3)), Fe(CO)(4)(IMes) can promote the highly chemoselective reduction of primary amides into primary amines (21 examples, up to 93 % isolated yields) and secondary amines (8 examples, up to 51 % isolated yields), respectively. Notably, both benzamide and alkanamide derivatives can be reduced.

Solid‐state transistor sensors that can detect biomolecules in real time are highly attractive for emerging bioanalytical applications. However, combining upscalable manufacturing with the required performance remains challenging. Here, an alternative biosensor transistor concept is developed, which relies on a solution‐processed In2O3/ZnO semiconducting heterojunction featuring a geometrically engineered tri‐channel architecture for the rapid, real‐time detection of important biomolecules. The sensor combines a high electron mobility channel, attributed to the electronic properties of the In2O3/ZnO heterointerface, in close proximity to a sensing surface featuring tethered analyte receptors. The unusual tri‐channel design enables strong coupling between the buried electron channel and electrostatic perturbations occurring during receptor–analyte interactions allowing for robust, real‐time detection of biomolecules down to attomolar (am) concentrations. The experimental findings are corroborated by extensive device simulations, highlighting the unique advantages of the heterojunction tri‐channel design. By functionalizing the surface of the geometrically engineered channel with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) antibody receptors, real‐time detection of the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike S1 protein down to am concentrations is demonstrated in under 2 min in physiological relevant conditions., A solution‐processed metal oxide heterojunction channel with a geometrically engineered tri‐channel architecture several millimeters in size, is developed and used as a generic platform for robust, selective, and ultrasensitive detection of various biomolecules. As a proof‐of‐concept, selective sensing of the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein down to attomolar concentrations in under 2 min is demonstrated.

2D ferroelectricity in van‐der‐Waals‐stacked materials such as indium selenide (In2Se3) has attracted interests because the ferroelectricity is robust even in ultrathin layers, which is useful for the miniaturization of ferroelectric field effect transistors. To implement In2Se3 in nanoscale ferroelectric devices, an understanding of the domain structure and switching dynamics in the 2D limit is essential. In this study, a biased scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) tip is used to locally switch polarized domains in β′‐In2Se3, and the reconfiguration of these domains are directly visualized using STM. The room‐temperature surface of β′‐In2Se3 breaks into 1D nanostriped domains, which changes into a zig‐zag striped domains of β″ phase at low temperatures. These two types of domains can coexist, and by applying a tip‐sample bias, they can be interchangeably switched locally, showing volatile or nonvolatile like behavior depending on the threshold voltage applied. An atomic model is proposed to explain the switching mechanism based on tip‐induced flexoelectric effect and the ferroelastic switching between β′ and β″ phases.

A series of group 13 complexes of the general type [{(WCA‐IDipp)EX3}Li(solv)] (E=B, Al, Ga, In; X=Cl, Br) that bear an anionic N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand with a weakly coordinating borate moiety (WCA‐IDipp, WCA=B(C6F5)3 and IDipp=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene) were prepared by the reaction of the respective group 13 trihalides (EX3) with the lithium salt [(WCA‐IDipp)Li ⋅ toluene]. The molecular structures of the BBr3, AlCl3, AlBr3, GaCl3 and InCl3 adducts were established by X‐ray diffraction analyses, revealing the formation of coordination polymers linked by halide‐lithium interactions, except for the indium derivative, which consists of isolated [Li(THF)4]+ and [(WCA‐IDipp)InCl3]− ions in the solid state., Expanding the library: Several group 13 complexes of the type [((WCA‐IDipp)EX3)Li] (E=B, Al, Ga and In; X=Cl, Br) that bear anionic N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands with a weakly coordinating borate moiety were prepared.

Organogallium and ‐indium compounds are useful reagents in organic synthesis because of their moderate stability, efficient reactivity and high chemoselectivity. Carbogallation and ‐indation of a carbon‐carbon multiple bond achieves the simultaneous formation of carbon‐carbon and carbon‐metal bonds. Heterogallation and ‐indation construct carbon‐heteroatom and carbon‐metal bonds. Therefore, these reaction systems represent a significant synthetic method for organogalliums and ‐indiums. Many chemists have attempted to apply various types of unsaturated compounds such as alkynes, alkenes, and allenes to these reaction systems. This minireview provides an overview of carboindation and ‐gallation as well as heteroindation and ‐gallation., Organogallium and ‐indium compounds are useful reagents in organic synthesis due their moderate stability. Carbogallation and ‐indation of carbon‐carbon multiple‐bonds achieves simultaneous formation of carbon‐carbon and carbon‐metal bonds. And, heterogallation and ‐indation are used to construct carbon‐heteroatom and carbon‐metal bonds. So, these reaction systems represent significant synthetic methods for the use of organogalliums and ‐indiums. Various unsaturated compounds, such as alkynes, alkenes, and allenes are applicable to these reaction systems to access to organogalliums and ‐indiums with diverse functionalities.

Syngas (CO/H2 ) is a feedstock for the production of a variety of valuable chemicals and liquid fuels, and CO2 electrochemical reduction to syngas is very promising. However, the production of syngas with high efficiency is difficult. Herein, we show that defective indium selenide synthesized by an electrosynthesis method on carbon paper (γ-In2 Se3 /CP) is an extremely efficient electrocatalyst for this reaction. CO and H2 were the only products and the CO/H2 ratio could be tuned in a wide range by changing the applied potential or the composition of the electrolyte. In particular, using nanoflower-like γ-In2 Se3 /CP (F-γ-In2 Se3 /CP) as the electrode, the current density could be as high as 90.1 mA cm-2 at a CO/H2 ratio of 1:1. In addition, the Faradaic efficiency of CO could reach 96.5 % with a current density of 55.3 mA cm-2 at a very low overpotential of 220 mV. The outstanding electrocatalytic performance of F-γ-In2 Se3 /CP can be attributed to its defect-rich 3D structure and good contact with the CP substrate.