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Further improving the performance of wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells has attracted significant attention due to its crucial role in further lifting the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite-based tandem solar cells. The majority of the efforts have focused on reducing the loss of open-circuit voltage (Voc), while little attention has been paid to improving the fill factor (FF). Herein, we employ a crown ether to manipulate the crystallization process of wide-bandgap perovskites. The strong affinity of crown ether with the metal cations suppresses the fast precipitation of cesium salts and delays the crystallization process during the deposition of the perovskite, leading to large grains and elimination of lateral grain boundaries. Moreover, the perovskite film treated with the crown ether exhibits a pronounced orientation of (110), leading to high conductivity and mobility. The improved charge transport properties within the perovskite significantly increase the FF of the as-prepared perovskite solar cell by an absolute value of 3%. In combination with the passivation of uncoordinated Pb2+ defects, the champion wide-bandgap (1.68 eV) solar cell with an n–i–p architecture shows a high FF of 83%, a Voc of 1.21 V, and a PCE of 20.6%. Meanwhile, the long-term stability of the devices is enhanced, with the unencapsulated devices retaining 99.6% of their initial PCE after 1080 hours of storage in air. This work presents a new strategy to further improve the performance of wide-bandgap perovskites and perovskite-based tandem devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the injection dependence of carrier lifetimes of p‐ and n‐type samples passivated by doped‐polycrystalline silicon (poly‐Si) (p+ and n+ poly‐Si) contacts. A strong apparent injection dependence of the carrier lifetimes is observed in p‐n junction samples (p+ poly‐Si on n‐type or n+ poly‐Si on p‐type) but no injection dependence is observed in high‐low junction samples (p+ poly‐Si on p‐type or n+ poly‐Si on n‐type). Further, photoluminescence images captured at two illumination intensities of 0.05 and 0.87 suns reveal that edge recombination contributed the strong apparent injection dependence in p‐n junction samples. Furthermore, this apparent injection dependence increases as the sample size is reduced, and as the sheet resistance of the doped poly‐Si contacts is decreased, allowing more effective transport of minority carriers to the recombination‐active edge regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We investigated the effects and target of gastrodin (GAS) for treating depression through network pharmacology combined with experimentation. Methods: The therapeutic target and signal of GAS for depression were analyzed by network pharmacology. Depression in mice was mimicked with a chronic unpredictable mouse stress (CUMS) model. Through open field, elevated plus maze, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests, the effects of GAS on the CUMS mice behaviors were examined, and the levels of neurotransmitters were detected. The histopathological changes were assayed by H&E and IHC staining, and the protein expressions were detected by Western blotting. Small molecule‐protein docking and molecular dynamics experiments were conducted to simulate the binding mode between GAS and Caspase‐3. Results: Network pharmacological analysis revealed that Caspase‐3 was the action target of GAS. GAS could improve depression‐like behaviors in CUMS mice, elevate their neurotransmitter levels, ameliorate their nerve cell injury, and inhibit their Caspase‐3 expression. After knocking out Caspase‐3, the effects of GAS were inhibited. Molecular dynamics simulation and small molecule‐protein docking found that GAS bound to Caspase‐3 at SER25, inhibiting the maturation and activation of Caspase‐3. Conclusion: We find that GAS can act as a Caspase‐3 inhibitor, which improves depression‐like behaviors and nerve cell injury in CUMS mice by inhibiting Caspase‐3‐mediated apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doped polysilicon (poly-Si) passivating contacts have emerged as a key technology for the next generation of silicon solar cells in mass production, owing to their excellent performance and high compatibility with the existing passivated emitter and rear cell technology. However, the current solar cell architecture based on a rear-side electron-selective (n+) poly-Si contact is also approaching its practical limit (∼26%) in mass production. The full potential of doped poly-Si passivating contacts can only be realized through incorporation of both electron-selective and hole-selective (p+) poly-Si contacts. While studies of both p+ and n+ poly-Si contacts commenced simultaneously, significant performance differences have arisen. Phosphorus-doped poly-Si contacts consistently outperform boron-doped counterparts, displaying typically lower recombination current density (J0) values (1 – 5 fA/cm2 vs 7 – 15 fA/cm2). This discrepancy can be attributed to inadequate optimization of p+ poly-Si contacts and fundamental limitations related to boron doping. The poorer passivation of p+ poly-Si contacts can be at least partly attributed to boron segregation into the interfacial oxide layers, compromising the interfacial oxide integrity and reducing the chemical passivation effectiveness. This review critically examines the progress of p+ poly-Si contacts characterized by cell efficiency and J0 values, delves into existing challenges, identifies potential solutions, and explores some potential solar cell architectures to enhance efficiency by incorporating p+ poly-Si contacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the antidepressant effects and targets of atractylenolide I (ATR) through a network pharmacological approach. Relevant targets of ATR and depression analyzed by network pharmacology were scored (identifying 5‐HT2A targets). Through elevated plus maze, open field, tail suspension, and forced swimming tests, the behavioral changes of mice with depression (chronic unpredictable mild stress [CUMS]) were examined, and the levels of neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine (5‐HT, DA, and NE) were determined. The binding of ATR to 5‐HT2A was verified by small molecular‐protein docking. ATR improved the behaviors of CUMS mice, elevated their levels of neurotransmitters 5‐HT, DA, and NE, and exerted a protective effect on their nerve cell injury. After 5‐HT2A knockout, ATR failed to further improve the CUMS behaviors. According to the results of small molecular‐protein docking and network pharmacological analysis, ATR acted as an inhibitor by binding to 5‐HT2A. ATR can improve the behaviors and modulate the neurotransmitters of CUMS mice by targeting 5‐HT2A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sphenoid sinus inverted papilloma (IP) is a very infrequent tumor, and the combination of sphenoidal IP with pituitary tumor is extremely rare. In this report, the authors describe the case of a 63-year-old male with oculomotor nerve palsy in the left eye due to sellar region tumor. After endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery, the postoperative pathological examination confirmed the co-occurrence of an sphenoidal IP and pituitary adenoma. To our knowledge, the present case is the second reported case of an IP with a pituitary adenoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colistin is used as a last-line therapy against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). However, colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae is increasingly reported worldwide. This study aims to investigate the instrumental role of insertion sequence (IS) elements in colistin resistance through mgrB disruption in K. pneumoniae during treatment. Five clinical isolates of CRKP, designated KPN1~KPN5 were collected from the lower respiratory tract of a patient with chest infection before and after treatment with colistin. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method. Whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics were used to analyze the sequence types (STs), resistance genes, and genetic characteristics of the five isolates of K. pneumoniae . Antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated that all five K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to cephalosporins (ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, and cefepime), several carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem), cefoperazone-sulbactam, piperacillin-tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, and fosfomycin, whereas they were sensitive to amikacin and tigecycline. In addition, three of these isolates were resistant to colistin, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of >8 mg/L. Whole genome sequencing revealed that all five K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to sequence type 1 (ST1), which shared an identical bla KPC-2 . Notably, disruption of mgrB by the IS Kpn26 insertion sequence was shown to be the primary colistin resistance mechanism during the treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of IS Kpn26 element mediating mgrB disruption in the ST1 colistin and CRKP obtained from a patient with chest infection in mainland China. This study provides new research ideas to explore the clinical drug resistance mechanism of CRKP and the critical need to monitor and understand resistance mechanisms to preserve the efficacy of last-line antibiotics such as colistin., Importance: Of note, this chapter gives an update on colistin resistance in sequence type 1 Klebsiella pneumoniae , by focusing on the mgrB disrupted by IS Kpn26 element.

Luminescent coupling (LC) is a key phenomenon in monolithic tandem solar cells. This study presents a nondestructive technique to quantitatively evaluate the LC effect, addressing a gap in the existing predictions made by optical modeling. The method involves measuring the ratio of photons emitted from the high bandgap top cell that escape through the rear, contributing additional current to the bottom cell, and to those escaping from the front side of top cell. The findings indicate that in the analyzed monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, more than 85% of the emitted photons escaping from the perovskite top cell are used to generate additional current in the bottom cell. This process notably reduces the mismatch in the generated current between each subcell, particularly when the current is limited by the low bandgap subcell. The presented method is applicable to a variety of monolithic tandem structures, providing vital information for subcell characterization, providing vital information for predicting energy output and optimization for outdoor applications., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background: Immune disorders and autoantibodies has been noted in both primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Whether the two disorders are correlated is unclear. The lack of evidence on the incidence of and risk factors for SLE in primary ITP patients poses a challenge for prediction in clinical practice. Therefore, we conducted this study., Methods: The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023403665). Web of Science, Cochrane, PubMed, and EMBASE were searched for articles published from inception to 30 September 2023 on patients who were first diagnosed with primary ITP and subsequently developed into SLE. Furthermore, the risk factors were analyzed. Study quality was estimated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The statistical process was implemented using the R language., Results: This systematic review included eight articles. The incidence of SLE during the follow-up after ITP diagnosis was 2.7% (95% CI [1.3-4.4%]), with an incidence of 4.6% (95% CI [1.6-8.6%]) in females and 0 (95% CI [0.00-0.4%]) in males. Older age (OR = 6.31; 95% CI [1.11-34.91]), positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) (OR = 6.64; 95% CI [1.40-31.50]), hypocomplementemia (OR = 8.33; 95% CI [1.62-42.91]), chronic ITP (OR = 24.67; 95% CI [3.14-100.00]), organ bleeding (OR = 13.67; 95% CI [2.44-76.69]), and female (OR = 20.50; 95% CI [4.94-84.90]) were risk factors for subsequent SLE in ITP patients., Conclusion: Patients with primary ITP are at higher risk of SLE. Specific follow-up and prevention strategies should be tailored especially for older females with positive ANA, hypocomplementemia, or chronic ITP. In subsequent studies, we need to further investigate the risk factors and try to construct corresponding risk prediction models to develop specific prediction strategies for SLE., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Zhou et al.)