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Matched energy level alignment and minimal non-radiative recombination at the buried perovskite/charge transport material interface are essential for efficient electron transfer and highly-efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, we develop a facile and feasible method by inserting Cesium(I) Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (CsTFSI) interlayer to fabricate high performance PSCs with negligible hysteresis. With CsTFSI modification, tin oxide displays less trap density, improved electrical conductivity and better energy level alignment with perovskite, leading to a considerable increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE). Consequently, the champion target device presents a PCE of 22.05%, much higher than that of the control device (19.93%). Our work provides an effective and simple strategy for the modification of perovskite buried interface to obtain highly efficient PSCs.

An improved very high temperature gas-cooled reactor (VHTR) and copper-chlorine (Cu–Cl) cycle-based nuclear hydrogen production system is proposed and investigated in this paper, in order to reveal the unknown thermo-economic characteristics of the system under variable operating conditions. Energy, exergy and economic analysis method and particle swarm optimization algorithm are used to model and optimize the system, respectively. Parametric analysis of the effects of several key operating parameters on the system performance is conducted, and energy loss, exergy loss, and investment cost distributions of the system are discussed under three typical production modes. Results show that increasing the reactor subsystem pressure ratio can enhance the system's thermo-economic performance, and the total efficiencies and cost of producing compressed hydrogen from nuclear energy are respectively lower and higher than that of generating electricity. When the system operates at the maximum hydrogen production rate of 403.1 mol/s, the system's net electrical power output, thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency, and specific energy cost are found to be 38.77 MW, 39.3%, 41.26%, and 0.0731 $/kW·h, respectively. And when the system's hydrogen production load equals to 0, these values are respectively calculated to be 177.25 MW, 50.64%, 53.29%, and 0.0268 $/kW·h. In addition, more than 90% of the system's total energy losses are caused by condenser and Cu–Cl cycle, and about 50–60% of the system's total exergy destructions occur in VHTR. About 60% and 30% of the system's specific energy cost are respectively caused by the equipment investment and the system operation & maintenance, and the investment costs of VHTR and Cu–Cl plant are the system's main capital investment sources.

Semitransparent organic solar cells (STOSCs) are consisted of semitransparent active layer with a structure of both top and bottom transparent electrodes and can be used as power generation windows for both electricity generation and light transmission. In order to better realize these two functions, numerous attentions have been paid on the transparent top electrodes to acquire excellent transparency and maintain high conductivity, as well as the novel photoactive materials to achieve the absorption of near-infrared region. Herein, we review recent advances in a variety of transparent top electrodes and active materials for highly efficient STOSCs, moreover, we also further highlight the application of optical engineering in STOSCs, and give some thoughts about these STOSCs.

Summary Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF)-induced asthenoteratozoospermia is a common cause of male infertility. Previous studies have identified several MMAF-associated genes, highlighting the condition’s genetic heterogeneity. To further define the genetic causes underlying MMAF, we performed whole-exome sequencing in a cohort of 643 Chinese MMAF-affected men. Bi-allelic DNAH10 variants were identified in five individuals with MMAF from four unrelated families. These variants were either rare or absent in public population genome databases and were predicted to be deleterious by multiple bioinformatics tools. Morphological and ultrastructural analyses of the spermatozoa obtained from men harboring bi-allelic DNAH10 variants revealed striking flagellar defects with the absence of inner dynein arms (IDAs). DNAH10 encodes an axonemal IDA heavy chain component that is predominantly expressed in the testes. Immunostaining analysis indicated that DNAH10 localized to the entire sperm flagellum of control spermatozoa. In contrast, spermatozoa from the men harboring bi-allelic DNAH10 variants exhibited an absence or markedly reduced staining intensity of DNAH10 and other IDA components, including DNAH2 and DNAH6. Furthermore, the phenotypes were recapitulated in mouse models lacking Dnah10 or expressing a disease-associated variant, confirming the involvement of DNAH10 in human MMAF. Altogether, our findings in humans and mice demonstrate that DNAH10 is essential for sperm flagellar assembly and that deleterious bi-allelic DNAH10 variants can cause male infertility with MMAF. These findings will provide guidance for genetic counseling and insights into the diagnosis of MMAF-associated asthenoteratozoospermia.

Research question Multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) is characterized by excessive immotile spermatozoa with severe flagellar abnormalities in the ejaculate. Previous studies have reported a heterogeneous genetic profile associated with MMAF. What other genetic variants might explain the cause of MMAF? Design Whole-exome sequencing was conducted in a cohort of 90 Chinese patients with MMAF. The pathogenicity of identified mutations was assessed through electron microscopy and immunofluorescent examinations. Results Three unrelated men with bi-allelic DNAH2 variants were identified. Sanger sequencing verified that the six novel variants originated from every parent. All these variants were located at the conserved domains of DNAH2 and predicted to be deleterious by bioinformatic tools. Haematoxylin and eosin staining and scanning electron microscopy revealed that spermatozoa harbouring DNAH2 variants displayed severely aberrant morphology mainly with absent and short flagella (≥78%). Moreover, transmission electron microscopy revealed the obvious absence of a central pair of microtubules and inner dynein arms in the spermatozoa with mutated DNAH2. Immunofluorescence data further validated these findings, showing reduced DNAH2 protein expression in the spermatozoa with DNAH2 variants, compared with normal spermatozoa. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection using spermatozoa from the three men with mutated DNAH2 resulted in blastocyst formation in all cases. Embryo transfer was carried out in two couples, both resulting in clinical pregnancy. Conclusions These experimental and clinical data suggest that bi-allelic DNAH2 variants might induce MMAF-associated asthenoteratozoospermia, which can be overcome through intracytoplasmic sperm injection. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the genetic landscape of asthenoteratozoospermia and clinical counselling of male infertility.

Asthenoteratozoospermia characterized by multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) has been identified as a sub-type of male infertility. Recent progress has identified several MMAF-associated genes with an autosomal recessive inheritance in human affected individuals, but the etiology in approximately 40% of affected individuals remains unknown. Here, we conducted whole-exome sequencing (WES) and identified hemizygous missense variants in the X-linked CFAP47 in three unrelated Chinese individuals with MMAF. These three CFAP47 variants were absent in human control population genome databases and were predicted to be deleterious by multiple bioinformatic tools. CFAP47 encodes a cilia- and flagella-associated protein that is highly expressed in testis. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays revealed obviously reduced levels of CFAP47 in spermatozoa from all three men harboring deleterious missense variants of CFAP47. Furthermore, WES data from an additional cohort of severe asthenoteratozoospermic men originating from Australia permitted the identification of a hemizygous Xp21.1 deletion removing the entire CFAP47 gene. All men harboring hemizygous CFAP47 variants displayed typical MMAF phenotypes. We also generated a Cfap47-mutated mouse model, the adult males of which were sterile and presented with reduced sperm motility and abnormal flagellar morphology and movement. However, fertility could be rescued by the use of intra-cytoplasmic sperm injections (ICSIs). Altogether, our experimental observations in humans and mice demonstrate that hemizygous mutations in CFAP47 can induce X-linked MMAF and asthenoteratozoospermia, for which good ICSI prognosis is suggested. These findings will provide important guidance for genetic counseling and assisted reproduction treatments.

Due to the compromise between exciton diffusion length and light absorption, the active layer thickness of organic solar cells (OSCs) is limited. As we all know, embedding metal nanostructures into OSCs can improve the performance of OSCs by triggering surface plasma resonance, scattering, and other effect without increasing the physical thickness of light trapping layer. Besides, the plasma response and other roles will distinguish when metal nanostructures are embedded into different position of OSCs, which are equally important to the performance of OSCs. In this paper, the enhancement mechanisms of various metal nanostructures in different layers of OSCs are summarized from the electricity and optics aspects. This review also further highlights the progress of plasma effect and their working mechanism in OSCs, and it is expected to provide more perspective of plasma effect for performance enhancement of OSCs.

Montmorillonite (MMT) powder, as the most effective hemostats in natural silicates, is restricted for commercial application due to its embolic effect. Until now, it's still a challenge to control the leakage of MMT and avoid its side-effects. Herein, poly aldehyde dextran (PDA)/MMT composite sponge (PM) with commendable tissue adhesion, antibacterial, and wound healing performances is developed for massive hemorrhage control. Based on the high degree of perfect synergism of PDA and MMT, the PM sponge can rapidly seal the wound, and promote cells aggregation and adhesion, whole coagulation system activation, resulting in shortened clotting time from 480 s to

Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is a severe form of asthenoteratozoospermia. Although recent studies have revealed several MMAF-associated genes and demonstrated MMAF to be a genetically heterogeneous disease, at least one-third of the cases are still not well understood for their etiology. Here, we identified bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in CFAP58 by using whole-exome sequencing in five (5.6%) unrelated individuals from a cohort of 90 MMAF-affected Chinese men. Each of the men harboring bi-allelic CFAP58 variants presented typical MMAF phenotypes. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated striking flagellar defects with axonemal and mitochondrial sheath malformations. CFAP58 is predominantly expressed in the testis and encodes a cilia- and flagella-associated protein. Immunofluorescence assays showed that CFAP58 localized at the entire flagella of control sperm and predominantly concentrated in the mid-piece. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays showed that the abundances of axoneme ultrastructure markers SPAG6 and SPEF2 and a mitochondrial sheath protein, HSP60, were significantly reduced in the spermatozoa from men harboring bi-allelic CFAP58 variants. We generated Cfap58-knockout mice via CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The male mice were infertile and presented with severe flagellar defects, consistent with the sperm phenotypes in MMAF-affected men. Overall, our findings in humans and mice strongly suggest that CFAP58 plays a vital role in sperm flagellogenesis and demonstrate that bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in CFAP58 can cause axoneme and peri-axoneme malformations leading to male infertility. This study provides crucial insights for understanding and counseling of MMAF-associated asthenoteratozoospermia.

NiO has a perfect-aligned energy level with CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite such that it serves as a hole transport layer (HTL), but NiO-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) still suffer from low efficiency due to the poor interface contact between the perovskite layer and the NiO HTL, and haphazardly stacked perovskite grains. Herein, poly[(9,9­dioctylfluorenyl­2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(1,4-benzo-{2,1′,3}-thiadiazole)] (PFBT) is introduced between the NiO and perovskite layers in the form of a polymer aggregate to enhance perovskite crystallinity and decrease the interface charge recombination between perovskite and NiO in PSCs, resulting in an improved performance. Moreover, PFBT modified perovskite films showed sharper, smoother, and more compact crystalline grains with fewer grain boundaries, leading to the decreased nonradiative recombination. This study offers a simple strategy to achieve highly efficient PSCs with the incorporation of polymer semiconductor aggregates to passivate the interface between the perovskite and NiO layers.

It is an important strategy to improve the performance of polymer solar cells (PSCs) by incorporating metal nanoparticles into functional layers. Herein, gold (Au)@titanium dioxide (TiO2) plasmonic core-shell nanoparticles (PCSNPs) are synthesized and doped into zinc oxide (ZnO) as hybrid electron transport layer in PSCs. Improved light trapping and electrical conductivity are achieved through localized surface plasma resonance of Au@TiO2 PCSNPs. As a result, the short-circuit current density is apparently enhanced, while remaining the unchanged open-circuit voltage. The maximum PCE of 8.801% is obtained when 1.5 wt% Au@TiO2 PCSNPs are introduced into the ZnO layer. This study provides a new inspiration for the development of high efficiency PSCs.

Obesity has been associated with increased risk of dementia with several studies reporting a reverse causality, with weight loss preceding the onset of dementia.Two thousand forty-five non-demented Framingham Offspring participants, aged 30 to 50 years, were included to determine effect of body mass index (BMI) decline patterns from mid- to late life over a 39-year follow-up. Group-based trajectory models were used to create BMI trajectories.Decreasing BMI trends were associated with higher risk of developing dementia in late life. Decliners with first early mid-life increasing and then later mid-life declining patterns of BMI were at greater increased risk of dementia compared to non-decliners (hazard ratio 3.84, 95% confidence interval 1.39-10.60).While patterns of decline in BMI were associated with dementia, a subgroup with a pattern of initial increasing BMI followed by declining BMI, both occurring within mid-life, appeared to be central to declining BMI-dementia association. Further validations are needed to provide robust conclusions.

As a type of severe asthenoteratospermia, multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) are characterized by the presence of immotile spermatozoa with severe flagellar malformations. MMAF is a genetically heterogeneous disorder, and the known MMAF-associated genes can only account for approximately 60% of human MMAF cases. Here we conducted whole-exome sequencing and identified bi-allelic truncating mutations of the TTC29 (tetratricopeptide repeat domain 29) gene in three (3.8%) unrelated cases from a cohort of 80 MMAF-affected Han Chinese men. TTC29 is preferentially expressed in the testis, and TTC29 protein contains the tetratricopeptide repeat domains that play an important role in cilia- and flagella-associated functions. All of the men harboring TTC29 mutations presented a typical MMAF phenotype and dramatic disorganization in axonemal and/or other peri-axonemal structures. Immunofluorescence assays of spermatozoa from men harboring TTC29 mutations showed deficiency of TTC29 and remarkably reduced staining of intraflagellar-transport-complex-B-associated proteins (TTC30A and IFT52). We also generated a Ttc29-mutated mouse model through the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Remarkably, Ttc29-mutated male mice also presented reduced sperm motility, abnormal flagellar ultrastructure, and male subfertility. Furthermore, intracytoplasmic sperm injections performed for Ttc29-mutated mice and men harboring TTC29 mutations consistently acquired satisfactory outcomes. Collectively, our experimental observations in humans and mice suggest that bi-allelic mutations in TTC29, as an important genetic pathogeny, can induce MMAF-related asthenoteratospermia. Our study also provided effective guidance for clinical diagnosis and assisted reproduction treatments.

Resumen Introduccion y objetivos El estudio se realizo con el objetivo de identificar los factores de riesgo de la formacion de calculos en el tracto urinario superior en pacientes con derivacion urinaria tras cistectomia radical (CR). Materiales y metodos Se recogieron los datos de todos los pacientes con derivacion despues de la CR tratados en nuestro centro desde enero del 2005 hasta diciembre del 2013. Se incluyeron 3 tipos de derivaciones diferentes: neovejiga ortotopica (NO: 168 pacientes), conducto ileal (CI: 93 pacientes) o ureterostomia cutanea (UC: 104 pacientes). Se realizo analisis de regresion logistica univariante y multivariante para identificar los predictores independientes de formacion de calculos en el tracto superior. Resultados Se incluyo a 365 pacientes tratados consecutivamente (316 hombres, 49 mujeres). Con una mediana de seguimiento de 48 meses (rango 12-65 meses), 36 pacientes (9,9%) desarrollaron calculos en el tracto superior. Entre ellos, 26 (72,2%), 5 (13,9%) y 5 (13,9%) pacientes fueron tratados mediante NO, CI y UC, respectivamente. Veinticinco pacientes presentaron calculos renales y 11, calculos ureterales. La cirugia minimamente invasiva (litotricia endoscopica con laser mediante abordaje anterogrado o retrogrado en 24 casos, nefrolitotomia percutanea en 9 casos y litotricia con ondas de choque en 3 casos) se realizo con exito en todos los casos. En el analisis uni y multivariante de regresion logistica, se encontro que las variables diabetes mellitus, la hipertension, la infeccion del tracto urinario (ITU), la estenosis de la anastomosis y el tipo de derivacion se asocian positivamente con la formacion de calculos en el tracto urinario superior. Conclusiones Podemos afirmar que la diabetes mellitus, la hipertension, la ITU, la estenosis de la anastomosis y el tipo de derivacion son variables predictoras de la formacion de calculos en el tracto superior.

Interfacial engineering plays an important role on determining the charge extraction and recombination in organic solar cells (OSCs). In this paper, the performance of OSCs was improved by incorporating alkali metal salts into the ZnO electron transport layer (ETL). Under the optimal alkali salt concentration and film preparation condition, the power conversion efficiency of PTB7:PC71BM based device was enhanced from 7.581% to 9.074%, accounting for a 20% increase. Additionally, ZnO ETL doped with alkali metal salts can effectively improve light absorption, electron transport and extraction as well as the better interface contact between ETL and active layer, so as to achieve large short-circuit current density, fill factor, and small series resistance, respectively. This study provides a facile and low cost method to enhance efficiency of OSCs.

Charge carrier recombination occurring in the interface has become a major hindrance impairing the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Passivation of electronic defects at the surface and grain boundaries is one of the most important strategies to suppress charge recombination and improve crystallization in PSCs. Herein, sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) passivation layer was incorporated into the TiO2/perovskite interface to improve charge transfer. Compared to the devices without Na2SO4, the device with the optimized concentration of Na2SO4 solution exhibits an increased short-circuit current density of 22.83 mA/cm2 and an enhanced fill factor of 73.68%, yielding an increased power conversion efficiency from 15.20% to 18.75%. The efficiency improvement is attributed to the decreased defects and traps as well as the enhanced film crystallization quality.

Wound dressing is of significant importance to promote cutaneous wound healing process. To develop an effective wound dressing, a PVA/DA hydrogel was prepared using a Poly (vinyl alcohol)/Dextran-aldehyde solution blend, followed by crosslinking via freeze-thaw method and freeze-drying. We characterized the hydrogel by infrared spectroscopy, mechanical property tests, swelling behavior test and biocompatibility test. Results showed that the PVA/DA hydrogels had a 3-dimensional, highly porous structure with uniformly distributed pores of 5–10 μm, strong tensile strength of 5.6 MPa, efficient ability to absorb fluid of 6 time its weight and suitable water vapor transmission rate of 2100 g m−2 day−1 to keep a moist environment and good biocompatibility shown by very low hemolysis and no cytotoxicity. In wound healing tests using a full-thickness skin wound model, macroscopic observations showed that the wound covered by the PVA/DA hydrogel almost reached complete healing faster by 10 days, while histological analysis indicated a faster regeneration of skin. Thus, the PVA/DA hydrogel was suitable for application as a wound dressing and may have potential for use in various biomedical applications.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is the most widely-used transparent anode material of commercialization. However, the partially bonding between PSS and PEDOT greatly decreases the structural and electronic homogeneity of PEDOT:PSS system. In view of their molecular structure and functional groups, a S, N co-doped carbon nanodots (CNDs) was developed as ameliorant to prepare PEDOT:PSS:CNDs hole transport layer. The uncombined S double bond introduces more microcosmic interstice inside CNDs, accompanying with many N-rich amino on the surface. This highly reactive products can band the redundant PSS and remove the insulating component from PEDOT:PSS mixture, leading to the conductivity and structural homogeneity improvement. The hole-transport capability of PEDOT:PSS:CNDs is systematically investigated in inverted planar hetero-junction (PHJ) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) fabricated in air, and an optimized power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.03% was achieved, which is superior to PEDOT:PSS based PSCs produced under atmospheric. This work offers a new strategy to improve the charge transfer capability of PEDOT:PSS in PSCs.

In this work we present a physics-based semi-empirical large-signal model for GaN MIS-HEMTs, which introduces the non-segmented, smooth continuous equations to describe the static and dynamic characteristics of GaN MIS-HEMTs in different working regions. The unique physical effect of threshold voltage drift was considered for MIS-HEMTs in the current model, in addition to effects of the channel length modulation and the temperature drift. In addition, a current-controlled current source was used in the dynamic model to characterize the nonlinear capacitance including the gate-drain capacitance CGD, gate-source capacitance CGS and drain-source capacitance CDS at different operating voltages. The model is in excellent agreement with the experimental data for both drain current and capacitances over a typical range of applied voltages and temperatures.

Microchannel reactors are widely used in different fields due to their intensive micromixing and, thus, high mass-transfer efficiency. In this work, a single countercurrent-flow microchannel reactor (S-CFMCR) at the size of ~ 1 mm was developed by steel micro-capillary and laser drilling technology. Utilizing the Villermaux/Dushman parallel competing reaction, numerical and experimental studies were carried out to investigate the micromixing performance (expressed as the segregation index XS) of liquids inside S-CFMCR at the low flow velocity regime. The effects of various operating conditions and design parameters of S-CFMCR, e.g., inlet Reynolds number (Re), volumetric flow ratio (R), inlet diameter (d) and outlet length (L), on the quality of micromixing were studied qualitatively. It was found that the micromixing efficiency was enhanced with increasing Re, but weakened with the increase of R. Moreover, d and L also have a significant influence on micromixing. CFD results were in good agreement with experimental data. In addition, the visualization of velocity magnitude, turbulent kinetic energy and concentration distributions of various ions inside S-CFMCR was illustrated as well. Based on the incorporation model, the estimated minimum micromixing time tm of S-CFMCR is ~ 2 × 10−4 s.

Research question Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) comprise a rare congenital disease that can cause primary male infertility. Several pathogenic genes (e.g. AKAP4, DNAH1, CFAP43 and CFAP44) are associated with MMAF but the pathogenic mechanisms have not been elucidated. Design Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was applied to identify the pathogenic genes in 13 Chinese patients with MMAF; the patients were unrelated but all had consanguineous parents (usually first cousins). Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining were employed to assess the pathogenicity of these mutations. Results Four novel homozygous CFAP43 mutations in four (30.8%) MMAF patients and one novel homozygous CFAP44 mutation in one (7.7%) other case were identified. The four novel homozygous CFAP43 mutations included one frameshift mutation (c.1140_1143del: p.Asn380Lysfs*3), one nonsense mutation (c.739A>T: p.Lys247*) and two missense mutations (c.1474G>C: p.Gln492Arg; c.4600C>G: p.Leu1534Val). The novel mutation in CFAP44 was a homozygous nonsense mutation (c.4963C>T: p.Arg1655*). Co-segregation of the mutations was verified by Sanger sequencing of the families. The relative mRNA expression levels of CFAP43 in patients 1 and 9 and the levels of CFAP44 in patient 5 were significantly lower than those in control sperm samples. Immunofluorescence analysis of CFAP43 showed the protein was absent in the sperm flagella of patients 1 and 9. Furthermore, two previously reported mutations of DNAH1 were also identified in another four (30.8%) patients. Conclusions This study demonstrated that CFAP43 and CFAP44 mutations are important causes of MMAF in the Chinese population. These novel mutations broaden the spectrum of CFAP43 and CFAP44 mutations.