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Purpose: The goal of this study was to develop an imaging probe—IRDye-680RD-OX40 mAb—that can be used for noninvasive imaging and optical imaging of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OX40/OX40 ligand (OX40L) interactions have been shown to exert potent costimulatory effects on T cell activation. Detectable change in T cell activation profiles was observed in early RA. Methods: OX40 expression pattern was analyzed by flow cytometry. N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) esters are used to label proteins selectively on free amino groups of OX40 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Characterization of IRDye-680RD-OX40 mAb was measured and a fluorescence spectrum gathered. Cell binding assay was also performed between activated and naïve murine T cells. Longitudinal near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging of the probe was performed on day 8, day 9, day 10, and day 11 of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) mouse model. Paw thickness and body weight were compared between the OX40 mAb and IgG injection groups. Results: NIRF imaging with IRDye-680RD-OX40 mAb revealed strong OX40-positive responses with high specificity. Flow analysis showed that OX40 was specifically expressed on the surface of T cells in RP and spleen of AIA model. The AIA group was significantly differentiated from the control group at all time points with imaging monitoring. The region of interest (ROI) was in line with ex vivo imaging and biodistribution study. This study highlights the potential utility of the OX40 NIRF imaging as a new strategy for RA prediction and T cell monitoring. Conclusion: The results provide evidence that IRDye-680RD-OX40 mAb detects organized T cells activation in early RA. The optical probe was capable of detection of RA pathogenesis. It identified transcriptional responses to RA that mediate its immune functions. Thus, it may be an ideal probe for RA imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Truck-wash facilities have become popularized globally on construction sites, and the wastewater was frequently treated by three-stage sedimentation basins. The wastewater and bacterial characteristics in three-stage sedimentation basins need to be studied, which might affect the treatment cost and reuse security. In this study, the wastewater characteristics, bacterial communities, and pathogenic bacteria distribution of three-stage sedimentation basins on four construction sites were investigated. Results indicated that truck-wash wastewater contained a high concentration of suspended solids (29–211 mg/L) and bacteria (4.2×103 to 2.7×104 colony forming units/mL). Proteobacteria (mean at 72.3%), Firmicutes (mean at 11.3%), and Bacteroidetes (mean at 10.6%) were the predominant bacterial phyla and Acinetobacter (mean at 18.4%), Chryseomicrobium (mean at 6.3%), and Paracoccus (mean at 6.1%) were the predominant bacterial genera. Truck-wash wastewater contained pathogenic bacteria, identified by the Illumina sequencing method. Acinetobacter, Shigella, or Escherichia (about 0.2%) and Legionella (about 0.2%) were the main pathogenic bacteria and Legionella should be a concern due to the wastewater reuse method. Traditional three-stage sedimentation basins should be simplified and further improved because of the lower suspended solids or pathogenic bacteria removal effect. The practical technology for suspended solids and pathogenic bacteria control in truck-wash wastewater should be further studied, and disinfection facilities should be applied to protect construction workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cs2AgBiBr6, as a benchmark lead‐free double perovskite, has emerged as a promising alternative to lead‐based perovskites because of its high stability, non‐toxicity, exceptional optoelectronic properties, and multifunctionality. To encourage further research on Cs2AgBiBr6 and its broad applications, in this review, its fundamental properties including the structure‐property relation, synthesis, stability, origin of absorption and photoluminescence, electron‐phonon coupling, role of defects, charge carrier dynamics, and bandgap modulation are comprehensively emphasized. The recent progress on the wide applications including solar cells, light/X‐ray detectors, and ferroelectric/magnetic devices are highlighted. Moreover, the challenges of Cs2AgBiBr6 materials and related applications are discussed and perspectives are provided for guiding the future development of this research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin (Sn) is a potential replacement for lead in organic–inorganic perovskite solar cell (PVSC) technology due to the attractive optoelectronic properties of Sn-perovskites. However, the poor stability of Sn2+ ions is still the main hindrance for achieving highly stable and efficient Sn-based PVSCs. In this work, anilinium hypophosphite (AHP) is introduced as a co-additive into a Sn-absorber perovskite precursor containing the tin fluoride (SnF2) additive. The incorporation of the AHP additive not only prohibits the phase separation of SnF2 but also passivates the perovskite films and finally results in absorbers with superior structural and optoelectronic properties. The underlying reason is related to the formation of a double-salt complex (Sn(H2PO2)2·SnF2) through the interaction between AHP and SnF2. The high quality of the absorber film induced by AHP delivers an improved device power conversion efficiency (PCE) with a higher open-circuit voltage than those without the AHP additive. More importantly, the device with the AHP additive can retain up to 97% of its PCE after 30 days of storage in a glovebox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is one of the foremost threats to female health nowadays. Tamoxifen, an antagonist of estrogen receptor-α (ERα), is the first choice for endocrine-dependent breast cancer (ERα-positive breast cancer) treatment. However, ERα has an important function in the normal physical regulation of estrogen, and current oral administration of tamoxifen has potential side effects on normal endocrine secretion. In the present work, we aim to develop novel approaches to increase the antitumor effect of tamoxifen on breast cancer cells and decrease the potential side effects in the human body during treatment. Methods: A temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel for tamoxifen (Tam-Gel) was generated. After establishing subcutaneous tumors formed by MCF-7, an ERα-positive breast cancer cell line, in nude mice, an intratumoral injection of Tam-Gel was performed to examine whether Tam-Gel facilitated the slow-release or antitumor effect of tamoxifen. A metastatic breast cancer model was established using the intrahepatic growth of MCF-7 cells in immunodeficient rats. Results: Tam-Gel can transform from liquid to hydrogel at room temperature. An intratumoral injection of Tam-Gel facilitated the slow-release or antitumor effect of tamoxifen. Once Tam-Gel, but not Tam-Sol, was administered by intratumoral injection, it significantly decreased the uptake of radionuclide probes (18F-fluoroestradiol or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose) by cells in rats' livers and the intrahepatic growth of MCF-7 cells in rats' livers. Conclusion: A novel slow-release system was successfully prepared to facilitate the long-term release of tamoxifen in breast cancer tissues, and achieved an antitumor effect in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Sb 2 S 3 films were in situ fabricated by a facile hydrothermal method. • Efficient planar Sb 2 S 3 solar cells were constructed using this method. • We developed a novel and useful method for fabricating Sb 2 S 3 films and devices. Abstract In this study, we reported a novel in situ hydrothermal approach for fabricating Sb 2 S 3 films. Metal Sb films were first deposited on substrates using room-temperature radio frequency magnetron sputtering and then undergo an in situ transformation to Sb 2 S 3 films through a novel low-temperature hydrothermal reaction. Characteristics of the obtained Sb 2 S 3 films prepared by our method were investigated. Planar Sb 2 S 3 solar cells utilizing in situ fabricated Sb 2 S 3 film as absorber has also been fabricated and yielded a power conversion efficiency of 1.32%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic condition of the joint disease. Chondrocyte is the sole cell type in joint tissues. Senescence of chondrocytes is known to contribute to the causation of osteoarthritis. Local inflammatory cytokines- caused chondrocytes senescence is proposed to be one of the molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis. In this study, we show that the bile acid receptor GPBAR1 (TGR5), a G protein couples bile acid receptor, plays important roles in protecting chondrocytes from interleukin 1β (IL-1β)- caused senescence. TGR5 is fairly expressed in cultured chondrocytes. Its expression is reduced in isolated chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients, and IL-1β treatment suppresses TGR5 expression. Activation of TGR5 by its synthetic agonist, INT-777, dramatically reduces senescence associated β galactosidase activity by IL-1β. Mechanistically, the action of INT-777 ameliorates IL-1β- induced chondrocytes entry of G0/G1 arrest phase and exit of S and G2/M phases. INT-777 inhibits IL-1β- induced expression of p21, PAI-1, and K382 acetylation of p53 as well as reduction of Sirt1. The knockdown of TRG5 abolished the protective role of INT-777 on these molecules. Collectively, our data indicates that activation of TGR5 is necessary for protection of IL-1β- induced chondrocytes senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a thin layer of high work function CuS was introduced to the interface between the anode and hole transporting layer (HTL) to modify the indium tin oxide (ITO) anode. Modified ITO substrates possess a higher work function, a lower sheet resistance and a negligible loss in transparency. More importantly, a thin layer of CuS can also benefit for the hole transporting of the device. Polymer solar cells (PSCs) utilizing modified ITO anodes exhibit a significant enhancement in power conversion efficiency ( PCE ) and air stability compared to devices with normal ITO anodes. This anode modification strategy applies to different active layer systems. Anode-modified devices with poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 61 BM) as the active layer exhibit a PCE of 3.5%, while poly(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethyl-hexyl)-thiophene-2-yl)-benzo[l,2-b:4,5-b′] dithiophene-alt-alkylcarbonyl-thieno[3,4-b]thiophene) (PBDTTT-C-T) and [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 71 BM) system shows a PCE of 7.4%. As a result, this work provides a good compatibility for modification of ITO by a thin layer of CuS in PSCs to achieve better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we in situ fabricated copper sulfide (CuS) on fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) substrate using a low temperature and low cost hydrothermal method and then organic solar cells (OSCs) were fabricated by using a thin layer of CuS film as hole transporting layer (HTL). Our CuS films, consisting of two-dimensional (2D) intersected hexagonal nanosheets, are stoichiometric and show p-type electrical conductivity, a good transparency and a high hole mobility. The Fermi level, valence and conduction band energies for CuS HTL are characterized in detail through photoelectron spectroscopy studies. The small energy barrier between the valance band of CuS and the HOMO of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and the high hole mobility and electrical conductivity of CuS nanosheet film benefit for the hole transporting. Therefore, CuS HTL to OSCs results in a power conversion efficiency of 3.4% with P3HT and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as the active layer, which is a 13.3% increase in performance than devices with a poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) HTL. Therefore, low-cost, environmental friendly and stable CuS is an appropriate choice for hole transporting materials (HTMs) in OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Single oriented Cu2O(011) films were fabricated on MgO(001) substrates at temperature from 450 to 600°C by pulsed laser deposition. In situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray induced Auger electron spectroscopy showed that the oxidation state of Cu should be Cu1+. In situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction, ex situ X-ray diffraction and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy have been used to characterize the structural properties of deposited Cu2O films. The coexistence of two kinds of domains in the Cu2O films was observed. The in-plane orientation relationships for the two kinds of domains are Cu2O[100]||MgO[110] and Cu2O[100]||MgO[1−10], respectively. The formed rotation domains, which perpendicular to each other, can be attributed to the mismatch of rotational symmetry at interface between Cu2O and MgO. The strip-like surface morphology of Cu2O films was investigated by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The band gap of Cu2O films was determined by using the linear extrapolation method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Anilinium hypophosphite was used as a co-additive in FASnI 3 perovskite. • Anilinium hypophosphite improved the perovskite optoelectronic properties. • Enhanced photovoltaic performance was obtained using new additive. Tin (Sn) is a promising substitute for lead (Pb) in organic–inorganic hybrid halide perovskite-photovoltaic devices, but it is prone to delivering low power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) due to the poor quality of Sn-perovskite films. In this work, anilinium hypophosphite (AHP) co-additive is used to fabricate high-quality FASnI 3 (FA+: formamidinium) perovskite films with suppressed phase-segregation and prolonged charge carrier lifetime. Perovskite films containing 0.05 M AHP are used to fabricate solar cells and deliver improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 5.48% (control devices: 4.04%). AHP eliminates the phase separation caused by SnF 2 in the absorber, leading to films with enhanced optoelectronic properties, hence the high performance of AHP-based devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) can be utilized as an ultrasensitive gas detection method. The basic principles of gas detection using PAS are discussed in this paper. First, the basic instrumentation for a PAS gas detection system is introduced focusing on the photoacoustic cell. The discussion includes non-resonant photoacoustic cells and the different types of resonant photoacoustic cells, including the longitudinal photoacoustic cell, the Helmholtz photoacoustic cell, the T-type photoacoustic cell, and the high-frequency resonant photoacoustic cell. The basic working principles of each of these, cells as well as the advantages and disadvantages of photoacoustic cells are discussed, and the development of newer types of photoacoustic cells in recent years is outlined in detail. This review provides detailed reference information and guidance for interested researchers who would like to design and build advanced photoacoustic cells for gas detection. Graphical abstract This is a visual representation of the abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one kind of important epigenetic modification pattern which is extensively involved in immune regulation. The development and progression of autoimmune diseases are closely related to immune dysregulation. Considering that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a typical autoimmune disease, the m6A process might be one of the important regulatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of RA. In this study, we identified five differentially expressed m6A regulators in normal and RA samples from the GEO database. With these five regulators, we constructed the nomogram, and it could accurately identify the risk of RA morbidity. Next, we identified 121 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal and RA samples, of which 36 DEGs were co-expressed with these five m6A regulators. We noted that these DEGs were highly enriched in multiple immunoregulatory signaling pathways, such as cytokine-mediated immune cell chemotaxis, adhesion, and activation. To further characterize the heterogeneity of immunological features, we clustered the RA samples into two subtypes. The C2 subtype has higher infiltration levels of pro-inflammatory cells and activity of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. Thus, the inflammatory response might be more vigorous in the C2 subtype. Next, we constructed the m6Asig system with the SVM machine learning algorithms and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The m6Asig could accurately distinguish the C1 and C2 subtypes, which indicated that the m6Asig could be a potential biomarker for the inflammatory activity of RA. Finally, by comparing the information from the CellMiner, TTD, and DrugBank databases, we determined 25 drugs. The targets of these drugs were positively correlated with m6Asig. To be clarified, the above findings were derived from bioinformatics and statistical analyses, and further experimental validation still requires. In summary, this study further revealed the m6A and immunoregulation mechanisms in RA pathogenesis. Also, the m6Asig could be a novel biomarker with potential applicability in the clinical management of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We present preparation of SnS thin films through thermal evaporation route and characterize phase composition of these films. • A single phase and alternative light absorber SnS films were fabricated at the substrate temperature of 250 °C. • Efficient planar SnS hybrid solar cells were constructed using this method. Tin sulfide (SnS) is a promising absorber material for photovoltaic cells, because of its optimum band gap, strong optical absorption, simple phase composition, earth-abundant and nontoxic constituents. However, this material is largely unexploited to date with only a handful of studies reporting SnS for photovoltaic application. We present systematic preparation of SnS thin films through thermal evaporation route and characterize phase composition of these films. We have observed that the films grown at the substrate temperature of 250 °C exhibit a single SnS phase, which could be alternative light absorber materials for photovoltaic devices fabrication. Hence, a solar conversion efficiency of 1.47% was obtained at standard one sun illumination using a planar device consisting of FTO/TiO 2 /SnS/P3HT/Au. The present findings offer novel directions for achieving high-efficiency solid-state solar cells by hybridization of inorganic-organic light harvesters and hole transporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots have received much attention due to their unique physicochemical properties and diverse applications in bioimaging, optoelectronic devices, catalysis, and agriculture. Here, in this work, we report a simple hydrothermal synthesis of nitrogen and phosphorus−doped carbon dots (N, P−CDs). The optical and physical properties of the synthesized N, P−CDs are analyzed using systematical spectroscopy and electrical characterization. The synthesized N, P−CDs show strong photoluminescence at 626 nm and demonstrate high stability under UV light and other conditions. Moreover, we incorporate the synthesized N, P−CDs into water spinach by root spraying and leaf spraying. It is found that N, P−CDs could effectively promote the growth of water spinach by accelerating the photosynthetic rate, and increasing the content of total phenols, anthocyanins, and flavonoids in water spinach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead halide perovskite has become a promising candidate for high-performance photodetectors (PDs) due to its attractive optical and electrical properties, such as high optical absorption coefficient, high carrier mobility, and long carrier diffusion length. However, the presence of highly toxic lead in these devices has limited their practical applications and even hindered their progress toward commercialization. Therefore, the scientific community has been committed to searching for low-toxic and stable perovskite-type alternative materials. Lead-free double perovskite, which is still in the preliminary stage of exploration, has achieved inspiring results in recent years. In this review, we mainly focus on two types of lead-free double perovskite based on different Pb substitution strategies, including A2M(I)M(III)X6 and A2M(IV)X6. We review the research progress and prospects of lead-free double perovskite photodetectors in the past three years. More importantly, from the perspective of optimizing the inherent defects in materials and improving device performance, we propose some feasible pathways and make an encouraging perspective for the future development of lead-free double perovskite photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Copper sulfide (CuS) with nanosheet structure has been synthesized at a low temperature in situ on copper (Cu) film coated fluorine-doped tin oxide glass and bifacial quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) were herein developed by using these CuS as counter electrodes (CEs). CuS is an environmental compatible and low toxic material. The obtained two-dimensional CuS nanosheet film presents high carrier mobility and exhibits highly catalytic performance for the polysulfide-based electrolyte. The QDSSC based on a CuS CE presents a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.65% by optimizing the thickness of the Cu film under front illumination. The QDSSC based on a CuS CE prepared with a 200 nm thick Cu film shows a very close PCE under front and rear illuminations in which the values are as high as 2.70% and 2.40%, respectively. All the PCEs of the CuS CEs are much higher than that of the Pt CE (1.34%). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ultrasound can be used to objectively diagnose and evaluate disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to determine the value of a new automated hand ultrasound (AHUS) scanning device and a simplified 3-joint ultrasound scoring system (US3) in detecting synovitis in RA. We compared AHUS and traditional ultrasound (US) scanning in detecting synovial hyperplasia (SH), joint effusion, bone erosion and power Doppler (PD) synovitis in 49 patients. In addition, we compared the value of US3 (in which 3 proximal interphalangeal [PIP] and/or metacarpophalangeal [MCP] joints with the highest scores for swelling and tenderness were evaluated) with the 22-joint ultrasound scoring system (US22) in 26 patients. Almost perfect κ coefficients (0.86-0.937) were obtained between AHUS and traditional US in detecting SH, joint effusion, bone erosion and PD synovitis (p < 0.001). The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) between AHUS and traditional US was 0.955-0.995. Of the US3 findings in AHUS, SH synovitis and PD synovitis were positively correlated with DAS28-CRP (adjusted R2 = 0.421, p < 0.0001; adjusted R2 = 0.365, p < 0.0001). US3 was highly correlated with US22 in detecting SH and PD synovitis (R = 0.792, p < 0.01; R = 0.948, p < 0.01). Compared with US22, a more significant correlation was identified between US3 scores and most clinical and laboratory values. In conclusion, AHUS performed comparably to traditional US in detecting synovitis in RA, and US3 was highly consistent with US22 in assessing synovitis and was positively correlated with RA disease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irisin is a hormone-like factor secreted by muscle cells and produced by cleavage of the membrane protein fibronectin type III domain protein 5 (FNDC5), which exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects. However, the effects and the underlying mechanisms of irisin in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are still unclear. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model was induced in DBA/1 mice and then treated with irisin. Arthritis index, paw thickness, weight, number of affected paws, serum inflammatory factors and related pathological tests were measured. RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs) were pretreated with IL-1β and irisin, and the migration, proliferation, invasion, oxidative stress and mitochondrial related function of RA-FLSs were detected. Irisin significantly improved arthritis symptoms in CIA mice, as indicated by reduced arthritis index, alleviated paw thickness, decreased the number of affected paws and inhibited release of inflammatory factors. Irisin alleviated joint destruction, FLSs proliferation and the expression of YES-associated protein (YAP) and mitochondrial dynamic related protein 1 (Drp1) in the FLSs of CIA mice. In vitro experiment, irisin inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of RA-FLSs and improved oxidative stress induced by IL-1β, thereby restraining the pathogenic transformation of RA-FLSs. Mechanically, irisin suppressed the nuclear translocation of YAP, in turn, could reduce the synthesis of Drp1 protein and inhibit the mitochondrial fission of RA-FLSs, which was reversed by YAP agonists. Therefore, irisin has a protective effect on RA. Irisin inhibits the proliferation, migration, invasion and inflammatory response of RA-FLSs by inhibiting the YAP-Drp1 signaling pathway, which implies a potential therapeutic effect on RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the energy loss and retarding the carrier recombination at the interface are crucial to improve the performance of the perovskite solar cell (PSCs). However, little is known about the recombination mechanism at the interface of anode and SnO2 electron transfer layer (ETL). In this work, an ultrathin wide bandgap dielectric MgO nanolayer is incorporated between SnO2:F (FTO) electrode and SnO2 ETL of planar PSCs, realizing enhanced electron transporting and hole blocking properties. With the use of this electrode modifier, a power conversion efficiency of 18.23% is demonstrated, an 11% increment compared with that without MgO modifier. These improvements are attributed to the better properties of MgO‐modified FTO/SnO2 as compared to FTO/SnO2, such as smoother surface, less FTO surface defects due to MgO passivation, and suppressed electron–hole recombinations. Also, MgO nanolayer with lower valance band minimum level played a better role in hole blocking. When FTO is replaced with Sn‐doped In2O3 (ITO), a higher power conversion efficiency of 18.82% is demonstrated. As a result, the device with the MgO hole‐blocking layer exhibits a remarkable improvement of all J–V parameters. This work presents a new direction to improve the performance of the PSCs based on SnO2 ETL by transparent conductive electrode surface modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells have developed rapidly in recent years as the third generation solar cells. In spite of the great improvement achieved, there still exist some issues such as undesired hysteresis and indispensable high temperature process. In this work, bulk heterojunction perovskite-phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester solar cells have been prepared to diminish hysteresis using a facile two step spin-coating method. Furthermore, high quality tin oxide films are fabricated using pulse laser deposition technique at room temperature without any annealing procedure. The as fabricated tin oxide film is successfully applied in bulk heterojunction perovskite solar cells as a hole blocking layer. Bulk heterojunction devices based on room temperature tin oxide exhibit almost hysteresis-free characteristics with power conversion efficiency of 17.29% and 14.0% on rigid and flexible substrates, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on ZnO were fabricated on a p -Si substrate by using a pulsed laser deposition system. Significant electroluminescence (EL) improvement was demonstrated with the insertion of an HfO 2 electron blocking layer (EBL) in n -ZnO/ p -Si heterojunctions. Distinct near-band-edge emission at around 392 nm accompanying by a broadly strong visible emission was achieved when a proper thickness of HfO 2 EBL was used. Current-voltage and capacitance-voltage measurements confirmed that a proper thickness of the HfO 2 EBL can effectively balance the injection of electrons and holes, resulting in an increase of radiative recombination in the ZnO active layer and thus enhancing the EL performance of the devices. Five independent emissions corresponding to five different transition processes were proposed to clarify the EL origination of the n -ZnO/HfO 2 / p -Si heterojunction LEDs by Gaussian deconvolutions. It is hoped that results in this work should be helpful for the development of ZnO-based LEDs that can integrate ZnO with the Si planar technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ternary oxides Fe 2-x Mg x O 3 is introduced to passivate the perovskite/SnO 2 QDs interface, trigger the heterogeneous nucleation for uniform perovskite films, and increase the interface contact for the rapid electron transfer. Consequently, the corresponding perovskite solar cell achieves a champion efficiency over 21%. [Display omitted] • Fe 2-x Mg x O 3 is introduced to passivate the perovskite/SnO 2 interface. • The interaction between perovskite and Fe 2-x Mg x O 3 triggers a heterogeneous nucleation. • Flocculent Fe 2-x Mg x O 3 increase the contact with perovskite for electron transfer. • The interaction between Fe 2-x Mg x O 3 and SnO 2 QD passivates the defects. • Fe 1.84 Mg 0.16O 3 -based PSC achieves a champion efficiency over 21% with negligible J–V hysteresis. Interface function material has been widely used to reduce interfacial potential barrier for enhanced charge-dynamics and photovoltaic properties of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, ternary oxides Fe 2-x Mg x O 3 are introduced to passivate the perovskite/SnO 2 quantum dots (QDs) interface. The interaction between perovskite and Fe 2-x Mg x O 3 could trigger a heterogeneous nucleation for the uniform perovskite photoactive layer. The flocculent Fe 2-x Mg x O 3 also increase the interface contact with perovskite enabling more transferring channel of electron, and decrease the interface-defects with smaller the energy level offset at this interface. Such oxide bridges between perovskite and SnO 2 QD could effectively enhance electron transfer. Consequently, a Fe 1.84 Mg 0.16 O 3 -based PSC is achieved with a champion efficiency over 21% and negligible J–V hysteresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, with multiple genetic and environmental factors involving in its etiology. The toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) gene has been reported to have important roles in the development and progression of SLE. We performed a case–control study to investigate the effects of 4 SNPs in the TLR9 gene in the development of SLE in Northern Chinese population. Methods: Four SNPs including rs187084, rs5743836, rs352139 and rs352140 were genotyped using the SNaPshot® method. A group of 430 SLE patients were compared to 424 normal controls. Data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 and HaploView v 4.1 software. Results: The frequency distributions of SNP rs351240 and haplotype H2 (TGCT) and H3 (CATT) were found to differ significantly between patient and control groups (p <0.05), while other SNPs and haplotypes showed no significant difference between the two cohorts (p >0.05). Conclusion: The results revealed that variations in the TLR9 gene are associated with SLE, indicating that TLR9 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE in the northern Chinese Han population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Efficient bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT): indene-C60 bisadduct (ICBA) were fabricated with lithium fluoride (LiF) as electron collecting buffer layer and UV–ozone (UVO) treated molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) as hole collecting buffer layer. LiF is observed to be critical for the device performance, significantly enhancing the fill factor (FF) and the efficiency compared to the device without LiF layer. MoO3 layer is also critical to the device performance, efficiently extracting holes to prevent the exciton quenching and reducing the interfacial resistance because of alignment of energy band. After UVO treatment on MoO3 film, its surface morphology, transmittance and film quality can be improved, therefore, it is beneficial to the performance of the PSCs. The optimal thickness of MoO3 and UVO treatment time on MoO3 was 12nm and 15min, respectively. Based on these optimal parameters, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.43% was obtained under AM1.5G 100mW/cm2 illumination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Graphene–zinc oxide (G–ZnO) nanocomposites were prepared through a hydrothermal approach and used as electron acceptors in poly-(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)-based bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells (OSCs). The blended film, which was a mixture of different weight ratios of P3HT and G–ZnO, was applied as the active layer in the OSC device. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) increases first and then decreases with the increase in G–ZnO content in the blended films. The device containing 15 wt% (ratio to P3HT) of G–ZnO shows the best performance with a PCE of 0.98%, an open-circuit voltage of 0.81 V and a short-circuit current density of 4.92 mA cm−2. The impact of the intrinsic mechanism on the characteristics of the OSCs under the illumination condition is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]