Efficient organic solar cells enabled by simple non-fused electron donors with low synthetic complexity

Abstract Fused‐ring electron donors boost the efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs), but they suffer from high cost and low yield for their large synthetic complexity (SC > 30%). Herein, the authors develop a series of simple non‐fused‐ring electron donors, PF1 and PF2, which alternately consist of furan‐3‐carboxylate and 2,2′‐bithiophene. Note that PF1 and PF2 present very small SC of 9.7% for their inexpensive raw materials, facile synthesis, and high synthetic yield. Compared to their all‐thiophene‐backbone counterpart PT‐E, two new polymers feature larger conjugated plane, resulting in higher hole mobility for them, especially a value up to ≈10 −4 cm 2 V −1 ·s for PF2 with longer alkyl side chain. Meanwhile, PF1 and PF2 exhibit larger dielectric constant and deeper electronic energy level versus PT‐E. Benefiting from the better physicochemical properties, the efficiencies of PF1‐ and PF2‐based devices are improved by ≈16.7% and ≈71.3% relative to that PT‐E‐based devices, respectively. Furthermore, the optimized PF2‐based devices with introducing PC 71 BM as the third component deliver a higher efficiency of 12.40%. The work not only indicates that furan‐3‐carboxylate is a simple yet efficient building block for constructing non‐fused‐ring polymers but also provides a promising electron donor PF2 for the low‐cost production of OSCs.A simple structure non‐fused‐ring electron donor PF2 alternately consisting of furan‐3‐carboxylate and 2,2′‐bithiophene presents very small synthetic complexity of 9.7% as well as low material cost of ≈19.0 $ g −1 . More importantly, PF2 delivers a high efficiency of 12.4% coupled with strong operational stability. imag

Vertical distribution of Fe, P and correlation with organic carbon in coastal sediments of Yellow Sea, Eastern China

The coastal zone is considered as a major carbon pool. Iron minerals and phosphates are vital factors affecting the amounts and occurrence of total organic carbon (TOC) in sediments. However, coupling mechanisms of iron (Fe) and phosphorous (P) in the source-sink transition of TOC in coastal sediments is poorly understood. This study characterized the distribution of Fe, P and TOC contents of three independent 170 cm sediment cores sampled from a coastal aquaculture area in the eastern Jiangsu Province, and quantified the correlations among Fe, P, median grain diameter (Dx(50)), and TOC. The results showed total phosphorus (TP) content ranges in a scope of 337.4-578.0 mg/kg, and many depths recorded moderate P eutrophication. Inorganic phosphorus (DA + IP) and biogenic apatite were the primary components of TP, accounting for 25.19–55.00 and 26.71–49.62%, respectively. The Fe contents varied from 987.9 mg/kg to 2900.7 mg/kg, in which oxidized iron (Feox) accounted for about 62.2–79.4%. In the vertical profile, the TOC was positively correlated with the contents of low-crystallinity Fe-bearing carbonates (Fecarb), high crystallinity pyrite (FePy), iron-bound phosphorus (PCDB), manganeses (Mn), and nitrogen (N), while it was negatively correlated with DA + IP, organic phosphorus (OP), and Dx(50). Based on the the partial least squares (PLS) model, we proposed that the higher FePy, Mn, magnetite (FeMag), Fecarb, PCDB, amorphous exchangeable Fe (Ex-Fe), and authigenic apatite phosphorus (Bio-P) in sediments represent the high capacity for TOC sink, whereas, higher DA + IP, and OP indicate a TOC conversion to the source. The non-siginificat indication of Feox on TOC source-sink is due to its surplus and strong reactivity relative to TOC content. These revealed correlations provide a theoretical reference for understanding and regulating the burial rate and storage of TOC by changing the input of Fe minerals and P components into coastal sediments

Wip1-dependent modulation of macrophage migration and phagocytosis

Macrophage accumulation within the vascular wall is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Controlling macrophage conversion into foam cells remains a major challenge for treatment of atherosclerotic diseases. Here, we show that Wip1, a member of the PP2C family of Ser/Thr protein phosphatases, modulates macrophage migration and phagocytosis associated with atherosclerotic plaque formation. Wip1 deficiency increases migratory and phagocytic activities of the macrophage under stress conditions. Enhanced migration of Wip1-/- macrophages is mediated by Rac1-GTPase and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways. Elevated phagocytic ability of Wip1-/- macrophages is linked to CD36 plasma membrane recruitment that is regulated by AMPK activity. Our study identifies Wip1 as an intrinsic negative regulator of macrophage chemotaxis. We propose that Wip1-dependent control of macrophage function may provide avenues for preventing or eliminating plaque formation in atherosclerosis

Who should have the strongest quit smoking willingness and much easier to persuade?

Background and challenges to implementation Base on the Report on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in China in 2016. In China, the prevalence of CVD is continuously increasing. Currently, an estimated 290 million individuals suffer from CVD. Rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are higher among smokers and passive smokers than among non-smokers. Intervention or response Put the “smoking history questionnaire” and “assessment of patient willingness to quit smoking survey” into process of 4154 cardiovascular disease patients diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Increasing the frequency of intervention from none or 1 time to 3 times (intake, Discharge and follow-up) within one year in 27 difference hospitals from random province in China. Keep tracking the quit smoking willingness of the patients during the period from acute phase to recovery phase, and to maintenance phase. Results and lessons learnt Continuing to increase the awareness that cigarette smoking causes HEART DISEASE and other serious diseases in this group of people. 90.15% patients were becoming increasingly clear to the harm of cigarette smoking to their whole body, not only the lung. Base on the quit line success rate, more than 2%, in 2015. Strengthen patients' quit smoking willingness is easier than non-disease smokers. The number of patients who has the willing for quit smoking increase from 21(0.5%, acute stage) to 282(6.7%, follow up) within one years. The patients who have strong will to quit smoking is 75 individuals (1.8%). Conclusions and key recommendations Quitting smoking was found to substantially reduce the risks of death. Our retrospective study shows tremendous persuade successful rate in patient's population who have been educated by our cardiovascular doctors and their medical teams. We should start the quit smoking process from the “weakness” (willpower and physical) patients who are fearful of the disease may destroy his life or even take away his life and more dangerous groups. It will give us much more clinical outcomes than the normal person

Investigation report on public attitude towards carpet smoking ban in ten cities of China

Background and challenges to implementation In November 24, 2014, the legal website of the China State Council published “the regulations on smoking control in public places (Draft)”, and made public comments on the issue. The content of the manuscript is comprehensive and basically close to the FCTC's requirements. It is a relatively perfect tobacco control law and has been well obtained by domestic and oversea. However, as of 2016, the Regulations had not yet been promulgated. In order to understand the attitude of the public smoking ban, the "Regulations" to provide a complete ban on smoking in indoor public places, indoor workplaces, public transport, China Tobacco Control Association selected randomly 10000 people of the public and ask for investigation with questionnaire in ten provinces. CTCA provide these results of this investigation report as a reference to the Legal Affairs Office of the State Council, for constitute and promulgate the "Regulations". Intervention or response Ten cities which have been investigated was selected from ten provinces of 7 administrative regions. We investigate around 1000 people of the public in each city. Gender, age, educational background, smoking, and whether secondhand smoke is harmful to health, attitudes towards total smoking ban, satisfaction of smoke-free environment in public places, workplaces, public transport, , etc.. Results and lessons learnt We have surveyed 11523 people in 10 cities. The public awareness rate of harmful of the second-hand smoke was 95.2%, support for a total ban on smoking in indoor public places, indoor workplaces and public transport rate of 91.9%, the current smoke-free environment satisfaction of indoor public places, workplaces and public transport are 49.3%, 64.5% and 69% respectively. Conclusions and key recommendations The Chinese people has a strong awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke, and has high support for total smoking ban of indoor public places, workplaces and public transport. China's comprehensive smoking ban in public places is ripe for settlement