Abnormal spatial heterogeneity governing the charge-carrier mechanism in efficient Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite solar cells

Layered Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite (RPP) photovoltaics have gained substantial attention owing to their excellent air stability. However, their photovoltaic performance is still limited by the unclear real-time charge-carrier mechanism of operating devices. Herein, we report the correlation between the charge-carrier mechanism and the spatially heterogeneous RPP bulks induced by distinct sublattice cations in the state-of-the-art antisolvent-driven RPP devices. In particular, abnormal heterogeneities ranging from the lateral long-range to local sub-grain scale and corresponding charge-carrier behaviours are visualized for triple-cation RPPs. We discovered that such heterogeneities with a unitary 2D/3D hybrid suppress lattice vibrations and reduce Frohlich interactions by about 2 times, significantly promoting charge-carrier dynamics. Consequently, optimized triple-cation RPP solar cells greatly outperform their mono-cation counterparts. Furthermore, this principle can be applicable irrespective of 2D layer thickness (n > 2) and substrate type. This work provides a rationale for leveraging a disordered structure to stimulate charge-carrier motion and suggests the design principle of low-dimensional perovskites.

Developmental Transcriptomic Features of the Carcinogenic Liver Fluke, Clonorchis sinensis

Clonorchis sinensis is the causative agent of the life-threatening disease endemic to China, Korea, and Vietnam. It is estimated that about 15 million people are infected with this fluke. C. sinensis provokes inflammation, epithelial hyperplasia, and periductal fibrosis in bile ducts, and may cause cholangiocarcinoma in chronically infected individuals. Accumulation of a large amount of biological information about the adult stage of this liver fluke in recent years has advanced our understanding of the pathological interplay between this parasite and its hosts. However, no developmental gene expression profiles of C. sinensis have been published. In this study, we generated gene expression profiles of three developmental stages of C. sinensis by analyzing expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Complementary DNA libraries were constructed from the adult, metacercaria, and egg developmental stages of C. sinensis. A total of 52,745 ESTs were generated and assembled into 12,830 C. sinensis assembled EST sequences, and then these assemblies were further categorized into groups according to biological functions and developmental stages. Most of the genes that were differentially expressed in the different stages were consistent with the biological and physical features of the particular developmental stage; high energy metabolism, motility and reproduction genes were differentially expressed in adults, minimal metabolism and final host adaptation genes were differentially expressed in metacercariae, and embryonic genes were differentially expressed in eggs. The higher expression of glucose transporters, proteases, and antioxidant enzymes in the adults accounts for active uptake of nutrients and defense against host immune attacks. The types of ion channels present in C. sinensis are consistent with its parasitic nature and phylogenetic placement in the tree of life. We anticipate that the transcriptomic information on essential regulators of development, bile chemotaxis, and physico-metabolic pathways in C. sinensis that presented in this study will guide further studies to identify novel drug targets and diagnostic antigens

Highly Efficient Hole Transport Layer-Free Low Bandgap Mixed Pb-Sn Perovskite Solar Cells Enabled by a Binary Additive System

The development of high-performance hole transport layer (HTL)-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with a simplified device structure has been a major goal in the commercialization of PSCs due to the economic advantage of low manufacturing cost. Unfortunately, low bandgap (E-g) mixed Pb-Sn perovskites, which have promising utility for constructing efficient all-perovskite tandem solar cells, have rarely been explored in simplified HTL-free device configurations. In this study, efficient band bending and defect engineering at the interface between perovskite and indium tin oxide (ITO) are realized via a binary additive system using copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) and glycine hydrochloride (GlyHCl). Using mixed Pb-Sn perovskites decorated with crystalline p-type CuSCN, the energy level alignment at the hole extractive interface is modulated in favor of hole extraction, simultaneously increasing hole mobility. Suppressed nonradiative carrier recombination in the perovskite bulk, or across the charge extractive interface, is further achieved by GlyHCl without disturbing the efficient hole transfer characteristics. Notably, a more optimized band alignment is achieved at the hole extractive interface with the addition of GlyHCl. The HTL-free mixed Pb-Sn PSC shows an efficiency up to 20.1% under forward bias with negligible hysteresis, comparable to state-of-the-art high-performance full-structured mixed Pb-Sn PSCs

Circulating blood eNAMPT drives the circadian rhythms in locomotor activity and energy expenditure

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) is a critical regulator of cellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+ levels. Here, the authors show that blood NAMPT contributes to the circadian rhythm generation of locomotor activity and energy expenditure by regulating hypothalamic NAD+ levels

Role of Local Treatment for Oligometastasis: A Comparability-Based Meta-Analysis

Purpose We intend to investigate the oncological efficacy and feasibility of local consolidative therapy (LCT) through a meta-analysis method. Materials and Methods Four databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched. Target studies are controlled trials comparing outcomes of LCT versus a control group. Primary endpoints are overall survival (OS) and progressionfree survival (PFS). Results A total of 54 studies involving 7,242 patients were included. Pooled analyses showed that the LCT arm could achieve improved OS with pooled odds ratio of 2.896 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.377 to 3.528; p < 0.001). Regarding PFS, pooled analyses showed pooled odds ratio of 3.045 (95% CI, 2.356 to 3.937; p < 0.001) in favor of the LCT arm. In the subgroup analyses including the studies with reliable comparability (e.g. randomized studies or intentionally matched studies without significant favorable prognosticator in LCT arms), pooled odds ratio was 2.548 (95% CI, 1.808 to 3.591; p < 0.001) favoring the LCT arm regarding OS. Regarding PFS, pooled OR was 2.656 (95% CI, 1.713 to 4.120; p < 0.001) which also favored the LCT arm. Subgroup analyses limited to the randomized controlled trials (RCT) were also performed and pooled odds ratios on OS and PFS were 1.535 (95% CI, 1.082 to 2.177; p=0.016) and 1.668 (95% CI, 1.187 to 2.344; p=0.003). The rates of grade = 3 complications related to LCT was mostly low (< 10%) and not significantly higher compared to the control arm. Conclusion Pooled analyses results of all included studies, selected studies with reliable comparability, and RCT's demonstrated the survival benefit of LCT. These consistent results suggest that LCT was beneficial to the patients with oligometastasis.Y

Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics in Evaluation of LIXisenatide in Acute Coronary Syndrome, a long-term cardiovascular end point trial of lixisenatide versus placebo

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Furthermore, patients with T2DM and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have a particularly high risk of CV events. The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, lixisenatide, improves glycemia, but its effects on CV events have not been thoroughly evaluated. METHODS: ELIXA (www.clinicaltrials.gov no. NCT01147250) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter study of lixisenatide in patients with T2DM and a recent ACS event. The primary aim is to evaluate the effects of lixisenatide on CV morbidity and mortality in a population at high CV risk. The primary efficacy end point is a composite of time to CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina. Data are systematically collected for safety outcomes, including hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, and malignancy. RESULTS: Enrollment began in July 2010 and ended in August 2013; 6,068 patients from 49 countries were randomized. Of these, 69% are men and 75% are white; at baseline, the mean ± SD age was 60.3 ± 9.7 years, body mass index was 30.2 ± 5.7 kg/m(2), and duration of T2DM was 9.3 ± 8.2 years. The qualifying ACS was a myocardial infarction in 83% and unstable angina in 17%. The study will continue until the positive adjudication of the protocol-specified number of primary CV events. CONCLUSION: ELIXA will be the first trial to report the safety and efficacy of a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist in people with T2DM and high CV event risk