36 research outputs found
Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on major cardiovascular outcomes: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies and randomized controlled trials
OBJECTIVE: Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly used as a lipid-lowering agent or dietary supplement for the purpose of prevention of cardiovascular diseases. However, even large-scale clinical trials have not shown significant results demonstrating clear clinical benefits in cardiovascular diseases. Thus, this umbrella review aims to summarize and evaluate the evidence of clinical effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes through comprehensive analyses of previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or observational cohort studies.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted relevant publication search in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. We retrieved and analyzed 3,298 articles published until August 28th, 2019.
RESULTS: We identified 29 relevant articles and analyzed 83 meta-analyses of RCTs or cohort studies therefrom. As a result, we identified 12 cardiovascular outcomes that are related to omega-3 fatty acids supplementation. Among them, total mortality from major cardiovascular causes (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.98) had significant inverse associations, and moreover, statistical significances were maintained even in subgroup analysis of large-scale RCTs including more than 1,000 patients (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99).
CONCLUSIONS: Our umbrella review study shows that omega-3 fatty acids supplementation have a clinical benefit in reducing mortality from cardiovascular causes. However, many studies still have shown conflicting results, and therefore, further studies will be needed to verify the clinical benefit of omega-3 supplementation
Paternal Mental Health and Parenting in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the family economy by threatening job security, which has been acting as a source of stress for fathers. Social distancing has increased father-child interaction time and the burden of parenting. The parenting stress levels of fathers increased, and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety were induced. This was reported to be more serious in vulnerable groups, according to the race or socioeconomic status of the fathers. Fathersā mental health problems in the context of COVID-19 affect father-child relationships and childrenās adjustment in the long term. Healthcare professionals must develop community-based intervention programs to screen fathersā risk factors and educate them on mental health issues, while considering the changing roles and mental health of fathers during the pandemic. Before another epidemic breaks out
Men's mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review
Background: Mental health issues can be more severe in men vulnerable to isolation and loneliness during a pandemic because of social distancing and isolation measures. The purpose of this study was to identify current research trends and the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on menās mental health through a scoping review, and to make recommendations for improvements. Methods: This study conducted a scoping review to explore and analyze research trends on the effect of COVID-19 on menās mental health during the period January 2020 to October 2021. The PubMed and CINAHL databases, as well as Google Scholar, were used to identify relevant studies. The two researchers individually reviewed the studies, and all references were reviewed to determine the final sample of included studies. Results: A total of 27 studies were included in the analysis. Of all the studies, 14 were descriptive, one was quasi-experimental, and six were qualitative. Remaining studies included four commentaries, one case study, and one review. COVID-19 was found to impact the following areas of menās mental health at the individual level: psychological distress, addictive behaviors, sleep, well-being, cognitive function, and coping. At the interpersonal level, family outcomes, community belonging, and violence were impacted. At the social level, masculinity, inequity, and social service changes were affected. Intervention strategies for menās mental health during COVID-19 recommended by these studies were also divided into three levels (individual, interpersonal, and social level). Conclusions: Efforts should be made to improve mental health services for men who may experience anxiety, depression, and anger, along with the physical health concerns of the COVID-19 era
CdS Nanowire Solar Cells: Dual Role of Squaraine Dye as a Sensitizer and a Hole Transporter
The squaraine dye (SQ) anchored onto
CdS nanowires serves as a
photosensitizing dye and a hole acceptor. This dual role of the squaraine
dye has been successfully exploited in a nanowire solar cell to improve
the photoconversion efficiency. Electrophoretic deposition of CdS
NWs and CdS NWs+SQ composite onto conducting glass electrodes was
performed to obtain robust photoanodes and evaluate the photovoltaic
performance of nanowire solar cells (NWSCs). Whereas the sensitization
property of the SQ extends the response of CdS NWSCs into the near-IR
(NIR) region, its redox property facilitates shuttling of holes to
the electrolyte and suppressing the charge recombination process.
Transient absorption measurements confirm the formation of cation
radical of the dye arising from these two processes. The dual role
of the squaraine dye has enabled us to improve the power conversion
efficiency of NWSCs by a factor of ā¼20. Photoelectrochemical,
spectroelectrochemical, and spectroscopic measurements provide insight
into the multifaceted role of squaraine dye in improving the performance
of NWSCs
Size-Dependent Energy Transfer Pathways in CdSe Quantum DotāSquaraine Light-Harvesting Assemblies: FoĢrster versus Dexter
Energy transfer coupled with electron
transfer is a convenient
approach to mimic photosynthesis in light energy conversion. Better
understanding of mechanistic details of energy transfer processes
is important to enhance the performance of dye or quantum dot-sensitized
solar cells. Energy transfer through both long-range dipole-based
FoĢrster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and short-range Dexter
energy transfer (DET) mechanisms have been identified to occur between
CdSe quantum dots (QDs) linked to a red-infrared-absorbing squaraine
dye through a short thiol functional group (SQSH). Solutions of SQSH
linked to CdSe were investigated through steady-state and time-resolved
spectroscopy experiments to explore both mechanisms. Photoluminescence
studies revealed that smaller QDs had higher energy transfer efficiencies
than predicted by FRET, and femtosecond transient absorption experiments
revealed faster energy transfer rates in smaller donor QD sizes. These
findings supported a DET process dominating at small donor sizes.
The presence of both processes illustrates multiple strategies for
utilizing energy transfer in light-harvesting assemblies and the required
considerations in device design to maximize energy transfer gains
through either mechanism
Metal-Cluster-Sensitized Solar Cells. A New Class of Thiolated Gold Sensitizers Delivering Efficiency Greater Than 2%
A new
class of metal-cluster sensitizers has been explored for
designing high-efficiency solar cells. Thiol-protected gold clusters
which exhibit molecular-like properties have been found to inject
electrons into TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructures under visible excitation.
Mesoscopic TiO<sub>2</sub> films modified with gold clusters deliver
stable photocurrent of 3.96 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> with power conversion
efficiencies of 2.3% under AM 1.5 illumination. The overall absorption
features and cell performance of metal-cluster-sensitized solar cells
(MCSCs) are comparable to those of CdS quantum-dot-based solar cells
(QDSCs). The relatively high open-circuit voltage of 832 mV and fill
factor of 0.7 for MCSCs as compared to QDSCs show the viability of
these new sensitizers as alternatives to semiconductor QDs and sensitizing
dyes in the next generation of solar cells. The superior performance
of MCSCs discussed in this maiden study lays the foundation to explore
other metal clusters with broader visible absorption
Synchronized Energy and Electron Transfer Processes in Covalently Linked CdSeāSquaraine DyeāTiO<sub>2</sub> Light Harvesting Assembly
Manipulation of energy and electron transfer processes in a light harvesting assembly is an important criterion to mimic natural photosynthesis. We have now succeeded in sequentially assembling CdSe quantum dot (QD) and squaraine dye (SQSH) on TiO<sub>2</sub> film and couple energy and electron transfer processes to generate photocurrent in a hybrid solar cell. When attached separately, both CdSe QDs and SQSH inject electrons into TiO<sub>2</sub> under visibleānear-IR irradiation. However, CdSe QD if linked to TiO<sub>2</sub> with SQSH linker participates in an energy transfer process. The hybrid solar cells prepared with squaraine dye as a linker between CdSe QD and TiO<sub>2</sub> exhibited power conversion efficiency of 3.65% and good stability during illumination with global AM 1.5 solar condition. Transient absorption spectroscopy measurements provided further insight into the energy transfer between excited CdSe QD and SQSH (rate constant of 6.7 Ć 10<sup>10</sup> s<sup>ā1</sup>) and interfacial electron transfer between excited SQSH and TiO<sub>2</sub> (rate constant of 1.2 Ć 10<sup>11</sup> s<sup>ā1</sup>). The synergy of covalently linked semiconductor quantum dots and near-IR absorbing squaraine dye provides new opportunities to harvest photons from selective regions of the solar spectrum in an efficient manner
Sequentially Layered CdSe/CdS Nanowire Architecture for Improved Nanowire Solar Cell Performance
The power conversion efficiency of
semiconductor nanowire (NW)
based solar cells as compared to quantum dot solar cell (QDSC) has
remained lower, and efforts to improve the photovoltaic performance
of semiconductor NWs continue. We have now succeeded in using a layered
architecture of CdS and CdSe NWs for improving the photovoltaic performance
of nanowire solar cell (NWSC). The photoanode designed with sequentially
deposited films of CdSe and CdS NWs delivered a power conversion efficiency
of 1%. This efficiency of CdSe/CdS composite is an order of magnitude
improvement over single nanowire system (CdS or CdSe) based solar
cell. The improvement seen in the CdSe/CdS composite film is attributed
to charge rectification and improvement of electron and hole separation
and transport in the opposite direction. Impedance spectroscopy demonstrates
the beneficial effect of type II structure in CdSe/CdS sequential
deposition through lower transport resistance, which remains a dominating
effect in dictating the overall performance of the NWSC
<i>Know Thy Nano Neighbor</i>. Plasmonic <i>versus</i> Electron Charging Effects of Metal Nanoparticles in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Neighboring metal nanoparticles influence photovoltaic and photocatalytic behavior of semiconductor nanostructures either through Fermi level equilibration by accepting electrons or inducing localized surface plasmon effects. By employing SiO<sub>2</sub>- and TiO<sub>2</sub>-capped Au nanoparticles we have identified the mechanism with which the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) is influenced by the neighboring metal nanoparticles. The efficiency of an N719 dye-sensitized solar cell (9.3%) increased to 10.2% upon incorporation of 0.7% Au@SiO<sub>2</sub> and to 9.8% upon loading of 0.7% Au@TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. The plasmonic effect as monitored by introducing Au@SiO<sub>2</sub> in DSSC produces higher photocurrent. However, Au nanoparticles undergo charge equilibration with TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles and shift the apparent Fermi level of the composite to more negative potentials. As a result, Au@TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticle-embedded DSSC exhibit higher photovoltage. A better understanding of these two effects is crucial in exploiting the beneficial aspects of metal nanoparticles in photovoltaics