Design of a high efficiency CdS/CdTe solar cell with optimized step doping, film thickness, and carrier lifetime of the absorption layer

A high-efficiency CdS/CdTe solar cell with step doped absorber layer, optimized back surface field layer, and long carrier lifetime in the absorption layer was designed. At first, The CdS/CdTe reference cell is simulated and compared with previous experimental data. In order to obtain the highest efficiency, the thickness and step doping of the absorber and back surface field layer were optimized. In addition, the effect of carrier lifetime variation in the CdTe layer on the conversion efficiency of CdTe cell was investigated. Compared with reference cell, Efficiency enhancement of the proposed structure was 4.44%. Under global AM 1.5 conditions, the optimized cell structure had an open-circuit voltage of 0.987 V, a short-circuit current density of 27.9 mA/cm^2 and a fill factor of 82.4%, corresponding to a total area conversion efficiency of 22.76%

Modeling of tethered satellite formations using graph theory

Tethered satellite formations have recently gained increasing attention due to future mission proposals. Several different formations have been investigated for their dynamic properties and control schemes have been suggested. Formulating the equations of motion and investigation which geometries could form stable formations in space are cumbersome when done at a case to case basis, and a common framework providing a basic model of the dynamics of tethered satellite formations can therefore be advantageous. This paper suggests the use of graph theoretical quantities to describe a tethered satellite formation and proposes a method to deduce the equations of motion for the attitude dynamics of the formation in a compact form. The use of graph theory and Lagrange mechanics together allows a broad class of formations to be described using the same framework. A method is stated for finding stationary configurations and an upper limit of their number is determined. The method is shown to be valid for general tethered satellite formations that form a tree structure.ISSN:0094-576

Clinical characteristics of outpatients and inpatients with COVID-19 in Bushehr: A report from the south of Iran

Aim: To investigate clinical, laboratory and imaging features of COVID-19 patients in Bushehr, a southern province of Iran. Materials & methods: A total of 148 COVID-19 patients were enrolled. The patients were categorized into four groups including inpatients, outpatients, elderly and nonelderly. Clinical, laboratory and computed tomography characteristics were analyzed and compared. Results: Levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferas among inpatients were higher than outpatients. There were significant differences in the levels of creatinine and blood urine nitrogen between elderly and nonelderly patients. The incidence of ground-glass opacities in inpatients was significantly higher than in outpatients. Conclusion: COVID-19 is associated with more severe renal failure in elderly patients. Elderly patients with underlying conditions are at increased risk of severe progression of COVID-19

Treatment Response of Cystic Echinococcosis to Benzimidazoles: A Systematic Review

Over the past 30 years, benzimidazoles have increasingly been used to treat cystic echinococcosis (CE). The efficacy of benzimidazoles, however, remains unclear. We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, SIGLE, and CCTR to identify studies on benzimidazole treatment outcome. A large heterogeneity of methods in 23 reports precluded a meta-analysis of published results. Specialist centres were contacted to provide individual patient data. We conducted survival analyses for cyst response defined as inactive (CE4 or CE5 by the ultrasound-based World Health Organisation [WHO] classification scheme) or as disappeared. We collected data from 711 treated patients with 1,308 cysts from six centres (five countries). Analysis was restricted to 1,159 liver and peritoneal cysts. Overall, 1–2 y after initiation of benzimidazole treatment 50%–75% of active C1 cysts were classified as inactive/disappeared compared to 30%–55% of CE2 and CE3 cysts. Further in analyzing the rate of inactivation/disappearance with regard to cyst size, 50%–60% of cysts <6 cm responded to treatment after 1–2 y compared to 25%–50% of cysts >6 cm. However, 25% of cysts reverted to active status within 1.5 to 2 y after having initially responded and multiple relapses were observed; after the second and third treatment 60% of cysts relapsed within 2 y. We estimated that 2 y after treatment initiation 40% of cysts are still active or become active again. The overall efficacy of benzimidazoles has been overstated in the past. There is an urgent need for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial that compares standardized benzimidazole therapy on responsive cyst stages with the other treatment modalities

Nanoscale aluminum plasmonic waveguide with monolithically integrated germanium detector

Surface plasmon polaritons have rapidly established themselves as a promising concept for molecular sensing, near-field nanoimaging, and transmission lines for emerging integrated ultracompact photonic circuits. In this letter, we demonstrate a highly compact surface plasmon polariton detector based on an axial metal-semiconductor-metal nanowire heterostructure device. Here, an in-coupled surface plasmon polariton propagates along an aluminum nanowire waveguide joined to a high index germanium segment, which effectively acts as a photoconductor at low bias. Based on this system, we experimentally verify surface plasmon propagation along monocrystalline Al nanowires as thin as 40 nm in diameters. Furthermore, the monolithic integration of plasmon generation, guiding, and detection enables us to examine the bending losses of kinked waveguides. These systematic investigations of ultrathin monocrystalline Al nanowires represent a general platform for the evaluation of nanoscale metal based waveguides for transmission lines of next generation high-speed ultracompact on-chip photonic circuits

Effect of COVID-19 medications on corrected QT interval and induction of torsade de pointes: Results of a multicenter national survey

Background: There are some data showing that repurposed drugs used for the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have potential to increase the risk of QTc prolongation and torsade de pointes (TdP), and these arrhythmic side effects have not been adequately addressed in COVID-19 patients treated with these repurposed medications. Methods: This is the prospective study of 2403 patients hospitalised at 13 hospitals within the COVID-19 epicentres of the Iran. These patients were treated with chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, atazanavir/ritonavir, oseltamivir, favipiravir and remdesivir alone or in combination with azithromycin. The primary outcome of the study was incidence of critical QTc prolongation, and secondary outcomes were incidences of TdP and death. Results: Of the 2403 patients, 2365 met inclusion criteria. The primary outcome of QTc � 500 ms and �QTc � 60 ms was observed in 11.2 and 17.6 of the patients, respectively. The secondary outcomes of TdP and death were reported in 0.38 and 9.8 of the patients, respectively. The risk of critical QT prolongation increased in the presence of female gender, history of heart failure, treatment with hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin combination therapy, simultaneous furosemide or beta-blocker therapy and acute renal or hepatic dysfunction. However, the risk of TdP was predicted by treatment with lopinavir-ritonavir, simultaneous amiodarone or furosemide administration and hypokalaemia during treatment. Conclusion: This cohort showed significant QTc prolongation with all COVID-19 medications studied, however, life-threatening arrhythmia of TdP occurred rarely. Among the repurposed drugs studied, hydroxychloroquine or lopinavir-ritonavir alone or in combination with azithromycin clearly demonstrated to increase the risk of critical QT prolongation and/or TdP. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Comparison of the Expression Level of P53 and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) Genes in the Inflamed and Non-Inflamed Dentigerous Cysts

Abstract: Background & Aims: The role of P53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) genes in inflamed and non-inflamed odontogenic cysts is related to cell proliferation but it is unclear. The aim of this study was immunohistochemical evaluation of P53 and PCNA expression in inflamed and non-inflamed dentigerous cysts. Methods: In the present study, 23 dentigerous cysts (12 inflamed and 11 non-inflamed) were surveyed. Three microns slices were got from paraffined blocks and stained with P53 and PCNA antibodies by immunohistochemistry. Slides were seen by oral pathologist with optical microscope (Olympus BX41) in ×400 magnification and scored by Allred scoring. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test via SPSS software. Results: Percent of stained cells in inflamed compared non-inflamed dentigerous cyst did not show any significant difference for expression level of P53 and PCNA in basal and suprabasal layers (P> 0.05). Conclusion: It seems that inflammation does not affect on expression level of P53 and PCNA in dentigerous cyst. Keywords: P53, Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Dentigerous cyst, Inflammatio

Effect of Using the Electronic Content Designed Based on Robert Gagne Model on the Level of Student Learning in Statistics Lesson

Aims: Educational design is an important part of e-learning production and set up. This study aimed to design and product the electronic content of &ldquo;engineering statistics&rdquo; course based on Gagne instructional design model and evaluate its effectiveness on students&rsquo; learning. Materials & Methods: In this quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest controlled group design, 48 students of &ldquo;engineering statistics&rdquo; course were selected by available sampling method from all the electronic courses students of Khajeh Nasir University, Iran, in first semester of 2011-12 academic year and were divided into two experimental and control groups. Experimental group was exposed to a lesson designed by Gagn&eacute; model of instructional design for one semester. Both groups were assessed in pretest and posttest stages by a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance test in SPSS 19 software. &nbsp;Findings: In pretest, the average scores were 11.76&plusmn;0.93 in the experimental group and 10.52&plusmn;1.02 in the control group. In posttest, the average score of experimental group was 16.41&plusmn;1.32 which was significantly higher than the score of control group 11.15&plusmn;1.09. Lesson designed with the Gagn&eacute; model of instructional design had a significant effect on learning (p<0.05 F=18.82). Conclusion: Using Gagn&eacute; model of instructional design for design of e-learning course content increase the learner&rsquo;s learning