Trap-state suppression and improved charge transport in PbS quantum dot solar cells with synergistic mixed ligand treatments

The power conversion efficiency of colloidal PbS‐quantum‐dot (QD)‐based solar cells is significantly hampered by lower‐than‐expected open circuit voltage (VOC). The VOC deficit is considerably higher in QD‐based solar cells compared to other types of existing solar cells due to in‐gap trap‐induced bulk recombination of photogenerated carriers. Here, this study reports a ligand exchange procedure based on a mixture of zinc iodide and 3‐mercaptopropyonic acid to reduce the VOC deficit without compromising the high current density. This layer‐by‐layer solid state ligand exchange treatment enhances the photovoltaic performance from 6.62 to 9.92% with a significant improvement in VOC from 0.58 to 0.66 V. This study further employs optoelectronic characterization, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy to understand the origin of VOC improvement. The mixed‐ligand treatment reduces the sub‐bandgap traps and significantly reduces bulk recombination in the devices.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Contributions for a Community Good: Results from a Field Experiment in India

This paper presents the results of a field experiment on voluntary contribution for a proposed community good. The experiment was conducted at village Sundarika, District South 24 parganas, in West Bengal, India. The proposed community good was a community medicinal plant garden. Solicitation letters, on behalf of a local Community Based Organization (CBO), were delivered to one hundred households by the experimenters with the request to contribute generously for the proposed garden. Sixty-five households contributed and a strong positive association is found between contributions and CBO membership on the one hand and landholding on the other

Electroweak box diagrams on the lattice for pion and neutron decay

CKM matrix is unitary by construction in the standard model(SM). The recent analyses on the first row of CKM matrix show $\approx 3\sigma$ tension with unitarity. Nonperturbative calculations of the radiative corrections can reduce the theory uncertainty in CKM matrix elements. Here we compute the electroweak box contribution to the pion and kaon $\beta$ decays using seven $N_f=2+1+1$ HISQ-Clover lattice with various pion mass and lattice spacing. The continuum and chiral limit is taken using the leading dependence on $M_\pi$ and $a$, where $M_\pi$ extrapolation is taken to the physical pion mass and $SU(3)$ symmetric mass for pion and kaon box contribution, respectively. Our results are $\square_{\gamma W}^{VA} |_{\pi} = 2.820 (28) \times 10^{-3}$ and $\square_{\gamma W}^{VA} |_{K} = 2.384 (17) \times 10^{-3}$.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, Lattice 202

Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in head and neck reconstruction: an interesting experience from central India regional cancer center

Background: Head and neck cancer are sixth most common cancers worldwide with cancer of oral cavity most common. The primary treatment modality for oral cavity cancer has been surgery and defects resulting from the ablation of the tumors require reconstruction. the PMMC flap offer an easy, less time consuming with minimal postoperative complication as a reconstructive option in the hands of reconstructive surgeon. The objective of our study was to give a precise description of our experience with the PMMC flap as a reconstructive option in post-ablative head and cancer surgery.Methods: The current prospective study was conducted in the Department of Surgical Oncology, Regional cancer center, Pt. JNMC, Raipur (C.G.), India from the January 2014 to June 2015. Detailed clinical history and examination of the patients were recorded. All Investigations relevant to the study were done before the surgical procedure. Procedure was performed as per standard protocol and reconstruction was made with PMMC flap. Data was compiled in MS Excel and checked for its completeness and correctness. Then it was analyzed.Results: In the present study male to female ratio was 2:1. Most of the patients belongs to the age group of 41-60 (55.55%) followed by 21-40 (30.15%). In the present study majority of patient of oral malignancy presented with lower alveolus malignancy (36.5%) followed by buccal mucosa malignancy (19.06%).Conclusions: Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was found to be a versatile flap for reconstruction of large defects in Head and Neck region with minimal complication rate.

Identification of scaffold/Matrix Attachment (S/MAR) like DNA element from the gastrointestinal protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chromatin in the nucleus of all eukaryotes is organized into a system of loops and domains. These loops remain fastened at their bases to the fundamental framework of the nucleus, the matrix or the scaffold. The DNA sequences which anchor the bases of the chromatin loops to the matrix are known as Scaffold/Matrix Attachment Regions or S/MARs. Though S/MARs have been studied in yeast and higher eukaryotes and they have been found to be associated with gene organization and regulation of gene expression, they have not been reported in protists like <it>Giardia</it>. Several tools have been discovered and formulated to predict S/MARs from a genome of a higher eukaryote which take into account a number of features. However, the lack of a definitive consensus sequence in S/MARs and the randomness of the protozoan genome in general, make it a challenge to predict and identify such sequences from protists.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we have analysed the <it>Giardia </it>genome for the probable S/MARs predicted by the available computational tools; and then shown these sequences to be physically associated with the nuclear matrix. Our study also reflects that while no single computational tool is competent to predict such complex elements from protist genomes, a combination of tools followed by experimental verification is the only way to confirm the presence of these elements from these organisms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first report of S/MAR elements from the protozoan parasite <it>Giardia lamblia</it>. This initial work is expected to lay a framework for future studies relating to genome organization as well as gene regulatory elements in this parasite.</p

NSAIDS induced cutaneous adverse drug reaction – a case series

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common cause of cutaneous adverse reactions (CADR’s). Though there are fairly high numbers of agents which commonly cause CADR, NSAID’s holds no exception. NSAIDs can cause multiple cutaneous complications like urticaria, angioedema, acneiform eruption, stevens johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), vasculitis, fixed drug eruption (FDE) etc. NSAIDs are very frequently prescribed drugs and even one of the frequent over the counter sold medications, thus making it more important to have a more detailed knowledge of the vast cutaneous complications it can cause. The present case series focuses on the conglomeration of the few cases of cutaneous complications experienced by the patients on NSAID’s therapy. &nbsp; Keywords: NSAIDs, severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADRs), stevens johnson syndrome (SJS), fixed drug eruptions (FDEs), fixed dose combination (FDC), over the counter (OTC