Phosphine Oxide Derivative as a Passivating Agent to Enhance the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells

Defects of metal-halide perovskites detrimentally influence the optoelectronic properties of the thin film and, ultimately, the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Especially, defect-mediated nonradiative recombination that occurs at the perovskite interface significantly limits the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs. In this regard, interfacial engineering or surface treatment of perovskites has become a viable strategy for reducing the density of surface defects, thereby improving the PCE of PSCs. Here, an organic molecule, tris(5-((tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)pentyl)phosphine oxide (THPPO), is synthesized and introduced as a defect passivation agent in PSCs. The P=O terminal group of THPPO, a Lewis base, can passivate perovskite surface defects such as undercoordinated Pb2+. Consequently, improvement of PCEs from 19.87 to 20.70% and from 5.84 to 13.31% are achieved in n−i−p PSCs and hole-transporting layer (HTL)-free PSCs, respectively

Does treatment of intestinal helminth infections influence malaria? Background and methodology of a longitudinal study of clinical, parasitological and immunological parameters in Nangapanda, Flores, Indonesia (ImmunoSPIN Study)

Contains fulltext : 88856.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Given that helminth infections are thought to have strong immunomodulatory activity, the question whether helminth infections might affect responses to malaria antigens needs to be addressed. Different cross-sectional studies using diverse methodologies have reported that helminth infections might either exacerbate or reduce the severity of malaria attacks. The same discrepancies have been reported for parasitemia. METHODS/DESIGN: To determine the effect of geohelminth infections and their treatment on malaria infection and disease outcome, as well as on immunological parameters, the area of Nangapanda on Flores Island, Indonesia, where malaria and helminth parasites are co-endemic was selected for a longitudinal study. Here a Double-blind randomized trial will be performed, incorporating repeated treatment with albendazole (400 mg) or placebo at three monthly intervals. Household characteristic data, anthropometry, the presence of intestinal helminth and Plasmodium spp infections, and the incidence of malaria episodes are recorded. In vitro cultures of whole blood, stimulated with a number of antigens, mitogens and toll like receptor ligands provide relevant immunological parameters at baseline and following 1 and 2 years of treatment rounds. The primary outcome of the study is the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax infection. The secondary outcome will be incidence and severity of malaria episodes detected via both passive and active follow-up. The tertiary outcome is the inflammatory cytokine profile in response to parasite antigens. The project also facilitates the transfer of state of the art methodologies and technologies, molecular diagnosis of parasitic diseases, immunology and epidemiology from Europe to Indonesia. DISCUSSION: The study will provide data on the effect of helminth infections on malaria. It will also give information on anthelminthic treatment efficacy and effectiveness and could help develop evidence-based policymaking. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by The Ethical Committee of Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, ref:194/PT02.FK/Etik/2006 and has been filed by ethics committee of the Leiden University Medical Center. Clinical trial number:ISRCTN83830814. The study is reported in accordance with the CONSORT guidelines for cluster-randomized studies

The effect of three-monthly albendazole treatment on malarial parasitemia and allergy: a household-based cluster-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Contains fulltext : 117784.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Helminth infections are proposed to have immunomodulatory activities affecting health outcomes either detrimentally or beneficially. We evaluated the effects of albendazole treatment, every three months for 21 months, on STH, malarial parasitemia and allergy. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A household-based cluster-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in an area in Indonesia endemic for STH. Using computer-aided block randomization, 481 households (2022 subjects) and 473 households (1982 subjects) were assigned to receive placebo and albendazole, respectively, every three months. The treatment code was concealed from trial investigators and participants. Malarial parasitemia and malaria-like symptoms were assessed in participants older than four years of age while skin prick test (SPT) to allergens as well as reported symptoms of allergy in children aged 5-15 years. The general impact of treatment on STH prevalence and body mass index (BMI) was evaluated. Primary outcomes were prevalence of malarial parasitemia and SPT to any allergen. Analysis was by intention to treat. At 9 and 21 months post-treatment 80.8% and 80.1% of the study subjects were retained, respectively. The intensive treatment regiment resulted in a reduction in the prevalence of STH by 48% in albendazole and 9% in placebo group. Albendazole treatment led to a transient increase in malarial parasitemia at 6 months post treatment (OR 4.16(1.35-12.80)) and no statistically significant increase in SPT reactivity (OR 1.18(0.74-1.86) at 9 months or 1.37 (0.93-2.01) 21 months). No effect of anthelminthic treatment was found on BMI, reported malaria-like- and allergy symptoms. No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that intensive community treatment of 3 monthly albendazole administration for 21 months over two years leads to a reduction in STH. This degree of reduction appears safe without any increased risk of malaria or allergies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN83830814

Baseline characteristics.

1<p>diagnosed by PCR; ²diagnosed by microscopy.</p><p>The number of positives (n) of the total population examined (N).</p

Effect of three-monthly albendazole treatment on allergy outcomes: Skin prick test and specific IgE to aeroallergens.

<p>The number of positives (n) of the total population examined (N). ^*Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval based on logistic mixed models; ^**β (beta) and 95% confidence interval based on generalized linear mixed models from the log-transformed IgE. The values shown are back-transformed. The p-values are generated from the modeled data for the effect of albendazole treatment overtime and no significant effects were found (P>0.05).</p

Effect of three-monthly albendazole treatment on malaria outcomes: Percentage of subjects with malarial parasitemia.

<p>The number of positives (n) of the total population examined (N).</p

Effect of three-monthly albendazole treatment on allergy outcomes: Skin prick test to any allergens.

<p>The number of positives (n) of the total population examined (N). <b>^*</b>Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval are based on mixed effects logistic regression models. OR's and 95% CI are shown for the separate time points on SPT to any allergen. The p-value is generated from the modeled data for the effect of albendazole treatment overtime and no significant effects were found (P>0.05).</p

Effect of three-monthly albendazole treatment on malaria outcomes: Malarial parasitemia by PCR.

<p>The number of positives (n) of the total population examined (N). Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval based on logistic mixed models. The statistically significant results are given in bold. The p-values are generated from the modeled data for the combined effect of albendazole treatment over time for each of the species separately, which were significant for <i>P. falciparum</i> (P = 0.029) and <i>P. malariae</i> (P = 0.016).</p

Effect of albendazole treatment on malarial parasitemia based on two age categories.

<p>Malarial parasitemia A) ≤15 and B) >15 years of age. The risk of malarial parasitemia after albendazole treatment compared to placebo is shown as odds ratio with 95% CI. The reference line is set at 1, indicating that symbols at the right of this line represent an increased risk, while symbols at the left of the line would predict decreased risk of malarial parasitemia. Note: at 9 month time point in those >15 years of age, the OR is ∞.</p