Environmentally Friendly High-Near-Infrared Reflectance Blue Pigment YIn_{0.9–<i>x</i>}Mn_0.1M_<i>x</i>O_3−δ Based on Li/Zn Doping

In this work, the Li/Zn-doped near-infrared reflective inorganic blue pigment YIn0.9–xMn0.1MxO3−δ (M = Li/Zn, x = 0–0.4) was synthesized by the high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The phase structures, morphologies, color properties and optical properties of synthetic pigments were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), CIE1976 color space system, UV–vis-NIR spectrophotometer, and other instruments. All the doped samples have a hexagonal structure with space group P63cm (185). Compared with YIn0.9Mn0.1O3 (b* = −45.91), Li/Zn doped pigments have richer blue hues (b* is ranged from −29.59 to −55.14), which can meet the needs of public’s demands for blue hues. The NIR solar reflectance (R*) of all the samples are above 70%, and the highest R* with different doping concentrations can reach 86% (M = Li, x = 0.2), which is about 16% higher than YIn0.9Mn0.1O3. YIn0.9–xMn0.1MxO3−δ (M = Zn/Li, x = 0–0.4) are indicated to possess higher near-infrared solar reflectivity than other blue compounds, including commercial products. The surface temperature difference between the Li-doped (x = 0.2)/Zn-doped (x = 0.1) paints and commercial ultramarine paint can reach about 20 and 10 °C, respectively. The above properties ensure the potential applications of environmentally friendly YIn0.9–xMn0.1MxO3−δ pigments with a rich blue-hue in the field of energy-saving materials

Angular-Shaped Dithienonaphthalene-Based Nonfullerene Acceptor for High-Performance Polymer Solar Cells with Large Open-Circuit Voltages and Minimal Energy Losses

The utilization of low bandgap copolymers has been considered as one of the most efficient ways to increase power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of fullerene-based polymer solar cells (PSCs). However, an increase in the short-circuit current (<i>J</i>_SC) value is usually counteracted by a decrease in the open-circuit voltage (<i>V</i>_OC), which limits a further PCE enhancement of fullerene-based PSCs. As a result, nonfullerene acceptors with wide-range tunable energy levels are used as alternatives to the traditional fullerene acceptors to overcome the negative trade-off between the <i>J</i>_SC and <i>V</i>_OC. Here, a novel nonfullerene acceptor is developed by using an angular-shaped dithienonaphthalene flanked by electron-withdrawing 3-ethylrhodanine units via benzothiadiazole bridges. The obtained nonfullerene acceptor exhibits a high-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of −3.75 eV with enhanced absorption. In combination with a benchmark low bandgap copolymer (PTB7-Th), a high PCE of 9.51% with a large <i>V</i>_OC of 1.08 V was achieved for the nonfullerene PSCs, demonstrating an extremely low energy loss of 0.50 eV, which is the lowest among all high-performance (PCE > 8%) polymer-based systems with similar optical bandgaps. The results demonstrate the bright future of our nonfullerene acceptor as an alternative to the fullerene derivatives for PSCs with large <i>J</i>_SC and <i>V</i>_OC values and improved device stability

Occurrence and Cytotoxicity of Aliphatic and Aromatic Halogenated Disinfection Byproducts in Indoor Swimming Pool Water and Their Incoming Tap Water

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in swimming pool water are of wide concern for public health. In this study, the occurrence of five categories of aliphatic halogenated DBPs, i.e., trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), halonitromethanes (HNMs), and haloketones (HKs), and six categories of aromatic halogenated DBPs, i.e., halophenols (HPs), halonitrophenols (HNPs), halohydroxy-benzaldehydes (HBALs), halohydroxybenzoic acids (HBAs), halobenzoquinones (HBQs), and haloanilines (HAs), was examined in seven indoor swimming pool water and their incoming tap water. The correlations between the DBP concentrations and water quality parameters were explored. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the aliphatic and aromatic halogenated DBPs was tested with human hepatoma (HepG2) cells, and the concentration-cytotoxicity contributions of different DBP categories were calculated. The results demonstrate that 24 aliphatic (5 THMs, 8 HAAs, 5 HANs, 4 HNMs, and 2 HKs) and 50 aromatic halogenated DBPs (9 HPs, 8 HNPs, 9 HBALs, 8 HBAs, 11 HBQs, and 5 HAs) were present in the swimming pool water, among which 41 aromatic halogenated DBPs were detected in swimming pool water for the first time. The average concentrations of the five categories of aliphatic halogenated DBPs in the swimming pool water were in the order of HAAs > HANs > HKs > THMs > HNMs, while those in their incoming tap water were in the order of THMs > HAAs > HKs > HANs > HNMs. The average concentrations of the aromatic halogenated DBPs in the swimming pool water were significantly lower than those of the aliphatic halogenated DBPs, following the order of HBQs > HPs > HBAs > HBALs > HAs > HNPs, while those in their incoming tap water were in the order of HBALs > HBQs > HPs > HBAs > HAs > HNPs. The average concentration-cytotoxicity contributions of different DBP categories in the swimming pool water followed the order of HAAs > HANs > HNMs > HKs > HBQs > THMs > HPs > HNPs > HBAs > HBALs > HAs, with HAAs, HANs, and HNMs possessing the main concentration-cytotoxicity contributions (93.2% in total) among all DBP categories

Ladder-Type Dithienonaphthalene-Based Small-Molecule Acceptors for Efficient Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells

Two novel small molecule acceptors (DTNIC6 and DTNIC8) based on a ladder-type dithienonaphthalene (DTN) building block with linear (hexyl) or branched (2-ethylhexyl) alkyl substituents are designed and synthesized. Both acceptors exhibit strong and broad absorption in the range from 500 to 720 nm as well as appropriate highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels. Replacing the linear hexyl chains with the branched 2-ethylhexyl chains has a large impact on the film morphology of photoactive layers. In the blend film based on DTNIC8 bearing the branched alkyl chains, morphology with well-defined phase separation was observed. This optimal phase morphology yields efficient exciton dissociation, reduced bimolecular recombination, and enhanced and balanced charge carrier mobilities. Benefited from these factors, organic solar cells (OSCs) based on PBDB-T:DTNIC8 deliver a highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.03% with a high fill factor (FF) of 72.84%. This unprecedented high FF of 72.84% is one of the highest FF values reported for nonfullerene OSCs. Our work not only affords a promising electron acceptor for nonfullerene solar cells but also provides a side-chain engineering strategy toward high performance OSCs

Additional file 1: of The effect of low insurance reimbursement on quality of care for non-small cell lung cancer in China: a comprehensive study covering diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes

Table S1. Eligible definition of selected indicators. (DOCX 15 kb

Additional file 2: of The effect of low insurance reimbursement on quality of care for non-small cell lung cancer in China: a comprehensive study covering diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes

Table S2. Medical record questionnaire for non-small cell lung cancer patients. (DOCX 22 kb

The quality of invasive breast cancer care for low reimbursement rate patients: A retrospective study

<div><p>Though evidence-based treatments have been recommended for breast cancer, underuse of the treatments was still observed. To certain extent, patients’ access to care, which can be enhanced by increasing the coverage of health insurance, could account for the current underuse in recommended care. This study aimed to examine the association between different proportions of reimbursement and quality of recommended breast cancer care, as well as length of hospital stay. In this retrospective study, 3669 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1 June, 2011 and 30 June, 2013 were recruited. Seven quality indicators from preoperative diagnosis procedures to adjuvant therapy and one composite indicator were selected as dependent variables. Logistic regression and generalized linear models were used to explore the association between quality of care and length of hospital stay with different reimbursement rates. Compared with UEBMI (urban employment basic medical insurance), which represented high level reimbursement rate, patients with lower rates of reimbursement were less likely to receive core biopsy, HER-2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2) testing, BCS (breast conserving surgery), SLNB (sentinel lymph nodes biopsy), adjuvant therapy and hormonal treatment. No significant difference in preoperative length of hospital stay was observed among the three insurance schemes, however URBMI (urban resident basic medical insurance) insured patients stayed longer for total length of hospital stay. Significant disparities in utilization of evidence-based breast cancer care among patients with different proportions of reimbursement were observed. Patients with lower rate of reimbursement were less likely to receive recommended care. Our findings could provide important support for further healthcare reform and quality improvement in breast cancer care.</p></div

Unadjusted adherence to quality indicators by insurance type (%).

<p>Unadjusted adherence to quality indicators by insurance type (%).</p