Unreliable numbers: error and harm induced by bad design can be reduced by better design

Number entry is a ubiquitous activity and is often performed in safety- and mission-critical procedures, such as healthcare, science, finance, aviation and in many other areas. We show that Monte Carlo methods can quickly and easily compare the reliability of different number entry systems. A surprising finding is that many common, widely used systems are defective, and induce unnecessary human error. We show that Monte Carlo methods enable designers to explore the implications of normal and unexpected operator behaviour, and to design systems to be more resilient to use error. We demonstrate novel designs with improved resilience, implying that the common problems identified and the errors they induce are avoidable.     

Recent Biophysical Issues About the Preparation of Solute-Filled Lipid Vesicles

Here we report some recent biophysical issues on the preparation of solute-filled lipid vesicles and their relevance to the construction of “synthetic cells.” First, we introduce the “semi-synthetic minimal cells” as the liposome-based cell-like systems, which contain a minimal number of biomolecules required to display simple and complex biological functions. Next, we focus on recent aspects related to the construction of synthetic cells. Emphasis is given to the interplay between the methods of synthetic cell preparation and the physics of solute encapsulation. We briefly introduce the notion of structural and compositional “diversity” in synthetic cell populations.     

Deposition,opto-electronic and structural characterization of polymorphous silicon thin films to be applied in a solar cell structure

In this study we analyze the optoelectronic properties and structural characterization of hydrogenated polymorphous silicon thin films as a function of the deposition parameters. The films were grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using a gas mixture of argon (Ar), hydrogen (H₂) and dichlorosilane (SiH₂Cl₂). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images and Raman measurements confirmed the existence of very different internal structures (crystalline fractions from 12% to 54%) depending on the growth parameters. Variations of as much as one order of magnitude were observed in both the photoconductivity and effective absorption coefficient between the samples deposited with different dichlorosilane/hydrogen flow rate ratios. The optical and transport properties of these films depend strongly on their structural characteristics, in particular the average size and densities of silicon nanocrystals embedded in the amorphous silicon matrix. From these results we propose an intrinsic polymorphous silicon bandgap grading thin film to be applied in a p–i–n junction solar cell structure. The different parts of the solar cell structure were proposed based on the experimental optoelectronic properties of the pm-Si:H thin films studied in this work.     

Optical properties and conductivity of PEDOT:PSS films treated by polyethylenimine solution for organic solar cells

We report on conductivity and optical property of three different types of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) films [pristine PH1000 film (PH1000-p), with 5 wt.% ethylene glycol additive (PH1000-EG) and with sulfuric acid post-treatment (PH1000-SA)] before and after polyethylenimine (PEI) treatment. The PEI is found to decrease the conductivity of all the PEDOT:PSS films. The processing solvent of 2-methoxyethanol is found to significantly enhance the conductivity of PH1000-p from 1.1 up to 744 S/cm while the processing solvent of isopropanol or water does not change the conductivity of PH1000-p much. As for the optical properties, the PEI treatment slightly changes the transmittance and reflectance of PH1000-p and PH1000-EG films, while the PEI leads to an substantial increase of the absorptance in the spectral region of 400–1100 nm of the PH1000-SA films. Though the optical property and conductivity of the three different types of PEDOT:PSS films vary with the PEI treatment, the treated PEDOT:PSS films exhibit similar low work function. We demonstrate solar cells with a simple device structure of glass/low-WF PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:ICBA/high-WF PEDOT:PSS cells that exhibit good performance with open-circuit voltage of 0.82 V and fill factor up to 0.62 under 100 mW/cm² white light illumination.     

Efficient dye-sensitized solar cells based on CNTs and Zr-doped TiO2 nanoparticles

The light scattering, harvesting and adsorption effects in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are studied by preparation of coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with TiO₂ and Zr-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles in the forms of mono- and double-layer cells. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the phase composition of Zr-doped TiO₂ electrode is a mixture of anatase and rutile phases with major rutile content, whereas it is the same mixture with major anatase content for coated CNTs with TiO₂. Furthermore, the average crystallite size of Zr-doped TiO₂ electrode is slightly decreased with Zr introduction. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) images show that the porosity of Zr-doped TiO₂ electrodes is higher than that of undoped electrode, enhancing dye adsorption. UV–visible spectroscopy analysis reveals that the absorption onset of Zr-doped TiO₂ electrodes is slightly shifted to longer wavelength (the red-shift) in comparison with that of undoped TiO₂ electrode. Moreover, the band gap energy of TiO₂ nanoparticles is decreased by Zr introduction, enhancing light absorption. It is found that electron injection of monolayer TiO₂ electrode is improved by introduction of 0.025 mol% Zr, resulted in enhancement of its power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 6.81% compared with 6.17% for pure TiO₂ electrode. Moreover, electron transport and light scattering are enhanced by incorporation of 0.025 wt% coated CNTs with TiO₂ in the over-layer of double layer electrode. Therefore, double layer solar cell composed of 0.025 mol% Zr-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles as the under-layer and mixtures of these nanoparticles and 0.025 wt% coated CNTs with TiO₂ as the over-layer shows the highest PCE of 8.19%.     

Performance improvement of conventional and inverted polymer solar cells with hydrophobic fluoropolymer as nonvolatile processing additive

The morphology of the photoactive layer critically affects the performance of the bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells (PSCs). To control the morphology, we introduced a hydrophobic fluoropolymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as nonvolatile additive into the P3HT:PCBM active layer. The effect of PVDF on the surface and the bulk morphology were investigated by atomic force microscope and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Through the repulsive interactions between the hydrophilic PCBM and the hydrophobic PVDF, much more uniform phase separation with good P3HT crystallinity is formed within the active layer, resulting enhanced light harvesting and improved photovoltaic performance in conventional devices. The PCE of the conventional device can improve from 2.40% to 3.07% with PVDF additive. The PVDF distribution within the active layer was investigated by secondary ion mass spectroscopy, confirming a bottom distribution of PVDF. Therefore, inverted device structure was designed, and the PCE can improve from 2.81% to 3.45% with PVDF additive. Our findings suggest that PVDF is a promising nonvolatile processing additive for high performance polymer solar cells.     

Carbon supported bimetallic Ru‐Co catalysts for H2 production through NaBH4 and NH3BH3 hydrolysis

This work investigates the effect of the addition of small amounts of Ru (0.5‐1 wt%) to carbon supported Co (10 wt%) catalysts towards both NaBH₄ and NH₃BH₃ hydrolysis for H₂ production. In the sodium borohydride hydrolysis, the activity of Ru‐Co/carbon catalysts was sensibly higher than the sum of the activities of corresponding monometallic samples, whereas for the ammonia borane hydrolysis, the positive effect of Ru‐Co systems with regard to catalytic activity was less evident. The performances of Ru‐Co bimetallic catalysts correlated with the occurrence of an interaction between Ru and Co species resulting in the formation of smaller ruthenium and cobalt oxide particles with a more homogeneous dispersion on the carbon support. It was proposed that Ru^°, formed during the reduction step of the Ru‐Co catalysts, favors the H₂ activation, thus enhancing the reduction degree of the cobalt precursor and the number of Co nucleation centers. A subsequent reduction of cobalt and ruthenium species also occurs in the hydride reaction medium, and therefore the state of the catalyst before the catalytic experiment determines the state of the active phase formed in situ. The different relative reactivity of the Ru and Co active species towards the two investigated reactions accounted for the different behavior towards NaBH₄ and NH₃BH₃ hydrolysis.     

Fluorene-centered perylene monoimides as potential non-fullerene acceptor in organic solar cells

A fluorene-centered perylene monoimide dimer, PMI-F-PMI with a partly non-coplanar configuration has been developed as a potential non-fullerene acceptor for organic solar cells (OSCs). The optimum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the OSC based on PMI-F-PMI as acceptor and poly (3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) as donor is up to 2.30% after annealing at 150 °C. The PCE of 2.30% is the highest value for the OSCs based on P3HT donor and non-fullerene acceptor lies in that PMI-F-PMI’s lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level around −3.50 eV matches well with the donor P3HT to produce higher open-circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.98 V. Meanwhile, PMI-F-PMI makes remarkable contribution to devices’ light absorption as the maximum EQE (30%) of the devices is at 512 nm, same to the maximum absorption wavelength of PMI-F-PMI. The other favorable characteristics of PMI-F-PMI in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) active layers is proved through the photo current density measures, the relatively balanced electron–hole transport, and the smooth morphology with root mean square (RMS) value of 1.86 nm. For these advantages, PMI-F-PMI overwhelms its sister PMI-F and parent PMI as an acceptor in BHJ solar cells.     

调节性B细胞在自身免疫性溶血性贫血患者外周血中的表达及临床意义

目的: 探讨自身免疫性溶血性贫血（AIHA）患者外周血中调节性B细胞（Bregs）的表达及其在该病发病中的意义。方法:选择16例自身免疫性溶血性贫血患者和14例健康志愿者为研究对象，用流式细胞术分析外周血CD19+IL-10+调节性B细胞及CD19+CD24hiCD27+调节性B细胞的表达；ELISA方法检测培养上清液中IL-10的水平。结果:自身免疫性溶血性贫血患者外周血中CD19+IL-10+调节性B细胞、CD19+CD24hiCD27+调节性B细胞的表达分别为（1.27±0.39）％、（9.85±2.18）％，健康志愿者组分别为（2.92±0.71）％、（26.47±4.31）％，两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；自身免疫性溶血性贫血患者细胞培养上清中IL-10的水平低于健康志愿者组（P<0.05）。结论:自身免疫性溶血性贫血患者外周血中CD19+IL-10+调节性B细胞及CD19+CD24hiCD27+调节性B细胞比例降低，提示调节性B细胞可能参与自身免疫性溶血性贫血的发病过程。     

Aripiprazole as a potential pharmacotherapy for stimulant dependence: Human laboratory studies with d-amphetamine.

Amphetamine and cocaine dependence present significant public health concerns, yet no broadly effective pharmacotherapy for stimulant dependence has been developed. Two human laboratory studies are reviewed that tested the ability of aripiprazole, a novel antipsychotic with partial agonist activity at D2 dopamine receptors, to alter the behavioral effects of stimulants using d-amphetamine as a model agent. In each of these experiments, volunteers learned to discriminate 15 mg d-amphetamine (i.e., ≥80% drug-appropriate responding over 4 consecutive sessions). The effects of a range of doses of d-amphetamine (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 mg) were then tested alone and following pretreatment with aripiprazole (20 mg in Experiment 1; 10 mg in Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, aripiprazole (20 mg) attenuated the discriminative stimulus and many of the subject-rated effects of amphetamine. Aripiprazole alone produced performance decrements. To determine whether a lower dose of aripiprazole would also attenuate the behavioral effects of d-amphetamine without impairing performance, Experiment 2 was conducted. Aripiprazole (10 mg) failed to alter the discriminative-stimulus effects but attenuated some of the subject-rated effects of d-amphetamine. This dose of aripiprazole did not impair performance. The results of these experiments indicate that aripiprazole may have clinical utility in treating stimulant dependence. Future human laboratory research should better model the clinical use of aripiprazole by examining the effects of chronic aripiprazole combined with either methamphetamine or cocaine in dependent individuals. A large-scale clinical trial is also needed to evaluate the efficacy of aripiprazole for the treatment of stimulant dependence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)