Surface Reconstruction Engineering with Synergistic Effect of Mixed-Salt Passivation Treatment toward Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Surface passivation treatment is a widely used strategy to resolve trap-mediated nonradiative recombination toward high-efficiency metal-halide perovskite photovoltaics. However, a lack of passivation with mixture treatment has been investigated, as well as an in-depth understanding of its passivation mechanism. Here, a systematic study on a mixed-salt passivation strategy of formamidinium bromide (FABr) coupled with different F-substituted alkyl lengths of ammonium iodide is demonstrated. It is obtained better device performance with decreasing chain length of the F-substituted alkyl ammonium iodide in the presence of FABr. Moreover, they unraveled a synergistic passivation mechanism of the mixed-salt treatment through surface reconstruction engineering, where FABr dominates the reformation of the perovskite surface via reacting with the excess PbI₂. Meanwhile, ammonium iodide passivates the perovskite grain boundaries both on the surface and top perovskite bulk through penetration. This synergistic passivation engineer results in a high-quality perovskite surface with fewer defects and suppressed ion migration, leading to a champion efficiency of 23.5% with mixed-salt treatment. In addition, the introduction of the moisture resisted F-substituted groups presents a more hydrophobic perovskite surface, thus enabling the decorated devices with excellent long-term stability under a high humid atmosphere as well as operational conditions.     

Oxidative Stress and Low-Grade Inflammation in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Controversies and New Insights

The pathophysiology of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is quite complex and different mechanisms could contribute to hyperandrogenism and anovulation, which are the main features of the syndrome. Obesity and insulin-resistance are claimed as the principal factors contributing to the clinical presentation; in normal weight PCOS either, increased visceral adipose tissue has been described. However, their role is still debated, as debated are the biochemical markers linked to obesity per se. Oxidative stress (OS) and low-grade inflammation (LGI) have recently been a matter of researcher attention; they can influence each other in a reciprocal vicious cycle. In this review, we summarize the main mechanism of radical generation and the link with LGI. Furthermore, we discuss papers in favor or against the role of obesity as the first pathogenetic factor, and show how OS itself, on the contrary, can induce obesity and insulin resistance; in particular, the role of GH-IGF-1 axis is highlighted. Finally, the possible consequences on vitamin D synthesis and activation on the immune system are briefly discussed. This review intends to underline the key role of oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation in the physiopathology of PCOS, they can cause or worsen obesity, insulin-resistance, vitamin D deficiency, and immune dyscrasia, suggesting an inverse interaction to what is usually considered.     

Thermal stability of Al/AlGaAs and Al/GaAs/AlGaAs (MBE) Schottky barriers

Outstanding stability has been observed in Al/Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As and Al/GaAs/Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As (x=0.25) Schottky barriers prepared by depositing Al in situ by MBE on annealing up to 400 degrees C. Conventionally evaporated barriers have been fabricated and compared with epitaxial ones. The changes in barrier height and ideality factor induced by annealing are reported.<>     

Stable redesign of predictive control

The paper deals with I/O versions of receding horizon controllers based on the minimization of multistep quadratic costs with the constraint that the terminal state goes to zero. The resulting control law yields stable closed-loop systems under sharp conditions. Simulation results are presented to both verify the theoretical analysis and relate the new control law with GPC     

Primary lymphoma of the breast. Three cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Primary and sole breast lymphoma is a very rare disease. With the review of our series of 616 cases operated on for breast cancer, only 3 cases (0.48%) of primary breast non-Hodgkin lymphoma (LNH) have been observed. The authors outline the problems concerning diagnosis and therapy of this rare disease: pathological and immunohistochemical aspects are discussed. They stress the importance of staging in order to plan a correct multidisciplinary approach.     

Cervical electrostimulation in some vestibular diseases

Vestibular disorders may be treated by means of drugs, surgical tools or rehabilitation. Cervical electrostimulation may be regarded as physical therapy and its activity is connected to neural pathways between cervical receptors and vestibular nuclei. In present study electrodes were placed lateral to cervical column on the opposite side of vestibular deficit as pointed by electronystagmography; stimulus duration was 18 msec and frequency 100 Hz. Every stimulation lasts for 30 minutes and were repeated twice a week for a total number of 10. The ability to adjust vestibulo-ocular reflex was evaluated by means of a Compensatory Index. The following materials were enrolled in the study: 20 normal subjects were observed before and after a cycle of stimulations: 24 patients suffering from acute labyrinthitis or neuritis, 48 cervical vertigo, 8 cervical traumatic injures and 3 patients operated for acoustical neuroma. All these groups were coupled with control groups composed of the same pathology and the same number of subjects. Statistical treatment of reports was evaluated by t-student test before therapy after one month and after 3 months. Results point out good effects of electrostimulation on vestibulo-ocular reflex compensation, especially in cervical vertigo and labyrinthitis or neuritis with respect to control groups. No important results were obtained in neuroma group and in normal subjects. Electrostimulation may act on vestibular nuclei by direct spino-vestibular pathway but also by repeated decompensations mainly mediated via the cerebellum or spino-reticular connections.     

The Horace Method for Error-Correcting Codes

Here we apply the so-called Horace method for zero-dimensional schemes to error-correcting codes on complete intersections. In particular, we obtain sharper estimates on the minimum distance.     

Erosion-corrosion of a stainless steel distillation column in food industry

Unusual extended corrosion phenomena were detected in a distillation column made in AISI type 316 stainless steel (UNS S31600) of a plant for natural pectins extraction from citrus. The column was the first of a series of two distillation columns representing the unit core. Corrosion problems were observed only in that column and mainly along the surface of the trays located in the lower section of the column. The phenomenon was observed subsequently to a modification of the original plant layout that caused an increase of the operating temperatures and turbulence of the process stream inside the column.     

Cyclic Nigerosyl-Nigerose as Oxygen Nanocarrier to Protect Cellular Models from Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury: Implications from an In Vitro Model

Heart failure (HF) prevalence is increasing among the aging population, and the mortality rate remains unacceptably high despite improvements in therapy. Myocardial ischemia (MI) and, consequently, ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), are frequently the basis of HF development. Therefore, cardioprotective strategies to limit IRI are mandatory. Nanocarriers have been proposed as alternative therapy for cardiovascular disease. Controlled reoxygenation may be a promising strategy. Novel nanocarriers, such as cyclic nigerosyl-nigerose (CNN), can be innovative tools for oxygen delivery in a controlled manner. In this study we analyzed new CNN-based formulations as oxygen nanocarriers (O₂-CNN), and compared them with nitrogen CNN (N₂-CNN). These different CNN-based formulations were tested using two cellular models, namely, cardiomyoblasts (H9c2), and endothelial (HMEC) cell lines, at different concentrations. The effects on the growth curve during normoxia (21% O₂, 5% CO₂ and 74% N₂) and their protective effects during hypoxia (1% O₂, 5% CO₂ and 94% N₂) and reoxygenation (21% O₂, 5% CO₂ and 74% N₂) were studied. Neither O₂-CNN nor N₂-CNN has any effect on the growth curve during normoxia. However, O₂-CNN applied before hypoxia induces a 15–30% reduction in cell mortality after hypoxia/re-oxygenation when compared to N₂-CNN. O₂-CNN showed a marked efficacy in controlled oxygenation, which suggests an interesting potential for the future medical application of soluble nanocarrier systems for MI treatment.