Surface Crystallization Modulation toward Highly-Oriented and Phase-Pure 2D Perovskite Solar Cells.

2D perovskites have shown great potential toward stable and efficient photovoltaic devices. However, the crystal orientation and phase impurity issues of 2D perovskite films originating from the anisotropic crystal structure and specific growth mechanism have demoted their optoelectronic performances. Here, the surface crystallization modulation technique is introduced to fabricate the high-quality 2D perovskite films with both vertical crystal orientation and high phase purity by regulating the crystallization dynamics. The solvent atmosphere condition is instituted during film processing, which promotes the formation of an oriented 2D perovskite layer in stoichiometric composition at the vapor-liquid interface and templates the subsequent film growth. The solar cells based on the optimized 2D perovskite films exhibit a power conversion efficiency of 15.04%, the record for 2D perovskites (with the perovskite slab thickness n ≤ 3 and high phase purity). The solar cells based on the highly-oriented and phase-pure 2D perovskite films also demonstrate excellent thermal and humidity stabilities.

Does air pollution inhibit digital finance? Evidence from Chinese prefecture-level cities.

Air pollution poses significant health and economic challenges globally and specifically affecting China. Although air pollution has been associated with decreased productivity and biases in decision-making, its effect on the development of digital finance has received limited attention in the literature. By employing city-level data from China covering the period from 2013 to 2020, this research examines the impact of air pollution on digital finance. The results show that deteriorating air quality has a negligible impact on digitalization, whereas it has a negative impact on financial inclusion, measured by usage and coverage metrics. The negative impact on financial inclusion is more noticeable in economically weaker and less developed urban areas and low R&D than in developed areas and economically robust cities. The mechanism analysis shows that air pollution reduces human capital quality, resulting in a decline in financial inclusivity. These findings have significant policy implications, underscoring the necessity for approaches that simultaneously tackle air pollution and foster financial innovation.

Comparison of pharmacokinetic profiles in hypoalbuminemia and healthy rats after parecoxib sodium injection by LC-MS/MS.

Background: Valdecoxib is an active metabolite of parecoxib that has a high binding rate with plasma protein. Hypoalbuminemia may affect the pharmacokinetics process of valdecoxib. Method & results: A rapid LC-MS/MS method was applied to assay parecoxib and valdecoxib in hypoalbuminemia and healthy rats. Hypoalbuminemia rat models were established by intravenous injection of doxorubicin. The maximum plasma concentration and area under the curve values of valdecoxib in control and model groups were 744.04 ± 128.24 ng/ml, 152,727.87 ± 39,131.36 ng/ml·min and 234.25 ± 77.36 ng/ml, 29,032.42 ± 5116.62 ng/ml·min after 7.2 mg/kg parecoxib sodium injection and 371.95 ± 64.12 ng/ml, 62,218.25 ± 6876.93 ng/ml·min and 153.41 ± 33.17 ng/ml, 18,245.62 ± 868.53 ng/ml·min after 3.6 mg/kg parecoxib sodium injection, respectively. Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia increases clearance and reduces the plasma concentration of valdecoxib in rats.

Humidity-Insensitive, Large-Area-Applicable, Hot-Air-Assisted Ambient Fabrication of 2D Perovskite Solar Cells.

2D layered perovskites (LPs) have shown great potential to deliver high-performance photovoltaic devices with long-term stability. Despite many signs of progress being made in film quality and device performance, LP films are mainly processed in strict conditions and through non-scalable techniques. Here, the hot-air-assisted ambient fabrication technique is introduced to prepare LP films for efficient and stable solar cells. The high-quality LP films with good crystallinity, preferable orientation and desirable morphology are obtained by balancing the crystal nucleation and growth processes. Employing the synchrotron-based in situ grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction technique, hot air induces the solidification of solutes and forms an intermediate at the air-liquid interface, which transforms into 3D-like perovskite, followed by the growth of the 2D species toward the substrate. The optimal LP film delivers a device power conversion efficiency of 16.36%, the best value for the LP-based solar cells prepared by the non-spin-coating techniques. The solar cell performance is insensitive to the film processing humidity and the device size is upscalable, which promises real-world deployment of LP-based optoelectronic devices.

Hydrotalcite-Derived Copper-Based Oxygen Carrier Materials for Efficient Chemical-Looping Combustion of Solid Fuels with CO2 Capture.

Chemical-looping combustion (CLC) is a promising technology that utilizes metal oxides as oxygen carriers for the combustion of fossil fuels to CO2 and H2O, with CO2 readily sequestrated after the condensation of steam. Thermally stable and reactive metal oxides are desirable as oxygen carrier materials for the CLC processes. Here, we report the performance of Cu-based mixed oxides derived from hydrotalcite (also known as layered double hydroxides) precursors as oxygen carriers for the combustion of solid fuels. Two types of CLC processes were demonstrated, including chemical looping oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) and in situ gasification (iG-CLC) in the presence of steam. The Cu-based oxygen carriers showed high performance for the combustion of two solid fuels (a lignite and a bituminous coal), maintaining high thermal stability, fast reaction kinetics, and reversible oxygen release and storage over multiple redox cycles. Slight deactivation and sintering of the oxygen carrier occurred after redox cycles at an very high operation temperature of 985 °C. We expect that our material design strategy will inspire the development of better oxygen carrier materials for a variety of chemical looping processes for the clean conversion of fossil fuels with efficient CO2 capture.

In Situ Observing and Tuning the Crystal Orientation of Two-Dimensional Layered Perovskite via the Chlorine Additive.

Precise control of crystal orientation in two-dimensional (2D) layered perovskites (LPs) is vital for their optoelectronic applications due to the structure-induced anisotropy in optical and electrical properties. Herein, we directly observe and control the crystal orientation of the butylammonium-based 2D LP films. Employing the synchrotron-based in situ grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction technique, we reveal the orientation modulation mechanism of the Cl additive by following the crystallization dynamics and chemical conversion pathways during film formation. Two new Cl-related intermediates are identified which serve as templates directing the orientational growth of the 2D LP films. We fine-tune the crystal orientation of 2D LP films through the Cl additive and incorporate the films with the requisite crystal orientations in solar cells and photodetectors. The optoelectronic performances of the devices show a strong correlation with the crystal orientation of the 2D LP films.

Precursor engineering of hydrotalcite-derived redox sorbents for reversible and stable thermochemical oxygen storage.

Chemical looping processes based on multiple-step reduction and oxidation of metal oxides hold great promise for a variety of energy applications, such as CO2 capture and conversion, gas separation, energy storage, and redox catalytic processes. Copper-based mixed oxides are one of the most promising candidate materials with a high oxygen storage capacity. However, the structural deterioration and sintering at high temperatures is one key scientific challenge. Herein, we report a precursor engineering approach to prepare durable copper-based redox sorbents for use in thermochemical looping processes for combustion and gas purification. Calcination of the CuMgAl hydrotalcite precursors formed mixed metal oxides consisting of CuO nanoparticles dispersed in the Mg-Al oxide support which inhibited the formation of copper aluminates during redox cycling. The copper-based redox sorbents demonstrated enhanced reaction rates, stable O2 storage capacity over 500 redox cycles at 900 °C, and efficient gas purification over a broad temperature range. We expect that our materials design strategy has broad implications on synthesis and engineering of mixed metal oxides for a range of thermochemical processes and redox catalytic applications.

The Impact of Energy Productivity and Eco-Innovation on Sustainable Environment in Emerging Seven (E-7) Countries: Does Institutional Quality Matter?

Emerging economies are showing promising growth and economic success, but the growth process has significantly increased carbon emissions in these countries and deteriorated environmental quality. Environmental degradation is an issue of serious concern as it is directly linked to human lives and health. Since the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Emerging Seven (E-7) countries have struggled to meet the SDG targets, as it's been a challenge for them to lower carbon emissions and improve the quality of the environment. Thus, the present study explores the key factors that significantly affect environmental quality. This study examines the effect of institutional quality, energy productivity, and eco-innovation on consumption-based carbon dioxide (CCO2) emissions for E-7 economies. The cointegration analysis results show a long-run relationship between institutional quality, energy productivity, GDP, eco-innovation exports, imports, and CCO2 emissions. The results obtained using the cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) model show that institutional quality, energy productivity, eco-innovation, and exports adversely affect CCO2 emissions and improve environmental quality in the short and long run. In contrast, imports and GDP are positively linked with CCO2 emissions and contribute to environmental degradation. Policies that target institutional quality, eco-innovation, and energy productivity significantly affect CCO2 emissions and help improve environmental quality.

Identification and functional annotation of differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs in retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma (RB), the most common intraocular malignancy, typically occurs in pediatric patients under the age of 6 years. The present study aimed to explore the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression profile in RB and identify novel lncRNA biomarkers to facilitate the investigation of molecular mechanisms of RB and improve clinical therapy. Raw microarray data for the comparison of gene expression between three RB and three adjacent normal tissue samples were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (dataset no. GSE111168). After identification of differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) and differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs) in RB, functional enrichment analyses and a DEL-DEM weighted correlation network analysis were performed. A total of 3,915 DELs (1,774 upregulated and 2,141 downregulated) and 3,715 DEMs (1,492 upregulated and 2,223 downregulated) were identified in RB. The DEL-targeted DEMs were highly enriched by genes involved in hexose transport, muscle tissue morphogenesis, the stereocilium membrane, endothelin B receptor binding and γ-filamin/ABP-L, α-actinin and telethonin binding protein of the Z-disc binding. Furthermore, associations of the DELs and DEMs with several pathways were determined, including PI3K/AKT, Hippo and cancer signaling, as well as extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathways. Coexpression network analysis revealed that the top three DELs, lnc-DAZ1-161, lnc-HDAC7-21 and lnc-OR52A1-55, formed coexpression modules with 181, 156 and 210 DEMs, respectively. In addition, the top three DEMs, namely EIF1AY, GSTM1 and NLRP11, formed coexpression modules with 33, 50 and 41 DELs, respectively. Validation using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR indicated that the expression of representative lncRNAs (lnc-DAZ1-161 and lnc-HDAC7-21) in RB cells in vitro was consistent with that in RB tissues in the database, while the expression of lnc-OR52A1-55 was not consistent with the database. These results suggested that the aberrant lncRNA expression profile in RB is related to the differential regulation of numerous physiological and pathological processes. The lncRNA and mRNA profiles in RB identified may provide novel targets for the investigation of its molecular mechanisms and thus lead to improvements in clinical therapy for RB.

Does environmental taxes achieve the carbon neutrality target of G7 economies? Evaluating the importance of environmental R&D.

The present study highlights the importance of environmental taxes and R&D in achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. Post Paris conference (COP21), countries set domestic targets to achieve zero carbon or carbon neutrality. Several studies have been conducted to explore the factors affecting environmental quality. However, the literature on the importance of environmental taxes and environmental R&D in affecting environmental quality is scant, and thus, this study investigates the impact of environmental taxes and R&D on consumption-based carbon emissions for G-7 countries over a period of 1990-2019. The cointegration test results show a stable long-run association between environmental taxes, environmental R&D, imports, exports, GDP, and consumption-based CO2 emissions. The results show that in the short- and long-run, environmental taxes, environmental R&D, and exports significantly reduce carbon emissions, whereas GDP and imports significantly enhance carbon emissions. The Dumitrescu and Hurlin Granger causality test results show that any policy that targets environmental taxes, environmental R&D, exports, imports, and GDP significantly changes CO2 emissions. This study recommends that policymakers in G-7 countries should focus on environmental R&D and taxes to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.

Tunable properties of (HoxY1-x)2SiO5 as damage self-monitoring environmental/thermal barrier coating candidates.

RE2SiO5 with low thermal conductivity, compatible thermal expansion coefficients and excellent high-temperature reliability in harsh environments are excellent candidates as advanced environmental/thermal barrier coating materials for high-efficiency gas turbine engines. A series of rare earth silicates (HoxY1-x)2SiO5 are designed and their properties are comprehensively investigated in this paper. Through doping Ho into Y2SiO5, the thermal conductivity of Y2SiO5 is significantly decreased and the thermal expansion coefficient is also optimized closer to Si-based ceramics. High-temperature elastic stiffness and bending strength are increased with the enhancing of Ho content. Most important, doping Ho element provides (HoxY1-x)2SiO5 with tunable luminescence characteristic. (HoxY1-x)2SiO5 exhibit green, to yellow-green, then to orange-red luminescence color with increased Ho concentration. The results show that they can be used as damage self-monitoring environmental/thermal barrier coating materials for Si-based ceramics.

Hydrogen Production by Sorption Enhanced Steam Reforming (SESR) of Biomass in a Fluidised-Bed Reactor Using Combined Multifunctional Particles.

The performance of combined CO2-sorbent/catalyst particles for sorption enhanced steam reforming (SESR), prepared via a simple mechanical mixing protocol, was studied using a spout-fluidised bed reactor capable of continuous solid fuel (biomass) feeding. The influence of particle size (300⁻500 and 710⁻1000 µm), CaO loading (60⁻100 wt %), Ni-loading (10⁻40 wt %) and presence of dicalcium silicate support (22.6 wt %) on SESR process performance were investigated. The combined particles were characterised by their density, porosity and CO2 carrying capacity with the analysis by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). All experiments were conducted with continuous oak biomass feeding at a rate of 0.9 g/min ± 10%, and the reactor was operated at 660 ± 5 °C, 1 atm and 20 ± 2 vol % steam which corresponds to a steam-to-carbon ratio of 1.2:1. Unsupported combined particles containing 21.0 wt % Ni and 79 wt % CaO were the best performing sorbent/catalyst particle screened in this study, when accounting for the cost of Ni and the improvement in H2 produced by high Ni content particles. SESR tests with these combined particles produced 61 mmol H2/gbiomass (122 g H2/kgbiomass) at a purity of 61 vol %. Significant coke formation within the feeding tube and on the surfaces of the particles was observed which was attributed to the low steam to carbon ratio utilised.

Incidence of endophthalmitis after 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Endophthalmitis is a rare but severe complication following PPV. The incidence of endophthalmitis varies between 20-gauge, 23-gauge, and 25-gauge incisions. The incidence and clinical features of endophthalmitis after 23-gauge PPV in an eye hospital in China was reported in this study. METHODS: Data of the eyes that underwent 23-gauge PPV from January 2011 to December 2014 at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University was retrospectively collected. All the information was obtained from the electronic medical system. The exclusion criteria included: (1) preoperative diagnosis of endophthalmitis; (2) history of vitrectomy; (3) intraocular surgery within 6 months; (4) history of ocular penetrating trauma; (5) sutures for any of the 3 sclerotomy incisions; (6) patients with cancer, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or taking drugs that may influence the immune system. The diagnosis of endophthalmitis was based on clinical characteristics and/or culture results from an operative sample. RESULTS: Three thousand nine hundred seventy nine eyes that underwent 23-gauge PPV surgery were included in this study. Among these eyes, 3 eyes developed endophthalmitis after surgery, giving an incidence of 0.075% (3/3979). The period in which endophthalmitis developed ranged from 1 to 5 days post-operation. The visual acuity decreased to hand motions or light perception postoperatively. The culture of aqueous and vitreous of the 2 eyes revealed Staphylococcus epidermidis and enterococcus faecalis respectively, however was negative for the third eye. All 3 eyes had a favorable response to the treatment of vitreous tap and intravitreal antibiotics injection. Two eyes gained visual acuity of 0.05 and 0.5, respectively at the final visit. CONCLUSIONS: Endophthalmitis is a rare but sight-threatening complication after 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy. The peak duration of onset was within 5 days post-operation, with gram positive cocci being the common pathogenic organism.

EFFECT OF BODY POSITION ON INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE IN SILICONE OIL TAMPONADE EYES.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of body position on intraocular pressure (IOP) in silicone oil tamponade eyes. METHODS: This prospective study included 18 eyes from 18 silicone oil tamponade patients and 24 eyes from 24 healthy subjects. Intraocular pressures were measured by Accupen Applanation Tonometer sitting with face forward, sitting with face down, supine, nondependent lateral decubitus, dependent lateral decubitus, and prone positions. The IOPs in each position and the magnitudes of IOP change were compared between the silicone oil and normal groups. RESULTS: In both groups, the IOPs in sitting positions were significantly lower than that of each recumbent position. The IOPs were highest in prone among all positions. No significant difference was found between IOPs of each group in each position. Between both groups, the IOP elevations in each position had no statistical difference compared with sitting with face forward. CONCLUSION: The IOP is lowest in the sitting position and highest in the prone position in both silicone oil and normal groups. Between both groups, the amount of IOP elevations is equivalent in each position compared with sitting with face forward. Ophthalmologists should be aware that IOP is higher in the prone position and that it should be monitored accordingly.

Phase evolution, characterisation, and performance of cement prepared in an oxy-fuel atmosphere.

Cement manufacture is one of the major contributors (7-10%) to global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been identified as a vital technology for decarbonising the sector. Oxy-fuel combustion, involving burning fuel in a mixture of recycled CO2 and pure O2 instead of air, makes CO2 capture much easier. Since it combines a theoretically lower energy penalty with an increase in production, it is attractive as a CCS technology in cement plants. However, it is necessary to demonstrate that changes in the clinkering atmosphere do not reduce the quality of the clinker produced. Clinkers were successfully produced in an oxy-fuel atmosphere using only pure oxides as raw materials as well as a mixture of oxides and clay. Then, CEM I cements were prepared by the addition of 5 wt% gypsum to the clinkers. Quantitative XRD and XRF were used to obtain the phase and elemental compositions of the clinkers. The particle size distribution and compressive strength of the cements at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days' ages were tested, and the effect of the particle size distribution on the compressive strength was investigated. Additionally, the compressive strength of the cements produced in oxy-fuel atmospheres was compared with those of the cement produced in air and commercially available CEMEX CEM I. The results show that good-quality cement can be successfully produced in an oxy-fuel atmosphere and it has similar phase and chemical compositions to CEM I. Additionally, it has a comparable compressive strength to the cement produced in air and to commercially available CEMEX CEM I.

[Efficacy on hemiplegic spasticity treated with plum blossom needle tapping therapy at the key points and Bobath therapy: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy on hemiplegic spasticity after cerebral infarction treated with plum blossom needle tapping therapy at the key points and Bobath therapy. METHODS: Eighty patients were collected, in compliance with the inclusive criteria of hemiplegic spasticity after cerebral infarction, and randomized into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one. In the control group, Bobath manipulation therapy was adopted to relieve spasticity and the treatment of 8 weeks was required. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, the tapping therapy with plum blossom needle was applied to the key points, named Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (LI 14), Jianzhen (SI 9), Hegu (LI 4), Chengfu (BL 36), Zusanli (ST 36), Xiyangguan (GB 33), etc. The treatment was given for 15 min each time, once a day. Before treatment, after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and Barthel index (BI) were adopted to evaluate the motor function of the extremity and the activity of daily life in the patients of the two groups separately. The modified Ashworth scale was used to evaluate the effect of anti-spasticity. RESULTS: In 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, FMA: scores and BI scores were all significantly increased as compared with those before treatment in the two groups: (both P<0. 05). The results in 8 weeks of treatment in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group (all P<0. 05). In 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, the scores of spasticity state were improved as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0. 05). The result in 8 weeks of treatment in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0. 05). In 8 weeks of treatment, the total effective rate of anti-spasticity was 90. 0% (36/40) in the observation group, better than 75. 0% (30/40) in the control group (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: The tapping therapy with plum blossom needle at the key points combined with Bobath therapy effectively relieves hemiplegic spasticity in the patients of cerebral infarction and improves the motor function of extremity and the activity of daily life.

Clinical study on auricular acupoint penetration needling along the skin for treatment of a variety of pain syndrome and dysfunction.

This paper is a summary of clinical studies on auricular acupoint penetration needling along the skin for treatment of pain and dysfunction in recent 10 years. Auricular acupoint penetration needling along the skin was used to observe rapid analgesic effects and clinical efficacy on cervical spondylopathy, periarthritis of shoulder, pain in waist and lower extremities, migraine, and other peripheral neuropathic pain, and stroke sequels, soft tissue injury, and so on. Self-control method was used in the studies at the first stage, and clinically randomized control trial methodwas used for systematic comparison with other therapies at the second stage. Results indicated that the auricular acupoint penetration needling along the skin had obviously clinical effects on cervical spondylopathy, periarthritis of shoulder, pain in waist and lower extremities, migraine, soft tissue injuries and stroke sequels, with a better rapid analgesic effect as compared with ear perpendicular needling method.

[Effect of otopoint-needle embedment on headache and plasma 5-HT content in migraine patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of otopoint-needle embedment on migraine and to explore its underlying mechanism. METHODS: Ninety-two migraine outpatients were equally randomized into acupuncture group and medication group. For patients of the acupuncture group, one sterilized intradermal needle was inserted into E (MA-AT)-point and advanced toward Nie (temple-point, MA-AT), then another inserted into Nie (Temple-point, MA-AT) and advanced toward Zhen (occipus-point, MA-AT), followed by fixing the needles with a piece of adhesive-tape respectively, combined with Wei (stomach-point, MA-IC), Jiaogan (sympathesis-point, MA-AH 7) for migraine patients with nausea and vomiting, and with Yan (eye-point, MA-L 1) for those with phengophobia. Plasma serotonin (5-HT) contents before and after the treatment were detected by fluorescence spectrophotometry. RESULTS: In comparison with the pre-treatment, the synthetic scores of two groups one month and 6 months after the treatment were decreased significantly (P < 0.01). The integrative sores of the acupuncture group one month and 6 months after the treatment were significantly lower than those of the medication group (P < 0.01). The total effective rates of recent efficacy and long-term efficacy of the acupuncture group were 82.61% (38/46) and 83.72% (36/43) respectively, being significantly higher than those [67.39% (31/46) and 57.14% (24/42)] of the medication group. After the treatment, plasma 5-HT content of the acupuncture group was remarkablely higher than that of the medication group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Otopoint-needle implant can effectively relieve headache in migraine patients and upregulate plasma 5-HT level.