Graphene oxide as a p-dopant and an anti-reflection coating layer, in graphene/silicon solar cells.

It is shown that coating graphene-silicon (Gr/Si) Schottky junction based solar cells with graphene oxide (GO) improves the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the cells, while demonstrating unprecedented device stability. The PCE has been shown to be increased to 10.6% (at incident radiation of 100 mW cm(-2)) for the Gr/Si solar cell with an optimal GO coating thickness compared to 3.6% for a bare/uncoated Gr/Si solar cell. The p-doping of graphene by the GO, which also serves as an antireflection coating (ARC) has been shown to be a main contributing factor to the enhanced PCE. A simple spin coating process has been used to apply GO with thickness commensurate with an anti-refection coating (ARC) and indicates the suitability of the developed methodology for large-scale solar cell assembly.

Does large-bowel enema reduce septic complications in acute pancreatitis?

BACKGROUND: The source of septic complications in acute pancreatitis was unknown until recent years. The pathogenesis of bacterial translocation from the gut has been accepted as the main source of pancreatic or peripancreatic infection. This study was designed to investigate the role of large bowel enema during acute pancreatitis in preventing bacterial translocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four Spraque-Dawley rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into two groups. Group I animals received biliopancreatic duct ligation plus colon cleansing by rectal enemas; group II animals received only biliopancreatic duct ligation. Rectal enemas were applied to the first group of animals three times, at 6, 24, and 48 hours after the operation using 10 cc sodium hydrogen phosphate solutions. All animals were sacrificed 72 hours later, and tissue samples were taken from mesenteric lymph nodes, pancreas, spleen, and liver for bacteriologic cultures via a midline laparatomy. Blood and cecum cultures were also prepared. RESULTS: Positive mesenteric lymph node cultures were found in all 12 animals in group II but in only 3 of 11 animals of group I (P <0.05). Distant organ cultures were positive in 9 of group II, but the only infected distant organ culture found in group I was the positive liver culture (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, we believe that large bowel enema can reduce the frequency of septic complications in acute pancreatitis by reducing bacterial translocation.