Bifacial CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cells with copper nanowires as a transparent back contact.

A bifacial CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cell with a superstrate configuration was demonstrated by using copper nanowire (CuNW)/indium tin oxide (ITO) back contacts as a transparent and conductive electrode (TCE). CdS and CdTe were deposited by chemical bath deposition and close-spaced sublimation techniques, respectively. The CuNWs acted both as an acceptor dopant and TCE for the p-CdTe, improving the total cell efficiency compared to a copper-free back contact. CuNW/ITO back contacts with high optical transmittance (72.3% at 550 nm) and low sheet resistance (47.1 Ω/sq.) were obtained. The average cell efficiency of the bifacial CdS/CdTe thin-film cells with the optimized CuNW/ITO back contact was 10.0% (front-side illumination) and 0.55% (rear-side illumination). The quantum efficiencies under front-side and rear-side illumination were studied. The prepared bifacial cell can facilitate full usage of incoming sunlight (direct or diffused), enhancing the output power under cloudy conditions.

Bifacial CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cells using a transparent silver nanowire/indium tin oxide back contact.

A hybrid silver nanowires (AgNWs)/indium tin oxide (ITO) contact was used as a transparent back-electrode to fabricate a bifacial CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cell. The photovoltaic properties of the bifacial CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cell were investigated under front and back illumination conditions. The hybrid AgNWs/ITO back contact changed the average conversion efficiency from 0.4% (front) and 3.5% (rear) to 8.1% (front) and 0.9% (rear), respectively, improving the sum efficiency from 3.9% (ITO-only) to 9.0%. Our research demonstrates the use of a nanowire network as a transparent electrode in CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cells for bifacial or tandem applications.

Association between Hypertriglyceridemia and Lacunar Infarction in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Although recent studies have shown that the elevation of serum triglyceride (TG) is related to the increased incidence of ischemic stroke, the relationship between hypertriglyceridemia and subtypes of ischemic stroke is largely unknown. This study attempted to evaluate whether hypertriglyceridemia is associated with lacunar stroke in diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: A total of 2141 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled from March 2005 to April 2014, excluding the subjects with undetermined/other determined etiology or no lipid data. We compared the lipid profiles among stroke subtypes. The estimated serum TG levels and the interaction between DM and stroke subtypes were determined by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Tukey's multiple comparison. RESULTS: In ANCOVA test, the difference of estimated TG between DM and non-DM patients was largest in small-vessel occlusion (SVO; 159.7 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 143.2-176.2] versus 122.4 [95% CI, 106.1-138.7]), and a significant interaction was observed between DM and stroke subtypes for TG levels (P = .013) but not for total cholesterol (P = .363), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = .171), or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = .231). By Tukey's multiple comparison, SVO was consistently associated with DM for serum TG levels (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In acute ischemic stroke with DM, serum TG level was significantly associated with lacunar infarction adjusting for other lipid profiles and vascular risk factors. Further studies are warranted to reveal the pathophysiologic implication of hypertriglyceridemia for lacunar infarction in type 2 DM.

Implication of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in cryptogenic ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is a predictor for atrial fibrillation (AF). This study was aimed to investigate whether LVDD in cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CS) could be a clue to stroke mechanism. METHODS: The clinical and echocardiographic findings of 1589 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack between 2004 and 2013 were reviewed. LVDDs among stroke subtypes were graded by transthoracic echocardiography into 4 groups by severity: normal, abnormal relaxation (grade I), pseudonormal (grade II), and restrictive diastolic filling (grade III), whereas severe LVDD was defined as grade III. We classified the lesion pattern of CS into cardioembolism-mimic or non-cardioembolism-mimic and determined whether cardioembolism-mimic lesions were associated with severe LVDD. RESULTS: The fraction of severe LVDD in CS was not different from that of stroke with AF (27.3% versus 37.1%; P=0.173) but was significantly higher than that of stroke without AF (27.3% versus 13.4%; P=0.008). Cardioembolism-mimic CS had more severe LVDD than non-cardioembolism-mimic CS (41.4% versus 11.5%; P=0.013). LVDD of grade II (odds ratio, 4.37; 95% confidence interval, 2.99-6.41) and grade III (odds ratio, 5.60; 95% confidence interval, 3.42-9.17) were independently related to stroke with AF after adjusting covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The severe LVDD could be a predictor of stroke with AF, and its frequency was similar between CS and stroke with AF. Cardioembolism-mimic CS had significantly more severe LVDD than non-cardioembolism-mimic CS. LVDD could be helpful to discriminate the stroke mechanism in the patients with acute CS.

Colloidal Synthesis of P-Type Zn3As2 Nanocrystals.

Zinc pnictides, particularly Zn3As2, hold significant promise for optoelectronic applications owing to their intrinsic p-type behavior and appropriate bandgaps. However, despite the outstanding properties of colloidal Zn3As2 nanocrystals, research in this area is lacking because of the absence of suitable precursors, occurrence of surface oxidation, and intricacy of the crystal structures. In this study, a novel and facile solution-based synthetic approach is presented for obtaining highly crystalline p-type Zn3As2 nanocrystals with accurate stoichiometry. By carefully controlling the feed ratio and reaction temperature, colloidal Zn3As2 nanocrystals are successfully obtained. Moreover, the mechanism underlying the conversion of As precursors in the initial phases of Zn3As2 synthesis is elucidated. Furthermore, these nanocrystals are employed as active layers in field-effect transistors that exhibit inherent p-type characteristics with native surface ligands. To enhance the charge transport properties, a dual passivation strategy is introduced via phase-transfer ligand exchange, leading to enhanced hole mobilities as high as 0.089 cm2 V-1 s-1. This study not only contributes to the advancement of nanocrystal synthesis, but also opens up new possibilities for previously underexplored p-type nanocrystal research.

Development and Validation of the Korean Version of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Screen (ECAS-K).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cognitive and behavioral changes are common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with about 15% of patients presenting with overt frontotemporal dementia and 30%-50% with varying degrees of impairments. We aimed to develop and validate the Korean version of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS-K), a brief multidomain assessment tool developed for ALS patients with physical disability. METHODS: We developed the ECAS-K according to the translation guidelines, and administered it to 38 patients with ALS and 26 age- and education-level-matched controls. We also administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) to investigate convergent validity, and the Center for Neurologic Study-Liability Scale to assess the association between pseudobulbar affect and cognitive/behavioral changes. RESULTS: Internal consistency among the ECAS-K test items was found to be high, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.87. Significant differences were found between patients with ALS and the controls in language, fluency, and memory functions (p<0.05). Abnormal performance based on the ECAS total score was noted in 39.4% of patients, and 66.6% presented behavioral changes in at least one domain. Significant correlations were observed between the scores of the ECAS-K and those of other cognitive screening tools (MoCA and FAB, with correlation coefficients of 0.69 and 0.55, respectively; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We developed and validated the ECAS-K which could be used as an effective tool to screen the cognitive and behavioral impairments in Korean patients with ALS.

Conversion of the bronchial tree into a conforming electrode to ablate the lung nodule in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the treatment options for lung nodules. However, the need for exact delivery of the rigid metal electrode into the center of the target mass often leads to complications or suboptimal results. To overcome these limitations, a concept of conforming electrodes using a flexible material has been tested in this study. METHODS: A bronchoscopy-guided RFA (CAROL) under a temperature-controlled mode was tested in in-vivo and ex-vivo porcine lungs. Gallium-based liquid metal was used for turning the bronchial tree into temporary RF electrodes. A customized bronchoscopy-guided balloon-tipped guiding catheter (CAROL catheter) was used to make the procedure feasible under fluoroscopy imaging guidance. The computer simulation was also performed to gain further insight into the ablation results. Safety was also assessed including the liquid metal remaining in the body. RESULTS: The bronchial electrode injected from the CAROL catheter was able to turn the target site bronchial air pipe into a temporally multi-tined RF electrode. The mean volume of Gallium for each effective CAROL was 0.46 ± 0.47 ml. The ablation results showed highly efficacious and consistent results, especially in the peripheral lung. Most bronchial electrodes were also retrieved by either bronchoscopic suction immediately after the procedure or by natural expectoration thereafter. The liquid metal used in these experiments did not have any significant safety issues. Computer simulation also supports these results. CONCLUSION: The CAROL ablation was very effective and safe in porcine lungs showing encouraging potential to overcome the conventional approaches.

Lung cancer can be treated by inserting a metal device into the lung via the throat and using this to send radio waves into the cancer. However, using a rigid metal device can cause damage to other areas of the lung and can only treat small cancers. Here, we describe an alternative method to treat lung cancers in which liquid metal is used to fill the spaces within the lung closest to the cancer. We demonstrate that this method can be used to treat cancer in a swine model of lung cancer. Given the positive results we obtained, we think this approach should be tested in a clinical trial in human patients with lung cancer, as it might improve cancer treatment.

The Development of a Permanent Implantable Spacer with the Function of Size Adjustability for Customized Treatment of Regurgitant Heart Valve Disease.

The Pivot Mandu is an innovative device featuring a leak-tight adjustable 3D balloon spacer, incorporating inner mesh support, an outer e-PTFE layer, and a compliant balloon in the middle layer with a specialized detachable system. To assess its feasibility, proof of concept was rigorously evaluated through bench testing and survival porcine animal experiments. The results demonstrated successful remote inflation of the balloon system, with the balloon spacer exhibiting sustained patent and functional integrity over an extended observation period of up to 6 months. A noteworthy feature of the newly designed 3D balloon spacer is its capability for easy size adjustment during procedures, enhancing its adaptability and practicality in clinical settings. This three-layered 3D balloon spacer, with its established long-term patency, exhibits highly encouraging outcomes that hold promise in overcoming the current limitations of spacer devices for heart valve diseases. Given the compelling results from preclinical investigations, the translation of the Pivot Mandu into human trials is strongly warranted.

Serum level of IL-1ß in patients with inflammatory demyelinating disease: Marked upregulation in the early acute phase of MOG antibody associated disease (MOGAD).

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the serum cytokine profiles in patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproteins antibody associated disease (MOGAD), compared to those in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (APQ4-IgG+ NMOSD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDDs). METHODS: The level of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ in sera from 21 patients with MOGAD, 32 APQ4-IgG+ NMOSD, 24 MS, and 16 other IDDs were assessed. RESULTS: In MOGAD patients, the levels of IL-1ß and IL-12p70 were elevated compared to APQ4-IgG+ NMOSD. The level of IL-10 and the ratio of T helper (Th)-1/Th2-related cytokines were elevated in MOGAD patients compared to MS or other IDDs. In an intragroup analysis, the IL-1ß was increased in acute stage of MOGAD, APQ4-IgG+ NMOSD, and also MS compared to their chronic stage counterpart. It was inversely correlated with time from acute attack to sampling in MOGAD (p < 0.001) and AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD (p = 0.001), but not in MS. Moreover, the IL-1ß was most markedly upregulated in MOGAD sera sampled within 1 week from acute attack compared to those sampled after (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The serum IL-1ß can be elevated in the acute stage of patients with diverse IDDs including, MOGAD, APQ4-IgG+ NMOSD, and MS. This upregulation of serum IL-1ß can be most markedly observed in the early acute stage of MOGAD patients. Further studies seem to be needed to determine the proper mechanism for the upregulation of serum IL-1ß and also the role of IL-1ß inhibition especially at the early acute stage of MOGAD.

Bone health in neuromyelitis optica: Bone mineral density and fractures.

BACKGROUND: The bone health in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G antibodies (NMOSD-AQP4) have not been fully evaluated. To evaluate the prevalence of fractures and bone loss in patients with NMOSD-AQP4 compared to healthy controls and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to identify the risk factors associated with fractures and low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with NMOSD-AQP4. METHODS: Seventy-one patients with NMOSD-AQP4 were included. The two control groups consisted of 213 age-, sex-, menopause-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy participants from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (healthy controls) and 41 patients with multiple sclerosis (disease controls). We collected demographic and clinical data related to bone health including BMD and FRAX score. RESULTS: Patients with NMOSD-AQP4 had a higher prevalence of fractures than the healthy control group (OR = 5.40, CI = 2.004-14.524, p = 0.001), with falling, but not steroid use, being associated with an increased risk of fractures after diagnosis with NMOSD-AQP4 (OR = 24.902, CI = 3.086-200.947, p = 0.003). They also had significantly lower BMD than controls (femur neck, p = 0.044; total hip, p < 0.001), which was more prominent in young participants. The BMD in the NMOSD-AQP4 group was associated with cumulative dose of oral steroids, age, sex, BMI, and partly with the prophylactic calcium supplements. Though the patients with NMOSD-AQP4 did not differ significantly from patients with MS in terms of fracture rate and BMD, they had higher risk of fractures as measured by the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (for major osteoporotic fractures, (p = 0.001; for hip fractures, p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Patients with NMOSD-AQP4 had a significantly higher risk of fractures that could mostly be attributed to falling. Additionally, low BMD was observed in these patients; it was more prominent among young patients, associated with steroid use, and may partially prevented by the use of prophylactic calcium supplements.

The Association between Motor Laterality and Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between the side of motor symptoms and cognitive impairment has rarely been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to estimate the influence of motor laterality on cognition in PD patients. METHODS: We enrolled 67 patients with PD, and they were divided into two groups according to side of symptom onset or predominant motor symptom presentation (right and left). Right-sided PD (RPD, 40) and left-sided PD (LPD, 27) patients underwent a neuropsychological battery exploring memory, attention/working memory, frontal/executive, visuospatial, and language functions. Student's t-test and Chi-square test have been carried out to compare the clinical and neuropsychological data between two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in any neuropsychological test between the RPD and LPD groups, except for digit forward span test. RPD patients scored lower on the digit forward span test than LPD patients (5.43±9.49 vs. 6.15±1.38, p=0.045). CONCLUSIONS: RPD patients seem to experience more difficulties in attention and working memory than did LPD patients. The laterality of motor symptoms is not a major determinant for cognitive impairment in PD patients but, we should consider differences of cognitive deficits depending on the side of motor symptoms to treat patients with PD.

Centrosome impairments and consequent cytokinesis defects are possible mechanisms of taxane drugs.

Taxol and taxotere are two of the most promising anticancer drugs. To determine the mechanisms responsible for cell death after exposure to low doses of taxane, PC3 cells were treated with taxol and taxotere, and observed with immunofluoroscence microscopy. Pericentriolar material dissociation and blockage of normal centrosome separation were found to result in two different abnormal spindle types; multipolar and monopolar spindles, respectively. The majority of abnormal spindles induced by taxol were monopolar spindles, whereas taxotere mostly induced abnormal multipolar spindles. Consequently, monopolar spindle mitosis resulted in cleavage failure, while multipolar spindle mitosis led to the formation of both cleavage failure and multipolar cell division. Multinucleation characterized interphase cells which had undergone cytokinesis defects. These cells subsequently became giant multinucleated cells after several rounds of cell cycle with sustained cleavage failure, and were gradually eliminated through cell death.