Enhancing Optical and Thermal Stability of Blue-Emitting Perovskite Nanocrystals through Surface Passivation with Sulfonate or Sulfonic Acid Ligands.

This study aims to enhance the optical and thermal properties of cesium-based perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) through surface passivation with organic sulfonate (or sulfonic acid) ligands. Four different phenylated ligands, including sodium ß-styrenesulfonate (SbSS), sodium benzenesulfonate (SBS), sodium p-toluenesulfonate (SPTS), and 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), were employed to modify blue-emitting CsPbBr1.5Cl1.5 perovskite NCs, resulting in improved size uniformity and surface functionalization. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the successful anchoring of sulfonate or sulfonic acid ligands on the surface of perovskite NCs. Moreover, the photoluminescence quantum yield increased from 32% of the original perovskite NCs to 63% of the SPTS-modified ones due to effective surface passivation. Time-resolved photoluminescence decay measurements revealed extended PL lifetimes for ligand-modified NCs, indicative of reduced nonradiative recombination. Thermal stability studies demonstrated that the SPTS-modified NCs retained nearly 80% of the initial PL intensity when heated at 60 °C for 10 min, surpassing the performance of the original NCs. These findings emphasize the optical and thermal stability enhancement of cesium-based perovskite NCs through surface passivation with suitable sulfonate ligands.

Exploration and Optimization of the Polymer-Modified NiOx Hole Transport Layer for Fabricating Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

The recombination of charge carriers at the interface between carrier transport layers such as nickel oxide (NiOx) and the perovskite absorber has long been a challenge in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). To address this issue, we introduced a polymer additive poly(vinyl butyral) into NiOx and subjected it to high-temperature annealing to form a void-containing structure. The formation of voids is confirmed to increase light transmittance and surface area of NiOx, which is beneficial for light absorption and carrier separation within PSCs. Experimental results demonstrate that the incorporation of the polymer additive helped to enhance the hole conductivity and carrier extraction of NiOx with a higher Ni3+/Ni2+ ratio. This also optimized the energy levels of NiOx to match with the perovskite to raise the open-circuit voltage to 1.01 V. By incorporating an additional NiOx layer beneath the polymer-modified NiOx, the device efficiency was further increased as verified from the dark current measurement of devices.

Surface Modification of ZnO Nanocrystals with Conjugated Polyelectrolytes Carrying Different Counterions for Inverted Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

In this work, bromide ions (Br-) on the conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) were converted to tetrafluoroborate (BF4-) or hexafluorophosphate (PF6-) ions through anion exchange. The three CPEs (PFN-Br, PFN-BF4, and PFN-PF6) were utilized solely for surface modification of zinc oxide nanocrystals (ZnO NCs). The ionic groups on CPEs can form permanent dipoles to facilitate charge injection from ZnO NCs to cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) NC emitters, therefore promoting luminescent properties of inverted perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). The experimental results reveal that ZnO NC films were smoothened by CPEs that allowed flat deposition of the perovskite active layers; moreover, the improved contact between ZnO and perovskite layers was beneficial for reducing leakage current, as verified in the dark current measurement of devices. In addition, the incorporation of CPEs helped to passivate the defects of ZnO NC films and prolong the carrier lifetime of CsPbBr3 NCs. PeLEDs based on different CPEs were then constructed and evaluated. The device based on PFN-Br showed the highest brightness and current efficiency, and the one based on PFN-BF4 exhibited better current efficiency over PFN-Br under the low current density below 160 mA/cm2. This is the first report using fluorene-based CPEs with Br-, BF4-, or PF6- groups to modify the properties of ZnO and CsPbBr3 NCs for the construction of inverted PeLEDs so far. Our experiments explored new kinds of CPEs on the surface modification of ZnO NCs and device performance of PeLEDs.

Solution-Processed Metal Oxide Nanostructures for Carrier Transport.

Metal oxide semiconductors represent a unique class of materials that show prominent optoelectronic applications nowadays [...].

Optimal Timing of Targeted Temperature Management for Post-Cardiac Arrest Syndrome: Is Sooner Better?

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is often considered to improve post-cardiac arrest patients' outcomes. However, the optimal timing to initiate cooling remained uncertain. This retrospective analysis enrolled all non-traumatic post-cardiac arrest adult patients with either out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) or in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) who received TTM from July 2015 to July 2021 at our hospital. The values of time delay before TTM and time to target temperature were divided into three periods according to optimal cut-off values identified using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. A total of 177 patients were enrolled. A shorter time delay before TTM (pre-induction time) was associated with a lower survival chance at 28 days (32.00% vs. 54.00%, p = 0.0279). Patients with a longer cooling induction time (>440 minis) had better neurological outcomes (1.58% vs. 1.05%; p = 0.001) and survival at 28 days (58.06% vs. 29.25%; p = 0.006). After COX regression analysis, the influence of pre-induction time on survival became insignificant, but patients who cooled slowest still had a better chance of survival at 28 days. In conclusion, a shorter delay before TTM was not associated with better clinical outcomes. However, patients who took longer to reach the target temperature had better hospital survival and neurological outcomes than those who were cooled more rapidly. A further prospective study was warranted to evaluate the appropriate time window of TTM.

Preparation of Nickel Oxide Nanoflakes for Carrier Extraction and Transport in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Hole transport layers (HTLs) with high conductivity, charge extraction ability, and carrier transport capability are highly important for fabricating perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with high power conversion efficiency and device stability. Low interfacial recombination between the HTL and perovskite absorber is also crucial to the device performance of PSCs. In this work, we developed a three-stage method to prepare NiOx nanoflakes as the HTL in the inverted PSCs. Due to the addition of the nanoflake layer, the deposited perovskite films with larger grain sizes and fewer boundaries were obtained, implying higher photogenerated current and fill factors in our PSCs. Meanwhile, the downshifted valence band of the NiOx HTL improved hole extraction from the perovskite absorber and open-circuit voltages of PSCs. The optimized device based on the NiOx nanoflakes showed the highest efficiency of 14.21% and a small hysteresis, which outperformed the NiOx thin film as the HTL. Furthermore, the device maintained 83% of its initial efficiency after 60 days of storage. Our results suggest that NiOx nanoflakes provide great potential for constructing PSCs with high efficiency and long-term stability.

Efficient and stable perovskite solar cells using manganese-doped nickel oxide as the hole transport layer.

Organic/inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have represented a promising field of renewable energy in recent years due to the compelling advantages of high efficiency, facile fabrication process and low cost. The development of inorganic p-type metal oxide materials plays an important role in the performance and stability of PSCs for commercial purposes. Herein a facile and effective way to improve hole extraction and conductivity of NiO x films by manganese (Mn) doping is demonstrated in this study. A Mn-doped NiO x layer was prepared by the sol-gel process and served as the hole transport layer (HTL) in inverted PSCs. The results suggest that Mn-doped NiO x is helpful for the growth of perovskite layers with larger grains and higher crystallinity compared with the pristine NiO x . Furthermore, the perovskite films deposited on Mn-doped NiO x exhibit lower recombination and shorter carrier lifetime. The device based on 0.5 mol% Mn-doped NiO x as the HTL displayed the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.35% and a high fill factor (FF) of 81%, which were significantly higher than those of the one using the pristine NiO x HTL (PCE = 14.71%, FF = 73%). Moreover, the device retained 70% of its initial efficiency after 35 days' storage under a continuous halogen lamp matrix exposure with an illumination intensity of 1000 W m-2. Our results widen the development of PSCs for future production.

Quantitative volumetric computed tomography embolic analysis, the Qanadli score, biomarkers, and clinical prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Detailed descriptions of acute pulmonary emboli (PE) morphology, total embolic volume (TEV), and their effects upon patients' clinical presentation and prognosis remain largely unexplored. We studied 201 subjects with acute PE to the emergency department of a single medical center from April 2009 to December 2014. Patient hemodynamics, Troponin I and D-dimer levels, echocardiography, and the 30-day, 90-day and long-term mortality were obtained. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of pulmonary structures and 3-dimensional measures of embolic burden were performed. The results showed a linear association between the greater TEV and each of the following 4 variables (increasing incidence of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, higher systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), greater RV diameter, and RV/left ventricular (LV) ratio (all p < 0.001)). Among the measures of CT and echocardiography, TEV and RV/LV ratio were significantly associated with impending shock. In backward stepwise logistic regression, TEV, age and respiratory rate remained independent associated with impending shock (OR: 1.58, 1.03, 1.18, respectively and all p < 0.005).Total embolic burden assessed by CT-based quantification serves as a useful index for stressed cardiopulmonary circulation condition and can provide insights into RV dysfunction and the prediction of impending shock.

EGFR Q787Q Polymorphism Is a Germline Variant and a Prognostic Factor for Lung Cancer Treated With TKIs.

The prevalence and impact of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Q787Q polymorphism on the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma to evaluate the prevalence of the EGFR Q787Q polymorphism and its influence on effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. A total of 333 patients were included in this study. The prevalence of the EGFR Q787Q polymorphism was 38%, 42%, and 35% in the total patients, EGFR mutation negative, and EGFR mutation positive groups, respectively. The prevalence of EGFR Q787Q polymorphism was significantly higher in EGFR wild-type patients than in the general non-cancerous population from Taiwan Biobank and 1000 Genome Project databases, respectively. EGFR Q787Q polymorphism had significant protective effects on the overall survival of EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma treated with EGFR TKIs (aHR =0.61, p=0.03). Our study demonstrated that EGFR Q787Q polymorphism is a germline variant in the general population. It is a protective predictor of overall survival in patients with stage IV EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma treated with TKIs.

An Observational Study on Treatment Outcomes in Patients With Stage III NSCLC in Taiwan: The KINDLE Study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with stage III NSCLC represent a very heterogenous group that requires different treatment strategies, especially in patients with N2 (2 nearby lymph nodes having cancer)-positive NSCLC and unresectable EGFR-mutant NSCLC. This real-world study may provide more insights into treatment decisions. METHODS: The KINDLE study is a large, multinational real-world observational study that assessed different treatment strategies in patients with stage III NSCLC. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated and compared using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank testing. Patients were classified on the basis of disease stage, resectability, and treatment modalities. RESULTS: The Taiwan subgroup enrolled 200 patients. The median PFS and OS values were similar among patients with stage IIIA and stage IIIB disease, but were significantly better in patients who were deemed as a resectable disease than in those who were deemed as an unresectable disease. In patients with N2-positive NSCLC, patients who underwent surgery had better PFS, but not OS, than patients administered with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) (PFS 13.4 vs. 7.3 mo, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.18, p < 0.001; OS 32.4 vs. 22.0 mo, HR = 0.64, p = 0.215). Among patients with unresectable EGFR-mutant NSCLC, OS was significantly poorer after upfront EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) than after upfront CRT with sequential EGFR-TKI (27.4 vs. 49.0 mo, HR = 3.09, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that surgery could be added as part of therapy for patients with stage III N2-positive NSCLC. Moreover, upfront CRT with sequential EGFR-TKI seems to be appropriate for stage III unresectable EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Further randomized studies are needed to validate these results.

Using ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles as the hole transport layer to improve long term stability of perovskite solar cells.

Inorganic metal oxides with the merits of high carrier transport capability, low cost and superior chemical stability have largely served as the hole transport layer (HTL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in recent years. Among them, ternary metal oxides have gradually attracted attention because of the wide tenability of the two inequivalent cations in the lattice sites that offer interesting physicochemical properties. In this work, ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by a chemical precipitation method and served as the HTL in inverted PSCs. The device based on the ZnCo2O4 NPs HTL showed better efficiency of 12.31% and negligible hysteresis compared with the one using PEDOT:PSS film as the HTL. Moreover, the device sustained 85% of its initial efficiency after 240 h storage under a halogen lamps matrix exposure with an illumination intensity of 1000 W/m2, providing a powerful strategy to design long term stable PSCs for future production.

Solution-Processed Smooth Copper Thiocyanate Layer with Improved Hole Injection Ability for the Fabrication of Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes.

Copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) has been gradually utilized as the hole injection layer (HIL) within optoelectronic devices, owing to its high transparency in the visible range, moderate hole mobility, and desirable environmental stability. In this research, we demonstrate quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) with high brightness and current efficiency by doping 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ) in CuSCN as the HIL. The experimental results indicated a smoother surface of CuSCN upon F4TCNQ doping. The augmentation in hole mobility of CuSCN and carrier injection to reach balanced charge transport in QLEDs were confirmed. A maximum brightness of 169,230 cd m-2 and a current efficiency of 35.1 cd A-1 from the optimized device were received by adding 0.02 wt% of F4TCNQ in CuSCN, revealing promising use in light-emitting applications.

Does One Size Fit All? External Validation of the rCAST Score to Predict the Hospital Outcomes of Post-Cardiac Arrest Patients Receiving Targeted Temperature Management.

The revised post-Cardiac Arrest Syndrome for Therapeutic hypothermia (rCAST) score was proposed to predict neurologic outcomes and mortality among out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. However, it has rarely been validated outside Japan. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate this issue. All adult patients admitted to our medical intensive care unit for targeted temperature management (TTM) between July 2015 and July 2021 were enrolled. Their medical records were retrieved, and rCAST scores were calculated. A total of 108 post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) patients who received TTM were analyzed. According to the rCAST score, 49.1%, 50.0%, and 0.9% of the patients were classified as low, moderate, and high severity, respectively. The areas under the curves for the rCAST score were 0.806 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.719-0.876) and 0.794 (95% CI: 0.706-0.866) to predict poor neurologic outcomes and mortality at day 28, respectively. In contrast to the original report, only low-severity patients had favorable neurologic outcomes. The rCAST score showed moderate accuracy in our OHCA patients with PCAS who received TTM to predict poor neurologic outcomes and mortality at day 28.

Nickel-Doped ZnO Nanowalls with Enhanced Electron Transport Ability for Electrochemical Water Splitting.

This article reports on the growth of 3 mol% nickel (Ni)-doped zinc oxide nanowalls (ZnO NWLs) using the hydrothermal method. Morphological investigation as well as electrical conductivity of the undoped and Ni-doped ZnO NWLs was also discussed. The surface roughness of the formed ZnO NWLs was reduced after Ni-doping. The pore size of Ni-doped ZnO NWLs can be controlled by changing the concentration of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT). As the HMT concentration increased, the pores became larger with increasing surface roughness. The electrical conductivity of the electron-only device based on the Ni-doped ZnO NWLs was higher than that of the undoped one, and it was decreased with increasing the HMT concentration. Our results reveal that Ni-doping and adjustment of the HMT concentration are two key approaches to tune the morphology and electrical properties of ZnO NWLs. Finally, the undoped and Ni-doped ZnO NWLs were used as the catalyst for electrochemical water splitting. The Ni-doped ZnO NWLs with the HMT concentration of 1 mM showed the highest electrochemical performance, which can be attributed to the increased surface area and electrical conductivity.

Performance Comparison between the Nanoporous NiO x Layer and NiO x Thin Film for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Long-Term Stability.

The development of hole-transport layers (HTLs) that elevate charge extraction, improve perovskite crystallinity, and decrease interfacial recombination is extremely important for enhancing the performance of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this work, the nanoporous nickel oxide (NiO x ) layer as well as NiO x thin film was prepared via chemical bath deposition as the HTL. The sponge-like structure of the nanoporous NiO x helps to grow a pinhole-free perovskite film with a larger grain size compared to the NiO x thin film. The downshifted valence band of the nanoporous NiO x HTL can improve hole extraction from the perovskite absorbing layer. The device based on the nanoporous NiO x layer showed the highest efficiency of 13.43% and negligible hysteresis that was better than the one using the NiO x thin film as the HTL. Moreover, the PSCs sustained 80% of their initial efficiency after 50 days of storage. This study provides a powerful strategy to design PSCs with high efficiency and long-term stability for future production.

Synthesis of Red Cesium Lead Bromoiodide Nanocrystals Chelating Phenylated Phosphine Ligands with Enhanced Stability.

Two new phosphine ligands, diphenylmethylphosphine (DPMP) and triphenylphosphine (TPP), were introduced onto cesium lead bromoiodide nanocrystals (CsPbBrI2 NCs) to improve air stability in the ambient atmosphere. Incorporating DPMP or TPP ligands can also enhance film-forming and optoelectronic properties of the CsPbBrI2 NCs. The results reveal that DPMP is a better ligand to stabilize the emission of CsPbBrI2 NCs than TPP after storage for 21 days. The increased carrier lifetime and photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of perovskite NCs are due to the surface passivation by DPMP or TPP ligands, which reduces nonradiative recombination at the trap sites. The DPMP and TPP-treated CsPbBrI2 NCs were successfully utilized as red emitters for fabricating perovskite light-emitting diodes with enhanced performance and prolonged device lifetime relative to the pristine one.

Utilization of Nanoporous Nickel Oxide as the Hole Injection Layer for Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes.

Nickel oxide (NiOx) has been extensively investigated as the hole injection layer (HIL) for many optoelectronic devices because of its excellent hole mobility, high environmental stability, and low-cost fabrication. In this research, a NiOx thin film and nanoporous layers (NPLs) have been utilized as the HIL for the fabrication of quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). The obtained NiOx NPLs have spongelike nanostructures that possess a larger surface area to enhance carrier injection and to lower the turn-on voltage as compared with the NiOx thin film. The energy levels of NiOx were slightly downshifted by incorporating the nanoporous structure. The amount of Ni2O3 species is higher than that of NiO in the NiOx NPL, confirming its good hole transport ability. The best QLED was achieved with a 30 nm thick NiOx NPL, exhibiting a maximum brightness of 68 646 cd m-2, a current efficiency of 7.60 cd A-1, and a low turn-on voltage of 3.4 V. More balanced carrier transport from the NiOx NPL and ZnO NPs/polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) is responsible for the improved device performance.

Surgical resection of brain metastases prolongs overall survival in non-small-cell lung cancer.

It remains unclear whether surgical resection of brain metastases prolongs overall survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A retrospective study was designed to evaluate the benefits of surgical resection for 296 patients with NSCLC and brain metastases. Patients were grouped into those who underwent craniotomy (brain surgery group) and those who did not (non-surgery group). Characteristics, survival, and EGFR mutation status were compared between the two groups. We found that the clinical characteristics were similar between the two groups. However, patients in the brain surgery group had metastases of larger diameters (3.67 cm vs. 2.06 cm, P<0.001) and a lower rate of extracranial metastasis (8.7% vs. 45.5%, P=0.001). Overall survival was significantly longer for those who underwent brain surgery (40.3 months vs. 8.4 months, P<0.001). The adjusted hazard ratio of craniotomy was 0.30 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.62). The survival benefit of brain surgery was observed in both EGFR mutation-positive and EGFR mutation-negative sub-populations; the adjusted hazard ratios [aHRs] were 0.34 [95% CI, 0.11-1.00] and 0.26 [95% CI, 0.09-0.73] for EGFR mutation-positive and mutation-negative sub-populations, respectively. We concluded that for patients with NSCLC and brain metastases, surgical resection of brain metastases improved overall survival. This survival benefit was particularly evident in cases with large-sized metastases limited to the brain.

Improvement in hole transporting ability and device performance of quantum dot light emitting diodes.

In this research, we demonstrate a novel approach to improve the device performance of quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLEDs) by blending an additive BYK-P105 with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) as the hole transport layer. In addition, for the first time, polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE)-modified zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as the electron transport layer were applied in regular-type QLEDs for achieving high device efficiency. A very high brightness of 139 909 cd m-2 and current efficiency of 27.2 cd A-1 were obtained for the optimized device with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS + BYK-P105/PVK/CdSe QDs/ZnO NPs/PEIE/LiF/Al that shows promising use in light-emitting applications.

Targeted Temperature Management for In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: 6 Years of Experience.

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is widely used for postcardiac arrest management of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, the use of TTM for patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TTM in the management of patients with IHCA. The medical records of all IHCA patients who were resuscitated and returned to spontaneous circulation from January 2011 to December 2016 were reviewed. After excluding patients with new do not resuscitate orders and those who died within 24 hours, 262 patients were eligible for analysis. Thirty-five of the 262 patients (13.3%) received TTM after IHCA. Patients who received TTM and standard supportive care (SSC) had similar baseline epidemiological status. The TTM patients were older and had a longer cardiac pulmonary resuscitation duration; however, the differences were not statistically significant. The 28-day survival rate was not significantly different between groups (12/35 in the TTM group [34%] vs. 114/225 in the SSC group [50%], p = 0.079). In the patients with good neurological status before arrest (Glasgow-Pittsburgh cerebral performance category [GP-CPC] scores: 1-2), there was no significant difference in the 28-day survival between groups (11/26 in the TTM group [42.3%] vs. 81/154 [52.6%] in the SSC group; p = 0.332). In this subgroup, the TTM patients had poorer neurological outcomes at discharge (GP-CPC score 1-2) than the SSC patients (1/26 in the TTM group [3.8%] vs. 57/154 in the SSC group [37%]; p = 0.001). TTM was not associated with better 28-day survival than usual care among the patients with IHCA in this study, and the TTM patients had less favorable neurological outcomes at discharge. Randomized clinical trials are needed to assess the efficacy of TTM for IHCA patients.