Break through the Steric Hindrance of Ionic Liquids with Carbon Quantum Dots to Achieve Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Overcoming the negative impact of residual ionic liquids (ILs) on perovskite films based on an in-depth understanding of chemical interactions between ionic liquids and preparing perovskite precursor solutions is a great challenge when aiming to simultaneously achieve long-term stability and high efficiency within IL-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF4), a type of IL, was introduced into the perovskite precursor solution, and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were further introduced into the antisolvent to enhance the photovoltaic properties of PSCs. Both ILs and CQDs synergistically manipulate the crystallization process and passivate defects to obtain high-quality perovskite films. Besides serving as passivation sites to strengthen the collaboration between additives and perovskite materials, the cointroduction of CQDs further promotes the carrier transport process since it not only provides carrier channels at grain boundaries but also forms better energy alignment, which effectively overcomes the charge transfer loss caused by the steric hindrance of ILs. Based on such a synergistic effect of ILs and CQDs, the n-i-p MAPbI3-based PSCs achieve the highest efficiency of 20.84% with improved stability. This simple and low-cost synergistic integration method will subsequently provide direction for optimizing ILs to improve the photovoltaic performance of PSCs.

Knockdown of lncRNA TUG1 attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury through regulating miR-142-3p.

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CI/RI) is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system. At present, there is no specific treatment for CI/RI. It is necessary to explore the mechanism of CI/RI and find new ways to prevent and treat CI/RI. An oxygen and glucose deprivation/recovery (OGD/R) model was established to evaluate the effects of mouse astrocytes (MA-C) cell viability and apoptosis of stepwise exposure to oxygen and glucose deprivation followed by their replenishment. This assessment included using taurine upregulated gene 1-small interfering RNAs (TUG1-siRNA) transfection to determine the effects of TUG1 knockdown on MA-C survival and apoptosis. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to evaluate TUG1 and miR-142-3p expression levels. The luciferase gene reporter assay was performed to validate that miR-142-3p is a TUG1 target. Accordingly, the effects of miR-142-3p knockdown on TUG1-induced MA-C apoptosis were determined using flow cytometry. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method was used to detect cell growth viability. Western blotting analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins. TUG1 was upregulated, while miR-142-3p was downregulated in the OGD/R model of MA-C cells. Inhibiting the expression of TUG1 could protect MA-C cells and reverse the decrease in growth viability and increasing apoptosis of MA-C cells caused by OGD/R stimulation. On the other hand, the inhibition of miR-142-3p offset the effect of TUG1 knockdown on cell viability and apoptosis. Inhibition of OGD/R-induced increases in TUG1 expression that in turn reduces miR-142-3p upregulation may suppress reperfusion-induced losses in cell viability.

Damping resonance and refractive index effect on the layer-by-layer sputtering of Ag and Al2O3 on the polystyrene template.

In this study, an ordered metal oxide-metal composite system was designed. By changing the thickness of film of Ag/Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs), the red and blue shifts of local surface plasma resonance (LSPR) were realized in the proposed system and discussed by damping resonance theory and Mie's scattering theory to demonstrating the relationship between wavelength (λ) and particle diameter (D). With the increasing of sputtering time of Ag, the SPR of Ag was red shifted under the influence of damped vibration, obtaining that square of wavelength (λ2) is proportional to D. The surface plasma resonance (SPR) of Ag/Al2O3 showed an obvious blue shift, and then red shift suddenly, which is affected by the competition between damping resonance and refractive index. When the blue shift occurs, the change of wavelength (∆λ) is exponentially related to the diameter (D). The modulation of LSPR of the proposed composite nano-metal materials will have a potential application in SPR sensor and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).

Use of MRI in the diagnosis and prognosis of acute necrotizing encephalopathy in a Chinese teenager: A case report.

RATIONALE: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a rapidly progressing disease associated with frequent neurologic sequelae and has poor prognosis. Currently, the diagnosis and treatment of ANE rely on neuroradiologic findings and offering supportive care. Here, we report the successful treatment of a teenager diagnosed with ANE using combination of high-dose methylprednisolone and oseltamivir. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient, a 15-year-old female, presented with impaired consciousness and seizures secondary to acute upper respiratory tract infection. A series of brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were obtained toward establishing a possible diagnosis. DIAGNOSIS: Based on the history of presenting illness and subsequent brain MRI scans, the patient was diagnosed to be suffering from ANE. INTERVENTIONS: Following the diagnosis, the patient was placed on therapy comprising of high-dose methylprednisolone and oseltamivir. OUTCOMES: After treatment with methylprednisolone and oseltamivir for 15 days, the patient recovered nearly completely from ANE as confirmed by subsequent brain MRI scans. No complications or other emerging clinical symptoms were noted for the duration of follow-up that lasted 6 months. LESSONS: Contrary to common reports, ANE can occur beyond pediatric populations and its treatment should not be restricted to supportive care. Our case suggests that the use of high-dose corticosteroids and oseltamivir leads to promising prognosis.

Metabolomics analysis of gut barrier dysfunction in a trauma-hemorrhagic shock rat model.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction has been implicated in the development of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome caused by the trauma-hemorrhagic shock (THS). However, the mechanisms underlying THS-induced gut barrier injury are still poorly understood. In the present study, we used the metabolomics analysis to test the hypothesis that altered metabolites might be related to the development of THS-induced barrier dysfunction in the large intestine. Under the induction of THS, gut barrier failure was characterized by injury of permeability and mucus layer, which were companied by the decreased expression of zonula occludens-1 in the colon and increased levels of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1ß in the serum. A total of 16 differential metabolites were identified in colonic tissues from THS-treated rats compared with control rats. These altered metabolites included dihydroxy acetone phosphate, ribose-5-phosphate, fructose, glyceric acid, succinic acid, and adenosine, which are critical intermediates or end products that are involved in pentose phosphate pathway, glycolysis, and tricarboxylic acid cycle as well as mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate biosynthesis. These findings may offer important insight into the metabolic alterations in THS-treated gut injury, which will be helpful for developing effective metabolites-based strategies to prevent THS-induced gut barrier dysfunction.