Flexible, Transparent, and Bifacial Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules Using the Wide-Band Gap FAPbBr3 Perovskite Absorber.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer impressive performance and flexibility, thanks to their simple, low-temperature deposition methods. Their band gap tunability allows for a wide range of applications, transitioning from opaque to transparent devices. This study introduces the first flexible, bifacial PSCs using the FAPbBr3 perovskite. We investigated the impact of optimizing electron and hole transport layers on the cells' bifaciality, transparency, and stability. PSCs achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.8 and 18.7% under 1 sun and indoor light conditions (1200 lx), respectively, showing up to 98% bifaciality factor and an average visible transmittance (AVT) of 55%. Additionally, a P1-P2-P3 laser ablation scheme has been developed on the flexible poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrate for perovskite solar modules showing a PCE of 4.8% and high geometrical fill factor (97.8%). These findings highlight the potential of flexible, bifacial PSCs for diverse applications such as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), agrivoltaics, automotive technology, wearable sensors, and Internet of things (IoT).

Mid-term pulmonary sequelae after hospitalisation for COVID-19: The French SISCOVID cohort.

BACKGROUND: Even though COVID-19 clinical features, pathogenesis, complications, and therapeutic options have been largely described in the literature, long-term consequences in patients remain poorly known. METHODS: The French, multicentre, non-interventional SISCOVID study evaluated lung impairment three (M3) and six months (M6) after hospital discharge in patients recovered from COVID-19. Evaluation was based on clinical examination, pulmonary function tests, and chest computed tomography (CT-scan). RESULTS: Of the 320 included patients (mean age: 61 years; men: 64.1%), 205 had had a severe form of COVID-19, being hospitalised in an intensive care unit (ICU), and requiring high flow nasal cannula, non-invasive ventilation, or invasive mechanical ventilation. At M6, 54.1% of included patients had persistent dyspnoea (mMRC score ≥1), 20.1% severe impairment in gas diffusing capacity (DLCO <60% pred.), 21.6% restrictive ventilatory pattern (total lung capacity <80% pred.), and 40% a fibrotic-like pattern at CT-scan. Fibrotic-like pattern and restrictive ventilatory pattern were significantly more frequent in patients recovered from severe than non-severe COVID-19. Improved functional and radiological outcomes were observed between M3 and M6. At M6, age was an independent risk factor for severe DLco impairment and fibrotic-like pattern and severe COVID-19 form was independent risk factor for restrictive ventilatory profile and fibrotic-like pattern. CONCLUSION: Six months after discharge, patients hospitalised for COVID-19, especially those recovered from a severe form of COVID-19, frequently presented persistent dyspnoea, lung function impairment, and persistent fibrotic-like pattern, confirming the need for long-term post-discharge follow-up in these patients and for further studies to better understand long-term COVID-19 lung impairment.

Imaging and quantifying non-radiative losses at 23% efficient inverted perovskite solar cells interfaces.

Interface engineering through passivating agents, in the form of organic molecules, is a powerful strategy to enhance the performance of perovskite solar cells. Despite its pivotal function in the development of a rational device optimization, the actual role played by the incorporation of interfacial modifications and the interface physics therein remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the interface and device physics, quantifying charge recombination and charge losses in state-of-the-art inverted solar cells with power conversion efficiency beyond 23% - among the highest reported so far - by using multidimensional photoluminescence imaging. By doing that we extract physical parameters such as quasi-Fermi level splitting (QFLS) and Urbach energy enabling us to assess that the main passivation mechanism affects the perovskite/PCBM ([6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) interface rather than surface defects. In this work, by linking optical, electrical measurements and modelling we highlight the benefits of organic passivation, made in this case by phenylethylammonium (PEAI) based cations, in maximising all the photovoltaic figures of merit.

In-Depth Chemical and Optoelectronic Analysis of Triple-Cation Perovskite Thin Films by Combining XPS Profiling and PL Imaging.

The investigation of chemical and optoelectronic properties of halide perovskite layers and associated interfaces is crucial to harness the full potential of perovskite solar cells. Depth-profiling photoemission spectroscopy is a primary tool to study the chemical properties of halide perovskite layers at different scales from the surface to the bulk. The technique employs ionic argon beam thinning that provides accurate layer thicknesses. However, there is an urgent need to corroborate the reliability of data on chemical properties of halide perovskite thin films to better assess their stability. The present study addresses the question of the Ar+ sputtering thinning on the surface chemical composition and the optoelectronic properties of the triple-cation mixed-halide perovskite by combining X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. First, XPS profiling is performed by Ar+ beam sputtering on a half-cell: glass/FTO/c-TiO2/perovskite. The resulting profiles show a very homogeneous and reproducible element distribution until near the buried interface; therefore, the layer is considered as quasihomogeneous all over its thickness, and the sputtering process is stable. Second, we evaluated a set of thinned perovskite layers representative of selected steps along the profile by means of PL imaging optical measurements in both steady-state and transient regimes to assess possible perturbation of the optical properties from the surface to bulk. Obtained PL spectra inside the resulting craters show no peak shift nor phase segregation. Accordingly, the transient PL measurements do not reveal any changes of the surface recombination rate in the sputtered areas. This demonstrates that there is no cumulative effect of sputtering nor drastic chemical and optoelectronic modifications, validating the determination of the in-depth composition of the perovskite layer. Combining XPS profiling with PL characterization can be a precise tool to be applied for an extensive study of the multiple layers and mixed organic/inorganic interfaces of photovoltaic devices.

Congenital factor XIII deficiency: comprehensive overview of the FranceCoag cohort.

This FranceCoag network study assessed 33 patients with congenital factor XIII (FXIII) deficiency presenting FXIII levels <10 iu/dl. Diagnosis was based on abnormal bleeding in 29 patients, a positive family history in 2, recurrent miscarriages in 1 and was fortuitous in 1. Eighteen patients (62·1%) presented life-threatening umbilical or intracranial haemorrhages (ICH). Seven of the 15 patients who experienced ICH were diagnosed but untreated, including 3 with secondary neurological sequelae. All pregnancies without prophylaxis (26/26) led to miscarriages versus 3/16 with prophylaxis. In patients exhibiting FXIII levels <10 iu/dl, prophylaxis could be discussed at diagnosis and at pregnancy. Further controlled prospective studies are needed.

The factor VIII:C/VWF:Ag ratio as a useful tool to predict relapse in patients with acquired haemophilia A: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a rare autoimmune bleeding disorder caused by the presence of autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). The mortality rate remains high. International recommendations define complete remission as undetectable inhibitor (<0.6 Bethesda Units [BU]) and normal FVIII activity (FVIII:C) that persists after immunosuppressive therapy stopped. For patients achieving remission, the risk of relapse reaches 20%. The risk factors for this relapse are not well known. AIM: In this study, we examined the accuracy of the FVIII/W ratio (FVIII:C/von Willebrand Factor Antigen (VWF:Ag) ratio) to predict relapse in 64 consecutive patients with AHA. RESULTS: In this cohort, all patients had a very low FVIII/W ratio at the time of diagnosis, and this value progressively increased in the first weeks of immunosuppressive treatment. In our study, 9/55 (14%) did not achieve complete remission. Twenty-seven patients were followed long enough (more than a year) to show that in the 22 patients who did not relapse, the FVIII/W ratio remained durably normalized. By contrast, in the five patients who relapsed during follow-up, we noted either no normalization of the FVIII/W ratio, or a secondary decrease to an abnormal value of <0.7 after initial normalization. In all patients who relapsed, the ratio was the first abnormal biological result to be observed, always preceding changes in the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), FVIII:C and anti-FVIII reappearance. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the FVIII/W ratio could be considered a sensitive biological marker to predict recovery and/or relapse in AHA.

Chronic Exposure to Uranium from Gestation: Effects on Behavior and Neurogenesis in Adulthood.

Uranium exposure leads to cerebral dysfunction involving for instance biochemical, neurochemical and neurobehavioral effects. Most studies have focused on mechanisms in uranium-exposed adult animals. However, recent data on developing animals have shown that the developing brain is also sensitive to uranium. Models of uranium exposure during brain development highlight the need to improve our understanding of the effects of uranium. In a model in which uranium exposure began from the first day of gestation, we studied the neurobehavioral consequences as well as the progression of hippocampal neurogenesis in animals from dams exposed to uranium. Our results show that 2-month-old rats exposed to uranium from gestational day 1 displayed deficits in special memory and a prominent depressive-like phenotype. Cell proliferation was not disturbed in these animals, as shown by 5-bromo-2'deoxyuridine (BrdU)/neuronal specific nuclear protein (NeuN) immunostaining in the dentate gyrus. However, in some animals, the pyramidal cell layer was dispersed in the CA3 region. From our previous results with the same model, the hypothesis of alterations of neurogenesis at prior stages of development is worth considering, but is probably not the only one. Therefore, further investigations are needed to correlate cerebral dysfunction and its underlying mechanistic pathways.

The neurotoxicology of uranium.

The brain is a target of environmental toxic pollutants that impair cerebral functions. Uranium is present in the environment as a result of natural deposits and release by human applications. The first part of this review describes the passage of uranium into the brain, and its effects on neurological functions and cognitive abilities. Very few human studies have looked at its cognitive effects. Experimental studies show that after exposure, uranium can reach the brain and lead to neurobehavioral impairments, including increased locomotor activity, perturbation of the sleep-wake cycle, decreased memory, and increased anxiety. The mechanisms underlying these neurobehavioral disturbances are not clearly understood. It is evident that there must be more than one toxic mechanism and that it might include different targets in the brain. In the second part, we therefore review the principal mechanisms that have been investigated in experimental models: imbalance of the anti/pro-oxidant system and neurochemical and neurophysiological pathways. Uranium effects are clearly specific according to brain area, dose, and time. Nonetheless, this review demonstrates the paucity of data about its effects on developmental processes and the need for more attention to the consequences of exposure during development.

Good syndrome: an adult-onset immunodeficiency remarkable for its high incidence of invasive infections and autoimmune complications.

BACKGROUND: Good syndrome (GS) is a rare condition in which thymoma is associated with hypogammaglobulinemia. It is characterized by increased susceptibility to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, as well as autoimmunity. Most patients have no circulating B cells. METHODS: The French DEFicit Immunitaire de l'adulte cohort provides detailed clinical and immunological descriptions of 690 adults with primary hypogammaglobulinemia. Comparisons between patients with GS, those with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), and those with B(-) CVID (circulating B cells <1%) were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients had GS and 440 had CVID, including 39 B(-) CVID, with a median age at diagnosis of 60, 35, and 34 years, respectively. Invasive bacterial infections were observed in 90.5% of GS, 54% of CVID, and 72% of B(-) CVID patients. Eight patients with GS had opportunistic infections, despite normal peripheral CD4(+) T-cell numbers. Autoimmune complications were demonstrated in 76% of GS, 29% of CVID, and 26% of B(-) CVID patients. The spectrum of autoimmunity in GS was uncommon, consisting of oral lichen planus, graft-vs-host disease-like colitis, and pure red cell aplasia, different from the pattern observed in CVID patients. GS patients did not display lymphoid hyperplasia nor lymphoma, unlike those with CVID or B(-) CVID. CONCLUSIONS: GS differs notably from CVID and B(-) CVID: very late onset, no familial cases, and absence of lymphoid hyperplasia. The key observation is the very high frequency of invasive bacterial infections in GS, an issue that physicians should be aware of.

Near-complete adaptation of the PRiMA knockout to the lack of central acetylcholinesterase.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) rapidly hydrolyzes acetylcholine. At the neuromuscular junction, AChE is mainly anchored in the extracellular matrix by the collagen Q, whereas in the brain, AChE is tethered by the proline-rich membrane anchor (PRiMA). The AChE-deficient mice, in which AChE has been deleted from all tissues, have severe handicaps. Surprisingly, PRiMA KO mice in which AChE is mostly eliminated from the brain show very few deficits. We now report that most of the changes observed in the brain of AChE-deficient mice, and in particular the high levels of ambient extracellular acetylcholine and the massive decrease of muscarinic receptors, are also observed in the brain of PRiMA KO. However, the two groups of mutants differ in their responses to AChE inhibitors. Since PRiMA-KO mice and AChE-deficient mice have similar low AChE concentrations in the brain but differ in the AChE content of the peripheral nervous system, these results suggest that peripheral nervous system AChE is a major target of AChE inhibitors, and that its absence in AChE- deficient mice is the main cause of the slow development and vulnerability of these mice. At the level of the brain, the adaptation to the absence of AChE is nearly complete.

Human papillomavirus quantification in urine and cervical samples by using the Mx4000 and LightCycler general real-time PCR systems.

During the last decade, growing efforts have focused on human papillomavirus (HPV) detection using liquid hybridization, conventional PCR, and real-time PCR-based methods to increase the overall proportion of patients participating in cervical cancer screening procedures. We proposed a new general HPV DNA real-time PCR on the Mx4000 (Stratagene) and LightCycler (Roche Diagnostics) systems usable for both cervical scrape specimens and urine samples. A linear range was obtained from 5 DNA copies to 8 log(10) DNA copies/ml, and intra- and interassay variations were between 1.8 and 4%. Cervical carcinoma and HPV DNA screening was performed in 333 individual women referred for gynecological examination at the university hospitals of Angers and Brest and enrolled in the PapU study. Among cervical specimens (n = 333), 45% were positive for HPV DNA, with a mean viral load at 5.00 log/ml (+/- 1.73). Among urine samples (n = 177), 37% were positive with a significant 50-fold-lower mean viral load (3.77 +/- 1.32 log/ml; P < 0.0001). Kappa agreement for HPV DNA between cervical and urine specimens was excellent (93%). Thus, we developed a highly sensitive and quantitative general HPV DNA real-time PCR method that allows mass screening of patients with HPV infection. The ongoing longitudinal and prospective multicenter PapU study should give us the opportunity to validate this method adapted to HPV DNA screening in urine samples in a larger population.

Detection of human Coronavirus 229E in nasal specimens in large scale studies using an RT-PCR hybridization assay.

A novel human Coronavirus (HCoV) was this year recognized as the etiological agent of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Two other HCoV (HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43) have been known for 30 years. HCoV-229E has been recently involved in nosocomial respiratory viral infections in high-risk children. However, their diagnosis is not routinely performed. Currently, reliable immunofluorescence and cell culture methodologies are not available. As part of a four-year epidemiological study in a Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive care unit, we have performed and demonstrated the reliability of a reverse transcription-PCR-hybridization assay to detect HCoV of the 229E antigenic group in 2028 clinical respiratory specimens. In hospitalized children (children and newborns) and staff members we found a high incidence of HcoV-229E infection. This reverse transcription-PCR-hybridization assay gave a high specificity and a sensitivity of 0.5 50% Tissue Culture Infective Dose per ml. This technique is reliable and its application for screening large number of clinical samples would improve the diagnosis of HCoVs respiratory infection and our knowledge of these viruses epidemiology.