Multifunctional acetoacetanilide additive strategy for enhanced efficiency and stability in perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have garnered tremendous interest for their cost-effective solution-based fabrication process and impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE). The performance and stability of PSCs are closely tied to the quality of the perovskite film. Additive engineering has emerged as a highly effective strategy to achieve stable and efficient PSCs.

Students and Faculty Experiences, Perceptions and Knowledge on Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Background And Objective: The University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) subcommittee on students in distress was convened during the COVID-19 pandemic to develop "plans, programs and mechanisms" to deal with students experiencing distress and mental health concerns. This study was conducted as one of the activities of the Subcommittee to inform policy to address the following research objective: to describe the experiences, perceptions, and knowledge of both students and faculty members of UP Manila regarding distress.

Methods: An online survey tool was created using the results from seven online focus group discussions among 20 faculty of UP Manila.

Biosynthesis, Structural, Spectroscopic, Photoluminescence, and Antifungal Activity of Ni-doped CeO Nanoparticles.

Pedalium Murex leaf extract was used in this study to create Nickel-doped Cerium oxide (Ni-CeO) nanoparticles at 3 mol% and 5 mol% molar concentrations. The biosynthesized process was applied for the fabrication of Ni-CeO NPs. The X-ray diffraction method was used to identify their crystal structure.

Synthesis, Structural, and Optical Properties of 2-(2-methyl 8-hydroxyquinoline) Magnesium Nanorods for Optical Display Systems.

Organic semiconductors find widespread applications in the realm of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) as well as organic photovoltaic cells. In the domain of OLED devices, it is plausible for nano-based Mg metal complexes to play a role as electron and hole-transport layers. In the present investigation, we synthesized 2(2-methyl 8-hydroxyquinoline) magnesium [Mg(mq)] nanorods through the employment of the precipitation method, using 2-methyl 8- hydroxyquinoline and magnesium acetate.

How Does Resorption Differ Among Single-Level and Multilevel Lumbar Disc Herniations? A Prospective Multi-Imaging and Clinical Phenotype Study.

Study Design: Prospective, case series.

Objective: To identify and characterize any differences in specific patient factors, MRI findings, features of spontaneous disc resorption, and outcomes between patients with single-level and multilevel LDH.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is one of the most common spinal pathologies worldwide.

The impact of novel inflammation-preserving treatment towards lumbar disc herniation resorption in symptomatic patients: a prospective, multi-imaging and clinical outcomes study.

Purpose: We performed a prospective one-year multi-imaging study to assess the clinical outcomes and rate of disc resorption in acute lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients undergoing inflammation-preserving treatment (i.e. no NSAIDS, steroids).

Application of diagnostic network optimization in Kenya and Nepal to design integrated, sustainable and efficient bacteriology and antimicrobial resistance surveillance networks.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which experience the highest burden of AMR. Critical to combatting AMR is ensuring there are effective, accessible diagnostic networks in place to diagnose, monitor and prevent AMR, but many low- and middle-income countries lack such networks. Consequently, there is substantial need for approaches that can inform the design of efficient AMR laboratory networks and sample referral systems in lower-resource countries.

Optimizing diagnostic networks to increase patient access to TB diagnostic services: Development of the diagnostic network optimization (DNO) approach and learnings from its application in Kenya, India and the Philippines.

Diagnostic network optimization (DNO) is an analytical approach that enables use of available country data to inform evidence-based decision-making to optimize access to diagnostic services. A DNO methodology was developed using available data sources and a commercial supply chain optimization software. In collaboration with Ministries of Health and partners, the approach was applied in Kenya, India and the Philippines to map TB diagnostic networks, identify misalignments, and determine optimal network design to increase patient access to TB diagnostic services and improve device utilization.

Community Insights in Phylogenetic HIV Research: The CIPHR Project Protocol.

Inferring HIV transmission networks from HIV sequences is gaining popularity in the field of HIV molecular epidemiology. However, HIV sequences are often analyzed at distance from those affected by HIV epidemics, namely without the involvement of communities most affected by HIV. These remote analyses often mean that knowledge is generated in absence of lived experiences and socio-economic realities that could inform the ethical application of network-derived information in 'real world' programmes.

Synthesis, Structural, Spectroscopic, Fluorescence, and Dielectric Studies of Bis-(4-Aminopyridine)-Zinc(II) Acetate: A Metal-Organic Crystal.

The advancement of crystalline growth and characterization tools allows us to investigate novel nonlinear optical substances suitable for photonic applications. Bis-(4-aminopyridine)-zinc(II) acetate (B4AZA), a metal-organic crystal was produced in this study using the slow evaporation procedure at room temperature. Analytical studies such as X-ray crystallography, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-visible (UV-Vis), fluorescence, second harmonic generation (SHG), and dielectric tests were used to characterize the as-grown B4AZA crystals.

Biosynthesis, Spectroscopic, and Antibacterial Investigations of Silver Nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticles can be produced by an array of procedures, such as chemical, physical, and biological processes. The process of biosynthesis is more economical and significantly more environmentally friendly. We describe an environmentally compatible method (biosynthesis) of producing silver nanoparticles (Ag: NPs) with the capping component Artocarpus heterophyllus in this research work.

Synthesis, Spectroscopic, Optical, and Thermal Characterizations of Zinc (Tris)-Thiourea Sulfate: A Metal-Organic Crystal.

In the current research, Zinc (tris)-thiourea sulfate (ZTTS), a metal-organic crystal, has been synthesized using the slow solvent evaporation technique. Powder-X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and thermal, and second harmonic generation measurements have all been applied to describe the as-synthesized ZTTS crystals. The synthesized samples crystallized in an orthorhombic structure, based on XRD analysis.

Synthesis, Spectroscopic, and Antibacterial Characterizations of Cadmium-Based Nanoparticles.

In the current study, the co-precipitation technique was employed for the synthesis of Cadmium oxide (CdO) and Copper‒doped Cadmium oxide (Cu‒CdO) nanoparticles. The synthesized samples were subjected to powder X-Ray diffraction (P-XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transforms Infrared (FT-IR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy and antibacterial investigations. According to the P-XRD analysis, both the samples were simple cubic in structure and have average grain sizes of 54 and 28 nm, respectively.

Building Integrated Testing Programs for Infectious Diseases.

In the past 2 decades, testing services for diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, and malaria have expanded dramatically. Investments in testing capacity and supportive health systems have often been disease specific, resulting in siloed testing programs with suboptimal capacity, reduced efficiency, and limited ability to introduce additional tests or respond to new outbreaks. Emergency demand for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing overcame these silos and demonstrated the feasibility of integrated testing.

The integration of tuberculosis and HIV testing on GeneXpert can substantially improve access and same-day diagnosis and benefit tuberculosis programmes: A diagnostic network optimization analysis in Zambia.

Diagnostic network optimization (DNO), a geospatial optimization technique, can improve access to diagnostics and reduce costs through informing policy-makers' decisions on diagnostic network changes. In Zambia, viral load (VL) testing and early infant diagnosis (EID) for HIV has been performed at centralized laboratories, whilst the TB-programme utilizes a decentralized network of GeneXpert platforms. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended point-of-care (POC) EID/VL to increase timely diagnosis.

Optimal use of COVID-19 Ag-RDT screening at border crossings to prevent community transmission: A modeling analysis.

Countries around the world have implemented restrictions on mobility, especially cross-border travel to reduce or prevent SARS-CoV-2 community transmission. Rapid antigen testing (Ag-RDT), with on-site administration and rapid turnaround time may provide a valuable screening measure to ease cross-border travel while minimizing risk of local transmission. To maximize impact, we developed an optimal Ag-RDT screening algorithm for cross-border entry.

Collecting language acquisition data from understudied urban communities: A reply to Cristia et al.

In the target article, Cristia, Foushee, Aravena-Bravo, Cychosz, Scaff, and Casillas (2022) convincingly show the need to broaden the current language acquisition research base, not only in linguistic diversity, but also in terms of regions and cultural groups studied. In conducting acquisition research in understudied populations, such as in rural settings, the authors highlight the importance of using a multi-method approach. They present the challenges in adapting these methods to new settings and offer possible ways to promote this type of research.

Resorption of Lumbar Disk Herniation: Mechanisms, Clinical Predictors, and Future Directions.

Introduction: Resorption after lumbar disk herniation is a common yet unpredictable finding. It is hypothesized that nearly 70% of lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) undergo the resorption to a significant degree after acute herniation, which has led to nonoperative management before surgical planning.

Methods: This narrative review on the literature from 4 databases (MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, and Cochrane) examines historical and recent advancements related to disk resorption.

Staphylococcal decolonization to prevent surgical site infection: Is there a role in colorectal surgery?

Objective: We implemented a preoperative staphylococcal decolonization protocol for colorectal surgeries if efforts to further reduce surgical site infections (SSIs).

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: Tertiary-care, academic medical center.