Light Absorption-Enhanced Ultra-Thin Perovskite Solar Cell Based on Cylindrical MAPbI Microstructure.

In order to promote power conversion efficiency and reduce energy loss, we propose a perovskite solar cell based on cylindrical MAPbI3 microstructure composed of a MAPbI perovskite layer and a hole transport layer (HTL) composed of PEDOT:PSS. According to the charge transport theory, which effectually increases the contact area of the HTL, promoting the electronic transmission capability, the local field enhancement and scattering effects of the surface plasmon polaritons help to couple the incident light to the solar cell, which can increase the absorption of light in the active layer of the solar cell and improve its light absorption efficiency (LAE). based on simulation results, a cylindrical microstructure of the perovskite layer increases the contact area of the hole transport layer, which could improve light absorption, quantum efficiency (QE), short-circuit current density (J), and electric power compared with the perovskite layer of other structures.

Phase-locked µPIV analysis of flow dynamics in a simulated root canal with different laser-activated irrigations.

Purpose: To measure the dynamic characteristics of the flow field in a complex root canal model activated by two laser-activated irrigation (LAI) modalities at different activation energy outputs: photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) and microshort pulse (MSP).

Methods: A phase-locked micro-scale Particle Image Velocimetry (µPIV) system was employed to characterise the temporal variations of LAI-induced velocity fields in the root canal following a single laser pulse. The wall shear stress (WSS) in the lateral root canal was subsequently estimated from the phase-averaged velocity fields.

Study on the Performance of a Surface with Coupled Wettability Difference and Convex-Stripe Array for Improved Air Layer Stability.

The existence of an air layer reduces friction drag on superhydrophobic surfaces. Therefore, improving the air layer stability of superhydrophobic surfaces holds immense significance in reducing both energy consumption and environmental pollution caused by friction drag. Based on the properties of mathematical discretization and the contact angle hysteresis generated by the wettability difference, a surface coupled with a wettability difference treatment and a convex-stripe array is developed by laser engraving and fluorine modification, and its performance in improving the air layer stability is experimentally studied in a von Kármán swirling flow field.

Acute 1,2-Dichloropropane Poisoning due to Ingestion of Rubber Cement: An Autopsy Case Report and Review.

1,2-Dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) is a common industrial solvent and chemical intermediate that can cause acute poisoning to humans through exposure during its production and industrial use. The target organs of 1,2-DCP include the eyes, respiratory system, liver, kidney, central nervous system, and skin. Forensic identification of 1,2-DCP poisoning is difficult because of the lack of characteristic pathological changes.

Transient apical peak pressure measurement of Er:YAG laser-activated irrigation in different in vitro tooth models using a high-frequency sensor system.

The transient apical pressure side effect is an important safety consideration for Er:YAG laser-activated irrigation (LAI). Therefore, this study aimed to measure the transient apical peak pressure (TAPP) of LAI under different laser settings in various tooth models using a high-frequency sensor system. Tooth models with different pulp chamber structures, apical diameters, and curvatures were prepared using transparent resin and filled with deionised water.

Small Extracellular Vesicles' miRNAs: Biomarkers and Therapeutics for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are critical in the healthcare system as patients suffer from progressive diseases despite currently available drug management. Indeed, the growing ageing population will burden the country's healthcare system and the caretakers. Thus, there is a need for new management that could stop or reverse the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Adjusting phosphate feeding regimen according to daily rhythm increases eggshell quality via enhancing medullary bone remodeling in laying hens.

Background: Body phosphorus metabolism exhibits a circadian rhythm over the 24-h daily cycle. The egg laying behavior makes laying hens a very special model for investigating phosphorus circadian rhythms. There is lack of information about the impact of adjusting phosphate feeding regimen according to daily rhythm on the phosphorus homeostasis and bone remodeling of laying hens.

A simple daily dynamic feeding regimen for reducing phosphorus consumption and excretion in laying hens.

Phosphorus metabolism in laying hens is a highly dynamic process over the course of the 24 h egg-laying cycle. Adjusting the phosphorus feeding regimen according to the daily egg-laying cycle may help to improve phosphorus utilization efficiency. Hy-Line Brown layers ( = 120; 70 wk old) were offered 4 different phosphorus daily regimens: (1) RR, fed regular phosphorus at both 09:00 and 17:00; (2) RL, fed regular phosphorus at 09:00 and low phosphorus at 17:00; (3) LR, fed low phosphorus at 09:00 and regular phosphorus at 17:00; (4) LL, fed low phosphorus at both 09:00 and 17:00.

Miniature optoelectronic compound eye camera.

Inspired by insect compound eyes (CEs) that feature unique optical schemes for imaging, there has recently been growing interest in developing optoelectronic CE cameras with comparable size and functions. However, considering the mismatch between the complex 3D configuration of CEs and the planar nature of available imaging sensors, it is currently challenging to reach this end. Here, we report a paradigm in miniature optoelectronic integrated CE camera by manufacturing polymer CEs with 19~160 logarithmic profile ommatidia via femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization.

Dietary vitamin D deprivation suppresses fibroblast growth factor 23 signals by reducing serum phosphorus levels in laying hens.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary supplemental vitamin D on fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) signals as well as phosphorus homeostasis and metabolism in laying hens. Fourteen 40-week-old Hy-Line Brown layers were randomly assigned into 2 treatments: 1) vitamin D restriction group ( 7) fed 0 IU/kg vitamin D diet, and 2) regular vitamin D group ( 7) fed 1,600 IU/kg vitamin D diet. The study lasted for 21 d.

Robustness of neural network calibration model for accurate spatial positioning.

The present study devotes to a systematical exploration for the robustness of neural network-based camera calibration method in the circumstance of three-dimensional (3D) spatial positioning via machine vision technique. By analyzing the error propagation route in the calibration-reconstruction process, a dimensionless error attenuation coefficient is proposed to measure the robustness of a calibration model with respect to input calibration error. Using this metric, the robustness of the neural network (NN) model under different optical configurations, i.

Mechanical compression controls the biosynthesis of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes in vitro.

Background: Cartilage damage, which can potentially lead to osteoarthritis, is a leading cause of morbidity in the elderly population. Chondrocytes are sensitive to mechanical stimuli and their matrix-protein synthesis may be altered when chondrocytes experience a variety of in vivo loadings. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the biosynthesis of isolated osteoarthritic chondrocytes which subjected to compression with varying dynamic compressive strains and loading durations.

Characteristics of the Irrigant Flow in a Simulated Lateral Canal Under Two Typical Laser-Activated Irrigation Regimens.

Background And Objectives: Photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) and shockwave-enhanced emission photoacoustic streaming (SWEEPS) are two promising laser-activated irrigation (LAI) methods for root canal irrigation. Their performance in driving irrigant flush in a complex root canal system will be evaluated by microscale particle image velocimetry (μPIV) measurement and will be compared with that of ultrasonic-activated irrigation (UAI).

Study Design/materials And Methods: A μPIV system with 7 μm fluorescent tracer particles was adopted to measure two-dimensional (2D) velocity fields around the junction region, with a size of 1.

The adaptability of Hy-Line Brown laying hens to low-phosphorus diets supplemented with phytase.

Body phosphorus homeostasis network allows laying hens to adapt to wide range of changes in dietary phosphorus levels. Phytase hydrolyzes phytate rendering phosphorus and reduces the laying hens' requirements for inorganic phosphate rock. Here, we demonstrate that there is no need to keep large safety margins in dietary phosphorus when hens are fed with phytase.

Supplemental Nicotinamide Dose-Dependently Regulates Body Phosphorus Excretion via Altering Type II Sodium-Phosphate Co-Transporter Expressions in Laying Hens.

Background: Dietary supplemental nicotinamide is used to treat hyperphosphatemia in humans. However, the mechanisms of its impact on body phosphorus homeostasis remain unclear.

Objective: This study was to determine effects and molecular mechanisms of 3 dietary nicotinamide concentrations on body phosphorus homeostasis in laying hens.

TRIF is essential for the anti-inflammatory effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on LPS-infected Caco2 cells.

As an immune-regulator, Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) could effectively modulate the activity of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway, and induce anti-inflammatory response in intestinal. Our research before indicated that toll/interleukin 1 receptor-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-b (TRIF) might be a critical regulator for APS. So, in this experiment, we analyzed the effects of APS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-infected Caco2 cells in the circumstances of TRIF knockout.

Phosphorus Restriction Changes the Expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 and Its Receptors in Laying Hens.

Dietary phosphorus oversupply wastes non-renewable natural resources and raises environmental concerns in animal agriculture. We hypothesized that laying hens do not need large safety margins for dietary phosphorus because of the existence of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). In experiment 1, a total of 504 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (40-week-old) were randomly assigned to seven diets (for each diet, six replicates of 12 hens), containing 0.

Early Alterations of Subchondral Bone in the Rat Anterior Cruciate Ligament Transection Model of Osteoarthritis.

Objective: Advances in research have shown that the subchondral bone plays an important role in the propagation of cartilage loss and progression of osteoarthritis (OA), but whether the subchondral bone changes precede or lead to articular cartilage loss remains debatable. In order to elucidate the subchondral bone and cartilage changes that occur in early OA, an experiment using anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) induced posttraumatic OA model of the rat knee was conducted.

Design: Forty-two Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: the ACLT group and the nonoperated control group.

[Eye-acupuncture intervention reduces cerebro-cortical apoptosis of neurovascular unit in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of eye-acupuncture intervention on cerebro-cortical apoptosis of microvascular endothelial cells, neurons and astrocytes (main components of neurovascular unit) and the expression of Bad (an apoptosis promoter) and B-cell lymphoma-extra large(Bcl-xL) proteins in focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of CIRI.

Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into control, sham-operation, model 3 h, model 24 h, model 72 h, eye-acupuncture 3 h, eye-acupuncture 24 h and eye-acupuncture 72 h groups(＝12 in each group). The CIRI model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R).

Wall-Normal Variation of Spanwise Streak Spacing in Turbulent Boundary Layer With Low-to-Moderate Reynolds Number.

Low-speed streaks in wall-bounded turbulence are the dominant structures in the near-wall turbulent self-sustaining cycle. Existing studies have well characterized their spanwise spacing in the buffer layer and below. Recent studies suggested the existence of these small-scale structures in the higher layer where large-scale structures usually receive more attention.

Factors Influencing the Successful Isolation and Expansion of Aging Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Most studies highlight mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) extracted primarily from bone marrow (BM), very few report the use of peripheral blood (PB), often due to the associated low seeding density and difficulties with extraction techniques. As ageing populations are becoming more predominant globally, together with escalating demands for MSC transplantation and tissue regeneration, obtaining quality MSCs suitable for induced differentiation and biological therapies becomes increasingly important. In this study, BM and PB were obtained from elderly patients and extracted MSCs grown to determine their successful isolation and expansion.

Projection of Eye Disease Burden in Singapore.

Introduction: Singapore's ageing population is likely to see an increase in chronic eye conditions in the future. This study aimed to estimate the burden of eye diseases among resident Singaporeans stratified for age and ethnicity by 2040.

Materials And Methods: Prevalence data on myopia, epiretinal membrane (ERM), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), age macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), cataract, glaucoma and refractive error (RE) by age cohorts and educational attainment from the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases (SEED) study were applied to population estimates from the Singapore population model.

Future requirements for and supply of ophthalmologists for an aging population in Singapore.

Background: Singapore's population, as that of many other countries, is aging; this is likely to lead to an increase in eye diseases and the demand for eye care. Since ophthalmologist training is long and expensive, early planning is essential. This paper forecasts workforce and training requirements for Singapore up to the year 2040 under several plausible future scenarios.