Impact of Letermovir for Cytomegalovirus Primary Prophylaxis on Myelosuppression and Immunosuppression in Lung Transplant Recipients.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is associated with detrimental outcomes after lung transplantation (LTX); primary prophylaxis (PPX) with valganciclovir (VGC) is guideline-recommended. VGC is associated with myelosuppression, spurring interest in letermovir (LTV).

Methods: Adults undergoing LTX between January 1, 2021, and July 30, 2022 at our institution who were converted from VGC to LTV for PPX were evaluated.

Enhanced Extracellular Vesicle Cargo Loading via microRNA Biogenesis Pathway Modulation.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are physiological vectors for the intercellular transport of a variety of molecules. Among these, small RNAs, and especially microRNAs (miRNAs), have been identified as prevalent components, and there has thus been a robust investigation of EVs for therapeutic miRNAs delivery. However, intrinsic levels of EV-associated miRNAs are generally too low to enable efficient and effective therapeutic outcomes.

Use of letermovir for cytomegalovirus primary prophylaxis in lung transplant recipients.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a driver of negative outcomes after lung transplant (LTX) and primary prophylaxis (PPX) with valganciclovir (VGC) is standard-of-care. VGC is associated with myelosuppression, prompting interest in letermovir (LTV).

Methods: Adults receiving LTX between April 1, 2015, and July 30, 2022, at our institution were evaluated.

Stress resilience-enhancing drugs preserve tissue structure and function in degenerating retina via phosphodiesterase inhibition.

Chronic, progressive retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa, arise from genetic and environmental perturbations of cellular and tissue homeostasis. These disruptions accumulate with repeated exposures to stress over time, leading to progressive visual impairment and, in many cases, legal blindness. Despite decades of research, therapeutic options for the millions of patients suffering from these disorders remain severely limited, especially for treating earlier stages of pathogenesis when the opportunity to preserve the retinal structure and visual function is greatest.

Passivation by pyridine-induced PbI in methylammonium lead iodide perovskites.

Defects at discontinuities of the perovskite lattice limit the performance of the perovskite solar cell (PSC). Lead iodide (PbI) and pyridine have been shown to passivate these defects. We treat methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI) films with pyridine solutions to investigate the effects of the two passivators.

Planar perovskite solar cells with long-term stability using ionic liquid additives.

Solar cells based on metal halide perovskites are one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies. Over the past few years, the long-term operational stability of such devices has been greatly improved by tuning the composition of the perovskites, optimizing the interfaces within the device structures, and using new encapsulation techniques. However, further improvements are required in order to deliver a longer-lasting technology.

Mouse models of X-linked juvenile retinoschisis have an early onset phenotype, the severity of which varies with genotype.

X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is an early-onset inherited condition that affects primarily males and is characterized by cystic lesions of the inner retina, decreased visual acuity and contrast sensitivity and a selective reduction of the electroretinogram (ERG) b-wave. Although XLRS is genetically heterogeneous, all mouse models developed to date involve engineered or spontaneous null mutations. In the present study, we have studied three new Rs1 mutant mouse models: (1) a knockout with inserted lacZ reporter gene; (2) a C59S point mutant substitution and (3) an R141C point mutant substitution.

Strategically Constructed Bilayer Tin (IV) Oxide as Electron Transport Layer Boosts Performance and Reduces Hysteresis in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Nanostructured tin (IV) oxide (SnO ) is emerging as an ideal inorganic electron transport layer in n-i-p perovskite devices, due to superior electronic and low-temperature processing properties. However, significant differences in current-voltage performance and hysteresis phenomena arise as a result of the chosen fabrication technique. This indicates enormous scope to optimize the electron transport layer (ETL), however, to date the understanding of the origin of these phenomena is lacking.

Emergency Manuals Improved Novice Physician Performance During Simulated ICU Emergencies.

Background: Emergency manuals, which are safety essentials in non-medical high-reliability organizations (e.g., aviation), have recently gained acceptance in critical medical environments.

Tracking Photoexcited Carriers in Hybrid Perovskite Semiconductors: Trap-Dominated Spatial Heterogeneity and Diffusion.

We use correlated confocal and wide-field fluorescence microscopy to probe the interplay between local variations in charge carrier recombination and charge carrier transport in methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite thin films. We find that local photoluminescence variations present in confocal imaging are also observed in wide-field imaging, while intensity-dependent confocal measurements show that the heterogeneity in nonradiative losses observed at low excitation powers becomes less pronounced at higher excitation powers. Both confocal and wide-field images show that carriers undergo anisotropic diffusion due to differences in intergrain connectivity.

Perovskite-perovskite tandem photovoltaics with optimized band gaps.

We demonstrate four- and two-terminal perovskite-perovskite tandem solar cells with ideally matched band gaps. We develop an infrared-absorbing 1.2-electron volt band-gap perovskite, FACsSnPbI, that can deliver 14.

A Universal Deposition Protocol for Planar Heterojunction Solar Cells with High Efficiency Based on Hybrid Lead Halide Perovskite Families.

A robust and expedient gas quenching method is developed for the solution deposition of hybrid perovskite thin films. The method offers a reliable standard practice for the fabrication of a non-exhaustive variety of perovskites exhibiting excellent film morphology and commensurate high performance in both regular and inverted structured solar cell architectures.

Structured Organic-Inorganic Perovskite toward a Distributed Feedback Laser.

A general strategy for the in-plane structuring of organic-inorganic perovskite films is presented. The method is used to fabricate an industrially relevant distributed feedback (DFB) cavity, which is a critical step toward all-electrially pumped injection laser diodes. This approach opens the prospects of perovskite materials for much improved optical control in LEDs, solar cells, and also toward applications as optical devices.

Chronic high-fat feeding increases GIP and GLP-1 secretion without altering body weight.

The incretin hormones, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), enhance postprandial insulin secretion, promote adipogenesis, and regulate gastrointestinal motility and food intake. To date, a consensus on how the incretin response is altered in obesity is lacking. We investigated the effects of chronic high-fat (HF) feeding on incretin secretion in the lymph fistula rat model.

C60 as an Efficient n-Type Compact Layer in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells have rapidly evolved over the last 3 years. There are still a number of issues and open questions related to the perovskite material, such as the phenomenon of anomalous hysteresis in current-voltage characteristics and long-term stability of the devices. In this work, we focus on the electron selective contact in the perovskite solar cells and physical processes occurring at that heterojunction.

Anomalous Hysteresis in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Perovskite solar cells have rapidly risen to the forefront of emerging photovoltaic technologies, exhibiting rapidly rising efficiencies. This is likely to continue to rise, but in the development of these solar cells there are unusual characteristics that have arisen, specifically an anomalous hysteresis in the current-voltage curves. We identify this phenomenon and show some examples of factors that make the hysteresis more or less extreme.

Synthesis of large-area MoS2 atomic layers with chemical vapor deposition.

Large-area MoS(2) atomic layers are synthesized on SiO(2) substrates by chemical vapor deposition using MoO(3) and S powders as the reactants. Optical, microscopic and electrical measurements suggest that the synthetic process leads to the growth of MoS(2) monolayer. The TEM images verify that the synthesized MoS(2) sheets are highly crystalline.

Electrophysiological properties of cochlear implantation in the gerbil using a flexible array.

Objectives: Cochlear implants (CI) perform especially well if residual acoustic hearing is retained and combined with the CI in the same ear (also termed hybrid or electric-acoustic stimulation). However, in most CI patients, residual hearing is at least partially compromised during surgery, and in some it is lost completely. At present, clinicians have no feedback on the functional status of the cochlea during electrode insertion.