Reducing Interfacial Recombination in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells With Selenophene-Substituted PCBM: Comparison With Thiophene and Furan Substitution.

Reducing the interfacial recombination and improving the charge transfer capability of charge transport layers are effective strategies to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This study evaluates, for the first time, the effects of selenophene substitution in the chemical structure of phenyl-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) on the performance and stability of inverted PSCs. Selenophene substitution was compared to thiophene and furan substitutions, and the reference PCBM without chalcogenophene moiety.

Photo-Cross-Linked Fullerene-Based Hole Transport Material for Moisture-Resistant Regular Fullerene Sandwich Perovskite Solar Cells.

Despite the high efficiencies currently achieved with perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the need to develop stable devices, particularly in humid conditions, still remains. This study presents the synthesis of a novel photo-cross-linkable fullerene-based hole transport material named FT. For the first time, the photo-cross-linking process is applied to PSCs, resulting in the preparation of photo-cross-linked FT (PCL FT).

Multicentre randomised trial of screening with sFlt1/PlGF and planned delivery to prevent pre-eclampsia at term: protocol of the PE37 study.

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia affects ~5%-7% of pregnancies. Although improved obstetric care has significantly diminished its associated maternal mortality, it remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the world. Term pre-eclampsia accounts for 70% of all cases and a large proportion of maternal-fetal morbidity related to this condition.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in human breast milk following SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy: a prospective cohort study.

Background: While the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in human breast milk is contentious, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies have been consistently detected in human breast milk. However, it is uncertain when and how long the antibodies are present.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study including all consecutive pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, recruited at six maternity units in Spain and Hong Kong from March 2020 to March 2021.

p-Type Functionalized Carbon Nanohorns and Nanotubes in Perovskite Solar Cells.

The incorporation of p-type functionalized carbon nanohorns (CNHs) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and their comparison with p-type functionalized single- and double-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs and DWCNTs) are reported in this study for the first time. These p-type functionalized carbon nanomaterial (CNM) derivatives were successfully synthesized by [2 + 1] cycloaddition reaction with nitrenes formed from triphenylamine (TPA) and 9-phenyl carbazole (Cz)-based azides, yielding CNHs-TPA, CNHs-Cz, SWCNTs-Cz, SWCNTs-TPA, DWCNTs-TPA, and DWCNTs-Cz. These six novel CNMs were incorporated into the spiro-OMeTAD-based hole transport layer (HTL) to evaluate their impact on regular mesoporous PSCs.

The impact of early versus delayed cord clamping on hematological and cardiovascular changes in preterm newborns between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation: a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: This study aimed to   investigate hematological and cardiac changes after early (ECC) versus delayed cord clamping (DCC) in preterm infants at 24-34 weeks of gestation.

Methods: Ninety-six healthy pregnant women were assigned randomly to the ECC (< 10 s postpartum, n = 49) or DCC (45-60 s postpartum, n = 47). Primary endpoint was evaluation of neonatal hemoglobin, hematocrit and bilirrubin levels within the first 7 days after birth.

Pravastatin reduces plasma levels of extracellular vesicles in pregnancies at high risk of term preeclampsia.

Elevated plasma levels of extracellular vesicles have been associated with impaired placentation, angiogenesis imbalance, intravascular inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction in women with preeclampsia, thus suggesting that circulating vesicles may be a good therapeutic target for the treatment of the disease. Recently, statins have been considered a potential treatment for the prevention of preeclampsia because of their pleiotropic effects, including the improvement of endothelial dysfunction and inhibition of inflammatory responses. However, the effects of these drugs on circulating vesicles concentration in women at risk of preeclampsia have not been established.

Understanding the Degradation of Methylenediammonium and Its Role in Phase-Stabilizing Formamidinium Lead Triiodide.

Formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI) is the leading candidate for single-junction metal-halide perovskite photovoltaics, despite the metastability of this phase. To enhance its ambient-phase stability and produce world-record photovoltaic efficiencies, methylenediammonium dichloride (MDACl) has been used as an additive in FAPbI. MDA has been reported as incorporated into the perovskite lattice alongside Cl.

Factors Involved in Endothelial Dysfunction Related to Angiogenic Disbalance and Oxidative Stress, in Women at High Risk of Term Pre-Eclampsia.

Oxidative and inflammatory stress, angiogenic imbalance, and endothelial dysfunction are pathophysiological mechanisms occurring in pre-eclampsia (PE) that may persist over time and predispose women to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the future. However, there is little evidence on the vascular function of women at risk of PE who have not developed the disease. The main objective of this research is to study factors and biomarkers involved in endothelial dysfunction related to oxidative stress, angiogenic disbalance, and inflammation in women at high risk of term PE who do not develop the disease.

Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells based on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanodots.

The role of graphitic and amorphous nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) as additives for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is investigated. A detailed study of N-CDs: perovskite (PVSK) blends through X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, field emission scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis, and photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals the existence of interactions between N-CDs and PVSK. The amorphous or graphitic nature of these carbon nanoforms, as well as the interactions between CDs and PVSK, clearly determines the photovoltaic outcome of the PSCs.

Triarylamine Enriched Organostannoxane Drums: Synthesis, Optoelectrochemical Properties, Association Studies, and Gelation Behavior.

The straightforward synthesis of three organotin clusters endowed with six triarylamine-based moieties is reported herein. The optoelectronic properties of the molecules, as well as their ability to form gels, were investigated. The association ability of the compounds was studied as well by means of variable temperature nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy.

Dendritic-Like Molecules Built on a Pillar[5]arene Core as Hole Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells.

Invited for the cover of this issue are the groups of S. Seki (Kyoto), G. Reginato (Sesto Fiorentino), J.

Dendritic-Like Molecules Built on a Pillar[5]arene Core as Hole Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells.

Multi-branched molecules have recently demonstrated interesting behaviour as charge-transporting materials within the fields of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). For this reason, extended triarylamine dendrons have been grafted onto a pillar[5]arene core to generate dendrimer-like compounds, which have been used as hole-transporting materials (HTMs) for PSCs. The performances of the solar cells containing these novel compounds have been extensively investigated.

Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes Associated With Extremely High Values for the sFlt-1 (Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1)/PlGF (Placental Growth Factor) Ratio.

Background There is little knowledge about the significance of extremely high values (>655) for the ratio of sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1) to PlGF (placental growth factor). We aim to describe the time-to-delivery interval and maternal and perinatal outcomes when such values are demonstrated while assessing suspected or confirmed placental dysfunction based on clinical or sonographic criteria. Methods and Results A multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed on 237 singleton gestations between 20+0 and 37+0 weeks included at the time of first demonstrating a sFlt-1/PlGF ratio >655.

Acceptability, tolerability, and effects on symptoms and signs of vulvovaginitis of a non-soap, herbal-based intimate hygiene solution (Zelesse®).

Objective: To evaluate the acceptability, tolerability, and effects on vulvovaginitis symptoms and signs of a non-soap, herbal-based intimate solution (Zelesse®).

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational, multicenter study including adult women with symptoms and signs of vulvovaginitis with various etiologies, including candidiasis, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, and atrophic and irritative vaginitis. The presence and intensity of signs (edema, erythema, vaginal discharge) and symptoms (pruritus) of vulvovaginitis were evaluated before and after 5-15 days of daily use of Zelesse® alone or as a coadjuvant in antimicrobial therapy.

Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Oligotriarylamine Hexaarylbenzene as Hole-Transporting Materials.

A cobalt-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of bis(aryl)alkyne is used as an innovative tool to obtain hole-transport materials (HTMs). The novel HTM containing six units of oligotriarylamine (HAB1), characterized by UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry, DFT, and thermogravimetric analysis, confirms its suitability as an efficient HTM in PSCs. A PCE of 17.

Is it possible to predict late antepartum stillbirth by means of cerebroplacental ratio and maternal characteristics?

To examine the potential value of fetal ultrasound and maternal characteristics in the prediction of antepartum stillbirth after 32 weeks' gestation. This was a retrospective multicenter study in Spain. In 29 pregnancies, umbilical artery pulsatility index (UA PI), middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA PI), cerebroplacental ratio (CPR), estimated fetal weight (EFW), and maternal characteristics were recorded within 15 days prior to a stillbirth.

Physicochemical Phenomena and Application in Solar Cells of Perovskite:Fullerene Films.

Beyond the use of fullerenes as electron-transporting layers in perovskite solar cells, their introduction into a perovskite active layer has been ascertained as a very promising strategy for device improvement. In this sense, this Perspective summarizes the studies in which perovskite:fullerene systems were employed, covering the different methodologies for introducing fullerenes inside the perovskite layer. In particular, fill factor was the most benefited parameter, which was ascribed to minimized pinhole density and fullerene passivating role.

Fullerene-Based Materials as Hole-Transporting/Electron-Blocking Layers: Applications in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Here we report for the first time an efficient fullerene-based compound, FU7, able to act as hole-transporting material (HTM) and electron blocking contact. It has been applied on perovskite solar cells (PSCs), obtaining 0.81 times the efficiency of PSCs with the standard HTM, spiro-OMeTAD, with the additional advantage that this performance is reached without any additive introduced in the HTM layer.

Heptamethine Cyanine Dyes in the Design of Photoactive Carbon Nanomaterials.

Near-infrared (NIR) absorbing nanomaterials, built from anionic heptamethine cyanine dyes and single-walled carbon nanotubes or few-layer graphene, are presented. The covalent linkage, using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions, results in nanoconjugates that synchronize the properties of both materials, as demonstrated by an in-depth characterization study carried out by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. UV-vis-NIR and Raman spectroscopies further confirmed the unique electronic structure of the novel photoactive nanomaterials.

Mediating Reductive Charge Shift Reactions in Electron Transport Chains.

We report the synthesis of a full-fledged family of covalent electron donor-acceptor-acceptor conjugates and their charge-transfer characterization by means of advanced photophysical assays. By virtue of variable excited state energies and electron donor strengths, either Zn(II)Porphyrins or Zn(II)Phthalocyanines were linked to different electron-transport chains featuring pairs of electron accepting fullerenes, that is, C and C. In this way, a fine-tuned redox gradient is established to power a unidirectional, long-range charge transport from the excited-state electron donor via a transient C toward C.

Aspirin for Evidence-Based Preeclampsia Prevention trial: influence of compliance on beneficial effect of aspirin in prevention of preterm preeclampsia.

Background: The Aspirin for Evidence-Based Preeclampsia Prevention trial was a multicenter study in women with singleton pregnancies. Screening was carried out at 11-13 weeks' gestation with an algorithm that combines maternal factors and biomarkers (mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, and maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and placental growth factor). Those with an estimated risk for preterm preeclampsia of >1 in 100 were invited to participate in a double-blind trial of aspirin (150 mg/d) vs placebo from 11-14 until 36 weeks' gestation.

External iliac artery Doppler assessment in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential role of the mean external iliac artery pulsatility index (EIA-PI) as a predictor of adverse obstetric outcomes such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and small for gestational age (SGA).

Methods: In women attending for first trimester screening at 11 + 0-13 + 6 weeks of gestation, we recorded maternal characteristics and measured EIA mean PI and uterine artery mean PI. We compared EIA mean PI in those that developed preeclampsia (n = 84), gestational hypertension (n = 50) or small for gestational age (n = 444) with those unaffected (n = 3736).

Aspirin for Evidence-Based Preeclampsia Prevention trial: effect of aspirin in prevention of preterm preeclampsia in subgroups of women according to their characteristics and medical and obstetrical history.

Background: The Combined Multimarker Screening and Randomized Patient Treatment with Aspirin for Evidence-Based Preeclampsia Prevention trial demonstrated that in women who were at high risk for preterm preeclampsia with delivery at <37 weeks' gestation identified by screening by means of an algorithm that combines maternal factors and biomarkers at 11-13 weeks' gestation, aspirin administration from 11 to 14 until 36 weeks' gestation was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of preterm preeclampsia (odds ratio 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.20 to 0.