Expanding the solvent diversity and perovskite compatibility of SnO inks that are directly deposited on perovskite layers.

Tin oxide (SnO) is an attractive electron transport material (ETM) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its optoelectronic properties, low-temperature solution processability, cost, and stability. However, solvent incompatibilities have largely limited its application to devices with SnO deposited below the perovskite. To expand its utility in other device structures, including inverted PSCs and tandem devices, alternate deposition strategies are needed.

An evolutionarily conserved function of C-reactive protein is to prevent the formation of amyloid fibrils.

C-reactive protein (CRP) binds to phosphocholine (PCh)-containing substances and subsequently activates the complement system to eliminate the ligand. The PCh-binding function of CRP has been conserved throughout evolution from arthropods to humans. Human CRP, in its structurally altered conformation at acidic pH, also binds to amyloid-β (Aβ) and prevents the formation of Aβ fibrils.

Synthesizing and formulating metal oxide nanoparticle inks for perovskite solar cells.

The perovskite solar cell has commercial potential due to the low-cost of materials and manufacturing processes with cell efficiencies on par with traditional technologies. Nanomaterials have many properties that make them attractive for the perovskite devices, including low-cost inks, low temperature processing, stable material properties and good charge transport. In this feature article, the use of nanomaterials in the hole transport and electron transport layers are reviewed.

CBT for difficult-to-treat depression: self-regulation model.

Background: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for depression but a significant minority of clients do not complete therapy, do not respond to it, or subsequently relapse. Non-responders, and those at risk of relapse, are more likely to have adverse childhood experiences, early-onset depression, co-morbidities, interpersonal problems and heightened risk. This is a heterogeneous group of clients who are currently difficult to treat.

Solvation of NiOfor hole transport layer deposition in perovskite solar cells.

A series of nickel oxide (NiO) inks, in the perovskite antisolvent chlorobenzene (CB) containing 15% ethanol, were prepared for the fabrication of p-i-n perovskite solar cells by blade coating. The inks included triethylamine (EtN) and alkyl xanthate salts as ligands to disperse NiOparticle aggregates and stabilize suspension. A total of four inks were evaluated: 0X (EtN with no alkyl xanthate), 4X (EtN + potassium-butyl xanthate), 12X (EtN + potassium-dodecyl xanthate), and 18X (EtN + potassium-octadecyl xanthate).

Use of parecoxib by continuous subcutaneous infusion for cancer pain in a hospice population.

Objectives: To characterise the use of the parenteral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug parecoxib when given by continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) in a hospice population. Clinical experience suggests parecoxib CSCI may be of benefit in this population, but empirical evidence in relation to its safety and efficacy is lacking.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients with a cancer diagnosis receiving parecoxib CSCI from 2008 to 2013 at the Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast.

Comparative biology of the pentraxin protein family: evolutionarily conserved component of innate immune system.

The immune system is based on the actions of the collection of specialized immune defense cells and their secreted proteins and peptides that defend the host against infection by parasites. Parasites are organisms that live part or all of their lives in close physical association with the host and extract nutrients from the host and, by releasing toxins and virulence factors, cause disease with the potential for injury and premature death of that host. Parasites of the metazoa can be viruses, eubacteria, fungi, protozoans, and other metazoans.

Interaction of pathogenic vibrio bacteria with the blood clot of the pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei.

In addition to its roles in hemostasis and wound repair, the blood clot plays an underappreciated role in innate immunity, where the established clot serves as a barrier to microbial penetration into the internal milieu and where the early clot entraps and immobilizes microbes that have entered wounds to the integuments. In this report we document the behavior of the pathogenic gram-negative bacterium Vibrio harveyi that has been entrapped in the fabric of the extracellular blood clot of one of its target organisms, the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. The freshly entrapped bacteria are held tightly by the clot, losing even Brownian motility, but by 1 h post-entrapment, a fraction of the bacteria have established small domains of fibrinolysis that enlarge progressively, enabling bacteria to escape from the clot's embrace.

Capture of lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) by the blood clot: a comparative study.

In vertebrates and arthropods, blood clotting involves the establishment of a plug of aggregated thrombocytes (the cellular clot) and an extracellular fibrillar clot formed by the polymerization of the structural protein of the clot, which is fibrin in mammals, plasma lipoprotein in crustaceans, and coagulin in the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. Both elements of the clot function to staunch bleeding. Additionally, the extracellular clot functions as an agent of the innate immune system by providing a passive anti-microbial barrier and microbial entrapment device, which functions directly at the site of wounds to the integument.

Investigation of Nanoscale Interactions by Means of Subharmonic Excitation.

Multifrequency atomic force microscopy holds promise as a method to provide qualitative and quantitative information about samples with high spatial resolution. Here, we provide experimental evidence of the excitation of subharmonics in ambient conditions in the regions where capillary interactions are predicted to be the mechanism of excitation. We also experimentally decouple a second mechanism for subharmonic excitation that is highly independent of environmental conditions such as relative humidity.

Energy dissipation distributions and dissipative atomic processes in amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy.

Instantaneous and average energy dissipation distributions in the nanoscale due to short and long range interactions are described. We employ both a purely continuous and a semi-discrete approach to analyze the consequences of this distribution in terms of rate of heat generation, thermal flux, adhesion hysteresis, viscoelasticity and atomic dissipative processes. The effects of peak values are also discussed in terms of the validity of the use of average values of power and energy dissipation.

Impact of senior clinical review on patient disposition from the emergency department.

Introduction: The delivery of high quality emergency medicine ideally involves input from senior doctors 24 h a day. This study aims to assess the influence of 'real-time' senior clinician supervision on patient disposition from a UK emergency department.

Methods: The study was set in a UK teaching hospital with 24 h senior cover.

Reduced productivity among junior trainees in the emergency department and the impact on senior clinicians.

Unlabelled: Emergency medicine has recently undergone significant changes, with training, staffing and service delivery attracting particular attention. Senior doctors are under increased pressure to ensure the prompt delivery of service and to provide a smooth patient journey. It has been suggested that junior trainees see fewer patients than their predecessors, resulting in the burden of clinical work being transferred to senior clinicians, representing a shift away from the traditional model of service delivery.

Is there thermal benefit from preoperative warming in children?

Aim: We aimed to quantify the impact of a raised preoperative ambient temperature (T(ambient)) on core temperature (T(core)) after induction of anesthesia in children.

Background: It has been suggested that prewarming of patients before anesthesia induction reduces postinduction drop in T(core). Neither the prewarming temperature nor its duration is established for adults or children.

Comparison of Surgisis, AlloDerm, and Vicryl Woven Mesh grafts for abdominal wall defect repair in an animal model.

Background: Surgisis and AlloDerm, two biosynthetic materials, have been previously used with success in abdominal wall repairs in the setting of contaminated fields. Historically, Vicryl Woven Mesh, a synthetic material, has also been used in such settings as a temporary bridge for abdominal wall reconstruction. This study compares Surgisis and AlloDerm with Vicryl Woven Mesh with respect to tensile strength, collagen remodeling, and neovascularization using a rat hernia model.

Brachial artery fibromuscular dysplasia.

Fibromuscular dysplasia is a rare vascular disease that is characterized as nonatherosclerotic and noninflammatory in nature. This disease most commonly afflicts the renal and cerebrovascular beds but can rarely affect the upper extremity. We present the case of a 76-year-old woman who complained of a symptom complex, congruent with Raynaud's phenomenon on the right side.

Comparison of traditional and interactive teaching methods in a UK emergency department.

Didactic teaching remains a core component of undergraduate education, but developing computer assisted learning (CAL) packages may provide useful alternatives. We compared the effectiveness of interactive multimedia-based tutorials with traditional, lecture-based models for teaching arterial blood gas interpretation to fourth year medical students. Participants were randomized to complete a tutorial in either lecture or multimedia format containing identical content.

Membrane activity of a C-reactive protein.

C-reactive protein (CRP) from the American horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, exhibits complex membrane activities. Here, we describe the behavior of protein and lipid as CRP interacts with model liposomes and bacterial membranes. Limulus C-reactive protein (L-CRP) forms extended fibrilar structures that encapsulate liposomes in the presence of Ca(2+).