Survival benefit of metformin use according to cancer diagnosis in diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is a disease cluster causing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and high mortality. Metformin is the most common antidiabetic agent inhibiting the tumorigenesis and insulin resistance of MetSyn. We describe the association between metformin intake and survival of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and MetSyn, according to the presence of cancer.

A Universal Perovskite/C60 Interface Modification via Atomic Layer Deposited Aluminum Oxide for Perovskite Solar Cells and Perovskite-Silicon Tandems.

The primary performance limitation in inverted perovskite-based solar cells is the interface between the fullerene-based electron transport layers and the perovskite. Atomic layer deposited thin aluminum oxide (AlO) interlayers that reduce nonradiative recombination at the perovskite/C interface are developed, resulting in >60 millivolts improvement in open-circuit voltage and 1% absolute improvement in power conversion efficiency. Surface-sensitive characterizations indicate the presence of a thin, conformally deposited AlO layer, functioning as a passivating contact.

Rear textured p-type high temperature passivating contacts and their implementation in perovskite/silicon tandem cells.

Silicon solar cells based on high temperature passivating contacts are becoming mainstream in the photovoltaic industry. Here, we developed a high-quality boron-doped poly-silicon hole contact. When combined with a co-processed phosphorus-doped poly-silicon electron contact, high-voltage silicon bottom cells could be demonstrated and included in 28.

Long-Term Safety Profiles of Macrolides and Tetracyclines: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Macrolides and tetracyclines are antibiotics that have a range of anti-inflammatory properties beyond their microbial capabilities. Although these antibiotics have been in widespread use, the long-term safety profiles are limited. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials that compared macrolides or tetracyclines with placeboes to provide long-term safety information.

Understanding and Mitigating the Degradation of Perovskite Solar Cells Based on a Nickel Oxide Hole Transport Material during Damp Heat Testing.

The development of stable materials, processable on a large area, is a prerequisite for perovskite industrialization. Beyond the perovskite absorber itself, this should also guide the development of all other layers in the solar cell. In this regard, the use of NiO as a hole transport material (HTM) offers several advantages, as it can be deposited with high throughput on large areas and on flat or textured surfaces via sputtering, a well-established industrial method.

IL-17 Induced Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1 and Profibrotic Factor in Keloid-Derived Skin Fibroblasts via the STAT3 Pathway.

The pathogenesis of keloids has not been elucidated, and the disease is thought to be caused by abnormal secretion of proinflammatory mediators and irregular responses to other inflammatory signals mediated by keloid fibroblasts (KFs). In this study, we investigated whether a local increase in interleukin IL-17 in keloid tissues stimulates the production of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in KFs causing further recruitment of IL-17-producing T helper 17 (Th17) cells, which subsequently creates a positive feedback loop. Histological assessment was performed and the change in the expression of IL-17, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α which of fibrosis and inflammation associated markers was examined.

Complex Refractive Index Spectra of CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Thin Films Determined by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and Spectrophotometry.

The complex refractive index (dielectric function) of planar CH3NH3PbI3 thin films at room temperature is investigated by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and spectrophotometry. Knowledge of the complex refractive index is essential for designing photonic devices based on CH3NH3PbI3 thin films such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes, or lasers. Because the directly measured quantities (reflectance, transmittance, and ellipsometric spectra) are inherently affected by multiple reflections, the complex refractive index has to be determined indirectly by fitting a model dielectric function to the experimental spectra.

Raman Spectroscopy of Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskites.

Micro-Raman spectroscopy provides laterally resolved microstructural information for a broad range of materials. In this Letter, we apply this technique to tri-iodide (CH3NH3PbI3), tribromide (CH3NH3PbBr3), and mixed iodide-bromide (CH3NH3PbI3-xBrx) organic-inorganic halide perovskite thin films and discuss necessary conditions to obtain reliable data. We explain how to measure Raman spectra of pristine CH3NH3PbI3 layers and discuss the distinct Raman bands that develop during moisture-induced degradation.

Organic-inorganic halide perovskite/crystalline silicon four-terminal tandem solar cells.

Tandem solar cells constructed from a crystalline silicon (c-Si) bottom cell and a low-cost top cell offer a promising way to ensure long-term price reductions of photovoltaic modules. We present a four-terminal tandem solar cell consisting of a methyl ammonium lead triiodide (CH3NH3PbI3) top cell and a c-Si heterojunction bottom cell. The CH3NH3PbI3 top cell exhibits broad-band transparency owing to its design free of metallic components and yields a transmittance of >55% in the near-infrared spectral region.

4,9-Dihydro-4,4,9,9-tetrahexyl-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b']dithiophene as a π-spacer of donor-π-acceptor dye and its photovoltaic performance with liquid and solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells.

A new D-π-A organic dye, LC-5, containing 4,9-dihydro-4,4,9,9-tetrahexyl-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b']-dithiophene as a novel π-conjugated spacer has been synthesized and tested as a sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC). Volatile and ionic liquid electrolytes have been used in conjunction with the synthesized dye, and the electrolyte influence on the photovoltaic performance of DSCs was investigated. A detailed investigation, including transient photocurrent/photovoltage decay measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data, provide important conclusions about the influence of electrolytes on the photovoltaic parameters.

Sequential deposition as a route to high-performance perovskite-sensitized solar cells.

Following pioneering work, solution-processable organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites-such as CH3NH3PbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I)-have attracted attention as light-harvesting materials for mesoscopic solar cells. So far, the perovskite pigment has been deposited in a single step onto mesoporous metal oxide films using a mixture of PbX2 and CH3NH3X in a common solvent. However, the uncontrolled precipitation of the perovskite produces large morphological variations, resulting in a wide spread of photovoltaic performance in the resulting devices, which hampers the prospects for practical applications.

Lead iodide perovskite sensitized all-solid-state submicron thin film mesoscopic solar cell with efficiency exceeding 9%.

We report on solid-state mesoscopic heterojunction solar cells employing nanoparticles (NPs) of methyl ammonium lead iodide (CH(3)NH(3))PbI(3) as light harvesters. The perovskite NPs were produced by reaction of methylammonium iodide with PbI(2) and deposited onto a submicron-thick mesoscopic TiO(2) film, whose pores were infiltrated with the hole-conductor spiro-MeOTAD. Illumination with standard AM-1.

The p53-reactivating small-molecule RITA enhances cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in head and neck cancer.

We evaluated whether the restoration of p53 function by the p53-reactivating small molecule RITA (reactivation of p53 and induction of tumor cell apoptosis enhances cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in head-and-neck cancer (HNC). RITA induced prominent accumulation and reactivation of p53 in a wild-type TP53-bearing HNC cell line. RITA showed maximal growth suppression in tumor cells showing MDM2-dependent p53 degradation.

Enhanced light harvesting in mesoporous TiO2/P3HT hybrid solar cells using a porphyrin dye.

We report panchromatic light harvesting in hybrid TiO(2)/P3HT photovoltaic devices using a porphyrin dye that complements the light absorption of P3HT. The high short circuit photocurrent (12.1 mA cm(-2)) obtained is found to be due, in part, to Förster resonance energy transfer from the P3HT to the dye.

An organic D-π-A dye for record efficiency solid-state sensitized heterojunction solar cells.

The high molar absorption coefficient organic D-π-A dye C220 exhibits more than 6% certified electric power conversion efficiency at AM 1.5G solar irradiation (100 mW cm(-2)) in a solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell using 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-dimethoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-MeOTAD) as the organic hole-transporting material. This contributes to a new record (6.

Colorimetric pH measurement of animal cell culture media.

Most animal cell culture media can be buffered using bicarbonate and high pressure CO(2) in a closed system. However, in an open system, the pH of the culture media increases continuously due to the marked difference in CO(2) pressure between the culture media and the atmosphere. Therefore, it is important to measure the exact pH of the culture media in an intact closed system.

Efficient and stable solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells based on a high-molar-extinction-coefficient sensitizer.

The high-molar-extinction-coefficient heteroleptic ruthenium dye, cis-Ru (4,4'-bis(5-octylthieno[3,2-b] thiophen-2-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine) (4,4'-dicarboxyl-2,2'-bipyridine) (NCS)(2), exhibits an AM 1.5 solar (100 mW cm(-2))-to-electric power-conversion efficiency of 4.6% in a solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (SSDSC) with 2,2', 7,7'-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-MeOTAD) as the organic hole-transporting material.

Regenerative PbS and CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells with a cobalt complex as hole mediator.

Metal sulfide (PbS and CdS) quantum dots (QDs) were prepared over mesoporous TiO2 films by improved successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) processes. The as-prepared QD-sensitized electrodes were combined with a cobalt complex redox couple [Co(o-phen)3]2+/3+ to make a regenerative liquid-type photovoltaic cell. The optimized PbS QD-sensitized solar cells exhibited promising incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of over 50% and an overall conversion efficiency of 2% at 0.

High open-circuit voltage solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells with organic dye.

Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using an organic dye, 2-cyanoacrylic acid-4-(bis-dimethylfluoreneaniline)dithiophene (JK2), which exhibits more than 1 V open-circuit potential (V(oc)). To scrutinize the origin of high voltage in these cells, transient V(oc) decay measurements and density functional theroy calculations of the interacting dye/semiconductor surface were performed. A negative conduction band shift was observed due to the favorable dipolar field exerted by the JK2 sensitizer to the TiO(2) surface, at variance with heteroleptic Ru(II)-dyes for which an opposite dipole effect was found, providing an increased V(oc).

A light-resistant organic sensitizer for solar-cell applications.

Finely tuned: A stable dye-sensitized solar cell that contains a molecularly engineered organic dye has been prepared. The efficiency of the cell remains at 90% after 1000 h of light soaking at 60 degrees C. The remarkable stability of the cell is also reflected in the open-circuit voltage value (V(oc)), short-circuit photocurrent-density value (J(sc)), and the fill factor, which also show barely no decline (see picture).