The perovskite film prepared by traditional two-step sequential deposition possesses numerous defects and excess lead iodide (PbI
2
), which is mainly due to the formation of a dense PbI
2
layer and ...the incomplete solid-liquid reaction. It has been shown that the presence of the PbI
2
species has some positive effects on the power conversion efficiency (PCE), but the random distribution of excess PbI
2
can be detrimental to the device stability. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating a porous PbI
2
layer with ordered array structure by integrating a succinamide (SA) additive with a nanoimprinting technology, which can confine the organic amine salts in PbI
2
arrays to facilitate the omnidirectional diffusion and realize sufficient conversion to perovskites. Consequently, an unencapsulated device (active area of 0.04 cm
2
) is obtained with 23.56% efficiency and excellent long-term humidity stability (∼90% efficiency retention after 1800 h) in ambient air (relative humidity of 50 ± 5%). Moreover, the fabricated perovskite solar cell (1.01 cm
2
) and module (14.63 cm
2
) achieve impressive efficiencies of 21.57% and 16.42%, respectively. This work paves the way for the expansion of the two-step sequential deposition method from the laboratory to the large-scale fabrication of high-performance perovskite photovoltaic devices.
The porous lead iodide layer with ordered arrays structure is firstly fabricated to facilitate the omnidirectional diffusion of organic amine salts and realize high quality large-area perovskite film in two-step sequential deposition.
The neuroanatomical basis behind acupuncture practice is still poorly understood. Here, we used intersectional genetic strategy to ablate NPY+ noradrenergic neurons and/or adrenal chromaffin cells. ...Using endotoxin-induced systemic inflammation as a model, we found that electroacupuncture stimulation (ES) drives sympathetic pathways in somatotopy- and intensity-dependent manners. Low-intensity ES at hindlimb regions drives the vagal-adrenal axis, producing anti-inflammatory effects that depend on NPY+ adrenal chromaffin cells. High-intensity ES at the abdomen activates NPY+ splenic noradrenergic neurons via the spinal-sympathetic axis; these neurons engage incoherent feedforward regulatory loops via activation of distinct adrenergic receptors (ARs), and their ES-evoked activation produces either anti- or pro-inflammatory effects due to disease-state-dependent changes in AR profiles. The revelation of somatotopic organization and intensity dependency in driving distinct autonomic pathways could form a road map for optimizing stimulation parameters to improve both efficacy and safety in using acupuncture as a therapeutic modality.
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•Intersectional genetic manipulation of NPY+ sympathetic cells•Electroacupuncture stimulation (ES) drives distinct sympathetic pathways•ES operates in somatotopy- and intensity-dependent manners•NPY+ noradrenergic neurons bidirectionally modulate systemic inflammation
Liu et al. reveals a neuroanatomical basis for acupuncture practice, showing that electroacupuncture stimulation can drive distinct autonomic pathways and modulate systemic inflammation in somatotopy-, stimulation-intensity-, and disease-state-dependent manners.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The effects from the molecular configuration of diammonium spacer cations on 2D/3D perovskite properties are still unclear. Here, we investigated systematically the mechanism of molecular ...configuration‐induced regulation of crystallization kinetic and carrier dynamics by employing various diammonium molecules to construct Dion‐Jacobson (DJ)‐type 2D/3D perovskites to further facilitating the photovoltaic performance. The minimum average Pb‐I‐Pb angle leads to the smallest octahedral tilting of PbX64− lattice in optimal diammonium molecule‐incorporated DJ‐type 2D/3D perovskite, which enables suitable binding energy and hydrogen‐bonding between spacer cations and inorganic PbX64− cages, thus contributing to the formation of high‐quality perovskite film with vertical crystal orientation, mitigatory lattice distortion and efficient carrier transportation. As a consequence, a dramatically improved device efficiency of 22.68 % is achieved with excellent moisture stability.
Various diammonium spacer cations are used to construct 2D/3D perovskite. The mechanism of molecular configuration‐induced regulation of crystal orientation and carrier dynamics is investigated. 2D/3D perovskite solar cells based on 2,2′‐(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine) achieve a device efficiency of 22.68 % and excellent moisture stability, retaining 82 % of initial efficiency after aging at 50±5 % relative humidity for 1560 h.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains one of the severe complications associated with diabetes mellitus. It is worthwhile to uncover the underlying mechanisms of clinical benefits of human urine‐derived ...stem cells (hUSCs) in the treatment of DN. At present, the clinical benefits associated with hUSCs in the treatment of DN remains unclear. Hence, our study aims to investigate protective effect of hUSC exosome along with microRNA‐16‐5p (miR‐16‐5p) on podocytes in DN via vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). Initially, miR‐16‐5p was predicated to target VEGFA based on data retrieved from several bioinformatics databases. Notably, dual‐luciferase report gene assay provided further verification confirming the prediction. Moreover, our results demonstrated that high glucose (HG) stimulation could inhibit miR‐16‐5p and promote VEGFA in human podocytes (HPDCs). miR‐16‐5p in hUSCs was transferred through the exosome pathway to HG‐treated HPDCs. The viability and apoptosis rate of podocytes after HG treatment together with expression of the related factors were subsequently determined. The results indicated that miR‐16‐5p secreted by hUSCs could improve podocyte injury induced by HG. In addition, VEGA silencing could also ameliorate HG‐induced podocyte injury. Finally, hUSC exosomes containing overexpressed miR‐16‐5p were injected into diabetic rats via tail vein, followed by qualification of miR‐16‐5p and observation on the changes of podocytes, which revealed that overexpressed miR‐16‐5p in hUSCs conferred protective effects on HPDCs in diabetic rats. Taken together, the present study revealed that overexpressed miR‐16‐5p in hUSC exosomes could protect HPDCs induced by HG and suppress VEGFA expression and podocytic apoptosis, providing fresh insights for novel treatment of DN.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Weyl semimetals are conductors whose low-energy bulk excitations are Weyl fermions, whereas their surfaces possess metallic Fermi arc surface states. These Fermi arc surface states are protected by a ...topological invariant associated with the bulk electronic wave functions of the material. Recently, it has been shown that the TaAs and NbAs classes of materials harbor such a state of topological matter. We review the basic phenomena and experimental history of the discovery of the first Weyl semimetals, starting with the observation of topological Fermi arcs and Weyl nodes in TaAs and NbAs by angle and spin-resolved surface and bulk sensitive photoemission spectroscopy and continuing through magnetotransport measurements reporting the Adler-Bell-Jackiw chiral anomaly. We hope that this article provides a useful introduction to the theory of Weyl semimetals, a summary of recent experimental discoveries, and a guideline to future directions.
The microRNA family, miR-30, plays diverse roles in regulating key aspects of neoplastic transformation, metastasis, and clinical outcomes in different types of tumors. Accumulating evidence proves ...that miR-30 family is pivotal in the breast cancer development by controlling critical signaling pathways and relevant oncogenes. Here, we review the roles of miR-30 family members in the tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance of breast cancer, and their application to predict the prognosis of breast cancer patients. We think miR-30 family members would be promising biomarkers for breast cancer and may bring a novel insight in molecular targeted therapy of breast cancer.
Hydrogel optical fibers are utilized for continuous glucose sensing in real time. The hydrogel fibers consist of poly(acrylamide‐co‐poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate) cores functionalized with ...phenylboronic acid. The complexation of the phenylboronic acid and cis‐diol groups of glucose enables reversible changes of the hydrogel fiber diameter. The analyses of light propagation loss allow for quantitative glucose measurements within the physiological range.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) lnc‐ISG20 has been found aberrantly up‐regulated in the glomerular in the patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). We aimed to elucidate the function and regulatory ...mechanism of lncRNA lnc‐ISG20 on DN‐induced renal fibrosis. Expression patterns of lnc‐ISG20 in kidney tissues of DN patients were determined by RT‐qPCR. Mouse models of DN were constructed, while MCs were cultured under normal glucose (NG)/high glucose (HG) conditions. The expression patterns of fibrosis marker proteins collagen IV, fibronectin and TGF‐β1 were measured with Western blot assay. In addition, the relationship among lnc‐ISG20, miR‐486‐5p, NFAT5 and AKT were analysed using dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. The effect of lnc‐ISG20 and miR‐486/NFAT5/p‐AKT axis on DN‐associated renal fibrosis was also verified by means of rescue experiments. The expression levels of lnc‐ISG20 were increased in DN patients, DN mouse kidney tissues and HG‐treated MCs. Lnc‐ISG20 silencing alleviated HG‐induced fibrosis in MCs and delayed renal fibrosis in DN mice. Mechanistically, miR‐486‐5p was found to be a downstream miRNA of lnc‐ISG20, while miR‐486‐5p inhibited the expression of NFAT5 by binding to its 3'UTR. NFAT5 overexpression aggravated HG‐induced fibrosis by stimulating AKT phosphorylation. However, NFAT5 silencing reversed the promotion of in vitro and in vivo fibrosis caused by lnc‐ISG20 overexpression. Our collective findings indicate that lnc‐ISG20 promotes the renal fibrosis process in DN by activating AKT through the miR‐486‐5p/NFAT5 axis. High‐expression levels of lnc‐ISG20 may be a useful indicator for DN.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Emergent axion electrodynamics in magneto-electric media is expected to provide novel ways to detect and control material properties with electromagnetic fields. However, despite being studied ...intensively for over a decade, its theoretical understanding remains mostly confined to the static limit. Here, we introduce a theory of axion electrodynamics at general frequencies. We define a proper optical axion magneto-electric coupling through its relation to optical surface Hall conductivity and provide ways to calculate it in lattice systems. By employing our formulas, we show that axion electrodynamics can lead to a significant Kerr effect in thin-film antiferromagnets at wavelengths that are seemingly too long to resolve the spatial modulation of magnetism. We identify the wavelength scale above which the Kerr effect is suppressed. Our theory is particularly relevant to materials like MnBi
Te
, a topological antiferromagnet whose magneto-electric response is shown here to be dominated by the axion contribution even at optical frequencies.
Research on using electroencephalographic signals for biometric recognition has made considerable progress and is attracting growing attention in recent years. However, the usability aspects of the ...proposed biometric systems in the literatures have not received significant attention. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey to examine the development and current status of various aspects of electroencephalography (EEG)-based biometric recognition. We first compare the characteristics of different stimuli that have been used for evoking biometric information bearing EEG signals. This is followed by a survey of the reported features and classifiers employed for EEG biometric recognition. To highlight the usability challenges of using EEG for biometric recognition in real-life scenarios, we propose a novel usability assessment framework which combines a number of user-related factors to evaluate the reported systems. The evaluation scores indicate a pattern of increasing usability, particularly in recent years, of EEG-based biometric systems as efforts have been made to improve the performance of such systems in realistic application scenarios. We also propose how this framework may be extended to take into account Aging effects as more performance data becomes available.
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