With the rapid progress in deposition techniques for hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite (HOIP) thin films, this new class of photovoltaic (PV) technology has achieved material quality and power ...conversion efficiency comparable to those established technologies. Among the various techniques for HOIP thin films preparation, vapor based deposition technique is considered as a promising alternative process to substitute solution spin-coating method for large-area or scale-up preparation. This technique provides some unique benefits for high-quality perovskite crystallization, which are discussed in this research update.
Purpose
Hypofractionated radiotherapy can reduce treatment durations and produce effects identical to those of conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for treating prostate cancer. Volumetric arc ...radiotherapy (VMAT) can decrease the treatment machine monitor units (MUs). Previous studies have shown that VMAT with multileaf collimator (MLC) rotation exhibits better target dose distribution. Thus, VMAT with MLC rotation warrants further investigation.
Methods and materials
Ten patients with prostate cancer were included in this study. The prostate gland and seminal vesicle received 68.75 and 55 Gy, respectively, in 25 fractions. A dual‐arc VMAT plan with a collimator angle of 0° was generated and the same constraints were used to reoptimize VMAT plans with different collimator angles. The conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), gradient index (GI), normalized dose contrast (NDC), MU, and modulation complexity score (MCSV) of the target were analyzed. The dose–volume histogram of the adjacent organs was analyzed. A Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used to compare different collimator angles.
Results
Optimum values of CI, HI, and MCSV were obtained with a collimator angle of 45°. The optimum values of GI, and NDC were observed with a collimator angle of 0°. In the rectum, the highest values of maximum dose and volume receiving 60 Gy (V60 Gy) were obtained with a collimator angle of 0°, and the lowest value of mean dose (Dmean) was obtained with a collimator angle of 45°. In the bladder, high values of Dmean were obtained with collimator angles of 75° and 90°. In the rectum and bladder, the values of V60 Gy obtained with the other tested angles were not significantly higher than those obtained with an angle of 0°.
Conclusion
This study found that MLC rotation affects VMAT plan complexity and dosimetric distribution. A collimator angle of 45° exhibited the optimal values of CI, HI, and MCSv among all the tested collimator angles. Late side effects of the rectum and bladder are associated with high‐dose volumes by previous studies. MLC rotation did not have statistically significantly higher values of V60 Gy in the rectum and bladder than did the 0° angle. We thought a collimator angle of 45° was an optimal angle for the prostate VMAT treatment plan. The findings can serve as a guide for collimator angle selection in prostate hypofractionated VMAT planning.
Inorganic/organic hybrids of ZnO nanorods (NRs)/bisindolo quinoxaline (BIQ) were fabricated for broadband photosensing applications. Multiple material characterizations revealed the BIQ was ...self-assembled in a regular form of rod-like domain and an irregular form of amorphous aggregation that were distributed on the ZnO NRs. Optical measurements showed that BIQ can absorb visible light with a wavelength up to 630 nm and effectively generate photoelectrons. Moreover, clustering of BIQ can be observed via the 3D optical microscopy. ZnO/BIQ hybrids were promising for future UV and visible light environmental monitoring applications.
•Growth of ZnO nanorods on the CNT-incorporated ZnO seed layer.•Incorporation of CNT in ZnO seed layer induces excess oxygen defects.•Excess oxygen defects enhance the conductivity of ZnO after ...light/gas sensing.•Multiple gas (H2, CO, ethanol, acetone) sensing is demonstrated.
In this study, ZnO nanorods (NRs) are grown on the ZnO seed layer incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images show that CNTs are well distributed in the seed layer. X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) reveal the enhancement of oxygen defect-related chemical bindings and photoluminescence (PL) spectra show the increase of defect-related PL intensity. The enhanced oxygen defects for ZnO NRs on CNT-incorporated seed layer improve the electron concentration and the conductivity after light/gas sensing; as a result, the light/gas dual-sensing behaviors for CNT-incorporated ZnO NRs sensor are boosted. Owing to steady response, simple fabrication, and compact size, light/gas dual-sensing chips with ZnO NRs on CNT-incorporated seed layer are promising for ultraviolet (UV) light and gas detection.
Multiple-color reflectors using bichiral liquid crystal polymer films (BLCPFs) are investigated. The BLCPFs consist of alternate layers of two different single-pitch cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) ...layers, named CLC#A and CLC#B. The thickness of each CLC layer equals its single pitch length. The optical properties in terms of reflections, reflection-wavelength ranges, and distributions of reflection spectra of the BLCPFs that result from the fixed pitch length of CLC#A along with the decrease of the pitch length of CLC#B are qualitatively simulated and investigated. The results indicate that the above optical properties of the BLCPFs depend on the LC birefringence and pitch lengths of CLC#A and CLC#B layers. The concept of fabrication method of the BLCPFs by using polymerizable CLCs and thin films of poly(vinylalcohol) or photoalignment materials is discussed. They have potential practical applications in functional color filters, asymmetrical transmission systems, etc., owing to the multiple reflection bands of BLCPFs. Moreover, the BLCPFs, which can enhance the color gamut and light-utilization efficiency of light sources/LC displays, are reported herein.
Background: Radiotherapy (RT) provides a modern treatment to enhance the malignant glioma control rate. The purpose of our study was to determine the effect of tumor coverage on disease prognosis and ...to predict optimal RT plans to achieve a lower normal tissue complication probability (NTCP). Methods: Ten malignant-glioma patients with tumors adjacent to organs at risk (OARs) were collected. The patients were divided into two groups according to adequate coverage or not, and prognosis was analyzed. Then, using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and helical tomotherapy (TOMO) to simulate new treatment plans for 10 patients, the advantages of these planning systems were revealed for subsequent prediction of NTCP. Results: The results of clinical analysis indicated that overall survival (p = 0.078) between the adequate and inadequate groups showed no differences, while the adequate group had better recurrence-free survival (p = 0.018) and progression-free survival (p = 0.009). TOMO had better CI (p < 0.001) and also predicted a lower total-irradiated dose to the normal brain (p = 0.001) and a lower NTCP (p = 0.027). Conclusions: The TOMO system provided optimal therapeutic planning, reducing NTCP and achieving better coverage. Combined with the clinical results, our findings suggest that TOMO can make malignant glioma patients close to OARs achieve better disease control.
•Bisindolo quinoxaline-tips/ZnO nanorods hybrid materials were formed.•Bisindolo quinoxaline-tips aggregated on ZnO surfaces.•Bisindolo quinoxaline-tips/ZnO possessed green light sensing ...capability.•The absorption spectra of ZnO can be broadened by incorporating bisindolo quinoxaline-tips.
Aggregation/disaggregation properties in organic/inorganic interfaces have been intensively investigated recently because modulation of the aggregation effect can enhance the fluorescent emission, facilitate light scattering and strengthen the material strength. In this study, bisindolo quinoxaline-tips (BIQ-TIPs) organic polymers dropped on ZnO nanorods (NRs) to form organic/inorganic hybrid photosensing materials. Multiple morphological and material characterizations reveal that as-deposited BIQ-TIPs polymers self-aggregated on ZnO NR surfaces. UV/VIS measurements and photoluminescence (PL) mapping indicate that the absorption spectra of ZnO NRs can be broadened by incorporating BIQ-TIPs on top of ZnO NRs. Furthermore, light photosensitive measurements indicate that BIQ-TIPs /ZnO NRs-based devices exhibited better UV sensing behaviors than ZnO NR-based devices. Interestingly, BIQ-TIPs /ZnO NRs still possessed moderate green light sensing capability while ZnO NRs and BIQ-TIPs only samples possessed no green light sensing capability. Owing to their compact size, facile fabrication, and versatility, BIQ-TIPs /ZnO NR devices show promise for integration with BIQ-TIPs analogue-based electronic devices and future broadband sensing and light-harvesting applications.
Radiotherapy (RT) is an effective treatment for breast cancer. The side effects of breast irradiation, including skin toxicity in the irradiation field, cause considerable discomfort. This study ...compared the severity of skin toxicity caused by image‐guided RT (IGRT) and intensity‐modulated RT (IMRT) combined with an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) in breast cancer. This study retrospectively analyzed 458 patients with breast cancer who had received RT. The patients were divided into two groups: 302 and 156 patients in the IMRT and IGRT groups. In the IGRT group, 8 and 148 patients had received helical tomotherapy irradiation and IMRT with cone‐beam computed tomography. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the relationship between RT technique and the severity of radiation skin toxicity. In our study, 284, 97, and 6 patients exhibited grades I, II, and III radiation dermatitis (RD). Moreover, 75 patients in the IMRT group (24.80%) and 22 patients in the IGRT group (14.10%) exhibited grade II RD. All patients with grade III RD were in the IMRT group (2.00%). No patient exhibited grade IV RD. The patients in the IGRT group exhibited less severity of RD than in the IMRT group. The severity of acute RD due to IGRT is significantly lower than that due to IMRT with EPID.
The severity of acute RD due to IGRT is significantly lower than that due to IMRT with EPID.
Novel organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite compounds composed of mixed A-site cation (Formamidinium and Cesium) and pseudohalides (SCN and I) ions are successfully synthesized. These new classes of ...hybrid perovskites photovoltaics exhibited remarkable power conversion efficiency of more than 16% with excellent stability against moisture in ambient environment and under low-light storage condition. The existence of SCN– ion inclusion is confirmed by secondary ion mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The SCN–-doped pseudohalide is advantageous for the formation of large perovskite grains, as well as the performance and stability of the device.
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