Highly transparent and nanostructured nickel oxide (NiO) films through pulsed laser deposition are introduced for efficient CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells. The (111)‐oriented nanostructured NiO ...film plays a key role in extracting holes and preventing electron leakage as hole transporting material. The champion device exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 17.3% with a very high fill factor of 0.813.
While the interaction of the cardinal rhythms of non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep—the thalamo-cortical spindles, hippocampal ripples, and the cortical slow oscillations—is thought to be critical ...for memory consolidation during sleep, the role spindles play in this interaction is elusive. Combining optogenetics with a closed-loop stimulation approach in mice, we show here that only thalamic spindles induced in-phase with cortical slow oscillation up-states, but not out-of-phase-induced spindles, improve consolidation of hippocampus-dependent memory during sleep. Whereas optogenetically stimulated spindles were as efficient as spontaneous spindles in nesting hippocampal ripples within their excitable troughs, stimulation in-phase with the slow oscillation up-state increased spindle co-occurrence and frontal spindle-ripple co-occurrence, eventually resulting in increased triple coupling of slow oscillation-spindle-ripple events. In-phase optogenetic suppression of thalamic spindles impaired hippocampus-dependent memory. Our results suggest a causal role for thalamic sleep spindles in hippocampus-dependent memory consolidation, conveyed through triple coupling of slow oscillations, spindles, and ripples.
•Spindles in-phase with slow oscillation up-states boost hippocampus-dependent memory•Phase coupling of slow oscillations, spindles, and ripples underlies memory formation•Thalamic spindle stimulation drives cross-regional co-occurrence of spindles•Thalamic inhibition phase-locked to slow oscillation up-states impairs memory
Latchoumane et al. demonstrate a causal role of sleep spindles in memory formation. They show that optogenetic induction of thalamic spindles, when phase-locked to the slow oscillation up-state, enhances the triple coupling of slow oscillations-spindles-ripples together with hippocampus-dependent memory consolidation.
Disodium terephthalate and its various derivatives are synthesized via simple acid‐base chemistry for anode materials in Na ion batteries. They show excellent electrochemical performance, including ...little capacity fading over 90 cycles, ideal redox potential, and excellent rate performance, making them promising candidates for Na ion batteries.
The improved performance achieved by combining tert‐butyl copper (II) phthalocyanine (CuPC) and po‐spiro‐OMeTAD as hole transporting material (HTM) for formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3)‐based ...perovskite solar cells is reported. A device efficiency of 19.4% under standard 1 sun is obtained.
To investigate the impacts of depression screening, diagnosis and treatment on major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Prospective cohort study including a nested ...24-week randomised clinical trial for treating depression was performed with 5-12 years after the index ACS. A total of 1152 patients recently hospitalised with ACS were recruited from 2006 to 2012, and were divided by depression screening and diagnosis at baseline and 24-week treatment allocation into five groups: 651 screening negative (N), 55 screening positive but no depressive disorder (S), 149 depressive disorder randomised to escitalopram (E), 151 depressive disorder randomised to placebo (P) and 146 depressive disorder receiving medical treatment only (M).
Cumulative MACE incidences over a median 8.4-year follow-up period were 29.6% in N, 43.6% in S, 40.9% in E, 53.6% in P and 59.6% in M. Compared to N, screening positive was associated with higher incidence of MACE adjusted hazards ratio 2.15 (95% confidence interval 1.63-2.83). No differences were found between screening positive with and without a formal depressive disorder diagnosis. Of those screening positive, E was associated with a lower incidence of MACE than P and M. M had the worst outcomes even compared to P, despite significantly milder depressive symptoms at baseline.
Routine depression screening in patients with recent ACS and subsequent appropriate treatment of depression could improve long-term cardiac outcomes.
Spatiotemporal control of gene expression or labeling is a valuable strategy for identifying functions of genes within complex neural circuits. Here, we develop a highly light-sensitive and efficient ...photoactivatable Flp recombinase (PA-Flp) that is suitable for genetic manipulation in vivo. The highly light-sensitive property of PA-Flp is ideal for activation in deep mouse brain regions by illumination with a noninvasive light-emitting diode. In addition, PA-Flp can be extended to the Cre-lox system through a viral vector as Flp-dependent Cre expression platform, thereby activating both Flp and Cre. Finally, we demonstrate that PA-Flp-dependent, Cre-mediated Ca
3.1 silencing in the medial septum increases object-exploration behavior in mice. Thus, PA-Flp is a noninvasive, highly efficient, and easy-to-use optogenetic module that offers a side-effect-free and expandable genetic manipulation tool for neuroscience research.
The majority of suicide decedents die on their initial attempt. To bring attention to suicide decedents without a suicide attempt history, the current study explored their demographic, clinical, and ...suicide‐related characteristics. The data were derived from the Korea National Investigation of Suicide Victims Study, which assessed all suicide cases from 2013 to 2017 recorded in police investigation reports. We compared suicide decedents with and without a history of nonfatal attempts using the Korea Psychological Autopsy Checklist for Police Records (K‐PAC). Out of 5228 cases included in our study, 3147 (60.2%) died on their first suicide attempt. Demographically, those who were male, older than 65, employed, and married/widowed were more likely to die on their initial attempt. Clinically, those who died on their initial attempt were more likely to have never been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, whereas those who died on a repeated attempt were more likely to have been diagnosed with mood disorders. In terms of suicide‐related factors, experiencing relationship problems and complaining about physical discomfort were associated with dying on an initial attempt. Depressed affect, self‐harming behaviors, and talking about suicide or death were associated with repeated attempts.
Thermal sensations contribute to our ability to perceive and explore the physical world. Reproducing these sensations in a spatiotemporally programmable manner through wireless computer control could ...enhance virtual experiences beyond those supported by video, audio and, increasingly, haptic inputs. Flexible, lightweight and thin devices that deliver patterns of thermal stimulation across large areas of the skin at any location of the body are of great interest in this context. Applications range from those in gaming and remote socioemotional communications, to medical therapies and physical rehabilitation. Here, we present a set of ideas that form the foundations of a skin-integrated technology for power-efficient generation of thermal sensations across the skin, with real-time, closed-loop control. The systems exploit passive cooling mechanisms, actively switchable thermal barrier interfaces, thin resistive heaters and flexible electronics configured in a pixelated layout with wireless interfaces to portable devices, the internet and cloud data infrastructure. Systematic experimental studies and simulation results explore the essential mechanisms and guide the selection of optimized choices in design. Demonstration examples with human subjects feature active thermoregulation, virtual social interactions, and sensory expansion.
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are not only the most common probiotics in the food and feed industry but are also used as plant probiotics. Therefore, precise identification of LAB at the species level ...is required. In this study, we compared three different methods, the VITEK 2 ANC card, species‐specific PCR, and MALDI‐TOF MS, to identify six LAB (Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lentilactobacillus buchneri, and Limosilactobacillus fermentum) species previously assigned to the genus Lactobacillus that are used as biofertilizers. Twenty‐two strains of six LAB species were analyzed using the VITEK 2 ANC card, species‐specific PCR, and MALDI‐TOF MS, and identification rates at the species level were 45.5%, 95.5%, and 95.5%, respectively. There were cross‐reactions between L. casei and L. parpacasei, and one strain of L. casei could not be identified by these three methods. PCR assays and MALDI‐TOF MS were applicable for LAB identification.
Practical Application
LAB are the most common probiotics in the food and feed industry, so precise identification and classification of LAB at the species level are required. This study aimed at comparing three different methods for the effective identification of six LAB species: biochemical testing using VITEK 2 ANC card, species‐specific PCR, and MALDI‐TOF MS analysis.
Objective
Early recognition of a high‐risk group impending suicide is important. We aimed to compare warning signs depending on the nature of the psychiatric disorder and whether it was a documented ...diagnosis.
Methods
Data of suicide decedents were collected from police records from 2013 to 2017. We evaluate psychiatric symptoms and warning signs in three aspects (language, behavior, and affect) using the Korea‐Psychological Autopsy Checklist for Police Records (K‐PAC‐PR).
Results
A total of 13,265 suicide decedents were recruited for this study. Of them, 66.9% of females and 46.7% of males diagnosed psychiatric disorders, with depressive disorder being the most common one. Warning signs were observed in 93.0% of suicide decedents. They were observed more in those who were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, especially in those with a depressive disorder. “Talking about dying or suicide” was the most common warning sign in all groups, and “apathetic behavior” was the most related warning sign for depressive disorder. Especially for “talking about dying or suicide,” the proportion of observed “within a week” was high, making it valuable as a warning sign.
Conclusion
Warning signs were commonly found in suicide decedents regardless of gender. They were more common among the decedents diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, especially among those with a depressive disorder.
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