High‐quality non‐stoichiometric NiOx nanoparticles are synthesized by a facile chemical precipitation method. The NiOx film can function as an effective hole‐transport layer (HTL) without any ...post‐treatments, while offering wide temperature applicability from room temperature to 150 °C. A high efficiency of 9.16% is achieved in organic solar cells using the NiOx HTL. A better performance in a NiOx‐based organic light‐emitting diode is observed, compared with a device using PEDOT:PSS.
A protease inhibitor, cystatin C (Cst C), is a secreted cysteine protease inhibitor abundantly expressed in body fluids. Clinically, it is mostly used to measure glomerular filtration rate as a ...marker for kidney function due to its relatively small molecular weight and easy detection. However, recent findings suggest that Cst C is regulated at both transcriptional and post‐translational levels, and Cst C production from haematopoietic cell lineages contributes significantly to the systematic pools of Cst C. Furthermore, Cst C is directly linked to many pathologic processes through various mechanisms. Thus fluctuation of Cst C levels might have serious clinical implications rather than a mere reflection of kidney functions. Here, we summarize the pathophysiological roles of Cst C dependent and independent on its inhibition of proteases, outline its change of expression by various stimuli, and elucidate the regulatory mechanisms to control this disease‐related protease inhibitor. Finally, we discuss the clinical implications of these findings for translational gains.
To achieve fabrication and cost competitiveness in organic optoelectronic devices that include organic solar cells (OSCs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), it is desirable to have one type ...of material that can simultaneously function as both the electron and hole transport layers (ETLs and HTLs) of the organic devices in all device architectures (i.e., normal and inverted architectures). We address this issue by proposing and demonstrating Cs-intercalated metal oxides (with various Cs mole ratios) as both the ETL and HTL of an organic optoelectronic device with normal and inverted device architectures. Our results demonstrate that the new approach works well for widely used transition metal oxides of molybdenum oxide (MoO x ) and vanadium oxide (V2 Ox ). Moreover, the Cs-intercalated metal-oxide-based ETL and HTL can be easily formed under the conditions of a room temperature, water-free and solution-based process. These conditions favor practical applications of OSCs and OLEDs. Notably, with the analyses of the Kelvin Probe System, our approach of Cs-intercalated metal oxides with a wide mole ratio range of transition metals (Mo or V)/Cs from 1:0 to 1:0.75 can offer significant and continuous work function tuning as large as 1.31 eV for functioning as both an ETL and HTL. Consequently, our method of intercalated metal oxides can contribute to the emerging large-scale and low-cost organic optoelectronic devices.
Numerous smokers are cognizant of the detrimental effects associated with this habit yet exhibit a persistent reluctance to cease their tobacco consumption. Self-exempt beliefs serve as an obstacle ...to the cessation of this addictive behavior. This research explored the impact of self-exempt beliefs on the readiness to quit smoking based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) model and the mediating roles of threat appraisal and coping appraisal.
Self-exempt beliefs, PMT constructs, and the intention to quit smoking constituted the theoretical model. The questionnaires were collected from 488 Chinese adult male smokers based on snowball sampling. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to examine the underlying factor structure of the pre-designed self-exempt beliefs scale. The reliability, validity, path coefficients, and explanatory power of the model were calculated using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).
The results showed that : (1) three common factors (skeptic beliefs, bulletproof beliefs, and "worth it" beliefs) with a total of 11 items were retained after EFA; (2) skeptic beliefs and "worth it" beliefs had a significantly negative effect on both threat appraisal and coping appraisal, while bulletproof beliefs did not; (3) bulletproof beliefs had a significantly positive direct impact on intention to quit, "worth it" beliefs had a significantly negative direct impact on intention, while skeptic beliefs had no significantly direct impact on intention; (4) threat appraisal and coping appraisal positively and significantly predicted cessation intention; and (5) threat appraisal and coping appraisal, as two main cognitive processes, acted as full mediations between skeptic beliefs and the intention to quit, as complementary partial mediations between "worth it" beliefs and the intention, and as non-mediation between bulletproof beliefs and the intention. Our findings suggest that efforts to undermine or "prevent" these self-exempt beliefs, particularly "worth it" and skeptic beliefs, may be an effective tactic for health communication interventions for quitting smoking.
Optical effects of the plasmonic structures and the materials effects of the metal nanomaterials have recently been individually studied for enhancing performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). Here, ...the effects of plasmonically induced carrier generation and enhanced carrier extraction of the carrier transport layer (i.e., plasmonic‐electrical effects) in OSCs are investigated. Enhanced charge extraction in TiO2 as a highly efficient electron transport layer by the incorporation of metal nanoparticles (NPs) is proposed and demonstrated. Efficient device performance is demonstrated by using Au NPs incorporated TiO2 at a plasmonic wavelength (560–600 nm), which is far longer than the originally necessary UV light. By optimizing the concentration ratio of the Au NPs in the NP‐TiO2 composite, the performances of OSCs with various polymer active layers are enhanced and efficiency of 8.74% is reached. An integrated optical and electrical model, which takes into account plasmonic‐induced hot carrier tunneling probability and extraction barrier between TiO2 and the active layer, is introduced. The enhanced charge extraction under plasmonic illumination is attributed to the strong charge injection of plasmonically excited electrons from NPs into TiO2. The mechanism favors trap filling in TiO2, which can lower the effective energy barrier and facilitate carrier transport in OSCs.
Plasmonic‐induced carrier extraction enhancements (plasmonic‐electrical effects) in organic solar cells (OSCs) are investigated. Using a nanoparticle (NP)‐TiO2 composite, an enhanced efficiency of 8.74% is reached. The device can efficiently operate at plasmonic wavelengths far longer than the original UV region. The enhancement is attributed to the plasmonic‐induced charge injection process. This mechanism favors trap filling in TiO2, which facilitates carrier transport in OSCs.
The plasmon‐optical effects have been utilized to optically enhance active layer absorption in organic solar cells (OSCs). The exploited plasmonic resonances of metal nanomaterials are typically from ...the fundamental dipole/high‐order modes with narrow spectral widths for regional OSC absorption improvement. The conventional broadband absorption enhancement (using plasmonic effects) needs linear‐superposition of plasmonic resonances. In this work, through strategic incorporation of gold nanostars (Au NSs) in between hole transport layer (HTL) and active layer, the excited plasmonic asymmetric modes offer a new approach toward broadband enhancement. Remarkably, the improvement is explained by energy transfer of plasmonic asymmetric modes of Au NS. In more detail, after incorporation of Au NSs, the optical power in electron transport layer transfers to active layer for improving OSC absorption, which otherwise will become dissipation or leakage as the role of carrier transport layer is not for photon‐absorption induced carrier generation. Moreover, Au NSs simultaneously deliver plasmon‐electrical effects which shorten transport path length of the typically low‐mobility holes and lengthen that of high‐mobility electrons for better balanced carrier collection. Meanwhile, the resistance of HTL is reduced by Au NSs. Consequently, power conversion efficiency of 10.5% has been achieved through cooperatively plasmon‐optical and plasmon‐electrical effects of Au NSs.
The power conversion efficiency of plasmonic organic solar cell reaches 10.5% through strategically incorporating gold nanostars (AuNSs) in between hole transport layer and active layer. Plasmon‐optical effects: The excited plasmonic asymmetric modes of AuNSs induce a broadband enhancement. Plasmon‐electrical effects: The embedded AuNSs facilitate carrier collection owing to better balanced carrier transport path length and reduced carrier transport resistance.
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•Particle engulfment was facilitated via ultrasonic-assisted solidification.•It is attributed to the vigorous movement of particles towards the s/l interface.•The secondary dendrites ...are refined due to the enhanced disturbance.
Particle engulfment plays a vital role in the application of particulate reinforced metal matrix composites fabricated by ingot metallurgy. During solidification, particles are nevertheless pushed by an advancing front. As a model system, TiB2p/Al composites were used to investigate the particle engulfment facilitated by acoustic cavitation. The implosion of bubbles drives the particles plunging towards the solid/liquid interface, which increases the engulfment probability. The secondary dendrite arms are refined from 271.2 μm to 98.0 μm as a result of the forced movements of TiB2 particles. Owing to the particle engulfment and dendrite refinement, the composite with ultrasound vibration treatment shows a more rapid work-hardening rate and higher strength.
With the rapid development of large-scale distributed renewable energy in China, the load factor of distribution transformer increases year by year, this directly become a new challenge to the load ...capacity of the transformer. Once subjected to this condition for a long time will have an impact on the hotspot temperature and consequently, the useful life of the transformer. In this regard, load capacity assessment of the distribution transformer becomes an essential work for unit upgrading or even replacement. This article systematically summarized the evaluation methods of transformer load capacity, as well as the load capacity prediction and dynamic capacity enhancement strategies of transformer. Discussions for the future work regarding this topic are also carried out.
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