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Efficient charge injection into the emitters, which can reduce the voltage loss at interfaces, is a prerequisite for high-performance light-emitting diodes, with low voltage operation. Here we develop a sol–gel ZnO (s-ZnO) electron-transport layer for the perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) with green-emission formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr3) perovskites as emitters. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is mixed into the s-ZnO precursor as a modifier, which not only promotes the wettability of s-ZnO films, but also passivates the defects of s-ZnO without sacrificing their electrical conductivity. As a result, highly efficient FAPbBr3 films are obtained on the s-ZnO films. The maximum current efficiency of PeLED with s-ZnO:PEI electron-transporting layer reaches 13.5 cd/A, 45% higher than that based on pristine s-ZnO without PEI modifier. Benefiting from the outstanding charge-transport properties of s-ZnO and high-quality perovskite film, the turn-on voltage of the s-ZnO based PeLEDs is only 1.9 V, much lower than the band-gap voltage (~ 2.3 V) of FAPbBr3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the association of folate metabolism gene polymorphism with neural tube defects (NTDs) in Chinese population. Methods: The subjects were divided into two groups, 495 children with NTDs (NTD group) and 255 healthy children (control group). Results: The levels of folic acid, s-adenosine methionine (SAM), and Sam/s-adenosine homocysteine (SAH) in NTD group were lower than those in control group. There were significant differences in hey, SAH, and Sam levels between two groups, but there was no significant difference in folic acid content. High fever in early pregnancy, taking antiepileptic drugs, father's exposure to organic solvents, folic acid deficiency, and mother's diabetes were the important risk factors in NTDs. MTHFR 677C > T gene was a risk factor for NTD in children, while 1298A > C gene was a protective factor. Conclusion: Folic acid metabolism markers were different in NTD children and their mothers, and the overall trend showed that folate, SAM, and SAM/SAH levels were decreased, while Hcy and SAH levels were increased; MTHFR 677C > T gene of SNPs was a risk factor for the occurrence of NTDs, and MTHFR 1298A > C gene was a protective factor, and the environmental risk factor had a synergistic effect on occurrence of NTDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur dioxide is one of the main causes of air pollution such as acid rain and photochemical smog, and its pollution control and resource utilization have become important research directions. La2O3 was incorporated into CeO2 to enhance the surface basicity of La-Ce-Ox catalyst and increase the concentration of chemisorbed oxygen, thereby promoting the improvement of catalytic performance of SO2 reduction by CO. Results have showed that the incorporation of La2O3 would not only increase the concentration of chemisorbed oxygen and hydroxyl on the catalyst surface, but also increase the basicity of the catalyst, thereby facilitating the adsorption of SO2 on the catalyst surface. The 12%La-Ce-Ox was the optimal catalyst, and its SO2 conversion at 350–400 ℃ reached close to 100%, and the sulfur yield at this temperature range was higher than 93%. Finally, according to the in situ infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum, it was found that the main reaction intermediates of 12%La-Ce-Ox in the catalytic reduction of SO2 were weakly adsorbed sulfate, SO32−, non-coordinating CO32−, monodentate carbonate, and CO, so the catalytic reaction followed the L–H and E-R mechanisms simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) are a class of high-performance solution-processed electroluminescent (EL) devices highly attractive for next-generation display applications. Despite the encouraging advances in the mechanism investigation, material chemistry, and device engineering of QLEDs, the lack of standard protocols for the characterization of QLEDs may cause inaccurate measurements of device parameters and invalid comparison of different devices. Here, we report a comprehensive study on the characterizations of QLEDs using various methods. We show that the emission non-uniformity across the active area, non-Lambertian angular distributions of EL intensity, and discrepancies in the adopted spectral luminous efficiency functions could introduce significant errors in the device efficiency. Larger errors in the operational-lifetime measurements may arise from the inaccurate determination of the initial luminance and inconsistent methods for analyzing the luminance-decay curves. Finally, we suggest a set of recommended practices and a checklist for device characterizations, aiming to help the researchers in the QLED field to achieve accurate and reliable measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In steel-concrete composite twin-girder decks, wide concrete slab would undergo significant shear lag warping effect, including positive and negative. Some researchers have investigated the positive shear lag of composite decks by means of one-dimensional line model, while the studies on the negative shear lag have not yet been reported until now. In this study, a new one-dimensional analytical model of composite twin-girder decks is first proposed based on the model proposed by Dezi et al. Besides slab shear lag effect and partial connection at slab-girder interface which have been included in the model of Dezi et al., the particularity of the proposed model relies on its ability to account for variation characteristic of cross-section. Verification of the analytical model is later conducted through comparison of results from the analytical analysis and elaborate FE analysis for a simply supported composite deck with increasing depth and a two-span continuous one with decreasing depth. Finally, three kinds of structural forms of composite twin-girder decks, including cantilever, simply supported and continuous decks, are selected to carry out the analysis of positive and negative shear lag behaviors by means of the analytical model. The influences of cross-sectional variation characteristic and load type on positive and negative shear lag behaviors are mainly investigated. Additionally, a new definition on effective width for considering simultaneously positive and negative shear lag behaviors is proposed. The results from the proposed analytical model and EC4 specification are compared to provide suggestions for designers and checkers. In this study, the proposed analytical model can provide a powerful numerical tool for researchers to conduct the further investigation, and the analysis on shear lag and effective width can assist in design analysis of composite twin-girder decks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural tube defect (NTD) is a severe congenital birth abnormalities involving incomplete neural tube closure. 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR) gene plays key role in folate cycle and methylation cycle, which could affect the DNA synthesis, repair and methylation. In this study, we aim to investigate the correlation between MTHFR polymorphisms and NTD-affected pregnancy. There were 444 participants involved in our study. Tag-SNPs were identified in HapMap Databases. Blood samples were collected from all subjects to further extract the genomic DNAs by TaqMan Blood DNA kits. We also carried out a meta-analysis based on previous published studies to further examine the association between MTHFR polymorphisms and NTD. In case-control study analysis, two SNPs were identified to be associated with NTD risk. The 677 C > T genetic variant was correlated with increased risk of NTD-affected pregnancy. However, the 1298 A > C polymorphism was shown to lower the risk of NTD-affected pregnancy. The protective role of 1298 A > C polymorphisms was further supported by the result of meta-analysis. Our study revealed that the SNPs of 677C > T and 1298A > C in MTHFR were associated with NTD-affected pregnancy, in which 677C > T was a risk factor and in contrast 1298A > C was protective factor against NTD. Our results of meta-analysis also revealed the 1298A > C MTHFR polymorphism play protective role in NTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient transparent quantum-dot light emitting diodes (QD-LEDs) are demonstrated by using a silver nanowire (AgNW) cathode. The devices are fabricated through a solution technique, not any vacuum processes are involved. Almost identical performance is obtained for both sides of the transparent device, which is primary due to the high transmittance of AgNW cathode. The maximum luminance (efficiency) for ITO and AgNW side is 25,040 cd/m2 (5.6 cd/A) and 23,440 cd/m2 (5.2 cd/A), respectively. The average specular transmittance of the device (involving the glass substrate) is over 60% in the visible range. This study indicates that AgNW electrodes can serve as a cost-effective, flexible alternative to ITO, and thereby improve the economic viability and mechanical stability of QD-LEDs. All the results suggest that this is an important progress toward producing transparent QD-LEDs based displays and lighting sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "The work mechanism and sub-bandgap-voltage electroluminescence in inverted quantum dot light-emitting diodes" is presented in which contain a typographical error.