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Inferior morphology of perovskite films and suppressed hole extraction restricts the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with a PEDOT:PSS hole transporting layer (HTL). In this work, poly-TPD is used to modify the surface of PEDOT:PSS films in PSC. The presence of hydrophobic poly-TPD decreases the nucleation sites, and as a result, perovskite films with larger grains are obtained. Improved energy level alignment in the presence of poly-TPD results in enhanced hole extraction from the perovskite layer to the HTL. The improved morphology and charge extraction resulted in improved photovoltaic performance. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs was increased from 13.6% to 16.1% with the incorporation of poly-TPD. Also, the shelf life of the PSCs has exhibited considerable improvement due to the presence of hydrophobic poly-TPD and fewer number of grain boundaries. After 66 days, the PSC with poly-TPD maintained 96% of its initial PCE, whereas the PCE of the control device degraded to 72% of its initial value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a well-established strategy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Despite randomized controlled trials and real-world data showing the promise of pulsed-field ablation (PFA) for this treatment, long-term efficacy and safety data demonstrating single-procedure outcomes off antiarrhythmic drugs remain limited. The aim of the FARA-Freedom Study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of PFA using the pentaspline catheter for PAF. Methods and results FARA-Freedom, a prospective, non-randomized, multicentre study, enrolled patients with PAF undergoing de novo PVI with PFA, who were followed for 12 months with weekly transtelephonic monitoring and a 72-h Holter ECG at 6 and 12 months. The primary safety endpoint was a composite of device- or procedure-related serious adverse events out to 7 days post-ablation and PV stenosis or atrioesophageal (AE) fistula out to 12 months. Treatment success is a composite of acute PVI and chronic success, which includes freedom from any documented atrial tachyarrhythmia longer than 30 s, use of antiarrhythmic drugs or cardioversion after a 3-month blanking period, or use of amiodarone or repeat ablation at any time. The study enrolled 179 PAF patients (62 ± 10 years, 39% female) at 13 centres. At the index procedure, all PVs were successfully isolated with the pentaspline PFA catheter. Procedure and left atrial dwell times, with a 20-min waiting period, were 71.9 ± 17.6 and 41.0 ± 13.3 min, respectively. Fluoroscopy time was 11.5 ± 7.4 min. Notably, monitoring compliance was high, with 88.4 and 90.3% with weekly events and 72-h Holter monitors, respectively. Freedom from the composite primary effectiveness endpoint was 66.6%, and 41 patients had atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence, mostly recurrent atrial fibrillation (31 patients). The composite safety endpoint occurred in two patients (1.1%), one tamponade and one transient ischaemic attack. There was no coronary spasm, PV stenosis, or AE fistula. There were four cases of transient phrenic nerve palsy, but all resolved during the index procedure. Conclusion In this prospective, non-randomized, multicentre study, PVI using a pentaspline PFA catheter was effective in treating PAF patients despite rigourous endpoint definitions and high monitoring compliance and demonstrated favourable safety. Registration Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT05072964 (sponsor: Boston Scientific Corporation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing number sequence based on polygonal numbers is an enthusiastic field in number theory. As tetrahedral numbers are similar to pyramids, one of the Seven wonders of the World, yields a unique copiousness in its suitability. In number theory study of pyramidal numbers vary in richness and variety. Also the study of continued fractions is a fastly developing field.

Abstract Background Malaria still claims substantial lives of individuals in Tanzania. Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spray (IRS) are used as major malaria vector control tools. These tools are facing great challenges from the rapid escalating insecticide resistance in malaria vector populations. This review presents the information on the dynamics and monitoring of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors in mainland Tanzania since 1997. The information is important to policy-makers and other vector control stakeholders to reflect and formulate new resistance management plans in the country. Methods Reviewed articles on susceptibility and mechanisms of resistance in malaria vectors to insecticides across mainland Tanzania were systematically searched from the following databases: PubMed, Google scholar, HINARI and AGORA. The inclusion criteria were articles published between 2000 and 2017, reporting susceptibility of malaria vectors to insecticides, mechanisms of resistance in the mainland Tanzania, involving field collected adult mosquitoes, and mosquitoes raised from the field collected larvae. Exclusion criteria were articles reporting insecticide resistance in larval bio-assays, laboratory strains, and unpublished data. Reviewed information include year of study, malaria vectors, insecticides, and study sites. This information was entered in the excel sheet and analysed. Results A total of 30 articles met the selection criteria. The rapid increase of insecticide resistance in the malaria vectors across the country was reported since year 2006 onwards. Insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) was detected in at least one compound in each class of all recommended insecticide classes. However, the Anopheles funestus s.l. is highly resistant to pyrethroids and DDT. Knockdown resistance (kdr) mechanism in An. gambiae s.l. is widely studied in the country. Biochemical resistance by detoxification enzymes (P450s, NSE and GSTs) in An. gambiae s.l. was also recorded. Numerous P450s genes associated with metabolic resistance were over transcribed in An. gambiae s.l. collected from agricultural areas. However, no study has reported mechanisms of insecticide resistance in the An. funestus s.l. in the country. Conclusion This review has shown the dynamics and monitoring of insecticide resistance in malaria vector populations across mainland Tanzanian. This highlights the need for devising improved control approaches of the malaria vectors in the country.

We have embedded the concept norm with the proposed notion Neutrosophic multifuzzy Subrings. This conception was manipulated with Neutrosophic multi fuzzy ideals and level sets. Furthermore, some propositions and theorems related to them were explored. Eventually, direct product and homomorphic properties of Neutrosophic multifuzzy Subrings were derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of renal tumors is a main complication of acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD). ACKD associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common subtype of RCC occurring in ACKD and is a recently established entity. ACKD associated RCC occurs exclusively in patients with ACKD and hence the name. The tumor is characterized by cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm, cribriform/sieve-like architecture, and extensive intratumoral oxalate crystals. We report, a case of ACKD associated RCC in a 35-year‑old female with end-stage renal disease with ACKD on maintenance hemodialysis, who underwent left nephrectomy for massive hematuria and review the literature.

This article focuses on the impact that school libraries can have on the informational and research skills of an individual if utilised as proposed while working within the academic framework of the institution that they serve. The benefits of introducing high school students to the world of research and the structured approach to it is discussed in detail along with how it improves student performance as well as equipping them with the tools and techniques they will need as they move forward with confidence to higher education and the professional environment. The paper also visits in brief the research process that can be utilized at a beginner's level and the challenges school libraries continue to face in the path of establishing themselves as the linchpin of research projects / assignments in the institutions that they serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]