| 1. |
- Ali Ahmad, Syed Ossama, et al.
(författare)
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Application of two-dimensional materials in perovskite solar cells: recent progress, challenges, and prospective solutions
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Materials Chemistry C. - : ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY. - 2050-7526 .- 2050-7534. ; 9:40, s. 14065-14092
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Perovskite solar cells (per-SCs) with high performance and cost-effective solution processing have been the center of interest for researchers in the past decade. Power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) have been gradually improved up to 25.2% with relatively improved stability, which is an unparalleled progress in all generations of solar cell (SC) technology. However, there are still some prevailing challenges regarding the stability and upscaling of these promising devices. Recently, 2D layered materials (LMs) have been extensively explored to overcome the prevailing challenges of poor stability (under moisture, light soaking and high temperature), halide segregation, hysteresis, involvement of toxic materials (i.e., lead), and upscaling of devices. A critical review addressing the recent developments in the use of 2D materials, especially transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), is hence necessary. The development of novel synthesis and deposition techniques including liquid-metal synthesis and ultrasonic assisted spray pyrolysis has offered more efficient fabrication of 2D-LMs with controlled thickness and morphology. Effective functionalization approaches to increase the dispersability of 2D-LMs in non-polar solvents has boosted their potential application in solar cell technology as well. Moreover, compositing 2D TMDCs with suitable organic/inorganic compounds has enabled superior charge kinetics in all functional parts of per-SCs. In addition, newly developed materials such as graphyne and graphdyine along with 2D metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been employed in per-SCs to achieve PCEs up to 20%. This review summarizes the recent progress and challenges in the application of 2D-LMs in per-SCs and outlines the future pathways to further extend the PCE of per-SCs beyond 25%. This review particularly focuses on 2D-LMs as electrode materials and additives, the underlying charge (electron-hole) transport phenomenon in the functional layers, and their chemical and structural stability.
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| 2. |
- Ali, Myzoon, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence, Trajectory, and Predictors of Poststroke Pain: Retrospective Analysis of Pooled Clinical Trial Data Set
- 2023
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Ingår i: Stroke. - 1524-4628. ; 54:12, s. 3107-3116
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Poststroke pain remains underdiagnosed and inadequately managed. To inform the optimum time to initiate interventions, we examined prevalence, trajectory, and participant factors associated with poststroke pain. METHODS: Eligible studies from the VISTA (Virtual International Stroke Trials Archives) included an assessment of pain. Analyses of individual participant data examined demography, pain, mobility, independence, language, anxiety/depression, and vitality. Pain assessments were standardized to the European Quality of Life Scale (European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level) pain domain, describing no, moderate, or extreme pain. We described pain prevalence, associations between participant characteristics, and pain using multivariable models. RESULTS: From 94 studies (n>48 000 individual participant data) in VISTA, 10 (n=10 002 individual participant data) included a pain assessment. Median age was 70.0 years (interquartile range [59.0-77.1]), 5560 (55.6%) were male, baseline stroke severity was National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 10 (interquartile range [7-15]). Reports of extreme pain ranged between 3% and 9.5% and were highest beyond 2 years poststroke (31/328 [9.5%]); pain trajectory varied by study. Poorer independence was significantly associated with presence of moderate or extreme pain (5 weeks-3 months odds ratio [OR], 1.5 [95% CI, 1.4-1.6]; 4-6 months OR, 1.7 [95% CI, 1.3-2.1]; >6 months OR, 1.5 [95% CI, 1.2-2.0]), and increased severity of pain (5 weeks-3 months: OR, 1.2 [95% CI, 1.1-1.2]; 4-6 months OR, 1.1 [95% CI, 1.1-1.2]; >6 months, OR, 1.2 [95% CI, 1.1-1.2]), after adjusting for covariates. Anxiety/depression and lower vitality were each associated with pain severity. CONCLUSIONS: Between 3% and 9.5% of participants reported extreme poststroke pain; the presence and severity of pain were independently associated with dependence at each time point. Future studies could determine whether and when interventions may reduce the prevalence and severity of poststroke pain.
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| 3. |
- Ali, Myzoon, et al.
(författare)
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Validation of general pain scores from multidomain assessment tools in stroke
- 2024
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Ingår i: FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY. - 1664-2295. ; 15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose We describe how well general pain reported in multidomain assessment tools correlated with pain-specific assessment tools; associations between general pain, activities of daily living and independence after stroke.Materials and methods Analyses of individual participant data (IPD) from the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive (VISTA) described correlation coefficients examining (i) direct comparisons of assessments from pain-specific and multidomain assessment tools that included pain, (ii) indirect comparisons of pain assessments with the Barthel Index (BI) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and (iii) whether pain identification could be enhanced by accounting for reported usual activities, self-care, mobility and anxiety/depression; factors associated with pain.Results European Quality of Life 3- and 5-Level (EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L), RAND 36 Item Health Survey 1.0 (SF-36) or the 0-10 Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) were available from 10/94 studies (IPD = 10,002). The 0-10 NPRS was the only available pain-specific assessment tool and was a reference for comparison with other tools. Pearson correlation coefficients between the 0-10 NPRS and (A) the EQ-5D-3L and (B) EQ5D-5 L were r = 0.572 (n = 436) and r = 0.305 (n = 1,134), respectively. mRS was better aligned with pain by EQ-5D-3L (n = 8,966; r = 0.340) than by SF-36 (n = 623; r = 0.318). BI aligned better with pain by SF-36 (n = 623; r = -0.320). Creating a composite score using the EQ-5D 3 L and 5 L comprising pain, mobility, usual-activities, self-care and anxiety/depression did not improve correlation with the 0-10 NPRS.Discussion The EQ-5D-3L pain domain aligned better than the EQ-5D-5L with the 0-10 NPRS and may inform general pain description where resources and assessment burden hinder use of additional, pain-specific assessments.
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| 4. |
- Gomez Jimenez, David, et al.
(författare)
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Single-cell analysis of myeloid cells in HPV+ tonsillar cancer
- 2022
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The incidence of Human Papillomavirus positive (HPV+) tonsillar cancer has been sharply rising during the last two decades. Myeloid cells represent an appropriate therapeutic target due to their ability to orchestrate antigen-specific immunity within the tonsil, the availability of viral antigens, and the proximity of the tumor and the underlying lymphoid tissue. However, the interrelationship of steady-state and inflammatory myeloid cell subsets, and their impact on patient survival remains unexplored. Here, we used single-cell RNA-sequencing to map the myeloid compartment in HPV+ tonsillar cancer. Our analysis unveiled the existence of four dendritic cell lineages, two macrophage polarization processes, and their sequential maturation profiles. We observed an expansion of the myeloid compartment in HPV+ tonsillar cancer, accompanied by interferon-induced cellular responses both in DCs and monocyte-macrophages. Within the DC lineages, we describe a balance shift in the frequency of progenitor and mature cDC favoring the cDC1 lineage in detriment of cDC2s, in HPV+ lesions. Furthermore, we observed that all DC lineages apart from DC5s matured into a common activated DC profile. In turn, the monocyte-macrophage lineage was subjected to early monocyte polarization events, which gave raise to inflammatory-activated, and chemokine-producing macrophages. We validated the existence of most of the single-cell RNA-seq clusters using 26-plex flow cytometry, and described a positive impact of cDC1, activated DCs and macrophages in patient survival using signature scoring. The current study contributes towards the understanding of myeloid ontogeny and dynamics in human papilloma driven tonsillar cancer, and details myeloid biomarkers that can be used to predict therapy effects and assess patient prognosis.
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| 5. |
- Jimenez, David Gomez, et al.
(författare)
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Single-cell analysis of myeloid cells in HPV+ tonsillar cancer
- 2023
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Immunology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-3224. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The incidence of human papillomavirus-positive (HPV+) tonsillar cancer has been sharply rising during the last decades. Myeloid cells represent an appropriate therapeutic target due to their proximity to virus-infected tumor cells, and their ability to orchestrate antigen-specific immunity, within the tonsil. However, the interrelationship of steady-state and inflammatory myeloid cell subsets, and their impact on patient survival remains unexplored. Here, we used single-cell RNA-sequencing to map the myeloid compartment in HPV+ tonsillar cancer. We observed an expansion of the myeloid compartment in HPV+ tonsillar cancer, accompanied by interferon-induced cellular responses both in dendritic cells (DCs) and monocyte-macrophages. Our analysis unveiled the existence of four DC lineages, two macrophage polarization processes, and their sequential maturation profiles. Within the DC lineages, we described a balance shift in the frequency of progenitor and mature cDC favoring the cDC1 lineage in detriment of cDC2s. Furthermore, we observed that all DC lineages apart from DC5s matured into a common activated DC transcriptional program involving upregulation of interferon-inducible genes. In turn, the monocyte-macrophage lineage was subjected to early monocyte polarization events, which give rise to either interferon-activated or CXCL-producing macrophages, the latter enriched in advanced tumor stages. We validated the existence of most of the single-cell RNA-seq clusters using 26-plex flow cytometry, and described a positive impact of cDC1 and interferon-activated DCs and macrophages on patient survival using gene signature scoring. The current study contributes to the understanding of myeloid ontogeny and dynamics in HPV-driven tonsillar cancer, and highlights myeloid biomarkers that can be used to assess patient prognosis.
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| 6. |
- Lileikyte, Gabriele, et al.
(författare)
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Serum proteome profiles in patients treated with targeted temperature management after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
- 2023
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Ingår i: Intensive Care Medicine Experimental. - 2197-425X. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Definition of temporal serum proteome profiles after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest may identify biological processes associated with severe hypoxia-ischaemia and reperfusion. It may further explore intervention effects for new mechanistic insights, identify candidate prognostic protein biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. This pilot study aimed to investigate serum proteome profiles from unconscious patients admitted to hospital after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest according to temperature treatment and neurological outcome.METHODS: Serum samples at 24, 48, and 72 h after cardiac arrest at three centres included in the Target Temperature Management after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest trial underwent data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry analysis (DIA-MS) to find changes in serum protein concentrations associated with neurological outcome at 6-month follow-up and targeted temperature management (TTM) at 33 °C as compared to 36 °C. Neurological outcome was defined according to Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scale as "good" (CPC 1-2, good cerebral performance or moderate disability) or "poor" (CPC 3-5, severe disability, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, or death).RESULTS: Of 78 included patients [mean age 66 ± 12 years, 62 (80.0%) male], 37 (47.4%) were randomised to TTM at 36 °C. Six-month outcome was poor in 47 (60.3%) patients. The DIA-MS analysis identified and quantified 403 unique human proteins. Differential protein abundance testing comparing poor to good outcome showed 19 elevated proteins in patients with poor outcome (log 2-fold change (FC) range 0.28-1.17) and 16 reduced proteins (log 2(FC) between - 0.22 and - 0.68), involved in inflammatory/immune responses and apoptotic signalling pathways for poor outcome and proteolysis for good outcome. Analysis according to level of TTM showed a significant protein abundance difference for six proteins [five elevated proteins in TTM 36 °C (log 2(FC) between 0.33 and 0.88), one reduced protein (log 2(FC) - 0.6)] mainly involved in inflammatory/immune responses only at 48 h after cardiac arrest. CONCLUSIONS: Serum proteome profiling revealed an increase in inflammatory/immune responses and apoptosis in patients with poor outcome. In patients with good outcome, an increase in proteolysis was observed, whereas TTM-level only had a modest effect on the proteome profiles. Further validation of the differentially abundant proteins in response to neurological outcome is necessary to validate novel biomarker candidates that may predict prognosis after cardiac arrest.
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| 7. |
- Mahmood, Rashid, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of antidiabetic potential and phytochemical profiling of Rhazya stricta root extracts
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. - : Springer Nature. - 2662-7671. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia that may occur due to genetic, environmental or lifestyle factors. Natural remedies have been used to treat diabetes since long and many antidiabetic compounds of varied efficacies have been isolated from medicinal plants. Rhazya stricta has been used for decades for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and associated ailments. Considering the folkloric use of R. stricta against diabetes, it was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of its root extracts against diabetes through in vitro assays and in vivo studies using animal model along with phytochemical profiling through GCMS. Methods: Various fractions of Rhazya stricta obtained through column chromatography were evaluated for a variety of assays including a-glucosidase, Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), beta-secretase and Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion studies. For the in vivo studies the alloxan-induced diabetic mice were treated with root extracts and blood glucose levels, HbA1C, and other biochemical markers along with the histological study of the liver were done. The phytochemical identification was performed using an Agilent 7890B GC coupled to a 7010 Triple Quadrupole (MS/MS) system. GraphPad Prism software version 5.01 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Majority of the extract fractions showed excellent results against diabetes by inhibiting enzymes DPP-IV (Up to 61%) and beta-secretase (Up to 83%) with IC50s 979 pg/ml and 169 mu g/ml respectively with increase in the GLP1 secretion. The results of in vivo studies indicated a marked reduction in blood glucose and HbA1c levels along with positive effects on other parameters like lipid profile, liver functions and renal functions of extract-treated mice as compared to control. The histological examination of the liver demonstrated hepatoprotective effects against diabetes led changes and various classes of phytochemicals were also identified through GCMS in different fractions. Conclusion: The results revealed strong antidiabetic activity of R. stricta root with the potential to protect body organs against diabetic changes. Moreover, a variety of phytochemicals has also been identified through GCMS that might be responsible for the antidiabetic potential of Rhazya stricta root.
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| 8. |
- Merino, Irene, et al.
(författare)
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Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses identify external conditions and key genes underlying high levels of toxic glycoalkaloids in tubers of stress-sensitive potato cultivars
- 2023
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Plant Science. - 1664-462X. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: High levels of toxic steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) in potato tubers constitute a recognized food quality problem. Tuber SGA levels vary between potato cultivars and can increase after post-harvest stresses such as wounding and light exposure. A few cultivars, e.g., ‘Magnum Bonum’ and ‘Lenape,’ have been withdrawn from commercial sales due to excessive SGA levels during some cultivation years. However, these sudden SGA increases are diffucult to predict, and their causes are not understood. To identify external and genetic factors that underlie sudden SGA increases in certain potato cultivars, we have here in a 2-year study investigated ‘Magnum Bonum’ and five additional table potato cultivars for their SGA levels after wounding and light exposure. Results and methods: Results showed that ‘Magnum Bonum’ has an unusual strong SGA response to light exposure, but not to wounding, whereas ‘Bintje’ displayed an opposite regulation. Levels of calystegine alkaloids were not significantly altered by treatments, implicating independent metabolic regulation of SGA and calystegine levels also under conditions of high SGA accumulation. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses identified a small number of key genes whose expression correlated with SGA differences between cultivars. Overexpression of two key genes in transgenic low-SGA potato cultivars increased their leaf SGA levels significantly. Discussion: The results show that a strong response to light can underlie the SGA peaks that occasionally occur in certain potato cultivars and indicate that a between-cultivar variation in the expression of single SGA key genes can account for cultivar SGA differerences. We propose that current attempts to mitigate the SGA hazard will benefit from an increased consideration of cultivar-dependent SGA responses to post-harvest conditions, particularly light exposure. The identified key SGA genes can now be used as a molecular tool in this work.
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| 9. |
- Rafique, Asia, et al.
(författare)
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Multioxide phase-based nanocomposite electrolyte (M@SDC where M = Zn2+ / Ba2+/ La2+/Zr-2/Al3+) materials
- 2020
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Ingår i: Ceramics International. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 0272-8842 .- 1873-3956. ; 46:52, s. 6882-6888
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper deals with the development of a highly dense and stable electrolyte on the base of nanoionics oxide interface theory. This gives a comparative study of two-phase nanocomposite electrolytes that are developed for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs). These nanocomposites are synthesised with different oxides, which are coated on the doped ceria that showed high oxide ion mobility for LT-SOFCs. These novel two-phase nanocomposite oxide ionic conductors (MCe0.8Sm0.2O2-MO2, where M = Zn2+/Ba2+/La3+/Zr2+/Al3+) were synthesised by a co-precipitation method. The interface study between these two phases was analysed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), while ionic conductivities were measured with DC conductivity (four probe method). The nanocomposite electrolytes exhibited higher conductivities with the increase of concentration of coated oxides but decreased at a certain level. The structural or morphological properties of the nanocomposite electrolytes were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal stability was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The maximum performance of 590 mW/cm(2) at 550 degrees C was obtained for the Zn@SDC based cell, and the rest of the coated samples Ba@SDC, La@SDC, Zr@SDC and Al@SDC based cells showed values of 550 mW/cm(2), 540 mW/cm(2), 450 mW/cm(2), 340 mW/cm(2), respectively, with hydrogen as a fuel. Therefore, the coated-SDC based nanocomposite materials are a good approach for lowering the operating temperature to achieve the challenges of the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). These two-phase nanocomposite electrolytes satisfy the all requirements which one electrolyte should have, like high ionic conduction, thermodynamic stability and negligible electronic conduction.
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| 10. |
- Salman, Muhammad, et al.
(författare)
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Trajectory of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy post-vaccination and public's intention to take booster vaccines : A cross-sectional analysis
- 2023
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Ingår i: Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2164-5515 .- 2164-554X. ; 19:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vaccine hesitancy (VH) is not a new phenomenon in Pakistan and is regarded as one of the primary causes of unsatisfactory vaccination campaigns. This study determined post-vaccination COVID-19 VH, factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and public's intent to receive booster vaccinations. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult population of Lahore, Pakistan. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling between March and May 2022. SPSS version 22 was used for the data analysis. A total of 650 participants were included in the study (age = 28.1 & PLUSMN; 9.7 years; male-to-female ratio nearly 1: 1). The majority of participants received Sinopharm followed by Sinovac vaccine. The top three reasons of vaccine uptake were "only vaccinated individuals are allowed at the workplace, and educational institutes" (Relative importance index (RII) = 0.749), "only vaccinated people are allowed to go to markets, malls and other public places" (RII = 0.746), and "protect myself from the infection" (RII = 0.742). The mean COVID-19 VH score was 24.5 & PLUSMN; 6.2 (95% CI 23.9-24.9), with not being pro-vaccines and poor economic status were the significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among immunized individuals (p < .05). Acceptance of booster vaccines was negatively associated with younger age and a lower level of education. Furthermore, being pro-vaccine was associated with a greater likelihood of accepting booster vaccines (p = .001). The Pakistani public continues to express VH toward COVID-19 vaccines. Therefore, aggressive measures must be taken to combat the community factors that contribute to it.
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