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- Cheng, Hao-Wen, et al.
(author)
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Realizing Efficient Charge/Energy Transfer and Charge Extraction in Fullerene-Free Organic Photovoltaics via a Versatile Third Component
- 2019
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In: Nano letters (Print). - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 1530-6984 .- 1530-6992. ; 19:8, s. 5053-5061
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Solution-processed organic photovoltaics (OPVs) based on bulk-heterojunctions have gained significant attention to alleviate the increasing demend of fossil fuel in the past two decades. OPVs combined of a wide bandgap polymer donor and a narrow bandgap nonfullerene acceptor show potential to achieve high performance. However, there are still two reasons to limit the OPVs performance. One, although this combination can expand from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared region, the overall external quantum efficiency of the device suffers low values. The other one is the low open-circuit voltage (V-OC) of devices resulting from the relatively downshifted lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the narrow bandgap. Herein, the approach to select and incorporate a versatile third component into the active layer is reported. A third component with a bandgap larger than that of the acceptor, and absorption spectra and LUMO levels lying within that of the donor and acceptor, is demonstrated to be effective to conquer these issues. As a result, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) are enhanced by the elevated short-circuit current and V-OC; the champion PCEs are 11.1% and 13.1% for PTB7-Th:IEICO-4F based and PBDB-T:Y1 based solar cells, respectively.
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| 3. |
- Liang, Yajun, et al.
(author)
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Metabolic syndrome in patients with first-ever ischemic stroke : prevalence and association with coronary heart disease
- 2022
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been well linked with coronary heart disease (CHD) in the general population, but studies have rarely explored their association among patients with stroke. We examine prevalence of MetS and its association with CHD in patients with first-ever ischemic stroke. This hospital-based study included 1851 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke (mean age 61.2 years, 36.5% women) who were hospitalized into two university hospitals in Shandong, China (January 2016–February 2017). Data were collected through interviews, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. MetS was defined following the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, and the Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) criteria. CHD was defined following clinical criteria. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression models. The overall prevalence of MetS was 33.4% by NECP criteria, 47.2% by IDF criteria, and 32.5% by CDS criteria, with the prevalence being decreased with age and higher in women than in men (p < 0.05). High blood pressure, high triglycerides, and low HDL-C were significantly associated with CHD (multi-adjusted odds ratio [OR] range 1.27–1.38, p < 0.05). The multi-adjusted OR of CHD associated with MetS defined by the NECP criteria, IDF criteria, and CDS criteria (vs. no MetS) was 1.27 (95% confidence interval 1.03–1.57), 1.44 (1.18–1.76), and 1.27 (1.03–1.57), respectively. In addition, having 1–2 abnormal components (vs. none) of MetS was associated with CHD (multi-adjusted OR range 1.66–1.72, p < 0.05). MetS affects over one-third of patients with first-ever ischemic stroke. MetS is associated with an increased likelihood of CHD in stroke patients.
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- She, Rui, et al.
(author)
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Comorbidity in patients with first-ever ischemic stroke : Disease patterns and their associations with cognitive and physical function
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1663-4365. ; 14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The present study examined the prevalence and pattern of comorbidity among Chinese patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke, and assessed the associations of specific comorbidity patterns with physical and cognitive functioning after stroke occurrence. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,151 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke (age ≥40 years; 64.2% men) who were admitted to two university hospitals in Shandong, China between 2016 and 2017. Data on demographics, lifestyles, chronic health conditions, and use of medications were collected through in-person interviews, clinical examinations, and laboratory tests. Physical functioning was assessed by the Barthel index (BI) and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) while cognitive functioning was assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test. The results showed that comorbidity was present in 90.9% of the stroke patients (women vs. men: 95.2 vs. 88.7%, P < 0.001). Exploratory factor analysis identified three patterns of comorbidity, i.e., patterns of degenerative-cardiopulmonary, heart-gastrointestinal-psychiatric, and metabolic-kidney diseases. The number of comorbidities was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of moderate-to-severe physical dependence [odds ratio (95% CI) = 1.15 (1.06-1.25) for BI and 1.12 (1.04-1.21) for mRS, all P < 0.01] and cognitive impairment [odds ratio (95% CI) = 1.11 (1.02-1.20), P = 0.017], after adjusting for multiple covariates. Almost all the three comorbidity patterns were associated with increased likelihoods of physical dependence (range for odds ratios: 1.26-1.33) and cognitive impairment (range for odds ratios: 1.25-1.34). No significant association was found between degenerative-cardiopulmonary pattern and mRS. These findings suggest that comorbidity is associated with poor physical and cognitive functioning during the acute phase of ischemic stroke. Routine assessments of comorbidity and cognitive and physical function among patients with acute ischemic stroke should be considered in stroke research and clinical practice.
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- She, Rui, et al.
(author)
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Health-related quality of life after first-ever acute ischemic stroke : associations with cardiovascular health metrics
- 2021
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In: Quality of Life Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0962-9343 .- 1573-2649. ; 30, s. 2907-2917
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose To investigate the associations between cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among patients with ischemic stroke in China, and further explore the role of physical and cognitive function in their associations.Methods This hospital-based study included 1714 patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke (age >= 40 years; 36.7% women) who were admitted to two university hospitals in Shandong, China. We collected information on seven CVH metrics (smoking, body mass index, diet, physical activity, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose) through interviews, clinical examinations, and laboratory tests. EQ-5D-3L was used to assess HRQL. Cognitive and physical functioning was assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test and Barthel index, respectively. Data were analyzed using the general linear regression models.Results The average score (SD) was 0.746 (0.23) for HRQL index and 72.7 (15.8) for self-rated health. Optimal levels of four individual CVH metric components (diet, physical activity, blood pressure, and blood glucose) and a higher composite CVH score were significantly associated with a greater HRQL index and better self-rated health (p < 0.05 for all). Physical dependence and cognitive impairment were associated with a lower HRQL index and poorer self-rated health status (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the relationships between CVH metrics and HRQL index varied by functional status, such that their associations were statistically significant only among people who had physical dependence or cognitive impairment.Conclusion Achieving a better cardiovascular health profile is associated with better quality of life among ischemic stroke survivors, primarily in those with physical or cognitive impairment.
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| 6. |
- She, Rui, et al.
(author)
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Multimorbidity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Old Age : Role of Functional Dependence and Depressive Symptoms
- 2019
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In: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. - : Elsevier BV. - 1525-8610 .- 1538-9375. ; 20:9, s. 1143-1149
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To examine the associations of multimorbidity patterns with health-related quality of life (HRQL) in rural-dwelling older adults in China, and to explore to what extent their associations were mediated by functional dependence and depressive symptoms. Design: Population-based cross-sectional study. Setting and participants: 1497 participants (age >= 60 years; 66.4% women) in the 2014-2016 examination of the Confucius Hometown Aging Project who were living in a rural community near Qufu, Shandong, China. Measures: Data on demographics, lifestyles, chronic health conditions, and use of medications were collected through interviews, clinical examinations, and laboratory tests. Multimorbidity was defined as co-occurrence of >2 chronic diseases in the same person. The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was used to assess depressive symptoms, and EQ-5D-3L was used to assess HRQL. Results: Multimorbidity was present in 83.8% of the participants (women vs men: 85.5% vs 80.6%, P = .015). Exploratory factor analysis identified 4 patterns of multimorbidity, that is, patterns of cardiovascular-degenerative, respiratory, neurologic-thyroid, and metabolic-cognitive-cerebrovascular diseases. The neurologic-thyroid disease pattern did not show a significant association with HRQL. The 3 other patterns were associated with poor HRQL and had a diverse impact on different dimensions of HRQL. Mediation analysis suggested that functional dependence and the presence of depressive symptoms could mediate 24.8% and 21.8%, respectively, of the association between the number of chronic diseases and poor HRQL. Conclusions/Implications: Multimorbidity is associated with poor HRQL in older adults, in which functional dependence and depressive symptoms partly mediate their associations. Prevention and proper management of dependence and depressive symptoms in older people with multimorbidity may help maintain and improve quality of life.
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