[en] Hole transport material (HTM) plays an important role in the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Spiro-MeOTAD, the commonly used HTM, is costly and can be easily degraded by heat and moisture, thus offering hindrance to commercialize PSCs. There is dire need to find an alternate inorganic and stable HTM to exploit PSCs with their maximum capability. In this paper, a comprehensive device simulation is used to study various possible parameters that can influence the performance of perovskite solar cell with CuI as HTM. These include the effect of doping density, defect density and thickness of absorber layer, along with the influence of diffusion length of carriers as well as electron affinity of electron transport layer (ETM) and HTM on the performance of PSCs. In addition, hole mobility and doping density of HTM is also investigated. CuI is a p-type inorganic material with low cost and relatively high stability. It is found that concentration of dopant in absorber layer and HTM, the electron affinity of HTM and ETM affect the performance of solar cell minutely, while cell performance improves greatly with the reduction of defect density. Upon optimization of parameters, power conversion efficiency for this device is found to be 21.32%. The result shows that lead-based PSC with CuI as HTM is an efficient system. Enhancing the stability and reduction of defect density are critical factors for future research. These factors can be improved by better fabrication process and proper encapsulation of solar cell. (paper)

[en] Highlights: • Inverted perovskite solar cell with CZTS as hole transport material (HTM) is fabricated with PCE of 9.72%. • Theoretical optimized device exhibits remarkable PCE of 25.43%. • This study shows CZTS is useful inorganic HTM alternate to traditional organic HTM. Hole transport material (HTM) is a major component of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). PEDOT: PSS, an organic HTM, is widely used in inverted (p-i-n) PSCs. While PEDOT: PSS is unstable, expensive and it's acidic nature could deteriorate the absorber. Copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS), an inorganic semiconductor can be used as HTM due to its properties such as low cost, ease of synthesis and high hole mobility. In this work, device simulation of inverted (p-i-n) PSC was performed with CZTS as HTM to exploit its maximum capability. Remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.43% was achieved after optimizing the performance. Device performance was strongly affected by thickness and electron affinity of HTM as well as diffusion length of carriers. PCE of real fabricated device was also found to be 9.72%. This work demonstrates CZTS is a promising candidate to replace PEDOT: PSS from both experimental and theoretical perspectives.

[en] An integrated wireless inductive sensor is reported based on a system for monitoring human movement and body size. The proposed system senses the presence of human beings using electromagnetic field by making use of basic inductive coupling approach, hence analysing the performance of human monitoring. The amalgamation of the integrated system proposed will help in providing better services to the elderly people resided in healthcare centres. The developed sensing system is of low cost, flexible, robust, and easily implantable and capable of inductive sensing through marking signature waveforms as a result of human movements

[en] To enhance industry control quality level as well as uphold enterprise economic benefit precise sensing and measurement of biomass flow is a major concern among researchers worldwide. Keeping in mind the shortcomings of existing sensing technologies this paper has developed a capacitive sensing method by making use of aop amp based bridge circuit along with particularly designed sensing electrodes. The objective of this work is fulfilled via experimental validation through a prototype hardware implementation of a flow sensing set up. The experimental results have specified the measurement system which is able to sense flow variation as a change of dielectric permittivity of different biomass materials under room condition. Moreover, the obtained results have revealed distinctive features clearly signifying the shapes and physical characteristics of electrodes, locations of the mounted electrodes on test pipe wall, dielectric permittivity and characteristics of test biomass materials

[en] In this article an attempt has been made to determine the uni-directional (001-direction) pressure effect on the optical gain spectra and corresponding emission wavelength of a designed type-II nano-scale heterostructure based on GaAsSb-InAs material system. As a trial, the range of pressure applied was kept as 1-3 GPa. On introducing the uni-directional (001-direction) pressure (in the range of 1 GPa to 3 GPa) on the GaAsSb-InAs QW heterostructure, the optical gain is reduced significantly from 3050/cm to 1150/cm, while the transition wavelength shows the red shift. (author)

[en] The thermal conductivity of complex fluid materials (dusty plasmas) has been explored through novel Evan-Gillan homogeneous non-equilibrium molecular dynamic (HNEMD) algorithm. The thermal conductivity coefficient obtained from HNEMD is dependent on various plasma parameters (Γ, κ). The proposed algorithm gives accurate results with fast convergence and small size effect over a wide range of plasma parameters. The cross microscopic heat energy current is discussed in association with variation of temperature (1/Γ) and external perturbations (P_z). The thermal conductivity obtained from HNEMD simulations is found to be very good agreement and more reliable than previously known numerical techniques of equilibrium molecular dynamic, nonequilibrium molecular dynamic simulations. Our new investigations point to an effective conclusion that the thermal conductivity of complex dusty plasmas is dependent on an extensive range of plasma coupling (Γ) and screening parameter (κ) and it varies by the alteration in these parameters. It is also shown that a different approach is used for computations of thermal conductivity in 2D complex plasmas and can be appropriate method for behaviors of complex systems. (paper)

[en] Highlights: • Sixty-five gas flares were discovered in 32,000 km² on the Makran Continental Margin. • The total seafloor methane gas emission is estimated to be 4.7-5.9 × 10³ Mg/yr. • Emitted methane gas from the seafloor was mostly dissolved and oxidized in the seawater. Seafloor methane emission is widespread on both active and passive continental margins, which may exerts significant impact on global climate change, ocean acidification, cold seep ecosystem, and global carbon cycle. However, due to the limitation of the thick water body, systematic knowledge of detection, quantification and activity of the submarine methane seepage is still unreachable, which greatly limits the assessment of the environmental impact. In 2018, a comprehensive geological survey, including multibeam mapping, seafloor observation, and seismic reflection profiling, was conducted using R/V “Haiyangdizhi 10” on the Makran continental margin. Sixty-five gas flares, which indicated seafloor methane seepage, were detected in a total survey area of 32,000 km². The total methane flux of the surveyed area is estimated to be 4.7-5.9 × 10³ Mg/yr, accounting for 0.013-0.016% of the global seafloor methane emission. In addition, three gas seeps, which were active in 2007, were inactive during our survey in 2018. It is inferred that the intermittent activity might be related to the periodic pressure release and accumulation in the system. All the flares vanish in the water column, which indicates that all the methane gas was oxidized and/or dissolved by seawater. No methane was observed entering the atmosphere in gas phase. In this study, we present new data sets of methane seeps on the Makran continental margin, which are useful to better understand the behavior of the submarine methane seepage.

[en] The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of L-DOPA pre-loading on the uptake of BPA using the F98 rat glioma and the murine B16 melanoma models. In vitro pretreatments of F98 glioma and B16 melanoma cells with L-DOPA, followed by exposure to BPA increased boron uptake, as determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Based on this, in vivo studies were initiated in F98 glioma bearing rats. Initially, the L-DOPA dosing paradigm was evaluated. Maximum tumor boron uptake was observed following i.p. administration of L-DOPA (50 mg/kg) followed 24 h later by BPA (31.8±8.9 vs. 17.2±6.3 µg/g for BPA alone). Next, the effect of L-DOPA pre-loading as a function of the route of administration of BPA was evaluated in F98 glioma bearing rats. The greatest increase in uptake was seen following i.v. administration of BPA, while in contrast no significant increase was seen following intracarotid (i.c.) administration (38.6±12.4 vs. 34.2±10.9). Cellular localization of the F98 glioma, as determined by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) boron imaging revealed equivalent tumor boron concentrations following L-DOPA pre-loading. In vivo studies in B16 melanoma bearing mice showed equivalent tumor boron values in treated and untreated mice, suggesting that the effects of L-DOPA pre-loading may depend both on the histologic type of tumor and its anatomic site. - Highlights: • Effects of L-DOPA pre-loading on the uptake of BPA were studied using the F98 glioma and B16 melanoma models. • In vitro studies using both cell lines revealed that pre-loading resulted in increased uptake of BPA. • Enhanced uptake of BPA was seen following i.v. administration to F98 glioma bearing rats (31.8 vs. 17.2 µg/g). • The effects of L-DOPA pre-loading may depend both on the histologic type of tumor and its anatomic site

[en] Unnatural cyclic amino acids (UNAAs) are a new class of boron delivery agents that are in a pre-clinical stage of evaluation. In the present study, the biodistribution of racemic forms of the cis- and trans-isomers of the boronated UNAA 1-amino-3-boronocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ABCPC) and 1-amino-3-boronocycloheptanecarboxylic acid (ABCHC) were evaluted in B16 melanoma bearing mice and this was compared to L-p-boronophenylalanine (BPA). Boron concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) at 2.5 h following intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the test agents at a concentration equivalent to 24 mg/B/kg. While all compounds attained comparable tumor boron concentrations, the tumor/blood (T/Bl) boron concentration ratios were far superior for both cis-ABCPC and cis-ABCHC compared to BPA (T/Bl=16.4, and 15.1 vs. 5.4). Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) imaging revealed that the cis-ABCPC delivered boron to the nuclei, as well as the cytoplasm of B16 cells. Next, a biodistribution study of cis-ABCPC and BPA was carried out in F98 glioma bearing rats following i.p. administration. Both compounds attained comparable tumor boron concentrations but the tumor/brain (T/Br) boron ratio was superior for cis-ABCPC compared to BPA (6 vs. 3.3). Since UNAAs are water soluble and cannot be metabolized by tumor cells, they could be potentially more effective boron delivery agents than BPA. Our data suggest that further studies are warranted to evaluate these compounds prior to the initiation of clinical studies. - Highlights: • Unnatural cyclic amino acids (UNAAs) are a new class of boron delivery agents for neutron capture therapy. • ABCPC and ABCHC attained higher tumor/blood ratios vs. BPA in B16 melanoma bearing mice. • The tumor/brain ratio of cis-ABCPC was superior to BPA (6 vs. 3.3) suggesting that further studies are warranted

[en] Ovarian carcinoma is the leading cause of gynecological malignancy, with the serous subtype being the most commonly presented subtype. Recent studies have demonstrated that grade does not yield significant prognostic information, independent of TNM staging. As such, several different grading systems have been proposed to reveal morphological characteristics of these tumors, however each yield different results. To help address this issue, we performed a rigorous computational analysis to better understand the molecular differences that fundamentally explain the different grades and grading systems. mRNA abundance levels were analyzed across 334 total patients and their association with each grade and grading system were assessed. Few molecular differences were observed between grade 2 and 3 tumors when using the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) grading system, suggesting their molecular similarity. In contrast, grading by the Silverberg system reveals that grades 1–3 are molecularly equidistant from one another across a spectrum. Additionally, we have identified a few candidate genes with good prognostic information that could potentially be used for classifying cases with similar morphological appearances